Instagram (@lelalondon) – left to right, top to bottom:
1. Lelamobile.
2. Bestie beast mode.
3. Lusting over pillows this morning. As you do.
4. Food. Hunger Magazine. Bulgari florals for the win.
5. Vegan pork.
6. Micropig play date.
7. New Fash for Thought at Hunger TV. American Apparel’s bitchslap.
8. Manfriend’s bangin’ Northern crib.
9. I don’t usually Instagram these…but I am this squirrel.
10. Someone send me to braid rehab.
As a food writer I often get the impression that people expect me to whip up a culinary delight for myself at each and every meal which takes place outside of a restaurant. The reality is quite the contrary. Throw a massive house move into the mix and you will barely have me touching a kettle, let alone a saucepan.
To stay healthy I do consume a lot of raw food and salad, but these three grocery ‘cheats’ have definitely made their way into my body amidst weeks of organising and packing.
Metcalfe’s Skinny Topcorn
Though I was first introduced to Topcorn at Fashion Week (it is a true backstage staple), I had yet to get the hype over it until trying their brand new Sweet Cinnamon Spice flavour. The 25g packs contain only 117 calories but are packed with enough flavour to satisfy any sweet tooth. Their original Wasabi popcorn has turned into ‘Wasabi Glaze’ – also a tiny bit sweeter – and is equally addictive.
Emmi Caffe Latte
While my beloved coffee machine was still boxed away, I ran out looking for a quick caffeine fix and was rather surprised that Emmi’s ‘skinny’ cafe latte only had 90 calories and tasted like a latte (let’s face it, most store bought latte’s taste like sugar). I have since started using a multitude of their flavours in cocktail mixes – the ultimate cheat – when friends drop in unannounced. Fact: An Emmi latte with Bailey’s is the quickest and most delicious booze-shake around.
itsu Miso Soups
As a judgemental miso consumer, I have fallen tongue over head for itsu’s miso soups. Unlike other miso soup products, both versions – veg and fish – are made from a smooth paste rather than a powder. Nowhere near as salty as their predecessors and shockingly filling for only 44 calories.
Bank Holiday weekends mean nothing to me. As a freelancer/interminable workaholic, public holidays often turn into a marathon of work on my end.
Until, of course, I nab myself a very handsome man with a 9-5. That’s when public holidays turn into excuses for a jam-packed road trip in Europe. The plan? Rental car to Dover, ferry to Calais, Day One in Lille, Day Two in Bruges (Brugge), and Day Three in Ostend (Oostende) before ferrying back to Good Ol’ GB.
It was all kinds of magic. With no real plan to speak of, we relied on the suggestions of our phenomenal AirBnB hosts and fateful wandering around the different cities to dictate each day’s activities.
Highlights included: A gargantuan prix fixe menu at Le Broc fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol and Frenglish, a rather peculiar trip to Historium (resulting in pimp faces, seen below), flicking through Encyclopaedia-sized menus with 400 types of beer, trying to steal ducks on a Bruges canal boat tour, and finally getting my paws on some mussels at Danny’s Brasserie in Ostend before falling asleep and earning myself a Snuggle Tan on the beach.
For all the times I have visited Bond & Brook I am rather ashamed to say that, until this week, I had no idea Fenwick also had an Affogato Bar under it’s designer wings.
A best kept secret by any fashionista’s standards, The Affogato Bar is tucked away in a quiet corner on the third floor at Fenwick Bond Street and conveniently overlooks designer favourites including Orla Kiely. Modelled on an original Milanese coffee bar, their celebrated namesake are their Affogatos (espresso poured onto a scoop of vanilla ice cream) though their fresh mint teas, juices (apple and ginger, in particular), and light bites are what happened to beckon me up a floor from Bond & Brook.
H Forman’s and Son smoked salmon plate was the catch of the day for me and included sliced smoked Scottish salmon with herb cream cheese and capers, lemon cheeks and toasted soldiers. When paired with a few glasses of champagne, a girly catch-up, and a slice of rich chocolate cake to finish, both the salmon plate and my dining partner’s ‘salad of the day’ offered wonderfully simple and light sustenance among our naughtier lunch choices. Molto buono.
