THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ENTERING OUR CHRISTMAS COMPETITION  AND THE WINNER IS

BIG DRUM ROLL PLEASE *********

@CATCHADRAGONFLY

MANY CONGRATS TO YOU

AND A  VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS XXXXXX

As you will all know by my ramblings on here ‘stuck at home on crutches’ and on twitter….  I have ankle and knee problems, this cold weather does not help and now I sound like a lady of one hundred and two….

Imagine my delight when I read this clipping on ‘Joint Mud’ and even more delight when the wonderful PR sent me a tube to test out. I have started today and will keep you posted on the results…so far ankle is feeling GOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Last week saw the launch of the revolutionary new ‘Joint Mud’, hailed as the ‘miracle cream’ it has been clinically proven to ease the pain of arthritis / joint problem / muscle ache by a staggering 78% in just 18 minutes and with long term usage independent clinical trials showed 239% improvement in flexibility, mobility, and range of movement for tired, aching limbs.

 These unrivalled results are set to help the 55% of Britons who suffer from joint pain, in their back, hands, knees, shoulders, neck, elbows and hips.

SPOONFED SUPPERS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN…JUST TRY THIS WINTER WARMER…IT IS DELISH AND YOU CAN FEEL IT DOING YOU GOOD… WELL WE COULD !

Moroccan Chicken Soup

Soup that will make you feel stuffed!

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
½ tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
400g / 14 oz / 1 ¾ cup chopped tomatoes (can)
1 tbsp tomato purée
410g / 14 ½ oz/ 5 ½ cups chickpeas (can)
50g / 1 ¾ oz / ¼ cup couscous
150ml / ¼ pt reduced salt chicken stock (chicken stock / bouillon cube crumbled into 150ml water)
450ml / ¾ pt boiling water

(1) Preheat the grill. Cook the chicken under a medium-high grill for 10 mins, or until cooked, turning halfway. Then roughly slice and set aside. (2) Meanwhile, add the oil to a large heavy-based saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 mins, or until the onion softens. (3) Add the pepper and cook for 2 mins, or until it starts to soften. (4) Tip in the tomatoes, tomato purée, chickpeas, couscous, stock and water. Cover and cook for 10 mins, stirring throughout. (5) Add the chickpea and couscous mixture to a food processor with the chicken pieces. Pulse until the chicken has broken up and the soup is blended, but still a little chunky. Then serve extremely hot.

The Nitty-Gritty*:
Serves 2
Average Calories: 535
Average Saturated Fat: 1.8g
3 ½ of your 5-a-day

Come join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

Please click here to visit the Spoonfed Suppers website, where you will find an archive of all my previous lip-smacking recipes

This morning I received an email… title 7% with a long list of  ‘forwards’ you know the ones I mean, an angel is going to bring you luck and money if you send it on to 25 friends in 25 seconds… or the gorgeous naked man with angles wings…(ok I did like that one)….  prayers… veiled with threats if you don’t do something with it in seconds,

My heart would have sunk except it came from Marigold so I read it… I was heartened by some of the tips and I like it, so thought I’d share and NO YOU DON’T HAVE TO FORWARD IT TO ANY ONE…. nothing bad will happen!

Subject: 7%

This is something we should all read at least once a week. Make sure you read to the end. 
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio . 
  
“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written. 
  
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more: 
  
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 
  
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 
  
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 
  
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 
  
5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 
  
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 
  
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone. 
  
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check. 
  
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 
  
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. 
  
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry. 
  
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
  
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it. 
  
16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 
  
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. 
  
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. 
  
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 
  
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer. 
  
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 
  
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 
  
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple. 
  
24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 
  
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 
  
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’ 
  
27. Always choose life. 
  
28. Forgive everyone everything. 
  
29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 
  
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time. 
  
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 
  
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 
  
33. Believe in miracles. 
  
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 
  
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young. 
  
37. Your children get only one childhood. 
  
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 
  
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 
  
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s’ we’d grab ours back. 
  
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 
  
42. The best is yet to come… 
  
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 
  
44. Yield. 
  
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.” 
  
