Lifestyle Maven | Page 2 of 27 | The UK lifestyle blog for your fabulous 40s and beyond

How to pack for a UK staycation

July 25, 2019 300 Views 0 Comment

[Ad: This article is a paid partnership with JD Williams.] As I write this, in little more than my underwear, it’s a scorching 38.5 degrees centigrade outside, the hottest day in London on record. We’re three days into the school holidays and the kids, usually … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

Why midlife women are turning their backs on permanent employment

July 18, 2019 7330 Views 19 Comments

The growth of self-employment I’ve been self employed for five years. Before 2014 I hadn’t noticed all the midlifers working for themselves, tapping away at laptops in cafes or working from home. Now that I am one, I see them everywhere. At the beginning of … [read more]

Wisdom

The journal of a perimenopausal woman

July 03, 2019 417 Views 2 Comments

AD: This content has been created as part of a PAID PARTNERSHIP with Shionogi B.V. for the UK launch of Femal. My secret diaries I have written a journal on and off since I was a teenager. Deep in a drawer are several tiny leather … [read more]

Fun Popular posts Wisdom

How to survive a camping trip in your 40s

June 26, 2019 4359 Views 6 Comments

A bit like Marmite Camping: do you love it or hate it? I am not a fan, although I have been camping every year for the last four years. My camping backstory I spent four months living under canvas while travelling around Africa during my … [read more]

Beauty

How to upgrade your makeup routine to be on trend for summer

June 19, 2019 486 Views 0 Comment

Picture this: True story: An acquaintance of mine, let’s call her Mary, gave her friend a lift to the high street a couple of miles away. On the way back home, her car broke down. Without her phone or purse, Mary walked to her local … [read more]

Fashion Food

Hot design trends and cool new gadgets for your 2020 kitchen

June 17, 2019 857 Views 0 Comment

Why I love a trade show Years ago, Mum owned a small chain of chocolate shops, making and selling hand made chocolates. It all started in our kitchen. One of my earliest memories is of scraping out a saucepan of melted chocolate. I ate so … [read more]

Fashion

Affordable dresses for the summer events season

June 03, 2019 610 Views 4 Comments

This article is a paid partnership with JD Williams. British Summertime means events season. From sporting events such as Royal Ascot and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, to festivals, glamorous garden parties and weddings, every weekend is an opportunity to get dressed up. For some people. … [read more]

Wisdom

Self-employment and how to survive it

May 26, 2019 498 Views 0 Comment

The self-employment survival guide Five years ago this week, I dragged myself onto the London Underground and into my corporate job as a recruitment consultant for the last time. Twenty years working in consultancies was coming to an end and I was ready to burst … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

We need to talk about Menopause

May 13, 2019 787 Views 10 Comments

AD: This content has been created as part of a PAID PARTNERSHIP with Shionogi B.V. for the UK launch of Femal. We need to talk about Menopause Yes we do. Buckle up, I’m going in, and you’re coming with me. I’ve avoided talking about this … [read more]

Fashion

What to wear this Spring – highlights from the high street

April 04, 2019 613 Views 2 Comments

I love this time of year. The sun is dazzling, but it’s still cool enough to wear tights and long sleeves without attracting strange looks. It’s also the perfect season for layering light fabrics and wearing floaty dresses. So what’s hot on the high street … [read more]

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Popular posts Wisdom

Life is short, eat the cake

April 03, 2016 4676 Views 14 Comments

I’ve been off the grid for over a week, while I try to process several devastating pieces of news from friends and family. I won’t go into details, to protect those who are more directly affected. Suffice to say, following a period of mid-life wallowing, … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

How to start a blog

October 05, 2016 4024 Views 14 Comments

Cat from Sorting Self, who organises personal development events for local mums in North London, invited me to give an informal presentation about blogging. The event was earlier this week. Despite having given several lectures on blogging and (ironically) presenting techniques to a group of … [read more]

Puppy love. Is having a puppy like having a baby?

February 10, 2017 3995 Views 14 Comments

I grew up with dogs. Shetland Sheepdogs were our breed of choice. They were lively, gentle, loyal and incredibly hairy (a bit like me – apart from the gentle bit). Whisky was my favourite. I teased him relentlessly, but he was my best friend. His … [read more]

Wisdom

How to tame your inner demon

January 12, 2018 5153 Views 13 Comments

The demon in my head I have a voice in my head and she’s a real bitch. She’s a demon and she is very busy, chattering and chipping away at my confidence. She beats me up from the inside, keeps me dwelling on past events, … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

Is fear of failure paralysing you?

October 15, 2015 1934 Views 12 Comments

I’ve been meaning to tackle the issue of fear for a long time. I mean the sort of fear we feel in our professional lives, which prevents us from doing anything new or making changes to our circumstances, even when we’re unhappy continuing with the … [read more]

Fashion Fun Wisdom

The Ethical Christmas Gift List

December 08, 2015 2883 Views 12 Comments

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, even though for bloggers, Christmas started with the press shows in July. Last year I wrote several gift list posts, including a specific list for beauty fans and another full of bizarre, unusual and downright crazy gifts … [read more]

Wisdom

Bring me sunshine

November 05, 2016 2722 Views 12 Comments

I was invited to speak at an event this week, attended by all my University friends. And I wish with all my heart that none of it had ever happened. You see, the event was a funeral, the speech was a tribute and all my friends … [read more]

Fashion Popular posts

5 tips to help you find your personal style

February 11, 2016 3457 Views 12 Comments

“I have nothing to wear”. How many of us start our day by muttering this under our breath? The experts say that we only wear 20% of the clothes in our wardrobes. I have been hoarding clothes for years and I reckon I only wear … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

A brave man’s legacy

May 04, 2017 5655 Views 11 Comments

So this is not my average frivolous rant, or product review. This is important. My brother in law, who I will call ‘Alan’ to respect his family’s privacy, has suffered four years’ of cancer. It began in his tonsil and eventually spread to his lungs … [read more]

Fashion

Autumnal fashion shoot

October 01, 2015 2052 Views 11 Comments

I am not claiming to be, nor do I have any desire to become a fashion blogger. This post is taking me totally out of my comfort zone. I won’t bother you with my insecurities and I’m not fishing for compliments. This post was born … [read more]

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How to pack for a UK staycation

The journal of a perimenopausal woman

How to upgrade your makeup routine to be on trend for summer

Hot design trends and cool new gadgets for your 2020 kitchen

Affordable dresses for the summer events season

Self-employment and how to survive it

What to wear this Spring – highlights from the high street

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