Rhinoplasty has been popping up in conversation a lot recently. Though I’m thankfully to be happy with the nose the genetic lottery threw my way, many rhinoplasties are performed at cosmetic surgery clinics across the UK and can obviously change the size, shape and look of someone’s nose significantly. With quite a few friends considering going under the knife (why all at once? I have no idea!), I thought it would be a great time to look into the a few important things which some of my nearest and dearest (and many more of you out there) need to consider.
A little information can make you feel more confident and put your mind at ease when it comes to corrective surgery, so I enlisted the help of Transform surgeon Mr Pascal Lahoud to answer a few of his most frequently asked questions.
What should someone look for when choosing a surgeon?
Getting a nose job is a serious and often life-changing decision, so checking your surgeon’s qualifications and credentials is paramount. Registration with the General Medical Council is a must and it’s worth inquiring how many times they perform rhinoplasty surgery each year. View some before and after pictures if possible and don’t be afraid to ask a wide array of questions – a good surgeon won’t be afraid to answer them.
What are the different types of nose surgery?
Generally speaking there are two main nose surgery techniques; open or closed rhinoplasty. Open rhinoplasty tends to be used in more complex work such as reshaping the nose tip. With a closed rhinoplasty, any incisions tend to be made inside the nose. Your surgeon will help you achieve the results you want by discussing all options with you.
How long does rhinoplasty surgery take?
On the whole, most rhinoplasty procedures last between one and two hours – depending on the type and degree of shaping required. More complex operations may take slightly longer to perform, so it’s a good idea to discuss your individual circumstances with a highly-qualified surgeon.
Will you bruise and need time off work?
Rhinoplasty surgery can leave a certain amount of swelling and bruising, but the severity will differ from patient to patient. Bruising around the cheeks is most apparent during the three days following surgery and usually disappears within seven, so a week off work should be sufficient. In addition to bandages, a splint will also be put over the nose for seven to 10 days to assist with healing. Most people return to normal activity within a few days but it’s crucial that the nose is not hit or knocked in any way during the healing period.
How long will someone have to wait to see the final result?
Of course, one of the most exciting parts of surgery is seeing the results. The good news is, major changes will be immediately apparent and you will see the more subtle changes as your nose heals. The final result is usually visible around 12 months after surgery.
Could nose surgery really change the way someone feels about themselves? Surgery can have both physical and psychological effects. Many people report feeling more confident in their own skin, but patient testimonials give a deeper insight into why people choose to have work done and how it has changed their lives. Anna Wyeth, 31, from the Isle of Wight underwent nose surgery at a Transform clinic and here’s what she had to say:
‘It started during my teenage years’
I was becoming a woman and so naturally became more image conscious. Each time I looked at myself in the mirror my eyes were drawn to the hump on my nose. Being out in public was awful as it felt like people were talking to my nose – not me! My confidence was at an all-time low, but I was determined that one day I’d look in the mirror and be happy with the reflection.‘I’d had enough of hating my nose’
After ten years, enough was enough. I visited Transform to talk about my concerns and then booked myself in for rhinoplasty. My nerves were wracked when my surgery day arrived, but I was so excited that the wait was over, I was finally getting my new nose. The nurses and staff at the hospital were amazing at every step – they were really friendly and helped put my mind at ease. My surgeon, Mr Nathan, was great. He was so lovely and professional. He understood my feelings and what I wanted to achieve from surgery – it was comforting to know he didn’t see the operation as a “one-job-fits-all”.‘Looking in the mirror is now a habit’
Waking up I was tired and had some bruising, but the real thrill was to come when the bandages were removed a week later. I couldn’t contain my excitement and loved showing off my new nose to the clinic team. Now, at long last, I’m happy in my own skin. Where’s that mirror!?
Transform offers a wide range of surgical procedures, so visit their website for more information.
