INSPIRATION - Changing Room Decor

Photo Credit: genevievepan on flickr.com

The Levi's changing rooms above have a smart cream and brown stripe theme. This look is pretty masculine, and would suit a bedroom. Copy the look using a feature wall with wide stripes and the 3 remaining walls painted in a warm buttermilk. Finish with carpet for comfort and softness.

Photo Credit: Qiao-Da-Ye賽門喬大爺 on Flickr.com

This Ralph Lauren changing room is really inviting and cosy. Wall lighting, neutral wallpaper and the red armchair make for a traditional design. This decor would be a perfect living room look.

Photo Credit: stilinberlin.de on flickr.com

This fabulous interior is what you would expect from Chanel Haute Couture. The cream textiles match the beautiful flowers, and I love the mirrored doors. Chandeliers are a great way to add grandeur to a room and can be done at home fairly inexpensively. Try Ikea or Heals.

Photo Credit: crazy math on Flickr.com

Sumptuous fabrics and rich ethnic detailing make this look really special. Go for carved wooden accessories, velvets and silks. Throw in some metallics along with some ethnic art and this look is complete. I would try this in a bedroom where darker colours are more suited.

BATHROOMS - Create a Sanctuary

With house sales at an all time low and the economic forecast gloomy, it might be time to update your bathroom. Look to the BC Sanitan collection for some inspiration.

Pay Homage to a Bygone Era

Chandeliers create a focal point in almost any room of the house but in the bathroom they add a touch of glamour and opulence. Paint frames around your bathroom furniture and add touches of solid wood - like an Eternity bath panel - for a look that is evocative of enchanting bygone times. Belgravia suite shown above combines elegance with exceptional versatility.

Bathe by Candlelight

Strike a match and light a candle to create a calm, intimate and romantic mood. Couple your desired aroma and favourite soundtrack for the perfect glowing retreat.

For sheer presence, the iconic cast iron double-ended bath can make a dramatic focal point for your bathroom. It's impressive enough even when not in use, but add some atmosphere, pour yourself a glass of your favourite wine and really soak away the evening in pure indulgence. The interior of the shapely Mark Anthony bath pictured, is finished in heavy white enamel, while the exterior surface is supplied unfinished ready for priming and painting to match your chosen scheme

Create a Masterpiece

Just add sheer curtains, standalone and wall mirrors as features and sumptuous towels for the perfect spa-like retreat. Consider warm neutral tones to make your bathroom more inviting.

A showstopper in every sense, the Highgrove is guaranteed to get your bathroom noticed. The deep freestanding double-ended acrylic bath is designed specifically for use with the Highgrove suite, but the style is neutral enough for you to consider teaming with your suite.

For more information about these bathrooms visit www.bcsanitan.co.uk

GIFTS - Celeb Chef's BAA Wish List

Wine expert, Presenter and all round foodie Olly Smith, has revealed to BAA the must-have items he will be hankering after this festive season, as part of their new Christmas gift wish list activity.

A regular on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen and Richard & Judy's Wine Club, Olly has sliced and diced his way through both the 'For Foodies' and wider lists to whisk up his trademark enthusiasm for some of the finest gifts available from the departure lounge this Christmas.

St James' Christmas Pudding - £16.95

He first selected a Fortnum & Mason Christmas pudding, proclaiming that, when it comes to Christmas dinner, you should "start with the pudding and work your way back." Warming to his theme, Olly also chose Florentines and mince pies from Harrods. Despite winning ‘Wine Idol’ in 2005 which propelled him to fame, Olly proclaims whisky “one of the world’s best drinks” and picked the Macallan Elegancia, exclusive to World Duty Free.

Gordon Ramsay's 'Cooking for Friends' was Olly's ‘must read’ pick on the For Foodies list but from the broader list he also chose Rick Stein's 'Coast to Coast', the limited edition Omega Bond watch which he describes as outrageously attractive, a Ted Baker Pedros paisley shirt, Prada Butterfly sunglasses for his wife (Sunglass Hut) and a Sony Style Rolly portable MP3 player which captivated him immediately.

