My style picks, Joe’s birthday and QVC’s brand new podcast!

“Well, it’s all going on, isn’t it?” My brother and sister in law came over on Sunday and those were her parting words. There’s so much going on for all of us… (all in a good way, I hasten to add). The business of life continues!

I was even more grateful to have my mindful sit this Saturday morning. It was simply lovely – a dedicated practice that is so helpful. I’d been feeling quite super-duper and able to stay in control – and then boom – I had awoken that morning and felt wrong… a precursor perhaps to the rubbish mess of a headache, weariness and an all-night long hideous upset tummy that followed.

So, today I feel a tad fragile and am nurturing myself!

Although, I did have a lovely weekend around all of that. Our best man returned home to visit with his gorgeous family. We luckily grabbed some time with them and had a bonus of a traditional pub gathering.

I think Murph’s American wife Summer thinks we have accordions and 12 musicians playing folk music every weekend in England! She was absolutely thrilled that it was a true quintessential English experience for her. It was also a joy for us to be able to hang out with Dan’s oldest friend from Primary school, who is now Toms much-loved Godfather.

Birthdays have happened, too, as QVC turned 26 and my Joe’s 17th all happened at the start of the month. I did a mention on Instagram but appreciate not all of you see that. We had a meal out with his girlfriend and his ‘boys’ which was great fun, rather crazy and felt a privilege to be a part of…

Happy Birthday, my gorgeous boy.

The loft, yes… it is still occurring but now has a store room. So, incredibly we seem to have managed to condense our entire loft space into it. I have spent many hours going through the entire contents of the children’s school years, where every single book they had ever used and every picture drawn had been saved.

The classic line of: ‘just put the bags up in the loft, we will sort through them later’ was always uttered at the end of each school year and it appears NOW is ‘later’!

Luckily, I had written dates on most of them and named them… ooh get me, I even impressed myself.

I decided to photograph them and keep just the odd original, super special, precious ones. A crate for each child to fill with their special memories and keepsakes…

I just need to reorganise mine: old photos, diaries, love letters… they all need tidying through and I’m looking forward to it, as so many memories are triggered! I’ll see if anything will be appropriate to feature in my next blog!!

I saw a fabulous suggestion the other day which I wanted to pass on to all new parents, as I think it would be a wonderful idea. When the baby is born, set up an email account in their name and send all precious things to it over the years. Then, at 18-years-old, they will have some incredible memories archived.

Its all going on at QVC, too. I think there is so much that is fabulous and a real feeling of freshness and newness around.

I had a lovely time trying on some of the fashions that caught my eye and while it always takes me to the last possible moment to say ‘hi Autumn, I’m happy to see you’, these delights help a lot and now I actually am delighted!

This check coat from Helene Berman is fab, I love it with the preppy vibe of my gold pumps from Bronx.

I just couldn’t resist buying this purple faux fur jacket from Rino & Pelle. There is a beautiful navy choice but it was love at first sight for this purple shade.

It brought to mind this fabulous poem by Jenny Joseph:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick flowers in other people’s gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

The softness and comfort of this Louisa Conti animal-print sweater in zingy lime is fab and so comfy. I’m wearing it as I write, as like I said, I need nurturing! I wear the the M size and I’m a 12.

I received lots of lovely compliments when I teamed the Ruth Langsford faux leather jacket in Cappuccino with the Kim & Co skirt, along with this motif T-shirt – again by Louisa Conti.

A sort out of my wardrobes is now definitely required. A tidy up of skincare is next on my list !

At QVC, it’s treats galore. It is full on keeping abreast of every fabulous thing to tell you…

First up, it’s the extension to our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee – taking you from now until January 25th for any Christmas gifts you are buying. Helping us shop carefully, thoughtfully and sensibly, enabling the December month to be a pleasure and not a stress!

The £1.95 p&p charge for beauty is also now well and truly up and running. Do watch out for the amazing offers we have on TSV days – but if truth be told, all days on-air and online have super things to grab! All the big beauty brands, like Liz Earle (heads up coming soon…) will have their big Christmas treats for you.

Talking of offers and treats, imagine having an advent calendar equivalent of offers but not having to wait until December to start…? That’s what’s happening at QVC, with our Festive Finds. Check in daily to see what the offer is, from money off codes, offers on an item, a brand etc, etc. It’s everyday, I tell you!

We will do our utmost to keep you updated on-air but my advice is to make a habit of checking in 9pm daily to see what’s what! Oh, and I can tell you that all this month, all Skechers products are on three interest-free instalments…

And breathe!!!

If you haven’t already, tune in to listen to QVC’s new podcast! Nicky Gewirtz MBE is featuring in the latest episode, and the wonderful Will Gowing is in charge! It’s called Inside QVC and you can click here to listen!

It’s so lovely to listen along as you clean, walk the dog, or – as I do – drive home. It’s sooo much nicer to sit in traffic with Will and Ruth Langsford, who did the first episode and Alison Cork. Jackie Kabler’s latest recommendation of the audio-book Blood Orange is also going down a treat too.

Right, I have to have a snooze before I head back to tackle more in the loft! I will SO look forward to seeing you on-air. Until then, don’t forget Instagram and Twitter can keep us in touch.

Have a splendid week.

Huge love,

Claire