Beauty Style Gossip

Valerie Corona

2011-09-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

A beautiful accessory can finish an outfit and milliner Valerie Corona is impressing the fashion pack with her beautiful, bespoke and often limited edition designs. Available at Fenwicks, Bond Street, Valerie's designs are on-trend and range from colourful and bold - a nod to the colour blocking currently flying around the High Street, to muted and delicate - with mohair, angora, boiled wool and lace translating beautifully on a hat that looks ten times more expensive than it is. Starting from around £45, the peices include small hair accessories, to a variety of hats and even ear muffs; perfect for embracing the probably cold winter we face ahead. Why not accessorise your favourite coat and shoes with the perfect slouchie or cute ear muffs.
Look for your favourite and browse the look book at: www.valeriecorona.com
Interview with designer and milliner Valerie Corona coming soon.

Relationship Conundrums

2011-08-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

I always read stories about the female quest for perfection in the media. You know the sort: Lose that baby weight; pressure to look gorgeous at the school gate; pushy mothers and competition to look the best at work/party/gym and it made me wonder where all the honesty has gone?
My main wonderment is over relationships. Over the past couple of months, I have become increasingly aware of some of my girlfriend's omitting information from their relationship gossip/woes - until they are drunk OR I offer up some snippet of information first.
I mean, when you're younger you talk crap to all and sundry and every row is the epitome of the end of the earth and you cry for hours into your pillow, bitch with your girls and kiss and make-up over a dinner at a Beefeater chain restaurant. It seems, as we have got older we are reluctant to discuss these woes as openly - "life's fine - you know, the usual. Kids at school and one's in a play and the other made a painting..." bla bla bla.
YES, but what about you?
So when a friend starts flirting with an old boyfriend on Facebook and some others pour out the details of a row, it made me question what prompted the out pour?
It seems that so many of us in our 20's and 30's are so keen to ensure we look like we have made something of our lives that the basic need to share is being kept in and bottled up, leading to a mammoth burst over a glass of vino.
As a serial divulger, I know I like to talk. I rarely share any negatives and this made me look at my own behaviour. I rarely row with boy, but sometimes I feel the need to vent. perhaps it was over something silly, but as soon the unusual negative comes out of my mouth, a little light goes off somewhere and the sharing begins. I think the learning here is to attempt to share something little, often as this could be the signal your friend needs to talk about something that could be troubling her. The friend flirting on facebook has always said she likes her own time and she respects that her hubby works a lot. In actual fact she was feeling overwhelmed with her children and feeling lonely, isolated and unloved. She has given little snippets on these prior to the big chat, but said she felt she couldn't talk to anyone as more often that not, the response from others was: 'why are you complaining?' You have a big house, nice cars, holiday once or twice a year and a man who loves you' - leaving her feeling ashamed and confused. They both work hard for what they have, but the increased hours apart from her man and negativity from other 'friends' (I suspect school-gate, slightly jealous mummies) left her in a small hole with no-one to talk to and she did not deserve that treatment.
I think, perhaps, we need to get talking and accept, no-one is perfect and be realistic - no-one knows what goes on behind closed doors - even more reason we shouldn't judge.

Care and share - that's my motto for the timebeing.

Urban Outfitters Favs

2011-08-19T02:26:00.000-07:00

Ann Summers AW11 hosiery collection

2011-08-19T01:20:00.000-07:00

New brand, new imagery and new product. I have mentioned I am partial to a little hosiery so these gems are right up my street. prices range from £8-12 www.annsummers.com

Vanessa Bruno Limited Edition Winter Collection

2011-08-19T01:08:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Vanessa Bruno. A few years back I had some beautiful peices from Vanessa bruno @ La Redoute - including suede slouch booties, long silk dresses and a gorgeous tailored jacket. After the house burnt down I didn't return to La Redoute to get any more bits - it just made me remember the beautiful things I had lost.
I may, however have changed my mind...

Vanessa bruno Limited Edition Winter 11/12 for La Redoute:
Blush dress £75
Brown silk shirt dress £85
Sweater with Diamante detail £85

Beautiful muted tones - perfect to accesorize with a tight maroon pencil skirt, rose gold jewellery and super high heels. I am a big fan of some of the hosiery hitting thr High Street, so why not team the dresses with beautiful stockings or hold ups.

La Redoute stockists number: 0844 842 2222

Latest work

2011-08-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

ANN SUMMERS AW11
Ben Riggott - photographer
Shelly Vella - Stylist
Lisa Valencia - Hair and Make-up
Art Direction - Katie Byrne
Assistant art - Sophie Barton and Hayley Fiddes

War and Peace Show image highlights

2011-07-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

Interview with Betty magazine

2011-07-20T00:24:00.000-07:00

Isn't it lovely when you come across a bashed up little magazine stall and come across a magazine that is not only full of fashion, beauty and features, but interesting articles and angles that inspire you?
Well, this is how I feel about Betty magazine. When it first came out, I loved the cocktails shot so beautifully and the way a team of students had pulled together a pretty robust magazine.
So, in my quest to talk to interesting people, I have grabbed some time (with the promise of tea and cakes) with Charlotte Jacklin, editor of Betty, to celebrate issue 2.

What outfit/items make you feel good?
A lace dress! I don't know why, it doesn't matter what colour or style it is I feel good. I have red ones, black ones, white ones.....I love wearing them!

Who/what/where (or all of the above) inspire you?
In fashion terms, icons of the 60s and 70s. The Rolling Stones and their girlfriends are the style I always try to reflect. I love that late 60s early 70s look.

I am mostly inspired when I am near nature, I grew up in a seaside town and I live near the country now, something about all the open space gets your creative juices flowing.

In regards to what inspires me, pretty much anything! Anyone who is individual and stays true to themselves I really admire.

How do you plan your issues of Betty?
I start of brainstorming, which then develops into a page plan. However there is no set format, inspiration and ideas come to me when I least expecting them, mostly doing really mundane things. I take photos of everything, so if I am out and about I snap it to remind me later as I have such a bad memory. My phone has over 3000 photos on it.

What made you want to create Betty?
Betty was created with my friend from university Hannah, we had similar tastes and Betty was created because there is not really a magazine out there that we truly loved, that I think has all the aspects I would like to see in a magazine in one place.
There are magazines out there I love to read, of course, it was putting the bits I loved the most together and adding them to parts other magazines didn't have and going from there.

Also I don't believe there are a lot of positive magazines out there in the mainstream, too many gossip columns and diet tips. It is not what young girls should be reading, it is detrimental in the long run. One minute something is in and the next it's out, whether it's a piece of clothing or a person, things are too easily disposable.

Which part of creation do you love most?
Seeing an idea come to life. Having something in your head and then seeing it in front of your eyes - sometimes a lot better than you thought- is great.

Do you have a style icon (s)?
Florence Welch - she always looks amazing and stays true to her style.
As previously mentioned style icons of the past, Anita Pallenberg, Marianne Faithful and everyone's mums when they were younger....they all look so chic no matter what decade!

Favourite designers?
Ooooooo a tough one!! Erdem, Mui Mui, Charlotte Taylor, Vivetta, Orla Kiely, American Vintage, TBA, Moschino Cheap & Chic.....the list goes on but these are my favourites!!
I don't think I'll ever get over Luella going under!

Best or most frequented high street shops?
I don't stay loyal to a particular one to be honest. I get a lot of things from boutiques instead. I of course shop at Topshop however I do try to limit what I buy from there.

Your all time make-up brands?
I love Chanel foundation and I have just started using bare minerals which is really good. However no-one can persuade me to stop using Rimmel liquid eye liner, a staple in my beauty bag for a decade!

Describe a look and what you would wear on a night out
It varies, depends where I am going and who I am going with. At the moment I keep wearing cropped flares or palazzo pants with a soft blouse with platforms. Lots of chains and rings, with a vintage bag. Come winter I will be back in maxi dresses and platforms for a more 70s rock n roll vibe.

Most treasured item?
My collection of polaroid’s of my friends and me and then a ring given to me by my late uncle that I wear everyday on my little finger. There was a man who knew how to accessorise!

Most recent purchase?
Velvet platforms from eBay and Leopard print faux fur coat for winter - it was to good a buy to leave (even if it is June!)

How many pairs of shoes do you own?
a lot..... but I've never counted.

Places to relax..?
At my friends farm, on a hot day there is nothing better than running around with nothing but open space.

Best things in life?
Friends and records

Fav novels/literature/books?
Valley of the Dolls was life changing for me, I read it 2 years ago and I wish I could go back to re-discovering it again. I was unreachable for a week.

Must have accessories?
Charms, whether it be rings, necklaces or bracelets, things that mean something to you are the most precious and look the best.

Fav films - old and new or want to see this year?
Almost Famous is my favourite film of all time, I can quote it word for word....I watched it at an impressionable age and have never quite gotten over it. Recently I started watching Wes Anderson films, so beautifully shot. One more to mention is Julie and Julia, i loved this film, you can't fail to be inspired after that, I was walking around with a warm glow for two days. I love it when films leave you with a feeling like that.
As for films I need to see the list is endless! I have been so busy with Betty I haven't gotten round to watching any, I really want to watch Submarine, I am reading the book at the moment and it is a hilarious laugh out loud - I can't wait to see the film.

Best places to visit in London (your secret haunts) and local to you?

I have recently moved outside of London and the three places I miss the most are:
The Commercial Tavern - the prettiest pub there ever was
Liberty - I just want to live there
And Princi's on Wardour Street for the best Cannolli's in town

Name 3 things you want to achieve this year.
I am learning to drive (at 25 it is hard!) so I would like to pass my test please.
Be able to have Betty in a print format
An visit three states in America ( I hoping to do NYC, San Fran and LA in September)

see betty here: http://issuu.com/bettymagazine/docs/betty_issue_2_the_perfect_summer

Follow Betty on Twitter: @BettyMagazine

Karin Andreasson jewellery

2011-06-27T00:41:00.000-07:00

BIG fan of horseshoes and this is gorgeous. Designer Karin Andreasson makes the horseshoe look delicate and gorgeous enough to wear with a day dress or evening attire.
I think my obsession horseshoes started with Carrie in SATC - now I have a collection of about 4 or 5 and I must defo add this one to the treasure trove.

From £102 www.karinareassonjewellery.com

Eco Tools eyemask

2011-06-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

I must admit something. I have never been a fan of the eyemask. Even on long haul flights, there has been something scary about not immediately seeing something. Freaked me out a little. After my house burnt down I felt even more wary of tools to help you sleep - ear plugs, pills, lavender...anything that could possibly render me unaware or useless in an emergency (FYI - the house burnt down in the middle of the night, we were in bed and just managed to get out).
However, having had trouble sleeping since and going to a series of festivals this year, I have been sent some super festival survival kits. This has now got to be the best thing that has happened in a long time.
To offer you a little background, I usually wake up about 10 times a night and average on 5 hours sleep a night. I need about 6-7 to feel super duper.
I thought I would try this eyemask one night after a particularly sleepless night. I tentatively popped the mask over my eyes, adjusted it, accepted the inevitable jokes about batman from boy and nodded off. The next thing I know, it is 5.30am and I have slept through the night.
Weird. So I tried it again and again and have also asked boy to test this magical device. He loves it. So it would appear we are both converts. But, as ever, being the cynical old witch that I am. I decided to test It out at Isle of Wight Festival. The tent fills with light as soon as anyone lights a bloody candle or sweeps a torch across the site, so you can imagine the agony of going to sleep at 2-3am after the Foo's and being woken at 4.30am by a) sunlight and at 5.30am by a) sunlight and b) mental people.
on goes the mask and voila darkness. EXCEPTIONAL.
Highly recommended. Soft towelling fabric makes this a clean and comfortable mask. Love it.
Go.Get.Now.

Interview: Author Lindsey Kelk

2011-06-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

1)      Name the celebs around your table for perfect dinner and what you would be eating/drinking.
Ooh, this is a tough one... eight is a good number for a dinner, isn't it? Let's see, for the boys I'd go Brian Cox because he's ever so clever and pretty to look at but we could talk about music as well. Bill Murray because who wouldn't want Bill Murray at the table, Alan Rickman because I love him and Alexander Skarsgard because if I cooked dinner, I deserve a treat. As for the ladies, alongside my good self, I'd have Cheryl Cole because I reckon she could do with a good feed and a nice night in, Kristen Wiig since I just saw Bridesmaids and loved it then Carrie Brownstein, guitarist from my all time favourite band Sleater Kinney and hilarious lady of Portlandia. Mainly because I love her but also because I need to apologise for the time I told her I loved her at a Bishop Allen gig. Oh, wait. That won't work, will it?

We'd go with sharey food, maybe a ton of tapas. I used to do a very good tapas spread, I could totally do it again - albondigas, garlic and chili prawns, lemon chicken,patatas bravas, tons of bread. Dessert would be sharing platters too - cookies, brownies, cupcakes, that kind of thing. That way no one has to eat anything they don't want to and those of us who wanted to be pigs (me and Bill I reckon) could stuff our faces. As for booze, loads. Loads of it. You've got to cater for everyone, haven't you?

2)       In the name of food – name your fav comfort/happiness meals
I love food. Seriously, it makes me so happy and living in New York, it has the potential to make me really fat. The day The Single Girl's To-Do List was published, me and my friends (yes, single girls) went to the Churrascaria Tribeca and stuffed our faces with cow. Steak is probably my favourite meal but then, when I get home sick, it's shepherd's pie. I love mash potato and something about making the shepherd's pie from scratch - sauteeing the mince, making the mash, chopping all the veg - and then force feeding my American friends with it makes me incredibly happy. Failing all else, Cadbury's Dairy Milk or Percy Pigs, depending on the mood.

3)      Give me some yummy cocktails you drink on a very, very regular basis
I'm such a lush. I love margaritas. I was in Texas earlier this year and couldn't physically order anything else. On the rocks, lots of lime, no salt. Delicious. Failing that, there's a cocktail at The Bubble Lounge in Tribeca called Bubbly Cider, which sounds incredibly trampy but it's actually delicious. Lots of apple and pear, topped off with champagne. Yummers. If I'm making the cocktails, it's Hendricks gin, Saint Germain, fresh lime juice and lemonade over ice. Mmmmm.

4)       Who are what inspires you everyday?
My friends are brilliant inspiration and more than one of them would be able to point to our conversations or adventures in my books. I'm shameless. Mostly, I'm inspired by the fact that I love what I do. It really does kick your arse to get you out of bed every day when you think, 'wow, I get to write for a living'. And on the days that doesn't work, that fact that I don't have a monthly pay check every month is a good motivator...

5)      Tell us your beauty regime
As you probably know, I'm a total beauty whore. LOVE products and am terrified of waking up looking like Zelda from Terrahawks one day (outdated reference, I know). I cleanse with Elemis products, I've got the Melting Cleansing Gel in the shower and the Triple Enzyme Cleansing Wash by the sink, then for eye make up remover, I really like the Philosophy one but you get really good ones in the chemists in NYC too. I've got Bliss at the minute because I was caught short but my eyes don't really like it as much. Then in a morning, I use the Estee Lauder Idealist EVen Skintone Illuminator and Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator - I've only had them in my regime for a few weeks but I'm obsessed. I follow that with Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and a high SPF. La Mer SPF is great and I try to pick it up on the cheap at Duty Free whenever I travel. It's much more affordable than the moisturiser and I feel like it does make a difference. At night, I've been trying Jurlique recently after a brilliant facial. I love their Herbal Recovery Gel and Night Cream, my skin feels super hydrated the next morning. And I use Elemis Pro-intense Eye and Lip Contour Cream. And that's without getting into masks, exfoliators or body products... Jesus, no wonder I'm broke.

