Mum on the Run - I've found them, oh yes I've found them! The perfect (Nike) trainers!

On 13th January I wrote about my latest style inspiration, that being our 5 year old daughter's Clarks trainers.  Sad, I know but I just love them - and not particularly for any sentimental reasons (how bad it that?) but just because I like the style.

 

 

Being in possession of several pairs of converse, and with any new pair being eyed eagerly by our 14 year old to the extent that they have to be closely guarded, I decided that it was time to branch out into some non-running trainers. I try and walk to school as often as possible and given that it often involves running alongside a scooter, or running along side a five year old (I wonder if I have gone overboard on emphasising how good exercise is for her!) it's good to have shoes that I am not going to be tottering in, especially as we are often passing stationary traffic, where the potential for ridicule is great.  

 

So, since that post I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of trainers and these were the criteria:

They could not be white - that would make them too much like running trainers, of which I already have a pair;

I didn't want them to be flat (which ruled out Adidas Gazelles and Puma classics) but instead I wanted a slight "incline";

They needed to be a bit nerdy/1980's retro. Why, I do not know, but there we go;

They had to cost as little as possible.

 

So far I have trawled Office, Schuh, JJB, the new Sketchers store, Asics, Adidas online, Topshop, Asos, Gola, New Look, River Island, Nike for Liberty - and they are the ones I can remember - but to no avail.

 

And then this morning it hit me! Sports Direct! Now we are lucky (or unlucky) enough, depending on how you look at it, to have one close to hand. I both hate, and love, that store with a passion. It's great for the children - reasonably priced swimming goggles, shin pads, football boots and so on but the experience is pretty dire and you have to be in the right frame of mind to enter the building - which often I am not, not least because it is located right next to the Ann Summers store and I am frequently fielding difficult questions as we go over the threshold.

 

However, online it is a completely different experience and that's where I found these gems. They are exactly what I am after and being priced from £28 to £38, depending on whether they are the leather version or not, they are heavily discounted too.  They are the Nike Oceana in a myriad of colours from black through to grey, purple, pink, blue and the palest mint green.

 

 

They have the incline that I was after, are just on the right side of retro and come in enough colours to satisfy even the most discerning of customers. I quite like the ones in the top left - fuschia and lime. Great with jeans, ankle length trousers, shorts and even the odd sun-dress. I just need to order myself a pair now. Well, either that or brave the store, minus the children so as to avoid more embarrassing Ann Summers type questions.

Happy Christmas - The Seven Outfits of Christmas

 Skirt from Hush (£65), Boots Jones (now £120) sequin top & Other Stories (£49 - almost sold out) Earrings Kaaren Buchanan (£68 - gift)

I had such great plans for the blog this week but as you can tell from my absence - none of them came to fruition. However I didn't want Christmas to come and go without wishing you all a very "Happy Christmas." I also wanted to say a huge big "Thank You" for reading and for your support along the way. Style Guile will be going into its 8th year next year and I know that some of you have been with me from the start. Without you all it wouldn't be here - so thank you! Hopefully next year I will be able to make time to blog more (famous last words) so I should get to chat to you all a little more regularly. 

I love Christmas Eve - it's probably my favourite day of the year. But I'm really conscious that for many, Christmas can be a difficult time. A "first" Christmas after anything sad has happened must be upsetting, so I want to let you know that amongst the merriment tomorrow, I shall be taking a moment to reflect and to send out virtual hugs to those who need them.  

As I haven't managed to blog much - OK, at all - I thought that I would do a quick round up of outfits from the week, together with a couple of other shots. After all, Christmas is about friends and family as much as the outfits.

This week, I've managed to get out early most mornings with my running friends. Those times are so precious to us all and we love getting some fresh air, some exercise and having a chat. It really sets us up for the day. This shot was taken on top of a railway bridge near to my home, just as the sun was rising. It was such a beautiful sight and just stopping (phew) and taking a moment to think about the run that I had just had with my wonderful friends was a really special time. 

Last Sunday we went to see my Mum and her sister and that too was such fun. This is a photo of her sideboard, which she had set up for Christmas. I felt that it captured the essence of Christmas when I was young, perfectly. So many people liked this post on Instagram that I have wondered about handing my account over to my Mum. Forget the fashion - it's all about the mince pies, the cake frill and the Quality Street. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion and so many people commented and identified with this post. The cake frill in particular had lots of love!

And this was my Mum's coffee table, complete with my Aunt's slippers in shot. You can tell that the children had been at the Pringles.

