Fenn Wright Mason has amazing tops that are designed for work but also for casual wear. Check out their colours this season–beautiful shades of yellow and blue. Fenn Wright Manson can really add some colour to your wardrobe this reason. It feels like wearing a sunflower field and walking under a bright blue sky.

The style this season also presents nicely decorated cuffs and collars. Everything just fits beautifully together. One beautiful summer combination would be the yellow trench coat mixed with a blue top.  You would capture the spirit of summer in your fashion style. 

Be brave and bold and make a statement this season with your style.

Did you know…?

Fenn Wright Manson has a Mother’s Day competition going on and you can win Nature’s Gate Organics Lemongrass & Clary Sage Body Lotion and one year’s free UK postage on all orders from Fenn Wright Manson. Check out their website for more information.

-Maricki

1. Compare smartly – Back in the day you had to spend the entire day going from one high street store to the other which was time consuming and counterproductive at times. Nowadays, you can very quickly compare prices, quality and even read customer reviews by going directly to a kitchen worktops sellers or using a leading price comparison site to compare kitchen worktops for you.

2. Narrow-down your choices – Kitchen worktops come in many shapes and forms, from granite stone to laminate and of course solid wood worktops. Each worktops has a slightly different price tag to it, a different method of installation and will suit a certain type of kitchen. It is important that you narrow-down your search and focus on finding the best deal for the type of worktop construction most suited for your budget and kitchen.

3. Ask for a sample – There are many sellers of kitchen worktops and some are better than others. To limit your risk, ask the online store to send you a sample. Some sellers will openly offer to send you a sample, normally for a small nominal charge to cover its postage. On the other hand, if you have seen a type of floor you really want but the seller does not appear to offer a sample, contact them. Chances are they will respond to your request.

4. Read what others are saying – Most online sellers will have a review or testimonial section where you can read what their customers are saying, but you can also go a step further and search for online reviews on the web.

5. Just before you order – When you visit your local high street store you normally see the worktops on the shelf so you know they are in stock. However, as we said before, some online sellers are better than others so you need to make sure the worktop is in stock unless it clearly notes that all the worktops you see are in stock. Normally if you buy from reputable seller, you don’t have to concern yourself with this.

6. Ask for maintenance tips -  Due to its quality, with the correct maintenance, wood worktops will provide natural beauty in your kitchen for many years to come. All you need is to ensure it that you get the right maintenance tips from the online seller. These will comprise of the occasional oil re-coating and basic care. Here’s a handy guide to maintaining hardwood worktops which we put together for our customers and non customers to read and download.

Guest post by Wood and Beyond

Ahh, Hush Puppies…the name alone conjures up memories of my grandmother, the smell of freshly baked bread and..well..really, really clunky old lady shoes. Hush Puppies have been around for decades and have been synonymous with the words extremely comfortable and extremely ugly. Imagine my surprise when I saw the newest collection of Hush Puppies Sandals. It feels wrong to even put the words ‘hip’ and ‘hush puppies’ in the same sentence, but after taking a look at their new line of sandals, it seems that the company has managed to reinvent themselves from ‘Your Grandma’s Footwear’ to ‘Hip, and ridiculously comfortable footwear’.

To be honest, I’ve always wished the Hush Puppies were a bit more hip–they are renowned for being some of the most comfortable shoes ever created, and as a woman, comfortable shoes are often hard to come by. It sounds too good to be true–the comfort of Hush Puppies, without the old lady look–but check it our for yourselves. They have cute open-toed sandals with heels, business shoes and even gladiator sandals. Yep, I said it, Hush Puppies Gladiator Sandals. If that isn’t a definite sign of a major reinvention on the part of the Hush Puppies brand, I’m not sure what is.

There has been a huge demand for brown sandals lately, you know the horrid ones I’m talking about, simply because of the need for comfort. If comfort is a priority on your list, and you’d rather not sacrifice style, check out Hush Puppies Sandals. You’ll really be pleasantly surprised.

Did you know?

The brand named itself after a desert called Hushpuppy, that originated from the American South. Hushpuppies are made from deep-fried cornmeal batter that are moulded into balls. The food was cheap and thrown to dogs to quiet them down or ‘hush them up’ during cook-outs. The brand applied that name to the colloquial phrase, ‘barking dogs’ meaning ’sore feet’. Since 1958, Hush Puppies Shoes have been hushing up barking dogs everywhere.