6)      Fav places to shop in NY and UK and anywhere else for that matter
The first place that came to mind was M&S. I literally land in London, go up to my mum's or wherever I'm staying and I've already got my M&S underwear order in my head. Online research is the best. Other than that, Topshop, obviously, and in London, I love Beyond Retro for vintage but mostly, I'm plundering the high street. Primark is still one of my favourites. In NYC, it's harder to find a bargain but I never leave Beacon's Closet without something (more awesome vintage) and Urban Outfitters is a total bargain compared to the UK. Anthropologie is fantastic if you can drop on a bargain. And obviously, Marc Jacobs and Christian Louboutin in the West Village if I really want to torture myself.

7)      Absolute top books you love and read again and again
My favourite all time book is The Secret History by Donn Tartt. Read it!

8)      Same with films/TV shows (like SATC or Friends) (did you like the NY reference?)
I watch far too much TV and if you could see my DVR list, you'd think I was a 14 year old boy. WWE, Family Guy and American Dad take up a lot of space. I love Arrested Development and I was a HUGE Buffy fan. Often watch rereuns of those bad boys. Other than that, I love True Blood and we've become Game of Thrones fanatics in our apartment of late. John Snow? Rowr.

9)      Do you cook? If so what are the signature dishes?
I do! I'm a good cook! Angela stole my Balinese chicken recipe, that's my best dish. Other than that, I make a mean batch of brownies and can pretty much turn my hand to anything. I love to cook tapas and now I'm in NYC, a nice Brit feast is always a winner - toad in the hole, shepherd's pie, sunday roast, yum...

10)   Can you do maths?
Um, no. Sorry Mr Sim/Mr Hare. I'm shat.

11)   Magazines you buy every month?
I subscribe to all the American glossies - Elle, InStyle, Lucky, Allure, Cosmo, Glamour... I claim it's research but really, I'm just a magazine whore. I usually pick up British Elle too and if I'm home, Grazia and Look are must haves.

12)   Tell us about writing – do you feel the need to writer every day?
When I started writing I Heart New York it was part of a New Year's Resolution to write every day. Now I pretty much end up writing every day whether I plan to or not, whether it's a blog post, a bit of BeautyMecca or some of whatever book I'm working on. Sometimes I go a couple of weeks without writing a word (bookwise anyway) but I'm always working. I'll be editing or doing promo or proofreading or something. I find it really hard to switch off. Plus, when I start writing seriously, when I'm about 30,000 words into a book, I find it really hard to stop and become a bit of a hermit.

New Cid i-gel

2011-06-02T00:38:00.000-07:00

I am definitely an eyeliner kinda gal. Since I was 12 an started experimenting with make-up, eyeliner has always been a staple within my make-up bag and I have played with liquid, powder, gel and pencil. One of my favourites is the Guerlain Terracotta Eyes Loose Powder. It offers the wearer the option of a slick, precise line or equally, a smudgy, smokey effect that looks great with dramatic shadow and neat eyebrows.

So you can imagine my excitement when I get the chance to play with the New

I opted for the Indigo and loved it. The small, slanted firm bristle brush is really accurate, making this the perfect tool for people just dipping their toes in the eyeliner pond. With one swipe you can achieve a perfect line and feline flick.
I let the first coat dry and swept the brush over once again for a more intense colour. The colour pops and looks clean, however, like with a nail polish, a second coat always gives it a better finish.
With three shades to a pot, it allows you to experiment to your hearts content.
Buy here
From £19

Interview: Abi from The Zutons

2011-05-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

Chat with Abi harding from The Zutons

Radio 1 Big Weekend. What an amazing weekend. One of the biggst highlights was getting to meet Abi from The Zutons - who I love. She is amazing...her hair, her style, her effortless chic. Top chick.

She looked amazing in her Diane Von Furstenberg playsuit and Stella McCartney pumps.

BSG: You look amazing as usual, what are you wearing?

AH: DVF and Stella; I love these two designers and I love to wear things that are different. I am a huge fan of the High Street, but to be honest, I have to look elsewhere a lot of the time cos' I like my style to be very individual.

BSG: What do you look for in an outfit?

AH: It has to stand out. No matter what. I like colourful outfits and if I see something that catches my eye I just have to have it.

BSG: Why did you choose this particular outfit today?

AH: Well, I had found this amazing t-shirt in Miss Selfridge that looked exactly like one that Dave wore for every gig. I bought it and thought, yeah I'm gonna wear this and we will match. Lucky I didn't wear it that night: I saw a girl in the front row wearing the very same t-shirt. I was mortified!

This stood out to me and I knew it would be comfy and cool too - it is so hot today!

Thanks Abi, we love you even more.

Here is the link to Cosmopolitan.co.uk - I covered the event for them and had a chat with the likes of Colin Murray and Jo Whiley - when she was pregnant (looking fantastic as ever)

http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/lifestyle/radio-ones-big-weekend-festival-report-82101?click=img_sr

Interview: Lindsey Kelk

2011-05-31T03:53:00.001-07:00

Interview with Chic Lit author and beauty mecca blogger, Lindsey Kelk

Well hellllloo...
So I managed to blag an interview with superstar blogger and author of I Heart New York, Lindsey Kelk.
Talk about living the dream - this girl is my hero.
She decided to get pen to paper, wrote her book, won a multiple book deal and is now living in New York a la her lead character.
I love her. The writing is refreshing, honest and pacey. Now, I'm not usually a big fan of Chic Lit, I have always been one of those who would prefer to be reading To Kill a Mockingbird on the beach rather than Daisy does Danny or Fanny's fanny diaries. Nope not me at all.
So, imagine my surprise when I genuinely fell in love with the character and Lindsey's inspirational writing. She rocks and I can't wait for her next installment....
K

What inspired you to write the I heart series...?

I was in a bit of a general rut and really playing 'anywhere but here'. I was broke after Christmas, stuck in cold, wet London in January with a rubbish boyfriend when I really wanted to be shopping in sunny New York, chasing after hot boys. Since I couldn't up sticks and leave, the only thing I could do was write about it!

How much do you resemble the protagonist Angela?
A lot at the beginning of the book. We have similar jobs, similar relationships, I just never broke anyone's hand or weed in their washbag. As far as they know... But as the book (and now books!) went on, she really started to become her own character. I'd write something and then think, 'no, that's something I'd say, Angela would never say that.' And before I knew it, she had a life of her own.

When writing about Angela's make-overs, did you use your make-up experience to make it as true-to-life as possible?

A lot of people ask if I did a lot of research for the books and by God, did I use the makeover parts as an excuse to shop myself stupid. My credit card is still hurting. I LOVE make up and write a blog, http://beautymecca.blogspot.com, which I started at the same time as I started writing I Heart New York. I didn't want the makeover part to be too over the top so I just wrote in what I would want to read about. I don't know if everyone gets as hot under the collar at the idea of spending hundreds of dollars at MAC as I do but, god, those parts of just as exciting as the sex scenes for me.
And yes, in case you were wondering, I am single. This is why.

How long did it take you to write the books?

I Heart New York was really quick, just six weeks from start to finish on the first draft but I was so bored and really not doing anything with my life at all so it was exciting to come home every night and write it. By the time I came to write Hollywood a year later, things had changed massively - I'd just broken up with my boyfriend, I was going out a lot more, I was busier at work - but once I got into it, I got it out in a couple of months. I write really quickly, I think because I've spent so long writing for my day job, and once I get on a roll, I can't stop. I'm completely knackered today because I was up until one writing I Heart Paris!

Tell us about your career as an editor:

I work in licensed children's books just like Angela, so I write books for brands like Noddy, Fifi and the Flowertots, Shrek and Hello Kitty. It's different to general editorial work because we actually write a lot of the books as well as edit them but that's been great experience. And who can complain about watching kids' TV and movies all day and then writing stories? It's criminal really.

When did you start your blog Beauty Mecca an dhow many followers have you now amassed?

I started BeautyMecca in 2007 at the same time as I started writing I Heart New York. They were both part of my New Year's Resolution to write every day and I'm really proud of both of them. I get about 2000 readers a month but that's going up now the book is out - the pressure is too much!

What are your dreams for the next year?
Well, I'm actually moving to New York in two weeks! I'm moving to the US HarperCollins office to work with their kids team and help develop new brands and series. It's going to be very exciting but super scary too. I need to borrow some of Angela's bravery... and hopefully she'll let me borrow Alex too. I'm going to be living around the corner from him in Williamsburg, so I'm sure she won't mind. I Heart Hollywood is out in January so I really hope that does as well as I Heart New York and (whisper this part) we're at really, really early stages of talking to people about making I Heart New York into a movie or a TV series and I would LOVE that to happen.

And finally...what advice would you give to aspiring writers who feel challenged, downtrodden and lack inspiration for the kick up the bum they need?

Just open your laptop, pick up your notebook and start. Seriously, there's no big secret, no magical inspiration fairy that comes and plants ideas in your head when you're asleep. Think of something that excites you and start writing. For me it was escaping my boring life, getting back to New York oh, and my massive crush on All Boys in Bands, the rest of the story just evolved as I went along. And once you start, don't stop. Don't re-read and then convince yourself it's crap, there are plenty of people out there who will tell you that. You just need to believe in yourself and carry on writing.

Interview: Almost Zara

2011-05-31T03:51:00.001-07:00

To celebrate three years of blogging, I am re-posting a few of my fav interviews and articles. Enjoy.

Interview with Almost Zara...

Name: Zara Rabinowicz
Age:26
Occupation: Freelance Journalist

How did you get started in your career? I’ve been writing ever since I was a little girl and started a school newspaper at 11 year sold, which I made myself, and laboriously photocopied every week. Since then I joined my university paper, interned at almost every magazine in London and sent my Cv to so many people that eventually one of them started paying me on a freelance basis! Perseverance pays off, and you must love what you’re doing, or the rejection will get you down!

What has been your fav career development so far?
I’ve recently gone freelance and still finding my feet around scheduling my work and meetings around working from home. It’s quite a unique experience though and I’m glad I’m trying it- who knows if I’ll go back to a staff job (probably if a dream one came along!) but am currently enjoying the freedom of being my own boss.

Do you hold any qualifications? BA in English and post grad qualification in Magazine Journalism

Advice for anyone breaking into either fashion or journalism?
Start your own blog- if you’re trying to sell yourself on your writing skills, this is a great way of showcasing them. Companies love ‘new media’ expertise so set yourself up on Twitter as well, and be as proactive as you can with applications. If they have no jobs or work experience available ask for a coffee just to discuss options- many people in the industry have been in your position and are more than willing to advise and mentor. Write about what you love and it will be evident in your copy!

Top 5 beauty must haves:
I can’t live without mascara- and am currently loving Avon Extreme Lashes. I’m a big fan of eyeliner and am find MAC do a great pencil that gives a really thick line that can be contoured easily. Sleek MakeUp also do a lovely eyeliner crayon called Kajal which is easily applied. Foundation is a must for me, and I find Clinique foundation really impressive as their range is so huge and they offer such a variety of coverages. Anti Ageing Dewy Smooth would be my favourite! I also love Healthy Sexy Hair Nourish treatment as it really smoothes down the cuticle of flyway hairs and cuts down on my drying time. I’m a big fan of hair straighteners and have a pair of trusty GHD’s but have also discovered a great new brand called Cloudnine which are just as good in my opinion.

Top 5 Wardrobe must haves:
A pair of very impractical shoes which make you feel wonderful- River Island do some great two toned heels, and a dress that always fits no matter how much you’ve eaten. I’d also suggest investing in some tights by Falke- they’re expensive but worth it and will last much longer than the cheaper variety. I’m a big fan of waist belts as they can transform a dull outfit into cinched in glory, and I really love hair accessories, as a beautiful bow or hairband can change your whole look. Not the conventional buy classic shirt and jeans advice, but these ideas work for me.

Top 5 must-read books:
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, a must for those who love suspense and intricate character details, Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes for a book that redefines the chick lit genre, The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan for an epic adventure tale that spans continents, anything by Ben Elton if you enjoy laughing out loud on the tube and The Handmaid’s tale by Margaret Atwood for a provocative and challenging tale.

Top 5 must-see films:
I defy anyone not to well up as they watch Boys Don’t Cry- a difficult but moving piece of cinematography, Grease for light entertainment and nostalgia, Sixteen candles for Molly Ringwald, The Matrix for pure adrenalin and Thank you for Smoking for the way it satirises ad men.

Inspirational places:
Thailand makes me feel warm and happy inside, and I always find myself inspired whenever I go to Los Angeles.

Who are your style and beauty icons and why?
I love how Pink and Lily Allen aren’t afraid to experiment with their style and think Madonna is a great icon of a woman who know how to evolve her style through different decades.

Fav places to holiday: I love Los Angles as the beaches are great, the shopping is fab and the people are pretty. However a recent trip to Thailand really opened my eyes to the beauty of the East and how unusual a place can be- it’s great to travel outside your comfort zone, and if you can live through a Thai toilet you can handle anything. I also loved the freedom and the variety of cultures and food that was on offer there.

Do you have any iPhone? If so, what apps do you find indispensable?
Trendtracker was very useful during London Fashion week for the daily updates and schedule, I like the eBay app for browsing on the go, and I love the ChipChick, Sugar and Engadget,
app for my daily dose of tech and lifestyle. I couldn’t live without Google maps and love the Shazam app when I’m trying to identify a song.

Fav magazines to read:
I like Company for the content, Grazia for the pictures and Men’s Health for features. I also really enjoy the Tatler beauty pages and Wired always provides me with inspiration.

Top 5 websites to visit:
Heartlessdoll.com, Bitchbuzz.com, BritishBeautyBlogger.com, Lemondrop.com, and Sephora.com

Music you can't live without:
Anything poppy and funky- like a mixture of Britney, Pink, Tiesto and Ian Van Dahl.

What is your signature dish?
Vegetarian chilli!

What are you working on right now?

Frantically trying to get my copy in for deadline whilst sketching out the draft of my novel.

Where do you hope to be, personal and professionally in five years?
In five years I hope to be happy and living in Los Angeles, writing columns for major web and print nationals and working on my third book.

DIY denim. Yes please

2011-05-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

Caught wind of this fabulous new product - so much so, that I may have to purchase for my cousin's 16th birthday. She is a creative little thing, who loves a pair of drainpipes, so expect she will love this.

Brand, Bristols6 have come up with a nifty way of altering and customising your denim to your exacting standards and not that of the 'average' being. Genius.

Tape for measuring, buttons for extension, pencils, pumice, paints, stencils - awesome. You could go to town on almost anything.

Buy here: www.bristols6.com for about $30

Loubou

2011-05-27T03:05:00.000-07:00

I have to share these with you.

My new Loubou's. Courtesy of the sample sale on Monday.

I don't really have anything else to say...

and now Tinie....

2011-05-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

Does it get better and better?
The genius team at Hop Farm Festival have announced another sterling act to the line-up for Sunday, July 3. TINIE TEMPAH.
Yes, you heard right. Not only will Prince be joining Morrissey, The Eagles, Ocean Colour Scene, Death Cab for Cutie, Chrissie Hynde, Lou Reed, Iggy and the Stooges, but the urban outfit Tinie, who recently collaberated with Ellie Golding. Ellie will be performing at another Kent Festival, Lounge on the Farm in July also. Tinie Tempah is notching accolades quicker than footballers' and their super-injunctions, so catch him now, while he rocks with Prince.
FYI - reported on the Prince tour back in 2007 and having seen some amazing acts in the years I have been reporting, he is by far one of the best. Outstanding. I did not sit down for the whole gig at the 02 and had to hobble onto the river taxi with very achy feet.
Let's hope that happens again!
Happy dancing!

