Monthly Archives: August 2013

Friday Feature Spotlight on Streatham: Cafe culture. @serendipitySW16 @hideaway_cafe @therailwaySW16 #streatham

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Thanks to everyone who tweeted, emailed to tell us which places you love the most within Streatham. Having recently moved our Snoochie Boochie HQ to the area we immediately fell in love with its diversity, beautiful Victorian houses and exciting future with the re-generation. So in the first installment of our Spotlight on Streatham features we’re going to look at three key places which serve amazing food and bring a really friendly and relaxed vibe to the area.

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SERENDIPITY

@serendipitySW16

https://www.facebook.com/www.serendipity.co.uk

Need a bit of old school glamour? Well opposite Streatham station is a little wonder of a tea room, cosy and elegantly decorated, Serendipity is run by the wonderful Jackqueline MacDonald who brings in home made cakes (including a lemon drizzle to die for!) and serves high quality tea and coffee. With room to sit outside on girly shabby chic metal chairs and tables, you can sip your tea from one of the many vintage style cups and saucers and take away one of the beautifully crafted gifts on sale on the back shelf. This really is boutique at its finest. Serendipity is an oddity within the hustle and bustle of Streatham High Road as it manages to pull in some sleek sophistication and sense of calm as the cars go whizzing by. If you also venture downstairs in this mini labyrinth, you’ll find an amazing cove of wonders. This little cubby hole houses hen parties and craft nights for those wanting to make anything from fascinators to burlesque nipple tassels! If you’re taking a stroll along the high street this place is the perfect stop off point for reflection on the beautiful weather… and perhaps the start of a new investment of quirky cafes and shops in the area.

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THE HIDEAWAY

@hideaway_cafe

http://www.hideawaylive.co.uk

Voted venue of the year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, The Hideaway has two sides to it. The first is the London jazz club that features a selection of Jazz, Funk, Swing and Soul, showcasing new talent, established artists and star performers. With a cosy purpose built staged venue at the back, its an elegant place to sit and be transported to a world of jazz music new and old. The second side is the fantastic bar and restaurant. Giving an indoor/outdoor café feature, you can sit on wooden benches inside and be surrounded by various vintage items for sale from the neighbouring Xanadu vintage shop a few doors down, or by the more modern black and white images of Jazz artists singing and playing a variety of instruments canvased across the walls. The menu is limited in a good way. The choice is something you would expect to see down the road from Ronnie Scotts in Soho and definitely brings an upmarket feel to the place. On a Saturday morning you can enjoy varying price ranges when it comes to breakfast, from a simple tea and toast to a more extravagant eggs benedict which will tug on your purse strings just that little bit more. Judging by the high volume of clientele on a breakfast run reading the papers on the roadside and enjoying the busy atmosphere that reflects some of the Jazz tunes playing inside this is one of the perfect places to start your weekend.

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THE RAILWAY 

@therailwaySW16

http://www.therailwaysw16.co.uk

Now we have covered this wonderful pub before, but due to high demand (quite rightly) it deserves a second mention. You cant miss The Railway as you leave Streatham Common station, its directly in eye site with its baby blue colouring, vintage style lettering and welcoming wooden benches outside. Step inside and you will see Jenga, Guess Who and a whole host of board games which for us always spells out a good pub outing (particularly during the week!). The food is hearty and there are some great deals such as Fish and Chip Fridays where you can get two fish and chips for £20. The Railway’s burgers are also divine and served in a great gastro way with chunky chips, alioli all on a big wooden board. On a Tuesday night which is quiz night, the backroom fills to the rafters with eager quizzers scrambling to get a table for their team. Out the back is a beautiful space full of greenery, the odd quirky mirror and a great atmosphere. Finally every other Saturday, The Railway plays host to a small yet very refined Farmers Market, with fresh meat, baked goods and fruit and veg, this in itself is starting to turn the small parade of shops into a mini Primrose Hill and we love it!

So there you go, this is just a tiny selection of all the fantastic elements that Streatham has to offer, its no wonder that the overspill from Clapham and Balham is falling straight into the laps of Streatham, with houses being snapped up, the regeneration taking place and small upmarket businesses setting up shop in key areas, its no wonder Streatham is one to watch.

Have a great weekend!!

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Dear Skin, how much do I love thee? And how much do I spend? @katscapades #health #beauty #skincare

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@katscapades is back and this time she’s getting up close and personal with her skin! So read on and don’t forget to follow her blog too!


