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Hi hope you’ve had a great weekend.  We’re nearly at the end of January and I’ve saw a few bloggers share their dream year post.  Its a post I like to read so I thought I would share mine.  You write your goals for the year and come December you look back and see what you achieved.  I love goals, Im a planner.  I love a checklist.  I write a list of what Ive to do every single day.  It keeps me productive & stops me forgetting things. So lets get started, grab a cuppa, this could be a long one.

Career

Last year I was lucky enough to get a business coach.  It was the best thing I ever did, Kirsty is a wonderful person and has taught me so much. It isn’t all about spreadsheets and number crunching, its all about getting on in life, making life easier and how to enjoy your business.  What we did was plan, I learnt how to plan, (this is my list making started) how to make achievable goals and complete them.  I now have  a 1, 3 and 5 year plan for myself and one for the business.  Im not sharing them all just now but here are some of the changes I will be making this year.

My business really means the world to me.  I love my boutique and I feel I have found my feet.  Its now time to grow.  I have some new brands due arrive for Spring 2020 and I know your going to love them.  I try to always find something a wee bit different and I love when customers comment on that. I want to do a small refurb too.  Nothing major but I a few tweks here and there.

This blog, Im getting right into the swing of this, I love to read and write, it was my favourite subject at school.   My plans are to write a lot more fashion and skincare posts.  I have the posts just no photographs so my aim is to meet with my photographer at least once a month to get some good content as well as the photographs I take myself.

Youtube – I have watched youtube for over 4 years now and this year I will have my own channel.  Im learning to edit and then it will be full steam ahead with fashion hauls, vlogs and I hope to share some boutique life on there too.

 

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My first photoshoot with Francesca, we just clicked!

 

Home Life

Spending more time with loved ones –  Making sure a Sunday is mine, whither its going somewhere with Alex & the dogs or spending time at home with a blanket and a good book.  Visiting my grandpa, I’m making sure Sunday is not spent doing house chores, food shop or work.  Small changes at night during the week will give me a Sunday free. I said this last year but I mean it.  1 day switching off a week is a must.

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My grandpa has vascular dementia and we weren’t sure if he would be at home with us this Christmas & he was & we had a great day.

Health / Wellbeing

Look after myself Be the best version of me, this year Im going for it. Im 43 this year and Im going to look after myself.  As well as loosing the Xmas pounds and getting a bit fitter,  Im trying to sort out my hormones.  I know my age has a lot to do with it but the moods and cramps are unbearable sometimes so Im trying a few different vitamins to see if they can help.  I will do a separate blog post on this later on.

Pilates and walking; my favourite exercises. I don’t have the time for a class at the moment so home DVDs it will have to be.  Im not walking much just now with the dark nights but Ive been craving to get outside on a crisp day and get a right good walk.  Its great for the mindset and I always feel amazing and totally refreshed after a good walk so Im looking forward to that.

Travel 

I wasn’t going to feature this as we don’t go abroad anymore but we do a fair bit of exploring Scotland, its really beautiful so I will be sharing where we go.  We won’t leave the dogs, Alex isn’t to keen on flying and I have terrible earache when landing that it’s put us off.  I wont fly to London for buying trips anymore because of it and I really enjoy the train journey now. I was lucky enough when I was younger to have relatives in Africa and America so I’ve seen a good part of the world as well as the Caribbean and we’ve done the usual European holiday spots. So I’ve seen enough. Last year Alex converted his new van to a camper, Ive only stayed in it twice.  We done the NC500 on our 10th wedding anniversary and I done an over night in Glencoe.  Over the past 10 years we’ve toured around Scotland, it really is a beautiful part of the country,  we usually rent cottages or log cabins (my fav!) but this year we’re planning on going to the outer hebrides so Im really looking forward to that.

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Dress Down Day !!!

