May 21, 2012

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Crafty Discounts

April 23, 2012 By Cerys

Crafts can be a wonderful pastime, but they can also be expensive. However, it is possible to enjoy sewing and knitting, art and paper-craft without spending too much money.

By investing a bit of time, needlework enthusiasts can come across bargains that will save them the cost of several new patterns. Search in charity shops and cheap second hand clothes shops for unusual textiles which could be used to cover cushions or make garments. Markets and discount fabric stores are another good source of material, and remember to look in bargain bins of roll ends, or remnant sections in high street fabric shops. Just like you’d stock up on your favourite brand – oil of olay, for example – when it is on offer, look out for your favourite fabric types or manufacturers and stock up when they are discounted. Keep a note of how much fabric you need for the patterns you use most often, so you can buy the right amount when you chance on a bargain.

Instead of buying craft magazines for ideas of things to make, log on to websites like supersavvyme.co.uk for plenty of inspiration and money-saving advice. Free embroidery patterns, knitting patterns, card-making templates and even patterned paper are all available on the internet; just download them and print them out. Dress-making patterns are more awkward to print out on your computer so look out for them at car boot sales, online auctions and charity shops. Many embroidery and knitting patterns, for classic items such as Aran sweaters, don’t date and so can be bought cheaply second-hand.

One bonus about stitching and craft magazines is that they have giveaways and competitions, which are always worth entering. Plus, you’ll find plenty of adverts for needlecraft/ paper-craft shows; these are often worth a visit, as many exhibitors and suppliers will have special offers and discounts to help you cut the cost of your hobby.

Filed Under: Shopping Tips Tagged With: , , ,

How To Furnish A Flat On The Cheap

April 17, 2012 By Cerys

We all love to go shopping – no matter what it’s for – but there are some things that you can spend far more than you planned to before you got to the shops.
Furniture is a case in point. Say you’ve got a flat that you rent out, and you need to put some fresh furniture in there as it’s currently not winning potential tenants over enough for anyone to move in. You write a list of what you need, but when you get to the shops, you start choosing things you’d like for your own home rather than shopping with a business head on.
Stop! There is no point spending too much on furniture that you’re not going to use yourself, and trust me, you’ll be more than disappointed if a tenant scratches the coffee table or leaves a red wine stain on a cream fabric sofa.
The answer is to buy robust pieces of furniture that are unlikely to get scratched, dented, stained or damaged in any other way. That way, the furniture will last you for years to come, and if you need to get anything repaired or replaced, at least the tenant’s deposit will go some way to doing that.
Cheap dining tables needn’t be flimsy, and it often happens that the cheaper the product, the more hardwearing it will be. For example, a solid oak table would require gentler treatment than an MDF one.
And in the living room, glass coffee tables can be a really sensible buy. Sure, there’s the possibility that it might get broken, but they’re usually made of toughened glass that can take a few knocks, and a glass surface is pretty impossible to scratch or stain.
Try and think strategically when shopping for a rental place. Make sure you choose from ranges that will be around in a couple of years, so you can replace single items as and when you need to, without your rental place turning into a furniture hotchpotch.

Filed Under: Online Shopping, Shopping Tips Tagged With: , , ,

School Run Chic

March 28, 2012 By Cerys

Looking round the playground this morning I noticed, not for the first time, the distinct categories of Mum ushering their offspring in through the gates. For nothing other than the sheer fun of it I thought I would share my observations with you… which Mum are you?!