Users can create up to six personal lists and every list created enters the user into a free prize draw to win their list up to the value of £2,000. To start building your gift list visit www.airportgiftlist.co.uk

TREAT - Welcome to Hotel Chocolat

Milky Liquid Chocolat - Hotel Chocolat - £7

The weather is miserable, but the good part about that is we no longer have to feel guilty about staying in and getting cosy with a cup of hot chocolate. Don't settle for any mug of choc though, you deserve something a bit special.

Hotel Chocolat is the place to go, with several varieties of their Liquid Chocolat which I have been trying out at The Style PA HQ. These are really versatile hot chocolate drinking flakes that taste pretty amazing. Not only that, Hotel Chocolat trade ethically and use nothing but the best ingredients for their luxurious products cutting out excess sugar wherever possible and replacing it with yummy cocoa.

Liquid Chocolat comes in 6 tempting flavours: Classic, Milky, Aztec Chilli, Caramel Kiss Mix, Valencia Orange and Macho. There are also cute selection packs if you can't decide on just one. I am a fan of the Milky as it has added malt and is perfect for iced milk drinks too.

The drinking chocolate flakes can also be used to make a sauce for desserts or you can sprinkle them onto your ice cream or use in baking. I urge you to explore the recipe section of the Hotel Chocolat website. There is no better way to indulge yourself or a friend this season. Mr Style PA thought Liquid Chocolat was the best thing since sliced bread and I must admit I am inclined to agree. I know what to fill his stocking with this Christmas!



Why not check out some of the other fabulous gift ideas on the Hotel Chocolat website. I can recommend the monthly tasting club where a box of yummy chocolates arrives at your door each month for you to sample. The chocolate slabs and crackers are also a great idea. Diets don't start till January after all!

Related Posts:
FOOD - Sugar & Spice From My Secret Kitchen
PAMPER - Bath Time Heaven From Raw Gaia
PRODUCT - Raw Chocolate Face Pack

DRINK - Glacéau Vitaminwater...How Refreshing!

Do you spend all day rushing around only to fall in a heap by dinner time? Perhaps you need a way to refuel and fill your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly.

Glacéau Vitaminwater is an active lifestyle drink from New York and you can now get it here in the UK. There are 6 flavours to try, each made with spring water and a combination of vitamins to give you a boost when you need it most.

Naturally, I decided it was best to put them to the test and report my findings to The Style PA readers.

Power-C - dragonfruit (c+b's)
This was the panel's definite favourite. A great flavour that just makes you want to drink more and more. The vitamins are an added bonus to help you feel a bit more 'on the ball'.

Essential - orange-orange (c+calcium)
This is great as an alernative to your usual breakfast drink to help kick start your day. The orange is subtle but pleasant enough. Smokers will benefit from the hit of vitamin c to replace lost nutrients.

Spark - tropical citrus (b+guarana)
My tester loved this flavour, as it is really fresh and zingy. This one has natural caffeine and guarana so would suit a gym goer who needs some fuel for a good workout.

Multi-V - lemonade (b+zinc)
The lemonade vitamin water was pretty subtle, so if you are not much a a fruit fan then this is the one for you. It also has various vitamins in so is a good all round drink to pep you up.

Revive - fruit punch (b+potassium)
A really tasty and refreshing flavour perfect for a morning or lunchtime pick me up. A great alternative to a glass of 'nutrient empty' squash

Defence - raspberry-apple (c+zinc)
Feeling under the weather? This one is perfect for you. Essential vitamin c packed in a comforting apple and raspberry drink. Forget Lucozade and get some nutrients and the water that your body requires to help flush out those nasties.

