tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52183693979023401502024-03-15T01:04:29.507-07:00Musings of a London Beauty AddictMusings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-25474133677280580092016-08-03T07:13:00.002-07:002016-08-03T07:15:15.972-07:00REVIEW: Secret Garden Party<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: FuturaPT, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
The yearly Secret Garden Party festival is not just a festival, it’s a way of life. It’s a community of like-minded, happy people all ready to embrace the lighter side of life, make fun-loving new friends, discover unique new pleasures and do crazy things like wrestle leopard print legging clad men in glittery water-filled paddling pools.</div>
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The humble roots of this eclectic event started out in a glorious landscaped garden in lush Huntington seven years ago, where 1000 elaborately adorned revellers got together for music, merriment and slightly saucy social shenanigans. Now a world famous music festival frequented by over 26,000 achingly cool party people in the know, it boasts over 15 stages, a plethora of international musical talent, spa experiences, vintage clothes stalls, tempting world food, fairground rides, art installations – and the chance to fondle a live chameleon whilst donning a pair of sparkly batty riders. As you do.</div>
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From the 21st to the 24th July this year, 26,000 achingly cool, bejewelled revellers (including my beloved brother Martin and I) minced about the scenic banks of an massive lake – surrounded by acres of sun-drenched green land covered with various exciting installations, activities and acts. Headliners included Air, Caribou and Primal Scream – which caused mass euphoria in the heaving crowds.</div>
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Sassy singer Shura stirred a few emotions with her moving songs about love and heartbreak, Amber Shells caused merry mayhem with their jungle set in the 24 hour bar, whilst DJ Shadow naughtily teased an awe-struck crowd with his spine tingling set, refusing to drop the base for an excruciatingly long time. It was all worth it when it happened though. Oh yeeeeeah.</div>
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Weary, hungover souls found solace in the form of the Secret Garden Party woodland hot tubs and the Coyote Moon spa – a ethereal haven offering hot showers, a wood burning sauna and antioxidant-loaded smoothies to help frazzled folk rejuvenate and revive after the previous night’s debauchery.</div>
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Festival fashion and beauty was even more fabulous this year, with experimental beauty brand <a href="http://www.inyour-dreams.com/">In your Dreams</a> offering gorgeous glittery face art makeovers and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ashclaydonflowers/">Ash Claydon Flowers </a>making bespoke fresh flower headdresses for frolicking sprites and pixie wannabes.</div>
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This year’s creative theme was ‘The Gardeners Guide to the Galaxy’ – and with the help of Guerrilla Science’s neuroscientists, extra-terrestrial experts and astrophysicists, everybody was given the chance to partake in an array of zany activities such as space yoga, booking holidays to space and a drugs assault course.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forget scarves, its all about the live snakes this season darling...</td></tr>
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As always there was a pleasing variety of food stalls on hand offering fine wares to help soak up all the booze – including bacon baps courtesy of The Breakfast Club, flavoursome vegan lentil stews by <a href="http://www.exotictagine.co.uk/">Exotic Tagine</a> and even hearty French dishes such as confit beef and chicken provincial by the fabulous <a href="http://www.madamegautier.com/">Madam Gautier.</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exotic Tagine - So very noms </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous glittery face art by In Your Dreams </td></tr>
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All in all, this year’s Secret Garden Party (or SGP as it’s endearingly now known) was an epic success. The Saturday night fireworks display over the lake was mind-blowing, the music was on point, the people were beautiful inside and out – all united by their desire to shun bedtime and celebrate life.</div>
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Forget New York. Secret Garden Party is the festival that never sleeps.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Review originally posted in <a href="http://www.themetropolist.com/music/latest-news/festival-review-secret-garden-party-2016/">The Metropolist </a></span></div>
Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-9463824028847948772016-06-07T02:17:00.002-07:002016-06-07T02:17:59.732-07:00The foodies guide to Manchester <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Manchester has serious foodie-boozy credentials that could seriously give the Capital a run for its money. So if you fancy a weekend of fun and frivolity but don't wanna scoot off overseas, a Mancunian mini break will prove the city has far more to offer than the Arndale Centre, a pleasing to the eye cathedral and chiselled football players. Sharing is caring and all that malarkey, so I've curated a few of my favourite hotspots, to bring you the best places to drink, dine and sleep in Manchester.</div>
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<strong><a data-mce-href="http://www.tattu.co.uk" href="http://www.tattu.co.uk/">For a lavish lunch... Tattu</a></strong></div>
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This hidden gem is a stylish foodie's paradise in Manchester's uber trendy Spinningfiels and boasts stunning tattoo art inspired decor, incredible modern Chinese food, exceptional service, experimental exotic cocktails and a four meter high pink cherry blossom tree - which you can dine under (if you're lucky to nab such sought after tables). The tree itself is real and consists of hand made cherry blossoms meticulously attached to each tiny branch, resulting in a breathtaking visual effect guaranteed to impress even the most fussiest dining companions. Tattu's dim sum selection is divine, the melt-in-the-mouth Saffron Miso Black Cod may cause you to weep with joy and the Caramel Soy Beef Fillet can only really be described as worthy of a death row inmate's last meal. Be sure to finish your meal off with one of Tattu's exquisite herbal teas - we recommend the blissful Coconut Noir black tea and the terrifically tart Red Berry and Hibiscus blend.</div>
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<strong><a data-mce-href="http://australasia.uk.com" href="http://australasia.uk.com/">For a unique dinner with a side of celeb spotting... Australasia</a> </strong></div>
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Manchester's most talked about restaurant has been frequented by the celebrity likes of David and Victoria Beckham, Liv Tyler, Paloma Faith and a few of the lads from the Manchester United football team. The decor is effortlessly chic and achingly cool - you enter the restaurant via an artistic geometric-style basement opening in the street, before entering a buzzy dining room and separate bar area - complete with a tune savvy DJ to get everyone in the mood for pre munch mingling. The restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine, which involves an exciting combination of Indonesian, European and Japanese influences, and you are encouraged by charming waiting staff to choose a selection of small plates to share. Sushi lovers will devour the decedent Tuna Roll with Green Apple and Kimchi, whereas those in search of something hearty will be awestruck by the Roast Lamb accompanied by green peas, confit lamb, goats cheese and basil jus.</div>
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<strong><a data-mce-href="http://artisan.uk.com" href="http://artisan.uk.com/">For post dinner drinks and serious snackage... Artisan</a></strong></div>
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This spacious, 12, 000 square foot concrete warehouse is the perfect space to enjoy a couple of post dinner drinks late into the night. the venue is known for its back-to-basics style of cooking - serving fresh from the fire pizzas, fish and meats along with craft beers from around the world and charismatic cocktails such as the zesty Grapefruit and Berry - a marvellous medley of blueberries, Tanqueray, grapefruit, raspberry and lemon. Exotic cocktail conoseurs will be more enamoured with the dreamy Passion Fruit and Pomegranate Sling, which consists of pomegranate seeds, passion fruit shrub, Ketel One Vodka and Passoa - a punchy passion fruit french liquor. The venue is regularly frequented by those with an eye (and ear) for the sublime as it is adorned with various artworks by renowned contemporary artists and regularly hosts art events and live music shenanigans. Go with a gaggle of your best friends for late night boozing in a non pretentious lively atmosphere, or for a sexy nightcap and nibble with a lover before retiring for the night.</div>
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<strong>For a conveniently located snooze... </strong><em><strong><a data-mce-href="http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-manchester-piccadilly-MANPDDI/index.html" href="http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-manchester-piccadilly-MANPDDI/index.html">The Hilton Doubletree</a></strong></em></div>
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One of the benefits of this elegant home from home is its splendidly convenient location - just a stones throw away from Manchester Piccadilly train station and approximately 10 minutes walk to the city centre. After checking in and watching your luggage merrily carted off to your room by smiley bellboys, you'll be presented with a freshly baked (still warm!) welcome cookie, which we think is the best welcoming idea ever concocted by a hotel. Ever. Welcome drink? Gah! We'd rather take the gooey, chocolate chip cookie thank you very much. Craft ales, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages can be downed in the sexy Urban bar - perfect for washing down their extensive gourmet burger selection. The bedrooms are plush but not over the top, with outstanding views of the city and 'wow factor,' gleaming bathrooms with large mirrors - perfect for post party preening. And, just in time for the sunny season, the summer roof terrace has recently opened, serving a tempting selection of Mediterranean tapas, ice cold beers, vintage champagne and refreshing cocktails. There's even a fitness room available, full of all the latest booty-toning machinery, so you can work on those glutes before leisurely strolling down for a full English to soak up all of last night's debauchery.</div>
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<em>The Hilton Doubletree's summer sale is taking place from now until 4th September, so HHonors members can benefit from a saving of up to 25% at this swanky hotel, with rooms available from as little as £104.25.</em></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-73343590773364242252016-03-29T06:38:00.001-07:002018-03-13T08:50:39.207-07:00Review: BFI Flare, London LGBT Film Festival <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">his Easter Sunday saw the sad end of <a href="http://www.bfi.org.uk/">BFI Flare</a> - one of the world's longest running and most respected LGBT film festivals, which hosted a plethora of queer films from all over the world as well as insightful talks and crazy club nights on the riverfront.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The festival opened last week with the mesmerising brit flick The Pass - the heart-wrenching story of a footballer in love with his teammate whilst struggling with his sexual identity under the eternally intrusive and judgemental glare of the celebrity spotlight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other films included the critically acclaimed Carol, featuring an impeccably dressed Cate Blanchet playing the role of a married woman in love with a young shop assistant, dealing with the social stigma of her sexuality in 1940's Britain, and Real Boy - the tale of a brave 19 year old trans man who endures the agony of rejection from his family before finding love and acceptance though like-minded friends made through social media.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The gloriously bohemian French film Summertime closed the festival and left cinema-goers teary eyed as they were treated to visually exquisite cinematography and the powerful love story of Delphine - a young girl raised by traditional parents on a farm and Carole - a streetwise Parisian activist with a flock of unruly blond hair - and a boyfriend. The two meet at a feminist protest on the bustling streets of Paris and quickly form a passionate, unyielding bond which takes them to the lush rural landscape of the countryside before their fervent romance is suddenly tested by the dismal realities of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Roll on next year for more arty LGBT film shenanigans....</span></div>
Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-11602780589163946732016-03-15T04:46:00.004-07:002016-03-15T06:09:55.921-07:00Review: The Little Yellow Door<div class="met_post_media" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: FuturaPT, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px -30px;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Attention all foodies and hip hop adoring pleasure seekers…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The West London food and party institution that is The Little Yellow Door has recently announced the six month renewal of their lease.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Founded in October 2014, this kitsch, hedonistic haven in hip Notting Hill is based on a fun, fictional flat share and hosts weekly ‘house parties’ and supper clubs brimming with the kind of friendly, frolicsome folk you could easily see yourself becoming bosom buddies with. In fact, the merry motto of this pleasing pop up, which conveniently takes Whatsapp bookings, is, “visiting The Little Yellow Door, you may arrive with three friends and leave with ten…”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For years, Londoners sick of generic nights on the town, with a craving for ‘something a bit different,’ have frequented their infamous house parties, retro gaming nights, kitchen suppers, Thursday takeovers, indoor gardens and exciting supper clubs with the cheeky Wandering Chef.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To celebrate the happy arrival of The Little Yellow Door’s latest USA hailing ‘flatmate,’ Hank, The Wandering Chef has revamped the Friday night supper club’s menu and will be cooking up a lip-smacking, belly-rubbing, taste bud titillating, all-American feast – to be vacuumed up by excitable guests as they take part in jubilant house party-esque games before tables are cleared to make way for copious amounts of jigging to some seriously sexy hip hop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had to get involved...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">When I arrived, I was welcomed by a gaggle of gorgeous, happy people and served delicious dishes including soft Savoury Donuts with Sweet Shrimp, Cajun Crab Remoulade smothered in Pickled Chilli, New England Clam Chowder with Shrimp and Corn, followed by heaving boards of Pulled Beef Shin, Buffalo Wings, Smoked Sausage and Burnt Ends. These heavenly offerings were</span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"> </strong><span style="color: #111111;">served with a sassy selection of sides such as Pickled Chilli and Kraut Slaw, Potato and Bacon Salad, and the creamiest, most addictive Mac ‘n’ Cheese I have ever tried in my life – and I don’t joke about Mac ‘n’ Cheese. Hell no.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before I got ready to party on the freshly cleared dance floor, I came face to face with the magnificent puddings which were hovering about naughtily – particularly the seemingly innocent looking but exceedingly scandalous Oreo, Banana and Bourbon Hard Shakes and the raspberry topped Malt Cream Brownies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Little Yellow Door also hosts laid back Wednesday and Thursday night dinners and Saturday night house parties featuring a menu inspired by “the weird and wonderful characters you find at a party and, more importantly, their bizarre eating habits.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I adore The Little Yellow Door and its quirky ways. Go with an open mind, your most entertaining friends and an empty tum.</span></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.thelittleyellowdoor.co.uk/">The Little Yellow Door</a>, 68 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3HT </span></strong></em><br />