  
It’s estimated 93% won’t forward this. If you are one of the 7% 
  
I’m in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS COMPETITION WITH THREE BEAUTIFUL TREE DECORATIONS TO WIN

Your chance to win these three gorgeous Christmas tree decorations (silver and sparkles)

all you need to do is complete this line from a well loved carol

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you ******

and follow us on twitter @cupcakefancy and RT the competition tweet

email your answer to contact@hangupsandhandbags.com

angel decoration

two hearts

 all three of these pretty tree dec’s can be yours

competition will close on Friday 9th December, time for us to post your winnings…. good luck xx

It’s National Curry Week!   21^st-27^th November 2010

we love our curries….even Alan Titchmarsh was celebrating the curry yesterday and cooking one, the world of beauty has joined in and www.Wahanda.com  has join in for our pleasure…lots of goodies to be had…see below

Not only is Indian curry one of Britain’s favourite foods, overtaking the likes of fish and chips, but the nation is crazy for Indian spa therapies too. To celebrate its 13^th year http://www.Wahanda.com – the UK’s largest online community for beauty and wellness - has rounded up some of the best Indian treatment offers from some of the country’s most prestigious  spas and salons, bringing the nation an array of sumptuous Indian spa treats from as little as £32!

Ayurveda: Wisdom never wrinkles. When it comes to wellbeing, it’s reassuring to know that a therapy has stood the test of time – and with over five thousand years of experience behind it, Ayurveda is no spring chicken. Ayurveda originated on the Indian subcontinent and roughly translated it means the ‘science of life’. We’re not talking test tubes and chemicals here, though; Ayurveda combines diet, herbs, exercise, meditation, yoga, massage and a form of physiotherapy to prevent and treat disease. It’s wholly natural and all about finding the best, healthiest you. http://www.wahanda.com/treatment/ayuredic/description/   just one of the goodies to be had.

And for the ultimate Indian retreat check out Ayush Wellness Spain Jersey – an Ayurvedicdestination spa with an integrated team of Ayurvedic experts from bothIndia and the West, making the stay a refreshing fusion of cultural harmony with genuine concern for your mind and body throughout. MARIGOLD and I fancy this one.

http://www.wahanda  has exclusive offers available for these spas, salons and health clubs that you won’t find anywhere else in addition to spa days, spa breaks and Spa Gift Vouchers, which are redeemable at over 600 destinations nationwide. What’s more, for every spa, salon, or gym review written, Wahanda will donate £1 to charity: water to continue supporting their great cause of bringing fresh water to communities.com

For more information and fabulous spa deals visit www.wahanda.com

For more information on Ayush Wellness Spa visit www.ayushspa.com 

My  ‘I definatly do NOT want for christmas’ list… 

Each year you get the things that will go into ‘the present draw’..this worked well when the kids are small and they get something they really didn’t want or two of the same thing and they could get recycled, (pressies not kids….although!!!) anyhoo I digress, but when you are a grown up it seems to get worse…friends or family who you assume, wrongly as it turns out, know you really well give you a gift that is SO NOT YOU… (maybe it came out of their present draw) 

UNDER MY TREE THIS CHRISTMAS

well here is my list of please don’t get me: 

•  CD’s that are on sale in tesco’s or petrol stations….smacks of last min.com
•  perfume you would never use cheap and cheerful and VERY last minuet buy,
•  christmas novelty socks! in fact NO SOX unless cashmere
• the latest ‘celeb book pushed on every tv ad… unless it’s Alan Bennett or Stephen Fry
• the keep fit dvd’s, again a virtually un-known celeb who has lost a few stone due to stress and is going to put it all back on again by june…
• no dvd’s ‘spin off’s'  from soaps PLEASE DON’T DO THAT…
• a board game!
• nothing plastic
• tights…yep every year for about 10 yrs I got a pair of black tighs always the wrong size!
• ANYTHING WITH A PLUG …that is a joint purchase for the house or a toy for you not me!
• anything to use in the kitchen (see plug reason)
• any kind of ‘keep fit’ equipment…that is not a proper christmas pressie, more like an unwelcome hint!
• a pair of gardening gloves
• novelty christmas gloves
• a nodding father christmas…. I have one from 3yrs ago, didn’t like it then… don’t like it now!
• supermarket own brand bubble bath…possibly won on a school xmas fayre tombola
• satsuma in my christmas stocking, it may be traditional but I have them in the fruit bowl..
• photos of nephews, nieces, grandchildren, step children, any child in their school uniforms, tucked into the brown cardboard ‘frames’ with an embossed twig of holly (love the family but not the posed school pix).
• novelty ties
• novelty boxers/knickers
• kooky calendar…. I want bare-chested beckham telling me what day it is
• jordan’s biog
• another joke book /little book of caring quotes book/ my birth-sign book/ cocktail book/ or self-help book!
• and definitely anything ‘themed’ as a cupcake!

