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Lifestyle

High Five Monday – Podcast Lovin

by thelifestylelady October 12, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

How are you? Happy Monday!! I hope you are all enjoyed the weekend. Mine was quiet which was lovely especially since we have been busier recently and with the impending holiday and birthday season nearly upon us quiet family time will be decreasing. It is good some times to stop and take stock, just take a deep breath and really look around you, I am always wanting to do this more. I think I mentioned before that one of the things I miss most about my life pre-motherhood other than the obvious (being time) is concentration. I am quite sure there is some scientific reason why I struggle to even concentrate on reading a menu. You will know by now that I love to read, a past time which has been a casualty of motherhood mainly because of the concentration. I thought that a listening book might be the solution especially when Little L and I are doing a journey, but low and behold 20 minutes in I have no clue what is going on. My solution is podcasts. I have always enjoyed podcasts, but even more now. The variety keeps me stimulated and interested and I find I am following, learning and laughing along the way. Win win. So I thought today I would share with you some of my classics and some of my new discoveries

Call Your Girlfriend. This is a celebration of friendship in particular female friendship. Ann Friedman (writer) and Aminatou So (Google’s head of Politics and Social Marketing) discuss everything about society. It is very funny and interesting. I always learn and smile throughout from two very impressive ladies.

The Great Courses. If you are not familiar with this website then you are missing out. I am always trying to learn more about this wonderful place in which we live and this website and podcast assist in my inquisitive nature. Each podcast is led by another engaging professor from some of the worlds best universities. It has a vast repertoire and is bound to cover a topic you want to discover more about. I always come away more informed and better educated on world affairs.

Stuff You Missed In History Class. If your history education was anything like mine you know a great deal about a small moment in history. I took history all the way until college, but most of my history studies had been focused on the twentieth century. That left many gaps in my knowledge. This is quite American centric and is part of the how stuff works series. I enjoy discovering and learning about people and places in history and this podcast is right up my street.

BBC Radio 4 Today Show & Woman’s Hour. Call me bias but I think the BBC is a world leader in broadcasting journalism and I believe that Radio 4 is its flagship. If I want to get a good grasp on current world affairs it is the podcast of The Today Show I turn to. We can all get busy and miss out on important issues and this podcast informs and educates. Similarly Woman’s Hour podcast keeps me informed on issues women related. There is no “burning bras” here it contains interesting discussion and debate for women. Couldn’t live without either.

This American Life. This is a podcast of a public radio show from Chicago. It has won all broadcasting awards and covers a vast plethora of topics from society and culture. It is highly popular and rightly so.

So I realize that many of my choices are education and current affair focused, but that is mainly what I am into. I also listen daily to podcasts of LBC a British talk radio show, which I always find fascinating, listening to differing opinions. What podcasts do you love? Get in touch.

Ta Ta for now

TLLx

October 12, 2015 0 comment

Editorial Lifestyle

High Five Monday – Loving October

by thelifestylelady October 5, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Monday! How are you? Good weekend? Mine was really fab! Pampering, time with friends and family equates to a LL happy weekend. The cherry on the cake was arrival of a cooler front in Texas which brought with it temps of 70 and 80 which was wonderful. It was well-timed arrival as we welcomed October (can you believe that?) October to me is a wonderful month. Where I live it is finally cools enough to feel like Autumn, it also brings the change of colors and it is the quiet before the storm of November and December which are so busy! It’s all about harvest, and appreciating the land. I love to be outside enjoying the fresh air. Today on the blog I thought I would share what I love about October. What do you love about October? What have I missed? Get in touch.

