Saturday Night

I'm only just over Saturday night.  We went to an amazing party called Bedlam which our friend Nick runs.  It was in a tunnel in an old fortress in Kent, such a cool location.  I had my brother, sister in law and kids over for dinner on Sunday so only wanted to stay out until 2pm.  2pm turned into 6am.....I don't know how I did it Sunday morning but got up at 10, stuck the meat on and then went for a run to try and make myself feel better, it worked but it was painful.

The night itself was incredible, Cassy, Tim Green and Leon played....I heard that the after party only finished a couple of hours ago.......

I can't wait for his next party on the 1st April - he has Steve Lawler playing for him.

Geri Halliwell Collection

Geri Halliwell has a new swimwear line which is out now with Next.  You can see the full collection by following the attached link.  My favourite is the animal print cut out swimsuit which is £32.  Perfect for Ibiza.

http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/women/swimwear/1

Maxi Dress - £50

Lorraine Pascale

So you may have gathered by now that I love to cook.  Today I watched an amazing food programme with Lorainne Pascale, an ex supermodel who spent the 90's walking alongside Naomi, Claudia and co and was the face of Versace.  She was also a mechanic, interior designer and now a top chef....is there anything this woman can't do?  Sounds like superwoman to me!   Today she cooked rosemary & sea salt foccacia - I need to make this for Mark's dad, he'll love it.   The recipe is below and I have also added the link.  She's a chef with a modern twist and I find her so easy to watch, she's extremely likeable.  I love her voice!  My favourite chef at the moment :-)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/rosemary_and_sea_salt_12392

• 500g/1lb 2oz strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 x 7g/⅛oz sachet fast-action dried yeast
• 80ml/3fl oz olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 150-250ml/5-9fl oz warm water
• vegetable oil or oil spray, for oiling
• 1 bunch fresh rosemary
• large pinch sea salt

Preparation method

1. Dust a large flat baking tray with flour.
2. Put the flour into a large bowl, add the salt and yeast, then add the olive oil, plus enough warm water to make a soft but not sticky dough. The dough should feel quite loose and not tight and difficult to knead. If the whole amount is added it may appear that the dough is beyond repair, but gently kneading by way of scooping up the dough, scraping any sticky bits on the surface and slapping it back down again for a few minutes will see the dough begin to become ‘pillowy’ and more manageable. The more water that can be added (the full 250ml/9fl oz is great) then the lighter the bread will be. But it can take some perseverance. Also resist the temptation to add more flour as it will make the dough too heavy.
3. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes by hand on a lightly floured work surface or for five minutes if using an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. The dough will feel stretchy when pulled. To test if it is ready, make a ball with the dough then, using a well-floured finger, prod a shallow indent in the side (no more than ¾cm/¼in). If the indent disappears by way of the dough springing back then it is ready to shape. If the indent stays, knead for a few minutes longer.
4. Shape the dough into an oval and place it on the prepared baking tray. Flatten it out to about 30cm/12in long and 20cm/8in wide. Cover the dough loosely with oiled clingfilm, making sure it is airtight.
5. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
6. Leave the dough in a warm place for about an hour, or until it has almost doubled in size. With a floured index finger press holes in the dough at regular intervals, about 4cm/1½in apart in rows across the dough, pressing right down to the bottom. Cut 3cm/1¼in sprigs of the rosemary and push them into the holes. Sprinkle some sea salt over the dough and place in the top third of the oven. Bake for about 25–30 minutes, or until the bread is well risen, pale golden-brown and feels hollow when tapped underneath.
7. Remove from the oven, drizzle with the remaining olive oil and leave to cool on the baking tray.

Getting Ready

Off to our friend's party tonight, can't wait.  Tim Green and Leon from Italy are playing....this morning I went for my run and then shopping.  Lazed around this afternoon watching films and spent an hour on my nails...love this colour red.  Sometimes I do my own manicures - usually whilst watching TV, doing 2 things at once.  This colour is Make Love (Not War) by Rococo Nail Apparel, currently on sale in Space NK.  Lovely colours but I find they do need a few coats.  Now off for a swim whilst the others have a chinese take out, best to leave before the food arrives!!!

http://www.rocococosmetics.com/

Dinner

I've been training hard all week after work and still sticking to the healthy eating....seriously I have a wardrobe full of clothes that I can't get into and I'm determined to get into them in time for Japan so its GAME ON!