well that’s a start, hope it is not TOO Bah Humbug for you.

 my ‘I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH’  list is very easy, Mulberry, McQueen, Ren, Ark, French Bedroom Co, Sam Cross, Linda Boucher, oh so many more… that list is for another day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS  XXXX 

will leave a gap here for marigolds I ‘DON’T WANT LIST’  X

Good work Cupcake….Marigold definitely doesn’t want

• cheap (sorry) scented candles
• like Cupcake, anything ‘novelty’
• knickers that are too small (ouch!)
• knickers that are too lacy (ouch!)
• knickers that are red!
• ‘fun’ mugs in chunky earthenware
• a National Trust calendar
• any calendar
• turkish delight
• milk tray
• boxes of biscuits
• liqueur chocolate
• sherry
• poinsettias

But I’d love

• maltesers
• huge white cyclamen
• anything from The White Company
• anything from Heals
• anything from Oka
• anything from Graham and Green
• anything from Paris – tickets even????
• anything from websites featured on Hangups and Handbags
• anything from my favourite jeweller in my home town…
• tickets for Take That (don’t shout at me, just have to see Robbie once!)
• brioche, unsalted butter and apricot jam for breakfast on Christmas Day
• and a fairy to do all the washing up

marigold x

We are always on the look out for new ‘things’ to try, fashion, homely bits and bobs, handbags…and of course beauty products.

FAKE BAKE PLATINUM FOR YOUR FACE, we are loving this idea that it is an anti- ageing facial tan and it’s winning awards. A lot of us have been adapting our morning/daily beauty regime to include a self tan application to the face (and body). Well for me it’s the face, I do feel a lot better with a hint of colour! BELOW IS THE SCIENCE BIT FROM FAKE BAKE THEMSELVES… a winner for me…. will let you know how it feels and looks after a few more weeks.

cupcake xx

FAKE BAKE PLATINUM FACE

Fake Bake are exceptionally proud to announce that their acclaimed ‘Platinum Face’ anti- ageing facial tan was the winner of the  Premium Skincare Launch at this year’s Pure Beauty Awards.

 This victory means a great deal to Fake Bake as the awards were voted for by the national retailers and this is the first product that they have launched expanding their knowledge outside tanning and into targeted skincare.

Sandra McClumpha states, ‘We have been long looking to combine premium anti aging ingredients with our patented tanning formula and the pioneering Apple Stem Cell advancements are the finest ingredients we have found. Having our own independent laboratories means we are able to respond to our loyal customer’s new demanding lifestyles by developing this essential time saving, dual action product’.

 The breakthrough Apple Stem Cell Technology used in the revolutionary Platinum Face is sourced from the ‘Mibelle Biochemistry’ in Switzerland and has won just been awarded the prestigious ‘Winner of the European Cosmetics Innovation’ Title.

 Sandra McClumpha’s continues, ‘Our demanding lifestyles and the punishing environment lead to premature aging causing skin cells to decrease in their ability to regenerate. However, the opposite is found in certain plants cells. We have been working hard alongside the chemists at ‘Mibelle Biochemistry’ to look into the RARE SWISS APPLE which process natural benefits in aiding the repair of damaged skin cells. We have submitted the ingredients and the new exclusive tanning formula to extensive clinical trials and we are thrilled with the results’.

Maestro mascara IS SIMPLY THE BEST… and no we were/are not paid to say this.

MAESTRO MASCARA

A dear friend told me about this mascara and her eye make up always looks like she has just come off a beauty shoot, so I made my purchase and I am telling you now I have NOT been disappointed. it is truly amazing.

QUOTE… “A patented lash-tailoring and instant-volumizing mascara for a thicker, fuller, and more dramatic eye look.”

This is one  for the “couture eye”, Maestro adds volume to my lashes giving me a ‘fuller and longer lash’  look,  no it really does, for me it gives my lashes a  fab look with utmost precision.

