Seasonal Beauty

The seasons are a-changing, temperatures are dropping, central heating is being turned up, the sun loses its strength and the nights are drawing in, making the Autumn a perfect time to address your beauty, health and fitness regimes. Therefore, this will be a three-part blog whereby we give you some top tips each week on how to shake up your routines to ensure you feel and look your best during what can be a rather tricky season.

Autumn can be a very challenging time for your skin. The change in weather and temperature, not to mention the central heating can really dry out our skin and cause it too look a little dull and often uneven. Here, I have picked my favourite beauty products and top beauty tips that will help you to look totally gorgeous no matter what’s going on outside:

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

A great way to help undo the damage caused by the sun; those with uneven skin tone and/or facial pigmentation should definitely try this serum from Clinique. I have seen this do wonders on people who have had too much sun and bear the brunt of it on their face – one friend had pigmentation on her upper lip that completely disappeared after using the cream. Those that don’t suffer from sunspots or something similar will find that it will just even out the skin tone and make skin silky soft. It’s a win win. Apply before bed and under moisturiser.

Aveda Hair Damage Therapy Intensive Restructuring Treatment Central heating can cause our hair to frizz, fly, knot, dry and break – not to mention that this is all on top of the damage that has been done to it all summer. Aveda has the answer – something that I swear by that will get your locks looking luscious and lovely in no time at all. Damage Therapy Intensive Restructuring Treatment is a weekly treatment that is formulated to deeply penetrate the hair helping to repair it from root to end. It contains quinoa protein too, which will also give it extra shine. Apply from root to end after shampooing and leave on for 5 minutes for best results, then rinse and voila!

 

Moroccan Rose Otto Body Oil

Its ingredients include the healing Rose Otto Oil, Jojoba, Cranberry Seed

and Argan all of which combine to create the most amazing scent that will

transport your mind back to the holiday your still reliving and the soft, supple

skin you had there. After applying this from head to toe there won’t be a part

of you that won’t glow. It is perfect for dry and dehydrated skin, and therefore

is a great solution to combat the winter chills.

 

Kiwiherb Calendula Ointment

For those that suffer from eczema or dry skin patches, this ointment (more like a Vaseline in its consistency) is a wonderful, natural solution. Calendula, being a well known healing cream, is also a great soother and therefore seriously helps to heal whatever skin problem Autumn is throwing you. It is also all natural, so apply as much as you want. I found it was fantastic for dry patches under my eyes and for spots, and it’s safe for use on babies too.

 






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London Fashion Week's Fashionable Fixes; Fit for a Duchess.

This London Fashion Week, the 90's comeback has been in full swing,  but Emilia Wickstead, up and coming designer, with clients that include Kate Middleton and Samantha Cameron took a refreshing Feminine angle to her new line. Emilia has created a collection that exemplifies a stylish yet elegant woman's fashionable fixes, with exuberant neutral colours that support a range of skin tone - making it perfect for us mere mortals as well. Feasting my eyes on Emilia's designs for next season, I've picked a few looks that would have the duchess's complete approval as well as mine! 

A demure, white, short suit, is both designer-chic and high-street. Because of it's simplicity it can be accessorised with statement heels or bold jewelry but is interesting enough to be worn on it's own due to it's a-line jacket. You can rest assured that in this outfit, the Duchess will envy your style.

Pretty in pleats; Emilia has designed a pleated, yellow dress that can be worn in the office but wouldn't look out of place at an Easter brunch either. This sophisticated cut is great for any age as it hides all manner of sins.

Unlike the pleated dress above, this playsuit, with its fun design and hip skimming length compliments a diverse shape of bodies. Out of the entire collection in Emilia's look-book this little number is my fave; it's sexy, fun and chic. Best worn teamed with a pair of  this seasons Manolo heals, I especially like the Permin heal from his glamorous fall collection. 

Hello Paleo – My first week on the Paleo diet

Starting the Paleo Diet was an impulsive decision I have to say but it has certainly been a fun experience so far. If this were a battle, I am certainly fighting with myself.

Monday:

Breakfast: Fruit salad from Pret. I wasn't prepared for Paleo until the Sunday afternoon, therefore nothing in the fridge could allow me to cook a home-made brekkie. My usual daily routine is a cup of soya flat white, but now I change to a Nespresso in the office (luckily I ordered a pack of capsule already).

Lunch: It was a long morning for me as fruit salad doesn't take long to digest and half of my brain had been occupied by the idea of where to get lunch. At 12:00 sharp, I rushed to a Japanese take-away in Liverpool street arcade. They have yummy Miso Chicken, usually with rice. Now I had to order a portion of Chicken without rice, and a mixed green salad. Hmmm that seemed a lot.

