Not Dressed As Lamb

The Return of the Beret and How to Style It #iwillwearwhatilike

2018-01-08T14:55:00.000+00:00

Like the colour orange, skinny jeans and velvet, I almost died a little inside when I heard that the beret was making a comeback. Of course, a girl's allowed to change her mind...!

Not since the early 90s have I worn a beret. I bought a black one for a fancy dress party at college where I went as Faye Dunaway's Bonnie Parker - just about the most stylish fancy dress outfit there is, no?! - and they were on trend for quite a while during that decade (think Cher Horowitz in Clueless). Maybe because that's the last time I remember them being a thing that hearing about their return made me cringe a little?

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[THE BERET IS] THE PERFECT NEUTRAL COLOUR AND WILL GO WITH SO MANY THINGS IN MY ALMOST-DEVOID-OF-BLACK WARDROBE.

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Anyway, I probably wouldn't have bought one (despite the beret being THE hat of the Dior Fall 2017 Ready-to-Wear collection) if I hadn't seen this camel wool beret from Asos. It's the perfect neutral colour and will of course go with so many more things in my almost-devoid-of-black wardrobe than a black one would have.
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A Final Medical Diagnosis, Two Years On #SaturdayShareLinkUp

2018-01-05T21:49:00.001+00:00

So I'm having surgery.

That, in a nutshell, is the final medical solution TWO YEARS after I first had what I've always described as "my leg injury". Or rather, chronic pain in my right leg with almost total numbness up the back of it that has blighted me and puzzled doctors for 769 days, and counting.

I'm having an operation on January 15th to sort this thing out (hopefully once and for all!) and I couldn't be more relieved that we finally got to the root of the problem. For two years I've been in a perpetual state of Why does my leg STILL hurt...? Having a final medical diagnosis is such a relief, but this is just the beginning of what could be a slow recovery.

But first, to recap...
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My Greatest Photographic Moments of 2017

2018-01-04T16:38:00.000+00:00

Unlike last year (where I totally forgot until May!), this January I've remembered to compile a post of my favourite photographic moments of the previous year as soon as the Christmas decorations have been taken down.

So again, like my Bloopers and Outtakes posts (which are meant to be a change from the norm of fashion bloggers rounding up their favourite outfits of the year - I do those quarterly), I like to do things a little differently: I'm showcasing my favourite images, not just the outfits. I'm so proud of Keith's photography that he deserves a little shout out for all his efforts towards making me look as good as possible (not an easy task judging by my facial expressions in the outtakes)!
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How to Wear Head-to-Toe Bold Florals in Winter #iwillwearwhatilike

2018-01-02T17:09:00.002+00:00

It's my first outfit post of 2018! Let's start the way I mean to go on, with something seriously bold and colourful (nothing new where I'm concerned)... but florals? In winter? Whoever heard of such a thing?!!

In case you're wondering, this jumpsuit is not from a new spring collection, it's AW17 (and on sale)! And what's stopping us wearing head-to-toe bold florals in winter, I say?

I've had this Mango floral jumpsuit for a few months now, and some of you may have seen that I first wore it to the Thirty Plus Blogger Awards where I wore it with a black and white camisole and the same shoes. However, this time I wore it on Boxing Day because it was comfy (great for burgeoning food babies). I usually end up wearing trousers the day after Christmas because we always dress up for Christmas Day in our family (I wore a stunning red midi dress but I was glad to squeeze myself out of it at the end of the day) and after that I need comfort but still want to be dressed up to some extent.

By the 27th I'm back in my pyjamas - in my case it was my new giraffe onesie Keith got me for Christmas 😍 #yearmade
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My 2017 Fashion Blogger Bloopers and Outtakes

2018-01-01T14:55:00.000+00:00

Happy New Year - it's time for my annual fashion blogger bloopers and outtakes post which features the very worst (rather than the very best) pictures from the past 12 months...!

I always love compiling this post as it makes me laugh so much. It's funny trying to remember what made me pull such crazy faces or stupid poses. And this year we got Riley, so doggy photobombs have been added to the mix (I wouldn't have it any other way where that beaut of a canine is concerned).

