Slimy Smoothie

The gyms are full and the fruit aisle empty which means one thing... January. Everyone I speak to is on a diet to banish the post festive bulge. I just can't bring myself to diet, no matter what I try, as soon as I ban anything it's all I can think about.

Like everyone else I over indulged on the turkey, cheese and Christmas chocs. I wouldn't be too worried but with a big work event around the corner and a tight dress to fit into I clearly needed to do something. Instead of banning anything I decided a daily trip to the gym and a healthier diet would be the best thing to do. 

So instead of the usual cereal for breakfast and cheese and crackers for lunch I've been having a smoothie and a bowl of homemade soup. My usual smoothies are banana, yogurt and a variety of berries. For January I was looking for something to pack more of a punch and keep me filled up till lunch. 

This was the man for the job...

slimy smoothie

You'll need:

1/2 cup of plain yogurt

1 cup milk (almond is lower fat but cows tastes good - so use your fav)

1 banana (I like to chop them up and freeze them to keep them fresh and make my smoothie icy cold)

1 table spoon on peanut butter (fills you right up and fills you with energy)

4 handfuls of spinach 

Mix together and prepare to be surprised! 

I was very wary of my first sip, what with it looking like it belonged in a frog pond, however I was pleasantly surprised. It was yummy, filling and I've felt great since I've been drinking them. Don't let the spinach put you off... it's the perfect post workout breakfast!

fee x

Golden Globes Risks

 I wouldn't so much think of this as a Worst Dressed List; just risks that maybe weren't worth making. Ever since Angelina Jolie wore that black Versace  gown with the never ending split to last years Oscars its been the battle of the hem lines in celeb land. 

Miranda Kerr & Eva Longria were just two of many at Sunday nights Golden Globes who chose this trend. I don't have a problem with the thigh skimming trend however I was always taught if your showing off leg cover up the rest. 

  

Eva Longoria in Pucci

Miranda Kerr

                                                                    

Another big trend was the Wedding Gown... OK some were just white dresses but many left me wondering what on earth they would wear if they ever tie the knot. Some beautiful dresses here but there is a time and a place for a white gown. 

Julianne Hough

Hayden Panettiere

Anne Hathaway

The third trend I will mention was the full prom dress. I was a little disappointed by Jenifer Lawrence who has been getting it sooo right lately. She was so close with this orange Dior gown. I just wish they had tailored it to her bust... even a pair of socks stuffed down there might have helped. The waist cinching belt is amazing but the drooping cleavage is not a good look.

                                        

                                                       Jennifer Lawrence

A final special mention has to go to Lucy Liu, her grannies curtains and the fact that she still manages to look stunning in this monstrosity of a frock!!!

 

                                         

                                                             Lucy Liu

Golden Globes

Awards season 2013 is well and truly  in full swing. The neck lines were low and the splits thigh high. I think this year there were more for the worst dressed list than the best dressed, however, a few stars caught my eye.


The Brits were out in force last night with wins from Adele, Damien Lewis and Dame Maggie Smith. They were also ruling the Red Carpet.  Michelle Dockery from Downton Abbey wins Best Dressed for me in a Alexandre Vauthier gown. The gold lace is elegant and classy with the high neckline and capped sleeves. If it had continued this way it could have been a bit frumpy but the long sleek white skirt  brings it right bang into 2013...

Michelle Dockery from Downton Abbey

At first look at Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, once I got over the Bond specks, I thought her Louis Vuitton dress was headed for the top of every Worst Dress list. The more I look at Rachel the more this outfit grows on me. A short dress with a sheer and polka dot panel. It is fun and flirty without being in any way tarty, a mistake far too many ladies made last night.  

Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz

My third choice goes to Taylor Swift who is rocking the post break-up glow. You can wallow in PJ's eating ice-cream or get out there and show the world your sooo over it by taking big risks. First came the plunging white Ralph Lauren gown at the People's Choice Awards and now she's trying her hand in an aubergine backless and fishtail number from Donna Karan...

Taylor Swift

Not so sure from the front

From the back I was completely wowed by the dress but from the front I was reminded of school dance dresses circa 1996. Seeing that she probably too young for dances back then I'll let her off just this once.

Will be keeping a keen eye on both Michelle and Taylor as this awards season continues.


fee x

Gradient Nails

Having only started wearing nail varnish a couple of years ago (I used to think it made my hands look manly) I never really tried anything more difficult than glitter over a colour. I have seen lots of pics of gradient nails but just presumed it would be too tricky for a novice nail painter.

I was so wrong; It's quick, easy and really effective. I was really impressed with my first go:

1st go at gradient nails

All you need is nail varnish and a sponge. Start by selecting three colours of nail varnish. I picked three shades of pink; No7 Stay Perfect in French Pink (08), 17 Lasting Fix in Fairy Cake and Barry M in Bright Pink (279).

