Tag:

Family

Toddler Summer Faves!

by thelifestylelady September 12, 2016

Howdy Y’all!

I hope you had a fab weekend! Ours was great but went too fast (why does that always happen?) It was lovely to reconnect with friends and hear about what is new in their lives. Today’s video is a brief collaboration with one of my favorite humans Little L, this is her first official debut (albeit brief I think she is a natural.) We are talking about her summer faves, things we have used over and over, either too look cute, keep cool, have fun or be safe. She was very much part of the selection process, she has a strong set of opinions (she takes after Mr L -lol.)

Please enjoy and do not forget to subscribe if you like what you see.

Happy Monday.

Ta Ta for now.

TLL x

September 12, 2016 9 comments

Baking Food

Best Dessert Brownies Ever -FACT!

by thelifestylelady September 7, 2016

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Wednesday, I hope your week is treating you well. If you have been following my blog for a while you will know that I am on a personal crusade to make sure that Little L feels culturally comfortable living in the US. For those of you who don’t know, she is a dual US and UK citizen, but born and raised here in America. With Mr L and myself both being fully fledged Brits, freckles and all, I wanted to ensure that I didn’t make Little L feel ostracized by cultural differences. Now I say this very tongue in cheek, we are different, as George Bernard Shaw said: “England and America are two countries separated by a common language.” I can do little to change this, and as her teacher has already pointed out, Little L has informed her classmates that we “play in the garden, not outside” lol. One way I am trying to become a more American mom (please note spelling for emphasis of point) is trying to learn some popular local dishes. Mr L would say that I have the pulled pork and ribs down (please let me know if these are recipes you would like me to share on the blog.) I can’t say that I will ever be one to cook macaroni and cheese or pb and jelly (no, neither of these are popular UK dishes much to the surprise of my US mom friends.) I do however wish to become a connoisseur of the brownie. You may know that a while back I wrote this post, The best brownie ever challenge. I stand by these brownies – they are remarkably good – but not one to become complacent in my pursuit of perfection, I have discovered another recipe which I think is outstanding.

A blogger I follow TheAnnaEdit mentioned her favorite recipe by Anna Jones called Salted Caramel Brownies (no you don’t have to be called Anna to make these.) I love salted caramel and, with friends coming for dinner, I had the perfect excuse to give them a try. Now like The Anna Edit, I cheated and bought caramel sauce: I used Trader Joe’s Caramel Sauce and it worked a treat.

Ingredients

150g 70% dark chocolate

150g unsalted butter

250g caster sugar (If you find caster sugar hard to find in US, use regular sugar but blitz in a food processor first to get the correct consistency. This I have found to work well – LL top tip.)

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

100g plain flour.

Method

Heat oven to 180C or 365F.

Grease and line a brownie tin approximately 20x20cm.

Place a bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water (make sure bowl bottom does not hit the water! That’s important!)

Add chocolate and butter to bowl and allow to melt stirring together so as not to burn.

Once they have melted and combined together, remove bowl from heat.

Stir in sugar (be careful the mix is hot.)

Then add the eggs one at a time, stirring throughout.

After well combined, add the vanilla essence and flour.

Stir until mixture is well combined.

This is where I did not follow the exact instructions and being pushed for time followed The Anna Edit method.

Place mixture in prepared tin.

Then take your bought caramel sauce and spoon several teaspoons into the prepared mixture, I used about 5 oz.

Then use a wooden skewer to feather the caramel through the mixture so it leaves a pretty pattern on the top.

If you like salted caramel, grind a little sea salt on top.

Place in oven on middle shelf for about 25mins.

It will be done when a crust appears on the top (mine took about 30 mins.)

Then take out of oven and let Brownies cool.

I made these in the morning, and reheated in the evening. Ladies and Gents these brownies were to die for. I would say they are more a dessert brownie, especially heated, because as you cut into them out oozes golden caramel. The amount I added was about right because they didn’t become too rich and the fact they are made with dark chocolate doesn’t make them too sweet. They are delicious served warm with homemade vanilla ice-cream (future post.) They are also a marvelous hangover cure but that is another story.