I’m one of the billion people who spend money on skincare products. My spending habit from five years ago is vastly different from how much I invest now when it comes to taking care of the largest organ of my body. I’m grateful that my parents passed on the good skin genes and I’ve always wanted to maintain it, more so, improve it. Who wouldn’t want a healthy and younger looking skin all the time?!


I’m not denying that I also went through the stage of break-outs and unhealthy looking skin during some periods of my life.  Ergo, I was also one of the billion people victimised by aggressive marketing campaigns on skincare products – which actually did more harm than good at times – not just my skin but also my budget!  Glad the skin cells regenerate every 7 days (according Standford School of Medicine) and thank God I’ve got a job to recover my unwise-impulsive-skincare-shopping-habit – that’s learning it the expensive way!


Over time, I’ve realised that the importance of a healthy-looking skin goes a lot deeper. Reading various articles also helped me discover and rediscover facts about skincare. Dedicated to everyone who’d been asking me about my skincare secrets and to all my readers out there, I’m more than happy to share (publicly as I’ve been sharing a lot via private messages, skype and chitchats over a cup of green tea) the things I use and do and most importantly, how I prioritise my budget when it comes to my skincare expenditures.


So I’ve created a skincare spend-o-metre starting from the highest to the lowest:


SPENDING LEVEL: HIGH


1. Kitchen Machines


a. JUICER. About five years ago, I didn’t care that we had an existing juicer at home and I had no idea what joy it could bring into my life back then.  However, as I moved to France with my husband and learned the importance of juicing along the way.  I initially bought a juicer for just under a €100 and now investing into a €400+ Hurom Slow Juicer. My skin benefited a lot from juicing fresh vegetables and fruits and my juicer has been one of the busiest machines in my kitchen.


Frequency of Spending: Twice – one for my previous juicer and one for the slow juicer.


b. In-home alkaline water ionization technology . Actually this came into our home first before the juicer. “Drinking plenty of Alkalized water will maintain the pH of our bodies neutral, between a healthy range of 6.8 to 7.8, ideally 7.4. This neutral pH, not acidic-not too alkaline, prevents our immune system from malfunctioning or getting weaker and prevents diseases developing and keeps it strong and healthy” (click here for the source). To put it simply, healthier body = healthier skin. After careful research and consideration, we chose Kangen by Enagic USA but this machine comes with a huge price tag (you may want to close your eyes like we did when filling up the order form and handed the payment!).


Frequency of Spending: Once in a lifetime (filters have to changed yearly though)


 2. Fruits and vegetables.


You’ll probably notice that it’s cheaper to buy a big pack of Haribo Gold Bears or Doritos rather than a 100g of blueberries-rich-in-antioxidants or a bag of vit-c-filled-oranges for snacks; it’s cheaper to fry pork chops or grab those processed foods rather than making your own pesto sauce or making a hearty salad with the 5-a-day component. If I have €20 in my pocket and drop by at the mini supermarket, I could easily fill my shopping basket with junk with that amount versus going green – but I’d rather not. Fruits and veggies can also be used for some D.I.Y. skincare treats at home such as the famous diminishing-dark-circle-around-the-eye cucumber and avocado-super-face-mask to name a few (but to be honest, I haven’t done one in a long time since I love eating or juicing them!).


Buying organic produce also brings these green love goodies on this high spend-o-metre level. But trust me, it’s worth it.


Here are the usual fruits and veggies that I incorporate in my daily diet which are good for the skin: spinach, avocado, lemon, banana, cucumber, carrots, oranges and the following depends on their availability: berries, broccoli, mangoes, tomatoes and sweet potato.


Frequency of Spending: Daily.


3. Good exercise outfit.


I strongly believe that when you like what you’re wearing, you exercise better. Sports bra, running shoes and others to complete the fitness outfit are quite pricey! Make sure you buy comfortable and long-lasting items. It’s worth checking outlet stores too 🙂


Okay what’s the connection with skincare? You’ll see later on.


