Like any self-respecting modern women with three kids, a demanding job and a lamentable lack of self-discipline, I enjoy nothing more than my monthly promise-to-self to pull myself together, stop eating biscuits for breakfast and rediscover the figure I had when I was 16. I mean, how hard can it be?!

I missed a diet deadline last month – the one in which I promised myself I’d look like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on the Biarritz beach – but I’m delighted to say that I have a new goal to aim for, having booked a delightful family holiday among the Turkish riots in late summer.

With a new bikini crisis on the horizon, it has become embarrassingly plain that I can’t do this lose-weight-lark by myself – those Bourbons are just too pushy for my liking – so I have drafted in Muddy Stilettos’ award-winning personal trainer Emma ‘Slaverdriver’ Redding on a more permanent basis to steer the Muddy body to glory.

I used Emma (below in her home studio) once or twice last month out of curiosity mostly, and was quietly impressed by the way she allowed me to natter myself into breathless oblivion on the stationary bike and trick me into doing extra sets of lunges.

Yesterday I went to see Emma again. My God I’m unfit! Someone please tell me they’re as gaspy and quivery and pathetic as me…  My upper arm muscles shook after a couple of repetitions with the dumb bells. My stomach muscles only allowed my shoulders to rise 3 inches off the ground for crunches.

It made me realise that, actually, I really do need to focus if I’m going to nail this boring old supermodel business and get that Victoria’s Secret contract. Or failing that, walk on the beach in a bikini that isn’t reinforced with steel.

So Emma, you have your work cut out for you. But hell, you’re the best personal trainer in Buckinghamshire, if you can’t do it, no-one can!

 Emma@buggyfit.co.uk. Tel: 07919 173846

But some events hit the sweet spot between enjoyment on the day and money in the coffers and the Dream Tea day on 21st June, from national children’s charity Dreams Come True is one of these.

Dreams Come True helps terminally ill children all over the UK fulfill their dreams, so it’s a fantastic charity to support, and it’s as easy as throwing a coffee morning, or a cuppa with work colleagues, a vintage-inspired tea party or school tea and cake sale. However you want to do it, as long as there’s tea, cake and conversation involved (and obviously a little bit of money changing hands!) the charity will benefit.

It’s this Friday but there’s still time to get a hosts’ pack online,  which includes teatime treat recipes from The Great British Bake Off finalist Miranda Gore Browne, posters, charity information, and tea party hosting and fun etiquette tips from Liz Brewer.

I can help a little with advice too. For best results, remember to keep your little finger up, and head firmly down in the cake. Make sure you breathe on alternate sides after each cake dive for ultimate stamina eating and push through the pain barrier on the sixth cupcake – you’ll get your second wind.

Don’t mention it, I’m here to help!

www.dreamscometrue.uk.com

Vestiaire is, of course, the brilliant designer vintage store that launched in 2009 and now seems to stock everything you need from every designer you’ve ever coveted. It’s like a posh ebay, with an incredible 1.5 million visitors a month, and 500 new items listed daily. But at Vestiaire all items are authenticated and checked before reaching the seller, thereby eradicating the risks of purchasing counterfeits, mis-selling or mis-pricing items.

New in yesterday, amongst the hundreds of listings, was a pair of Celine sunglasses (seriously gorgeous), a slouchy Miu Miu bag, a pretty summer Stella McCartney dress. Truly, if you don’t find £300 of goodies that you love within 5 minutes I’ll eat my Philip Treacy hat.

WANT TO WIN?

This comp is easy-peasy to enter with only 3 ways of getting your vote counted:

1. Follow @vestiaireco  AND @muddystiletto and tweet ‘I want to win £300 of Vestiaire clothes because [followed by your answer]. Please RT!’

2. Follow Vestiaire on FB here and Muddy Stilettos on FB here and comment ‘I want to win £300 of Vestiaire clothes because [followed by your answer].

3. Sign up to Muddy Stilettos on the homepage here - it’s free and fabulous doncha know!

That’s it peeps. Both Curve and Vestiaire comps will be pulled out of the hat on 30 June so if you haven’t entered either yet, get clicking now!