The drinks are best enjoyed straight from the fridge, or in a glass with ice. Remember though that these are designed to give you a boost so watch the sugar content. One bottle a day should be all you need to get a body and mind boost. Swap you calorific soft drinks and energy drinks for a Vitaminwater and feel the benefit. Even 50 Cent is grabbing a piece of the action (watch the advert below)

50 Cent Vitamin Water Commercial - The best bloopers are a click away

VIDEO - Supermarket Shopping in 1962

Feeling the rise in food prices? Wait till you see how much a food shop cost in 1962, back in the days when supermarkets were still quite a novelty!



Thanks to clearandfizzy.com for finding this one for me.

THOUGHT - Staying in is the New Going Out

Photo Credit: abbyladybug on Flickr.com

The credit crunch is spawning a new “staying in” culture as people look for ways to cut back on spending without cutting down on being sociable and having fun. It is true that more people are staying in, but they seem determined not to be miserable about it.

Poker evenings with a bunch of mates and a few cans is just the ticket for many fellas and even just watching telly can provide a form of cheap social interaction, there seems to be a growing trend for people to invite their friends over just to watch the box with them on a Saturday night. A bottle of wine, some food and the X-factor is considered a cost conscious alternative to hitting the town. Games consoles have become the new entertainment centres and the focal point of many a gathering of friends for a cheap night of laughter and mayhem.

Pot Luck dinner parties can be great fun, that’s where everyone brings a little dish of something and no-one has a clue what will be served up, fusion cooking at it’s best (and worst). Online DVD rental site Lovefilm said it expects to see a 70% rise in its customer base as cash-strapped consumers choose to stay in and online dating web site Plentymorefish.com has reported massive 25% growth in membership month on month since April of this year. So it seems that even making new friends can be done more cost effectively from the comfort of your home.

In conclusion, it seems that as money gets tighter people get more inventive. We seem to be discovering new and re-discovering old ways of entertaining ourselves and our friends that don’t involve going on a bender. With any luck, the credit crunch might just end up making us all a little bit more sociable.

www.plentymorefish.com

RECIPE - Lemon Drizzle Cake

Just 3 grams of oats a day can help lower cholesterol levels; getting your oats can really help your health. So how can you get them?

• Start the day with a wholesome bowl of porridge
• Oatly oat drinks make a great low-fat addition to a fruit smoothie
• Use chocolate Oatly with your morning cereal
• Try oats in cooking and baking

Cookery expert Lorna Rhodes comments, ““All we need to do is make sure that we eat enough different foods and swap some of the more calorie laden choices for healthier options. Oatly is a healthy and tasty alternative to milk and soya which is low in saturated fat and high in fibre. “ Her recipe for Lemon Drizzle Cake shows that getting your oats needn't be boring.




LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE

Serves: 10
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes

3 unwaxed lemons
300g plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
300g caster sugar
175g sunflower margarine or butter
2 large eggs
250ml carton Oatly Cream
Lemon Glaze:
100g golden granulated sugar

1. Grease a 20cm/8” round spring-form tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan) gas mark 4.
2. Finely grate the rind from the lemons, squeeze the juice and reserve for glaze.
3. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl, stir in the sugar than add the margarine. With an electric hand whisk, beat until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
4. Beat together the lemon zest, eggs and Oatly Cream then add to the flour mixture and beat together.
5. Pour into the prepared tin and bake in the middle shelf of the oven for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and makes several pricks with a cocktail stick over the top of the cake.
6. Mix together the lemon juice and sugar for the glaze and spoon evenly over the warm cake. Leave to cool in the tin.
7. Either serve with fresh fruits as a dessert or simply enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.

Tip, store in an airtight tin for 3-4 days
If preferred, grease and line a shallow baking tin approx 30x23cm/12x9in and bake the mixture for 40 minutes. When cool cut into 24 squares.

NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS PER SERVING:
412 kcals
5g protein
20g fat (of which 4g saturated)
57g carbohydrate (of which 32g sugar)
0.7g salt

Oatly oat drinks are also lactose, milk protein and soya free, so they’re great too for anyone who suffers from milk protein allergy, lactose intolerance and/or an allergy to soya.

Available from all major supermarkets, Holland & Barrett and independent health food stores, Oatly Organic and Oatly Enriched cost £1.39/1 litre, Oatly Chocolate is £1.49/1 litre and Oatly Dairy-Free Alternative to Cream is 79p/250ml.

CHINA - Katy Potts Tea For Two

Ophelia

If you are a fan of cucumber sandwiches (no crusts of course) and a good cup of English tea then you won't help but fall in love with this selection of china from Katy Potts - Tea for Two. With a selection of pretty crockery and tea sets this is vintage style at its best. Be sure to check out the cake stands too.

All the pieces on the website were made between the 1920's and 1950's in Staffordshire potteries. There is even talk of a newly designed range due out some time next year. And if you do go on a tea set spree, just remember that your gran will most definitely be jealous!

Miss Isadora

Click here for stockists.

FLOWERS - Standing Ovation for Ovando

Recently announced by the New York Daily News as one of the 50 most influential mover and shakers in fashion today, Sandra de Ovando has created quite a niche and positioned herself in luxury and high fashion circles; not bad for a florist.

Selected as the exclusive floral designer by IMG for the spring 2009 Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week Collections, Ovando created the ambiance for the iconic Bryant Park tents and the W Hotel’s VIP suite.

Visit http://ovandony.com for more info and full portfolios.

AUDIO - Naim That Tune

I used to be a little bit of a HiFi addict, so you could say I know my Bush from my Nad. Naim is a respected name in the industry and has a sound quality that would satisfy even the most critical of ears.

Naim’s new HDX music player has sensational sound quality combined with MP3 player convenience. This is the ideal accompaniment to any stylish interior and is an even better gift for yourself or a loved one.

A jukebox with understated elegance, superior sound quality and sophistication, Naim Audio’s award-winning HDX is a new venture for the luxury audio manufacturer and the world’s first high end performance upgradeable Hard Disk player for the home.

This stand alone music player can store 600 albums in full CD quality – nothing is compressed or lost. The HDX will rip bit-perfect copies of your favourite CDs to its internal storage, playing back your music at full CD-quality. No need to worry about losing your precious music collection either, as the HDX has two internal hard drives, one for storage and one for back up and it performs an automated back up every day.

Equipping a home with a typical audio and video system from Naim can easily cost £110,000. The HDX is priced at £4,500 making world class Naim Audio accessible to a new audience. Naim has fashioned its business around performance products of superlative quality. The HDX is no exception and promises to introduce a new audience emotionally to their music.

Find our more at www.naimhdx.com

ECO - Move House and help the Planet

You can reduce your environmental impact when you move house by using www.eco-boxes.co.uk, a new Internet company which supplies gently used recycled moving boxes to the public and removal companies, making it cheaper and greener to move house.

All boxes included in the ‘Eco moving packs’ are thoroughly checked for rips and tears, weakening of the box and marks or stains on the insides. Each pack contains a useful selection of 16 different size boxes, bio-degradable bubble wrap, non toxic parcel tape and a marker pen. When you finish with a box, simply let Eco boxes pick them up from you free of charge and they will then re-use your perfectly good boxes.

There is no time limit for keeping the boxes and the service is offered Nationwide, if you need to keep some of the boxes, the company will simply collect the number of Eco packs you wish to return. Sounds like a brilliant plan to me! Prices start at £29.99.

RECIPE - Credit Crunch Macaroni Cheese

When money’s tight, we tend to compromise on health and buy what’s on special offer, which isn’t always the best thing to feed our families. Just 80g (three heaped tablespoons) of Green Giant sweetcorn counts towards one of your five a day, something we all need! Sweet corn is also a real favourite of kids too, because lets be honest, it tastes nicer than most vegetables.