A few places I would like to visit this year –

  1. Outer Hebrides (Harris and Lewis)
  2. Arran
  3. NC500 again
  4. The Kelpies
  5. Inveraray Castle
  6. Wallace Monument (its been years since Ive been)
  7. Edinburgh
  8. Back to my favourite place in the world – Foyers 
  9. Culzean Castle – we walk the dogs in the grounds all the time but never been in inside.
  10. Explore more of the Cairngorms

I really wish you all the best for the coming year, a new decade bring the opportunity for a fresh start.  Time to start smashing our way through those goals.  I’m excited to share this journey with you.

Life is for living.

Chat soon

Marlene x

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Happy Thursday, the weekend is near and my Sunday day off is calling me.

I’ve found myself reaching for all black outfits, rain coats and boots.  I’m blaming the weather.   Storm Brendan hasn’t helped much this week, the weather has been awful and yes I know its Winter but the high winds and down pours Yuk! I visualising beautiful frosty morning with crisp winter sun.

So this week when I was planning my outfits and looking on the online stores for some inspiration & found myself being draw to white.  I love a Winter white / cream outfit.

Here are some of my finds:

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0831211002.html
https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0809411003.html
https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0796003001.html

H and M have nailed it.  I have these jumpers, they was great and were under £25.00

I’m tempted to buy this black and white cardigan, I have it in my basket then I take it out.  I think I would need to go into a River Island store to try it on. It reminds me of the Balmain Cardigan.

https://www.riverisland.com/p/black-rvr-knitted-longline-duster-jacket-796829
https://www.riverisland.com/p/beige-button-front-knitted-cardigan-798748

 

If your looking to get spendy, I spent a while on Net a Porter, the dream….

https://www.net-a-porter.com/gb/en/product/1204455/Loro_Piana/cubetto-canary-cashmere-sweater
https://www.net-a-porter.com/gb/en/product/1203374/Toteme/pomy-merino-wool-sweater
https://www.net-a-porter.com/gb/en/product/1204455/Loro_Piana/cubetto-canary-cashmere-sweater

 

Hope you spotted something you like, have a great weekend.

Chat soon

Marlene x

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Happy New Year….. New Year – New Me & all that jazz!!

 

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I’m sure you’ve heard it all before and might be sick of it but I bloody love it.  Not the awkwardness of New Years Eve or Hogmanay as we call it but the fresh New Year.

Theres nothing like a fresh start, a new calendar, new diary the first page of  new note book.

This year for me its all about organisation and plenty of hard work. Head down hard work, not the I’m so busy but unproductive.

Everyone else is like yeah I’m taking time out at night, not going to be working as much, cutting back on social media & I’m like nope – nope – nope. I plan to work myself to the bone this year.

Here’s to 2020.  2 blog posts a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Youtube video’s & vlogs coming soon, facebook lives, photoshoots and all the things that make me so uncomfortable but will help grow my business.  Cheers !!

Jumper Mango ~ Sold Out.

Photographer ~ Francesca Morrison.  Instagram @fmphotosx

 

 

 

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Brings a week of content, never a truer quote written.  As someone who will shamefully admit Im the most unorganised, messy, hoarder, always running late type of woman.  I’m not going to write about how Im changing my ways because sometimes I think it’s in your make up, your DNA.

Last Sunday was a treat to just spent time at home, pottering and getting ready for the week ahead and it was great!  The washing and ironing all done and the house was clean, I wont say spotless as Gunner and Buddy make sure of that! But we were organised and it felt good just to relax and do what I pleased.

1st of December; Winter is on its way not to mention the festive period, I keep the C word till a few weeks before the 25th, when you mention Christmas it follows with a lot of moans and groans, “to early “over rated” “all about show” & I get it but Festive & festivities are great words aren’t they?, they make me feel warm cosy & happy.  Its all about feel good films & books.  3 of my favourite Festive books are The Tree at Rockerfeller Centre,  I bought this in New York a few years ago, similar is listed here I love being amongst the tree’s there is something magical and any tension just disappears.  Another American book is New York Christmas full of beautiful imagery, recipes and crafting.  A great coffee table book this time of year.  Finally some Jacob Marley, a Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol.  Delicious comforting food line the supermarkets shelfs.

