Spotlight Archives | Page 11 of 12

Wear & Where: Fashion Blog

I’m pretty stoked to have Alex Gorton under the Spotlight. Her and her friend Natasha run my favourite blog, Wear & Where. Every post that falls into my inbox gets devoured immediately or at least earmarked for later. There is never a surreptitious delete (like some I subscribe to and delete almost before I have read the title #nevermyfriendsblogsthough).

Alex

Wear & Where started a few years ago when Natasha and Alex (former colleagues and firm friends) were talking about what they wanted to read on the web. Unable to find everything they wanted in one place, they decided to write it themselves. Drawing on their backgrounds as journalists, they created a place to share all their interests from fashion to family, interiors to travel, health and beauty, and everything in between. With 5 children between them, they are very much in the family mindset and their readers tend to be gorgeous, bright, brilliant women, most with children (although not all) with an interest in style.

I particularly loved one of their latest posts on Spring Shoes and can’t wait for all the other exciting plans they have for Wear & Where in the future.

There is no stopping them. Sign up to their brilliant blog to be kept in the loop on all things cool.

Alex’s Favourite’s

Shop: Cos (favourite at the time of asking!)

Website: Laura Fantacci’s blog Wearing it Today

Restaurant: The Oak in Shepherd’s Bush, London

Hotel: North Island in the Seychelles

Place to go with kids: West Wittering

www.wearandwhere.co.uk

0 Comments

Food Products Spotlight

KiddieCubes: Frozen Baby Food

I have been under the cosh this last week with an ongoing au pair hunt, organising a christening and trying not to overlook my 3rd child’s impending 1st birthday. The hardest aspect is trying to keep them well fed, especially as everyone has different requirements!

Baby – required mush.
2 yr old – soft/saucy food (don’t ask)
4 yr old – ‘4 year old’ food…
Hub – try to veer away from giving him left over ‘4 year old’ food.
Me – whatever any of the above haven’t finished. Although after a week of trying to channel Jennifer Aniston’s baby food diet (remember that one?) it hasn’t made one iota of difference, so back to the drawing board.

Luckily one aspect has been totally taken of. I have discovered KiddieCubes. How has no one thought of this before? (Actually, I know a few people who have thought about it, but haven’t brought it to fruition).
KiddieCubes founder Issy Langly-Smith commented: “As a mother and nutritional therapist my friends would often come to me for advice on weaning as they really struggled with the process, finding it tedious and often unrewarding when their babies rejected the food. My nutritional background helped me really understand the importance of a balanced meal and I love cooking, so relished weaning experience with my three children (except the clearing up under the high chair!). This acted as the motivation to create the weaning “Holy Grail”, a product that helped other mums offer their babies all the taste and nutritional benefits of traditional weaning, but without the hassle or hours of cooking and pureeing.”

KiddieCubes do all the hard work for parents, preparing perfect purees just the way they’d make at home, without any unwanted bits. Unlike jars and pouches, they are not severely heat treated, meaning KiddieCubes taste and smell like real food and retain all of their nutritional value. Each puree is frozen into 25g cubes, the equivalent of one tablespoon, allowing portion sizes to be increased at a steady constant rate. All parents have to do is simply heat the cube in a microwave or on the hob for a few seconds to get spoonfuls of goodness without the fuss.

Thank goodness for KiddieCubes. How have I only just discovered them! If you are a new mother or know a new mother, stock up on a few packets of these – they are a game changer and went down exceptionally well. Here’s hoping they bring out Stage 2 and 3 soon!

Issy’s Favourite’s

Shop: Lizzie’s on Webb’s Road in Battersea, London

Website: www.sheerluxe.com

Restaurant: The Hoddington Arms in Upton Grey, Hampshire

Hotel: Ockenden Manor in East Sussex

Place: Any Natural Trust property

KiddieCubes are available on Ocado and from COOK online and instore. The RRP for a bag of 12 cubes is from £3.49.

More information can be found on www.kiddiecubes.com

0 Comments

Big Fashion Products Spotlight

Rose Rankin: Sneakers

If years were named after shoes and not animals (!), 2015 would be the year of sneakers. From neon’s (thank you Nike) to wedge (Isabel Marant) – everyone has a pair that they wear on a day to day basis, not just for sport. (All that sport I do…) Given the erratic British weather patterns and the amount we pound the pavements, there is also a reason to invest in a new pair, and I highly recommend looking at Rose Rankin’s new website for some eye candy.

