Monthly Archives: January 2014

Its #filmfriday so what better way to kick start your weekend than with @thereelfilmshow #movie #film #whattowatch #cinema

Screen Shot 2014-01-17 at 00.42.40Yes film fans, its that time of the week (as in the end of the week – yippee!) And we have the best way of celebrating. Our great friends at The Reel Film Show have a bite sized nugget of information for you called Gone in 60 Seconds (presented by our very own film critic Rebecca Perfect!)

It brings you the big releases that are being released every week and gives you a quick indication of whats hot at the cinema so you can make your mind up on what to watch over the weekend!

This week there’s something in it for everyone, boys, girls, cyclists!!! So make sure you tune in and subscribe to their ace You Tube channel which is officially launching in the next two months. So beat the crowd and be part of a film going revolution!

Advertisement

Can’t garden? Won’t Garden? Don’t worry @suttons_seeds is here to help and make gardening super cool! #garden #gardening #home #lifestyle

Screen Shot 2014-01-29 at 10.48.46

Fancy yourself as a bit of a green fingered god or goddess? Or are you like us and find it difficult working out your sunflowers from your pansies? Well as more and more of us start to buy our own houses and inherit a mud pit that we would one day like to turn into a garden  that is sharp, contemporary and something to be proud of,  we’re all asking what is that quick fix?

Well unless you’re willing to bring in the professionals, which could cost a pretty penny, the best thing you can probably do is take matters into your own hands. This is where Suttons Seeds comes in. Based down in Devon, this gardening company prides itself on quality and innovation, and see us, the twenty something’s as the next generation of gardening maestros (sure!) so they’re bringing out some great products, and prove that they’re way more than just a seed company, that helps us get up and go in our gardens. From beginners vegetable planting guides through to handy seeding packs that make planting minimum hassle, these guys really are on our young side and might just make gardening cool (again!!).

Here are some of our top picks from Suttons Seeds : 

A Fusion Of Colour And Musical Romance From Suttons Seeds 

Screen Shot 2014-01-29 at 10.44.37

Suttons new Floral Fusions Flower Seed Mixes are  a great way to transform gardens quickly, easily and successfully.  Each mix contains up to 20 different varieties of seed as well as an inert natural buckwheat to assist with the sowing of the seed.  The collection includes six different varieties to meet consumer demands; from brightening a shady corner to super-quick blooms, Suttons new Floral Fusions has it all!

To make sowing your seeds even easier, Suttons new Floral Fusions are packaged in a ‘shaker’ style pot with a built-in sprinkler that enables you to sow your seeds quickly and evenly over their beds and borders in a matter of minutes! Plus its only £5.99 (bargain!).

Microgreens Windowsill Allotments are Healthy Fast Food, Full Of FlavourScreen Shot 2014-01-29 at 10.43.42

Continue 2014 with a healthy addition to your diet! With resolutions being made to get fit and eat healthier food, many of you will be trying to continue on with your New Year diets. So why not help make a healthy change today with Suttons Microgreens!

Easy to grow, nutritious and full of flavour, these groovy tasty leaves really are a 2014 ‘must have’!

Each box includes everything you need to grow, plus a tasty recipe to try! They are quick and easy to grow – great for children and novice gardeners, with colourful and attractive packaging which is easy to understand.Screen Shot 2014-01-29 at 10.43.53

There are 8 delicious varieties to choose from, and as microgreens are harvested younger they contain more nutrients, vitamins and protein. Finally, these kits can be grown at any time of year and are all grown indoors for a thrifty £3.99 per kit.

And finally, it’s not all about seeds you know…it’s about community too!

A New Way To Fundraise For Schools With your Little Green Sprouts!

‘Little Green Sprouts’ is a brand new fundraiser scheme designed specifically for primary and junior schools.

This soon to be launched scheme will help schools to fundraise, provide a central resource hub for teachers and also a one-stop shop for schools to buy all their gardening necessities.  Games for the children and some useful home activities will also be included.

 Screen Shot 2014-01-29 at 10.44.17

Suttons will be instrumental in helping schools set up their own microsites and will provide them with marketing materials for distribution to teachers.  For every £10 that parents spend, the school earns 1 sprout.  This sprout can be redeemed against a list of set products all designed to meet the horticultural factors in the national curriculum.

