Anne Louise Magazine August 2011 by Anne Louise Magazine

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August 2011 This months celebrities

10 Katy B Who cares about the charts? 14 Taylor Hawkins Interview with the Foo Fighter

Fashion & Beauty

08 Beauty Book Latest news and products 16 Look the Business Look fabulous at work! 24 Spa Treatment My fiance and myself check into The Grange Spa 26 Wedding Blog Best wedding finds & news 32 Adeleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Accessories The latest great accessories

Living 18 Mother & Baby Review and features 25 Anne Louise Grapevine Latest news 28 Business Feature The cutest handmade teddy bears 37 Tiggyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blog Great pet gadgets & goodies 38 Recipe Smoked Garlic & Artichoke and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto 40 Little Black Book Great places to shop & pamper

Competitions

30 WIN! WIN! A stunning crystal skull necklace from Dainty Damsel 41 WIN! WIN! Arbonne Bronzer Compact!

Cute Teddies! Check out the feature on the most cutest little teddies you will ever see (page 28)

Editor’s Letter W

elcome to the August issue of Anne Louise Magazine.

Which is full of fantastic features and products. I love the cute handmade teddies from Little Scruffs, they are so adorable and I can see people of all ages falling in love with their gorgeous little characters! We have to celebrity features and interviews this month, a feature on the very talented Katy B and an interview with Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters.

Plus with and issue packed full to the brim with beauty, fashion, mother and baby features and reviews plus lots more, there is sure to be something for everyone. Don’t forget to check out the fantastic competitions we have this month, including an Arbonne Bronzer compact, Orange Crystal Skull Necklace and a baby weaning book from Annabel Karmel. Please keep on reading Anne Louise, keep supporting us and in return I promise to help promote, feature and bring gorgeous businesses to your screens. So sit back, relax and enjoy :) Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/annelouisemagazine

Linsey x

Linsey Robinson, Editor & Owner Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/annelouisemag

How to get in touch Sales & marketing

media@annelouisemagazine.com Tel: 01476 400166 Mob: 07950 213 494

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Copyright © Anne Louise Magazine 2011 | Anne Louise Magazine is published Monthly. All prices in this publication were correct at the time of going to press. All material is copyright to Anne Louise and may not be reproduced in any form without obtaining prior permission.

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Beauty Book Find out what’s new on the beauty scene and what products works best

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Music

This voice was high and pretty, yet strong and indomitable. It wrapped its creamy virtuosity around words about the sub-bass going boom and inhaling in the fumes, in much the same way that Donna Summer breathed a celestial fire into simple words about love and sex many years ago, over an equally alien electronic rhythm. ‘I Feel Love’ casually invented the dance world we all live in, and this new tune, with its entirely feminine and sensual take on hedonism, was going all out to reinvent it for an era that has become cynical about the transcendent qualities of going out dancing to extremely loud music. But, again... The Voice. It was somehow urban, and pop, and soul and slightly alien. Apparently, the voice was called Katy B. And it was, indisputably, On A Mission. The maker of ‘Katy On A Mission’ is not a celestial alien… at least, not today. Today she’s a small, friendly and alarmingly pretty Peckham lass who is getting her hair done in a small room at the Rinse FM HQ in East London. We’re also joined by her mentor and producer Geeneus, who is also the co-owner of the legendary London pirate radio station. He’s going to help his protégé explain how a BRIT school graduate with a couple of garage tunes to her name has become the maker of a classic underground breakout anthem and, in the forthcoming ‘On A Mission’, one of the most

eagerly-awaited dance albums of recent times. It seems like overnight success, but actually took over three years. And Katy is still just 21. It all begins back in Peckham. The young Katy was an R&B loving girl who wasn’t satisfied with just listening to her favourite Boyz II Men, Destiny’s Child and Alicia Keys records. Her parents were supportive of her ambitions for a musical career, and sent her to The BRIT School. Her soul fan father had been a singer himself, and various aunts and cousins were musicians. Hanging out with like minds at The BRIT School led her into an enduring love for neo-soul, particularly Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. ‘Do you know what? I’m so happy to talk about the BRIT School and everything. Because some people seem to think it’s some kind of fame school, but it’s not like that at all. I went there when I was 14 so we did normal lessons. Music is just a small part of it. But the atmosphere at The BRIT is just amazing. People actually enjoy going to school. The journey that you go on in such a small period of time… the people that I met there are still my best friends today. They have a really good studio there and that’s where I got my first demos done.’

Katy B “Who cares about the charts?”

As soon as you heard the tune, you knew that you’d chanced upon something special. In what was an otherwise depressing, distressing year for radio pop, this record seemed beamed down from another, better, sexier planet. A lurching, slashing, nasty rhythm, somewhere between dubstep and grime. An evocation of both the pleasure and the danger at the heart of the best club nights out you’ve ever had. And, crucially, a girl’s voice.

