Neon and Ice

Today I visited Tracey Emin: Love is what you want at The Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre which runs from 18th May to 29th August.

This exhibition includes work in different media from every phase of her career, from her appliqued blankets to neon signs, short films, drawings, paintings and sculpture.

Emin uses her own life as the starting point for her art, frequently drawing on the most intimate details of her personal history, her frank approach is at times shocking but nevertheless this exhibition is an interesting insight into what makes this much celebrated contemporary artist tick.

Afterwards we headed to Dishoom Chowpatty beach bar pop up for a yummy gola ice (try the bubblegum variety with vodka!)

Brought to the Southbank by the people behind Dishoom Bombay cafe on Upper St Martins Lane, Covent Garden, you can grab a bite to eat or a drink until October 4th.

mirror mirror

Spotted this adorable hand mirror in Anthropologie this week and just had to have it!

Been looking for a hand mirror for my kit bag and this one is just perfect!

can't wait to see this.....

On my travels this week I.......

took part in a bootcamp.....

At the beginning of this week I decided to embark on a 1 week trial with fitboxbootcamp.

The classes are run in various green locations all over London and incorporate fat burning kick boxing fitness techniques with cardio, resistance, abs and core work and claim to help you burn 700+ calories in just 45 minutes!

There are morning, lunch time and evening classes available depending on the location you choose, I went for mornings and whilst I didn't get off to a great start on Monday (because I couldn't find the meeting point!) I attended 2 consecutive days at the end of the week.

It was tough! but then I haven't embarked on any regular exercise for a long long time so my body probably didn't know what had hit it.

Both mornings I was the only person attending so it was more like having a personal trainer (this also meant no slacking off or having anyone to hide behind!)

I think the 1 week free trial is a brilliant way of seeing if this will work for you before coughing up the cash for the 4 week programme but get in there quick as this offer is only available for this month!

You can also sign up for a 6 week healthy eating programme which is completely free (even if you are not taking part in any classes- just visit the website)

Although I would be lying if I said I 'enjoyed' the class, I definitely think that this approach is a winner for me because you have someone motivating you the whole time and pushing you to go that little bit further than you would do if you were exercising alone so I am definitely interested in signing up when the next 4 week course begins!

fell in love with Kizzy.....

My client Georgia's adorable little Yorkie Poo puppy, soooooooooooo cute!!!! I was very tempted to try and smuggle her out in my hairdressing case!!

switched to an Iphone.....

Yes I finally took the plunge and switched my blackberry for an Iphone. So now with a better camera and plenty of creative apps available you can expect more pictures from me on my blog!

had one of, if not THE best dinner of my life.....

At Hawksmoor steak house and cocktail bar in Seven Dials, Covent Garden.

Thanks to a tip off from my client Esther's boyfriend- who works at this joint located in the old Watney Combe brewery, we headed there to celebrate Mr Randall's birthday.

If you like steak you will LOVE Hawksmoor!! Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!!

There are many cuts on offer including huuuge ones to share, delicious side dishes (the beef dripping chips were to die for, and yes I obviously did take a break from my healthy eating plan for this occasion) and a vast cocktail and wine list.

I would highly recommend this place!!

Whose Hair?

How cool is this? A book of over 200 illustrations dedicated to the tresses of the rich and famous.

The latest offering from London artist Christina Christoforou.

Guess for your self and test your friends to see how many celebrities you can identify by the sketches of their hair do's alone.

It's amazing how easy it is to tell them apart and just goes to show how iconic image is in the celebrity obsessed world we live in today.

Available to purchase from Laurence King Publishing £7.95 - test yourself here and see how many you can guess!

This London Lady Loves . . .Petersham Nurseries

I have long wanted to visit Petersham Nurseries having read and heard many a good thing about it.

For those who are not familiar with this magical little oasis check it out here its beautiful!

Popular with photographers and Interior stylists alike, The nurseries were even used as the backdrop to a shoot for a Burberry campaign back in 2009 for Harpers Bazaar! see the campaign here

After a long lie in this morning we set off for a walk along our local riverside and when we saw that the Ham ferry was running we hopped on to cross the water.