I seem to have been on my feet a lot this week so it was pretty much flats all the way. Dungarees and a new blouse from one of my favourite brands, Mercy Delta (which they kindly gifted to me) was a really comfortable outfit for a full day of Christmas shopping on Monday.

Our eldest daughter is working in John Lewis at the moment and we spent hours in there, taking every single item to her till just so that we could see her briefly. We also took her for lunch and although she was working, it was a really special day for us all. She loved having us so close. Sometimes people can be horrible to shop staff at Christmas (and some can be lovely) so it broke up her day and although I always chat to shop staff, it acted as a reminder to be super nice to them.

I took our youngest to see Alice in Wonderland earlier on Tuesday and I wore this outfit from Great Plains which I wrote about in my last post. This time however I wore it with trainers from Air & Grace together with a huge scarf from Jaeger which I've had for several years now. It just gave a slightly different twist to things. And I'm still quite traditional when it comes down to what to wear to the theatre/ballet/carol service. It would be wrong to pretend that I had made a huge effort but something other than jeans feels right on those occasions.

On Wednesday I was again in jeans and trainers, which were from Air & Grace. The weather has been so mild that the issue of socks (or lack of them) really hasn't arisen. This coat from Linea at House of Fraser is also perfect for this weather and it adds sharpness to an otherwise very casual and "un-tailored" outfit. Note to self - I must wear some more skirts and dresses.

More sparkles - this time from & Other Stories. And surprise surprise, I'm in (old, Gap) jeans (hence the lack of link) and Adidas trainers -again! On Thursday I had some friends come round for brunch and it was lovely to just sit and chat - particularly as they were my running friends and most of our conversations are interspersed with "Can't talk now, I can talk at the top" or "Ooh this really hurts today" or, as in the case of this morning "I thought that somehow running on Christmas Eve would be easy." Why? Who in their right mind would actually think that, let alone voice it?! (Well apart from me.)

And on Friday I was in....yup, jeans and trainers! These jeans were from Whistles a while ago now and are generally on the tight side, so the fact that I managed to get them on and keep them on all day was a result. I don't know why I decided to do double denim but I like this shirt from Zara and I haven't worn it for a while - so it kind of seemed like a good idea at the time.

We had 9 for dinner that night so there was lots of running around to do, hence the trainers. As we're going away on Boxing Day we had to start our Christmas food celebrations early, so as not to have any left overs. So, our Christmas pudding has already been eaten and the trifle already made and eaten too. I should have photographed it - the cut glass trifle bowl is from my Mum and it's a beauty. I figured that the trifle didn't quite look the same after the first portion had been served.

And look! I'm not wearing trainers! Although I am wearing jeans (Mango from nearly a year ago) and a sparkly top (again) - this time the Great Plains Suraya top (again limited in size). This is clearly not a place to come for outfit inspiration - unless you like jeans, a sparkly top and a splash of colour in accessories.

And then here we are at today and I'm wearing the first outfit. To set the scene, the children and their friends are watching Harry Potter and the Snowman will be on soon, which I love. The tree lights are on, the table is almost set for tomorrow and shortly we're off to Pizza Express before coming home when I will read "The night before Christmas" to the "children". On Boxing Day we're heading for some sun so next time I appear on here, it may well be in a bikini. And if that's not an incentive to keep off the mince pies then I don't know what is. Well, apart from turning a blind eye and breathing in, which is what I will probably do in reality.

I hope that you all have a truly special Christmas. Do come over and follow me on Instagram if you would like to see what I am up to - you can find me here And if anyone is feeling a little blue or in need of a chat, please do just drop me a line anytime. See you on the other side!

Mum on the Run - On the red carpet

Now, I've managed to get myself into a bit of a pickle and I should be really grateful if you could help me to get out of it.

For a while now, Easy Living Magazine has been running a feature entitled "schoolrunway". As well as running a feature in the magazine, they have been asking people to send in photos, via twitter, of what they wear on the school run every day. As I do that already for the blog, it was really easy for me to flick them over to Easy Living too. 

However, it has now been turned it into a competition and yesterday Easy Living suggested that I should enter.  So, what now happens is that the photos are posted on Facebook with a request for people to "Like" the entries. Whichever photo gets the most "Likes" wins the competition.

