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Inside, Outside & Beyond
The (mid)life and times of a fashion-obsessed, coffee-fuelled, words junkie
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Category: Days Out

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Days Out Fashion Lifestyle

Growing Up, Embracing the Dress and Justin Timberlake #LittleLoves

on April 14, 2017
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Have you been enjoying the sunshine this week? I realised yesterday that we haven’t had any rain at all over the Easter holidays – I reckon that’s a first! The…

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Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery, Cocktail Making class, Celebrations for turning 50
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Beyond Days Out Opinions Reviews

Wish You Were Here? Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery in Laverstoke, Hampshire

on January 18, 2017
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All we needed was the excuse of a 50th birthday and one Gin Cocktail Masterclass plus Gin Tour, was booked. With three months to look forward to the event, Sunday…

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A 40-something mum to teens on a quest to find the 'me' who got a little lost amongst the school run mayhem. With a love for fashion, interiors and trying to get the very best out of life, I'm not ready to give up yet!

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Favourite Reads

Map and Family

What Mel Did

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We are THAT family

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Does My Bum Look 40 

Picture Taker Memory Maker

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Instagram post 2152194923591754770_41401028 Yesterday was #worldmentalhealthday. But you all know that, it was impossible to miss. It’s amazing how far we’ve come isn’t it? 10 years ago, it wasn’t even a ‘thing’ or if it was, people didn’t post about it, raise money for it, or wear yellow in support of it. But something left me feeling grossly out of sorts yesterday and I couldn’t work out what it was. Until a friend so eloquently voiced it on Facebook, at about 9pm last night. The current struggle is not getting people to realise that mental illness is a real thing or that it’s okay to ask for help - thankfully, this message seems loud and clear - the immediate issue is that when people do speak up, there is no help or the help being offered is woefully inadequate. When someone bravely says ‘I’m struggling, please help me’, their words need to be met with compassion and understanding, followed by a clearly laid out plan of how they are going to get better. Exactly what you would get if you had a physical illness. What you are too often met with, is misunderstanding, invalidation, a pathetic offer of talking therapies (if you’re deemed suitable for the 12 month waiting list) and a prescription for anti-depressants. If you need immediate crisis support you have to plead (or make half a dozen serious attempts on your life) for someone to take you seriously. At which point you’re either packed off with the promise of a phone call the following day (which may or may not come) or taken to the 1 hospital in the county that serves 1 million people. Once in said hospital, the care is distinctly lacking - no therapy, a meeting with your psychiatrist once a month (if you’re lucky) and four walls to stare at when you can’t sleep due to a noisy ward full of unsettled, very ill patients. This is today’s reality and it simply isn’t good enough. If someone had cancer or had been in a car accident, there would be a clear treatment plan and money would not be an issue. Why is this not happening in our mental health service? I don’t usually speak about this on Instagram as it’s my ‘happy place’ but the first step is informing people. Sadly I know first hand that this is really happening and it needs to change.
Instagram post 2150090439998651541_41401028 Just another photo of me in the green shirt of dreams 😍. As I’ve gained a few new followers recently (thanks to @lucysheridan’s #thegoodgram project) I thought it was time that I introduced myself properly. This is me in my natural habitat 👋 probably procrastinating over one of the many thousand household chores (life with teens and 2 dogs is busy, let me tell you!) on my to-do list. I joined Instagram back in 2014 because I was a blogger and it seemed like the kind of thing that bloggers do (did I tell you that I’m always first on a band-wagon?). More recently I’ve been questioning what I’m doing here (in a good way) and I *think* that I’ve found the answer - I love building community and discovering like-minded people, either in real life or online, it gives me a buzz. So if you’re wondering whether we could be Insta chums, I generally post about fashion for the 40+ woman who is desperately trying to avoid ending up in Frumpsville. I occasionally spill thoughts from the pit of my addled brain and I like to mix it up by sharing some of the realities of living with teens. And it wouldn’t be Instagram if I didn’t share something pretty once in a while, so fresh flowers and a new cushion (shallow? Moi?) fill me with equal joy. A few more random facts about me: I used to speak fluent French 🇫🇷 (I’m now rusty at best), I’m definitely an accidental dog owner 🐶🐶 and I’m a Christian. By that, I mean that my faith underpins everything that I do. I don’t tend to ram my thoughts down people’s throats but every now and again, you might get a glimmer of what that looks like for me. I love to chat on here so if any of that floats your boat 🚣‍♀️ , please do stick around. If it doesn’t, then close the door on your way out 😜. As @lucysheridan says, there’s no point in having the wrong audience and to be honest, I’m way too old for all the game-playing (Lucy didn’t say that last bit btw, I did 🤣). So tell me...why are you on the ‘gram? It doesn’t have to be anything monumental, I’m mostly here for the craic. #thisisme #40plusstyle #over40fashion #over40style #midlifeunplugged #midlifematters #myinterioroasis #myhomevibe #mumstyle #dresslikeamum #notafrumpymum
Instagram post 2147169247428058013_41401028 Cheers to this life motto. I’ll put my hand up 🙋🏻‍♀️ and admit that I don’t find this at all easy to put into practice. Hence the reason why the quote is in my kitchen to serve as a reminder every single day! This week I’ve found myself getting really wound up by fairly small things. It’s important to work out what is worth fighting for and what isn’t so that when you need it, you have the energy to see it through. That’s the part I find hard...in parenting, work, relationships, general life. Can you relate? #lifemotto #myhome #thegoodgram #quoteoftheday #lifequotes
Instagram post 2144973075300893840_41401028 Do you ever have days when all you want to do is this? I’m kind of faking activity today because after 2 birthdays in as many days, I’m good for nothing right now. You know what I’ve realised over the past 2 years or so? It’s okay to crash and burn some days. Today I’m listening to podcasts, putting some washing on, cuddling my doggos, then going to have my hair cut. The rain has just started so I’ve even decided to let myself off the dog walk hook. Yes, I’m in rebellious mode today! How do feel about lazy days? Actually I think we should rename these days because we aren’t being ‘lazy’ we are being kind to ourselves. #thegoodgram #midlifeunplugged #midlifematters #selfcareday #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram #cosyhome #under15k
Instagram post 2143491603012343023_41401028 Only 3 more years son and you can indulge legally! This boy turns 15 today and I can’t quite believe it (I say this every year, you’d think I would be used to him growing up by now 😂). We are currently in the stage where I remind myself daily, that my kind-hearted, loving, helpful boy WILL return one day (oh the teenage years are cruel 😫). He still gives his mum a hug though so it’s not all bad 🥰. Happy birthday son, you make the world a better place. Keep being you. #mumandson #parentingteens #midlifeunplugged #motherhood #littleflashesofdelight #101thingsthatmakemesmile #freeupmyinsta
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