Nomination for The Sunshine Blogger Award

I am honoured to be nominated for a Sunshine Blogger Award by two of my lovely blogger friends:

Gail from IsThisMutton and Jacqui from Mummabstylish

Thank you so much for the nomination, Gail and Jacqui. I got to know these two ladies through our ‘Style Not Age’ challenge and even met Gail at The Bias Cut photos-shoot Day in London in 2017. You should have a look at these ladies’ blogs for inspiration and information, as well as a positive approach to living their lives in their 50s.

The award is given from bloggers to fellow bloggers who inspire creativity and positivity by bringing sunshine to the blogging community and to their readership alike. It is a way of encouraging one another and also to get to know other bloggers.

I was asked the following questions and here are my answers below:

• Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I wanted to showcase that when we reach 60, 70, 80, it does not mean that we have to go and hide away. I was always interested in fashion and I still am. I love seeing older women rocking their leathers and ripped jeans, while I admire those who wear beautiful elegant dresses and timeless pieces too.

I also wanted to share my experience of growing older. I try to stay relatively fit and healthy and I exercise moderately. I have embraced new experiences and challenges, such as learning to play golf and bridge in the last few years.

• Who takes your photos?

My lovely husband ‘Gorgeous Graham’, known as GG to my readers. He can get bored easily and I have to jolly him along with bribes and promises! There he is (above) on the receiving end!

• How proactive are you in building relationships with brands?

I am not proactive at all, but I have just recently decided that I need to identify those brands that I want to work with and approach them. I have been fortunate to work with Shaws Department Stores here in Ireland and Marshes Shopping Centre on their social media accounts, but I turn down offers of collaborations that are not suitable for me.

• What does your family think of your blogging habit?

They initially thought it was hilarious when I mooted the idea as I am (well, was) technically inept, but they got behind me, helped me get started and are my biggest supporters. Hubby even helps with editing and proofreading too and writes the occasional guest post. His post about being an Instagram husband was very popular.

•  How do you get the ideas for your posts?

I suppose I write about personal stuff. I am honest and open and I am tackling issues and items that are pertinent to growing older. Yes, I write about fashion, but I also write about beauty products and treatments suitable for older skin. And, most importantly, I deal with health and relationship issues that impinge on my life.

I was always an over-sharer, so now I just write my posts as if I am chatting to friends and telling them what I am doing: it could be about my experience of cupping, my skin cancer scare, how I am worried about my memory and what I am doing about it, or my husband’s blackout in our kitchen last year.

It is not all doom and gloom stuff though. My post on How to stay Married for 35 years and not Kill your Husband had a reach of thousands – as did my husband’s response. Though it was written a little tongue-in-cheek, there were plenty of relevant tips and plenty of home truths.

• Tell us an unexpected fact about yourself

OK, here are two:

While in college, I worked as a movie extra and Sean Connery looked into my eyes in the film  ‘The Great Train Robbery’!

I love nothing better than a theme party, dressing up and acting out a part. Luckily, I have friends who are like-minded!

MY NOMINEES for a SUNSHINE BLOGGER AWARD

Loretta from  The Countdown to 60 –  I met Loretta when she visited Ireland from California last year with her husband John.

Karen, British born-and-bred now living in Arizona, from Above and Beblonde

And finally, Ciara and Kim of Two Phat Cows from Ireland. No, I am not being rude. I swear.

Their blogs will inspire, inform and I promise bring SUNSHINE into your lives.

 

THE QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES

Why did you start a blog?

How did you come up with the name for your blog?

How do you get the ideas for your posts?

Tell me 5 fun facts about yourself

What’s your favourite social media site and why?

 

THE RULES FOR THIS AWARD ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Thank the person who nominated you and include a link back to his/her blog.

Answer the questions given by the person who nominated you.

Nominate other blogs and give questions for them to answer.

Notify your nominees through social media or by commenting on their blog.

List the rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post.

 

Thankyou for reading. I hope the sun comes out for you today, wherever you are.