Tag: Lifestyle

Lifestyle

PROUD CABARET ALL STARS

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PROUD CABARET ALL STARS

If you’re in the UK and fancy an unforgettable night out filled with circus acts, burlesque artists and fire breathers then Proud Cabaret is the place for you. You can choose different shows to see from Cabaret Underworld, Drag Brunch, or Cabaret All Stars. We chose Cabaret All Stars and loved it so much, we went twice! Cabaret All Stars has a celebrity host to lead the stellar cast of performers. From boyband Blue’s Duncan James, Love Island’s Amber Davies, and actresses Denise Van Outen, Claire Sweeney and many more.

Cabaret All Stars is a Vegas-style show introduced to London’s West End, so be prepared for an unforgettable night out. Proud Cabaret have glamorous venues around the UK including Embankment, Brighton and Proud City, which is located in the city of London.

You can enjoy a delicious three-course meal whilst watching the show sipping on Prosecco, wine, or a cocktail of your choice. The seated burlesque entertainment usually starts from 7pm until 10.30pm. You won’t be seated for long, by the end of the night you will be up on your feet dancing along to great tunes sung by the celebrity host to close the night on a high.

Shelley & Michelle xx

Food

OUR QUICK AND EASY CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE RECIPE

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OUR QUICK AND EASY CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE RECIPE

As the weather begins to brightening up, and as cake lovers we thought what better way to enjoy the new season than baking and eating cake! Packed with gooey chocolate chips throughout, we chose to make our go to chocolate chip cake which is so easy to make and is perfect for any occasion. You could serve with a dash of cream or ice cream, as a sweet dessert, or simply lovely to enjoy with a cup of tea. This chocolate chip cake can also be made into chocolate chip muffins (see one of our previous posts).

Ingredients:

250g self-raising flour

2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 cup of Milk

1 tsp vanila extract

200g Unsalted butter

200g Granulated sugar

3 eggs

100g chocolate chips

100g white chocolate chips

Method:

1: Pre-heat the oven to 200°F, then combine all of your dry ingredients which includes the salt and baking powder to the flour. Whisk through thoroughly so it has a smooth effect with no clumps.

2: Pour the vanilla extract into the milk. In another separate bowl add your butter and sugar, then whisk until your batter is light and fluffy. Next crack in your three eggs one at a time. The egg helps combine the mixture and also adds moisture.

3: Add a third of your dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture. Then add half of your milk and vanilla extract mixture and mix it in. You want to alternate the dry ingredients and the milk and vanilla mixture until it’s all eventually in, and mix with your hand mixer. Your batter should look smooth and creamy.

4: Now it’s time for the chocolate chips. Put a fare amount of both chocolate and white chocolate chips into your bowl. But leave a little bit of your chocolate chips to the side to add at the end. Begin to mix so your chocolate chips are thoroughly distributed into the mix. Next pour your batter into your greased baking tin. Always make sure you have greased your baking paper before adding your batter, as it prevents your cake to stick. After placing your mix evenly into the tin, sprinkle the last of your chocolate chips on to the top.

5. Lastly, place your mix into your pre-heated oven for 30 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted into the cake comes out clean and not sticky.

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

5 WAYS TO KICKSTART A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE IN 2022

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5 WAYS TO KICKSTART A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE IN 2022

Invest in yourself: Always make time for you, it may sound a bit cliche but not taking care of yourself won’t give you the ability to be your best self in everyday life. This is easier said then done, as the days can disappear before our eyes so quickly… I mean we are at the end of January already! Try and find ways to show yourself some love and keep your stress levels down, whether it’s getting your hair done, buying that new outfit or a piece of jewelry you’ve had your eye on. Retail therapy can be a good remedy to feel good. Lastly investing in your wellness, for example vitamins is a good way to get through those long winter days. We have a lot of vitamins and minerals in our foods, but if you are suffering with those January blues and needing that extra boost, invest in the vitamins you need to help give you energy.

Make time for sleep: Getting enough sleep is one of the most important health benefits ever! It reduces stress and improves your mood, leaving you refreshed and alert for the day ahead. Without enough sleep the brain cannot function properly. A healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy. It’s not easy for us all to drift off to sleepy land straight away and to get in the recommended six to nine hours a night, but if you try getting into bed at a decent hour most nights, and making it a point to shut out all the distractions such as phones, you may see a difference. Enjoying a hot bath with your favorite bath salts is a great way to help sooth the muscles, unwind and clear the mind. We love spraying lavender mist on our pillows before sleep which helps get us to sleep quicker. If that’s not for you, you can never go wrong with a good book before bed.