The BRIT School also teaches aspiring artists how to record their own material, giving them a crash course in engineering and producing. And Katy plays piano to classical standard. So couldn’t she just sack Geeneus and co-producer DJ Zinc and go DIY? ‘I’d rather they do it, really! I’m too lazy! Singing and songwriting is where I can really express myself. It’s there that I want to perfect my craft.’ Katy went on to a degree in music at Goldsmith’s in New Cross, south London. ‘It makes you realize what goes into being a musician… how to rehearse, how to create a performance. And for a singer it really helps to study theory, understand music, and know what you’re talking about. Singers often go into a room with musicians and get intimidated. They’ll talk to you like you’re an idiot. Knowing as much as them about music gives you a kind of confidence.’ Katy got her first break at the tender age of 17. DJ NG and an MC called Versatile (not the Toddla T collaborator) hooked up with Katy on ‘Tell Me’, one of the first and most enduringly popular UK funky house anthems. Geeneus got in touch. ‘As soon as I heard her I knew there was something about her voice. I was writing a lot of grimey music, and the scene was all getting a bit overcrowded with men. We can make ravey bassline music all day long. We needed the girl element back in it. When I’ve played this album to girls they don’t care about the background music – they couldn’t care less. They’re like, “Oh… the lyrics.” It wasn’t planned like that. But that’s what Katy supplies. I think we’ve merged our two worlds into one.’ The original idea was that Rinse FM wanted to make a showcase album for their DJ’s, most of whom are also composers and producers. This would have been multi-genre, as well as multi-artist. In order to give the record any hope of sounding like an album rather than an eclectic compilation, it needed a sonic link. But despite Katy’s presence, the eclectic range of producers just didn’t link well enough to provide any continuity. Meanwhile, Geeneus and his compadre Zinc were falling in love with Katy’s voice, lyrics and melody lines. It became increasingly obvious that Rinse FM’s showcase had turned into a potential debut album for Katy B. ‘It just seemed natural. Geeneus and Zinc were providing the best tracks and I loved working with them.’ The process honed Katy’s fledgling songwriting skills. Let’s be clear: the beats hail from her stellar cast of producers, which also includes Benga and Benny ill (Horsepower Productions), as well as extra-curricular guest spots with Magnetic Man. But the songs are all Katy’s own work. ‘I come from a background where I would be getting beats to work with. These are people who make instrumental music so there’s no song. There’s no one there to write my songs for me. I was kinda forced into it but then found out that I really enjoy it.’ So much so that Katy is also signed to EMI as a songwriter. Nevertheless, it’s taken three years of work and experiment to get ‘On A Mission’ made. ‘We made one album and completely scrapped it,’ laughs Katy. ‘It was like… the warm-up’, adds Gee. But… three years? Teenagers aren’t noted for their patience. Didn’t the slow progress drive Katy nuts? 12 | anne louise August 2011

‘Definitely. But you’ve got to understand that Gee and Sarah (Lockhart, Rinse FM co-owner) are busy people. Gee’s a manager, DJ, producer, radio station owner, promoter, record-label head. And they do all of it really well. So sometimes I did feel like I was bottom of priorities. But I always had faith that they would do their best. And I’m glad that it’s happened now. I got to finish my degree, and Katy On A Mission all happened just as I came out of Uni. The timing’s perfect.’ ‘Plus it’s a good experience to work with her,’ Geeneus smiles. ‘She’s down-to-earth, just like us. We’d worked with other singers and they’re all a bit, like… diva-ish. The initial idea with the showcase was to bang an album out in six months. But Zinc and me realised that we really liked working with Katy. So let’s concentrate on it, do it properly. And as time’s gone on she’s still never got that diva attitude. Before we knew it we had an album and the “Katy On A Mission” track… that song just went “Whoosh!”’ Its been a slow, invisible climb that we didn’t realise we were on.’ It turns out that the impact of Katy On A Mission was as big a (happy) shock to its makers as it was to us humble pop fans, as Geeneus explains. ‘Its success changed all our plans. It took us all by surprise. I think a lot of the underground came together and bought it all at once. Possibly because the video was shot at a real rave – we were all sick of people doing videos with fake raves. Then the rest of the world saw it and latched on. So Katy On A Mission was like a breath of fresh air. We don’t wanna make Ibiza-type pop-house with an MC on it. All we’re trying to do is the real thing. We’d slit our wrists if we had to make manufactured music.’ And so to Katy’s debut album, ‘On A Mission’. A 12-track fusion of underground beats, pop hooks, soulful sophistication… and that alien something that made Katy On A Mission add up to so much more than its parts. What’s it all about, then, Katy? ‘It’s me; just as a young woman, partying, relationships… the album’s definitely where I’m coming from. Tracks like Disappear and Easy Please Me are all experiences in my life and emotions that I’ve felt. I love Jill Scott because her lyrics are beautiful, but always telling a simple story, in a clever way. When someone writes about love you want to be able to relate to it.’ Geeneus: ‘I watched Katy write this album and know that every track has a meaning to her, and those meanings relate to a lot of people. A lot of people write about being somewhere else. Katy writes about being here, today.’ Katy: ‘For me, Power On Me is one of the tracks that really defines the album. There’s drum ‘n’ bass in it. There’s house in it. There’s grime in it – I don’t even really know what genre it is! But it’s dark and atmospheric. Listening to music like dubstep makes me want to write about dark emotions.’ Current single Lights On is another perfect meld of urban dark and femme-pop light, and features the wonderful Ms. Dynamite. The Mercury Prize-winner had come into the Rinse studios to work with Zinc and Geeneus at the same time as Katy and Gee were writing Lights On. Gee asked her to try spitting a verse, the venerable Ms. D agreed, and the rest is history.

‘This is about two years ago’, Geeneus reminds us, ‘and back then no one had really heard of Katy and Ms Dynamite was a big thing. So she did us a big favour.’ ‘She’s been really supportive,’ adds Katy, ‘a really lovely person.’ As the album developed, Katy also insisted that she move away from P.A. style live performance and front a proper band. Her ten-piece live group, complete with horn section, are accomplished enough to pull off a triumphant recent support slot with John Legend and The Roots. Word of mouth about these early shows has led to extraordinary demand for her first headline tour in May 2011. Small regional venues have had to be hastily bumped up to 1000-1500 seaters, while the immediate sell-out of her London show forced an additional date – which will be sold out too, by the time you read this. Katy is one of the UK’s hottest tickets in 2011. And for her next album, Katy intends to experiment more with live instruments. ‘We’ve got trumpets and keys on this record, but I’d like to bring more of that next time around.’ But there’s still the small matter of her debut to deal with before ambitious musical visions can be pursued. The girl may not have planned to be a pop star. But she increasingly has no choice in the matter. So what, exactly, is Katy B’s mission? ‘I’ve always had this, “Who cares about the charts?” attitude. But I’ve always wanted to be successful in what I do. All I’ve

ever wanted to do is make a living.’ ‘We’re hoping that people would like some real music for a change,’ Geeneus declares, proudly. ‘Something that harks back to Soul II Soul and Neneh Cherry. And, so far, it’s going quite well.’ Katy B chews that over, mumbles something selfdeprecating… and then finally settles on the best possible reason for making On A Mission. ‘Because I look up to certain singers, I’d like to be that to someone else. It would be cool if someone’s favourite album was a Katy B album. That would be the biggest thing for me.’