Frequency of Spending: Once in six months (sometimes more if I reward myself from working out)


SPENDING LEVEL: MEDIUM


1. Nutritional Supplements.


As I become more health conscious, I’m so paranoid of what I put in my body including what fitness drink or vitamins to take. I choose Juice PLUS+® since it’s plant-based and super safe even for pregnant nursing women and kids. JP Complete (choco / vanilla shake x 6 cans) costs around €160 inc. VAT and JP premium costs €76.75 per month, including VAT and delivery, that makes it €2.55 per day of full nutrition from 26 different varieties of fruits, veg & berries – which you cannot get that amount of nutrition under €3! In total, both JP Complete and JP Premium capsules cost €3.85 per day (or like buying a cup of cappuccino everyday). I thought it’s quite pricey (esp for people like me who don’t buy a cup of coffee daily) but equating the costs vs the nutritional benefits makes sense so it goes under this level of spend-o-metre.


JP Premium


Frequency of Spending: Monthly


2. SPF protection


I do invest into a good sunscreen protection especially when I’m out and about. I use Avène Sunblock – it’s more expensive than generic brands since it comes in a smaller bottle but I’m happy with its light fragrance, easy-to-apply texture without leaving those annoying white marks like other sunscreen creams do and it provides ultimate protection while being gentle on the skin. I also had the privilege of visiting Avène’s Hydrocentre and their team showed me how they make their products. Please click here to read the full story.


Avene


Frequency of Spending: My Avène sunblock was part of goodie bag from my previous trip at their Hyrdrocentre (yahoooooo, freebies! love the perks!). But I’ll probably be buying it once a month depending on how much I go under the sun during summer (less frequent during winter).


3. Make-up


Well, I just have a few essential things in my Make up bag. I opt to be make-up free most days of the week.  I think that my skin needs to breath and make-up clog my pores – oh that’s just me. I put make-up at this level of spend-o-metre since they are expensive pretty little things plus they must come with a gentle make-up remover, however, they last a long time since I hardly use them 🙂


Here are some of the make-up free, no-filter, no-edit selfie shots I’ve taken using my iPhone since I started juicing:


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Frequency of Spending: Once a year.


4. Facial Cleanser


Here’s another revelation: after cleaning my face with a paraben-free facial cleanser (I use La Roche as seen on this post), I spray Avène Thermal Spring Water on my face and leave it til it gets dry before I moisturise.


Spray


Frequency of Spending: Every 6 weeks.


5. Fish


My husband and I eat fish at least 2-3 times a week. Fish is more expensive than meat here in South of France (not sure about your area – hope it’s the opposite as fish is supergood and yummy!). Salmon and other cold water fish are high in protein which can help to speed up the skin’s natural healing process according to Glamour.


Frequency of Spending: We buy supply good for a week, so weekly.




SPENDING LEVEL: LOW


1. Daily moisturisers


JLo said in an interview a few years ago, if there’s one thing she’ll teach her kids, it will be to moisturise. Moisturising is a skincare essential. I used to be obsessed in buying the mid-range to expensive pots. Oh I loved seeing them lined up in the special section of my bathroom back in my London days. I fell in love with Liz Earle’s Organic Moisturiser, Mandelular Sensuous Body Soufflé by Sanctuary and of course, my super Molton Brown products. Moreover, I kept collecting bottles from other brands too. Can you imagine what  my bathroom looked like then?


Don’t get me wrong, I still love Liz Earle and those nicely packaged creams but like what my husband told me, if you find products that are good for your skin, stick with it. Nowadays, I’’ve been using the affordable Oil of Olay Day and Night Cream for the face and for the body, I use Nivea Soft Cream daily (under €5).


I’ve also read somewhere that experimenting on different products may be harsh to our skin. Well, it’ll be a quest to find what really suits your skin type before sticking on it and I’m not stopping you if let’s say Crème de la Mer is the one that works for you but living a healthy lifestyle can save you from spending too much on creams and reallocate your budget such as sustaining the juicing habit.


Frequency of Spending: Face creams last upto 6 weeks and 7-10 days for the body cream shared between us


2. Other Basic Toiletries


I try to keep a low maintenance practice on the basic toiletries such as body wash (currently, we are using Dove); deodorant (I always use the DEOROCHE SPRAY – an all-natural potash alum spray with no colouring agents and fragrance plus it’s paraben free; and hair removal tools i.e. Veet facial/body easy-wax strips and Venus razor.


