I’m reading a really inspirational book which concentrates on celebrating the most ordinary things in our lives that we often take for granted – one of my New Year Resolutions. The book takes the reader through a journey month by month so I’m really looking forward to using it on a daily basis to help me appreciate my life and notice what I have to be grateful for.

Earlier today I came across a great quote attributed to the fashion editor, Diana Vreeland  ’A little bit of bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika’. How true. Sometimes it can be so boring to be ‘perfect’ and ‘tasteful’ in our clothing. I’m all for some funkiness and, as we get older, I believe it’s even more important to show up as an authentic individual. It’s not having bad taste that’s the problem, it’s having NO taste that’s the sin.

The book I’m enjoying so much is by the wonderfully astute and observant writer Sarah Ban Breathnach.  She has written many absorbing and thought provoking reads but this one is just suiting my needs right now. Entitled Romancing The Ordinary, you can buy at any decent bookstore or from the even more reliable Amazon.   I guarantee you’ll become a huge fan.

If you’re anything like me and loathe exercising on your own, then take a look at these as they might just change your mind.

These beautiful intertwining dumb-bells weigh a kilogram each so great for toning the biceps and triceps thus preventing the unspeakable  batwings. When you’ve finished, they transform into a fabulous sculpture you can proudly display. Just don’t leave them there too long!

http://www.stylishlife.co.uk/menu-c-42.html

One of FFat50′s experts, the fabulous Karen Devine, has just landed her own TV show. How exciting is that? The Last Resort is shown on SKY Channel 973 from tonight, January 4th, and follows a group of individuals battling to overcome their demons with the help of three world class professionals, one of which is our own Karen the nutritional expert. The conditions addressed include agoraphobia to binge drinking and the idea is to transform individual lives within 10 days using a 3 pronged approach to cleanse the mind, the body and the spirit. Tune in to watch how it all unfolds.

You can also benefit from Karen’ s advice by listening to her words of wisdom on nutrition specific to our age group. Go to the Shop/Podcast section on this website and you can purchase the mp3 download unique to Feel Fab at 50. The hour long interview is also available as a downloadable pdf if you prefer to read.

http://shop.feelfabat50.com/index.php?maincat_id=1

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and Santa brought you everything you wished for. As it has been really cold, with frost and snow clogging up the roads, I wanted to invest in a really snuggly dressing gown, preferably one that would reach my ankles rather than ending mid calf. Found the perfect one in M&S but was a bit shocked, to say the least, that I needed a size 16-18/long. I know there is no standard sizing but I’m normally only 8-10 with very short legs, so didn’t think any overindulgence on my part would have had quite that effect! Not sure what I would have thought if I were a size 18. Be warned.