If you are lucky enough to get your hands on Anna Jones’ cookbook “A Modern Way to Eat” (highly recommended), you will note that she provides alternative/healthier ways to prepare the brownies which I want to try. Who is with me? She also gives you details on how to make the caramel yourself which I want to attempt next time. However, if you are stuck for time or baking is not your thing, this method was outstanding. Best dessert brownies I have ever had and my guests agreed. I am well on the way to doing Little L proud on the brownie stakes, it is muffins next! (A mummy’s work is never done!) So my previous post The best brownie ever challenge produces the best brownies for everyday baked goods and these brownies are best for dessert!

This is so shinny and yummy I want to jump in!

This picture does not do them justice. Its got a beautiful crust.

This picture shows how goey and yummy they are

Enjoy the rest of your week folks. Have you tried this recipe before? Have I inspired you to try? If so send me a pic! I would love to see them.

Ta Ta for now

TLL x

September 7, 2016 4 comments

Beauty Gift Guide

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

by thelifestylelady April 15, 2016

Howdy Y’all,

One thing I learnt when I moved to the US was that it celebrates Mothering Sunday on another day from the UK which made purchasing gifts and cards difficult. I have overcome this small obstacle and now I have my own American daughter I think I should be entitled to two Mother’s Day who is with me? In all seriousness Mother’s Day is a fabulous tradition where we can celebrate all women who mean something to us. I have mentioned previously that my family are on the move and we will be spending this Mothering Sunday in our new location trying to find a home. Which no doubt will remind me of the importance of being a mother and trying to make this transition as seamless as possible. This post gives some gift suggestions, especially if the man in your life has some influence over gift purchasing. I of course love the homemade card and gift but will leave all of those ideas to people far more craftly gifted than I. So may I be as bold to suggest, sending a link to this article or leaving this page open and placing it subtly on top of the TV remote so you get something special this May. Lets crack on…

Lush Gift Box I am not sure whether I have mentioned about the wonderful Bath Bombs and Bubble Bars that they sell at Lush, they are outstanding. They make bath time all the more decedant and what mama does not need that? If you are new to the brand a gift box like this is a great introduction. You can also go instore or online and pick out your own selections which might be fun for little kids to do.
Satin Robe If you are like me then a robe is a treat, especially one that does not have your toddlers previous breakfast on the sleeve. This is elegant can be personalized and make you feel special. Yes please.
Rose Gold Knot Earrings If jewelry is your gift of choice for Mother’s Day then I expect you want something classic and timeless that will stand the test of time. These I believe fit that order, they are turn on the classic as they are in the fashionable rose gold. Enjoy.
Frends Headphones So I think I may have mentioned these before, they are beautiful. I love the gold and white ones, they are so feminine and every mummy needs a set.
Tote Bag So if like me you love bags then maybe Mother’s Day is an occasion to extend your collection. I often share bags I love but I wanted to share this link. A friend bought me the grey/blue one for Christmas and I was hooked. I also own the brown/coral one, they are reversible, affordable, great size, comfortable and you wont be devastated if a sippy cup spills. I encourage everyone to grab one.
Silhouette Necklace This a new discovery and it all looks beautiful. What mother wouldn’t want the silhouette necklace I want to do an art order after my move.

If none of these ideas do much for you what mother wouldn’t like flowers? Or perhaps a spa voucher? You can never go wrong with a Sephora gift card or a blowout voucher. Have you thought of a gift subscription like Birchbox or FabFitFun. Or you could go down the charitable route of sponsoring a child. Whatever you like I wish you a Happy Mothering Sunday and hope you get to share the day with those you love and whom love you after all that’s what it’s really about.

