Day Eleven: Sunlight

In Mireille Guiliano’s newest book ‘French Women Don’t Get Facelifts’, I enjoyed reading chapter eight on nutrition and anti-ageing.  Interestingly enough, Mireille’s chapter on nutrition starts off talking about sunlight and water.  I was confused too!

As I read on though, I realised how I do not get enough natural light ‘in my diet’.  I certainly focus on the water aspect, and drink many glasses a day.  I aim for two litres and sometimes even have a one litre glass jug on the kitchen bench where I try to finish one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Mireille talks about sunlight though, how for optimum health and slenderness (because both go together) it is advisable to have 15-30 minutes outside in the sunshine/daylight.  You don’t have to go for a walk although that’s two good things at the same time, but perhaps you might sit outside to read or relax, hang out washing or potter in the garden.

I am quite fair-skinned and would like to have a bit more colour, so making a conscious effort to get my Vitamin D via sunshine might also help with that.  That amount of time is not enough in my opinion to need sunscreen on your body, although I always wear it on my face and décolletage.

I am a little bit skeptical of sunscreens and wonder if there is a link or is it just coincidence that skin cancer rates are increasing when we are all wearing more sunscreen?  What effect are those sunscreen chemicals having on our skin when combined with the sun itself?  I choose not to spend hours outside, just little bits here and there.

I do already have days where I go for either a long exercise walk or a gentle shorter stroll, and I also weed and plant my garden, but on the other days where I am inside either at work or at home, I will make sure I spend 15-30 minutes minimum outside, doing whatever.

After reading this chapter I read a newspaper article saying that Vitamin D supplements don’t work that well, so that reaffirms to me that I want to get more natural sunshine in my life.  Plus, it’s free and natural.  Yay!

Day Ten: Motivating Viewing

Composite image from Google

I love to watch tv or a movie with my feet up on the sofa as much as the next lazy person.  Sometimes I’m in the mood for something stylish and French, and… sometimes I’m not.  But if I’m going to be lounging around with trashy tv for a few hours, why not be motivated at the same time.

I re-watched The Devil Wears Prada today, on a super-rainy and cosy day at home.  I initially only put it on to watch the opening credits because I love them so much.  KT Tunstall sings ‘Suddenly I See’, while beautiful and slim New York women get ready for their day.  That in itself motivates me to be my best, non-slobby, slimmest person who makes an effort when she gets ready for work in the morning.

But the film carried on and I just didn’t want to stop it.  I watched parts and was out of the room for parts while I did my housework.  I definitely made sure I was in the room for the Paris part.  It’s such a beautiful and glamorous piece of the movie.

Plus The Devil Wears Prada is humorous, just another bonus.  Laughing is so good for you and very much under-rated by some I think.

Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), holding up a flamboyant orange dress with a tiered skirt:

'What do you think of this?’

Nigel (Stanley Tucci):

'Yeah, well you know me.  Give me a full ballerina skirt and a hint of saloon and I’m on board’.  

Other motivating ‘trashy’ viewing I love:

Desperate Housewives.  I like to re-watch episodes every now and then to be inspired by their homes (especially Bree and her Martha Stewart-ness), their slenderness and the way they dress.  I’d love to wear a pencil skirt and elegant blouse like Bree, but the reality is that I probably dress more casually like Susan, or maybe a mix of the two.  I never want to dress like Lynette (or Edie for that matter!). And again, it's really funny.

Sex and the City.  Both the series and the movies.  The girls have fun with fashion and inspire me to try different things in the way I dress.  Plus their homes are great to see, and being set in NYC is a definite bonus.

Another motivating movie I saw at the pictures, and now have on dvd:  This is War.  Yes, Reese Witherspoon has rather fallen from grace, but I love this movie because of her personal style in it.  The outfits are great, very wearable and good to take inspiration from.  I love her casual look of skinny jeans, high heels and a pretty top, and the scene where she dances around the house in a long sweatshirt and nothing else is very motivating as she looks so good and it helps me step away from the potato chip bag.  And your man won’t mind watching this one with you because it’s quite a boy/comedy movie.

I’d love to hear any of your motivating tv programmes or movies as I’m always keen to add some to my list!

Day Nine: The Evening Routine

When I walk in the door after a day at work I find it helpful to have a coming-home routine.  There are a few steps I take to transition from the big wide world into my own little cosy haven.

This demarcates my work day and home time and starts the winding down process for bedtime even though that won’t be for hours.  I find a simple routine helpful because I want to simultaneously wind down and relax so I will sleep well, but also because I want to have the energy to cook a delicious and nutritious dinner and do any small jobs I have planned.  Plus, in the morning I don’t have to deal with yesterday’s ‘stuff’.  I’m all ready to go.

Here is my evening routine:

- Put away my bags (handbag and tote) – there has to be a spot to put them, otherwise they are dumped on the floor or table or chair, only to have to be moved when that space is needed.  I have a permanent spot where they reside in the main living area that is handy but not in the way.  It is very relaxing to have spaces to put things.

