What to wear to the Races- #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Morning my friends.
Are you doing well and staying sane being stuck indoors?
We all seem to be going a bit stir crazy in mine, fortunately we have a big garden where the kids can play to there hearts content, but they are still wanting needing to be getting back to some sort of normality.  It's hard to explain why they can't go the school, after-school clubs and have friends over for play dates.  I can only imagine how hard it is for families stuck in flats with no garden to enjoy - I feel for them.
One thing I am enjoying at the moment is cooking for a larger family. (My daughter and family are living with us). Normally I've only two kids at home both of whom often do their own thing, I'm relishing the fact I can cook for six again, although I've had to adjust everything and it's almost like learning from scratch.  To keep a routine we've been planning our meals in advance which has made a big difference, I don't want to be shopping all the time like I usually do, so with our proper menus I know just what to buy - it's made it a whole lot easier. 
Some of our meals were: Spicy Prawns, Chicken & Mushroom Pie, Roast Lamb, Meatballs with Spaghetti & Stir Fry.  I'm not even going to think about their house being finished and them moving out!  I'll be going through the empty nest tears all over again!

Let's do a little daydreaming shall we?  These photos taken over three weeks ago are literally the last photos I have to use.  I'm hoping one of the children will take more for me. 🤞
I bought this dress for a party back in January, but opted for another so this was holed up in the wardrobe ready to be worn at the drop of a hat.  Don't you think it would be perfect for a day at the races?  Well let's imagine that's where I'm off to all dressed up in my glamorous dress.

March Review.

Morning my lovely friends.
Hope you are all okay.
So how's your weekend been?
Me I've had a fabulous and very busy weekend with an evening at the pub having fun with friends, shopping for a new dress on Saturday, followed by a fun and lively evening at a friends party - overloading on the drinks as well as setting the dance floor alight.  Sunday was a mad, day after a very long lie in I had brunch with the family, we all decided to go out for an afternoon pub meal.  The night ended with tea and biscuits watching telly with the grand-kids tucked up in bed.  Imagine my upset when I woke up and realized that it was all a dream with lock-down still well and truly in place and having not ventured outside the door!!! How annoying eh? Ha ha ha!!!
Anyway enough of the dreaming, I'd like to share a new post with you today.  Each month I'll be reviewing the past month and re-visiting some of my previous posts.

This plan seems to have come at the right time. It's coincided with the 'c' virus & I genuinely don't have any new photos (or outfits for that matter)!  Do join me at the beginning of each month when I'll be re-visiting some blog posts.

The beginning of March seems a lifetime away doesn't it?  Life has changed almost beyond recognition hasn't it!  Back then I was eagerly looking forward to my daughter and her family moving in with us, little did I know that by the end of the month they would be with me and we'd all be in lock-down together - how strange things have of working out for the best.  I'm lucky to have three of my grand-kids to kiss and cuddle when I want.  Sending virtual kisses to everyone else in my family. 💗

A Fun Spring outfit - #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Good morning my friends.
I've been having some real moments lately, wondering just what's happening!  I feel a bit 'lost' not really knowing what I should be doing.  Should I be blogging, should I be devoting my time to my family, should I be panicking or acting normal.  I've decided to try and work some routine back into my life.  With my daughter and her family living with us it's such a different world for me without the dreaded 'c' word joining in!  So by the beginning of next week I hope to have planned my days to establish some sort of routine - starting with exercise of some sort.

It's been so nice to see some of your blogs over the past couple of days, some of you are sharing your views on the Coronavirus, others have decided to omit any reference to the dreaded word.  I've toyed with the idea of reducing posting to once a week, but really don't want to resort to that just yet! I'll carry on as I normally write, mentioning when I feel it's fitting.
I'm hoping my daughter will be able to take some photos for me as understandably Esther won't be able to.  So please stand by for some possible photo-bombing from the grand-kids at some time! Lol.

Today I thought I'd share a fun outfit that I'd don in an instant for a Spring day out ... well out anywhere would be nice really!!!

The black edging really takes it up a notch and makes this exquisite jacket a timeless classic.

Style not Age - Denim Directions.

Hi there lovelies.
How are you and what have you been up to?
It's hard to get motivated and wear anything that's sort of resembles stylish at the moment isn't it?  These days I'll be found wearing something comfortable and very casual.  My grand-daughter is staying with me at the moment and asked if she could pick something for me to wear.  When I came out of the shower she'd picked three outfits.  The first was a newly acquired green dress from my daughter, the second my mustard coloured Spring dress and finally my yellow trousers with a pretty sparkly jumper.  I have to admit my first choice would have been the elegant green dress but thinking it through sensibly I ended up wearing a boring grey velour suit with a black tee shirt! Crawling on the floor with the kids and preparing dinner just didn't seem the 'right' occasion - ha ha ha.

Today you find me sharing the fashions' of my four blogger friends who, along with me, are sharing their interpretation for the prompt set by our newest member and previous co-founder of the 5 over 50 collective Gail ....
Denim Directions. 

Double Denim Anyone? - #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Hi there my friends.
Good morning all.
How are you coping with the on-going issues of the Coronavirus?  It really is like a living nightmare.
But I'm not going to add to your worries, instead I'm going to share another of my favoured outfits from my wardrobe.
You've seen this chambray dress before, probably on a couple of occasions.  It's a tad too large for me, but as it has a belt it can be cinched in at the waist for a more fitted look.
Today I've gone double denim by adding my cute jean jacket - it's rarely off my back come the summer months, and I really should be replacing it this year, but with the current situation I'll be keeping this one for the time being.
The shirt dress can be layered for cooler Spring days where a thin tee shirt and/or jumper can be added for warmth. 
These photos were taken pre-lockdown so today I'm elegantly styling a lounge suit (pj's) negligee (dressing gown) and comfy mules (slippers) lol!