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Last Sunday I finally unwrapped my White Company Winter Fragrance box of delights, We’re not quiet ready for the main tree yet, I did bring out my wee miniature tree for the office along with my No 7 Boots Advent Callander  & Neom and white company candle but I’ve noticed a lot of tree’s up already and the competition is Fierce on the gram …….so many beautifully decorated trees, most look like there out a magazine or dressed by an interior designer 🙂  Christmas tree day for us is the 8th December, we have our traditions which I will share with you here.

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We finished off the day with an amazing home cooked Sunday roast and vegged on the sofa watching strictly & the start of I’m a Celebrity.

Not every day off was is like that one, but days like that I treasure the most……………….

Marlene x

 

 

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Happy Monday everyone, hope you had a good weekend, yesterday we had our first festive ladies day with My Serenity Boutique, it certainly kick started the festivities and we meet some lovely new customers.

This morning I’m heading through to Glasgow for my monthly meeting at our Business growth programme, October went a bit off track and I didn’t do what I had planned for the month, this new website is going to be the death of me I kid you not!  It’s been 1 step forward 2 back and it’s easy to fall down that rabbit hole if your not careful.  Hence the reason to write this post.

This time of year can be a bit bleh so I thought I would share my tips on how I stay motivated.

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Top New Look Skirt My Serenity Boutique Bag & Boots Kurt Geiger (last season but I’ve linked similar)

The Fear of Regret

I don’t want to look back with much regret knowing I could have done better.  I do my best to remind myself of this. Starting my business is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself especially my confidence and It’s just the start, I’ve got so many plans and goals set I want to know I tried my best.  I would rather look back and laugh at my crazy mistakes and believe me that list is growing by the year.  Life is to short, I remind myself of that (again). I’m nearly half way through mine!  I’m going to live glamorously into my nineties at least, I’m sure of that!! I’ve already done the norm, bought the house, car, happily married, 2 precious fur babies. It’s time for the fun stuff, time to enjoy what you work hard for. Take chances.  One of my favourite quotes is the 3 c’s.  Choice, Chance, Change.  “You must make the Choice to take the Chance or your life will never Change. True story! Write you goals, bucket list and start working towards them. You’ll be amazed at what you achieve. It doesn’t have to be huge, for starters just make a list of what you want done in a week. Keep it with you & I bet you get it done. Trust me it works!!

Your circle.

Surround yourself with people who inspire you.  Be fussy with who you spend your time with “you are the average of the 5 people you spend your time with” they shape who you  are, so if your circle is negative, change it, join a group, a club, take up night school.   My business coach Kirsty  is a ray of sunshine, she’s the most positive person I know.  I always leave our group sessions with fire in my belly also an outlook that I can achieve whatever I set out to do. We need more Kirsty’s in the world! If your Ayrshire / Glasgow based I highly recommend the Glasglow Girls Club.  I’ve been to some fab events and met lots of women that I now call friends.  They have  good networking events, events where if your feeling a bit stuck, need advice, a group of us get together and help where possible.  Days out, joining the club also gives you fantastic discounts on food, entertainment and other Scottish businesses to.  There is a waiting list and I’m sure their is only 2 openings a year to join but it’s definitely worth joining.

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Remind yourself how far you’ve came.

I wasn’t always confident, it’s still something I’m working on but when I think I can’t do something I remind myself on small achievements.  For example, I was terrified of driving, I wouldn’t drive anywhere that I new had a hill start, the detours I took, I’ll tell you!  I would probably be an extra £20 on fuel a week haha. And believe me this went on for years. I also wouldn’t go anywhere I hadn’t been before, I’m still a bit iffy on that but with Google maps nowadays what could possibly go wrong…….  How did I fix it, I’d had enough, I went out early on a Sunday morning and practiced hill starts till I was blue in the face.  I still pat myself on the back when I’m on a hill and use clutch control and no handbrake, such a bad ass lol.  But seriously push yourself, you can achieve anything and I mean anything you set your mind to. x

As always, thanks for reading and I hope this gives you a bit on inspiration for this Monday morning.

Chat soon

Marlene x