Snack: Meals without grains and starch make me hungry quite easily. I brought lots of fruits with me: apples, peaches. Nuts apparently are a bit tricky. I want something meaty! After checking out the website, I ordered a few packs of beef jerky...

Dinner: It wasn't very difficult in the afternoon. For dinner, I made a pork broth with carrots, mushrooms. It was a big portion and I guess I could have them for two days almost.

Tuesday:

BreakfastI: I was better prepared this time! I cooked a mushroom omelette at the night before and brought it in a bento box to the office. This morning was beautiful!

Lunch: Take-way black pepper chicken with steamed vegetables from ASAP, a pan-Asian take way close to the office.

Dinner: Same as Monday

Wednesday, the fun part started. You know, it is always difficult to follow certain type of diet when you are travelling. And I had to spend 1.5 days in Paris for a client event.

Breakfast: I was sitting in a Eurstar train to Paris at 06:50 (lucky me, didn't have to take the first train this time). Breakfast was served shortly after the train took off. Coffee? Yes. Bread basket? No. Juice? No. Yogurt? No. Finally hot food was served: Baked tomato, sausage, canned mushroom and potato wedges. Carefully putting the potatos aside, I started swallowing the Paleo compliant breakfast, feeling sad on the one hand and satisfied on the other hand. I had never been a huge fan of bread although I was very fond of potato. But I believe that I craved for them only because they were forbidden.

Buffet lunch was served in the hotel where the conference was held. Yeah I thought at least I could choose what I could eat. The starter plates have various dishes which I couldn't really figure out: mixture of different ingredients and I was quite sure each dish includes at least one forbidden food for me...bloody French food! Well, let me skip to the main course instead: baked salmon was tasty in the end. Then the most annoying thing happened: half of the buffet table was occupied by different deserts and I could not take any of those. Considerably, they had fruit basket. My lunch finished with a few grapes, figs and a cup of espresso.

Dinner: I was lying just now. The worst part was just about to happen. Apparently it was a tradition that the first night of the event included a cooking class of French food in the evening with all guest. I had to be there. It was always a fun thing to do: You messed up with all the foods you were given and in the end you had to eat them. The problem for me this year was that obviously I did not know what to cook and eat. After I deboned a few squids, sliced a bunch of rhubarbs, Chorizo, tomatoes and red peppers, there came the menu:

Starter: Pan-fried squid cooked with red pepper and chorizo served with a chilled tomato soup and rocket. Yum!

Main: Carnaroli rice risotto with sliced asparagus served with pan-fried king prawns and asparagus tips, all finished with a spinach cream. Rice! Cream!

Dessert: Layers of poached rhubarb and shortbread finished with a zesty chantilly cream and rhubarb drizzle.

“I will be hungry tonight.” I told myself.

Thursday started from the Eurostar journey back to London. Instead of sausage and mushrooms, the “edible breakfast” was a small herbal omelette. After cups of coffee, I was able to take a morning nap before a hectic day.

Lunch: ASAP take-way again. I think lunch is the easy part, as long as I dont take bread, noodle or rice. Maybe also those Eat / Pret soups full of beans...

Dinner: Rushing into Harvey Nichols for a fashion show. Among all the guests with bubblies, holding a glass of water didn't look cool. A light dinner in the Cafe: Baked Hake with vegetables.

Friday finally came.

Breakfast: Mixed leaves with quail eggs and salmon flakes. All materials available in Waitrose.

Lunch: Pret Chicken salad with Miso soup

Dinner: a Sichuan dinner in Bar Shu after the Degas exhibition, the worst Chinese restaurant I have ever been.... Boiled fish, marinated chicken, jelly fish, pork knuckle, and fried vegetables.

Saturday

I opened my eyes at 11:30, realising that my lunch with friends will take place in 2 hours in Chiswick, a place I have never been. The rushing started again after I had a cup of black coffee. After more than 75 minutes, I finally arrived at Hedone, the venue opened by the Swedish chef Mikael Jonsson. For people on diet in such a big lunch in a desired restaurant, finding an excuse to forget about rules is easy. I skipped the bread, which looked really special and tasty. Wines were brilliant, so I heard. Then came the five courses. Instead of their signature dessert Chocolate Bar, the restaurant offered me fruit salad. In the end, I had a bite of the Chocolate Bar, heaven!

The lunch lasted till almost 5pm. All were full and tired. I had a very nice meal, very satisfied but not feeling my stomach too heavy. I start to believe that Paleo diet will help you enjoy food more.