[Today's #iwillwearwhatilike link up has moved to tomorrow - Tuesday - as my bloopers post always goes out on New Year's Day. It'll be back to Mondays as normal next week.]

So rather than showing you my favourite outfits each year I like to show you my favourite looking-kinda-stupid-most-of-the-time photos. Fashion bloggers are not the stylish creatures some people think they are 100% of the time, so feel free to laugh at the pictures at my expense.
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How to Make 2018 Your (My) Best Year Ever #SaturdayShareLinkUp

2017-12-30T12:00:00.000+00:00

So this is it, my last blog post of 2017. It's been a crazy year all in all, and I've learnt so much in just 12 short months.

Although I don't "do" New Year's Resolutions per se, I thought I'd list a few realistic resolutions - or should I say goals - that could make 2018 your (and my) best year ever. It's all a case of learning from your mistakes and successes, and oh BOY did I make some mistakes this year! My biggest mistake was taking on far too much work - much more than one person could possibly handle - so that's my number one priority this year.

I have to learn to say no more often, especially when it comes to job offers. Being freelance gives you that sense of worry, the constant Where is my next pay cheque going to come from feeling. It's a feeling that's hard to shake off when you've been in a situation where several people have disappeared off the face of the earth with your hard-earned money. I'm so glad I managed to turn things around in just over a year without having to give up the blog (but it came close!) - in the next year I need to organise my time much better and get my work-life balance right.

These goals can apply to anyone and everyone - I've used examples from my own life but I'm sure most people can recognise how these goals apply to them.
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New for SS18 | 6 Winter to Spring Transitional Outfits

2017-12-28T19:51:00.001+00:00

This is my penultimate post of 2017, and what better way to start rounding off this year than with a look towards Spring 2018?

Now don't worry, I haven't gone all boho and florals on you - far from it. All of these outfits are more than suitable for winter AND spring: just add or take away layers and swap shoes depending on what season you're dressing for. I've written this post in partnership with JD Williams as part of my Colour Council involvement which has been absolutely fantastic to work on this year. Their recent rebrand has been really inspiring as they are celebrating the 40+ woman in the MOST positive way and I'm so glad to have been part of it.

So onto the outfits - I've styled six outfits with pieces that are all "New In" (very VERY new in) as either winter or spring looks, but all work for that tricky transitional season time when you just don't know what the weather's doing. With a layering or footwear tweak here or there they'll work in cold weather or milder weather... I am SO excited about some (many!) of these pieces.
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Christmas Day Outfit: Red Lace Midi Dress (Perfect for Curves!) #iwillwearwhatilike

2017-12-26T14:55:00.000+00:00

Happy Boxing Day - are you sick of the sight of turkey, the Quality Street tin and mince pies yet...? If not, you've obviously had a far-too restrained Christmas which just isn't allowed! ;)

I'm writing this post in advance of Christmas Day in order to save myself time in terms of a photo shoot on the big day (always hard when it gets dark so incredibly early) as well as then editing and writing the post come Boxing Day. Hopefully I will have taken a very quick shot or two on the day and included them somewhere - this outfit was shot a while ago but it's what I'm intending to wear on Christmas Day...

That's only IF I haven't eaten too many stollen bites and can actually get INTO the dress at all - right now I'm not holding out that much hope, lol!

(Regular visitors to the #iwillwearwhatilike linkup may have noticed that today is Tuesday and the link up usually goes out on a Monday - I'm sure you'll let me have this one because who reads blogs on Christmas Day, amirite?)
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Wishing You a Happy Christmas! A Thank You to All My Readers #SaturdayShareLinkUp

2017-12-22T14:55:00.000+00:00

A little earlier today as this is my last post before Christmas - wishing you all much love and happiness for the festive break!

The image you see here is one Keith and I used on or Christmas card several years ago. Pre 2011, before I started the blog (oh, what carefree days), I had what is known as "free time" and I used to design and make ALL my own Christmas and birthday cards. Unfortunately the blog has meant that I barely have the time to write them anymore, never mind make them. But I'm not complaining - the blog has brought much greater opportunities than my original plan of having a handmade greetings cards empire ever would have...!