Shades of Grey.

Dear friends.
Let me start by saying I hope you are all staying safe and well.  In these uncertain times we need to draw upon the strength of family, friends and loved ones all the more.  I'm so fortunate to have a wonderful family around me, and we all lean upon each other at different times.  I hope you are lucky enough to have such wonderful people around you. Let's pray this awful situation doesn't last long and we are back to some sort of 'normal' very soon. X
After having a rather unusual start to the week, as not only was I supposed to be away in Valmorel skiing but my daughter and family moved in with me lock, stock and barrel!  With another daughter self isolating due to suffering with Asthma, its be quite an emotional few days.  I felt yesterday's post was an unnecessary worry that I didn't need, so didn't even attempt it.  Today I'm feeling slightly more settled & feel continuing with blogging will take my mind off the situation - anything positive is a great help eh?

Let's try and lighten the mood, you may have seen me styling a pair of culottes recently.  I paired them twice with pale pink and also with lemon.
With so many other options to chose from I've had fun creating more styles. Plenty of you suggested 'all grey' pieces and that's what I went with today - shades of grey.

How are you dealing with the 'C' Word? #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Morning all.
How are you?
Me .... I'm not happy, have had to cancel my weekend away skiing!  Like many of you the Coronavirus has taken me by surprise and I've been forced into a living nightmare, yes I know I'm being extreme but that how it feels.  Bare shelves in the supermarket, cessation of clubs, closure of restaurants and bars it feels like we're starring in a film, & an epic that receives an Oscar at that!
With messages being read differently by people I can't help but feel anxious.  I'm anxious about the kids, grand-kids, my mum, friends, work and getting food!  I have good cupboards to be fair, so shouldn't worry about that.  It's the not knowing what will happen, and having too much spare time doesn't help.  Please share what you are all doing. X
I keep telling myself and everyone else that "nothing lasts forever" and this virus wont either!  We just have to ride the storm and try to stay calm and positive throughout.  Along with the awful stories on the news and media sites there are also the heartwarming kind and loving ones.  I've just seen a family holding banners and balloons outside their 85 year old mum's flat - it was her birthday and she was isolating in a care home.  People are offering to buy shopping, walk dogs and collect medicine. Humans have a way of picking themselves up and working through horrible times.
Today I didn't feel it right to share a frivolous outfit post, so I am just hosting the #Chicandstylish #LINKUP and would love you to join me with any post you'd like to share.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON COPING
AMIDST THE CORONAVIRUS!

Floral Dresses for Spring & Summer.

Hi there.
How are you?
I'm feeling very sad and rather miffed to say the least!  You see I found out yesterday that the ski slopes across France are closed - yes CLOSED so no skiing next weekend for me!!!  I'm so upset I'll be missing out because of this bloody annoying Coronavirus. So no cheeky weekend for me 😠 you can see last years venture here, I'll have to live on those memories for the foreseeable future eh!
This virus has really turned our lives up-side-down from cancelled holidays to empty shelves in the shops the likes of which most of us have ever seen before.  Last week I tried to book my usual online home shopping delivery.  Every week I complete my shopping on a Friday evening to have it delivered sometime to suit on Saturday - none were available for Saturday, Sunday or Monday not even the click and collect were available!!! WTF!!  I actually had to go into store on Sunday to shop which, to add insult to injury, made me spend much more than normal (mainly due to pondering too long in the drinks aisle) lol.  Not only am I not going skiing it looks very dubious whether my trip to Scotland and the Hen weekend to Majorca will take place either - uncertainty makes it ten times worse!  Have you been affected by this dam virus?

One thing I am certain about is my love for Spring wear!  I adore wearing lighter garments in the warmer months and my wardrobe reflects it, so having that to look forward to makes my lack of winter fun a bit more acceptable.  So let's take a look at what makes Spring fashion great.
I picked the dress from a selection in Primark.  They always have super styles available in store which are great copies, but at a snip of the price.

Black Trousers a Top Ten Must- #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Morning my friends.
This over fifty blogger is getting a tad fed up with the weather now - why wont it just go away and let the sun shine? With that said I've woken up to glorious sunshine today, but with ever changeable weather who knows what this afternoon will bring!
It's been a quiet month for Mummab, but I'm on the countdown to a really busy April, May and June.  There's two weekend's away with a string of birthdays in April followed by the Hen & Stag weekends culminating in my son's wedding in June - with a few more birthday scattered about it'll be a hectic few months I'm sure.  My first trip is to Valmorel for a couple of days skiing.  If you follow the blog you'll know I'm a keen skier, and love to go 'play in the snow' at every opportunity - catch my recent visit to Italy (pre-Coronavirus).  As I'm only going for a few days I don't need much, so an overnight case will suffice.  Driving down through France re-creates our previous holidays with the kids years ago, I have fond memories, although at the time I'm sure it was hard work with 5 kids.  My daughter is coming with us, so it will be good to re-live some of the memories with her.  In my case will be a couple of pairs of jeans, ski gear, two nice tops/blouses and a pair of comfy boots - so excited I'm going to pack this weekend - ha ha!

Today's outfit is a very classic style, one that I'd love to wear all the time.  The black wide leg trousers have to be on my top ten 'must haves'.  They are a timeless addition to any wardrobe and I have two pairs that I circulate.  One from Bonmarche - see them styled with this beautiful sunflower blouse,  & these I'm sharing today are from Florence and Fred.  I've had them a while and have to say they are a tad too long, but with a high boot I can still get away with it.