Well, we all want to be looking our best when we meet our Prince and at www.oscarandolivia.co.uk they have found the perfect solution with these romantic and dreamy dresses by ‘How To Kiss A Frog’.
Whether it’s frills, lace or flower prints all little Princesses will play the perfect part in their own dreamy fairytale.
Fit for a Princess they are modern, stylish and made from 100% organic cotton. Garments are machine washable so fuss free letting the little ones twirl to their hearts’ content.
Oscar & Olivia, is a platform that provides a strong voice for brands with creative flare by quality craftsman using ethically sourced materials from all over the world.
Oscar & Olivia have sourced look-good, feel-good children’s clothes, finding and vetting sustainable clothing from independent designers to save the consumer a ton of time.
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100% Certified Organic ultimate shine shampoo & natural no-tangle conditioner bursting with Berry Benefits!
Introducing the brand NEW Berry Smoothie Shampoo and Conditioner from Organic Children, just for kids! For sparkling, tangle-free tresses and a new Raspberry, Apple and Vanilla aroma that smells good enough to eat.
This fruity pair are bursting with natural goodness to feed your child’s hair, leaving it beautifully soft, shiny and protected.
These natural blends are packed with nourishment to hydrate, condition and enhance the natural beauty of young hair. Plant proteins feed the hair essential nutrients, coating each strand to give a beautifully glossy and vibrant shine, whilst wheat protein helps to banish tangles and smooth the hair shaft. Aloe Vera, Raspberry, Vanilla and Pineapple are just a few of the delightfully smelling ingredients blended into these products. They are so divine you will want to use them on yourself!
All Organic Babies products are suitable for those prone to eczema, psoriasis and other skin allergies. Products are available through selected John Lewis, Ocado, and independent health stores and online.
RRP £8.50, 200ml
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Halloween is here again and what better way to show off your cooking skills than by whipping up some cupcakes which can be easily transformed to make scary, yet delicious treats that will complete any Halloween party or gathering.
Self taught baker and owner of The Bakery Lounge, Olivia Zampi, talks us through her spooky but delicious, easy-to-do cup cake recipe below! Happy baking!
Vanilla Cupcake Recipe
345g all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
226g unsalted butter, (softened)
350g granulated sugar
4 medium eggs, (room temp)
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
240ml semi-skimmed milk
Vanilla Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line two muffin tins with twenty-four muffin size black cupcake papers.
In a medium size mixing bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.
In a separate bowl beat the butter until soft and creamy (either electric or hand mixer is fine). Add the sugar and combine with the butter – beat until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time beating well, until combined. Mix in the vanilla extract.
Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the wet ingredients each in three stages. Fold the flour and milk into the batter by hand.
The batter should be smooth and will be fairly thick.
Use a tablespoon to add the mixture to the cupcake cases. Fill the cases to 3/4 full.
Bake the cupcakes until golden brown and springy to touch.
Buttercream Frosting
460g icing sugar
226g unsalted butter, (softened)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2-4 tablespoons semi-skimmed milk
Piping Bag
Star Nozzle
Use either a hand or electric mixer and beat the butter until soft and creamy.
Mix in the vanilla.
Add the icing sugar gradually mixing on low speed until fully combined.
Add the milk as needed.
Beat on high speed until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. For the cupcakes you want the frosting to be quite stiff so you can pipe it – when lifting a spoonful out of the bowl it should not drop off the spoon. Add more icing sugar as needed and mix until you are satisfied with the consistency.
Refrigerate for 20 minutes. When the cupcakes are cooled fill your piping bag with the star nozzle and then with a generous helping of frosting.
Carefully pipe the frosting onto each of the cupcakes. Hold the bag about a centimeter above a cupcake and have the tip pointing towards the middle. Apply gentle pressure to the bag and gently draw your hand around in an anti-clockwise circle with the bag. As you come around for the second time lift your hand with a slight twist so a nice frosted peak forms on the top of the cupcake.
Place the frosted cupcakes in the fridge to set the icing for 15 minutes.
