Happy Christmas.
 
As an early Christmas gift, I’m offering you the chance to receive ‘All You Need to Succeed’ for absolutely nothing i.e. totally FREE of charge. Usually retailing at £24.99, the package consists of hours of interviews with wonderfully illuminating experts covering every conceivable topic you’ll need to know about in your 50′s (and possibly before).
 

As I’m feeling super generous I’m offering my Fabulous Foundations package, also for free. Three downloads advising you on how to look your very best -using the basics. Invaluable information, whatever your age. Usual price £19.99.

As they are totally free of charge, why not offer them to your friends. It can be your gift to them. No postage and no hassle, just brilliant information they can listen to time and time again.
 

The link for both programmes is here:
 
http://shop.feelfabat50.com/index.php?maincat_id=12

(scroll down for the All You Need to Succeed package)

Have a great festive season and I hope 2012 is all you wish for.
 
Happy listening
 
Sue

I’m thrilled to see the 4 lovely ‘mature’ ladies in the new Strictly Come Dancing competition starting this Saturday, with 3 of them, including the two in the photo’s, being over 60 – amazing. They are fantastic role models for women our age. I think they look so much more confident and sexy than their younger counterparts. Just goes to show that you don’t have to be old to dance. In fact, it’s probably more ageing not to dance!! Here’s to getting our dancing shoes out.

I see Dallas is making a comeback, starring some of the original actors. Expecting grey haired senior citizens, I was completely taken aback when I saw photo’s of Linda Gray.  The actress, who plays Sue Ellen, looks even more amazing and gorgeous than she did in the original series, yet she is now 70 years old. Wow! Whatever she’s doing, I want some. Reportage says she works out 6 times a week so she can keep up basketball practice with her grandsons.  With that in mind, perhaps I need to get my trainers out!

http://www.lindagray.com/ for  more info about Linda and her worthy charitable work.

Fashion Feng Shui – The Art of Dressing with Intention

If you want to know how to dress to get what you want out of life, take a look at the following video clips. My contribution to last year’s Feng Shui conference. Enjoy.

For the past few weeks my friend and Fashion Feng Shui mentor, Evana Maggiore, has been participating in the Chopra Center 21 Day Meditation Challenge – something I would really like to fit into my daily routine. This is what she said about her experience to date:

“ One is supposed to download and listen to one recorded session everyday, but I have not been that digligent. Sometimes, my day gets going so quickly that I forget I’ve committed to this daily practice. Othertimes, my morning meditation is cut short by some other family, pet or friend induced interruption. One thing I do remain vigilent about is that the intention to do so remains in tact. I don’t give up just because I haven’t had a perfect attendance record.

This experience has been extremely validating. Every day, I receive a wonderful tidbit, such as “Ritual + Meaning = Transformation.” That’s what Fashion Feng Shui is all about! Taking an every day act and learning how to do it meaningfully in order to transform your look and life. Wow.

If you would like to participate in the FREE 21 Day Meditation Challenge sign up here: http://www.chopra.com/meditationchallenge. Just the sound of Davidji’s voice is worth your time!

I have a really busy life and a husband who is not keen on holidays in the UK or abroad. This means it’s often difficult for me to switch off completely, forget about my lovely clients, my writing, my teaching and my business generally.

So following up from my Spa break last weekend I have made a concerted effort to do no work – unless you count writing this blog as working. I have met up with friends and colleagues for coffees and days out, attended daily yoga classes and stretched my body into shape, read a brilliant novel, bought a bright pink  YSL lipstick (I LOVE it)  and generally done nothing more strenuous than my daily Killer Sudokos, another passion.  I’ve knocked alcohol on the head for the last few days, though the weekend beckons and so do a couple of glasses of wine, and ate supremely nutritious food (apart from a couple of heavenly cappuccinos and a piece of divine walnut cake). The only TV I’ve watched is my beloved cricket – Test Match against Pakistan and the fantastic Eoin Morgan, so no depressing news, police dramas or sensory stimulation. How do I feel? Fantastic. You should try it. I might not be able to keep it up but for a few days it really is heavenly.

