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The Lifestyle Lady
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Lifestyle

LifestyleMeal PlanningOrganizingStyle

High Five Monday- things that make my life easier

by thelifestylelady July 20, 2015

It is Monday and we all need a little pick me up. It is the end of the weekend (they always go too fast – don’t they?) plus I always wake on a Monday never as well rested as I plan to be, even if I went to bed early enough. I blame this time trauma on always worrying about over sleeping, an issue I care less and less about as the week progresses ;0) So this week I thought I would write about five items which make my life easier and the LL is all in favor or those.

1. Steve Jobs – well more my iPhone… You are probably thinking BORING & OBVIOUS first choice, I would agree, although my phone has all these wonderful apps, bells and whistles designed to make my life super wonderful, but it is the video function I thank Steve Jobs for. The Apple crew have saved me many a tantrum by Little L. They have rescued this mummy from many a palm sweating – in a fact whole body sweating, heart palpitating – panic attack when I can whip out my phone like super-mama and offer a wide selection of Disney Jnr or PBS, which is often met with the words “Dan Dan” (but that is another blog post.) High five Apple thank you.

Lifesaver

Lifesaver

2. My Simplified Planner by Emily Ley, this is pure and simply my Bible. I promise to blog about my Bible at a later date but this planner keeps me on the straight and narrow and that is no mean task. All Emily’s products are wonderful and this is the jewel in the crown. Since I had Little L my concentration and memory has not returned to what it was. Lucky me. Mr L tells me I am getting old, but I maintain (with my extensive medical qualifications) that it is hormone-related. So I find this planner is essential to remember who and where I am meant to be. High five Emily – thank you.

Simplified Planner

3. My Ringly – I hear you ask what? Yes this beautiful emerald cocktail ring (a gift from Mr L) flashes and vibrates on my finger when my phone is receiving a call, what’s app, email, or text. You can set it to alert you to whatever you want. I will blog more about this fab item but needless to say it has helped keep me connected, which can be difficult when you are running around after a toddler. High five Ringly- thank you.

Ringly

4. Nespresso Machine – if the adverts with George Clooney have not driven you to try this, then I hope this blog post does. Now I mentioned in an earlier post that I didn’t drink coffee till I was thirty. Well, this machine has helped me make up for lost time. I will admit Mr L is something of a coffee expert, so it is down to him that we have this wonderful item. But, needless to say, it gives me many a high at the correct spot when I need it, and has saved this mummy from many an exhausted meltdown. It’s yummy! High five Nespresso – thank you.

Nespresso

5. Barrington – one thing that scared me about becoming a mummy was that I would lose all identity and never have time for myself. I have always tried to look presentable; that is not always the case but emphasis on the word “try”. I love a handbag/purse; my collection could have a blog of its own and when I got my first diaper bag I thought that’s it’s “collection over” and for the first twelve months that was the case. Now that Little L is a little bigger I am going back to my purses and was absolutely ecstatic when I found this company. Again, I will blog in more detail later on but, needless to say, these bags are roomy, stylish and able to carry everything mama and toddler need. Making my life so much easier in a stylish way – love that. High five Barrington – thank you.

Lifesaver

Lifesaver

These items are not a definitive list; I have many more things that help, but these were a few. What makes your life easier? What do you love? Get in touch!

Happy Monday

Ta to for now

TLLx

July 20, 2015 2 comments
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LifestyleOrganizing

18 Friday’s Till Christmas

by thelifestylelady July 19, 2015

When Mr L asked me last night what would be my next blog topic I explained I genuinely did not know. I have some backup ideas and hope some of you reading this will shout out the sort of content you would like; but what I see inspires me.  Low and behold this morning, as I checked my phone and the Facebook app, inspiration appeared like a water fountain in the Sahara.

Get ready

Get ready

Yes you read it in black and white (with a weird-looking elf.) Now for some this may seem way off, when you rationalise it is over four months, but 18 Friday’s did make my heart skip a beat this morning. Now I LOVE Christmas, everything about it, the preparations, food, wine, friendship, charity, music, literally everything. I’m writing this thinking about mulled wine and mince pies (to my US readers I will blog about sweet mince pies nearer December.) I know I am ahead of the game with this blog about Christmas because none of the Christmas ads or infomercials have arrived on TV (they will be very quickly) and I do this out of kindness, especially for those amongst us who may leave everything till the last momento. In the L household, prior to marriage (so when I was a young LL living in UK with my parents) the mad Christmas rush was limited to the 23rd of December, as on Christmas Eve the greatest arrival came in the form of my mummy L, my creator and baker. So we always had to be ultra organized. I have always felt sort of sorry for those people who have birthdays so close to Christmas. You wait all year for your gifts, but for mama L, having me as a daughter was gift enough and I wont even start about bro L!

