Come join me on Cloud Nine for a reading!

The lovely Cherry Picked Pop-Up Pamper Parlour has teamed up with Youlovefashion.com to take you to Cloud Nine on the 8th September at The Lodge in East Dulwich, for the recessionista-friendly price of £8 which includes a glass o’ wine, a cupcake (courtesy of Cory’s Mum’s Cupcakes) and entry to the outfit exchange.

Starting at 7pm, exclusive tunes from DJ KiRA will keep you chilled at this hot event and anyone who purchases a ticket before the 25th August will be entered into a prize draw to win a makeover on the night – fabu!

The Youlovefashion.com Bazaar will be overflowing with handmade, original and vintage clothing, modern one-off designer and accessory bargains with stalls from Belle Coco and the like. Or swap some of your less cherished clothes in the outfit exchange. A seamstress will be on hand to make sure it all fits – what more could you want?!

The Cherry Picked Pop-Up Pamper Parlour will be a haven of relaxation and pampering bliss. Nine beauty treatments are available on the ‘Pamper Production Line’, bookable in advance, with prices starting at just £9. They include everything from a reflexology session to a mini-manicure, massage or facial. Email cherrypickedstyling@yahoo.co.uk for prices and booking.

Or find out how fashionable your future will be with a tarot reading for £10 from The Sassy Sorceress – that’s me! – whilst sipping on a yummo Cloud Nine Cocktail.

It’s the perfect-o combo o’ fabulousness so don’t delay, book your tickets today http://www.wegottickets.com/event/89511 to buy tickets online.

Do you remember back in April, I told you that I was filming with a celebrity for a BBC3 documentary? Well, the show was Danielle Lineker: My New Step Family and it aired last night at 9pm…You can watch it here, I’m about 26 minutes in and as well as hearing my words o’ wiseness as an agony aunt and checking out my cute hair foliage, you also get a sneaky peek at the Mizz magazine offices too – hurrah!

The programme is about how when Danielle Lineker married Gary in 2009, she became stepmum to his four teenage sons. With her oldest stepson George only 12 years younger than her, Danielle finds her new role a challenge. What’s the secret to a successful stepfamily? How should she behave to avoid being the wicked stepmother?

This intimate and honest documentary follows Danielle on her journey to understand stepfamilies, the fastest growing family type in Britain. And on the way, she learns some home truths about herself and her new family.

Inside info: Danielle was quite possibly the nicest celeb I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a fair few. She was funny, down-to-earth and really genuine. Oh and ridiculously pretty, obv.

Whats more, its only 6 pounds and should be in your local corner shop as of now!

PS soon we will be showcasing our hot tips and favourite things for the new season, but we will let you all get off of holiday first!

Hola minxes! So, yesterday, I was shopping in town and a gorgeous girl came up to me to tell me how nice my shoes were – they are pretty – I also got told I looked like Cleopatra and that I had a pretty flower in my hair – I was like a walking-talking compliment collecting machine!

I love to collect compliments in a jar for those icky, not-nice days when I feel glumsville personified. They’re the perfect pick-me-up and a compliment will always make you stand taller, smile and feel good about yourself – what’s not to love about that? Which is why I want to encourage you gorgeous girls to become Compliment-giving girls o’ fabulousness!

How to give a compliment…

1. Don’t be fake – don’t say something you don’t mean, as it’ll just sound flaky and false.
2. Telling someone how great they look is a great way to spread the love – has your gal-pal got a bag you love? Tell her! Does your bro look better when he’s combed his hair? Tell him! Has your mumma started wearing a new eyeshado that brings out the colour in her eyes? Tell her!
3. Don’t feel you have to justify the comment – a compliment shouldn’t be given in return for another, nor should it mean you’re creeping or that you want something. Sometimes the best compliments are given in passing. Like the lady who said I had great shoes yesterday, she was literally passing me in the street, I didn’t even have time to say thank you, although I did shout it after her…There was no doubt it made me walk taller for the rest of the day!
4. Keep it simple. Send love through your eyes and your voice and imagine your lil’ gesture of goodness is like a bunch o’ blooming flowers.

Are you in?! I wanna hear about it!

It’s no secret that I have a total penchant for rockabilly, tattoos and all things 1950s, so I am in total cartoon-heart-shaped love stuff with Dolly Cool. Totally unique and original, not mass-produced, jewellery, accessories, clothing and bags – come meet Clare, she’s the girl behind the label and I heart her and her creations of rockabilly wonder mostest!

Describe the lady behind the label in 5 words…
50s tattooed retro rockin’ redhead!

What is it you do exactly?
I am the designer/maker for my own brand Dolly Cool. I make jewellery, accessories, clothing and bags and I’m also a graphic designer specialising in alternative and punky subject matter.

How did you discover you could create items of wonder and that you were going to sell them?
I have been making things as long as I can remember, and started selling my jewellery at craft fairs about 10 years ago.

Is it difficult to be creative AND business-y?
Sometimes yes! This is because you have to wear many different ‘heads’ – doing accounts is boring, but necessary and all part of running your own business…The rest of it is mostly fun!

What’s a day in the life o’ Clare like?
I get up around 8am, make breakfast and check emails, log sales etc. from the night before (it’s great making sales when you’re asleep!

