Christmas Gift Ideas (Books)

I love books and they make fantastic presents for all ages. Whether you are going to stay with someone and need to take something or are posting something to a niece or nephew, hopefully I've got it covered.

Agatha Christie - you know I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan and there are three gorgeous new editions out this Christmas. The ABC Murders, 4.50 from Paddington (my favourite of the three) and The Mystery of the Blue Train - all great reads and I really love the new colours. How I wish I could have them.

Blind Date with a Book Club - this is such a fantastic idea - choose the genre's and every month for 6 months you get a book sent to you or you can choose one book based on it's five line sentence. I personally love the sound of the Last Christmas selection.

Blue Bowl - not only my favourite place for presents in general but a great selection of unusual books for grown-ups and children. My eldest (6) loves Smart about Sharks and I'm going to get the middle one Bonkers about Beetles (his nickname is Beetle) and I love the Dahlov Ipcar books too. For grown-up's this is Florence's latest pick.

The Home Bar - a great book (dare I say it?) for men. My husband really loves this book and it looks beautiful.

The Nancy Mitford Collection - from Heywood Hill (where she once worked) this is a beautiful collection of five Nancy Mitford paperbacks in a beautiful box.

Penguin Classics - Waterstones are doing beautiful hardback editions. You can get someone their favourite book or if you have a baby why not get the A Christmas Carol - we got one (in not such a beaut edition) for Ned for his first Christmas and we read it to him at this time every year and it's so lovely.

Small Print Books - a really fantastic independent book shop that has an incredible selection of unusual books for children.

Timeless; A Century of Iconic Looks - Louise Young is the make-up artist when it comes to historical accuracy and I'm so happy to have this book with me when I go on shoots. Not only is it great for make-up artists but a wonderful read for those interested in cosmetics and hair through the ages.

The Skincare Bibile by Dr Anjali Mahoto

The skincare industry is booming. There are more products available than ever before, more information and with it more 'experts'. Bloggers doling out skincare advice who aren't qualified and who often have the beautiful skin of an early twenty-something. It's hard to know where to go for genuine knowledge and so The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin by Dr Anjali seems to have come at a wonderful time..

And indeed it is full of some great information. A lot of it is basic, which is great, often skincare advice can get a bit sciencey and then the majority lose interest. A lot of it I have covered in my skin science training but here it's laid out in an understandable and approachable way and some of it was new to me. All of this is great - all bases are covered, there is something for everyone here.

Christmas Gift Ideas - Books

As some of you will know I used to work in publishing and so I am very much a fan of giving and receiving books. Though this has got me into trouble - I am currently desperately finding places in my already-full house to put yet another bookshelf - its an addiction I just can't seem to give up. My Amazon wishlist has got to be one of their longest.

A good cookbook or coffee table book makes a great house gift if you are going to stay with unfamiliars this Christmas. There are some great kids books in there too.

Agatha Chrisie - of course I think my favourite author should be given to everyone. If you can track down the little hardbacks they look amazing on your shelves. My recommendations are - Mrs McGinty’s Dead, Five Little Pigs and Sleeping Murder. There is an absolutely stunning illustrated edition of Murder on the Orient Express: Illustrated Edition film tie-in that is beautiful to look at let alone read.

The Christmas Chronicles - if I were only allowed to choose one cook book it would probably be this. It's festive, it's beautiful and Nigel Slater always manages to write in a way that is slightly more than just a cookbook.

Timeless: A Century of Iconic Looks

I love make-up books and have a growing collection but something that has always been missing, and indeed was missing when I trained all those years ago was a good, accurate guide to period make-up. Something that you could refer to when planning a shoot with genuinely useful references. Timeless: A Century of Iconic Looks by Louise Young and Lou Shepperd is that book, it's finally here.

I'm lucky to be friends with Louise and know that her passion for period make-up is absolutely genuine - she has an enviable collection of vintage make-up and clothes and is always on the look out for original products so she can find (and often create for her own make-up line) the exact modern duplicate. If you are doing '40s make-up the lips have got to be the right red, if they're not, Louise will know. This book is born from her passion for period make-up but also the frustration that many of us feel when the available references are often full of inaccuracies.