I’ve just returned from a long weekend break with Leisure Plan Holidays. I use them frequently, as they are SUCH good value for money and experts in the field of fitness and looking after yourself (but you can still have a drink!!) 

This particular break was at the newly refurbished Met Hotel in Leeds. I was astounded by the fantastic quality of service I was shown by EVERY member of staff. I know I shouldn’t be surprised as this what hotels are supposed to do, but it’s rare to find it these days. So I can heartily staying there. Some of the bedrooms have seen better days but the food in the Tempest restaurant is to die for.

So having been pummelled, oiled, soothed and reflexologied out I am content with the world AND also the great sale at All Saints, just down the road in the Victorian Quarter!!  More on that tomorrow.

http://www.fitnessfiesta.com/bodycare-breaks.php

As many of you will be aware I, alongside many of you reading this blog, have had challenges with eating disorders in the past and a battle to keep my weight where I’d like it be be. Luckily, most of my struggles with food have gone but my curiousity was piqued by a new book hailed by Oprah – a well documented yo-yo dieter – as the ‘bible’ for anyone with issues around eating.

Geneen  Roth has bought understanding and acceptance to tens of thousands of women from all over the world about why they have such great emotional attachments to what they put (or don’t put) into their mouths. Her simple techniques and practical advice help resolve the conflicts and put an end to the powerful anguish that only someone with these issues can understand. As a fellow sufferer, she can put herself in our shoes and so she is totally believable. 

Yesterday I read her latest book, the one which Oprah so loved, called ‘Women, Food and God’.  It was brilliant. It’s about ending the struggle of dieting, forcing, depriving and continually trying to fix ourselves. Through a process called inquiry, Geneen teaches how to actually feel our feelings instead of numbing them with food. Included are exercises to help us drop below the continual chatter of our busy minds to a direct experience of presence and clarity. Instead of repeatedly struggling for the next thing that will surely, finally make us happy, we can realise that all we want – all we ever wanted – is right here, right now.

What a HUGE relief.

If you would prefer to listen to her, rather than read, Geneen has a fabulously rich website full of CD’s, downloads and US tour dates for you to sample.

http://www.geneenroth.com/women_food_and_god.php

I’ve just bought the new book by Lulu looking for an insight into her secrets for looking amazing. I can’t believe how youthful and radiant she looks and, as she’s 61, I decided I need some of what she’s on before that age descends upon me.

Interestingly, I have already picked up on some of her tips which reflect the changes in our bodies as we get older. I don’t mean the obvious, such as staying out of the midday sun, giving up smoking and so on but things like cutting down on fruit (too much sugar), eating lots of greens (every meal), enjoying quality and not quantity of my favourite things such as coffee, chocolate and alcohol (not only do I put on weight but I don’t sleep either).  She is also a huge advocate of yoga, walking ( I have books on it – and that’s as far as I’ve got), and meditation (also on my ‘must do’ list but unfortunately at the bottom).

I’m thrilled she’s still in love with fashion and accessories though not bags (that’s very like me at the moment – perhaps the IT bag has had its day at last?).  I also agree whole heartedly with her styling tips, which are definitely on a par with the ones I’d give you.

Wise and beautiful with a youthful curiosity, high energy and a fantastic radiance, Lulu’s definitely an inspirational icon that I’ll be referring to as I grow older.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LuLus-Secrets-Looking-Good-Fabulous/dp/0007310544

My lovely  friend and yoga teacher is offering the most amazing one day yoga retreats at her fabulous home (complete with brand new custom built yoga studio) at Pentney Lakes in Norfolk.

Tanya is the most generous of women and her package offers 3 hours of yoga plus lunch. The afternoon is your free time to utilise in whichever way you feel is right for you – walking, jet skiing, relaxing in the beautiful surroundings.

The price – just £25 per person! The groups will never be larger than 8 so you know you’ll also get individual attention.

She is running them every other Monday starting in May.

For more info, contact her in 01760 444294 or tkp1@live.co.uk