Now this is where it gets tricky for me.  Unlike twitter, where a) things move on so quickly they are soon superceded by something else, so that even if you look an idiot it doesn't last for long and b) I never get to know if anyone has looked at the photo or not - the whole facebook thing is so much more visible. So, if you felt able to go in and click the "Like" button on the facebook page next to my pic, by following this link  http://www.facebook.com/EasyLivingUK?ref=ts, I should be really grateful.  I don't expect to win but it would be nice to get a couple of votes - double figures would be nice - I'm not greedy!

Progressing on to last night's Style Event... 

Here's a picture of me last night before we kicked off. As you may have noticed, I am wearing the same skirt that I wore for the Marie Claire awards. I chose this skirt for two reasons: First, I knew that I wouldn't have to walk very far in it and so was therefore unlikely to encounter the same irritating hurdles that I encountered when I wore it to the awards in i.e. not being able to move in the flippin' thing and desperately wanting to get home so that I could take it off. Secondly, I thought that the new dress I had intended to wear would work well on one of the models, so I selflessly(!) gave it up for her.

Once I have the OK from the others that they are happy with the pics, I will post a few more.  For now however I am afraid that it is just my mug shots that I can show:

Me being wired for sound - a la Cliff Richard,

Starting my presentation and chatting to the audience before introducing the models and their outfits;

As our eldest said "Well that's as close to the big screen as you're ever going to get." Yes, thank you for that one sweetheart.

Everyone was lovely - the audience, the models and everyone who was there to help with the smooth running of the event.  Can't wait until the next one.

Today I headed back into town and during my trip I spotted these Marni pieces in the window of H&M. They are on display in preparation for the launch of the collaboration between H&M and Marni on 8th March. Predictably I liked the spotty items and some of the jewellery. I am still undecided though about the tribal prints.   

I would love to have been a teacher in our daughter's school yesterday.  Her class were doing a 7 hour sponsored silence for the charity "No child born to die", which is part of Save the Children. What a perfect day! Imagine the sound today though. OK, maybe not.

Toasty whilst running in the snow, thanks to Cocobay

We awoke on Saturday morning to a sprinkling of snow, which I really love running in. It was so pretty out, although it didn't last long and by the time that we got home, the snow had nearly disappeared.

I was so toasty and comfortable in what I was wearing, thanks in part to these bodyglove leggings from Cocobay which are totally brilliant in this weather. They are made from moisture wicking fabric and one of the great things about them is that they kept me at a constant (warm) temperature for the entire run - and have done so on previous long runs too.

Somehow these leggings look so more exotic in the sun!

One of the other things that I love about them, is the waistband. When I first tried them I wondered whether they were a bit snug around the waist but in fact they're not. After a minute or two I'm totally unaware of the waistband, which is wide and fitted and it doesn't shift, not even a millimetre, on a really long run. So whereas before I was stopping and hoiking (I'm not sure if that's a proper word - but you know what I mean) my leggings up every few miles, there's no shifting with these whatsoever. And I know that they must be good because now when a long run is suggested, these pop into my mind as being the leggings that must be washed and ready for action.

I'm also wearing the Seafolly Flower Festival Windbreaker hoodie, also from Cocobay. I really love the print and styling of this jacket and the hood offered perfect protection from the elements without making my head over heat, which hats can do. There are toggles on the hood so that it can be pulled tight enough so that it doesn't fall off. It really is a most attractive look from the front!!! When the warmer weather comes I will be able to lose my heavier jacket but for now at least, I like to layer them up together.

I shall be interested to see how the leggings feel in the warmer months and whether they adjust to the heat. They will definitely be coming skiing with me next week as I think that they will be great under salopettes....that is if I get as far as the slopes. But if not, they will be great for running in (if the conditions permit) or for HIIT training (am I allowed to say whilst watching Joe Wicks without his top on - which is actually quite a pleasant sight)?!

Oh and don't forget that you can get 15% off Cocobay's new range of Activewear with the code BETHACTIVE

Mum On the Run

Mum on the Run is a new daily feature on my blog. Each day -well, that is the plan - I will post a picture of what I am wearing. 

As a "Mum on the Run" I face many of the challenges that lots of you face on a daily basis - too much to do, too little time.  Like you, in any one day I may go from a business meeting, to meeting a client in the shops or at home, to doing the school run, dashing home and doing dinner and homework before getting on with the evening chores.

I am lucky in that styling people is my job - so I ought to be able to do it for myself - but there are always hiccups along the way - right coloured tights, wrong place (the wash maybe), right heel height, wrong shoe.  Black outfit but only a blue coat to go with it, the various lengths of clothes not quite working.  Does it matter?  Together we can find out. 