Timeless is a must for anyone studying make-up or hair, interested in period make-up, photography or just vintage looks and style. There are step-by-step guides, before and after pictures, and colour references and plenty of ideas for further research. There are a few different looks for each era with references to what celebrities wore (which is probably what we think of) and what real people at the time wore. It is a pleasure to read and the time and effort is apparent in every page, even down to the little arrow indicators showing which chapter you are on.

Books Update and Goodreads app

This is (clearly) an old video. But although it's old, it still stands, I have read a few more books but not many... babies are time sucks.

Pretty Iconic; A Personal Look at the Beauty Products that Changed the World

Sali Hughes' first book Pretty Honest: The Straight-Talking Beauty Companion (you can read my review here) was a no-brainer purchase for me. Writing down my knowledge on beauty and make-up was why I started this blog and Pretty Honest is basically every thing you need to know whether you wear make-up every day or not (thanks a lot Hughes). But half this blog is product reviews - some which we won't remember in a years time and some that are real icons and nostalgia triggers and that's the genius idea behind Pretty Iconic: A Personal Look at the Beauty Products that Changed the World.

And yes I know. A book of reviews doesn't sound that great, which is why I didn't feel the need to rush out and buy this. But then I got my hands on a copy at a friends house and I absolutely loved it. Let me clarify, I feel like my knowledge of make-up and skincare products is pretty comprehensive especially 1980s and '90s when there wasn't the sheer glut of products that we have now. But why this book works is that for those of us who wore Lulu in their teens, who know that bloody YSL Touche Eclat is not a concealer and spend their working life listening to people saying 'I can't wear red lipstick. Ruby Woo looked awful on me' Sali's writing on these products is so spot on that I actually shouted 'yes' as some bits of it. And for those who don't know so much it's all you do need to know - it's historical, cultural, and for a lot of us incredibly nostalgic. My mother wears two of the scents mentioned (Rive Gauche and Chanel No 5) neither of which I can carry off (though god knows I've tried) and both which immediately take me back to watching her get ready to go out, the fascination at this ritual mixed with the dread of the babysitter still palpable.

January 2017 Favourites Video

This month is a pretty eclectic group followed by one of the few times you'll see me speechless.

Lancome Artliner
Clothes, Music. Boys by Viv Albertine
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette
Louise Young Blusher in May
Waitrose Ginger and Clementine bath

Waitrose foam bath review
Blue Liner using Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette

Book Club

I've been wanting to do something like this for a while, not sure how it's going to work but will just be doing what I've read, favourite books and hoping that you will leave comments on the videos so we can talk books! It will most be on YouTube and my other blog www.blueskyandbunting.com

Art and Makeup Seminar

You may remember that last year when Art and Makeup came out I completely fell in love with not only the book but the creative force behind it, Lan Nguyen-Grealis. A genuine make-up maverick who has spent the last 14 years working her way up, completely self-taught and doing things her way. Any opportunity I have to see her work I take so I was thrilled to be invited to the Art & Makeup Seminar which was organised by Lan to showcase how she does some of her most iconic looks but she invited some incredible artists along to show their work too. It was really like an event planned for me - Daniel Sandler and Phyllis Cohen were two of the other artists and I love their work and the products that they create (and love how different they are). The third artist was Ruby Hammer who I have longed to see in action since discovering her as one half of Ruby & Milly the fantastic cosmetics line that is sadly no longer being made.

I've made a vlog about it - it's easier for me to explain by talking and you get to see a tiny bit of what we were able to see on the day and then a sneak peak at the amazing goody bag we were given, not including the haribo which I ate...