Once on the other side I persuaded the boy that we should try and find Petersham Nurseries and with a whole lot of help from Google maps we (finally) did.

You can browse plants and herbs for sale in the garden, visit the cutesy tea house for a cuppa and slice of cake or stop by the Michelin starred restaurant for a bite to eat and glass of prosecco.

There is a whole array of beautiful shabby chic and vintage furniture and accessories for the home and garden for sale as well as cookery books, candles, glassware and crockery, I was in my element mooching about!

Afterwards we carried on our walk to Richmond and stopped by the river to soak up the last of the late afternoon rays! Perfect day!

Trip to my hometown

Last Monday eve the boy and I headed North bound on the East Coast mainline for a visit to my hometown of Newcastle.

It was lovely to catch up with family and friends, visit some old haunts and check out some new ones.

The majority of the week was spent eating and drinking (as always!) so incase you ever find yourself in Geordie Land I thought I would share some insider info with you and give my recommendations on the finer places to sip a cocktail, enjoy a dinner date and lap up a lazy Sunday Roast.

Lets start with As You Like It, located just outside the immediate city centre in an area called Jesmond.

Set over 3 floors, featuring 3 bars, a restaurant, garden terrace and private hire function room 'Frangipani'.

Mr R and I had a lovely dinner here on Thursday evening in the restaurant and then carried on drinking cocktails in the bar into the small hours.

The surroundings are quirky and cozy, blossom branches entwined with pretty little fairy lights, bird cages, lamps, a grandfather clock, even a rickshaw to sit and chill in by the ground floor bar.

The food was yummy, the service attentive and the cocktails very delicious, we returned on Saturday eve for drinks with friends too, definitely one of the better bars in Newcastle, check it out here

If you are looking for a cafe in town to meet friends for brunch/lunch or an afternoon tea thenPopolo in the garden has it covered.

We caught up with my Aunty and cousin here, they do great super smoothies!!

Set within Eldon Garden shopping centre in the heart of the city, the best seats to bag are within the sunken booth area where you can people watch til your hearts content, check out some pics here

Its sister venue Popolo bar, lounge and Kitchen across town on Pilgrim Street is a cross between an Italian coffee shop and New York bar and is definitely the King of the cocktail castle and not to be missed on a night out in toon!

And so, following a big night what better way to cure a hangover than with a lovely Sunday Roast?!

We headed to old favourite The Forth on Pink Lane. The Forth is loved by many and has undergone a bit of a revamp since I lived there but has still managed to keep its character and charm.

Cozy in Winter next to a roaring fire or equally inviting in Summer when you can make use of the roof terrace, this gastropub has interesting detail in the interiors whether you choose to sit upon a chesterfield or church pew and artwork from locals adorn the walls.

With man, make up artist friend and siblings in tow we munched through Roast Beef and Roast chicken with no complaints and clean plates all round, check out the Forth here.

There are many iconic sights to see in Newcastle, especially down on the quayside with the variety of bridges, Baltic art centre and magnificent Sage music venue.

This visit we drove to The Angel Of The North which is something I have never ever done before!

Since spreading its wings across the Gateshead skyline 13 years ago, Antony Gormleys' Angel has become one of the most talked about pieces of public art ever produced.

Now for the geek bit- dominating the horizon over the A1 motorway the angel is made of 200 tonnes of steel, rises 20 metres from the earth (thats as tall as 4 double decker buses) and has a wingspan of 54 metres (thats as big as a jumbo jet!)

I have driven past it many times on the motorway but it was nice to visit the site and see just how big it really is. Peoples opinions have been divided since its installation but personally I love it and find it a welcoming sight on arrival to the region!

taking the shears to my sisters head

For all the times you ever. . .

ha ha, no no it was on request 

A little extreme for some perhaps but she is most definitely not a wallflower when it comes to image and wanted something controversial. I think she wears it well!