I’m so in love with these kids PJs from Annie’s Upcycled in Oxford I’m tempted to ask Annie to make me my own pair!

My mum used to have cotton bed sheets like these. The glory of Annie’s Upcycled is that she takes vintage fabrics and gives them a beautifully wrought new lease of life on PJs and nightgowns for little people aged 1-7 years. I love the old-fashioned collar – it looks lovely done all the way up.

A ramge of Annie’s Upcycled stripey PJs – gorgeous, aren’t they?

This set, which I had made for Iris, cost £28 – on the Boden/White Company scale, but then you’re not going to find these PJs in every other shop you go into, plus it’s a much more individual service – if your child’s a bit sturdy around the leg, say so and the fit will be tweaked accordingly.

Annie happens to be an ex-costume designer for film, TV and stage – now consigned, like many of us, to finding new ways of making a living that doesn’t mean you don’t see your own kids for weeks on end (though, now you put it that way….!).

In other words, the woman knows what she’s doing! Look, the finish is just perfect.

Annie also sells a small range of children’s clothes, all one-offs and limited to certain sizes so it’s a question of pot luck really. The majority of sizes seem to be 2-3, or 4-5 years. But you can also offer up your own materials for a bespoke piece – PJs, skirt, hat, shorts, whatever – so if you have a lovely vintage fabric that needs a new lease of life, Annie’s Upcycled could be just for you.

www.anniesupcycled.com

I visited The Long Dog pub in Waddesdon a few months back, just before going to Normandy for a holiday. Then I lost my phone (and all my Muddy review pictures) on a motorway peage, and have been attempting to get back to take replacement pics ever since.

Mais mon dieu! Sometimes the gods takes pity on my chaotic approach to life. I’ve just discovered the photos on my computer – I must have downloaded them before I went away. So here we go, one review coming up.

My sense was that The Long Dog is primarily for locals (though not in a ‘keep out stranger’ kind of way), and has a relaxed, confident feel to it. I only visited in the day so can’t vouch for the evenings though the low ceilings and ‘stretch’ of this pub lends itself really well to autumn’s log fires and intimate lighting.

The decor has eclectic touches, carefully mismatched furniture, muted colours with the odd dash of bright blue behind the bar.

The Long Dog pictures are put up over the month and the best one wins a free meal

The ladies loo. ‘Founder’ would have scored better, mind you.

It’s attractively done, most successfully in the room to the left of the main bar (below), which is more intimate and a lovely spot to have an evening meal.

As as often the way with these reviews, I came in with my two youngest kids (5 and 3 at the time). They were well catered for, with a picture to colour in of – what else? – a long dog, plenty of crayons and chose a beautifully presented children’s version of chicken and chips, below – though a pretty big portion for a three year old!

I headed straight for the tapas and chose my own selection of pork belly, calamari and spanish tortilla (2 for £7, 3 for £9.50 or 5 for £15). There’s actually a massive tapas list at The Long Dog and anyone who reads Muddy Stilettos will know that’s the Holy Grail for me, so I was a happy lady.

Time was running out – my children only remain human until about 4pm, at which point they revert to evil imps – so we didn’t make it to dessert, but it all looks as you’d wish, with cheesecake, mousse, brulee and ice cream.

On sunny days there’s a little courtyard outside with a birds eye view of Waddesdon church  though mostly The Long Dog is a pub designed for inside use, as the pub is close to the main road running through the village.

The little courtyard…

… with its view of the church

I think the main way I’d use The Long Dog, as it’s about 20 minutes from my home, is either for a relaxed evening meal with mates, or as a stop off from or to Waddesdon Manor, the entrance of which is just across the road.  The pub cleverly serves lunch all day and is a more relaxed environment for kids and frazzled parents than the run-of-the-mill Stables cafe at the Manor. But have a go yourself and let me know what you think.

A pretty nook in the main bar

Best for: relaxed gatherings with friends/family – the Jamie Oliver style homely platters are a nice touch and service is friendly

Not for: foodie pilgrims. The food is good pub fare and priced accordingly.

££: Fish and chips for £12, Burger and chips for £11, tapas 3 for £9.50. Very reasonable.

