What Alice Forgot.

What Alice Forgot is a fun summer read, perfect for keeping you company on the beach or keeping you amused whilst you travel!

Alice Love knocks her head during a spin class and passes out. When she comes to she believes that she is a happily married twenty nine year old, expecting her first child... Alice has amnesia and has totally blanked the last ten years of her life from her mind... Imagine her shock when she discovers that she is thirty nine, in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and a Mum to three children. 

This fast paced read will keep you guessing as Alice struggles to not only remember her life but to get it back on the track she envisioned ten years ago.

Alice is a delightful character and this lighthearted book is entertaining and engaging - just what you need for your holiday!

Union Square Farmer's Market.

I frequently (3-4 times a week) find myself in NYC's Union Square. Not only is it home to a great branch of Sephora (lol) there's a fabulous Farmer's Market that is not only a delight and inspiration to browse it's just so darned Instagram-able! Take a peek at all the gorgeous summer produce that was available there just this last week,...

Fresh garlic and fat juicy radishes for your salad.

Yellow courgettes/zucchini and glorious purple aubergines/eggplants

All manner of green things to pickle, cook and crunch such as okra, peas and beans.

Tomatoes - my favorite! Both large and small.

 Colorful bunches of kale tied up with string.

 Cherries...

Berries...

And stone fruits galore...

And if you're not tempted by any of these - although how could you not be? - You could always just pick up some beautiful flowers!

Union Square Farmers Market operates from 8.00 am - 6.00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (I like Wednesdays market the best as it has a wide selection of vendors but isn't as busy as the Friday and Saturday markets). For information on Green Markets in NYC go to www.grownyc.org

Product Love: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel - Extra Strength.

I love all of the Dr Dennis Gross range and believe that not only are they highly effective  but that they offer great value for money in terms of their price related to the exceptional results they deliver.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads are something of a cult beauty product and central to the range (they are also the priciest product in the range but once you have invested in them they will last for a long while, especially if you buy the large 'economy' box).

The pads come as a two part treatment that work to maintain the acid balance of your skin (the PH of your skin should be slightly acid - which is why alkaline soaps are so damaging).

Pad #1 is loaded with AHA acids. These act as a chemical exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and declogging pores. Swipe the pad over your cleansed, dry face and wait for two minutes (I normally brush my teeth at this point) before wiping over your face with Pad #2.

Pad #2 not only neutralizes the acids from Pad #1 they also contain retinol and resveratrol and deliver them safely to your skin. If there are any parts of your face that are still feel tingly wipe over them again with the second pad until it calms.

Now you are ready to use your regular night treatment or moisturizer. Your skin is super clean and exfoliated,  your pores are unclogged and the rapid changes in the PH of your skin will help absorb your products better and so they will work better.

(Another great thing about these pads are that they come in individual packages so not only do they not dry out, they are super convenient for traveling with).

I've been lucky enough to have had several consultations and clinical strength peels with members of Dr Gross's staff over the last few years and whilst they recommend using these pads daily I find that just two to three times a week suits my skin. On the in-between days I still acid peel but use something that is not so strong (and also cheaper) such as Ren Clarimatte Toner or FAB Facial Radiance Pads.

I've honestly found that since using these my skin has been clearer - I just don't get breakouts these days - more radiant and glowing. They have totally changed my skin and my approach to skincare and are one of my HG skincare products that I cannot be without! 

Buy them at  www.us.spacenk.com, www.sephora.com or direct from Dr Gross at www.dgskincare.com  

  *If you are unused to using acids on your face you will definitely feel 'a bit of a tingle'. Newbies, those with sensitive skin or anyone who feels nervous about applying acids to their face may prefer to buy the regular strength pads first. 

Everything Will Be All Right.

Everything Will Be All Right is another of Tessa Hadley's older books (although it is new to me). 

The story starts when Joyce, her sister and widowed Mother move to the south of England to live with her Mother's sister, Vera, and her family. Over the next fifty years we see Joyce become a Mother and then a Grandmother when her daughter Zoe gives birth to Pearl. 