Lounge on the Farm, Canterbury

2011-05-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

Festivals in Kent seem to have had their ups and downs. When I ran the entertainment pages for the Kent Messenger's flagship paper, we were always invited to a plethora of events across the county. I cannot tell you how many Clubclass nights I went to (countless) and how many emerging artists I watched with a cider in hand.
I had a great few years reviewing bands, plays, comedy shows and the like and made some great friends along the way.
There have however, been a couple of howlers that spring to mind. Zoo8 was one of those gems. Mark Ronson and Scroobius Pip were awesome and I interviewed them both - charming. Acts not turning up however, not so charming. Dizzee Rascal was apparently told he wouldn't get a penny and following him, countless other joined the queue.
Electric Garden's debut was short lived in 2006-07 - an old friend worked on this event and it was a fantastic, well executed dance festival that had loads of ravers creeping out of their shells.
Lounge on the Farm rocked up in 2006 and has only got bigger and better.
Lounge on the Farm is an awesome tribute to the sights, sounds, tastes and brilliance of Kent. Featuring up an coming acts making their festival debut, interspersed with established acts like The Super Furry Animals, Mystery Jets and Roots Manuva.
Food comes in the form of locally produced genius and according to the website, suppliers include: Godmersham Game, The Butcher of Brogdale, Hedgers of Canterbury, The Goods Shed Butchery, Griggs of Hythe, Simon the Fish, Ripple Farm Organics, Monkshill Farm, Dumbrells, Hinxden Dairy, Dargate Dairy, Walmestone Growers and many more.......
I was lucky enough to attend in 2007 and 2008 and had the most amazing time. This year promises to be even bigger. The line-up includes: Ellie Golding. Katy B, The Streets, Echo and the Bunnymen, Devlin, The Vaccines, Cast Example, Annie Mac, DJ Zinc and the Scratch Perverts. Around 50 more acts are rocking the stages and with the introduction of a shiny new main stage, Lounge on the Farm can only get bigger.
I am beyond excited.

Castle chic

2011-05-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

Castle chic

Leeds and Rochester castle are rocking their chic new images once again this year. Not satisfied with offering a gorgeous place to visit, steeped in gory and spectacular history, their new theme is urban chic. A clever and innovative way of opening their doors to younger generations who may see castles as boring and outdated. Wrong.
When you're a kid castles seem fun and exciting - knights, sword battles, canons, war and a plethora of kings and queens walking through the corridors.
As you hit those self conscious teenage years, the appeal of a castle or anything remotely educational can seem like a bit of a bore and quite frankly, anything that involves being dragged round anything that doesn't involve music, celebrities, fashion, food or films, then it can seem pretty shabby.
On that note, enter the clever bods at Medway Council who introduced the Castle Concerts some years ago. McFly, The Saturdays, Will Young and Status Quo have graced the stage at the castle and rocked away to hundreds of (I suspect) revellers, most under the age of 40.
What clever, coolcats they are. With a fantastic location, with a huge ground to accompany and easy access from the motorway, Rochester is the perfect place to draw people in from around Kent.
The tourism is brings to Rochester and the surrounding area is just as phenomenal. Want antiques? Visit Carters, Fieldstaff or Memories - each stocked with treasures that will leave you in no doubt of Rochester's link with Dickens. fashion is rife in Rochester also - with at least five or six independent fashion boutiques, including Rocket, a favourite with students.
If you're a foodie, fear not, the offering in Rochester is diverse. From brasserie Topes, to Elizabeth's of Eastgate to Raj of India you are spoilt for choice. Sweet shops, craft havens, bakeries and of course Baggins, Britain's largest second hand/rare bookshop. As you enter, it smells beautiful - like a library that has been shut away for years and is finally coming to life. Bliss for a bookworm or vintage hunter.
Don't forget the museums and other attractions - Dicken's World is just down the road.
This year, Peter Andre and N-Dubz will take to the stage, so what are you waiting for?

The same applies to Leeds Castle. What a rocking line-up of events this year. They have applied savvy marketing to a castle that is traditionally associated with weddings, school proms and other events based around the castle. They have slowly introduced theatrical events - like Jane Eyre, a production I covered last year and other plays, like some favourites from Shakespeare. The classical concerts always blow me away - the James Bond classical was immense, with a helicopter and speed boat adding to the drama of the evening.
This year the Leeds has Live at the Castle, a concert filled with the likes of The Wanted, Alexandra Burke, Eliza Doolittle, Aggro Santos, Stacey Soloman and heaps more.
What's more, you can fill up on some literature with performances of Austen's Sense and Sensibility and Shakespeare's A Midsummer night's Dream.
Every year seems to offer something new and exciting and gets bigger and better every year.
Castle Chic is the new word on my radar.

Silvena Rowe

2011-05-24T07:45:00.000-07:00

You may have heard of Sivena Rowe. I know I have. She is the chef with the big voice, big chest and even bigger talent for cooking amazing food that leaves you feeling as if you have realised you have fallen in love.
That moment when, as you met your loved one, you cannot help but smile and stare at the ground to hide the excitement in your face as you approach them. The butterflies that grip your stomach with such ferocity, you can hardly breathe.
Silvena Rowe inspires that sort of feeling.
I had the pleasure of meeting her at The Mayfair Hotel last week and was given a tour round her new concept (it can't be called a restaurant, it is far more impressive) which opens tonight.
Quince is a fusion of the "beauty and scents of the Eastern Mediterranean region." and as she described her vision, you could tell she had thought about every aspect of the experience. All material used has a meaning - vintage glass, velvet, smoked mirrors - she wants to customer to be falling into that world - the world where you and your lover exist. No-one else matters. She described it as the place where 'lovers could meet' - delicious, naughty, forbidden and just being taken round the rubble that was Quince in the making, you can see what she is trying to achieve.
A quote from her wikipedia page reads: "The Orange and Orange Blossom Baklava dates back to (1494-1566) and was said to be a favourite of Roxelane, the one-time Harem girl who became the wife of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent."
Says it all really.
Silvena herself has worked in the industry for almost 20 years and has written six books and is a regular on Saturday Kitchen.
Excited to get tasting and will be back with a review super soon.
PS - she has amazing hair.
Here is an amazing recipe from BBC Food website:

Honey and za'atar-glazed spring lamb with salsify and wild garlic purée

Ingredients

For the za'atar

2 tsp dried thyme leaves
2 tsp dried oregano
pinch ground sumac (available from Middle Eastern stores)
½ tsp toasted sesame seeds
pinch red chilli flakes
pinch sea salt

For the lamb

1 tsp ground cumin
2 tbsp finely grated fresh root ginger
3 tbsp clear honey
4 x 125g/4½oz spring lamb tenderloin, trimmed
4 tbsp butter

For the salsify and wild garlic purée

300g/11oz salsify, peeled and chopped (keep in a bowl of acidulated water to prevent browning)
110ml/4fl oz water
200ml/7fl oz milk
salt and freshly ground black pepper
25g/1oz butter
2 tbsp thick double cream
1 tbsp olive oil
4-5 tbsp wild garlic leaves, roughly chopped

Preparation method

For the za'atar, mix together all of the za'atar ingredients in a small bowl until well combined.
For the lamb, add the cumin, ginger and honey to the za'atar mixture and mix until well combined. Rub the mixture all over the lamb tenderloin.
Heat the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the lamb and fry for 6-8 minutes on each side (for medium), or until cooked to your liking. Remove the lamb from the pan and set aside to rest on a warm plate. Reserve any cooking juices left behind in the pan.
For the salsify and wild garlic purée, drain the salsify and place into a pan. Pour over the water and milk and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering and cook for 20 minutes, or until the salsify is tender. Drain, then place the salsify into a food processor with the butter and cream and blend until smooth.
Heat the oil in a a frying pan until smoking, add the wild garlic leaves and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until just wilted. Stir the wild garlic into the salsify purée and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
To serve, spoon the salsify and wild garlic purée onto four serving plates. Carve the lamb into thick slices and arrange alongside the purée, drizzling over some of the reserved pan juices.

Doing the rounds

2011-05-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Another site for me to update...maybe I should stick to one and place all in one pot?
http://gingerwanabe.tumblr.com/

Dry Shampoo

2011-04-20T03:19:00.000-07:00

Long hours √
Busy Job √
Long hair √
Can be prone to greasiness √
Tendency to be a little lazy with hair on Mondays.. √

Well then, like me you need Dry Shampoo. I have road tested a couple of the High Street's favourite gems, with some interesting results.
FYI I have fairly thick, natural wave, boob length (technicality is clearly a strong point)hair.
1st: Trevor Sorbie Dry Shampoo - around £5 from pharmacists and supermarkets
I have always been a huge Batiste fan and have not strayed from this favourite for many years....it certainly has competition in the form of this Trevor Sorbie shampoo.
Lightweight and easy to brush through, the Trevor Sorbie Beautiful Volume formula is the lightest of the three and leaves very little residue. Residue is an issue for me as I have auburn hair and intend to keep it that way..
It absorbs well and certainly adds a certain thickness - without leaving an icky feeling of heaviness in your hair.
The scent is pretty strong, but this is perfect if like me you have had a big night out and need to be up early the next morning with neat locks.
A little goes a long way, however half way through the day I would recommend a spritz up to refresh.

2nd: Batiste dry Shampoo From £2 across High Street
Always a favourite and for the price and choice of scents you can now get, this is a cult favourite and a product I will always recommend.
Comparing it to the others, however, it is a little heavier on the residue and needs a good brush through or massage with the fingers - the results are worth it though. It leaves a pleasant, not overwhelming scent and a little goes along way, as above. The cost is so good, it could be easy to get addicted to this and have BIG hair everyday, but I would recommend a wash every now and then...

3rd: Bumble and Bumble:
Another favourite among fashionistas (or so they say) this is much pricey than any of its counterparts, but the results are worth it. Clean, low residue, fresh scent, good variety of colours that are easy to match to hair types. So why is it 3rd? Simply because of the price. Depending on how much dry shampoo you consume, you could be spending more than £50 a month on this product. Surely it would be easier to wash your hair and buy more shoes?

Some fashion favs

2011-04-01T04:42:00.001-07:00

Umbrella: Primark £4
Shorts: Limited Edition @ Primark £15
Pleated Sundress: Asos £28
String Waisted Dress: Asos £65
Strapless dress: French Connection £135
Wedge: Office £65
Collar dress: £36

Review: The Farmhouse, West Malling

2011-03-17T05:07:00.001-07:00

A lazy Sunday afternoon roast dinner can easily be the most joyful part of your week; well the most enjoyable part of mine in any case. Living as a commuter, coming home every evening and cooking is a chore that simply has to be done. I often flit between something simple like Gammon and creamy mustard mash, to a pad thai take-away or if I am feeling lavish, scallops cooked in garlic oil. Scallops are so easy and quick to cook, yet it often surprises people when I mentioned that I had them for supper the night before.
However, as working has slowly crept into the weekend and Saturdays are often filled with catching up on housework, visiting friends and family or having a day out; Sundays just need to be lazy. Newspapers, eggs Benedict and a strong coffee sum up my perfect morning and a roast dinner is the icing on the cake.
Now, I am not one of these half-hearted roast dinner cooks. I often have to nudge my mother when she says: “I’ve had a long week; I’m just going to use Aunt Bessie’s.” You just cannot beat a homemade roast and as a result I have created a rod for my own back and am now the nominated roast-dinner-come-feast cook. Roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes (in dripping or goose fat), cauliflower cheese, creamy mash, spring greens, pigs in blankets, roasted, buttery carrots and anything other seasonal vegetable finish the roastie-feast.
Yeah, I will admit I am a little anal about roasts – a soggy roast potato will never make it onto my plate, let alone anyone else’s. I just can’t help it. It’s not my particular way of cooking – it is just common sense. Why go to the effort of making a roast if you’re not going to do it properly? It just does not make sense to me.
So, you can imagine my joy when I discovered The Farmhouse, West Malling. West Malling is a beautiful little commuter village, surrounded by an abundance of fields and farms, and unfortunately, linked to the real world by a maze of a bypass that links it to Maidstone, Kings Hill and Aylesford.
Surrounded by quaint shops, including a jewellers, boutique fashion store, craft shop, art gallery and an abundance of other gorgeous places to visit, The Farmhouse is also only a couple of minutes away from Manor Park, a lovely rolling park with a lake and in the summer is home to (safely lit and probably illegal) BBQs and a very friendly ice-van man.
The Farmhouse itself is on the High Street opposite another local haunt, The Five Pointed Star nestled amongst many other eateries, The Farmhouse could easily be lost. Perched on the edge of a row of shops, The Farmhouse has its own car-park which is handy. The entrance is divided between cosy pub with interesting bar food and then across the hall, a small, but airy restaurant, served by its own staff and bar separate to the pub.
A warm, welcoming atmosphere greets you and the charming waiter seats us near the window. The building is about 200 years old, so beautiful wooden floors and original detailing remain and it all adds to the rustic charm of The Farmhouse. We decide to order a selection of meats and pickles with various breads and a side of garlic bread. We are not disappointed and feast on the cured strips, presented on a large board. Everything tastes as it should, although as a sharing platter I may have suggested more to feed four, however it would happily feed two people. The garlic bread was as it said on the tin and could have been a little stronger and buttery for my liking. Good crisp, toasted edges though.
As we wait between courses, we are entertained by the waiter who tells us about different champagnes and his life living near the Champagne region of France. He also speaks to us about the history of the restaurant and some other good restaurants in Kent. He is engaging and charms the pants off of us. Sometimes it is easy to forget the little things that make a dining experience really wonderful. Water replaced before it is empty; bread before it is even remotely hard; wine before the glass is drained. It is easy to get into a habit of eating mediocre food and experiencing mediocre service, simply because the restaurants are ‘local’ or ‘cheap’ or ‘they serve my favourite beer’ – I have found this plenty of times when choosing somewhere for a family meal/night out with friends and we just need to get out of it. There is no point complaining that your steak is tough, overcooked and fatty, sitting alongside your flabby chips and limp salad when you paid less than £10 for it.
Speaking of which, onto the very reasonable £12 Sunday Roast main course. Out beef and for presentation, it’s got to be top marks. Clean and neat. Four good size, crispy potatoes, a generous and stylishly arranged hunk of beef and seasonal vegetables adorn the plate. A nice, meaty well inflated Yorky Pud (sounds an awful lot like I am talking about breasts..) graces the top of the beef and all in all looks like a pretty sexy dish.
Yorkshire – crispy and meaty. Good.
Roast Beef – lovely texture, well cooked, succulent and seasoned to perfection.
Potatoes – crispy, fluffy and of generous proportions – perfection.
Vegetables – firm and seasoned well – not enough to accompany generous meat and pots.
Always an alternative at the table, my sister had Gnocchi and it tasted creamy, well seasoned and the gnocchi was firm and not too overpowered by the creamy sauce. She did say however, that on seeing the roasts she would had preferred the meat and veg over her Italiana dish (showing off duly noted) ha!
The only issue that seemed to be blighting other diners experience was potentiually the lack of staff. There only appeared to be one person at the bar and The Charming Waiter. When observing, they all had their food and full drinks, however I think one couple were little impatient and walked out.
If you want a relaxing, enjoyable Sunday afternoon lunch with the opportunity to stroll round a beautiful high street and surrounding countryside then The Farmhouse is for you.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

2011-03-14T01:43:00.000-07:00

Estee Lauder's new range of palettes and varnishes under the Bronze Goddess colletion has got me a little bit excited about the arrival of summer. As a young journalist writing my beauty pages, I used to be sent a jiffy bag of treats almost every day - filling my weekends with tons of reviews for my pages in the magazines. Estee Lauder always sent gorgeous products, but it was the Bronze Goddess range that stood out for me one summer. The scent on every product was mesmerising and the oil especially left my skin glowing and smelling gorgeous.
The latest collection looks just as promising. Inspired by "hues from the surf and sand" the new LE Bronze Goddess Island Oasis EyeShadow Palette contains six shades that will suit every skintone. Each contains iridescent pigments to add radiance and shades include: copper, bronze, gold and coral, turquoise, seashell pink, silver and seaweed.
Personally, I am a big fan of the seaweed...green and purple shades bring out the colour of my hazel eyes, so this will be applied with care followed by a tonne of mascara. Can't be having piggy eyes.
The collection also includes Limited Edition Bronze Goddess ShadowStick Duos in Gold Bronze and Pink Teal. These are water resistant pencils - perfect for the pool. Or a nice sweaty workout in the gym. Think I know where I would rather be...
Try the newest lipgloss for the summer - Pure Color Gloss, Limited Edition Sun Burst Sparkle. Cutie lips - this is also one of the only lip glosses that delivers shine without stickiness. A nice juicy fly does spoil ones look. Especially if you're on a date....bugalicious...