So I write this to you all so you can write your lists. For the readers amongst us who have lots to buy, you could take advantage of some of the super-duper sales on offer at the moment. For the cooks and bakers amongst us, you could bake your cake and pudding so they get ultra mature and yummy. For those of you appalled by this post, speaking of Christmas in July, why not pay tribute to the festival by having a little shot of Grand Marnier or Sherry, or ordering a turkey sandwich, or watch your go-to Christmas movie/film.

After all, only 18 Friday’s to go. I’m off list-making, flight-booking and checking on mummy L who may well be panicking ;0)

Ta ta for now

TLL X

July 19, 2015 0 comment
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Gift GuideLifestyle

Mr L – Gift Giver

by thelifestylelady July 18, 2015

Since today seems to be the day to discuss gift giving, I thought I would continue the theme with some interesting findings that have been occurring in the L household.  My dear husband Mr L is a good gift giver. It has taken a few years to get him to gold status, but I can safety tell you that he is comfortably keeping his new-found stature.  People reading this who are not fortunate enough to have met me (lol) will not realize that I am not one to give false praise. In fact I seldom give praise on any level. So if Mr L is reading this he may discover his new-found success and it will never be spoken of again! He is almost getting so good at gift giving that I am getting frustrated. Firstly I must preface this with Mr L is usually only responsible for my gifts. He will help when I am totally stumped on someone but he only has to focus effort and energy in one direction whereas I have many more to consider.

I always think that men are at an advantage when buying for a lady; there is always that great fallback option of jewelry or fragrance. They can also never really go wrong at any department store when buying bath and body collection or makeup, and I see now that some of the big malls or shopping centers are selling gift cards which can be used at any store in its location, I know my local one does. Women buying for men is more difficult I find. When I found myself faced with our latest wedding anniversary (which was almost exactly one week after Father’s Day) I was “up a creek without a paddle.” I literally had no idea. So for the first time ever I thought I would ask or delay a gift purchase until I could come up with something profound and wanted (which became cowboy boots.) Well Mr L surpassed himself with lovely gifts which were even in-keeping with the anniversary theme of wood – I ask you… I am married to a man who works a great deal and shopping is a pastime which he hates, so he is not the type of chap who would frequent the local mall. He is however the type of gent who loves the internet and surfing the web. To be honest it used to annoy me that he would get gifts ordered online and delivered. I used to think it displayed a lack of effort and how could you buy items without touching and feeling them? Now i have joined the 21st Century I realize how bloody sensible it is. It also saves time, by making great suggestions, which I am all in favour of. So I apologize for those thoughts. When I arrived home this afternoon and saw this small catalogue ear marked I thought I would have a quick gander. Mr L was a little perturbed as he explained that this is where my next years of gifts where coming from, so after a quick flit through I promised I would not look again. The catalogue is entitled Uncommongoods. I may again be slow to the table, but I was impressed with the offering with lots of different ideas for kids, men, weddings etc and it would definitely be worth a perusal. Another site I have always loved which is originally British and now arrived on US shores is Notonthehighstreet. You can always find something fun, pretty or different at any price point. So happy gift hunting. Thanks for the inspiration Mr L.

Happy shopping, any other great sites so I can surprise Mr L with some wonderful things?

Full of great gift giving ideas

Full of great gift giving ideas

Ta ta for now

TLL x

July 18, 2015 0 comment
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Gift GuideLifestyle

Toddler Pressies- Help

by thelifestylelady July 18, 2015

So I have always prided myself on trying to source the thoughtful gift for friends and family when celebratory events occur. Granted, as people mature and means increase, trying to find items that are original, different and that will delight becomes more difficult. I did not think I would face the same challenge when purchasing gifts for tiddlywinks (little people). As a mummy who loves to read and loves everything book and literature-related, this tends to be my go-to. Being a Brit, I often find at least a few of my kiddy literary canon are not commonplace here, and, providing I can source it, then voila! This can be difficult when shipping is expensive and I don’t have a guest arriving with a big baggage and weight allowance. Another thing I am not keen on is becoming predictable, and although I pride myself on being a mummy who loves The Classics and all related material I respect that others do not share my vision and it’s simply not their thing. I do not want Little L getting picked on for giving “uncool” gifts.

