Beetroot Risotto. Bright in colour and delicious in flavour. This vibrant recipe by G’NOSH is absolutely fantastic
INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4-6 people)
500g fresh whole beetroot
G’NOSH Beetroot & Mint dip
2 tbsp olive oil
Knob of butter
1 large onion , finely chopped
1 garlic clove , finely chopped
500g risotto rice
250ml white wine
600ml of hot vegetable stock
Handful of grated Parmesan
4 tbsp soured cream (or use crème fraiche)
Handful chopped flat parsley
METHOD
Peel and dice the whole fresh beets into quarter wedges. Roast on 175 deg for 20minutes.
When beets are cooked dice into small 1cm cubes.
Melt the butter in a saucepan and cook the onion until softened, together with garlic. Add in the risotto rice and stir until well coated and avoid rice sticking to pot.
Pour over the vermouth and cook, stirring until almost fully absorbed. Add a ladleful of the stock to the rice and once again, stir until almost fully absorbed.
Continue adding the stock, a ladleful at a time, until the rice is tender and creamy. You may not need all of the stock.
Stir through a tub of G’NOSH Beetroot & Mint dip. This gives a further depth in colour, richness in flavor and a kick.
Remove from the heat and mix in the grated Parmesan and flat parsley, gently stirring to mix through.
TO SERVE
Serve on a white plate. Add dollop of sour cream or crème fraiche on the top with cracked pepper.
You may want to sprinkle some more Parmesan or even crumble
Trying to be fashionable and look good can be an absolute nightmare. What to wear? What style of clothing suits your figure? What type of accessory works with your outfit? The list of questions are endless. To try and help answer your fashion queries, the chic and affordable online shop Avenue A, shares their top ten fashion tips that every lady should know…
TAKE CARE OF YOUR CLOTHES
Taking good care of your wardrobe collection will keep things looking newer for longer and in turn keep you looking freshly turned out every time. Having a good dry cleaner for those dreaded “dry clean only” pieces, and the right washing detergent for everything else (no fabric conditioner on knitwear- also, fold knits to keep their shape don’t hang them), protective spray and cleaner for shoes, shoe boxes, dust bags, spaced rails rather than crammed in all contribute to keeping everything as good as new.
REMEMBER THE COMFORT FACTOR
This doesn’t mean free-reign to wear hoodies and sweats everywhere, it means that if you feel uncomfortable in what you have on then no doubt you will look uncomfortable too. This goes for clothes and shoes.
Heels- if you wear them make sure they fit – not too tight they hurt and not too big they clunk & fall off your heel, and that you can walk in them properly! Wearing clothes too tight can make you feel, not to mention look all kinds of wrong, and clothes too baggy will never flatter your figure- enhance your shape don’t hide it! Feeling comfortable in yourself and your clothes makes you and your outfit look even better!
Remember that plenty of everyday outfits can look even more stylish with just the right sneakers that contribute to a leisurely, but chic, appearance. For example, try searching for a seller such as this one found on FastSole.co.uk or other similar sites. Always check reviews before making a purchase and make sure to find a reputable retailer with a good return policy. That way, if the sneakers don’t fit quite right, you can easily send them back.
WEAR THE RIGHT UNDERWEAR
Wearing the right underwear makes a bigger difference than you may realise. My hard fast rules to cover all eventualities are: nude underwear with white clothes (always- no exceptions!), thongs to avoid VPLs, shapewear to give you a sleek silhouette, the correct bra- plunge, balconette, push-up to suit the neckline of your top or dress, and the right fabric for what you’re wearing- lace under tighter clothes may look a bit uneven whereas plain will keep it smooth. And, for an added confidence boost wearing a matching set puts a nice spring in your step!
SIZE MATTERS
This may sound like an obvious one but it’s amazing how many women don’t wear the right size clothes. The solution- don’t be so focused on the number in the size label, just try things on! Clothes sizes vary dependant on the retailer, brand, and even style and fabric so there’s no harm in picking different sizes and trying them on or asking a sales assistant for their advice on fit. Even online retailers offer a fit description, or advice service and if not most returns are so simple now that you can easily send back what isn’t right.
KNOW YOUR BODY
Nobody knows your body better than you do so trust yourself! Dressing for your body is so important and that includes your shape, size, height and skin tone. Necklines, waistbands, colours and leg lengths all come in to play here. Be aware of what accentuates your good points and disguises those insecurities that we all have. For example: a more scooped neckline will flatter a bigger chest better than a high neck; opting for a higher waistband will smooth out any lumps and bumps around your middle and avoid a “muffin top”.
Always buy jeans with rear pockets no matter what your size, no pockets = spread, pockets = shape. Cropped trousers, midi dresses and skirts all cut at the widest part of your lower leg making calves look bigger, shoes with ankle straps also emphasise larger legs and can make you look shorter. If you’re quite fair be wary of some colour shades that may make your skin look sallow. It’s best to experiment till you find what is right for you.