How to Make a Fondant Pumpkin
Orange sugar paste 600g
(You can mix red and yellow sugar paste together if need be)
Green sugar paste 150g
Black sugar paste 200g
Roll 25g of orange sugar paste into a ball between your hands.
Use the tip of your little finger to press a small indent into the top centre of the ball. Place the orange ball onto a piece of baking parchment or non stick surface and press down gently so the base flattens out. Repeat the process until you have 24. Leave to harden.
For the leaves take a small segment of the green sugar paste and roll into a ball. Flatten the ball between forefinger and thumb and pinch one end so it becomes a teardrop shape.
Brush a tiny bit of water into the indent on one orange ball and insert the leaf. Repeat this process until each pumpkin has a leaf.
Roll out a thin sausage of black sugar paste and cut up into small segments. These will be the stems for the pumpkins. Pop each black sugar paste segment next to a leaf on top of one of the pumpkins. Repeat until all pumpkins have their stems.
Roll out a long thin sausage of black fondant and cut 24 pieces, each about 1.5cm long. These are to be the pumpkin’s smiles. Use a tiny dab of water to make the sugar paste sticky and fix one of these pieces onto one of the orange balls. Use your fingertips to gently push the edges upwards. Repeat until you have 24 smiles!
Roll a very small ball of black sugar paste and pinch into a triangle. Repeat until you have 24 and then fix each nose in place onto the centre of the pumpkins face above the smile.
Take a pea-sized segment of black sugar paste and cut in half. Flatten one half with your forefinger and thumb and pinch the edges to form a triangle. Repeat this process for the remaining half. Pop the triangle eye pieces into place on the orange ball above the nose. Use a tiny bit of water to fix in place.
Gently pop your smiling pumpkin on top of your cupcake!
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About Buriti ‘Tree of Life’ Oil
Buriti Oil is obtained from the fruit pulp of Mauritia Flexuosa, a tall palm tree, native to the Central Brazilian areas in the Amazon. Named the ‘Tree of Life’, as all the elements of the tree are valuable –it has been used for centuries by indigenous and native inhabitants of the Amazon for its Vitamin A supplement, hence its healing properties for burns and inflammation.
It can be used (sparingly) for a number of ailments including:
* Use during and post natal to avoid and reduce the appearance of stretch marks
* Dry, parched and rough skin, in particular cracked heels and cuticles
* Facial protection against harsh winter environmental elements – perfect for runners and skiers
* Calming skin inflammation including sun burn
Key Actives & Bio-oils:
Buriti ‘Tree of Life’ Oil – antioxidant rich healing oil
Argan Oil – Rich in Vitamin E to help improve elasticity
Shea Butter – the ultimate in skin hydration
Rosa Mosquita – rich in fatty acids to improve the appearance of stretch marks
Calendula – to soothe inflammation and redness
RRP £22
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Blossom Mother and Child create beauty products for mums-to-be fit for a Royal. Bloom and Blossom’s luxurious products are the brand of choice by HRH the Duchess of Cambridge and can be worn by all expectant mothers all over the world.
Bloom and Blossom have created an Anti Stretch Mark Cream, which is a rich and luxurious cream that helps maintain the skins elasticity and reduces the appearance of stretch marks. With the help of Omega rich Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter, restore skin tone and provide a protective barrier to lock in the skins moisture. RRP £24.00
They have also created a Mother To Be Gift Set that includes the Anti Stretch Mark Cream (150ml), Revitalising Leg and Foot Spray (100ml) and Indulgence Bath Oil (100ml). RRP £45.00
All products are full sized and presented within a beautiful presentation box and ribbon.
Treat an expectant mother with products that will make her feel like a Queen for the day.
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Introducing Doodle Do an enchanting, non-gender childrenswear label that brings to life childhood imagination, creativity and fun in their AW 14 collection.
Doodle Do is a family run business that uses children’s inspirations as their main design technique. Looking through the window of childhood, observing a child’s interpretations and their relentless imaginations. Doodle Do’s vision is to take the world by storm and share all that it stands for. Encouraging a love for nature and surroundings, giving kids the freedom to imagine with no pre-conceived notions. Doodle Do is proud to be created by the help of kids for kids.
