My men icons in black and white

James McAvoy

Woody Allen

Edward Norton

Dylon

Ryan Gosling

Robert Downey Jr

Ewan McGregor

RDJ

Sinatra

Paul Newman

Picasso

Peter Sellers

Nicholson

Oh yes.....Redford:)

Hemingway

Mark Twain

Zac Effron

And Mr Perfect again

Zac Effron

Javier Bardem

Jack Lemmon!

James Dean

Philip Seymour Hoffman

My mother's Mr Perfect - Alain Delon

Groucho Marx

Jean Paul Belmondo

Dustin Hoffman

Marcello Mastroianni

Sean Connery

River Phoenix

Jon Hamm

Gregory Peck

Gene Kelly

Benedict Cumberbatch

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Ryan Gosling

Depp

Patrick Dempsey

Hay-fever home remedies

As someone who has suffered from hay-fever in the past I know how horrible the symptoms can be and how being hit by hay-fever can stop us enjoying the opening months of summer. Here are some of the best natural remedies for hay-fever sufferers.

Raw Honey

This is one of the most potent hay-fever natural remedies that works extremely well. It is very important that the honey is raw.

I buy my raw honey from the Wholefoods
You can find it at numerous health stores in London

Thereis a great deal on Holland and Barrett's website
for this product here for only £16.99



You can buy Manuka honey from Holland and Barrett here for £22.99
Or directly form Manuka Doctor's online store here for same price

Raw honey is basically unprocessed stuff (not heat treated or blended) which still contains the Pollen, Propolis, Honeycomb and Live Enzymes one of which is Amylase which helps digest starchy carbohydrates so it is a great addition to oatmeal or bread. Unfortunately most honey found in the supermarket is not raw and has been processed to look nice and clean in their bottles - sadly is lacks all the good stuff. So you will probably have to checkout your local markets or Natural food stores to get hold of some raw honey, it costs a bit more but is really worth it and will last you a long time if you use it sparingly.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the best hay fever natural remedies around. It is not very pleasant to be completely honest, but it really does work!

You will need:

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
250mls water (hot or cold)

You can buy Raw organic apple cider vinegar from most stores in the UK.
Click here to buy from Sainsbury's and here if you prefer the Wholefoods version

Simply mix the apple cider vinegar and water together and stir well. It really is as easy as that. You should drink it down in one, and you will need a biscuit or something similar to take the taste away because it is a little bitter! If you really cannot stomach the taste then use apple juice or herbal tea instead of water. You could even put a little raw honey into the mixture instead as this will also help the remedy to work its magic.It's also one of the best natural remedies for slimming! Check out my lose weight effortlessly blog.

Take this remedy two to three times a day and your hay fever should ease within 24 hours never to return.

Beta carotene rich foods such as the red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables  (peppers, tomatoes, carrots, carrot juice) are also rich in Bioflavonoids. Hay-fever sufferers require greater amounts of these nutrients. Try to find good quality food, organic if possible - the vitamin levels will be higher and it will be free of synthetic pesticide residues.

Vitamin C - There is also evidence to show that high doses of Vitamin C can help with hey-fever. I personally found that taking 1-2grams of Vitamin C daily to help a lot when dealing with bad bouts of hay-fever. Zinc is also worth a try when it comes to Vitamin supplements try 1000mg per day of a citrate form.

This one from Holland and Barrett is pretty good deal.
£13.99 for 250 capsules
Click here to buy online

Herbal Remedies - There are also some herbs which have been proven to lessen the bodies response to allergens. Here is one of the best

Nettle - Research shows that nettle has a positive effect on the bodies defense mechanisms through its ability to enhance the bodies defence mechanisms and reduce chemicals produced during an immune response namely "prostaglandins" this does not mean it will Cure hay-fever but rather reduce the bodies response to pollen. The best way to get your nettle fix is via herbal tea, nettle also has a potent blood cleansing effect, try a nettle and raw honey tea.

Nettle Tea from Holland and Barrett is only £0.99 for 20 bags.
Click here to buy online

London Spa Girl x

Red nail polish!

I love having my nails done. After all, I do have them done for free...at my own spa! Lucky girl:)

I'm a huge red nail polish fan. Always have been.
My absolute favourite colour for both mani and toes is Essie's Lollipop. I wear it all year round

Lollipop is a bright cherry-based red with a crème finish.

I am impressed that the application is very smooth and easy. It doesn't streak. Drying time is good, and the lasting power is decent.

This shade is buildable for the desired intensity of pigment and opacity. It is a cherry pink-red with a semi-transparent finish in one coat. With two coats, it imparts a high-gloss, candy-like bright red color in an opaque finish.

I found this shade looks most beautiful in at least two coats. It is the high shine finish that makes this shade stand out. This lovely bright red goes well with pretty much any colour outfit including my orange envelope clutch! Check it out

And here is how it looks on my favourite fashion girl Olivia Palermo... (she may be a baddie but knows  how to pull an awesome look!). She always wears Lollipop shade of red just like me:)

Moshi Moshi Vintage Handset

A cool new accessory for Iphone & Ipad

Hi my name is Tina and admit I'm an Iphone-holic. I love it so much that I've named it Pinocchio, after my Jack Russell puppy.

I recently came across the coolest accessory gadget for an Iphone and Ipad ! It's called Moshi Moshi Vintage Handset. It was given to me as a present and now I'm absolutely addicted to it. It's just so much fun.