It's a very similar format to Clever Girl, Tessa Hadley's most recent book. Each chapter gives us a snapshot of the characters and their lives as the story progresses and as in Clever Girl whilst the chapters are interconnected each one could stand alone as a short story. 

The characters are all very realistic and there are small details perfectly captured throughout that make the settings and eras so believable.

On one level this can be read as a basic 'family saga' but there is much more to it than that. Not only does it cleverly shows how lives and attitudes have changed since the end of the war (particularly the lives and roles of women), it is a commentary on the English class system and social change. It also shows how complex and different the relationships between mothers and daughters and family dynamics can be. 

It's very well written. Thought provoking and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Recommended.

Steak with Corn and Kale.

In Summer I mostly tend to cook and eat a lot of meals that are vegetable based or centered on fish and chicken  but sometimes you just feel like a good old hunk of steak. And whilst I'm sure that this is mostly in my head whenever I'm feeling a bit listless or run down a steak does seem to 'sort me out'. Now of course when it's boiling hot the last thing that you need to be doing is slaving over a hot stove so here's a quick and easy dinner that's not only satisfying but also makes use of summer produce.

For two people you will need:
1lb of your favourite steak and your favorite steak seasoning or rub
2 ears of fresh corn
1 bunch of kale
A splash of olive oil
(I like to use Hanger Steak for this, it's fairly inexpensive, tender and very flavorsome with a rich mineral taste. Feel free to use whatever cut you like, this would work well with fillet -if you are feeling extravagant - skirt steak, sirloin, a strip steak, rib eye or steak tips.)  

Preparation:

Wash the kale, rip the leaves from the center stem and chop roughly.
Shuck the corn. To do this stand the corn in a large bowl, hold the top so it's upright and run a sharp knife down the cob shaving off the kernels into the bowl.
Rub the steak with your choice of rub. You can use whatever you like as the corn and kale both have fairly neutral flavours. I kept it simple with salt and lemon pepper but you could use a barbecue rub, a Mexican style rub or even an Asian inspired rub - really whatever takes your fancy.

Cooking.
Cook your steak by your usual method to your preferred level of 'doneness'. I used a ridged grill pan (apartment living hey...) but you could grill it outside also.
Whilst your steak is cooking heat a splash of olive oil in a large frying pan.
Add the corn with a sprinkle of salt and stir it around until it starts to color.
Add the kale and cook until it looks 'wilted' (I like to cook my corn and kale until they are both quite well done.)

Put the vegetables onto a serving platter and put the steak on top.
If you used a strip, rib eye or sirloin leave the cooked steak to rest for five minutes before slicing it and laying it on top of the vegetables - it's easier to serve and looks more appetizing I think.

And that's it - quick, easy and oh-so-good!

Brand Love - Kiehls.

When considering favourite brands Kiehl's wasn't one that sprang instantly to mind but looking around the apartment the other day I realized that there's probably more Kiehl's products hanging around than anything else. 

I managed to gather up the above in next to no time and that was without grabbing any of Mr C&C'S numerous Facial Fuel products (There's enough of those for their own post!).

Why do I like Kiehl's so much? Well...

. They have an impressive range of products that covers hair and body care as well as face care - there's even deodorant.

. The prices range from very reasonable to the higher end. 

. Their products are suitable for both men and women. There's also a few items for babies and even Cuddly Coat Grooming Shampoo for dogs!

. They do a wide range of sizes from travel sized minis to huge one liter bottles of shampoo and body lotions. 

. Their packaging has a nice retro feel to it. It's very functional and whilst it is pretty basic I find that it doesn't feel cheap.

. Kiehls stores are always attractive and well laid out (I like to shop at the flagship 3rd Avenue store in NYC) and I find that the staff are well educated about the products they are selling. 

. They are usually pretty darn generous with samples.

. They have a recycling program that, while not as generous as it once was, is still worth taking part in.
.  They have a rewards system where each $100 spent gives you $10 off your next purchase. 

. They have great value for money sets which make lovely gifts (or you could buy one and keep it for yourself!). 