PROPORTIONS ARE KEY
Getting the right top to bottom proportion is key to having a well put together look. Fitted and fitted go well together but the same can’t be said for loose and baggy. If you have a loose fitting top team it with slimmer more fitted bottoms such as skinny jeans, jeggings, leggings or even shorts or a fitted mini skirt if these latter styles are right for your shape. And vice versa for the loose fitting bottoms- pair with a more form fitting top.
DON’T ALWAYS FOLLOW TRENDS
Don’t feel under pressure to follow and copy all of the latest fashion trends exactly. Trends are there to guide you in your style choices each season, but not all aspects of all the trends are suitable for everyone, and that’s OK! Be selective and pick what flatters you and complements your natural style. Trends come and go but you’ll always have your own personal style!
HAVE SOME STAPLE PEICES
Every woman’s wardrobe should have key staple pieces in it to build from. My choices would be: jeans, plain t-shirt, fine knit cardi (draped to make it more versatile to tie and wear), a blazer, LBD, plain dressed up top and smart trousers (not necessarily tailored) or skirt whichever is your preference. Shoes- ballet pumps, nude peep-toe heels and black boots. With these you can create virtually any look by mixing the pieces together and adding different accessories, which takes me to my next tip….
ALWAYS ACCESORISE
If you don’t normally like to take risks with fashion but like the idea of adding some colour or something different to your outfit then do it with carefully chosen accessories; a handbag, belt, statement necklace or fabulous shoes can all liven up any outfit on their own and complement it as the perfect finishing touch. This is also a great way of taking an outfit from day to night time; just switch up your accessories!
SMILE
“You’re never fully dressed without a smile” this is so true! Smiles are infectious, they give everyone a little boost. Looking and feeling happy will change your appearance and give you a glow that money can’t buy, so get smiling.
With the amount of gym memberships slowly increasing every year since 2000, it’s clear to see more people than ever before are relying on the gym for their exercise fix. From the variety of equipment to the motivational atmosphere, the gym can be an enticing environment for many wanting to maintain or improve their fitness levels.
But, with women statistically more likely to quit the gym than men, it’s high time active women got their mojo back and started enjoying going to the gym again. And what better way to motivate you to stick with the gym? A brand-new gym bag of course! If you’re looking to inject some much-needed style into your gym gear to ensure you never forget any of your exercise essentials, read on to discover some handy options.
Hands-free
For years the trusty backpack was considered bulky and unfashionable, even in the exercise world. But backpacks are back with a style vengeance, able to carry all your essentials whilst leaving your hands completely free for added convenience.
Often featuring useful pockets both in and outside the bag for easy access, you can be rest assured all your quick-fix post-gym makeup essentials and hair ties will all have their own space to make sure they don’t get lost when the time comes for touch ups. Featured in an almost endless array of colors and styles, the humble backpack certainly isn’t to be ignored for gym-goers!
Duffel bags
Probably the best option for those who like to have a choice of fitness-wear and some of their own exercise gear with them, duffel bags are a tried-and-tested favorite among active women. Often boasting an array of straps allowing you to carry the bag in whichever position is most comfortable, duffel bags provide the perfect balance of both style and space.
For more information, take a look at some detailed reviews of gym bags for women to discover what duffel bags really have to offer.
Totes
For a classier, more ‘put-together’ look, a tote bag is the perfect option. Ideal for those who need to be somewhere important right after their gym session and still want their clear bag to look classy and elegant, the tote bag is a sure-fire winner.
Often providing a little more open space than a backpack, totes are brilliant for carrying slightly larger items like dry shampoo, hair brushes, and even a hairdryer if your gym doesn’t provide such facilities. Still likely to feature useful zipped pockets inside, you’ll still have a place for your smaller essentials with a tote.
If you ever feel yourself suddenly lacking in motivation to exercise and go to the gym, try treating yourself to a stylish new gym bag and see if you notice a difference. Offering an array of styles to suit virtually any taste, today’s modern-day gym bags are designed with style, comfort, and space in mind to ensure you continue to maintain your fitness levels and enjoy going to the gym once more.
When you’re working full time, it can be difficult to stay on top of things at home. If you’re a pet owner, it’s even harder. There’s nothing worse than coming home to a misbehaving dog and having to spend your evening tidying up after him/her.
If your life is being controlled by your dog and you don’t know how to take it back, try these 4 solutions.
House Rules
Professionals must create a home environment that is warm and minimises stress. This is an essential element of any successful household. When bringing a dog into the family, families should first discuss and agree on the house rules. Topics should agree on furniture rules, range of the house, and dog chores, just to name a few.
Setting rules will immediately give the dog a consistent message of what is allowed in the home, and what isn’t. It’s a way to ensure that the home is an environment that minimises stress for the homeowners and the dog. When a rescue is involved, this is especially important because they are then corrected less often and will feel more loved and praised.