(Photo credit: Susan Wilkinson)

Choosing healthier food options: We’re not fans of diets and tend to eat what we want and also enjoy, all in moderation of course! If you are watching what you eat then the best way to monitor this is by evaluating the time of day you have your meals. We find that when we make time for breakfast, lunch and dinner we snack less during the day. A substantial breakfast is not on the cards for us every day due to busy mornings. When on the go grab that banana or fruit pot so you don’t miss out. Try eating at fixed meal times daily, this will help control your hunger. Just have fun with your meals, we are foodies and like a variety of different cuisines. Experiment more in the kitchen and bring fresh tastes to your dining room table.

(Photo credit: Claudia Soares)

Exercise: Being able to fit the time in to even get to the gym a few times a week is a miracle. So when life gets hectic, being physically active throughout the day helps. You don’t need to hit the gym every day to burn calories, deciding to take the stairs over the lift, taking a half an hour brisk walk at lunchtime. And even try a ten minute quick Yoga and Pilates session first thing in the morning or just before bed at the end of the day. Sticking with this routine will keep your fitness levels on track.

Mind and soul: We all have our own way to de-stress, clearing the mind is also important for overall health. Learning to switch off from your day fully is a mindset, to achieve this, you can meditate, pursue a hobby, listen to music and watch a great tv series. Why not treat yourself to the cinema or theatre. Put yourself first, when you try to do that you will feel happier and be able to tackle whatever life throws at you.

(Photo credit: Thanos Pal)

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

DINNER AT LONDON’S MINT LEAF LOUNGE

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DINNER AT LONDON’S MINT LEAF LOUNGE

If you fancy a chilled evening dining out, and to experience exquisite dishes filled with great herbs and spices. Then Mint Leaf Lounge is the place for you. The cosy restaurant provides a great atmosphere with soft lighting and relaxed music.

Based in the City of London, the restaurant offers a variety of different menus to suit everyone, from a romantic meal for two, to a group dinner, and even business lunches.

Diners have the choice from a selection of set menus as well as an à la carte menu to choose from. And as always great cocktails, wines and spirits are on offer. We chose to sip on chardonnay wine for the evening which went down nicely with our meal.

To kick start the evening we chose the Chilli Calamari which was perfectly crisp fried and tossed with roast cumin and green chilli. Alongside a plate of Tiger Prawns with black onion seeds and spiced yoghurt. Both dishes were so tasty, we wanted more!

It took a little longer than usual to choose what we wanted to eat, as everything on the menu looked too good. So we decided on a dish each, and to share the love lol.

We enjoyed the Murgh Tikka Makhani which is a free range chicken, chargrilled in fresh tomato and fenugreek sauce. With Lamb Rogan Josh that included a braised leg of lamb with brown onion, tomato and Kashmiri chilli and Saffron Pulao Rice. Both dishes tasted really well together.

Mint Leaf Lounge is located near to the Bank of England in the heart of the City. If you are based in London the restaurant is easy to travel to, and a great choice to enjoy chic and sophisticated dining.

Shelley & Michelle xx

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Soul Review: Disney Pixar’s Newest Animated Film Starring An All-Star Voice Cast

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Pixar is the brains behind many film classics such as Toy Story, The Incredibles and they have now gained yet another classic to add to their franchise. Pixar’s latest release Soul was a great but emotional watch. The award-winning animation skipped the cinemas and was released by Disney+ on Christmas Day last year, becoming the first Pixar movie to debut exclusively on the streaming service.

Soul is Pixar’s first animated film to feature an African American lead character. The film hosts the voices of a stellar cast including Jamie Foxx, Graham Norton, Angela Bassett and many more. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Norton’s voice, appearing as Moonwind, a spiritual sign twirler. I’m so used to watching him on the Graham Norton show, it was good to see Graham make his first ‘voiced’ movie debut.

