Haircare vlog 2.0 all about looking after your hair in the winter months, hope you enjoy!! x
Why I’m a Ganni girl…
If like me, you love fashion, the stronghold of the Scandi brands on the UK fashion scene will not have escaped your notice.
Designers like Acne, Gestuz, Marlene Birger, House of Dagmar, Cecilie Copenhagen, and of course Ganni have been delighting us for a long while now - and year on year their collections seem to be getting stronger.What’s interesting is, whilst I am in no way, shape or form a typical “Scandinavian” shape (I thinking Scandinavian women are taller and more athletic in build than me) I adore these brands and my favourite is Ganni.
Fit is vital for me, and it just works. Ganni dresses (as you probably know by now I am dress girl) fit my short body and long leg proportions as well as they do my daughter, for instance, who is taller and has totally different dimensions to me. And there aren’t many brands that cater so expertly for very different body shapes.
What’s more is Ganni oozes a serious Danish cool vibe, but there is a definite injection of something else, a kind of effortless chic, maybe a little Parisian in quality – which, in my opinion, is a match made in heaven. Their most recent collections are a testament to this.
Their Spring Summer 18 collection is called Global Citizen and Ditte Reffstrup, the brand’s Creative Director says of this collection,“I wanted to create clothes for a woman who loves to travel to new places and who has an independent spirit. It’s an upbeat collection, taking cues from 90s sportswear, rave, and the hugely important Benetton ads from the 90s that challenged prejudice and encouraged diversity. The Global Citizen represents the best of everywhere.”
Whilst I wholeheartedly identify with this sentiment, when I look at the Ganni ad campaign I have a feeling it is primarily targeted at a younger demographic – but actually that doesn’t matter at all. This is the cleverness of Ganni, in my opinion; it is a great example of “Ageless” fashion.
The array of beautiful prints and fluid fabrics used in their collections are, season upon season, a huge hit for me. They suit my lifestyle and mood perfectly.
As I said I tend to head for the dresses on a rail and Ganni dresses never disappoint - they can be worn, not only in a “dress up”, “dress down” kinda way, but to channel whatever vibe matches your personality.
It is rare to find a brand that you can you literally style however you want and it works. Couple that with the price point (which at the moment is quite reasonable for a designer brand) and the fact that you can wash their clothes in your washing machine so bypassing dry cleaning costs – the ticks are endless for me.
I know I am sounding quite practical talking about washing instructions, but dry cleaning bills have in the past crippled me – so anything that you can wash at home and wear is a huge plus. In fact this might be something I cover in another post soon…
So if you haven’t had a look at Ganni’s collections - get online or check out your nearest stockist.
One last word in praise of their dresses, because I am slightly obsessed, is one of their staples is the wrap dress - but not like the stretchy wrap dresses of old – Ganni’s wrap dresses are fitted on top, flowing from the waist with the wrap creating a thigh slit - I mean need I say more??!! Hands down one of my favourite fashion details….
Life after a detox...
The start of a new week, and I have to say I’m feeling pretty virtuous at the moment - nutritionally speaking that is.
Two weeks after my last detox programme I’m still feeling the benefits.
Long overdue after an incredibly social November, Christmas and January – both my body and mind were ready for a healthy reset.
Anticipating the festive excesses I booked a 7-day Alkalise, Balance and Cleanse from Nosh Detox; a programme designed to help you lose weight and cleanse your digestive system.
It may sound lazy to buy a detox, but the prospect of everything you eat being delivered to your door, freshly prepared every couple of days was extremely appealing to me.
It is true though these types of programmes are not a cheap option, but the good thing about Nosh Detox as a company is they have regular offers on their website; so for this one I took advantage of a 20% off discount.
I know have said this before, probably in one of my earlier blogs, but it is worth reiterating - I much prefer detoxing than dieting – it just suits my personality better. If I tell myself I am cutting out certain foods for the foreseeable future – my brain will obsess endlessly about those foods creating the polar opposite of a healthy environment for my mind and body.