Training
As a busy professional, the process will go beyond house training. It will include obedience training to meet your lifestyle and possibly crate training. This exercise must begin the moment the puppy arrives at home. The demand for this is high and there are now many dog trainers who specialise in obedience who can help you control how your pet behaves.
Obedience training is also vital to helping everyone get along. We sometimes need a few minutes after work to catch up with loved ones and simply relax. Dogs won’t be able to understand “give me a minute”. Establishing simple commands and using them before getting angry or frustrated can help maintain the peace and love in your family.
The first tool for house training is patience because the process could take a while. Day crate training can be a support tool for house training, as well as adding security by establishing a den-like substitute for the puppy as a safe, warm location. It will also minimise the frustration of coming home to a huge cleaning task after a long day at the office.
Schedules
The new family member may not like being alone. Like a new baby, they will need schedules to help them with training. Parents should set schedules for food and water, as well as the puppy relief schedule. Developing a feeding routine will help your puppy body develop a refuse schedule. In your schedule, you should be ready to give them attention as soon as you get home if they are 8 months or older, and they should have provisions such as a training pad for younger puppies.
The Unexpected
An essential tool for new dog parents to have is to be prepared for the unexpected. Puppies may rebel against being home alone or just not getting their way like a human child. When you have a rescue, they may play up because of past trauma in their life. The most effective support for your family is to employ a dog behaviourist.
When you’re getting a new dog, the key is to prepare yourself and your home before they arrive. Know the rules you want to set and how you wish to train them. Once they arrive, it’s down to you (and the help of a trainer) to bring them up with the right set of behaviours.
The fashion industry is one of those “prestige industries” – a little bit like the movie industry or the music industry. Everybody wants to be a part of it because of the glamor.
But because the industry is quite small and so many people are jostling for the same jobs, getting a career in the sector is difficult. It takes more than mere luck to make it in the industry. Here’s some advice from some of the industry’s leading gurus.
THERE’S NO RIGHT OR WRONG PATH
Justin Mahmud is the executive talent director of Macy’s, a retailer who stocks some of the world’s most famous clothing lines. Mahmud’s advice is simple. He says that there is no right or wrong path to take in the fashion industry. He’s known people take all sorts of different paths in the sector and be successful. The world is random and so everybody’s journey is a little bit different. You never know when opportunity will rear its head and you’ll be given the big break you were looking for.
THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
The fashion industry, according to Alechia Reese the strategic marketing director at Daya, is all about relationships. It’s who you know, and how you entertain them that matters, not whether you’ve got a posh logo or amazing suppliers. She says that opportunities in the fashion industry come from knowing people who have the right connections. This means that it’s essential that you attend every social gathering in the industry that you can and start building links with people. The way to exert power in the industry is to make sure that you’re the person that people want to go to if they want to get something done.
LOVE WHAT YOU DO
In many jobs, it’s easy to stop loving what you do. But in the fashion industry, this can be a disaster, according to Leigh Ray the chief blogger and Pink Vintage Heart. She says that in order for people to do their best work in the industry, they have to be passionate about what they do. The only way to a happy and fulfilling work life is to go to work everyday and be exciting to be in the industry. Even if your phone never stops lighting up, it’s worth pausing to remember all of the people who don’t get to indulge their interests all day long, doing boring jobs. Fashion is life-affirming, and that’s enough to put a smile on anybody’s face.
GET INTERESTED IN THE STUFF NOBODY’S DOING
Consumer love novelty, especially when it comes to fashion. After all, fashion is changing all the time. Veronika Harbick of Thursday Finest, says that people need to target the blank spaces in the market if they want to proceed in their careers. Consumers want to buy clothing and accessories that is a little bit different to what their friends have got, but not too different so as to look stupid. These blank spaces in the market, Harbick says, are opportunities to make a name for yourself.
VISUALIZE YOUR SUCCESS
Some people go through their careers without really thinking about what success really means. Hilary Sloan, the director of business development at ShopStyle, says that people need to quantify their success somehow. They need to ask themselves questions like: how much you can make on a fashion merchandising salary? And, what job role do I want to have in five years time? Visualising your success Sloan says, helps you to make the most of every single day. Also think about the route it takes to get there whether it’s going straight into the business and hustling or by looking into fashion graduate programs.
DON’T GIVE UP
No career is a straight line all the way to the top. Everybody suffers setbacks and disappointments along the way. But according to Shira Galler, the director of Outreach at Wix, you should never give up, especially in the fashion industry. Because of the competition in the industry, it’s one of the hardest to rise in. But it’s also one of the most rewarding. People at the top of the industry are literally billionaires, immortalized forever by their brands.
BE APPROACHABLE
Some people are naturally prickly and don’t trust others. It’s a kind of defense mechanism to protect them from being hurt. But Tiffany Aita of Joe Fresh says that people have to put their hang ups aside in the fashion industry. It’s essential, she says, to be approachable. Because the world of fashion is so tight-knit, you never know whether somebody you’re talking to might be a future boss or employee. It’s your job to make sure that they feel at home around you and want to come and speak to you. Connection in the industry are everything, Aita says.