Frequency of Spending: Between 2-3 weeks


3. Green Tea and Eggs


Super cheap anti-oxidant polyphenol-rich green tea’s good for the skin too and eggs too – I don’t take them together though :p


Frequency of Spending: Between 2-3 weeks for a pack of green tea and every 3-5 days for the eggs


SPENDING LEVEL: NADA


1. Running 


It’s free and it makes me sweat! “Sweating is our body’s way of helping to keep our skin clean. Every day, toxins build up in our pores that need to be released. If they’re not, then our skin can break out and cause pimples, rashes and other skin infections. By sweating out these toxins, our skin stays cleaner and, over time, it will appear to look healthier than ever” (please click here for the source). Amen.  Since I started running, I haven’t had any breakouts.


2.Hydration


I don’t count the water bill on my skincare spend-o-metre as I charge it under monthly household expenditures (which by the way is included in our rent!). On top of juicing greens, I drink loads of water throughout the day and avoid sodas and other fizzy drinks. I know coffee has benefits too but I don’t drink coffee, I prefer green tea (a good source of antioxidants too).


 3. Sleep


My best friend used to have this pink pillow with a caption – Live Now Sleep Later. I’m not denying I went through that kind of lifestyle which was so-against skincare 101. According to Day, who wrote the book, Forget the Facelift, “Your skin, and your whole body, goes into repair mode when you sleep. It’s repairing and restoring and rebalancing”. My gorgeous uni friend once said, “if I sleep late, I don’t feel better the next day. If I don’t feel better, I don’t look better”. Hear, hear! Oh you must see her well-maintained skin too! In the past few years, I try my best go get 8 hours of sleep daily and I think I’m pretty good at it (*wink). Day added however, “do not oversleep as it can actually increase skin cell breakdown”.


 4. Smile


Smiling is always free and it always adds glow to the skin.


Hope you find this useful. Remember having a healthy glowing skin comes from the inside out. It’s living a healthy lifestyle – proper diet, regular exercise with good sleep and hydration plus the help of the skincare products that work for you. Don’t forget to smile too! It’s important that we take care of our skin – it’s the only skin that we have 🙂

			

	
	


				
					


	

					

							

							
Remember your awkward teenage Summer with @Thewaywayback #filmreview #film

			


		

				
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If you love Sam Rockwell as much as we do, then you’ll be queuing up to watch him in this quirky Summer coming of age flick which hits cinemas today.


The film follows shy 14-year-old Duncan as he goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend’s daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.


Nothing overly dramatic happens in this film, it’s just more of a reminiscent and nostalgic journey into all of our uncomfortable adolescent selves where we’re discovering new things, good and bad, meeting new people and most importantly having that very awkward, lonely teenage Summer.


The film boasts a great cast and starts very well. We see a new Steve Carell, no longer a slap-stick comic character, this time a straight talking stepdad which any teenager would find offensive and domineering. Toni Colette is the ‘glass half full and things could be worse so I’ll put up with it’ mother of Duncan and Sam Rockwell is the saving grace coolest guy in town who runs (rather haphazardly) the Water Wizz water park.Screen Shot 2013-08-28 at 08.35.07


These are only half the key characters in the film, but immediately you see a pattern forming. These characters are very clearly stock and presented in an almost formulaic approach to what you would hope would make a good/poignant/funny film. In addition you have the constantly drunk neighbour – who provides a monologue of comic proportions as the family arrive at their Summer home; her overly confident sharp talking tween son, additional neighbours who turn Carell and Colette’s characters into relatable drunken parental figures around the dinner table and finally there’s the shy inquisitive beautiful girl who doesn’t conform to her bimbo girlfriends and inevitably becomes the object of Duncan’s affections.Screen Shot 2013-08-28 at 08.34.40


These all sound like the recipe for a classic coming of age tale, and if they had all come together perfectly The Way, Way Back would have been one of those must watch films, but something just doesn’t quite gel together. You will probably be willing this film to be much more enchanting than it actually is and will most likely find sanctuary like Duncan, at the Water Wizz water park where Sam Rockwell dominates. His effortlessness and ease provides a distinct contrast to the rest of the cast who feel slightly more contrived, which some may argue is a testament to his talent as an actor.


But by no means is this film unwatchable, there are some brilliant moments of comedy, and over arching reminders of many of our teenage experiences plus some brilliant performances across the board in their own rights. It’s hard to put a finger on what exactly doesn’t work, but you certainly do come away trying to work out what could just make it that little bit better


3 Stars


The Way, Way Back is out on general release from today.