But a structured week of balanced, nutrient rich meals, without any caffeine and, importantly for me, no sugar is long enough for me to break the conditioned reflex of looking for “unhealthy” foods every day.
The other massive benefit for me is reframing portion size. Portion control is something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember, and it is personally important for me to have at the forefront of my mind. Being attuned to when I’m hungry and only eating until I’m just full and not over full are also pertinent.
Another big plus for this kind of programme is the food you get is a combination of smoothies, soups, snacks and proper meals. Years ago I did a few juice cleanses - literally just juice, and I found them really hard going – they affected my energy levels and I realised I am one of those people who needs to chew food to feel full.
So, all in all, my 7-day detox was a success and whilst my goal was to feel ”healthier”, I lost about four pounds, which was of course a welcome by product.
For me though, the tricky bit comes after the detox. I’m not bad at being disciplined for a short period of time; it is maintaining consistency with healthy food choices that I struggle with.
But the detox has had a great knock on effect on my mind-set and I know I don’t want to undo all the good nutritional work I have put into place. So I have set myself some realistic guidelines - which seem to be working well for me. I am not denying myself anything – but I am making sure my caffeine free, and sugar free days outweigh the days on which I partake.
So two weeks on, my bad habits seem to be minimal, I feel energised and “lighter”, and I don’t just mean in terms of weight and I am very much enjoying this state of being.
So I’m going to keep up my strategy of moderation and the emphasis on lots of fresh fruit and veggies for as long as I can and see how I go… no doubt, I'll keep you posted!
Speedy every day makeup VLOG
Finally!! My first VLOG of the year - speedy go to makeup I use everyday for a quick "done" look...have a look and please do get in touch and share your fave go to products x
https://youtu.be/j8_CzL-lGSg
Looking back on 2017 – my creative journey…
After rushing headlong to Christmas, like we all do, I have taken a few days to reflect on this year.
I revel in these moments, not because I particularly like looking back, but I like taking stock and I love planning for the future.
2017 has been the most important creative year for me, to date. I am clearer than I have ever been on what I want to achieve as an artist both musically and in a wider creative sense.
My music, and the community I am part of through social networking, and am building through my blog, bring me immense happiness and satisfaction. Everything I do revolves around words and emotion. Words have always and will always matter to me. That’s why I love to write.
You may have heard me say before that in all things - communication and connection are my predominant motivations, always with a healthy sprinkling of positivity. I suppose if I had a mission statement – that would be it. And this year, more than ever, I feel I have stayed true to this.
A lot of this year has been about writing new music. I have never really considered myself a Jazz singer per se, though I have spent many years singing this gorgeous genre almost exclusively. I didn’t go to music school – something that has bothered me for years – but I feel more chilled about that these days.
I am a singer who writes adult contemporary music - a blend of pop, jazz and blues and I am really excited about my new release (Untold Stories, Part 1 - a collaboration with my dear friend and colleague, bassist, Richard Sadler).
It is also the third year of my blog and this year a lot of things have clicked. I have loved the engagement with followers and other brands, and collaborations and friendships it has led to.
Through my blog many people ask about my journey, so in case you don’t know, and are interested, here is an abridged version:
My childhood (I’m an only child) was unequivocally happy but the choices I made, were safe family pleasers (I have two Physics degrees and pursued a career in research, science publishing and journalism for a number of years) which is weird because I knew from the age of 7, I wanted to be a singer and songwriter, writing my first song at 12.
October 2001 was a pivotal month in my life. My father was hospitalized due to a negligent operation and in a matter of hours my life was changed irreparably. My father never returned home and died in 2004.
It never occurred to me that something so traumatic would befall my family. My eyes were open to a darkness I had never contemplated. And if I could save anyone from this kind of sorrow I would.
I was desperate in my need to find something positive because I was drowning.
Life is as wonderful as it is cruel and my children though they were toddlers, were my saviours. I had to get out of bed in the morning for them; and to escape mentally from my father’s deterioration I rediscovered my compulsion and passion for singing and writing.
I think this is why sharing joy is at the core of everything I do and as I look back on this year – there has been plenty of joy.
