Health & Beauty: Freshen up for Spring With a Fragranced Love Letter

Perfect for popping into your handbag for a neat fragrance hit in between shopping, socialising, working and simply living your life!

'Love Letter' is a gorgeous Rose and Jasmine solid floral scent, with a base note of Sandalwood. Created and designed for any woman who loves the smell of a flower garden. This scent invokes memories of love and romance. This little pot of goodness matches your new wafty spring clothes perfectly!

Certified 100% organic by the OF&G. Vegan friendly and packaged in a little recycled/recyclable box, biodegradable labels, 100% recyclable tin as always.

Art & Culture: Getty Images and Canon present Sue Flood’s first solo exhibition Cold Places – From Pole to Pole

Canon UK is hosting polar photographer Sue Flood’s first solo exhibition Cold Places – From Pole to Pole from 17th March to 9th April 2011 at Getty Images Gallery in London.

Award winning photographer Sue Flood has spent 15 years travelling to the Arctic and Antarctic documenting these fragile ecosystems.  Sue has always used Canon’s professional cameras, most recently using the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, and previously the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II. The new collection will showcase 50 images printed on Canon’s large format printers to bring to life the beauty & fragility of the polar regions.

Sue Flood said “My first solo exhibition is the culmination of years spent photographing the wildlife, people and landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctic – each in their own way are very challenging to shoot. Through the power of image, I’ve been able to document animal behaviour, from the Arctic’s top predator, the polar bear, to the Antarctic’s most charismatic creature, the Emperor Penguin. I’m so excited Canon and Getty Images are helping me present the beauty of these visually stunning landscapes and wildlife to the public.”

Sue will also be launching her first book Cold Places at the exhibition. This will showcase an award-winning selection of her favourite Arctic and Antarctic photographs. Sue has outstanding experience working with polar wildlife and indigenous communities, including over 15 years of experience working with the BBC on series such as Planet Earth and The Blue Planet, as well as Disneynature’s movie Earth. Sue has won many awards for her work including International Photographer of the Year - Special Award in 2009.

Canon is a longstanding supporter of Sue Flood, hosting an exclusive IMAX lecture in support of WWF, Freeze Frame’... Living on Thin Ice in 2008, to raise awareness of the plight of the polar bear and the impact climate change is having on its fragile habitat.

Canon has been working with Getty Images Gallery for three years, recently hosting 100 Years of Hollywood. Canon and Getty also launched the Ambassadors Programme in 2008, bringing together some of the world’s best photographers in the fields of news, sport, nature, fashion, portrait and wildlife to share their own passion for the power of image. Canon and Getty Images Gallery are currently featuring a collection of favourite and recent work from the 12 Canon Ambassadors entitled We Speak Image - A comment on the world by Canon Ambassadors.

Cold Places –From Pole to Pole runs at the Getty Images Gallery in Eastcastle Street in central London from 17th March to  9th April 2011. Admission is free.

Sue’s book, Cold Places, is available from www.amazon.co.uk and www.sueflood.com priced at £25.

Rachel

Updates: Come and Celebrate Your Body and Find Your Inner Goddess at Our Amazing Event!

Join Star Monroe, myself, plus friends at a fantastic new event called 'Sexy Body Day' for a day of fun, pampering and all-out womanly indulgence hosted by the divine Star Monroe! Seek out and embrace your inner goddess and find the power in your body with this one-of-a-kind event designed for all woman everywhere.

Explore and discover your sensual, vibrant & playful sides with Star's womens only one day lifestyle experience. Discover the secrets on how to get your ultimate body and life. From enlightening talks to fun playshops to luxurious pampering, not forgetting a unique shopping experience.  This exciting day will take you on an exhilarating journey that will recharge and reset your womanly superpowers!!!

Divine burlesque, heavenly hoop, beautiful belly dance, GSM "Sexy Curves" program, body confidence & posture tricks/tips, style talks, walking in high heels masterclass, party dance mashup with live DJ, Q&A with the Goddess herself and the launch of the How To Be A Woman "The Club". Its an event not to be missed. Buy your tickets here.

Rachel

Health & Beauty: Detox Your Body for Spring at Blueberry Healing

For you dear readers, I embarked on a challenge to start the New Year on a high by experiencing a Colonic Cleanse at Blueberry Healing in Brighton.

As part of my new focus in 2011 to detox more regularly, Rani recommended to me that a colonic provides the best way of kick-starting your system to remove waste, toxins and hardened matter in the colon.

Now before you start getting squeamish about reading further, you must first understand why having colonic hydrotherapy at least a few times each year is important. Rani explained to me that our colon’s are about 3 to 4 feet in length, receiving the remaining digestive waste products from the small intestine and reabsorbing water and minerals from food waste. Often waste that hasn’t been digested properly can become caught in the colon and then, over time harden and start to slowly poison the body. This can take the form of allergies, tiredness, blemished skin, unpleasant odours and internal yeast infections.

