Quality Street

I have often walked down this street before.….but usually in an early morning dash to the office or a late night shelp home, rarely am I inclined to slow down and appreciate the final stretch of my journey. The bars and cafés of Shoreditch are no secret, especially to the migratory drinking crowds that descend on Friday nights and leave at some secret hour before Monday morning, however Pitfield Street is often overlooked. Running behind the ever popular Hoxton Square and off the Old Street Mile this quiet unassuming street is home to an expanding range of shops and services, the latest being the wonderful Pitfield Café.

While there are no shortage of fired chicken outlets, halal pizza offerings and even one builders caff flogging Cottage Pie at 6am, Pitfield Café has managed to plug the gap for good food, nice surroundings and a decent cup of coffee. Stepping inside I discovered that this large space also trebles as life style and interiors store including a gallery / exhibition space, well it is Shoreditch after all.


The shop area is a delight to browse with the feel of a vintage curiosity shop combined with a modern touch making it easy to navigate through the various treasures. Pieces range from impulse buys of candles, flowers and china (to accompany the takeaway cake offerings) to more considered purchases such as upcycled furniture and even plush velvet neon coloured sofas. The space is a joint venture between interior designer Shaun Clarkson and textile designer Paul Brewster, while the professional thought process behind the area is evident the atmosphere remains relaxed and inviting. Visitors can browse at their leisure while soaking up the surroundings.

As my visit was the morning after the night before, (the night before being a particularly late Christmas party) my mind was firmly fixed on the food and something to take away the pain behind my eyes. The friendly (and seemingly all French) café staff helped me out to a toasted flatbread of roast chicken, spinach and pesto accompanied by a freshly squeezed orange juice and a strong cappuccino.

The café area includes a range of large tables for the creative types to spread out over and hold business type meetings, Mr. H and I chose a quiet two seated spot by the window to get comfy. He flicked through the mornings papers as I day dreamed out the window and watched the world go by. Thankfully I was obscured by daily display of homemade meringues, Portuguese custard tarts and croissants otherwise a few passersby would no doubt be put off by my morning face peeking out at them.

Just before leaving the pastry counter called to us. Offering a range of home made artisan goods it's hard to say no to we plumped for 2 sausage rolls to make do for lunch. We barely made it the few hundred yards home before giving into temptation, the smell alone was irresistible.

As well as sandwiches and baked goods, Pitfield café offers a range of salads, soups and hot foods. Open from breakfast to dinner and accepts cards, it's sure to become a regular local haunt for me.


Pitfield Café is situated at 31-35 Pitfield Street, Hoxton N1 6HB

Brownies Honour

As a recent discussion with a friend revealled, this is certainly not the season for calorie counting. With that in mind now is the time to make (and devour) these fudgey chocolate brownies, for a seasonal twist this batch is chocolate orange flavoured


Shopping List:

200g Dark Chocolate. Go for something with a slightly lower cocoa content than the super posh stuff otherwise the brownies can get a bit overpowering.
200g Dark Muscovado sugar.
175g butter plus some to grease the tin
3 eggs
140g plain flour
1 tsp good vanilla extract
1 orange - of you want to make these chocolate orange flavoured but they are just as good without.
1 tsp vinegar

Make it happen:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and grease a tin, I used a 23cm rectangle one but a smaller one would make fatter brownies.

Melt together the chocolate sugar and butter in a pan gently over a low heat. Stirring occasionally be careful to not let it overheat or burn. Once melted remove from the heat and allow to cool. A good 10mins should be enough, once it's suitably cool separate the eggs and beat the yolks. Add the egg yolks, flour and vanilla essence into the chocolate mixture. At this stage if you are making Chocolate orange flavoured brownies, add 1/2 the zest of 1 unwaxed orange.



In a separate bowl run a small amount of vinegar around the inside with kitchen roll then rinse and dry thoroughly. This is to ensure it's completely clean and grease free for the next stage then whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.



In a separate mixing bowl (at this stage I'd like to apologise to the dishwasher free reader) scoop roughly 1/4 of the egg whites into the chocolate mix and beat quickly. This should loosen up the mix a bit. Next add the remaining egg whites and stir in using a metal spoon with a cutting and folding technique. Do this gently until just combined the mix will be mottled with the egg whites.