Why not try this special credit crunch recipe and feed a family of four a deliciously nutritious, warming meal this season for as little as 64p per portion or less than £2.60!!



Magnificent Macaroni Cheese

Serves: 4
Under £2.55 for 4 portions
Contains 2 portions of vegetables per portion
Ready in 40 minutes

Equipment
Large pan
Medium pan
Ovenproof dish

Ingredients
200g macaroni
350g broccoli florets
340g can Green Giant Sweetcorn, drained
40g butter
40g plain flour
600mlt semi-skimmed milk, warmed
1 tsp English mustard (optional)
175g strong cheddar cheese, grated

1. Heat the oven to 200C/gas 6.

2. Cook the macaroni in a large pan salted water for 5 minutes, cut the broccoli into small florets add to the pan and cook for a further 3 minutes until the macaroni and broccoli are just tender. Drain, and turn into the ovenproof dish

3. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a pan, stir in the flour and cook, stirring over a medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and gradually add the milk, stirring well after each addition. Return to the heat and bring to the boil, and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat, add the mustard if using and season with salt and pepper. Add three quarters of the cheese, stir until the cheese has melted.

4. Add the sweet corn and pour into the dish, fork the sauce through the pasta and broccoli. Scatter the remaining cheese on top, then bake in the oven for 20 minutes until the dish is bubbling and the top is golden.

Per Portion
617 Cals
14g Sugar
27g Fat
17g Sat Fat
1.7g Salt

Estimated cost for 4 portions: £2.53

Visit the Green Giant website to view the full range of products.

THEME - Stripes are Nice

Photo Credit: libraryman on Flickr.com

The stripe theme can be added almost anywhere within your home and garden. Everyone loves a striped lawn but why stop there. Get creative and you could really enhance your decor.

Photo Credit: SarahR89

Striped flooring can be a modern but practical solution. Go for a vertical runner up the stairs to lead the eye. Or paint a thick strip running up the wall by the stairs for a striking feature.

Wallpaper has long favoured the stripe, and you can create an elegant and traditional look with wallpaper, or a modern and more abstract look. The world is your oyster.

Photo Credit: dansays on Flickr.com

Stripey fabrics are worth a thought. Upholstery, curtains and throws can all be updated with a simple stripe. In the bedroom why not try pinstriped bedlinen for a masculine look (above) or mix with other patterns for a more feminine finish (below).

Photo Credit: Posh Living, LLC on Flickr.com

If you aren't yet convinced enough to paint the walls, then opt for some more subtle accessories. Vases, candles and artwork will update your room without full commitment to a completely new scheme. In the kitchen you can get striped crockery and tea towels and display them as accessories.

Photo Credit: ooh_food on Flickr.com

You could even paint your own masterpiece with very little expense. Just pick up a canvas from your local art shop, use masking tape to mark out stripes and then paint with tester pots to match your existing scheme. Now there is an arty idea for the credit crunch.

WEB - Connect with The Style PA

Photo Credit: unloveable on Flickr.com

Did you know there are lots of ways to connect with me? Social networks are a big part of most people's lives these days and I would love to find out more about my readers. Come and visit me at the websites below.

• Get Lippy

Get Lippy has just been relaunched and is better than ever. Brought to you by Company magazine, you will be able to catch up with all the latest gossip and chat in the forums.

• Linked In
• Myspace

I would love to hear from other web workers or those working within the marketing industry. Let me know what you are working on right now.

• Flickr
• Photrade - Buy photos

Photography is another hobby of mine. Check out my images on Photrade. You can purchase prints or rights for publishing online. You may also be interested in showcasing and selling your own work.

• Style Hive
• IQONS Fashion Community
• My It Things
• Fashion Space

Fashion and style communities for fashionistas like me.

• Plurk
• Twitter

Get some behind the scenes insight into what I get up to from day to day.