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This article was originally published in <a href="https://www.themetropolist.com/">The Metropolist </a></span></span></em></div>
Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-10451220871250718302015-12-24T12:26:00.000-08:002016-02-15T03:34:01.006-08:00Review: Flemings Mayfair Yuletide Afternoon Tea <div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The afternoon tea
at the renowned luxury boutique hotel, <a href="http://www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk/london-afternoon-tea.html">Flemings Mayfair</a> is a truly decadent, gloriously
British affair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since a lavish 14
million pound refurbishment earlier this year, the hotel – a proud member of
the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, boasts an array of elegantly designed
rooms and opulent apartments, offering a glamorous home away from home in one
of the capital’s most exclusive areas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Flemings is
regularly frequented by well-heeled Londoners, jet setters with refined tastes
and style-savvy celebs such as Kate Moss, Harrison Ford and Naomi Campbell -
who all revel in the venue’s plush ambience and impeccable service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The quintessentially
English ritual of afternoon tea takes place from 12.30 to 5pm in The Drawing
Room – a chic space containing Tiffany blue and grey velvet furnishings,
elegant lighting, an original fireplace from 1851 and bookcases filled with
biographies of famous designers and style icons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chocoholics can
opt for the Chocolate Indulgence Afternoon Tea, featuring unique chocolate
scones and cocoa-rich sweet treats, or treat themselves to the signature afternoon
tea – a traditional assortment of sandwiches, cakes, pastries and scones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">During this
merriment-fuelled period, I was </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">eager</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> to try the hotel’s limited edition Yuletide
afternoon tea – similar to the signature tea, yet prepared with a suitably festive
twist. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I took along my gorgeous friend Rodica who is a self confessed afternoon tea addict - and takes really good photos on her swanky, complicated looking camera. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dry yet fabulously
fruity rose champagne was presented at the table in exquisitely tall flutes
before a three-tired tray arrives bearing an enticing assortment of baked goods
and crust-less English finger sandwiches – all meticulously cut and brimming
with various fillings. These include mustard-slathered ham, mayo-laden egg and
cress, lightly seasoned smoked salmon and of course, that good old Brit classic
- cucumber. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
melt-in-the-mouth scones were fresh out of the oven, made to a special recipe
developed hundreds of years ago and are served with generous portions of
clotted cream and strawberry jam, so make sure you go with a hearty appetite - and
a naughty sweet tooth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Flemings Hotel
prides itself on its vast range of fine teas by the iconic East India Company, which
includes green tea with jasmine pearls, buttery Lis-Han Oolong, spiced Bombay
Chai and (our favourite) the hotel’s signature Breakfast Blend – a strong, fragrant infusion to
suit most tastes.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BV-a5Qh54g0/VnxS9zmQZoI/AAAAAAAAC88/ZUASugz_UwU/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BV-a5Qh54g0/VnxS9zmQZoI/AAAAAAAAC88/ZUASugz_UwU/s640/IMG_3196.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This fabulously
British afternoon feast also features adorable mini Christmas puds, chocolate and
berry cream cakes and charming lemon tartlets topped with quaint turquoise
Christmas trees that evoke essential Christmas cheer, and somehow manage to
cleverly match the décor of the room too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I urge you to visit this magical place. Go in your finest clothes with a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">carb-loving buddy and prepare to nom yourselves to festive oblivion.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-10595132401534325242015-10-29T07:10:00.000-07:002015-10-29T07:10:34.509-07:00Review - Gel mani and pedi at Muse of London<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All throughout my life I have been scolded by various folk for naughty chipped nail polish. Although I am a self confessed beauty addict, I have never had the patience to sit at home and paint my nails religiously or remove my polish when it's looking worse for wear.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is why a good gel manicure every two weeks is essential to my life (nobody deserves to be mocked for ineptly painted nails).</span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before a recent trip to the sunny Spanish isle of Mallorca, I booked myself in to West End pamper parlour <a href="http://www.museoflondon.co.uk/">Muse of London</a> - renowned for it's cutting edge (see what I did there) hair stylists, eclectic decor and talented nail technician, the lovely Holly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I arrived, flustered and windswept, I was invited to relax in a stylish lounge area where I could choose from a range of herbal teas and glossy magazines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I knew it, I was whisked downstairs to a rather glamorous sofa - complete with double foot baths - perfect for preening ones toes with a buddy or a feet-fondling lover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a good soak, Holly exfoliated my troubled tootsies with a pumice stone and soothing creme scrub before filing and painting my toenails a classic pillar box red.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My nails were then shaped and polished in a matching colour using Shellac, which has always been my gel polish of choice due to its long lasting nature and gloriously glossy finish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then left Muse of London to rush home and pack for my holiday in my usual last minute, frenzied state, yet with fabulously mock-proof nails.</span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-52568354414949265732015-10-14T05:32:00.000-07:002015-10-14T06:46:49.370-07:00Review - Secret Extensions and Zen Hair <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #606569; margin: 0px 0px 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love thick, flowing, excessively-long, barbie-style hair. There. I said it and I am not ashamed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, long hair is the epitome of femininity and sensuality. When my hair looks sad, I feel sad too, so it's essential I get that fabulously fresh weave in before an exciting holiday with the girls or a special night out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been unashamedly in love with hair extensions for many years now, and thankfully due to the non-invasive methods of my regular stylist, <a data-mce-href="http://secretextensions.co.uk/about-us-secret-extensions/" href="http://secretextensions.co.uk/about-us-secret-extensions/">Shannel Watson</a> of <a data-mce-href="http://secretextensions.co.uk" href="http://secretextensions.co.uk/">Secret Extensions</a>, my natural locks have remained in a pleasing condition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shannel shuns the use of toxic glue, which is the most common attachment method of extensions in the UK and is known to cause damage to the hair, severe irritation to the scalp, dermatitis and all manner of allergic reactions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who prefer individual extensions, Shannel has invented her own hand-tied extensions called Brazilian Knots, involving the attachment of thin strands of natural hair to the roots by a tiny plait and organic cotton thread. The whole process takes about 4 - 5 hours but the results are truly worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From my experience, I feel that as long as you look after your extensions (hold the hair from the roots before you brush, plait your hair before you swim/sleep, use high quality, nourishing hair products etc) and stay away from the ones that are attached by glue, your hair will be fine.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shannel Watson smiling. Smiling, because those customers keep on coming back...</td></tr>
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<tr><td><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst I've b</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">een lucky enough to find such an expert hair extension technician, it has been quite the conundrum to find the perfect hair to enhance my needy mane.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is until I heard about <a data-mce-href="https://www.zenhair.co" href="https://www.zenhair.co/">Zen Luxury Hair Extensions</a> - beloved by beauty bloggers, models in search of beautiful barnets and the sultry Kardashian sisters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The company's website states that it has over 35 years of experience in the industry and that it uses a special source guaranteed to provide 100% virgin Remy hair of the highest quality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, I was at first skeptical about such 'too good to be true' claims. I was overly familiar with such pompish talk from extension brands and would usually end up crying into a frazzled, shaggy mess after a few weeks of trying an unknown hair company's hair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zen Hair actually impressed me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can purchase three different 'series' of Zen hair - Pure, Luxury and Ultimate, which all increase slightly in quality levels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I opted for three packs of the Luxury Series in 20 inches. This brand of hair is sold in a much smaller amount that other hair extensions, so you will need at least 3 to 4 packs for a satisfactory, voluminous look.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each section of hair features a sticky section which is supposed to be stuck directly onto the roots of your hair. Being a pure weave advocate, Shannel simply sewed the hair into thin braids and the effect was outstanding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The whole process took about 45 minutes and I was left with gorgeous long, shiny tresses, worthy of a cheesy shampoo advert - as you can see in the images below;</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After extensions are curled using heated rollers</span><br />
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<dd><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would recommend Secret Extensions and Zen Luxury Hair to anyone interested increasing the volume and length of their hair. After three months, the quality of my tresses are in perfect condition and for the first time ever, I am able to reuse the same hair when I get my weave redone next week.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"> </span></dd></dl>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-24279166838933415522015-10-01T05:36:00.003-07:002015-10-01T05:44:45.433-07:00Review - Elli 100% natural body balm<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to my unyielding love of fine foods, I have been recently posting about my various culinary jaunts across the capital - but today I feel like going back to my organic/natural beauty roots by writing about my ardent love for my latest skincare discovery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was given the Elli Body Balm by the lovely people at <a href="http://www.herbs-aplenty.com/">Herbs-APlenty</a> - a South African face and body care company specialising in natural and organic products that smell of pure jubilation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, I must blather on about how much I love the packaging - simple, slightly retro lettering and chic bright colours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I must express my adoration for the wholesome ingredients list. I can't explain the feeling of intense happiness I get when I read the back of a new beauty product and am faced with lovely herby names such as 'matricaria chamomilla' and 'lavandula Marie' - a stark contrast to the scary chemical titles of PEG-40 and blahblahparaben, so commonly found lurking on the ingredients lists of even the most innocent looking containers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This blissful balm is described on the packaging as "a calming and nourishing blend of Shea Butter and Marula Oil, enhanced with indigenous African essential oils." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shea Butter is excellent for deeply moisturising dull, dry skin, whereas marula oil is said to contain a whopping 60% more free radical busting antioxidants than argan oil - ideal for treating sun damaged and crepe-like post summer skin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I admit that my skin did feel rather nourished and my mood calmer as I smoothed on this deliciously-scented body balm. The texture is gorgeous - not too greasy, yet rich enough to leave my post-showered self silky soft from head to toe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also loved the sexy sheen left on my skin after using this product - perfect for donning a little black dress before a glamorous night out in London Town. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-1062340626078835452015-09-10T09:06:00.002-07:002015-09-10T09:23:40.081-07:00Olive leaf extract - the next green tea?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gotta love Antioxidants - the feisty free radical scavengers of the universe, the buzz word of our health-obsessed era, the beauty-boosting badboys of the holistic world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blueberries, broccoli and kale are the most popular antioxidant-rich super foods commonly blabbed about by the mainstream media - but not many folk know about the immense health benefits of plain bog standard black tea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doctor Carrie Ruxton - member of the <a href="http://www.teaadvisorypanel.com/">Tea Advisory Panel</a>, stated after a recent study that, "All forms of tea contain polyphenols - a family of plant compounds which appear to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. Almost half the UK intake of health-enhancing flavonoids come from tea."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a lover of a good cup of builders brew as I laze about on my sofa, this was welcome news to my ears.