Have you seen the new Squidoo review pages?

I like the format of the new Squidoo review lenses.

They ask you to write short, to the point recommendations of things you know and like, with personal input about why you like the items.

I've now written two, and the first one, A superb book of baby knits from designer Debbie Bliss was actually made "Lens of the Day", which was a nice surprise.

My second one is about something I use every day, Clinique Repairwear Intensive eye cream- the only eye cream I'll ever use. I'm not a big user of makeup- just a dash of eyeliner, a blob of foundation and a slick of lipstick and I'm done.However, I do look after my skin, and when you get older, the eye area needs extra special care. Hence my mild obsession with this product!

Readers in the UK can buy this from Amazon - here's the link should you want to...

Celeriac- are you using this wonderful vegetable?

Celeriac- the "ugly one" aka "the unsung hero of the vegetable world."

Use celeriac in soups, purees, roast veggies, raw in remoulades ( salads) make celeriac chips, celeriac mash, add to vegetable casseroles- take a look here for all you need to know about celeriac.

I've got lots of celeriac recipes from top chefs too.

Go on, be bold, get to grips with celeriac.

We're offering great rates at our Lake District B & B and our holiday rental cottage this autumn/fall.

I know many of you reading this will be thousands of miles away, and will not be able to take advantage of our special offers for this October, but for those of you who might be able to get here, why not take a look at this page about our Grasmere Bed and Breakfast and this page about our holiday rental Lake District cottage ?

There's lots of information, useful links, and great bargains to be had. Pass it on! Thanks!

White Moss House Grasmere Bed and Breakfast- the terrace.

Have I got time to make a Christmas Stocking?

3 months to go until Christmas, and I've just updated my selection of the best Christmas stocking kits to buy for Christmas 2013 Most of these are to be found on the amazon.com site for US buyers, but you can find a huge choice of Christmas Stocking kits here from amazon.co.uk.

You may know, if you read my other blogs ( I've started a new one Doting Grandmother ) that I have just become a first time grandmother. I've already knitted quite a few garments for him, and I thought I might turn my had to Christmas stockings. I like the appliqued ones best. People say they take 20 hours to make. As a beginner, I'm thinking I should maybe double that.
The kit shown below gets lots of good reviews. I'm about to take the plunge and put in an order........

Blackberry and apple crumble recipe- with a hint of ginger

It's nearly time for blackberries and apples to be ready for picking. Here in the Lake District the blackberries look like they need a week or so before they'll be ready, but when they are, I'll be making our famous "Blackberry and apple Grasmere" recipe. Why Grasmere? Well, Grasmere is famous for gingerbread, and our recipe has a hint of ginger in it.

You can find this autumn dessert recipe right here Or, if you're from the USA - our recipe for a great Fall dessert- blackberry and apple crumble.

Cheers Andy Murray! Get the kit and see if you can play like Andy!

It's sunny and warm, and British Sport is on a roll this weekend.

The Lions smashed Australia in Rugby,Chris Froome is leading on the Tour De France, and now Andy Murray has become the first Brit to win Wimbledon since 1936.

I love tennis, but don't play a lot. I do know though that if I just go our on the court in any old top and shorts I look a mess. To play well you need to dress in the best tennis clothes you can find. Take a look here at the clothing worn by the top tennis players

Many of the photos are my own from my visits to Queens Club London for the June tournament.

Here's Andy Murray from June 2011.

Andy Murray, Queens' Club, June 2011

Goodness me, someone is fast off the mark! You can buy this tee shirt here from Amazon right now! It says "Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion 7/7/2013

I'd rather be outdoors than on a computer right now

I've got a mug that says "I'd rather be gardening!" and that just about sums up how I feel right now. I have to spend some time on the computer, keeping up to date with emails and marketing for our B & B White Moss House, Grasmere bed and breakfast, and also for our holiday rental cottage Brockstone- Grasmere holiday rental cottage with amazing views.

Apart from that I'm taking a break from writing new pages on Squidoo, which has been going through a tough time lately. I plan to start writing more on Wizzley soon.