Sips. October brings such variety in the drinkie area, we start to transition back to warm coffee and travel mugs. (LLL my Starbucks gold travel mug) It also starts the pumpkin spiced coffees which I must admit are not my thang but all my friends love. My friend has written a great blog post on pumpkin coffee, check it out. For those of you who like an adult drinkie, October brings the world-famous Oktoberfest, and many other mini versions all across the world. I am quite sure every town and city will have something related. The beer and cider companies all celebrate by creating pumpkin spiced beverages, which are delicious.
Slippers & Sweaters. Yes cozy time, the cashmere can come out, you want to remove your feet from boots and place them in warm slippers. You can wrap up in knit-wear and go out without sweating. YAY! Dont get me started about throws and blankets!!!
Scary. Yes Halloween time. I mentioned in an earlier blog that I am not crazy about Halloween but I do enjoy the decoration and preparation of a holiday. I love that it is a start of a new tradition with Little L. We have been sorting her costume and reading all about the fun of it all.
Sports. Yes you are to be amazed that this made the LL list. It is not really for me more for Mr L and my friends, but I am slowly getting more into American Footie and October is a good month because the season is well underway. For my UK friends the footie and rugby season are well underway as well. For TLL it means Mr L is happy to stay in and watch footie so I can go out and have a few gal nights (win win!)
Senses. Yes the smell, sounds and sights of October are amongst my favs. The smell of Bed, Bath & Bodyworks candle Leaves captures October in a smell. I’m probably crazy but I also love to go outside and inhale the fresh (crisper) air of October it always smells good. Especially here, the sounds of October I enjoy, you can hear kids playing in the park or street, people blowing leaves, washing cars and chatting. All signs of life and people coming out of their sweaty hibernation. With sights other than the obvious beautiful color changes, October brings the new TV seasons, something to cuddle up to with a cozy blanket as the nights draw in. TGIT Yay!!

OctoberLoves x

So these are just a few LL loves. Drop me a comment let me know what you like!

Enjoy Monday.

Ta ta for now,

TLL x

October 5, 2015 1 comment

Family Food Meal Planning Organizing

Recipe Organization – My Pink Bible

by thelifestylelady September 29, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Tuesday. One question I often have been asked is how do I meal plan? When I am out with friends we often quiz each other with “what you cooking for dinner?” One thing I have learnt that does not work (for me at least) is to turn up at the store and think that inspiration will fly out at me from the grocery aisle and say “make me.” Despite knowing this I occasionally find myself in this predicament. I do love to cook, this does not mean I am good at it, or that I love to cook all the time. I should say I love to cook when I’m organized in my life. My mother and grandmother are and were excellent cooks so they set the bar and probably started my interest in cooking . To some the idea of planning and a lack of spontaneity may take the joy out of cooking but for me it is quite the opposite, the more I plan, the more I enjoy. I have meal planned for a while and I am an avid recipe collector. I think I mentioned in an earlier blog I have a bookcase almost exclusively dedicated to cookery and baking. I do very much enjoy looking through the books in the evening and gaining inspiration. I also use websites, Pintrest and I luckily do have food magazine subscriptions. In Casa Lifestyle you will often see print outs or tear out recipes on my coffee table where something has inspired me to try it.

It was several years ago where I found I had a plastic wallet full of recipes I wanted to or had tried and very little order to them. This did not agree with my slightly organized side and my Bible was born. I mean no offense to anyone by referring to it as my Bible. It is a very important file to me. It would probably be in my top ten possessions to save in case of fire. (Fear not Mr L and Little L your above it.) It is a work in progress, I am constantly adding and editing it. It is not neat or beautiful but I think that adds to its authenticity. To me its a little like an old cookbook, I like to see splash marks over the pages it signifies love and usage, my pink Bible is like that. It is a little like me it has swelled and has had to move up a size but it is full of love and memories. I can honestly tell you that I am very proud when my family tell me something tastes delicious and Little L goes “num num num.”

The Pink Bible – special to me x

I mentioned that my pink Bible is a work in progress. I will explain. I have ten dividers :-

Beautiful handwriting

Recipes I want to try. If I have a new recipe I wish to try it goes in here. I aim to try at least one from this section once a week. I also cull this section regularly, if something is not a fit out it goes.
Menu Plans. If I have a very successful week, where every meal has been a hit then I will add the plan here. If my week is crazy busy and I have had little or no time to menu plan, I have menus with grocery lists in here where I can grab and go get what I need. I try to use these only in emergencies because I like the discipline of creating new menus each week.
Everyday Meals Meat. To make it into this section, the recipe will be tried, tested and loved. These are recipes I know how to cook and will be a hit. They are scruffy and covered in notes where I have added comments to remind me what works better. This applies to all the following sections.
Everyday Meals Fish and Veg. Similarly to meat to make it to this section the recipes are much-loved. Fish is loved in this house but I am married to a carnivorous male who enjoys meat and fish, so vegetarian meals have to “cut the mustard” so those recipes are good.
Everyday Meals Slow Cooker. My favorite section especially at this time of year. I have been asked lots of questions about slow cooking and I promise to do some blog posts about it.
Starters. These next sections relate more to entertaining or special occasions, like the rest, a collection of recipes that work.
Entertaining Mains. These recipes tend to be more complex or extravagant than everyday but they are ones I have used and work very well. This is a great idea if you have unexpected guests or recipes you can lend to friends.
Desserts. Who doesn’t love a pudding, we don’t have them very often but occasionally if entertaining or on a Sunday I might whip something up and I have a much treasured collection.
Baking. I actually have baking books with recipes that I am loyal too but I have occasionally found one or two that I have found tried and loved and they go in here.
Holiday Cooking. This is full of recipes relating to holidays that I have tried and love. This is ever-expanding. Halloween cookies, pecan pie etc. I am including lots of my new US finds in here.