This is actually a really filling dinner, I had a mushroom omelette (no milk) with a salad (no dressing) and a spoon of be good to yourself range coleslaw from Sainsburys. Was naughty with the diet coke, but at least no calories.  The whole thing couldn't have been more than 300 calories.

So no, it wasn't a chinese take out for me tonight, which was what I really fancied, but nevertheless this did hit the spot (kinda)

Now I sit here with my hot water and lemon whilst writing....off to bed as we are going for a 7am run tomorrow around the lake - night x

Our new housemate....

Max the sausage dog!

He's a cutie :-)

Healthy Living

Miranda Kerr is one of my favourite models.  She has also studied nutrition.

I have found an interview where she gives an insight into her diet.


A typical daily diet if I am home is:

Breakfast:
* Fresh fruit salad with yoghurt and muesli
* 2 x Rye toast with avocado and boiled eggs
* Water with lemon and ginger
* Cup of green tea

Pecans, almonds and walnuts to nibble on for morning tea (sometimes roasted in tamari)

Lunch:
Fresh tuna salad with spelt crispbreads
Water with lemon
Dandelion Tea

Piece of fruit or nuts for afternoon tea

Dinner:
Either a salmon steak or other fish or Lamb Loin chops or a piece of steak with veges or salad
I don’t eat a lot of potato, but I eat heaps of greens and sweet potato and pumpkin roasted.

Cup of Green tea with ginger

Hope this helps. Love Miranda

Cry Baby

I just love this top by D&G - I think it would look really cool tucked into the jeans I've written about below....

And I love Johnny Depp - who doesn't right?

£90 by D&G 

Roobios Tea

I'm hooked on this stuff already! My friend from South Africa Jodi-Ann has introduced me to this tea and I'm drinking about four cups a day.

It's known for its unique health properties and is also a rich source of antioxidants (much better than green tea).  No caffeine and is extremely relaxing.

You can read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A12644020

J Brand

I've seen these gorgeous jeans I want to get.   Flares are back this year and its a look I love so can't wait to start wearing them.

May be I'll treat myself at the end of the month to this pair...

$218.00

http://www.jbrandjeans.com

Remix

Great remix by Erol Alkan - Why won't you make up your mind.....
Release date is early Feb.

Reminds me of one of those summer tunes that you'll always remember.....happy days :-)

http://soundcloud.com/erolalkan/why-wont-you-make-up-your-mind-erol-alkan-rework-radio-edit-mastered

I know this great little place in London..........

Fab website.....a must!!!

You have to sign up to become a member, it's free and it's full of hidden gems.  I hope you discover something new.....

http://www.greatlittleplace.com

Festivals

So many to choose from in the UK in the summer......I've managed a few in the past two years, always lots of fun!  I'm hoping to make one or two this year - I've always wanted to do Bestival so that's on the list fingers crossed!  Here are some pics of Global Gathering, my cousin Sophie came and we drove up with Mark, his bro and tour manager...crazy cool times!  Pic number 4 always makes me laugh - we were playing up for the camera for a laugh of course!

Blakes Hotel

I've stumbled across this gorgeous hotel in Kensington called Blakes.  Wow is all I can say!  Don't know how I haven't heard about this place.  I've attached some examples of what the rooms are like and not bad at all for £150 per night considering the location.

Looks like they have an excellent restaurant and they offer all sorts of packages, really good weekend deals.  Perfect if you're visiting London or just want to stay central for the evening.  The afternoon tea is reasonable too - £19 per head or with champagne it's £26 per head so I will be checking this out with the girls some point this year.  Great for a romantic getaway or to take your girlfriends there as a treat/birthday.