HAVE A SIDE HUSTLE
You want your main gig to be in fashion. But because the work can be a bit stop-start, especially when you’re new to the industry, it’s a good idea to have something on the side to pay the bills. Nataliya Makulova from Spring, says that people new to the fashion industry should have some sort of side hustle, besides their primary job. Perhaps they could work as a tutor or have a job at the weekend. Whatever it is, it needs to provide enough income to sustain you through times when business is slow. You may not always be able to get the business you want, and you could be dropped by your biggest clients, especially if you’re not locked into a contract.
DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT AND GO FOR IT
There’s a lot of truth to Nike’s logo: “Just do it.” Nothing gets done unless you do it, and Nike knows this. As one of the most successful fashion brands in the world, they should.
Some people suffer from a phenomenon called “growth anxiety.” It’s where they’re afraid of changing their lives in any significant way because they don’t want to become better people. It’s a common problem according to Kathleen Elie, the chief editor and ConsciousNChic. She says that people should decide what they want to do and make sure they love it. Passion is a great substitute for willpower and can take you much further.
Travel can be so blooming expensive and with rail fares set to increase next year , here at IDEAL we’re in despair as we love to travel. However, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to make your way from A to B. There are so many fantastic ways you can cut back on transport costs, and you can use the money to boost your savings or to enjoy life in general more. With this in mind, here are 8 ideal tips for saving money on transport.
GET A RAILCARD
Any 16-25 year old will know of the horrible feeling that comes when you turn 26. It’s the time when you can no longer use your decade-old railcard pass that gives you a discount on tickets. Instead you’ll have to pay full fares until your sixty. Worry not, as you may be eligible for a discount railcard. Here at IDEAL we’re huge fans of the two-together railcard which will save you and a friend/partner a third of your journey – perfect if you tend to travel with the same person all the time. It only costs £30 – which you usually make back in one journey anyway.
BOOK TRAIN TICKETS IN ADVANCE
Always book your train tickets in advance, because you are guaranteed a better price than purchasing tickets on the travel day. So, if you need to book a long train journey, try to book a few months beforehand. Thetrainline.com claims it can save you up to 43% on fares nationwide, if booked up to 12 weeks early. Also, If you’re the ‘designated booker’ for a group of 3-9 people on Virgin Trains, you could save up to
GET THE COACH
If you’re a traveler without time constraints, consider getting the coach instead of the train. Travelling around Britain by will often save you a bundle on transport – just be aware that the journey time will probably be long. If you book in advance you’re more likely to get cheaper tickets. The big two operators, National Express and Megabus, often have cheap promotional fares, especially at quieter times of the year such as January and February. Also, if you’re travelling several times a week on the same route, you can usually save money with a weekly bus pass from sites like Stage Coach – their main weekly ticket in most areas is the megarider ticket.
SAVE MONEY ON PETROL
Fuel prices are probably not going to come down any time soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save money on petrol. Instead of thinking you are Lewis Hamilton with your foot firmly on the accelerator, try to limit your acceleration to save yourself fuel and money. You should also slow down your speed and eliminate sharp stops to prevent wasting fuel.
START CYCLING
One of the best ways to save money on transport is by swapping a car or public transport for a bicycle. Some cities offer free cycling initiatives to get people onto a bike to boost their general health. Not only will cycling from one destination save money, but it will reduce your carbon footprint whilst improving your general fitness. You really can’t lose.
OPT FOR INDIRECT FLIGHTS
Whilst indirect flights will take much longer than a direct connection, they can save you a significant amount of money on your travel expenditure. So, don’t pay over the odds for a flight when you can make your way to the same destination for a fraction of the cost. You know it makes sense.
MIDWEEK FLIGHTS
Most people decide to book a holiday at the weekend, as they will want to treat themselves after a busy working week. That’s why it pays to book a holiday on a Tuesday or Wednesday, because websites will have less demand in the middle of the week. So, don’t pay top dollar for a flight between Friday to Sunday and wait a few days to save hundreds on your trip.
ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOWS
Edmunds’ road testers found that rolling a car’s windows down can increase the vehicle’s fuel economy by 9.5% at 65 mph. So, don’t turn on the air conditioning and simply roll down your windows to enjoy a brisk breeze and save yourself a significant amount of money.
Feeling tired all the time? Not getting a good night’s sleep? Enough of that. Bensons for Beds and The Sleep School’s Dr. Guy Meadows shares his top tips to tackle the woes of sleepless nights to keep you energised
EATING AND DRINKING
Leave at least two hours between eating and sleeping. Limit caffeine to before 2 p.m. and no more than 2 to 3 per day.
SWITCH OFF
Phones, tablets and TVs emit light, which halts the production of the sleep hormone Melatonin. Sleep more soundly with electronics stowed away.