If you want to see what I'm doing in the garden and round about in the Lakes right now you can follow my Lake District Garden blog or my White Moss House blog- lots of photos and news from White Moss, Grasmere.

So spring is here in the UK- summer must be better this year surely?

In 2012 we had a warm early spring. Hot even. By mid April all the daffodils and spring flowers had come and gone in a couple of weeks.
Today ( May 6 2013) there are still daffodils in bloom ,the tulips are only just coming out, the magnolia is just starting to turn white, and in the English Lakes the temperature is heading into the teens . Today it's reached about 14C (57F) for the first time this year.

Time to get outdoors, and think about buying summer goodies.

If you have children and grand children, you may have bought them a swing, or some outdoor water toys in the past. If not, then take a look here at why you should buy a swing- a guide to the best swings. If theweather is getting really warm, you really can't beat outdoor water toys like the ones I've picked here for good, clean, healthy fun!


This is the best selling toddler swing on Amazon.co.uk right now

Great Gatsby going Great Guns

I've just finished reading The Great Gatsby- for the third time. This time was for my reading group, and also because I'm looking forward to the new movie finally being released.

I love the fashion of the Great Gatsby era, so much so that I've written a whole article that you can read here about how to get the Great Gatsby look.  It's turned out to be a very popular article- in fact, it's in and around the Top 100 on Squidoo, which is a first for me.

If you've not read the book, you should. IMO. It's short, so no excuses. If you think The Great Gatsby is all fun and fashion- you're wrong. The book is dark , sad, thought provoking and beautifully written. Let's hope Leonardo di Caprio can do Jay Gatsby well- I have high hopes......

Here's the picture I use as an into photo on my Great Gatsby page. It's from wikimedia commons and is of Violet Romer. Wonderful!

Paisley- not just for aging hippies like me!

I've always loved the Paisley pattern. I was around in the 60s and 70s when the Beatles and the summer of love made Indian styles and patterns so popular. Now that Paisley is back in fashion, you can click here to find more about it, and see some lovely things to buy ( mostly from the US amazon site)


UK readers- do you ever buy clothes from Amazon? Did you know they sold clothes? I've never bought any
clothes from amazon ( though I'm one of their best customers for my Kindle, music, and lots of other stuff)

If you're in the UK, Amazon UK is featuring a huge range of Paisley items here.


I really like this dress- it's a bargain! Click on the image for more information.

Two top fashion trends for 2013

Two trends ladies might like to follow in 2013, not too extreme or frightening, are The Great Gatsby Look and the Shift Dress. With the movie of the Great Gatsby finally arriving in May this year, the 1920s look, already so popular with Downton Abbey fans, will be all the rage at parties and wedding this year. I've picked out some stylish, classy dresses with the Gatsby look right here. Don't make yourself look like you're going to a fancy dress party (that's what you call a costume party if you're American). Be subtle. It's a very flattering look. Shift dresses- anyone can wear them, and there's a shift dress for you right here..Did you know that Amazon have an amazing range of clothes? You can find a great ranges of shift dress on Amazon here- for those of you in the UK If you live in the USA or Canada, Amazon.com have a fantastic range too. That's all from me today in my fashion advisor role. Thaks for reading.

Thinking of going on a New Year Diet?

Are you one of the many people planning to start a diet in the New Year? I've put on weight over the last few months, especially over Christmas, so I'm going back to the Dukan Diet, which I followed very successfully last year. I've written two helpful articles which will help if you're thinking about trying the Dukan Diet for your New Year weight loss. Tips for Starting the Dukan Diet does what it says- gives you lots of help and tips. This article tells you what you need to get started, and allows you to think about the best ways to plan your new diet.Read this article first, and decide if the Dukan Diet is right for you. The Dukan Diet Attack Phase takes you through the first stage of the Dukan Diet. The "Attack Phase" will only last a few days, but it is crucial when you start the Dukan Diet to plan and start your diet fully prepared. I'm going to be on this blog more regularly in 2013, so if you want to leave a comment or message, I'll be able to get back to you. Happy New Year! Readers in the UK can buy the Dukan Diet book here.