 


 


 


 

			

	
	


				
					

				
					


	

					

							

							
@coldplay release first #hungergames #catchingfire soundtrack song – Atlas #film #music

			


		

				
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Now this is a first…never before have multiplatinum recording artists Coldplay ever contributed an original song  to a movie soundtrack, but The Hunger Games seems to have struck a chord with them and today they release the very first single from the soundtrack to this highly anticipated film.


Lionsgate and Republic Records have announced that the song – called ‘Atlas’ is going to be available via iTunes and all digital retailers as of today, and the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be released ahead of the actual film in November.


Chris Martin is reportedly a big fan of the books (who isn’t) and as one of the most iconic bands of this generation, its with no doubt that they’re going to produce a pretty spectacular song to accompany this epic next instalment of the film franchise.


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The first Hunger Games soundtrack hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200 on its release with sales of over 175,000 making it the first soundtrack to top the chart since November 2009. It was the best selling soundtrack of 2012, the fastest selling soundtrack ever at iTunes and was earned itself a Golden Globe nomination and three Grammy Award nominations – so the pressure is on!


For those who cant wait for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, here’s a little run down of what you can expect from the next film:


Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has returned home safely after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victors Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.


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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is directed by Francis Lawrence and is based on the second book in a trilogy which written by Suzanne Collins that has sold over 50 million copies in print in the USA alone.


			

	
	


				
					


	

					

							

							
Friday Feature: @nailgirlslondon bring the NYC nail treatment to London living #beauty #nails #london

			


		

				
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One of the things that the ladies of London are starting to do more and more is treat themselves to a manicure or pedicure at the weekend. It’s a great way to feel glam and a bit of pampering never goes amiss.


As it’s becoming more popular we’re seeing a lot of nail bars appear around the country and competition is fierce. So we sat down with one of the founders of nailgirls London who talked us through what makes her nail bar in Islington stand out from the rest.


The start of something big 


Lynda-Louise Burrell worked as a Fashion Editor and Stylist in New York for eleven years. She really was living the Sex and the City lifestyle we all love… After a three month internship at Marc Jacobs, where she worked closely with the man himself assisting in the design of the clothes, she eventually moved on to other big names such as Lori Goldstein where she found her true passion for Styling. Way before nail bars were even a “thing” in the UK, it was already a thriving business in NYC and Lynda couldn’t do without her weekly ManiPedi (a true New Yorker!) so from one of the first salons she visited in Harlem to her beloved boutique nail bar Go-Girl in East Village this lady was hooked on nails!Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 12.03.32


In New York Lynda found that there was a nail bar on every corner and as it became such a ritual for ladies to get their nails done on a weekly basis, these bars became a hub for socializing and meeting interesting people, and essentially something much more than just a service. If you’ve ever visited a New York nail bar, this definitely rings true… although some can be like a fast food chain, or a one in one out conveyor belt, there are others similar to Go-Girl which provide something very special, a little bit of glamour and escapism if you will. It was at that time that Lynda said to herself “ One day I’d love to open a nail bar…”


Albeit a throwaway comment at the time, it got this savvy lady thinking. In the UK there was no Nails Inc (largely seen as the pioneer brand behind nail bars in the UK) and there certainly weren’t any nail bar chains, it really wasn’t something the people of the UK were thinking of doing. So from this throwaway comment to a realization of a gap in the market nailgirls London set up shop.Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 12.03.48


A shop was born! 


When chatting to Lynda, she was very clear with what she wanted nailgirls London to portray and represent. She wanted a clean, sought after boutique shop which builds an experience for its customers. To do this she trains each of her staff to be able to talk articulately about the products and processes they are carrying out and to advise and converse with their customers to make sure they have the best experience possible.


This personalized effect has certainly added to the brands popularity, even Lynda herself struggles to get a time for a ManiPedi in her own store in Islington as its so booked up with treatments. We certainly felt that there was a fun, relaxed atmosphere upon visiting the store and its quirky pink branding screams “Girls Only!” and is a great sanctuary to get away from our busy London lives.Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 12.04.02


The future is Nails! 


As well as expanding her salon into more than just nails, and providing additional beauty treatments such as threading at affordable prices, Lynda knew that there was great opportunity to put her fashion knowledge and experience to the test and create her own line of nail colours.


