Both are out on 13 February.

I got the advice of our fitness guru/personal trainer at work – yeah, iris is a pretty cool place to work – and as I suspected, I’d been missing out my core strength training. I could tell already. I’ve been getting stiffer and achier and have noticed more little niggling pains in my hips and knees. Not great.

I’m about to take my training up to four days a week and throw in the long runs. To counter balance this, I need to make time for the muscle conditioning routines. I’m slightly afraid of being too tired to cope but I don’t think I have all that much choice so from next week onwards, I’ll be doing a run, some yoga or this set of exercises every day. The risk of injury is just too high otherwise.

Winter hibernation mode is starting to kick in. I may be deluding myself but I’m really hoping that the aches and pains will go once the weather gets warmer and the days get lighter. Fingers crossed.

Favourite outfits so far? These coloured skinny jeans (dare I?) and this perfect full skirt.

I’m getting the crazy inclination to spend my Christmas Topshop vouchers on really impractical items. As you can probably tell, I’m conveniently forgetting that we normally get snow in London in January and February. These gorgeous things just wouldn’t make it. Would it be wrong to buy them now and keep them for the Spring?

1. The slippers. Tan is the colour to go with everything
   
2. The dress
   
3. The short suit. Amazing colour. A bit pointless…. I could never sit down on the tube but great for summer weddings.
   
4. The calf length pleated skirt. Paired with…
   
5. The striped top
   

• A Cup of Jo – We share a french style obsession
• Rock n Roll Bride – Super cool
• The Angry Therapist – Truth for when you need it
• The Grindstone – Career advice for strong willed women (who? me?)
• Suri’s Burn Book – Fashion and dark humour. What’s not to like?
• Design Seeds – Colour inspiration