Rose Rankin is a new premium footwear label with an emphasis on sneakers. They are handmade in Portugal from the finest materials and carefully stitched by traditional shoe makers. The brand is characterised by understated design and subtle detailing, combined with a love of colour. Her first collection combines feminine tones, colour pops and metallics to give a playful patchwork aesthetic.

After Rose’s second daughter was born, she decided to make the leap to being her own boss, doing something that she loved. She took at short course in the business of fashion at Portobello Business Centre and then set about the daunting tasks of finding factories and convincing them that her paper drawings were worth bringing to life!

Her motivations were two fold: Firstly, with the rise of luxury sportswear she felt there was a gap for beautifully handmade sneakers, designed specifically for women and at a more accessible price than other luxury brands on the market. Her second motivation was buying her kids funky little trainers and she wanted to inject some of that playful feeling into her shoes.

Well, I think she has definitely done just that.

Rose’s Favourite’s

Shop: The vintage shops in Camden passage, Islington

Website: http://www.style.com/

Restaurant: Granger & Co

Hotel: The Oberoi Mauritius

Place: Villa, Greek Island, Family

To view and buy online www.roserankin.com

0 Comments

Interiors Products Spotlight

Harriet Hoult: Abstract Artist

If you want to know who the next big thing is in the art world, let me introduce you to Harriet Hoult.

Her pieces are beautiful and intriguing and would be a stylish addition to an empty space on your wall. If you don’t have any space, you may want to think about replacing it with one of Harriet’s. She has a growing fan base and they are fast becoming collectors items – once someone has bought one, they often buy from her again. They would also make a wonderful present.

Harriet is an abstract painter who has an instinctive approach to her work. Each painting is a unique journey where she is continually challenged to trust in the process. She is inspired by the everyday and her work is an interpretation of these experiences onto paper. She is fascinated by aesthetics and the visual interplay between form, space and colour which she is continually exploring. Harriet paint’s in acrylic, building layers, combining different shapes, marks and colours, to create abstract images. For her there is a “certain mystery in abstract form; a communication without direct suggestion that can be interpreted by the viewer, based on their own perceptions and can sometimes speak to a deeper part of us”.

Her studio is in Petersham, near Richmond. It is approx 3m x 5m and it has a clear plastic roof which makes it fantastic in terms of light. “I am a very messy painter so it is absolutely covered in a multitude of splashes and drips of different coloured paint”. At either end of the space, are shelves where she keep’s all of her paints and brushes. In an ideal world she would love a really big studio with lots of space as she love’s working on multiple paintings at the same time. From the reaction Harriet’s pieces are getting, I imagine it won’t be long before she has her much desired larger studio!

Harriet

Harriet’s Favourite’s

Shop: Anthropologie

Website: www.designspiration.com

Restaurant: Hix in Soho, London

Hotel: Scarlett Hotel, Cornwall

Place: Richmond Park

To View Online

www.harriethoult.com/

0 Comments

Fashion Little Products Spotlight

Interview with Pepa & Co : Spanish Children’s Clothes

Whenever I ask a mother what their child is wearing, more often than not, it is from Spain. Spanish clothes are becoming more and more popular in the UK as some people veer towards a more traditional way of dressing their sprogs. The Royals have strongly influenced this trend and Pepa & Co is now one of Kate Middleton’s trusted boutique for her children.

Gorgeous Page Boys & Bridesmaids for Pippa Middletons glamorous country wedding.

See Prince George and Princess Charlotte on their recent tour to Canada.

After 5 years living in London, working closely with lovely mums and their children, Pepa Gonzalez decided to start up Pepa & Company. Her aim was to bring back smart and quality clothes to a new generation of children.

www.tlmedit.com

The inspiration for Pepa & Company comes from her large Spanish family. Her mother (a mother of 5) used to be told

Your boys look like little princes.

The sentiment stuck with her. She liked to see children dress as children. The range are handpicked, quality and smart Spanish clothing, in both classic and contemporary styles. There’s a high attention to detail at affordable prices.

