Hi, my name is Helen Brookes and I am @40plusnotgivingupyet
I am a SHOPPING ADDICT who craves the opportunity to help women get back their mojo and feel the very best they can.
I love sharing my high street finds (and fails!) on my Insta feed and you can tune into my honest try-on sessions anytime, anywhere via my daily Instagram Stories @40plusnotgivingupyet.
I’ll share stuff I love, bargains and discounts and answer your burning fashion questions such as;
- Which SIZE should I buy? (size 12 in one store? size 16 in another? or can I size down)
- What does the material FEEL like? (itchy? cheap? silky? Do I need to iron?)
- Will it show my BULGY bits? (we’ve all got them just what to wear to make you feel as confident as you can)
- What kind of UNDERWEAR will I need? (I love a bit of control underwear but also let’s talk practicality if it’s see through you need to know)
- How can I DRESS IT UP or down? (insta style with heels don’t always transfer well to the real world where you’re probably just going to Lidl)
- And of course….does it have POCKETS?!
We’ve all ordered online and been bitterly disappointed when the garment arrives, usually in the wrong size or fabric. Don’t think it’s you. My mantra is if it makes you feel rubbish, or it’s all wrong then IT’S NOT YOU IT’S THE DRESS!
I’m also a hungry bargain hunter and definitely not into designer clobber (I don’t have the cash and even if we did, I think a trip to Mauritius would be more my bag!). I’ll share the deals and discount codes and if I can I’ll try and wrangle a code for you! I share the beauty products and fake tan secrets that I can’t live without too, anything that helps my mid 40s!
I’m also pretty random and share lots of the stuff I love; family life, VERY simple foolproof recipes, and travel and just life as a Mum of three – my two girls Lola and Poppy, and George my nephew. I’ve been hit hard by loss in the past having lost my sister, and my Mum and Dad and I will talk about grief sporadically as it’s a huge part of my life and I’m happy to normalise it and share. Oh and there is also a very tolerant husband in the wings but he NEVER appears on insta.
Helen
Let ME try before YOU buy!
It’s a lottery buying online. Let me road-test your purchases – before you click buy! I take the best of the current high street fashion and feed back to you about it’s cut, sizing, quality and how best to style it. Time saving reviews delivered straight to your phone!
My Instagram @40plusnotgivingupyet
Every December I bring this out. Never gets old.
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Me and the 4th female in our household. She never nicks the hair ties though she can out strop all of us. Diva dog 🐕.
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Happy Monday.
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#40plusnotgivingupyet
Has EVERYONE put their tree up this weekend? And is it really as MAGICAL as those posts would have us believe?
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In our house it's taking this weekend just to make space for the tree. I've booked us in to get our tree from @themacsfarm and that bit will be magical.. until we get home and decide to decorate. And then it shall be stressful and messy and I shall probably be an utter cow and make it very non festive. But with Bublé in the background...
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I always said we aren't the Waltons...
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And anyway it's not yet December...
Regram @banterkinggram
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#40plusnotgivingupyet
Got my pretend Nandos dinner from the @coopuk clearance section. That def didn't feel like authentic Portuguese (but actually was pretty good!!! Esp the macho peas I bloody love them!). But a girl can still dream she is in Mexico OR Lisbon right?
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#40plusnotgivingupyet #bathroomstyle #bathroomdesign #fridakahlo
You say To-may-to 🍅
I say To-mah-to
You say Po-tay-to 🥔
I say Po-tah-to
I say MOT-TOE how do you say it? 🏍
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I also say YOLLLLLK but I'm on my own there I think!
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Moto spanx. I've been hunting for deals they go up and down in price and in and out of stock!. The moto are super flattering too though I do think they come up a bit smaller... im still in large but they're definitely tight on me size 14...
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⭐Oversized knit / pr product @mandco_fashion 30% off is on now linked in stories
⭐@spanx moto style from @amazonfashioneu but sold out right now I'm hunting deals I promise!!!
⭐Trainers @nike 25% off right now linked in stories
⭐Ponyskin bag @nashandduff / pr product. Love these bags!
⭐@ashianalondon my own collab earrings with @stealmystyle40 they sold out super quick but there is an amazing sale on their website today also linked in stories. And our ones are being made we hope to have some up and ready to get out for you before Christmas!!!
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#40plusnotgivingupyet #spanx
Oh ignore me in this really check out the houses. ➡️➡️➡️ pink and turquoise/ cherry blossom neutral or blue and white?
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My fave OBVS the pink and turquoise but when I put it to a poll you guys said cherry blossom. Can't believe it. So now I've thrown in the blue and white and I think we need to settle this?!
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Ps we actually have black timber cladding. But when the lining went up and it was turquoise underneath I did bloody love it.
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#40plusnotgivingupyet #colourismyjam
What matters right there. . I love this pic soooo much it needed sharing!
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I started on here sharing my finds about 3 1/2 years ago and loved it. Things ramped up in the summer of 2018 as my escape from very heavy shit and I lost my job in that summer but now this is what I do and I love it so thank you.
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I'll be sharing lots still this week in stories it's what I love doing and I am good at finding deals but if you can't afford it or don't want it then don't do it. In fact you might want to lay off my stories completely for a week 🙈.
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Oh and it really doesn't go with this pic but he won't let me share a pic of him but Mr 40plus isn't half bad at finding a deal too. I told you guys about him calling Sky and negotiating our current package by asking for them to match to Black Friday deals. He saved £40 a month and sooooo many DMs from you lot too one of you has managed to save £90 a month! Not an AD (I hate i need to say that!) in fact all you need to do is make the call but credit it where it's due I think Mr 40plus found the deal of the week and it doesn't cost a penny..
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Ps photo lacking Poppy and my husband they're definitely the crew too. This photo taken in the summer when we took part in the @skodauk Ad and a very proud moment my kids having fun together not staged just a bit of happy.
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#40plusnotgivingupyet
Loungewear has been making it's way out of the house and I've done the dressing gowns from @onehundredstars as kimonos with jeans so now next step why not PJs too huh?
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PJs small brand @theirnibs an utter delight of prints brought to my attention by my pal @shedreamsofgucci in cotton from @johnlewisandpartners and in satin from @tkmaxxuk (thanks to those of you that gave me the heads up!). I just showed my daughter Poppy thinking how thrilled she would be that I'm wearing a poppy top and she just said "You're wearing pjs out?!!?" so she isn't convinced but I don't care quite frankly.
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📷 my pal Becky who is also my sanity check and never moans about taking my pic unlike my family. Spot her in the reflection even with an encouraging smile. Girlfriends are THE BEST right.
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#40plusnotgivingupyet #theirnibs # pyjamas
#smallmumtallmum
You can see our #smallmumtallmum reel on our Instagram highlights so check it out!
A hashtag born from an Instafriendship with Abi @stealmystyle40!
We shopped, we storied, we shared our try-ons and laughed at the differences in sizes. Our followers told us they LOVED it and asked for more. #smallmumtallmum was born!
