At last, Forever21 launches in the UK!

Calling all Fashionistas! Ever lusted after clothes from an American fashion blog, only to realise you have no chance, unless you take a quick flight across the continents to grab yourself a bargain? (rendering the term 'bargain' slightly non-applicable).

One of the main culprits that crops up A LOT in fashion blogs is Forever21, but fear not, in a high street fashion trade off, we gave them Topshop, now they are giving us Forever21!

With the first UK store launching in Birmingham this Friday on 12th November, and the second in Dublin on 13th November, I for one am hoping they will filter through to all the main cities in the UK over the coming months.

In a side note, I'm hoping to get back to some outfit posting real soon, once I've a) sorted out my winter wardrobe and b) got over this week of allergy testing at my local hospital.

I've had some skin 'issues' for years now and have finally been referred for a week long allergy testing course. For this week at least I'm having to wear a very, VERY tight gym top to hold down the 50 sample patches attractively taped to my back. I am desperate to find out just what it is that I'm allergic to on Friday, although my current mantra is *Please don't let it be alcohol, please don't let it be alcohol... fingers crossed everyone!

Fireworks Food: Classic Chilli Con Carne

I can only think of one thing I want to eat tonight, when I'm out in the pouring rain watching soggy fireworks with my 3 year old, saying 'oooh' and 'aaah' at all the right moments – HOT Chilli Con Carne in a delicious Jacket Potato! You just can't beat it.

Here is Jamie Oliver's Recipe for Chilli Con Carne, just in case you get the same cravings, now I've mentioned it! His ingredients list is rather long, but I usually just knock certain bits out if I a) haven't got them in the cupboard or b) don't actually know what they are.

And if you are out enjoying the festivities tonight or over the weekend, hope you have a fabulous time, and stay safe!

ingredients
• 2 medium onions
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 sticks of celery
• 2 red peppers
• olive oil
• 1 heaped teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 heaped teaspoon
• ground cumin
• 1 heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas
• 1 x 400g tin of red kidney beans
• 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
• 500g good-quality minced beef
• 1 small bunch of fresh coriander
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 400g basmati rice
• 1 x 500g tub of natural yoghurt
• 1 x 230g tub of guacamole
• 1 lime

To make your chilli
• Peel and finely chop the onions, garlic, carrots and celery – don’t worry about the technique, just chop away until fine
• Halve the red peppers, remove the stalks and seeds and roughly chop
• Place your largest casserole-type pan on a medium high heat
• Add 2 lugs of olive oil and all your chopped vegetables
• Add the chilli powder, cumin and cinnamon with a good pinch of salt and pepper
• Stir every 30 seconds for around 7 minutes until softened and lightly coloured
• Add the drained chickpeas, drained kidney beans and the tinned tomatoes
• Add the minced beef, breaking any larger chunks up with a wooden spoon
• Fill one of the empty tomato tins with water and pour this into the pan
• Pick the coriander leaves and place them in the fridge
• Finely chop the washed stalks and stir in
• Add the balsamic vinegar and season with a good pinch of salt and pepper
• Bring to the boil and turn the heat down to a simmer with a lid slightly askew for about an hour, stirring every now and again to stop it catching

Home Style: Easy peasy coffee table

I saw this idea for an ultra easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy coffee table on another blog the other day, so thought I'd give it a try. I've not executed the idea particularly well here, although you get the idea!

It's so simple, just pile up a big stack of your biggest hard-backed books, and voila, one unique coffee table.

Try to use books that you won't want to look at for a while, if I now want to read my Russell Brand book I'll basically have to 'break' my new table to read it.

And the great thing is, you can constantly update your table with different books depending on your mood. Try it out for yourself!

Wise words Sophia...

Says Sophia Loren, with possibly the most beautiful eyes in showbiz history!

How to: Fall over in a dignified manner...

This isn't me falling over (I'm not friends with Sarah Harding), but I feel for the poor lass, I really do...

One of my very bestest skills (if you can call it a skill) is falling over. I've probably even blogged about it once or twice.

