Maxi Dresses Extra Long: 2014

Wednesday 31 December 2014

Aeolian Island Break: Exploring Lipari

If you imagine the Med islands but much quieter and with a much more culture seeking crowd, you have the Aeolians. As with a lot of our travels, I did a fair bit of reading before we went out there. From what I imbibed through the travel books, I imagined azure blue waters, relaxing walks, freshly caught fish for lunch, cobbled streets waiting to be explored and a lively local scene. The Aeolians were all that and more. Yet, they felt like a precious little secret I shared with a select few.

Lipari is the main hub for the Aeolians. We chose to have Lipari as our base for this very reason. Accommodation was reasonably priced (outside the August madness) and we could easily get to mainland Sicily as well as the other islands. I also liked the idea of having shops to visit, cafes to frequent and plentiful choice of restaurants. As always, the locals (Italians/Sicilians) always provide their share of entertainment via a keen interest in you and a general sense of drama in everything they say or do.

The best way to see Lipari properly is to hire a scooter. We even managed to negotiate the price of one for about 15 Euros a day. Nevertheless, due to various reasons, we ended up exploring Lipari by foot. You could stick to the touristy trail and explore the castle, museum etc. or just wander the streets and see what you find. We did more of the latter. I loved visiting the little grocery stores that sold local produce (oils, wine, bread, fruit etc) and stopping by tiny local cafes for the mandatory granita or gelato.

The beauty of Lipari and the Aeolians in general is that there isn't that much to do and so you are forced to slow down after a day's worth of exploring. Instead, find a spot to relax by the beach or a sidewalk cafe and people watch whilst sipping on good quality coffee. We bought bits from the local shops for an impromptu picnic by a bench and wandered into pretty Trattorias in search of dinner. The food never failed to disappoint, especially if you sought out local specialties.

Have you been to Liapri or somewhere similar? What were your favourite activities? Ann x

Wearing: Hat bought from a local Sicilian store, Vivienne Westwood Sunglasses; H&M Blazer, Thrift Store Playsuit; La Redoute Sandals, Mandarina Duck Bag via TKMaxx ( all old collections)

To get in touch and see the latest on all my adventures, follow me on Bloglovin, Twitter or Facebook .

Photography by Edward Chandler

Unsung Towns: Cleethorpes

There is a stoic melancholy about Cleethorpes; as if it were making the most of the 'now' whilst reminiscing of past glory. Back in the Victorian days, Cleethorpes was marketed as a popular seaside town, especially for those in nearby Yorkshire. Whilst tourists continue the come across the Humber even today, it hasn't quite made it to the popularity levels of some the more southern seaside resorts. However, there is an certain authenticity about Cleethorpes that is strangely captivating.

We are up north every so often to see family and a walk down the Cleethorpes promenade is a popular routine. I love the Sunday market near the pier has some great bargain 'seconds' from the likes of Karen Millen, Minuet Petit etc . The views of the tide coming in and out, the picnic parties braving the chill winds for some fresh seaside air, children on crabbing expeditions, horseback rides along the beach, Cleethorpes seafront life is the epitome of making the most of whatever is on offer.

Like most English seaside towns, Cleethorpes has its share of attractions. The light coast railway and the Lollipop road train rides, slot machines, fish & chips and ice cream vendors, giant snakes & ladders and hopscotch, and the usual load of fun 'tat'. I'd also recommend checking out the Captain's Table restaurant for some really good quality seafood. If you are a geek like me, you can even browse through 'technical' details of the fish species on offer before you make your choice.

Cool late summer walks by the seaside call for weather-appropriate fashion. I'm wearing a favourite sequined t-shirt (borrowed many years ago from my little cousin and surprisingly still fits), along with a pair of black jeans and my go-to blazer from H&M to keep off the chill. I believe that not-so-sunny days require a strong dose of happy-colour to make them better.

I'd love to hear about other unsung towns that you frequent and your happy outfits too! Ann x

Wearing boutique SRC t-shirt ( Made in India), Zara jeans, H&M tailored blazer, ASOS leopard flats and Marc Jacobs crossbody bag.

To get in touch and see the latest on all my adventures, follow me on Bloglovin, Twitter or Facebook .

Photography by Edward Chandler

London Fashion Week AW13: Bora Aksu

When I started writing this post, I asked myself what I was hoping to achieve. Detailed reviews, clips and photos are already all over the Internet from the Bora Aksu AW13 show (which was the second on schedule on day one of LFW). I'm not really going to add much more by way of sartorial musings than say Vogue or Elle. I could however share my experience of my very first show at my very first Fashion Week. Also, as a fashion outsider, I suspect my perspective may be slightly different to that of those on the inside.

