How to Cook in High Heels

Whitney.... we’ll never know the truth!

2012-02-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Whitney.... we’ll never know the truth!

The topic this week has to be the shocking death of Whitney Houston.

I found out she had died by a text from my dad at 1.56am on Sunday morning... there was no ‘hi love’ no kisses on the end, just a text that read ‘ Whitney Houston is dead’ (cheers for that dad) but it did wake me up and made me wake up the boyfriend exclaiming ‘Oh my god babe.... Whitney Houston has died’ to which he replied ‘right oh... night love’ hmmm so much for my mid night gossip need!!

I laid awake for a while truly saddened by the news of her death and reminiscing of my children spent watching the Bodyguard and singing (I mean trying to sing) ‘I will always love you’ and pretending to Whitney while my best friend Sandra was Mariah Carey – ah those were the days- and then realised, I had no idea what happened! Que google on blackberry for daily mail online – god bless the internet! I read about how she died, was it drugs? Was it alcohol? Was it on purpose? Was it an accident? And the more I read I realised we would never really know the full truth, and actually what business was it of ours anyway?

Yes, we would all love to speculate and gossip, after all she was a huge superstar. But, what I felt was quite sad, was that all everyone wanted to know, was she back on drugs? Was it the crack that killed her?!?

This is the woman whose career has spanned decades and a woman who had one of the most amazing voices of all time, and oodles of success in music AND film. But, through her bad choices in later life would always be associated with her drug taking. Whitney wasted a huge talent with that choice (and a huge amount of money) and that’s what I find hard to take... she literally had it all, and through choice after choice she squandered the lot, talent and money.... saying that though, My mum always says to me, ‘no matter how well you do, no matter how much you succeed, you will always have your problems... instead of watching pennies, you watch pounds, and no matter how much you have you will always want to aim higher’ and she’s right. We all have our problems and troubles, some are on different scales to others but they are there none the less.... and Whitney had hers. It may not have been the ending she (or anyone) could have imagined, and I refuse to truly believe the stories that are being printed (though gossip that I am, I will still read) and all we can hope now, is that she truly is at peace. R.I.P Whitney.

Sasha’s World.....

This week has been half term!! And we’ve had a pretty busy one J the girls went to the Imperial War Museum with my sister, they had a fabulous time, so I highly recommend if you want somewhere to go with the kiddies... give this place a try www.iwm.org.uk

We’ve been seeing family a lot too, mainly Jayden (newborn nephew mentioned last week) he is sooo cute.... thought I’d be feeling broody by now but happily, IM NOT!! Does that mean I have actually finished my supply of sprogs to the planet?? And that I’m never going to give birth again??? Hmmmm sounds a bit final that, doesn’t it?? L

Anywho.....

I’ve also been busy planning with Kori the next phase of ‘how to cook in high heels’ a new exciting branch of this tree is coming your way soooooon!! J

Right, it’s Friday night, and you know what that means don’t you??............... yep, I’m off for an hour of Simpsons followed by a Disney film!! ROCK AND ROLL!! (well, I still have a glass of white in my hands)

Chow for now.....

Sash xxx

p.s oh yea, it was Valentines.... guess that shite just passed me by :) xx

This Valentine's I'm in love with Adele

2012-02-13T03:01:00.000-08:00

So Valentine's is upon us again and to be honest I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it. I think I have become more cynical about the joys of love as the wisdom and knowledge that only comes with age sets in...(yes I am aware that I sound about seventy-five having just said that!) Debates amongst myself and friends seem to be along the lines of 'do all relationships have a shelf life?' rather than 'I can't wait to find my Prince Charming!' If you think about it, how many relationships these days last longer than the 'seven year itch'? Apart from my parents, I don't know many. Yet it never fails to surprise me when so called 'strong couples' split up like Seal and Heidi Klum.

Do all good things come to an end?

Despite all this and depressing as I sound, I am forever hopeful and optimistic that love really does conquer all and happy ever after really is a true ending. Maybe that's because I am a woman and women love LOVE right? And we especially love Valentine's day! In fact I think Valentine's day is mainly for women, I don't know many men who get excited by it or get depressed by it if they are single.

No matter how you feel about the day that is all about love, I have come to realise that to depend entirely upon one person for the rest of your life is not only unrealistic but also rather stupid. You should never place all your bets in one area of your life be that love, work or friends because if it or they suddenly disappear, then you will surly feel like you are left with nothing?

And I do believe that women like six time Grammy Award Winner Adele should be celebrated, admired and looked up to, especially by young girls - even though she's clearly suffered heartache, she's certainly able to look after herself and let's face it will never have to rely on a man financially! Unlike the WAG's of this country who put up with endless amounts of crap from their men, because where would they be without them?

Adele - our true inspiration!

So my message to you all is to love and look after yourself this Valentine's day.... as well as others of course.....(yes, men included) But don't put your eggs all in one basket!

In fact to prove my love for love and for those of you who are feeling a bit fruity this Valentines, here's one of our Food for Love recipes that is sure to go down a treat at the dinner table or in the bedroom!

Randy Raspberry and Champagne Jelly

1 packet of Raspberry Jelly
½ a bottle of champagne or cava
Few raspberries
Squirty cream

Break the Jelly into a microwave proof bowl and add about 100 ml of cold water. Microwave for about 1 minute and stir until all the jelly has melted. Pour in just less than half a bottle of Cava and mix.
Throw a few Raspberries in a glass, pour over the jelly and place in the fridge to set.
Just before serving decorate with Squirtycream and a raspberry.

Randy Raspberry and Champagne Jelly

Love, light and peace out!

Korin xx

The Lazy Girls Roast Dinner

2012-02-12T00:15:00.000-08:00

Are you tired or hung over? Do you have kids clung to your ankles at every waking minute of the day which makes cooking seem like a mission impossible? Or like myself today, just cannot be bothered to repeat the Sunday Roast process? Well fear not because this is the perfect roast for you. A delicious compromise on the traditional roast, that will allow you to actually have a life too!

In fact it's that good, so quick and simple that there's no reason to save it just for the weekend....

For me, the dishes that I most like to cook are minimum fuss, taste great, consists of a healthy balance of ingredients and require little washing up! My Lazy Girls Roast is a 'one pot wonder'; throw it all together and bang it in the oven, job done. Just how I like it!

The best thing is that you don't need to be specific with the ingredients you use, just select a melange of vegetables that you have in your fridge, with whatever herbs and spices you fancy and have available. Which is why it's always great to have a variety of dried herbs and spices in your cupboards for you to experiment with. I like to buy a couple of new ones each week in the supermarket to add to my collection. I found a gorgeous smoked paprika with red pepper in Marks and Spencer

Here's what I used

My latest buys from Marks and Spencer to add to my collection

Ingredients

6 - 8 Chicken thighs and drumsticks
1 fennel bulb
1 large onion (red or white)
4 medium potatoes or a few baby potatoes
1 large red pepper (or any colour you fancy)
4 carrots
1-2 tablespoons of Smoked Paprika
2 tablespoons Mixed Italian herbs
2 Bay leaves
drizzle of olive oil
Seasoning

Chop the veg into large chunks, keeping them all roughly the same size so that they cook at the same time (make sure the potatoes are slightly smaller as these will take the longest to cook) and add all the ingredients to a large roasting dish. Drizzle a small amount of oil over all the ingredients (you don't need very much oil at all, as there will be a lot released from the chicken) then mix in the herbs, spices and seasoning to coat the chicken and veg thoroughly.

Pop in a medium oven for an hour, turning once so that everything is evenly browned.

Before roasting

I love experimenting with less traditional veg such as Buuternut Squash, Fennel and Celeriac which all taste superb roasted.

The Lazy Girls Roast

Why not try experimenting with fresh lemon wedges thrown in and and chilli flakes too. Serve with your feet up watching a good Sunday movie and a glass of vino!

SHOE CRUSH OF THE WEEK!

I saw these in Kurt Geiger the other day and I must admit I have had my eye on them for a while....maybe if I wish hard enough someone will treat me...!

Happy Lazy Sunday!

Korin xx

Parenting.... it’s easy right??

2012-02-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Parenting.... it’s easy right??

Ive been thinking this week about how much times have changed since I was a child... (that sentence alone makes me sound old! Well, I was born in the 1900’s you know!)

When I was growing up my parents and grandparents (more so Nan) had me cooking cleaning and ironing by the time I was 10!! Actually when I ask my friends, they too were doing the same things, so it was all pretty normal I'd say!! However, now a mother myself my eldest daughter (who will be 10 this year) barely brushes her own hair!! not because she can't, its more because I can’t seem to let go of control.... (and she's a tad lazy!) but, THIS I find, is now the normal situation for mums of my generation.

It’s not because our children wouldn’t be able to do it- if we showed them- it's because we have let our own fears (along with magazine and newspaper horror stories) get us and we now almost refuse to release control. Look at Suri Cruise, apparently her parents (Tom and Kate in case you didn’t know- old pals of mine) let her draw over any walls in the house, any time she feels like it, because they want her to be able to express herself!! Personally I think that’s a bit far fetched – each to their own- and mine wouldn’t dare haha... but you get my drift about our fears and not letting them take over.

When I was growing up it was absolutely fine for me to make a cup of tea, but the thought of my Bobbi with boiling water, scares the life out of me!! Even if I did let her I would probably be hanging over her and guiding the kettle with her anyway, before becoming slightly annoyed and groaning 'Just let me do it!', so to save us both from the pain it's just easier to actually do it myself... right??? WRONG!! If we- as a generation of parents- refuse to let them, they'll never learn. They will become dependant and needy, and lets face it a needy 20 yr old child is not attractive! So I'm going to offer Bobbi the chance to make me tea and toast, stand well back and just let her learn. Sure, it's probably not going to be the best tea and toast I've ever had, but like I tell them every time they try and fail at something ... 'Practise makes perfect'

And who knows, maybe one day I will let her walk to the corner shop on her own (which is literally on the corner) and she will start transforming into the lady I want her to be.... Independent, Strong, and not afraid to make mistakes..... One day!!

Sashas World.....

Firstly!!! A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to my brother Jay and his girlfriend Julie on the birth of Jayden Michael Davy 8-2-12 weighing in at a very cute and diddy 7lb 4oz ..... Welcome to the world my little man!!

He is delicious!! Such a proud aunty (again! There are few kiddos floating around now haha)

YES!! I did have my hair extensions done, and I LOVE them!! I’m a whole different woman – well I’m not, but I look gooooooood J Here is a little picture of me and Kori the day I had them done. You can’t see them completely in the pic, but it’s a darn good piccie and I wanted to share. Sarah at Vixen and Blush did a fantastic job!! THANK YOU!!

This picture was taken just before I got stuck in the snow in London with my sister for about 4 hours!!! Not cool!!

I’ve also been in Birmingham for a couple of days this week for the NEC trade show, I was up there doing my thang for Splash Ltd – great products have a looksie www.splashltdlondon.com I made myself a lush chorizo, spinach, gherkins (loving them!!) onion ham and chilli salad for the journey, oh and added some beetroot for good measure- all my daily vitamins in a box!! Try it!!

Missed my baby girls loads this week, so I feel some girly time coming on next week for half term. We have lots of plans and I can’t wait!!

Kori and I saw the almost finished app today... it’s looking good my friends out by March (we hope!) it feels like forever when we filmed it, and I was ill when it was filmed, so if you think I look a bit peaky... that’s because I was!! Dying in between takes I was! What a pro!! J

Anyway I’m off to paint my nails and get my beauty sleep, another important meeting tomorrow!! Exciting times!!

http://www.howtocookinhighheels.co.uk/ to register interest in the app.

Lots of Love

Sash xx

The Fabulettes do Seriously Sexy Hair

2012-02-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

It's official we have been recruited by the gorgeous Bethanie Lunn (author of The Modern Girls guide to Fabulousness http://www.themoderngirlsguide.co.uk/ ) to be Fabulettes! And if you're not so familiar with the term that was created by Miss Lunn then you soon shall be, as we'll partaking in challenges, workshops and events alongside Bethanie and the rest of the perfectly manicured clan, to bring you all things fabulous all in the good name of being a Fabulette!

So our first challenge is upon us with a John Frieda hair challenge - and as I am about to paint the town red tonight with the Sasha and girls I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to give it a whirl.

John Frieda has created a selection of 'How to' videos demonstrating easy to do hair styles for the novice ie ME! Admittedly I am not too hot when it come to styling my hair and often opt for a quick wave of the magic hair straighteners and I am done. And apart from a quick mist of hairspray occasionally, I don't really use a lot of products as I find they make my hair look greasy. So I will be interested to see how my hair takes to using various creams, sprays and mousses and if they actually do their job well. I would love to create something a little more glamorous and be able to do it in minimal time and without having to complete a degree in hairdressing in order to achieve it!