The AW14 collection is full of quirky, colourful and playful prints. Friendly and fun loving characters including foxes, cats and bats will soon become more than just clothes but childhood companions accompanying each little explorer on their new adventure. Perfect for each and every child who needs to play, run and simply hang out in garments that are special and comfy at the same time.
Using organic fabrics, jersey, loopback sweat and wovens together with more innovative fabrics like Ahimsa silk and ensure that the manufacturing process conforms to ethical standards whilst parents appreciate the age appropriate designs and practicality.
Ruby & Roo held their first official baby shower last weekend! Everything went wonderfully and the mother to be loved every minute of it. Guests were sent pretty invitations through the post prior to the big day and were welcomed with a glass of pink Champagne on arrival. Gorgeous bespoke confetti-filled balloons adorned the tables with elegant floral displays containing cabbage, amnesia rose, purple rose and olive branches. A delicious two tier dark chocolate cake with French vanilla cream, sugar paste and a hand crafted bouncing baby girl on top went down a real treat.
Here is the mouth watering menu that our guests enjoyed!
Menu
Tuna Tartare with Avocado & Wild Fennel
Buffalo Mozzarella, Artichoke & Pale Aubergine
Fritto Misto with Lemon Mayonnaise
Vitello Tonnato
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Tagliatelle, Wild Mushrooms & Truffle
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Fillet Steak served with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes & Rocket, Parmesan and Tomato Salad
The gorgeous matching gift bags filled with goodies by Links of London and Monica Vinader were the icing on the cake, for what was a very decadent afternoon.
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We spent the most delightful morning at Kensington Roof Gardens in glorious sunshine celebrating the launch of Little London Magazine. It was a fabulous turnout, with lot’s of yummy mummy’s and kids being entertained at every turn by entertainers, a manicurist and mounds of sugary treats. We couldn’t resist devouring the mini French pastries and delicious BKD biscuits on offer – so much for our healthy eating plan!
Little London is the essential bi-monthly magazine for the adventure that is childhood. Taking parents through everything from those first days at nursery to their first trip away from home, it’s a guide to the most exciting activities and cultural events in and around the capital; the hottest holidays, coolest kidswear and interiors ideas. Little London will inspire parents while also helping them keep on top of their child’s health, development and well-being via their team of expert contributors.
The September / October issue of Little London is now on sale for just £3.99 in Harrods, Selfridges, Marks & Spencer and other major retailers.
www.littlelondonmagazine.co.uk
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English bookbinder introduces a new range of Journals, 2015 Diaries and Clever Pencils
Continuing in the tradition of Sloane Stationery’s hallmark wit and humour, the London-based luxury bookbinder debuts a new range of journals, notebooks, and desk accessories this season.
In equal parts striking, witty, and wise, the Creepy Crawly collection introduces 6 A5 journals covered in PU with a bright saffiano finish in a range of bright colours including cherry, orange and forest green.
Embossed in gold with titles such as “Social Butterfly” and “Queen Bee”, they retail at £ 29 each and measure 21.5 cm x 14.5m.
As with all Sloane Stationery products, each book is individually made using the finest cream paper with gilded edges and covered in a luxurious lizard-embossed card and embossed with a title or image. Each book has a grosgrain ribbon page-marker.
Sloane Stationery Collection will be available at sloanestationery.com, TopShop, Fenwicks, Heals and a select number of retailers from September 1st, 2014.
For all enquries please contact info@sloanestationery.com | +44.7910216005
and visit www.sloanestationery.com
Emily Fruit Crisps is a new range of fantastically flavourful gluten free real fruit snacks that are not only incredibly low in fat and free from any kind of funny stuff like additives and preservatives, but which also – because of the clever way they are cooked – retain lots of the lovely healthy stuff in fruit. So loads of the fruity nutrients, the fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are preserved in one incredible, unbelievably delicious, properly crisp and crunchy snack.
Stockists include Selfridges and Lomax Chelsea. RRP £2.20
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