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what's a girl about town supposed to do when she's mincing all over the capital, attending press events and meetings where she's expected to be alert and oozing with energy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a big fan of antioxidant consumption on the go and usually chug a big bottle of those cold green teas that you get in quaint oriental shops. These bottled beverages may look pretty, but they don't always taste that good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Damnit, sometimes I just want to down a refreshing, fruity drink that tastes of pure joy and isn't packed full of diabetes two-inducing sugar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have often prayed for a drink like this whilst I stand scanning fridges in supermarkets and newsagents, scowling at the vast range of sugar and artificial preservative-laden beverages on sale - complete madness in our health-obsessed times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, when I heard about a brand spanking new drink on the market called <a href="http://www.oviowellness.com/collections/drinks">InFusion</a> by <a href="http://www.oviowellness.com/">Ovio</a>, containing only fruit juice, water and antioxidant abundant olive leaf extract, I may have sung a silent celebratory ditty in my head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These über hydrating beverages are completely sugar free, naturally low calorie and come in three refreshing flavours;</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lemon and Mint</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Strawberry and Elderberry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cucumber and Juniper (my fave)</span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">InFusion - the perfect picnic pal</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After trying the range of drinks at the brand's exciting launch, I couldn't believe how good they tasted and was impressed upon learning about the numerous benefits of their special ingredient - olive left extract.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This very special plant extract can boast the following;</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Immune system boosting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anti-ageing </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blood pressure lowering</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anti-inflamatory </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anti-viral </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anti-fungal </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Detoxifying</span> </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Because olive leaf drinks like to sunbathe too...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to all the numerous health studies and articles, there's even a reference to this wonder leaf in the Bible for goodness sakes - "The fruit (of the olive tree) thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." (Ezekiel 47.12)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This rather holy plant extract is also available in more concentrated supplements made by Ovio - which I merrily add to my smoothies every morning to give me an extra kick of wellness and an extra spring in my step.</span><br />
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<br />Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-48955082603166234762015-08-11T05:38:00.000-07:002015-08-11T06:00:47.504-07:00The Ultimate Sleep Experience with Duxiana <div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having a good old snooze – it's by far one of the most important things in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we don't get a good night's kip, our health suffers, our skin looks pitifully lacklustre, our concentration is dismal and we turn into moody gremlins who moan about seemingly petty matters to anyone who dares cross our snooze-deprived selves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a fan of a beauty-boosting '8 hours a night', I was excited to be recently shown how sleep should really be done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good bed and the right environment is essential. The vast majority of
us naughtily succumb to the bargain bed philosophy and focus our attentions on a snazzy duvet or eye-catching bedside furniture -- but the bed itself needs to be the real focus. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spend a third of our life in our boudoirs, so to show how important the bed buying
decision should be, Swedish bed manufacturer <a href="http://www.duxiana.co.uk/">Duxiana</a> kindly invited me to try one of
their High Performance Sleep Systems – aka the best bed in the world. The daddy of all beds. The bed to end all beds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You get my point....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So off I went with a sleep-loving loved one to <a href="http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/stngs-hanbury-manor-marriott-hotel-and-country-club/">Hanbury Manor</a> in Ware, Hertfordshire, where I took part in the Ultimate Sleep Experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grandiose Jacobean-style manor was a scenic slice of escapism - just one hour away from the bustling city streets of London. Oh how we marvelled at the 200 acres of lush green grounds - complete with a shimmering lake and ample golf course.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we got to our elegantly designed suite, we were truly in awe of the 'DUX 818' bed - a massive, yet stylish creation that was almost impossible to prise ourselves off.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come to meh and rest your weary head</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We discovered that it was expertly engineered by clever Swedish designers to give you the best sleep of your life. An extra hour of deep sleep in fact - a claim backed-up by nap-loving researchers at the Karolinska Institute.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bedlinen looked and felt deliriously comfortable and oddly (yet in a good way), the pillows had springs in them! What the...?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was later told that this was to enable air to circulate correctly around the head and to provide the right kind of support whilst you drift away each night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No more dodgy neck pains after waking. Yay!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also noticed that there was a glowing <a href="http://www.lumie.com/">Lumie Lights</a> sleep machine by the bed, which uses light therapy and soothing lavender essential oil to help aid the relaxation process at bedtime.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The essential sleepy time kit </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was even a nourishing serum by one of my favourite beauty brands - <a href="http://rajeunir.co.uk/product/rajeunir-moisture-serum-2/">Rajeunir</a>, to help deeply hydrate our skin during our regenerative sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After managing to tear ourselves away from such an exquisite slumber haven, we decided to explore our opulent surroundings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We relaxed our weary urban bodies in the blissful spa area before embarking on a hearty three course feast in the hotel's restaurant. Oh how we nomed...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nom Nom Nom</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With our tummies nicely rounded, we rolled ourselves back to our suite to find that our Duxiana bed was still as inviting as ever and that the Lumie Lights machine had permeated the air with a soothing lavender scent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also decided to gorge on fine puddings whilst watching back to back OITNB on Netflix - an essential prerequisite before our bedtimes (screw this whole 'no eating after 7pm' malarkey).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we gradually felt our eyes closing with tiredness, we cooed with adoration at the serious comfort levels of the bed. The mattress seemed different to other mattresses. We learnt that it was in fact, not a single mattress at all, but a series of highly
configurable elements which allow you to adjust where you want or need more or
less support. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bed's 'Pascal Cassette system' means you can tailor it to keep
your spine straight as you sleep - essential for getting you to the key deep sleep part of your nightly sleep cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah baby</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here comes the science bit...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are, as DUX researchers told me, 4 stages to sleep and
it’s during these various stages that the body actually goes about repairing
itself. The Karolinska Institue in Stockholm looked at a number of mattress
types and helped the DUX engineers refine their designs to make the classic DUX
bed, which cleverly adapts to your shape and weight - giving you the straight spine and
support needed to maximise the benefits of sleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the night, the brain is
far from resting. In fact it’s really active, but in a different way –
processing conscious thoughts of the day, repairing connections, producing
delta waves important in self-repair. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Equally, our skin needs deep sleep in order to repair and regenerate. As the largest organ in the body, you will start to see the signs of its unhappy wrath if
you don’t get enough quality sleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The DUX 818 bed is also developed with a special lumbar support mechanism, which
allows you to alter another element of the support “firmness." This is niftily adjusted by a little crank mechanism made of polished steel - a nice touch Duxiana.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The question is, did we get a good nights sleep?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did indeed. I think I slept for an extra two hours than usual and woke to feel refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to start the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, maybe I nearly missed breakfast because trying to leave this magical bed was almost impossible (not sure if this is a good or a bad thing) and I felt a niggling feeling of annoyance that from that moment on I could never look at my once beloved bed in the same way ever again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>DISCLAIMER</b>: Although my Ultimate Sleep Experience was a generally pleasurable experience resulting in a pleasing 9 hour kip, I feel obligated to say that once you have slept in a bed as good as the DUX 818, no other bed will compare - resulting in feelings of distain (and even anger) for other perfectly innocent beds.</span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-41160828164805903262015-07-31T05:05:00.001-07:002015-07-31T05:05:55.993-07:00Tips for fresh summer feet with Odor Eaters <div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of months ago (dammit, I'm such a last minute blogger), I was sent a rather exciting invitation almost impossible to refuse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was offered a free pair of shoes of my choice from <a href="http://www.office.co.uk/">Office</a> and the chance to have lunch with a group of fellow bloggers at <a href="https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/london/charlotte-street-hotel">The Charlotte Street Hotel</a>, where we would learn about summer foot care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They had me at shoes...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was accompanied on this Girly Day O' Fun by fellow blogger, lawyer, glam enterepruener and ex Apprentice candidate, <a href="https://twitter.com/misslaurenriley">Lauren Riley</a> - who was as excited as I at the prospect of fine food, beauty tips and....um.....free shoes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day started at one of my favourite shoe shops - Office, where we were each given a voucher and asked to mince about the store, eyeing up the various styles before deciding on our perfect pair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of my new blogging buddies chose rather sensible footwear - trainers, flats and all that malarky. I on the other hand, chose a ludicrously high pair of black wedges that made my heart sing and my eyes sparkle with unyielding glee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything was excitingly shrouded in an intriguing veil of mystery, and as we bundled ourselves into taxis for the short trip to the hotel (hey, some of us were in heels), we blurted out numerous questions as to what lay ahead.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren and her badass Converse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once we got to the beautifully adorned private dining room, we were told that a new product was being launched by Odor Eaters called <a href="http://www.superdrug.com/Health/Foot-Care/Shoe-Accessories/OdorEaters-SlimSoles/p/329602?gclid=CjwKEAjwluetBRD98L639p35p0QSJACC8BlKmlcvTY9vh8fsa4a3co7yxYycadWD1u9BS2bg6XilTxoCMYbw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#.VbqJbEv4vwI">Slim Soles</a> and that we had our very own pair to sample - already placed in our new shoes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have never worn anything remotely odour eating in my shoes but was intrigued. The black, velvety insoles cut to fit my elegant new wedges looked rather stylish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had always thought of insoles as smelly rubbery things that make your shoes look ugly. Oh how wrong I was.....</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come to my foots. They await you eagerly </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before we were told about the benefits of this exciting new product (and before the plentiful noming was allowed to commence), bubbly beauty presenter <a href="https://twitter.com/ginaakers">Gina Akers</a> educated us all in how to keep our feet fresh and pretty all summer long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here were her top tips;</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exfoliate</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use a refreshing foot scrub or exfoliant while in the shower or, if you're lucky enough to be poncing about a beach on holiday - walk on the sand barefoot and give those soles a good going over before rinsing off in the sea.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walking on air</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is important for summer feet to be kept as dry as possible so pong-producing bacteria doesn't form. Give them a vigorous towelling after bathing and dry them with the hairdryer on a cool setting. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moisturise </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hydrate parched, sun-baked feet by slathering on a rich foot moisturiser. For a nighttime treat, you can increase the sole-smoothing properties by slipping on a pair of cotton socks too. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tan and Toes</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're partial to a spot of fake tan, heed this warning. DON'T FORGET THE FEET. There's nothing worse than white feet and a brown body. Patchy feet are also rather dodgy so make sure you mix some moisturiser with your tan before you evenly blend onto your skin.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Polish</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make sure you separate toes before applying polish and avoid garish blues or purples for that unfortunate bruised foot look. If your hand wobbles when paining your toes you can always clip a clothes peg to the nail polish lid for a longer reach. Who would have thought ay?</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perfect</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make sure you push back the cuticles and file the free edge for long lasting nail polish and clip straight across to avoid those pesky ingrown toe nails.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally! Keep feet fresh with Odor Eaters</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These super slim insoles contain activated charcoal to help eradicate wetness and control the naughty bacteria responsible for unpleasant odours and dismal fungal infections. I have been using mine for two months now and can honestly say that they have kept my favourite wedges looking good and smelling fresh - and I have been on quite a few lengthly shopping rambles let me tell you...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AmjS6BkVy7I/VbqLmUaBbQI/AAAAAAAACqs/Y_r4N16MHSY/s1600/FullSizeRender-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AmjS6BkVy7I/VbqLmUaBbQI/AAAAAAAACqs/Y_r4N16MHSY/s640/FullSizeRender-16.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The soles of the Slim Soles - cut to size!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The visible side. See - so stylish! So Wows.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day ended with fine food and gloriously girlish chatter. We gorged on gorgeous healthy fayre and indulged in naughty puddings as we shared blogging tales and tips.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren and I...and my rascal of a hand that has a life of its own</td></tr>