So there you have it, lots of ways to get excited about your garden in the coming months, so even if the rain is pouring, you don’t have to stop gardening, you can at least make a start! Enjoy!

Why sip tea when you can chew it? @chewtea #foodanddrink #drink #coffee #tea #soho #london

Screen Shot 2014-01-27 at 09.51.10

Recently launched in London’s Soho area is a new tea and coffee revolution. Forget Seattle and its Starbucks, its all about the Far East and the rise of Bubble Tea and now for the first time in the UK, Bubble Coffee, housed by brand new franchise Chew.

Where can I Chew?

You can’t really miss the shop if you walk past it, its neon orange lights will be a beacon of hope for those walking the streets upon night fall, and a nightmare for anyone with a hangover!

This first site has been fashioned by Afroditi Krassa, the award-winning designer who created the brand identity for Itsu and was later appointed Creative Director by founder Julian Metcalfe – who also started sandwich chain Pret a Manger. Chew is aiming to pioneer the next step in the bubble beverage evolution by kick-starting the next big drink trend.

Screen Shot 2014-01-27 at 09.47.22

So what is Chew?

Chew, so called as it is literally the drink that you can eat, will be serving adventurous Soho residents not only a new take on freshly brewed coffee, but will also be offering over 30 fruit and milk-based bubble teas. Tea has be reimagined and given the Chew treatment. A variety of black and green flavoured teas have been ‘sexed up’ with the signature bubble tea ingredient, jelly-like tapioca balls – which are freshly prepared on site, and have the strangest, yet most addictive texture!

IMG_5288

Where did Chew come from?

The Bubble Tea phenomenon originated in the streets of Taiwan in the 1980s and the trend has slowly been travelling West ever since. 30 years on the bubble tea movement is far from middle aged and in the UK it’s still in its infancy. Over the last couple of years various concepts have introduced the Far Eastern inspired refreshment to British palettes. Chews founding owners, husband and wife team Karim and Sara Hemsi first came across bubble tea in San Francisco, fell in love with the concept and then travelled to Taiwan to be trained in the art of modern tea making!

Screen Shot 2014-01-27 at 09.54.17

How did it hit the streets of London?

In 2011 Boba Jam in Chinatown claimed to be the first bubble tea parlour to open in Central London. Bubbleology launched the same year and now has six outlets. Bubble tea appears to thrive where trendy young people converge however it would seem that the Chew brand aims to brew tea of the bubble variety not only for Soho hipsters, but also for the Great British tea-drinking public.

 IMG_5287

So how much will this set me back?

Bubble teas are available in two sizes

Medium is 500ml and is £3.45

Large is 700ml and is £3.75

Bubble coffees are available in two sizes

Medium is 500ml and is £3.55

Large is 700ml and is £3.85

I’m sold, lets chew! You can follow chew on Twitter @chewtea and find out much more about the company on its website! 

Its #filmfriday need your weekend film fix? Then there’s one place to get it from! @thereelfilmshow @rebecca_perfect @avenueboutique #movies #film #cinema #whattowatch

Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 08.37.57

Calling all film fans! Stuck for something to watch at the cinema this weekend? Well we’ve got a treat for you! We’ve teamed up with the fantastic @realfilmshow to bring you a brand spanking, fun piece of video content that will answer all your “what should I do at the weekend?” questions. 

PLUS! We loved that we spotted presenter @rebecca_perfect wearing one of our featured fashion pieces from Avenue Boutique! Check it out!!!

Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 08.40.14

 

So make sure you subscribe to what looks to be the hottest film fix for all of you fanatics out there!

Have a great weekend!

 

January is coming to an end…surely you can start shopping again no?! @johnlewisretail #shopping #style #beauty #tech

 

Screen Shot 2014-01-20 at 11.03.26Well done Snoochers, you’ve been restrained, you’ve saved yourself your time and money by not going mental in the sales, you’ve started those new years resolutions and 2014 really is the year that you’re going to carry them on. So seeing that you’ve been so good, maybe you can treat yourself…just a little? 

Oh, ok then, well its a good job our friends at John Lewis have kept us in the loop with a few treats that they have in store for you to lay your hands on!