So armed with my products sent to me by the nice folk at John Frieda, my chosen style is the 'Retro Curls.' I have taken a look at the video which looked pretty simple and easy to follow.

My secret weapons

Step 1. I started with towel dried hair and combed through the Frizz-Ease Curl Reviver Mousse. It seemed quite a large amount of mousse to be putting on but then I guess that's cause I am product shy.

Step 2. I then squirted the Luxurious Volume Thickening Blow Dry Lotion onto my roots and started to dry my hair brushing upwards with a brush to create volume at the roots as instructed. I was surprised that I did manage to create quite a bouffant!

Step 3. Give yourself a deep, low side parting (My hair didn't want to do this and I had a few bits sticking up all over the place but that can be sorted out with the products later on) then the trickiest part - I wangled my mums large barrel curing tongs (which by the way are very hot - I know this because I burnt my poor little ears several times) and curled large sections of my hair and then pinned them in a curled shape on my head and left them to dry. Perhaps not the best technical explanation - please refer to the video for the experts advice!

1940's chique or HIlda Ogden? You decide!

Step 4. Undo the curls once cold (this should take about half an hour although I left it a lot longer) and brush through the curls sweeping your hair over to the side.

Step 5. I didn't have the exact product in the video so I slicked on a bit of Frizz Ease Secret Agent Perfecting Creme to give my style a sleek, smooth finish.

The Verdict

My Retro Curls complete!

I'm actually impressed! I look well groomed and stylish and dare I say it - professionally coiffed. I was a little dubious as to whether I could achieve a professional look, but I've not done a bad job if I do say so myself and I am sure with practice it will only look better..... oh and not a greasy strand in sight!

To have a go yourself at Retro Curls and many more fabulous styles head over to http://www.youtube.com/johnfriedauk

Good luck!

Korin xx

A world full of deals..... find your own!!

2012-02-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

A world full of deals....

I bring my little blog to you from my dining room at 6.30am, anyone who knows me, knows this time of day is normally unheard of, but for some reason I find myself unable to sleep...??!!?

Lying in bed (before I decided to get up and write my blog) I checked my phone- as you do- and saw all my group-on offers for today... ‘get a manicure and pedicure’ for £29??!! Oh go on then!... ‘have a 3 course dinner AND a glass of wine for two’ £19.. oooohh I’ll have that!... and it got me thinking about the world we live in... in a climate such as today’s everyone is after a bargain –me included... I love everything in the supermarket marked £1- don’t ask why, it’s the haggler in me, Ben actually calls me the £1 princess!!! Anyway....... I end up leaving there with £120 worth of my ‘£1 bargains’ when actually the reality is I would have spent a lot less if I’d just concentrated on my actual shop and not my so called ‘bargains’ that leave me spending more... same with things like group-on, if I actually shopped around I would probably find a manicure and pedicure a lot closer to home for maybe a little less, but we are lazy!! We are a lazy bunch of folk who want everything delivered to us and we want to feel like we are getting a great deal.... anything with 47.5555555% off sounds amazing doesn’t it??!! Well actually it probably isn’t! These ‘deals’ ARE fabulous... but not so much because of the price (don’t get me wrong, some are ah-maz-ing) but they are fabulous because all you’ve got to do is stay indoors, have a look at your- delivered to you- email and say yes! Swipe your ‘not so real money’- because it’s on a card (and let’s face it, if it ‘aint’ cash you almost haven’t spent it in your mind) and the deal is done... while this is great at times, my task to you this week is go out ‘yes!- use your feet’ and find your own unique deal all by yourself... you’ll be amazed at what you can find if YOU look for it, and don’t be afraid to haggle, in this day and age its almost expected!... plus, you’ll not spend your hard earned cash so freely when you do all the leg work... yes, dinner for 2 for £19 is a good deal but it’s a deal that even without group-on, will still be around at some point AFTER 24hrs J

Sasha’s World...

Last week, we had THE longest day filming for the powers that be in New York!! It was tiring but soo very exciting!! The kids were fabulous and honestly it would not surprise me if they had their own show haha!! Truly hilarious.... check out our twitter for the pic I posted @sashaandkorin.

AND... i’ve been playing badminton!! Well... slightly over doing it at Badminton actually (ache all over) but I love it!! I think I’ve found my new sport J The boyfriend insisted I try and I have to admit I wasn’t very keen at first, but I’ve found my swing (still need to learn the rules) and ‘mamas on fire’ ... I.m off again this morning, so I shall try and get a picture for you... Serena, its on!!.. oh no wait... thats Tennis!! Whatever.. I’m still learning!! J

The hair extensions are returning people!! Yes, I have my appointment this week at ‘Vixen and Blush’ http://www.vixenandblush.com/ in Clapham....and I cannot wait to be hair-a-lishous!! If you see me swinging my hair, it’s absolutely on purpose!! ... I’m worth it didn’t cha know!!

hair extensions right??

See ya soon

Mwah xxx

Life is a Cabaret

2012-01-31T12:10:00.000-08:00

Well what better to beat the January Blues than a night at the Cabaret? Yes, yes I know January is supposed to be all about early nights, being thrifty, and detoxing - but with the cold winter nights still looming, a little debauchery, a few cocktails and some jazz hands definitely cheered me up! In fact we got a rather good deal on http://www.groupon.co.uk just £20 for a three course meal which really can't be shunned - it's was pretty good too. The setting was a perfection of smoky (not real smoke of course) 1930's cabaret style club, which created a fabulous ambience, as did Miss Coco DuBois the compare who belted out the lyrics 'Life is a Cabaret' and got us seriously shimmying in our seats. Some of the acts are a little to be desired - but hey Burlesque is comedy as well as being sexy and ugly at the same time, so I guess anything goes and they certainly kept us glued to our seats....so if you are looking for something a little different with a combination of great food and entertainment then look no further. Just don't sit too near the front unless you like partaking in audience participation - you have been warned! http://www.proudcabaret.com/

So my ever so slightly eccentric but non the less fabulous friend Liz (she used to do my make up when I was on The Wright Stuff) is on her way round for a girlie catch up and dinner tonight. So I'm cooking my Sun Dried tomato Crusted Salmon which is delicious and very simple to do.

Ingredients

Two salmon fillets
2 large tablespoons of low fat Philadelphia cheese
5-6 sun dried tomatoes
few sprigs of fresh basil
1 slice of white bread

In a small blender whiz the bread to create fresh breadcrumbs. Then whiz the sun dried tomatoes and basil to create a paste. Mix the paste with the cream cheese and then spread evenly on top of the salmon fillets and top with the breadcrumbs.

Pop in a medium oven for about 20 minutes.

And that's it folks! I am serving it with a Sweet Potato and Swede Gratin and some greens and I am hoping it will be devoured which I am pretty sure it will if I do say so myself!

Have a good week and enjoy the snow!

Korin x

Do French women really do it better?

2012-01-21T07:55:00.000-08:00

So the week was rounded off nicely with a fabulous photo shoot with the super stylish and very gorgeous Bethanie Lunn, author and presenter of The Modern Girls Guide to Fabulousness. Sasha and I are about to embark on a fun and exciting project called Ladies Like Us with Miss Lunn (which we're trying to make 'trend' on twitter!).....all will be revealed shortly...but in the mean time here's a little sneak preview of our shoot - we had a good giggle at this one!!!

And I mustn't forget to add that if you are looking for some fun and stylish shots then make sure you head over to our photographers website, his name is Femi and he was great fun to work with http://shotbyfemo.tumblr.com/

I was rather annoyed this week to read that yet again French women are doing something better than us. Not only are we told that they are they slimmer, more chic, better in bed and just generally sexier on the whole, but low and behold they are now also deemed to be better mothers too! The article in The Daily Mail that I stumbled across told how French women seem to get to grips with parenthood in a more efficient and relaxed manner, resulting in better behaved children who sleep through the night and eat their greens! Whilst us Brits on the other hand seem to suffer wailing kids, that throw tantrums in the supermarket and insist on only eating 'smiley face potato chips' for their tea! Well I don't know if this is entirely true but I have to begrudgingly add that I did live in France for several years (my son Liam is half French in fact) and I think there may be an element of truth in it. I imagine it's just because the French generally are more laid back - their shops close at lunch time for heaven sake! Plus they drink better wine and apparently have all this amazing sex, so why wouldn't they be more relaxed?! In all seriousness though, I totally believe that a stressed parent will create a stressed child. Another key factor is that they eat better; rarely do I remember seeing a French family serving their kids a microwave meal - I'm not even sure they sell them in France?! In fact French families almost always cook from scratch, using fresh ingredients (even picking them from their gardens as I remember doing with Liam's French family!) which I definitely think we as a nation could learn from. So are French women better mothers? Well I do think us Brit mums (and Brit women in general actually) get a lot of bad press but I for one can say we're not all bad, so give us a break!!! However I really don't think the likes of Kerry Katona with her drug fuelled past and Iceland ready meals, really gives a great impression of us British mums does it?! Sorry Kerry to use you as an example I actually think you seem to be a good mum - perhaps not at the cocaine time, but overall...!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2088523/Slimmer-Better-bed-Now-told-French-women-better-mothers-too.html

Well, swiftly moving on to home cooked food; if you're staying in tonight and looking for a quick and easy crowd pleaser then why not try my Chilli and Garlic Chicken Escalope? Kids really love these and it certainly beats buying them from the shop as they're just so easy and taste a whole lot better home made.

Ingredients - Serves 2

2 chicken breast fillets
3-4 slices of white or wholemeal bread
chilli flakes
2 garlic cloves crushed
salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley finely chopped
2 eggs beaten
Oil to fry

Butterfly the chicken by slicing the breast almost in half without slicing all the way through and then opening it out so that it is flatter. Beat each breast with a rolling pin being careful not to split it.

Whiz the sliced bread in a food processor until you make fine bread crumbs. Mix them together with the crushed garlic, a few chilli flakes, chopped parsley and lots of seasoning to taste.

Coat the breasts in a little egg and then dip straight into the breadcrumb mixture to cover the breast entirely (I repeat this twice on each breast).

Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan and then fry the chicken breasts on each side until they are golden brown (just a couple of minutes each side) then pop in a medium oven for about 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked - don't leave it too long or the chicken will dry out.

Serve with a fresh green salad, coleslaw and potato wedges.

Enjoy!

I just want to end my blog today in remembrance of Owen Wood who was not only our friend but also a very talented and inspirational young man from Wales. Owen worked tirelessly on not only our How to Cook in High Heels website but also my own personal website. He contacted me years ago when I worked on The Wright Stuff and asked if he could make me a website - what I didn't know was that he was severely disabled and wasn't able to use his hands and therefore used his feet which to this day I can't even begin to imagine how he did it. Owen sadly passed away this week and will be sorely missed. R.I.P Owen sleep tight xxx

Korin x

Christmas at the Parker household- New Year- New beginnings and the Golden Globes!

2012-01-19T02:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

So Christmas has passed us by and we are now in the midst of a cold January!!

I actually quite like January as a month…. It’s usually pretty good to me, and so far its not been bad… oh and I’VE MOVED HOUSE!! As stressful as it was (and it was pretty darn stressful) I’m a very happy bunny J we now live even further into

Kent

but its quiet and peaceful, bliss!!

AND!! It was Golden Globe time and time to check out the dresses…

It’s a thumbs up for…..

Jessica Alba in this Gucci dress…?? The words ‘Well Jel’ come to mind… absolutely stunning!! like me Ms Alba has had 2 children.. unlike me, it doesnt show at all!!

a bit of a thumbs down for me was Michelle Williams in this Jason Wu Dress, It's a beautiful dress dont get me wrong, just, of all the dresses on the night, this was the one that did it least for me...

not flattering on her amazing figure at all!!

I’m going to make sure I look amazing when I get to go… J and I will be going… someday haha….

Christmas was fabulous!! And apparently ‘santa’ did pretty well – pat on the back for ‘Santa’ I took the girls to see ‘Santa’ and they had to write down the thing they really really wanted before they went in… Eevy wrote ‘V-tech Innotab’ very wise Eve a nice expensive one… Maria (The boyfriends daughter) wrote ‘I-pod touch’ again a good idea… My Bobski – bless her- wrote ‘Justin Bieber Mug’ haha, of all the things in all the world she could of asked for, she asked for a Justin Bieber Mug!! No surprise to say that santa delivered haha.

Heres them with Santa :

We went to my mums for New Years Eve, where I agreed to help mum with the cooking. I made a little array of canapés and pastas and finished it of with our sherry choc chip cookie pie… yummy!! (recipe for that is in the book, if you fancy giving it a go) sinful but delicious.

So all in all a good Christmas was had by all!!