Ta ta for now,

TLL x

April 15, 2016 13 comments

Baking Family Food

Baking Wednesday – Caramel Slice

by thelifestylelady March 9, 2016

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Hump Day! So yesterday was rainy and I was trapped inside with Little L (argh!!) One thing she loves and often asks to do is bake. I read recently in a blog about an app I have been meaning to try called Hippy Lane. The app is recipe-based but only contains health-conscious recipes. They promote that the sweet treat recipes are gluten free, vegan, dairy free, and contain no refined sugar. Trying to find recipes that have these bases covered but still taste delicious is a challenge. This app is very sophisticated and styish and the photographs are beautiful. I had a very quick gander through my pantry to see what ingredients I had and Little L and I selected the recipe for Caramel Slices. Where I am from it is referred to as millionaire’s shortbread and it is delicious and I thought this would be a great introduction to its yumminess for Little L. So here is how it went:-

Recipe

Summary

Creamy, delicious bars of gold. These caramel slice bars are just like the real thing with a crumbly biscuit base, smooth caramel center and silky chocolate top, you will be taken to choc caramel heaven with each bite. Free of dairy, gluten and sugar, you can enjoy them guilt-free.

Ingredients

Base

1 1/2 cups (225g) cashews

1/2 cup (40g) desiccated coconut

8-10 medjool dates, pitted

3tbsp rice malt

Caramel

1 cup (150g) medjool dates, pitted

1/4 cup (60ml) coconut oil

1/2 cup (125ml) tahini or almond butter

1/2 cup (120ml) rice malt syrup

1 tsp vanilla powder

Pinch salt

Chocolate

1/3 cup (36g) cacao powder

1/2 cup (120ml) coconut oil, liquid

1/4 cup (60ml) maple syrup

1/2 tsp carob powder (optional)

Steps

To make base, reduce cashews to small pieces in the food processor.
Add coconut and pulse.
Add dates and rice malt, and process until combined and sticky.
Press base into tin lined with baking powder and freeze.
Making caramel by processing all ingredients until smooth.
Spread caramel over base and freeze.
For the chocolate, whisk the ingredients until well incorporated.
Spread chocolate evenly over slice and freeze.
Remove from freezer 30 minutes before serving.

Lifestyle Lady Findings

Firstly I could not find rice malt so I substituted agave syrup.
I used almond oil instead of tahini.
I did not have vanilla powder so I substituted for vanilla essence.
As you know I am yet to buy a brownie tin, but that would be the ideal size to make these in.
Call me lazy but I loved the ease of the prep and that it needed no baking. It was an ideal recipe to do with a toddler. They can lick the spoon and not get poisoned!

Prepping the base

The base is so yum and took 15 min in freezer to cool

This is delicious. It did get very sticky and cause my processor to stop

Use a cold spoon to spread on base

Sorry about the light reflection but this was so glossy

So yummy

So suprised how good they looked and fantastic they tasted

Close up time

Little L and I really enjoyed making these, it was a great rainy day activity. It is seldom that I get excited about an app and this one has me very eager to try more. It is well worth the $2.99 price tag. When it is raining and half way through the week who wouldn’t want a slice of chocolate gold?

Enjoy,

Ta ta for now,

TLL x

PS. message from Mr L: TLL had to lock these away to stop me eating the whole lot! :@) Will be taking them to work to dilute the waistline expansion.

March 9, 2016 5 comments

Beauty Editorial Family Gift Guide Style Travel

Spring Break Essentials

by thelifestylelady February 26, 2016

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Friday! You made it through another week.Yay. So Spring Break is approaching and that for many (usually me) means sun, sand, swimming and Sangria. Unfortunately my family are on the move soon so any exciting tropical experience has been postponed. So to rub extra salt in my wounds I wanted to share with you all some ideas and essentials for that wonderful sunny beach experience. I may have to grab a few of these items so I can enjoy the Texan summer when it arrives. Anyone going anywhere gorgeous? Do you have some great recommendations of places to go?

Happy Weekend

Ta ta for now

TLL x

J Crew Panama Hat – Fashionable, elegant and practical. The hat is not too large that you find you are constantly removing it. Looks cute and you are protecting your face from the sun. Keep you looking youthful.