Go crazy people! 

Logitech Protective Folio Case for iPad Air, available in Yellow, Black, Grey and Red – £39.95
These cases are designed to be thin and light enough to look after your iPad without compromising on its slim design, while also allowing full access to buttons, ports and cameras. A SecureLock system features a lightweight, low-profile with easy release clips to keep the corners of your iPad Air firmly to the frame, making it easy to insert and remove. Powerful magnets in the cover will also keep your case closed when on the go.

Screen Shot 2014-01-20 at 11.01.31

John Lewis Nova DAB/FM Bluetooth Mini Clock Radio, available in Black or White – £49.95

A great looking addition for the bedroom, this compact clock radio offers both FM and DAB stations and an easy to use alarm with snooze function. 20 presets will allow you to save your favourite stations and you can also stream your music directly from your smartphone or tablet.Screen Shot 2014-01-20 at 11.01.46Braun HD770 Satin-Hair 7 Colour Hair Dryer – £54.95

Especially designed to protect delicate and coloured hair, this clever dryer helps to prevent heat damage, giving your hair a vibrant and healthy looking finish for longer. IONTEC technology uses green ion jets to release millions of satin ions effectively onto your hair to attract moisture particles from the air, which results in a radiant shine. The included diffuser is great for curl, wave and scrunch styles as it reduces the airflow to a soft waft for greater control and reduced frizz. A cold shot is also on board for that final finish.Screen Shot 2014-01-20 at 11.02.11
Monster DNA On-Ear Headphones with ControlTalk, Carbon Fibre – £169.95
These headphones come with plush cushions that create an acoustic seal and a foldable design, for easy and safe storage. The unique titanium drivers let you listen to your track as the producer intended, with the clearest clarity and deepest bass, while the built-in microphone allows you to easily switch between your calls and songs.Screen Shot 2014-01-20 at 11.02.21
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 15 Dual-Mode Laptop, Intel Pentium, 4GB RAM, 500GB, 15.6″ Touch Screen, Black & Silver – £449.95
Ideal for entertainment, this versatile device features a dual-mode, thin and light design that flips 300 degrees from a laptop to stand mode, allowing you to enjoy your favourite film or make the most of touchscreen applications on the go. Also great for everyday documents such as word and excel, the keyboard can be switched back into classic laptop mode for quick and easy word processing. The 10-Point Multitouch Display also lets you utilise the Windows 8′ touch interface, while the nine hour battery life and 4GB of RAM will allow you to surf the web as well as creating, saving and sharing documents.

What are you watching this weekend? @thereeldeal2014 #filmshow #gonein60secs #film #movie #cinema

Screen Shot 2014-01-17 at 00.42.40Happy start to the weekend Snoochers!

We’ve got a special treat just for you our very own Film Critic Rebecca Perfect has started work on a fantastic new film show due out in February, its called The Reel and aims to bring you all the fun of film in one bite size chunk! In the meantime they’re giving you a weekly round up of what’s hot and what’s not at the cinemas every Friday.

We thought we’d share the first pilot episode with you… we hope you like it, caveated with a  small amount of technical glitches which are being sorted for its next episode, its a small nugget of information about what to watch at the weekend and we here at Snoochie Boochies think it could be the start of a very good (and useful) thing.

Also start following @thereeeldeal2014 on Twitter and subscribe to their YouTube channel, you won’t be disappointed we promise!

Have a  great weekend all!

The Great and the Good of the Golden Globes red carpet #fashion #awards #redcarpet #film

Screen Shot 2014-01-13 at 09.57.01So in the early hours of the morning, whilst we were all sound asleep, Hollywood was awash with stars as they turned out for the annual 2014 Golden Globe Awards.

In terms of the starry award ceremony there were some surprises with American Hustle being a big winner on the night with Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams who both picked up acting awards, and Matthew McConaughey scooping the best actor award for Dallas Buyers Club. But the top honour of best Film and best Director went to our very own home grown talent Steve McQueen and 12 Years a Slave.

But there was another scoring system taking place that evening, and it was in the fashion stakes. Although all the big hitters were out and acting as show ponies for the big designers, we have to say that there was nothing absolutely outstanding hitting the red carpet last night.