Interview

Interview with: Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters Interview by Warren Higgins

You came into the Foo Fighters coming from the Alanis Morisette band, and at that time things were pretty massive for her; were you apprehensive of joining the band considering the reputation that Dave Grohl had, as a drummer, but also as a drummers band? No, that never really entered my mind. I just knew that I liked the music and I knew that I wanted to be apart of it. I was just going from band to band and doing whatever I could at that point just to keep working, and at that point in time, one of my favourite bands in the world was Foo Fighters. I didn’t know how long it was going to last – I was just like, ‘alright, I’ll join the Foo Fighters, maybe just for this record and that would be it’. Pat [Smears] quit right after I joined the band so I didn’t know what it was going to be like, every year after that was just another year that it was just ‘oh, I guess we’re going to keep going’. You joined the band after ‘The Colour and the Shape’ had been recorded, so basically came 14 | anne louise August 2011

straight in to start touring that record, was there a point at which you felt that you felt a proper part of the band, the drummer for the band, where you got involved with the song writing for the third album? Yeah - but I don’t think there was a particular point in time where I thought ‘I am now an official member’. When I joined I was made an official member, for whatever that was worth. I don’t know, really for the first five or six years that I was in this band it was just sort of touch and go with us, the whole ‘I guess we’ll do another record’ – we didn’t know what was going to happen, we just took it as it came. You recorded ‘Wasting Light’ in Dave’s garage; was it fun to take a back to basics approach and have a garage band feel to the album? Yeah, well we didn’t really - except for the fact we did it on tape – we hadn’t done that since ‘Nothing Left to Lose’ there wasn’t much of a difference; just another version of a studio! We recorded in Dave’s’ basement for a couple of the records back in Virginia so it wasn’t like ‘oh lets get back to the basics in the garage’ it was just ‘yeah, lets do it over at Dave’s house’ and it’s built it up more that way as an angle you could say, but really at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter where you record. A garage is just the same as a room in a studio, especially if you have the proper gear it doesn’t really matter. It was relaxed, as it wasn’t in a studio, it was in Dave’s guesthouse, so it was great, it was fun. It was something new. It was a new place to do it as he had done out last two in the same studio and I don’t think we wanted to make another one in the same studio; we wanted a change of scenery. That was one of the things that came across in the DVD – you’re there with your families, playing in the pool and the kids rocking in on the recordings - a real, relaxed vibe to it. Do

you think that approach came across in the recording and in the album? Well it was absolutely easier I would say than some of our past records, it was just a fairly easy record to make, it really was, and maybe that was apart of it. It’s hard to say what becomes apart of it. Back in April you told the NME that you would rather the DVD wasn’t released as you weren’t comfortable with that amount of openness – do you still feel like that after you’ve seen it and have seen the reaction that people have had to the DVD? I’m just kind of past it. I never was necessarily that interested, especially as I got older, in anything other than music. Being such a big part of what people see or know about me; obviously things happened to me in my twenties, late twenties – that was a long time ago and I didn’t necessarily, wasn’t that excited to relive it for everybody’s dramatic enjoyment. At the end of the day you get into this business and you decide ‘yeah, I want to try to be some sort of professional musician’ and that’s the price of admission, you have to deal with the fact that there’s a certain amount of privacy that’s just not going to be there anymore. It’s all just part of the game, it is what it is and it’s not my favourite part of it and obviously I have things I’m not necessarily that proud of that I did in my twenties but I think we all do to a certain degree – it’s there now for my children to watch someday… and I’m not too happy about that either! But it is what it is, all part of the game. I think it’s pretty enjoyable for people to watch I suppose as it is really honest and in the end I suppose a candy-coated version won’t be as interesting. When you were recording the album, as you can see on the DVD, there were always cameras about. Was there always the aim to make this DVD, or was it just friends with cameras recording the sessions? There was never an absolute plan when we started making the record to make a sort of retrospective documentary, but we just weren’t really sure what it was going to be. It was pretty much left in the hands of the director James Moll and he took it in his own direction and the way he wanted to and didn’t really give up on his vision, ever. At first I thought ‘well this really isn’t about our music’, it’s more about our lives, but then the more I thought about it, and all of us did, in a way; people already know about our music. There was a bit on the ‘how to’ of how we made this record at the end of the movie, which was somewhat informative in that sense, but at first it just

seemed to be about the drama of the band, but hey – that’s what people are interested in. That’s what I’m interested in when I watch a rock and roll documentary, is, you know – who died! How many drugs did they take, who are they fucking – that’s kind of the deal isn’t it? Now this is the 7th Studio album for the band, you’re also headlining a lot of big festivals across the world. Quite recently you did a garage type tour – did you enjoy doing that? You do that with your own band ‘Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders’ where you play the smaller venues – was it nice to have a little change and put Foo Fighters into those smaller areas, besides from doing the big shows like the Milton Keynes Bowl and other festivals? Yeah – I liked it. I probably like it a lot more than anybody actually. I tend to find those smaller situations; be it a garage or a small club, more musically satisfying, I really do. I tend to feel like these big giant places, even though they’re good as you reach a lot of people and it shows your, I don’t know, status! Like ‘hey I’m headlining a big festival’ and that’s great because it means that people are really getting it, and they really like it, especially when they stay opposed to us being the exit music. It says something, it’s pretty amazing, but at the same time on a musical level I tend to like the little small situations as it feels we’re all tight, close together, in a small little club, a different kind of thing happens in comparison to being up on a big huge stage, in front of say 20,000 people. Are you looking forward to coming back to T in the Park again in Scotland? Absolutely – absolutely. It’s been a while since we last did T in the Park, can you remember? The first time you headlined it was in 2005. 2005 that’s right yeah. I think we did it in 2002 as well. Is there something that you like about Scottish crowds in particular that stands out? They’re definitely some of the wildest crowds, there’s no question about that! The dudes are real dudes; it’s great. I love Scotland, it’s beautiful. The next day you have a day off – do you hang about at festivals to see other bands? Or do you move straight on to the next place? We pretty much just move straight on to the next place, as we’re all usually getting ready to go somewhere else. We all have our families with us right now so days off are kinda of family time, so we go to the park, that kind of thing. Time to spend some time with your kids.