There are lots of blogs - many of them fascinating - where women have done something not dis-similar.  At the Uniform Project, Sheen Matheiken wore the same dress for a year.  Others create as many different outfits with as few a pieces as possible.  I am not trying to do either  - first,  because they have already been done so well but secondly because I wanted this to be a little different.

There will be successes and failures but what I hope to be able to do is to give you some ideas on how to dress stylishly without breaking the bank, using pieces that you already have in your wardrobe.  Sometimes you may like the colour combinations, sometimes not.  Sometimes you may like the principles of the outfit but not the outfit itself.  My advice is to take on board the positives and leave the rest. If nothing else, I hope that it gives you a giggle.  Fashion is meant to be fun!

A word of warning - I fully expect some of the photographs to be less than perfect but that's fine by me. Whoever happens to me near me on a particular day may get the job of photographing me - so watch out - no mean feat because I hate having my photograph taken!

Why have I called the feature "Mum on the Run"?  Because it has many meanings.  In a literal sense you may be running around - from home, to school, to work, out to lunch, back to the office, back to school - the list goes on.  Or, you may be running from someone - yourself perhaps - or something - or to someone - or something.  Perhaps you are running on empty and need inspiration.  Whatever it may be, I hope that Mum on the Run becomes a pleasurable part of your day.

So, tomorrow is the day to get started.  Let's see how we get on...Gulp!

Mum on the Run day 6 - Colour and Cashmere

Today was the day when I knew that there would be no holds barred running around - and I was right.  Talk about Mum on the Run! 

Not being a fan of jeans with running trainers, I went for the next best thing - converse style pumps. I read in a magazine that it was not the done thing to wear converse in January as it was too cold.  However I figured that February was fine and that it was more important that little one didn't get squashed whilst we were out walking.  In any event running after her kept my feet warm.

Given that it was also a cold grey day I wanted to brighten things up, which I did with a cashmere jumper with a long sleeved top in the same colour layered underneath.  I also added a statement necklace to lift the outfit, which was short enough not to hit the little one in the face when I bent down to her.  I am pleased to say that it all did what it was meant to for the day - unlike others I could mention.

Outfit - Gap jeans long and lean, French Connection long sleeved top, Jigsaw cashmere jumper, Jigsaw necklace, Marks and Spencer sequin pumps (children's).

House of Fraser Activewear - not what you might expect!

Biba Jungle Jaguar Jersey Short (£12) Jungle Jaguar Vest (£17)

Historically, House of Fraser wasn't somewhere that I would have visited, or looked at online, for active wear. And probably if I had, I would have been disappointed, because it wasn't until the end of March this year that they launched their own active wear collection. Their range includes a collection from their own house brands Biba and Label Lab plus pieces from Seafolly, Bjorn Borg and Ted Baker all of which really are worth taking a look at individually - particularly now that many pieces are in the sale - and collectively they are amazing. I don't think that I've ever seen such a wide range of prints, colours, styles and brands in one place. And whether you're after performance wear, or something more fashion related, there's definitely something for everyone.

  

Jungle Jaguar Vest (£17)

This is the vest that I am wearing in the above shot. I actually love it - the colour, the print, the feel and the fit are all amazing. For those who prefer their activewear to be fitted but not skin tight, this is incredible. Stand sideways, breathe in, breathe out and the top looks exactly the same. That's all you need to know really when it comes to its fit! And the fabric has a great weight to it - it must be the 87% polyamide 13% elastane combo - meaning it doesn't leave you feeling exposed and self-conscious.

Jungle Jaguar Jersey Short (£12)

And these are the shorts that I'm wearing. Again they aren't tight, which is perfect for this hotter weather. They will be coming out with me tomorrow on a run, when the temperature is forecast to reach 31 degrees. Eeek. I think we'll be heading out early doors!

The great thing about the Biba Body range is that there are lots of different pieces within the one print, with lots of plain pieces to complement them. So for anyone who doesn't fancy the jersey shorts, there's the Biba  jungle jaguar capri (now £15, instead of £30).

Or for the winter time, or for those who prefer the coverage that a full length running tight gives, there's the Biba  jungle jaguar legging (now £17 instead of £35).

And for those who prefer a shorter short, there's the Biba jungle jaguar running shorts which are now £10.

Now, in addition to the jaguar print, there are also some other gorgeous prints and styles. I've also slightly fallen for the Lazalea Leopard Ombre Tee (£12 down from £28). And I've identified what it is about this range that's so appealing. It's that the active wear comes in prints that I would actually choose to wear in my everyday clothing, so I actually like it for its design and aesthetics, not just because it comes in a capri, or because the capris have a high rise, or because it has a flash of orange on it.