New work

2011-03-07T00:47:00.000-08:00

Some new shots - worked with my fabulous Sophie B, photographer Ben Riggott, GQ Fashion Director stylist Jessica Punter, model Silvia D and Lisa Valenica make-up and hair.
Another shoot in a couple of weeks - cannot wait to get started.

Hop Farm Festival

2011-02-21T04:21:00.000-08:00

I have never professed this before, but I love Twitter. The immediacy of news, the engagement with like-minded strangers (sounds like a recommendation for a dating site...) and the fact that I can write about scallops and have fabulous people like @Besidethesea tweeting me back a fab pic of a plate of scallops. Beautiful.

However, on this occasion, I love it because I have been stalking the @HopFarmFestival page for news on the line-up for this year's Hop Farm Festival. I have tweeted and re-tweeted and have been waiting with baited breathe for the moment the line-up can be announced.

wait for it....The EAGLES! BRYAN FERRY! BRANDON FLOWERS! DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE! 10CC and more to be announced, which leaves me even more giddy...

Last year's line-up was also pretty rocking and I mentioned it in this post: http://beautystylegossip.blogspot.com/2010/05/hop-farm-festival.html but was gutted when I couldn't attend due to a number of ridiculous reasons.

Get your ass on the site and snap up your tickets now:

http://www.hopfarmfestival.com/home.aspx#/home.aspx

Estee Lauder Pure Color Lip Gloss Custom Collection by Tom Pecheux

2010-11-17T03:15:00.000-08:00

I have a dilemma. I cannot decide which of the new limited edition Tom Pecheux shades to choose from. Estee Lauder love a good lip gloss and to be honest, I always fine them perfect for my lips - lips that often dry out under a coat of lipstick or gloss. They last for ages, come in a wide range of colours and are pretty reasonable priced for the time they last.
The Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux has created a range that allows you to build on colour and saturation, depending on your mood.
I am currently leaning toward Red Tango with a 40's wave and gentle slick of liquid eyeliner and Perfect Nude for a more subtle, grown-up daytime look.
The other shades in the collection of six, include: Nude Rose, Coral Fantasy, Plum Desire and Fucshia Fever. Get them for £15 for a limited period only from Selfridges or www.esteelauder.co.uk - a great present for your fav BFF this Christmas?

Amy Winehouse

2010-10-13T13:53:00.001-07:00

I am tired. I have a cold. However, despite various cold and flu remedies I cannot sleep. I wake up and feel shattered and then need to nap throughout the day..hence being awake at 21.55 and writing. I tried a DVD - Disney's Hocus Pocus to get me in a Halloween mood...didn't work, just a timely reminder that I am getting old. Great.
So here I am at silly o'clock tapping away on my shiny new laptop...which by the way gave me no end of grief this morning when attempting to work. Almost two and half hours troubleshooting, listening to Neo while on hold and 1 hour and 20 minutes on the phone to a tech support advisor. Shitty day so far. Something has cheered my
melancholy-self up though. The wonderful Amy Winehouse. There are so many Wino haters and to be honest, I am not one of them. I know way too many people who have succumbed to addictions and in the limelight and to have this intrusion and problem compounded by the media continuously, then it makes it all the worse.
Amy is looking fabulous with the new, tamer hair; the minimal make-up which shows her pretty awesome complexion and lets face it, beautiful face. Big, strong eyes - hidden by steam-roller eyeliner for too long. Cakey make-up hiding the freckles (ok, I admit as a youngster I hated these and did the same with Maxfactor stick...result was chavsville) so all in all, a pretty happy, healthy and gorgeous looking Amy Winehouse. Loads out there will wonder how this can make a difference to their lives, but I just enjoy seeing someone coming out of something so dark. It is nice to see that people can recover and not allow something/someone/anything take over their lives. Wow, I am feeling philosophical...maybe the painkillers have kicked in after all....

Mac Strobe Cream

2010-09-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

I always envied SJP's amazing cheekbones in Sex and the City so I was delighted when I found out she had a little help from Laura Mercier's Secret Finish (oh and Mother Nature). However, as much as I love Laura Mercier, I am also a huge fan of Mac's Strobe Cream. I have been silently using this for a couple of years and even used it on model's back in the day of the regional newspaper magazine fashion and beauty shoots. I noticed, however, that I had failed to write about it and it's many wonders.
1: Mix with moisturiser or foundation for a subtle sheen and gentle boost of skin that may be looking a little sallow.
2: Mix with body moisturiser and pat in over shoulders and décolletage for a sexy shimmer (great with a light tan - no wag mahogany here please)
3: Or do as I do, a la the SJP and gentle pat a small peanut sized blob onto the back of my hand and pat and warm with three fingers. Use these fingers to pat this on the cheekbones - above the blusher and up towards your temples. Ensure you have already applied foundation - I use this as my finishing product. Gentle pt until a subtle sheen is glistening your cheekbones. If you feel the sheen is too much, use the palm of your hand to gently and carefully remove an excess.

Whenever I use this technique I am always complimented on my make-up and asked what highlighter I am using. Hence the reason for this post!
Happy sheening! K

Nat Thakur London

2010-09-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

I am a shoe girl. Always have been. I used to own about 120 pairs of shoes of varying descriptions and designers - Topshop, Karen Millen, Kurt Keiger, Ugg, Havaina, Kate Cuba (the KC were the most beautiful clogs..) - mostly of the High Street variety, built up from when I was a trainee journalist spending my ill gotten gains on shoes to make me look a little bit more professional than I was. I worked across news, features and had a double page 'ents' spread every week - allowing me to gain entry to nightclubs and bars across town for free. Fabulous for a 22 year old who had spent the week on death knocks (an unpleasant industry term whereby you have to speak to the family of someone - usually a teenager, husband/wife, or child who had died) so was feeling shitty about intruding on their grieving time and needed to let off steam in super high heels in a nightclub sipping free (many free) cocktails in lieu for PR favours.
Well after the house burnt down (I still cannot find another phrase to describe this) I had to rebuild the shoe collection and along with it, my bag stash.
Having looked back, I now realise I had more designer bags than I did shoes....Miu Miu, Mulberry, Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade...and I have since come to discover an almost equal passion for bags and their family members, as I do shoes.
My latest discovery is Nat Thakur. Her designs are so cute, you can't help but feel a little childish when you look at them. They are definitely a trip to the zoo, date in the park, sexy little restaurant type bag and I love them.
Former experience working with Ghost and Mulberry has lead bespoke designer Nat to create a range of unique and quirky accessories, perfect for adding a little sparkle to your day.
Using leather that is only a bi-product of meat, the leatherwork is really high quality considering the reasonable price. Having been voted number gift by The Indy and having her bags on display at 'Plastic Fantastic' at NESTA, she really is proving that innovation and art go hand in hand. My favourites are: The leather sweet shop clutch bag (from £75) and the Half Crown Purse (from £30) and the smaller leather sweet shop purse (from £30) - all perfect as gifts.
Check out more of Nat Thakur's amazing designs at http://www.natthakur.co.uk/

HQ Hair genius

2010-06-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

I have just been shouting about this in the office and we are all agreed that this is the most AMAZING idea EVER. Do you ever struggle packing your case when going abroad - especially on a long haul flight or a trip that will leave you free from office-based work for more than a month? I know I do and on several occasions have had to have a serious re-think about what 'necessities' I am packing. On a trip home from New Zealand I had to wear a pair of beautiful thigh-high, tight leather boots all the way home (dreaming of Uggs) simply because my suitcase was maxed-out.
Well, hair and skincare website hqhair.com has decided to help the mere mortals on their travels and will be offering a service that will deliver whatever you order... to your holiday destination.
Sheer genius. So forget wrapping your shampoo and shower gel in plastic bags for fear of spillages and save on space with/excess baggage limits with this service from the best website in the world...(according to people whom experience spillages on a regular basis..)

Elsie Belle

2010-06-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

I found this website about a year ago and have been attempting to purchase a scrabble tile necklace with my initial on for longer than I care to remember. Evertime I logged on I would see that 'K' was indeed sold out and I would have to wait until next time.
Well, wait no longer!
I have finally purchased my beautifully necklace and expect it in the post imminently!
While on the Elsie Belle website, I was amazed by the sheer range and diversity of product, most of it under £20! Bonus.
I spotted a couple of gems in the form of this Honey Honey necklace for £14.95 and I Spy necklace for the same price. Bargains. I do love a necklace that will inspire converstion and get people talking about what they love.
Elise Belle features, in abundance, vintage inspired jewellery that can only make you smile. Hello big grin when I pop my scrabble tile round my neck! WOOP.

visit: Elsiebelle.com

Liz Earle Hair

2010-06-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

FINALLY.
I am beyond excited to try this new range.
Liz Earle has finally launched her range of haircare products and I could not find a better time to start wearing nappies. Yes, I am THAT excited.
Liz Earle saved my skin. I suffer from allergies/eczema and due to several other personal reasons I am prone to hormonal break-outs - not good when dining with the in-laws/attending important meetings/trying to wangle a pay rise/seduce the BF....Then I tried Cleanse and Polish and voila my skin saw a vast improvement - as did my friends after I mentioned the genius of Liz Earle. My grandmother and Great Aunt are also huge fans thanks to the 'word of mouth' tactics I employed..
So, when I heard she we going to be launching a haircare range, I was intrigued to see what the organic genius had to offer.
After working on the range with her team for six years, the collection will consist of one shampoo for all hair types. This is complemented by three conditions: Normal, Dry/Damaged and Oily. The products will be in selected stores and online in September.

Guerlain AW

2010-06-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

I marvel as the genius that is Guerlain. Beautiful packaging, elegant concepts and fabulous make-up that lasts, which (in my head)= the amount you paid for it.
The new AW 10 range is no exception.
Sometimes, in fact a lot of the time, I am sent beautifully packaged products, which I carefully arrange on my table and stare at. Weird yes. But slight logic to my madness. I like to take in the quality and the creativeness behind every element of the products before me. Guerlain is a pretty aspirational product for many people. Not like your accessible Rimmel's, Bourjois's and Maxfactor's of the world, which are available in most Superdrug or Boots stores, no Guerlain is department store quality and something you might like to receive from your other half on your birthday or as an exceptional Mother's Day gift.
So with the mentalness in mind, I do enjoy simply stroking the goodies before I open them up and play with them. I guess like someone who might have a rare Barbie and after years of resisting, finally give in and play with the leggy blonde. That was, afterall, her purpose in life. (Her perfect plastic life..)
The new Guerlain AW 10 range is pretty simple, but the colours are classics that will suit every skintone, something I think is important when purchasing a product that costs more than £50 and at a price that could well feed a couple for a week.
There are four ranges in the collection, with six shades in each palette and each featuring moonstone, a natural highlighter that will add a subtle shimmer. I am enjoying Sevres and Passy. I would probably use the subtle tones of brown and pearl on my lids and accent with the electric shade in the centre of the palette, under my bottom lashes to add a flash of colour. YUM.
Grab in stores like House of Fraser from August. Prices start from £51.

Rant

2010-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

People who call themselves journalist but have in fact never trained (NCTJ exams or otherwise) and have never clapped eyes on a book educating you on journalism rules/law, etc AND who have never written for magazines or websites AND call themselves journalists, really winds me up. I mean, really, really F*** me off.

Decleor Aromessence Neroli

2010-06-09T04:41:00.000-07:00

I have always enjoyed Decleor products, yet I have found that I have rarely written about them. On that note, please read on. I am raving about Decleor Aromessence Neroli today and its sheer magnificence. Genius.
I have started using it again after a period of leaving my skin to fester...in fact trying alternative treatments, but once again I am back to an old faithful.
With ingredients including: Neroli, Sandalwood, Petitgrain, Sage, Parsley and Juniper Berry Essential Oils, what more could you ask for?
I have found it particularly useful in levelling out my skin and correcting any flaws - perfect on my chin, where due to hormones I can be prone to one or two blemishes every now and again. I cleanse and massage a couple of drops into my face and neck, focusing on key areas that beauty therapist/guru Nichola Joss taught me back in the day. Using fingers gently massage along the ridge above your cheeks bones, just below the delicate eye area and you will definitely start to notice an improvement within the month. This technique helps eliminate puffiness and retention and promotes healthy lymph movement. I guess it is a mini facial/lymphatic drainage.
Happy cleansing!

Superdrug Restoring Skin Care Oil

2010-06-07T05:50:00.000-07:00

I have come across the latest offering from fast-becoming beauty gurus, Superdrug. They seem to be challenging the big guns and offering cheaper and often better quality products these days and this new product looks set to remain on trend.
Launching in stores this week, Restoring Skin Care Oil is recommended for mature, dry and irritated skin - helping reduce the appearance of stretch marks, scarring, blemishes, uneven skin tone and curses like age spots. I am super-keen to try this little gem - especially on my recent scarring. As you know, I have mentioned the condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, so my skin is always in need of something to keep it even. I have used Bio Oil in the past and use Decleor Neroli Essence on my face
so I am going to give this a whirl and report back. At £6.49 and containing 8 natural oils including, sweet almond and canola, it is bargainous!
www.superdrug.com

Horoscopes

2010-06-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

I always wonder about Horoscopes and Tarot Cards, well and I suppose readings. I seem to have to read them everyday and have the iphone apps that allow me to do just that. My personal favs are Shelly Von Strunkel and Elle Horoscopes - The Saturn Sisters. Recently, it seems as if the stars written for me have been bang-on the money...especially when I might read them at the end of the day and think 'oh my god, that's sooo true' How many of us do that?
hen it comes to readings, I am always intrigued and seriously thinking about seeing a woman who has read for a few people I know. She predicted a pregnancy announcement in May - low and behold my brother and his GF fell pregnant...she also spoke of my cousin who was in a destructive relationship - and named particulars...and various other things..
I am interested to know what other people think...

My new logo and other blog..

2010-05-20T06:48:00.001-07:00

Shameless plugging, here is my other blog, which I am attempting to expand with every spare hour..however freelancing takes it's toll..
http://hiddenkent.blogspot.com

AND exciting news, my new logo, lovingly created by my genius graphic designer friend Tom (who, once the logo is up on here, will be featured)will be up soon, soon, soon!

Lounge on the Farm 2010

2010-05-20T06:46:00.001-07:00

Lounge on the Farm: 9th. 10th, 11th July
WOOOP! We are in for another treat as Lounge on the Farm returns for 2010 - especially after winning two awards last year! It just gets better and better.
I am always keen to eat delicious food when drinking equally as delicious alcoholic beverages.....so you will be pleased to hear (just as I was) that last year LOTF won
Best Festival for Foodies 2008, awarded by The Guardian. This was in addition to
Winner Best Line-up 2009, UK Festival Awards.
This year is set to impress once again with a bevvy of fantastic artists, theatre and comedians set to entertain revellers from Kent and afar.
Now as a Kentish lass, I am on a mega high this year, as the quality of gigs in Kent just gets better and it is great to see us using local produce. We are the Garden of England after all.

The bands this year are immense, with a gaziliion gracing 8 stages. Here are a cheeky few: Cha Cha, 6 Day Riot, Beardy Man, Beans on Toast, Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs (who I have seen on a few occasions. One word: Superb, Thomas Gardney and Kitty, Daisy and Lewis (amazing rockers I have also seen before).

Comedy legend Phill Jupitus has also been confirmed as a headliner leading the comedy acts and The Meadow will host a jumble of plays and acts to keep all ages entertained...

Here is a taster if the food (shamelessly nicked from the LOTF website)and a quote from one of the best authors and visionaries of all time...