THE BEDDING
An exceptional mattress will provide the utmost support and comfort for your body; helping you to achieve great quality sleep, every night. Spend time considering how soft or firm you prefer your mattress to ensure the perfect sleep. Also the night’s sleep memory foam pillows and sumptuous sheets provide make splashing out totally worthwhile.
DON’T WORRY BE MINDFUL
Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts, notice and let go of them by focusing on how cosy your duvet and pillow are. Mindfulness is proven to reduce the time taken to fall to sleep and improve sleep quality.
STOP SNOOZING
Research suggests you feel most refreshed after an unbroken sleep. Set your alarm to go off only when you need to get up rather than snoozing for 15 minutes before.
RECHARGE WITH A POWER NAP
Nap for no more than 30 minutes for an effective natural boost of daytime energy, ideally between 12 and 3 p.m. Research shows that taking a power nap can increase alertness levels by 100% for up to four hours afterwards.
STAY IN BED
Waking up at night? Resist the urge to get out of bed in the middle of the night. Getting up will train your body to wake up more frequently.
THE PERFECT BEDROOM
Aim for quiet, cool, dark and comfortable. The optimal temperature for a superb night’s sleep is 17 Celsius.
KEEP A REGULAR ROUTINE
Keep your body clock on time to strengthen the link between the night-time and sleep by heading to bed at roughly the same time each night.
EXERCISE TO WIND DOWN
Hit the gym in the late afternoon. You’ll tire yourself out, leading to a deeper sleep.
It is very beneficial for a persons well-being that one can enjoy a good night sleep. For more helpful information and guide, check out this helpful Counting Sheep Research.
Some of us have to wear a uniform for work; it’s just a sad fact of life. While other lucky so-and-sos are trawling the racks at House of Fraser for the ultimate work wardrobe, the rest have their daily wardrobe dictated to them, and it’s rarely flattering. While others get to express themselves with cute blouses and pencil skirts, some of us have to pretend we’re back at school every morning. Fair enough, it removes that “what on earth am I going to wear today” dread, but whatever happened to individuality? Well, there are a few ways to jazz up a work uniform without breaking the rules – here’s everything you need to know.
Study the guide
Is there any room for negotiation? Could you wear your own white shirt with darting up the back to flatter your figure, or does it have to be their regulation branded shirt? Work with the rules at hand – if you have to wear scrubs or a jumpsuit, but they don’t specify the colour, choose one which flatters you, your skin tone, eye colour, and hair. Also, are you expected to buy your uniform from the company, or wash it yourself? You could be entitled to a uniform tax rebate from the government. That’ll go some way to cover the costs of all the awesome accessories you’re going to have to buy.
Get a great fit
Poorly fitting clothes are often the problem, not the clothes themselves. If you’re wearing corporate clothing, you could be stuck. If you’re handy with a needle and thread, however, you could hem your skirt or add darting to your shirt. Make sure your shirt doesn’t gape, your collar isn’t too tight, and the trousers or skirt fit. Ask your employer if you can give them a go before you take them home – they want you to look presentable after all.
Accessorise ’till the cows come home
It doesn’t take a genius to know that if your clothes are dictated to you on a daily basis, you express yourself using everything else you wear. Accessories are the way forward: cute velvet chokers, stacking rings, bangles, earrings – you name it. Pay attention to your dress code, find the loopholes, and make the most of them. Be sensible, though. If you’re using heavy machinery, rings and hooped earrings probably aren’t sensible – the same if you work with children. But otherwise, there is no better way to style your work uniform than with some cute accessories.
Have fun with makeup
The beauty of makeup is that the natural look can go virtually unnoticed by even the most eagle-eyed boss. There’s something really therapeutic about putting makeup on every day, and it’s easy to style it when you know exactly what you’re wearing every single day. So make the most of it, and have some fun. If you’re allowed makeup at work, this is the perfect opportunity to perfect the winged liner, experiment with lipstick colours, and have some fun. If not, it’s the perfect opportunity to perfect stealth makeup and the natural look.
Learn some crazy hairstyles
Finally, whatever happens, you’ve always got your beautiful hair. Even if you’re not allowed makeup and fun accessories are banned, you’ll always have to style your hair. So make the most of it. Learn to braid in every conceivable way. French, Dutch, fishtail – you name it! It’s a skill that will turn heads, and it’s always fun to master a new style.
Looking great in a work uniform is partly about making the most of a bad situation, but also about adding a personal touch to your look.
Winter is now officially over which means it’s time to leave hibernation and break out of your comfort zone – making it the perfect time to try something new between the sheets!
Like other parts of your relationship, your sex life needs care and attention if you want to keep the spark alive. However, in a long term relationship it can be easy to get stuck in routine, which might leave you feeling like the va-va-voom has left the bedroom.