-Miljean

Open windows as much as possible to let in fresh air, loaded with oxygen. Your bed should be the biggest piece of furniture in the room. Make sure the bed is balanced by two pieces of bedside furniture. These tables don’t necessarily have to be the same, but you should have one on either side of the bed. In order to rest properly, you should get a strong headboard. Basic rule of thumb says that good colours to choose for the bedroom are skin colours. Therefore, Oak furniture is a great fit to get the energy flowing. Oak wardrobes can create space and storage in your bedroom. Clean up the room and store clothing properly to create a fresh feeling in the  room.  A 3 drawer wardrobe is useful for all the clothing that you can’t hang–just place them in one of the drawers.

Since the bed should be the biggest piece of furniture, you could add a small leather sofa to the bedroom mix. It’ll create a relaxed atmosphere in the bedroom and invites reading and relaxing. To increase the flow of energy, remove all electrical devices from the room. Get rid of tellies, hifis and exercise equipment. Even anything work related should not be stored in the bedroom. If you can use candlelight in the room rather than harsh electrical light, that would be easier on the eye and, if they’re scented, they can add a great fragrance to the room. If this is not possible, try and dim the light. This should put your brain at ease and allow you to get ready for a healthy sleep.

Did you know…?

Feng Shui is an old Chinese practice which creates energy flow and balance in rooms where we live and work.  According to Feng Shui, the design of our surroundings affects our well-being over time.

-Maricki

Ankle Boots

If you clicked on this post because of the thumbnail, then you’re obviously a fan of ankle boots. Women’s ankle boots are a newer style and lately there’s been a million different kinds of styles to choose from ranging from casual to formal. The ankle cut is a stylish alternative to the knee high boot–unlike typical boots, ankle boots are easier to get on in the morning. Some women have a tough time wearing regular boots because of the zip and it’s often hard to find boots that match your shoe size and fit around your calves and jeans. Ankle boots look a lot less intimidating and also serve as an easy transition to adding boots into your wardrobe, if you’ve not been too keen on boots before.  It also is a great way to give your wardrobe an infusion of fresh style. I have a ton of knee high boots and sometimes you need a change of pace and ankle boots are the perfect answer. What is also great about ankle boots is that it is possible for one pair of boots to never make you feel overdressed or under-dressed in any situation. They come in flats and heels and in all shapes and sizes. The versatility, comfortability and stylishness of ankle boots is really remarkable and it would be wise to invest in a lovely pair of ankle boots.

Knee Boots

Knee boots are a basic item that all women should have. The real challenge comes in finding the right pair of knee boots for you. As I mentioned before, it’s often difficult for women to find a boot that fits their shoe size and their legs since often times we tuck our trousers into the boot, making it hard to zip up or pull on. If you have that kind of issue with boots, perhaps the best kind of knee-high boots for you would be stretch boots. These boots stretch to custom fit your legs. Investing some time to finding the perfect pair of knee boots, whether they have heels or not, is essential to really being happy wearing boots. Black knee boots are my personal favourite and I’ve worn down quite a few pairs to date.

Wedge Heel

I cannot walk in heels. I do a bit of walking throughout the day, so if I do want to wear heels, the most practical and stylish option available to me is the wedge heel. Wedge heels are chunky, wider heels that provide more balance and stability than typical heels which are thinner and require a grace that I am desperately lacking. They are classy and stylish and they don’t look like training-wheels for heels, which, for me, they are. I have a ton of flat boots but sometimes I want to wear something a bit more feminine and sexy while at the same time, not risk twisting my ankles on the way to work or falling on my face in front of my co-workers. If you have a similar perspective, I’m telling you, the wedge heel is a God-send.

Cowboy Boots

Not much to say apart from, I LOVE COWBOY BOOTS!! They ooze western style, look so different and look rough and feminine at the same time. I’ll let the picture do the talking.

