'The best thing you can give children next to good habits,
are good memories.
Sydney J Harris
I love March, it is always so uplifting to see the spring flowers appearing and some colour come back into the garden. After the dull drab days of winter they are a welcome sight out of my kitchen window.
The same can be said when you are out shopping. The black and grey that seemed to be everywhere has now been replaced with brighter colours.
Reasons to be cheerful on a rainy day
With the temperature starting to creep up to double figures how nice it is to see such colourful rain macs in the shops. A rain mac is so versatile, not too warm yet will keep you dry in a light shower.
Marks and Spencer have come up trumphs this year with this mac which is in 7 different colours. It is water resistant yet only costs £35. You are spoiled for choice.
Website of the month
I have never really had a good look at the Boden website but a discount voucher landed on my doormat so I thought I would take a look at their spring collection. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Gone are the sixties random patterns to be replaced by the style of clothes I prefer. Plain but in lovely colours and beautifully cut.
Take this red jacket, not only does it look good from the front but also from the back. It costs £79 and is 100% cotton and also comes in navy.
Stripes are in this Spring and very flattering to any shape. Thank goodess the double breasted look has gone as a single breasted jacket with single buttons will make you appear slimmer. The jackets below come in 4 colours including the Khaki one featured here on the right. Again from www.boden.co.uk at £69.
Top tip
As we age our skin becomes slacker especially around the jaw line. To give your face an inatant face lift opt for a fringe.
Whether it is a full or side fringe it will draw attention away from your jaw and up to your eyes.
Look at the pictures of Kylie Minogue below to see the power of having a fringe and how flattering it is.
Without a fringe her face looks very long and your eyes are drawn to her mouth but with a full fringe it is her eyes that stand out.
What I am loving this month
When you colour your hair it can over time become quite dull. The orgainc Apricot and Elderflower shampoo and conditioner from DGJ will revive and refresh your hair and help the colour last longer.
All the hair products from DGJ which is short for Daniel Galvin Junior are made from the mildest natural and organic ingredients and contain no harsh detegent. They also do a shampoo for children and one for babies.
I have been using the apricot and elderflower shampoo for a week now and my hair seems to have more volume. £4.99 from Waitrose and Boots.
I am lucky to have long eyelashes but have never been very successful with mascara as it tends to end up all smudged. To stay put a mascara needs to be oil proof as well as waterproof, but many mascaras smudge because of oil around the eye area from your moisturiser or foundation.
Lash Power Mascara which is a gel based formula can only be removed when it comes into contact with warm water so will not smudge. They say it will last through rain, sweat and tears. It costs £14.50 from all Clinique beauty counters.
In the news
Enterprising fundraiser, Charlotte Carver, from Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire, has designed The Charity Shopper bag with the aim of raising money for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust as well as the Mental Health Foundation and Wellbeing of Women.
Dementia research is hugely underfunded yet most of us know someone who has a relative with some form of dementia. Charlotte decided she had to do something to raise more awareness and money to help these charities. For every bag sold she will donate £2.50 to one of the charities.
The black patent bag is big enough to hold a laptop or documents or use it when shopping. Light yet strong it has a pretty purple lining and sits comfortably on the shoulder. It costs £19 and the postage and packing is free. You can buy the bag by calling Charlotte on 01684 592179
Book of the month:
Lulu's Secrets to Looking Good
by Lulu
Renowned for looking fantastic for her age Lulu has now written a book revealing her secrets to looking youthful.
As you age your skin changes and so should your make up and skin care routines. Lulu shows you how she manages to look amazing.
It costs £12.50 from www.amazon.co.uk
What Can I Wear gift cards
If you are struggling to think of an unusual present for Mother's Day then take a look at my range of greetings cards which has a cd version of my book 'What Can I Wear?'.
To view the book just pop the cd into a computer and read. If you have a mother who has a wardrobe over-flowing with clothes yet is always saying she has nothing to wear then she needs to read my book.
It is full of easy to follow ideas to help you create a wardrobe full of clothes you love to wear and feel good in. There are also colour charts to help you put together outfits so that you make the most of what is already in your wardrobe.
The gift cards cost £7.99 and you can buy them from my website http://www.whatcaniwear.com/department/gift_card/
'A smile is always in style.'
Lilian
Last Updated: May 12, 2010