Fact is, I felt a school girl giddiness as I lined up for Bora Aksu. I was thrilled that I'd actually got a ticket in the first place (newbie blogger and all). That giddiness turned to slight anxiety when, after over half hour of queueing, we were told that the catwalk was full. Thankfully, I was among the first forty on the standing allocation that got to view the show from the large viewing screen behind the catwalk. From a taking-photos point of view, it was rubbish. But then again, given how popular Bora shows are, even if I did get in to the catwalk arena, a standing allocation may have just meant photos of multicoloured fashion heads. Point to note, always get to a show half an hour early. They are often overbooked.

As the music started up and the show began, I sat open mouthed and mesmerised. Slinky, expression-less models sashayed in wearing exquisite creations in multiple textures, intricate weaves and floaty purples. The clothes were fantastic and to my novice eyes, very much wearable. I absolutely adored the beautiful crocheted headgear ; if only I had the bone structure to carry them off. There was something strangely familiar about these models; I now understand Bora was trying to capture the essence of the Diane Arbus identical twins photo.

The show only lasted about thirty minutes but I really did love every minute of it. The purples and floatiness-contrasted-by-leather aesthetic very much appealed to me. The whole experience felt surreal; moi geeky engineer sat at a London Fashion Week show. I know I would have been terribly annoyed had I been one of those that got turned away; for some, this was their only fashion week show. The upshot of it all is that I am intrigued by this Turkish designer and will hopefully be able to afford his beautiful creations one day ( Are you listening TK Maxx?).

What do you make of these clothes? Was your first Fashion Week show experience anything like mine? Ann x

All photos downloaded from Vogue online as mine were shit; taking pictures of a screen is pointless.

Homemade Sloe Gin

This is the photo of the remains of our first attempt at Sloe Gin back in 2008. We picked the berries with a help of a friend who knew his way round Bourne Woods. The gin is mature and has a lovely aroma. This year, we cheated and bought fresh sloes online from an eBay seller and they are fantastic. I'll keep you posted on how we get on.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 kilo sloes
500g caster sugar
2 litres dry gin ( use a cheapie as the sloes do all the good work)

Method:
Layer the demi-john with a bit a sugar, add sloes and continue layering. Add the gin and shake well. Continue shaking every couple of days for about 2 months. Then shake about once a month. Your sloe gin will be ready in about 3 months. However, the longer you leave it, the better. Remember to strain off the sloes after a year and you can let the gin continue to mature. Cheers!

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Is coconut oil healthy?

By Liz Atkins

At Healthy Food Guide we get a lot of enquiries about coconut oil. Is it better for you than other oils, is it really full of antioxidants, can it help you lose weight, and do all those coconut-crazed celebrities know something the rest of us don’t? It certainly seems to be taking up a lot of supermarket shelf space at the moment…

So the facts are these: coconut oil is high in saturated

fat – a typical level tablespoon has 135kcal and 15g fat,

of which 13g are saturated (it also has small amounts of monounsaturates and polyunsaturates). We shouldn’t be eating more than 20g saturates a day if we want to reduce the risk of raising bad (LDL) cholesterol in the blood, and thus the chances of heart disease.

But here the waters get a little muddied... Virgin coconut oil is high in lauric acid, a type of saturated fat that’s sub-classified as a medium-chain fatty acid. This, say scientists, can lead to a rise in both bad and good (HDL) cholesterol levels in our blood. So, despite being rich in saturated fat, virgin coconut oil may actually have a neutral - or even beneficial - effect on overall blood cholesterol levels. At least, that’s what early research is suggesting. But it’s far from conclusive.

Research into other health benefits, including its effect on weight loss, is limited. Virgin coconut oil does appear to contain some antioxidants but, if you’re eating a balanced, varied diet that includes plenty of fruit and veg each day, you shouldn’t be going short on these.

Sadly, like all other oils, it’s high in calories, so if you’re watching your weight, you need to restrict the amount you use. Skinnier-than-average celebrities, remember, tend to eat very little of anything, coconut oil included. The government recommends sticking below 70g total fat and 20g saturated fat each day.

Still curious?

If you want to try it, we recommend you go for virgin coconut oil, which comes from the fruit of the ripe coconut flesh. It’s an unrefined fat, ie no chemicals are used and it’s not heated to high temperatures. Avoid both refined and partially hydrogenated coconut oil: they’re likely to contain trans fats, which appear to be even more damaging to our bodies than saturated fats.