My preferred falling over incidents (and most talked about) are, in order of preference:

• That time I fell over at my friends summer barbeque, my heel got stuck in the grass and I was DOWN, face first, with mud all over my chin.
• That time I fell over in the pub (which time I hear you ask? there have been a few), well that time when I landed in a kneeling position at the bar after getting my heel stuck in the doorway, it's one way of getting served soonest.
• And that time I fell out of my car, again head first, and again after getting my heel stuck, this time in the hem of my trousers.

Can you see the pattern forming?, they all involve 'heels'.


Well, in the first of my 'Tuesday: How To's', I'm addressing this issue with some top tips for falling over in a dignified manner:

1. Always try to break your fall. Head first falling hurts bad. And you wind up with mud on your face, which makes your already embarrassed state rather much worse.
2. Feel free to let out a little girly squeal (unless you're a guy), it makes people feel sorry for you, like they would do a small child and they are less inclined to laugh.
3. Please make sure you are wearing good knickers. It's bad enough to fall over, but if you give everyone a glimpse of your 'I need to do some washing knickers' - the humiliation will last a LOT longer, I promise.
4. If you are of the falling over variety, try to make sure you are with someone at all times. Falling over on your own is possibly the worst type of fall. With no one to laugh it over with you really do just look like a wally, or a drunk, or a drunk wally.
5. Always inspect your heels for 'pretend' defects after a fall, if in doubt, blame the shoes but make sure everyone notices you 'blaming the shoes'.
6. Never admit to being hurt. Once the commotion has died down, feel free to walk round a corner and scweam and scweam and scweam, but not while people are still watching.
7. Allow people to help you up - even if they are sniggering. If they are not sniggering, be warned, they will snigger when they tell all their friends on facebook what they just saw.
8. And lastly, whilst difficult, if you happen to be walking along with your beautiful friend, try to compose your facial expression when falling, the lady above has got it all wrong, if you are captured on camera falling, a smile is much more flattering.

Like with most things, falling over with dignity is an art form, it takes some practice. I practice a lot and I'm still not there, so don't worry if it takes you some time to perfect.

What's been your best (or worst, depends on how you look at it) falling over experience?

Fashion: Cheryl vs Dannii

Like many people, X-Factor seems to take up half my weekend these days. But for me, one of the main reasons I watch... is to see what Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue are up to in the style stakes.

The girls are clearly having a full on fashion-fight each week and this week was no different.

Before I get onto the clothes, let's just mention Cheryl's hair. Hmmm, I'm not digging it this year, Dannii is definitely winning the hair contest for me, what she can do with a simple short bob never fails to amaze me.

Cheryl tried this red tinged hair a little while back, and my previous post on it is by far the most searched item on my entire blog, so it seems many people are curious to Cheryl's hair. Well, I'm not sure about it, and I think it's getting her down too, she seems a bit grouchy these days (although I suppose that could be to do with the rubbish year she has had, poor girl).

Anyhow, back to the clothes. The top picture is from Saturday night, for me Dannii wins here in this gorgeous Marchesa dress. The picture below is from Sunday night, Cheryl wins for me here in her Ina Soltani dress (although she does look a teeny bit like she's jumped out of a box of quality street).

So, who are you backing this week? Cheryl or Dannii?

Random: Happy Halloween

A likkle picture of my two little kidringtons, in their halloween outfits last year.

Well Daisy isn't fully in her outfit, she later became a funky witch, and little Jo Jo in his little fat pumpkin outfit. Possibly the last year I'll get away with a cutie pie outfit for him now he's a proper boy and all cool and that.

Hope you all have super fabulous halloween fun. Boo!

Scrummy Chocolate Fudge Cake

Sorry if you can see dribble on this picture, I've been a' droolin!
Chocolate Fudge Cake, mmmm, how delicious, give it a go this weekend and everyone will love you forever and ever amen. I am a learner in the cooking dept. but this isn't too tricky even for a numnuts like me.

Ingredients

200g plain chocolate, broken into chunks

200g butter

200g light brown sugar

100ml soured cream

2 eggs, beaten

200g self-raising flour

5 tbsp cocoa powder

hundreds and thousands or whatever takes your fancy, to decorate

For Icing

100g plain chocolate

170g can condensed milk

100g butter
So, start by heating your oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and if you can manage two things at once (I can't) line a 22 x 22cm square tin with baking paper. 