(By the way in case you're wondering: Yes, that IS us, both aged about 5. And no, we didn't have our photo taken together...)
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15 Unmissable Reads, The Best of the Blogosphere (December 2017)

2017-12-20T15:00:00.000+00:00

In my Best of the Blogosphere this month I have Christmas dressing galore, feeling sexy in your 40s, the illusion of perfection and all the inspirational (older) women you could hope to read about and lay your eyes on!

(In case you've not seen these posts before my Unmissable Reads are a monthly round-up of things I've seen, watched and liked in the blogosphere that I'm sure you'll love too.)

I'm posting this a week early this month due to Christmas, but I've still been able to find so many amazing reads for you. Do check out these great links - you never know who or what you might discover that makes your day/week/month!

WHAT LINKS DID YOU LIKE - AND HAVE YOU FOUND ANY FABULOUS NEW BLOGS TO FOLLOW? COMMENT BELOW, OR TWEET ME @NOTLAMB!

(Photo credits: Top left | Top middle | Top right | Middle left | Middle | Middle right | Bottom left | Bottom middle | Bottom right)

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Stephanie talks about feeling sexy in your 40s and beyond - her black lace lingerie is so classy and so sexy.

If you've never seen OK Go!'s INCREDIBLE music videos before, prepare for a complete and utter brain f**k (sorry but there's no other way to describe it)... they are the Supreme Kings of Creative Music Videos. Seriously, gird your loins.
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A Masculine Meets Feminine Blouse For Both the Office and Smart Casual Events #iwillwearwhatilike

2017-12-18T15:31:00.000+00:00

In what will be the last #iwillwearwhatilike link up before Christmas, I thought I'd bring you something completely NON-Christmassy just for a change!

Advance warning for next week: As Christmas Day is a week today there won't be a link up (or post) next Monday - it'll be on Tuesday/Boxing Day instead. This is the first time EVER there won't be a #iwillwear link up on a Monday in two and a half years, which is pretty good going. Goes to show just how much you lot love seeing what women love wearing and love not giving two hoots about anyone else's opinion.

What's not to love?!
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If You Became a Celebrity Overnight, Would You Get a Stylist? #SaturdayShareLinkUp

2017-12-15T21:27:00.000+00:00

Q: Let's say you became a celebrity overnight (I'm talking a humdinger of an A-lister here) - the type that would be seen on red carpets everywhere - would you get yourself a stylist?

I can't even remember what thought train I was on this week for me to come up with this question in my head, but it's one of those random things I was pondering.

Now it's purely a question just for fun because there's very little chance that you can become an A-lister overnight. You can win the lottery, or go viral with something on YouTube, or make headlines for something you've done on some reality TV show you've made it onto, but 99 times out of 100 those are the 15 Minutes of Fame types. Most "overnight" A-list celebrities have been working for years to become an overnight sensation.

(Unless you precede your reality TV show with a sex tape and become famous for having no discernable talent whatsoever apart from "losing" your clothes a lot and documenting it every time it happens with selfies and having a mom who's happy to manage you while you do this. NO ONE can become super famous and make millions doing that, surely? I digress...)

Would YOU hire a stylist?

So just for fun, purely hypothetically speaking: Would you hire a stylist? After all, you're an A-list celeb and money is no object. I know you lot are a confident bunch (I won't say "stylish" because everyone's definition of stylish is different) so you may think No, I'm a grown up woman and am happy with what I wear, thank you very much - I don't need a stylist, famous or not!

Or you may think Well it might be fun to have someone who takes the pressure off what I wear to events and can advise me on what designers and brands that I may not be aware of.

Are you wondering which way I'd go?

❝

BLAKE LIVELY FAMOUSLY DOESN'T HAVE A STYLIST. I SEEM TO REMEMBER READING THAT DIANE KRUGER DOESN'T EITHER. BOTH OF THESE WOMEN ARE ACHINGLY STYLISH.

❞

Blake Lively famously doesn't have a stylist. I seem to remember reading that Diane Kruger doesn't either. Both of these women are achingly stylish, and I don't ever remember either of them being included in those heinous "What was she thinking?" articles in magazines.