2. Brown Leather Sandals These are beautiful and practical. The color goes with everything.

3. Pretty Beaded Clutch Love this! If you can not have something pretty and colorful when its very sunny and the sand is between you toes, when can you? In the evenings what do you need more than your room key and lippie? It screams holiday to me!

4.Turkish Towel Less bulky than a regular towel and so pretty. Such a variety of colors and take up less space in your case and beach tote. Win win.

5. Honest Sunscreen The most important item and I like to choose sunscreen which contains as few chemicals as possible. I trusted this brand with Little L’s skin last year and I will do the same with the family once again.

6. Beautiful Evening Sun Dress So many colors and styles to choose from, but every lady needs a killer evening dress for those evenings in tavernas watching the sun go down and for romantic strolls along the beach. This one is so pretty.

7. Cover- Up Kimono All ladies need a great cover- up for walking to the beach/pool, eating lunch and covering up when the rays get too much. This is pretty and such a good price point. White and blue is so pretty and fresh looking, great for spring break.

8. A great book A holiday essential and this is one of my favs. While researching this for this post, I was elated to see that it was becoming a movie with none other than Micheal Fassbender playing the lead. Wow. Read the book it is a beautiful story.

9. Swim Suit A great one-piece is essential and I love blue, not a black gal (although I should be for slimming necessity!) This is classic but still has a sexy/youthful edge. Would look perfect in paradise.

10. A great tote A fantastic bag is essential, whether it is to carry lots of items to the beach or for the flight, these totes are amongst the best. They are made from sailcloth which makes them strong and sturdy. They are functional and in such lovely designs.

11. Statement Earrings Earrings of the season and so pretty with summer hair styles. So many colors and styles to choose. A summer must.

12. Lifefactory Water Bottle So important to stay hydrated and stylish and this achieves both.

13. Sunglasses Sun protection is so important and eyes are no exception. These glasses will have you looking cool and protecting your eyes.

Shirt I am a sucker for a man in a check shirt and all men in shorts with a tan look good in them, regardless of age or stature. So many colors and designs but a good check linen shirt is a holiday must for the traveling gent.
Backpack If your man is anything like Mr L he has to carry a briefcase style bag everyday and is looking for a less formal option when on vacation. This fits the bill, great color and size. It is also functional as it leaves your arms free, to help wrestle children and luggage.
Towel Functional, large and manly.
Shorts Can not go wrong with mens navy shorts.
Sunglasses Like the ladies these are functional and beautiful.
Polo Shirt A classic, variety of colors and styles.
Beach Games When you are fed up with reading and want to play a little to work up a thirst. These beach games are great fun.
Book I am not an expert in choosing literature for men but I find anything by John Le Carre is a hit with Mr L.
Swim Shorts These are fun.
Docksider Shoes Classic and comfortable and look great with shorts, a male staple.

Playsuit I love this, so pretty, great for summer and the beach.
Swim Suit I love the vintage look of this, would look great with a tan.
Beach Towel The hood on this is great, such bright colors and you can personalize.
Kaftan This tunic is super cute and works brilliantly to cover up your little one when they have had too much sun.
Backpack I am a strong believer in “what you bring you carry.” So I like to encourage Little L to carry her things and these backpacks are fantastic. Lots of sizes and designs available.
Beach Toys I bought these for Little L last year for spring break and she has loved them, reasonable price, lightweight and can be carried in your suitcase.
Hat Protecting your little one from the sun is essential and a great hat is so important. I have found these work well and they come in a variety of sizes and patterns.
Dress These are so beautiful and look wonderful on little ladies.
Sandals Little L had these last summer and I will buy her more this year. The quality is fantastic and so useful for the beach.