 

  1. Type one is the Mum on the Run. She has an office to get to, is usually late for a business meeting and has to dolly across the tarmac in high heels whilst juggling lunchboxes, craft projects, sports kit and more than likely a mobile phone. This kind of Mum has a deer in the headlights look about her and is often seen revving the engine of her company car whilst eyeing the lolly pop lady menacingly.
  2. Type two is the Ladies That Lunch Mum. Always immaculately turned out following fashion trends and up-to-the-minute Beauty Tips she arrives at school in full make up and perfect calm. Spending ages chatting away to her girlfriends she is in no rush to get on with her day as she has nowhere particular to go other than the shops or maybe the hairdressers.
  3. Type three is the Earth Mother. This lady makes Motherhood into a lifestyle choice. Her clothes are ethnic, made from environmentally friendly materials and her kid’s lunchboxes contain the vegetarian option. She lives and breathes family life and makes the rest of the playground feel inadequate as she calmly deals with tantrums tears and hormones without once loosing her cool. Earth Mothers are not on facebook, and never hit websites like SuperSavvyMe.co.uk
  4. Type four is the Stay at Home Mum. She turns up in jeans and no make up and doesn’t care if her hair could do with a bit of a wash. Her children are pretty much on time and usually have all their bits and pieces with them. She cooks for the cake sale and organises the Mums Christmas drinks but pretty much keep a low profile.
Filed Under: Clothing, Fashion Tagged With: , ,

Looking cool in the hills

January 23, 2012 By Cerys

Let me ask you – is it possible to look chic and cool whilst hill-walking in the rain soaked hills of the Lake District?

This was the question I had to ask myself after my outdoors-loving boyfriend suggested we go to the Lake District for a week’s walking holiday last September for our first ever trip away together.

I have to say that my idea of the ideal early autumnal break was perhaps a hotel and pool in the Med somewhere a little further south Sicily, or Cyprus perhaps. My ideal certainly didn’t involve heading north to the wettest corner of England and doing a serious amount of exercise therein!

Nevertheless, I agreed on the condition that there could be absolutely no question of any camping – or naff B&Bs with shared bathrooms etc.!

This was agreed and meant I approached the holiday with a little less trepidation. Next, it was time to plan the outfits.  I decided on a compromise between style and functionality. This is whole world within a world to me! I eventually plumped for cool Merrell boots which I started to wear a lot well before going walking (the boyfriend’s expert advice) and a North Face Jacket to match.

The expert also advised me to get the base layers right – which is easier said than done when you’re more concerned with the look than whether they breathe or not! They nearly all seem to be black, but white was the order of the day – and I have to say, these things are fantastic for keeping warm and dry.

As it turned out, we had the most perfect weather imaginable in England’s Indian summer and the whole trip was a raging success – though day three was spent very much not walking as I’d had enough by then. But I still looked the part as I went to the shops!

Filed Under: Clothing, Fashion, Shopping Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Perfect Christmas look

January 3, 2012 By Cerys

The party season is the best excuse to go super glam and glitzy with your makeup and hair and create a real statement. Subtle makeup is fine for every day, but the festive season is your chance to have some real fun with your look!

 

For a party look that screams Christmas, follow these simple beauty tips. Firstly, think sparkle and glitter galore. Golds and silvers should be the colours of choice when painting your face for the work Christmas party or a festive night out. Gold or silver eye shadows and eye paints will look fabulous when complemented by a rich brown kohl liner applied along the upper and inner lids and flicked out at the edges to create that really glamorous feline look.

 

Cheeks can be brushed with a sparkly bronzer or mousse blush. Suck your cheeks in and apply along the top of the cheek line only to add some definition and bring out your cheekbones. A light glittery powder brushed along the neckline and décolletage will ensure you stand out for all the right reasons this party season.

 

And for the perfect Christmas look, don’t forget the hair! Make sure your ‘do is in tip top condition and smelling fresh and clean by washing with Pantene before you hit the town. For a sleek and shiny look, finish with straighteners and hair serum and then fix with a holding spray. If you prefer big and bouncy when it comes to your barnet, create show-stopping volume by blow drying with your head upside down and spraying volume boosting hairspray, also with your head upside down.

 

And if you’re in a real rush and simply don’t have the time to wash your hair, or are heading out on the razzle straight after work, dry shampoo is a godsend – pick the glitter variety for the perfect party hair finish!