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Thank you Odor Eaters for a such a fun and educational day out. My fresh feet (and belleh) are eternally grateful. </div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-16882220059088562732015-07-30T04:38:00.000-07:002015-10-04T07:55:22.691-07:00Acne update 1 year post Skin Accumax & my top summer beauty secrets<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty much exactly one year ago today I wrote a lengthly blog <a href="http://mitrabeautyyoga.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/how-i-cleared-my-hormonal-acne-without.html">post</a> on how I miraculously cleared my hormonal acne by using a natural food supplement called <a href="http://www.advancednutritionprogramme.com/skin-accumax-conf">Skin Accumax</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As acne is a perplexing condition that never really goes away, I thought I would update you all on the state of my skin since it cleared after taking four Skin Accumax pills every day for 8 months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once my skin was completely clear, I reduced my dose to two a day for a further two months and finally to only one a day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Till this day my acne has not come back and I am so impressed and forever grateful to these incredible natural pills, which are a complexion-clearing combination of broccoli-derved DIM and vitamins' A, C and E.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe every few months around my period I may get one tiny spot here or there, but overall I have been smugly pouncing about with clear, glowing skin that doesn't need to be caked to oblivion in thick foundation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did want to write a lengthly blog post about this wonder product but to be honest there is not much to say other than if you have hormonal acne and it's getting you down, BUY THIS PRODUCT.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even kitteh urges you to buy this marvellous product </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't care that I sound like a dodgy advert on a late night shopping channel. The truth is this product worked for me and I want others to experience the same joy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The stigma of adult acne refuses to go away so we must all unite to help each other heal from this awful skin condition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am currently holding a competition on my Twitter, offering four months of Skin Accumax (worth £160), so please have a go for the chance to win and possibly turn into one of those smug, fresh faced people who don't need to wear makeup.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may need to scroll down my congested Twitter feed to find the Tweet you need to RT but it's there all right, awaiting you eagerly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will leave you with my top 12 summer beauty must-haves (other than the fabulous Skin Accumax of course) and photos of me on holiday recently in Ibiza where I merrily minced about in the sun with a spot-free mug.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>*Update* Two months after writing this post (and after stopping the Skin Accumax) I developed mild acne under my jawline. It's not that noticeable but its upsetting me so I will start taking two Skin Accumax a day for a month, before taking a maintenance dose of one a day for the foreseeable future. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Remember - acne can never be 'cured'. You need to suppress it, and I would rather do this with a natural supplement rather than taking harmful birth control or accutane for a long term period.</b></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My top 12 essential summer beauty products</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbz1sCwHTkg/Vbkc5sWD4tI/AAAAAAAACn8/1G2HPNYV-u8/s1600/FullSizeRender-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbz1sCwHTkg/Vbkc5sWD4tI/AAAAAAAACn8/1G2HPNYV-u8/s400/FullSizeRender-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <a href="http://uk.spacenk.com/fleuressence-native-botanical-cell-oil/MUS300024848.html">Goldfaden MD Fleuressence Facial Oil</a> - A summer skin-illuminating combination of botanical oils </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. <a href="http://www.antoniaburrell.com/shop/product.asp?item=A8">Antonia Burrell Mask Supreme</a> - An incredible deep-cleansing, natural mask to hydrate & detoxify</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <a href="https://www.urbanretreat.co.uk/beautique/product/guam/anti_fatigue_gel_legs.aspx">Guam Legs Relief Gel-Cream</a> - a cooling treatment for hot and tired summer legs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. <a href="https://www.urbanretreat.co.uk/beautique/product/revive/cream_cleanser.aspx">ReVive Cream Cleanser</a> - massage on and remove with a wet muslin cloth for clean, smooth skin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://uk.caudalie.com/radiance-serum-complexion-correcting.html">Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum</a> - An oil-free, antioxidant-rich serum for a beautiful even tan</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. -<a href="http://www.pravera.co.uk/shop/lavera-cosmetics/organic-sunscreen/after-sun/lavera-sos-after-sun-fluid">Lavera SOS Aftersun Fluid</a> a natural & organic moisturising aftersun that instantly calms the skin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. <a href="http://www.superdrug.com/Health/Eye-Care/Drops%2C-Sprays-%26-Wash/Biotrue-rewetting-drops-10ml/p/399801#.VboWCflVhBc">Bio True Rewetting Drops</a> - My eye-hydrating, travel essential. Perfect after a long flight</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. <a href="http://www.harrods.com/product/m2-brows-eyebrow-renewing-serum/m2-beaute/000000000002403750">M2 Brows </a>- This wonder product darkened & thickened my brows after just 8 weeks of use</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. <a href="http://www.shiseido.co.uk/full-lash-serum/">Shiseido Full Lash Serum</a> - Amazingly, after 6 weeks of use my lashes look longer and thicker</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. <a href="http://www.theorganicpharmacy.com/health-beauty/tan-accelerator/123">The Organic Pharmacy Tan Accelerator</a> - This really did accelerate my tan. I love it like a brother</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11. <a href="https://coconoil.co.uk/">Coconoil Organic Coconut Oil</a> - I love to slather this on before my aftersun to lock in moisture</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12. <a href="http://www.feelunique.com/p/BIODERMA-Photoderm-BRONZ-Invisible-Mist-SPF-50-200ml">Bioderma Invisible Mist SPF 50</a> - Tested by my partner in crime & hair extension guru <a href="http://secretextensions.co.uk/">Shannel</a>, she truly adored it's lightweight, hydrating texture, which applied easily and left no dodgy white marks.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My top 5 London salons for pre-holiday prep</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <a href="http://ginaconwaysalons.co.uk/location-chelsea.html">Gina Conway Aveda Kings Road</a> - for the most beautiful (and most relaxing) gel manicure of your life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2.<a href="https://www.urbanretreat.co.uk/harrods/body/body_treatments.aspx"> Urban Retreat, Harrods</a> - get tan-ready by indulging in the Signature Body Treatment which involves head-to-toe exfoliation, a soothing massage and being gloriously enveloped in hot paraffin wax. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <a href="http://www.eudelo.com/location/index_chelsea1.php">The Chelsea Bridge Clinic</a> - this brand spanking new riverside beauty haven is renowned for their transformational facial treatments and pre-holiday nutritional advice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. <a href="http://www.museoflondon.co.uk/">Muse of London</a> - sip a calming camomile tea whilst the expert nail technician gives you quite possibly the best pedicure of your life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://www.karinejackson.co.uk/">Karine Jackson, Covent Garden</a> - Karine will always be my organic hair colouring guru. Go and see her for perfectly coloured, glossy summer hair - with no nasty chemicals.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gel Manicure at Gina Conway Aveda</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4ANXFDt6FA/VbkFULrlK4I/AAAAAAAACnU/zb9AGRc0xM0/s1600/11665548_10153411453850406_8983627543196257702_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4ANXFDt6FA/VbkFULrlK4I/AAAAAAAACnU/zb9AGRc0xM0/s640/11665548_10153411453850406_8983627543196257702_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acne? Pah. Look at meh now!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYTn58qoWaI/VbkFURG3frI/AAAAAAAACnc/COL-fIoqdPE/s1600/11737844_10153453081355406_3667557898206801167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYTn58qoWaI/VbkFURG3frI/AAAAAAAACnc/COL-fIoqdPE/s640/11737844_10153453081355406_3667557898206801167_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes. I not only blog. I DJ like a badman too</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imro4gHrdTE/VbkGHSMQ6-I/AAAAAAAACns/Z7JWDYAtPh4/s1600/11009913_10153455625570406_1542701041381986179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imro4gHrdTE/VbkGHSMQ6-I/AAAAAAAACns/Z7JWDYAtPh4/s640/11009913_10153455625570406_1542701041381986179_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, don't let go, I forgot my armbands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjM5l2FA3OU/VbkFUIZxu9I/AAAAAAAACnY/HWXf9y0DQss/s1600/11760130_10153460026170406_8410729169912150062_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjM5l2FA3OU/VbkFUIZxu9I/AAAAAAAACnY/HWXf9y0DQss/s640/11760130_10153460026170406_8410729169912150062_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooh hello sailor </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1baOGHl37i4/VboKBBpTi9I/AAAAAAAACoo/EzDOLYlWLSk/s1600/IMG_3997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1baOGHl37i4/VboKBBpTi9I/AAAAAAAACoo/EzDOLYlWLSk/s640/IMG_3997.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-6496553991557053822015-07-02T05:43:00.001-07:002015-07-02T05:45:03.698-07:00Guest Post - Get A Better Nights Sleep With Seasonal Summer Eating<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
By Louise Matthews – Founder and Editor of The
What Now Blog</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.thewhatnowblog.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.thewhatnowblog.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tweet:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> @thewhatnowblog</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In the warmer months a good nights slumber in the
city can be hard to come by. The longer days and brighter mornings may be great
for our sense of happiness and wellbeing but aren't ideal when it comes to
getting that all important and coveted eight hours of shut eye.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In addition the heat leads us to open doors and
windows, thus inviting in the noise of the outside world during the early hours
that we could probably all do without.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There are a few things that you can do to try
and enjoy the heat of the summer months and still get the rest that you need.
This includes making sure that you make the most of the seasonal goodies in
your daily diet that will assist you in a restful snooze.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">SEASONAL TIPS FOR SUMMERTIME SNOOZING</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Avoid Alcohol. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The odd
tipple in the sun now and again might make you feel super sleepy and ready to
relax but the reality is that alcohol will encourage nocturnal waking and
contribute to very low quality sleep. Not only that but it will drastically
dehydrate you, not what you need in the hot summer months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Snack On Seasonal Fresh Cherries. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The summer months mean that cherries are at
their very best in the UK. One of my favourite fruits and great to snack on,
these little beauties will also offer you a dutiful dose of magnesium which is
a top ingredient for sleeping soundly. Eating a small handful an hour before
bed will help work wonders in the snooze department as well as contribute to
your general health and wellbeing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GFiaAVMpinQ/VZUxtAOwbXI/AAAAAAAACls/bD82cOu0mLk/s1600/Get%2BA%2BBetter%2BNights%2BSleep%2B-%2BCherries-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GFiaAVMpinQ/VZUxtAOwbXI/AAAAAAAACls/bD82cOu0mLk/s400/Get%2BA%2BBetter%2BNights%2BSleep%2B-%2BCherries-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Eat Your Greens. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Spinach
especially is a summer seasonal saint, so stock up and snack away. Eating
seasonal greens will add much needed calcium and magnesium to nutritionally
assist your sleep. I like to add raw spinach to pretty much everything -
sandwiches, salads, pasta, you name it, I'll add it! Or whizz it up with a
little apple and carrot for a healthy, sleep happy, detoxing juice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Eat Those A's! </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Summer
seasonal apricots and almonds are another two great foods to snack on to aid
restful sleep whilst also helping you avoid daytime sugary highs and slumps
that can impact on your evening routine. Again both rich in magnesium they are
two to add to your summer shopping list. Just go a little easy those apricots -
a small handful will suffice, and not too close to bedtime!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Eat At The Right Time. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Long summer days bring about the temptation to
lounge in the garden, grazing and eating later into the evening. Of course this
is lovely on occasion, the problem is that eating much later can have a
negative effect on your sleep patterns. Try to avoid late night eating and
allow yourself time to digest and unwind before heading off to bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-604sXq5hk/VZUx9FybMNI/AAAAAAAACl0/LIeyjm_a_kU/s1600/Stress-Less%2BIn%2BThe%2BCity%2B-%2BSunflower-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-604sXq5hk/VZUx9FybMNI/AAAAAAAACl0/LIeyjm_a_kU/s400/Stress-Less%2BIn%2BThe%2BCity%2B-%2BSunflower-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So there we have some simple, but I hope
effective, advice for refining your sleep patterns in the summer months.
