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Archive for February, 2010

If you are anything like me, you will find occasional makeovers at make-up counters useful for advice, applications and new buys. But on this occasion it was the fact that Newby Hands, the wonderful Health & Beauty Director at Harpers Bazaar UK, was taking part in it that made me want to attend. I called Selfridges but as luck would have it, they were fully booked. I resigned myself to waiting for the next opportunity to arise, but kind forces were on my side and a few days ago a lovely lady telephoned me, saying that they have had a cancellation and there was an early morning spot for me.

Bright and early I arrived at the Dior counter and was met by a tiny, pretty make-up artist called Adeline. She had the biggest eyes and had a lovely French accent, so I instantly felt at ease and made myself comfortable in the chair before the mirror and make-up table.

In the next hour Adeline took me through different products (L’Or de Vie products, especially the eye cream, that glides smoothly and has a round tipped applicator, were to die for but reader, they are expensive !) and techniques. Adeline normally works at the Christian Dior counter at Peter Jones (it seems there is a whole wonderful team of people working there, remember the Kiehl’s helpful & knowledgeable staff I told you about in my previous posting?) and she certainly knows her products. Until recently I haven’t used much of Dior’s make-up, apart from their delicious golden lip glosses or lipsticks (that glide on smoothly, stay put and don’t make your lips dry) but Adeline showed me the potential of CD’s Nude ‘Natural glow hydrating make-up’ (it is velvety smooth and goes on your face effortlessly, accentuating your skin, not covering it; one more tip here-apply with a brush for longer-lasting effect) and their ‘All-in-one Artistry Palette’ for eyes is a miracle product (there is base, colour, shadow, shine and liner plus two small, double-sided brushes & clearly written instructions with application pictures), as their eye shadows accentuate your eyes without going into creases, if applied correctly ( I still have to reach a ‘professional application method’ on this one). Another handy tip was to dot your liquid eyeliner with CD’s eyeliner brush in-between your upper eyelashes-this makes your eyes stand out, eyelashes seem darker and the effect is subtly seductive but very natural. It almost is like you look different but one can’t pinpoint why is it exactly.

I normally only use mascara in the evening, when going out, but Dior’s new and as-yet-unavailable Diorshow Extase mascara(you have to wait until March 23^rd before you can get your hands on it) mascara is beyond sensational and it’s application brush is unlike any I have seen before.

I also got to spend time with Newby, who is even better looking in real-life. She is tall and willowy, easily smiles and is happy to answer your beauty questions, no matter how mundane they are. We talked about so many things, including organic skincare, vitamins & supplements ( according to Newby one has to remember that we are all individual in our needs, and one supplement might be great for me, but will have no effect on my best friend, for example). She does say that lifestyle is important and that it is essential that we listen to our bodies. Newby seems really honest and I will definitely take on board that fact that she would rather not write about the not-so-good staff but will cover the great and useful products, that make our lives better, bodies fitter and beauty more radiant.

 And one more thing. Russian women tend to pay attention to their looks. Little girls are brought up with the importance of looking good, having regular manicures and pedicures and paying attention to their posture, dress sense and make-up. I remember someone said to me, when was younger, that one has to look at the woman’s hands in order to tell if she is a real lady. Newby had beautiful hands, with a fantastic burgundy polish that I instantly wanted to know the name of. I only hope in the future to have a chance to learn more from this radiant & knowledgeable woman. And I will definitely pop into Peter Jones for updates with Adeline.

Every woman should know that face massage helps with keeping the skin supple, gives our faces a healthy glow, boosts the circulation and helps to sculpt the face and keep the lines less obvious.

I have read about the benefits of using the Yuroll, been given some ‘detoxing’ moves by Anastasia Achilleos (that I faithfully use every evening,while cleansing my face) and keep on trying to remember to use the scrub on my face at least once a week. I also use Liz Earle’s face cloth every evening. But it’s always good to keep up with the new developments….

A few days ago my best friend gave me Soap & Glory’s Energy boosting Face Massage Mini Mitt(this line was developed by Marcia Kilgore, the super-creative woman behind Bliss spas, Bliss brand and Fit Flops among others, in order to allow women to look wonderful without spending a huge amount of money). For example, her Sugar Crush body scrub not only does a great job, while smelling divine, but it definitely gives any other, more expensive scrub (and there are many!), a run for their money.

S&G’s mini mitt fits into the palm of your hand and with its help (and that of your usual face cleanser) you will achieve a radiant complexion and keep dead skin cells, that make our face complexion grey & sallow, at bay. The mitt is quite soft, so should be useful to people with sensitive skin too. It feels like a soft caress on the skin, so you will be doing your face not only the favour, but enjoying the sensation too.

When I was a teenager and living in Moscow, one of my favourite movies was a Russian version of Sherlock Holmes, with Vasylyi Livanov as the formidable detective and Vitalyi Solomin as the faithfull side-kick Dr. Watson. When I heard that Guy Ritchie made a film about the famous detective it aroused my curiosity, even though I found Layer Cake (so many guys I know love it, not least because Sienna Miller is in it…) and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels were too violent for my liking.