“What we also wanted, was a directional and wearable colour collection for the nails that was on trend with catwalk collections. A range composed of both the very latest fashion shades and classic colours, in shades to suit all skin tones.” So came the nailgirls spa and nailgirlsLondon brand.Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 11.55.36


nailgirls London is THE authority on nail care and colour, launching a new limited edition catwalk colour collection to match the fashion catwalk collections each season.  This Spring/Summer season for instance is all about classic pastel tones.
 The catwalks were a clatter with these playful hues perfect for beach holidays and summer city breaks. The colours are non-toxic, 4 free from (formaldehyde, toluene, dbp & camphor), long lasting, high gloss, nail strengthening, low odour fashion nail polish colours and cost only £10.50 each.Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 12.04.58


So remember, you’re never too busy to treat yourself, and whether it be to a new polish or to an affordable ManiPedi, in our opinion nailgirls London is the place to go. The staff are lovely, you’re taken care of like a pro, and most importantly you come out of it feeling like a million bucks! So why not give it ago… you can find nail girls London in Islington, so why not book your appointment at www.nailgirlslondon.com or call 020 7359 2772.


You can also follow @nailgirlslondon to be the first to hear all about its latest product offerings and in-store deals.


Have a great Bank Holiday weekend!

			

	
	


				
					


	

					

							

							
Step into another world this week with The #MortalInstruments #outthisweek #film #filmreview

			


		

				
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So what happens when you grow up as a normal teenager and suddenly one night you start drawing symbols all over the wall? Well you get pretty freaked out… and who do you turn to? Your mum of course, but she’s keeping secrets from you and suddenly disappears. Things really aren’t going to well are they? Its tough being a teenager, its even tougher being a Shadowhunter teenager as Clary Fray (Lily Collins) finds out…Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 08.44.21


Based on Cassandra Clare’s bestselling novel, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones looks like the successor to all the Twilight and Hunger Games books that have started to send screaming fans into a frenzy. This big budget Hollywood film has a predominately British led which is refreshing, and although it opened here yesterday with the help of the cast and director stepping through a major global promotional tour, its currently slightly underperforming over in the US.


However we shouldn’t take that too literally because despite the doom and gloom that some are saying about this film, its really rather enjoyable. You have a strong female protagonist (quite like what audiences related to with Bella Swan in Twilight) and there are lots of laughs and one liners – some more forced towards the end – plus there are demons, ghouls and a whole underworld that is living right under Brooklyn… what’s not to love?! Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 08.43.16


The film keeps you guessing and is a classic case of a first film in a series where characters are being established and so there are only three main parts, Clary, Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower) and Simon (Rober Sheehan). The rest come and go and one assumes we will see more in the second installment. There is so much going on in this film that you can’t really help but be swept up in it all and despite it feeling ever so slightly over long in form, its not unwatchable, quite the opposite.


What fans of the book may feel is that this film has tried to be so true to the original content that it maybe fits a little bit too much in it, in order to be truthful, and that unfortunately provides more of a clumsy outcome in parts. Others may feel that the casting isn’t quite what they imagined, and in the press conference Jamie Campbell Bower was particularly vocal with his thoughts on the matter saying that some rather nasty social media reactions to his casting “were based on image and image looks alone and that was two and a half years ago, and I think as an actor and as a performer I’m very much aware of the fact that my job is to change both physically and emotionally and that was what hurt the most, that people were judging me based on nothing.” Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 08.42.44


Although there are clear issues with this film and it won’t please everyone, there are lots of great elements to it, the CGI is out there but not too over the top and the characters are believable, watchable and sympathetic. Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is certainly for the younger audiences out there, but even if you don’t believe in magic or demons, there’s still a rollercoaster ride for you to watch…just remember to not walk out of the cinema when the unforgivable comment about the musician Bach is made, just take a deep breath and carry on. When you watch the film, you’ll know what we mean.


3 Stars


			

	
	


				
					


	

					

							

							
Keep the Summer going with @fordhambeersuk American Craft Beers! #beer #drinks #summer

			


		

				
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So just when we thought the Summer was beginning to say adieu and we were starting to unbox our Autumn fashion, there’s word that yet another heat wave is on the horizon! So to celebrate we thought it’s a perfect opportunity to open some bottles of beer – delicious American craft beer to be exact!


Whilst the sun shines on this side of the pond, having a taste of these lovely beers will bring back memories of holidays abroad (particularly to the US) or if you’ve never been it will probably bring to life your imagination as to what this land across the Atlantic might just be like!