Flat Boots

These boots are made for walking. If you’re not comfortable in your own shoes, it really shows. Flat boots are the most comfortable kind of boots to wear on a day-to-day basis. The nicest thing about flat boots is that they don’t compromise style for comfort. They still make you look great and your feet won’t be hurting at the end of the day. If you want the most comfortable boots possible that have no heel and can be worn casually, Ugg brown boots are incredibly popular. Now, people either love Uggs or hate it with the fiery passion. They’re low cut and comfy, but if you hate them but still want the same kind of comfort that Uggs provides, try black Skechers boots. They have a higher cut and look a bit more sophisticated but are still incredibly comfortable to walk in all day long. My favorite style is the Skechers Women’s Keepsakes-Coozy pair.

Now if you don’t fancy either of those styles, there’s a plethora of other kind of flat boots that will be sure to please. There are a million different styles of no heel, suede boots that are just lovely. I personally love black patent boots with a little bit of a heel. They have a small chunky heel that is comfortable and gives you a bit of height as well.

And finally, if you’re into hiking and the outdoors, walking boots for ladies are the best for those type of activities. Nothing can really beat the durability and comfort of a walking boot when you’re doing outdoor activities. They say you never really know a person unless you walk a mile in their shoes. If you take my advice, believe me, you’ll have a ton of people wanting to know what it’s like to be you.

Did you know?

High heels are bad for you ladies. Doctors have reported that wear heels over time will potentially cause severe damage to your feet and joints. So don’t feel bad if you can’t walk in heels–you’re not meant to. And if you love the look of heels as much as I do, try not to wear them every day or for an extended period of time and add some stylish flats to your collection of shoes.

-Miljean

Fur Hooded Jackets & Hoodies

This style has been around for a long time and is nothing new, really. A fur hood jacket is typically a woman’s jacket and it really is a style that has somehow managed to stay classic and hip since Jenny was from the block. And believe me, that was a long time ago. For Spring 2010, the newest trend is men’s fur hooded jackets. While women have been wearing them for awhile now, there hasn’t really been a stylish equivalent for men until now. Sure, there have been men’s fur hooded jackets before, but, for the most part, they weren’t nearly as cute as women’s fur hooded coats and they looked a bit sloppy and puffy. The new line of men’s fur hooded jackets for 2010 are often longer and slimmer with straight lines and it doesn’t look puffy or messy like it’s predecessor. Men’s fur-lined hoodies are also a hugely fashionable item this season. And please, faux fur is always sexier than real fur.

Fitted (Faux?) Leather Jackets

My personal favourite is women’s fitted leather jackets. The tight fit makes it look incredibly feminine and brings out curves, at the same time, the leather gives it an edginess that’s really sexy. I typically go for faux leather just because of the price–quality leather jackets could run you up a couple hundred pounds, and frankly I don’t blog well enough to afford something like that, LoL.

Helly Hansen Waterproof Jackets

Helly Hansen makes extremely fashionable and waterproof winter jackets. They say fashion means pain. With Helly Hansen waterproof jackets it really doesn’t have to be.  These jackets are perfect if you’re still planning on hitting the slopes. Their men’s waterproof jackets are very fashionable and their women’s jackets are much more feminine than most other women’s waterproof jackets out there.

Men’s Polyester & Women’s Cotton Jackets

As the weather slowly warms up, polyester and cotton jackets will definitely be on every corner. Their lighter and thinner material makes it perfect for the spring season. Most people choose polyester for wetter, windier spring days. While polyester jackets aren’t waterproof, it doesn’t soak up water as readily as cotton does, and it’s light enough to keep you from getting too hot. Men’s polyester jackets and cotton hoodies are hot items for spring. For women, a cotton jacket is a much more feminine and softer look than polyester, and personally I think it’s always much more flattering for women to wear cotton than polyester. Polyester usually has a slick shine to it that is highly masculine.

Did you know?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Maybe not. While many cultures differ in their concept of beauty, scientists have discovered one physical attribute that is held to be beautiful in all cultures and that’s a woman’s waist to hip ratio. Women with slim waists and wide hips are found to be highly attractive across the globe because it’s a biological indicator of fertility. Jackets tend to cover up curves, so do yourself a favour and pick out women’s jackets that flatter your curves, instead of hiding them.

-Miljean

Having meals together was important throughout the week. We would have our main meals at night with the whole family. It was great– everyone would chat about their day and we would talk about what our plans were for the weekend. I sometimes miss these family meals with my whole family. Eating together with people is much better and healthier than eating in front of your Samsung 32 TV.  Somehow this ritual has become a lost art. Researchers say that eating with people also helps to combat obesity and substance abuse.  Now that is definitely a reason to continue to eat together with friends and family. Switch off the telly, invite your friends and family over and cook a nice, easy, wholesome meal.