Pour into the greased tin and place in the middle of the oven. Bake for around 25mins or until just firm to the touch. Allow the brownies to cool in the tin. At this stage the brownies can be frozen for up to 1 month, I'm sure this is a good idea but I've never allowed baked goods to get that far before.



For the topping I gently melted white chocolate over a pan of water and then drizzled over the top in a zig zag movement and allowed to set in the fridge before cutting the brownies into squares. A cream cheese topping or plain icing sugar and cocoa powder sifted over the top would also work well.

Sugar and Spice

While I don't actually wish it could be Christmas everyday, I do at least wish it looked slightly more festive in the Hoxton Penthouse that is my home.

I'm usually quite proud that Mr H and I have managed to negotiate living in the worlds smallest square footage, it's a bit like real life tetris. However, come the festive season it's like the flat that Christmas forgot as a lack of space (and far too many breached fire regulations) permits us from having a tree or an obscene amount of tinsel. Bah Humbug!

Well, the one area I can at least feel truly involved in creating some Yuletide spirit is in the kitchen. Filling the air with the smell of this delicious gingerbread loaf is enough to make me pull on a ridiculous novelty jumper and neck snowballs like its an 80's office party. 

Shopping list:

225 g Plain flour
Pinch of Salt
2 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Mixed Spice
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
50 g Soft Brown Sugar
100 g Margarine
175 g Black Treacle
50 g Golden Syrup
150 Milk
2 Eggs (beaten)

Make it happen:

Heat the oven to 150 Degrees and butter up a 18cm / 7" square cake tin

Sieve together all the dry ingredients into a large bowl and stir in the brown sugar until well combined (dark brown sugar can often have lumps in, to ensure an even texture I just crumbled up and large bits with my fingers)

In a pan, gently melt the margarine, treacle and syrup (to help the treacle and syrup slide of the spoon easier dip it in boiling water just before scooping into the treacle). Once melted gradually beat in the milk and allow the mixture to cool

Once cool, stir in the beaten eggs and mix well. When the wet ingredients are all combined stir into the flour mix. At this stage you can also add sultanas (around 50g) if you're after a more fruity kick.

Pour the mix into the tin and place on the middle shelf of the pre-heated oven. Cook for 1 1/4 hours peeking in on it occasionally, if the top is cracking move the oven shelf down slightly - but don't worry it all adds to the 'homemade charm'. 

The cake is now quite versatile and can be iced with a cream cheese (carrot cake style) topping, dusted with icing sugar or just eaten plain with a mug of tea or glug of sherry.

Eaten warm it's delicious or placed in an air tight tin (good excuse to empty that quality street one under the tree) will keep for over a week. 

Merry Christmas!

Red or Dead

Well it's been a little while, I'd almost quite forgotten about my little bloggersphere here, what better way to get myself restarted and back to blog then to dust off a draft from the warm hazy summer months. (Okay admittedly I'm quite lazy and given the chance to use up previous typing I'll take it)

Despite my best efforts to swerve 'Christmassy' food until at least late December I have already succumb to an array of mincemeat flavoured goodies and have developed a small dependency on Port and Stilton. Fearful that a lack of coloured foods may result in slight scurvy, I'm making these bad boys to sling alongside my Dickensian lunches. After all - red is the colour of the season!


Shopping List

6 Large Red Peppers, halved with seeds removed
3 Garlic Cloves, chopped
24 Cherry Tomato's, halved
1 x tin of anchovies, chopped
12 Large Basil Leaves
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Sugar




Make it happen

1. Cut the peppers in half, leave the stalks in but scrape out any seeds.
2. lie all peppers in the bottom of a large oven proof dish
3. Share the following ingredients between the pepper halves stuffing each inside:

 chopped garlic evenly
2 cheery tomatoes in each half
 chopped anchovies

6. tear one basil leaf into each pepper
7. add a pinch of sugar to each
8. Pour 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar to each pepper
9. Cover the peppers in olive oil , approx 1 tbsp to each half (a lot of this will reduce in the cooking process)

Place in the preheated oven and cook for 35-40mins until the peppers have softened and blackened around the edges. 

These are best served cold, ideally after 24 hours in the fridge which lets all the flavours develop. However they can be served hot with some tomato rice as an ideal starter. 

Dolmio Day....

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Spain….well, still do as the Romans do.


On a recent flying visit to Barcelona to check in with the rentals, my very own Mama made one of my favourite Italian dishes Melazane Parmigiana.  It serves as a perfect alternative for those who love a pasta guage but regret the football-like tummy it brings.