Swim Shorts Love the color and style of these.
Backpack Such an appropriate pattern for the beach. Let them carry all their junk in style.
Polo Another classic which will never date and looks great on the beach.
Shirt Smart and fun, told you I like check.
Towel Such a fun pattern
Beach Toys Just showing my Brit side with a cricket set. I had one growing up and it was so well traveled.
Shorts Love these are the color. So fun.
Sandals Love these sandals in navy or brown for boys. Super functional and classic.
Hat It is so important to keep their faces protected from the sun and this is so cute.

February 26, 2016 12 comments

Baking Family Food

A Family Cake – Moroccan Orange Cake

by thelifestylelady February 24, 2016

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Hump Day, you are close to the weekend! Yay! So I have not done a baking post for a long while (sorry) and this one is special. This is the cake that Mr L asks for each year for his birthday. (Yes I make a vague attempt to make a cake for family – who doesn’t want to blow out a candle and feel old?!) This is not only special because Mr L loves it but it is one of his family recipes. It is a cake that his mother makes (no pressure!!!! I do not make it as good as her- end of.) It comes from his family cookbook (so you see they are good cooks!) Many of you may not know but my husband is half Algerian and although this recipe is from Morocco and no my Geography is not that bad! I still think of it as a nod to my husbands heritage and therefore to me it is important. It is also yummy, and does not require lots of icing and decoration which is a win win for me. So I must thank my mother in law for taking the time to document all these family recipe’s it will be lovely for Little L to have a collection of recipes that generations of her family members have made before her, what a lucky little lady she is. Now onto the baking …

Love my Kitchen Aid processor!

Lifestyle Lady Top Tip

Before I start, you will see below the recipe asks for caster sugar. This is something I have struggled to find in the US, and it does definitely make a difference to the texture of the cake. To combat I use regular granulated sugar and measure the amount required, I then place it in my food processor for about 2 mins and Voila a consistency similar to caster sugar! This might sound like a time consuming faff but it is worth it. Makes for a lighter cake.

Other Information – US readers

I cheated and used dried breadcrumbs and it worked fine. I am sure that it would taste better with fresh.
I could not find Star Anise, the seeds worked well.
Could not find Orange Flower Water so I used Orange essence.
Ground Almonds or Almond Flour is a little more expensive but can often be found on special, grab it then. It is usually found on the health aisles of most major grocery stores.
I use this microplane zester, one of the best purchases ever. Makes it so easy and I keep the skin on my knuckles. Win win.
This can be made ahead and actually tastes better the next day.
As my mother in law suggests it would make a super dessert.

Recipe

Moroccan Orange Cake – Courtesy of my mother-in-law

This cake is fragrant with spices and citrus aromas. The syrup makes it moist and soft. It can be served for dessert with a little whipped cream or Greek yoghurt.

Ingredients

For the cake:

5 large eggs, separated

300g caster sugar

350g ground almonds

4 tablespoons fresh white breadcrumbs

3 teaspoons baking powder

400ml sunflower oil

½ teaspoon almond essence

Finely grated zest of 2 oranges

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

For the syrup:

2 star anise

2 small cinnamon sticks

4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

4 tablespoons runny honey

2 tablespoons Orange Flower Water

Juice of 2 oranges

Juice of 1 lemon

Method

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4 (180˚C). Grease and line a 23cm springform cake tin. In a large mixing bowl, combine the caster sugar, ground almonds, breadcrumbs and baking powder. Add the citrus zests. In a jug, beat the eggs with the oil and add the almond essence. Now pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Spoon the batter into the prepared cake tin and bake for 50 – 60 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Meanwhile, make the syrup: gently heat the citrus juices, honey and spices in a small saucepan. Simmer for 3 minutes, then reserve, covered, for the flavours to infuse. Stir in the orange flower water just before using.

When the cake is cooked, remove it from the oven and pierce the top with a skewer all over. Remove the spices from the syrup and pour it over the hot cake, a little at a time, waiting for the cake to absorb the liquid as you do so. Leave the cake to cool in the tin, then remove, using the baking paper to help you, and place on a serving plate. You can use the whole spices to decorate the top.

It will keep well for up to 3 days, stored in cling film or foil in the fridge.