Here are a pick of our favourites:

In terms of trends, we saw lots of simple block colours, particularly on the ever-young Helen Mirren flying the British flag with a gorgeous teal Jenny Packham Dress.

Best supporting actress nominee Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave was dressed head to toes in Ralph Lauren, securing her spot as a new Hollywood heavyweight in not only an acting capacity but also effortless style. We love the split sleeves that give almost a space age feel to this simple, elegant number. Screen Shot 2014-01-13 at 10.02.54

Sophia Vergara looked dramatic in a Zac Posen gown which we felt matched perfectly her Latino looks and larger than life personality, teaming it with some gorgeous turquoise jewellery she really stole the night for us.

Sitting slightly on the fence:

Screen Shot 2014-01-13 at 09.17.29

The acting world darling Jennifer Lawrence rocked out her favourite awards go-to designer Christian Dior, and although dramatic in length and width it felt a bit too ultra modern (maybe to match her new hair cut) with the slightly unflattering black hoops, but we love her anyway and hoping come oscar night we see something slightly more elegant and regal, after all she is the royalty in this game!

Uh oh this doesn’t look right!: 

Sandra Bullock what are you doing?! Normally so graceful and high in the fashion stakes around this time of year, sadly, with this Prabal Gurung gown she’s stepping right out of panto and onto a losing streak! Patchwork quilting doesn’t look flattering at all, and that flamenco style skirt is soooo 1980’s (and no it can’t be classed as retro chic!)

Screen Shot 2014-01-13 at 10.02.04

Another longstanding glamourpuss gone wrong, Julia Roberts, gorgeous face, gorgeous figure, but is she stepping out as a school ma’am tonight? Stuffy and ever so slightly 1990’s scruffy, maybe both these ladies are trying to get back in touch with their youth? Sadly its really not working….oops!

Well that’s it, congrats to all the award and fashion winners for the night, there’s more big ceremonies to come so fashion fans stay glued to your seat!

You’ll be howling at sheer brilliance of The Wolf of Wall Street! Here’s why… #film #review #filmreview

Screen Shot 2014-01-10 at 10.36.41

After you’ve picked yourself up from your chair following the three plus hour rollercoaster ride of entertainment that is The Wolf of Wall Street, you’ll reflect (for hours, possibly even days) on what this film contained before coming to the inevitable conclusion that Di Caprio and Scorsese have a) the best bromance in Hollywood, and b) that The Wolf of Wall Street really is a modern day masterpiece.

Unbelievably, this is a true story and follows the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort a Long Island penny stockbroker who served 36 months in prison for defrauding investors in a massive 1990s securities scam that involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking world, including shoe designer Steve Madden.Screen Shot 2014-01-10 at 10.35.59

Now this all sounds like thrilling, serious stuff, and of course it is, but cleverly intertwined with this is the knowledge that Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his merry band of stockbroker men, lived the most zany, outlandish lifestyle that really does only exist in the movies until their time is up.

Martin Scorsese is back to his very best in this punchy screen sensation that reminds us of the great and the good films from the late 1980’s and early 90’s. It’s hard not to describe this as Goodfellas meets Wall Street where DiCaprio plays our modern day Gordon Gekko to perfection! Although The Wolf of Wall Street is not for the feint hearted (it contains lewd behavior, copious amounts of drug taking, full frontal nudity and enough swearing to send your granny to an early grave) you cannot help but love and laugh through every minute of it!Screen Shot 2014-01-10 at 10.35.11

Proving he’s the most qualified and under awarded man in Hollywood history Leonardo DiCaprio pulls off another stellar performance as Jordan Belfort, from the wide eyed rookie stock broker taken under the wing of Rothschild Bank to the greedy owner of his own unorthodox company, we see a true transformation of character right before our eyes, that will have us laughing and crying at the same time, and secretly urging him to come out OK in the end.