Body Suit with Ruffle Collar

Annafie Smock Dress

Pepa’s Favourites

Shop: Summerbox

Website: www.notonthehighstreet.com

Restaurant: Megan’s in Chelsea, London

Hotel: HILTON in Mayfair, London

Place: Serpentine in Hyde Park, London

Discover their latest collections.

www.pepaandcompany.com

0 Comments

Interiors People Services Spotlight

London Carpenter & Craftsman

There are some numbers you need on speed dial and Lance’s is one of them. He is an exceptional wood craftsman who can turn his hand to anything, whether it’s a house, a boat or a camper-van! He will make what you require to a very high specification – quickly and efficiently. He can source the wood, make it and paint it to your requirements. Carpenter & Craftsman.

Here is a list of things he is able to do –

Wooden Flooring
Paneling
Cupboards
Tree houses
Fences
Bin Storage
Skirting
Decking
Children’s Beds
Bespoke Cornicing
Built in benches

Lance has been building things from a young age. He used to help his Grandfather making things as he was growing up and this natural ability shines through in his work.

: Panelling

He is also a pleasure to have around the house, working discreetly and tidily. Having two young children of his own, he understands the necessity to clear up after himself and I guarantee he will also raise a few smiles from your young ones.

Lance’s Favourite’s

Shop: Just Kampers

Website: www.pinterest.com/

Restaurant: Le Vacherin in Chiswick, London

Hotel: The Doña Filipa in Vale do Lobo, Portugal

Place to go with children: LaserZone, Brighton

Everyone has a pending to do list (I fancy a bike shed in the front garden and new paneling in our hallway…) and I urge you – if you need a carpenter, contact Lance for more information!

Lance 07884 042 115 or email lancelawson1976@gmail.com

0 Comments

Family Life People Services Spotlight

Little Learning Seeds: Help You Help Your Child

Little Learning Seeds offers many services to support a child’s learning; including 1:1 tuition, homework help, parent workshops, school workshops and online support through her blog. It was founded and established by Laura Clifford.

Laura

She has over 10 years of teaching experience and after speaking to many confused parents and researching what parents really wanted, Little Learning Seeds was created.

Her main focus is on early learning and supporting children through pre-school and the first few years of formal education. Her aim is to give confidence to parents in supporting their child’s learning at home, so if anyone is struggling with how and what to help their little ones with, Laura is your lady.

Laura’s Favourite’s

Shop: Darts Farm in Topham, Devon
Website: www.pinterest.com
Restaurant: Busaba Eathai
Hotel: La Petite Ferme in Franschhoek, South Africa.
Place to go: Any beach in the West Country

I urge you to contact her if you are not sure about the UK school system, your child is struggling in a particular area or you don’t have a clue what you are meant to be doing!

See her website for more information

www.littlelearningseeds.com/services/

If you would like to receive posts similar to this one, please Follow in the ‘The London Mummy’ page.

0 Comments

Fashion Little Products Spotlight

BONNIE: Pure Wool Jumpers

Antonia set up BONNIE after an unsuccessful search for a pure wool cardigan for one of her daughters. The high street knitwear was a synthetic mix which she knew wasn’t going to last, wouldn’t be warm and she wasn’t prepared to buy cashmere at cashmere prices … ‘you have to grow into that’ she exclaimed!

Antonia with her family

All the BONNIE designs were drawn at her kitchen table and were then lovingly made in a Scottish mill in the Borders. BONNIE jumpers are very soft, come in great styles and colours. Most importantly are machine washable. You really can wear them everyday. Mothers and children alike love them because they are sensibly priced, look fabulous and the wool warm & durable.

The quality, price and timeless style creates a wonderful line and would be a great addition to a child’s wardrobe. I’m hoping she starts a line for adults!

Antonia’s Favourite’s

Shop: Zara

Website: The White Company

Restauant: Strada

Hotel: Hotel Banyan in St Anton, Austria
Place to go: Bray Beach, CornwallSee BONNIE online
www.bonnieuk.comIf you would like to receive posts similar to this one, please Follow in the ‘The London Mummy’ page.

0 Comments

Older Posts

Newer Posts