Muddy Stilettos


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Trish-Halpin_credit-Tracey-Griffin.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62572" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Trish-Halpin_credit-Tracey-Griffin.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Trish-Halpin_credit-Tracey-Griffin-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Trish-Halpin_credit-Tracey-Griffin-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Trish-Halpin_credit-Tracey-Griffin-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Trish-Halpin_credit-Tracey-Griffin-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Image: Tracey Griffin </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-wakes-you-up-in-the-morning-and-when"><strong>What wakes you up in the morning and when?</strong></h2>



<p>I set the alarm on my phone for 6.30am and if I have a good night’s sleep (around seven hours a night), I’ll wake up just before it goes off. If it’s been a restless night (brought on by a glass or two of wine), I often end up having very vivid dreams, falling in and out of sleep, so it takes a while to peel my eyes open and so the snooze button gets hit several times.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Do you bounce out of bed or do you need to be dragged from it, still clutching your duvet?</strong></h2>



<p>I’m pretty bouncy most of the time, as I generally sleep well. That hasn’t always been the case, particularly during my mid forties when I had young children, a hectic job and was in the midst of peri-menopause. Poor sleep and night sweats are just some of the many symptoms (there are around 40), but since I’ve been on HRT my sleep has been transformed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What’s the first thing you drink and eat?</strong></h2>



<p>I leave a glass of water by the bed so that’s always first – the nutritionist Petronella Ravenshear told us on the podcast to drink half a litre of water as soon as you get out of bed in order to rehydrate and also switch off the hunger hormone ghrelin. Coffee and breakfast comes later – usually around 9am – meaning I&#8217;ve fasted for around 12-13 hours, which is also recommended by other health experts we’ve spoken to as it gives the gut a chance to properly reset. I love Dorset muesli with fresh fruit, milled chia and flax seeds, or I’ll have full fat Greek yoghurt with some stewed fruit, which I make at the beginning of the week, either rhubarb, plum or apple. And I have to have a strong Nespresso coffee – just one a day so it’s a real treat!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How do you set the mood for the day?</strong></h2>



<p>I’ve started practising deep breathing and mindfulness and also say a prayer of gratitude before I get out of bed in the morning. I think about what I have to do in the day, who I’m likely to encounter and then I focus on finding something positive and joyful about each of these things. Reframing your mindset to focus on the positive really does work and sets me up for a productive and happy day.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Who else shares your morning space, and how does that shape your routine?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="852" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.07.28-852x1000.png" alt="" class="wp-image-62579" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.07.28-852x1000.png 852w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.07.28-511x600.png 511w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.07.28-448x525.png 448w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.07.28.png 878w" sizes="(max-width: 852px) 100vw, 852px" /><figcaption>Trish &amp; Niel / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/trishoftheday/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@trishoftheday</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Now that our twins are at university, there is just my husband Neil, our Labrador Bridie and Margo the cat at home. The animals are always waiting to see us (or rather waiting to be fed). Bridie is super happy and wagging her tail while Margo is miaowing and furious as she’s not allowed in the bedroom with us at night because she wakes us up and scratches the furniture! Neil and I are both self-employed and one of the real joys of that is being able to sit down at the kitchen table and have breakfast together. After 30 years of grabbing breakfast on the go, before commuting into London to edit magazines, it really has become one of life’s pleasures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What’s on the radio/podcast/TV?</strong></h2>



<p>Neil and I have a bit of a tussle over the radio – I like to listen to the Today programme on Radio 4, being a journalist I’ve always been a news junkie. He likes Radio 2, but I can’t be doing with Dua Lipa blasting out pop songs at me at that time of the day (as much as I love her). So when I’m upstairs, I’ll switch the radio to my channel and he’ll do the same in the kitchen, so it’s a constant back and forth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Are you an early morning exerciser?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="987" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-13.58.56.png" alt="Trish Halpin " class="wp-image-62575" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-13.58.56.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-13.58.56-600x592.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-13.58.56-532x525.png 532w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Trish and Margo / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/trishoftheday/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@trishoftheday</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Yes, this is the reason the alarm goes off so early. After doing a few household chores like folding, washing to wake up properly and get my body moving, I’ll either cycle down to the gym for a swim or yoga class, or I do an online Pilates or HIIT class at home. I’m a huge fan of Joanna Hall’s Walkactive programme and her Instant Body Booster 20-minute videos on YouTube. They’re quick and easy morning stretch and posture enhancing sessions &#8211; I discovered her in lockdown and have rarely had an ache or pain since.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>When do you let work in your day?</strong></h2>