What I saw with my father created a latent urgency in me – to do everything I want to before it’s too late and before I got too old...I’m not sure why or how but, this year, I have learned to savour what I am doing and enjoy the processes I find myself in – because I can’t live without creativity and nor do I want to.
I have finally realised I don’t have to rush anything and age is not factor.
2017 has been my most consistent year in settling into who I am as a creative and that - puts a big smile on my face.How was 2017 for you? I'd love to know...Creativity is contagious - pass it on – Albert Einstein.
New Music VLOG featuring new single “Did I Tell You?"
So, something a little different this week - a little vlog about my current musical project. Hope you find it interesting and please do let me know what you think x
Loving The Skin You're In - Finding Your Self-Esteem Stride In Your Forties
So, here is my most recent piece for Huff Post - let me know what you think x
Loving The Skin You're In - Finding Your Self-Esteem Stride In Your Forties
Do Women Get Better At Putting Themselves First As They Age?
I've recently started really making the effort to put myself first in my life. To some extent I am simply more able to now, but to another extent I've always needed to do this more.
Have a read of my latest Huffpost article to get my full thoughts:
The Natura Bisse Inhibit facial VLOG - a game changer in skincare
Here is my latest VLOG - all about Natura Bisse's INHIBIT collection. If you are looking for anti-aging, non invasive technology that provides immediate, lasting results, you HAVE to try these products x
Does musical appreciation broaden as we age?
My latest piece for Huff Post is up!
This time I wanted to look at how my musical appreciation has changed as I've grown, at how life experience can totally shift what a song means to me.
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Summer Skincare Vlog!
My new vlog is out today - it's a list of ideas and tips to provide proper skincare for yourself in all this sunshine!
Enjoy :) x
Underwear, Body Positivity and Ageing
My third piece of The Huffington Post has been published!
This time I'm looking at how you can use underwear to help yourself feel fantastic regardless of the changes your body goes through as we get older.
Personally, I can be quite conscious of the stretch marks and looser skin around my tummy that have been left by my two wonderful pregnancies. Does this mean I don't wear underwear to feel sexy? Quite the opposite!
Dig in and I hope you will find something useful to you :)
Full article here
I've also recently vlogged on this subject - take a look:
(Simone Perele Idylle lingerie)
Rethinking your underwear choices in your forties and beyond
I’ve been thinking about my personal underwear choices over the last few weeks.
I, like many women feel less than positive about my body at times - my issues might not be debilitating as someone else’s and might not be apparent to the world at large – but they can certainly affect my mood and definitely my confidence.
But as with so many things in life, our own perception tends to override any positives someone else might point out. I have no idea why, but when it comes to body image we are our own harshest critics.
Our underwear drawers are an integral part of our wardrobe, and like our wardrobes need rethinking and culling every now and again. But actually the lingerie we wear can be much more of a secret weapon than I initially realised.
I thought I would check in with underwear expert Caroline Randell, who owns her own boutique in Wimbledon Village and get her take on it.
It turn out that our underwear habits tend to shift, as we get older.
Frustratingly, a lot of forty-something women who come to Caroline’s shop feel like they don’t deserve to have pretty underwear. They might buy something special for a date – but it would be an anomaly.
This really bothered me because I might feel something looks a bit young, or I “shouldn’t” wear it but I definitely feel we all deserve to feel special every day, even if we are the only ones who know about it.
Also a lot of forty-somethings, like me feel like our bodies have changed irreparably after childbirth. I seem to fixating on my stomach and my stretch marks at the moment and how, at times I find them disgusting.
It has nothing to do with not loving giving birth, but I want to by pass my niggles and feel good about myself, everyday.
Some of us lose the fullness of our boobs, so getting fitted with a good bra helps with support and lift and it doesn’t matter what age you are – we all love a bit of lift (!)Some women fixate on the area above your bra strap, unflatteringly called “back fat”…The girls, at Caroline Randell told me that some women go in who are less well endowed and just want to look bigger, other fuller ladies want their boobs to look as small as possible, which I am guessing is tricky and something I had never thought of. The list goes on… it turns out we ALL have our issues, totally personal and often completely invisible to anyone else.