August 2011 anne louise | 11

Fashion

1. Monsoon. Skinny trousers and blouse. 2. Miso Peter Pan twist blouse, £22.99. 3. TK Maxx. Green wrap shirt, £21.99. 4. Silk & Sawdust. 1950s inspired wiggle dress, £119. 5. Great Plains. Teadance linen button-wrap skirt, £56. 6. Head Over Heels. Matilda, £55

LOOK THE BUSINESS This summer the fashion gods are smiling down on office workers. Maxi skirts, sheer blouses and open-toed shoes abound, meaning that getting dressed for work will no longer be a slog.

early every shop on the high street has maxi skirts, but for an office-friendly colour try Long Tall Sally’s tiered, linen design with its flattering bias cut. If you prefer a shorter skirt then Great Plains has a linen wrap version while River Island’s seventiesinspired striped skirt has the makings of a summer classic. If you prefer trousers then get yourself down to Monsoon for an achingly cool high-waisted, skinny pair (check out Monsoon’s pretty blouses while you are there, you won’t be disappointed). Internacionale has some satin trousers that have been influenced by the harem pants trend, and for particularly hot days go short and sexy with Jane Norman’s nude cropped trousers. When it comes to tops you are spoiled for choice, but here are our current three favourites: F&F’s floral blouse with a pussy bow, Republic’s sheer Miso Peter Pan Twist blouse and TK Maxx’s green wrap shirt. If separates aren’t your thing then get yourself over to Silk & Sawdust for its cute-yet-still-office-friendly dress. We love it. On the shoe front if you want your feet to be able to breathe grab a pair of sandals from Simply Be. If you’re looking for glam then Head Over Heels has some adorable laced wedges, or if padding around the park after work is more your scene then Bertie’s ballet-esque shoes will suit you perfectly. There you have it, a guide to how to work the summer office look without breaking into a sweat.

august 2011 anne louise | 17

Mother & Baby Bringing you the latest information for mums and mums to be.....

By Farah Hughes

or any mother weaning starting to wean their baby onto solids it can be an exciting yet a messy experience. From watching their baby pull the most amusing facial expressions to food scattered across the floor! Weaning your baby can be made to be fun for all your family. Sitting your baby in a high chair at the table with you all, this helps your baby feel included, and gives your baby the chance to watch others and learn. It is recommended that babies are weaned from them age of six months, as this gives their digestive systems time to develop, making them stronger to fight any chance of infection or allergies. It is best to start weaning your baby onto healthy foods from the very beginning, allowing them to appreciate the tastes and textures of different fresh fruit and vegetables. Try not to add any extra sugar or salt, as they currently are unaware of their tastes, so they won’t be missed! Choosing the correct foods can help play a huge part on your baby’s mood. Providing foods such as bananas, pasta and oily fish helps create serotonin, which improves emotional stability and quality of sleep. B vitamins are also a crucial vitamin that play a huge part in this production. You can find great sources in bananas, avocados, fish, vegetables and chicken. Choosing the right recipes for your baby to enjoy, so it’s an enjoyable experience, can be tricky. One amazing woman Annabel Karmel, has incredibly managed to create a huge variety of recipes to start your babies on from their very first mouthful! Being a mother of three children, Annabel has succeeded in writing countless books on feeding babies. Selling over an astounding four million books, and still going strong. Annabel’s books are regularly in the top five cookery titles. With a combination of advice on baby feeding from weaning, vegetarian recipes, fussy eaters and obesity, no mother should be without at least one of her books! From hundreds of ideas on purees, finger foods, lunch boxes to delicious meals for all the family to enjoy.

For more information and to view exclusive recipes online visit www.annabelkarmel.com 18 | anne louise August 2011

LOVELY LENTILS Here is one of Annabels most popular recipes amongst babies “Lovely Lentils”

dding lentils to a baby puree provides a good source of protein and beta-carotene and also folate, fibre and vitamin C. Orange-fleshed sweet potato is an excellent source of beta-carotene and this lentil recipe makes a sweet, soft, smooth puree that appeals to young babies. This is a simple homemade and healthy lentils recipe for babies.

Method

Ingredients

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the leeks for 2 to 3 minutes. 2. Add the celery, red pepper and carrot and sauté for 5 minutes. 3. Add the lentils, sauté for one minute, then add the sweet potato and bay leaf and pour over the stock. 4. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables and lentils are tender. Remove the bay leaf and blend to a puree.

30g (1oz) butter 125g (4oz) leeks, finely sliced 30g (1oz) celery, chopped 30g (1oz) red pepper, cored, de-seeded and chopped 60g (2oz) red lentils 100g (4oz) 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped 250g sweet potato, peeled and chopped 1 bay leaf 15 fl oz vegetable stock or water

Makes 6 portions

WIN!WIN!WIN! For your chance to win Annabel Karmels newest book, due to be released late August, then answer the following question. Q How many books has Annabel Karmel written? For a hint check out Annabels biography on her website www.annabelkarmel.com Send your answer along with your name, address and phone number to win@annelouisemagazine.com with the subject heading ‘Annabel Karmel’ T&C: Competition is open to all UK residents. Closing date is 31st August. Winner will be chosen at random after the closing date. Please indicate if you do not want to be added to our mailing list.