[By the way I know someone will ask: The outfit I'm wearing in the photo above was my "fairy princess" look at the 2016 UK Blog Awards, one of the few big red carpet-style occasions where I styled myself. Thought I'd answer that question before I continue to ramble...]

The scrutiny of the media

From my point of view I think being under the scrutiny of the media is a TERRIFYING prospect. Plus now you have social media which is a forum for everyone in the whole world to have an opinion on what you're wearing, and not only that but they can tell you directly with tweets and =ahem= wonderful Instagram comments that talk about you in the third person.

(Why is it that so many comments on the feeds of celebrities do that? Why do people not realise that these accounts are, more often than not, a celeb's private Instagram account so they get to read all these vile comments that talk about them as if they will never read it?)

So bloggers and influencers do get it to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the size of their following, but as you know I'm a believer in #iwillwearwhatilike. Famous or not, I wouldn't wear anything that I didn't like, feel comfortable in or that just didn't look like me... I'd want to still look like ME.

What I'd do if I became an A-lister overnight...

That said, it may surprise you to know that I WOULD actually get a stylist, at least at first.

I quite like the idea of someone giving me advice not necessarily on WHAT to wear, but WHO to wear. (And I say advice... I'm thinking more "suggestions".) Although I'm no stranger to the collections of Gucci, Rodarte or Erdem, I'm certainly no expert on designers and everything that comes out every season. I'd love to have someone who can suggest designers to me that I may blissfully be unaware of, but I'd still effectively want to ultimately style myself.

So I'd have someone who was more of an advisor rather than a stylist. Help and advise me yes - actually style me... no.

However my Advisor-Stylist had better be good and had better listen to what I say or they'd be OUT faster than you can say I like my money where you can see it: hanging in my closet. (Actually that's not the fastest thing you can say, but it's my favourite SATC fashion quote so hey ho.)

I'd bet Carrie Bradshaw would do the same, no...?

IF YOU BECAME A BONA FIDE CELEBRITY OVERNIGHT, WOULD YOU GET YOURSELF A STYLIST? OR WOULD YOU STILL STYLE YOURSELF, CRITICS BE DAMNED?

TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS OR TWEET ME @NOTLAMB!

Just quickly, before the link up - a favour to ask! Could you spare about 30 seconds to vote for me in the UK Blog Awards please...?

I've decided to try for a fourth nomination in a row at the UK Blog Awards in 2018 - would you be good enough to vote for me please? Full details in my post about why I'm entering again here or go straight to the voting page (use every email address you have)! Thank you sooooooo much...!

So all that's left to say is - I've shared my thoughts/stories/tuppence-worth this week, now it's time to share yours... LET'S GET THIS [LINK UP] PARTY STARTED!

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Thank you for joining the #SaturdayShareLinkUp! Designed to allow you to share anything you like on ANY topic, it goes live every Friday at around 8pm UK time and will stay open for a week. You can share blog posts or Instagram posts, old posts or new posts, and link up as many as you like.

PLEASE be kind and leave a link somewhere on your post, and share your post using the hashtag #SaturdayShareLinkUp - if you tweet your link with the hashtag and tag me in @notlamb I'll even retweet it to my followers for you :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up to: Brilliant Blog Posts, Fake It Until You Make It

21 Christmas Party Outfit Ideas (Worn By Regular Over 40 Women!)

2017-12-13T16:04:00.000+00:00

In what will be my final Christmas party outfits post this year (maybe, don't hate me if it's not!), I thought I'd look to some regular over 40 women for inspiration on what to wear this festive season.

So rather than you having to endure me wearing All The Party Outfits, you can feast your eyes on 21 party outfits as worn by my good friends from the Over40Collective instead. What's so great about featuring the members of the O40Co is that our styles are all so different, so there should be something to appeal to everyone in terms of style.

If you're not fond of all the colour and pattern that I wear so much, there are sophisticated looks based around the colour black. If you're a huge fan of sparkle and glitz, however, I've got you covered with all manner of sequins.
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Casual Festive Dressing: A Christmas Jumper Special #iwillwearwhatilike

2017-12-11T15:58:00.001+00:00

After one or two dressed up Christmas party outfit posts, I'm bringing you the opposite end of the festive season dressing spectrum: The laid-back, casual party outfit. Something that's practical, warm and still Yuletide-appropriate.