Prepare yourself for the heat, eat well and allow yourself time to unwind and
you should find yourself happily and peacefully dropping off in no time at all!</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-70488484209325070262015-06-18T05:38:00.005-07:002015-07-14T16:33:11.987-07:00Eat gains in a healthy way? Total Diet Food<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being an avid lover of food...and convenience, I jumped at the chance to sample a day of marvellous meals provided by the healthy diet people at the rather aptly named <a href="http://www.totaldietfood.com/">Total Diet Food.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judging by their name, I was worried that they only deliver food to people who wish to lose weight, but when I had a cheeky gander at their website, I was impressed with the vast variety of bespoke meal plans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their plans start from £29.99 per day and include paleo, healthy eating, weight loss, metabolic balance, vegan, vegetarian and even healthy weight gain plans - which is what I opted for (hey, just send me whatever involves more food).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a slightly fussy eater with a naughty tendency to perplex innocent waiters in restaurants, I was delighted to learn that I could call up a nutritional advisor at TDF and melt their ear off guilt-free. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This ingenious service allows you to discuss your eating goals and explain exactly what you will and will not eat - with no fear of judgement for being a massive gluten-free, kale-canoodling food snob.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My day of Total Diet Food began with an exciting delivery of fine foods - all lovingly packaged and placed on my doorstep in the early hours of the morn.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooh! What ave we ere then?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forget flowers, there are few things in life that I appreciate more than a hearty delivery of carefully chosen culinary delights awaiting me on my doorstep on a sunny English morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I excitedly took my (rather stylish) cool bag inside and delved enthusiastically into its wholesome contents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bag felt heavy and this pleased me. So many food delivery companies tend to scrimp on portion size so this is always a worry of mine. As I had chosen a plan to help me gain/maintain weight in a healthy way, I was sent EXTREMELY large meal portions consisting of clean, lean protein, antioxidant-rich vegetables and brown carbs - perfect for those hard bodied gym bunnies who want to 'eat gains'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And eat gains I did....oh yeah.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet JESUS<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My breakfast consisted of a MASSIVE portion of creamy Greek yogurt with sugar-free muesli, dried cranberries and plump, fresh fruit (I have a penchant for fruit that is of a plump nature).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt so full after eating this bountiful dish that I had to have a lie down in the sun as I lovingly cradled my belly.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTEbvAQOapc/VYK2eo5SwfI/AAAAAAAACj0/HyzS4G5X8ho/s1600/11393423_10153367324550406_5146913316223826942_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTEbvAQOapc/VYK2eo5SwfI/AAAAAAAACj0/HyzS4G5X8ho/s640/11393423_10153367324550406_5146913316223826942_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So fresh, so filling, so right.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mid morning snack was a crisp red apple and some protein-packed Brazil nuts. Sadly, I was too eager to nom this and so forgot to take an individual photo, but you can see it in the third photo above - looking suspiciously like a naughty candy apple. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lunch was a humungous vegetarian salad composed of halloumi (so many slices), red onion, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, green beans and may other nutritious components.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7asjZ0cx_Q/VYK5XFFx3kI/AAAAAAAACkI/0p2p0BcBH5g/s1600/11143514_10153367324680406_854074153862966271_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7asjZ0cx_Q/VYK5XFFx3kI/AAAAAAAACkI/0p2p0BcBH5g/s640/11143514_10153367324680406_854074153862966271_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such pure foody beauty...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My afternoon snack was some sliced red and yellow peppers served with a flavoursome tomato salsa dip.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybqODpr_8Yc/VYKw1akwrhI/AAAAAAAACjU/y49Cw4672M4/s1600/10662025_10153367324855406_2084064804758167894_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybqODpr_8Yc/VYKw1akwrhI/AAAAAAAACjU/y49Cw4672M4/s640/10662025_10153367324855406_2084064804758167894_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Dip it. You know you want to...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Four hours later and I felt hungry enough for dinner. This involved another MASSIVE portion of brown rice, grilled chicken, spinach, tender stem broccoli, bok choy and aubergine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The portion was so big it didn't even fit on the plate properly, but I got there in the end...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa9daKB2FNo/VYK3V53Z77I/AAAAAAAACj8/PWbkX-ux-2I/s1600/11160628_10153367324870406_904770987337003473_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa9daKB2FNo/VYK3V53Z77I/AAAAAAAACj8/PWbkX-ux-2I/s640/11160628_10153367324870406_904770987337003473_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food. My belleh awaits you.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't even begin to tell you how satisfied I felt after eating this glorious dish. Everything tasted so good and fresh with flavours that were not too overpowering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a shell of a nut, Total Diet Food gave me a whole day of food joy. I ate healthy, tasty food that was filling yet didn't leave me feeling sluggish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was energised all day and smug in the knowledge that the food I was eating to help me gain/maintain weight was still healthy and good for my body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Diet Food, I thank you immensely from the bottom of my heart...and slightly rounded belly.</span><br />
<br />Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-62468424987780648342015-05-29T05:46:00.001-07:002015-05-29T06:31:07.183-07:00A day of pampering and pomp at Re:SPAOnce upon a time, before I discovered the haphazard joys of blogging, freelance journalism and erratic pay packets, I worked as a suited and high-heeled PA in the charismatic corporate bubble of Canary Wharf.<br />
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I would trail the designer brand-strewn underground shopping complex during my lunch breaks, contemplating the meaning of life and debating whether it would actually be ok for my mercury levels to consume my fourth Itsu sushi lunch that week.</div>
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On one of these contemplative lunch hours, I came across the brand spanking new Reebok Sports Club and decided to take a cheeky gander inside.</div>
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I was impressed with the massive climbing wall at the reception area (I'm a bit of a climber me) and completely besotted with the inviting <a href="http://www.respalondon.co.uk/">Re:SPA</a> - a pristine pampering paradise emanating with the scent of lavender and rose, beckoning the weary, overworked women of the Square Mile.</div>
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I knew one day the time would come when I would return to indulge in this magical place...and indulge I did many years later when I was very kindly invited to spend a day sampling the wares and services of this splendid sporty establishment. </div>
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Not being one to enjoy lonesome indulgences, I was accompanied by my fellow pleasure-seeking buddy Kambiz who arrived determined and bright eyed, optimistically clutching a gym bag filled with appropriate sporty attire with the innocent intention of a full day of hardcore gym frolicking.</div>
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Sadly, Kambiz's wholesome plan was foiled after necking a couple of alcoholic beverages and gorging on carby delicacies with me in the club's bustling restaurant - <a href="http://thepearsonroom.co.uk/">The Pearson Room</a>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sweet jesus!</td></tr>
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Unlike my good friend's naughty (yet delicious) choice of tagliolini with parmesan and porcini mushrooms, I opted for an ethereal seared tuna and raw spinach salad - although my 'clean eating' induced smugness soon evaporated as I heartily nommed the above chocolate pudding to oblivion, whilst enjoying the skyscraper-lined view in front of me.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Look, its Dave from accounts!</td></tr>
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We then rolled ourselves out of the restaurant. Kambiz heading off to work out at the gym (aka lounge about in the steam room), whist I made my way to a luxurious treatment room in the spa for my <a href="http://www.aromatherapyassociates.com/">Aromatherapy Associates</a> Relaxation Massage.</div>
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I cannot begin to express how incredible this treatment was. The expert strokes of the therapist combined with the soul-soothing scent of the essential oils lulled me into a deep state of tranquility.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Fancy a good scrub down?</td></tr>
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After this blissful experience, I made my way into the chic mani/pedi area where I was treated to an equally relaxing pedicure - complete with a decadent foot soak in essential oil-infused warm water and soothing massage that almost sent me straight to the land of nod.</div>
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My day of pampering came to a merry end after a perfect baby pink gel manicure, designed to complement my burgeoning tan and last for two weeks (and I'm glad to report that it did).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The best gel mani in the world maybeh?</td></tr>
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I would recommend the Re:SPA, Reebok Sports Club and The Pearson Restaurant to all who crave a much needed dose of lunchtime (or after work) pampering. The good men and women of the city tend to forget to relax and treat themselves when drowning in deadlines and rushing from meeting to meeting like deranged workhorses.</div>
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One of my main observations during my frenzied foray in the corporate world was that so many people would neglect their own well-being in order to climb the career ladder and please their bosses. As the great saying goes, "we should work to live, not live to work."</div>
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Maybe I have taken this saying slightly too far though..... </div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-35277029599473269512015-05-15T05:37:00.000-07:002015-05-15T06:14:28.066-07:00Barmy about Balans Soho Society<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There. I said it. Not only am I barmy. I'm barmy about <a href="http://www.balans.co.uk/">Balans Soho Society.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recall many long London nights of my yoot ending in a fabulous foodie finale at good old Balans in Soho. Their American-style fluffy pancakes and sizzling steaks would beckon my weary self after eventful evenings in the capital.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh how I would gorge on fine meaty succulence and tantalising puddings whilst surrounded by the camp flirty shenanigans around me, swept up in an oblivious haze of gastronomic glory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was recently invited to pay a little visit to the newly opened Balans in Westfield Shopping Centre (Westsiiiiide of course), I yelped with the kind of glee one only really reserves for exciting food-related ventures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I arrived with a fellow appreciator of fine foods and an empty tum. We marvelled at the alfresco set up of this brand spanking new eatery and nestled ourselves at one of the outdoor tables before scanning the tempting menu before us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We started with a couple of refreshing cocktails before a plate of chargrilled yellowfin tuna steak arrived before us. This was followed by a dish of golden-hued quesedillia - oozing with cheddar cheese and mango salsa - lavishly presented alongside generous slices of avocado.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go on...take a slurp<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This made me happy because in my book, avocado makes errrrrything better...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The duck spring rolls with picked cucumber were perfectly crisp and slightly addictive, whilst the deep fried calamari evoked memories of balmy (and slightly barmy I suppose) Mediterranean holidays by the sea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A multi coloured mass of sliced heritage tomatoes then arrived, pleasingly drenched in balsamic vinegar, bearing the hefty weight of a large mound of Burrata - adorned with fragrant basil leaves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With rapidly expanding waistlines and the looming possibility of a food coma to end all food comas, we debated whether we really needed to order a pudding, before deciding to order one anyway. For research purposes of course.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To nom or not to nom? That is the question.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In hommage to my late night Soho feasts of years ago, we ordered the pancakes. They came drizzled in maple syrup and lovingly decorated with a merry multitude of berries, yet sadly minus the camp flirty shenanigans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Verdict:</b> Summer-perfect alfresco venue with gorgeous food, friendly staff and ridiculously close proximity to oodles of your favourite shops. What more could a girl want?</span><br />
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<br />Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-85742850662008965782015-05-01T05:29:00.000-07:002015-05-01T05:29:36.694-07:00Soulmate Food - Review<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As much as I blather on about the
importance of eating a healthy diet composed of wholesome, unprocessed foods,
there are times when I‘m drowning in a hectic hubbub of phone calls, emails,
deadlines and general faff, so can’t find the time to slave over a hot stove,
or a chopping board for that matter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">London life can be ludicrously hectic at
times. We often find ourselves pushing back lunch breaks and skipping
breakfasts – leading to poor health and low productivity levels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We’re told by smug ‘fitfam’ Instagramers
that clever food prep is the way to go to achieve a nutritious week at work.