Sunday is usually a lazy day for me.

A salami omelette starts my day.

Lots of fruits

Dinner: pork rib stew.

Have a nice week to you all!

www.trisori.com

London Fashion Weekend: Cleo B Shoes

So Vodafone are trying to up their reputation following years of bad customer service (really not my fault that some Albanian who stole my phone in Florence decided to call his friends and family over there as much as humanely possible in 24 hrs)and apparently I won two 'VIP' tickets to the opening night of London Fashion Weekend at Somerset House, of which they are headline sponsor, entailing a host of boutique stalls to shop in, as well as seats at the catwalk show plus a goody bag.


The catwalk show was 5 different shows - with designers including Jaeger and Bryce Aime amongst others. I was really mesmerised by the innovative cool hairstyles - a sidebun with loose, long hair on the other side...teamed with fierce red lisptick and in some cases just one slicked back bun. Each show was interspersed with singing by Emeli Sande, who was incredible with such an amazing voice. The lyrics to the tunes were really beautiful also.





After the show, there wasn't long left to peruse a few stalls. I made an immediate beeline for the shoe zone, as I had spied the Cleo B shoe stand. Cleo B is a high-end young upcoming shoe designer with a boutique based on Ebury Street. I absolutely adore her designs and had been lusting after a pair for ages and so I indulged my desire for them together with that for an autumn winter pair of wedges (easier to walk in). I chose a black pair which have an elegant jewel dangling from a central strap across the foot and a zip up the side. They gave me that real feel good factor of elation as soon as I'd bought them. Now I just have to plan an outing for them!

Cleo B http://www.cleob.com/

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Vauhall Fashion Scout: New talent from the block

I was browsing through the stands of the Vauxhall Fashion Scout last Friday with a Stylist friend of mine, when I saw this new cool brand called Ekaterina Kukhareva. I am always less than impressed with the new talent of London fashion scene as many of them lack the "commercial sense" so needed to succeed in today's economic climate.

 My fears were wiped out in one second when I met Ekaterina's new collection. Ekaterina Kukhareva is a Ukrainian born designer based in London  and her knitwear collection is fun, exquisitely executed and really sexy.

The quality of her dresses and knitwear is extraordinary and prices are quite affordable (average price is 300 pounds).

I particularly love this skirt (image below) which perfectly embodies this AW's pencil skirt trend. What more do you need to add? Of course, if you have a bit of courage you could wear it as per the model's picture of Ekaterina photo shoot but for more ordinary types like me a normal silk shirt will do just fine.

The brand also incorporates some headpieces in the AW11 collection (but I did not see any in the SS12 collection)

and if you are around Notting Hill, Ekaterina is stocked at wolfandbadger. How convenient!

Happy shopping Trisorers!

Optimum Nutrition Recipes

It is true, you can have delicious food that is also good for you. There are a host of recipes out there that taste great, look great as well as make you feel great - you just have to look in the right places. One of my fave, go-to guides for health, yummy recipes is the Optimum Nutrition Cookbook. Optimum nutrition simply means giving your body the best possible intake of nutrients to allow it to be as healthy as possible and to work as best as it can. Here are two of my favourite recipes to get you through the day - try them at home and see for yourself:

Breakfast: Great for Protein Lovers

Quinoa Porridge with bananas

Ingredients:
75g quinoa
freshly ground nutmeg
2-3 tablespoons rice milk
4 tablespoons low-fat natural yoghurt (or soya yogurt)
1 banana, peeled and sliced

1. Place the quinoa in a saucepan with 350ml water and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 15 mins. The mixture should still be quite sloppy.
2. Tip the mixture into a blender and process with nutmeg and rice milk. Add more liquid if needed.

3. Return the mixture to the pan and heat gently. Serve topped with a couple of spoonful of yoghurt and the banana.

Lunch or Dinner: Filled with a host of vitamins and minerals, this raw-style soup os great for energy levels

Energy Soup
Ingredients:
225g carrots, peeled and chopped
3-4 broccoli florets
100g firm tofu
3 teaspoons vegetable stock
1 teaspoon tomato puree
75-100ml soya milk

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and process well. Add soya milk until you get the consistency you like.
2. Serve cold or gently heat, without letting the soup boil.

Enjoy!

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Glee Steals The Show... in looks not awards!

As a fashion and arts fanatic, The Emmy's is one televised event I never miss! The red-carpet trends always manage to capture an old, hollywood glamour that has made the acting world so mysteriously thrilling. As I gored over Gwyneth Paltrow's Emilio Pucci lacy, black dress, complimenting her flawless complexion and sun-kissed blonde hair, I find myself, and I am sure everyone else that saw pictures of the evening, in a state of insane jealousy! That skin! That waist!