Having a new home, has made me want to shop for lovely things to fill it with, and I came across these fabulous printed salad bowls and servers by Splash Ltd, they come in all different designs, from this Marshmallow one I got, to strawberries, crisps, chocolate the list is endless… check them out http://www.splashltdlondon.com/

I’m thinking of trying something new for exercise… New Year, fresh start and all that… any ideas?? I’m a huge fan of boxing so I’m going to research and see if there’s anything new in that area, I’ll keep you posted.

Got a shoot tomorrow for a little project we are working on, and some filming over the weekend for NY… will try and get some sneaky pictures for ya!! J

Have a fab weekend….

Lots of Love

Sash xx

New year new .....yawn!

2012-01-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

So how many of you have made resolutions this New Year? More to the point, how many of you have made them and stuck to them? Well don't worry I won't tell if you've been bad! In fact you mustn't beat yourself up if you've already failed on the 'only eat grapes' diet or you haven't even started training for the Triathlon you signed up for! Why? Because as the statistics prove, most of us have already given up or failed miserably at the promises we make to ourselves and rather stupidly in front of all of our friends already!

The problem with many New Year resolutions is that they are too demanding, meaning they are too difficult for us to stick to. Very much like diets in fact; the reason diets don't work is because they make our entire focus to be on food - the one thing we can't have (or much of at least). So you end up craving all the foods you can't have, which means you are inevitably going to cave in and in turn you end up eating more of what you are not supposed to be eating and loads of it, which then leaves you feeling FAT and miserable, so you go back to the diet only to repeat the vicious circle, each time getting fatter and fatter!!! Sound familiar? Oh yes, I thought so. I know because I've done it now and thankfully broken the habit of a lifetime.

So do yourself a favour this year and ditch the new year diet because diets make you fat - FACT! This is not to say you should eat cream cakes to your hearts delight! I am the first to advocate healthy eating, but I also will be the first to admit that I love chocolate, ice cream and even McDonalds from time to time too! (Shhh!) So instead of vowing to stick to the no carb diet until you've lost five stone - make a promise to yourself that you will learn to eat sensibly 80 percent of the time and allow yourself treats 20 percent of the time.

Here are my top tips!

1. Learn to listen to your body and what it is really craving.
2. Learn to tell the difference whether you are really hungry or just thirsty, tired, bored, emotional etc.
3. Watch your portion control - you can shrink your stomach so that is becomes less used to your gigantic portions!
4. Cut out refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, white rice and white potatoes, instead fill up on complex carbs sweet potatoes, quinoa, short grain organic brown rice.
5. Cut down on sugar and processed foods they are a huge contributor towards cellulite amongst many other things.
6. Concentrate on the vast amount of good foods that you can eat as opposed to the foods you should avoid.
7. Take the focus away from food, do something you love, take up a new hobby, call a friend, take a bubble bath, paint your nails - anything to distract.
8. Learn to think and talk positivity about yourself and your body noting all the good things about yourself.
9. Cook from scratch whenever possible, then you can see exactly what is going into your food.
10. Drink more water! (Yes even I am bored of reading this but it's so true - it flushes out toxins)

Oh and there is one last thing - EXERCISES! Whether you love it or loath it, exercising really does make you feel good and look good and once you get into it you will love the feeling and no doubt get hooked! To get yourself motivated, invest in some super sexy and stylish work out gear from http://www.lovestretch.co.uk/ then there will really be no excuse! I honestly think it's important to feel good in what you are wearing when you work out, as you are no doubt going to be looking at yourself in a mirror most of the time! I absolutely love this catsuit!

Did you know it takes just four weeks to break or make a habit? So if you stick with your healthy way of life for that long it will become your new good habit.

Back on the food front, one of the most important things is to make sure that your meals are tasty and satisfying to avoid cravings. There's absolutely no reason why healthy food, should be dull, unimaginative, and tasteless. Get experimenting with herbs and spices - you'll be amazed at the recipes you'll discover!

Instead of a take away curry this weekend laden with fat and calories, why not try my super tasty, super simple, low fat Tandoori Chicken.

Ingredients

Serves 2- 3 people
6 skinless chicken thighs
8-10 tbsp low fat plain yoghurt
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
2-4 cloves garlic crushed
2 tbsp Tandoori spice
Juice of half a squeezed lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
3 large tomatoes cut into large chunks

Mix chicken with the rest of the ingredients and leave to marinate in the fridge for as long as possible - over night is best but a few hours will do. Cook in a medium oven for around 40 minutes or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Alternatively you can cook on a grill or BBQ.

Serve with brown Basmati rice and garnish with fresh flat leaf parsley and lemon.

Eat well and be healthy - Happy New Year to you all!

Korin x

From Inebriation to Detoxification !

2011-12-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

Ever tried Christmas shopping whilst under the influence of alcohol? I did, yesterday in fact and guess what? It's a lot more fun! Of course, I spent rather more than anticipated, but it took far less time, I didn't mind the crowds quite as much (I kind of fell my way through them) and surprisingly I came back with some great gifts! I wasn't that drunk I hasten to add - just merry which is how you're supposed to be throughout the whole of December, right?

Yes indeed December is a month for being merry and merry I was after a few Pickle Back shots at The Lonsdale in Notting Hill last week. Now these people really know their stuff when it comes to cocktails and the mixing of any spirits for that matter. In fact the bar man relayed the making of each drink he concocted for us and it's origination - he said his training for head bar man was spent year after year unsurprisingly in bars, mixing spirit after spirit to see what hit the spot ...well they say practice makes perfect. As it turns out the Pickle Back shot is what all New Yorkers are downing in the cool down town bars - so of course we gave it a go too. It get's it's name from non other than the fact that the shot of liquor (which if I'm honest I can't remember what it was) was followed by a shot of pickle juice - strange, yes - but somehow it worked! Jo Emma and didn't stop there as we probably should have, hell no we decided to really mix it up with what a blend of liquors that most probably shouldn't have been blended in one stomach at any one time...but when they tasted so good it was hard to stop! We even tried some of their exclusive Valentine cocktails ...so if you don't get down there before Christmas (which you really should) then be sure to take the one you love for St Valentines.

http://www.thelonsdale.co.uk/

The Lonsdale - Notting Hill

Blimey all this alcohol consumption has left me feeling a little sluggish and lethargic though I must admit. So I have vowed to be a little more saintly in the run up to Christmas, as my skin is suffering and the scales are telling me I should curb it! In fact I am going to make myself some gorgeous juices with my fab Oscar Neo Juicing machine. I am a huge fan of juicing and the amazing health benefits - I think it's great to include them in your every day diet and even a detox for a couple of days to completely cleanse you out.

One thing I would say, is to buy organic whenever possible as putting chemicals disguised as goodness into your body kind of defeats the object. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Able and Cole who deliver organic goodies to your door. Their veggie boxes start from as little as £9.00 which is really fantastic value for good quality fresh organic veg. There's something so satisfying about getting your little box delivered to your door every week - especially if you live in a city, it makes you feel more at one with nature! I even ordered a wild Pheasant in my box this week - take a look at what they have on offer for Christmas but make sure you place your order soon if you want to get it in time for the big day. http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/

For a super hangover cure and to help cleanse the liver from the heavy party season, try juicing carrot, celery, cucumber and beetroot together - and start to feel that inner glow again!

Korin x

Cocktails and Christmas Cake

2011-12-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

Cocktails with my girls at Dirty Martini

Well, the Christmas drinks have well and truly started. I admittedly have spent that last two mornings waking up with smeared make up across my face and half a beehive on my head - what a delightful picture I'm painting! Last night was a well overdue catch up with my two gorgeous friends Jenna and Kate, we headed straight to Dirty Martini in Hanover Square where the cocktails flowed as freely as the gossip. Perfectly situated in the heart of the West End, this intimate, classy little Mayfair bar made us feel instantly welcomed as we nestled ourselves in a candle lit corner in the Martini Lounge - ideal for a 'date night' as well as a night with the girls! We managed to sip our way through a fair few of their superb cocktails starting with a passion fruit Martini which was rather yummy and we also tucked into a tasty Seafood Sharing Platter which helped soak up the alcohol consumption a little...well I think I've found myself a new hang out!

And once you've filled your tummies and warmed up with a few cocktails you can have a little boogie as the staff pull back a few tables to make room for the dance floor to get the party started! Head over to http://www.dirtymartini.uk.com/ to book your table.

So how's the Christmas shopping going? When it comes to buying presents I tend to go for things that I would like for myself, so that if they don't like them then hopefully they'll give it back to me....I'm joking of course! As you know I'm a huge fan of 'sucky in pants' - anything to get that stream lined look. But let's face it most brands out there are far from attractive - yes it's not just Bridget Jones who's been in the throws of passion only to reveal an unsightly pair of nude cycling shorts! So I was rather impressed to find this gorgeous all in one from Maidenform's new 'The Pretty Collection' that goes great under those less than forgiving, figure hugging party dresses. It even has built in knickers for extra bottom support (love it) complete with little do up poppers. Ladies you must check out their website they have some gorgeous gifts http://www.maidenform.co.uk/

The Pretty Collection

Now as you all know I am a huge Pilates fan and I know only too well that looking the part gives you that extra confidence and helps motivate you to go to class! So I'll waste no time at all in telling you about this gorgeous range of Pilates and Yoga wear at http://www.lovestretch.co.uk They have a fab range of

great quality active wear to make you feel and look utterly fabulous and stylish whilst you work up a sweat. I have to say I'm really rather impressed as their clothes are slightly unusual, so you can guarantee that you'll have something pretty unique. A perfect Christmas present too, as we all know that everyone wants to work out after their overload of Mince Pies! I've been wearing mine with pride whilst I've been teaching at Bootcamp Pilates recently.

Me at Bootcamp Piltaes in theWellicious range from Love Stretch

Find more stylish little numbers on their website like this top priced just £39.99

Every woman loves her pamper products so you can't really go wrong with a few lotions and potions for fantastic stocking fillers - boys pay attention! Personally when it comes to products that I can trust I like to put my faith in non other than my teenage idol Cindy Crawford and her gorgeous range of goodies at Meaningful Beauty http://www.meaningfulbeauty.co.uk/ I love her Wrinkle Smooth Capsules and Facial Mask to help conquer the signs of ageing - well if it's good enough for Cindy....

And finally whilst we're on the subject of Christmas presents don't forget to order a copy of our book How to Cook in High Heels - it makes a great gift for any woman who wants to know how to be 'in the know'! Order yours from Amazon for the bargain price of £15.29

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1906650373?ie=UTF8&tag=officiasuzipe-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1906650373

So just twenty days until Christmas which means you still have time to make you're Christmas cake. Yes, I know not all of us girls in high heels have got time to make their own and yes, I am totally fine with you buying a shop bought one and decorating it yourself - however if you want the satisfaction of making your own and relish the thought of being plied with compliments like I do then here's how to make your own! Oh and by the way this ain't no ordinary bog standard Christmas cake, hell no. Here I give you my Date,Walnut and Drabuie Christmas Cake. The dates make it extra sticky and gooey!

Ingredients

225g/8oz plain flour
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp mixed spice
½ tsp ground cinnamon
200g/7oz butter
200g/7oz dark brown sugar
2 tbsp black treacle
1 tbsp Apricot jam
4 eggs, lightly beaten
500g/1¾lb mixed dried fruits
50g/2oz crystallised ginger
200g/7oz chopped dates
200g/7oz walnuts halved
Drambuie

Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas2. Lightly grease a 20cm/8inch round or an 18cm/7inch square cake tin and line the bottom and sides with baking parchment.

Sieve the flour, salt, mixed spice and cinnamon into a bowl.

Cream the butter and the sugar in a large mixing bowl preferably with an electric whisk for ease and then mix in the sugar, black treacle and jam until light and fluffy.

Mix in the eggs a little at a time into the mixture adding a tablespoon of flour each time to avoid the mixture curdling.

Fold in the remaining flour mixture being careful not to beat out the air and then mix in the dried fruit and nuts.

Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and make a slight hollow in the centre.

Bake in the oven for 2 and a half to three hours testing with a skewer to see if it's ready. If it's not ready bake for up to another hour testing every 20 minutes until the skewer comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes.

Then turn out on to a wire rack and leave to cool.

Once cool, make a few holes in the cake with a skewer and pour over a large cap of Drambuie letting it soak into the cake.

Keep the cake wrapped in foil and in an airtight tin or plastic container, holes side up then every few days keep adding a cap or two of Drambuie up until you are ready to decorate it.

Just make sure you keep your cake in an air tight container to avoid it going off or drying out! Let me know how you get on and I'll let you know when I've decorated mine!