Soul tells the story of 46-year-old Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx), a music teacher who isn’t totally happy with his career and is still waiting on his life to begin. He has a lifelong love of jazz music and fortunately gets the chance to play the piano at one of the best jazz clubs in New York City, for the legendary jazz musician and band-leader Dorothea Williams (Angela Bassett). Joe cannot believe his luck as he begins his walk through the streets of Queens, New York with an extra spring to his step. But he is on his phone, distracted and not paying any attention to what’s going on around him. Joe’s walking into roads without looking, nearly getting knocked over by several cars on his travels. This scene left me feeling quite nervous and on the edge of my seat as Joe narrowly misses death several times, until he falls into a deep open manhole.

My first thought was “Is Joe dead or alive?” then “Really… he’s actually died so early on in the film?” It turned out though, that he isn’t quite dead. Joe has crossed over to The Great Before – this is a place in the clouds where unborn souls are living – and are assigned different personalities before they go to earth.

The ‘souls’ reminded me of characters in the 90s classic ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost.’ Their mentors are allocated to souls that need a little help to give them the push and encouragement they need to truly live.

Joe, who wants to return to life, is paired with Soul 22 (Tina Fey), who has the total opposite view to him and is adamant that she wants to stay put. But Joe learns that she is a lost soul and tries his best to explain and show her the joys of living. Soul 22 accompanies Joe as they evaluate his life and embark on a wonderful journey. Throughout the film they end up being mentors to one another as Joe reminds Soul 22 of her time on Earth. She eventually goes back to Earth and Joe accompanies her until he heads back in line for the Great Beyond. As he awaits his turn, Joe is stopped by “counsellor” Jerry who works at the Great Beyond and tells him that he gets a second chance at life.

I had to stop myself from blubbering as Soul is most definitely a film that pulls at the heartstrings. It really gets you thinking about life and portrays the Great Before, as many of us have only ever heard of the afterlife and not life before your own human existence. It was a great watch, which can be enjoyed with the whole family. There is one thing that Joe says in the film that will stick with me forever “Life is full of possibilities, you just need to know where to look.”

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

5 WAYS TO TACKLE STRESS AND AXIETY DURING LOCKDOWN

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The Coronavirus Pandemic has had an impact on all of our lives one way or another. Making our anxiety and stress levels reach that all time high. Some of us, feeling worried as we are not sure what tomorrow’s news may bring, bored by staring at the same walls day in and day out. You may live alone and feel lonely, which can then turn into frustration as all you want to do is see and hug your loved ones. For most of us, these feelings will pass and we have for you a few easy little steps you can do in the comfort of your home and to help point you in the right direction.

Meditation: Finding time for you is always beneficial and meditation is a way where you can do this. Meditation can be practiced at any time of the day, we’re not saying to spend hours meditating but, ten minutes a day will keep those cobwebs at bay. A good time to practice is first thing in the morning or just before bedtime. Even If you need a few minutes to yourself during the day, doing a short meditation on your lunch break will give you that time out you need. There are great meditation apps for mindfulness such as Calm and Headspace. YouTube is a great way to find short meditation videos too.

(Photo credit: Lesly Juarez)

Stay connected with friends and family: We have all been using Zoom more than ever this past year. Whether that being holding evening quizzes, meetings, celebrating birthdays and baby showers. We all need to feel connected, so keep in touch with friends and family and try reconnecting with old friends. Doing this more times than not should make you feel a little better as you can catch up and have a good laugh, which is so needed.

Physical health: Our physical fitness has a major impact on how we feel, so looking after our bodies the best way we can is important. It’s so easy to fall into unhealthy patterns in lockdown but you have to just have the mindset to keep your physical fitness going. Try to exercise regularly, this can be as easy as an online ten-minute Yoga and Pilates class, a high intensity half hour cardio session, hitting the pavement for a jog, a daily walk or bike ride helps with fitness and also clears your mind. Eating healthily and preparing a well-balanced, nutritious meal always makes you feel great. As well as drinking lots of water.

(Photo credit: Greg Rosenke)

Make time for yourself: This can include anything, think of things that you really enjoy and that relaxes you. Listening and dancing around to your favourite music always helps, as well as releasing those feel good endorphins. Doing this for as long as you want whilst dancing around like no one is watching is the best thing ever! Reading books can make your mind wonder to a different place. A great book is a good feel factor and whilst doing this why not run a hot bath and enjoy your book whilst soaking your body at the same time. Pamper yourself. This can be facials, giving yourself a manicure and pedicure, masks and hair masks. Looking after you is the way forward. Lastly try out that new recipe you have seen. Cooking a great meal or even baking for yourself and for those you live with is a good way to get those culinary skills on point as well as having a full stomach too!