This inspires a rampant tupperwear shopping spree, with the good intention of
cooking and freezing kale-based concoctions on a Sunday - but seriously
though…..</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know what she's talking about...<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is why <a href="http://www.soulmatefood.com/">Soulmate Food</a> is officially my
beloved foodie savior. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just before I was due to embark on a particularly
busy fortnight in the office, this beyond perfect food delivery service very kindly
sent me two week’s worth of nutrient-dense breakfasts, lunches and dinners - plus
two portions of guilt-free snacks per day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DO I ?!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had heard that this splendid company supplied meals to the X Factor house and had an array of celebrity fans and so was intrigued to sample their wholesome wares myself.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All dishes at Soulmate Food are lovingly
made from scratch, nutritionally balanced, free from artificial anything, and
most importantly, taste as though your mamma made them – if your mamma happens
to be an experienced, health-concious, chef that is....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They conveniently deliver on Mondays and
Wednesdays, to your work or home address. The food comes
delightfully labeled in handy tupperwear containers and is a true joy to unpack
– like Christmas Day for the gloriously gastronomically-minded (me).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soulmate food create a massive variety of meal packages for various needs, including plans for weight loss, vegan/vegetarian living, paleo devotees and post natal women. There's even a special pre wedding plan to help you fit into your perfect dress and "enhance your natural glow" for the big day.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot express how life changing my Soulmate Food weeks were. Yes, some people may scoff at the price (week-long all-day meal plans start from £99 and lunch-only plans from £60) yet
if you care about your health and don’t mind making sacrifices in other areas of
your life (maybe cutting down on those naughty after work pints/pies), its
definitely worth the expense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sent a 7 day vegetarian plan and then a 'maintenance plan' (to maintain current weight and eat 'clean') the following week. Being a ridiculously fussy eater, I was
surprised to find that I adored everything I tasted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is a menu (with ingredients) from my first day on the vegetarian plan:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Breakfast</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Green Coconut Smoothie</b>: Flaxseed, Papaya, Spirulina, Chia Seeds, Coconut Water, Baby Spinach, Water, Pear</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>AM Snack</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Alkalising Grapefruit Pot</b>: Grapefruit, Pink Grapefruit</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lunch</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Italian Salad with Cashew & Parsley Pesto Dressing</b>: Italian Dry Rub, Cherry Tomato, Rocket, Chives, Cashews, Halloumi, Artichoke, Yellow Cherry Tomato, Red Chard, Olive Oil, Garlic, Parsley</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>PM Snack</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Lemon, Cinnamon, Chilli & Ginger Juice</b>: Cinnamon, Chilli, Ginger, Lemon Juice, Apple Juice</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dinner</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Chargrilled Mediterranean Vegetables with Tahini Dressing</b>: Red Onion, Yellow Peppers, Red Peppers, Courgettes, Aubergine, Cherry Tomato, Sunblush Tomatoes, Artichoke, Rocket, Pine Nuts, Parsley, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Lemon Zest, Chervil, Tahini, Sesame Seed Oil, White Wine Vinegar, Garlic</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here be a day long meaty menu from my maintenance plan:</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Breakfast</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Herbed Mediterranean Frittata</b>: Vegetable Oil, Tarragon, Tomato Ketchup, Shallot, Chives, Egg, Red Onion, Parsley, Basil, Cherry Tomato, Black Olive</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>AM Snack</i></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Vitality Smoothie</b>: Pineapple, Banana, Coconut</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lunch</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Za'atar Chicken with Cranberry Tabbouleh</b>: Paprika, Cumin, Chicken Fillet, Sumac, Oregano, Thyme, Chickpeas, Bulgar Wheat, Lemon Zest, Edamame, Dried Cranberries, Red Onion, Butternut Squash, Cherry Tomato, Cucumber, Mint, Parsley, Cinnamon, Hummus, Harissa Paste</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>PM Snack</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Chilli & Rosemary Spiced Nuts & Seeds</b>: Rosemary, Peanut, Cashews, Pecan, Brazil Nuts, Chilli Powder, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dinner</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>BBQ Beef Tortilla</b>: Beef, BBQ Rub, Garlic, Fajita Seasoning, Tomatoes, Basil, Onion, Red Peppers, Red Onion, Tortilla Wholemeal, Cheddar Cheese, Chilli, Coriander</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As mournful as I felt finishing off my last
morsel of Soulmate Food, at the end of the fortnight my energy levels were higher,
my skin looked clearer and I was basking in the smug satisfaction one only gets
from a massively productive week at work. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHOAhg04Lbs/VUNueeNMRaI/AAAAAAAACdM/6A3KeubFHSQ/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHOAhg04Lbs/VUNueeNMRaI/AAAAAAAACdM/6A3KeubFHSQ/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me looking smug after an angelic fortnight of fine foods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My verdict:</b> If you're too busy/lazy/fabulous to cook health-enhancing, taste bud-tantalising food, I advise you put down the generic pies and give this God-send of a foodie company a call....or a sneaky <a href="http://www.soulmatefood.com/">browse</a> when your boss isn't looking. </span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-71479499068394444102015-03-05T05:07:00.004-08:002015-03-07T16:40:21.326-08:00My Vegan Detox - Slimmeria at Hye House <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The word detox can mean different things to different people. Its meaning disastrously distorted by attention-seeking celebrities, confused journalists (Lord knows i've been there) and overzealous marketing people in a desperate bid to sell the latest body brush or cayenne pepper-infused gloopy health drink.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, a true detox involves abstaining from harmful foods and intoxicating substances for a period of time, consuming antioxidant-rich, healing foods and plenty of fresh water, for the purpose of reviving the body and uplifting the mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is exactly what I did at <a href="http://www.slimmeria.com/">Slimmeria</a> - the slimming and detox retreat claiming to make you loose up to a stone in a week, ran by the eccentric, yet endearing Galia Grainger.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Am I also colour coordinated? HELL YEAH!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was invited to visit this regal looking, 17th Century mansion, nestled pompously within the scenic pastures of East Sussex, I accepted with a mixture of fear and delight. I visualised myself emerging after a week of hibernation with a glowing complexion, bursting with the kind of energy only really seen demonstrated by smug vegan yoga instructors fresh from enlightening holidays in the Himalayas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was enticed by the talk of spa treatments, relaxation, yoga, long seaside walks and healthy vegan food, so I decided to pack my bags full of comfy sportswear (guests are given an extensive list of what to bring) and set off with the company of a loved one who desperately wanted to loose weight in time for her looming Californian beach break.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once we arrived, we are taken to a zen-like relaxation room (which I randomly recognised from an episode of Made in Chelsea), where we filled out forms and measured each other, before being whisked off to be weighed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then made our way to our room and were impressed with its grand size, deliriously comfortable bed and lavish antique adornments. I later discovered that Galia has a penchant for furnishings with a story behind them and regularly bids at auctions in order to fill Hye House with history.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our ponderings were abruptly disturbed by the clanging of a loud bell - the method for announcing meals and exercise classes at Slimmeria.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go on. Clang meh. You know you want to...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clutching our empty tummies, we rushed down the creaky stairs and swept past a (slightly eerie) figure in metal armour, as we made our way to the communal dining room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were faced with a table surrounded by 8 or so women of varying ages and our dinner - a pitiful bowl of depressed looking vegetables, mournfully bobbing about in warm water. I stared in shock at this watery meal - a lone cauliflower bulb looking up at me, feeling thoroughly ashamed of itself for being part of such a bland charade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suddenly remembered that the episode of Made in Chelsea I recalled earlier involved Galia confiscating mobile phones and serving minuscule plates of salad to the Sloaney crew - which they mistook for starters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reeling from the initial shock, we all ploughed on regardless and consumed this simple dish whilst each sharing our thoughts of the experience so far...and our fears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, one of the ladies present had already been through the Slimmeria experience, and so from that moment on became our Slimmeria guru. We would ply her with questions to reassure our worried selves and she would regale us with her positive stories and uplifting advice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She told us that the food would improve and she was right. I think Gaila wanted to shock everyone on the first night with extreme blandness, so that when other vegetable-rich dishes were placed in front of us, we would appreciate their flavoursome glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A typical day from our week at Slimmeria involved being woken at 7.15am by the clanging of the massive medieval-style bell, before going downstairs for a cleansing drink of hot water and lemon (and a tiny snippet of apple - and I don't use the word snippet lightly). We would then all embark on a 6 mile scenic walk - either by the sea or in the lush greenery surrounding the retreat. This would take us approximately two hours and would be rather strenuous to say the least - although we would perk up at Galia's witty words of encouragement as she minced ahead in her colour-coordinated walking gear, looking far too fabulous at such an ungodly hour of the morn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of us suffering with the dreaded sugar withdrawal headache, we were presented with a 'magic raisin.' Thats right. One single, shiny, lonesome, naked raisin. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hye House - there be no getting high in here that's for sure....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We would then arrive back at Hye House, exhausted and ravenous, for our breakfast - a lonesome glass of freshly pressed juice (vegetable or orange and grapefruit). Porridge was available if requested earlier - yet this was severely frowned upon and met with judgemental stares. I was tempted to order this many times, but resisted in support of my fellow detoxers. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please sir...can I have some more..No seriously</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, I unashamedly confess, there was one time I caved in...and once more on the last morning too - but this was a celebratory occurrence for everyone who completed their stay.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can I've a bacon roll with that please mate?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shortly after draining our glasses, we would then be summoned to our first exercise class. This would be something that got the heart beat racing, such as boxersize (ah! so much fun!), legs bums and tums or circuits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After an hour sweating away, we would emerge red-faced and flustered to the all-white relaxation room to indulge in an hour-long hatha yoga class - followed by a blissful savasana session so soothing that a few of us would end up making a slumbery visit to the land of nod.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a lifelong yoga fan, I welcomed these classes with glee. In my opinion, they were the perfect way to wind down and relax both the mind and body after such active mornings.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damnit theres a hole in my leggings.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The clanging of the bell would then summon us all to the nearby dining room where we would gorge on crunchy, colourful vegan salads - artistically designed and Instagram-ready. These delicious raw dishes consisted of antioxidant-rich cabbage, beetroot, quinoa, carrots, tomatoes and more - usually drenched with health-boosting apple cider vinegar.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get in my wholesome belleh</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After lunch, we were free to do as we pleased (apart from down a vat of ice-cream or hoover up a Big Mac of course).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of us would also have our spa treatments at this time, which took place in a small, yet atmospheric room - somewhere I would imagine Henry the 8th having a facial in his castle - if he was the pampering kind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had three treatments during my stay - a relaxing facial, the hour long relaxation massage and...another relaxation massage (so good I needed another go).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a self-confessed beauty addict who has ponced about many luxury spas in her time, I was seriously impressed with the talents of the therapists at Slimmeria - all of whom I wanted to smuggle into my suitcase and take back to London Town for impromptu spa sessions at my convenience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After these blissful bouts of indulgence, we would either go for extra walks in the idyllic surroundings (I could imagine that in the summer everyone dives into the outdoor pool for a few laps), or hibernate with a good book -</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> awaiting the happy arrival of afternoon tea - which was sadly not announced by the clanging bell, so we had to remember its daily fruity arrival in the dining room at 3pm sharp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And fruity it was. This was no stodgy affair involving freshly-baked scones and lashings of sugar-laden jam. Oh no. Laid out on tiny plates were tiny slices of various fruits such as papaya, grapes, apples and melons - which we all welcomed eagerly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's intriguing how much better fruit and vegetables can taste when you shun naughty foods from your diet. My abstinence of processed foods, sugar and alcohol meant that my taste buds were gloriously revived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinner was at 6.30pm and would always consist of a hot meal - usually composed of more cabbage, peppers, tomatoes and carrots - again beautifully presented by the imaginative chef. Don't get me wrong, there were times when I would have happily traded my left armpit for a chicken and mushroom pie, yet I could feel the benefits of eating such healthy, cleansing foods - and this kept me going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After dinner, there was either a 'fun' exercise class such as Zumba, group therapy sessions, musical theatre dancing or belly dancing - instructed by a hilarious teacher who made us fantasise about Brad Pitt and George Clooney to inspire more sensual dance moves.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn my need for posing. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One evening there was also a talk by a nutritionist who clearly knew what she was talking about - cook with raw coconut oil, only eat organic meat (if you must eat meat), refined carbs/sugar are the devil and organic butter is better for you than these heavily marketed 'low fat,' 'cholesterol lowering' spreads. I think her winning quote was "margarine is one molecule away from plastic." - this may not be technically true but I got her point. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After these activities, for some odd reason, we would find ourselves snuggling on the massive sofa in the TV room to watch naughty foodie programmes - such as The Great British Bake Off. I still don't understand the psychology behind this painful practice as it felt like torture, yet at the same time sated our gastronomic desires.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My week at Slimmeria was a tough yet satisfying combination of strenuous exercise, wholesome vegan meals, soul-soothing relaxation, uplifting girly chatter, occasional boats of madam-like moaning and hearty laughter. I made friends with inspirational women (who lost between 7 - 13 pounds each), engaged in a heated debate about my hatred for Quorn with a vegetarian, gave up my daily smoking habit (argh my secret is out) and rid my body of refined carbs, processed animal protein, sugar and toxic alcoholic beverages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I lost a couple of pounds too, yet thankfully managed to gain it back the following week by indulging in a massive (and well-deserved) foodfest (my intention was to detox, not lose weight).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, let me in...I forgot my magic raisin </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I left with clear, glowing skin and a sprightly spring in my step, boisterous enough to rival any smug vegan yoga instructor...</span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-22988107819596224962015-02-04T05:12:00.001-08:002015-02-04T05:28:05.614-08:00Dr Alkaitis Organic Skin Food Facial - CONTENT Beauty <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For a fresh-faced glow that suggests you've been frolicking joyfully in a sun-strewn meadow, the face needs
to be thoroughly exfoliated and detoxified. Sadly, flaky, dull skins look a sorry state, even under the most fabulous skin-enhancing make
up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Recently I have spent many late nights hunching over my laptop working on the exciting new women's London freemium, <a href="http://www.elatemagazine.com/">Elate Magazine</a> - of which I am editor in chief and beauty director (argh, so much work dammit!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My weary, overworked self was starved of TLC and my skin parched due to broken sleep and central heating turned up on high. I was in desperate need of a radiance boost, so I booked an appointment at the quaint beauty store and salon - <a href="http://www.beingcontent.com/">CONTENT Beauty</a> in Marylebone</span> for The <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Organic Skin Food Facial - by the renowned vegan and organic skincare brand <a href="http://alkaitis.org/">Dr Alkaitis.</a></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A beauty-lovers paradise </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such pleasing arty pomp!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This treatment is 100% organic and each <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">component of the products used are biologically active and therefore more readily
absorbed.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The facial began with a thorough cleanse to
purify and remove dead skin cells using a purifying cleanser. This was massaged
into my skin in circular motions and removed by a warm damp cotton towel.