The fact that Robert Downey Jr was fronting this project made me want to see this film twice as much, because, as far as I am concerned, he is so versatile as an actor, he can play anyone, blowing you away every single time with his talent and charisma. His Sherlock Holmes is handsome, smart and damn sexy, and while Jude Law does nothing for me, he plays Dr. Watson well. The film is shot beautifully and it keeps the pace, while you sit on the edge of your seat (or sofa) with bated breath, wondering what twist will come next. All I can say is that I hope there will be a sequel or pre-quell.

Winter is almost over (well, I want to hope so!), so why would I want to write about cashmere? Well, because Banjo & Matilda kept me stylishly warm all winter but they also make beautiful pieces to wear in spring and summer.

This Australian brand was started by Belynda Macpherson in 2008. I read about it last year, went to have a look at B&M’s internet site and the rest, as they say, is shopping history.

Until recently I would buy an occasional cashmere sweater but to be honest, I preferred wool for its warmth, practicality and the lack of ‘bubbles’ that one tends to accumulate wearing cashmere. B&M cashmere broke my prejudice barrier-its pieces are warm, so comfortable to wear you wouldn’t want to take their clothing off (I swear I ‘lived’ B&M’s sweaters through this horrible winter) and are beautifully made with attention to the smallest detail.

Belynda also goes a step further while working on collections, by hiring a ‘Guest designer’ and last year it was her Glamazon sister-in-law Elle Macpherson. I have it on good authority that the next guest designer will be another  well-known Australian export .)

The new collection, that recently went ‘live’, is called ‘Ultra-fine series’and consists of feather light cardigans, sweaters, tanks, camis & dresses in pretty colours (reds, blues, heather greys,camel etc. )that are going to make you feel blissfully happy in your own skin. I just received the sailing sweater (have a look, as it is selling up very fast, Belynda tells me).

At the moment Belynda is still considering the UK based stockists, but she does ship to the UK via DHL, so all you have to do is make up your choices and order. And when your items arrive, they will be wrapped in tissue paper and enclosed in a pretty brown box tied with printed ribbon. Inside you will also find a cotton bag and a cedar ball to keep your cashmere happy while you are not wearing it (told you-the little details !). I am a big fan and hope you will fall in love with Banjo&Matilda too.

www.banjoandmatilda.com

Not all Russians like ballet, but I think most of us are born or raised with the appreciation of this beautiful and fluid art. When I was growing up my favourite uncle, Mikhail, danced in the Bolshoi and I can still visualise his always straight posture, the special way he held his back, positioned his feet-he was just so dashing-well, still is. As my uncle travelled around the world he brought over videos that were rare at the time, but allowed me and my cousin to watch Nureyev and Baryshnikov dance. I think thanks’ to my uncle I fell in love with Baryshnikov, this small, beautifully proportionate blond ballet dancer who danced with such ease and pirouetted like no one else.

This love for his talent stayed with me as I grew. When I was a bit older I saw him in ‘White Nights’ and the way that he danced to Vladimir Vysotskyi’s ‘Koni/Horses’ makes me shiver every time I think of that amazing marriage of song and dance. To this day, no one can dance it as passionately, as beautifully and with as much pain as Baryshnikov did then.

A few years ago I saw Baryshnikov dance at Sadler’s Wells and the Barbican. I watched the performances without moving, hardly daring to breathe because this elf of a man was so mesmerising in his dance and his passion for it. After the performance I waited outside (and I hardly ever do that!) and even managed to ask Baryshnikov a few questions, albeit in English.

He had a hard time growing up and dancing in Russia and even now, when I am sure there are plenty of people who want to bring him over for a performance or to curate his own photographic exhibitions (this man is full of creativity and wisdom and has so many talents) he refuses to come, maybe because the pain of his experience or how he was treated at the time has never gone away.

I think a younger generation of both men and women enjoyed watching him as an artistic boyfriend of Carrie Bradshaw in SATC-see what I mean about being multi-talented? And just recently he took part in the project with a well-known photographer & friend of his, Annie Leibovitz for Louis Vuitton.

For the last three years Annie Leibovitz photographed such dignitaries as Sean Connery and Mikhail Gorbachev for Louis Vuittons’s project, called  Core Values Campaign. This year Louis Vuitton turned the table somewhat, putting Annie Leibovitz into the spotlight, together with her friend Misha Baryshnikov. The two artists are not only photographed together, but are filmed in conversation, talking about dancing, age, photography and reminiscing about life. Watching those videos I wished I could sit on the floor and have a chance to listen to this handsome and wise man in close proximity. There are many talented ballet dancers around the world, and maybe some of them are more technical than Baryshnikov used to be, but his force, his stage presence and his passion for ballet remain unrivalled. He continues to explore the dance, its facets, working with choreographers-young and older, raising the next generation of dancers through Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York and being himself, a truly very talented Man, who is fleetingly captures by Louis Vuitton in its campaign. 

http://www.louisvuittonjourneys.com/annie/#/en_GB/shooting-stars

www.louisvuittonjourneys.com from February 11, 2010

If you are like me and like pizza as an occasional treat, then Pizza Express’s new collaboration will offer your taste buds something new.