So that is how I arrange and organize my recipes. Do you do similar things? Do you have a system that works better? I will explain in another blog post how I actually plan meals. I also find that this system would benefit you, if you are a coupon lover or if you use the store flyers to plan your meals. Fresh produce can soon add up so having a collection of recipe means that you have something that works when pork loins are on special or there is a great price on fillet steak. I also enjoy the familiarity of it. I will share with you a little secret, it is my ambition to create a file full of recipes Little L loves so that when she flies the nest I can duplicate and give it to her and she can share with her family. I have several recipes in my file which belong to my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and take comfort in handing these on.

I will blog soon on how I actually plan my weekly meals.

Ta Ta for now.

Sometimes a much-loved recipe will be typed, printed and laminated. (God I love a laminator.) This is often when I have shared it with others or it has been destroyed by my messy cooking style :0)

An example of recipes torn out of a mag, but used and loved x

TLL x

September 29, 2015 2 comments

Editorial Food Lifestyle

August – Non Beauty Favs!

by thelifestylelady September 1, 2015

Howdy Y’all!

Today’s vlog is a little longer than the others so get a cuppa or a glass of vino and enjoy.

Ta ta for now

TLL x

September 1, 2015 0 comment

Lifestyle

Ironing Bored or Board?

by thelifestylelady August 19, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Hump Day. Now I did say on my Virgin Vlog that I welcomed any feedback or suggestions for topics to be covered in this blog. True to my word I will not disappoint. So here is my blog post on ironing. I enjoy ironing; I do not love it but find it very therapeutic. No I am not a sad case, but I do like the feel of freshly pressed clothes, bed linen and kitchen cloths. I used to iron more frequently than I do now, in fact I used to have an iron “setup” in a spare room but my iron kept blowing the house electrics so we had to move it back downstairs. When I build my dream Casa Lifestyle I will have my own ironing/repair room, OK now I am sounding sad and a gal has to get her kicks somewhere. I come from an ironing household; Mummy L always ironed everything in fact when I Skype her she is quite often at the ironing board. So I think, maybe, you get used to certain standards.

I really get that most people do not have time or can not be bothered to spend their lives ironing. There are a million other things I would prefer to be doing but I have a theory. I believe that most people do not iron because they do not have the right equipment. I can get my head around sending yours or your beloveds shirts out to be laundered. I will confess that when I have visitors or life gets hectic I am the same way, but generally I iron them. Of course when I am ironing I consider I could have this done for $1.25, but when you calculate that Mr L will wear on average 6-7 shirts/week and I will wear at least 2 that is roughly $500-$600/ year. That money sends you well on your way to some lovely leather goods or a hotel stay whatever your thing is. If Mr L is reading this blog he will be secretly proud of me, thinking of saving (not a LL strength.) He doesn’t mind what I do with his shirts but he claims he prefers the way I do them (love him.) It is not really about the money but I believe if people actually had the right tools, the task of ironing would be easier, more efficient and therefore more attractive. So here is my must list for Ironing (hope you not asleep yet?)