<p>I’ve always been good about being disciplined about work hours. When I was working in magazine publishing I would look at emails on my commute into the office at around 8.30am and in the evening I had a hard stop when I left the office. Now that I work from home and don’t have a team to manage, I start answering emails, checking my calendar and To Do List at around 9.30am.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What’s the first thing you do with your mobile on waking – newspaper? Scroll of IG? Emails?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="657" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.02.20.png" alt="" class="wp-image-62577" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.02.20.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.02.20-600x394.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-25-at-14.02.20-799x525.png 799w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Usually it’s answering What’s App messages from my <em>Postcards From Midlife</em> co-host and ‘work wife’ Lorraine Candy. She is on a totally different morning schedule to me! She likes to do an hour of work as soon as she’s up to get a head start on the day. I’ll take a look and if it’s something urgent I’ll get back to her, but usually I’m quite disciplined and answer after my 9.30am work start – at which point she is often out swimming or running, so we’ll pick up together around 10.30am.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How do you choose what to wear?</strong></h2>



<p>One of the things I do miss about working in an office is that I don’t get dressed up for work any more, unless I have meetings that I’m attending in person. As a glossy editor I had to look polished and ‘pulled together’ as my fashion director used to call it, as I was always out and about at fashion shows, beauty launches and commercial meetings representing my magazine brand. I still have most of my ‘glossy editor’ clothes in my wardrobe, Stella McCartney Jackets, Red Valentino blouses and Erdem dresses, and although I only wear them now occasionally, I don’t want to part with them as I bought them as long-term investments. I’ve had to start building an at-home work wardrobe which is usually a pair of DL1961 jeans, a pretty blouse by French brands like Sandro and Maje and cashmere jumpers from M&amp;S or my favourite boutique, Iris on Northcote Road in London. My Jimmy Choos, however, have now been replaced with Birkenstocks and white trainers!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What’s your beauty and skincare routine?</strong></h2>



<p>My favourite skincare brands are Balance Me, Clarins and Vichy. I rotate between their cleansers, serums, moisturisers and night creams and I use Ren’s Clean Screen SPF30, which works really well under make up, as not all sun protection does. Sometimes we have guests on the show who have their own brands and I’m lucky to get to try those – I loved beauty journalist Sali Hughes’s skincare range, which she launched this year with Revolution skincare. Sometimes beauty speak can be really baffling, but Sali stripped all that out from her range, so it’s easy to understand what you need to use when and where. Plus, it’s really affordable too. In terms of make-up, I’m a tinted moisturiser fan – Nars or Bare Minerals – and then it’s brow gel, No7 dark blue or grey eyeliner, a slick of mascara and I’m good to go.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>If you are breakfasting out, what’s your favourite local spot and why?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="741" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cafe-Fleur-Instagram-.png" alt="" class="wp-image-62578" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cafe-Fleur-Instagram-.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cafe-Fleur-Instagram--600x445.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cafe-Fleur-Instagram--709x525.png 709w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfOIQFlAoyw/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@cafe_fleur</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Nowadays it’s a rare occurrence but I’ll occasionally meet a girlfriend if I’m having a quiet day for brunch at a small place in Wandsworth called <a href="https://www.cafefleur.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Café Fleur</a>. And yes I am that person who always orders smashed avocado on sourdough!  Quite a few PRs live in my area so we often catch up at cute place on Wandsworth Common called <a href="https://www.flotsamandjetsamcafe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flotsam &amp; Jestam</a> – they serve super strong coffee just the way I like it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>If you could wake up anywhere and with anyone, who would it be?</strong></h2>



<p>I have to say my husband Neil, because even after 36 years together, having met at uni when I was 19, I still feel grateful to wake up next to him every day (as long as he hasn’t been snoring too much in the night!). Where, would be <a href="https://thefifearms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Fife Arms </a>hotel in Braemar, Scotland, one of the most beautiful places in the world that we’ve been to. It’s owned by art gallerists Hauser &amp; Wirth and is stunning – and they let us bring our dog Bridie. We celebrated our 25<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary there last year and I will always remember it.</p>



<p><em>Postcards from Midlife is a weekly podcast helping women over 40 to have a stylish and spirited second act. Listen on your podcast provider or download </em><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/postcards-from-midlife/id1491922331"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p><em>Postcards from Midlife Live takes place at the Business Design Centre in Islington on 19 &amp; 20 May 2023, featuring celebrity guests of the podcast, including Patsy Kensit, Louise Minchin and Sadie Frost as well as health, wellbeing, fashion, beauty and menopause experts. Tickets are on sale now at </em><a href="https://postcardsfrommidlifelive.co.uk/"><em>postcardsfrommidlifelive.co.uk</em></a><em>.</em></p>


Morning routines of happy women: Trish Halpin

You may also like