The Sales seem to start earlier each year - not that I'm complaining! So my SHOE CRUSH OF THE WEEK goes to French Connection with these great little biker boots to keep tootsies warm and trendy at the same time. Head to http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Shoes/SFAQ6/Multi+Buckle+Biker+Boots.htm to check em out!

Have a great week ladies and wrap up warm!

Korin xx

2011-12-02T07:04:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

It’s been a few weeks I know, but there is good reason, I promise!!

Firstly –as I’m sure you’ve read in Kori’s blog- we’ve been in India!!! (will explain all in a mo!)

And of course, prior to that, as you know, I wasn’t very well, AND I’ve still been quite poorly since we got back from India last week, so apologies for not writing sooner L

Anywho... where to begin??

Kori got an email a couple of weeks ago from a pr company about a press trip to India for the ‘Basmati for the world conference 2011’ basically, it was a 3 day trip to learn how different countries chefs would use basmati rice in their dishes, showing us all that Basmati rice isn’t just for India or Indian dishes (though to be honest, I only ever buy basmati rice anyway, and use it in an array of dishes- I’ll post one over the weekend for you to try.) and we are to spread the message to you.

The first day we got there we were driven to the amazing Grand Dehli hotel. 5* and absolutely stunning!

It had been a long journey and going to our fabulous room, Kori and I were very pleased, collapsing into bed, so far, so good!

Everyone got up late, due to the time difference and general tiredness, so we ended up awake at lunch time Indian time, but what would have been breakfast to us. I was slightly taken aback to have a curry for breakfast but, I love curry, and I WAS in India after all, so I didn’t mind too much. However, by the end of the trip, I think it’s safe to say curry is off my menu, probably until the new year!

That afternoon, as we waited for the others who were flying in to arrive, there was a coach trip to the local market. I was still really tired and a tad unwell, so opted out of the trip unfortunately, though opinions about the trip after were mixed, so I wasn’t too disappointed. We were to meet the group for dinner that evening, and yep you guessed it, it was curry! We went to a restaurant that we were told had THE best curry in India, and I have to admit it was pretty darn delicious! By this point- and I’ll name no names, you know who you are!- we had bonded with some really lovely women over our lunch/breakfast, so as we joined the table, we knew it was going to be fun. The wine flowed, the cackles erupted, and we had a genuinely fabulous evening. We even met one guy in the group who had just been sent our book to review for his ‘Chaat!’ magazine- bonus!! J In the magazine he has a feature on ‘hot headz’ which is meant to be THE hottest sauce ever, and funnily I had just been sent some, I’m a huge fan of spicy food and was planning on making this entire dinner for the family with my new sauces, but I was swiftly informed that, perhaps I should just make a side dish?! When I quizzed him, he explained that it was so hot, that people generally had one spoonful, a few glasses of iced water a pace up and down whichever room they are in, and a quiet sit down for some time after!! Haha there goes my elaborate dinner plans, perhaps I will just do an accompanying dish, that’ll I’ll keep far away from the kids! I’ll let you know how I get on.... would make a fab Christmas present for the men... let’s see how manly they really are!

Getting back on track, We had a conference on the 2^nd day where we learnt a lot of facts and figures about Basmati, how it’s made, which regions it comes from etc, followed by a tasting session, trying all these different dishes chefs from around the world had made. We saw some fantastic dishes and some really talented chefs/cooks, I did at one point turn to Kori and say I wish we had been asked to take part in that. See picture below of Ravinder Bhogal- author of ‘Cook In Boots’ with one of her dishes – which looked AMAZING! But I missed the tasting part!! Although Kori assures me it was delicious!

This went on all afternoon, and by the end I was absolutely full, but, we still had dinner to go to that evening, and yep, more curry! Actually, to be fair, there was an entire party! We got to watch Indian dancers and singers who were amazing! – I even had a lesson of my own on the stage- though I don’t think I did too well to be honest, I’m sure Kori even has the video footage- whoops- but anyone who knows me, knows I have no shame, so why not!! J

We got henna tattoos, which I actually thought twice about ten minutes after I had had it done, so scrubbed mine of. It was on my hand and completely inconvenient for holding wine and trying the desserts J (see below) Kori had a ‘Pamela Anderson’ type one on her arm, which was erm, different!

The party was fabulous, and Kori and I had a great time. We wore dresses from ‘Joy The Store’ that evening, that we loved loved loved! So be sure to check them out! http://www.joythestore.com/

The next day was food tasting with Indian chefs, followed by a curry lunch, though we did have some pizza appetizers for dinner that night!

All in all, the trip was very informative and I did come away with a few ideas for recipes, and a greater knowledge of Basmati Rice, although how relevant it is to me specifically, I’m not sure... we’ll see. It’s definitely given me some food for thought – excuse the pun. The bonus? we got to meet some really inspiring people along the way. It’s a shame we never really got to see outside the hotel during our trip, although I’ve been before, but I’ll go back one day I’m sure.

Now to the fast approaching Christmas!

The kids are soooo excited, we’ve written ‘drafts’ to Santa (something I’ve learnt from in the past, otherwise Santa gets about 10 letters from Bobbi and Eevy where they keep changing their mind!) I think we are finally on the home straight now though, we are almost ready to write it in ‘neat’!!

The girls are becoming rather difficult to buy for these days, what with all the technology out and about – which Bobbi is fully into at the moment- I still want her to have some ’proper’ toys too, she’s growing up so fast but I don’t want to have a completely ‘gadget-ed up’ 9 year old, and Eevy is just at that age where she’s not sure if she should still be into Peppa Pig or if it’s too ‘little’ for her and she should love Hannah Montana- it's enought to make me pull my hair out.....

So I was very pleasantly surprised to receive a 3D Breakthrough puzzle from MEGA puzzles for Bobbi, with these great puzzles you start your build in 2D finally adding your 3D image with special puzzle pieces and clips. They come in all your child’s favourite cartoon characters, super heroes and scenes, with prices from £14.99. This a great gift for any creative ‘pre-teen’ she loves it!

I also received a Hello Kitty kitchen from MEGA bloks for Eevy, which is just perfect for her indecisive age... ‘big girl’, yet creative and fun- Fabulous!

Visit www.megabloks.com and www.3dbreakthrough.com to get yours.

I’ve got so much to get, I really should get myself in gear, but these gifts that they have really been enjoying have helped me get some good ideas.... Bobbi did mention that she wants Santa to arrange for her to meet Justin Bieber.... however, when I explained that meeting Justin was very expensive and Santa may not be able to do that, I was met with a swift ‘erm, no mummy! Santa doesn’t PAY for our presents....’ hmmm... touché Bobski. HELP!!!!

Also....It was my birthday Tuesday!! I am now 28! I have no shame in disclosing this info- I’m still young enough to be ok with it J I never celebrate birthdays though, and Kori has been trying to persuade me to do something for this one.... all the girls are out Saturday, so if I feel well enough I might just pop along!! Happy Nolan?!?

The app is nearly done, honest!! So don’t forget to keep registering for info www.howtocookinhighheels.co.uk Been skyping with the USA this week, and have a very exciting meeting Friday too, so watch this space guys and gals!

Christmas dinner ‘must try’ from me:

Last year I knew it was going to be a real hassle getting the kiddies to eat my brussel sprouts, so I peeled the leafs individually, pan fried some pancetta in a little olive oil with finely chopped onions till virtually cooked, added my brussel leafs, till softened, seasoned and served.... they LOVED it!! Give it a go, add some chopped mushrooms or maybe make a creamy sauce too? I’ll certainly be doing that again this year.

Restaurant of the week for me:

@siam – This contemporary Thai restaurant is superb. Set in a really cosy and friendly atmosphere this restaurant is one of Soho’s little secrets. The staff welcoming and the smell from the kitchen- divine we were excited to see what it was all about.

Now, I like Thai cuisine (Kori and I have Thai dishes in the book and I cook them at home to suit my tastes) but I have to admit it wasn’t one of my favourite styles of food, until now. We asked for the staff to recommend dishes for us, and I was very pleasantly surprised- and full!! We had a whole array of dishes from chicken to lamb and scallops and the fusion of flavours was exquisite. We were sat in a quiet corner in front of a huge shiny Buddha which we couldn’t help but admire for quite some time, where we chatted and gossiped with our wine, eating dish after dish after dish of moreish meals. One of my favourites from the evening was the lamb curry they served us, the lamb was cooked perfectly and the curry sauce was just how I like it- SPICY!! For dessert we had a selection of ice creams that we sat trying to guess the flavours of.

I whole heartedly recommend any Thai loving reader, or even those who wouldn’t usually visit Thai restaurants to go and give it a try. You’ll not regret it!

http://www.atsiam.co.uk/ look here for the picture of the Buddha I mentioned- and the menu of course.

48 Frith Street Westminster, London W1D 4
020 7494 4511

Lots of Love

Sash xx

New Delhi Delights

2011-11-26T07:51:00.000-08:00

My SHOE CRUSH OF THE WEEK has to go to the entire range at Topshop. Ladies if you are after some serious funky party shoes this season without a seriously damaging price tag then head over to http://www.topshop.com and let their heels lead the way!

Four weeks to go....I have the mixed fruit soaking in Drambuie in preparation for my Christmas cakes as I type! Seriously, I don't know what's taken over me this year, but I am hideously excited about all things festive. Even more out of character, I am more excited about making a wreath to go on my door and home made gifts than I am about receiving presents myself!! (Don't let that put you off gift buying for me family and friends - I will be sorely disappointed if I am left gift-less as a result of my throw away comments!)

Of course it didn't quite feel like Christmas was approaching for Sasha and I this week, as lucky for us, we were in New Delhi for the Basmati for the World 2011 conference.We stayed in The Grand New Delhi hotel just twenty minutes from the airport where we were treated to an array of food, gala evenings, cooking demonstrations and oh yes, more food - namely curry - and lots of it! We even ate it for breakfast on our arrival. It was quite a lavish affair to say the least and we came home brimming with ideas and recipes to make with Basmati rice. They flew in numerous chefs from around the globe to demonstrate their Basmati recipes using their cooking influences from the likes of France, the USA and the UK, which certainly gave us a few ideas for conjuring up some delicious dishes on our return....we'll let you know how those turn out!

The Grand New Delhi Hotel

Our fab new friend Ravinder with her Carrot and Cardomon Rice Pudding Brulee

The adorable Helen with her Basmati concoctions - watch out for her she'll be appearing on The Alan Titchmarsh show very soon with Liz Mcclarnon!

New ways of making sushi with Basmati

And just in case you wondered where we were....

Which reminds me ladies these are our beautiful Joy dresses that we picked up last week. http://www.joythestore.com/ I discovered their shop for the first time just a month ago (where have I been?) and have since been harping on about it to friends, only to find that they are huge fans too! I love finding new little gems like this, as I really do tire of the same old shops that mask every high street across the country. I decided a while ago that I've grown out of the likes Lipsy (not that I was ever a huge fan but you get the picture - Danielle Lloyd style?!) and what's great about Joy is that it's perfect for women around my age (a very youthful thirty three!) who still want to look young, sexy and stylish without the risk of looking like we're dressing too old for our age and unfashionable. I had the pleasure of looking around their warehouse and had a peek at their spring/summer collection and I am very excited indeed. But before the summer season arrives make sure you check out their stunning sexy dresses just in time for the party season!

And just in case that we for one minute forget that we had a flying visit to India, we will be reminded at least for the next two weeks by our, erm beautiful henna tattoos!

Have a great weekend!

Korin xx

2011-11-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

Well it's all go, go, go for us ladies in heels at the moment! November seems to have been like a bit of a whirlwind so far. We were invited just this week on a three day cooking trip to India and as we're in a 'seize the day' kinda mood at the moment, we're packing our bags this weekend and jetting off to the sunshine! And of course we like to travel in style, so I've just been to pick up some gorgeous frocks from a fabulous shop I've just discovered http://www.joythestore.com/ ladies you MUST check it out, it's inexpensive, sassy, sexy and very stylish! I'll post some pics next time.

Well just in case you were totally unaware - there are only five weeks left until Christmas! And as you know I have decided to play a Mrs.Claus type role this year and offer you a few suggestions as to what you can fill your stockings with. Try thinking outside the box, as we can all fall into the easy trap of unloading bundles of socks and scarves on our loved ones which are useful, but can be a little dull. Event tickets, restaurant bookings, ice skating tickets all make great gifts or how about theatre tickets? I went to see Ghost the Musical this week which has just come to the West End. If you cried your eyes out at the film (as I did) then you will more than likely blub your way through the musical too - as I did! Starring the young, talented and rather hunky Richard Fleeshman (he's grown up a lot since playing Rosie Webster's boyf in Corrie you know) and Caissie Levy who plays Molly who has the most breathtakingly beautiful voice, it's definitely a must see.

