So what better time is there to cheer ourselves up with the thought of all the lovely things Spring will bring, One of them being a new spring wardrobe. Feast your eyes over some of the lovely spring summer offerings from Forever 21!

The collections which include, 60's doll, Japanese Garden, Pop and Block and Retro Riviera.

The 60's Doll is all about girlie details and cute prints.

A floaty beige top with a contrasting black laser cut collar.  The frill cuffs and arch cut add to the cuteness.

This bow print blouse is really cute and perfect for spring.

We 'heart' these green and white heart print shorts, perfect for those of you who like to display your pins!

This pink lace top is really pretty, and the pastel colour makes it so on trend.

This polka dot dress with a pussy bow is grown up girlie at its best.

Japanese Garden combines the shapes and patterns that are so typical of Japanese styles.

The design of this black floral print dress is typical of Japanese style, a real hit for spring.

This floral blouse will perk you up and think spring has already arrived!

This floral button up dress is so floaty and feminine.

Who would have thought having a mullet would you make you look so good? Well that's exactly what you will look in this floral print mullet dress.

This tie front floral jacket is really pretty and very typical of both Japanese style and print.

Pop and Block offers the best of interesting shapes in either single block of colours or colour blocking.

This blue cut out maxi dress combines the best of pop and block.

These green shorts with cute panelled buttons on the front add the perfect colour block for this spring.

Not only is this a beautiful purple body con dress, but the lattice top adds that extra special detailing.

This perfect purple bow front skirt certainly packs a powerful purple punch!

A red midi dress with a contrasting colour belt, perfect colour blocking.

Retro Riviera combines the best of old glamour with the height of sophistication.

This black and white polka dot jumpsuit is super girlie! The floaty and  frill on the top gives it that stylish look.

In keeping with the black and white theme,with this black and white striped dress it's the cute pleating detail from the waist band and the straps that make this stand out.

Nothing says glamour quite like a maxi dress, and this green one shoulder maxi dress is no exception.

These navy high waisted trousers add instant glamour and sophistication.

This red structured top has been cut beautifully and will suit and flatter your figure.

Visit www.forever21.com or pop into a Forever 21 store near you to see the full Spring Summer 12 collection.

Related posts:

1. Summer Pumps
2. 10 Pairs of Shoes for a So Darling! Summer
3. Pleats Please

Such a dramatic and opulent print is what really makes this dress stand out from the crowd.

The dramatic print carries on right through to the back of the dress.

A simple black belt that will cinch you in perfectly.

Related posts:

1. So Darling! loves……………..
2. Forever 21 Spring Summer 12 Collection
3. The Endless Question – Is the Fashion Industry Ready to Embrace Curves?

WRAP UP AGAINST POVERTY 2012

EXCLUSIVE CELEBRITY AND DESIGNER CLOTHING AUCTIONED TO RAISE VITAL FUNDS

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012

With London Fashion Week falling at the end of February, showcasing trends for Autumn and Winter 2012, charity Elizabeth Finn Care is celebrating all things fashion by auctioning a selection of unique items, donated by top celebrities and designers.

At Elizabeth Finn Care, a national charity whose grants team offers financial support to those in need, they know people can struggle to afford the items of winter clothing they need to stay warm and healthy during the colder months. There are 13.5 million people living below the poverty line in the UK, among them 3.8 million children. Through Wrap Up Against Poverty, money to help buy more people in financial need buy essential clothes. 

The inaugural Wrap Up Against Poverty campaign was launched in 2011. Over half the people the charity helps had to go without new clothes before they made the approach. By bidding for the fabulous pieces available, the public can not only boost their style credentials but also enable people in financial need survive the winter months. 

Each item available reflects both the style and personality of the individual or designer who has donated it.  Bidders can go for the classic look of Sienna Miller’s Doma fleece coat, or follow in Dame Helen Mirren’s footsteps by opting for her beautiful Alberta Ferretti coat.  Glamour puss Kimberley Walsh’s plush Louis Vuitton scarf will be up for grabs too, as will a beautiful Alexander McQueen suit from Fern Britton, and stylish winter coats from comedy heroes Mathew Horne and Ruth Jones. To add to a spectacular celebrity list, exclusive designer items including a golden Martina Spetlova shift dress have been donated alongside beautiful items from high street stores such as Ted Baker and Topshop.

Wrap Up Against Poverty was a huge hit in 2011, raising both funds and awareness of the fact that millions of people in the UK are living in financial need and many can’t afford to clothe themselves through winter.  Wrap Up Against Poverty 2012 will be even greater and grander. 