After searching through endless pictures I have found my favorite three outfits. All of which, coincidentally, are worn by members of the cast of Glee (my guilty pleasure). Although the show didn't win any awards on the night, the cast certainly rocked the Emmy's with these inspired looks: 

Red hot on the red carpet, Lea Michele looked stunning in this stylish Marchesa gown. As fall has come and the short mini dresses have been put away the low draped back, is a great way of tastefully showing skin, a key feature this Autumn. This flattering dress was the perfect look for Glee's leading lady.  

Glee's Jayma Mays did not disappoint in an elegant Zuhair Murad gown. With a tiered beaded tulle skirt in a pastel pink, this look nods to the ballerina trend of 2010. A feminine look, perfect for such a glamorous do, proves that you can be pretty and powerful at the same time. 

Heather Morris, Glee's on screen 'trend-setter' has taken her role and made it a reality with this gorgeous purple ruffled gown. The low neck line stays within the boundaries of elegant and is teamed with a wind-swept up-do to give the look a bit of edge. I, for one, cannot wait till the new season starts! Bring it on.
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You are what you eat - Hello Paleo

Yesterday I was invited by my friends J and A for a “Paleo-friendly feast” at her home. The very tasty meal included Mint Lamb Kebab, Harissa-marinated chicken, Smoked Cod Fillet, Mixed Green Salad, Roasted Sweet Potato and Steamed Quinoa. Almost all the guests asked about what “Paleo” is and why they follow it. J has been always sensitive to the foods she eats and normal diet always makes her feel heavy. Apparently she has felt an improved condition of her digestion system and a lot of allergic symptoms have disappeared since she started Paleo Diet. This interested a few guests at the table, including myself.

Paleo Diet (Paleolithic diet) is also called Cavemen Diet. The concept is to follow an eating plan which is based on an ancient diet which comprises of wild available animals and plants during the Paleolithic era. The rationale behind is that the energy intake from modern diet is mainly from sugar, grains, diaries and all kind of processed foods. Assuming human bodies have been in a similar conditions as Paleolithic era, i.e. before the advent of agriculture, our common diet usually makes people “over -eating”, which results in all kinds of indigestion and discomforts.

As convincing as the story sounds, I don't have the knowledge of an anthropologist to make my own judgment. However I have tried to understand this from a nutrition and health's perspective.

Long story short, a refined idea of Paleo diet promotes large intakes of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, seafoods, to ensure sufficient but not excess of energy, vitamins, minerals and exclude Saturated fats, the "bad fats". Paleo-diet also stresses the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids, which is believed to improve human's cardiovascular conditions and could not be synthesised by human bodies. Another key word is “fresh”, hence frozen or canned foods are not ideal in Paleo Diet.

In the mean time, Paleo diet also has a long “banned food” list, which includes all kinds of grains, beans, sugar, diary products (except butter), starchy foods, yeast containing foods and fatty part of meats, processed meat (including hams, fatty bacon, lunchmeat), as well as alcohols. (you can see a full list of banned food for a strictly followed Paleo Diet). The list is long and the rationale behind it is even longer. However the bottom line is that the Paleo Diet claims that the foods to avoid usually provide little nutritions and sometimes impair human bodies' intaking of other nutritions. Interestingly, compared to the USDA Food Pyramid, the Paleo Diet is much higher in protein and lower in carbohydrate.

As controversial as it has been since it was invented, I don't believe it will be a universal diet for every one (I am clearly not capable to buy the idea that we still have cavemen's stomachs), however the view on the balance but not in excess of nutritions makes sense to me. Variations of Paleo diets have been created to suit different needs, including improving athletes' health and purifying skins and metabolic system. It sounds interesting enough for me, to put myself as a guinea pig and I hereby announce that my experiment of Paleo Die will officially start today, for 30 days.

Will keep all of you updated and wish me good luck!

xoxo

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Return to Camden: Proud Kitchen

This last week saw us heading to Proud Kitchen for the Burlesque in Your Kitchen experience. So it's been a while since I ventured into Camden possibly circa 1995 or so when I was still at school, to this part in particular. Definitely remembered why it had that 'cool' appeal but not sure I'd go back in hurry with all the Friday night drinkers who were 'rubbish bombing' along the street when they saw a big pile of full black bin bags...!!


So the kitchen is more like a kitchen than a restaurant with big trestle style tables that are shared with other dining parties. The best tables to get are the ones opposite the stage to fully benefit from the performances. Unfortunately we were on one of the side tables sideways on and the group on the end at that.


