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Yearly Archives: 2014

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With such a vast range of colours to choose from, it can be very easy to just pick a colour we love rather than thinking about how it affects the room as a whole.

Below are some suggestions for what colours should go in each room and how they can positively affect the people in them.

1. Kitchen

The colour red is known to stimulate the appetite. Good for Mc Donald’s? Definitely. For your home, perhaps not. Warm colours are also generally avoided in a kitchen as they make a room look small and overcrowded. Neutrals such as taupe or beige work very well in kitchen as do muted greens such as sage.

2. Bathroom

The bathroom is a place that should be bright and airy. However it should also be a haven of relaxation. One way to maintain this balance is to paint one or two walls (depending on the shape) a darker, bolder colour, such as a navy or orange and leave the rest a bright neutral colour such as white, which is associated with cleanliness.

3. Living room

This is a room in which you will spend quite a lot of time, so it has been suggested you keep the living room a muted neutral colour that will promote both calming and warming properties. In order to relax it is best to avoid stimulating red and oranges. Muted greens, yellows and beiges would work well in a living room. Rich browns/blues also work well, but they will make a small room even smaller.

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Cleaning windows and mirrors are a pain in the backside when you have to to deal with leftover streaks. Although you might be tempted to wash them up again, without the right tools or techniques, it won’t make much of a difference.

With these simple tips you won’t have to deal with streak-ridden windows or mirrors…until the next person comes along and makes your old mistakes.

Cleaning solutions
Streaks are usually caused by using too much detergent. The next time you clean your windows, try putting a tablespoon of Fairy Liquid into a bucket of warm water. If you want extra shiny windows, you can add some vinegar too. It’s very good of getting rid of nasty marks.

Tools
Newspaper. That’s right, make use of your morning paper by using it for household chores. The print on newspaper works like polish for glass.

Techniques:.
You can pour some of your prepared water into an empty spray bottle or dip the tip of crumpled newspaper into the bucket. Scrub the windows by wiping back and forth. Once you hear the squeaks, you know you’re on the road to shiny streak-free windows.

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Things always get quite hectic around the house after Christmas and trying to get everything organised might seem like a nightmare- it doesn’t have to be though.

Here are quick fixes for the problems you and many others face around this time of the year.

Problem 1: Where to put the Christmas tree?

It’s a problem every year. Try getting a special storage box for your tree that can be left outdoors rather than the usual prone-to-tearing cardboard box you bought it in.

Problem 2: Wrapping paper, ribbons and bows are everywhere!

You can use empty gift boxes for this. Label and store them away for the next time.

Problem 3: Christmas lights are all tangled up

We all know this feeling! Rather than getting frustrated about this, try wrapping any strings of Christmas lights around boxes rather than just throwing them in.

Whoever would have thought these annoying problems could have such simple solutions!

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Honestly Healthy is the new health trend taking the celebrity world by storm.

Millie Mackintosh and Victoria Beckham are both fans of this cookbook, which advocates an alkaline diet (no don’t go, let us explain!) based on avoiding foods that are too high in acidity.

This cookbook contains recipes that are alkaline fuelled, written by Natasha Corrett and Vicki Edgson. They’re tasty and pretty recipes and while they may look complicated, the recipes are actually simple and really healthy too.

If you want to look great while eating tasty and fulfilling foods such as spelt pizza (yes, pizza!) and coconut bread, then this book is for you.

There are countless yummy smoothie recipes and great ideas for healthy breakfasts, which is so important for you and dictates your metabolism’s efficiency for the rest of the day. Honestly Healthy is a fabulous addition to any healthy cook’s bookshelf.

You won’t regret this buy.

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It featured in Marilyn Monroe’s best-known movie moment, so it’s no surprise that her white halterneck dress has been voted the most iconic screen costume of all time.

The William Travilla dress worn by Marilyn in the 1955 film, Seven Year Itch, earned its place in history by billowing around the actresses thighs as she stepped on a subway grate.

The dress was closely followed by Judy Garland’s gingham dress in The Wizard of Oz and Olivia Newton-John’s famous black pants from the final scenes of Grease.

Fourth and fifth places were given to the Ursula Andress bikini from Dr No, and  the black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

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We have been counting down the days and it’s almost time for the brand new season of Girls.

One of the wittiest, funniest and heartbreaking programmes around at the moment, if you haven’t yet jumped on this bandwagon then you need to get moving.

The show revolved around four twenty-something-year-old women in New York City and we know what you’re thinking – Sex and the City?

Oh how wrong you are. Girls is like the antitheses of that hit 90’s show.