There really are too many good Kiehl's products for me to talk about in detail but some of my faves are #1 Lip Balm (currently four tubes of this in the house!), Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover, Ultra Facial Toner, Creme de Corps Body Lotion (all pictured above), Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, Amino Acid Shampoo and  Coriander Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub.

Overall there's a great range of products with something for everyone.
I'm a huge Kiehl's fan!

The Knockoff.

The Knockoff is a light hearted look at fashion journalism in today's digital age and a perfect read for this summer's beach holiday!

Imogen returns to her job as Editor at Glossy magazine after extended medical leave to find not only has her ex assistant been running the show whilst she has been away but that the magazine has been turned into an app! In order to prevent Eve from ruining both Glossy and Imogen's reputation Imogen has to learn fast how to adapt to life in the digital age often with amusing consequences. Who will end up running the show? Imogen or Eve? And what format will Glossy take?

Entertaining and well written The Knockofff is a little over the top with exaggerated characters but that's part of it's charm. Taking a peak into the glamorous world of New York fashion and publishing, there's also a couple of back stories involving Imogen's home life and Eve's wedding (to Imogen's ex-boyfriend no less!) Imogen is a sympathetic character who you will be rooting for and I don't think that it's a great plot spoiler to say that, of course, Eve gets exposed for the witch that she really is and that Imogen triumphs in the end.

Overall, it's a frothy and fun read. Very current with it's references to designers, pop culture, celebrities etc etc. The Knockoff also comments quite accurately on the power of the internet, magazines, websites and bloggers as well as raising a few questions about 'internet ethics'. 

Why not pop it in your (designer) bag when you next go to the beach?

Favorite Drugstore Make Up Brand?

Whilst I could wax lyrical about drugstore haircare and body items (well hello there Herbal Essence, Dial and Nivea!) I have to admit that on the whole I'm not really wowed by drugstore make up brands. 

Honestly, I'd rather pay a bit more and have something that looks a little more luxe and feels more of an indulgence. Having said that, if I do pick anything up in CVS or Duane Reade it most often tends to be Maybelline.

Babylips in 'Watermelon' is my lip balm of choice in the summer. It's clear, has SPF 25 and smells and tastes like summer in a good way.

Another Maybelline lip product I like is Color Whisper. Not quite a lipstick, not quite a balm, this gives a hint of colour, is extremely comfortable to wear and feels moisturising.

Great Lash is something of a cult product - it's claimed that it's the best selling mascara in the world (I've no idea if it is or not!).  Now it's rare that I buy mascaras and whilst this isn't my all time favorite or anything it's a good basic one that costs around $5.00 so there is usually one to be found somewhere in my stash.

Color Tatoo Eye Shadow is an awesome cream eyeshadow that performs as well as any high end one as far as I'm concerned. The color range and pigment are good, its highly blendable and it lasts amazingly well.

I find the Dream range to be an excelllent 'brand within a brand' as it were. I'm not a huge fan of face powders but I am really quite fond of the Dream Wonder Powder. It feels almost creamy on application and gives a light to medium coverage which succeeds in evening out skin tone without looking at all powdery - I use this alone with concealer for a natural no make up look.

Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer  blends well and does a great job as a concealer but it's also a really nice highlighter that looks very natural and highlights without being sparkly  or too white. I also like the 'twist up click click' packaging of this - it works very well and it's clear so you can see when you are getting low on product.

Leaving the best to last my favourite Maybelline product has to be the Dream Bouncy Blush. Not only do they come in a great range of colours, they blend superbly and last really well. And they have that Play dough consistency that's fun to the touch.

So Favorite drugstore brand? Maybe its Maybelline...*

*I know, I know, I just had to though!

Anger is an Energy.

I'm a huge fan of John Lydon and his work. I have seen him many times. He is a brilliant musician and showman who is always highly entertaining. 

Greatest Living Englishman? In my book maybe it's John Lydon -  so as you can probably guess I was greatly looking forward to reading this, his second biography Anger is an Energy. 

Needless to say it did not disappoint. 