Shopping List:

2 large Aubergines

2  packs of Mozzarella

3 Good sized handfuls of Parmesan

1 large onion, chopped 

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

800g canned peeled plum tomatoes, chopped in the can or roughly blitzed in a blender

1tbsp of tomato puree

10 fresh basil leaves, torn

Olive Oil

Fresh Salt & Pepper

Make it happen:

Slice the aubergines into 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) thick pieces

Lightly oil a griddle pan and place the aubergine slices on it, turning once, cook until they are slightly brown

next make the sauce:

Glug about 4tbsp of olive oil into the bottom of a heavy pan, heat and add the garlic and onions. Cook on a medium heat for about 10mins until the onions have softened. 

Add the tomato puree and the tinned tomato's, stir and bring to the boil. Once boiling turn down the heat - add the sugar and seasoning. Simmer on a low heat for 15mins. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, if the sauce is a little tart, add the balsamic vinegar.

take a large lasagne dish, and cover the bottom with a layer of the sauce. Place the aubergine slices in rows and then layer with sauce, continue until all the aubergines are used up and then cover completely with the remaining sauce. 

Now for my favourite bit. Slice the mozzarella into similar sized slices as the aubergines and place over the top of the dish. Grate the Parmesan straight onto the mozzarella top and keep going until completely covered (the more the better at this stage!). Only fresh Parmesan will do for this one, (infact only fresh will do for anything as that pre grated stuff smells like baby sick.)

Cook in a hot oven - for 30 - 35 mins or until the cheese is browned and bubbling. Sprinkle the fresh basil over each portion.

This can be served immediately with a stack of garlic bread (or green salad for the more virtuous dieters) but is also delicious eaten cold the next day.

Delizioso!

Rest on your Corals...

I don’t believe in too much of a good thing, it just can’t be.

Being the empirical kind, I regularly put this theory to the test. I have textbook O.C.D when it comes to itunes playing a song till it’s lost all coherency, I’ve eaten the same tuna salad nearly every week day for the past 6 months and lately, much to Mr H's amusement I’ve been a walking pink highlighter.

From pink skirts and nail varnishes to retro kitchenware and even an abandoned gym bag, my world has certainly been rose tinted.

Never one to tone it down (or admit defeat) I’ve taken a sabbatical from the demure blush side of the colour spectrum and ramped it all the way up to embrace coral. Highlighter to Sebastian the Crab....progress, right?

After attempting to explain to Mr H exactly what Coral looks like, (including a prolonged conversation about the sea bed) I decided a practical demonstration would be best. First out of the bag pleated sun dress  £42.00 from Topshop

Not only does it fit into my 'rule of 10's' (Simply put - if it's a size 10 and I managed to get into it, I buy it.) it's surprisingly comfortable. The concealed magic stretchy waist, nips in at just the right point, in my case about 2mm above my cake-pockets-hip-cushions, particularly helpful when it's debut was to a diner party. The neat pleats give it it floaty feminine finish but the sheer material and above the knee hem line keep it from being too prim.

A quick twirl ( because, really - who can resist doing that?) reveals a V shaped back, revealing just enough skin, stopping before that awkward bra line land. Perfect with flats on a sunny day, or killer courts for a night time flirtation...

Alternatively, this coral and floral sun dress from River Island is another great day to night outfit for just £29.99

Again, the elasticsted waist band provides a flatterig shape while the skirt sits just on the knee, great if your Summer legs aren't quite beach ready. Here is a picture of me trying it on (my co-ordiating nails are a simply a fantastic co-incidence courtesty of another Painted Lady manicure)

After being hidden away since September in wellies, Ugg boots and an array of slipper socks it was time to see my feet again. An hour in the bathroom battling with a ped egg some industrial strength paint stripper and a blow torch, and my tootsies were primed and ready to see daylight again. The new summer shade ‘Orange Fizz’ by Chanel gives a brilliant peachy high shine finish without being garish against pre-tanned skin

 If fanciful footwear is your thing then these braided twist Sandals from Dorothy Perkins will warm up exposed toes. and with a bargain price tag of £19 it's a cheap way to cash in on the colour trend now without having to carry it into Autumn/Winter

A metalic toe post and heel strap provide some summer bling while the flat twisted braiding compliments the nautical vibe popping up in various bardot striped t-shirts all over the high street.