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” J.R.Tolkein

Lounge on the Farm always takes its food very seriously. Everything on the site is hand-picked (or should i say tasted) by The Farmers themselves and you certainly wont find the usual festival tosh. The best produce from all over Kent will be on offer, prepared by some of our most talented chefs, bakers, butchers and cooks. Our food courts are as creative as the music and art on the site, using local ingredients to create food from all over the world. Old school favourites will include Al’s Hog Roast with his hand reared and slaughtered pigs, Ana our Portuguese Mama with her delicious custard tarts and sweet pastries, Enzo’s Italian Bakery, Haji Baji and their very best curries, Roots n Shoots (no festival goer should attempt a full lounge weekend without a revitalising stop at this kitchen) and the festivals very own Farmhouse Ale and Pie House. To be sure to get a table at The Goods Shed this year remember to book in advance through the festival website to guarantee the ultimate festival dining experience. This year as well as The Village Green there will be cafes and restaurants throughout The Meadows and The Further Field.

Farmers, retailers and producers we love to big up include:

Godmersham Game, The Butcher of Brogdale, Hedgers of Canterbury, The Goods Shed Butchery, Griggs of Hythe, Simon the Fish, Ripple Farm Organics, Monkshill Farm, Dumbrells, Hinxden Dairy, Dargate Dairy, Turners Fine Foods, Walmestone Growers and many more.......

So, what are you waiting for? Get your tickets NOW!
www.ticketline.co.uk / 0844 888 9991
Adult weekend £95
Youth weekend [13-17] £75
Kids weekend £45
Family weekend £210 [2 adults + 2 children under 13]
Day Tickets:
Adult Day Tickets - £40
Youth Day Tickets - £30
Child Day Tickets - £20
Campervans are £40 - there is a family campervan area and a non family campervan area.

HOP FARM FESTIVAL

2010-05-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

HOP FARM FESTIVAL JULY 2ND/3RD 2010
This gig just gets better and better. Paul Weller and now Bob Dylan. In Paddock Wood?
In Kent? AMAAAZING. You just cannot get any better.
The line-up at the picturesque Hop Farm screams glam and I hope I am lucky enough to attend this year as last and report back to you lucky guys. In fact, fingers crossed for beautiful weather.
The gem of a line-up consists of:

FRIDAY: Main stage headliner is the legendary van Morrison...who will be joined by none other than Blondie, Los Lobos, Imedla May, Damien Dempsey AND there are more acts yet to come. Blimey, us Kentish bunch are being spoilt this year.
2nd stage: he brilliant Afro Celt Sound System, Richard Thompson, Peter Green & Friends, and Sweet Billy Pilgrim.

SATURDAY: Main Stage CRACKING line-up that includes a UK exclusive from Bob Dylan, Ray Davies, Mumford & Sons, Seasick Steve, Peter Doherty, Laura Marling, The Magic Numbers, Foy Vance will now be joined by Johnny Flynn.
2nd Stage includes performances by Devendra Banhart, Jim Jones Revue, Tunng, Pete Molinari and Jon Allen with more cool acts to come

Organiser for, I believe, the third year Vince Power, said: “It’s fantastic that we continue to see such a positive response from Hop Farm Festival fans. With the latest additions to the bill plus 2nd stage and a 3rd to be announced soon, there’ll be something for everyone. I know it will be a weekend to remember”.

You know, the best thing about this festival is the NO BRANDING, NO SPONSORSHIP message. That's awesome and it makes sense. Massive thumbs up to Vince Power. It has so much to offer ppl who fancy a day out locally and let's face it, more than just music. The food is also amazing, the fun fair is so retro and clearly something to enjoy being you glug down 6 Pear Ciders...although I am sure there will be many who will not heed this advice and get messy...

Comedy, football, boutique camping (tres chic) local food and drink (ale, yummy) suppliers. Brilliant.
Tickets are now on sale with Friday Day tickets at £45 & Saturday Day tickets at £65.A 2 day ticket is also available for £110, with the option of a 2-Night camping ticket for £25.
www.hopfarmfestival.com
www.twitter.com/hopfarmfestival

Heather Mills...

2010-05-11T03:12:00.000-07:00

I just cannot get my head round this one. I really can't. Heather Mills. WTF?
Now for a 42 year old woman, she has a cracking figure. A figure worthy of an Hollywood B-Lister and not a bad face to go with it. However, my chin hit my desk this morning when I saw these god awful snaps of her at a film premier last night. Heather looks like she is trying to emulate Twenties-chic and she is doing it badly. An ill fitting playsuit and revolting, porn star over the knee stretchy boots. YUK. I really hope she doesn't have a stylist...in fact if she did, how the hell did she persuade her to wear this abomination? Hats off to her, she must have the ultimate gift of the gab. If you're going to rock up to a premier, essentially aimed at teenagers and kids, don't try and act like one of them. Heather would have looked so much better in a flattering dress with a delicate plunge or backless affair. Know your age, know your figure and dress accordingly. Please.

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2010-05-11T02:18:00.001-07:00

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Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra

2010-05-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

I have been itching to get my hands on this genius bra since its release and I am pleased to say I am now the proud owner of breasts that don't resemble cowpats in a strapless dress.

As the fortunate (or so at least I'm told) owner of 32/34F boobies I struggle to find a good bra that offers support and sexiness for a reasonable ching.

After hearing about the sheer AMAzinggggness of this bra, I finally got round to ordering one courtesy of Next.

Come a bleary eyed Saturday morning, I was woken by the incessant poundings of my impatient Next Directory lady, who handed me a beautiful blue, plastic package filled with goodies; including my brassiere.

Five mins and a cup of coffee later, I was bouncing from the ceiling having finally discovered a bra that keeps me in despite my vigorous exertions. By happy fortune, my BFF lives two apartments below me and was greeted with a pair of, what I can only describe as Jordan-esque mammoths in my effort to demonstrate how lush this bra truly is. I whipped my boob tube down and flashed them while she stared at me and said: "What the f**k are you doing?" - I had realised that I hadn't explained myself and had simply strolled into her flat and got my tits out. Joy.

Design: Concealed support, microfibre, seamfree - brilliant. Perfect for a floaty dress or equally a clingy t-shirt. Comes in Black or Nude and a new lace design.

Test:

Dancing Saturday night = Brilliant

Jumping for joy and bruising my legs on the seat in front of me at Chelsea = Fan-bloody-tastic

Three days on and I am still raving about this innovative bra. Go out and grab yourself one right this second. http://www.next.co.uk/ http://www.wonderbra.co.uk/

Faith shoes placed into administration

2010-04-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

Shoe giants Faith have been placed into administration today. According to trade magazine Drapers, the deal to secure the brand with the owner of menswear brand, Envy is expected to change the brand into an offering similar to Barrett's.
Comment from fashionistas already suggests that many would prefer the brand to remain as fashion-lead as possible, as opposed to the 'value' message favoured by Barrett's.
I used to work at Faith as a supervisor when I was at university and loved the collections, price point, quality, team spirit and technology they introduced in the form of bar scanners to allow sales staff to remain on the shop floor to engage with the customer, while the top floor staff source the shoe from storage and send down in a lift. Genius.
Such a shame that the brand seems to have fallen behind, while Office and the likes remain high flyers.
A sad story for a British brand on St George's Day :-(

CRACKING stuff!

2010-04-21T07:47:00.001-07:00

Sorry, harsh. But kinda funny...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/7563608/General-election-2010-in-pictures.html

Waste of OUR money

2010-04-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so strictly speaking this is not a post about fashion or beauty or anything pretty, but as a journalist and PR, I have a natural desire to write about topics that get my goat. A pal of mine works for the local county council, who currently have a cash crisis and job/pay freeze, etc etc....but she has been on a personality course this week, to determine how her and her colleagues can get on.. It's called talking/meetings/common ground...
Jeeez. get real you looooosers.

Sex and the City 2

2010-04-20T04:13:00.000-07:00

Flicking through the Sunday papers is such a relaxing past time and my current favourite...well it has been for sometime, but lots of resonance at present, it The Observer.
Love The New review and this week the Debate Agenda pages included this question:
"Is it time to put Sex and the City out of its misery?"
Eva Wiseman, commissioning editor on the Observer Magazine argued Yes and Jo Elvin, editor of Glamour magazine argued No.
Such an interesting debate, especially among those who were not original SATC fans, but happened upon the first movie and loved it.
I myself, am a huge fan and although many friend will always try and pigeon hole you into one of the characters - are you Carrie, Sam, Miranda or Charlotte, I have always, like a few others, felt a bit like each of them. Sex and PR like Sam - feisty and not afraid of voicing my opinion; journalist and fashion lover like Carrie; a home maker like Charlotte and a smidgen of the seriousness that can often be Miranda. That's why I love the show.

http://www.sexandthecitymovie.com/
So here are some opinions:

Jess: I will go and see the second film, but I was never a huge fan. I wouldn't go to the cinema to see it. I only go to cinema to see films that I really want to see and rate, SATC doesn't fulfil that. Friday night, wine and the girls, yes, cinema, no.

Sophie: I will be going to see it and I will love it and loved the first one and have watched it loads. I think after this installment it might be time to end it though. I think it is a good thing when you go out on a high, if you did anymore the impact would be diluted and people might not be interested anymore. Why would they do a third? It doesn't need to be dragged out any longer. Don't overdo it. I am sure I will massively enjoy it, but it doesn't need to be dragged on for any longer. Amazing series and then weary film. Not so good.

Shall we watch the film and see what unfolds....? I am excited.....

Side plaits

2010-04-20T03:33:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with plaits at the moment. I have just this moment decided to practice my technique on my pal Sophie - this time we tried the fish tail plait....needless to say I need much more practice.
Now, as a child I hated plaits in my hair. Dear mother would pull my hair into an uber tight ponytail on the top of my head and secure with a band or 'bobble.' She would then plait the remaining hair and secure once more. This proved an effective weapon for hitting other pupils should they annoy me (a great tool as a a ten year old) but the end result would be an aching head and a spell on the naughty chair.
I have since changed my tactic and on Sunday, to fit with the gladiator sandals and floaty dress, I parted my hair on a deep side and gave myself an erratic plait, which suits my 'growing out' phase just fine. Much to my surprise, the compliments started to role in.
First compliment: "Wow, your hair looks gorgeous today, it really suits you. You look so cute, especially with the freckles as an accessory.."
Second compliment: "Wow, I had never thought of plaiting my hair like that - it looks so sweet. It makes you look naughty but nice."
Third compliment: "You have sexy hair. You look sexy. Proper sexy." (from boy, not some random, I might add)
So I have been scouting for some inspirational pix and also genius people on You Tube.
Voila:

Happy practising and let me know how you get on! x

Billie Piper: Foxy, clever, talented. Perfect!

2010-04-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

This is a strange article to be writing, but I am writing about my lust for the gorgeous Billie Piper. I am the first to admit, that when she first started acting and won the part of Rose in Doctor Who, I was not at all impressed. I thought she was annoying and silly and one of the 'lucky' girls who was making fame off the back of her faded pop career. Not anymore, she is delicious.
Now, obviously I have been heavily influenced by the various magazines she has appeared in within the last six months and the much better and much applauded third series of Belle de jour. However, despite the PRs doing an amazing job - she has to be given credit for truly shining in every interview she takes part in. It's all well and good having the recipe, but if you have the wrong ingredients you're going to fall flat on your face.
After having a discussion with my girlfriends, we all agree that she has an amazing mix of the following: Sexiness, non-threatening, wholesome, cheeky, clever, fun and up for a laugh, dedicated and loyal. Qualities we all love, no?
Tbh, I just think she is hot, hot.

Gracing the cover of Marie Claire with Chestnut hair was defo a high point and the fact that she has moved away from the blonde, straggly look and is embracing a gorgeous new coppery shade, is a big hit. Watching Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Ruby in the Smoke and most recently; A Passionate Woman, you can see the personal growth and perhaps, small influences motherhood has had on her. Marriage, motherhood and exploring a variety of roles clearly suits BP and it is refreshing to see such a rounded and accomplished actress being recognised for her work and style - not who she is sleeping with or which parties she is attending.

I am a fully fledged BP fan. I have also convinced boy and he now loves her also. Good times.

No7 Natural Radiance Highlighter

2010-04-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

Highlighters are amazing: they show off in all the rights places and enhance that cheeky twinkle in your eye! So I am not surprised in the slightest that the The No7 Natural Radiance Highlighter (£13 Boots.com) has sold out online. I have been reading the reviews on this genius little gem and can see that it really is going down a treat. In light of that, I am planning a Highlighter special to pay homage to the arrival of Spring and awakening of our skin from the perils of Winter weather.

Tracie Giles

2010-04-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

I am hugely lusting after the deliciousness that is Tracie Giles and finally achieving perfect eyebrows courtesy of her unique techniques.
With the trend for fuller, groomed eyebrows courtesy of Emma Watson for Burberry and The likes of Tamsin Eggerton, it has been a nightmare finding the perfect shade to match my eyebrows. I have always had relatively thin eyebrows and when shaped properly (when I can be bothered) they look great and really frame my face.
However, when discovering Tracie Giles, I realised I could achieve this look without having to style them everyday and once again the evening before I head out.
Tracie's Brow Definer and 3D Hair By Hair Perfect Brow treatment is the solution. Based at No 1 Harley Street, the semi permanent make-up lasts about 9-12 months.
Using the latest digital technology sourced from Germany, eyebrows are strengthened, defined, and shaped. The 3D Hair technique precisely replicates natural hair at microscopic level leaving the most flattering, natural-looking eyebrows.
Bring on the summer and eyebrows that frame my freckles!
Prices start from £495

Interview: Stylist Katie Greengrass

2010-04-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

Interview: Katie Greengrass, stylist to the stars.
Ah, bless you couldn't meet a nicer chica. She is so lovely and works 24/7. Brilliant, fabulous and sweet are my words to describe this lass. Enjoy

Name:Katie Greengrass
Age:29
location:South East London
Profession:Freelance Fashion Stylist and Writer How did you get into your chosen career:I spent practically the whole of my University career in the student newspaper office and then I worked as a stylist's assistant slavishly for a LONG time unpaid before finally getting a break.
Highs and Lows:
Highs:Reporting for The London Fashion Week Daily from the front row.
Lows:Styling a very rude celebrity whose dismissed four rails of clothes and let her dog wee all over the studio!

Fav designers:Christopher Kane,Preen,Chanel

Fav high Street stores:Gap,Gap and more Gap!And Ann Summers for sexy undies!

Fav beauty products: YSL tinted moisturiser,Olay classic beauty fluid and Chanel lipgloss

Describe your perfect day:"Walk in the park with sunshine and a soya latte followed by a Sunday lunch with the week's papers,a great glass of red wine and all my best friends and their babies"

3 items you would take to a 'Lost' type island:A.pair of Havianas,a copy of Vogue and an endless supply of coffee!
Tipple of choice:Vodka,fresh lime and soda

Signature dish:Chicken pie

Kitten heel, flat, stiletto or wedge?Flat

Celeb girl crush:Yasmin Le Bon

Celeb boy crush:Jared Leto

Best advice you have been given:People 99% of the time are thinking about themselves and not about you.

Tips for looking glamorous:Good grooming - exfoliate,keep your eyebrows tidy and always have great underwear!

Describe yourself in three words:Ambitious,loyal,home body.

Heidi Montag

2010-04-13T03:08:00.000-07:00

This story makes me sad:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1265319/Heidi-Montag-unveils-new-look-bikini-body---10-surgeries-shes-happy-it.html

I guess I am one of these girls who is pretty easy going to the choices other people make; I don't spout off about 'she said this' and 'she said that' and I am guessing this is down to the fact that I lived with my papa and wasn't surrounded by the kind of 'general bitchiness' of woman and I say that loosely, but I guess you can understand what I mean? I am more of a tomboy and rarely moan about things that just aren't relevant. oh I wish this and I wish that, but this story scares me.
Heidi Montag had such a unique and beautiful face before her surgery and I understand about feeling insecure and treating your imperfections, but man alive, will she ever stop? I have scars up my legs from accidents and the fragility of my skin from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, but after being allowed preferential treatment of wearing trousers in the summer because I was so ashamed of them (even in tights) it took me a long time to accept them. Being a teenager is difficult at the best of times, but it took someone to tell me that the scars made me unique and 'who I am' that I finally let go of those insecurities. Don't get me wrong, people still stare of ask me 'dear god what happened to you' in the summer when I am rocking a cute little summer dress, but I just deal with it. I would never change them.
I question who was there for Heidi? It scares me that she has completely altered who she is - she has no trace of her parentage left in her face and she now looks like a barbie doll. This begs the question concerning this conditioning of young minds - the quest for perfection and how the media portrays this.