(Photo credit: Sam Loyd)

Organising your space: They say an organised space is an organised mind, the more clutter you can see around you, the more easily you’ll find yourself distracted. Start by getting rid of the things you don’t need. There is a variety of different online ecommerce websites where you can sell clothes, electrical goods and many more. You may fancy a little revamp, why not give a room in your home a whole new makeover. Doing this will make you feel as though you have got something done, whilst feeling great about yourself at the same time.

Shelley & Michelle xx

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OUR TOP SIX WINTER TV SERIES

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OUR TOP SIX WINTER TV SERIES

1: EMILY IN PARIS

This American comedy-drama kept us highly entertained. We literally binge watched all ten episodes for three days straight! Lily Collins stars as Emily, a young American woman who moves to Paris to provide an American point of view to a French marketing firm. She struggles to succeed in the workplace while searching for love and exploring the beautiful Paris. The first season ended on a cliffhanger with Emily sharing a night of passion with her neighbour Gabriel, who is staying in Paris to take over a restaurant. Gabriel is also the ex-boyfriend of Emily’s best friend Cami, who sent her a text at the end of the episode asking for a chat. We hope to not be left hanging for too long. luckily, Netflix announced in November that Emily would be returning to Paris for a second season. Which is great news for us.. and the show of course.

2: THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT

Now, this is a series you cannot miss. We were pretty early to the game with this one lol and started watching when it was released back in October. Set in the mid-1950s which proceeds into the 1960s, The Queen’s Gambit follows the life of a nine-year-old orphaned chess prodigy. Having lost her mother in a car crash, Beth Harmon is taken to an orphanage where she is taught chess by the building’s caretaker. On her rise to becoming the world’s greatest chess player, Beth struggles with emotional problems and drug and alcohol dependency. This is a definite must watch for everyone. After four weeks of viewing The Queen’s Gambit became Netflix’s most-watched scripted miniseries.

3: THE CROWN

The Crown has been a popular show in our house from season one. Everything down to each actor portrays the royal they are playing effortlessly and on point. This isn’t a show for everyone but if you’re into history, or just enjoy a good royal story then this is definitely one for you. The historical drama follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding to The Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, until the early 21st century. Seeing through most of the prime ministers from Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher. We’ve just finished the fourth season that premiered on Netflix in November. The latest season is set during the 80s and focusses on the relationship between Lady Diana and Prince Charles, along with the births of Prince William and Harry. This was yet another binge session, we got through all ten episodes in five days! We literally have to wait a whole year for The Crown season five which will be released in 2022!

4: THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR

Here’s something for you horror fans out there, created by filmmaker Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting anthology series follows the 2018’s The Haunting of Hill House but, the two series narratives are not connected. The story follows a young au pair hired by a man to look after his niece and nephew at the family country house after the kids parents are killed and they fall into his care. Arriving at the Bly estate, the au pair is unaware that the manor is haunted, she then begins to see strange occurrences that proceed to haunt the premises only to discover the estates history. This drama is a horror which turned out to be a love story in the end. This drama will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and as the series comes to a close be sure to have your tissues at the ready.

5: SMALL AXE

Small Axe is an anthology film series based on the real-life experiences of London’s West Indian community and is set between 1969 and 1982. Created by Steve McQueen the anthology consists of five films which tell the stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London during that time. The anthologies range from courtroom dramas to love stories, some fiction, but also the dramas of real-life events and people. Starring John Boyega, Letitia Wright and Michael Ward. We’ve just finished watching the fourth episode of Small Axe that tells the true story of Alex Wheatle, now an author who turned his life around after being jailed over the Brixton riots in 1981.

6: THE UNDOING

The Undoing was one of the most talked about mystery psychological thrillers of the year. Everyone had their own theories and thoughts as to who murdered Elena Alves. We tuned in to the six-part series starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant as Manhattan couple Grace and Jonathan Fraser whose lives turn upside down when he is arrested for the murder of his lover Elena. After the death there was a number of potential suspects but Jonathan always remained the prime person of interest in Elena’s death as he stood trial for her murder. We won’t spoil it for those who haven’t yet tuned into the finale but put it this way.. we were so disappointed!