ZLMDS Women's Fashion Elegance Deep-V Leopard Printed Belted Hihgwasited Dress

ZLMDS Women's Fashion Elegance Deep-V Leopard Printed Belted Hihgwasited Dress

ASIN : B00QBSXVXS

brand: TDGA-ZLMDS

category: Night Out & Cocktail

Description : Z-LMDS is a all aspects of Garment Company Ltd.More and more like go shopping there because you can buy all kinds of clothes that you like.Because of the all natural material,you will fell comfortable when you wear Z-LMDS's clothes.They still continue design more fashion styles clothes.Don't miss it.
Material:dacron + spandex
Color:colorful
Package including:1x women's dress

Features :

Dacron + spandex
A Deep V-Neck
Wrap hip design;slim fit
Sexy no button design
Free size:Bust: 33.07 44.88 ; Waist: 23.62 35.43 ; Length: 32.28 ; Hip£º 37.01 47.24 (inch) ASIA SIZE!The size chart is listed in the size of the clothes,not in the weaers'body measurment.

DAPENE New Elegant Strapless Tie-Waist Wedding Women Gown

DAPENE New Elegant Strapless Tie-Waist Wedding Women Gown

ASIN : B00LZNCEDW

brand: DAPENE

category: Special Occasion

Description :
Fabric:Charmeuse
Style / Silhouette: wedding dress - Free overhanging

Leading modern wedding dress using free draping. All of our products are made ??with very good workmanship of the highest quality materials. If you want to be an eye-catching supper beautiful bride and bridesmaid choose the dress.
This is CUSTOM SIZE,PLEASE FULFILL FOLLOWING DETALS TO US
The whole custom made process (from the date we receive your payment and measurements) will take about 1-2 weeks (Pay overtime cost exception)
1Full Bust _____ cm.
2.Waist _____ cm.
3.Hips _____ cm.
4.Shoulder to Shoulder ____ cm.
5.Outer Leg (Waist to Feet) ____ cm.
6.Front Length Shoulder to Waist _____ cm.
7.Stature(Shoulder to Feet without in shoes) ___ cm.
8.Height: _____cm
9.The height of your high heel shoes: _____cm
10.Phone Number______
11.Dress color=______(optional)

After it's shipped out, the standard shipping will take 7-15days to deliver the item, while the expedited one will take 3-5days.

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN YOU NEED THE DRESS, then we will help you confirm if the timing is ok. Here are the measurements you need to fill in. 1inch=2.54cm

Features :

Hem falls to floor.
Open back
Evening dress
If you have any problems about our product,please contact us before placing the order.
The whole custom made process(from the date we receive your payment and measurements)will take about 1-2weeks (Pay overtime cost exception).

Marina Women's Black Tiered Beaded Hem Maxi Skirt (Large)

Marina Women's Black Tiered Beaded Hem Maxi Skirt (Large)

ASIN : B00PB9Y0KG

brand: Marina

Features :

Wispy tiered material creates a lightweight feminine effect to this maxi skirt from Marina. Subtle beading at the the hems finish off the look of this gorgeous and versatile skirt.
Tiered construction
Elastic waist Pull-on
100% Polyester
Dry Clean

Palazzo Fashion Girls's Wide Leg Palazzo Pants M White

Palazzo Fashion Girls's Wide Leg Palazzo Pants M White

ASIN : B00QB5UWII

brand: Palazzo Fashion

category: Pants & Capris

Description : Palazzo style pants! They are wide legged with fold over waist band featuring a black and white ethnic tribal print design throughout.

Features :

92% Polyester / 8% Spandex
Wide leg, Fold-over waist
Unfinished the bottom edge, designed to be shortened if desired
Inseam S(21 in), M(22 in), L(23 in); Waist S(22 in), M(24 in), L(26 in)
Available in both girl's and women's sizes

Plus Size Navy Pleated Maxi Dress --Size: 2x Color: Navy

Plus Size Navy Pleated Maxi Dress --Size: 2x Color: Navy

ASIN : B00JKJJ0EE

brand: Magic

category: Casual

Description : Pretty pleated maxi dress has a sleeveless bodice with adjustable skinny straps. The overlay bodice has an elastic waist and sheer overlay skirt.

Features :

100% polyester.
Hand Wash.
Made in China.
Size 1x measures: 36" bust, 36" waist, 41" hips.
Length: 57 inches.

Stromboli Island and Volcano

Whilst poring over our travel photos the other day, I came across some lovely ones from our little holiday in Sicily over a year ago. And even though I've previously blogged about Sicily and the Aeolian islands, I completely missed writing about our adventure in Stromboli. Given that I have no summer holiday tales to share, I'm going to relive those wonderful memories from last spring. And, who doesn't like a good volcano ( from a distance)?!

