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
📷 by George. Last week he got let down by the work experience he had gone for. I told you lot. It was gutting for him and I felt it hard. Then the power of friends and insta and by Wednesday he helped a pal @ayers4425 and her builders. He worked in the 30 degree heat and isnt afraid of hard work and I'm so proud.
And this week the lovely guys at @pianiitalian have also offered him work experience. He is going to help them with some patio laying and they even offered him some work experience in the kitchens and I think I shall always regret saying perhaps mastering arancini balls isn't for him. What a missed opportunity for me to have my fave takeaway train my boy in the kitchen 😂. Selfless I am.
For him this is wonderful and it also saves him having to take photos of the Auntie Mum in the back garden so relief all round (not so selfless)...
⭐@onehundredstars kimono #pr gift my giveaway is still on with them enter 2 posts back and also code 40PLUS for 10% off
⭐cami old but I've got a new one on it's way today stories try on incoming
⭐jeans @mandco_fashion previous #ad
⭐sandals own brand @theshoegirlsuk we sold out of the leopard again! But black and white coming soon 😍
⭐bag @nashandduff pr gift
Some days the ball in the box hits hard. But we miss them every day. Lola's art from 3 years ago still epitomising EXACTLY how my Dad made me feel. If we love we grieve.
Sharing also my favourite videos that I'm so grateful I have even though they always set me off! April 2018 when my Dad and George made a cake measuring ingredients *by eye* and nearly broke all our teeth. And Fathers Day June 2018 when he only had a few weeks left and I filmed him without thinking really and now I have us saying I love you forever. That is Max my Dad's rescue cat and his big concern when we knew he was dying was: George, and the cats. We got George and the neighbour got the cats.
And to MY husband who is a great Dad to my girls but 3 years ago took on the role of Uncle Dad to George. It has been a baptism of fire and one you took on and have done me and Dad and Lizzy and Mum so proud and god I love you for that. Today will be about you.
#40plusnotgivingupyet #fathersday #mydad
⭐GIVEAWAY⭐ WIN a gorgeous gown or kimono from @onehundredstars ⭐ and we are giving away FIVE prizes so FIVE winners! Plus a discount code too 40PLUS for 10% off site wide 😍😍😍.
I have again teamed up with lovely small family business @onehundredstars to bring this fabulous giveaway to five of you! You can waft at home or give a massive glow up to your outfit; either way you will feel a million dollars you know what a huge fan I am of their pieces. Too many beautiful items I've got a new one to share with you in stories and also of course others that I've shared before including this stunning Kew Magnolia purple, the Paris gown, the Wave gown and the Willow Collar Kimono and always with my jeans. I just think they're too lovely not to wear out!. But of course, any traditionalists can wear them with their PJs too. Whichever way you will, hopefully, feel utterly as fabulous as they truly are pieces of art you can wear.
We have a discount code too 40PLUS gives 10% off the site! And @onehundredstars have also kindly said we can have FIVE winners to pick a kimono or gown of THEIR CHOICE from the website. They have different lengths and styles and patterns so I think the hardest bit will be choosing which one you want 😍😍😍.
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So to be in with a chance of winning:
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⭐like this post
⭐follow me and @onehundredstars ⭐tag at least two pals in the comments (separate your comments for more entries!).
That's it!!!! This competition is not endorsed by or affiliated with Instagram. Competition closes Tuesday 22nd June at 8pm when I shall draw the FIVE winners at random on stories. No other account will contact you and please watch out for fake accounts I would never ask you for money etc. Good luck!!!
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#40plusnotgivingupyet #onehundredstars #giveaway #instamum #mumstyle
They're back online.. @theshoegirlsuk leopard sandals previously sold out! We aren't planning on doing more of these ones this summer so hit the website link in my bio and code 40PLUS for your discount for money off or free postage in Uk.
This run are being made now in Portugal. We didn't want to put them online till all our previous run had been dispatched and that was done this weekend. And today we've already had soooo many happy dms and shares we figure let's get them on pre order now. We are hoping to get them out by end June / beginning July but as with our previous run we want to be cautious so we are saying delivery in UK by first two weeks of July..
Sizing? Go true to size eg I am size 7 and have the 40 is a UK size 7. No need to size up. The 41 is a UK size 8 and so on. If you are a size 9 go for size 42. And we even have a small number of size 10s (and of course smaller sizes from size 3..)
We will have some black and white ones coming out in July too but these are our first born me and my lovely pal Lucy @muddyfrogs and words can't describe how grateful we are for all your support... also a HUGE thanks to @rachelhb81
@joannebreaks and Lauren and Louise. Lucy's friends who helped round the clock Friday to Sunday night non stop with the dispatch of the first run. You guys are LEGENDS!!!!