I love the idea of a present drawer. A close UK friend of mine introduced me to the concept, picking items up as you see them, especially if they are on sale (we all do that, even if I’m brave enough to write it out loud.) So that if that unexpected party invite arrives, or you chat to another mum who has had an equal brainy idea and buys the same gift, you can produce something new and different. Plus it saves you from yet another trip to Target or Toys ‘r’ Us where you end of spending a fortune on plastic c*** and forget to come away with a gift! (Or is that just me?) Speaking of plastic, I’m not a fan, and by that I mean not that I dislike plastic, it is one of the greatest inventions of mankind – clearly, simply I am not a fan of plastic toys made in China. Mr L and I love wooden toys and of course Little L (despite my aversion) still has enough plastic China-made toys to sink a small ship, but we still try to limit them.

Now being raised British I was taught all matters money are private, but please accept my apology regarding my vulgarity in this moment; but what is the right amount to spend? Obviously that’s a personal circumstance question, but even if you were a billionaire do you set a budget? Do you spend more on tiddlywinks you know better? It even poses the question do you spend more on a gift if you know the party is at a more expensive venue? These are all pretty ugly questions, but sometimes these things have to be asked. I’m fully aware that Little L has not even made school yet, when I imagine everything party and gift-related gets competitive. Am I right? What happens when you’re in a class of 20 and invited to all the parties? Budgeting and fairness (Mr L would be proud of me) is essential.

Can you see the quandary? Any tips or advice? Please don’t let me become the stingy or “uncool” mother. Help me make PTA! Save Little L from a life of misery and give this mama some tips!

Ta ta for now

TLL x

July 18, 2015 0 comment
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Health & Fitness

How much water?!

by thelifestylelady July 18, 2015

Now I preface this with I am constantly on a lifestyle change. I’m always trying to be healthier. I feel that we are constantly barraged in life with images of what it is to be “healthy.” Whether its TV/radio ads or talk-shows telling us all about the latest fads. I am not a faddy person, I’m quite straight forward and matter of fact, I have always believed “everything in moderation.” That does not mean I’m always great at getting the balance right, as displayed by my waist line that I always want to be a little smaller, but baby steps… Since living in Texas and its very hot climate, I have tried hard to work towards drinking more water. Hearing so many experts telling us what is the correct amount to drink, it has always baffled me that a lady of 5 ft 4 inches would be told her water intake was to be the same as a 5 ft 11 inches lady (but as my darling Mr L would remind me, science is not my strength.)

Now, shock horror, I am a British gal who does not drink tea. I am quite sure that my passport will be rescinded should the authorities hear of this on unpatriotic grounds. After all we Brits are known for drinking tea; a cup of tea is a cure for all ailments in life if you grow up there (perhaps that is where I have gone wrong!) Even worse, I did not drink coffee until I hit 30, yes and now I like my coffee black and strong and any form of espresso is my go-to (I do not do things by halves – what’s the point?) Recently I have found myself drinking a little more diet soda than I was wanting, and I am well aware that all the hidden sugars are appalling for you; and since Little L was born  I was thinking to myself MUST DO BETTER! I have not eradicated them entirely. I have not gone cold turkey, which might have been my usual approach, but I have vastly cut down and therefore my water intake has increased. I like water but it can get a little dull, so I needed something where I could measure and ensure I was getting enough. Welcome Camelbak – this flask is the bomb! It was an impromptu Target purchase (my Target obsession will be a later blog.) I love it – it is 1000ml, which is great, and I set myself goals to ensure I drink and I am finding that I do. I give myself a little treat when I hit my targets – Yay! Now I’m not going to say I have lost 50 pounds and my skin is that of a 12-year-old, but I am seeing slight improvements. My skin does feel better, I do have more energy, I feel less sluggish and I crave sugar slightly less. I am also finding I want less diet soda and when I drink it, it has lost its appeal and tastes too sweet. I have always loved fizzy water and that is my go-to evening drink on non alcohol nights. I have recently tested the La Croix range and although I can’t say “I’m Crazy In Love” I know they are better for me and if it means I am one step closer to “healthy” (and the Beyoncé body) I’m in.

Any tips for increasing your water intake? Any drinks you love?

Ta ta for now

TLL x

July 18, 2015 2 comments
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ABOUT ME

ABOUT ME

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Hi I'm Kate, Thanks for stopping by my small corner of the web, here at TLL I indulge my love of all things lifestyle, from cooking to travel and fashion to interiors, all served with a healthy dose of British sarcasm. So pour yourself a glass of something delicious, put your feet up and take a nose about. Enjoy Kx

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