Lazalea Leopard Ombre Tee 

Love this tee from the back. It's just a bit different!

And this print also comes in capris (£15) and leggings (£17) - I've linked to the full range here and in particular I love this lazalea leopard bra top

Or there's the zebra mono print shown in the capris below (the link I've included is to the entire range) which also includes leggings, running shorts a bra top and a bomber jacket.

Or finally, there's the black stallion print which contains lots of pieces but by way of an example, here's the vest;

I've linked to the entire Biba Active Range here as there are a number of plainer pieces that can be layered in amongst the printed pieces to break up the look.

For now I'm heading off into the distance in my full on jaguar jungle vest and shorts with huge thanks to House of Fraser for gifting* these lovely pieces to me. I shall be adding to my collection for sure!

*Just by way of clarification, whilst the active wear was gifted to me, all words and views are my own.

Oh and huge thanks to my friend Ellen, for taking the photos. She was patient beyond belief - active shots in active wear are very tricky to get!

Marathon Moments....

Firstly, I owe so many of you a huge thank you for your support in the run up to the London Marathon. From those who donated to my fund-raising page, to those who bought items from my Style Guile Sale. To those of you who bought the cakes that I made, who offered Good Luck wishes via cards, email, text, Facebook, Instagram and twitter and of course thanks to those for the words of wisdom that rang in my ears: "Your brain will always tell you to stop but just keep turning the legs." Wise words indeed at mile 25 when I really DID. JUST. WANT. TO. STOP! 

And of course thanks to my friend Libby (I would never have done it without her) and to our long suffering families who endured the journey with us, turning out on the day complete with banners and food for afterwards and by no mean logistical feat, making sure that they saw us as often as they could. 

After all of your support, it's only fair that I share a few photos. Not the most flattering but I love them nonetheless.  All of them are taken somewhere between miles 14.75 and mile 22 - apart from the last one which, as is pretty evident, was taken at the end. 

The day was fantastic. In fact the whole weekend was fantastic. It was really like a girls' weekend away for us with a bit of running thrown in. We were disciplined and didn't do any shopping, or sight seeing as we needed to keep off our legs -  but we went to the Mae Deli (Deliciously Ella's Deli) for our pre race dinner of sweet potato, roasted veg, rice and hummus plus (in my case at least) the most enormous piece of peanut fudge brownie - which was delicious.

In our hotel room the night before, we managed to spend five hours doing nothing other than eating, fixing our race numbers to our tops, sorting out kit, attaching the chip to our trainers, checking and re-checking kit and our race bags. Talk about a lot of time spent doing - well not a lot really.

As to the race itself, the volume of runners was phenomenal. The atmosphere was incredible - a bit like a huge party but also tinged with sadness given the causes for which people were running. Oddly the miles whizzed by which sounds crazy. How can you run for 4 hours and for it to go so quickly? A lot of time is spent checking your watch, altering your pace, overtaking, taking on water, remembering to eat, watching for the family, checking you're still both where you're meant to be and so on.

We were really, really lucky. Neither of us got cramp, stitch or blisters. Neither of us needed the loo or hit the wall (well it wasn't likely really given the flapjack, sweets and fudge that we managed to get down us!) and nor did we need to walk. The only real surprise - other than finishing - was that we both got slight sunburn. For those who like a bit of race geek talk, all of our 5k splits were pretty even, averaging about 27/28 mins per 5k. We finally came in at 4.00.13 - just a few seconds more than we would have ideally liked - but not enough to go for a re-match!

You see that's the good thing about having a Physiotherapist for an Aunt. Although it doesn't really look much fun does it? That lactic acid stuff hurts - but only really when I stopped.

And another by product? For a few minutes I couldn't talk, so the only way to retrieve my running bag from the lorries that they are put on was to lift my top and thrust my chest forward with my race number on it to the young man who was handing the bags back. Not once, but twice. Because still I couldn't speak. And now I bet neither can he. Traumatised he must be. Traumatised.

I'm so happy that I managed to raise just over £2000. Thank you again for all of your support. Please do let me return the favour sometime. Beth x

By popular request! How to start exercising....and how to keep exercising......