A typical ironing pile for TLL

Rowenta DG5030 Pro Iron Steam Station with Stainless Steel Soleplate 1750-Watt. Now this is hands down the greatest iron I have ever owned. It breezes through piles of ironing like a dream. A good friend of mine, an Italian Mama, introduced me to these and you do not get a better recommendation than that. These mama’s know how to run a household. They are an investment there is no denying that, but it cuts back on hours and makes ironing pleasurable. I have owned mine for three years and it gets regular use and shows little signs of wear. So if I calculated how often I have used it, it becomes very economical. They do take approximately 5-10 mins to heat up, but that is dependent on how much you fill the tank. I find a healthy basket can be easily completed with one tank. I cannot tell you what a difference it has made to ironing bed sheets. If you do not believe this Lifestyle Lady just look at the reviews on the Amazon link.

My beloved iron

Brabantia 321962 124 by 45-Inch Ironing Board with 25mm Ivory Frame and Ice Water Cover Solid Steam Unit Holder. This is another essential item. The ironing board. Most people get bad backs being hunched over an incorrect board, it is positioned to the incorrect height or it does not go high enough. This board has those bases covered. The other beauty of this is its width. This is a wide board, at least twice as wide as an ordinary board. This is essential when pressing shirts or duvet covers. It opens and closes efficiently.

Brown stain is proof of use

Brabantia Ironing Board Cover, Another one of my essentials is having a really thick ironing board cover, this helps get a smoother neater finish. Mine is not this one but I bought mine in the UK. Any cover that fits should be fine. Also the softer padding stops you pressing down too hard.

Pretty design of my cover

Plastic Bottle Sprayer, again this is not the same as mine, I purchased mine from the Home Depot but these are essential to damp shirts down before ironing. If they are damp it makes them easier to iron and gives a more professional finish. You can also use them to water indoor plants – dual use.

So many uses, good for spraying cheeky toddlers!

Ultra Thin Velvet Hangers. These hangers are first class. They are ultra thin, which means you can store more in your closet (yay.) We also color code them Mr L has blue and I am pink. So you can see from the photo how many of Mr L’s shirts I was about to iron.

Ipad. I love my Ipad when I iron, it gives me access to many entertainment features depending on my mood. Whether it is Netflix, podcast or radio these are imperative to a good ironing session. It certainly makes the time go quicker if you are watching some “trash tv.”

Strategically positioned Ipad

A pile of ironing, yes self-explanatory, you will see in my pictures if you have a diligent eye that there are two baskets (one inside each other.) I do this so that I can carry the iron folded clothes upstairs efficiently and the other contains items which may need rewashing due to staining or mended, button on etc.

All in a days work

When I had my ironing setup in a spare room I had a clothing rack up permanently so I could hang the freshly pressed clothes instantly. I could also allow them to cool before returning to the closet.

Lifestyle Lady Top Tips

Don’t press too hard with your iron.
Use boiled then cooled water, it removes some of the impurities which can clog up the iron.
Never iron the transfer on t-shirts. This applies to kids shirts mainly; similar to if you put them in a too hot tumble the transfer melts and sticks.
Don’t wear cloths that have been freshly pressed, give the garments time to set.

Keep the iron plate clean using a mixture of water and baking soda. Who has ever had that brown stain squirted out of the steam holes. Use Q tips to clean those.

Hope you’re not asleep, but ironing is not that bad. Unpacking groceries is worse – am I right?

Ta ta for now

TLLx

August 19, 2015 4 comments

Lifestyle

Bonus Addition. High Five Monday – Songs that make you bop

by thelifestylelady August 17, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

So it is Monday again. My weekend was mixed. Little L didn’t quite get the sleep she needed and, much like her mama, a lack of sleep equates to a CRANKY MONSTER. We did go out and get some yummy food and I managed to get my hair brightened and lightened (thank you Abi!) So we are back to Mundane Monday and I thought what could bring a smile to TLL? Since I am celebrating my first month as a blogger, this is a bonus addition and you’re getting High 5×2 (High 10?) Enjoy, hope this makes you smile, sing and swing your way into the week:-