The main character is struggling writer, Hanna, played creator Lena Dunham, who is actually struggling, unlike Carrie and her Manolo Blahniks. Then there’ her best friend Marnie (Alison Williams), the seemingly successful art gallery worker who strives for perfection.

Secondary characters include Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet), a wealthy student who is the clueless, hilarious friend you never had and Jessa (Jemima Kirke), the free spirit who causes havoc wherever she goes.

Tune in to catch up with this generation’s refreshingly raw and real  take on love, sex, career and friendship which is guaranteed to have you on the floor laughing (or should we say ROFL?)

HBO’s Girls will be premiering in the UK and Ireland on Sky Atlantic on January 20 at 10pm. See you there! Check out the trailer.

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Fans of nerdy comedy The Big Bang Theory will be familiar with loveable blonde, Kaley Cuoco, who plays Penny on the popular show.

If you follow her on Instagram, you would have been among her 440,103 followers to be treated to snaps of her wedding yesterday.

It seems Kaley decided to shun the traditional white wedding dress and instead followed in the steps of Mrs Timberlake by wearing a beautiful pink gown, made by Vera Wang.

It looked like such a fun wedding and seemed to be much more relaxed than your typical Hollywood affair.

We would have loved to be there, but obviously our invitation was lost in the post…

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You know those words you overhear on the Luas that make you shudder inside? Here are five that we hope don’t make the transition to the new year, let’s hang them up!!

1.) Mula

It’s MONEY. One extra letter, why are you abbreviating it?

2.) Coolabula

Leave it to Fran from Love/Hate and let that be the end of it.

3.) Twerk

Just. No. Don’t say it and definitely do not do it!

4.) Hashtag

As in you’re having a conversation with a real life person and they say; “Uh, hard day, hashtag wrecked”.

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CaraMulberrySS14-2It seems like model Cara Delevingne can do no wrong and her latest Mulberry campaign is further proof of her perfection.

Fashion blogs were all a-twitter when the label released its latest Spring 2014 campaign, shot by Tim Walker, and revealed their latest collaboration with Harry Styles’ ex.

Walker, who has delighted Vogue readers for years with his imaginative fashion spreads, popped the British model in among ponies and cockatoos for an eccentric and extraordinary tea party.

The pictures were taken at Shotover House in England, where the brand also shot its AW13 campaign with Delevingne.

We suddenly find ourselves craving tea and crumpets…and some Mulberry bags, of course.

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Actress Kirsten Dunst has been named as L’Oréal Professional’s first spokesperson.

The brand is known for its close link with the fashion industry and Kirsten’s daring style choices, both with her hair and clothes, made her the perfect choice for the company.

When talking about the “timeless beauty, MD Anne-Laure Lecerf said; “She has a strong personality and makes her own choices…She has the perfect attributes to embody the new values of L’Oréal Professionnel.”

The Bring It On star’s launch campaign resulted in this gorgeous picture and if you’re anything like us, you’re probably coveting her hair right now.

“I feel very close to L’Oréal Professionnel,” said Kirsten. “The brand is strongly connected to fashion and I admire its commitment to innovation, constantly creating new professional services and products to achieve the most on-trend styles.”

Kirsten is currently promoting L’Oréal Professional’s two new hair products: Beach Waves and Absolut Repair Lipidium.

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When many people think of a plait, they are immediately reminded of a childhood filled with tight, uncomfortable braids.

Thankfully, now that you’re a grown-up, you can plait you hair anyway you want. Follow our top tips and you will have fabulously sleek hair in no time.

  1. Use a treatment oil when your hair is wet and smooth it from the mid length right down to the tips.
  2. Blow-dry your hair as you normally would.
  3. Once your hair is thoroughly dry run your straightener through it.
  4. Put your hair in a centre parting and plait all hair to one side.
  5. Use a thick hairband to make the style a bit dresser.
  6. Make sure all flyaways are neatly put to bed by using a strong hold hairspray

This is a great look that you can take straight from the office to the bar.

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Naomie Harris looked stunning in green as she posed alongside Idris Elba at the 25th Palm Springs International Film Festival. The pair were at the event for their new movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

U2’s Bono, who was friends with the former president, was joined by The Edge as they discussed the movie with Naomie and Idris. We would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.

The movie follows the life of the late Nelson Mandela and the struggle for race equality in South Africa. The actress and the actor looked very comfortable as they took part in a Q&A at the cinematic event.

Both stars donned more formal attires on Sunday night for the festival’s Award Gala. Harris’ white lace, floor length gown matched Idris’ black suit down to a tee.

They look like the perfect couple, although we’re not sure Kim Elba would agree with us.

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