Pop one piece of the chocolate in your mouth (optional), and add the rest of the chocolate, butter and sugar into a large pan with 100ml hot water and gently melt together. Set aside for 2 mins, then stir in the soured cream followed by the eggs.

Finally, stir or whisk in the flour and cocoa like a mad woman, until lump-free, then pour into the prepared tin (unless you forgot to prepare it, if so, prepare it now). Bake for 50-55 mins until a skewer comes out clean. Sit the tin on a wire rack to cool.

Meanwhile, make the icing (which sounds simpler than it really is). Gently melt together icing ingredients in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, then leave to cool until spreadable.

To decorate, carefully turn out the cooled cake and peel off the baking paper. Spread the icing over the top and scatter with hundreds and thousands, then cut the cake into triangles or fingers before serving.

Now you can share your efforts with your loved ones, or alternatively, simply hide it in a cupboard and secretly eat it all when no one is looking. Scrummy Chocolate Fudge Cake: Done.

Dreamy Home Office Inspiration

Vintage inspired accessories make boring stuff look fun!!

I love the idea of the inspiring pictures to gaze at when deep in thought...

And here, who needs pictures with a scenic window view

So organised! something I could only wish to be in my wildest dreams!

Gutted that I grew out of my home office a couple of years back. I WANT ONE OF THESE!!! *Stamps feet in childish tantrum scandal

If I had one of these, my work would be so much easier to do, I'd really enjoy going to work, I'd be happier and all in all it would be just lovely. I JUST WANT ONE OF THESE!!!

Unfortunately my office now holds 4 people and it would be hard to inflict my dreamy office looks on to them, especially the 2 men in the office, but you never know maybe I'll surprise them one day with an office makeover!. I REALLY JUST WANT ONE OF THESE!!!

Land of Soap & Glory

I have to admit, I was a Soap and Glory virgin until a friend suggested I try Soap and Glory's 'Flakeaway'.

I absolutely blinkin' loved it! Flakeaway is now one of my all-time favourite products. Scrubbing your legs with this before shaving them gives you an extremely close shave and baby soft skin and the smell is just divine!

In Boots recently, I bought 6 of their products (and only paid for 4). No, I wasn't shoplifting, they were on a 3 for 2 offer, yeehah! As I was on a bit of beauty product trolley dash, I walked away with a slight Liam Gallagher swagger, not 'cos I'm cool, 'cos my 2 carrier bags were so so heavy!

Naturally, I topped up my 'Flakeaway' supply, but will give you a very quick run down of the other products I bought and what I thought of them.

Dr Spot: Unfortunately, so far this hasn't done much for the recent spotty antics on my face, although I will keep trying it.

Wish Upon a Jar, 21 Day Collagen Overhaul Cream: This is gorgeous! It says to only use for 21 days (not quite sure why that is) but I'd consider using it long term. My face feels slightly plumper, I love's it I do.

Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser: Probably my favourite product from this particular haul. Deep cleanses your skin, leaving my face feeling light and totally refreshed.

Hair Supply Conditioner: Well, my hair's not digging this one, it smells lush, but it's not for me.

Hand Food Hand Cream: A huge tube of this is £4.50 which I think is excellent value, it's a great everyday hand cream with the same delicious smell – I have to stop myself from licking my hands all day!

I'm trying a new format for the blog to make it easier for me to find new content each day, so it will be mixed up with fashion, how to's, beauty, home style, recipe's and of course some of my 'randoms'. Hope you likey. x

RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum – have you tried it yet?

So this is the new 'must have' beauty product that has his the shelves in the UK this week.

Boots are selling this exclusively for £39.99 (in fact the Boots website crashed last night due to the demand from eager shoppers). You can BUY IT HERE – if they have any left!

It promises to promote eyelash growth by up to 50%, if used daily for 8 weeks.

Have you tried this or are you going to? I'm so interested to know if anyone has in real life, reviewers seem to be raving about it, is it really that great?

