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December ssue 0024 2014

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Top 5 Fashion buys for Christmas ..

Christmas Beauty Guide Page 10 Christmas Gift Guide Inside Introducing our new fashion editor Sarah Mcgough

Plus all our usual features

4 Tips on looking fabulous whatever the occasion using a piece most of us have in our wardrobe, the Little Black Dress. Both slimming and versatile it can be classy or fun depending on how you style it. The LBD is this seasons saviour!

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CONTENTS

Welcome to our December Christmas edition of Vision. This month we introduce our new fashion and beauty features. We hope to keep you up to date throughout the new year with all the latest trends. Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. A big thanks to all of our advertisers, wishing you a profitable 2015.

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Christmas is a time where you can throw caution to the wind with your makeup routine and try something that you may not usually be comfortable wearing

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of the month

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Christmas Wreath ong before the introduction of central heating and other luxuries Lsafely of the 21 century, people required greater faith that they would survive the harsh upcoming winter. One such symbolic st

display of this hope was the beautiful Christmas wreath Now creeping back in fashion and available in a number of guises, they can be found hanging on doorways, both inside and out, as a centrepiece on a table, and even hung on walls as decorations.

Although we may have lost the traditional reasoning behind displaying such garlands, I’m on a mission to bring them back … in whatever style suits your home.

The word ‘wreath’ is linked to the word ‘wrist’, both words describing the form of a continuous circular shape. Fuse this with ‘wrethe’ from middle English (meaning a twisted band or ring of leaves) and you have the wreath as we know it today.

The circular shape is symbolic of eternity, or everlasting life because it has no beginning or end. In ancient Rome the symbol became a popular display of victory. From a Christian perspective it represents the unending circle of life, with the traditional Holly as the thorns on Jesus’ crown and the red berries as his blood.

At this bleak time of year, it’s wonderful to

use evergreens and other brightly coloured flowers, foliage, or fruits to adorn your wreath. The addition of expensive and rare fruits such as pomegranates, indicated wealth, but wreaths also included the display of pinecones, seashells and even imported products.

Once the decorations had been taken down, the edible decorations would be eaten and the bounty of summer enjoyed in the depth of winter.

Making your own wreath is fun and easy, and can vary from a simple and cheap evergreen circle to an elaborate bauble ring. For those who like a quick and easy option, simply buy a circle of oasis and soak it in tepid water, before sticking in sprigs of evergreen foliage from the garden, flowers, berries, dried fruits, nuts, and bows.

If you have more time why not make your own base by taking a ring of string wire and covering it in moss or hay, holding it in place using thinner gauge wire, then wiring in the foliage and decorations. Be aware though that holly wreaths are tricky and gloves should be worn!

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Keep It Real

I live in a house that is divided. My husband loves real Christmas trees but in recent years I’ve talked him around to the artificial option, believing – incorrectly as it turns out – that a reusable tree is better for the planet than one that is chopped down and discarded after a few weeks.

Most artificial trees are made from PVC – one of the most non-renewable, polluting, unrecyclable materials around - and consequently their carbon footprint is ten times greater than that of real ones.

Shocked into realising that my fake tree is not the morally correct choice I thought, I’m now keen to join the six million Brits who opt for a real tree at Christmas.

Christmas trees spring up all over the place from late November and the quality varies greatly. Before you make your choice, do a bit of fact finding about its freshness. Ask where it was grown (UK produced trees are likely to be fresher), how long it has been in stock and when it was cut.

You can carry out a couple of tests yourself. Give the tree a firm tap on the ground or run a closed hand over its branches. If lots of needles fall off, chances are it’s not that fresh. You can also try bending the outer branches. They should be pliable - not brittle and dry – without discoloration.

Before leaving to make your purchase, measure the height and width of your space and take a tape measure with you to check your tree. Most are trimmed to an 80% taper, which means that a 10 foot tall tree will measure 8 feet at the bottom.

You should also consider how you plan on decorating your tree. The three main species – spruce, fir and pine – all have their own characteristics. Spruces and firs have short needles whilst a pine’s are long. Pine branches tend to bend, making them unsuitable for heavier ornaments. Firs have lush branches and ornaments sometimes get lost in them.