Head over to http://www.ghostthemusical.com/

One thing you can't go wrong with for a great girlie gift is make up! There's something about oodles of beautifully packaged make up that can really make me smile - yes indeed one of my little pleasures in life is to sit at my dressing table with an array of new make up goodies to play with! And one of my all time favourite brands is Benefit Cosmetics.

With it's cute, 1950's girlie packaging and the make up itself being just a bit fabulous too what's not to love? I am totally in adoration of their 'cheeks' range and have dedicated myself to trying nearly all of them! I've just got my excited little paws on Sugarbomb and can't wait to dust it gloriously all over my face!

Make sure you try out their new eye shadows too - with names such as 'Snow Job' and 'Tickled Mink' you're sure to get a raise eye brow or two with the name as well as the fabulous colours! Oh and I can't not mention their gorgeous lip gloss that I buy time and time again - Kiss Me.

Head to http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ and spoil the ladies rotten in your life this Christmas!

And of course don't forget to be charitable this Christmas - head over to http://shop.macmillan.org.uk/ where you can purchase some great little stocking fillers and wear you halo with pride!

SHOE CRUSH OF THE WEEK!!!

Kurt Geiger are undeniably one of the best high street shoes brands out there and one thing that they particularly do well is 'Fuck Me Shoes' Ah -ah-eh-uhm-hm I'm sorry I mean 'Party Shoes'!!! Yes they are pretty wild, naughty and quite tricky to walk in but I believe every girl must invest in a pair at least once for the feeling of true sexiness- just make sure you don't have to walk too far! Check out these bad boys - they're in the sale too.

Well ladies as it's the weekend I think a cocktail is in order, don't you? I have my bottle of No 3 London Dry Gin ready and waiting to make some simple classics such as an Extra Dry Martini

1tsp Extra Dry Vermouth

85ml No3 London Dry Gin

1 Lemon

Coat an ice cold Martini glass with the vermouth, pour in the cold No 3 London dry Gin and peel the rind of the lemon to add to the glass giving the lemon a little squeeze into the mixture too....

Or why not try a Champagne Fizz;

2 oz No 3 London Dry Gin

1 oz Lemon juice

1 tsp sugar

ice

chilled champagne

Shake all the ingredients apart from the champers in a cocktail shaker - pour into a champagne glass and top with champagne!

On that note my lovelies enjoy your weekend!

Korin x

2011-11-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

I must confess that I bring you my blog from the comfort of my bed with a slightly fuzzy head this morning. (Well ok, actually it's early afternoon.) As last night I was out celebrating my friend Jo Emma's Birthday at Zuma in Knightsbridge - ya, ya rather swanky indeed! We then headed onto a cool little bar called The Wellington which was a lot less 'Knightsbridge' than one would expect. Worth checking out just to see the website;

http://www.thewelly.com/

So as the party season approaches I'm on the look out for some gorgeous party gear and one place I will definitely be heading this week is H&M. With the release of their new collection by non other than fashions very own Versace, there's sure to be something sparkling to make heads turn! The collection hits the shops on Thursday so get ready to form an orderly que ladies.... http://www.hm.com/gb/versace#home

Talking of all things fashion, my SHOE CRUSH OF THE WEEK most definitely has to go to Mr. Louboutin, for creating these strangely popular, celeb craze 'paw' shoes! Yes slightly, bizarre, a little ridiculous and not entirely sure I would wear them unless I was going to a fancy dress party as Mufasa from The Lion King, but hey, it's all about having fun with fashions, right? Grrr!

Do you know it was about two weeks since Sasha and I saw each other that we were starting to get withdrawal symptoms (we usually live in each others pockets) so we had a well over due catch up this week at a new fabulous eatery @Siam - a hidden gem on Frith street in Soho. Thai food is I have to say my absolute favourite and they certainly didn't disappoint. The starter Scallops were deliciously mouth watering as was the soft shell crab in a spicy peanutty sauce.

These strange little dumplings which looked like Pomegranate seeds were served to us for dessert with my absolute favourite creamy coconut ice cream.

http://www.atsiam.co.uk/

I did manage to squeeze in some 'me time' time this week and was able to find my sanctuary of peace and tranquillity at Beauty Essence in Soho. I was treated to a gorgeous pedicure - I find that I do tend to forget about my feet a little as soon as flip flop season passes by and I do love having groomed tootsies and a fabulous foot massage. I also indulged in a deep cleansing facial - living in London with the all that grimy air floating about, my skin was screaming out for some loving attention - plus all girls should be pampered every now and then! Miriam, my very friendly therapist recommended some lovely Demalogica products and gave me a few free samples which I'll be trying out. The best thing about Beauty Essence is that they are in great central Locations for all you ladies who work in London, making it super simple to book yourself a lunch time pamper...or why not treat your girlfriends for crimbo for a perfect pressie? Check out their website http://www.beautyessence.co.uk/ for more information.

Speaking of Christmas Presents let's not forget the men in our lives too ladies! They too need a pamper every now and then and I have picked up the perfect pressie for the boys in my family from the utterly gorgeous Molton Brown - they do the job perfectly when it comes to nourishing the skin (which many men seem to neglect) Classy and elegant packaging, the products themselves smell great and leave a delightful linger and well, Molton Brown is just rather yummy- you can't really go wrong can you?
http://www.moltonbrown.co.uk

Well if you are feeling slightly worse for wear and can't quite face the lengthy process of making a roast today, then why not make my quick and easy Crab and Sweetcorn Noodle Soup? It literally takes about 10 minutes to make and is totally tasty and satisfying!

Ingredients

1 bunch of spring onions chopped
1 clove garlic crushed
1 tablespoon ginger paste (or fresh ginger)
1 can of sweetcorn (or frozen)
1 can of crab meat
chicken stock
fine dried noodles
fish sauce
freshly chopped coriander
fresh limes

Lightly fry the spring onions then add the garlic and ginger and cover with chicken stock. Add the rest of the ingredients allowing the chicken stock to cover the noodles and cook until they are done. Season with fish sauce, freshly squeezed lime and coriander.

Enjoy!

And if you fancy a fun night of fashion and entertainment tomorrow night check out www.dilema-agency.com Children in Need are hosting a great event at The Crowne Plaza - we may just pop along too!

Korin x

That Christmassy Feeling!

2011-11-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

So as I headed down my favourite street this week, the one they call Oxford. And entered my second home, the one that is Selfridges, an overwhelming feeling of joy and good will to all men swept over me like a wintery snow feast - it's Christmas!!!!! Oh no, hang on a minute, actually it's not. But in Oxford Street it is! So that means we must prepare! Unlike my mothers generation when Christmas became a chore rather than a pleasure (the woman used to send over 300 Christmas cards - go figure?) I being of the more selfish generation, only buy for those that I actually want to buy for and don't over exert myself trying endlessly please others and therefore eagerly await the festive period like a over grown kid! Yes, I am slightly aware that I sound kinda mean, I can assure you I'm not - I would just rather spend my time and money on people I truly love and appreciate in my life, rather than the whole neighbourhood and their aunties. You get me?

I'm usually a last minute kinda gal and like to buy my pressies just a week or two before and wrap them up on Christmas eve whilst singing along to Mr. Crosby's White Christmas - ah, I get a warm and fuzzy just thinking about it! However this year I have decided to my ass into gear a little earlier than usual. And lucky for you lot, as I am the sharing, caring type, I'll be letting you in on a few of the gifts I'll be filing my stockings with this year over the next few weeks. Here's a few for starters;

All girls love smellies and L'Occitane have come up with the goods with their new Delice de Fleur and Delice de Fruits which was inspired by 'traditional sweets shop of Provence' range, to make you smell as sweet and gorgeous as you look! Get ordering your goodies online now;

http://uk.loccitane.com/FO/Home.aspx

No Christmas in the Nolan house hold has ever been complete without Thorntons! Without fail, we always get a Continental choc box in our stockings and munch our way through a few classics, 'Viennese Truffle' being my all time fav. However, check out some of these goodies which I'll be (reluctantly - if I manage not to eat them myself that is!) giving as presents this year.

The snowballs would make a great topping for a fun kiddies Chocolate Christmas cake! Take a peek at their website for more mouth watering moments...

http://www.thorntons.co.uk/

And just to prove that I am not quite the Scroodge I made myself out to be earlier, I also recommend that you head to Centre Points's More Than a Gift page to buy a virtual gift for your pals. All donations will go towards the homeless -much more 'good will to all men' than spending out on throw-away Christmas cards and after all no one should be on the streets at Christmas time in those cold winter months. It's ever so simple and will be one of the most worthy pressies you could buy this Christmas.

http://www.centrepointgifts.org.uk/

The Nolan's!

There's nothing quite like a big Sunday munch to round off a good weekend is there? With the launch of their new gourmet menu, I headed to my local 'Sizzling pubs' in Northolt for a cheap and cheerful slap up meal along with my folks, Liam and one of my bessie mates Jo Emma. The staff were super friendly which always makes a huge difference and their veggie burger really hits the spot! If you are a particular greedy guts like us lot, then you can down load one of their FREE Pudding vouchers Here's a link to the desert offer http://www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk/offer/freepuddingoffer/ It's available until the 11th December and can be claimed with the purchase of an adult's or kids'meal . So treat yourselves and tuck into numerous goodies like Millionaires Shortbread cake or Treacle Pud!

http://www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk/

SHOE CRUSH OF THE WEEK!!

Ok so my purse strings usually only stretch to high street shoes, but hey it is Christmas soon so you never know if I make a few hints now I might get surprises this year....I've just come this website that sells designer dazzlers at a reasonable price - they look good but I'm not sure if they're real? What do you reckon ladies?

http://www.christianlouboutinukshoes.uk.com/

See you soon guys! Korin xx

More Birthdays and Kim Kardashian!!

2011-11-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

Good evening all!!

Firstly, I’m soooo pleased to say I think I am finally getting over my cold!! Yay!! And it’s going just in time for me to go and enjoy my youngest daughter’s birthday. Yup, Eevy is turning 6 on Monday and she requested a trip to legoland for the day, and naturally what my princess wants, my princess gets J HAPPY BIRTHDAY EEVY!!

I’ll post some pictures in the week!

I’ve counted 7 weeks till Christmas!! I’m no-where near prepared as usual, I feel a last minute dash coming on- say around mid December time?!? I can’t be the only person so un-organised surely??

I’ve been cooking up a storm in doors this week, however, my problem with cooking (well my cooking) is that actually the kitchen services and table sometimes get into a right state, so I was very pleased to recieve some ‘eco-force’ products this week which as well as being quite fabulous, the entire range is made from recycled materials! which has left me feeling very environmental J lets face it cleaning up is an inevitable part of cooking, so it makes sense to use some good cleaning products – I actually used a ‘dish matic’ washing up brush before anyway!

In fact they sent me so much, I’ll scrap the xmas shopping and wrap up my eco-force delivery for everyone!! Kidding mum, you’ll also get an Overtones CD too !! hehe

See all the products they sent me (they'll be on my facebook too)

http://www.ecoforce.co.uk/

Now, serious man question.....why do men decide to start whingeing and moaning soooo much more around the time it becomes cold and Christmas approaches?? Do they actually get ‘winter depression?’ or something, or is it the ever looming thought of how much our Christmas presents are going to cost that causes them to go into one massive sulk until they’ve let it sink in? Honestly!! I’m hanging in there because I’ve already headed him up on my pressie haha... oh and because I love him of course too!! J

Ooh, gossip time!! I spent like 6-8hrs one Saturday watching the entire Kim Kardashian wedding on E! (don’t ask me why... whatever... it’s addictive and I dare any one of you to watch it once and not agree- oh and my mum said our family is just a less expensive version haha- bless her!) and I was right there with them when Mason (so cute!) ran up the aisle with the rings and then Kourtney nearly tripped in her huge heels when she picked him up, and I was totally there when Kris went to pick Kim up – as he does(just under the armpit) anytime he just wants an eye to eye conversation and she told him ‘No! Not in this dress’ and I was there wanting to cry into Kris Jenner/Kardashian’s MASSIVE bow thing she wore on her dress when they said the vows..... then headlines ‘KIM TO DIVORCE AFTER 72 DAYS’ ermmm WHAT??? I took me nearly that long to watch the bleeding thing!!! Not impressed guys. However, I will be watching if there is a 4hr episode on the divorce!! Ooooh what WILL she wear!

Anywho... feeling a tad depressed after all that, I got straight on the web and started looking for shoes! And ladies look what I found.... (couldn’t get the picture, but click the link)

THIS IS MY SHOE OF THE WEEK!!!

http://www.shoeaholics.com/?gclid=CJmo1cjYnawCFYRqfAodcVJY_Q

erm!! Kurt Gieger.... Bargain!! Yes they are ex-display but ex display still does not mean 2^nd hand, so for all you ladies who love your heels, but are conscious of Christmas and your budget, this could be just the place for you!! No need to thank me J

Let me know how you get on!!