Malcolm Tyndall, Director at Elizabeth Finn Care, said: “We hope that, with the generous support of top celebrities and the fashion industry, not to mention an incredibly enthusiastic public, Wrap Up Against Poverty 2012 will enable us to help even more people find and access the help they desperately need.”

Following the move to the digital catwalk, Elizabeth Finn Care’s auction will be hosted on eBay from Thursday 26^th  January, and will close on Sunday 26^th February.  The list of donations is growing longer by the day. To see the latest celebrity and designer winter items up for grabs, please go to www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk/WrapUp

Here are a few items available at auction,

Topshop Waistcoat

George Lamb – Yves Saint Laurnet Blazer

Helen Mirren – Alberta Ferretti Coat

Lauren Laverne – Marc Jacobs Dress

Lisa Snowden – Chanel Hat

Martina Spetlova Dress

Sienna Miller – Dorna Fleece Coat

Images courtesy of W Piotr Onak

Related posts:

1. Wrap Up For Winter
2. Designer Spotlight: Beautiful Soul
3. Escentual.com Turns Pink in October

Dickens’ Exhibition Opens in Birthtown Portsmouth with

Original Nicholas Nickleby Manuscript

28^th January – 4^th November

Charles Dickens’ birthtown, Portsmouth, is staging a free exhibition dedicated to the novelist’s bicentenary featuring an original Nickolas Nickleby manuscript on loan from the British Library. A Tale of One City at Portsmouth City Museum. It will be open from 28^th January until 4^th November 10am-5pm, Tuesday – Sunday (closed Mondays apart from Bank Holidays).

Also in Portsmouth, Dickens actual birthplace, a modest house at 1 Mile End Terrace now preserved as a museum, will also be open 10am-5pm from 28^th January until 4^th November, which is longer than usual. Admission charges apply but entry will be free on Sunday 5^th and Tuesday 7th February 2012 to celebrate the bicentenary (closed Mondays apart from Bank holidays), when there will be a range of activities plus celebrations in the street including musicians, performers, food, craft activities and readings.

For details visit www.portsmouthcitymuseums.co.uk or call 023 9282 7261; more information can also be found along with 14 other Hampshire museums at www.visitsoutheastengland.com/historyrevealed.

No related posts.

London’s Most Exclusive Grooming Parlour

& Pet Couture Boutique

www.hairofthedoglondon.com

Ok so by now you should have detoxed your love life and picked up some fab tips to help get in shape.  So that just leaves the pooches and kittens in your life!

Well how about trying Hair of the Dog in London. It is by no means your average pet shop. Beautifully merchandised with a chic interior, the Highgate Village store fuses style and practicality with its impressive range of individually sourced dog and cat products. Founded by Sophie Wurr, the ethos behind the brand is to provide pet lovers alike with stylish pieces for both animals and their owners. As a former stylist with impeccable taste, Sophie has searched tirelessly for the very best in both cat and canine couture.  The word is now out and about so many a famous foot crosses the threshold of Hair of the Dog London, including the esteemed music producer Mark Ronson, who regularly visits to stock up for his rescue dog Maude.

There are treats a-plenty within Hair of the Dog London’s four walls, so you can continue to spoil your beloved pet, in the New Year and beyond, and what better way than with the ultimate pampering session in Hair of the Dog London’s state-of-the-art grooming parlour. Using only the highest quality spa pet products the advanced professional senior groomers are dedicated to making sure your beloved pet leaves feeling refreshed, revitalized and calm.

This year sees the arrival of a whole host of new and exciting products and brands that are both perfect for the discerning pet lover, and mainly exclusive to Hair of the Dog London. Now stocking United Pets, a leading brand in design and production for pet accessories, the company was founded in Milan over a decade ago and offers the crème de la crème of apparel, beds and gifts in the highest quality and finish. Sophie Wurr is delighted to be one of the only stockists of United Pets in the UK, believing the accessories are both fun and fantastic quality.

And for anyone after the ultimate in luxury, Bone and Rag is another new and innovative brand that Hair of the Dog London have taken on board, which will cater for the most opulent of shoppers. Each of their luxury dog accessories fuses together beauty, comfort and practicality and Bone and Rag pride themselves on being both environmentally progressive and supportive of British craftsmanship. Hair of the Dog London are exclusive stockists of several of Bone and Rag’s Ultimate Dog Bedscreen printed bamboo covers, which are waterproof, antibacterial, comfortable and durable.  The beds are also available with unique carefully sourced vintage fabric covers from the likes of William Morris, Heals and Liberty.