Jonah Hill again is perfectly cast as Belforts’ sidekick Donnie Azoff, the ‘loveable douchebag’ who supports his colleague and mentor to the end (sort of) and is often happy to remain the brunt of the jokes and rakes in the rewards of living this lavish lifestyle laid out for him. Margot Robbie is a surprise as the trophy wife Naomi Lapaglia who dons a fantastic New York accent and bombshell look to not only bring Jordan Belfort to his knees in lust, but to also secure her place as Hollywood hot property. Screen Shot 2014-01-10 at 10.34.12

The only downside to The Wolf of Wall Street is that there are some excellent cameos throughout that you just wish would have hung around longer. Jean DuJardin plays the shrewd and straight talking Swedish banker who appears in the latter part of the film, and is a world away from his silent Oscar winning star in The Artist. But the real master cameo performance is Matthew McConaughey as Belforts’ first boss Mark Hana. In only a fraction of screen time, he captures the essence of the craziness of life on Wall Street in the late 80’s and hooks Di Caprio’s impressionable character onto the biggest drug of all, money. Its outlandishness will have you howling in your seat with laughter and re-creating a certain ‘chest chant’ for days to come!Screen Shot 2014-01-10 at 10.35.24

The Wolf of Wall Street may be sexist, brash, punchy and full of what was wrong with the world pre-crash, but you’ve got to admit once watching this film, that they had one hell of a ball in their work hard, play hard lifestyles. The costumes, the humour, the references and the brilliant acting all captures this era perfectly, and with this creates, as previously stated, a modern masterpiece, three hours promises to whizz by like three minutes and you’ll be grinning and laughing all the way home. This film really has set the bar for 2014.

4.5 Stars

Smiles don’t lie, so make yours amazing with @dentek #teeth #competition #hygiene #health #beauty #IMCONVINCED

Screen Shot 2014-01-07 at 13.00.33

We all know that beauty is big business. This year think beyond what you wear, how you style your hair and what you put on your face – remember that a smile, yes a smile, really is the key to everyday beauty, and you wouldn’t want to mess that up now would you?

A smile is the most universally recognized facial expression, it signifies happiness, and is the key to you telling everyone else that all is right in the world! So if you’re worried about your smile, never fear, we’ve been introduced to a nifty little solution in the form of DenTek Easy Brush Interdental Cleaners, which have just started launching in the UK.

Get me some to try!! – COMPETITION TIME!

If you have a quick read below, hopefully you’ll agree that we’ve sold this pretty well, because, well, we here at Snoochie Boochies have given it our tried and tested approval!

photo

So if after reading up on Dentek,  you’re convinced, and want to give it a go, then all you need to do is tweet us @mysnoochiebooch with the words #IMCONVINCED #DENTEK and we’ll pick a lucky winner at random to send a Dentek goodie pack to. It couldn’t be easier.

Who is Dentek?

DenTek, is the leading oral health care brand in the US and provides a full range of interdental products that help prevent a range
 of serious health conditions and diseases. These include lung disease, diabetes, blood clotting and inflamed arteries- a major risk factor for heart disease.Screen Shot 2014-01-07 at 13.05.11

Why should I give it a go?

1) Follow in the footsteps of the worlds beauties.

Kate Middleton, Julia Roberts, Kylie Minogue & Jessica Alba are renowned for their smiles – and it takes less than 10 minutes a day to implement an oral hygiene routine – much quicker than applying make-up and a faster route to a more confident smile!

Screen Shot 2014-01-07 at 13.10.22

2) Wear it with pride!

Be proud of your smile. Go Beyond Brushing with DenTek to help remove food and plaque. Flossing every day is an investment in you and your overall health, particularly your heart health

We’ve given it a go ourselves and it ain’t half bad!

pinkA smile, wouldn’t be a smile without good teeth, and having given it a go, we do think that Dentek may revolutionise the flossing market and become the best way to look after your pearly whites. Dentek provides a new way of flossing (yep flossing that bit that we all need to admit we probably don’t do as regularly as we should!) The Dentek brushes are neat individual brushes that are much easier to manage than that traditional floss string rubbish. It’s like a little sidekick for your toothbrush that gets deep into the crevices of your teeth (ewww!) and manages to find all that extra nasty stuff that your toothbrush might have missed.

If you brush it along your gums, it tickles too! (always a good sign!) and although this is the gross bit, unlike the traditional flossing methods, you really do see what you pick up from your teeth, which may not be what you want to see, but certainly shows that its working! We then followed this up with a little mouthwash and ta-dah! We felt like we had a new set of gnashers!