Being a lazy slut at times I did leave it on for three days…. long weekend, long story, don’t ask!  and it was still perfect, and each morning I simply added a couple of strokes of the wonder wand and hey presto hot to trot.

We have featured Sam Cross and her fab designs before…so here is an update of what we hope you will agree are totally gorgeous, read on….

SAM CROSS, DESIGNER, CLOTH MAGPIE HANDBAGS

EMERALD PILL

Launched in 2009 by handbag designer Sam Cross, Cloth Magpie handbags
marks her return to handbag design and was originally conceived as a
way of breathing new life into her treasured collection of vintage
fabrics.
The Cloth Magpie brand now consists of two complimentary elements.
“Cloth Magpie Vintage” and Cloth Magpie. Both labels are proudly
designed and made in England.

‘Claim Your Bag’
With our vintage range we encourage our new handbag owners to “claim
your bag” by registering  it on the website, in return you will
receive a beautiful keyring to compliment your new handbag. The
exclusive nature of the bags and the website recognition aim to make
the owner of a Cloth Magpie bag feel like a member of an elite club.

Bobble Kiss
For general day wear I believe that practicality should be combined
with femininity and suggest a design that has a reasonable carrying
capacity whilst maintaining elegant proportions. From the Cloth Magpie
range these criteria are fully met in our Bobble Kiss style.

www.clothmagpie.com

http://www.facebook.com/ClothMagpie

FROSTED DIAMOND TWEED

PUMPKIN TWEED

MIDNIGHT DOGTOOTH

 http://www.facebook.com/ClothMagpie

Classic comedy, The Royle Family… I have always been a big fan of this comedy classic…. laugh and cry all at the same time. some of the best scripts ever seen.

 

The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa transmits exclusively on GOLD on 10^th November at 9pm, followed by The Royle Family Portraits 17^th November at 9pm.

Where to find GOLD Sky channel 110, Virgin TV channel 126, and Top-Up TV channel 17.

 The first programme features warm and witty interviews with Royle cast members Liz Smith MBE, Sue Johnston OBE and Ricky Tomlinson, Ralf Little, Jessica Hynes, Sheridan Smith and Geoffrey Hughes. Writer Phil Mealey and luminary fans of the series Catherine Tate, Paul Whitehouse, Willy Russell, Jimmy McGovern and Henry Normal also share their fondest recollections of this enduring comedy.

we all love a good food programme and here is a new one starting tonight. Monster Munchies – British food, just bigger!

Former England rugby player and renowned foodie Matt Dawson travels across the country, meeting the people that produce and make these culinary legends and setting them a massive challenge – to create supersize portions of these brilliant dishes.

Whether it’s enormous cream teas in Devon, blockbusting Battenberg cakes in Windsor, colossal Cornish pasties in, you guessed it, Cornwall, or masses of mash and the biggest bangers you’ve ever seen, Monster Munchies brings you the best of British food… in supersize vision.

Each episode features a new location, a new dish and a thrilling against-the-clock cook-off that features two teams comprised of local food producers.

In a 24-hour countdown, teams will begin assembling the mega meals, sourcing huge quantities of ingredients, firing up industrial-sized ovens and getting ready for the ultimate food fight.

Five local judges will cast their eye over the enormous creations, and hundreds of local will tuck into the feasts when they’re completed. The winning team get a supersized gold wooden spoon and a great deal of pride.

It’s British food like you’ve never seen it before.

 Monster Munchies is broadcast on weeknights at 10pm from Monday 8 November on Good Food (Sky Channel 249, Sky HD 283 and Virgin TV Channel 260)

Find out more at http://www.goodfoodchannel.co.uk

RUSSELL KANE INTERVIEW    Dave’s One Night Stand

Russell Kane only gave up his day job a few years ago. Now he’s won the Edinburgh Comedy Award and flies First Class. Makes us sick, frankly. But we managed to swallow our jealousy and catch up with the comic to talk about baboons and Bacardi Breezers.

“At my first gig I couldn’t hold the mic I was shaking so much”

How are you?

I am brilliant and gay! How are you?

Er… very well thanks. So when did you realise you were funny and how on earth did you get into comedy?