Now for some history!


Fordham Beers originated in Maryland in 1703, formed to serve a new colony in need of good beer (aren’t we all!) the brewery was reborn in 1995 with a similar purpose and passion. In 1989 Fordham Beers opened its doors to the Old Dominion Brewing Company founded by beer enthusiast Jerry Bailey and the two breweries live side by side in Delaware.


Here’s some of the Dominion beers we tasted and reviewed:


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The Beach House Pilsner


At a very affordable £1.95* per bottle we found this to be a perfect Summer lager. It has a good happy flavour with a refreshing and crisp taste. You can put the ciders to one side and lap this up next to the BBQ on a lovely Summer evening.


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Hop Mountain


Apparently this little number is becoming the UK’s favourite out of the selection, and its not hard to see why. At a competitive £2.15* it’s a rich red ale with strong hop character and a medium bodied dry finish…perfect to cool you down on a hot summer night or after something a little bit spicy!


Now if its not all about the alcoholic beers for you , never fear, Dominion Sodas provide the perfect family summer drink too… 


Screen Shot 2013-08-20 at 12.21.59Creamy Orange Soda


Now this really will bring back childhood memories… a modern take on a traditional American orange soda – creamy is the key word as you cut out the fizz and enjoy a very sweet easy to drink soda for only £1.95*


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Black Cherry Soda


You can mix this number with a spirit of choice, but if you’re sticking to its traditional format you may feel that you’ll need an ice cube or two to help dilute its slightly over powering taste. Those without a sweet tooth need not apply! But for those with no trips to the dentist coming up, treat yourself for only £1.95*


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Ginger Ale


We Brits just love a good old Ginger Ale, and with some very strong competitors out there like Crabbies, the market is a pretty tough place. This version is mostly for those who like a slightly lighter version of the popular drink, with a combination of ginger and citrus, you’ll either bask in its subtle taste or need to try something a little stronger.


So more choice for you all as we see the Summer continue to shine, so stay refreshed, stay merry and drink responsibly.


*prices shown are a guide and based on retail sales. Prices may vary by outlet and will be higher in pubs and restaurants.


** Fordham and Dominion beers are available at selected bars and restaurants across the UK including:


– In London: Electric Diner in Notting Hill; Beard to Tail in Hoxton;  Jetlag Bar in Fitzrovia; The English Pig in Westminster; The Diner in Soho; Bodean’s in Fulham; All Star Lanes in Brick Lane


-Outside London: Gordon Bennett in Surbiton, Surrey; The Brewery Tap in Brighton; Jake’s Place in Edinburgh; Colston Yard in Bristol; Chicago Rib Shack in Southampton.

			

	
	


				
					


	

					

							

							
Put on a Hunger Games Party in 3 steps and may the odds be ever in your favour! #hungergames

			


		

				
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Well if you weren’t already super excited about the next installment of The Hunger Games hitting cinema screens in November, you can get the reaping started with your very own Hunger Games themed party!


We attended a very special Hunger Games event day last week which gave us all the inspiration we needed to bring a little bit of Capitol into our lives for the end of the Summer. So forget the BBQ’s and go all out with stupendous style and the odds will ever be in your favour!


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Step 1: Bake the Book!


No not literally, but we absolutely LOVED the Hunger Games cup cakes at the event day, and felt that no Hunger Games party would be complete without them. So here’s a really helpful video from across the pond, which will inevitably get your mouth watering for what is an essential party piece… the Mockingjay cupcake!



 


Step 2: Get the Look! 


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Who would have thought the Capitol would have been so on trend in the real world. Well, as we found out there are two major fashion go-go’s coming out of The Hunger Games and one is Capitol party style and the other is Tribute tracksuits!


For the Capitol party style you can look no further than your local fashion retailer for some fantastic bits. It doesn’t have to cost your district to get Captiol fashion and there’s so much out there…


Screen Shot 2013-08-19 at 17.37.30We found this Rare Fringe Bandeau Dress at ASOS.com reduced from £45.00 down to £22.00 you too could be the girl on fire in this little number!Screen Shot 2013-08-19 at 18.14.17


And if you want to shuffle along like Effie Trinket, then how about these Chinese Laundry China Doll Heeled Shoes… you’ll need to splash out a little bit more, but once again they’re on sale at ASOS.com for £62.00 (RRP £120.00)


 But if you’re feeling more in tune with one of the Tributes, then you might want to spend your cash on the futuristic exercise range from Lucas Hugh London. Having never provided products for movies before, its Creative Director Anjhe Mule was sought out and hand picked by Catching Fire Costume Designer Trish Summerville to help provide some of the amazing outfits for the films key stars.