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My therapist then applied an
enzyme exfoliating mask which dissolved accumulated debris and dead skin - natures' glorious alternative to a chemical peel. Containing enzymes of bromelain and papain (from pineapple and papaya), this wonder mask naturally exfoliated and also brightened my complexion with its antioxidant-abundant extracts of strawberry and blueberry.</span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_COlCQ3iUQ/VNISriAXMKI/AAAAAAAACGY/CHO8vuhSoDM/s1600/View9.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_COlCQ3iUQ/VNISriAXMKI/AAAAAAAACGY/CHO8vuhSoDM/s1600/View9.tif" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such creative folk</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This intensive procedure was followed by a
lymphatic drainage massage on my face, </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">décolletage</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> and arms to manually detoxify, firm and plump
the skin. A soothing treatment oil was used, containing raw, cold-pressed
ingredients, including</span> jojoba, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>turmeric
and white sandalwood to hydrate and repair.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMG1Tbjd4Vg/VNIXdhzfXiI/AAAAAAAACHA/AFOaYLp68xI/s1600/Dr.AUniversalMaskshowingcontents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMG1Tbjd4Vg/VNIXdhzfXiI/AAAAAAAACHA/AFOaYLp68xI/s1600/Dr.AUniversalMaskshowingcontents.jpg" height="640" width="438" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So live, so fresh, so wow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just when I thought it was all over, a final mask
was applied to deeply nourish and rejuvenate</span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.
I was excited to discover that my therapist had mixed in some manuka honey to activate the raw
ingredients of grass juice and seaweed. This enabled all the wholesome components to work at</span> optimum
levels and actually “feed” the skin with nutrients.</span><br />
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YVR4bU_Fb9Y/VNISmzMLCSI/AAAAAAAACGQ/8O9RlX5CjhM/s1600/Dr-Alkaitis-Travel-Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YVR4bU_Fb9Y/VNISmzMLCSI/AAAAAAAACGQ/8O9RlX5CjhM/s1600/Dr-Alkaitis-Travel-Kit.jpg" height="383" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Organic just does it better. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After a relaxing arm massage, the ‘live’
mask (agh, its alive!) was removed and my skin moisturized to a pleasingly luminous state with a microcirculation-stimulating cream containing echinacea and St Johns Wort.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The result</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> – my skin looked radiant, pores appeared more refined and previous niggling thoughts eradicated.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">For more info on Elate Magazine (and if you have a fondness for extreme food porn) please follow us on Twitter and Instgram @ElateMagazine.</span></span></div>
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<!--[endif]--></span><!--EndFragment-->Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-74726151685170006412015-01-08T06:15:00.000-08:002015-01-08T06:33:52.767-08:00Agua Aromatherapy Massage - Agua Spa at the Sanderson<div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;">
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<a href="https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/originals-sanderson-london/spa-fitness/agua-spa" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Agua Spa</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> at the unashamedly luxurious Sanderson Hotel is a hidden sanctuary nestled within the midst of the hustle and bustle of London's heaving West End.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon hearing of my post New Years Eve frazzled state, a fellow spa addict recommended I try the Agua Aromatherapy Massage, which uses both eastern and western massage techniques and high quality essential oils from <a href="http://www.aromatherapyassociates.com/">Aromatherapy Associates</a>. This renowned skincare brand is renowned for their soul-soothing organic formulations and sustainable methods of scouring chemical-free ingredients. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The treatment itself aims to relive stress, expel toxins from body tissues and effectively stimulate blood flow and lymphatic circulation - very appealing to my naughtily overindulged, toxin-laden self.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The minimalist, pure-white, spiritual decor of the place immediately evoked a feeling of calm and serenity as I entered, allowing me to leave behind the troubling tribulations of city life.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kr6VO_78Is0/VK6OoSx1xnI/AAAAAAAACEw/c5iuN3W2Xv0/s1600/agua%2Bat%2BSanderson_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kr6VO_78Is0/VK6OoSx1xnI/AAAAAAAACEw/c5iuN3W2Xv0/s1600/agua%2Bat%2BSanderson_2.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L8nLAOZrE3A/VK6M0Ir1U-I/AAAAAAAACEk/DASsx7pU8Po/s1600/agua%2Bat%2BSanderson_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L8nLAOZrE3A/VK6M0Ir1U-I/AAAAAAAACEk/DASsx7pU8Po/s1600/agua%2Bat%2BSanderson_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was shown through to a glorious mass of white billowing curtains to view the inviting relaxation room - complete with pleasing selection of magazines and healthy refreshments. There was also a rather seductive steam room and (ingenious!) personal meditation enclosures, fitted with flat screen TVs for not so mediative individuals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After filling out the obligatory health forms, my friendly and welcoming therapist guided me to the all-white treatment room and proceeded to discuss the benefits of each essential oil formulation that would be used for my full body massage. I chose the Support Organic Supersenstive Oil - Aromatherapy Associates' delicate formula of jojoba, apricot kernel and chamomile.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBXF7TSyzaM/VK6JiHqzAfI/AAAAAAAACEY/lKzBTZaJQMM/s1600/100ML%2BSUPPORT%2BMASSAGE%2B%26%2BBODY%2BOIL%2BGRP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBXF7TSyzaM/VK6JiHqzAfI/AAAAAAAACEY/lKzBTZaJQMM/s1600/100ML%2BSUPPORT%2BMASSAGE%2B%26%2BBODY%2BOIL%2BGRP.jpg" height="400" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I drifted off to a blissfully relaxed haze, the expert combination of firm and gentle massage techniques soothed the tension from my muscles, whilst the calming classical music contributed to my tranquil state. My therapist would occasionally stop and present her oil laden hands to my face, instructing me to inhale deeply before the next stage of the treatment - further enhancing my sensory experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst relaxing in my sumptuous meditation booth after my rejuvenating massage, I contemplated how long I could stay in this mesmerising place. Cocooned in such a dreamy ambience, I had no desire to pry myself away and return to the rainy gloom of London streets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But hey ho! Pry myself away was what I did - with the addition of silky smooth, fragrant skin, a deliciously spaced-out swagger and a renewed drive to take on the city...and a brand new year.</span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-33839048345606433722014-12-19T04:56:00.000-08:002014-12-19T04:59:30.410-08:00Aveda Full Spectrum Hair Colour...and a cheeky touch of volume<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: "Geneva CY";">If you’re a regular reader of my beloved blog, I’m sure you’re
used to reading my numerous blatherings on the toxic nature of chemicals in
mainstream skincare, how they are so readily absorbed into the bloodstream -
and therefore how terribly harmful they can be to our innocent little
bodies. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Geneva CY";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: "Geneva CY";">After thorough research on the matter, I now feel the need to
indulge in a satisfactory rant on the dangerous effects of both domestic and
salon based hair dye, before discussing the much kinder, botanically derived
natural hair colouring treatment by Aveda – pioneers in plant-based, ethically
produced skin and hair care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly, I want to emphasise that
chemical-based hair dye has been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">proven</i>
to cause carcinogenic effects in some people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t airy fairy speculation or
exaggerated scare-mongering. A report from the National Cancer Institute in
1994 clearly states that long term users of dark synthetic hair dyes have an
increased risk of cancers, such as multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2001, a study in the <em><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">International Journal of Cancer</span></em> discovered
that those who regularly use chemical-based permanent hair dye to colour their
hair are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as those who don't use such
toxic colouring products.<br />
<br />
Many of us are now thankfully shunning the dreadful risk of potentially
developing cancer in the quest for the perfect colour or to cover those pesky
gray stragglers, and are looking for safer alternatives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I booked an appointment for an all over colour
at the <a href="http://www.avedainstitute.co.uk/">Aveda Institute</a> in London's Covent Garden after learning about their Full Spectrum hair
colour, which is composed of plant and non-petroleum based minerals, rather
than an abundance of hazardous chemicals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During a colour consultation a
week before my actual colour treatment, I discussed my colouring concerns with
the creative technician who reassured me that I would achieve the desired
effect. I was told that a slightly darker colour (very on-trend dahlings for
Autumn/Winter) with a warm, golden tone would be a rather flattering look for
me and would compliment my olive skin and dark brown eyes perfectly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tvh1fNXW9U/VJL9dyr_xOI/AAAAAAAAB5g/9-XD6AXFSAg/s1600/London_inst_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tvh1fNXW9U/VJL9dyr_xOI/AAAAAAAAB5g/9-XD6AXFSAg/s1600/London_inst_04.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where did errybody go?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the day of the colouring
treatment, I was welcomed by my warm and cheery creative technician, who
nestled me in a comfortable chair with a much needed cup of tea and a pile of
glossy magazines to flick though whilst she expertly cocooned each strand of my
hair with the botanically-enriched colour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A permanent colour was applied to my roots, comprised of 97% naturally derived
ingredients and a 99% natural semi-permanent colour throughout the lengths and
ends of my long hair. Due to the vast number of times the lengths of long hair
have been dyed and the absence of greys, it is not necessary to colour this
area with a permanent dye. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was told that a permanent colour is only
required to cover re-growth and greys at the roots and a semi-permanent,
glossing colour is used simply to ‘refresh’ the colour of the rest of the mane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After an invigorating shampoo and
head massage, my hair was spritzed with Aveda’s Damage Control spray to prevent
tangling, protect against heat styling and breakage from combing. I was excited
to see my new colour but had to patiently await the results whilst experiencing
a root lifting, volumising blow dry.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0eZgNqA4OHo/VJL9sT2CX4I/AAAAAAAAB5o/GPCbflE-VLE/s1600/CC11_01_r2_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0eZgNqA4OHo/VJL9sT2CX4I/AAAAAAAAB5o/GPCbflE-VLE/s1600/CC11_01_r2_crop.jpg" height="640" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arty natural decor sadly not included...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, I admired the finished
result in the mirror. Shiny, voluminous locks, dark, rich brown in colour with
shimmering tones of gold that caught the light mesmerisingly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was thrilled with the colour
result and vibrant shine emanating from my glossy locks, and even more so when
told that I could maintain this ‘just coloured’ lustrous look by using three of
Aveda’s haircare products from the Colour Conserve range.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Colour Conserve Shampoo, which
contains green tea and grape seed extract gently cleanses coloured hair and
effectively protects it from environmental aggressors to prevent fading. I
relished in the amount of SLS free lather produced as I washed my freshly dyed
hair a couple of days after my colouring treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The conditioner of the range is
extra nourishing, as dyed hair requires more moisture to lock in colour and
maintain a glossy appearance. Bitter orange peel extract and jojoba oil help to
hydrate dyed hair that tends to be dryer and more porous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was recommended that at least
once a week I use the Colour Conserve Strengthening Treatment to envelop my
hair in intense moisture and strengthen each hair shaft with sunflower and