I definitely did not rate the food, being just so average and something I could so easily make at home...mussels in a cider, bacon and cream sauce. Average. Then the salmon tasted as thought it was fresh out of the salmon farm with a rubbery non crisping up skin. The vegatables were also very greasy. I'm sure some of the other options were better...not sure whih ones though!


So the next ordeal was going for a cigarette. Not so easy as you might think - I had to go through to the next door bar which aprarently is 'full of tons of students'. Not an easy trek throgh a whole bar of live music and druken people. Bit of an issue with super-high heels. The saving geace is that the music becomes really fun after all the perfomances so you and stay on and dance.


So on to the performances, generally quite amusing but not as good as some acts I have seen in the past. The best one by far was the last which was a proper burlesque performance unlike what I'd term many of the others which are more an interpretation. So this one was a beautiful ballerina who piroutted around on her sparkely points with fitting feathers, not to be deterred. She was also featuring in a japanese geisha-esque scenario but the rest wreren't really so convincing...

http://www.proudcamden.com/news/burlesque-kitchen.aspx
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My beauty saviour - Aesop Parsley Seed Serum

You could say that when it comes to beauty products I am a bit of a slut. I flit from one prettily packaged product to the next hoping to discover a miracle cream that shall rid me of my blackheads and fill in my (newly-formed!) frown line between my eyebrows, not to mention sort out those bags under my eyes. I pour so much hope into each application and then, when I fail to notice a change (albeit in a couple of weeks) I get bored and move on to something else. That was, until I discovered Aesop's Parsley Seed Serum.

Having lived in Hong Kong's stonking humidity for the past six months, I have come to appreciate that you have to adapt your beauty routine to the environment around you. At first I stopped applying moisturiser altogether, because as soon as I stepped outside, the moisuriser I had so carefully rubbed in would re-emerge seconds later forming a lovely, faint white sheen all over my face. But when I used no moisturiser at all I started to notice dry patches on my nose and under my eyes.

It was about half way though my 6 month stint in Hong Kong that I discovered Aesop's Parsley Seed Serum. Part of the Parsley Seed collection, which is especially formulated to deliver antioxidants and vitamins to the skin, the serum uses Parsley Seed extract, which is both restorative and protective to the skin. Designed for use in humid climates, at first the consistency of the serum feels unusual and a little sticky but once it is absorbed, you don't notice it's presence at all. My skin does have a reduced amount of blackheads, and feels softer and smoother to touch. And I can report that I have been using it for over two month's now and I still think it is totally fabulous. I would definitely recommend that anyone in a humid climate try this.

Enjoy!

www.trisori.com

Stylishly Warm This Autumn

Autumn is here, and one of the lovely things it brings with it is the wonderful fall fashion. This can mean tight black dresses with big zips that nod to the 'fetish' trend, or even block, platform shoes that scream 70s, but for me it means cosy, comfortable, casual, after all, the worst part of the day has to be the commute and why make it even worse by being unbearably uncomfortable.

With that in mind, and credit card in hand, I set out to get my autumn wardrobe well and truly sussed - which, after a bit of research, includes these wearable, cosy and chic must-have autumn items:

The Cashmere Jumper: Hush, a brand I continually rely on for all my trendy, snug wear, never fails to create luxurious clothes that look as good as they feel. This cashmere crew neck is a favourite of mine from their new autumn range - navy blue with a metallic edge; a great tone for flattering pale skin like mine. Nothing keeps the cold out as much as a cashmere jumper - perfect for the chilly autumn days to come. £120

The Boots: The comfortable Uggs that have been warming everybody's feet for the last few years, have come back with a vengeance. A collaboration with Jimmy Choo, has got given them a new lease of life and the quality is better than ever! With their unique studded patern these shoes are one of a kind. Buy a pair of these, and your fashion cred will fly beyond belief! £347.50 (currently half-price)

The Snood: What is a snood I hear you say?!! I had been asking myself that very same question, and it wasn't until I bought one that I realised what a revolutionary wardrobe item this is. A round scarf that you loop over your head, silly as it sounds, not only keeps my ears and neck nice and toasty but it looks fantastic too and goes with almost everything in my closet! This Paul Smith Cable Knit Snood, is a definite must-have this season. £110

The Statement Trousers: For comfort or for street cred- I think these Jersey Cuffed Trousers are a perfect autumn purchase. Baggy and loose, they show off your figure without leeching on to your every curve. This statement harem cut has not left the building just yet. Asos do a great pair and for only £20.