For those who the word 'Plimpsols' conjures up images of reconstituted tire rubber shoes, sold exclusively in Woolworth's and being forced wear them during primary school P.E. lessons (paired with a cotton vest and forever friends knickers - no?just me then?)  these fabulous Whistles plimps are sure to banish any bad feelings, currently retailing for £40 but if you're quick there is 20% off with this weeks Grazia Magazine

I'm all for the cheap pieces when it comes to this trend, I know I love it now but come the cold dark nights of late 2011 I'll be reverting back to the comfort of dark cover all woolens and really won't appreciate having invested in a rainbow bright wardrobe. That said, if I were in the Market (i.e. Pay bracket) to go for one blow out item, to use that famous line:  

' I carried a Watermelon?!'



Mulberry Mini Alexa, Watermelon £525.

A girl can dream (in colour).

Playing the fields...

I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of commitment, I have a long term boyfriend, a 12 month lease on the worlds smallest flat and have just emptied my piggy bank to pay for a car. Sometimes I even feel like a grown up.

 However if you ask the boyfriend/ look under the sofa in the flat/ open the boot of the car you will find a pile of abandoned ideas, hobbies and mostly - sporting equipment.

The Davina McCall workout DVD has only been opened once (after jogging on the spot made my windows rattle too much I decided it was too depressing to carry on), the boot camp membership has long since expired following a insipid email about ‘scheduling clashes’ and there is a fairly swish tennis racquet nestled on top of a pair of dumbbells somewhere in a dark corner of my wardrobe.

I always suspected that I wasn’t alone in my initial motivational enthusiasm which soon peters out into a hazy memory, but never really had it confirmed until now. The genius people behind Find My Workout have accomlished two things:

 1. Reassured me that not everyone has a posh gym membership coupled with a range of sporting hobbies

 2. Identified a huge gap in the market for putting ‘toe in the water’ kind of people in touch with a flexible approach to exercise.

The free web site allows users to search from the comfort of their worn in sofa for over 1000 different fitness classes. For the adventurous/ indecisive there is the option to put in a post code and bring up all the options, the more organised lot can search on day/time criteria as well as class type.

Even though I was initially impressed with the option to partake in a Safari Kickboxing class in Fulham  or a camped up ‘Jazzercise’ session in Chigwell  it still sounded a bit too much like exercise to me. As the motivation started to wane earlier then usual the special offer tab drew my (limited) attention and lead me to actually commit to a class! Job done.

Okay so it’s only one class and the £1 special offer price combined with the proximity to the Northern Line home swung me, but the beauty of Find My Workout is that I can book it up, give it a whirl, convince myself that I loved that class and it will become a new part of my ‘regime’ then after the 24 hour buzz I can forget about my new passion all together, free of the guilt that comes with seeing that Gym Bunny direct debit on my bank statement each month.

Anyway I can't comit to a monthly membership when I have all my horse riding lessons to pay for ? *steps over a pile of shuttlecocks to get to the jodhpurs*

Old Blue

Maybe it's living in London. Maybe it's an age thing. Maybe it's that ever eroding chip on my shoulder. Whatever it is, lately life has become one big competition.

Endless rounds of who is is planning the most luxurious holiday, wearing the most expensive 'it' bag,  sporting the biggest knuckle weighting diamond or climbing that elusive career ladder the fastest. With the only apparent prize being the knowledge that you've got one over on your friends?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly low maintenance, I'm all about the finer things in life. However, if I'm really honest my most treasured possessions have absolutely no monetary value at all but to me, they're priceless.

I know I'm not alone, I can't be the only one who remembers a time when a homemade mix tape from the boy next door or being gifted a bar of my favourite chocolate was enough to make my heart skip a beat?

I was reminded of this recently when I found this old email from me to Mr H:



"It's 05.25am.  I have just spent 45 minutes on a night bus adventure and there was not a seat to be seen. Seriously, you have to ask where all these people are off to at this time of day? I'm thinking crack cocaine is a bigger issue then any of us realise.....


Finally I'm here. Sleep deprived with aching legs, standing on a freezing platform in Victoria station. To my left  there are two spritely young gents who look suspiciously like they have been 'raving' (with the help of various narcotics) for some time now. I have twice declined their less than subtle invitations to join the party.