It starts with John talking about his childhood and family, continues detailing his time as a Sex Pistol, and carries onward through his career with his band PIL in all it's incarnations as well as talking about his subsequent TV career and future plans.

If you like music you will love this, it tells you a lot about how records get made and details the highs and lows of touring. It gives you the upsides and the downsides of fame.

Reading this book was so real it was like sitting in a room with the man himself whilst he rambled on (I mean that in the nicest possible way). Parts of it are hilariously funny, others just offer great insight. John has the knack of presenting an idea that leaves you thinking 'that is so true why didn't I realise that before'. 

It took me a while to get through this but that was because it gave me so much to think about and contained so much that I didn't want to rush it and miss anything.

John is the voice of reason and comes across as being one of the nicest people you would wish to meet. It's really touching how much he cares about his family, people in general and, indeed, the world.

Greatest Living Englishman? after reading Anger is an Energy I'm voting for John Lydon.

Highly Recommended.

Cult Beauty GWP Summer 2015

I don't know if its a case of the grass is always greener on the other side (of the Atlantic - which let's face it, it literally is - have you seen those lawns?!?) or what but recently I have really been loving Cult Beauty. Their website is a delight to browse - it is so well laid out and contains so much  information that I often find myself there just having a look and/or planning what to get next.

It was recently their 15th Birthday and to celebrate there was a week of various offers. As alluring as a site wide 15% off is there's nothing quite so enticing to me as a good old goody bag! And they had a good one free with a 90 GBP spend. Free shipping and no tax meant that I couldn't really say no...

Here's what I purchased:

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel is something that I've really been looking forward to trying out (it's not easy to get over here). It contains all sorts of good stuff - Vitamins A, C and E, Omega 6, protein from pumpkins, sulphur to soothe and it smells deliciously of rose. I've used it a couple of times and I'm impressed - so far it lives up to it's hype. 

 I picked up another cleanser by Oskia, their Perfect Cleanser. It's a thick, emulsifying, balm cleanser, and it did a great job of removing my make up. It rinsed well and left my skin feeling softened and hydrated. I'm pleased with this but will keep it to use when the weather gets cooler.

 Alpha H is another hard to find brand in America. Always on the lookout for a great eye cream I decided to try Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex. I love it's travel friendly packaging - it's a tube with a pump nozzle - can't wait to try this. It promises to soothe and hydrate and contains cucumber which is an ingredient that I love for its scent and cooling effect.

Everything else in the photograph was in the gift bag. There was a good mix of skincare and make up, some products that I have already used and some that are new to me.

Amongst the goodies are two full sized make up items - a Fiberwig Mascara and a Nudestix in 'Love' which is the prettiest pink nude. There's the sweetest mini Beauty Blender with its own cleaner and some Anastasia Brow Gel.

 Whilst I don't use wipes that often (and am trying to use them even less)  the Skyn Glacial Cleansing Cloths will be good for travel. I'm pleased to get more Ren I Minute Flash Facial, which I loved using when I had a previous samples and delighted to get some Sunday Riley Flora which I've yet to try.

I have a couple of sachets of Roloxin Lift already (it's a temporary facial tightener) and the addition of another means that I really should try it out don't you think?

Alpha H Daily Essential Moisturizer is a facial moisturizer with SPF 50, that I was pretty impressed with when I wore it the other day. It sat comfortably under make up without making me look shiny and it didn't make me break out like many other sunscreens do.

Zelens ZMatrix is a nourishing gel cream that I'm also looking forward to trying as I've been impressed by other Zelens products I have tried.

The two tiny samples are Odacite Hyperpigmentation Serum and Tata Harper Aromatic Stress Treatment and, finally, there was  a generous sized bottle of Kai Body Lotion.

Oh, and it all came in a good sized blue metallic cosmetic bag (not pictured).

There's plenty of things there for me to play around with and I'm happy to finally get my hands on some Oskia -  Cult Beauty you rock!

The Daughter.

"How well do you know your family?" is the question posed on the cover of Jane Shemilt's debut novel The Daughter.