Speak soon

Sash xx

P.S I’ve been looking back through some of the videos of Kori and I cooking for our app, awww!! We don’t half have some fun in the kitchen... reminded me how fortunate we are to be able to do what we do, couldn’t think of anything in the world I’d want to do more.

Mwah xx

Get your hands on our brand new app!

2011-11-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

Get excited, get very excited folks because our fabulous How to Cook in High Heels app is due out a-n-y day now!!! We filmed around 14 video recipes at the beginning of this year, as well as lifestyle tips and cocktails at the Be@One bar in East London and have eagerly awaited the release ever since! So if you love the book (and why wouldn't you?) you will love this too as it covers just about every meal occasion in a woman's life, from romantic dinners for two, to family favourites and from cooking with kids to healthy eating. So ladies what are you waiting for? As I say it's out any day so keep an eye out on iTunes or simply log on to our website and register your details here http://www.howtocookinhighheels.co.uk/app/ to show your interest and we'll let you know when it's ready to purchase! To whet your appetite here's a little taster recipe for your eyes only - enjoy!

http://www.fabulousmag.co.uk/fabmag/_fabulous/nolfabulous_lifestyle/nolfablifestyle_food/1353968/How-to-Cook-In-High-Heels.html

I must admit I kinda missed Halloween and all pumpkin related recipe opportunities, however I am all set for Bonfire night this weekend with a sparkler at the ready in my hand! And being the true Yorkshire lass that I am, I'm determined to make one of my most favoured cakes of all time - Parkin. Or Yorkshire Parkin for all you none Northern lot. (Guy Fawks was a Yorkshire man after all - something to be proud of??) It's basically ginger cake but, stickier, gooier and well, just better! It's traditionally made with oatmeal and is best left a few days (even a week) before eating to get that extra gorgeous gooeyness - so get cooking asap and it will be ready for the weekend!

125g butter
175g black treacle
150g milk
175g self raising flour
175g oatmeal
125g dark muscovado sugar
2teaspoons ground ginger
1 egg
square cake tin lined with baking parchment

Melt the butter, treacle and milk in a pan, then combine the rest of the ingredients well and pop in the oven at 160 degrees gas mark 2 for 1 hour or until cooked through in the centre.
Enjoy eating standing next to a huge bonfire - failing that with a nice Yorkshire cuppa!

Well aside from the occasional treat like my de-lish Parkin, I really am trying to cut down in the run up to Christmas, so that I can feel slim and trim for the party frocks season! I can honestly say hand on heart and from experience that I DO NOT believe in diets - they don't work! Dieting is about deprivation and when you deprive yourself, it will only lead to obsession and eventually binge eating. Sound familiar? The best way for me, is to focus on the foods that I CAN eat rather than the ones that I can't. So I make sure that my diet consists of healthy, nutritious meals that are tasty and satisfying and that way I am less likely to snack on sugary, high fat foods that eventually end up somehow stuck to my bottom! So it's imperative that you make sure your meals are tasty; you can do this by experimenting with herbs, spices and garlic. Fatty meats are fine from time to time although do try and limit them to just a couple of times a week at the most and stick to lean meats like chicken, fish and turkey the rest of the time. A bit of cheese is fine too, again just limit the amount you have - so it's all about feeling satisfied from your meals, so that you don't snack on rubbish in between meals.

When 'cutting down' I try to avoid all processed foods, sugars (apart from a little honey and the odd bit of Green and Blacks dark chocolate) and also cut out bread, pasta and white rice. I like to have a little brown short grain rice, as it's great for cleansing and I am addicted to Quinoa; it's a fantastically nutritious grain that has a nutty taste and is a fabulous alternative to rice and pasta. In fact I often eat it with a pasta sauce or a curry. Another secret is not to go hungry. If I get peckish I eat yoghurt - not the sweet artificial tasting kind, but good, nutritious (organic if possible) bio yoghurt - full fat is fine occasionally too. I always start my day with low fat natural pro biotic yoghurt, blueberries and walnuts with a little honey - it's totally delicious and fills me up.

Of course we all know that a healthy diet goes hand in hand with exercise and you don't need me to tell you that, we've all read it a thousand times. So I shall not preach, I'll simply tell you about my fabulous Bootcamp Pilates classes which if you want to tone up quickly I can say in all honesty, you'll not find anything quite as effective! I have always been a huge fan of Pilates and this reformer machine based work out is like an intensified version of the mat work and gets results fast. And I am super excited about introducing the Little Black dress class which we have just started up in time for Christmas! This class specifically promotes sexy arms, backs and legs so you can ooze confidence and strut your stuff throughout the party season! Check out the website for more information http://www.bootcamppilates.com/ and come pay me a little visit at the Hoxton branch.

And last but not least I just have to say that I am LOVING my new sexy wedge ankle boots from Zara -casual enough to wear in the day with a cute chunky knit skirt and glam enough to spruce up an evening outfit. Get yourself down there ladies quick sharp before they run out!

Have a great week!

Korin xx

Birthdays and colds!!

2011-10-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

Birthdays and colds!!

This last 2 weeks I have been seriously ill!! I have THE worst cold worse than anything i’ve ever had before and definitely worse than ‘man’ flu!! Honestly, Ben (the boyfriend) has had a bit of a cold too, and when I say a bit of a cold I mean a BIT of a cold but he has been moaning and moaning and I swear if I hear one more (fake talk through nose) ‘ can’t you hear it babe, hear it in my voice’ I will place his honey and brandy somewhere very unpleasant haha!!

Cold or no cold, Bobbi has been celebrating ALL WEEK, her 9^th birthday!! Yep my baby is 9!! Erm..... where did the years go? She is so grown up and 110% 9 going on 19 but she is an amazing little girl and i’m so proud of her!! We went to the theatre on Monday with Eevy and some of her friends to see ‘ High School Rocks’ which was actually very good. They sing a mix of highs school muciscal, camp rock, Hannah Montana, glee songs for 2 hours and the kiddies loved it! Eevy got invited up on to the stage to have a go at basketball which was very sweet, and one of the cast members noticed Bobbi’s birthday girl badge and at the end got her on stage too and the whole audience sang happy birthday!! Very cute!!

Eevy’s birthday is 10 days after Bobbi’ – the longest 10 days of ‘ she’s had her birthday, why is mine second?’- if I could go back and induce her labour to the day before Bobbi’s I absolutely would, this is going to be years of ‘why is she first?’- anyway, she has decided she wants to go to Legoland, so Legoland we shall visit, Windsor here we come!! Actually, this sibling rivalry really does make me laugh. The other day we were discussing the days they were born and Bobbi said ‘ How much did I weigh?’ so I told her ‘3lb 5oz’ (she was 10 weeks premature) and Eevy said ‘ what about me?’ so I told her ‘ 8lb 7oz’ Bob’s face drops and in all seriousness she said ‘ why was she more expensive than me??’ haha priceless!! That conversation took a while to get to the bottom of!

I’ve been trying every natural remedy possible to help me feel better like ginger grated into hot fresh lemon juice, eucalyptus, honey and lemon (which is my favourite) but ultimately I always end up at my mum’s house..... well if anyone makes you feel better, its mum!! In fact that’s where I am now as I write this blog. Love ya mum!

Work wise- we have finally signed our contracts for USA!! SOOOOOO exciting, can’t wait to get back to New York!

We did some filming last week for a Steve Jobs documentary (founder of Apple who passed away recently) we did some ‘cooking’ at the Cinnamon Kitchen in Liverpool Street, I say ‘cooking’ because we had every intention of cooking a little dish, but as we do we got so caught up in having a chit chat with the presenter that all we managed to do was a little bit of chopping!! Whoops!! It was all about our Iphone app and why we choose to do one etc. Speaking of which I am assured the app will be out by the time the documentary is aired, the first couple of weeks of November. Please register your interest at our website www.howtocookinhighheels.co.uk

Kids have been right into making their homemade pizza’s this week, get making yours. Recipe in our book. Look what they made:

Will let you know when the documentary is on!!

Anywho- i’m off to suffer, and be looked after by my mum J

See you soon xxx

Half Term Headache?

2011-10-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love half term mums? This one crept upon me a little too quickly for my liking - before I know it I have a teenage boy glued to the sofa playing the X Box for multiple hours on end and asking for food at twenty minute intervals - Ah the joy hey! I don't quite understand how breakfast, lunch and dinner seem to merge into one big eating feast and how exactly so much energy is consumed sat on the sofa to warrant copious amounts of food? Well instead of allowing them to feast of crisps and chocolate, make sure you pack your cupboards with healthy snacks such as home made popcorn - try sprinkling with dried Parmesan cheese, Paprika or a little chilli and salt for a great savoury flavour that will keep them munching away for a good while! Make sure they get their 'five-a-day' with some in season fruits like Clementine's and Satsuma's - kids love them. Or why not get the smoothy maker out and blast together some great concoctions like freshly squeezed orange and banana or for something delicious, cool and creamy try whizzing together banana, milk, honey and coco powder - I can guarantee you'll love that one too!

As my Liam is a 'cool' teenager now, I am apparently far too embarrassing to hang out with (can you believe it?) but I still think it's important to try and 'hang out' for one day together throughout the holiday's so we get to spend some quality time together. (And I can show exactly how cool I can be!!! ) We'll be heading to T.G.I Friday's this week (well you've gotta allow treats too!) they've just opened their 50th store at the new Westfields Centre in Stratford City which has a new design and has been a huge success since it's opening a few months ago - so get yourself down there and bond over burgers! Check out where your nearest restaurant is;

http://www.tgifridays.co.uk/

And as a proud mum, I just have to share with you my gorgeous boy and his latest modelling pics!

http://www.theones2watch.com/newwave/6285

If you don't fancy staying in this weekend then why not take a little trip to Borough Market as I did this weekend just gone, it's one of my most favourite things to do on a Sunday! There's always something going on - this Sunday was Apple day which prompted me to indulge in a rather spectacular piece of Apple Crumble Pie - calorific? Perhaps but at least I was getting one of my five a day!

The food in the market is always to die for and ranges from delicious cheeses to amazing curries!

And if you're in need of a pumpkin for Halloween there's no better place to shop, check out this juicy lot!

To find out what's on at Borough Market and more head on over to;

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

Speaking of curries I'm making Tandoori Chicken tonight - I have some marinating in the fridge and it smells divine already.

Have a great week ladies!

Korin x

Juice yourself happy!

2011-10-17T05:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies and happy Monday! Just recovering from a rather tiring but fun weekend which was spent in a fabulous apartment in the Docklands with my friends. We were celebrating Jenna's birthday - she won the apartment in a raffle- just for the weekend! It was absolutely beautiful and overlooked the docks with it's abundance of luxury yachts - oh how the other half live eh! So we did our best to fit in and drank champers (well ok, Cava actually) and then headed to Shoreditch to Beach Blanket Babylon for some fabulous cocktails served with a little shot of champagne (yes, the real stuff this time) on the side.

http://www.beachblanket.co.uk/shoreditch/index.html

Unfortunately late nights suit me less and less these days - anything past 12am and I am good for nothing! So yesterday I was in the need for a serious pick me up. Luckily I have just had delivered my super impressive Oscar Neo Juicer which I couldn't wait to try!

http://www.vitality4life.co.uk/

Now this is no ordinary juicing machine, oh hell no this bad boy does everything from juicing to soups to dips - it even makes fresh pasta! I invited my parents round for a healthy afternoon of detox goodness and treated them all to freshly made juices - carrot, celery, ginger being our ultimate favourite. We then whisked together a delicious soup in no time at all. There's really nothing more wholesome than a home made vegetable soup to warm your cockles and feel thoroughly replenished and virtuous! The best thing about this fab machine is that it really requires minimum effort. I must admit I have tried juicing several times before and have always been put off by the cleaning process afterwards which takes so blooming long. Unlike most other juicers, the Oscar Neo has a rather nifty little compartment for the throw away veg to drop into, making it easy to discard and even easier to wash. When making a soup we simply roughly chopped a mixture of winter vegetables - no need to peel as when you put the hot veg in the machine, it removes the skin - yes, how utterly fabulous! The most impressive thing of all is that my 14 year old boy who most of the time is repulsed by anything that resembles a fresh vegetable ate the whole lot and drank litres of juice, even asking for more - now that is remarkable! I can't wait to make some pasta - I'll keep you posted on how that turns out.