Filed Under: Shopping Tips Tagged With: , ,

Practical winter fashion

December 21, 2011 By Cerys

Winter is not everyone’s favourite time of year. It’s a time when you want to do what many of the animals do and hibernate until the spring. It’s cold, dark, and damp for the main part.
But don’t despair; winter is a great time of year to kit yourself out with some new gear! There are so many cosy woollens to choose in the shops, and lovely winter coats filled with down to wrap up warm in, which you can accessorise to your heart’s content with different hats, scarves and gloves.
If you’re looking to buy a new winter coat it’s important to think about practicality as well style. It’s all very well if it looks good, but the most important thing is that it will keep you warm, especially if you have more than a five or ten minute walk from your car, bus stop or train station each day before you get to the office or back to your house.
It’s often much colder in the mornings and evenings than during the day, so make sure you have enough layers to strip off and put back on at different times. And of course, offices and shops are often overheated, so there’s a chance you’ll roast if you can’t shed a layer or two quickly.
And as for your feet, make sure you have thermal socks over tights if you’re wearing boots. There’s a great choice in womens snow boots and these can be just as useful for one of those slushy walks to work as for hiking through the mountains. It’s probably over the top to get a pair of crampons if you’re not leaving town, but if you are going out into the hills to do some hiking they can be invaluable in keeping you on your feet when you get onto any icy stretches.

Filed Under: Clothing Tagged With: , , , ,

Get your tickets now for Dancing on Ice Live

December 21, 2011 By Cerys

Although the seventh TV series of Dancing on Ice doesn’t even hit our screens until January next year, the great news for all fans of the show is that tickets for the Dancing on Ice Live Tour 2012 are already on sale.

Over a million people have already been to watch the arena shows over the past six years and the 2012 tour is bound to be just as popular. Led by Olympic gold winners for figure skating and the show hosts, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the contestants of the seventh series will don their travelling garb and do a tour of the country after the TV series’ finale. Fans of the Dancing on Ice betting odds should remember this.

The live tour starts in Newcastle on Friday 13 April.  As well as Torvill and Dean and a celebrity line-up of dancers yet to be announced, there will celebrity judges accompanying the show – we haven’t found out which ones yet.

The live show also allows audience participation in the voting – as fans are asked to vote by text for their favourite celebrity skater while watching the show.  Once the judges have given their scores, the audience votes will be added in to decide which celebrity is the overall winner in each show. And, just as at the end of the TV show series, at the end of each tour show night, the winning couple will dance a finale piece. People who follow the Dancing on Ice odds will be familiar with the format.

All of the text profits will go to charity.  So far, over £100,000 has been raised during the Dancing on Ice Live Tours and given to the Royal London Society for the Blind and Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

New for this year’s live show is a Super Fan Initiative, where those people going to the live shows can upload their own photo and name to a special web address when they have purchased their tickets. Their images will be included on a tour poster and their names will be published in the programme.

Filed Under: Online Shopping

Winter wear that looks good

November 24, 2011 By Cerys

Many people dread the onset of the winter, when it’s so hard to leave the nest of your duvet and go out in the semi-darkness in the morning and then at the other end of the day night time darkness sets in before you’ve even finished work. Add the cold and freezing temperatures to that and it’s not surprising that people feel more depressed in winter.
However, what you wear can make a huge difference to how you feel, so if you’re going to be outside for any length of time, make sure that your clothing helps you to feel good about winter.
Outdoor brands have become so much part of today’s fashion that you can benefit from the waterproof layers, the insulating microfleeces and the warmth-giving thermal underwear without looking like you really should be heading up Everest when you’re just on your way to work.
Of course, it’s even better if you are heading out for a day’s walking at the weekend. There’s nothing better than being prepared for a nice day in the crisp, country air with blue skies above you. Make sure that you have everything you need including thermal gloves to keep your fingers warm.
Pack a small rucksack with some high energy snacks and drinks to keep you going along the way. And make sure you have your mobile with you in case of any difficulty, and if you’re going somewhere really off the beaten track, tell someone where you’re headed and how long you plan to be.
Even if you’re not planning to go hiking or walking in the country, you can still find plenty of kit in the outdoor stores that’s suitable for everyday life. The clothing is purpose made to resist all kinds of weather, and will serve you well even when you’re just walking from home to work. You might arrive with rosy red cheeks from the cold, but the rest of you will be kept perfectly warm by proper winter gear.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Strictly skin perfect