As this cleverly written psychological  thriller progresses we discover that in the case of Jenny Malcolm, a GP living in Bristol with her Neurosurgeon husband, Ted and their three teenage children the answer would appear to be not at all...

The Malcolms live a seemingly perfect life, but when their 14 year old daughter, Naomi, goes missing this perfect life unravels bit by bit. As a police investigation into Naomi's disappearance progresses Jenny Malcolm finds herself facing disturbing truths that will destroy both her family and career.  

It's a gripping read that I really enjoyed. It's an easy read but has plenty of plot twists and sub plots that will keep you enthralled. The ending is clever and unusual and I am looking forward to Jane Shemilt's next offering - I love discovering new authors, don't you?

Recommended.

Brand Love - Sunday Riley.

There are so many great beauty brands out there... I love to mix and match products from them to create my own routines and I also love trying new things so if I have more than one or two products from the same range on the go at the same time then safe to say its a brand that I love.

Case in point - Sunday Riley. I've currently four of their products on the go and as it's one of the more spendier ranges out there that's a whole lotta love. Sunday Riley skincare is produced with a mixture of botanicals and technology and as far as I'm concerned it's a highly effective luxurious range that is a treat to use.

I've bought quite a few of their products over the years and the only one I didn't like was Start Over, their eye cream, which irritated my eyes like crazy - although excepting that it did work very well and did all it promised to.

Ceramic Slip is one of my favourite cleansers ever - it's just so refreshing and lovely to use and does a great job of dissolving make up and grime.

Their facial oils are the best - nourishing and luxurious - you literally need just a couple of drops so they don't work out as expensive as you may think. 

I love Juno (a great all-rounder and the first facial oil I ever tried) in the Winter and Artemis in the Summer (it really does balance my skin wonderfully) but I'm happy to use them both at anytime. I've had my eye on Iris (great for dehydrated skin) for a while and can't wait to try out Luna (retinol in an oil form/carrier - yes please!).

Good Genes is possibly the most effective serum I've ever used, it makes my skin look brighter and more radiant as well as plumper and firmer. This is an HG product for me and it's rare that its not not on my shelf.

Bionic their day/night moisturiser is on my shopping list for when I next need a moisturizer. Loaded with peptides and a host of other good stuff it's a lovely, comforting cream.

 Cashmere which I've used before is one of the few mineral sunscreens that don't make me breakout, it really is light and delicate feeling and sits well under make up.

Talking of make up... The SR make up range is a little more under the radar than their skincare but I'm about to splurge on their Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer as the one time I tried it I was very impressed. 

(I had a lip gloss of theirs once that was great - but other than that there's the whole well regarded make up range out there waiting for me to discover!)

Finally, although a whole host of people complain about the smell of many SR products, maybe I have a weird sense of smell but I really do love the scents of all of their products.

Brand love to the deepest degree!

Empties June 2015.

June's pile of empties wasn't as large as the previous couple of months but it wasn't too shabby of an effort - although there were only seven samples there were twelve full sized products.

Not too much in the way of new products -  the majority of these were things that have landed up on the pile previously  - which must mean that they are well loved!

Cases in point - C Booth Body Butter, Hand Creams by Crabtree & Evelyn and Royal Apothic, Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover and Caudalie Grape Water, Vinosource SOS Serum and Moisturizing Sorbet.

New products to the empties pile that I loved were the Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel (which I've raved about in 'Cleansing' posts), it's such a good product despite it's really awful packaging and Rodial Glamtox Cleansing Balm that warmed up when applied to skin which made for a spa like evening face wash.

SoftSoap Fresh and Glow Shower Cream was a let down - it felt a little plastic like and waxy and wasn't as moisturizing or as delicious smelling as I expected it to be. Caudalie Fleur de Vigne Shower Gel on the other hand did smell delicious but there's something about this low lathering formula that I find disappointing, it's also a little drying for my skin.

Everything else on the pile was just OK with the exception of Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Eye Make Up Remover Pads - I didn't find them to be that effective and they were oily which left me feeling bleary eyed and heavy in the eye area. They were definitely this month's dud, but one out of nineteen isn't bad now is it?