Well as you know, us ladies love a bit of glamour and those of you who know me well, know that I have a bit of an obsession with painting my nails, so I was rather excited to find these rather fabulous nail polish strips from Incoco in Selfridges. Nail art is all the rage this season and it seems anything goes....Incoco nail wraps come in an impressive range of fabulous designs and really take nail art to a new dimension. The best thing is that they take very little time to apply and you don't have to wait for your nails to dry, plus they last for around two weeks. I have had so many compliments I can't wait to try the full range - these ones below will look great for Halloween and Christmas!

http://www.incoco.com/

Another thing that I am LOVING this week are my knickers -yes you heard me right! I have just got my hands on 'fruity' little pair (they are covered in fruit quite literally) AND they pull you in, in all the right places. I am a big fan of hold in, suck in and squeeze me in pants and now this gorgeous French brand (well the French do know a thing or two about making good knickers) have got the suck me in effect combined with the prettiness too. Now don't worry, I am not going to show you a picture of me in my pants - please don't fret! But you can head on over to http://www.pull-in.com/ to get your hands on some of your very own and be the first to set a new trend amongst your friends for hold me ins!

Ok, Fish pie for tonight's dinner I think - I better get my high heels on and head to the kitchen!

Korin xx

Champers ...and healthy stuff too!

2011-10-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hi there ladies

Well I have been overindulging lately, too many long days and late nights make me reach for the comfort food and although thanks to my intense Pilates training recently, I haven't piled on the pounds as I would do normally, I am feeling like I need to hold back on the odd chocy treats and heavy pasta dishes...but before I harp on about all things virtuous, I will just tell you about a fabulous little drinking spot I discovered on Friday night with the girls, called Devonshire Square and it's right by Liverpool Street Station. Frequented by city workers, it's cool, sophisticated and just a really lovely place to hang out of an evening. So for all you London ladies, get yourself down there after work and head over to Devonshire Terrace for a bottle of bubbles and some Sweet Potato Chips with Garlic Mayo!

http://www.devonshiresq.co.uk/

I love dips and quick snack food, but the problem is that most of these food that we find in the supermarket are super high in fat and calories. Well fear not my dears, because Sasha and I have come up with some tasty little alternatives to your creamy dips loaded with calories and fat. Check out our healthy dip recipes on the channel 4 food website http://www.channel4.com/4food/how-to/how-to-do-sauces-dips-and-dressings/healthy-dip-ideas-video they really are low in fat and actually quite good for you, so snacking doesn't have to mean piling on the pounds after all - phew! Plus I've just discovered some great tasting new flavoured sweet red pepper oat cakes by Nairn's that are a perfect accompaniment http://www.nairns-oatcakes.com/news/2011/09/nairns-launches-new-sweet-red-pepper-oatcake

Well it's Sunday (my favourite day for cooking) and I have abandoned the traditional roast as my son Liam, (who is on a health kick- he's a budding Thai Boxer you see) requested something with chicken and rice toady for dinner. So not entirely fat free, but healthy non the less, I came up with the goods. I always use organic short grain brown rice whenever possible, as it's probably the most healthy variety of rice for you; fantastic for cleansing out the system and it's one of the best form of carbohydrates you can eat. I fancied something slightly creamy and as I had some single cream left over from our Apple Pie indulgence the other day (yum!) so I made gorgeous Sage and Onion Creamy Chicken with Leaks and Broad Beans - give it a try and let me know how you get on.......

Ingredients

chicken breasts with the skin on
2 onions
chicken stock
single cream
fresh sage

broad beans
leeks
butter

Pan fry the chicken skin side down, then turn over and add the onions - cook until fairly soft then add a little chicken stock and cook until the chicken almost done. Add the chopped sage and cream and cook for a further couple of minutes.

In the mean time lightly fry sliced leeks and broad beans then add butter and season well.

Serve with the brown rice.

This literally took me about half an hour to cook and went down a treat in the Nolan household!

So my little sis has headed State Side! (As we will too hopefully very soon.) She's gone over to LA or La La Land as it's aptly called - which accordingly to my sis Hayley is quite true... I am so very proud of her as she's following her dream and I am definitely one for following dreams....how else would they come true after all? Please all take a look at this rather hilarious 'Glee take off' You Tube clip that has already had over 10,000 hits as well as Glee's very own Jane Lynch retweeting it - Go Hayley!! Retweet it yourself and let's see if we can make it viral!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHvFg0pfOd8

Well I hope you all had a relaxing Sunday and are ready for a fun filled week ahead? Yes, I know that's perhaps a little too much optimism to bare on a Sunday evening before an early Monday morning start, but hey you've gotta keep happy - hopefully eating our good food will put you on the right track!

A bientot

Korin x

Moving time.... AGAIN!!

2011-10-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

I’m Moving!!!!

With Christmas only 70 odd days away (how did that happen) and both my daughters birthdays at the end of this month beginning of next – with them both wanting elaborate parties i’m sure.... Im now dealing with the task of moving ALSO at the end of the month!!! Arghh!! Seriously???? How stressful is it??

So i’ve decided not to think about it for the weekend and just relax J The other half is taking me out for dinner tonight so i’m going to eat the equivalent of a small town and enjoy our ‘us’ time.

Apparently its really good for relationship (esp those where children are present) to have ‘ date night’ put on your nicest undies and schmooze your partner like you did back in the day?? So they say... Ben (the boyfriend) will probably end up with me with my hair in a Croydon facelift and my Bridget Jones ‘BIG’ knickers on haha – kidding!

The girls, Ben and I went to chessington on Sunday, it was a beautiful day and we had sooo much fun, the even went on dragons fury and the vampire ride !! I was more scared than them. In my defence though i’ve never actually said I do like them.....

I got sent a really nice phone cover (it’s not like a plastic cover) more of a stick on- that doesn’t ruin the phone- called peelzone. Basically you send them a picture they send you your picture on your peelzone and you stick it to your phone for £9.99 check mine out below which has my angels on J Love it. www.peelzone.com

That is a great little Christmas pressie idea... Kozza, what make is your blackberry? Your getting a picture of me haha (you think I’m kidding)

Im currently writing some Halloween recipes, yummy!!. They’ll be appearing on our column on www.famouslyfit.com our column is called mums on the run- take a look for a couple of great pumpkin treats.... We have also been having some really good feedback from USA (just had a meeting last night as it happens) and cannot wait to go back to New York!

Anyway I’m off to spruce myself up for my date tonight!! Oh lala

Enjoy your weekend my lovelies

Mwah xx

The Reem Team

2011-10-06T02:23:00.000-07:00

So I have joined the 'Reem Team' and proudly admit that I am a firm fan of TOWIE. Ever since the gorgeous Jessica Wright and her girl band Lola (below) performed at our book launch party last year, I've been hooked and now I've got the T Shirt to prove it! I was sent this fabulous homage to the BAFTA winning show and now wear it with pride to show my love.
Here's where to get one;

www.moretvicar.com/t-shirts/slogan-t-shirts/a-list-attitude/keep-calm-and-stay-reem-women-s-white-tee-shirt-pd-2293.php

I'm not quite sure what it is about the docu soap that's got me fixed, it certainly isn't the love rat Mr.MarkWright - although I don't think he's quite as bad as he presents himself. Maybe it's the fact that it's the only show on TV that gives me the urge to dress up to the nines to hang the washing out and cake myself in make up and fake lashes? Whatever it is, it's most definitely my guilty pleasure TV of the moment.

Sasha and I met with author Bethanie Lunn the other day who wrote The Modern Girls Guide to Fabulousness....take a look;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Girls-Guide-Fabulousness-Lifestyle/dp/1846245109

I must admit I had a bit of a girl crush! Dressed in a gorgeous Carrie Bradshaw esque tutu skirt (she also admitted to typing on her laptop in coffee shops and having found her Mr.Big) if there's any woman who can teach other women out there how to be fabulous, then I am pretty sure that Bethany can. And apparently she thinks that we can too! So we are going to hopefully be joining forces to create the ultimate girlie fabulousness...watch this space.

I can't get enough of Frozen yoghurt at the moment and it seems that it has become a bit of a trend here in London all of a sudden. I was delighted to find a Pinkberry counter in the food halls in Selfridges the other day - they do the most amazing coconut flavour and the watermelon is pretty delicious too. The best thing about it, apart from it being utterly divine tasting, is that is it's fat free (well apart from the coconut one and as long as you don't top it with oodles of Oreo cookies and chocolate chips). They also do another gorgeous brand FRAE in Topshop - so I am literally surrounded by it, it's too hard to resit!

Who said being a mum was easy hey? Every age has it's up and down sides; when they're tiny babies you can take them anywhere in a pram and don't have to worry about them wanting to get out and push it (as apparently I used to do) but they keep you awake at night. When they are toddlers they are super cute but you need to have them hanging permanently off a pair of reigns as they get EVERYWHERE! And when they start talking you can communicate with them properly, but you are still tied at the hip -in a nice way of course! As they get older and start to gain their independence, things become a little easier in that respect, but nothing, I tell ya could quite prepare me for the teenage years! Now, I was told that I was a pretty horrible teen and I am hoping that this is just a phase, but God help me, where did my innocent little boy go? Don't get me wrong most of the time he is adorable, caring, lovable and very funny. Some days however, I feel like I am faced with a potential gangster!!! I guess it's the hormones, all the outside influences and learning about who he is as a young adult. I on the other hand feel as if I am learning who I am as a parent and sometimes I have to admit I don't have a clue what I am doing. Now I know how my poor old parents felt when they were dragging me out of 'sleepovers' without the parents there and trying to track me down when I had run a way from home for the tenth time. Well, wish me luck, cause he's only 14 and I reckon I still have the best to come! Ahhhh!

On a cheerier note, I don't have any work to do today apart from a meeting later on this afternoon which should involve a much appreciated glass of wine or two in The Covent Garden Hotel -oh lovely! So I am about to pick out my outfit and paint my nails (one of my most favoured past times...ha ha) but first I need to wash off this fake tan as I look like I have some rare skin disease, I would take a picture but it's really not a pretty sight to behold, so I'll leave you with the delightful image you have in your head.

Ta Ta for now.

Korin x

well done becky!!

2011-09-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

Well done Becky!!

Last week was a crazy week, between work, the girls, their clubs and phone calls to America I then had the pleasure of going to my sisters graduation!! The whole family (and Stevie- my sister’s best friend) was there and we had such a great time, lots of celebrating, lots of champagne and lots of good food!! My mum had some amazing mussels- I’ve got a thing about mussels at the moment! PERFECT!! So I have to say a massive CONGRATULATIONS Boo!!

All negotiations in the USA are going well and we have plenty to look forward too, it makes me wish we were there all the time as I keep getting itchy wanting to have all our meetings, skype will just have to do for now J

We’ve been coming up with some recipes for OK! Extra for a feature that’s going in soon and I had had had to write down the delicious carrot and turnip recipe I made. I don’t think its being featured though because I was at my sisters graduation and I don’t think I got them in on time whoops!! If its not featured I shall publish it here next week for you. I know they are vegetables people either love or hate but honest you’ll love this one.

Also, Kori featured a picture of us in New York on her last blog and I look awful in it.... (Thanks Kozza!!) so i’m showing you a nicer one J (honestly the t-shirt i’m wearing in the other is an really bad fit, but I must of thought it looked good in my jet-lagged state haha)

I’m being sent a few products as a new part of our blog that I think are great, so I will be testing and trying for you and letting you know where to go. From food and drinks to clothes and gadgets, so let me know if there’s anything you want us to try and get hold of to try out for you.

Oh and i've been jogging loads lately.... i've really missed it!! Marathon anyone??!! :)

Speak soon

Love Sash xxx

That’s better.

Comfort Cakes

2011-09-25T03:06:00.000-07:00

I'm still on a high from our return from New York - I just love that city, I really do! We spent an amazing two nights at Ink 48 which has the most fabulous bar on the roof top called The Press lounge which boasts a sky rise view of Manhattan. We literally went from one meeting to the next, jumping in yellow cabs in our high heels with bundles of our books in toe, ready to give out to TV people -Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out! I think that's why Sasha and I just love our work - because it doesn't feel like work. I just hope they want us back! We have some interesting follow up skype meetings next week so fingers crossed.....

So back to the grind as they say, I still do feel pretty lucky that I live in London - coming from Sheffield you would wouldn't you? Nah, don't get me wrong, I am very proud of my Northern roots, but after almost ten years of living in London I do still relish the fact that I live in such a wonderful exciting city with so much on offer. I think the hardest thing for a woman is trying to combine and juggle being a mum, having a career, a relationship and a social life - which is what Sasha and I harp on about all the time. And I really am finding it a bit of a struggle at the moment I have to admit. Work is pretty full on - I also teach Pilates classes at www.bootcamppilates.com (come and join me!) plus I have a teenage boy who is adorable and a complete tearaway at the same time, and have I been in the midst of a relationship breakdown/make up/breakdown for the past two or three months. It's kinda all wearing me down!