Special Socks: For socks this season there is only one place you should look - Toast. They do what they say on the tin: keep your feet warm and toasty and, boy, do they do it in style. Instructions: put on immediately upon entering your lovely home for best cosy results. £59

Happy shopping!

www.trisori.com 

What the Magazines are saying about Health and Fitness This Month

Health and fitness is a hot topic these days, from diets to beauty secrets everyone wants to know what the best and easiest ways are to get into shape and get you looking your best. Here, I have scoured the magazine racks to bring you a snippet of the top health and fitness articles from some of our favourite monthly glossies, here's what they have to say on the subject in a nutshell:

Hapers Bazaar, October 2011
Losing those final few pounds
Sleep More: Sleeping releases fat-burning and appetite suppressing hormones.
Add Spice: Spices such as cinnamon can cause your metabolism to spike, add to coffee for great results.
Interval Train: Fast bursts of hardcore exercise interchanged with slower bouts, such as running and walking, burns more calories than running at one pace for the same amount of time.
Take Vitamin C: Those who do burn 39% more fat when they exercise.
Drink more: Water keeps the metabolism going and curbs appetite.

Elle, September 2011
Is your make up bag past its sell-by date?
What to look for: If a product has a limited shelf life (less than two and half years) EU guidelines require that its label displays a throw-out date. This will appear in a drawing of a jar - its not obvious so look hard for it. This is the life expectancy in months from when you open the product.
Mascara - 6 months life expectancy.
Powder-based Products - around 24 months life expectancy.
Wash your brushes: They harbour way more dirt than you would ever think.

Marie Claire, October 2011
A Healthy Pudding from Rock Star turned Chef Alex James
Roasted Pineapple Pudding
Ingredients:
2 medium pineapples
Lemon or Lime Marmalade to glaze
Method:
1. Preheat oven to gas mark 7/ 220˚C/425˚F
2. Peel the pineapples and cut into quarters lengthways. Leave on the foliage as it looks pretty once cooked. Rub all over with the marmalade and then place in the oven. Cook for around 30-40 minutes, turning regularly so it caramelises all over.
3. Serve with summer berries and crumbled Gorgonzola or yoghurt.

Red, September 2011
Make your Walk Count
Walking is the most effective strategy for building up fitness, says Timothy Ferriss author of the US best seller The 4-Hour Body.
Walk as fast as possible for 15 minutes - so fast that you should persistently want to jog - seven and half minutes out and seven and half minutes back in.
Walk farther each session, but always return in the seven and half minutes.
If you really push yourself and complete this three times a week, you could be in tip-top condition in only four weeks.


Enjopy the reading!

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Autumn leaves II: The Iron Budda

Since green tea is pretty raw, the caffeine that it contains will usually keep you very awake in the evening. Hence you might want to try Oolong tea after lunch time. Unlike the green tea which is roasted from fresh leaves, Oolong tea is semi-fermented with different flavours, varied from floral type to earthy type. Regions which are famous for producing Oolong tea includes Taiwan and Fujian, China.

For those who have never tried Oolong tea before, I would suggest them start with one of the most famous Oolong teas: Tie Guan Yin, also called Tit Koon Yum or Iron Budda. Compared to the “Cliff tea” or “Rock tea” which is another type of Oolong, Tit Koon Yum offers a lighter taste with strong orchid aroma. Compared to Longjing, the green tea which has a sharp and slightly bitter taste, Tit Koon Yum is much smoother with a touch of sweet as after taste.

The traditional way of drinking Oolong is not as straight forward as green tea and it takes a few steps before a proper cup of tea is brewed. There are also different type of tea-wares which suit different type of flavours.

Next week, I will write more about brewing Oolong tea and Chinese traditional teawares.

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Pho Beautiful Pho!

I have to admit, I have a few addictions. Not all of them good. But one of them is Pho and I like to think of this as a good addiction - healthy, clean flavoured vietnamese food food under a tenner. Nothing too wrong with that. The only slight hitch is that the portions they serve are akin to those you'd get in America, so I usually sit there and try and finish every last morsel (memories of prep-school - being forced to finish everything on your plate).


Well anyway my 'addiction' paid off as whilst checking twitter last week, I noticed that Pho was celebrating 66 years of Vietnamese independence and was offering 66 lucky diners the chance to win a freebie plus a shot of vodka. So tweet them I did as per the instructions for the hashtag and then lo and hehold, I had won lunch there that day. Sadly it wasn't the noodle salad dish which has become my firm favourite - known as bun noodles on the menu - but any pho soup of choice, so my dining partner had a beef variety and the free shot of vodka - well I had had bucks fizz that morning already!