Durex Sex and Relationship Expert Susan Quilliam gives her tips on how to get out of your sex rut this spring:
Organize your time
Almost always, what keeps couples stuck in a bedroom rut isn’t lack of motivation but lack of time and space – meaning you never get to experiment. So this spring, put your sex life topof your ‘to do’ list by setting aside regular evenings, an entire day, or sneaking off for an indulgent weekend where you can relax and rediscover pleasure.
Kick start your desire
Especially if you’re a contented couple, passion can so easily get put on the back burner as you happily get on with your lives. This means your bodies may need reminding of how good it feels to touch, fondle and caress. So if you’re not already doing so, start sleeping naked. Then begin each day with a full-body hug and some deep French kisses. If you don’t have time to follow through in the morning, take more hugs and kisses as you get into bed at night – then see where your arousal leads. Even if you don’t have sex every time, you’ll make sure your bodies remember what lovemaking really means.
Bring new life to your positions
It’s very easy to find three or four favourite intercourse positions – then use them every time and never ring the changes. For the next four times you make love, try one of your new ideas – and remember to use each of them regularly so you’ve added to your repertoire.
Revitalise your sex toys
If you’ve never included toys for her or for him in your love-play, make this month the time you start. Try the Durex Thrilling Touch with its simple controls and single speed so you get the pleasure you like easily and instantly. If you already know toys turn you on, make it ‘out with the old and in with the new’. Durex Sensual Bliss is our uniquely-shaped vibrator: the rounded sides deliver gentle, deep stimulation while the tapered edge offers focussed, sharp pleasure
Get creative and set your sex life alight this spring – there’s no excuse not to! You can visit the new website www.durex.co.uk which not only includes the full Durex range from condoms to pleasure gels, but also features sexpert tips and advice on how to get the best out of your bedroom antics and keep the intimacy alive.
Let’s face it, every time we receive an email about a “Limited Period Offer” or when a scheduled online sale date approaches, we can’t help but grab our credit cards and head over to the ecommerce app on our phone or fire up the old laptop for a visit to the site. However, what is it exactly that we love so much about online shopping? Is it the deals or the convenience of it all? Could it be because we love the anticipation? We think it’s the combination of everything really. Read on to see if you can agree with the reasons mentioned, here or if you have completely different reasons of your own.
The Anticipation
There is no denying the sense of anticipation and excitement we have all felt after ordering a particularly coveted item online. There is a sense of euphoria when the trademark printed boxes from the ecommerce site finally arrives. Then there’s the unboxing experience where we carefully remove all the packaging to reveal something we liked, paid for and even waited a while for before receiving! In our opinion, this is definitely one of the most underappreciated bonuses of shopping online.
Offline shops have their own advantages, but they just can’t beat their online counterparts in terms of deals, discounts, offers, cashbacks and coupons. There is always something going on in some section of an online retailer. The bottom line is that if you shop online, you will probably end up saving money most of the time. When you are able to buy everything you like from one place and get a bargain while doing so, it’s hard not to fall in love with shopping on the internet.
The Convenience
Nothing lifts the mood like shopping! But what if you are feeling blue and you don’t want to go outside? Thanks to the multitude of ecommerce sites, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your bed (and the gloom of your room) to binge shop. Irrespective of whether you are sick, sad or just can’t go out of the house, it’s all just a click or a tap away from being delivered right to your doorstep.
The best part of online shopping is that browsing and shopping on the internet has no limits. The shop is never closed and as long as you can find the time, you can spend hours online, scouring through hundreds of items across multiple categories to find that one thing you can’t live without. The feeling is almost like finding hidden treasure – and who doesn’t love a treasure hunt?
You probably knew about these already, but it’s always good to be assured that the credit card bill you received from last month’s online shopping is (kind of) justified. Another often neglected positive aspect of buying online is the exchange policies, which are fantastic. Amazon for example, has an amazing return policy where you can try out a lot of the items for a limited amount of time before deciding whether you want to keep using it, ask for a replacement, or your money back.
The awkward time of the year has finally arrived: it’s too warm to be wrapped in layer upon layer of knitwear but too cold to strut around in a T-shirt. The answer? A timeless spring jacket that you can rework season after season. Read on to find out which essential items you should invest in…
THE DENIM JACKET
Versatile and stylish, the denim jacket reappears on catwalks year after year. Light wash denim has been huge for a while now and makes a great choice for those looking to nail the summer vibe. Avoid jackets with statement prints or designs that could become dated easily for ultimate longevity.
THE COUNTRY JACKET
The casual country look has always been a signature style for discerning gentleman. Tweed, corduroy and wax all characterise this sophisticated look. While the high street may imitate this style, spending a little extra on the real deal could be an investment worth making.
Barbour jackets, available from Repertoire Fashion, are renowned for being premium-quality, practical and stylish, and are also a firm favourite with celebrities. A timeless quilted jacket is a must for moving from winter to spring and, knowing the unpredictable British weather, you’ll probably wear it a lot through summer too!