Pregnancy

Pilates and Pregnancy Pregnancy & Pilates comprises 2 x 30 minute full body workouts plus an in-depth explanation of Pilates and pregnancy. Suitable for all levels these exercises will; • Improve your posture throughout pregnancy • Strengthen your back, core and pelvis • Tone your arms, legs and bottom • Guide you through stretches and relaxation • Keep your body flexible and mobile through pregnancy • Strengthen your deep pelvic floor Personal trainer and Yoga & Pilates teacher Caroline Sandry was inspired by her client’s journeys through pregnancy to develop a range of DVDs especially for pregnant women. £14.99, www.cravematernity.co.uk

REVIEW

“

This DVD is a fantastic way to bring Pilates to the comfort of your own home, allowing you to do a little when you may not feel up to going out to a class. Pefect for all levels, I found this DVD a great way to strengthen my core, which in pregnancy can become unstable as your body undergoes changes to accommodate your growing baby. Pilates can help your body with these changes by building the strength you will need to support your skeleton and muscles.

“

What about after the birth? When you find out your pregnant you go out a buy a mountain of pregnancy books to find out what to do, what not to do and what to expect as your baby develops until finally you give birth. Then what! The Rough Guide to Babies & Toddlers is the funny, reassuring and practical guide that all new (and old) parents have been looking for – with no judgmental guru-speak about the right way to do things, just a range of great solutions for you to choose from. Written by the award-winning author Kaz Cooke, an author and mother whose trademark light-hearted practical style and witty cartoons make this book pleasurable as well as informative. The user-friendly sections are inspired by real-life – chapters include ‘Getting through the first weeks’, which gives new mums and dads the low-down on bosoms, bottles, bonding, the blues, and mum’s post-baby body. Realistic and with a healthy sense of humour, the guide offers practical suggestions for dozens of scenarios you might encounter with your new bundle of joy or little terror, as well as addressing what you might be going through as new parents – don’t miss the hilarious “How to Be Perfect” routine for new mums: adjust push-up bra, exfoliate feet, clean up sick! £13.99, www.roughguides.com

20 | anne louise August 2011

Maternity Review

YUMMY MUMMY! Dress like an A-list Yummy Mummy with the fantastic range of maternity clothing from Crave Maternity. I was sent some fabulous goodies from www.cravematernity.co.uk to try out and see what I thought. The Jade 2 in 1 Top, £46 is gorgeous, I instantly feel in love with this and it has now become a staple of my wardrobe which will grow along with my bump. This scooped neck longer length top with functional side drawcords allows you to wear it long like a tunic with leggings or shorter

with smart trousers, makes this a truly versatile addition to any wardrobe. White Printed Scoop Neck Maxi Dress, £69 (Was £89) is highly flattering with its scoop neckline and ties at back to ensure a flattering fit, is a must for any special occasion or that romantic sunset walk on the beach. Pull On Bootleg Jeans, £59 A super flattering fit that that runs slim through the thighs with a gentle flare at the knee to lengthen the line of the leg. The stretch denim makes these jeans luxuriously comfortable and a perfect jean for the pregnant figure.

To view the fantastic range of fashionable maternity wear visit www.cravematernity.co.uk

Come and join us with our puppets, handmitts, floaty scarves, parachutes, pom poms, hobby horses and lots more ......

Classes are running throughout Lincolnshire and Peterborough

Up, up &

Away

Beautiful handmade felt Hot Air Balloon baby mobile. These fantastic creations are by a new designer called Sue Lin, created in felt and available in a range of styles and colours including a gorgeous ‘Lil Bugs’ design featuring cute characters, Ladybug, Butterfly, Caterpiller and Bee. Keep an eye out for more on these wonderful designs in next months issue.

Handmade Baby Mobiles from £35, Sue Lin

Steriliser Pod This Steam Steriliser Pod features a stylish compact round design which looks great in any kitchen. Fits up to 6 bottles (all brands) and features an LCD display to keep you informed of progress. Sterilises in 8 minutes and is effective for longer, it automatically repeats cycle every 6 hours up to 48 hours.

Steam Steriliser Pod £59.99, Mothercare

SNUG BABY We love this fantastic product from Mamas & Papas! A two stage seat that helps babies sit up and mums sit down. Comes complete with removable tray which aids play times and meal times. This product has received brilliant reviews from mums loving how the seat helps their baby sit up in a comfortable and secure way.

Raspberry Baby Snug £39.75, Mamas & Papas

Spa Treatment I visited The Grange Spa with my fiance, Jon for a spot of anniversary pampering,.... Written by Linsey Robinson

hen I was trying to decide how to spend mine and my fiances 5th year anniversary I instantly knew I wanted to spend a day being pampered at the gorgeous Day Spa in Lincolnshire. The local family run business literally built and run by husband and wife team, Matt and Emma, is a friendly, informal spa that is relaxing and luxurious. We started our day by arriving to a greeting of Champagne and a yummy lunch of bagettes with side salad. Afterwards we was shown around and then sent off to the changing rooms to change into our swimming gear and fluffy bathrobes. The Heat Experience will give you an unparalleled adventure into the world of relaxation. Comprising of 4 rooms and showers in between, the heat experience is pure relaxation! First you step into the Gem stone steam bath-delicately scented to warm and decongest, then you freshen yourself under a tropical shower of refreshing mists and aromas, next comes the Herbal bath-a delicately scented sauna to warm and relax, again shower under relaxing rainfall and scents, finally you step into the Aroma Bath – warming and detoxifying with a pleasant eucalyptus scent. For the brave you can cool yourself down between steam rooms with the invigortaing and refreshing Ice fountain which stimulates your immune system. After steaming your self as much as you want, we did two rounds of about an hour and 15 minutes

24 | anne louise August 2011

each! You can relax by the pool and listen to the soothing sounds of rippling waters and enjoy the soothing water fall. It’s a lovely experience swimming in the 12 meter pool as you look out across gardens and up through the skylight. towards the end of the day we moved onto our treatments, I had the Spring Clean treatment, designed by Emma this treatment was so relaxing, I nearly nodded off a couple of times! At the end of the facial, massages and exfoliation I was well and truly relaxed. I found my therapist warm and gentle and lovely to chat to afterwards about the products she had used on me. My fiance, Jon was treated to an aromatic back massage , Jon said the treatment was very relaxing and made the tension fade away in his back. We loved spending four glorious hours at The Grange Spa and can’t wait to go back, it’s a warm, friendly and relaxing spa. If you are after somewhere to unwind, relax and be pampered in gorgeous surroundings by fantastic people you should book a day at The Grange, you won’t be disappointed. For more information visit www.thegrangespa.co.uk