The Long Dog, 116 High St, Waddesdon, Bucks, HP18 0JF. Tel: 01296 651320. www.thelongdog.co.uk 

The prospect on some mud on my stilettos – ooh, that feels good! Bizarrely I have never been to one of the big formal race events in the UK, but that may change this week as Mr Muddy and I are in talks to don silly hat and tie and go to Royal Ascot ourselves. I’ll catch you in the champagne tent with Charles and Camilla, yah?

http://www.ascot.co.uk

Man of Steel premiere, 14 June

Superman, the prequel. Of course, how have we survived all these years without it? But Brit Henry Caville is a handsome Clark Kent there are more celebs in this movie than you can poke with a stick of kryptonite (Lawrence Fishburne, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Amy Adams…). Most importantly, your kids will love it. Five seats and a barrel of popcorn, please.

National Gardens Festival Weekend, 15-16 June

The stunning formal gardens of Broughton Grange

This is a fantastic event and a real family pleaser whether it’s a day out with your parents or a way let your own little ones let off steam and trample on someone else’s borders for a change. There are hundreds of fantastic gardens open all over the country this weekend but I love the sound of the 25 acre Broughton Grange in North Oxfordshire village of Broughton (stop and see the lovely castle while you’re in the area – read my review here) and Blewberry Manor House with its moat and parterre, set in 10 idyllic acres. http://www.ngs.org.uk 

Stradivarius, The Ashmolean Museum, 13 June – 11 August

I don’t play the violin but I’m still very excited about this new exhibition at the Ashmolean – the first major UK event dedicated to the life and work of Stradivarius, unique amongst musical craftsmen in that his name is as well-known as the composers of the day. Twenty of the most important violins and cellos in the world, some of which have ever before been displayed in public will be on displayed, many from Stradivarius’s ‘Golden Period’ (1700-1720). There’s also a special evening concert at the Sheldonian on 14 June performed by James Ehnes. For tickets visit: www.musicatoxford.com. £6 / £4 concessions; free to under-18s

Selfridges Summer sale, London, 13-15 June 

It seems so early in the summer to be talking of sales, but the big London stores are all at it, just in time for the run up to the holidays. My superfave department store Selfridges is starting its Summer Sale today – doors opened at 8am this morning if anyone was ahead of the curve (no, me neither). If you can’t be bothered to budge from your seat, just do it online. You might as well check out Harvey Nics’ sale while you’re at it, now offering a whopper 60% all lines until Sunday. Yippee!

Giffords Circus, moves to Bicester 13 – 16 June

The wonder that is Giffords Circus continues to criss-cross Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. If you haven’t already booked to see the show, Bicester and Stadhampton are the next two areas on the schedule. Reviews have been excellent for this new show and it’s fantastic for kids and adults so put it in your diary!

www.giffordscircus.com

Kids Week, London, theatre bookings opens 18 June

Kids Week returns this summer, offering children aged 16 or under the chance to see a participating London show for FREE in August when accompanied by a full paying adult. You can also purchase up to two extra children’s tickets at half price. More than 30 shows are offering the Kids Go Free deal, including Matilda (above), The Lion King and Top Hat so it’s well worth getting online when it opens on 18 June at 10am.

www.kidsweek.co.uk

Family camp, Brownsea Island, Dorset, 15-16 June

An extra-special treat for Father’s Day weekend is the rare opportunity for families to spend an adventurous night on the beautiful Brownsea Island courtesy of the National Trust. Camping, outdoor activities, a BBQ and a bit of Kum-ba-yah around the campfire for those of a beardy disposition (no offence grandma). I’ve been to Brownsea before and it’s absolutely gorgeous – well worth the trip if you’re looking to do something as a family away from it all.

Booking essential. For more information, tel 01202 492161

Jane’s Teas, Kirtlington, every Sunday afternoon through summer

A slightly more sedate alternative to Brownsea Island on Father’s Day, this fabulous , famous Oxfordshire tea boasts canal boats, English eccentricity, and the best homemade cakes around. Wander down a pretty track to the cafe, accessible only on foot or by boat and scoff yourself to a standstill. Read my review of Jane’s Teas here.