I've had a lot of people ask me recently about my exercise journey and what I do on a daily basis. I'm always slightly nervous of such posts because there's a risk of coming across either as smug or patronising (or both) and I don't want to be either.  However so many people have asked me to do a post that I thought that I would at least give it a shot. Oh and apologies for the lack of pictures. No-one wants to see pics of me leaping around and I'm nervous of getting sued if I use something that's unauthorised.

I've always loved sport and exercise but I think that between the ages of 22 and 34 it was all a bit hit and miss. I was probably 39 before I got into running again on a regular basis and it's only the last two years that I've seen a real difference in my shape - and that started when I was 44. So all I would say is that no-one is ever too old to start something new, or to change their habits!

In response to the requests that I've had, I've decided to do two posts - a more general one about exercise and then a more specific one about what I actually do during the course of a week.

Before we even get on to exercise though, just upping our activity levels is a starting point. The first things to ditch are the lifts and escalators. It's amazing how much of a workout you can give your heart and legs just by going up a few flights of stairs in a shopping centre. And it probably doesn't take any longer either - and time, as we all know, is often the crux of the exercise problem. 

When it comes to exercise, my first observation is that it definitely helps if you love what you do, whether it's dancing, netball, running, football, tennis, squash, swimming, boxing, Zumba or going to the gym. I think that the only way that anyone keeps motivated or keeps something up, is if it is fun first and exercise second - most of the time. Then it doesn't really feel like you're exercising at all. So working out what you like to do when working out is key. And often going back to what you loved when you were younger is a good starting point.

For me, I like to combine seeing my friends with exercising - so basically if I'm chatting I'm happy. Or I like to watch TV (I know, how bad is that?!) Stick me in a British Military Fitness class and you're likely to find me shouting back at the instructor and stomping off - or just refusing to do it. I like to pit myself against myself and I don't like being shouted at. What that says about me I'm not sure - but there we go!  Also I don't like the time wasted in driving to a class, sorting myself out, doing a class and driving home. The wasted time makes me really stressed. So I'm not a big fan of classes - but for others they're a godsend. For me, exercise needs to be both time efficient and enjoyable (most of the time) - oh and cost efficient too.

Identifying when you are at your best and what your windows of opportunity are, are essential. There are points in the day when the thought of exercise couldn't be further from my mind. I'm hugely admiring of people who are up and out exercising at 5.30am. I just don't think that I could do that. But then again, if it was my only window of opportunity then perhaps I would do it.

And then you just have to accept that sometimes exercise is purely functional - it's not necessarily fun, or sociable and it might be uncomfortable and hurt a bit - but the results are worth it and most of those sessions are fairly short lived. Here I'm talking about specific work-outs for abs, or legs, or arms for example.  But do a session in front of Broadchurch and it's all fine. Or do hill sprints with some great music and it makes all the difference. Or just do half a session. A bit of "cheating" is better than not doing it at all. And as for HIIT workouts which are uncomfortable and sweaty - well the feeling afterwards always makes them worthwhile and at most they last 25 minutes. And if you just can't face it, or feel the need to give up, don't beat yourself up about it. Some days your body and mind just don't work as they should and so it's better to have a rest and try again another day.

But I think that my main advice would be to be kind to yourself and to up your activity or exercise levels slowly. If you chuck yourself into something head first and hate it, it will be demoralising and act as a dis-incentive to keep going. So (power) walk before you run, or do a couch to 5k app, or start with a beginners class, or do it with friends and set realistic, achievable goals for yourself. Or don't set any goals at all to start with and just see how you feel.

And sometimes when it comes to exercise you just have to be a little bit selfish. Try and make a time commitment and stick to it so that you get a routine going. With young children I know that's difficult and frustrating. When ours were little the amount of times I had to cancel plans left me feeling disappointed and frustrated but there's so much that you can do without leaving the house that it doesn't have to be a problem. But more about that in the next post...

A round up of the weekend's outfits (they're not glamourous in the least!)

These are the weekend photos that probably shouldn't be shown to the world but they're all that exist for now.  Plus I always wanted Style Guile to be real life - so I'm going to use that as my excuse for these horrors!

Saturday morning started off with the park run. When it comes to the park run I've realised that age is actually a great advantage.  Clearly not that many women run in my age category which means that it's possible to do a less than brilliant time and still look quite competent (on paper at least). That's my kind of running! Here I'm wearing GAP running clothes, which I really like. They're not great for anyone who prefers a silky, lightweight fabric but personally I prefer a thicker fabric with a bit of support.

Then I decided on my Hush star jumper and a chambray skirt for the rest of the day, plus Topshop shoes. Usually I would choose a slightly more fitted top but it was a relaxed kind of day so, you know, I just went with the flow.