The Grange Spa, Millthorpe Road, Pointon, Lincolnshire, NG34 0NF Tel: 01778 440511

News

Anne Louise 13-14th August 2011

he first ever Pantiles Fashion Festival will come to the Kent on the weekend of the 13-14th August 2011. The event will see local designers, boutique owners, fashion and beauty experts coming together to celebrate all things fashion at the event hosted by LadyM Presents. This two day event in August will be a Tunbridge Wells take on London’s Spitalfields market. There will be pop up boutiques at the numerous stalls in the Pantiles area, ranging from handbags and jewellery, womenswear to fashion based photography with everything in between. Throughout the day there will be fashion shows from local boutiques and great designers and we plan to have masterclasses in styling, hair and beauty trends and much much more.

Grapevine Our guide to what’s happening this month ......

Mariinsky Ballet Photo © Natasha Razina

For more information visit www.ladympresents.co.uk

La Bayadère Mariinsky Ballet 11-13th August 2011

Batman Live!

17-21st August 2011

fter two and a half years in the making, the incredible production by Warner Bros. Consumer Products, DC Entertainment and Nick Grace of Water Lane Productions Ltd has opened for its first arena show. Audiences will be greeted by a 3D Gotham City landscape, complete with buildings, soundscape and video animation, setting the scene for the story to come.

ariinsky Ballet’s magnificent production of La Bayadère, a lavish melodrama of love, betrayal and ultimate redemption set in a legendary India. The tale of the temple dancer Nikiya’s doomed love for the warrior Solor unfolds in scenes of exotic spectacle in one of Petipa’s greatest works, culminating in the choreographic glory of the ‘Kingdom of the Shades’, one of the greatest treasures in the company’s repertoire. The Mariinsky’s matchless ensemble of soloists and corps de ballet captures the soul with its beauty.

For more information visit www.roh.org.uk

For more information visit www.thenia.co.uk August 2011 anne louise | 25

Wedding Blog

Let them eat cake.....

Over the years Peggy Porschen has acquired an enviable client list including many celebrities, fashionistas and Royals. Peggy has worked with Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and Stella McCartney, creating a sensational wedding cake, with tiers festooned with frilly sugar petals . She also designed and produced over 1000 ornate chocolate Faberge Eggs for Elton John’s White Tie & Tiara Ball. Most recently Peggy created a uniquely beautiful cake for Karl Lagerfeld as well as a 40th Birthday cake for British fashion house Mulberry. Her wedding cakes are irresistibly pretty and elegant that not only are visually stunning but also taste delicious. Visit her gorgeous website www.peggyporschen.com for more stunning images and details on her famous academy where you can learn to bake stunning creatings. Look out in the next issue for a fabulous feature on Peggy Porschen, including how she started, her beautiful Parlour in London’s Belgravia and The Peggy Porschen Academy which opened in January 2011. 26 | anne louise August 2011

Peggy Porschen photographer Georgia Glynn Smith

We bring you some gorgeous bridal finds, whether your on a strict budget or money’s no object budget!

FOUR WEDDINGS IS

BACK!

our Weddings UK is on the look out for brides-to-be to attend and score each other’s weddings.

Each wedding will be scored on the venue, the food, the overall experience and, of course, the dress. The couple that score the highest will win the luxury honeymoon of their dreams. The production team would love to speak to brides who are planning their dream wedding. If you’re interested in finding out more, and have an elaborate or unusual wedding lined up, please email 4weddings@itv.com or call 020 7157 3803 with details of your plans, including the date, type of wedding and location. And don’t forget to leave your telephone number. If you are lucky enough to be chosen and go on to win your episode, you’ll be whisked away on the ultimate romantic honeymoon. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with the Four Weddings production team today.

WE LOVE!

his striking handmade bespoke Platinum engagement ring is set with a 1.50ct emerald cut centre diamond and features two 0.60ct emerald cut side stones. To finish off this eye-catching ring Dominic has adorned the band with emerald cut diamonds. Handmade by Dominic Walmsley who’s celebrity clients tend to be of the more intellectual types and include Antony Horovitz, Helen Mirren, and Coffie Annan, although Kylie was featured in Hello wearing one of Dominic Walmsley’s diamond shoe pendants. Like a wedding dress, Dominic will arrange a fitting to ensure that you are happy and confident with your ring and if necessary, make any adjustments. The price tag, £25,000! www.dominicwalmsley.com

Wizard of Oz

Look and feel beautiful with this leather upper suede shoes! Very Dorothy from wizard of oz. High heel shoes with unusual square toe design and twisted strap bow detail. Bow, strap and part of heel encrusted in diamantis complete with gold heel. Suede based shoe with concealed platform for a more elegant feel....yet without losing any height! £85 www.lunacyboutique.co.uk

Little Scruffs

I stumbled across Little Scruffs on Facebook and instantly fell in love with the gorgeous handmade teddies, all have their own little character. I caught up with their talented creator Jean Grogan

he only toy I can remember having when I was younger was a Teddy Bear. I was four years old and my little sister had just been born. I called him Sooty and I loved him to bits. Unfortunately though, he disappeared many years later in a house move but Sooty ignited my love of bears and I have always collected them as a hobby. Then, about nine years ago I went on a bear making weekend and the rest is history: I have been making them non-stop ever since! I love trying out new styles and spend my time when I am not making bears scouring antique markets, car boots and charity shops looking for vintage fabrics and accessories for them. Each bear is made up of around 21 pieces. They are fully jointed with cotter pins so that their heads, arms and legs all move. I like to add weight to them by putting steel shot in their bodies and I also fill them with kapok which was used in early bear making. Almost all of my bears are made of mohair or vintage velvet. I think the name Little Scruffs suits the bears I make as I rarely make modern, pristine looking bears. To me the most important thing is character: I love ageing them and giving them their own individuality. Apart from bears I also occasionally make other characters including dogs and have made quite a few to look like my customers’ own pets. One of the nicest things about my profession are my wonderful collectors, some of whom have been with me from the start. Their letters and emails mean so much to me and some have

become great friends. I also have some very talented artists amongst them who have painted some of my Little Scruffs (You can see them on my About Us page at www.miniaturemohairbears.co.uk) Today I have just finished my version of a ‘Soldier Bear’. These bears, often given by sweethearts, were carried by British Soldiers in their breast pocket during World War 1 and now fetch many hundreds of pounds