Whats the science bit then?

We always like to get a little technical for you, so here’s a few (not so fun) facts…

1) Poor oral hygiene can affect you and your family’s health… Brushing without flossing is comparable to cleaning only 65% of your body leaving the other 35% dirty1. By flossing daily with a DenTek Floss Pick, it will reduce the amount of bacteria from the mouth that can enter into the bloodstream. This can trigger INFLAMMATION in the ARTERIES, which can increase the risk of HEART DISEASE2

2) DenTek’s Interdental Cleaners remove bacterial plaque, a major cause of gum disease. GUM DISEASE has been identified as a Screen Shot 2014-01-07 at 13.01.50risk factor for both HEART and LUNG DISEASE as well as DIABETES3.

3) 90% of all cases of bad breath can be contributed to harmful bacteria that is not removed by brushing, flossing or gargling4. DenTek’s Tongue Cleaner removes the source of bad breath, the oral and debis bacteria that reside in the groove and curves of the tongue – places where a brush just can’t reach. Leaving your tongue dirty can lead to conditions even more horrific than halitosis – GUM DISEASE, PLAQUE, BLOOD- CLOTTING and INFLAMED ARTERIES5. 
So by ensuring you add a 10-minute interdental regime to your daily routine, you could help prevent a number of serious – and expensive – conditions from occuring. Go ‘Beyond Brushing’ with DenTek for interdental cleaning, promoting good health beyond just your mouth.

 

Remember, wear a smile, one size fits all!

Forget your Christmas Cooking disasters 2014 is a new year to cook with @smeguk #cooking #recipe #food

 

Screen Shot 2014-01-06 at 15.27.21

So did you to cook the turkey to perfection this year? or did you get ribbed by your family around the table for that slightly over smoked bird? Oh well, either way 2014 is a new year with new goals in work, life and well…cooking! And in terms of the latter, award winning appliance manufacturer Smeg (yes, the one with the uber cook refrigerators everyone wished they had) you can create a new, exciting dish a professional chef would be proud of, from succulent roast pork to melt-in-the-mouth extra lemony sponge cake all because of its brand new recipe card collection? 

 Recipe Cards?? Old School….

Yep, old school style, modern means, via Smegs website,  you can concoct nine delicious, classic British recipes which have been cleverly designed by a qualified home economist to help you produce the tastiest dishes using Smeg’s top-of-the-range, built-in or freestanding cooking appliances (or of course, your own!). SFP390X

The last recipe from this collection, Rotisserie sweet chilli chicken, has just been completed and is now available online. Simply go to www.smeguk.com now where you can download each recipe card and 26 other online recipes from around the globe, which range from party food and starters to sweets and desserts.

 But I just want to start cooking right now…

Oh, ok then, well here’s the recipe just for you!! x

 

Rotisserie sweet chilli chicken

Rotisserie chicken

SERVES 4

Ingredients:

1.6kg whole fresh chicken, finely grated zest 1 lime, 2 tsp dried chilli flakes,1 tbsp sunflower oil

2 tbsp runny honey, flaked sea salt, freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C on the Rotisserie Grill setting. Place a baking tray lined with foil on the bottom shelf of the oven. This will collect any juices that drip from the chicken.

2. Mix the lime zest with the chilli flakes, a good pinch of salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir in the oil and honey until combined.

3. Place the chicken on a board. Do not remove the string holding the chicken together. Carefully thread the rotisserie rod down through the centre of the chicken.

4. Skewer each end with the clip forks and secure by tightening the screw on each fork. Brush the chilli mixture all over the skin of the chicken until it is evenly coated.

5. Place the rotisserie rod securely on to the rotisserie support according to your oven manual. Spit roast the chicken with the oven door closed for 1 ¼ hours or until the skin is deep golden brown and the chicken is thoroughly cooked. The juices should run clear.

6. Carefully remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to a board. Remember, it will be extremely hot and juices could splash. Loosely cover the chicken with foil and leave to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the rotisserie rod and carve the chicken to serve.

Rotisserie works in combination with the grill element whilst constantly turning the food