Net-a-Porter sold

2010-04-01T07:52:00.001-07:00

Fashion Mecca net-A-Porter has been sold with an estimated price tag of around £50m. I must say having been a huge fan of online shopping as a student, this was one site I used to use as eye candy and gain inspiration - then shopping at Topshop and Asos when it launched. Shopping has come so far and I am still a huge fan now.
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1262821/Net-Porter-Natalie-Massenet-sells-luxury-fashion-website.html

Sexy Swimwear from Ann Summers

2010-04-01T02:46:00.000-07:00

As a woman you pick up on a number of things and with this in mind I would like to reflect upon the effect Ann Summers has on men. Picture the scene, you walk in with all your shopping bags after a lengthy, tiring trek. You utter the words, "baby, I'm back from Tesco" - imagine the response - a kind of acknowledgment, a dismissive wave of a hand and not one glance behind them as their eyes are glued in a little something called Football Focus, or if you're out early enough, Soccer AM. Now imagine that scene once more and utter the words: "baby, I'm back from Ann Summers' and dangle that little hot-pink bag nonchalantly between your manicured fingers...DING, DING! The response is a little something I like to call 'The Ann Summers effect" (completely copyrighted btw). Swifter than you can blink, those sweaty, well-worn jogging bottoms are dropped to the floor with eager anticipation of the delights that ensue...(I paint a pretty picture don't I...ah the love is never lost) Yes, these men know Ann Summers means business. Now you lucky ladies can recreate that magical look on the beach with the launch of Sexy Summers by Ann Summers - the brands debut swimwear collection. With 14 ranges, including bikinis, cover ups and a rather delicious mono-kini and prices starting at a fabulous £8 (I know, brilliant!) you can't go wrong. The range includes a plethora of summer colours, a gel range and a couple of print ranges, which are really on trend. My personal favs are Summer Days, Paradise Beach and Songbird. Feast your eyes and check out Annsummers.com for the full range.

Bestival - latest line up addition...!

2010-03-18T06:46:00.001-07:00

As ever - another cracking line-up for Bestival 2010....and the latest addition to the acts, including Dizzee Rascal and Hot Chip is none other than the legends that are Prodigy! Excited is not the word...
Bestival Genius Rob da Bank said: "So, we can finally unveil our Sunday night headliner as Braintree's finest, The Prodigy! Since raving as a young pup to Charly and Out of Space through to caning their new record on my radio show, The Prodigy have been a massive part of my record collection. As far as polishing off the party on Sunday night I can't think of a more explosive finale ... and it's gonna be the last we'll see of them for quite a while on our shores so get in the queue now!"
Prodigy will be headlining on Sunday night and I am pretty certain that all those Bestival ticket holders will be peeing in their pants as we speak....it's the moment when the warm dribble fills your socks...ah you know you've had it!
If you haven't already snapped up your ticket, then do so now!

Bestival Tickets available now from:
Ticketline: www.ticketline.co.uk / 0844 888 4410 (24 hr)

Bestival Ticket + Ferry Travel Deals available now from:
Red Funnel: www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival / 0844 844 9988
Wightlink: www.wightlink.co.uk/bestival / 0871 376 1000

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £150
Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 18 or over on 10/09/2010

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £140
For full-time students only. Valid NUS or ISIC ID required at the box office - no other student ID accepted.

Age 13 to 15 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £75
Age 13 to 15 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 13 to 15 on 10/09/2010. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 12 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - FREE (BUT YOU MUST OBTAIN A TICKET)**
Age 12 and Under Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 12 and under on 10/09/2010. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

* One ticket holding parent or guardian can only accompany up to 4 people under the age of 18.
** All Children aged 12 and under will need to a (free) ticket this year. No exceptions.

Campervan Ticket - £60 (per vehicle)
- Your Campervan (or Motorhome) must be specially adapted for people to stay in (which does not include transit vans with a mattress in the back or 4x4s with the seats folded down).
- You will be allocated 9 x 6 meters of space per campervan pitch to use for your campervan, awning and/or to accommodate a few of your friend's tents. If you require more space you will need to buy more than one campervan ticket.
- Water and electricity hook ups will not be available.
- Cars will not be allowed into the Campervan area at any time so consequentially Caravans, Trailer Tents etc are not permitted.

All Tickets:
- will incur a booking fee.
- are non-transferable and cannot be re-sold.

Interview with Almost Zara...

2010-03-18T05:25:00.001-07:00

Cosmopolitan Fashion Awards

2010-03-05T06:22:00.000-08:00

The Cosmo fashion Awards kicked off at 8.30am yesterday for the third year and this year was more exciting than ever after Justine Southall announced that the categories were tighter than ever after 1st, 2nd, 3rd was scrapped in favour of Winner and Highly Commended.
Kensington Roof Gardens once again played host and the all important canapes included: Salmon n cream cheese, fruit skewers and pastries...tasty.
The awards kicked off in usual style and the winners were:
Denim: River Island
Lingerie: La Senza
Playwear: Karen Millen
Ethical Retailer: People Tree
One stop shopping: Next
Sexiest Heels: Faith
Workwear: Dorothy Perkins
Jewellery: Accessories
Sports: Nike
Best Bargains: Boo Hoo
Online retailer: Asos
Lust designer: D & G
Bags: New Look
Watches: Guess
Curves: Evans

I think the awards were pretty spot on and after chatting with a few friends we left with our goody bags and were pleased to find enclosed, some rather delish little treats.
T-shirt from Missimo, Rollasole shoes, make-up from Elf and yummy Thorntons chocs were definite highlights! Not a bad way to spend your morning tbh ;-)

2010-03-05T04:35:00.000-08:00

Up early and attending the Cosmo Fashion Awards 2010, was not a bad way to start the day...especially considering the sun the shining like a bitch!

Set in Kensington Roof Gardens, the creme da la Creme of Fashion PRs and insiders all gather round to bitch, snitch and admire/compare outfits. I went in for grey and red ensemble in the form of pencil skirt and very high heels.

Canapes: Salmon n cream cheese, fruit skewers, pastries..

Beverages: Juice, tea and coffee...

River Island

2010-03-05T04:18:00.000-08:00

YUM. River Island. You blow me away once again.
Every year you come up trumps and this season is no exception - beautiful, unique shoes and exceptional accessories. Take a peek...

£29.99, £74.99 and £36.99

The tiniest details can make a massive difference to any outfit - I will be teaming these beautiful t-bar flats with a cute little gunmental dress. Bliss - if only this sunshine was a little warmer.

http://www.riverisland.com/

2010-02-19T00:44:00.000-08:00

I cannot wait to fall down the Rabbit hole that is Alice in Wonderland. I have, along with millions of other Alice and Tim Burton fans, been waiting for the arrival of this majestic 3D masterpiece for quite some time.

I watch the trailer on Flixster on my iphone, at least once a week to keep that momentum going; it really has turned into something of an obsession.

Not only that, Alice is one of my favourite books and Disney films and as a youngster I played Alice in a school play, so the history goes a long way back.

As part of my Alice quest, I have been on the hunt for Alice goodies and have come across some delicious little treats on Truffleshuffle .com - my absolute fav place for all things retro!

'Drink me' glass bottle necklace £30
Gold plated Pocket Watch earrings £14
Silver plated Pocket Watch earrings £14
Brass Key bangle £30
Ladies Alice in Wonderland t-shirt £24.99
Ladies 'I beg your pardon' t-shirt £24.99
All items are available from http://www.truffleshuffle.com/

I can say with absolute conviction that I will be purchasing several of these goodies - namely the glass bottle as it is deliciiooous!

Amazing.

The quest for the perfect hair stylist...

2010-02-03T03:29:00.000-08:00

I am pretty fussy. I like things a certain way, although many would say I am fairly laid back. Sill things really...I like my bacon crispy; coffee has to be strong and creamy, coke has to be Pepsi, kisses have to be slow and fierce or fast and passionate (none of that inbetweeny crap) and post-its have to be pink. Based on all of this - my choice of hairdresser has taken a beating over the years. My friend was perfect until she gave up and since then I have flitted and flirted between stylists, looking for someone who engages with me, gives me the perfect hairstyle and comes in on budget.
Luckily, I have found the perfect hairdresser. Back in November I blogged about a fabulous stylist at Saks, Kings Hill, Kent. Silly Melon, as she is affectionately known - otherwise known as Mel has cured my stylist phobia and I am in hair heaven.
She is the one stylist I have happily and excitedly returned to (as opposed to grudgingly, cos they kinda got it right at my last appointment...) and every time I am glad I did.
The team welcome you with big smiles, coffee (strong and creamy! YUM) is always on offer, the gossip is always interesting and most importantly the girls who look after you seem to have robot memories - "I remember last time you were doing this/that/the other" A-M-Azing...
So next on my list at Kings Hill:
Nails
Spray Tan (clearly the daylight hours are getting longer - I need to start prepping!)
Eyebrow tint

Here's to the hair!
Saks Hair and Beauty, David Lloyd Leisure, 21A Kings Hill Avenue, West Malling, Kent
ME19 4UA. 01732 843445

Reiki

2010-02-03T01:19:00.000-08:00

I am excited by the news that I will be learning the mystics of Reiki. I have had Reiki twice now and both times I have come away feeling blown away by the feelings that surge throughout me afterwards - as well as feeling better and healthier.
The Royal Day Spa in Tunbridge Wells will be my centre of learning, but as I know so little at the moment, I am offering you a little insight into the world of Reiki, via one of the senior therapists at the spa.

Reiki - What is it?

Reiki is a hands on healing method, used to channel life force energy. The practitioner giving reiki, channels the energy through the body and out of the hands to treat the recipient or themselves.

The main benefits of Reiki:

Encourages the bodies natural ability to self heal

Functions on a mental, spiritual, physical and emotional level

Helps to balance the bodies energy

Strengthens the body and soul

Helps to rid the body of accumulated toxins

Reiki has a logic of its own, knowing where and to what extent it is required.

It works with not only people but animals and plants

Is an extremely pleasant and safe healing method

It can help with depression and any physical or mental illnesses

Can help grieving family members and to release past emotional pain

The history of Reiki:
It is believed that a man called Mikao Usui who was born back in August 15th 1865 in the Yamagata of Gifu prefecture Japan. Usui was looking for a way of knowing one's life purpose and to be content, and despite all his exhaustive research, he could not find away to achieve this state. The monks advice, promoted him to go to mount Kurama and carry out a 21 day tendai Buddhist meditation and fast called the lotus repentance. According his memorial stone, he experienced an enlightenment or 'satori' that led to the development of reiki. So it is said that reiki is represented in Japan in the early part of the last century.
For a long time in the west, people thought reiki had died out in japan and that the reiki that was left was to a lady called Mrs Takata. Mrs Takata was a very strict reiki master, who taught reiki to her students, but made the burn all information and symbols taught to them after they had spent years studying them. This was to stop anyone from stealing and corrupting the reiki teaching.
The information we now have about the original version of reiki comes from a number of different sources, and two of the mot well known of these are frank Arjava Petter and Hiroshi Doi. Arava Petter is a WWestern reiki master who lives and works in japan and has published 3 books based on his research there. However more detailed information has been made available in the west by a Japanese man called Hiroshi Doi.
What you might call the original reiki from Japan is very different from western reiki. The basis Of Japanese reiki combines three activities: daily energy exercises, hand scanning and intuitive techniques and regular spiritual empowerment. Reiki trainees would have to practice daily exercises called Hatsu-Rei-Ho which is designed to strengthen and purify there reiki empowerment, increasing their effectiveness of reiki channelling.
The western form of reiki is almost a copy from Japanese reiki, but is just snippets of information that has slipped out of the Japanese masters hands. However because the information the western reiki is a small amount, it has allowed us to develop the and play with the reiki energy and is just as effective as the Japanese style reiki.
There is a lot more to reiki than we have yet experienced. Reiki that is being used, has produced amazing results and changed many peoples lives in incredible ways. There is a lot more information that we have yet to learn, so this is a very exciting time to be involved in reiki blessings!

I look forward to keeping you updated with my progress. K

Interview: Beauty PR Lucy Dartford

2010-01-26T01:28:00.000-08:00

Beauty interview:
Lucy Dartford
Public Relations

Age 26

Having studied Fashion Promotion at the University for the Creative Arts
(UCA) in Epsom I immediately knew PR and marketing was an area I wanted to further explore. I really enjoyed networking and meeting new people.

On leaving uni, I worked at a leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle PR company working as an intern. Worked long hours and didn’t get paid but watched, listen and learnt how a real PR company was run.
I worked closely with everyone from account execs, account managers through to the directors and further developed the skills I learnt at university, for example, writing press releases, launch parties, copy-writing etc I got stuck in as much as the job allowed. I was then promoted to PR Assistant and started to get more involved in various accounts. It was at this stage that I knew beauty and fashion was my forte.
Due to the size of the company and low salary, developing within this company was looking difficult so I chose to go my own way. Within my time at
at this PR company, I had personally built up my own contacts database and had a strong understanding of how this industry worked. I had also formed several close relationships with various journalists and magazine editors

In order to get some money together and consider the possibility of working for myself, I worked as a make up consultant for YSL. It was during this time that I was approached by Jinny Lash, the eyelash extension specialists.

The company director knew of my previous PR experience and needed a strategy
that would inject some excitement into her brand. I devised and pitched a PR
strategy with the previous knowledge from university and my time at the initial PR company. I was then appointed PR consultant for Jinny Lash and began my campaign.

Over time i achieved some good results, which were echoed in sales and dramatically increased revenue and gave me the buzz to continue and achieve more. During this time, i began researching other PR companies and hired a graphic designer to design my own company corporate ID. On registering myself as a PR consultant, my corporate ID was then fed into various marketing material such as business cards, letter head etc

Through my work with Jinny Lash, I joined forces with numerous companies such as Ann Summers/ Knickerbox and previewed the eyelash technique at their press days. This offered me a platform to reconnect with various journalists/ editors and reintroduce myself as a freelance PR consultant. It was around this time that Jinny Rainbow, sister company to Jinny Lash also enlisted my services.

During my time with Jinny Lash and Jinny Rainbow, I was head hunted by Tracie Giles, CEO of Tracie Giles International, and N0.1 Harley Street. Having seen the results I was achieving for the Jinny brand, we joined forces.

I have now been operating for approximately 6 months and have since been approached and pitched for 3 more brands: 2 beauty brands and 1 fashion house. I have also enlisted a fantastic web design team who will launch my website end Feb.

Highlights have included:
-Achieving high quality editorial in consumer press including Tatler, Marie Claire and The Daily Mail which resulted in impressive profit growth and SEO rankings -Working with various celebrities to achieve some great endorsement -Working alongside high profile companies and brands for various promotions including Juicy Couture perfume launch, Ann Summers/ Knickerbox press days and OK celebrity parties -being interviewed for TV and radio shows, Wedding TV being the most recent -being interviewed and photographed for Boots magazine and Essentials magazines (both out in Feb I believe) -Assisting in the growth of the Jinny brand and launching brand into Selfridges and other major retail locations

What you love most:
I really enjoy being my own boss. I am free to use my own knowledge and intuition to devise various PR campaigns and strategies. I get a huge sense of satisfaction when a strategy is successful and love to exceed client expectations. I love meeting new people and have the privilege of working with some of the worlds most inspirational women and men everyday. There is nothing better than waking up and loving what you do.