Sticking with the relaxed theme, Jigsaw tencel chinos, a Reiss jumper and converse plus a Kate Spade bag were good for a trip the swings - until it rained and I needed to levitate to keep the white converse white. Such a ridiculous choice of colour for converse!

Kathy's FitBit weight loss story...

After I wrote my first post about the FitBit, Kathy got in touch to let me know how she had managed to lose weight using her FitBit. I was intrigued to find out more, so this is her story, which I am so happy to share because it's realistic, with a healthy approach and fantastic results. I haven't edited what Kathy sent to me because all of it is important, providing a great account of how she achieved her goals, both physically and psychologically.

Kathy prior to starting her FitBit journey

Last winter (October 2014 to Feb 2015) I was poorly with a series of minor illnesses one after another.  I didn't go to the gym and ate too much. I felt run down, fat and out of condition. By the beginning of March I was starting to feel better and keen to get back to the gym. (I've always exercised, even when I haven’t been careful about my weight.)

My Heart Rate Monitor watch was old and not very reliable so to help motivate me I bought a FitBit. I chose the Charge HR model and as our bathroom scales were also old and needing replacement I also bought the FitBit Aria scales. They sync together and your weight is logged automatically. No cheating possible!

I’ve always gained weight easily and the FitBit confirmed what I suspected; that I don’t burn many calories. On a typical day, with little exercise, I am lucky to burn more than 1900 calories.

At first, I focussed on exercise at the gym, and after a month or so decided to start running outside again. The first few times were hard, I had to make myself stay out for 30 minutes! I was going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week doing cardio and some weights, plus an outdoor run once a week. But the FitBit encouraged me, and each week I was running further, faster and for longer. Instead of catching the bus halfway to work, I walked the whole way, and added in as many steps as I could each day. I realised today that I had been spending about £25 a month on bus fares to work. Not a huge amount but in the 10 months I've had the FitBit and been walking to work I've saved £250 – which more than covers the cost of the scales and the Fitbit itself!

By the middle of June I was feeling a lot better and decided it was time to get my weight under control. We had a holiday booked for the end of September so I worked back 100 days until we went, and started dieting from then, using the food logging feature of the FitBit. I set myself a target to lose 2 stone by the time we went on holiday. I managed this with a few days to spare and was really pleased. However I was concerned about putting a lot of it back on it during the two-week all-inclusive holiday, as I would usually do. 

I hoped that I would be able to do less damage this time by making sure I got my step count in each day and swimming as much as possible. I didn't want to put on more than 3lbs. The first day at the resort it rained so I thought I might as well check out the hotel gym. In hindsight, I think that was a good thing for me, as it put me in the right mind-set; yes, I was on holiday, but I could still keep up with the exercise and gym routine. So, from the first day I either went to the gym, doing a circuit-based routine, or I ran outside in the morning, before it got too hot. I really enjoyed this and each day did a different route in and around the resort. I saw much more of it than I otherwise would have, had I just been at the pool or on the deck!

I also decided not to eat and drink whatever I wanted. I avoided the pastries at breakfast and the dishes of Turkish delight. However I ate 3 good meals every day, including a small dessert with the evening meal, and had wine and a couple of G&Ts so I didn't feel at all deprived. I didn't log the calories but made sure I kept up my step count and active minutes each day. For the first time ever I didn't put on any weight on holiday. For me this was a major accomplishment and a psychological breakthrough. I could do it.

When we got back I continued as I had before the holiday and lost a few more pounds so adjusted my target down by 4lbs.  The next hurdles approaching were my birthday which meant a few days in London followed three weeks later by Christmas. The time in London was lovely. I couldn't do my usual exercise, but we did walk a lot. My poor husband! We ate out and I had quite a lot of champagne and cocktails. But again, no weight gained.

With Christmas approaching I lost a couple more pounds, to give me some ‘spare’ as I would surely gain over Christmas, and we would be away for some of the time, so I would miss out on gym and run sessions. So on Christmas Eve I was 2 stone 9lbs lighter than when I got the FitBit back in March. I did put on 3lbs over Christmas/New Year but, I have lost 2lbs of that already and should lose the last pound this week. I have dropped my target down again by 3lbs, and that is now where I am sticking. I feel this is a realistic weight that I can maintain. My aim is to end 2016 the same weight as I started it. I've never managed that before. I've been a typical yo-yo dieter for years, but this time I am determined to break out of that cycle. I firmly believe the FitBit has made the difference; I love the features and the detail it gives you.  