The is a w i l l To care trunk a w a y water.

A t Christmas w o o d your bit for Hopefully a holiday

traditional British Christmas tree, the Norway spruce, is attractive but tends to drop its needles. An alternative “non-drop” variety like the popular Nordmann fir, which last longer but is more expensive. for your tree, cut off half an inch from the base of the and place in a water-holding stand. Position the tree from sources of heat and keep it topped up with fresh present, 90% of real trees end up in landfill, so after is over try and recycle! By turning your tree into chippings or compost you will continue to do the environment. with this guide choosing the family tree will be highlight, not a headache!

With over 10 years experience in the merging worlds of fashion and beauty, she has a strong knowledge of current trends and style, she has covered and worked on fashion weeks across Europe, as well as styling and directing fashion shoots and shows.

Sarah will be bringing you all the latest must have beauty and fashion trends along with helpful hints and tips to have you looking fabulous all year long with Vision magazine.

Whether your treating yourself or a loved one this festive season, here are my top 5 fashion must haves to suit all budgets Black Leather Gloves

Black leather never goes out of style and these quilted pair from Primark are stylish and budget friendly at £8, a gift to suit ladies of all ages that’s both practical and stylish

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Cute Sparkly Jumper

It wouldn’t be Christmas without giving or receiving a trusty jumper! Show someone you love them with this cute little number from H&M- £14.99. A soft lightweight knit with sequin detailing, it will have the wearer sparkling into Spring

Top 5 Fashion Buys This Christmas!

About Sarah Mcgough

Sarah Mcgough is a beauty and fashion writer from Wishaw. She is a highly experienced Makeup Artist, and creator of makeup brand SGC. www.sarahgcosmetics.com

3 Roomy Red Shopper

This stylish and sophisticated shopper from M&S is a true statement piece and roomy enough for all your essentials. Use it to add a colour pop to neutral palettes or clash it with other bold colours for a fashion forward look. £34.99

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Top £5

Bottoms £7

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Perfect Pyjamas

Again it wouldn’t be Christmas without the gift of new jammies, and where else better to get a pair to suit every style other than Primark. Of course the Frozen phenomenon continues… when will they “Let It Go?”… See what I did there? I have to say though, these Olaf pyjamas are super sweet and perfect for this time of year.

4 Statement Scarf

Anyone with their finger on the fashion pulse this season will know that blanket scarves are huge, literally! As seen on Olivia Palermo and Rosie Huntington Whitely, they soon became the must have accessory this season. This one from Zara is ever so similar to the designer version but at a purse friendly price, this is a piece that will keep you warm, year after year. £25.99

To advertise in The VISION call 07957 358 355 or Email sales@thevisionmarketing.com The VISION | issue 24

Festive Fashion that’s Purse Friendly 3 Looks 1 Little Black Dress Christmas can be an expensive time. A time where the shopping list grows and the pennies diminish. Of course, we all want to enjoy ourselves over the festive season and as women we want to look great whilst doing so.

So when the calendar is packed full it doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to be.

Here are my tips on looking fabulous whatever the occasion using a piece most of us have in our wardrobe, the Little Black Dress. Both slimming and versatile it can be classy or fun depending on how you style it. The LBD is this seasons saviour!

Asos Shift Dress £30

The classis shift shape is one that suits most figures, if you do not wish to show off your legs a slim fitting pair of black trousers still looks sleek and stylish

Office Party Casual work drinks where you want to make an effort but not go OTT? Some simple tweaks to your LBD and you will have your work mates dishing out the compliments!

A pair of glitzy earrings, sparkly flats and an embellished jacket is the way to go. Add opaque tights to keep the look minimal.

Jacket, Primark £23 Earrings River Island £10 Pumps, Zara £49.99

Newlook £14.99

Christmas Day Primark £10

Matalan £16

Christmas Night Out

Here is where you really want to up the glam factor, A pair of killer heels are a must have along with a luxe looking clutch; finish the look with a statement necklace. Dare to go bare legged for a sexy look or opt for a sheer black tight to show off those pins! Add a cocktail and you’re ready to dance the night away…

When the big day finally arrives you will no doubt want to be comfortable yet Christmassy, whilst visiting family and being busy in the kitchen your outfit should be practical, but it is Christmas day, so you should feel good!