Pictures

Love love love these scales, I received them as a wedding gift and I think of that person every time. I love that about gifts – don’t you? All the dry ingredients.

I make sure I buy the biggest lemons and oranges I can find to get plenty of zest.

Adding the wet ingredients to dry, the mix will look a little curdled/split that is totally fine.

The split look but trust me it will come out yummy

I forgot to take a picture before it went into the oven. Another note I usually have a baking tray underneath the tin, so its easy to get in and out of oven, this was the second one I had made in the week and I was in a hurry, I had to get to Peppa Pig theatre show – mummy problems.

While the cake is baking in the oven I make the lovely syrup. The smell is divine, another tip is place the fruit in the microwave for 20 seconds, the heat will help you squeeze more juice out.

The finished article. Before you think its burnt it is not. It is saturated in syrup and the light makes the edges look black. It is so delicious please give it a try.

We all love this and I served it to Mr L’s office as cake of the month, it was different to anything they had before and not one slice was left, which is tribute to the taste of the cake. If you fancy something different give this a try.

Ta ta for now

TLL x

February 24, 2016 3 comments

Beauty Editorial Family Lifestyle Skin Care

Monday Links & Loves

by thelifestylelady February 22, 2016

Howdy Y’all,

I hope you had a good weekend? I was feeling a little under the weather but am now working towards fighting fit. The weather here was a little bleaker than the week, which makes me feel a little sympathetic for Mr L as the weekday weather has been superb.Lots of fresh air and park time. I think most people who live in Texas will tell you they soak up as much of this time of year as possible before the heat of the summer arrives. I had to do a double take this morning when I saw the rapid speed at which we are approaching March and the early Easter. In the UK it is customery to give and receive chocolate eggs for Easter, a tradition which is less popular here, baskets are more of the done thing. I have to say I got Little L’s here and the selections are beautiful.

One of my NYR for 2016 was trying to read more, I am a Lit major so reading is in my DNA, although it is something I seem to do less and less of. I want to make a conscious effort to read in those five minutes before my head hits the pillow and sleep engulfs me. If you are a mother of an overactive two year old you will get my meaning. So this week I managed to read What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty it was a page turner and easy read which is precisely what I was needing. I hear it is being made a motion picture soon. It was not as good as My Husband’s Secret, but worth a flit. On the reading front at the hairdressers this week I picked up Oprah’s magazine and actually was highly impressed. I was not expecting to be the intended audience (not sure why? Maybe because I had never seen her show!) I found myself interested in many of the articles and recipes. So if your standing in the grocery line sometime pick it up and shoot a glance.

I can not believe that last week was Love Day (our name for Valentine’s which we stole from Daniel Tiger- toddler.) Mr L was very sweet and purchased me some lovely items. One gift in particular is beautiful and useful which is a win win in the Lifestyle Lady handbook. Tory Burch collaborated with Fitbit and produced some jewelry covers for Fitbit. I do not dislike the Fitbit standard bracelets when you are wearing workout gear but honestly I was not keen on it when I was in more smart/casual attire and this allows me to do both. I have had several compliments on it this week and wanted to share! Mine is the brown leather and gold, it is super pretty and there is no excuse not to monitor my steps now so thank you Mr L.

I mentioned earlier that the weather has been warmer here and therefore the big decision has been warm/iced coffee (champagne problems I know!) My dilemma is that I like my coffee black, espresso or americano and what appears to be happening is that coffee houses are placing warm black coffee over ice and calling it iced. If you have ever tried this don’t it is disgusting. So anyone have a good iced coffee recipe or shall I forever drink my coffee hot?

If you have read this blog for a little while (if that is you THANK YOU.) You will of course know it was Mr L’s birthday last week, one of the most interesting gifts he received was 23andME, what is that I hear you say? It is a genetic testing kit which will tell you all about your ancestry and health traits. Mr L is a science boff and this was right up his alley. He completed all the required documentation and sent back and we are currently avidly waiting the results to learn all about his ancestry. So interesting and fun. I want to try.