This is one of those outfits that's all about the Christmas jumper - and oh my god how crazy have sales of Christmas jumpers got in the last few years? What used to be something that Bridget Jones mocked poor Mark Darcy for wearing has now become THE thing to wear at Christmas. Sure, there are many tasteful or elegant ones like my fabulously fluffy sequin reindeer sweater, but truth be told, Christmas jumpers are meant to be a little tacky (and isn't that what we love about them)?

Why has this happened? Did Mr. Darcy start it off as long ago as 2001? I guess we'll never know.
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I've Entered the UK Blog Awards Again - Please Vote For Me? #SaturdayShareLinkUp

2017-12-08T22:37:00.001+00:00

Yes, it's that time of year once again when the UK Blog Awards nomination process rolls around and I ask my lovely readers for their support.

It only feels like 5 minutes since I last asked for votes (though I'm aware it was a whole year ago...), and it's even less time that I somehow managed to win on my third time being shortlisted. It STILL hasn't sunk in even now that I won, eight months later!

So after having a huge surprise also winning Most Addictive Blog at the Thirty Plus Awards only last week, I feel like I'm on a bit of a roll this year (somehow, I don't know how)! This is happening to someone who never, ever won anything or came top in anything at school or competitions. I was just never one of those people who would win things, but I'd always have a good go trying.
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Discount Shopping Heaven for Beauty Junkies: Dover to Calais by Ferry

2017-12-06T15:00:00.002+00:00

At the beginning of last week I went on a little expedition and did something I haven't done since I was 17: j'ai voyagé en France en ferry (I travelled to France by ferry)!

The last time I crossed over the English Channel was with my parents on a holiday to Brittany in 1989 (I'm the youngest of four so it was their last holiday with one of their children before we were ALL grown up enough to go on our own holidays) and it did seem like a lifetime ago. So when I was contacted by P&O Ferries and offered the chance to visit Calais on a day trip via ferry from Dover I was curious as to what it'd be like as an adult. It's amazing how you take the organising of trips for granted as a kid (or even a young adult as I was then) because I remember NOTHING about having to be at a certain place at a certain time, remembering tickets, passports or anything...!

As Keith was unavailable (i.e. couldn't get time off work at this time of year) I asked my two lovely friends Lisa and Michelle if they wanted to come and spend the day with me, checking out what Calais had to offer and to see what the trip over would be like. Unfortunately Michelle got a chest infection at the eleventh hour (poor thing!) so it was up to Lisa and I to get the Christmas spirit kicked off with a day in the French port after catching the ferry from Dover.
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What to Wear to a Christmas Party (When You Don't Wear Dresses) #iwillwearwhatilike

2017-12-04T14:55:00.000+00:00

It's safe to say we're fully into Christmas party season and it's that time when those of us who haven't sorted out what we're wearing yet get into a bit of a panic. "What to wear to a Christmas party" posts are everywhere, but so many of them just include dresses.

If you're NOT the kind of gal who wear dresses much - or simply just prefers to be in trousers - then the co-ords set is your new best friend. There are lots of beautiful co-ords in the shops at the moment (I've featured my favourites further down the post) and decided to style this floral blazer and trousers suit from JD Williams to prove that party dressing doesn't HAVE to mean a dress!
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The Thirty Plus Awards: Winning 'Most Addictive Blog'! #SaturdayShareLinkUp

2017-12-01T19:55:00.000+00:00

What a week I've had... I can't believe it's December already as I've been working non-stop and have barely had time to breathe: Now the week has finished with me unexpectedly winning an award - it's crazy (and of course wonderful)!

The Thirty Plus Awards are now in their second year (I was very honoured to be a judge last year) and several weeks ago someone very kindly nominated me for the Most Addictive Blog Award. That in itself is very humbling, but to be shortlisted by the panel of judges and THEN go on to win (when you're not expecting to win in any way shape or form) is absolutely amazing! I popped up to London yesterday to attend the awards even though I knew(!) I wouldn't win - I wanted to see friends, have a few drinks and celebrate all the amazing ladies doing amazing things in the blogosphere.