Related posts:

1. Beat Dry Winter Hair With Our Selection of Shampoos

1. Team up

Changing old habits that may have been ingrained for ten or twenty years can be hard and having the support of friends and colleagues will help you to stay focused.

Share tips and test new recipes with friends, family and colleagues. Online communities can be hugely helpful here, Eurodiet has a Facebook community.

2.  Get organised

Try to plan ahead, jot down which ingredients and products you need. This will make it easier for you to stick to your eating plan and less likely to pick up unhealthy options when you are on the go.

Try cooking larger amounts and freezing portions for the days when you don’t have enough time to cook.

3.  Clean out your cupboards

Having tempting foods in the house or in your desk will make it much more difficult for you to resist eating them.

Give away any post-celebration goodies which are still lurking around the house – if they are not there you won’t be able to eat them!

4. Don’t be defeated on ‘Difficult days’

It is normal to have days where you find it more difficult to stick to your resolutions. The important thing is not to let these days get you down and stop you from continuing with your good work – draw a line and stay positive. It’s what you do most of the time that counts!

If you have a sweet craving try one of the low calorie sweet options available on the Eurodiet.co.uk eating plan – like gooey vanilla caramel chocolate bars or apple crumble.

5. Identify your triggers

Next time you have a hard time resisting a second helping or you skip an exercise class, think about why it happened. Try to identify the feelings that triggered your behaviour, for example hunger, fatigue or stress. How could you change the outcome next time?

Control your hunger by eating regular meals and ensure you have enough protein in your diet. Protein is essential for sending signals to the brain to say, “Thank you, I’m full”. Introduce healthy snacks if needed like cereal bars or fruit.

6. Make it fun!

Write a list of milestones you expect to pass on your journey towards your final goal and find ways to reward yourself as you reach each one. This will encourage you to stay on track and make the challenge more enjoyable too!

Treat yourself to a massage, enjoy a spa day, take a new class, buy a new dress, try a new sport.

Stay positive!

Related posts:

1. Dating Top Tips!
2. The Two Week Diet that Works!
3. Kick Start your Diet with these Super Supplements!

Welcome the ‘dating detox’, a fool proof, four step detox plan for even the biggest skeptics to get you right back on track in your dating life.  

Cleanse your outlook and get a fresh start for 2012 with four tips from Dr Gian Gonzaga, relationship expert for online match-maker eHarmony.co.uk,

Dr Gonzaga begins with a question: ‘If you were to conduct a self-diagnostic checkup on the condition of your dating life, which of the following would apply?’

a. Strong and robust, with optimal functioning.

b. Generally healthy, though periodically sluggish and listless.

c. Anaemic and frail.

d. Comatose.      

“If you answered “C” or “D,” chances are you’ve been single for a while now and you’re suffering from overexposure to potent dating toxins. There are remedies you can use for yourself when you feel depleted and discouraged in your search for lasting love.”

Here is a four-step therapy from eHarmony.co.uk, that guarantees to flush the dating fatigue from your system and put you back on track:      

1. Purge.

Unsuccessful dating attempts often leave behind a debris field of unfulfilled desires, unresolved grievances, and unyielding regrets. These are toxic to your emotional wellbeing, not to mention your chances for future success in matters of the heart. A critical step in the process of dating detox is learning to let go! Forget the past, and choose to move on.

2. Consume carefully.

A regimen of dating detox must include monitoring your intake of words, thoughts, advice, and images related to romance. Stay away from “downer” friends who whine about how hard it is to find a decent man/woman. Tune out family members who complain about their lousy relationships. When you feel your mood beginning to sink toward self-pity, do something about it. Even small shifts in your “diet” can lead to dramatic positive changes. 

3. Rebuild.

Detox is not just about getting rid of unhealthy habits and emotions—but replacing them with ones more likely to get what you want. In this phase, begin by identifying the kind of partner you aspire to be. Are there qualities on the list you don’t yet possess? Make a plan to get there. Next, describe the person you are looking for in detail. This will help you recognise those people who don’t quite measure up—and save you another round of detox down the road.      

4. De-stress.

Relationship experts point out the negative impact of placing too much stress on the dating process. Lots of people put tremendous pressure on themselves and their dates, continually analyzing what was said or not said, what they did or did not do. Having a relaxed, low-pressure approach to life and love makes for happy individuals—and happy individuals make happy, healthy romantic couples.   

Everyone needs a round of dating detox now and then and what better time than the breaking of a new year.