Ultimo, Miss Ultimo Cherry drop bra £18, Shorts £8 Archie belonged to the owner of Silly Bears in Aberdeen and was one of her childhood favourites. She asked me to make a smaller version of him in a Limited edition of

25 for the shop. Wee Archie was born and she is giving all profits from the sale of the Wee Archies to The Archie Foundation. For more information visit www.archiefoundation.org.uk. For more information and to buy Little Scruffs visit www.miniaturemohairbears.co.uk www.facebook.com/LittleScruffs

Love the little Fat Head Teddies!

August 2011 anne louise | 29

WIN! WIN! WIN! This Gorgeous Crystal Encrusted Skull Necklace WORTH

£32.50

Go for maximum impact and stand out from the crowd with this stunning burnt orange crystal encrusted skull necklace! Attached to the extension chain you get another crystal encrusted funky skull, this time in complimentary light orange crystals! This necklace fits right in with those fashionable Summer Bright’s so glam up your maxi dresses, and get ready for the sun to arrive! In the style of Fearne Cotton and Katy Perry.

HOW TO ENTER Send your answer, name and address to win@annelouisemagazine.com clearly stating ‘Skull’ in the subject line. T&C: Competition is open to all UK residents. Closing date is 31st August 2011. Winner will be chosen at random after the closing date. Please indicate if you do not want to be added to our mailing list. Please state if you would like to receive special offers, information and discounts from the company running this competition (They won’t share your information with anyone else)

For more information visit:

www.daintydamsel.com

Fashion

Adele’s Accessories The latest gorgeous fashion accessories to make your mouth water!

Chain Detail Grand Feather Alice, £16 Accessorize

This fantastic Choker is coming soon to www. ikandi.co.uk

Is it a Bracelet, is it a Necklace.... no it’s everything!

Perfect if you want to stand out from the crowd! This striking long leather wrap, £26.50 is the perfect addition to any outfit. Set with silver crystals it really does sparkle. This beautifully designed bracelet is made of 100% genuine leather and can be worn in several different ways, therefore one size fits all! Try it as a wrap bracelet, necklace, anklet and headband too! In the style of Fearne Cotton and Jennifer Lopez. www.daintydamsel.com

32 | anne louise August 2011

When you see this symbol

check out my review on

www.annelouisemagazine.com

Offer of the month Grab this Gorgeous Flower Rope Stretch Ring for HALF PRICE!

Quote

NOW ONLY: £7.00!

Pop along to www.daintydamsel.com, enter DDGFLW50 at the checkout and your discount will be applied.

Redefining Style The Healthy Back Bag® tote is a unique bag designed with your body in mind. Its ergonomic shape contours to the natural curve of your spine, making it the most comfortable bag you’ll ever carry. Its timeless style and superior organizational features make it the perfect bag for everyday use. It’s easy to see how the bag has gained millions of fans worldwide who praise it for its comfort, style and value. www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk Grasshopper Distressed Nylon Healthy Back Bag £36 (Small)

Earth DNA Pack Amber £42 (Small)

Fashion Interview

INTERVIEW WITH: NICKY AND SARAH FROM DAINTY DAMSEL Adele catches up with Nicky, the founder of Dainty Damsel and Team member Sarah. Dainty Damsels is a fantastic online jewellery boutique, www.daintydamsel.com

Hi Nicky, as the founder of Dainty Damsel can you tell us a little about how you started the business? Was there much help available? I’ve always worked in fashion since I was 17 years old for various companies in different roles and prior to launching Dainty Damsel, I had my own local fashion boutique for 5 years which gave me a great foundation to start this business from. Dainty Damsel is different though to anything I’ve done previously as I’m dealing with both wholesale and online retail so there are two very different angles to this business. I found there’s a lot of free advice available through organisations such as Business Link which can be very useful and I have also done a lot of my own research through the web and various online forums. Unfortunately, because it’s a retail business there was no financial help or grants available. You’ve been building the company up for, 2 yrs is it now, have you had to change the business direction or ideas to survive? I have been building the company for a year – the year before that I was researching metals, went on a jewellery making course, did lots of reading on different types of jewellery and generally put all my knowledge together to build up a business plan. The climate is definitely changing and you have to adapt but not totally change direction or it can confuse what you are trying to achieve. 34 | anne louise August 2011

I always set out to offer something different, fashionable and of a high quality and these are the principles I will stick to whatever happens with the marketplace. How many people do you now have in your team? Do you all get along? Nicky: We currently have two in our team (myself and Sarah) but would love to grow this and have a third person on the team by the end of the year. We have a full short and long term structure plan in place but it depends on how quickly we grow as to how quickly we can implement it! Myself and Sarah get along great which is important when you are working so closely together all day every day Sarah: I agree, me and Nicky get on great, which makes coming to work so much easier!