STOP THE PRESS: NEXT SALE...

The NEXT Sale starts officially on 17th July, stores open from 5am and online from 8am.

I've heard rumours it starts in London stores on 16th July, er... like tomorrow from 5am and rest of the UK on Saturday. Can anyone confirm?

Eugh: flat shoes...

I had a full-day photoshoot today for one of my design clients. A full and tiring day I can tell you... but on the upside, it was in a pub! And boy do I love a good old country pub.

I had to be ultra comfy today for jumping around the set's, and that meant... eugh: flat shoes. Not something you'll often see me in!

This LBD was fabulously cheap from Matalan at £10 but has seen me through all sorts fashion dilemma's, dressed up or dressed down it really is so versatile. I love the gold detail round the neck which ties in nicely with my beige with gold fleck cardigan.

Happy evening to you all!

Just a hint of pink...

Top: River Island, Skirt: Matalan, Shoes: Matalan, Necklace: Gift from my mum

Day 2 in my advice from the Joy Wilson body shape guide, 'a tulip skirt with pockets', gives me some hips... and as Shakira would say in her nasal type Shakira stylie "ooh baby I'm on tonight... and the hips don't lie...".

Today led me to thinking about two extremely important questions in life...

1. Is it okay to wear satin for day wear?... I say YES!
AND
2. After all his misdemeanors, is it still okay to love my soundtrack of the day?... Chris Brown, Forever

What d'ya say? Love or Boycott Chris Brown?

Today Matthew, I will be a... buzzy bee

I found the yellow shoes on ebay a year or two ago, after seriously stalking a pair that Kasmira used to wear a lot over on her blog...

There is something a bit buzzy bee'ish* (made up word alert!) about my outfit today.

Running on from my earlier post about dressing to suit your shape, one thing these guides often tell me to wear is an A-line skirt, which suits me fine as I have around 532 in my wardrobe. I think they suit just about everyone – and as my dear old friend used to say (btw, she's not dead, she just doesn't say it any more), if ever in doubt, go A-line.

This black and white stripey number is from River Island (£10 sale price) and actually has a layer of netting as well as the lining, which gives it that extra va va voom – and we all love a bit of va va voom don't we?

*Interesting Bee Fact: A common, yet incorrect, assumption is that the buzzing sound of bees is caused by the beating of their wings. The sound is actually the result of the bee vibrating its flight muscles, and this can be achieved while the muscles are decoupled from the wings—a feature known in bees but not other insects, oooh, who'd have known?

Which body shape are you?

One of the fundamental rules of style according to most stylists, is dressing to suit your body shape. But do you know what body shape you really are?

Most of us have a distorted view of our true body shape. What we see (or think we see) in the mirror isn't necessarily true, sometimes it takes others to point out and assess our shape and it can be a surprise!

I love Joy Wilson's shape guide, with a simple quiz to find out what shape you are and then helpful suggestions and ideas on how to dress to suit that shape.

I've always thought I have broad shoulders and smaller hips making me a 'Strawberry' – but on closer inspection actually I may be more of a straight up and down or a 'Rectangle' according to Joy. At least I can read the tips for both and choose which to put into action!

So which body shape are you?

Ladies day at the races...

'Considering it was ladies day, there seemed to be rather a lot of men milling around!'

What better excuse to get all dressed up than ladies day at Newmarket Races?

I bought a new floaty maxi dress especially for the occasion (£20), plus a purple fascinator (£6), both from bargaintastic Matalan.

I was quite possibly one of the cheapest dressed ladies there, and certainly wasn't going to win any fashion awards with all the amazing designer looks floating around, but I had a fantastic day none-the-less.

Sorry the pic is rather bright, but it was proper scorchio in Newmarket that day. I Show Allhave to say I felt as cool as a cucumber in the long, airy maxi – highly recommended for warm days. If I can find a full length pic, I'll update the image asap!

Back by popular demand...

Outfit: Gold shoes and belt, brown and gold flecked trousers, animal print chiffon blouse, wooden heart necklace, pretty much ALL from New Look.

Well, I'm back, not so much by demand, just by one request really... from my mum and auntie... (holds sign up *hello mum and auntie!).