My three colours

Start by painting your nails all over with the palest shade of varnish. (Dark colours will stop the gradient showing up.) Next take a small piece of sponge; I used the back of an unused tanning mit. Paint a stripe of all three colours. Start with the palest shade at the edge then the next two:

Sponge with stripes of varnish

Now all you have to do is dab the sponge on the painted nails. I gave each nail a couple of dabs ensuring the top of the nail was covered. I was only looking for for a splash of the darkest color but you could make the stripe on the sponge thicker or just dab more times for a more dramatic look. At first I thought you would have to re-apply the varnish each time but it only takes one generous coating per hand.  

So simple and really effective; even if your not confident experimenting with make up I'd recommend giving it ago. If I can do it so can you!

Can't wait to try it with all different colours!

fee xxx

Panda Pandemonium

Two Giant Panda's Tian Tian and Yang Guang are settling into life at Edinburgh Zoo. I visited the zoo for the first time since I was a kid this year and absolutely loved it. I'm not exactly an animal person so was surprised how much  I enjoyed my day. The Panda's are looking like they are going to be a great tourist attraction and a wee helping hand to the economy too, so I'm all for the Panda Pandemonium.

If you fancy getting involved I've found some super cute Panda treats...

Panda Jumper £30 Asos

White Coin Purse River Island £13

Panda Hot Water Bottle £17.99 What 2 Buy For Kids

Panda Ballerina Slippers £12  Accessorize

Panda Cupcake Necklace £5.99 Attitude Clothing

Hope you like my panda picks and if you want to keep up to date with Tian Tian and Yang Guang you can get updates here  http://www.facebook.com/EdinburghZooScotland?sk=wall 

fee xxx

First Christmas Outfit...

 Yesterday I had my first taste of Christmas 2011. Each year my work hosts the Cash For Kids Christmas lunch to raise money for underprivileged children in the local area.This year we had performances from Emeli Sande, Gamu, Jai McDowall, Kassidy and Rebecca Ferguson and raised £72,000 for the charity. It's always a tricky event to dress for. Tying to find an outfit that looks glamorous and Christmasy but you can also comfortable enough to run around backstage in.

In the past I've tended to stick to black for working backstage but this year as I was trying to juggle Floor Manager with a little presenting I decided to opt for a splash of colour...

Structured Sleeveless Skater Dress £46 from Topshop

The red gives it the Christmasy feel I was looking for (also available in Black, Navy, Mustard and Aubergine) and the skater shape made it comfortable to run around in. I had planned to wear a thin belt but when I spotted this on in River Island I thought it added the perfect touch of glam...

Black Bow Wide Waist Belt £16 River Island

I decided to play it safe with the shoes and opted for a simple black suede heel...

Suede Platform Heel £29.99 New Look

A stiletto heel would never do for the running around that we do and even these started to ache after 7 hours, thankfully I had a pair of flats for the clear up. It wasn't the most exciting event outfit I've put together but I hope the simplicity and block colour made it work. I've only just realised I didn't take a single picture of myself yesterday. Thankfully No1 magazine was there to capture the looks of the day. I'll post a picture when they go up on-line.

 

If you would like to find out more about Cash For Kids here is how to do it... www.westfm.co.uk/cashforkids

fee xxx

Men Make Better Men...

I have always loved the story my parents tell of my childhood; that I slept with books under my pillow. Each night they would tidy away my books but each morning they would wake to find another pile of books. I’m not sure if I would read them through the night or if I just put them there to colour my dreams but it’s a passion that has stayed with me for life! I even achieved a diploma in bookselling whilst working part time in a bookstore to help me through university.

With work so busy I don’t have as much time to read as I would like, however, I still fall asleep most nights with a book in my hand. I’ve started to notice a trend in my reading pattern where I’m getting hooked on male authors writing about life and love. I blame Tony Parsons and his 1999 novel Man and Boy.

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/tony+parsons/man+and+boy/3820345/

It was probably the first book, excluding the classics, written by a male author that I really connected with. It’s a simple story about a Man who cheats on his wife and consequently finds himself a single parent. You get to know Harry Silver as he turns 30, gets to know his 4 year old son and learns the trials and tribulations of dating with a child in tow.

This is a sweeping generalisation but I tend to find female authors can be guilty of creating the kind of characters that we all long to meet in real life. Mr Perfect. I find the honesty that Tony Parsons writes with is refreshing. Harry Silver is far from a perfect man but as I got to know him I fell for him harder than the idea of the perfect man and when he did inevitably make mistakes I found myself much more forgiving. One of those books that you slow down reading at the end because you know you’ll miss the characters being in your life. Luckily it doesn’t end there as you can follow Harry to Man and Wife and Men from the Boys. 

I read this book years ago but thought of it a lot whilst reading David Nicholls One Day but that's for another day...

fee x