So do you both have your own roles within the business? Nicky: We each have very different roles and balance each other perfectly which is essential as we both bring a totally different skill set to the business. I look after the ‘whole’ business which is really diverse. One day I can be designing the

new collections, the next day completing the VAT return! I also deal with our manufacturers, have a large emphasis on our stocks and products, but equally am also responsible for the book keeping which isn’t my favourite task I can tell you! Sarah: Our roles do fit together really well, I do a lot of work on the social networking side, editing the website, dealing with stockists and retail customers etc. But it’s the same for me, no two days are ever the same! Where do you get your inspirations for the collections from? Nicky: I always look to what will be in fashion next Season and tend to base my collections from there. For instance, at the moment we have a fantastic range of bright skull necklaces and bracelets, the inspiration from this came from the trend this year for ‘brights’ and also from my customer knowledge that a lot of people love skulls! Sometimes I can also just be sitting there and an idea will pop into my head, or an idea can come to me in the middle of the night, hence I always keep a notebook by my bed to make sure I capture it! Can you tell us a little about the process, where you source the materials, how they are made and who makes them... Nicky: Typically I will design a collection, then brief it in to our manufacturers. I will then communicate with them for as long as it takes to get my designs just so, this can involve a lot of emails, pictures and sketches going backwards and forwards! I either obtain samples of what I would like to use, or quite often I will use the manufacturers fabric / colour swatches to complete my designs. What I always insist on though is that any leather we use is 100% genuine, all crystals must be Czech crystal and the metal mix we use is Nickel and Lead free. I have three very different manufacturers which is great as they all specialise in different area’s so I know exactly who to brief which design into. The whole process from start to finish can take upto around 12 weeks so we always work well in advance. Have you got a favourite creation from your collection? Nicky: For me it has to be the Starfish Ring because it just looks amazing on and is a real statement piece. Also, having an adjustable back means you can wear it on your toes aswell as your fingers so is an amazing piece to pack in your Holiday case. It’s also a real timeless design so you can wear this year after year and it will still look as effective.

Sarah: My favourite piece has to be the flower hair clips which double as a brooch! This piece is definitely very “me”! I love mine, and will continue to wear it season after season! Very much looking forward to the new colours arriving for Autumn in this range!

What new designs are you excited about introducing to the range? Nicky: I’ve just designed a Leather Tassle range which I can’t wait to be manufactured and will be available in both Black & Chocolate. It taps into Autumn/ Winter’s take on leather which looks to be going more ‘fetish’ so this should sit in really well for us. Sarah: On the back of our Long Grey Leather Wrap doing so well, we are going to get it in Black with Crystal and also Chocolate with Gold and we’ve already had customers wanting to reserve them, so I think this will be an excellent way of moving this design forward and we are also introducing a matching drop earring! Do you have a fashion trend alert for us to watch out for? Nicky: The trend for ‘Jewel colours’ continues so I think it will be a brighter Autumn than usual and also as the Season progresses I think the Leather look will really kick in so watch this space… And finally what are your plans for the future of DaintyDamsel? Nicky: We’d love to expand our range and look to introduce handbags, scarves and so on so we develop into a Fashion Accessories Brand, but the jewellery will always be at the heart of what we do! To see the stunning range of jewellery visit www.daintydamsel.com or find them on Facebook. Pictured from left to right: Five Skull Crystal Encrusted Bracelet £28, Starfish Ring £12, Summer Brights Leather Flower Hairclip/Brooch £9 August 2011 anne louise | 35

Get involved! •

Sign and share our online petition at nocruelcosmetics.org and say NO to cruel cosmetics in Europe!

•

Order copies of the petition from info@buav.org or 020 7700 4888.

•

Find cruelty-free cosmetics or order your free copy of the BUAV’s Little Book of Cruelty Free at gocrueltyfree.org.

Pets

TIGGY’S blog Our resident mascot Tiggy the Chihuahua, brings you gorgeous accessories for your cherished pets To see more pictures visit www.Facebook.com/TiggysBlog

Dyson’s groom tool tames moulting dogs! Dyson’s Groom tool is self-cleaning and messfree, sucking up dog hair before it falls to the floor. Suitable for medium or long-haired dogs, it fits the hose of most Dyson vacuum cleaners. The length of the bristles can be adjusted by pushing down on the trigger. And because the bristles do not protrude, it’s easy to store. The Dyson Groom tool will be on sale from 4th November on www.dyson.co.uk and from Conran stores at £40, and available from retailers nationally from spring 2011.

Treadwheel for dogs! Your eyes are not deceiving you, this is a treadwheel for dogs! GoPet Treadwheels are an excellent source of exercise for your pooch, especially if you live in a flat or only have a small garden. Available in a range of sizes for the smallest toy breeds to large breed size. It’s perfect for your doggie to exercise until his hearts content. Available from www.gopetusa.com.

Food

n a i r a t e Veg Living d n a e k o h c ti r A & c li r S m o k e d G au tt e r n u t S q u a s h R is o tt o R o a s te d B

www.vegsoc.o

with Lemon Asparagus in a Balsamic Dressing

2 small-medium butternut squashes 2 shallots, finely chopped 2 sundried tomatoes, finely chopped ½ tsp smoked paprika 600ml light vegetable stock 125g Arborio rice 75ml dry white wine 4 cloves smoked garlic, roughly chopped ½ lemon, zest only 4 artichoke hearts in brine (rinsed) cut into quarters 3 tbsp parsley, finely chopped 3 tbsp basil, cut into fine strips

Method

1.Preheat oven to 180C/ 350F/Gas 4. Heat stock in a saucepan until boiling, then reduce heat and keep on a low simmer. 2. Cut the squashes in half, remove seeds and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in the oven for approximately 30 minutes. 3. Combine shallots, tomatoes, paprika and 30ml of the stock in a small saucepan and cook gently until soft and all the liquid has been absorbed, then transfer mixture to a large frying pan and stir in the rice. 4. Pour in the wine and stir until it has been absorbed, then add the smoked garlic. 5. Start to add the stock using a large ladle. Cook gently, stirring regularly and making sure all the liquid has been absorbed before adding the next ladle full. This should take 25 – 30 minutes. 6. Once the rice is tender add the last ladle of stock as well as the lemon zest, artichokes and herbs. Season to taste. 7. Place each squash half on a serving plate and fill with a portion of risotto. Serve with the steamed asparagus and dressing.

Serves 4 38 | anne louise August 2011

Ingredients

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