To top it all off I've just paid £6.00 for 'breakfast' which after my first bite I concluded that, looks are not in-fact deceptive and I was right. It's inedible. True to calamity form I persevered and it wasn't until that fateful 3rd bite that I admitted defeat and donated the goods to a pigeon.... even the bird declined such a tasty morsel. Obviously Croque Monsieur wasn't its first choice from the a la carte offerings of the concrete floor, as it went for a discarded tissue instead - can't say I blame it. I am even quite envious.

Some would say I can't expect the 'Deli France' stand to deliver perfectly authentic French cuisine? This little known truth, I'm sure, shocks you as much as it did me. By now I'm sure you will be wondering of the reasons behind me subjecting you to this banal rambling of thoughts and observations of clandestine London? I have also, at times while writing this - lost sight of my original message.

But then, as I'm boarding my carriage I remember. It's all so clear. It is that, as I stand here on the verge of a comatosed depression, I realise that I'm warm, comfortable and okay, perhaps a little smug. All because I am wearing my new favourite thing; A shrunken, worn, bobbled blue jumper stolen from a boy that I love.

What a perfect morning this is."


x

The Empresses new clothes...

My attitude to packing for holidays was formed at a very early stage.

By the age of 3 I had developed a strong bond with all of my toys and ‘in the interests of fairness’ could not bare to leave behind the less played with rejects, only selecting my favourites to experience the marvel of foreign travel. The next 10 summers involved long car journeys to France spent with my legs resting on clans of Sylvanian families, a herd of my little ponies a gorilla army of stolen action men, and of course Billis - the half naked bear who was a gift from the Gas Board.

I’m now 26 and while the cuddly toys have been replaced with clothes (Mr H and Billis tend to clash over political beliefs) I still make sure nothing is left behind. This only became an issue when I decided to take the world of me to a festival in Spain a few years ago. 3 hours of dragging the contents of an entire wardrobe (and a last minute panicked airport shop) through sun baked fields soon makes you realise it’s time to be selective (with clothes AND holiday choices)

With an impending trip to Rome in mind, I have resolved to break this and welcome on board my new mantra:

‘take only what you need to survive!’

 Okay, so maybe not ‘survive’ in the purest sense but definitely from a sartorial perspective.

Here are my favourites (so far..) First stop is the Coliseum, and while Mr H pretends he’s Russel Crowe these Topshop gladiator sandals should help me get into the mood.



Maximus Geordious Xanthius
1.




Comfortable enough for day trips around the ancient city, the metallic detail gives a smart enough edge to throw on with this bold River Island dress for an evening date with the Emperor…



2.



They say all roads lead to Rome, and my map reading skills will definitely be putting this old saying to the test. Perhaps the tiny colourful arrows on this Whistles Arrow Print T-shirt  will help me out.



3.


A loose cut body and low round neck top keeps the top cool and light while still pulling off the city chic look, it pairs perfectly with a fat-bottomed-girl-friendly peg leg trousers.

Long since known to be the bargain basement of on trend shoes, New Look has stepped up a gear with its summer swimwear collection. An array of purse friendly bikinis are available as separates great for mixing up colours and styles (and for those whose top’s don’t quite match their tails)

 For those who are more Easter Bunny then Gym Bunny cover all one pieces are bang on trend and great for a nap by the pool. A pair of Jackie-O shades will enhance the 50’s vibe that comes with these lycra   lovelies




4.

 

5.



Keep cool in the shade with Accesorize’s vast range of hats. If like me, you have a bonce to make the Elephant man point and laugh, this paper take on the 1920’s bonnet sits low on the head and covers up a dodgy holiday hair do well.

6.



7.



Finally, as no Roman Goddess would be complete without her trinkets, this fantastically named    Golddigger bangle adds a stylish finishing touch to any outfit and balances out a lot of the hyper feminine pieces floating around the highstreet at the moment. 



8

Hmmm…I think, I forgot my mantra.

1.Finlay Brown Metal Trim Flat Sandals £42.00 Topshop

2. Red Print Waisted Sundress £29.99 River Island

3. Arrow Print T-shirt £25.00 (sale) Whistles

4. Rushed Bandeau Swimsuit £22.99 New Look

5. Striped Bandeau Swimsuit £21.99 New Look  

6. Paper Cloche Hat £16 Accessorize

7. Contrast Stripe Weave Floppy Hat £22.00 Accessorize

8. Golddigger Bangle £7.00 Accessorize


Images from Topshop, River Island, Whistles, New Look & Accesorize

Pin Me Up

The hairdressers. Something which most girls in their right mind  love. A good few hours of pampering, flicking through old magazines with some idle chit chat on the side. I have a confession - that's not me.