I’ve been looking for like, forever, for decent cushions that don’t cost the earth. I wanted something Sixties-ish and graphic but the designer cushions I liked were around £80 a pop.

That just wasn’t an option for me – I have holidays to fund for Chrissakes! – but now I’m super-proud of these beauties from Cargo Homeshop. Total cost for 6 cushions – and this is no joke – £37!!! For that price you can change them six times a year and still have change in your pocket from your average John Lewis haul. *Smug*.

http://www.cargohomeshop.com/Cushions

My lovely gel nails (one week old in this photo)

Yes yes I know – my wrinkly monkey hands do not make naturally beautiful pictures! But gorgeous nail jobs deserve to be seen, so here we are.

It’s no exaggeration to say that I keep getting stopped by women who’ve noticed my nails and love a) the neon coral colour (as do I – I’ve been looking for this shade for EVER)  b) the professional job. Even today at my son’s school the teacher mentioned it.

You’re looking at my first ever hand gel nails here, and I’m a massive convert. I’ve always applied my own varnish and I’m not bad at it actually, but gel nails are just way easier aren’t they? They stay shiny and neat, and provided you choose a colour you love, you can just forget about the faff of remover/reapplication for weeks on end.

My fantastic local beautician Helen, whom I’ve raved about before here for her age-defying facials and perfect pressure massages, applied the gel nails, and she even persuaded me to have some diamantes on my big toes, below. These are definitely hovering somewhere on the chavtastic scale but it appears I’m reaching the age where frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. I love them!

How are they lasting? I’m glad you asked. I had the gels exactly one week ago today, and they’re still absolutely perfect and chip-proof. Not that it matters if you have a problem, because Helen will fix any imperfections for free in the first week. Which is nice.

And here I am, drinking a cup of char with my spangly nails

Helen works from home in Postcombe (by J6 of the M40) which I realise may not be much use to you in Milton Keynes or Witney (!)  BUT if you’re close enough to give her a try, go for it. It’s a deluxe treatment that normal people can afford – usually £5-10 less than you’d get in a salon.

And for any manicures and pedicures booked before the end of July (ie you can have the treatment later in the summer) you’ll get an extra 20% off – just in time for your holiday in the sun!

Helen, May Lee Beauty. Tel: 07711 889896. helen@mayleebeauty.co.uk. www.mayleebeauty.co.uk

I wrote this post in early December 2012 but I’m re-posting it because I’ve just realised that there are 3 days left to get 10% off Ski Famille catered chalets in Les Gets and Les Menuires with free childcare thrown in. 

Most of us have turned our attention to summer holidays but it saves serious money to book early for skiing. So I’ve re-posted my verdict on Ski Famille below for your curiosity and you can check out Ski Famille’s offers here. 

Hero x

Les Gets, around one hour from Geneva

More than anything Mr Muddy loves to ski, and it’s been a source of great irritation to him over the last few years that trivial things like C-sections and eye-watering epidurals have meant my back is not up to snowboarding. It’s still dodgy as it happens, but something about Mr Muddy’s pleading eyes made me give in this year, so just before Christmas all five of us went on a family skiing holiday.

Now before you stick your fingers up at the computer screen and zone out, this isn’t a feature slogging through the glories of my fabulous holiday (though it was actually really good LOL!). I’m writing about it because you might find yourself in a similar situation to me.

On the slopes

As a family we were a motley crew of abilities and ages and temperaments, almost so different that it felt like a hassle to go at all. A toddler who was too young to ski, an older one who was onto his third week. A middle child who was yet to ski and might point blank refuse to try. A husband who wanted to ski all day. And me? I wasn’t risk doing my back in before Christmas, so I decided not to ski at all, instead hoping for some R&R and to be on hand to help my kids have a good time.

We went with Ski Famille, a relatively small company compared to the big beasts like Powder Byrne and Neilson, but Mr Muddy and Finn had been away with them a few years back and loved it, so it had form. Having worked out of Les Gets for over 20 years it’s carefully expanded, now boasting a clutch of chalets in the area. The secret of Ski Famille’s success is reflected in its name – they are family holiday specialists, working out every conceivable way to take the hassle away from parents who want to ski and have a break, but also spend quality time with their kids.