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Step 3: Top up Trinket Style


No party look would be complete without an Effie Trinket make over and the amazing make up artist who took care of Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth at the UK premiere told us that the key to Effie Trinket’s looks is clashing colours, blended together on the eyes and hyper real pale skin! Think Alexander McQueen with strong bold eyes and Geisha lips.Screen Shot 2013-08-19 at 18.29.30


She also mentioned that since The Hunger Games hit our cinema screens, people have really realized that make up can be much more fun, and that there really aren’t any rules, so maybe there’s a little bit of Capitol in this capital city after all!


So what are you waiting for, you have the food, the clothes and the make up to make a very Happy Hunger Games! Enjoy!!

			

	
	


				
					


	

					

							

							
Music Monday – The iBean gets Peter Gabriel and co listening in! #music #tech #digital

			


		

				
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So a few weeks ago we talked about the quirky answer to an iPod, the iBean – which is the worlds first “cybatonic” digital music player made all the way over in South America. Well, those clever people at Cybatonics who created this cheeky invention seem to have already made brilliant progress, so we thought we’d update you all. 


This very exciting consumer electronics design company have now agreed to work with Real World Records, Peter Gabriel’s legendary world music record label, on an exclusive, preloaded content deal with the iBean & iTagua.Screen Shot 2013-08-18 at 23.57.49


Real World Records is home to some of the most forward-thinking, boundary-shaking music from around the world, and grew alongside international world music, arts and dance festival, WOMAD. It is now in final discussions with Cybotanics to provide exclusive content in ‘lossless’ CD quality form on the much talked about iBean® & iTagua®  with is made from Amazonian beans and nuts from Colombia.  The first deal will centre on the unique digital audio products, preloaded with a number of Real World’s global artists from WOMAD.


The London-based start-up’s iBean and iTagua products are currently available to ‘pre-order’ without preloaded content on the crowd sourced funding website, Kickstarter and upon successful completion of this with enough pledges from the general public, they will go into commercial production and have an agreement ready to sign to launch an exclusive preloaded device with the label’s content.


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Each 4GB music player is a meticulously crafted and engineered digital  audio device that delivers ‘lossless’, CD quality exclusive Real World music at a much higher bit rate than conventional music players all housed in a naturally beautiful and truly original form. Lossless compression reduces a file’s size with no loss of quality.  APE is a form of lossless compression.  Each unique product will retail for under £50.00


Here’s a few burning questions you all might have… 


Why is the sound quality so much better than an iPod?


iBean® and iTagua®  use a new form of music compression in lossless CD quality form (APE-Monkey’s audio). The devices also play normal MP3 files.http://www.monkeysaudio.com/  Unlike traditional methods such as MP3, OGG, or LGT that permanently discard quality to save space, Monkey’s Audio represents bit-for-bit copies of music. That means it always sounds perfect – exactly the same as a CD. Even though the sound is perfect, it still saves a lot of space (think of it as a beefed-up Winzip™ for your music).  The other great thing is that you can always decompress your Monkey’s Audio files back to the exact, original files.  That way, you’ll never have to recopy your CD collection to switch formats, and you’ll always be able to perfectly recreate the original music CD.


What is the Tagua nut that iTagua is made from?


The Nut- Tagua (Vegetable Ivory)


The Nut- PHYTELEPHAS  Family: Arecaceae  (Phytelephas Aequatorialis Macrocarpa)  The Tagua is actually a kind of palm nut, it has become referred to as ‘Vegetable Ivory’ because of its internal colour and working properties which are almost identical to elephant ivory, from which its latin name derives.


What is the bean that the iBean is made from?


The Bean – ENTADA GIGAS Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae Mimosoldea)  Known as ‘Sea Beans’ these gigantic seeds come from pods which grow up to four feet  in length. They measure about 5cm across and have a beautiful surface that can be polished. The beans are as hard as polycarbonate and have even baffled NASA scientists. Cybotanics has discovered a unique way of machining them to incorporate their digital hearts.


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