This is where colonics come in handy – they gently remove the unwanted material stored in the colon allowing the body to feel lighter, energized and free of toxins. Having colonic hydrotherapy is really the fastest way to detox the body and create an immediate result. This process is so natural that it can be used monthly as a preventative measure for illness, much like visiting the dentist. A lot of people feel scared or even embarrassed by the treatment which is perfectly normal, yet it’s important to remember that your therapist has treated lots of people and will put you perfectly at ease during the process. Rani at Blueberry Healing was extremely gentle, understanding and informative during the process, always letting me know what was happening and what I could expect from the treatment.

The treatment starts with a small disposable tube being inserted into the rectum (your bum!!) and the process begins with water being filtered in and out of the colon. The process is completely comfortable, painless and dare I say it…even relaxing.

During the treatment you can actually choose to see the waste that is being removed and it’s often very telling to see old, hardened matter meandering through the tube. The treatment lasts for just under an hour and it’s recommended that you have three treatments in close proximity to see the full benefits of having colonic hydrotherapy.

What I found was an increased sense of lightness and well-being, clearer skin, the whites of my eyes were much whiter and my previously bloated stomach now looked flatter. I also had highly increased energy levels which made me want to run around getting things done for the entire day, whilst I also had a wonderful, floaty nights sleep. As an additional test I had measured my waist before the treatment as 27”, afterwards my waist had shrunk to 25”, it hasn't been this tiny since I was 19 years old!! I am now absolutely sold on the pro’s of having regular colonic hydrotherapy and I will be willingly going back to Rani at least 3 times a year for a super cleanse!

The initial awkwardness of a colonic far outweighs the gains, allowing for pending health problems to be eradicated from the colon and enabling the body and internal organs to function better as a whole. If you have any problems with lethargy, bloatedness, gas, IBS, yeast infections, gynecological disorders or weight issues then this is the treatment for you, it can literally remove problems in a flash!

We are running a special La Luminata offer at Blueberry Healing - throughout January and February you can get a set of 3 colonics for only £150 (Normal price £60 saving you £30).

To book your appointment contact Rani: www.blueberryhealing.co.uk

The benefits are:

• Hydration of the body
• Reduces Weight
• Greater energy and vitality
• Stronger immune system
• Relief from common digestive complaints such as IBS, gas, bloating and constipation
• Improved natural bowel movement by exercising the colon
• Healthier skin and hair
• Clearer mental functioning and concentration

Rachel

Forever Fashion: Barking mad for Bow Wow pumps

Italian designers Moschino and Kartell have teamed up to create a colourful collection of recyclable shoes. These woven plastic ballet pumps, complete with the iconic Moschino bow, come in an array of eye popping colours to go with any outfit. Out in shops to buy now, I think mine will have to be worn with tights until the winter chill retreats!

Click to find out more.

Poppy

Forever Fashion: WRAP UP AGAINST POVERTY WITH CELEBRITY COAT AUCTION

Top celebrities are helping the fight against poverty by donating their coats to the Wrap Up Against Poverty winter coat auction being held by Elizabeth Finn Care.

Look as uber-trendy as Sienna Miller in her signed Anya Hindmarch for Barbour jacket which she has generous donated. Or follow the military trend in Christine Bleakley’s ultra-chic olive green coat with on-trend military detailing from Monsoon Fusion, or Tamara Ecclestone’s sophisticated black military style coat with gold buttons and frill from Daslu Sao Paulo.

Fearne Cotton has donated a funky faux fur hooded grey leopard print coat from her Very range and fashion house Burberry are offering a VIP shopping trip and the choice of one of their iconic trench coats up to the value of £800. Liking to be different fashion’s favourite Dame has donated a pair of Vivienne Westwood Melissa Lady Dragon Cherry-Green shoes!

There are 13.5 million people living below the poverty line in the UK and Elizabeth Finn Care is hosting the auction because it knows how difficult it is for people in financial need to afford essential winter clothing. Shockingly some 72 per cent of the people the charity helps had to go without new clothes before they came to Elizabeth Finn Care and the aim of the auction is to raise money to help buy more people in financial need essential clothes.

Britain’s Next Top Model finalist Joy McLaren modelled all the coats to show how stylish they can look and she said: “I loved all the coats, they all looked amazing. Hopefully people will cough up the cash, so as much as possible goes to this wonderful charity.”

The auction begins on eBay on Monday January 31st. Visit www.elizabethfinncare.co.uk.

Design: Rodhus launch new creative workspace in Brighton

Rodhus Art and Design is the new creative hub for local designers and makers in Brighton. Providing studios and shared workspace, Rodhus hopes to be a thriving creative environment where designers can share their ideas and talents, as well as making use of the in-house offices, design library and gallery.   

Having seen this vast space as a fully functioning lighting factory, owner Richard Ainsworth has done wonders in transforming the interior into a fresh and exciting workspace that stays true to its industrial roots. It is great to see this industrial building continuing to be used as a creative space, rather than being sold off and developed into housing like so many other industrial sites.

Championed by non other than leading designer Sir Terence Conran, Rodhus looks to have an exciting future!

“I strongly support anything that promotes both good design and manufacturing in this country because it is vital for all our futures. For Brighton to have its own centre is an excellent idea as it is a creative hub in its own right - which is one of the main reasons why we have such a successful studio of our own there. I wish Richard Ainsworth every success with this venture and next time I am in Brighton would be delighted to visit...”

Sir Terence Conran - December 2010

Carly