This is what I crave when it's a cold, rainy and miserable day outside and you want a little warmth on the inside. The spicy chicken pho soup is also hot favourite of mine and my colleague never wants all her herbs which means I get extra flavour and goodness into me. It's a nice touch being able to garnish your own soup. You can even choose your own varieties of stock and combinations. Plus when you've got an awful cold, the fresh juice with ginger does wonders and makes you feel like you're on the mend.


There are locations all across London and even one in Brighton.
http://www.phocafe.co.uk/

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Personal Shopping in Topshop: Warning - Once you've had it you'll never go back

For my sister, Saskia's, birthday she got given a session with the wonderful Personal Shoppers at my all time favourite store, Topshop. And the best part? She was allowed to bring a friend, and out of moral duty, she picked me!

Topshop launched in 1964, and since then it has gone from strength to strength - now forming more of a fashion institution rather than a clothes shop. Its huge range promises something for everyone and I, for one, can lose the best part of an afternoon scanning their flagship Oxford Circus store.

We met in Tophop's accessories department. Sass was late, so I was head to toe in Tophop's finest jewellery by the time she arrived... as you do. After removing all the bits and pieces I had been trying on while waiting for her, we headed straight to the Personal Shopper department, which is in the far corner of the lower ground floor. Walking in is like finding an oasis in a desert, and you soon realise that this is the first class of shopping experiences. I am a huge fan of Topshop but one thing I find hard to handle is the hustle and bustle of it's shop floor. It makes me stressed and tired within minutes of arriving and don't even think about trying anything on with those cues!

The Personal Shopping area is a world away from that. On arrival we were met by a very pretty shop assistant who offered us both tea (yes please, no sugar) before going to our own, personal changing room. Equipped with two rails of tailor-made looks and a big, comfy armchair, your whole body instantly relaxes. We were then introduced to our two, very own, personal shoppers, both tall and beautiful and perfect adverts for the store's clothes.

Playsuits, coloured jeans and sparkly tops adorned the changing room walls and we were then given a run down of each individual outfit. I could see my sister's eyes light up with each item she pulled of the rail. But there were some 'no-no's' of course, too; like a woolly jumper that had a picture of a sheep on it and a pair of multi-coloured metallic leggings that had more place in a 1980's music video than on my teenage sister's legs. 

Once left to our own devices we quickly established the 'no's' from the 'yes's'. The first item she tried on was a big hit; an elegant, black playsuit that had daisies made out of gems sewn on to it. Next up, another playsuit, although this time floral, instantly made the cut too, as did a pair of the navy blue 'Jamie' jeans - that are so deliciously comfortable that i'd wear them in bed.

With our YES's firmly decided upon and after 1 hour spent in this shopaholic's paradise, we paid for our goodies and left. We then decided to have a quick whizz around the shop floor, just to check that we hadn't missed out on anything else... and that was when I realised. I realised what an absolute luxury it was to have your clothes chosen for you, to not have to battle with the girl next to you for the last size 10 on the rail and the heavenly piece and quiet of our own personal changing room. It is rather like first class on an airplane; once you have had a taste of it, you'll find it very hard to go back to economy ever again.

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Have a Healthy and Happy Autumn

It's the first week of September, our bushes are filled with blackberries and X Factor is filling our homes... this can only mean one thing, autumn is on it's way and I, for one, couldn't be more excited. It is one of my favourite times of year... apple crumbles, bonfires and golden hues, what could be better!? Here are a few wonderful ways to have a healthy and happy autumn...

Go for an Autumnal Walk. Autumn is the perfect time to go for long walks as the scenery is so beautiful at this time of year. We are very lucky in the Uk as we are never far from a park or a bit of countryside, so don a pair of wellies (or walking shoes) and get going.
We Love Wellies. Buy a pair of bright and lovely wellies such as this pair of Hunters (below) (www.hunter-boot.com) 