Related posts:

1. Dating Top Tips!
2. Online Dating – Spruce Up Your Profile
3. Love List

£15.50

A beautiful body spray with ngi grass to keep skin hydrated for 24 hours. Refresh and nourish your skin with a soothing combination of exotic leaf extracts and coconut milk. Just spray on the surface of your skin and enjoy the refreshing cool and luscious glow.

£12.00

Paper false eyelashes by Paperself. Featuring an intricate cut-out paper design, including deer heads and antlers topped. Inspired by fairy tales and forests, the innocent designs represent the pursuit of happiness and sweet memories. For application, line the false lash up with your eye line and trim down if necessary, shape the band and apply some lash adhesive to the band. Once the adhesive is tacky, apply just above the lash line working from the inner to the outer corner of the eye.

£6.00

Flowtees are an ideal gift for the younger children or equally a great addition to any party decoration. They work by being attached to the ribbon of any helium balloon, creating a look of a hot air balloon. The Flowtees can be filled with decorative confetti or confectionery.  The choices are endless!

£39.84

Not forgetting our darling pooches! This delightful Christmas stocking comes filled with a lovely hand chosen selection of dog products and includes: a toy suitable for chewing, a packet of treats, a grooming product and a charming Little Dog Laughed dog Christmas card The perfect Christmas gift for your best furry friend.

£30.00

And of course the for the feline family members! This delightful hamper comes filled with a lovely hand chosen selection of kitten products and includes: Lily’s kitten food, a lovely cat collar, treats and a catnip mouse. The purrrfect gift for your kitten or cat.

£12.99

There is nothing 'Bah Humbug' about this retro sweet hamper from Bah Humbug! It contains a wonderful selection of retro sweets from the late 1970's and 1980's.  Great for the big and little kids!

£30.00

A pretty clutch bag by ASOS Collection. Featuring a lace motif overlay, contrast lining, a pleated frame design, with a clip fastening, and a silver-tone metal chain strap. 

£16.10

It's always great when a book looks great on the coffee table, and this one will definately wil! 100 years of fashion illustration is great for the fashionistas and the illustrators.

£36.99

Feminine in the extreme, Ange ou Demon Le Secret reveals a composition with “jasmine tea“ accents in watercolour-like nuances of pastel tones. The light-hearted top note starts with a sparkling burst of Italian winter lemon and cranberry, underpinned by a green tea leaf accord. Faithful to the “white flowers” signature of Givenchy’s fragrance creations, the middle note centers around crystalline jasmine, linking the subtle white peony with refreshing water flowers. Bewitching and captivating, the voluptuous and sensual base notes of blond woods, patchouli and caressing hints, gracefully reveals the final touch, the elegant signature of Le Secret…

£29.99

For the man who likes to feel like a million dollars! The expression of every man's fantasies. An object of desire as a gold ingot shape. An addictive fresh spicy leather fragrance. Spicy masculine flower with rose and musk. Sparkling fresh fruits with blood mandarin and peppermint. Sensual leather with amber and leather.

£14.00

If you're like me and you constantly lose your gloves or your hat, then this is ideal for you. A hooded scarf with pockets! Now that is what you call an all in one product!

£7.00

Twinkle, twinkle little star, well two to be exact. A gorgeous twinkle star stud set in sterling silver from Accessorize.

£3.99

Get your lips ready when mistletoe srtikes! Indulge your natural side with these deliciously scented lip balms. in Mango and Papaya, Cranberry and Pomegranate, Coconut and Shea Butter.

£2.95/100g

Ginger and spice and all things nice. That’s what this little bubble bar house from Lush is made of.  With its little snowy roof and cinnamon stick chimney, this bubble bar looks as good as its edible cousins.  But, when you come to use this one, instead of a stale gingerbread biscuit, you get mountains of spicy, fruity foam and a jolly good wash. With ginger powder and ginger essential oil, this is a warming little number.  There is also lemon oil and a fruity scent based around the blackcurrant notes of buchu oil.   It’s a wonderful treat that you’ll want to lose yourself in.

£22.00

There truly is something for everyone to love in this best selling collection from Hotel Chocolat – there are 30 melt-in-the-mouth pralines and oozingly soft caramels, to silky truffles with a tipsy twist. A gorgeously balanced gift, embracing all of the best-loved recipes.

Related posts:

1. Seven Dials Christmas Shopping
2. Quirky Christmas Gift Roundup!!
3. Our Pick of the Christmas Party Dresses

We all know Kleenex® as the favourite tissue brand, well now it is shaking up bathroom cabinets across the country by launching an exciting new range of facial cleansing products.