Mr L and I are restless at the moment trying to discover new TV shows to get our teeth into, any recommendations? We are watching Billions and although the cast is stupendous I am struggling a little. We also rented the movie Truth last night. Cate Blanchett is amazing isn’t she. Certainly worth a watch.

I have gone on to long. Happy Monday everyone.

Ta ta for now,

TLL x

February 22, 2016 4 comments

Editorial Family

Happy Thanksgiving

by thelifestylelady November 26, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

Happy Thanksgiving. I can honestly say I am honored to write these words today, it is slowly becoming a favorite holiday of mine. As a non-American I feel privledged to experience and share in this special day. I am equally blessed that with the birth of my dear American Little L it is a tradition which will continue in the Lifestyle household for our lifetime. There is something so special about friends, family and loved ones coming together in a celebration of thanks. Gathering together and breaking bread (and far more than that as evidenced by my clothing change from jeans to leggings for the elasticated waist 😳 -whose with me?) There is no elaborate gifts giving involved or early morning wake ups from children excited by Santa, it’s simply enjoying who you’re with, watching parades and football.
Mr L and I have been immensely lucky in the five years we have lived in the US, we have never spent a thanksgiving holiday alone. I think this says a great deal about US people and their hospitality. We have been fortunate to have had a variety of experience with friends and their families but what is most apparent is how thanksgiving gives you the opportunity to be “in the moment” with each other. I have enjoyed the table conversations which have stemmed from what we are thankful for. Today for example I was touched to hear my dear friends young son express that he is thankful for his lovely family as well as so much more.
I am thankful for a great deal. Those of you who are familiar with my blog will know I am not the “gushy” type, in fact I find public displays and declarations of affection uncomfortable. Today however is about giving thanks so I will give it a stab. I am thankful for Mr L he is everything to me. I am thankful I took the job 😉. Little L is my life I can’t remember life before her, mainly because I am not the same person as I was before and she has enriched my life immeasurably. She is and will be my greatest achievement. I didn’t know the heart was capable of such love till I had her. I am thankful for my family who are so far away, distance can be difficult but I am thankful for Skype and for their continued love and support. For my friends who make our lives richer, when you live a distance from family you create a family through friends. I can honestly tell you I am blessed in this department. Today in particular to my dear friend K and her family who have opened their home and offered their table at Thanksgiving- thank you.

Finally to you the reader of this, I am grateful to you that you take the time out of your busy life to read my offering, to follow and to comment. This new blogging adventure has been a great addition to my life and I am thankful to the people who know me and support my blogging ambitions (Mr L.)

So on the evening of thanksgiving I wish you and your family great blessings. I am going to lie down and rest off this food coma I find myself in and wait for Mrs Claus (that is another blog post entirely.)

Ta Ta for now,

TLL x

November 26, 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 Style

Friday’s Fashion Fall Edition – Toddlers at Gap

by thelifestylelady August 28, 2015

Howdy Y’all,

I can not believe that we are nearly out of August! Fall/Autumn are around the corner, which means change of season and change of wardrobe. I will be bracing myself once again to squeeze into my jeans but more exciting, purchasing some new fashion items for Fall. With a toddler that means a whole NEW set of clothing and I always try where possible to get Little L a capsule wardrobe (where items interchange.) I also like to see what shops have on offer and make my decisions based on what will provide the best value, and quite often with children’s clothing it’s not always the cheapest. I have often found the items I have spent more on, have held up better, been worn more and therefore provided the best value. Since I have not done a toddler specific post I wanted to dedicate todays post to the new season for toddlers at Gap. I am not sponsored by Gap and these are my own choices. I do find that many of Little L’s staples come from here and that the clothes really hold up well to a toddler lifestyle. Although I do not have a boy I have also included some of my likes in this seasons collection. So if you’re looking for items which wash well, are hard-wearing, modern, stylish, practical and age appropriate look no further than some of my top picks below!

Happy Viewing

Ta ta for now.

TLL x