So why should we care about our underwear – if we are not happy about how we look naked, feel unattractive or don’t have someone special to wear something for?
Caroline put it beautifully, “Lingerie is for yourself, and something only you might know. It creates an inner confidence and kind of empowers us and that is what the world sees.” This is a really important point and one I feel we should all place stock in, especially if sometimes we do feel negative about our body image.
The good news is, as we age, no style or type of underwear is off limits. And I felt sure some things would be. Of course we all want good foundations to our outfits but we don’t need to view our underwear drawers differently as we get older.
It all comes down to personal taste, your personality and your mood on a given day.
My “go to” underwear is black but I also love to wear colour – I’m going through an orange phase at the moment – I think it might be the warmer weather…Without doubt, wearing lovely lingerie has a knock on effect on how we feel, what kind of energy we radiate, and so how we present ourselves to the world.
And finding the right underwear for you is not about hiding away your “negatives” but accentuating your positives - and we all have positives, even though it might take us a while to realise it. Caroline Randell Lingerie offers a personalised fitting service and carries a wide range of beautiful brands. Check it out at: https://carolinerandell.co.uk/
Lingerie - post pregnancy and as we get older VLOG
Latest vlog all about thinking about underwear choices as we age and after having children. Hope you enjoy x
Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask VLOG
New vlog all about this little beauty, hope you enjoy x
Natura Bisse Facial and Product VLOG
My latest vlog about luxury skincare brand Natura Bisse - the facial they invited me to try and a few products I love. Hope you enjoy and please do feedback x
My top tips to minimise jet lag
If you have been following my socials you will know I returned from an amazing trip to Sydney, Australia a few weeks ago.It’s been a long time since I travelled long haul on my own, and I very quickly remembered how much I love travelling.I was however worried about the jet lag, as it is something I have struggled with in the past.Now, totally acclimatised back to London life, I thought I’d share my top tips for minimising jet lag and maximising time away.
Food. I am one of those people who eats little and often whatever the time zone, but I feel this is particularly effective when travelling long haul - especially if you are trying to stay awake when your body clock is telling you it’s bedtime. In addition to this, my newfound trick – which really worked, was to eat meals or snacks that mentally mark the mealtime to suit the time zone you are going to.
Hydrate and avoid the bar. Anyone who knows me has probably fallen over reading that I am advocating avoiding the bar, but on a plane this is a rule I don’t deviate from. If you can abstain from alcohol you’ll be doing yourself a favour and whilst I may sound really boring - minimising your caffeine intake makes a difference too. I feel we really do underestimate the dehydration our bodies go through when we are flying. On a plane, I’m a goody two-shoes and stick to still water and herbal tea.
Invest in travel toiletries. Dehydration of course affects our skin too and I’m not sure if it’s psychosomatic but I can actually feel my skin dehydrate on a plane, so for my recent trip I invested in travel sizes of my toiletries and I was glad I did. Cleanser, toner and a hydrating face cream, from any brand you like. I also like the facial mists you can buy to hydrate and protect your skin throughout the flight. I took Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir on board with me.
Adjust to the time zone you’re travelling to asap. Even on the plane – change your watch, your phone, everything. I used to be rubbish on reaching my destination too, trying to nap whenever I could, but I have realised that is not the way to go. Be brutal and dive into the time zone you’re in and stay awake till bedtime – even it’s early. Powering through is the best option to maximising your time away.
Make the most of the daylight hours. Daylight and sunshine help massively to get adjusted so if you arrive during the day make the most of it.
Get some exercise. The day I arrived in Sydney my girl friend and I got straight back to her house, put our gym kit on and headed out for a long walk over Sydney Harbour Bridge. I couldn’t quite believe what we were doing, but as an ex air stewardess she is an expert. It was great to get moving after being sedentary for so long and get my endorphins pumping.