Challenges you face day to day:

Sometimes there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day!
Working for myself means I do everything myself! From press releases to last minute press requests to updating reports, I have to be on the ball and available at all times of the day which can often continue late into the evening and weekends. I also have to constantly recalibrate and readjust my company expenditure with imperative databases and portals such as Gorkana and Beauty4media.

The Future:
Moving forward and on launching my website, I hope to expand and perhaps take on another member of staff.

Review: Saks Kings Hill, Kent

2009-11-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

You must have heard of Saks, right? I know I have and always assumed they would be really expensive, snooty sort of salon with an elite clientele that mere mortals would not attempt to infiltrate. How wrong I was and I am prepared to shout this from the rooftops.
Amazing – in fact so good I have booked my next set of highlights at the salon I reviewed – something I have never done until now after six years of beauty reviews.
My fabulous stylist was brilliant from start to finish and after a heavy night prior to my appointment, all I needed was a relaxing, invigorating treatment and as promised, she delivered.
Situated within the famous David Lloyd fitness centres in Kings Hill, Kent, this Saks salon is deceptive large and home to celebrity dancer (of Strictly fame) Ola Jordon who is a loyal regular – and I can see why.
Fresh, airy, clean and fashionable, this salon has a warm and welcoming atmosphere and was quietly buzzing with energy and an infectious happiness that made the start of my experience very nice indeed.
My stylist talked me through the ideas I had and how she interpreted them with a style and colour that would suit my face shape, colouring, lifestyle and maintenance efforts.
I explained that I wanted to go a coppery shade, changing from my natural dark brown shade, which I feel washes me out, especially in the winter months.
She took me through my current cut and asked me, in detail what I usually do with my hair and how often I go back to the salon for a cut and colour.
We decided that a head full of highlights followed by a copper tint would be the best bet, along with a classic bob that is long enough to tie up and curl/wave/straighten.
As drinks and snacks and copies of Elle and Vogue were sent my way, my stylist packed my head full of foils, going for an unusual packing system, which would avoid the dreaded zebra stripe effect so common with foiled highlights.
As I mellowed for a couple of hours to allow the bleach to take to my dark hair, the team talked me through their extensive training, synonymous with the high standards of all Saks salons. If you want to know anything about hair, ask them: I was blown away by the sheer level of knowledge and expertise they hold and for once felt totally at the mercy of a qualified and experienced stylist –without the hefty price tag.
Once the foils were off, I had a conditioning treatment and invigorating head massage, which very nearly sent me off to sleep.
So snappy was the stylist with the scissors that my cut was finished within half an hour and I was ready to go with a sexy wave courtesy of an old curling technique being re-introduced by Saks stylists.
Hot score: 9/10 – fantastic staff, great salon, brilliant service, great experience and value for money. Top notch.
I am booked in for another cut and colour just before Christmas and can’t wait!
Prices vary and start from about £20
www.saks.co.uk

Review: Jinny Lash

2009-11-24T04:08:00.000-08:00

So, I was flicking through some old posts on Liberty London Girl's blog and remembered some interesting stuff about false eyelashes.

http://www.libertylondongirl.com/2009/06/get-lashed-london-fake-eyelash-bars.html

Now, I have always been a fan of false eyelashes, as the gene pool of lashes seemingly missed my eyes and I have always had sporadic, fine and short lashes that are, well to be honest, crap.
So imagine my excitement as a teenager living in the country, discovering the invention of eyelash guru Jinnylash. I had dreamed about these lashes for many years, using Eyelure creations to fill the gap/void/hole that was my eyelashes.
(btw, love Eyelure - defo a teenagers dream)
So imagine my delight when the sexy, raspy voiced PR Guru Lucy Dartford contacted me offering a plethora of tiny lashes to be intricately glued to my eyelashes, leaving me with peepers worthy of a Hollywood star. I nearly wet my pants.
Off I trotted to their fabulous studio, off Regents Street, near St Christopher’s Place (what better venue to flutter my lashes at the unsuspecting locals after?) and prepared myself for an eye transformation.
Your consultant talks you through the procedure while you remove your eye make-up with a gentle lotion and pad provided. As I removed the mountain of mascara from my eyes, I daydreram about the length of lashes to come and almost faint with giddiness.
FYI - I am not the kind of chick to go out without make-up, so to be bare in front of a stranger, felt weird but ok, however this point will come to fruition later...
I am told to relax on a comfy bed and place my head on a special pad, while the technician looks at the length and thickness of my lashes - assessing the new ones that will be delicately glued to my own over the next hour.
As I close my eyes, I must admit I am a little nervous about a metal tweezer-like-contraption heading towards my eyes, but the technician is so gentle and the setting so calm, I am lulled into a sleep after which I am woken by the technician pulling away at the tape that has secured the bottom of my lashes.
To say looking in the mirror afterwards was thrilling is not the word. I had a full set of lashes that fluttered and flirted like the Bambi days of old.
So confident was I of these lashes, that I simply reapplied my eye make-up to match the rest of my face and went mascara free for the first time in public since I was about 12 or on holiday...
(in fact that is a blatant lie, I have the peepers tinted...)
The experts recommend you use an oil free eye make-up remover and a pad or cloth that won't snag onto your lashes. They also recommend only using mascara (should you feel the need) on the tips of the lashes to ensure you are not removing glue/lashes when you remove it at night.
Needless to say the lashes went down a treat. My sister, who is not remotely interested in beauty or fashion actually told me to stop staring at her with 'those eyes' and said she might now consider false lashes herself! Converted in one blink eh? That’s a powerful selling tool!
Prices start from £1 (per lash) and you’re looking at about 100 lashes per eye. For a full set, look to spend £150.
If it is good enough for the writers of Elle and Marie Claire then it is good enough for us!
www.jinnylash.com

Emma Watson - Truffle Shuffle Tees

2009-11-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not normally one to brag, but when you write about something you love and a few days later you have an A-List celeb rocking it, then you've got to be onto something.

Earlier in the week Truffle Shuffle helped celebrate the 40th birthday of Sesame Street and the PR Guru's Boudoir PR sent me a range of fabulous snaps to allow me to celebrate with them.

Blow me down, now Harry Potter star Emma Watson is following in the footsteps of Daisy Lowe and many others and sporting the I Love NY tee en route to a very important meeting no doubt.

So if you fancy looking as hot as Emma log onto http://www.truffleshuffle.com/ and snap up a celebrity tee for only £24.99.

Happy shopping! x

Savers stores

2009-11-06T06:24:00.000-08:00

Now, I love a bargain but I had to blink twice when I saw the bargainous deals at my local Savers store. If you haven’t heard of this fabulous British brand, then I suggest you get yourself out and about. Think of them as the Primark of beauty – bang on trend and perfect for those on a strict budget.
Savers has 230 stores across the UK, as well as a gem of a website with everyday deals.
My current favs are:
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle ONLY £2.99 (RRP £4.49) (you just can’t beat those kinda prices!)
Dove Heat Defence Mist for just £1.49 (RRP £2.99).
They even have the new Cheryl Cole L’oreal range for £1.39 each (RRP £2.45)
Fabulous! x

Retro t-shirt and Sesame Street birthday!

2009-11-05T08:55:00.001-08:00

So if you’re a lover of all things nostalgic then check out the Sesame Street website! http://www.sesamestreet.org/home
The famous characters are celebrating their very special 40th birthday and we should celebrate with them!
If you fancy paying homage to your favourite character then check out the best website ever – www.truffleshuffle.com and have a browse at their AMAZING t-shirts!
My favs are:

Every fabulous Famous Forever t-shirt is available from £24.99 with free delivery on spends over £50.

T-shirt designers (or should I say genius designers) Famous Forever are retro design innovators influenced by iconic imagery, classic retro heroes, and every aspect of your childhood; nostalgia oozes from every thread. With a dedicated fashion following, as well as an ever-growing celebrity fan-base, Famous Forever is fast becoming one of the UK’s leading retailers for retro 80s inspired apparel. Everyone from likes Paris Hilton, Alesha Dixon, Anne Hathaway, Lindsay Lohan, Steve Jones and JLC has been spotted showing off their Famous Forever tee!

I heart Famous Forever and Truffle Shuffle equally and will be stocking up for Christmas!

Big love, K

Review: Nails Inc manicure

2009-11-05T04:29:00.001-08:00

Wow. How much do I love Nails Inc?
Let me think?
I love that I am getting my new black I-Phone 3Gs, 16GB on Tuesday…..
I love the new Velvet body I have ordered from Topshop.com…
I love Robert Pattinson gracing the cover of Another magazine
…and I love Walnuts and pistachios at the moment….
BUT I love, love, love Nails Inc more!
Seated comfortably at my local concession within House of Fraser, Maidstone, I was greeted by the lovely ladies who, in my opinion are the coolest dudes in HOF.
Their music is fierce (Dizzee Rascal of course) and they are the perfect example of how you hope to look at the end of your session.
My technician’s Jo and Vicky (I visited on two occasions) were fantastic.
Trained to the impeccably high standards Nails Inc demand, the counters, tools and product (as well as the girls) are hygienic, tidy and stylishly merchandised; offering an oasis of calm when you take you seat. There is nothing worse than a dirty counter – you never know the filthy habits of the person who has been seated before you!
They begin with general chatter and begin cleansing your hands and buffing your nails while asking which treatment you might like and which is best suited to your lifestyle and habits. I answered obediently that I am a bit rough on my hands – I type all day and love to cook, so inevitably I am washing up…and damn me for saying so, often without my faithful Marigolds…
I state that I would like a glossy, natural finish, with a little length as mine as very short and weak. Both the girls recommend I have the Gel package and as my nail grows underneath, progress onto the 3 Week Manicure when my nails are strong and long enough.
As a teenager I was all about the cheap, despite being obsessed with beauty products and would happily march myself into one of the cheap, tacky nail bars that use electrical power tools to blast your nails to smithereens… well not @ Nail’s Inc.
Gentle buffing, stroking and advice ensues and once your nails are primed, you’re ready and raring to go.
My extensions are fitted and shaped to suit my nail size - no cheap cut offs here and we then progress to having then glued down and sealed. The gel is then gently applied with the tiniest brush, for ultra precision and your hands are divided between the UV activator: a little desk-top size machine that sets the gel. Several layers are added for strength and to make the finish realistic. As this is happening, the girls chat about the features and benefits, the other range of services and products they provide and how I should maintain my nails after I have left. I opt for a natural finish and stick to protective topcoat and a square/oval appearance. Overall, one of the best nail experiences I have had in a long time. Gracious, informative, delightful to chat to and bang on trend with advice, colours and what we will be wearing at Christmas. 10/10
Full set from £50
3 Week Manicure from £50
Christmas gift idea: The Trend Collection, £15
www.nailsinc.com

K-Stew

2009-10-05T03:43:00.000-07:00

Listen, I know she has a lot of haters out there and does en half moan about the way she can't go out in public anymore (suck it up princess) but lets face it, she must have done something right to win the lead role in Twilight series and leads in a bunch of other Hollywood films.
So, lets start giving the girl her due. Check her out in the latest edition of the US interview magazine. She looks pretty vampy...it had to be done..

Review: Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lipcolour

2009-10-05T01:43:00.000-07:00

As lipsticks go, I am a big fan and tend to lean towards Estee Lauder and Mac when purchasing. However, when the lovely ladies from Chanel send me bits to review I am excited at the prospect of using a new lippy and experimenting with fab new shades.

Now, I would show you how it looks on different skin types, but as my camera is still broken, this is potentially problematic...

So, here is a sexy red PR shot instead!

The innovative pop-up lid allows you to easily access the lippy in emergency situations (falling out of a cab dahling, post-snog situation....popping it on tube so you look all chic..) and once out of the classic black Chanel case, you can't help but stare in wonder.

The Stick is glossy, but not stickly-shiny and of course I am trying a peachy shade to suit my skintone - 'Instinctive' which glides on perfectly, leaving a subtle tint on my lips.

A highly pigmented lipstick like this is a worthwhile investment if you're struggling to breathe with the price. It also makes a great talking point at parties when you bet a man £10 he can't open it within ten seconds.

£21.50 @ Boots, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Selfridges.

New Moon - get the look

2009-10-02T02:18:00.000-07:00

The hype surrounding the launch of New Moon is actually getting pretty sick...my pal Helen and I went to see (500) Days of Summer courtesy of Orange Wednesdays and were actually more excited about the prospect of seeing a two minute trailer than we were a critically acclaimed film.
hysteria grips us all - even a 25 year old and woman who has just turned 30...

..although we did feel slightly pervy checking out Taylor's pecs. My god they are solid. I wouldn't mind taking a bit out of those.

Anyway, I digress. Check out the latest New Moon posters to be released. I have chosen my favourite two - Bella looks hot with 'Come hither eyes' and Dakota Fanning looks pure evil with devilishly smokey eyes.

Bella: Start with a light base - a tinted moisturiser will do. Try Becca or Laura Mercier. If the budget won't allow it, go for something like Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse - it has a lightly whipped texture for even, smooth and glossy coverage.

A light sweeping of blusher - Bourjois little pots in Rose de Jaspe should do the trick nicely. Add a sweep of eyeshadow - bronze, brown - use a primer like Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion first - pat in one with your middle finger and gently sweep a shade like Bourjois's Ombre Stretch in Brun or check out Mac's wide selection of eyeshadow pots. Use a wide brush or pat on with your ring finger for a smudgy look. Finish with a little sweep of curling mascara after treating the eyes to a little curling magic, a la eyelash curler. Cosmo have a great one if tight on pennies. Try Rimmel Volume Mascara Flash, curved brush - £4.50 @ Superdrug.

Look out later for Dakota.

Mole Clinics @ Superdrug

2009-10-01T04:58:00.000-07:00

Having had a sister and cousin treated for cancerous moles, I was pleased to see that Superdrug will now be providing Skin Cancer Risk Assessment Centres offering a completely free mole advisory service.
The role out of 216 centres is the brainchild of Iain Mack who set up the Mole Clinic in Harley Street.
Superdrug's pharmacist's and nurses will provide the free service, offering one to one advice developed by NICE.
The retailer saw a significant rise in visits to their clinic over the summer and are pleased to be offering the services in more stores.
To find out more contact 020 8684 7000 to find their nearest Skin Cancer Risk Assessment Clinic.

Cowshed

2009-10-01T03:51:00.001-07:00

As a fan of all things natural and friend to a Vegan and Veggie, I am very aware of the number of animal products that are crammed into everyday beauty products and toiletries.
As a consumer of all things beautiful, I do try and exercise caution and practice what I preach when it comes to purchasing products. As a teenager I literally lived in Body Shop and then I discovered Urban Decay, another animal-friendly form start-to-finish brand.
I discovered the amazing Cow Shed a couple of years ago and am obsessed with their products and brand awareness. They use completely organic and natural products, apart from beeswax and Wildflower honey - and as a trainee beekeeper myself, I am completely happy with this.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been struggling to come to terms with my house burning down and have been trying to find a 'happy place' for all my pent-up emotions and fears and thought this was the perfect time to write about Cowshed again.
Check out the beautifully packaged range of candles, in Seductive, Invigorating and Balancing fragrances. From £28

I am also in love with the Knackered Cow Relaxing Bath Massage Oil. From £16. The perfect way to unwind after a hard and stressful day.

If you have yet to discover Cowshed, please, please head to your nearest Fenwick or John Lewis and stock up. The candle and oil are so rich, they will go a long way, so don't be put off by the price tag if you're feeling the pinch.
K

Q & A with Marian Newman

2009-10-01T03:39:00.000-07:00

Marian Newman has the ultimate authority on achieving beautiful nails. I caught up with her and blagged her beauty secrets.