Uptown Funk (Feat Bruno Mars.) Great song, gets me moving every time, Little L and I are frequently bopping along to this in the kitchen or car. Love.
Bright Side of the Road Van Morrison. Classic and all time great. Like to sing and swing about to this.
Club Tropicana, Wham. This is one for mummy L, she is a diehard Wham fan. I know every word to every song. Bro L and I were raised listening to tapes of this on every car journey (yes we are old) – happy times.
Dance With Me Tonight, Olly Murs. Happy ditty tune, makes me smile and sing every time I hear it.
Happy, Pharrell Williams. Genius record and does what it says on the tin, makes you happy. Enough said.
Jump Around, House of Pain. Total classic, I challenge anyone not go jump around to this tune.
Layla, Eric Clapton. One of the greatest rock songs. I certainly bellow out her name every time I hear this.
The Loco-Motion, Kylie Minogue. Back to my much younger years; one of the first tapes I bought. Classic to me and who doesn’t want to do the locomotion at a party?
Maggie May, Rod Stewart. This one is for Daddy L, but got to say I love Rod. If you didn’t see his sketch with James Corden on The Late Late show, watch it on You Tube. I will attach link. Class act and Maggie May has to be one of his all time greats.
Mr Blue Sky, Electric Light Orchestra. Don’t hear this very often but, when I do, I am a bopping.

What would be on your ultimate party list? I had so many I wanted to share! Let me know what you think. Comment.

Ta ta for now.

TLL x

August 17, 2015 0 comment

Editorial Food Lifestyle

Fantasy/Dream Dinner Party

by thelifestylelady August 14, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Friday! So today I thought I would post something fun! My fantasy dinner party. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that Mr L and I love to entertain, although we have done less of it since Little L arrived. It’s certainly a long time since we had a dinner with this many guests 😜. So I set about working out who would be the sixteen people dead or alive I would have to my dream dinner party. Firstly this is meant to be fun. Secondly it is not as easy as it first appears choosing sixteen is no small task. Your guests, however much you try, reflect your personality and your interests. For example as much as I tried I definitely had more political figures and world leaders than sportsman. I am aware of this. I did want to have many more women and people from the arts world but I felt I could not overlook people on this list because of their gender or profession. So again I am over explaining, here is MY list, I will probably kick myself later as there will be someone I should have invited but forgot, so it’s an ever evolving work in progress. Enjoy:-

1. Queen Elizabeth II, my first invite and rightly so. In my humble opinion one of the greatest women in history. She is about to celebrate being the longest-serving monarch (the other being Queen Victoria, both women – interesting!) Although not known for her candor, (so no gossip) the changes she has seen, her sense of duty and the outstanding decorum she has displayed are a wonder to behold. What I would give to have her at my table. God Save The Queen.

2. Sir Winston Churchill. Undoubtedly one of the Greatest Brits that has walked the earth. I have no doubt the country I grew up in, if not the world, would be a very different place if not for this man. The questions I would ask. No table would be complete without him.

3. Thomas Cromwell, this is a no brainer for me, especially if you have read Wolf Hall and Bringing Up The Bodies. Mr Cromwell was pivotal through a fundamental time in my country’s history. Many believe he was the closest confident for a period to Henry VIII and saw through the detachment of England to the Catholic Church, the creation of The Church of England and several beheadings and burning of major figures including Anne Boleyn. Not one to get the notoriety, but perhaps the brains behind the operation. Very scholarly and I have many a questions.

4. Nelson Mandela, a very divisive invite, but could not have my fantasy party without him. During his lifetime he saw so much change in South Africa much stimulated by him. He went from an apartheid system to being President, which is entirely remarkable when you think about it. The 18 years he spent at Robben Island, much in isolation, fascinates me, how that affects a person and brings about change. So many questions for him.

5. Mother Teresa, I am trying to stay away from religious figures but this woman to me is a world great. A servant of God who dedicated her life to helping HIV/AIDS victims in the poorest parts of the world. She is a Nobel Peace prize winner as well as many other world-renowned prizes. Religious or not (I am not Catholic) this lady deserves her invite. She dedicated her life to humanitarian causes and making the world better.

6. Angelina Jolie, another divisive invite, but a lady I admire, sadly not for her movies but for her work with the UN. She has served the UN for over ten years as a Goodwill Ambassador. The work she has done for refugees is remarkable. I don’t think since Diana Princess of Wales has one person been able to highlight humanitarian issues in the same way. She genuinely impresses me. I also think she is an ambassador for young people in how to turn your life around. It also helps she is breathtakingly beautiful and I want her to be my BFF so she is on the invite list. Plus Mummy L would like her to bring her husband.

7. Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers. If you have not had the good fortune to visit his beautiful home Monticello in Virginia USA it is a must. This great man was a thinker, an intellect and an inventor. His home reflects this. I think he would be fascinated by the scientific developments of the day and how his greatest works The Declaration of Independence still holds today (and I could give him a hard time about it!) Deserves his invite and Mr L would be thrilled.

