BETA-CAROTENE: YOUR BEST ALLY THIS SUMMER

A healthy diet is essential and one of the best ways of avoiding unpleasant surprises.
You may have heard it before, but eating well really is an effective way of solving many problems related to our physical and mental health.

Eating is more than just a necessity, it’s also a pleasure, and by being aware of our bodies, we can discover what we should be eating during a specific period. Have you ever gone through phases where you fancy savoury things, or chocolate, or have an irresistible urge for fish? These are essentially cravings, but sometimes they’re our body’s clever way of telling us we need more of some kind of food.

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VERTICAL GARDENS

Plants aren’t just pretty to look at – they’re also good for our environment, which makes them the perfect choice when it comes to decorating our homes or offices.

If you live in a village or in the middle of the countryside then you probably find them nothing out of the ordinary, but in large cities that seem more like concrete jungles filled with fumes, pollution and people rushing here and there, then even a tiny oasis of flowers is more than welcome.

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LOFI (LOW FIDELITY)

Can you remember the sound your cassette recorder used to make when the tape came to the end of one side?
And that lovely scratchy noise the needle made as you gently lowered it onto a record?
Low fidelity is the term used to describe music where the sound is of a lower quality than normal. Almost unwittingly, these once familiar noises manage to transmit a vintage air to any sounds, and as anything vintage is right hot right now… well, there you have it – a brand new trend!

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MINIATURES BY ANNINA

Did you use to love playing with dolls houses when you were small? If the answer is yes, then watch this space; they’re more than just toys and dolls.

Annina Günther is a Brighton-based graphics designer with a really great hobby: she spends her spare time designing miniature furniture. But she’s taken the concept one stage further, as she pays meticulous attention to settings and photography, creating an effect that’s reminiscent of the works of Edward Hopper.

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COLETTE

Everyone knows that Paris is the centre of the fashion universe. The glittering window displays of the top names in haute couture are enough to make us stop and stare in amazement. But the Parisians are famed for their impeccable taste and attention to detail, and even the humblest corner shop takes care of even the tiniest touches.

Sailing among this ocean of good taste we find Colette, a life style boutique that’s an absolute must on any fashionista’s trail. It’s a lifestyle store because it stocks practically anything and everything – lighters, magazines, watch straps for iPod Shuffle, exclusive fashion collections (from urban brands to Valentino). You’ll also find a restaurant, a doll department, facial treatments, an art gallery… but all uber-cool.

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CONCERTS TO TAKE AWAY

This is the leitmotif of La Blogothèque, a platform that’s been around for a few years now and which was set up to record unedited street concerts. That’s right; one day you could be sunbathing on the beach when suddenly Polock starts playing right next to you; or you may be on a tourist bus in Paris and Phoenix and the entire band gets on and starts playing live as you admire the Eiffel Tower…

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DESIGNED FOR EATING

Who can resist a delicious cupcake?

And if it’s one of those cute cakes with their divine decorations from a traditional New York bakery, then so much the better. They’re all pretty similar in style – welcoming, old-world, homely and European. Just like the Louise Fili LTD design studio, which specialises in logos and images for restaurants, most of the them Italian and French. They also design packaging for a range of products (including delicious jams with labels that shout out “Eat me! I’m sweet and irresistible”). This studio has received numerous awards and been featured in leading magazines ever since it was founded, back in 1989. However, in order to see these fabulous products in situ, you’ll have to take a trip to the Big Apple.

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CUTE CHARACTERS THAT WILL MAKE US FEEL LIKE LITTLE GIRLS AGAIN!

As you already know, several of our cutest collections star those fun cartoon characters, which always get the memories flooding back. This time we’re here to refresh your memory and retell the tales of these loveable characters.

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SURPRISING SUMMER GAZPACHO

We love the warm weather. We spend the summer months longing for those two or three months of intense heat that we have each year. And when it arrives, we still love it! Despite our blood pressure taking a dive, sometimes sleep is impossible and we end up feeing very idle! And so to combat all this we propose a new take on the classic Spanish gazpacho (blended raw vegetables). Easy to eat and full of energy, as well as another typical Spanish summer recipe, ajoblanco. These can’t get any healthier!

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SOAK UP THE SUN, BUT DON’T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN

Summer’s here at last! And it’s time to slip into that bikini and get that flattering bronzed glow.

First and foremost, take care not to get burnt and give it time: don’t lie out in the sun for long periods –all you’ll manage to do is to damage your skin and end up looking like an overripe tomato. And you know that that doesn’t look good on those holiday snaps.

If you don’t tan easily, we recommend you don’t overdo it with those bronzing oils (and if you must use them, then remember to use a sunscreen). There are a few natural remedies that will help you get a healthy glow: for instance, a month before you go on holiday, start drinking a daily glass of carrot juice – and if there isn’t time for all that, then simply drink it just before heading for the beach. But remember – you still shouldn’t overdo it with the bronzing oils… Don’t go overboard!

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