I'm not wearing anything new here, but there is something new in the picture, can you spot it?

I have no clue where this necklace is from, unbeknown to me, it has been lurking in my jewellery for some time!

No, it's not the necklace, cute as it maybe... that's just a decoy shot.

'Home Sweet Home' from the cute but camp 'Colin and Justin' range at Matalan.

Hi-five if you guessed the 'Home Sweet Home' ornament on my mantlepiece, fresh from the sale in Matalan for a fabulous £10.

Whilst there isn't often much 'sweet' about my home (it contains children), we can but dream!

The Beauty Encyclopedia...

Well, it's not often that I actually take notice of sales emails these days, like most people I've become oblivious to them and they hit my trash bin quicker than you can say "you've got mail".

But, these beauty encyclopedia's from make up site e.l.f. did make me do a whiplash inducing double take.

'Everyday eyes', 'Sparkle eyes' and the 'Lip edition'. I loves it I do. And at just £6 each, I might just have to treat my 'e.l.f. and get all 3!

I want. I want. I WANT...

Oh, do excuse me, you just caught me mid tantrum.

I mentioned yesterday, my broken news years resolution and my lack of discipline. Well, this extends to my nails. Confession: I bite my nails AND I WANT NICE NAILS!

It is a really unattractive trait I know and totally bizarre when you think about it. You wouldn't munch on any other body part, well, not in front of people.

Worse still I don't even realise I'm doing it, well not always. I did notice the other evening mind you, when I was watching "The Hurt Locker" – Man! have you seen that yet? I suspect even non nail biters may find themselves with slightly shorter nails after that one.

So guys, how do I knock this nasty little habit on the head? Any tricks or tips I could try?

It's been a while...

Yep, it's been a while since I last posted (*looking sheepish, shuffling from one foot to the other). One of my new year resolutions was to be more disciplined in all aspects of my life... BIGTIME FAIL!

But here I am, I'm sorry if you've been stopping by only to find nothing new, I'm making amends as of today.

Starting off gently with a couple of hot picks from the MEGA SALE at Tesco:
Clockwise from top left: Lime gathered sleeve jumper £5. Leopardprint Coat £15. Hot Pink Coat £15. Denim shirt dress £16 (non sale).

I want to wear the lime top under the leopardprint with some black skinnies...

There are some fantastic bargains both instore and online. I noticed they are also doing a 20% off all clothing until 24th March online, big wowza if that also applies to sale items?, go grab a bargain! (Tip: Look out for the knitwear, tons of cardigans handy for Spring mostly at £5.)

A little market research please... on happy birthday cards

Today, I am doing a little market research on happy birthday cards.

For years I've had an urge to produce greetings cards – happy birthday cards, thank you cards. I have millions of designs like the ones above, I've just picked out a couple of randoms here.

Would appreciate your thoughts, are they worth pursuing?.

The inners would be printed in a bright coordinating colour, but, left blank mainly. They would come with a contrasting brightly coloured envelope, so the bright pink for example. Retail would be around £1.50-£1.75.

These are not completed designs, just testing the water! They would be under a 'brand' and all follow a similar look and feel.

Any feedback greatly appreciated, thank you!.

Seeing Red... leather gloves

Today, I bought a pair of red, leather gloves in Sainsburys!.

I'm afraid I may have to give up grocery shopping. Items seem to relentlessly follow me round the store until I give in and pop them in the trolley. (Oh, go on then).

I'm not feeling too guilty about these red, leather gloves mind you. Reduced to £5 in Sainsburys. My mum and I both agreed these were a sound purchase.

Red seems to be my accent colour of choice at the moment, and not just in my accessories and wardrobe. My house is seeing snippets of red here, there and everywhere – I just can't stop myself.

Have you noticed a colour theme that filters through your wardrobe AND your home?

One for the road... hand painted wine glasses

In a break from normal service – today, I bring you NOT something I have bought, but rather, something someone has bought for me (which should please both the boyf AND the bank manager).

My mother in law gave me this beautiful, hand painted 'Lolita' wine glass. A truly thoughtful gift as it encompasses two of my most favourite past times... shopping and wine! She knows me too well me thinks.