But then I won the award in my category...!!
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My Favourite Past Winter Outfits (With AW17 Shopping Links)

2017-11-29T15:52:00.000+00:00

It's properly winter here in the UK now - we have beautiful sunshine but it's truly FREEZING today. I went for an early morning walk at sunrise and I had to be careful not to slip on the icy pavements and roads.

So here we go then: Winter. I consider it autumn until the last day of November, then I'll embrace the coldest, darkest season when December rolls around (and only then). I haven't actually got ALL my winter clothes out of storage yet, so I need to hurry up and get everything out... I keep remembering I have lots of other colour scarves and gloves I could be wearing - at the moment I'm pretty much wearing just one of each (that I left out from last winter) every day!

Today's post is my regular quarterly post for each season where I pick the best of the outfits from previous years and find you some current shopping picks so you can recreate the outfit entirely, or just shop for one similar item and then style it your own way.
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A Vintage-Style Floral Tapestry Coat #iwillwearwhatilike

2017-11-27T15:57:00.000+00:00

Have you ever had your eye on a piece of clothing or an accessory for years (something that was maybe designer and you couldn't afford it, or a one-off piece a friend owned) and it never left your mind because you loved it so much?

Something like that happened with this vintage-style floral tapestry coat I was kindly gifted by JD Williams. It's a very similar type of coat to the vintage tapestry coat I was lent for London Fashion Week several few years ago: the colours are nearly identical, and although that one had a geometric pattern and this one is floral it sort of looked the same to me as I'd remembered it in my head.

Though now I've looked back at the pictures of the first coat they're not actually all that similar, but still - I love this new one! It's surprisingly lightweight (quite a blessing for a coat like this, they're usually as heavy as anything), the colours are gorgeous, and then there's that fur collar. Which is detachable, making the coat soooo much more versatile. I foresee it with different colour scarves or covered in brooches around the neckline.
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The Ultimate Seasalt Christmas Gift Guide | £200 Giveaway

2017-11-26T08:00:00.000+00:00

I've had a wonderful year of working with Seasalt, and to celebrate I'm offering one lucky person the chance to win £200 to spend at the Cornish clothes and accessories brand!

I don't do giveaways very often so when I do it has to be for something special. For this post I've written an ultimate Seasalt Christmas gift guide - their products are exclusive and very different to anything you see anywhere else so you're guaranteed to get special gifts for special people.

All their prints are designed in-house, many products are made with 100% organic cotton and they make the best, most waterproof raincoats you can buy. All wrapped up in plenty of sailor stripes and cosy homewares - I've been a fan for a long time so it made perfect sense for me to tell you all about them during 2017.
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Now Women Are Criticising Other Women For Changing Their Style #SaturdayShareLinkUp

2017-11-24T21:18:00.001+00:00

Here are my favourite Black Friday deals, everyone! Er, actually no... this is a totally Black Friday-free zone. Keep reading if you'd like to hear about something OTHER than how much money I could save you right now. Or maybe I'll 'save' you from all the discount emails that are clogging up your Inbox instead...?!!

Just kidding - but really, there are only so many discount codes or sales I could take advantage of in one day. Here's some light relief:

Women are now criticising other women for... changing their style.

Yes, this has come to my attention this week. Okay, so it may be just one woman criticising one other woman for "changing her style", but still, I'll bet she's not alone. And in the grand scheme of things, as I've said so many times before, all it boils down to is, WHY are women so worried about what others wear? Anyway, to give this perhaps-it's-a-one-off-but-I'll-bet-you-anything-it's-not scenario some context:
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How to Improve Your Heart Health Via Your Omega-3 Index

2017-11-23T15:00:00.001+00:00

Earlier this year I had a wake-up call where my health was concerned. Not a diagnosis or any sort of illness thankfully - it was one of those things you get yourself tested for that you think "I can't be deficient in that, surely...?"

In the same way that people get their cholesterol levels tested, I had my omega-3 index tested as part of the Seven Seas #TrueAge campaign. I wrote a "before" post back in June just after I'd started a trial to see if I could improve my omega-3 index. And oh BOY did it need improving.