Add some patterned tights and layer a Christmassy knit over your LBD for when visiting, a pair of knee high boots will finish off the look nicely.

Your Christmas

Beauty Guide

Sarah Mcgough

Christmas is a time where you can throw caution to the wind with your makeup routine and try something that you may not usually be comfortable wearing, whether it’s a pop of colour on your lips or a slick of sparkle on your eyelids, my beauty guide will have you looking fabulous this festive season!

The work to bar switch up.

Rushing to a festive get together straight after work?

Here is a quick and easy way to freshen up your makeup look and make an impression.

Get glamorous with glitter!

When better to get out the glitter than Christmas time? The trick with glitter is to keep it all in proportion, for example, if you are doing full on glitter eyes, keep lips matte or vice versa For those of you wishing to add a touch of sparkle without going full on, a perfect way to do this is to add a line of glitter along the upper lash line, this can be super effective and fun. Use a thin liner brush and keep glitter as close to lash line as possible, allow to dry before building up another layer for super sparkle! Top Tip: Apply eye makeup before foundation, this way you can wipe away any fallen glitter from the face.

Apply your foundation as usual keeping your skin neutral over all and apply the basics, with a touch of bronzer, lip-gloss, mascara and a champagne shadow.

Top Tip: Use a foundation brush to apply liquid foundation, then wrap the brush in a facial skincare wipe, this will keep the bristles fresh, rather than caking on more makeup when you are retouching your makeup, you will simply even out and freshen your skin with the brush.

After work, apply a highlighter along the tops of cheek bones, brow bone, and down the bridge of the nose, if you wish to deepen the eyes apply a black kohl liner in the water line, finish with a berry hued lipstick, this season’s hottest shade and you are good to go

Christmas Gift Guide

Handle that Hangover.

Ok, so we can all be guilty of overdoing it at Christmas, but hey, that’s what Ney Year’s resolutions are for, right? So, had one to many glasses of bubbly on Christmas Eve, been up until 2am assembling toys and woken at 5am to “see what Santa has brought”??

No problem, follow my guide to keep you looking fresh over Christmas.

The key to looking fresh and healthy is adopting the less is more attitude. Use creamy light reflecting products to waken up the skin and bring light to the face. A BB Cream is a perfect way to even out and brighten skin whilst also putting back some moisture into the skin that alcohol depletes Use a white pencil to line the lower waterline, this gives the illusion of bigger, wider eyes by extending the white of the eye. Curl lashes and apply a couple of coats of lengthening mascara to really make eyes pop.

Finish with a swirl of pink blush to give a healthy flush of colour to the skin and a coat of shimmery lip gloss

Clockwise: Garnier BB Cream £12.99 Sarah G Cosmetics Glitz Fix and Glitter £15 Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Wine 107 £4.99 Wet and Wild Mega Glo £6.99

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Pink Patent Lips Makeup Bag River Island £9.99

Sarah G Cosmetics Leopard Brush Set £14

Benefit Love Fest Gift Set £33.50 Soap and Glory Yule Monty Gift Set £27.

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Puzzles to keep the brain fit and active

Across 6. Highest singing voice in women 7. Engender 8. Recurring series 10. Unsettle 12. Take or receive 14. Metallic element 16. Sin 17. River in N South America 19. Exclamation to express joy 22. Tomb inscription 24. Eskimo canoe 26. Weeps 27. Folds

Down 1. A corpse 2. Cosmetics 3. Simpleton 4. Broken-down 5. Never 8. Salt of cyanic acid 9. Cacao powder 11. Violently frenzied 13. Cardinal number 14. Exclaim 15. Opium flower 18. Musical instrument 20. Yorkshire moor 21. Inquire into 23. Knitting stitch 25. Once more

Medium

Hard

review books Gig – Simon Armitage

Smelly Bill’s Smelliest Stories Daniel Postgate

Simon Armitage is best known as a poet, but he is also an accomplished lyricist, reviewer and all round storyteller. Subtitled ‘The Life and Times of a Rock Star Fantasist’, it documents his experiences with music, from his early listening habits, through teenage obsessions and on to his final acceptance as an adult of the fact that he will never be a rock star. This is swiftly followed by his decision to form a band and attempt to become just that.