Whether it’s moments of happiness or sadness, seasonal sniffles to momentous occasions, Kleenex has always been there through the years, which is why it is Britain’s favourite tissue brand. It may come as a surprise to many however to learn that their reliable tissue brand actually started life in beauty. Kleenex is now going back to its roots and has used its unique technology to develop a facial cleansing range that is like no other, harnessing all the traits synonymous with the brand: softness, quality and reliability. The range is ideal for today’s young woman and includes:

Facial Cleansing Wipes 

£1.49

These soft, quilted wipes contain natural fibres to provide a gentle and effective cleanse, removing your “mask” at the end of the day.  They are suitable even for sensitive skin. You can also feel good about usuing them as they have a lower environmental impact than a standard wipe material.

Eye Make Up Removal Wipes

£1.49

These eye makeup removal wipes are also soft and quilted and contain natural fibres and provide a gentle and effective cleanse. They are suitable even for sensitive skin and effectively remove stubborn waterproof mascaras.

Facial Cloths

£1.99

These gentle, quilted, soft sheets made from natural fibres are not only larger but also softer than cotton wool. They are soft and strong when wet or dry so you can use them not only while applying cleanser and toner, but also while removing facemasks and even nail varnish.

Shine Absorbing Sheets

£1.49

An essential for every busy woman’s handbag, the Shine Absorbing Sheets provide an efficient and discreet way of blotting excess shine caused by oil that builds up on your skin during the day. The sheets remove the shine without disturbing your makeup so are fantastic for quick touch-ups to keep you looking immaculate.

The new range and the facial cloths in particular, take Kleenex back to its beauty heritage. In the 1920’s, the original Kleenex tissues were used to remove cleansing cream or makeup by women who sought a hygienic, disposable and softer alternative to towels or wash cloths. The tissues were a revolution in skincare for women and were dubbed as the “new secret to keeping pretty skin”.

Today, the unique technology developed by Kleenex® has allowed them to create a wipe made with ecoform natural fibres that is not only gentle and effective, but also has a lower environmental impact than standard wipe material.

Related posts:

1. Senzimi
2. Radox Spa Range
3. Nad’s – A Great Way to Wax

When we decided to research a series of articles on fun days out we had visions mountain biking through leafy forests, hiking across sunny fields and driving through picture postcard villages… what we didn’t immediately think of was two headed animals, the world’s fattest man and Jimmy Hendrix painted on a cow pat!! Then again, we hadn’t thought about Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

Yes, sitting practically over the road from our office right in the heart of Central London is Ripley’s, a ‘museum’ (if that’s the right word) of the weird, wonderful and downright bizarre.   The concept comes from the late Robert Ripley, and American entrepreneur who rose to fame in the 1920’s after travelling the world meeting other cultures and sharing his experiences in newspaper columns, cartoons and later radio and TV shows.  Not content with simply documenting his experience he began to bring artefacts back from all over the world to display in what he called his “Odditoriums”

Fast forward 70-something years and London is now home to the biggest Ripleys exhibit and the perfect antithesis to all the very serious theatres, museums and art galleries in the West End.

It’s really hard to define what make’s Ripley’s so interesting but I suppose at a pinch it’s the complete and utter randomness of what you can see in there – everything from a piece of the Berlin wall through to a diorama of Charles and Diana’s wedding made out of dead ants! Everything about the place is a little bit strange, from the fact you start at the top of the building and work your way down to the fact that the place is open until midnight literally every single day of the year!

But don’t think that this is just a glorified freak show – as strange as some of the exhibits are there is also a very educational aspect to Ripley’s as well.  Nothing in there has been simply ‘made up’ and there’s written, photographic and even video evidence to back up some of the more dubious exhibits on display!  Although there are some pretty grim pieces like a room full of shrunken heads, kid’s will benefit from visiting as it’s a very interesting place with some really educational parts to counteract the weirdness!

There really is something for everyone here – history buffs will appreciate seeing authentic historical costumes and some amazing Chinese sculpture on display, pop culture junkies can enjoy seeing a room full of Marilyn Monroe artefacts and even a lock of Elvis’s hair and kids can just be grossed out by the rest of it!

As already mentioned, Ripley’s is open 365 days a year and is definitely worth a trip into Central London to see. With a lot of interactivity and stories behind all the pieces on display you can easily spend an afternoon looking through the exhibits whether it’s alone or with children.

It’s not the cheapest day out in the world but it’s certainly worth a visit and if you book in advance online you can save 20% on the door price so it’s definitely worth planning ahead.  We give Ripley’s Believe it or not our seal of approval… now I wonder if they’d be interested in buying that 6 year past it’s sell by date can of beans I found in the back of the kitchen cupboard??

No related posts.