THE LEATHER JACKET
Leather jackets aren’t just a spring essential: they’re so versatile they can be worn all year round. Every woman should own a classic black leather jacket. Faux leather jackets are a great option for those working with a tight budget, although buying a genuine leather jacket is a good investment to make. Not only will it last longer than its PVC counterpart, the leather will age beautifully.
Leather can be quite warm, so it’s perfect for breezy spring days and summer evenings when the temperature starts to cool. In fact, as the guys at Apostl Leather Jacket tell us in their guide ”Are Leather Jackets Warm Enough For Winter”, as long as there’s decent lining, they most certainly are.
MAC’S
The Mac never seem to go out of style. They’re a classic, which means you may well already own one. If you don’t, then it’s time to invest; it’ll last you for years and is practical as well as stylish.
A design that won’t be going anywhere fast, mac coats look great in block colours, plaid patterns and in a number of different colours. Look out for navy, khaki or burgundy colours to really blend in with this season’s shades. Providing that flattering belted feature, trench coats are a must-have this winter.
This dish makes an ideal simple but delicious winter supper that will be popular with the whole family. Fragrant rosemary really helps lift the dish and bring out the subtle citrus flavour provided by the lemon zest.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
Prep: 15 minutes/ Cook: 45 minutes
1 tbsp olive oil
2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1kg Maris Piper potatoes, thinly sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 x pot Rosemary, chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
300ml chicken stock
Method
Preheat the oven to 200oC, gas mark 6. Grease an ovenproof casserole dish.
Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken and garlic for 4-5 minutes.
Place 1/3 potatoes in the dish, top with half the chicken, onion, rosemary and lemon zest, season. Lay another 1/3 of the potatoes on top and repeat the layers finishing with potatoes. Pour over the stock and season well.
Cover and bake for 45 minutes, removing the lid for the last 10 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
Cook’s tip
For a vegetarian option, remove the chicken and replace half the potato with sweet potato.
Where do you buy herbs from in the winter?
Pots of British grown, fresh herbs are available from Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, all year round
Naturally, we tend to assume that first impressions are made when we meet someone face-to-face, but for a jobseeker that moment comes with the cover letter. By the time you get to interview you’ve already impressed; they actually want to like you. Make a pig’s ear of your cover letter though and there’s no way you’ll get that chance.
Jim Harvey, recruitment specialist at MyJobMatcher.com, offers his top tips for making the best first impression with the ideal cover letter.
Audience
Think carefully about who you are writing to. Do your research and address your letter directly to a real person, with a name. Beginning with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ shows that you either haven’t read the brief thoroughly or couldn’t be bothered to find out the relevant details for yourself. And with that in mind, convention states that you should always end with ‘Yours sincerely’.
Tone
Don’t be too formal. Put the reader at ease by keeping your writing conversational and adopting a warm, personable tone. Say something in your head before you type it. If it sounds ok, the chances are it will read well.
Content
Now you have to consider why you’re writing. This might seem obvious, but it will determine what you write. There are three, distinct sections to a cover letter:
Introduction – Say who you are, the position that you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised.
Pitch – Fundamentally, this is the entire purpose of the cover letter and will make or break your chances of being shortlisted. Use the job and person specs to convince them that you’re worthy of an interview. Try and avoid overusing phrases like ‘I did’, ‘I was’ and ‘I am’ which can make you appear self-obsessed. Instead, try something along the lines of, “My experience with […] involved these skills that you have listed and here are some statistics that back that up.”
Quality over quantity is key – Present someone with a document that resembles a densely-worded, political manifesto and you might have stumbled upon a cure for insomnia, but it will be an instant turn off for most employers. Draw their attention to the hugely impressive CV that is included or attached and say that you look forward to hearing from them. By saying that, you imply that your expectation is nothing short of an interview. Sow that seed in the mind of the recipient and it becomes virtually impossible to dismiss a well-constructed application.
Proofread
Don’t press the send button or lick the envelope until you’ve read your letter at least three times. Then find someone to proofread it for you.Then leave it for at least two hours before you proofread it again with refreshed eyes.
Your likely too fall at the first hurdle bye making silly typo. (4 in that sentence.)
Electronic
If sending an email, put the job title and reference number in the subject line. You could attach your cover letter as a word document, but given that you’re trying to make an instant impression, why make them open something else?
Soused and Scorched Mackerel on toast with seaweed butter, raw radish and chilli gel
This dish utilises contrasting and complimentary elements at every turn – spicy and cooling; acerbic piquancy; salty, sweet, bitter and a little rich. There is soft against crunch and it’s fresh whilst also being smoky. Perfect.
A snack or light starter, this recipe serves two, with treats to spare.
The seaweed butter needs to set in the fridge, as does the chilli gel so make these first.