It can be difficult to choose books for newly confident readers: they are happy to say that they are ‘too big’ for picture books, but faced with a paperback novel they can feel out of their depth. So, this omnibus edition of Smelly Bill stories is perfect. It’s shaped like an ordinary paperback, but with a generous balance of pictures and text, it is an ideal ‘halfway house’ choice.

Whilst this is an ideal book for dipping into – most of the sections can be read out of sequence – it is almost impossible to stop once you begin.

Each anecdote leads on to another: from the experience of selling a guitar on E-bay, to memories of school domestic science lessons. Part observation, part autobiography, the stories are often laugh-out-loud funny, yet the next page will bring a moment of sadness, and even tragedy. In particular, the lyrics from ‘Songbirds’ and ‘Feltham Sings’, the two musical documentaries in which Armitage turns the stories of prisoners into songs, are intelligent, well-crafted and heartbreaking.

For many, it is the recognition of themselves in the tales that Armitage tells that creates the greatest sense of engagement. Readers of a certain age will cringe as he recalls his punk phase (and thank their mums that their 18th birthday cake was not quite as unusual) and then realise that they too are now amongst the oldest giggoers. This is also very much a book about Yorkshire. But even if you don’t get the reference to Corporation Pop, it is handily explained...

All in all, an excellent read, either at one sitting, or as a pick-and-mix view of modern life.

The book contains three Smelly Bill stories, each told in lively rhyme. The first introduces our hero, the scruffiest and stinkiest dog in town, and his arch enemy, the determined Great Aunt Bleach, who battle over Bill’s bath.

In the second story Bill calls on his friends (including Stagnant Stan and Putrid Pete) for support, only to find that an army of aunties await, clutching their bottles of shampoo and bars of soap. And, in the final instalment, Bill finds love with Peachy Snugglekins, forcing him to clean up his act, if only temporarily.

Each story moves along at a rattling pace; keeping the reader’s interest, while slipping in a range of different vocabulary. Not only will young readers laugh a lot, they will also learn a range of new words as they go. And given the charming nature of every tale, you won’t mind taking over if it gets too tricky.

screen

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Release date 12th December 2014 The third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit,

by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins), Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. The Dwarves of Erebor have reclaimed the vast wealth of their homeland, but now must face the consequences of having unleashed the terrifying Dragon, Smaug, upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.

Egg Custard Tart Heat the oven to 220°C/Gas 7

Method

For the pastry Place the flour, butter and salt into a large bowl. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Be careful not to over-rub. Add the cold water to the mixture a small amount at a time, and using a round-bladed knife, stir until the dough binds together. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill for a minimum of 15 minutes, up to 30 minutes.

Gently roll out the pastry to line a 1½"/4 cm deep, x 7"/18 cm base tart tin. Brush the pastry all over with a little of the beaten egg. This will help seal the pastry during cooking. Place the pastry in the fridge while you make the filling.

For the filling In a large bowl beat the eggs and egg yolks lightly with the sugar.

Warm the cream to a gentle simmer, then pour slowly over the beaten eggs, stirring constantly. Be careful not to overheat the cream or it will curdle the eggs. Add the vanilla extract if you are using.

Pour the egg and cream mixture through a sieve into the pastry case.

Sprinkle over the grated nutmeg.

Ingredients

Place the tart onto a baking sheet and bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 10 minutes to brown the pastry. Lower the temperature to 180°C/Gas 4 and continue cooking for a further 20 minutes or until the custard is set.

150g / 6 oz plain flour Pinch of salt 75g /3oz butter or an equal mix of butter and lard, cubed 2 - 3 tbsp cold water 3 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten 55 g / 2 oz caster sugar 570 m1 / 1 pint single / light cream 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional – makes it sweeter) 1/2 teaspoon whole nutmeg, freshly grated

Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Serves 6

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