The hotel is designed by Anouska Hempel - check out the website as it shows all the rooms, prices etc.

http://www.blakeshotels.com

Great Couple Present

I've been hunting for a suitable engagement present for our friends....it's quite difficult as you want to get something special but at the same time a lot of the stuff out there is Mr and Mrs themed and they're not married yet, certainly don't want to jinx anything.  So I opted for this today - how gorgeous are these pillow cases?

They cost just under £30 and you can purchase them from one of my favourite websites - Not On The High Street

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com

I'm loving

Kim Kardashian's hair.   Super stylish beehive...

Facial Pressure Points

I found the below on the internet and have been trying Point 4.  What do you think of these?  Worth a go!

There are dozens of acupressure points on the face, and many massage techniques. However, all you need to get started is the five common acupressure points and two massage techniques illustrated below.

How to do face acupressure
1. Locate the points with your index fingers.
2. Gently press them until you feel no more than a comfortable pain.
3. Hold the pressure while you knead the points with very small circular movements.
4. Breathe slowly and deeply and focus your mind on the points as you massage them.
5. Massage each point for 1-2 minutes several times a day.

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Point 1. (known as Jingming in Chinese)Located on the inside edge of the orbit of each eye.
Press and knead for sore, tired eyes and as a preventative against eye problems.

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Point 2. (Zanzhu)Located on the medial end of each eyebrow.
Press and knead for frontal headache, sore, tired eyes, sinus pain, and as a preventative against eye problems.

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Point 3. (Taiyang)Located on the temples behind each eye.
Use your index and middle fingers to press and knead for one or two sided headache, to calm the mind, and for eye problems. Also used preventatively.

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Point 4.(Yingxiang)Located next to each nostril.
Press and knead for nasal congestion, sinusitis, rhinitis, and to help prevent these problems.
For greater effectiveness use your index fingers to rub up and down the sides of your nose between Yingxiang and Jingming (Point 1) for 1-2 minutes, several times a day.

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Point 5. (Renzhong)Located under your nose, on the midline.
Use your knuckle or the tip of your middle or index finger. Pressing this point draws energy up to your head and helps your nasal passages adjust to weather changes. Also used as a revival point after fainting or shock.

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Technique 1. (Forehead Rub)Use your index and middle fingers to rub across your forehead, from the middle to your temples.
Massage and rub this area for frontal headache, sinus pain, insomnia, sore eyes, stress, and to help prevent these problems.

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Technique 2. (Head Massage)Use the tips (including the nails) of your fingers and thumbs to press and rub your scalp from the midline to the sides, and from the front to the back of your head.
Relieves and prevents headache, and is highly relaxing, especially when done by someone else.

Today I've been listening to

Damian Lazarus - Fabric 54

We've been playing this today in the car, one of my favourite Fabric CDs for sure.  I found it to be completely across the board - started off quite housey, thought the inner city life sampler was cool and stripped down/trippy towards the end.

I'm a Fabric First member which means for £6 a month I get a free CD, queue jump at the club etc etc.  Check it out, well worth getting this membership.  My Fabric collection is quite impressive now and you can also get back catalogue CDs cheaper.

http://www.fabriclondon.com/fabricfirst/about

So.....

I haven't blogged for a couple of days, have been meaning to but it's been a combination of things..I'm only just getting over this cold, urgh, the one thing I've found that has helped me is drinking hot water with a slice of lemon - have been having may be 5 or 6 of these a day, I feel so much better.  I've also been doing some research into chinese medicine and there are some really good face massages you can do to help sinus problems, i'll post more on that later.  I totally believe in this, I'm actually a qualified masseuse (not that I practice)  and I learnt a lot about how the east view illnesses and what can be done.

I've been busy at work but also we drove down to Cardiff last night as it was my uncle's funeral today in Swansea and have only just arrived home.  We stayed at our friend's though in Cardiff so didn't have time to blog.  As funeral's go it was so lovely - I think it is the only funeral I have come away from feeling upbeat...

It was nice meeting my two cousin's Ben and Natasha as I think I've only met them a couple of times when I was younger.  Natasha and I have agreed to be friends of facebook and to stay in touch, it was lovely meeting her properly, well you know what they say - out of something bad, something good always happens.