8. James Corden, Love James. If you don’t know who he is you should. He is the new presenter of The Late Late Show in the US, and a comedy staple for the Brits. He is super fun, super cute, super talented and super smart. Every dinner party needs a comedian and it would be my honor to have James. Watch his show, he won’t be on the night of my party though.

9. Alan Turing, if you didn’t see the Benedict Cumberbatch movie The Imitation Game then you should. The movie was about Alan Turing. Undoubtedly the creator of the computer, one of the greatest creations in history. It was his machine that broke the Enigma code which ultimately led to the breakthrough and winning of WW2. Alan Turing’s life is not as well-known as it should be. I am appalled by the way my country treated him for being a homosexual. He has since received a royal pardon (after his death.) I have many questions for the great man. I am quite sure he would love to see how far his invention has come. Absolutely want him at my dinner party.

10. Andrea Bocelli. Voice of an angel. Humble, talented, romantic and could not imagine a better guest to get up and serenade us after dinner. Love all his work and could not think he would offend the sensibilities of any of the guests.

11. Emily Bronte, just the lady who wrote the greatest book of all time, Wuthering Heights. It amazes me how an unmarried woman, restricted by restraints of convention could write such a passionate book. The passion is not as today, explicit, but more subtle and raw. The questions I have for the vicars daughter are boundless and she is a definite at any dinner party of mine.

12, Lady Margaret Thatcher, enough said. The first female leader of the Western World. Great friend of Ronald Reagan. Interesting and undoubtedly influenced me as a person as she was Prime Minister when I was born. She was a leader of her times and whether you agree with her politics, she did a great deal for women and their position in the world, simply by being a leader. She would be such an interesting guests, makes the invite list.

13. Anna Wintour. Editor in Chief of US Vogue. Now she is another controversial choice, because many suggest she is not a ray of sunshine, surely that is how she has held her top position in the cut throat world of fashion for so long. Fabulous taste in sunglasses and everything beauty and fashion, I would be fascinated in her stories and her opinions on the world. Friendly or not this lady is highly impressive to me and I bet she brings fabulous hostess gifts. Anna your invite is in the mail.

14. Sir Ranulph Fiennes. One of the greatest living explorers. He has done it all, climbed Everest, been to the North and South Pole and is the first explorer to walk Antarctica on foot. So highly impressive chap. Great stories, amazing experience. Could not think of a better guest.

15. Brian Keenan. This for some may be a peculiar choice, some may even wonder who this man is. More famous would be Terry Waite or John McCarthy. I remember it was probably ten years ago that I read his book and it had a profound effect upon me, as I hope it would anyone. I recommend his harrowing tale to all who can. It shocks me how mankind can treat each other. Four and half years in captivity the majority chained and blindfolded. I have many questions for him and I would think his perspectives and view on world affairs and humankind would be profound and he makes my party list no hesitations.

16. Roger Federer, what is not to say about the consummate professional athlete. He is the only sports person to make the party. He is arguable the greatest tennis player of all time if not sports person. To me he is the epitome of class and upholds and displays every characteristic that a superstar athlete should. There is very little else to say. He is an absolute party must and imagine great company.

So that is it. My list, hope we can all find a date that works, especially with my busy diary :0) Who would you invite? Who do you disagree with? Anyone you think yes that is my list too? Mr L promises me he will produce a list, one I hope he will share on here one day!!!! This is also a great date night or dinner party question. It is really good for getting a conversation started and causing some interesting dialogue. I hope it is not too UK focused. Let me know what you think? This is not meant to offend anyone either. If you do not agree with my choices or commentary that is ok too.

Happy Weekend.

Ta ta for now,

TLL xx

Who are your dream guests? Give it a go and share with me!