 

September Favourities - Friday Video

Only nearly a whole month late...
Hourglass Brow Arch Sculpting Pencil
Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum
Art & Makeup by Lan Nguyen-Grealis
Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Home Candle
Soap and Glory The Ultimelt
Label M Rejuvinating Oil Mist

Art & Makeup by Lan Ngyun-Grealis

Having grown-up with a passion for art but not knowing how to turn this passion into a job, Lan Ngyun-Grealis was one day asked to cover the make-up stand whilst working in retail to pay her way through university. Her eye for colour, detail and her knowledge of art worked with make-up and with a face as her canvas she had the added challenge of translating what the client wanted into a wearable look. Fourteen years later and she has published this stunning book, Art & Makeup showing how her love of art appears in her work and how she interprets these influences onto the face. She is also sick of people thinking that there is no creativity or talent required to be a make-up artist, especially in times of airbrushing and computers. If you haven't heard of Lan then maybe you've seen Paloma Faith, Lan is her make-up artist and responsible for all the incredible looks in Paloma's videos and shows.

Christmas Gift Ideas - Books

I love books. Too much, we have too many, but a big beautiful art or make-up book is one of my favourite things to receive and there are a few other things here that are ideal for the book lover you need to get a gift for. 

Classic Beauty by Gabriela Hernandez – of course I have to start with a make-up book (what did you expect?) and this is just a fantastic bible showing the history of make-up, how it has developed and colour charts for each decade 

Kindle Paperwhite, – not only is it cool to hate Kindle’s in favour of real books but there is also way too much choice out there. I am a book lover (I worked in publishing for 6 years) and some books I want in book form. But for a lot of things I love having my kindle (going on holiday with a 2 year old for example… no room for books). I have a Kindle touch which I love but my husband has a Kindle Paperwhite which I use sometimes because I’m an insomniac and the Paperwhite has a light. I don’t need it to be in colour I don’t need anything fancy I have an iPhone and an iPad and a laptop an god knows what. But a plain and simple reader is great and really reasonably priced I think. 

Pretty Honest: The Straight-Talking Beauty Companion by Sali Hughes – a book that is, as I write, taking the beauty, book and general world by storm. A must have for any woman with a face.

And some I haven't read...

In Your Prime: Older, Wiser, Happier by India Knight – I have not read this but that is not because I don’t want to. I have to draw the line somewhere and I have my fingers crossed that I’m going to get this for Christmas. 

The New York Times. 36 Hours. 125 Weekends in Europe – great for a traveller, this is the Europe one but there is also Latin America, USA and Canada and Asia to choose from.

I do like to read Christmassy books at Christmas and the top two on my wishlist are The Nutcracker by E.T. A Hoffman and Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. 

Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes

I wasn't going to review this for two reasons. The first was that I used to work for the publishers so it may seem like sucking up. It's not. The second is that it has so many reviews but then I remembered that this is my blog and I'll do what I bloody well like.

Pretty Honest: The Straight-Talking Beauty Companion has made me question whether I should keep blogging at all. When I started this blog in 2006 it was partly because I was always being asked advice by my friends (based on the obscene amount of products I owned. I thought if I put it down in writing it would be there as an online reference. Now all you need to know is here in one book.
My writing is nowhere near the standard of Sali's but it's where I hope I'm heading. We both have an inexhaustible thirst for knowledge and an almost obsessive interest in beauty and skincare that I don't think is that common. Yes there are tons of beauty blogs out there but I wonder how many of the writers relentlessly read and research the ingredients in all their products so they can know more about how everything actually works. I am one of these people. And so is Sali Hughes.


When I first heard about this book it was described to me, and I've heard Sali describe it, as a series of essays it put me off rather. I didn't want to read essays on someone's opinion on skincare and make-up. This is not what it is. Yes I suppose technically you could call it essays but the book does not read like that. It is sections on everything from your daily skincare routine (with all skin types properly covered) to anti-aging, foundation to blusher, bridal make-up, pregnancy and pretty much everything in-between.

Facing Beauty

There are quite a few make-up books that I should probably be putting up here - they are either great for inspiration or for technical know-how but Facing Beauty: Painted Women and Cosmetic Art which I received for Christmas is the best book on beauty, it's history, what has been, and is, considered beautiful and what women have done to accentuate their image in the eyes of the world.

Professor Aileen Ribeiro focuses on the period between 1540 and the women in Renaissance paintings to 1940  where the cosmetics industry really started to influence how women were able to change and adapt they way they looked. Facing Beauty: Painted Women and Cosmetic Art is full of beautiful colour plates showing real and ideal women throughout history and the costumes, fashion and cosmetics that influenced them. 