It's a mistake trying to use thick polish, however much you like the colour. 2 (or even 3) thin watery coats are far better that 1 gloopy coat. a thick polish can be thinned with a few drops of conditioner free remover but this only works for a short while and can't be done again. Also, it's a false economy in time and money to miss out a base and top coat as they, individually, make the colour last and look so much better. Picking it off (so tempting though!) can so easily damage nails as it can take a layer with it!

Why won't my nail polish last longer than a couple of days?

1) Is it something I am doing wrong in application? Should I be using different products (base coat, top coat etc), leaving it to dry longer etc

Lots of reasons! If you’ve just taken polish off and used a remover that has conditioners there could be a film left on the nail that will prevent polish sticking so wash hands thoroughly. A base coat will always help as it prepares the nails. Also buffed nails hold polish better

2) is it something to do with me? I have heard that is you have oily nail beds then polish doesn't stick so well, or weak, bendy nails cause the polish to split? Is this true, and is there anything you can do?

Some people do have oily nail [plates or may have just applied moisturiser and some is left om the nails. Wipe the nails over with conditioner free remover and that will remove any oil. Bendy nails or peeling nails don’t hold on to polish as they ‘bend away’ from the polish. Use a specific base coat.

3) What are your top three tips for a long lasting at home mani

Conditioner free remover (therefore oil free nails), base coat and reapply top coat every few days

Thanks Marian! and thanks brilliant Beauty Seen PR! Mwah
K

Midnight Blue Princess Fearne

2009-09-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton rocked an awesome midnight blue, velvet playsuit last night - so beautiful it had me weeping into my keyboard...
The rock chic, added a little effortless glamour to the MacMillan De'Longhi art auction in the big smoke last night.
I love her lace tights and sexy hair - I must confess I am not a fan of green on handbags or clothes...not really sure why? LOVE IT on jewels though...

Max the midnight blue with Chanel Le Vernis in Blue Satin and some sexy lace tights from My Tights.

I have however, found some gorgeous stockings from lingerie and hosiery expects, Ann Summers. Although they are stockings, which can be a little harder to wear, imagine them under a hot silk dress! Lush. £6

www.chanel.com

www.annsummers.com

NEXT AW/09 and Christmas 09

2009-09-29T03:28:00.001-07:00

I have been the holder of a Next Catalogue since 2003 and would not have it any other way! Last night I was flicking through the amazing new Christmas bible and I was blown away.
The clothes are sexy, the shoes high and the home collection was beautiful.
Now, as I have just returned to my re-built burnt down flat, I have had to re-decorate and am following some advice from Feng Shui to help me get a nice, calming flow and balance about the room.
We only have a one bedroom apartment, so out with the clutter (the fire pretty much sorted that aspect anyway...) and in with the eye-catching key pieces.
As much as I loathe to be back in the flat where we almost died, I think making it a warmer nicer place to be will help me settle back in and get to grips with the fact that I have almost no clothes or shoes left and only a handful of precious photos to pop on the wall.
Check out some favourites of mine:
Helena Table Lamp: £35
Melrose Armchair and footstall: £275
Botanical Study Wallpaper: £15Check out next.co.uk - the website is brilliant. Style guides, product videos and more. Next is the changing face of the High Street - expect more blogs on the beautiful new range.
K x

Follow Lindsey Kelk in NY

2009-09-29T03:06:00.000-07:00

Nuff said: witty, playful chat with the hero. Check her out here:

http://beautymecca.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Interview with Chic Lit author and beauty mecca blogger, Lindsey Kelk

2009-09-29T02:40:00.001-07:00

Well hellllloo...
So I managed to blag an interview with superstar blogger and author of I Heart New York, Lindsey Kelk.
Talk about living the dream - this girl is my hero.
She decided to get pen to paper, wrote her book, won a multiple book deal and is now living in New York a la her lead character.
I love her. The writing is refreshing, honest and pacey. Now, I'm not usually a big fan of Chic Lit, I have always been one of those who would prefer to be reading To Kill a Mockingbird on the beach rather than Daisy does Danny or Fanny's fanny diaries. Nope not me at all.
So, imagine my surprise when I genuinely fell in love with the character and Lindsey's inspirational writing. She rocks and I can't wait for her next installment....
K

What inspired you to write the I heart series...?

I was in a bit of a general rut and really playing 'anywhere but here'. I was broke after Christmas, stuck in cold, wet London in January with a rubbish boyfriend when I really wanted to be shopping in sunny New York, chasing after hot boys. Since I couldn't up sticks and leave, the only thing I could do was write about it!

How much do you resemble the protagonist Angela?

A lot at the beginning of the book. We have similar jobs, similar relationships, I just never broke anyone's hand or weed in their washbag. As far as they know... But as the book (and now books!) went on, she really started to become her own character. I'd write something and then think, 'no, that's something I'd say, Angela would never say that.' And before I knew it, she had a life of her own.

When writing about Angela's make-overs, did you use your make-up experience to make it as true-to-life as possible?

A lot of people ask if I did a lot of research for the books and by God, did I use the makeover parts as an excuse to shop myself stupid. My credit card is still hurting. I LOVE make up and write a blog, http://beautymecca.blogspot.com, which I started at the same time as I started writing I Heart New York. I didn't want the makeover part to be too over the top so I just wrote in what I would want to read about. I don't know if everyone gets as hot under the collar at the idea of spending hundreds of dollars at MAC as I do but, god, those parts of just as exciting as the sex scenes for me.
And yes, in case you were wondering, I am single. This is why.

How long did it take you to write the books?

I Heart New York was really quick, just six weeks from start to finish on the first draft but I was so bored and really not doing anything with my life at all so it was exciting to come home every night and write it. By the time I came to write Hollywood a year later, things had changed massively - I'd just broken up with my boyfriend, I was going out a lot more, I was busier at work - but once I got into it, I got it out in a couple of months. I write really quickly, I think because I've spent so long writing for my day job, and once I get on a roll, I can't stop. I'm completely knackered today because I was up until one writing I Heart Paris!

Tell us about your career as an editor:

I work in licensed children's books just like Angela, so I write books for brands like Noddy, Fifi and the Flowertots, Shrek and Hello Kitty. It's different to general editorial work because we actually write a lot of the books as well as edit them but that's been great experience. And who can complain about watching kids' TV and movies all day and then writing stories? It's criminal really.

When did you start your blog Beauty Mecca an dhow many followers have you now amassed?

I started BeautyMecca in 2007 at the same time as I started writing I Heart New York. They were both part of my New Year's Resolution to write every day and I'm really proud of both of them. I get about 2000 readers a month but that's going up now the book is out - the pressure is too much!

What are your dreams for the next year?

Well, I'm actually moving to New York in two weeks! I'm moving to the US HarperCollins office to work with their kids team and help develop new brands and series. It's going to be very exciting but super scary too. I need to borrow some of Angela's bravery... and hopefully she'll let me borrow Alex too. I'm going to be living around the corner from him in Williamsburg, so I'm sure she won't mind. I Heart Hollywood is out in January so I really hope that does as well as I Heart New York and (whisper this part) we're at really, really early stages of talking to people about making I Heart New York into a movie or a TV series and I would LOVE that to happen.

And finally...what advice would you give to aspiring writers who feel challenged, downtrodden and lack inspiration for the kick up the bum they need?

Just open your laptop, pick up your notebook and start. Seriously, there's no big secret, no magical inspiration fairy that comes and plants ideas in your head when you're asleep. Think of something that excites you and start writing. For me it was escaping my boring life, getting back to New York oh, and my massive crush on All Boys in Bands, the rest of the story just evolved as I went along. And once you start, don't stop. Don't re-read and then convince yourself it's crap, there are plenty of people out there who will tell you that. You just need to believe in yourself and carry on writing.

LOVE THE KELK!
So check out Iheartnewyork.co.uk to find out more and keep a look out or pre-order I Heart Hollywood on Waterstones or Amazon - it is out on 07.01.2010 - two days after my b'day. I hope I get one in the post courtesy of Lindsey's lovely PR guru!
Happy reading xx

Wellbeing at The Royal Day Spa

2009-09-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Breathing in the sweet smell of tranquillity as I walk into the Royal Day in Tunbridge Wells, I am overwhelmed by the immediate feeling of calm. Greeted by two immaculate therapists and handed a pair of ‘indoor flip-flops,’ I know I am about to be transported to a world of absolute serenity.
White walls, slate and ivory tiles paving the way to paradise and discreet low lighting, set the scene of this once Victorian Sorting Office. Owner Shelly has transformed the shabby, decrepit building and transformed it into an open plan haven, with nooks and crannies leading off the trail waiting to be discovered. I have reviewed a vast number of spas over the years and am yet to find a spa in the South East that offers such a perfect, dedicated package. From the minute you enter, you are blown away by the sheer dedication that has gone into creating a space that is not only perfect for dead-on-their-feet commuters who favour the historic spa town, but for expectant mother’s, hen-parties and often clients who have a vast array of conditions, searching for the cure in alternative therapy.
I am one such explorer, having suffered from a bereavement earlier in the year and dealing with hereditary condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome* and arthritis, I was desperately seeking some sort of solace in a spa I know I can trust. I was not disappointed.
Meandering into the bedroom where I reclined on a Hagrid-sized Tempra mattress and sipped mint tea, I waited for my therapist to take me into one of the side rooms behind the enormous salt-water pool, hot tub infused with Moor Mud and Sauna and Steam rooms.
Every room is decorated in an Eastern theme and as Senior Therapist and Spa Manager Hayley guides me in, she asks me a series of questions about my health and wellbeing. As Hayley begins the treatment, I am swept into such a relaxed state, I am surprised when she wakes me up to turn over – an hour of bliss has already passed!
Hayley, a trained Reiki master confides that

she would like to change my treatment and focus on a particular area for the last hour and half of my treatment. Although surprised, I trust her implicitly and ask her why she feels such a strong need to change my treatment.
I am told, quite honestly, that I have a huge black cloud of angst held in my stomach – so much so that she feels compelled to start eradicating the trouble, stress and worry from me immediately.
She gets to work, using a practiced Reiki treatment, whereby she kneads the bad energy out via my colon, focusing on incoming energy, present energy outgoing energy. Hayley tells me very seriously that I am holding onto a lot of baggage and that this distress is having a detrimental affect on my life.
I feel the need to cry and confess all of my worries to this lovely girl, but hold back and nod obediently. She proceeds to pummel my stomach with such force that I was having to breathe through the pain. When I say pain, I mean a force that I am obviously not used to on my tummy – in a weird way it felt so cathartic and I enjoyed the feeling of her pressure on my depressed little tummy. As she worked her magic, she explained that we store our emotions in our stomach and that she was getting such strong negative waves from me, it was all she could do not to flip me over and start on my stomach as soon as I walked into the room. Her explanation led to the ‘bad’ energy I was storing in my ‘present’ place. I had not got over recent, life changing events and these events had such a dramatic affect on me that I would be changed forever and it was this period of change that was causing me so many problems.

As the session began to draw to a close, Hayley recommended I start on a course of treatments and think about working on myself at home; perhaps even learning art of Reiki myself. She tells me as we part ways that she felt a lot of good energy coming my way and she felt sure that I would soon be in the right frame of mind to move on from my demons and fill my life with positive thoughts and outcomes.
I mull over her comments over a beautiful champagne lunch, complete with fresh salmon, pancetta, mozzarella, cous-cous and more and come to the conclusion that she is right.
Not having ventured near a swimming pool since 2005 (I hate, hate, hate them) I decided to take the plunge in the most flattering pool ever invented!
Black slate tiles, salt water and dimly lit, no one will see a) the lumps and bumps and b) that I cannot swim…but hey, that’s another story…
I can only describe the next few moments as…mmmmmmmm, ahhhhhhhhh
Lush.
After ample time floating, ahem, swimming, I decided to venture into the Sauna. Another blissful experience that left me floating on cloud nine.
So, in light of these discoveries I will now be writing a weekly diary – highlighting my process with Reiki, the power of the mind, healing and how places like the Royal Day Spa can make you a better person.
For further information, contact reception@royal-dayspa.co.uk
Royal Day Spa, Post Office Square
12 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1BP
01892 616191 or visit their beautiful website: www.royal-dayspa.co.uk

Hot Things in my world

2009-08-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

1: Crafting. This week I am: creating belts, necklaces and headbands (a la Nicole Richie) using pearls, ribbon, safety pins and buttons.
Check out this fab site for ideas: http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/
AMAZING and so inspirational

2: The Lovely Bones Trailer. I am re-reading. Nuff said.

3: Selling you wares on ebay. I myself and getting rid of a pair of unworn Christian Louboutins as seen on Penelope Cruz, Kelly Brook and Angelina.

4: Doing good deeds, Ok, so this week: Taking my dear mama to the Royal Day Spa in Tunbridge Wells, Kent (look out for review feature) to cheer her up; writing a list of inspirational books for my pal to read now that she is moving back to London to work and will face a long commute; editing a series of photographs for my great aunt and finally - offering to host Christmas as my house again this year. In 2007, two weeks after I had moved into my new apartment, I cooked for 13 people. I must admit my nan cooked the turkey, mama cooked the beef and I cooked the pork, but the list included.
Starters: Stuffed mushrooms or Prawn Cocktail
Main: Two trays of goose-fat cooked crispy roast pots, a bowl of Dijon mustard mash, two dishes of cauliflower cheese, pigs in blankets, two trays of Yorky puds (that's about 40!) cabbage, pancetta and chestnuts, spring greens, glazed carrots, brussell sprouts, mixed veg and finally gravy.
Pudding: Home made, extremely flammable Trifle in beautiful crystal dish, homemade Yule log, Flaming Christmas Pudding and fruit. YUM

5: WUTHERING HEIGHTS. OMG. First Ed and Gemma and now Tom and Charlotte. Starts this Bank Holiday Sunday.

The Lovely Bones

2009-08-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Susan Sarandon, Marky Mark (!!) Rachel Weiss. Mix these up, add some genius in the form of Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson and you have the The Lovely Bones.

AMAZING. I had muchos goose bumps watching this and cannot wait until December.
I feel there are many things happening in the winter of 2009.
Release of Harry Potter into DVD, New Moon is out and The Lovely Bones will be reducing people to wrecks all over the UK.

oh and Santa is coming. Good news all round!

Time Traveler's Wife

2009-08-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Two years.
That is how long Time Traveler's Wife fans' had to wait for the film and from the responses I am getting, it has been pretty well received.
I delivered my sister to the airport at 4.30am on Tuesday morning - having returned home from her leaving dooo at midnight and getting back up at 3.30am and as you can imagine was upset and shattered.
Deciding to have tea and my grandad's after the goodbye's at the airport was lovely - tea and the local paper, while stroking a tortoise in the sunshine was delish. It did nothing however to raise the spirits of my mama, who is bereft at the loss of my sibling who has returned home to New Zealand after 4 weeks with us.
I turned then, to my comfort: long hot bath, candles, glass of wine and of course, TTTW. Bliss.
I must confess, I have read this book more times than I care to imagine - the first time on the way home from Australia - along with The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (which I will get onto later)
After lunch at a nearby Riverside restaurant and trip to Aylesford Priory (again, another point of discussion at some point) I was knackered.
I decided to sleep for a while and was rudely awoken by my best friend. Her mama offered to take me to the 9pm screening of TTTW - what should I do?
I am sooo tired that I have the eyes of a man high on weed and the ability to string together a sentence that imitates a 6 month old.
Against my bodies dearest wishes, I descended upon said cinema and wept with joy and later distress once the film had finished.
I found the first half an hour a little tedious, but understood that TTTW virgins would need to gain a detailed insight into Henry De Tamble's life, to gain a firm grasp on what essentially is a very complex film.
However, 45 mins in and I was a wreck. Sobbing uncontrollably and wishing I was able to kiss Eric Bana's bottom..
I wish they had included more of their darker sides however and where was Ingrid?? Love her and Celia and the complex relationships Henry, Ingrid, Celia and Claire had.
In all, a super little film I will be buying on DVD.

I heart Victoria Hislop - author of The Island - BIG LOVE

2009-04-14T08:45:00.001-07:00