Their menu is full of choices but their guest chef, Francesco Mazzei, takes it even further with 3 new pizzas (my favourite, Mia Sofia that is made with truffle oil and mushrooms galore, a hot Calabrese with spicy italian sausage & peppers (tried it, did not like it at all!) and Rustichella  (haven’t tried it yet, but sounds promising) that don’t have tomato as a base ingredient, so are better eaten straight from the oven!

http://www.pizzaexpress.com/our-food/mains.aspx

When my generation was in nappies (and not of the Pampers kind) computers weren’t as mainstream as they are now. What a difference a decade (or two) makes.

My little guy got his first laptop (a toy one!) aged one but he prefers to ‘torture’ mine, while I try to  make sure it stays out of his reach! However, a few days ago I came across the site that has put an end to our differences .)

KNEEBOUNCERS was born out of frustration of a 9-month old little girl and her father’s desire to help her. Jim Robinson couldn’t find a site where his daughter could play games without using a PC mouse. He, together with Kurt Dommermuth, developed six colourful (and very cute) characters called Caesar the Puppy, Freddy the Bear, Horatio the Hippo, Foo Foo the Bunny and Sammy the Monkey (and you should see their nicknames, they are bound to make you giggle) and 15 games, ranging from the obvious shapes, colours, numbers, to peek-a-boo, music-maker and my favourite, bed jump (what you don’t do in everyday life, you can do on computer). The site is easy to navigate and each game can be played by pressing any random key-try to stay away from the ‘power’ button though, which my son loves but it sends my laptop into hibernation.  

See what your little one thinks of it, but I bet he or she won’t be disappointed. 

 http://www.kneebouncers.com/

For the last few years the one thing that really wakes me up in the morning is coffee and I only drink  Illey because it tastes great and smells of roasted coffee beans like no other brand does. I try to limit myself to one great tasting cup a day, because if I drink an expresso in the evening I end up bouncing off the walls until the whee hours ( a tip: if you put a few drops of Grappa into it, it will give you enough buzz to keep going for a good few hours, especially if you are studying or working late into the night-but I do mean just a few drops, otherwise it loses it’s magic potency).

Coffee, though, does have a few downsides: it can stain your teeth and raise your blood pressure, so when I recently read that Margo Marrone of the Organic Pharmacy advises to follow a cup of coffee with a glass of water, to help flush the caffeine faster, I took it on board. Maybe you should try it too….

There is a new Russian guest in London but I think this one will be very welcome to stay….

Last week, without much fanfare, a small Russian delicatessen with a european decor was open in Knightsbridge. It stocks sweets, that I, for one, remember from my childhood, pickled vegetables, cured meats, cheeses (like Russian cottage cheese called tvorog) and my favourites, Georgian wines (once you try them, you will be hooked, I promise! ) that until recently were extremely difficult to find in London.

You can buy take-away cakes and bread or have a coffee or tea sitting at a small table outside, observing the busyness of Beauchamp place and its beautiful people.

What I particularly liked is the sweet and knowledgeable Russian staff who answer questions and make good suggestions with a genuine smile that you don’t stand a chance of getting if you were shopping in a typical Russian delicatessen. My son was lucky enough to walk off with a rooster lollipop that he was given, while I reminisced of eating one like that when I was not much older than he is now.

The Merchant’s Yard, 41 Beauchamp place, SW3 tel. 0203 1440072

You can be very good with your hands and use them to fix things, when they break down around the house or apartment, but there comes a time when the job needs to be done by a professional, unless you want to be electrocuted or make things much worse during the ‘fixing’ process.

Well, of course one can ask a husband/boyfriend/partner to do it. But then he/she might not know how to do it or more likely, not have the time to do it. The second option would be to hire someone to do it. Again, the downside can be not knowing where to look or whether you can trust the hired person to do a reliable job. If all of the above fails the solution is to call Handy Squad.

I have read about them in the press but never got down to actually hiring them until recently, when ‘small’ jobs piled up and threatened to overflow my household, that normally runs like clock-work.

Navid called me, asking if he could arrive earlier than the scheduled time. Upon arrival, he promptly and very quickly got on with fixing the broken tile in the hallway and grouting of the shower. I had the spare tile but no grout, so he whizzed off to the closest supplies store and within a short time those jobs were done.

The other jobs required an electrician and Paul was an answer to my prayers. Not only did he do all the jobs quickly and efficiently (replaced electric sockets and fixed the twitching linear lights) but he also gave me useful tips and advice on how to change certain light bulbs and what to do if your linear lights play up.

Handyman squad provides a variety of services and they have clearly defined charges. I will definitely use them again and as far as I am concerned their services are highly recommended.

http://www.handysquad.com/

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