This is the 'Shopaholic' version, there are tons available, one to suit every taste I'm sure. If you'd like to get your smackers around one of these hand painted wine glasses, they retail around £16 in the UK and come beautifully packaged, they make an ideal pressie.

I found some here at John Lewis, to save you the bother of google, such a hasslepants.

Now please excuse me, I'm off to pour myself a large glass of Pinot! I may be some time.

Rule Britannia... Union Jack style

I'm a woman of my word... when I said I had a hunch of matching this thrifted union jack belt with floral, I only blimmin' well did it.

My union jack belt has left me feeling rather patriotic today, but I have to admit to being a useless patriot. I had one of those moments when for some reason I was adament our queen was called Margaret. What? Margaret? And you know that feeling when you are so convinced of something and argue your case only to suddenly realise you are a complete imbecile and shouldn't really be allowed out of the house unaccompanied.

Honestly, what was I thinking... Margaret... everyone knows she's called Vera.

ps. Do you think you can be imprisoned for misquoting the 'name' of the Queen on a blog? If you don't hear from me for a while, you'll know the answer is YES!

And in the depths of the sales...

You know when the sales seem to drag on and on? And you wonder why shops leave a couple of rails with a selection of old tat in a range of extreme sizes that surely no one will ever buy, even if it is reduced by 90% – in some cases looking like they would pay you to take it off their hands.

Yet, for some reason, I still feel the need to trawl these rails. No, I'm not after that elusive neon yellow ra-ra skirt, it's because, just now and again you do come across a bargainistic find, purely by chance.

The blazer above is one such find in Matalan. An amazing £3!! reduced from £30!. Hi fives all round I do believe.

Thrifting on the 1st Feb...

What better way to start off February, than with a spot of thrifting?

I didn't have a very enjoyable week last week, it was rubbish. I actually ended the week in hospital! (It's a really long story which I won't bore you with, but I'm fine now and it wasn't all that serious). So, to cheer myself up, I took the day off today to recover and met my mum and sis for coffee and thrift time.

First score was this Jigsaw top above. I loved the orangey/terracotta embroidery. £6 from Cancer Research in Bury St Edmunds.


I also found this little cute-cream-coloured-cape (try saying that a few times) for £2.50 from another thrift shop in Bury St Edmunds. I'm not sure exactly what I'll wear this with, but it is really pretty and a nice girlie addition to my wardrobe.


And finally, this union jack belt in Oxfam for £3.99. Bit chavvy... agreed, but I was feeling patriotic. I'm going to try wearing this with a floral dress... not sure why... I just had a vision and in my head it looked good! We shall see...

COMPETITION WINNER NEWS! Before falling ill, my colleagues and I did manage to choose a winner for the competition to be published in my ickle magazine.

We had more than 50 entries, so picking a 'best' was an impossible task. So it came down to what most suited the February issue. And the winner was... northwestlondongirlinthecountry.blogspot.com Congratulations!

Thank you all for your entries, they were all fantastic. The magazine is produced monthly, so I may publish some more of the articles as the months go on. I'll be sure to let you know if I do. And feel free to keep submitting articles you feel may be suitable.

Blogger inspired outfit...

I love reading your blogs. I'm just a glorified stalker really. But, don't let that put you off! Today's outfit was inspired by you guys.

The jeans inspired by Kari. I used to LIVE in jeans, but somewhere along the way I fell out of love with denim. Time to rekindle! Thanks to Kari for making me rethink them.

Ruffle blouse and animal print cardi, belted, partly inspired by Jessica at What I Wore (there are not many days go by when I'm not inspired by this girl!). I loved her ruffle on ruffle look, but had to make do with what I had available...

Another trend I've tried here (as seen on several bloggers) is mixing patterns. Something I would never have dreamed of a few months back, before I discovered fashion blogs!


Dottyness and animal print, who'd have thought?

Have you tried the pattern mixing combo? or been inspired lately by other bloggers?

DON'T FORGET! For any budding writers or bloggers out there, I'm offering the chance to be published in the February issue of my magazine... click here for more details.