Happy Tuesday everyone. It looks as though I will be spending a disproportionate amount of time driving this week as I have meetings that range from the Scottish Border right down to the Midlands. So I am putting together a quick post with a few of the things that I have spotted recently that I think you’ll like and I’m finishing off with a round up of Mother’s Day weekend.
Easter
This is probably the last stretch of time that we will spend with the eldest before he starts a year’s industry placement in July, so I’m determined to make more of Easter weekend this year. We’re going to have a special lunch on Easter Sunday so I’m thinking about how I’m going to decorate the table.
Last year a friend held a Wimbledon tea and she decorated her table with greengrocer’s grass. It was really effective so when I saw this, I knew I would use it not only for Easter but right through the summer for barbecues and get togethers.
…I’m also going to add these Easter napkins.
I’ll fill some jugs with daffodils and dig out the painted eggs that Mr MC and I brought back from our honeymoon in Prague. Now all I need to do is think about what I’m going to cook…
Sunglasses for 2017
Now that the sun is out, I’m thinking about sunglasses. I’ll be relegating the older ones that aren’t quite right for this year to the car gloveboxes and so far I’ve ordered these. They look very like the Olivia Palermo range for Westward Leaning but at a fraction of the price.
Spring / Summer jumpers
I met up with Hush when I was down in London last time and I’ll tell you more about that soon. I also went to their pop up store in Shoreditch which gave me the chance to have a really good look through their range. This rosé jumper caught my eye. I’d passed over it on the website because it looks a bit pallid but it’s lovely in real life. It is a soft blush colour and it really gleams. It has the usual subtly sexy V-neck cut that Hush do so well so I thought I’d point it out to you – it comes up big though so size down.
Whilst we’re on the subject of Hush they have launched quite a few new pieces on their website today – you can find them here.
Fresh lingerie
I’ve been searching for a new strapless bra in anticipation of another season of cold shoulder tops. This one is so pretty and very comfortable to wear. It is less bulky than most of the ones I’ve tried so it gives a good line under t-shirts.
Glowing skin
I’ve been meaning to mention this Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow since I started using it back in September. I bought it when I had a Charlotte Tilbury make over with a friend. I don’t know whether you’ve had one but they’re an amazing experience although we both felt a little overdone when we left the store. This is the only product I bought from the range but I have used it ever since. I apply it all over my face after moisturiser and before foundation. It adds a lovely gleam.
I have just stocked up on Clarins Glow Booster. I buy the larger ‘body drops’ bottle because it’s better value than the one that is specifically for the face. I haven’t noticed any difference between the two other than clever marketing. I simply add three drops to my moisturiser on alternate days at this time of year to build up a little colour. I think that Clarins do the best self-tanning products, I find them more moisturising than other brands.
New books about style
I have a shelf in my office dedicated to books about style so I buy them all but I don’t often come across a good one. The Curated Closet has just been published though and I’m working my way through it. It’s definitely one of the best I’ve read.
I’m eagerly awaiting the launch of this new book from Inès de La Fressange in April too, I have it on pre-order.
Look Book – what should I wear today?
On trend earrings
As you will already know, earrings are the jewellery hero for Summer worn with a fine necklace or, in fact, no necklace at all. I was stunned when I saw these along with lots of others from…you’ll never guess where…
For something more classic, how about these – they are part of Claudia Bradby’s new collection. Can you see her trademark pearl discretely nesting in the end of the hoop? I finally managed to meet up with Claudia a couple of weeks ago and could happily have spent all day with her. She used to work in book publishing and has teenage children too so we had lots to talk about.
A hat for travelling
And lastly, I know it’s a bit early to be thinking about packing for your summer holiday but I suspect this will sell out long before we are getting our suitcases out. It’s a completely packable trilby which folds down and ties with its own ribbon.
Genius!
Midlife lately – Mother’s Day Weekend
We managed to move on from Friday’s sad funeral and have a great weekend. On Friday evening, as I mentioned, we all went down to Bolton to watch the middle son in the play that he is hoping will take him through to the next stage of the National Youth Theatre selections. If it does he will perform in London next which would be very exciting. This was a quick shot before we went in. The sunset and shadows are playing havoc with the colours but I am wearing navy and yellow – my tights are navy too!
Navy leather jacket; Navy ruffle skirt (15% off with code CHIC15); Finery top (past season); Autograph boots (past season); Boden clutch (past season)
We had front row seats so here’s a picture of him in action. I confess that I spent the first few minutes of the performance wondering how they had persuaded him to wear those particular trousers… in that particular way! Of course as his number one fan, I thought he was brilliant.
After the show, we made a detour so that the eldest and his girlfriend could go to their end of term student party. On Saturday I gave him the day to recover before going to collect him in the evening – I was dressed for lugging bags of ‘stuff.’
Boden cashmere cardigan (past season); Cos blouse (past season); Boden jeans (30% off); Stan Smiths
On Sunday of course, it was Mother’s Day. I was treated to tea and Bucks Fizz in bed…
… the eldest then made us one of his special student concoctions for breakfast – cheese, bacon and egg on white toast. It was delicious.
I opened my cards and presents which, as you can see above, included my favourite sweets and chocolates along with a brooch that the youngest had chosen. I also unwrapped the photo frame I had hoped for which Mr MC had pre-loaded with an alarming larger than life picture of me. The eldest thinks we need to hang it over the middle boy’s desk whilst he is revising at Easter!
It’s going to be a lovely project for the next 52 weeks as we fill it up with lots of precious moments. I’ll show you how it’s progressing as we go along. The celebrations continued with Guinness cakes that the youngest had made for elevenses…
… and then we popped out for a stroll down the canal to the local pub. This picture makes me think of The Wizard of Oz, it’s a shame Gary had disappeared ahead!
Blouse; Trousers; Boden shoes past season
When we got home, we were treated to a 3 course meal that the middle son had spent the morning preparing. It was all made by his fair hand and consisted of red pepper and sweet potato soup followed by garlicky steaks served in sourdough bread and rounded off with sticky toffee pudding.
However we all felt a little perturbed when we sat down for the starter and saw the chef serving himself this:
“It’s because I know what’s in it,'” he told us… and then went on to explain that in his view, the stock for the soup contained an unthinkable number of different vegetables!
So, it was a lovely day and I feel well and truly blessed. Give me Mother’s Day over a birthday any time. I certainly won’t need to eat for the rest of the week. With that I must dash but as soon as I have a spare minute I will catch up with all of your comments. I’ll be back on Friday – have a great week everyone.
Disclosure: ‘Twelve things for Tuesday – and Mother’s Day weekend’ is not a sponsored post
Mid Season sales
White Company – up to 50% off here
Whistles – further reductions and new lines here
Pure Collection – up to 50% off here
Jack Wills – up to 50% off here
Current discounts
J Crew – 20% off here with code THANKYOU
Finery – 15% here with code CHIC15
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JD Williams 20% off here with code RURY6
Recent SS17 posts you may have missed
New February outfits for night and day
Trying on Finery, Boden, M&S and looking at Hush SS17
Inès de La Fressange at Uniqlo
Finding the ultimate breton top
Winter jumpers and the new jean style
Midlifechic’s 3rd birthday – what’s next?
The Midlife Series
Midlife loneliness – a follow up
Loneliness and the midlife woman
What is midlife in the twenty-tens?