- Put away any groceries bought.

- Change into my relaxing home/loungewear clothes, remove all jewellery except for earrings, do a few stretches on my bedroom floor.

- Prepare and start dinner.

- Have a sparkling water or another type of drink whilst reading a book or magazine while dinner is cooking.

- Most of the time I will not bring my laptop out once I get home, and I definitely find that more relaxing.  If I am at home for the day I will shut it off and put away around 6pm and not get it out again until the next day.  This makes a huge difference in the time I go to bed and how well I sleep.  Of course Thirty Chic Days is not helping but I hope to become more organised and post before dinner.

- After we’ve had dinner it’s kitchen cleanup and then a relaxing herbal tea (our current favourite is actually called Relaxing Tea) and either finishing off a tv programme or read a book while I drink my tea.

- I like to go up to our bedroom with plenty of time to spare before lights out at 10pm to potter around and tidy up, see what I might like to wear tomorrow, brush and floss, wash my face and put moisturiser on my face, décolletage, neck, hands, feet, knees, elbows.  There aren’t many places left I know but I only do my arms and legs in the morning.  All the while I have some soothing spa-like music playing softly.  I love doing this.

- Then it’s my favourite time – reading in bed.  Ahhhh.  Beautiful.

Bonne nuit!

Day Eight: The Svelte Handbag

My Christmas present from the Ala Moana shopping centre in Hawaii.

Once a week I like to upend my handbag onto the carpet and put everything back one by one, clearing the clutter as I go.  I also do this with my tote bag which goes to work with me each day since I like to carry things such as a smaller tote bag for walking, fold-up umbrella, notebook and pen, extra sunglasses, a book, etc.

This little routine keeps my bag from accumulating unneeded things which might get lost at the bottom and add up to a bulging bag.  Just as I do not want an overweight body, I also do not want an overweight bag.  It’s  a good time to clear out tissues, receipts (although if you are like me your receipts will have been already entered into Excel and put in an envelope for that month) and other small pieces of litter.

If you haven’t tipped your bag out for a while (it is so much fun though, once you do it you will want to keep on doing it regularly) you would be wise to do this just before vacuum-cleaning, as there could be ‘bits’.  Or a clean towel underneath that you can shake outside afterwards.

Periodically it is a useful idea to re-evaluate items you carry around just in case that have hardly ever, or maybe never, been used.  It’s good to be prepared, but I have not yet found the occasion where I’ve needed to use my Crabtree & Evelyn rosewater soap flakes.  And I’ve had that little packet for years.

Along the same lines, within my handbag I have a small zip bag with cosmetics, hair ties, headache pills and more in it.  I sometimes tip that out on my bed and look at what’s in there to see if I actually use it.  I always have a lip gloss in there but because it’s not used that often I put my newest lip gloss in since I’ll use up ones in  my makeup area first.  Stock rotation - not just for the pantry!

It’s such a nice feeling going out the next day with your streamlined bag.  You can find everything and it’s dust- and detritus-free.

Of course if you’re a mum it’s probably a different story.  A stylish and friendly lady whom I served last week (who was also very funny in a dry way) opened her beautiful black leather handbag to pay.  She said, pointing to her bag which had a sandwich container and a pair of balled up socks sticking out of it, ‘do you have kids?’.  I smiled and shook my head no, and she responded ‘this is what happens’.

Day Seven: Feel Sexier

You will be shocked to find out this is NOT me at home in La Perla.

Nothing speeds up the downward spiral of motivation like feeling frumpy does.  A missed week of shaving your legs, wearing your comfy knickers and eating more crappy foods is the road that leads to nowhere chic.

So, to turn this around, I re-commit to every second day doing a quick shave of my legs in the shower, weeding out my lingerie drawer and enjoy wearing my nice knickers, and cutting out the treat foods that sometimes sneak in during the week (I try and reserve treat foods for weekends for the most part).

Almost straight away you feel better.  Smooth moisturised legs and nice underwear is instant, and it only takes a few days of eating better again to feel more vibrant (even if your weight hasn’t changed much yet, your body is so happy with the nutrition).  And your significant other will probably notice and appreciate your happiness.

Play music that makes you want to move your body.  Gotan Project, flamenco/Latin guitar type sounds, even Pharrell Williams.  There are so many good songs that make you feel like moving, make you feel a little sexy.  Perhaps it’s time for a new playlist?  Put it on when you get home from work while you’re straightening things up and getting dinner ready.  It’s far better than the (bad) news.

Sexy up your home clothes.  I have two very fine merino jumpers where the V-neck is just that little bit too low for work.  I would wear them with a scarf to not scare the customers, but have decided to put them in my home clothes drawer instead of my work clothes drawer.  Now paired with some nice new clingy leggings as chic lounge wear, ooh la la, no scarf required.  I am that sexy and sophisticated French lady of my dreams, at home with her love!