Atheist's Guide to Christmas

You've all seen and heard about the Atheist bus campaign well now here is the Atheist book campaign. This beautiful hardback, The Atheist's Guide to Christmas, is out on 1st October but available on Amazon and in all good book stores (and Tesco!) now. Buy it - it has great contributions from some fantastic people including Richards Dawkins, Derren Brown, Charlie Brooker, Simon le Bon and David Baddiel. It makes you think, it makes you laugh and it is the perfect present for the atheist in your family - whether it's Christmas or not and all the proceeds go to the Terrence Higgins trust xx

A Model for Living

We've moved and I'm so relieved - it's finally happened and I can feel like a proper Mrs now. However, I have been encouraged to be more assertive at work (my friends have found this hilarious - am a little too assertive most of the time) so one of my bosses has told me to spend half an hour a day at work reading A Model for Living by Julian Short.

Endorsed by Storm and Premier modelling agencies this is a practical guide to modern life and the problems we face every day. Julian Short has had over 30 years experience as a psychologist and everyone I know who has read this book has not only read it more than once but says it really works. What grabbed me about the book is the 'Cope with Rejection' and 'Improve Self-Esteem' sections which I think will really help me personally. It is easy, to-the-point and relevant and has advice and tips that really help and are easy to introduce into modern life.

I'll let you know how I get up - or you can pick a copy and let me know what you think,

Spooning with Rosie

Those of you who venture to Brixton in South London may have been to Rosie's Deli Cafe in Brixton Market. It is not only full of yummy food and drinks but the atmosphere is so friendly, retro and relaxed I defy anyone not to love it and the owner, Rosie Lovell is at the forefront of up and coming new cookery writers and chefs. Move over Jamie there's a new gal in town.

But fear not, for those of you not able to trek to Brixton help is at hand - Rosie's written a book. Spooning with Rosie is filled with great recipes, cool photos and great cooking tips drawn and written by Rosie's own fair hand. From the snacks (Aubergine and Salami Stacks, Dom's Marital Potato Salad, Raf's Lettuce Soup) to hearty main courses (Pumpkin and Gorgonzola Lasagna, Roasted Salmon and Fennel pate and Puff Pastry Pie) and perfect puds (Rhubarb and Whiskey Fool, Baked Amaretti and Goat's Cheesecake) this cook book is fresh and new and has every eventuality covered.

What I love about this book is that it's punctuated with her own hand drawn tips - Munching Maps which show you what works well with something in particular i.e. Shellfish has cream, lemon and lime, garlic and fennel. There's also a list of store cupboard essentials and Rosie's own hot tips: where to find good, inexpensive china, how to get rid of fishy hands and tea stains and what the best soother for a streaming cold is.

This is the least intimidating cook book I've seen in years - so fun just to look at you can't help but want to try out some of the recipes - and it's so beautifully put together you'll want it on your shelf. Whether you want something light and yummy for a summer picnic or something warm and soothing for when the rain comes this has it covered and will inspire you to get back in the kitchen. It's a crime against your kitchen not to have this book xx

(Spooning with Rosie is published by 4th Estate)

Book Worm

Am now back in England after two weeks of bliss in the Grenadines. Am also reunited with my whopper engagement ring which is nice (diamonds are a girls best friend). What I really loved was two weeks in the sun to do lots of reading. One book I really recommend if you are a fan of a soothing easy read is Hens Dancingby Rafaela Barker. When I went home the Wednesday before the wedding I needed something comforting to read that wouldn't tax my brain to much but would offer me a bit of an escape. Hens Dancingis a long-term favourite of mine and it was even better on about the fifth time of reading it! Highly recommended.

On the honeymoon I really love The Common Yearsby Jilly Cooper which again is lovely escapism in her usual witty style, and Whatever Happened to Margo?by Margaret Durrell. I found this whilst browsing a second hand book shop in Hammersmith whilst waiting for Miss M after work and it, again, was a really lovely read. A must for anyone who has read My Family and Other Animals (if you haven't you must it's fantastic). xx