RIP Uncle Jim

xxxx

Old Clubbing Pic

Found this photo of me and my old clubbing friend Caroline from 2004 - 7 years ago! Such a bubba face! ha ha!!  I remember this night clearly, it was at Pacha - fun times!

6 Tips for a Healthy Immune System

Still got this wretched cold so I have been drinking plenty of hot water with a slice of lemon in it.  I've also been doing some research into how I can prevent these colds - so here are some tips for a better immune system, not rocket science I know but still...here are six ways to turn your immune system into a virtual Fort Knox, according to the experts:

• Wash your hands regularly. Hands down, the best way to prevent colds or flu is to wash your hands whenever you come into contact with someone who is sick, the experts say. "Use soap and water," Edelman says. Here's why this works: colds and flu are mainly spread when viruses come into contact with the lining of the nose. Viruses -- and there are more than a hundred that cause colds alone -- can infiltrate the nose via the eyes or mouth. Usually, viruses meet these mucous membranes by our hands.
• Get your flu shot. "We recommend that anybody who wants to be protected against the flu get vaccinated against it," Edelman says. In the past, flu shots were recommended only for people considered at high risk -- senior citizens, people with chronic diseases, and health care workers -- but now doctors suggest that anyone who is not allergic to the vaccine should get it, he says. The vaccine will protect about 80% of people who get it from a serious case of flu. At least 20,000 Americans die from the flu and its complications each year; most victims are over 65, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Get physical -- but don't overdo it. "If a person is sedentary, they have a quiet or underactive immune response to viral invaders and are more susceptible to illnesses and colds, as are people who exercise too much," says Thomas Weidner, PhD, professor of athletic training education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. "The key is moderate exercise." That means about 30 minutes ofaerobic exercise three or more days a week.
• Get your C. While there is no evidence that taking vitamin C can prevent colds and flu, the Institute of Medicine recently recommended increasing daily intake to 75 milligrams per day for women and 90 milligrams per day for men. Additionally, the report says that smokers need an additional 35 milligrams per day. "Getting all your vitamins and minerals will help strengthen your immune system," Edelman says.
• Have sex. A recent study by researchers at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., suggested that sex strengthens the immune system. Couples who made love once or twice a week had 29% higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an immune system protein that protects the mouth and upper respiratory tract against cold and flu viruses.
• De-stress. Colds and flu are most likely to strike when people are under psychological stress, according to a landmark study published in TheNew England Journal of Medicine. The study found that working too hard and not getting enough sleep exhaust the body, leaving it more vulnerable to infection. "Get eight hours of sleep or more a night and relax," Weidner says. Stress-reduction techniques, such as taking warm baths, doing yoga, or keeping a journal may help soothe the soul and strengthen the immune system.

Just Like A Star

I just love this version of Just Like a Star that Rebecca Ferguson sang on X Factor a while back, I hope she releases it.  Such a beautiful version and I actually think its better than original.

FLASHBACK

To 17th December 1994 - my first rave, my first ever clubbing experience of any kind.

I was sooo young, so sorry to mum if you're reading this which I know you more than likely are because there is no way you'd consent me to go to a rave at 14, but I know she'd be cool as she knows how much I love dance music.   Plus I'm 30 and there's not much she can do about it now as it was over 16 years ago.  I honestly went for the love of the music and had an amazing time.

The whole thing just felt like a dream because I'd never seen anything like it.  Mark and I have been sitting here tonight watching the old videos on You Tube and he agrees that I was so lucky to be there and that I managed to experience the very end of that whole orbital rave era.....those were the days.  But hey we're in a whole new music era now which is fantastic and I've been to some amazing places and events, especially over the last couple of years.

But right now, its back to 1994 to World Dance, it gives me goose bumps watching this, this is what set off my real obsession with dance music.

New Arrivals....

I thought I would share with you some clothing that particularly stood out under new arrival categories this week.

Leopard Print Chiffon Top - Miss Selfridge £22

Floral Garden Ra Ra Skirt - French Connection £47

Colour Block Sleeveless Panelled Shift Dress - M&S £39.50

Bead Waist Maxi Dress - Oasis £70

2 in 1 Chiffon Dress - Primark