I’ve always envied those girls who are able to refer to ‘my hairdresser’, they seem to have some kind of embryonic bond with these creative genius’ who replicate the exact reflection they so desire.



Meanwhile, I’m the one who always arrives late. I bumble into the art gallery come industrial unit space and am instantly intimidated by strip lighting, asymmetrical angles, house music and a startling array of products that cost more than my weekly rent.

 Rather than being put at ease knowing I'm in the hands of  a trained stylist, I awkwardly shift in my chair, apologise for the awful condition of my hair (and for me in general) before agreeing to let them use me as a crash test dummy for the latest layered look. A few weeks ago I actually left Trevor Sorbie with the post-modern take on a mullet.

The salon-folk loved it, I felt like David Bowie....not good Bowie, Labyrinth Bowie.

Just as I was cutting eye holes in yet another paper bag, The Painted Lady rushed to my rescue like a can of dry shampoo the morning after a big night before.

A perfectly timed KGB Voucher Deal lead to the discovery of my new favourite local haunt. Situated on the ever expanding Redchurch Street, Shoreditch.

On arrival (late, panicky and true to form) I was greeted with a warm welcome and invited into the beautifully decorated salon. Emulating my dream living room, the stripped wood floors lie beneath vintage furniture finds and well styled retro accents, the salon is a masterclass in throw back interior design hitting the balance between vintage and modern perfectl without tipping over into kitsch tat land.

As Dom, my friendly stylist , sat me down in the sumptuous leather barbers chair and handed me glass of chilled vino, I felt instantly at ease. Between sips  gulps, I threw in random words about being blonde, but not too blonde. I hastily explained I liked gold but not brass...not the most clear of directions through the spaghetti junction that is my mane. Without so much as a raised eyebrow, I was assured it would all be taken care of, and that it was.

As my mop was being combed and coaxed into submission, I chatted with the staff and a variety of locals and friends of the salon and watched all the happenings of Shoreditch on a Spring evening going by. I felt relaxed,  and happy (maybe on my way to tipsy) had it not been for several sheets of bleached coated foil entwined into my hair, I would have completely forgotten I was in a hairdressers at all.

A quick shampoo and rough blow dry later and I was transformed. Delicate blonde highlights had been woven through my hair, transforming dark lank roots into shimmering TV advert worthy strands. With A subtle blended finish and even tone  I was - coloured to perfection. A few weeks later and it still look salon fresh! This is the first time I have actually loved my hair, and have been vainly using every shop window and car wing mirror to sneak a peak.

Along side the day to day cut and colour options, The Painted Lady backs up it's decor with a specialist service in Retro Up Do's. Perfect for a special occasion or a themed dressing up night,  a quick peruse of the websites gallery   shows a wide range of lengths and styles spanning the decades and fashion eras. I only wish I'd discovered this place before negotiating with a crimping iron for the Prohibition 1920's night.

We all know that finishing touches make all the difference, take a trip downstairs to discover that this small, personal hairdressers has also managed to house an entire nail salon – complete with the tootsie loving service du’jour, a fish pedicure tank. The girly décor is matched well to the upstairs with painted floor boards and hints of pink complimenting the rainbow display of O.P.I nail varnishes to choose from.


With my hair remastered and finally tamed after trying out threading for the first time , nails were next on the agenda. I was soon back at The Painted Lady to get tidied up for the weekend ahead. The same great service and friendly, inclusive atmosphere applied as my dry cuticles and raggy edged claws were filed and painted a gorgeous pale pink.

 While waiting for my talons to dry, I took advantage of a comfy seat in the salon, a perfect way to spend the end of the working week  Being the klutz that I am, nail varnish is usually a wasted exercise on my, chipping it in record time which is why I was pleasantly surprised to see my chosen hue ‘Precciously pink’ stick around for a record 5 days before showing too much wear and tear. All for the bargain price of £10.

My next appointment is all booked in and I can’t wait,  thanks to the ladies at The Painted Lady, I no longer fear the shears.

The Painted Lady is open 6 days a week (closed Tuesday), see the website for more pictures, prices and contact details.

Images courtesy of The Painted Lady

Cheaper New Threads!