 
to help motivate you to go on the aforementioned walks. 
Make Your Snacks Seasonal. Snack on nuts, berries and seeds. Perfect autumn foods since blackberries are in season which makes them not only healthy but cheap too. Buy a punnet of berries to put in the fridge and a bag of seeds/nuts to keep in your draw at work for peckish times.
Drink Water. It is important at any time of year to stay hydrated. We often confuse thirst for hunger and therefore reach for the cookie cabinet before the tap. Have a glass of water when you next feel hungary and you may find that you were thirsty instead. If you find water boring, make a herbal tea.  
Run. If you love to run - keep doing it. Don't let the cooler weather put you off. Download a new running track to get you moving and a-grooving. Visit www.hipandhealthy.co.uk/Hip_and_Healthy/One_thing_this_week.html to get a free, specially designed running track - suitable for all levels of fitness.
Drink Oat Milk Before Bed. Don't snack after supper, instead, have a warm oat or rice milk. You will be surprised with how filling and soothing it can be and you'll wake up hungry for breakfast.
Cleanse. If you have the time make a green smoothie first thing in the morning. This will help your body to cleanse and rid itself of toxins. Find the recipe here: http://www.hipandhealthy.co.uk/Hip_and_Healthy/Nealy.html. It will fill you up and give you a glow from the inside out.  
Eat Soup for Lunch. I find that Covent Garden or Waitrose make the most delicious soups if you don't have the time to make your own. But, If you do, then fill it with root vegetables as they are in season and will be abundant in the supermarkets, such as pumpkin, squash, aubergines, and potatoes. The water content will make you feel fuller for longer and it will warm you up on the colder days too.
Don't count calories. If you find yourself endlessly counting calories than stop - it's not healthy and can often lead to you feeling very restricted and then rebelling from whatever diet you have put yourself on. Instead, eat mindfully, enjoy your food, chew it lots and you'll find that you won't be as hungry or feel as empty as if you had denied yourself something in the first place because of its calorie content.
Let us know how you get on!




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Autumn leaves – Your guide of tea for this autumn I: Green tea

We can't start a day without a cup of coffee, no matter it is with cow milk or soya milk. But what are we going to drink for the rest of the day? It is apparently no good to go to Starbucks too many times for coffee: dehydration, osteoporosis...all the bad consequences. Here maybe something you want to try, apart from your 1 Litre Evian bottle: A cup of green tea in the crisp mornings of English autumn. Any good about green tea? It is one kind of tea which is undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Meaning? It's the most raw and fresh kind of tea. Green tea is well known for reducing the heart deceases and its anti-oxidative and anticarcinogenic functions. If you can bother a few more minutes to enjoy a cup of properly brewed green tea, here is the mini “A to Z” guide:

What to try?

It seems all good green teas are from Asia, such as China, Japan and Korea. In China, the most famous green tea is called “Longjing (龙井)”, literally means “dragon well”, from a particular village of Hangzhou, which is my hometown. Without going to too much details, one can find the good Longjing are tender leaves with color of green with a dash of yellow. After being roasted by hand in an iron oval pan, the fresh leaves are dried and pressed to a flat shape, which distinguishes Longjing tea from other types of green tea. Compared to other Chinese green tea, Longjing's taste is relatively strong. For a lighter taste, Bi Luo Chun (碧螺春) is a good choice. There are famous Japanese green tea too, such as Sencha(煎茶) and Gyokuro(玉露). Once I also tried O'sulloc tea from Jeju-do in Korea, very fresh taste and unique.

How to brew?

One thing to remember, tap water is a big NO! If you have the luxury to have a kitchen in the office, boiled mineral water is a good choice to brew Longjing tea. Otherwise, purified or filtered water would work too. The perfect way to enjoy Longjing is to put two tea spoons of tea leaves into a glass and pour water with a temperature of around 80-85C. After a few minutes, boiled tea leaves will drop down to the bottom of the glass. The reason to use a glass rather than a tea cup is to better see the color of the tea and the shape of the infused leaves.

It may sound very complicated, however practically, it could be very easy. Boil your Evian water (or any other brands) and cool it down for 5 minutes or so. Mugs of course would work, however I would recommend the double-wall glasses from Bodum, a perfect teaware for green tea. Use a filter if you don't feel like eating tea leaves by accident is a good idea, however remember usually such green tea could be brewed for 2 to 3 times.

When to buy? Like a lot of other things in the world, for green tea, newer the better. The harvest time for green tea is spring and usually the first batch of Longjing comes out around March and April. That's the time when the tea addicted start to fight for the supreme teas.

Tea with...? A few recipes for green tea drinks

Cold water green tea: Too hot to drink boiled tea? Open your mineral water bottle and drop around 20 green tea leaves the night before. Bring it with you in the morning when the tea leaves fully absorbed the water for you to start a good day.

Green tea with Chrysanthemum: Heavy meals and too much alcohol these days? Brew your green tea with dried Chrysanthemum will help to relieve.

Green tea with Goji berries for dried and tired eyes

Green tea with a drop of honey for those with sweet teeth

The last words, no matter how good the green tea is, don't over dose. And also, don't drink it after supper unless you want to count sheep with eyes open for the whole night.

Useful links:

www.jingtea.com

www.bodum.com/gb/en-us/shop/prodlist/51/

www.osulloc.com

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