Stromboli is one of the eight Aeolian islands off the coast of Sicily. It is home to one the Italy's three active volcanoes. Ed and I had decided to give Etna a miss due to the weather and lack of time and explore Stromboli instead. It is a short ferry ride from Lipari (our base) and is a good place for a day trip.

We caught a ferry from Lipari mid-day which took us to Stromboli via a short stop at Panarea ( the richest of the islands). The ferry ride was incredibly scenic with stunning outcrops of rock meeting azure blue waters, distant islands and beautiful blue skies.

On reaching Stromboli, our first port of call was the local gelataria for a quick sweet fix before heading to the black volcanic sand beach for a snooze. A quick snooze later, we decided to go for a walk around the island. The volcano is omnipresent from all parts of the island, either by way of smell, sight or quite rumble. As we walked higher up the island, we could see the volcano spewing smoke in the distance. There were signs for shelter areas and safety tips just in case the volcano decided to rumble a bit more angrily.

Stromboli is also quite pretty, with lemon trees along pathways, little gardens with Mediterranean flowers and whitewashed houses with blue doors. It felt like an undiscovered secret island and I hoped it would remain that way ( rather than becoming like one of those more popular Greek islands)

Last on our agenda for the evening was to take the ferry up very close to the seaward side of the volcano. A few braver ( and fitter) souls decided to walk to the top and see it from very close quarters but we didn't have our walking boots and hence decided to take the easy option. Stromboli has been continuously erupting for the last couple of thousand years and from where we were stationed, we could see an eruption every twenty minutes. It was all very exciting until I started feeling terribly seasick, puked my guts out and feel asleep.

Despite feeling very green by the end of our adventure, I still enjoyed the experience and it is one I'd highly recommend. Ann x

Wearing: H&M scuba swimsuit ( old), Vivienne Westwood sunglasses and Havianas flip flops.

To get in touch and see the latest on all my adventures, follow me on Bloglovin, Twitter,Instagram or Facebook.

The London Porridge Championships

Last Friday saw HFG recipe consultant Phil Mundy go pan to pan with fellow porridge pros in the London Porridge Championships, hosted by Rude Health. His tasty offering was awarded 8 out of 10 for innovation – and here's the recipe for you to try at home…

Almond porridge with warm figs and pear

PREP 2 MIN COOK 10 MIN SERVES 4

125g rolled porridge oats

A few pinches of ground cinnamon

600ml almond milk

2tbsp almond butter

1 tsp oil

4 baby figs, quartered

1 ripe conference pear, sliced

Drizzle of honey

Flaked almonds, to serve

1 In a large pan, combine the oats and cinnamon with the almond milk and 150ml water. Bring to the boil, stirring now and then, over a high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly, for 5–6 min until thick.

2 Remove the porridge from the heat, then stir in the almond butter and keep warm.

3 Heat the oil in a frying pan, then lightly cook the pear slices until tender and golden. Add the figs and a splash of water and cook for 1 min. Sprinkle with a little more cinnamon, to taste.

4 Divide the porridge among 4 bowls. Spoon over the figs and pear, then drizzle lightly with honey and top with a few flaked almonds.

Phil Mundy is the recipe consultant for Healthy Food Guide magazine. For each issue, he creates healthy, nutritious dishes that are full of flavour yet easy to make. His new website eatcleandrinkdirty.com, which includes recipes, healthy eating, fitness and lifestyle advice for men, launches today.

Juliette Kellow, registered dietitian and Healthy Food Guide’s nutrition consultant, says: ‘This is a great recipe for getting your day off to a warming, tasty and nutritious start. Each serving has just 300 calories and is low in saturated fat, so it’s a great choice for waistlines and a healthy heart. Unlike many other breakfast choices, such as toast, croissants or a bacon sandwich, it’s also low in salt, so a good option if you need to lower your blood pressure. This breakfast also provides fibre to help fill you up and keep you going until lunchtime, which can help prevent the desire to snack on sugary foods mid-morning. Better still, oats are packed with a soluble fibre called beta-glucan, that’s been shown to help lower blood cholesterol. Finally, this is a great choice if you need to follow a dairy-free diet because it includes almond milk rather than regular cow’s milk.

For more porridge recipes, pick up a copy of the Winter issue of Healthy Food Guide.