August 14, 2015 4 comments

Organizing

Planning My Life – The Simplified Planner

by thelifestylelady August 6, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

So I talked about my love of Emily Ley’s Simplified Planner, it has been one of those purchases that has made me very happy. Until last week I was using this,

Sorry for the shadows folks – learning at this photography. My beautiful HAPPY STRIPE

This was her 2015 – 2016 Simplified Planner daily edition in happy stripe, which I have loved. This year Emily decided to change how her planners operated and created the 18 month planner which started Aug 1 2015- Dec 31 2016. I think this is a great idea as I often want to plan things into the new year, well before the dramatics of the festive season and this will allow for that. This year Emily also created the weekly edition which I felt would be a better fit for me. As a SAHM I do not require the daily page to write down my huge commitments and thought the weekly view would suit my lifestyle better. I was also slightly hesitant to have a daily 18 month planner. I thought it would be huge, and although my planner seldom leaves my desk I still like to travel with it. Now one thing about these planners is they have a cult following, getting your hands on one is no small task. My initial plan was to replace my daily happy stripe with the weekly happy stripe, well while on her website I procrastinated too long and the weekly happy stripe had sold out. (Yes I was very disappointed.) In the end I chose this.

Mini Dot – Better get planning!

I believe the official title is Weekly Planner Mini Dot. In true Emily style, the item was shipped efficiently and arrived beautifully packaged.

Classy package

This box is lovely, I am a huge fan of navy and it is a great way to store the previous years planner. (Which I tend to keep for the following 12 months, incase I need to check dates etc.) It is also a classy touch to package elegantly. Every year Emily always adds a thank you and information on the planner. I think as her brand explodes it is still very clear to see she care deeply for the product and the role it plays in her life.

Notes to accompany the planner

All parts of the product scream quality. Whether it is the gold ring binder, which is a lovelier color this year, or the gold reinforced corners which are a plus especially if you cart your planner around or have a toddler who loves to drop it. The monthly tabs are colorful, (which matches the happy stripe beautifully.) They are also reinforced so they are less likely to get damaged. Not sure how clearly you can see them in the below photograph. The inside page has a pocket which is super for holding loose invites, coupons, stickers and other knickknacks.

Inside Cover

I also find the monthly overview a great feature, it enables me to plan for birthdays, bills, trips and other excitements as a whole and can see where I may have schedule gaps or time off (do not be a fool!)

Monthly View

The weekly feature will take some getting use to, it does not have times allocated which at first I did not like and I am now beginning to love because it means the space is more productive to my schedule. It still leave the gap for meal planning which is an excellent feature, especially for a young mummy who is often too tired to consider dinner planning at 9am. I like her weekly prep Sunday checklist (which I will blog about in more detail on another occasion.) I enjoy the weekly inspirational quotes, I must confess one or two of the authors I am not acquainted with so I get educated by google in the process.

New Weekly View

How much can one person say about a planner other than it is a positive addition to my life. I would have loved the happy stripe but I will learn to love the mini dot and it is by no means ugly. I have lots of Emily’s products and hope to blog about those in the future. Her website is definitely worth a look and the blog section is inspiring.

Happy Planning

Ta ta for now

TLL x

August 6, 2015 0 comment

Lifestyle Organizing

August Organization- Join Moi?

by thelifestylelady July 31, 2015

Hi Y’all

Firstly sorry for the blogging drought, this week seems to have been crazy with very little reason. So who spring cleans? By this I mean who goes through the house purging, organizing and sprucing. A spring clean has always made me stop and take stock. It is a reason to go through draws and cupboards and rearrange, remove or recycle items. Living in a place where we get very hot summers, August always seems to work better for me than the spring, after all who wants to be inside sorting when you could be enjoying the outside. So for the past few years August has been my sort out month. Now before I sound all Martha Stewart, whether its August or January time is limited, if you are like me who has a toddler whose idea of fun is to wreck everything, the time to go through cupboards and draws is reduced. How am I getting round this I hear you scream? Firstly I’m going to delegate (something I sometimes find difficult.) This year I have given Mr L two of the main areas to focus his energy, mainly because their his items and I do not want to throw his stuff out, until he tries. Secondly I am having a more focused approach and only tackling achievable projects which need doing. I did this by going round the house assessing what really needed sorting. I then took the list and decided the key areas were, the garage, the office, our closet, my makeup cabinet, the larder, the top of the fridge and the laundry cupboard. These are not major projects as both Mr L and I are fairly organized people and we like our home to reflect this, however even the most organized people let things slip. It is much easier to put things away and keep your home looking well-kept if your cupboards and closets are well-arranged.