I was supposed to be at a fabulous friends wedding in Cornwall this weekend, but because of 'relationship breakdowns' I am sat here in bed typing away... I heard a nice little saying the other day 'Don't try and change people - chose people who are already the way you want them to be'. I like that - and I think that will be my new found motto in life. So my mum - bless her heart, has been giving me the same old 'single girl' chat again. 'Why don't you join a group or club where you will meet like minded people'? She says this every time I am single. Which is not a bad idea - but what group would that be mother??!!! Bowling? Rock climbing? Dancing? I can just imagine some greasy haired Italian stallion cha cha-ing his way up to me ...yuck!!!!! So this weekend I have taken to baking buns and cookies to comfort my heart (aw poor me) they were really rather nice actually - look!

Raspberry Butterfly buns and here's how to make them;

100g caster sugar
75g butter
2 eggs
100g plain four
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla essence.

Blend together the ingredients and pop in bun cases - pop in the oven 180 degrees for about 20 -25 minutes

cream together lots of icing sugar and butter and a dash of red food colouring, Once the cakes are cooled cut out a small hole in the top and fill with half a teaspoon of raspberry jam, the top with the butter icing and finish with the cut out bit of cake cut into two - to make a butterfly shape et voila! Ah cakes really do make me happy:) Have a nice Sunday - peace out.

New York New York!!

2011-09-12T09:34:00.001-07:00

We’re back!!

So..... we got back from New York on Saturday and it was AMAZING!!! We had some very interesting meetings, and a very knackering 2 days with the travelling but it was all worth it and hopefully we’ll be heading back stateside very very soon!! Watch this space... EXCITING!! (you can read all about our trip on the dial-a-flight website soon, they very kindly flew us to and from New York, thanks dial-a-flight)

We flew out last Wednesday (7^{th September}) after we launched the ‘better breakfast’ campaign at the houses of parliament with Alex Reid, John Thompson and MP Daniel Poulter, it was a lot of fun and I’m positive we’ll get people eating a better breakfast with the recipes we provided! Check out the website www.betterbreakfast.org.uk

Speaking of websites, ours had a bit of a re-vamp and is looking very sassy now, have a look and give us some feedback www.howtocookinhighheels.co.uk

The long awaited app is coming very soon and I have to say it’s looking good, register your interest on the website...

The kids have gone back to school, and if I’m honest I do miss them when they are at school, the 6 weeks holidays have been very busy and totally flown by. I love hanging out with them – don’t get me wrong they have their moments like every child- but they are extensions of me and to be fair I gave them their genes didn’t I?? (mum, I am by no means admitting to being anything other than fabulous as a child haha)

Bobbi is about to start back at Cubs, she’s doing very well there and I’m looking for a gymnastics class to enrol Eevy into, she’s very athletic and I need a place outside of my home where she can practise her kart-wheels!! They both start back at street dance this week too... I honestly spend more time being ‘mum’s taxi’ than anything else.

This week we are going to sit down and do our home-made meatballs... yummy!! We haven’t had them for a while, and Eevy is becoming a master at adding the ingredients and rolling our meatballs.

Tonight though I’m having a night off and the other half is making a sausage casserole, perfect for a very jet-lagged me!

I’m off to veg on the settee... as soon as I’ve been for a jog!!

Till next time

Sash xx

Stay in and eat soup under a blanket!

2011-09-04T04:35:00.000-07:00

I quite like the sound of rain fallng whilst being tucked up under the duvet particularly with my boyfriend to snuggle up next to on a cold Sunday morning with nothing much else to do. But given the fact that it's not Sunday, it's been raining pretty much the entire week and I no longer have a boyfriend, I would quite like it to stop! Yes it does make us all feel rather miserable, especially as it is supposed to be summer after all - so what do we do to snap ourselves out of this 'it's supposed to be summer but it's raining' mood? Well as you know we quite like cooking. We've just had some of our really rather nice recipes put up on the Channel 4 Food website so do make sure you head on over there and have a peek! Here's one of them to warm your cockles in the miserable rain! http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/healthy/chicken-pasta-soup-recipe

Another thing that's cheering us up at the moment is our forthcoming trip to New York. We went out there earlier this year to do a travel review for The Mail on Sunday (something that Sasha and I dabble with from time to time) and met with an agent - yes we did feel very 'showbiz'! And anyway hey presto after a few months we've had some fabulous interest out there from TV channels and production companies who want to meet us...yes little old us - the girls who like cooking in heels! Needless to say we are super excited and have been dreaming of Carry Bradshaw outfits to dazzle those New Yorkers with as we step of the plane. I am thinking that I must invest in a blue pleated skirt and Mary Jane shoes that I have had my eye on from Kurt Guiger ...hmm yes a good look I am sure - although I am well aware that pleats can make your bottom look slightly enlarged so I'll see how that goes!

So our photo shoot with Alex Reid went well last week - here we are with the Better Breakfast Team on what was a lovely sunny day wohoo! We had quite a lot of fun actually - Alex himself is larger than life (well being married to Karie Price he proabably learned a lot.)

Ok so I must admit I have written this blog in two parts this is actually now a whole week later and on a lazy Sunday morning. I am still considering getting dressed and going to buy The Star Newspaper to see if our Better Breakfast article is in today's OK! Extra. It's not quite 12pm yet so I figure another hour or two in my dressing gown is perfectly acceptable.

I do have a good reason for not being more consistent with our blogs and that's because I have been without laptop and completely cut off from the modern world I have now come to know and love! To make matters worse I my trusty little reliable friend - my blackberry broke too! It got me thinking in all seriousness just how much I do rely on these gadgets and what the hell did I do before they were invented? I was actually reduced to a cold sweat at the thought of not being able to answer a text message or worse still see who it was from! Remember the days before mobiles, Facebook, Twitter and emails? When you arranged to meet your friend at a certain time and place and miraculously - they were there! Rendezvous are not that straight forward these days - you arrange to meet someone and then they text you or Facebook you to say they'll be half an hour late or worse still they are not able to make it. That just wouldn't happen back in the good old days now would it? Remember the scene (for those of you that enjoy the odd chick flick) with Drew Barrymore in 'He's Just Not That into You' where she rants on about missing the old days when there was just once source of contact - a house phone and just one way of leaving a message - an answering machine! Now we just have too many ways of people reaching us and to be honest it does get a little overbearing and confusing! Well I am now happy to say I have a brand new lap top and a phone so people are free to keep me waiting and cancel on me whenever they like. Erm....oh!

One thing that is rather super duper about modern technology is that as you know it has permitted us to make our very own app! It's due out next month - so get registering for further info on the home page of our website www.howtocookinhighheels.co.uk

Well our trip to New York is looming we're off next Wednesday after the launch of the Better Breakfast Campaign at the Houses of Parliament - yes it's going to be a busy day! Both Sasha and I have done a bit of shopping now and sorted out our dazzling, head turning outfits - power dressing all the way! I picked up a fabulous little polka dot dress from Dorothy Perkins (they are after all in this season) and a bright blue block colour dress from Topshop which my producer friend from This Morning told me that Amy Childs wore the other day on the show - there's ten years or so between us but hey, I can carry it off right?! And of course some towering heels which will make me about 6ft2 but standing next to Sasha who is equally as tall is not such a big deal! I did try on the pleated skirt but I was right - made my bottom rather large looking which I could do without thank you very much.

Right I suppose I really should get dressed now and make some lunch. I am thinking a thai style roast chicken dinner today with chilli, garlic, coriander and lemon grass (blitz ingredients into a paste and then spread on the chicken, leave to marinate and roast) served with boc choy and baby sweet corn. Sounds good hey.....

Have a lovely Sunday!

Korin x

Hello From Sasha!!

2011-08-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new blog everyone!

I’ve been really looking forward to getting this started and letting you all know what we are up too at work and at home.

It’s been a lovely week in the Parker household this week, shame about the weather though!! Seriously?? What has happened to the summer? My girls – Bobbi 8 and Eevy 5 – and I have been perfecting our Michael Jackson on the wii with the Michael Jackson experience game, It’s official people.... I am THE queen of Thriller ‘schamow’... it’s so funny and a nifty bit of exercise too!! I recorded the girls last night doing ‘dirty diana’ it’s hilarious, one to show the girls boyfriends when they’re older haha.

You’ll hear me talk about my girls a lot in my blogs so I’m going to tell you a little bit about them.

Bobbi is 8 going on 18 (question for anyone else out there with an 8 yr old girl, is it me, or do the hormones totally kick in at this age?) a total girly girl, and complete daddy’s girl, she can always be found in my high heels swooning over Justin Bieber. She’s a very intelligent little girl, my brain box, and she’s really deep, I can sit and talk to her for hours, which is good because her mouth doesn’t stop moving from the minute she gets up till the second she goes to bed. She’s absolutely stunning and promises me she will not go through life on her looks, she wants to be a doctor, That’s my girl!!

And then there’s my little princess Eevy, she’s 5 and she tells me everyday she’s ‘ going to get to 8 and then stay 8 to be my baby forever’ aww! With her beautiful ringlets and dark eyes she looks like butter wouldn’t melt, but anyone that knows her knows the truth haha! She’s my comedian, says the funniest things and makes us all laugh all the time. She’s a little mini me, tantrums and all!

Anyway, getting back....

Even though the weather has been a bit on and off, it’s still actually quite mild and we haven’t felt like eating anything too heavy, so we’ve been having some lovely salads with chicken or fish, the girls are really starting to get into their cooking (they’ve been helping since they were small with all the grandparents too) and are always coming up with ideas. Bobbi has a great sense of adventure in the kitchen, she likes to know what she’s eating, and with salads and stuff we put in what everyone wants, they ALWAYS eat what they’ve created which is never a bad thing. We have some great light dishes in the book and app so make sure you check them out- The app is due out soon, but you can register your interest now.

As Kori has already mentioned we have a shoot Friday for OK! Extra magazine, Which I am really looking forward too, it’s for the Better Breakfast campaign, which is brilliant and it’s going to be a lot of fun.. Let’s bring glamour to breakfast! We have so much to look forward to and I cant wait to share it with all of you.

I have to go now, I’ve got Snow White and Bat girl waiting for the ugly sister to bring them snacks.... they never give me a good parts haha!!

Speak to you soon

Sasha xx

Welcome!

2011-08-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hi guys and welcome to our very exciting new blog!

We thought it was high time that we set this up to let you know what we're up to and what we're going to be up to in the coming weeks, months years and well just generally. So now that we've sorted the technology out (never was very good at that side of things) thanks to our fabulous web designer- here we are!

As you know our first book came out in November (hope you have all bought a copy?) and our app which we had great fun filming is due out soon - so get registering your interest asap on our home page and we'll let you know when it's ready.

Well as you know summer is in full bloom and as it's been rather dreary here the normal summer bbq's have been few and far between Chez The Nolan's. However one very quick and easy summer dish I have been cooking time and time again (sometimes I get the taste for something and end up eating it all the time!) are omelettes. Not just any old omelet I may add- I like to experiment and really make mine a little different. I've been packing all sorts of veg like courgettes, spinach, red peppers and red onions in there - fresh herbs are lovely too and if you want to fill it out a bit more, I even add a handful if cooked Quino (yes you'll hear me harp on a lot about this super food-it's a fantastic substitute for rice and pasta) I've also been known to spice it up a little will chili flakes and spiced paprika too -delicious! The best thing is that you can put almost anything you like in them (a great way to use up what you have in your fridge) and my boy Liam just loves them!

Speaking of kids (and thank goodness the summer holidays are nearly over - I've entailed far too many boys sofa/X Box days over the last few weeks) the best way you can educate them and get them eating their greens is to get them in the kitchen and get them cooking dinner themselves. (With your help of course!) We have some fabulous kids recipes in both our book and on our app so check em out!

We have a jam packed week ahead including a photo shoot for OK! Extra magazine to promote The Better Breakfast Campaign which we're involved in. Alex Reid is also talking part so that should be interesting - we're hoping to get the lo down on Katie Price and the new girl on his arm Chantelle... oh can't wait to fill you all in on that one, hopefully we'll have lots of gossip to share! We have to wear something red, white and blue as it's British themed so I'll be interested to see what the stylist comes up with! I have already told them I don't want to get my legs out - well we all have our little body hang ups don't we! I will have to make sure that I put on some of my new favoured fake tan (yes I am a fake tan fan - unlike Sasha, I have to worry about pasty legs!) It's called St. Moriz and you can buy it in Tesco, Savers, Superdrug and do you want to know the BEST thing? I thought it was going to be super pricey as it really is rather good, but guess what? It costs just £4.99 - LOVE IT!

And on that note I shall say farewell and that I am looking forward to slipping into my high heels and painting the town red tomorrow night with Miss Parker and the girls! Chat soon.

Korin xx