Seaweed butter
(makes more than enough, but is delicious emulsified into risottos, or simply on toast)
250g unsalted butter, softened
A sheet of dried kombu
A handful of small, dried shrimp (preferably a Korean brand)
Half a European shallot, diced very finely
Half a clove of garlic, bitter green shoot remove, minced
Zest of a lime and a squeeze of its juice
Half a medium sized, medium heat red chilli, very finely diced
A pinch of coarse sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper
Break up the kombu by hand into manageable pieces. In a food processor, blitz it with the dried shrimp so it is very fine, but not a dust.
Mix well with all of the other ingredients and season to taste
Roll in cling film into a cylinder shape and leave in the fridge to set
Chilli gel
1 dried Mexican chipotle chilli, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes
1 sweet red pepper
100ml shellfish stock
1g gellan gum
0.1g xanthan gum
Put the sweet red pepper under the grill or over an open flame and turn often until all sides are charred black, but have not gone over into silver.
Put the charred pepper in a bowl and cover tightly with cling film, allowing it to steam and the skin the loosen.
After 15 minutes, take the pepper out and the skin should peel off easily. Do this under running water if the skin is being stubborn.
Remove the seeds and roughly chop the peeled pepper. Also roughly chop the soaked chipotle chilli.
Place both pepper and chilli in a pan with the shellfish stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low and cook through for 15 minutes.
Blitz the mixture in a food processor. Pass through a sieve into a clean pan
Mix the dry gums with a little salt and whisk into the pan of liquid. Bring to the boil (a temperature of 95°c is required), whisking constantly
Pour into a bowl over iced water, the mixture will set
Blitz again and pass into a squeezy bottle. Keep in the fridge until later.
Now, lightly pickle the fish.
Pickling liquor
(makes more than enough)
100ml water
50ml white wine vinegar
50ml rice wine vinegar
25ml mirin
50g caster sugar
A star anise
A handful of cloves
A knob of ginger
Half an Asian shallot
1 mackerel fillet, halved lengthways, removing the back bone
Toast the dry aromats in a pan for roughly a minute, until they begin to release a fantastic fragrance.
Transfer to a fresh pan with all of the other ingredients.
Bring to the boil. Take off the heat and allow to cool slightly.
While still warm, pour over the mackerel pieces, and leave to souse for 30 minutes.
To serve
2 thin slices of white bread, crusts removed and cut to the same size as your mackerel pieces
Lightly fry the slices of bread in sesame oil
Drain the toast on paper towel and spread on one side with seaweed butter
Remove the mackerel from the pickling liquor and pat dry. With a blowtorch, lightly scorch the skin side of the fish, creating a few smoky bubbles for bursts of contrast.
Place the toast on a plate, preferably with a contrasting colour to emphasise the colours of the dish. Lay the piece of scorched mackerel on the toast.
Next to the fish on toast, add a small circle of chili gel.
We garnish with some raw, thinly sliced radish for bitterness and freshness, and a little candied lemon for a sharp punch, but feel free to be creative.
We all love a bargain, don’t we? We will spend our time looking for restaurant vouchers when we go out to eat to ensure we save at least a few pennies and a 20% off tag is enough to tempt us to spend money we otherwise wouldn’t have. Not to mention Black Friday, when we will fight off anyone that stands between us and a bargain. In fact, this discount day – that was only introduced to the UK in 2010 – officially overtook the 26th December in 2014, as the UK’s biggest shopping day, with £810 million spent.
There is something about getting money off that leaves us feeling not just pleased, but almost smug. So, with that in mind, here are five ways you can bag a bargain online:
Use comparison websites
For your bigger purchases, such as insurance and so on, a comparison website is often the best way to see and compare your options. But, just remember, the cheapest price isn’t always the best deal – so make sure you look into it carefully and understand exactly what you will be getting for your money,
Explore online marketplaces
Online marketplaces such as Freeads are home to countless bargains – here you will find cars, furniture and everything in-between. A lot of the items are second hand – but as the old saying goes: ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’. You might just find that the perfect sofa is sat on there, for hundreds of pounds cheaper than in the shops. Plus, if it isn’t exactly what you are looking for but the price is right, you can always upcycle it and turn it into something new and unique.
Cash back sites
Want to receive money for spending money? Of course you do! Cashback websites pay you when you click through them to a retailer and spend. Depending on what you are buying, the amount you receive can range from pennies to hundreds of pounds – but, it all adds up!
Vouchers/voucher codes
Before you buy anything online you should search to see if there are any voucher codes available. Sites such as Virgin Experience Days and Buyagift – which already offer you days out for less than the RRP, often have codes to make it even cheaper. But, not everyone knows to look for them! Take a look at sites such as My Voucher Codes, or simply type ‘buy a gift discount code’ into Google and you will see what is available. Choose the best one for you and then when you get to the till you will be offered the opportunity to enter the code.
Consumer sites
Look at sites such as Which and Money Saving Expert, which will offer you tips and tricks on how to save money online – pointing you in the right direction of the bargains. They can also explain the best way to use cashback and comparison sites – to ensure you don’t get caught out thinking you have a bargain but in reality you are actually spending much more.