Over the next few weeks as time allows I will tackle these projects and will share the results on the blog. I am hoping that one or two of you might want to join me? It doesn’t have to be a month-long slog, but do you have a draw in your kitchen, you know a “junk draw” which holds screwed up takeout menus, the odd key (which you don’t know what it belongs to but can’t throw it out.) Screws and other odds and sods. Or maybe its a shelf stuffed with cookbook, or a broken binder with recipes coming out, or a draw full of old phones and leads. Whatever it is, why not take 20 mins, could even be while watching TV, join me and sort it out. We can all move into the Autumn with a cleaner and better organized home which always make TLL feel SO much better.

So please share with me photos and comments of you doing your sorting.

Ta ta for now.

TLL x

July 31, 2015 0 comment

Editorial Lifestyle

Netflix Negotiations

by thelifestylelady July 21, 2015

Being parents to Little L, and therefore not being able to get out as easily as we did before and finding ourselves more tired at the end of the day after running around after a toddler, relaxation is often sought by collapsing in a heap on the sofa. Finding a TV series that we can both enjoy can often be process of negotiation, dear Mr L likes to watch a series in full rather than waiting for the weekly offering so we find ourselves drawn to Amazon Prime or Netflix. So rather than promote some of the fabulous US shows that we have enjoyed, I wanted to mention some of the fantastic British drama series available on Netflix that you might wish to give a perusal. I would imagine the vast majority of these dramas are available on Netflix in other countries.

Fleming The Man What Would Be Bond– this is a mini drama about the life of Ian Fleming (the writer of James Bond.) You see how his life formed the basis and creation of James Bond. Interesting story, period setting and fun viewing. A couple win win, after all what man doesn’t want to be Bond? For the ladies plenty to admire in the male cast 🙂 ( FYI It is a little steamy at times.)

Luther- A gritty police drama based in London, fantastic cast including Ruth Wilson (The Affair fame) and Idris Elba. (Ladies need I say more???)

Sherlock- This I know has been shown on PBS and has a worldwide cult following, it has catapulted Benedict Cumberbatch to universal notoriety. This modern-day take on the Arthur Conan Doyle books is exquisite. It makes you think, well acted and is very clever. If you have not watched this, it’s a must. Very much looking forward to the next series.

The Fall- This fabulous drama is based in Ireland and follows the police trying to catch a serial killer. The serial killer is not as you imagine and the relationship between him Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades fame) and classy (Gillian Anderson) keeps you gripped. It is scary at times not necessarily because of explicit content. This was one of the best things I had seen in a while, so unless your petrified, keep with it. This is a win win because Jamie Dornan plays serial killer so well and Gillian Anderson makes me want to wear silk blouses more often :0)

Broadchurch – The original British drama that the US mirrored with Gracepoint. If you have watched Gracepoint you may want to give this a miss as the stories are identical. If you have watched neither the lead police officer male is played by Brit actor David Tennant in both and I found him much easier to understand in Broadchurch. Good story, great cast, lovely Dorset scenery and a twisted conclusion. A good watch.

The Honourable Woman – A political spy drama, starring the elegant Maggie Gyllenhaal (who won a Golden Globe for the performance.) Its basic synopsis is Anglo-Israeli Gyllenhaal who has dedicated her life to Middle East peace is prevented from continuing her life’s work in connecting the West Bank with optical fibre cables. There are kidnaps and secrets galore. It is a thought-provoking, brain using and politically sensitive drama, which deserves it accolades. I feel I want to watch again to absorb more of the detail. First class and worth a watch.

House of Cards – Those of you who have been addicted to the Netflix series and the very eery Kevin Spacey should give the original drama a view. Yes the original is based on the British Houses of Parliament and although its looking a little dated, the conniving characters and clever lines are much the same, as Mr L said as we were watching “You might very well think that, I couldn’t possibly comment.” Worth a flit.

Happy Valley– This gritty police drama is not as the title suggests happy. It follows a police officer coming to terms with the suicide of her daughter and facing the man she believes responsible for driving her daughter to her death. This is a very British drama but one I enjoyed.

These are a small selection, mostly of my favourite thrillers and dramas. I hope to give other genre suggestions at a later date. What do you love to watch? Any suggestions for us? We are currently finishing Boss, which is good. Would love to hear from you? If you watch these let me know what you think?

Ta ta for now

TLL x

July 21, 2015 0 comment