Just to recap:

Omega-3, the much-discussed essential fatty acid found in oily fish, helps you to maintain good health as you get older. Its main benefits are to the heart, vision and the brain. The university professor who tested my blood sample explains the reasons for testing your omega-3 index:

"The omega-3 fatty acid content of red blood cells (the fatty acids are in the membrane of the cells) is considered to be a good indicator of how much omega-3s are being eaten. The omega-3s of greatest interest are EPA and DHA.

"A higher intake of EPA and DHA, and so a greater content in red blood cells, is linked with better health, including heart health. This is because the amount of EPA and DHA in red blood cells mirrors the amount in tissues like the heart. Researchers have defined the omega-3 index as the combined amounts of EPA plus DHA in red blood cells and suggest that this index be used as an indicator of heart health, just like blood cholesterol or blood pressure might be used."

So you can understand my desire to improve my index if it turned out to be a bit low. Which it did...
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13 Unmissable Reads, The Best of the Blogosphere (November 2017)

2017-11-22T15:20:00.000+00:00

In my Best of the Blogosphere this month I have two hilarious, tears-inducing beauty reviews, thoughts on being an older blogger, menopause underwear, gifts for teens and more!

(In case you've not seen these posts before my Unmissable Reads are a monthly round-up of things I've seen, watched and liked in the blogosphere that I'm sure you'll love too.)

It seems a particular, very successful YouTuber (rhymes with Floella...) has come under fire this month for producing (and I'm being polite here) a not-very-good-value-for-money advent calendar. There have been SO many reviews of said item on the internet, but don't miss the one that had me in stitches - sarcastic British humour at its absolute best.

I love how YouTubers are now reviewing other YouTubers' products... would you call that life imitating art? Something like that.

Anyway do have a read of these great links - you never know who or what you might discover that makes your day/week/month!

WHAT LINKS DID YOU LIKE - AND HAVE YOU FOUND ANY FABULOUS NEW BLOGS TO FOLLOW? COMMENT BELOW, OR TWEET ME @NOTLAMB!
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The Prince of Wales Check (Glen Plaid) Blazer Trend #iwillwearwhatilike

2017-11-20T14:55:00.000+00:00

Of all the new trends this AW17, this has to be the one I've been hankering after the most: the Prince of Wales (or Glen plaid) blazer.

It may well be all over Instagram at the moment, but you know what? It's not in real life. I haven't seen ONE person wearing one where I live.

Actually that's not entirely true - I did see a rather eccentrically-dressed lady in my town's high street wearing one a few weeks ago. She was probably in her 60s or 70s and the rest of her outfit was... interesting (let's be polite and call her style "bag lady chic"), so I don't think she was the type to be wearing her PoW check blazer in order to keep up with AW17 trends to be honest. But her blazer was spot-on - I almost wanted Keith to stop the car so I could run out and ask to buy it from her. I'd tried so many by that point and not found The One... what can I say, I was desperate!

Luckily I did find The One after three failed attempts to order a check blazer online. Each one was either too long, too short, not the right colour and/or not the right fit. The one you see here, my friends, was the Goldilocks of Prince of Wales check blazers from Zara. It had just a little brown in it to make it a warm colour (as opposed to cold grey) - much more my preference.

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WHILE I WAS ON THE ZARA WEBSITE I HAPPENED TO SEE OTHER THINGS (DAMN THESE SITES THAT HAVE BEAUTIFUL LARGE IMAGERY!) - I ALSO GOT THE WORLD'S SOFTEST SWEATSHIRT EVER EVER WHILE I WAS THERE.

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And of course while I was on the Zara website I happened to see other things (damn these sites that have beautiful large imagery!) - I also got The World's Softest Sweatshirt Ever Ever while I was there. It's not easy to see but this blush pink sweatshirt has grey fur cuffs.

That's GREY FUR CUFFS, people. =le sigh=

I was wearing them pulled out from my blazer sleeves but they'd slipped back inside for the first few photos: scroll down to see them peeking (pulled) out. It's a simple detail but also one that gives you great styling options (and think of all those three-quarter sleeve coats that leave your wrists cold... problem solved).
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