macadamia nut oil, to ensure stronger hair and enduring richness of the colour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to my ardent love of extra hair, I finished off my new look with the addition of some sultry, yet delightfully discreet extensions from the aptly named <a href="http://secretextensions.co.uk/">Secret Extensions </a> (previously blogged about <a href="http://mitrabeautyyoga.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/natural-hair-extensions-by-secret.html">here</a>) - famed for their tress-transforming abilities and celeb-heavy clientele. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final festive look.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-30685482407149380562014-11-20T05:38:00.001-08:002014-11-20T06:40:50.512-08:00Made in Chelsea...for Food Lovers - The Phene Chelsea<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lovers of the drama-filled reality TV show Made in Chelsea will have heard of <a href="http://www.thephene.com/">The Phene</a> - the quaint West London pub famed for its enticing dishes, charming (heated) garden and well-heeled clientele.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the summer months, I would often pop in for a quick alfresco drink with friends and would be tempted by the mesmerising foodie aromas wafting towards me from the stylish dining area - so when I was invited to sample the delights of their autumnal kitchen with a friend for dinner, I eagerly accepted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I arrived with an empty tum and my identical food twin Melissa. I refer to her in this endearing manner due to the fact that our friendship was forged as a result of our ardent love of similar culinary delicacies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We bonded at work over fine cheeses, juicy meats and sultry sushi, marvelling at how similar our food tastes were as we feasted on bountiful platters of fine wares, whilst our colleagues looked on enviously from behind their unappetising Pret sandwiches. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to our mutual tendency for developing severe bouts of food envy, we decided to share everything we ordered, as we sat in the plush dining seats of The Phene.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A generous starter of Tuna Tartar and Avocado Salad arrived first, drizzled lovingly with cajun dressing and topped with a thin sesame cracker in a rather dramatic fashion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y435NOShcNU/VG3rKzfzWgI/AAAAAAAABzU/tIhQjdmuXsU/s1600/photo%2B1-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y435NOShcNU/VG3rKzfzWgI/AAAAAAAABzU/tIhQjdmuXsU/s1600/photo%2B1-5.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy mother of....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next came a happy mass of beef carpaccio - embellished with salty slithers of parmesan and garden-fresh herbs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These was devoured in a shamelessly hasty manner before we were presented with our mains - half a lobster drizzled with chilli and lime butter and a 6oz fillet steak with a golden hollandaise sauce - all served with the best tasting hand cut chips I have ever had the pleasure of noming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both dishes were so good that conversation dwindled to a minimum. We then started to feel slightly saddened that our once smugly heaving table was no longer heaving, so we decided that the only way to quell our mournful foodie longings was to order yet another main!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh the joy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry vegan readers!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our friendly waiter recommend that we try the slow cooked lamb, which arrived nestled on a green mound of wholesome vegetables and a pleasingly decorative adornment of ruby red pomegranate seeds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This dish was of such an epic nature that no words can describe its true splendour. I can only urge you to seek out this fine meal with haste and bask in its exotic meaty glory.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A third main? Why not?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this point we were ready to roll off home, but decided it would be rude to not stay for pudding - especially when there was a rich </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Malteaser cheesecake paired with a Valrhona chocolate sorbet on offer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a quick Google, I discovered that Valrhona was a French manufacturer of luxury chocolate - and luxurious it was....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The smoothness of the sorbet was the perfect match for the moreish maltiness of the cheesecake, which vanished within minutes - again in serious silence.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meal-loving Melissa and I</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My beloved identical food chum and I left The Phene in a happy haze of gastronomical wonder, clutching our food babies and pondering on when to arrange our return...</span><br />
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-22640445808556138222014-11-07T04:36:00.002-08:002014-11-07T04:36:39.577-08:00Organic Cleansing for Hair, Body and Face<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
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and hair with sublime natural and organic products blissful enough to transform the dowdiest bathrooms into a seriously sultry spa...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first time I used this 100% natural foaming unisex body wash, made primarily with lush organic ingredients, I was transported to a period of my childhood where I would eagerly pick ripe blackcurrants on country walks with my daddy. The intoxicating blackcurrant scent was so realistic, it had such a profound memory triggering effect. I was told later that the New Zealand based skincare brand employ a French ‘nose’ to choose their natural fragrances. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not just a blissfully smelly experience, moisturising hibiscus flower and antibacterial harekeke oil ensure that skin is deep cleansed and seriously hydrated.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzdQWgEvozU/VFvvD1QBWCI/AAAAAAAABvU/TDPtJShev78/s1600/john%2Bma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzdQWgEvozU/VFvvD1QBWCI/AAAAAAAABvU/TDPtJShev78/s1600/john%2Bma.jpg" height="400" width="91" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://www.feelunique.com/p/John-Masters-Organics-Evening-Primrose-Shampoo-for-Dry-Hair-236ml">John Masters Organics Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes. I am a lover of John Masters Organics. After trying oodles of organic and natural hair care products, I am adamant that former New York eco-hair dresser, John Masters has created the best range of premium quality organic hair care on the market today. His vitamin and amino acid enriched Evening Primrose Shampoo for dry hair is a godsend for those with dry, lacklustre locks yearning for much needed moisture and a good cleanse that doesn't strip excess oils.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8efisSRfVbQ/VFvvKaD5eHI/AAAAAAAABvc/cup2Cq0HWro/s1600/face-cleanser-highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8efisSRfVbQ/VFvvKaD5eHI/AAAAAAAABvc/cup2Cq0HWro/s1600/face-cleanser-highres.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://www.inlight-online.co.uk/organic-face-cleanser.html">Inlight Organic Face Cleanser</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, the balm is the future of effective cleansing. Forget wash-off, foaming face cleansers that dry the skin and cause the dreaded 'tight face.' Inlight’s 100% organic, silky-smooth, golden cleansing balm is truly exquisite. It's suitable for all skin types (including acne and rosasea prone) and removes both organic and synthetic makeup effortlessly. A soothing blend of coconut oil and shea butter are expertly combined with astringent green tea and purifying rosemary for an optimum cleansing experience. Remove with a hot damp muslin cloth or ideally, with a cotton wool pad infused with Inlight’s refreshing floral face tonic.</span></div>
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Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-76966529103352558752014-10-06T05:13:00.001-07:002014-10-10T05:43:35.298-07:00Review - Douvall's Organic Argan Soap Set<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regular readers of my blog will know I've had a hearty obsession with the organic argan oil brand Douvall's for some time now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I interviewed the lovely Alicia Douvall for my beauty column in Yoga Magazine many years ago - shortly after the launch of her ethical beauty brand, and was impressed by her passion for this golden, skin-smoothing saviour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She spoke ardently of the oil's multiple beauty benefits and regaled me with inspiring tales of female empowerment in Moroccan women's co-operatives - where the product is ethically sourced.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I left Alicia with a bottle of her argan oil to try (which I wrote about <a href="http://mitrabeautyyoga.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/product-review-douvalls-organic-argan.html?m=0">here</a>) and the rest is history. I became addicted to its silky feel and was amazed at how the condition of my skin improved after just weeks of use.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After using it morning and night on my face and body, I noticed that my acne started to clear up and my complexion was smoother and had a luminous glow, which made me feel somewhat jubilant upon looking in the mirror after a lengthy slumber.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The soaps are all infused with moisturising olive and cleansing coconut oils, beautifully presented in a set of three - rosemary and argan oil, lavender and argan oil and a simple argan oil bar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Argh! To disrobe or not to disrobe?! Tis a conundrum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tUdJW8k_5xU/VC_l0Ceqj3I/AAAAAAAABsc/hjg-vOJg7Ag/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tUdJW8k_5xU/VC_l0Ceqj3I/AAAAAAAABsc/hjg-vOJg7Ag/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Argan oil - so gentle on the skin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XMbjVfdADM/VC_lzq0QDiI/AAAAAAAABsU/CGZCX5EtvIA/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XMbjVfdADM/VC_lzq0QDiI/AAAAAAAABsU/CGZCX5EtvIA/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavender - to 'calm, balance and invigorate'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ELS8DSWtEY/VC_lzyR1pVI/AAAAAAAABsY/cgNFc0h4FeU/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ELS8DSWtEY/VC_lzyR1pVI/AAAAAAAABsY/cgNFc0h4FeU/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosemary - to 'refresh, rejuvenate and energise'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nf2rnbnyDL0/VC_l5n3HpBI/AAAAAAAABss/WmvrMdiV1Bo/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nf2rnbnyDL0/VC_l5n3HpBI/AAAAAAAABss/WmvrMdiV1Bo/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that's my kind of soap...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are not overly perfumed (which I love!) and create a gloriously rich foam to envelop you in serious sudsy joy every time you shower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just like the brand's now iconic Argan Oil Moisturiser - these soaps contain natural antioxidants, vitamin e and essential fatty acids to nourish and condition as well as cleanse the skin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only problem may be your reluctance to disrobe them of their opulently bejewelled packaging, which add a touch of spa-like chic to your bathroom...but I joyously unveiled them anyway! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Harr!</span></span></div>
Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218369397902340150.post-18855654463113554292014-08-28T03:57:00.001-07:002014-08-28T06:46:40.532-07:00Traditional Italian food in London - Briciole<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I yearn for the type of hearty Italian fayre that only ample-bosomed Sicilian women make in their rural sun-soaked villas for their noisy, hand-gesturing families.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, I recently stumbled across a quaint Italian deli and restaurant by the name of <a href="http://briciole.co.uk/italian-restaurant-london">Briciole</a>, which serves exactly this kind of food, in a homely, non-pretentious atmosphere. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took a fellow food-lover who used to refuse to dine in Italian restaurants, believing he could make the generic pasta dishes better himself, so I knew he would be the strictest critic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We arrived disappointingly full at the bustling restaurant, having previously devoured an epic kebab-laden feast for lunch earlier that day (hey, we're Persians, its how we roll), yet we were impressed with the pleasant summer scene of Mediterranean-style outdoor and indoor tables heaving with tanned diners and adorned with charming pot plants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I scanned Briciole's enormous menu - a combination of traditional italian dishes and copious varieties of fine cheeses, I began to slowly regain my appetite (this is also how I roll).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To start, we indulged in a delightful cheese-fest...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a walnut, gorgonzola and fig salad that disappeared within minutes and a mesmerising menarche of moreish morsels on a plate - consisting of cured Italian meats, sweet potato bread, truffles on toasted ciabatta and the most exciting grilled slabs of cheese I have ever tried in my cheese-obsessed life. It was a smoked cows milk cheese called Scamorza Affumicata. Order this when you visit and thank me via an abundance of complementary Tweets. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDC_aNJxVhM/U_8Gl5lkPOI/AAAAAAAABmA/soycJJshH-Y/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDC_aNJxVhM/U_8Gl5lkPOI/AAAAAAAABmA/soycJJshH-Y/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such cheesy splendour...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the time the mains arrived by our slightly protruding bellies, we were slightly fearful of further gorging, yet in the name of honourable food blogging, we ploughed on remarkably.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A whole roasted sea bass with red peppers and olives appeared, which was outstanding and made eating on a dangerously full stomach an effortless affair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sides of dark wilted spinach and cheese-drenched (ok, I have a cheese addiction) baked asparagus were also rather splendid in nature.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not usually partial to pasta when I dine out, yet I found the tagliolini with red Sicilian prawns and sweet cherry tomatoes to be a fetching flourish of flavours that reminded me of balmy Sardinian summers consisting of long evenings feasting in candlelit trattorias that would never seem to close.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, my dining companion also found that the wares presented to us met his refined Italian dining tastes, leaving me basking in a pool of merry smugness at being the one to have discovered such a foodie gem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We finished our feast off with an ample portion of sublime coffee panna cotta and a satisfyingly golden-topped creme brûlée infused with aromatic bergamot. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Zf_Yysx1_o/U_8H58PnAAI/AAAAAAAABmo/FWPvhxj-mbY/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Zf_Yysx1_o/U_8H58PnAAI/AAAAAAAABmo/FWPvhxj-mbY/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sorry, I don't have room for pudding", said me, NEVER</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, our evening at Briciole was an exquisite eating experience, which I would thoroughly recommend to those who seek home cooked Italian food minus the pomp...and ample bosoms. </span><br />
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<br />Musings of a London Beauty Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925443866332066653noreply@blogger.com0