Everyone was always telling me I was funny but I was really paranoid that I was only funny within my group of friends. This and the fact I hadn’t seen any stand up put me off for years. But then one day I thought, “Sod it,” took a box of Imodium and did it. At my first gig I couldn’t hold the mic I was shaking so much.

Did you enjoy doing Big Brother’s Big Mouth? Did you feel any competition with Russell Brand?

Yes it was fun. I don’t want to be a Ziggy though and bang on about something I did three years ago.

Ok. You also went to Zambia and got attacked by an animal. What happened exactly?

We were staying at this place, Flat Dogs Camp. It was the kind of place that wouldn’t be certified here in England. We were sleeping in tents in trees and all the animals would just be wandering around. One day we decided to eat our food in the camp, watching the animals go by. One baboon came up and was looking at us and even though I’m skinny, they won’t approach a male. As soon as my back was turned though he jumped on my fiancée Sadie and took the jam jar. The baboon sat there staring at us and opened the jar… then threw the lid at Sadie.

Was she hurt?

What? By a jam jar lid? No she was fine but what a very English injury that would have been.

For your travelogues on Five US you travelled to the US. Which makes sense. But tell us about it.

It was the best job ever. I left my day job in March 2006 and everyone was like – you won’t live the dream, been on telly yet? Then I got this job and was flying First Class to the States and was like, “Up yours ugly!” The main difference is the audience, they’re really supportive. It put me off in a way. It’s just not the same without the flying Bacardi Breezers and shouts of “W*nker!”

You also did Out To Lunch on BBC Radio 2. You must enjoy radio…

Yeah the challenge is being funny when you can’t say things like bum or arse. I followed Jonathan Ross and had 3-4 million viewers ranging from the ages of four to 94. I had to watch what came out of my mouth.

What makes Russell Kane laugh?

Our pets. We have dogs and cats and we laugh at how stupid they are. To be honest, Sadie and I make each other laugh. We lie in bed and when we can’t sleep, we make each other giggle. People don’t like it because we worked together and do everything together and still love each other. People don’t like things to work out – they want you to fail.

Tell us about Fakespeare. What the Dickens is it?

Sadie and I were messing about and did some sketches. They’re set in Southend-on-Sea, where I live, and the situations are told using Shakespeare. It’s like normal kids, wooing each other with Shakespeare.

It isn’t rewriting Shakespeare – I hate it when some Oxford tw*t does that. You’re like, “They weren’t interested in it, so why rewrite it?” We use everyday situations and then tell them in Shakespeare speak. I don’t know where it comes from, I’m like a rapper but I freestyle Bard.

Russell Kane heads back to his hometown of Southend-on-Sea and headlines Dave’s One Night Stand on Sunday 7th November at 10pm supported by Carl Donnelly and Holly Walsh.

Where to find Dave: Sky channel 111, Virgin TV channel 128, Freeview 19.

Web: www.joindave.co.uk

interview provided by his PR company

Due to my background it also made more sense to be in fashion. Growing up with a French interior deco consisting of big collection of fashion’s illustration and many art object influenced me to become what I am today in fashion. My mother had more fashion illustrations and pictures of art deco and art nouveau pictures, objects and books around the houses then painting. Her love for esthetics was more likely to be throughout objects and clothes. I have such a rich collection of Lanvin illustrations hanging in my childhood house, that it’s nonsense! She would also take me to art exhibitions at an early age. She keeps seeing me at the age of seven being stuck in front of a real Monet painting for hours.

TEQUILA

ROBE

STELINA

JAPY

PALACE

Antoine Antoniadis, a young Franco Greek designer based in Paris since 2009, just look at the clean lines and stunning fabrics, we both want every single one of his designs. Fashion at it’s very best.

ORIOL

MANTEAU AGNEAU GRIS

ESPRIT

KIMONO

JACK

CHECHE

Conversation with a Designer.

“My style classic and modern, it is being said that my clothes are ”timeless” elegant chic and romantic which fits perfectly what I want my collections to be. The best reaction so far has been about the “tressage”, its the texture and technique used I give to my favorite garments. I have this feedback that I am lucky to have found a niche in the texture and have developed my own unique technique. It is my specialty and I am identified by it. In consequence I have a high demand on my “tressage” and it seems to be what impress people in my collections. I get the WOW effect when they see it and touch it. That is the best compliment I can get: impress and excite women.”

www.antoineantoniadis.com