I am motivated by the numbers, and seeing what I am doing. It has become second nature to me and I wouldn’t be without it.

I am the lightest weight I have been in years, and have had to get boxes of smaller clothes out of the loft. Of course, I've also bought quite a lot of new things as well! It was lovely choosing the smaller sizes in the January sales! I am also the fittest I've been in years and I feel great! I'm 51 and can easily hold my own against women much younger than me.

This photo was taken in September 2015, when Kathy had lost nearly 2 stones

So, for 2016 I want to maintain my current weigh and fitness levels. I am still going to count calories for a while, but I am gradually going to increase the daily amount, whilst eating fewer calorie-counted ready meals, or low-fat versions of everyday foodstuffs.  The FitBit makes it easier to do this, and keep on track. Fingers crossed I can do it!

Kathy having lost nearly 3 stones in total. "I am now the sort of person who takes their gear and goes for a quick 5k run before breakfast on a weekend away (I did it every day on holiday too!)"

Kathy has also explained to me how she used the FitBit to log the food that she ate so as to count the calories accurately, so if anyone would like me to share that also, I would be very happy to do so in another post. 

Kylie, cancer and the girl from school...

On Tuesday evening Mr SG and I went to see Kylie in Birmingham except, to start off with, we went to the wrong venue in Birmingham - a venue which isn't strictly in Birmingham at all - but rather one which is near the airport.

As we were driving out of the City we noticed the traffic and commented to one another on how there must be something happening in the City that night to cause the hold up. We even discussed how it had taken Mr SG 40 minutes to get home that evening because "something was going on" and still the penny didn't drop. In fact the penny didn't drop until we reached the "other" venue and there wasn't any traffic at all. Then I actually read the tickets and we did a very quick about turn.

 

[Always good to read the ticket first. Note, the LG Arena and the NIA are NOT the same venue]

What I've realised about those nights out is that they often act as a time for reflection. Yes, you're listening to the music but as well as that there's time to process the things that you don't get time to think about otherwise.

During the concert I looked at Kylie. As well as noticing the miracle of her walking and dancing in ridiculously high shoes and in getting up from a kneeling position without a wince in sight, I noticed her long curly hair and how it had grown back after her chemotherapy. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that she had been diagnosed with cancer - standing in a lift going to the 22nd floor of the building where I worked at the time.

[See, we got there in the end!]

And I remember exactly where I was sitting just a few months ago, when my Mum told me that a girl from school had been diagnosed with cancer. A diagnosis of cancer is never a right thing but this just felt so wrong. On every single level it felt wrong.

There's not much that I can do to help - I'm not a doctor or a miracle worker and I don't live near - but I can run (of a fashion!) and in just over a week I am running the Birmingham half marathon. Via a friend I asked the girl from school which charity she would like me to fund raise for and she said Cancer Research UK.

And that was what I reflecting on when watching Kylie. Should I mention it on here and ask people for sponsorship?  And then I concluded that I would. The blog is generally my voice and sometimes it's good to give someone else a voice.

This morning, my running vest arrived and I took it as a sign that it was time to take action, so here is the link to my Just Giving page for anyone who would like to sponsor me. It's taken me until now to work out how Just Giving works and you know it's really handy because it's just like buying a piece of clothing online - something most of us are pretty good at!

We all have huge demands on our resources whether it be time, money, energy, or all three, and many will have commitments to other charities. But for anyone who feels like sparing a few pennies or pounds, I would really, really appreciate it. And so too, I am sure, would the girl from school.

Mum on the Run - Running a Style Workshop with the help of M&S, Zara, Hobbs, Boden, Warehouse, Cos and others.....

Tonight I am preparing for a Style Workshop that I am running on Friday. It's for a group of ladies who will then be heading off to the Clothes Show. I will be covering all aspects of styling, both practical and theoretical, and I can't wait. Boy George is even going to feature in there somewhere!

 

These are some of the pieces that I will be taking along to illustrate the topics I will be covering, whether it's the shape of the pieces, the trends, colours, outfit building, brands or a particular styling job that they do well.

I will also be taking along shoes and bags - these are just a flavour but further additions will be made tomorrow when I head to other brands which I haven't yet included.

I am also really looking forward to being in the Boden store again tomorrow. I will be there from 10am giving style advice and putting outfits together for different occasions. There will also be a 15% discount, present wrapping and free gifts - so do pop along if you are able to. It would be great to see you!