November 22, 2011 By Cerys

Alesha Dixon has been announced as the new face of American cosmetics giant Avon.

The 33-year old Strictly Come Dancing judge has been awarded the brand new role of Beauty and Empowerment Ambassador for the UK and Ireland.

Alesha will also be a spokesperson Avon’s domestic violence initiatives. The company has already given half a million pounds to its charity partners Refuge, UN WOMEN and Women’s Aid to help put a stop to violence against women.

Alesha is delighted with her new role, saying “Avon has a real heart and a true passion for helping to improve the lives of women, so I hope to make a difference through generating awareness for a cause that is so close to me.”

In her new role, one of the first things she’ll be doing is to launch Avon’s newest foundation “Ideal Flawless” which will see the Strictly judge appearing in catalogues next year. Those following the Strictly Come Dancing odds will be impressed.

Alesha was chosen to replace the previous Strictly judge 67-year-old Arlene Phillips on the panel in 2009. The selection followed Alesha’s win as a contestant in Strictly’s Series 5 with dance partner Matthew Cutler in 2007. Anyone looking at the Strictly Come dancing winner odds should bear this in mind.

She first came to fame with pop group Mis-Teeq, but the trio separated in 2005 and Alesha launched a solo career with mixed results.

Since appearing as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing Alesha has faced a barrage of criticism for her “nice but dim” type of approach. She is the least dance-qualified of the panel, but has won a lot of popularity amongst many viewers for her friendly style and generous marking.

At the time of her initial selection, she described the criticism as a storm in a teacup – and for many of us, she presents a refreshing change from the harsh analysis of the other judges.

Filed Under: Fashion

Fab outfits light up Strictly

October 27, 2011 By Cerys

As well as the sambas, salsas, rumbas and foxtrots, one of the things that keeps us glued to the screen when Strictly Come Dancing is on, is what fabulous outfits the celebrity contestants will be wearing.

Some take more convincing than others, but eventually nearly all of the boys crack out the (sequinned) guns and get those oiled, fake tanned heavages on show (that’s male cleavages if you’re not familiar). This series is no different, and we’ve been treated to more than a fleeting glance of Harry Judd’s glistening pecs as he dances the night away with redheaded professional dance partner Aliona Vilani. People looking at the Strictly Come Dancing odds should remember this.

Also treating us to a glimpse of the old oiled chest and shiny guns this series are former footballer and sporter of the most luscious golden locks on tele, Robbie Savage; TV presenter and very tall person Dan Lobb; former boxer and man mountain Audley Harrison; and fan of colourful coats, Jason Donavan.

Impressionist Rory Bremner and astrological barrel of fun Russell Grant are maintaining their modesty with a more covered up look, but never one to be accused of subtlety, Russell has been compensating admirably by reportedly using up the show’s entire budget for rhinestones in his outfits. Those following the Strictly Come dancing winner odds should bear this in mind.

But enough about the men, what about the female contestants? Well, this week’s show featured a rather fabulous cat suit, sported by none other than Welsh wonder and The One Show presenter, Alex Jones. Seasoned Strictly fans will recall a previous memorable cat suit moment on the show, brought to us by professional dancer Ola Jordan.

In week one of Strictly Come Dancing series six, the mini sex siren strutted her stuff in a hot to trot figure-hugging cat suit. So did the thinking man’s Christine Bleakley compare? It’s a close call!

Filed Under: Fashion
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