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

A NIGHT SPENT DINING AT DUCK & WAFFLE

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A NIGHT SPENT DINING AT DUCK & WAFFLE

It’s quite difficult during these times to do the things we are so used to doing. As England is now in lockdown for a month, a couple of weekends ago we decided to have an early evening meal at London’s Duck & Waffle. It was a night spent eating in the clouds… literally. The restaurant is set on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower which stands at 755 feet, making it the tallest building in the City of London. Before the pandemic Duck & Waffle were one of the only few restaurants open for 24 hours, serving great food round the clock.

Your experience begins as soon as you arrive. Have your phones at the ready, as you enter one of the two panoramic glass elevators you will be whisked from the ground and taken up, it’s like you are watching London go-by from the ground all the way up high. We booked our table in advance and was lucky enough to get a window seat and watch the sunset whilst sipping on a chilled glass of wine.

Duck & Waffle have a varied menu from lamb chops, sea bass, steak or roasted corn fed chicken. The menu is also split between tapas-style small plates and larger dishes for sharing. We went for their signature dish the Duck & Waffle which consisted of crispy leg confit, fried duck egg and mustard maple syrup, everything tasted so delicious and the combination of the duck, waffle, egg and maple syrup complimented each other really well.

Curfew in England was at 10pm at that time so unfortunately we couldn’t be out till the early hours, but we made the night as good as we could. After dining we walked downstairs to the 39th floor and enjoyed a cocktail or two at SushiSamba which was so vibrant and full of energy. There was a DJ playing in one section of the venue whilst we were taking in the atmosphere, scenery and enjoying the vibes, socially distanced of course.

SushiSamba London features the highest outdoor dining terraces in Europe, offering 360 degree views of the City which was the perfect way to end the night.

Shelley & Michelle xx

Food

GARLIC KING PRAWNS AND PASTA DISH

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GARLIC KING PRAWNS AND PASTA DISH

There is nothing quite like a tasty, wholesome dish to tuck into after a busy day. To make it even more satisfying is when the meal takes no longer than thirty minutes to prepare. We had a bottle of white wine chilling in the fridge and decided to make a classic pasta dish with a very simple recipe, which includes Juicy king prawns, spaghetti, butter, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon, lime, onions, mushrooms and olive oil. The meal tasted so delicious we had to share with you all. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

1: Wash and drain the king prawns, add to a bowl. Cut a whole lemon in to two and squeeze over the prawns, then leave to stand.

2: Boil a pot of water and add a pinch of salt to the boiling water.

3: Pre heat a large pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter and a drizzle of olive oil.

4: Peel and finely chop the garlic, onions and mushrooms.

5: Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. You may need to add another pinch of salt (if needed) and bring to the boil over a high heat.

6: The pasta should take around 5-6 minutes boil. (Keep your eye on this as you don’t want the pasta to get too soft).

7: Add your chopped garlic, onions and mushrooms to your hot pan and mix together for 2 minutes until your contents begins to soften.

8: Now, add the king prawns to the pan and sprinkle black pepper, mix and cook for 5-6 minutes until the prawns are cooked through.

9: When done, drain the pasta. Once the king prawns are cooked, add the pasta to a serving plate then add your prawn mix.

10: For the finishing touch, sprinkle a little more black pepper or squeeze half a lemon to brighten the flavours and enjoy.

Shelley&Michelle xx

Lifestyle

WINE TASTING WEEKEND

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WINE TASTING WEEKEND

If you are looking for something a bit different to do in London, we would definitely recommend a wine tasting experience. We had an entertaining and tipsy Saturday afternoon spent wine tasting at London’s Wine Cottage. The day was held at The Oval cricket ground which has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845.

We kicked our day off with tequila.. yes tequila! If you really want to let your hair down definitely go for it. You have the option to choose if you would like to have a session tequila tasting before the actual wine tasting and we chose to do just that lol.

Now, for the wines. We enjoyed luxury Wine, Champagne & Port, paired with Cheese and Truffles. Each wine complimented the cheeses so well and not forgetting the port and truffles. We drank Port from a chocolate cup which went down very well. The wines and port were finely selected by our wine connoisseurs. The wines are exclusively selected and imported directly from some of the best châteaux and award winning vineyards from around the world.

Our wine tasting experience was not only fun and entertaining. The day was also educational and informative. You will not only be leaving the venue tipsy, but with your new found wine knowledge you will become a wine connoisseur in your own right.

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Shelley & Michelle xx