Me, horizontal after dinner. Again.

We stayed at the entry level chalet Negritelle, chosen because it was in the centre of Les Gets, so easier for me, the non-skier, to get around and see/do stuff. There are definitely sleeker chalets in their portfolio – I had a sneaky look at the new Chalets Bogart and Bacall just built opposite and they were smarter than my house! That was an extra £1000 a week per family so you might think it worth paying for a more luxurious experience. You can also get a ‘whole chalet’ price if you want to take it over with just your friends. But for us, Chalet Negritelle was perfect and came with  a basement playroom, plenty of loos (the downfall of many a communal chalet), open plan lounge/dining and chef Louis and Becky the childminder.

Here’s what you need to know. I didn’t lift a finger to cook all week – delicious breakfasts, afternoon teas and three course dinners cooked each day by the lovely Louis. The children were collected by Becky for their skiing lessons, and taught by instructors who spoke great English and showed a level of patience not always associated with our Gallic friends. Then they played with kids from other Ski Famille chalets in the afternoon, and were deposited back at 4.30pm (unless we wanted to fetch ourselves. Er, NO).

Look, my happy child (middle) mid-skiing lesson!

My week was quiet and relaxing. No dizzy heights of excitement – that’s what the mountains are for – but knowing that my week was going to be more serene, I was prepared and I quickly established my own routine. A bit of blogging in the morning (that Muddy Stiletto Christmas giveaway wasn’t going to sort itself out), a bath, some trashy reading, and then off for a coffee on the slopes to watch the end of the kids’ ski lessons.

I met Mr Muddy most days for lunch and in the afternoons I organised my own entertainment including an afternoon snow-shoeing with local guide Caroline from the SnowShoeing Company. Who knew walking in the snow with tennis rackets attached to your feet for three hours could be so much fun (or that my Just Sheepskin boots would be so brilliant for the job)? I was pleased to get on the snow and into areas of the mountains even skiers can’t easily reach and do a bit of exercise that didn’t involve moving cake from plate to mouth. We happened to walk on a day where visibility wasn’t great but on a bright sunny day there would be some exhilarating views.

Taking a break from snowshoeing (I’m the lazy one sitting down)

Pristine views on the snowshoe trek

Later in the week I managed to swim a couple of times in Morzine, about 10 minutes away by bus, in a stupendously clean and slick new pool/steam/sauna/that made British municipal facilities look positively toxic, and nearly got round to having a massage and doing a chocolate making course and considered going shopping to Geneva for a nanosecond, but it being a holiday, couldn’t quite be bothered!

Les Gets nursery slopes with the cafe in the background

And what of Les Gets itself? It’s an attractive, unpretentious resort with an easy 1 hour transfer from Geneva, and a life outside skiing – so there are plenty of local haunts to offset the more touristy restaurants. The skiing is fab,  part of the Ports du Soleil range that also includes Morzine and Avoriaz. Les Gets is also very beginner friendly with a ‘magic carpet’ next the nursery slope (above), itself next to a cafe, which is next to the bubble. Parfait really.

So the holiday was a massive, unexpected success, and it also changed my perspective on family skiing breaks. They’ve always seemed so expensive and hard work, but without being too gut-wrenchingly sentimental about it, I can see now how they bring families together, experiencing an exhilarating activity together, but giving everyone the space they need. Next year we’ll hitting the snow again – and this time I’ll be joining in.

www.skifamille.co.uk

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I love this table from Oxford artist Athol Whitmore. *SIGH*. It’s something about the distressed wood and the street art overlay. What do you think?

Whitmore is a bit of a polymath it turns out. He has a thriving furniture restoration/vintage selling business based at The Old Flight House in Weston on the Green (see my feature about the emporium here). He sells his art and takes on private and commercial commissions like the work below.

A foodie’s ideal coat hook. This one is £75, though they can be commissioned to length

Deco chairs with Columbian coffee sack upholstery (sold already or I’d be tempted)

Plus he’s doing a PhD in Practise-based art. Steady on Athol, you really need to set aside some time for some artistic angst in your busy schedule!

Anyway, check out his website here for more art, furniture and vintage finds.

www.atholwhitmore.com