#40plusnotgivingupyet #theshoegirls #ad/ ownbrand
It's the Brighton & Hove one..
I get asked all the time and day trips are a thing right so a few of my fave places listed here but I bring this one out to the masses too Brighton has soooo much to do and I wouldn't dream of saying I can even scratch the surface. So fave places to visit/ shop / eat hit us up ⬇️⬇️⬇️ in comments.. we def need restaurant recommendations because I often go for the day so go go go!
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⭐@prelovedofbrighton preloved madness you will find gems. It is on outskirts in Five Ways but worth the detour - ⭐
@rebound_store_ on prom near i360 more amazing secondhand gems ⭐
@martletscharityshops all of them are different all VERY good scattered around Brighton and Hove ⭐
@oxfambrighton it is just an epic charity shop ⭐
@enter_gallery amazing art to gaze at ⭐ The Lanes - wander and browse and gaze. The main high st is all there but nothing as good as the individual stores in the Lanes ⭐ @bertshomestore there are a couple in Brighton both fabulous home stuff you won't come out without buying something ⭐@oliversbrighton
Harry Potter fans will LOVE it ⭐ @bohogelatobtn ice cream to die for ⭐
@bechocolatbrighton incredible amazing chocolate ⭐ @shelterhallmarket lots of food choices grab a table or take your picks down to the beach easy relaxed and tasty as he'll @velvethove last but not least absolutely fab home and clothes stuff again on Hove borders. Left it till last as the location is a fabulous place to park and walk in for less than £6 (Brighton parking costs an arm and a leg!). Or let the train take the strain!
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Feel free to add more⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ I get asked this daily and these are just a handful of must dos what's yours?!?!?
#40plusnotgivingupyet #40plusstyle #brightongirl #brightontips #brighton
Literally cried laughing with my pal @shedreamsofgucci today as utterly incompetent novices but bloody loved it.
➡️ @shedreamsofgucci struggled with steering and went round in circles, made posing for a pic quite fun. Tragic 😂. I mainly knelt and Lia sat 'cos of her knees. We discussed bringing an old gardening kneeling pad next time in fact. If that isn't a couple of old knackered mums on a sports day out what is!?
➡️➡️ me attempting to stand up. Frigging Nora it's hard and I sound quite snappy at Lia's lovely encouragement THAT IS THE FEAR IN MY VOICE
➡️➡️➡️ I'm up and really, as one of my followers said, could do with a hair bobble 😂😂😂. Cousin IT. Bloody hell that was hard but one day maybe? We will do it again loved it
➡️➡️➡️➡️ back to our comfort place trying on clothes. I whacked on Lia's gorgeous outfit and she grabbed mine. Same height same size different build. Gotta admit I wanted to keep her dress....
Happy days... if you've been wanting to try paddleboarding I'd definitely recommend on a lake or reservoir like us as it was so still so easier (even if we do make it look hard!). We booked in at Ardingly and the sports centre were so nice and helpful and not at all condescending at our utter incompetence. Thank you too to lovely Amy for taking our pics. DEFINITELY doing that again .. maybe next time I'll properly stand up? Or maybe not...
#40plusnotgivingupyet #shedreamsofgucci
It must be the Carmen Miranda / fruitloop in me but I have a number of summer dresses I pull out every year with pineapples or cherries or a whole fruit salad on them (no bananas). But they're pre lockdown sizing so this apple blossom one is for the 2021 me. And I LOVE it.
Oh and fruit salad should never contain banana. EVER. Hmmm not so sure I feel the same on dresses though?!?! #thoughtfortheday
More dress try ons in stories later. This one @monsoon could be dressed up def but I think can get away with every day. I mean apple blossom 😍😍😍. Bag previous #ad with @amazonfashioneu
Sandals @theshoegirlsuk own brand
First deliveries to be sent out v v soon and more to come soon too!
#40plusnotgivingupyet
#40plusstyle
Another Brighton store must visit this one on King's Road Arches just by the i360 @rebound_store_ preloved and vintage gems. I swear I thought I'd just try on this gem of a coat to show you guys but it fit soooo perfectly. Happy days.
The coat is by @rejinapyo and BNWT and I'm very happy to have got it at preloved prices. And yes the bag is @coach but recent sale too. I do I still like a deal. It's in my blood. And the shirt is preloved but my Dad's so really that one is utterly priceless...
Other preloved stores I swear by in Brighton: @prelovedofbrighton and the best charity shops @martletscharityshops and @oxfambrighton I've had some epic finds in all of these 😍.
Less high end discovery @lidlgb magnums today. Damn they're good. Might have to have another so will remove the white jeans 😂😂😂. I shared in stories and my DMs have gone through the roof I am definitely not alone in my appreciation of them!!!
#40plusnotgivingupyet
#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!