Pretty Tasty Bows : Easy Farfalloni Recipe

Some time ago, I had to whip up an quick yet tasty meal for friends visiting for lunch. To my rescue came some lovely farfalloni, a gift from a friend, that were so pretty that I hadn't had to heart to cook for a while. I won't ramble on anymore and here is the quick recipe

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:
250g farfallonni pasta
2 courgettes
2 carrots
1 clove of garlic
1 onion
15o ml double cream
Salt, pepper, fresh basil and olive oil to taste
Parmesan shavings

Method:

Cook the pasta in a pan with some salt and a drop of olive oil. Prepare the courgettes and carrots by using a peeler rather than chopping. Chop the onion into long strips. Heat the oil in a pan and add crushed garlic and chopped onions. After a couple of minutes, add the other vegetables, chopped basil and sautee for about ten minutes. Add the cooked pasta and double cream. Add salt and pepper to taste and its ready to serve!

Let me know if you give this recipe a go, I'd love to know how you got on. Ann x

To get in touch and see the latest on all my adventures, follow me on Bloglovin, Twitter or Facebook .

Monday 29 December 2014

TKDR Print Skater 020

TKDR Print Skater 020

ASIN : B00MHNNFSC

brand: TK

category: Dresses

Features :

Material: Polyester Spandex / Dresses Length: Above Knee Mini
Asian One Size : Length 41cm / Waist 75 cm
#EANF#

My take on a tasty new trend…

Chocolate and raspberry energy balls

By Emily Morgan

Another day, another celebrity food craze. And, yay, this one turns out to be super-tasty and nutritious. Edible energy balls are all the rage with model Daisy Lowe, TV star Millie Mackintosh, and health-food fan Gwyneth, et al. The HFG team was already smitten with ready-made, protein-packed Bounce balls, so I set about devising a tasty home-made version, taking inspiration from Snog (the frozen yogurt kind!).

I based my recipe around dates and pecan nuts. Dates for energy, as they’re 70% carbohydrate, mostly in the form of natural fruit sugar. They’re also a good source of minerals, namely potassium, which may help to control high blood pressure, and copper, which boosts the immune system. Pecans are a source of fibre, and also contain lots of other essential vitamins and minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, vitamin E and several B vitamins.

The prep bit

To make 24 balls, you will need: 300g pecans, 120g pitted medjool dates (about 12), 4tbsp maple syrup, ½tsp vanilla extract, 50g cocoa powder, 24 fresh raspberries.

Per ball (based on making 24)

113kcal

1.7g protein

9.2g fat

1g saturates

6.2g carbs

5.6g sugar

1.5g fibre

0.1g salt

15mg calcium

0.6mg iron

LOW CAL, LOW SALT, VEG, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE

How I made them

Place the pecans into a food processor, then blend until they form a fine, breadcrumb-like consistency. Add the dates, maple syrup, vanilla extract and cocoa powder, then blend again, until a sticky, dough-like mixture is formed. This takes 1-2 min. Wet your hands and shape the mixture into small circular balls. Place on a tray lined with clingfilm. Press your finger into the middle to make a small dent in each one, then place a raspberry in each hole. Chill for a couple of hours before serving with a fresh raspberry.

How did I rate this?

It was difficult to stop myself eating the mixture as I was shaping the balls – they’re very moreish! They’re a great alternative to chocolate bars, cakes, cookies and brownies and the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Unlike many sweet treats, they’re packed with fibre, antioxidants and vitamins, so will keep you fuller for longer. They make a great snack before or after an exercise class or workout, too.

The tool kit

Simple, as no cooking is required, you just need a good food processor.

Dress Casual: How College Students Redefined American Style (Gender and American Culture)

Dress Casual: How College Students Redefined American Style (Gender and American Culture)

ASIN : 1469614073

Rating : 2.7

brand: The University of North Carolina Press

category: General

Description : As Deirdre Clemente shows in this lively history of fashion on American college campuses, whether it's jeans and sneakers or khakis with a polo shirt, chances are college kids made it cool. The modern casual American wardrobe, Clemente argues, was born in the classrooms, dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and gyms of universities and colleges across the country. As young people gained increasing social and cultural clout during the early twentieth century, their tastes transformed mainstream fashion from collared and corseted to comfortable. From east coast to west and from the Ivy League to historically black colleges and universities, changing styles reflected new ways of defining the value of personal appearance, and, by extension, new possibilities for creating one's identity.

The pace of change in fashion options, however, was hardly equal. Race, class, and gender shaped the adoption of casual style, and young women faced particular backlash both from older generations and from their male peers. Nevertheless, as coeds fought dress codes and stereotypes, they joined men in pushing new styles beyond the campus, into dance halls, theaters, homes, and workplaces. Thanks to these shifts, today's casual style provides a middle ground for people of all backgrounds, redefining the meaning of appearance in American culture.