You can find it at Curries for £24.99

or buy online here.

 

London Spa Girl x

 

UTERQUE.com

Apparently the guys from the fashion brand ZARA have just launched a new premium brand called Uterque.
They sell everything from dresses to accessories. Lines are limited but quite appealing....well at least at first impression. ..
I've already spotted 3 wonderful dresses I think I'm going to buy in the next couple of weeks if the sun stops hiding.

They look pretty good, don't they?

Check out the  website www.uterque.com for more items

£79

£99

£155

London Spa Girl x

Best Italian in Notting Hill

Mediterraneo - My local Italian comfort food

There are so many Italian restaurants in London. I've tried many of them, including the high-end ones. They are all great with few exceptions but the one that I find myself coming back to every week is Mediterraneo in Notting hill. It's naturally becoming my favourite Italian  in London so I thought it deserved a special blog about its food.

I try to go there once a week. If I don't I just start craving some of the food. It is just a shame so many others think the same and it gets booked up so quickly! This place is buzzy and very casual and makes for a relaxed lunch or evening with really superb and simple food. I also find it quite inexpensive. The ingredients are fresh and of  high quality. The waiters are attentive, the food is incredible in both choice of pastas, meats, fish...mmmm mouth-watering. Did I forget to mention they have the best tiramisu in town? Can't recommend it enough.

Mediterraneo is on 37 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU. Click here for menu.

The location is a 15 minute stroll from Notting Hill Gate tube, through one of the nicest residential areas in London.

Amy, Caitlin, Lew and I were last in Mediterraneo a week ago. Here is a picture gallery of what we had:



I usually go for the whole baked seabass or seafood linguini.
Both are simply divine!

My seabass off the bone:) with a side of spinach

Amy had the Char-Grilled Corn feed Chicken Paillard with Cherry
Tomato Rocket & Balsamic Glaze. She loved it!

Caitlin and Lew picked the Seafood Linguini following my
recommendation. Yum!

We all had Montepulciano Abruzzo red wine.
Amy and I are quite big fans of it especially since we went
in the area where they produce it in Tuscany last summer.
Goes very well with any Italian food, not only red meat.

Lew was a Mediterraneo virgin when we took him....

Honestly.....best tiramisu in London. Fact!
You're welcome!

Enjoy,

London Spa Girl x

Potent Flu&Cold busters

Many people are not aware, that antibiotics do not work for the flu, since it is caused by a virus. Antibiotics kill bacteria only. It's a fact!

It is true that a virus weakens the immune system and therefore makes the body more prone to bacterial infections. Still, it is not a good idea to take antibiotics for the flu or colds just to prevent potential bacterial infection. Antibiotics generally harm our bodies. Also, the bacteria can develop antibiotics resistance and not work when you need it for more serious illness.

Instead when you get those early flu symptoms stock up on the most powerful 'antibiotics' nature has to offer! Here is a list of best of them:

Greapseed extract

The grape seed extract has so many health benefits for our bodies. Some of these are maintaining a healthy heart, cardiovascular health, circulation, healthy immune system, and many more. One of the key ingredients is called, Polyphenols. These polyphenols are very powerful even more powerful than vitamin C. The main focus of the polyphenols is to fight viruses, allergies, and any anti-inflammatory problems. A lot of people in my family take grape seed extract. When any of us feel a cold or flu symptom we take two or three capsules. When we take grape seed extract the feeling goes away in a few hours. I recommend this than any over the counter cold medications. The reason is cold medications have side effects and the extract has none. I haven't had a cold or flu in years due to this remedy.

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I love Solgar's Grape Seed Extract
You can find it in more chemists or buy online here

Olive leaf extract

Olive leaf extract is rapidly becoming recognised as nature`s natural antibiotic. Extensive research has determined that a compound within this extract, known as oleuropein contains amazing healing properties that fight bacteria, diseases, viruses, parasites and fungal infections. 

Solgar's Olive leaf extract is superior quality.
Drops available if you dislike taking capsules
Buy online here

 

Manuka Honey (Medical grade 20+)

Manuka Honey’s famed antibacterial properties are now being used in hospitals to ward off antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that cause potentially life threatening conditions such as MRSA and VRE. In addition to its impressive antibacterial activity, studies have also revealed Manuka Honey’s antiviral properties which make it effective in treating cold and flu symptoms.

It has also been discovered that Manuka Honey contains more vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants than other types of honey. This helps is boost the immune system which prevent colds from coming on as well. Most people who ingest Manuka Honey on a regular basis find that they almost never get sick and also have more energy. Many true believers feel that Manuka Honey can be more effective than any over-the-counter cold and flu medication found in pharmacies.




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You can buy Manuka honey from Holland and Barrett here
Or directly form Manuka Doctor's online store here

Propolis - Propolis is the substance that bees coat the walls of their hives with and bee hives have often been referred to as the most antiseptic places in nature. The powerful antibiotic properties of propolis can help protect humans from bacteria and can strengthen our immune system. Propolis works against viruses, something that antibiotics cannot do. Research shows that taking propolis during the high risk 'cold and flu' season reduces colds, coughing and inflammation of the mouth, tonsils and throat.

Additional supportive nutrition for Flu: Garlic, Ginger, Apple cider vinegar, Green tea


London Spa Girl x