Then I have a shower, get ready and begin to make my orders. Everything has to be ready to meet the last post at 5.30pm so I’m always a bit stressed from 4.30 to 5.30! The evening is spent updating my blog and website, doing any design jobs and making stock for when I do fairs. I rarely watch TV…my business always comes first!

Who and what inspires you?
Mid century design, tattoo art, other designers/makers who have created and built their own business from scratch.

What 5 tracks would be on a DollyCool soundtrack?
Rancid – Timebomb
Rock This Town – Stray Cats
Sugar Doll – The Jets
Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon jovi
Letter to the Censors – The Peacocks

Whats your life motto?
If at first you don’t succeed, try again!

The Sassy List: What’s your favourite:
Book: Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Movie: Pretty in Pink
Hang out: Rockabilly Weekenders and gigs
City: Manchester…My home city
Must-have beauty item: Benefit IT Stick concealer
TV programme: Medium

What does the term Sassy Minx mean to you?
An independent, fun lovin’ gal who knows what she wants and works hard to get it!

Go check out her creations o’ fabulousness: www.dollycool.moonfruit.com

Doing tarot readings and getting awesome responses like this…

“…Lisa Clark is a reader in a million! This is one of the best readings I have ever had and I’ve had many over the years. The reading was extremely accurate, ‘hitting the nail on the head’ in more ways than one. I will definitely be back for many more readings. Thank you Lisa!…

Wanna book yours? We can do it in person, online or via skype – all the possibilities! Check out Diva of Destiny for more details.

OhMyStars. This is the follow-up to Angelique Houtkamp’s hugely successful Tatoo Darling, which has sold out of its first print run. Houtkamp is celebrated for bringing together the tattoo aesthetic, nostalgia and a magical vision. This second volume documents all new artwork, glimpses into the artist’s personal collection and an introduction by the renowned tattooist Mike Giant and an interview with the artist herself. Aspects of victoriana sit alongside stylish flappers, flamboyant harlequins merge with south sea beauties in a crisp, boldly outlined style mixing tattoo flash with pretty femininity – LOVE.

£6.99 www.amazon.co.uk

A Glastonbury sunset. You really can’t beat it – bee-you-tiful.

I am all a bit late to the Twilight saga, but now that I’ve discovered it, I can’t help but love it. Saw a preview of Eclipse last weekend and it’s quite possibly the most beautiful love story, even if Bella is a li’l bit…y’know, intense. FYI, I am totes Team Jacob. It’s a no brainer.

AIMEE IS LOVIN’ (Recessionista Special)

Duty Free at Debenhams
Like this Urban Decay shadow box, for 19.40 instead of 22.50. You don’t need to go on holiday to snag duty free beauty buys now, as Debenhams is also doing it! Snag YSL Touche Eclat or Marc Jacobs LOLA for less, instore and online. I am enjoying online retaillers right now, and my favourite H&M is launching its first online shop from 16th September. No more queuing for their collaborations, hopefully!

American Sitcom situations
I am FINALLY on The Sopranos season 6, after spending about seven years watching all of the other series. Alas, it must come to an end sometime. The trouble is, what to watch next? I have extensive knowledge of Gossip Girl, SATC, Lipstick Jungle, Cashmere Mafia and a few Prison Break/24/Desp Housewives but these don’t overly grab me. Any tips, let me know!
Rootin’ Tootin’ Carbootin’
I used to spend Sundays hungover, but now I am getting my flat together, me and the beau spend the ocasional Sunday morning traipsing round a good old carboot. It’s pretty much guilt free shopping- three things for three quid – and its better than Ebay because it is more impulsive and memorable. This past weekend, I picked up a seventies retro green glass bowl, some eighties clip-on earrings that Pat Butcher would be proud of, and an awfully naff but had-to-have painted picture of a girl with her boob out to go on our main living room wall, with a trousseau selection of different sized framed vintage B&W pictures of half naked cheesecake pin-ups and boxing heroes.

Domestic Goddessin Not of the cleaning/tidying variety obv, because that just ain't me. But cooking, and baking, I have allot of time for. I tried a brilliant recipe from Delia this week, and made meringue with strawberries, above! It was melt in the mouth-gooey inside, and slightly hard on the outside and it went down a treat. Best of all, it was really easy to make-even the whipping bit!
Sassy Meringue Pavlova
3 large fresh egg whites
175g golden caster sugar
British Strawberries-or raspberries or any berries!
Raspberry Ripple Ice cream, for an extra kick!

1# Preheat the oven to 150C, gas mark 2. For the meringue, place the egg whites in a large clean bowl and whisk them until they form stiff peaks (it’s very important to whisk slowly at first and not to over-whisk the egg whites because, if you do, they will start to collapse).
2# Now start to whisk in the 175g sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition until all the sugar is in. Then take a metal tablespoon and spoon about one third of the meringue mixture onto a prepared baking sheet, forming a circle about 20cm in diameter.
3# Then, spoon round blobs next to each other so that they join up to form a circle all around the edge. Now, using the tip of a skewer, make little swirls in the meringue. Pop it in the oven, then immediately turn down the heat to 140C, gas mark 1 and leave it for 1 hour. Then turn the heat off, leaving the pavlova inside the oven until cold.
4# Break up as messily as you like, add the strawberries and a scoop of ice cream.
5# Eat and enjoy!
6# Get someone else to do the washing-up.

Have a good one! xxx