How wonderfully well timed! Just as I published my my write up of the great services provided by Shavata Brow Bars in House of Fraser stores, a great offer to try the brow threading service at a knock down price is released!

To celebrate the opening of 5 brand spanking new Brow Studios, Shavata are offering Brow Threading for £10 instead of the usual £17!

Get down there soon for a mid week tidy up before showing off your new groomed look with some killer sunglasses (well, we have to make the most of this sunshine long may it last...)

New Threads





I have a vivid memory of being six years old and sitting at the top of a stair case in my Aunties house. I would often sit there (usually in tears after throwing a huge tantrum) and contemplate the world, this time I was trying my very best to raise one eyebrow. The logic was that by raising both eyebrows while squashing one of them down it would just stay that way. To six year old me, this, getting a pony and making sure my big brother was in trouble were my main priorities.

After some time, I managed it! In all probability this was due to genetics rather than sheer will (and surprisingly strong facial muscles) …but that certainly wasn’t going to stop me spending the next 5-10 years showing off my ‘talent’…others could paint, sing or run really fast, I was the kid that could raise one eyebrow.



Mr H wasn't sure how to tell Xanthe
.... it was time  for some intervention

20 years on I curse the ambitions of 6 year old me, (except for the pony – that’s still on my list). My right eyebrow is considerably higher than my left – there isn’t one photo of me where I don’t look ‘wonky’ and I have spent many an cringe worthy moment explaining to nervous beauticians with a wax strip that it’s not them, it's me.

Understandably this ‘affliction’ has not left me with an overly eager approach to eyebrow maintenance. Rather than optimising my face friends and embracing their Picasso like appearance I have opted for long fringes and in frequent trips to the wax bars of London.

That is, until, after much persuasion, I got my eyebrows threaded by the charming (and understanding) ladies of the Shavata Brow Bar

For someone who considers it okay to paint molten wax on my face and then allow someone to rip it off, threading certainly shouldn’t look as weird to me as it does, but as I climbed into my padded leather dentist chair and lay back, Jaz, (my specialist for the day) put me right at ease.

It was time for the science part. Using a pure, thin, twisted cotton thread,  Jaz gently rolled over  my untidy brow line, apparently this allows the hair to be plucked right down at the follicle level. Unlike battling with tweezers where a single hair is pulled out each time, threading can remove an entire row of hair,  resulting in a distinctive, sharp, clean finish.

One of the reasons I’d been putting off giving this technique a whirl was that I had heard rumours of how painful it could be, especially if done by a new comer to the trade. At least with waxing, which admittedly is not the most pain free sensation – it’s over in one go. I was expecting threading to be a painful and slow practice. While it’s not exactly something I’d like to have done daily, the pain was certainly minimal and felt more peculiar than uncomfortable. Furthermore it was all over in less than 10 minutes.

After the cotton reel was put away, Jaz brushed and trimmed the bushier parts of my brows (sexy, I know) and then plucked any stubborn rebel strays with her expert tweezers. A quick and refreshing smear of Shavata Soothing Gel and I was on my way £17, and a few hairs lighter.

My chosen salon is situated on the ground floor of House of Fraser King William Street, just next to Monument tube station in the City. For any shy types be aware that while it’s tucked away in a the far right corner of the floor (next to a super Nails Inc bar) you are still in a department store for all to see. That said, I turned up at lunch time on pay day Friday and was seated immediately with no awkward hovering necessary. A bit of exposure is certainly a small price to pay for such convenience.

As well as drop in waifs and strays such as me, appointments are also available in advance and are certainly recommended for those in a hurry.

Shavata has a range of brow bars in most major House of Fraser stores nationwide as well as the prestigious Harrods (I wonder if old Queenie is getting this done for the wedding?)  and offers a variety of treatments concentrating on the face. As well as threading various areas (face, lip and chin) they also offer tinting services for brows and lashes as well as lash extensions, removal and application of strip lashes. I picked up a loyalty card, for every 5 treatments I buy – the 6^th is free. While this may not be the most cost effective salon, the quick friendly and well-located bar will be seeing me again. I left with virtually no tell tale redness and a few days later my skin has not broken out in protest the way it does with wax.

Die hard tweezers are not excluded from this chain, as the well stocked online store offers plenty of tools of the trade for you to recreate that perfect arch at home. It’s worth reading the hints and tips section of the site before getting stuck in. Once you do I would suggest using these cheery heart shape tweezers to brighten up the tool box.