Let’s see what you need to get a bit more savvy in the kitchen. A meal does not need to be a masterpiece, it just needs to bring people together. Often you don’t want to and you don’t have the time to plan a meal one week in advance. Therefore it is useful to have a big hotpoint freezer fridge at home where you can always store a couple of chicken breasts, mince meat and some frozen peas.  It is amazing how many meals you can prepare from just these ingredients.

Now you need some basic appliances and utensils that can make your life easier. A proper oven with good temperature regulation is a great appliance to have. The zanussi electric oven will safe you a lot of frustration with it’s fantastic features. To increase the efficiency of your cooking time, get an induction hob. This new technology boils water within minutes.  A slow cooker  is very useful. You add all the ingredients in the morning and when you come back in the evening, voila! You have a wholesome meal.  Hot soup is a great idea for cold and wet days. Soups are very easy to prepare, you only need a kenwood hand blender and some vegetables to prepare a great meal.

Stop those trips to fast food outlets. Invite your friends and family over and eat together. Eating is not only about absorbing nutrients–the way we eat also influences how we store those nutrients and eating together allows us the opportunity to develop our social skills.

Did you know…?

Research shows that young people who have more than 5 meals a week with their families are one-third less likely to develop unhealthy eating habits.

- maricki

iPod Vs. Generic MP3 Players

The Apple iPod series of products have been taking the MP3 player industry by storm for years now. It seems that no one can compete with the electronic Giant’s innovation and originality. Sure, there MP3 players out there that are cheaper, offering larger capacities and a wider range of features that should give the iPod a run for its money, but it hasn’t make a dent on the iPod’s market share so far. I think it has to do with the iPod’s design. No one can really beat how cool it feels to hold an iPod or an iPhone in your hand. It feels really high end and high quality, and the price for it shows. For the price of a 2GB iPod Shuffle, for example, you could easily buy an 8GB generic MP3 player. Still many people opt for buying a low end iPod instead of a high end MP3 player of a generic brand and here’s why: ground breaking features and design.

VoiceOver

The newest version of the iPod Shuffle can actually give you voice guidance through playlists, albums, artists and songs. Much like a GPS, the iPod Shuffle can tell you the artist and song that you’re listening to and the playlists  that you have with just a press of a button. The iPod Shuffle will also tell you when your battery is about to die. This is perfect for the person always on the go. You won’t need to fumble around for your iPod and scan through songs and playlists. This is especially convenient if you’re doing tasks while listening to music, like driving, jogging, working out or running errands. In effect, you can navigate through your iPod without actually looking at it.

The World’s Smallest MP3 & Ground Breaking Design

Ground breaking design is what Apple is known for and the iPod Shuffle is no exception. It is the smallest portable music player in the world, which is great for people who hate lugging things around and maybe not so great for people who tend to lose small objects, like I do. Another amazing thing about the 3rd Generation iPod Shuffle is that there are absolutely no buttons, screens, knobs or switches other than the power switch and the headphone jack on the entire device. How do you control the iPod Shuffle might you ask? Through the headphones. The controls are located on the headphone cord itself. You navigate through songs, pause, play and control the volume through a simple 3 button configuration on the headphone cord. Super cool? Hell yes. Practical? Not really.

While the size and design are really the definition of cool, if you’re apt to lose things, the iPod Shuffle might be similar to losing 60 quid in the street. If you were to lose the headphones, for example, it’s not as easy as replacing them with any old headphones. You’d be stuck with an iPod that you can turn on and off and that’s about it. You’d have to buy a headset that has similar controls. The good news is that a lot of manufacturers, no just Apple, make headphones that are compatible with the iPod Shuffle. The bad news is that they obviously don’t come as cheap as normal headphones.

Price

It’s hard to find a cheap iPod Shuffle. If you’re looking for a cheap 3rd generation 2GB iPod Shuffle, you would be looking at a price range of about £46-£50. Is it worth that price? Well at 2GB, you’ll be able to fit approximately 500 songs onto the shuffle. If you’re looking for a simple, really cool music player to accompany you on runs around the park to runs to the grocery store, then the iPod Shuffle is a good choice. If you’re looking to get the most out of your money in terms of features and capacity, you might want to look elsewhere. The best way to find out if this music player is a good fit for you, visit your local Apple Store and give the iPod Shuffle a try yourself. You might love it, you might hate it but either way you’ll finally know what all the fuss is about.