Fresh clothes or pyjamas. This is something I never used to do. But actually having a change of clothes, space permitting, is a great idea. I certainly found that a change of underwear goes a long way to making you feel a bit fresher after a long haul flight. And if you have a long stopover, look into the in transit hotels. I went to a great one in Singapore airport, which I had booked ahead of time – it was great to get into a bed and have a proper shower before getting on the second leg of my journey.
Sleeping tablets and the like. I am not a fan. Some people rave about melatonin, but I have never tried it. However, I do like using homeopathy, and before I flew I was told that Arnica (which is pretty magical anyway) helps with exhaustion and the exertion of long flights. So I popped a vial in my bag and took a few pills every day – did it work? Well, it certainly didn’t do any harm!
So, there are my top tips, what are yours?
(Kitx bottle green dress)
Australian fashion VLOG
Here's my latest vlog - all about my fave Aussie fashion brands x
Natura Bisse Diamond Energy facial VLOG
New vlog about my recent experience of the Natura Bisse Diamond Energy Facial - a lovely invitation from Net-A-Porter. Hope you enjoy x
A fragrance affair...
Let’s talk about perfume…I know smell isn’t perhaps the most important sense. I would certainly place my sight and hearing above smell. But, smell, is the most evocative sense to me.
Like the opening bars of a song, a particular smell can instantly transport us back to a particular moment in time and make us feel a whole spectrum of emotions.
I have lots of friends who wear many different perfumes – it is an extension of their style and look on a given day.
I only ever wear one perfume at a time. And I have worn my current perfume for the last 20 years, Tiffany from the jewellery shop of the same name. I started wearing it when I was pregnant with my daughter and haven’t looked back.
It is so intertwined with my own smell that I can’t smell it on me. But everyone comments on how “I smell like me”.
I can’t really remember how I chose it - any perfumes I have worn and loved, I have instantly loved. I haven’t over thought it – but I do know there is a lot of subliminal pressure on that little bottle and its contents; I want it to make me feel feminine, beautiful, glamorous but most importantly reflect my character.
Wearing the right perfume can make you feel like a million dollars. It is the finishing touch that stays with you all day – heralds your arrival and lingers in the air after you have gone.
So I recently realised perfume was more important to me, than I thought… I realised this when I ran out.
A month or so ago I was running low so I went onto the Tiffany website and my perfume was unavailable. So I thought I’d check back in a few days.
Life is constantly busy so I forgot about it for a while and given there was enough in the bottle for a squirt or two, it was fine.
But sooner than later I ran out.
Anyway, I checked online, deciding I would spring for express delivery but it was still unavailable. Suddenly, a dreadful thought crossed my mind – what if it was discontinued???
So I picked up the phone and thankfully I was assured it was not discontinued, and they were expecting an order in about 3 weeks. 3 weeks??? That’s nearly a month.
I asked the dude about availability in store and he said there was some – phew!
So a few weeks ago, I went to every shop I could think of in London that would stock it – I covered a LOT of ground - It is amazing how focussed I can be, when I put my mind to it, but no luck. I even asked if I could buy the tester (!), turns out you are not allowed to do that.
As I walked back to my car from the store in Sloane Street, feeling dejected, I saw Jo Malone out of the corner of my eye like a beacon shining in the night and thought why not?
I went in and announced I needed a new perfume. I sounded quite dramatic and panicked, mainly because I didn’t have much time on my meter, but heavens know what they thought.
Anyway, they were lovely and after some time I walked out with Tuberose Angelica – and I liked it – but it wasn’t my smell. I felt hesitant but quite excited too – like I was cheating on my actual smell – I know that sounds ridiculous….Anyway, the jury of friends and family were divided. One friend hated it, one loved it and my daughter was somewhere in the middle.
I know this is trivial, but sometimes the trivial things do matter and I felt like my identity had been momentarily impaired.Anyway, my usual Tiffany perfume arrived on the weekend and I feel whole again…. but now I’m looking at the Jo Malone cologne thinking I should really give it another go…
So what about you? What's your favourite perfume? Are you a many fragrance or one perfume girl, or guy? How about chopping and changing scents - do you give it any thought at all?