Did you know?

Thomas Edison invented the first music player called the Phonograph in 1877 which was the first device that could play recorded music etched in a cylinder of tin foil. Each cylinder had a maximum playing time of 4.5 minutes. The 4GB iPod Shuffle can play 1000 song resulting in hundreds of hours of playtime. What a long way we’ve come in the past 133 years!

-Miljean

(Above photo is the stunning bow sleeve frock from Yves Saint Laurent)

This is the trend that seems to be dividing opinion, similar to Simon Cowell and Marmite it seems you either love it or hate it. Some people are don’t mind adding a touch of velvet to their outfit whereas others refuse to go anywhere near it.
So far I remain undecided.
On one hand the last time I wore velvet was when I was 10 years old. I had a little midnight blue velvet party frock complete with a little lilac bow on the top. At the time I loved it and thought it was the most beautiful thing in my wardrobe at the time (2nd only to my 101 Dalmatians dressing up costume.)
But now on the other hand I have come to terms with the fact that I was 10 then and this is now 2010.
Can I still get away with wearing velvet despite still associating it with my childhood self?

(Above photo from chic label Vionnet)

Well after seeing it on the runway and seeing it don well on real and normal people (aka not models) on the street I think that I am ready to give it a go.

Now I am not talking a full on frilly velvet party dress like my childhood self but perhaps a single  item of velvet which  I can ease into my current wardrobe like this simple black velvet dress from Lipsy at Asos.

However if you just want a little something to show you have acknowledged trend then just add a simple hair band like this one from Accessorize.
Very Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. Very now.

(Above photo is from the stunning John Paul Gaultier collection. You can just imagine it being worn by a celebrity on the red carpet)

Did you know…?
Designer Christoper Kane just recently showcased his newest creation for Versace’s Versus line. It included 25 different versions of velvet mini dresses in colours such as blue, plum, red, navy, or black. Those dresses came with details like leather straps, flat biker boots, or miniature buckles.

- Guest Blogger Beth Ruby Lambert from Amore Fashion Blog

It will be interesting to see who of the nominated British actors will receive an Oscar. Nominated are Helen Mirren for “The Last Station” (if she wins, it would be her second Oscar!!), Carey Mulligan for “An Education” and Colin Firth for “A Single Man”. The Shopaholic team is keeping their fingers crossed for all of them, as they are all great actors who deserve to be awarded for their performances.

Shopaholic put together a little check-list of ideas on how to throw the best Oscars Party your friends have ever seen:

• At your entrance door, you can use a red carpet (felt is a cheap alternative) to recreate that special Oscars atmosphere.  To add a funny twist, take pictures of your guests when they are walking over the red carpet and ask them to pose glamorously. If you buy little picture frames you can print those photos out, put them in the picture frame and hand them out to your guests at the end of the party! Alternatively, you can put all the pictures on a digital photo frame and have a slide show run for the whole night so people can take a look at their funny poses.
• In order to save money, don’t buy a full bar of alcoholic beverages but offer 2 signature cocktails. Classically, you should offer a Cosmopolitan Cocktail: mix 30ml of vodka with 15ml of triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice. Shake it well with ice and strain it into a Martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!
• If you only have a small leather sofa in your living room but you want to fit everybody in front of the TV, then move the couch out of the way. Use all the pillows that you have and put them around your low coffee table.  Decorate the table with candles so that everybody will feel comfortable.
• Prepare a little competition for your guests. For example, you can print out an Oscars ballot from the official Oscars Website here and have your guests fill them out before the ceremony begins. The one with the most correct answers should win a bottle of champagne or some other small gift.
• Make sure that your guests won’t get hungry throughout the night. Prepare silver platters with bite-sized cheesecakes and brownies or little glasses with shrimp cocktails. Of course, bowls of fresh popcorn are always a winner!

Did you know…?
The first Oscars took place in 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Nobody really knows where the name for the little gold-plated statuette comes from. Up until 2009, a total of 2,744 Oscars have been given away.

-Simon