Category Archives: Life & Style

The Inept Girl's Guide To Cooking: Stuffed Peppers

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I thought stuffed peppers would be hard, thankfully, I was wrong.

Take 4 peppers, any colour you want, chop the top off and scoop out the insides and clean. Place in a baking try, take some olive oil and drizzle lightly over the peppers. Cook for 20 minutes or until roasted.

While the peppers are cooking take some couscous and put it in a bowl. Add boiling water (the pack will tell you how much, generally 115ml or water per 75ml of couscous) leave for two minutes and it will be cooked! I know, I love couscous, it is so easy and quick.

Now, this is where the fun starts; you can stuff the peppers with whatever you want, I added Tomato, mushroom, onion and mozzarella. Quite simple but it tastes amazing.

 

While the couscous is cooking peel and chop up some mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. Put in a frying pan with a little oil and start to cook. Add the couscous when it is done. Keep checking on the peppers.

Add the mozzarella to the pan, take the peppers out of the oven and stuff the mixture into them. Put the tops on and then put back not the oven for a further 20 minutes. Cooking times may vary so feel free to adjust.

Take the peppers out of the oven and they are ready to serve. They taste great with the melted mozzarella, I also added some honey roast parsnips, which will be coming up soon in my column. I also added cooked apples on top as an experiment and it went down quite well.

The best things about stuffed peppers is the variety, you can have rice instead of couscous and any vegetable or even meat, so have fun.

Enjoy!

Why the Economy Could Take Another Downturn—and What the Average Investor Can Do To Protect Themselves

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Why the Economy Could Take Another Downturn—and What the Average Investor Can Do To Protect Themselves

The following article was written by Daniel A. White, CLU, ChFC , President, Daniel A. White & Associates:

To the casual observer, the economic headlines look promising. To be fair, there are a few positive indicators. Unemployment figures are gradually improving, retail sales are on the upswing, corporate profits are up and consumer confidence is surging. Unfortunately, the reality is much more complicated. To many financial advisors and investment professionals–myself included at Dan White and Associates–there are reasons to be cautious. A closer look at historical comparisons and advanced metrics behind the rosy headlines reveal cause for concern.

Trouble looming?

One of the biggest underlying reasons I suspect we might be headed for another 2008-type bubble in the not-too-distant future—is my skepticism regarding the pace of the current recovery and the factors driving it. Standard and Poor’s (S&P) earnings are on pace to hit $91/share by August; up nearly 13 fold from the March of 2009 lows of $7/share and surpassing the all-time high of $90/share in the 3rd quarter of 2007. There is nothing wrong with profits, but why are we seeing those profits?

The short answer is pretty simple: the government is printing more money as part of a strategy called Quantitative Easing (QE2); monetizing the national debt by purchasing securities and turning government bonds into circulating money.

So what happens when the government turns off the spigot? We can get a pretty good idea by looking at other government incentive programs. Whether it was a home-buying tax credit or a “Cash for Clunkers” promotion, the markets dropped off sharply when programs ended. It’s also worth noting that after the last round of Quantitative Easing–in the months after April 2010–the market plunged.

PE ratios and commodity oddities

Since QE2 began last August, the price of Silver is up 70%, crude oil and coal are up close to 40%, and a number of other commodities are up sharply. And when you see the U.S. Dollar down 10.6% at the same time, that’s a recipe for trouble.

Perhaps most concerning, is the historical pattern of the price to earnings (P/E) ratio and what it means to investors. When you get in the market at a low P/E ratio, things tend to work out well, and when you get in when the P/E ratio is high, that doesn’t bode well. The current S&P 500 P/E 10–is at about 24. It has only been at 24 a handful of other times in history.

What can you do?.

* Be conservative. Investing in healthy companies with large cash reserves is fairly safe, but commodities and other risky assets are a bad idea.
* Plan ahead, be cautious and don’t get overextended. The first sign of trouble is likely to be short-term interest rates starting to tick up. If you see that happening, reduce your exposure.
* If you are retired or almost retired, all of this is particularly relevant. Be extremely vigilant and pay close attention to the subtleties of the marketplace.

Founded in 1987, Glen Mills, Pa.-based Daniel A. White & Associates is a financial planning firm specializing in asset protection and transitional and retirement planning. Through a team of knowledgeable experts, Daniel A. White & Associates provides comprehensive financial planning for retirees and pre-retirees in estate planning, asset protection, wealth management and wealth transfer strategies.

www.danwhiteandassociates.com

Gemma Arterton's clothes struggle

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Gemma Arterton says it’s hard to find clothes that suit her curvy figure.

The stunning actress admits she sometimes struggles to find outfits that flatter her hourglass body and can’t just wear anything so often relies on Italian fashion house Gucci.

She said: “My shape means I can’t throw on an outfit. Gucci tends to design best for my hourglass figure.”

Gemma is also a fan of tailored jackets as they go with any outfit.

She told Britain’s Vogue magazine: “I wear my tailored jackets to death – Armani, Givenchy and Margiela.”

As well as wearing certain clothes, Gemma also sticks to the same perfume and make-up.

She said: “I do love a red lip – Nars Jungle Red is my favourite.

“My scents always have hints of Jasmine. Right now, it’s Balenciaga Paris – it’s floral, light and musky.”

Gemma has previously admitted she likes to keep her style simple.

She said: “For me it’s kind of simple really. I don’t really go for anything too embellished or fancy or frilly or girly and it has to be easy because I haven’t got time for anything that’s too difficult!

“I just like putting on a pair jeans and jacket and going, although I do like heels – I’ve got a passion for shoes, but I always end up wearing the one same pair of shoes. But it works with my lifestyle because I’m always running around so it doesn’t work for me to wear tight skirts and corsets, or whatever it is! Jeans are definitely the way forward.”

Tamara Mellon wants energy in Jimmy Choo

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Jimmy Choo’s Tamara Mellon thinks “keeping innovation and energy flowing” have made the brand successful.

The Chief Creative Officer of the iconic shoe and accessory brand said even though the company has grown to become an incredible worldwide success, she is always looking at ways to improve.

She told vogue.co.uk: “Keeping innovation and energy flowing it key. I dreamed of creating the perfect luxury accessory house, one that captures the hearts of women around the world.

“Even now with everything that we have accomplished we are far from resting on our laurels, what excites me most is the thrill of the next project, the next idea.

“While I am enormously proud of our brand’s heritage, I know the best is yet to come.”

Tamara, 44, also looks back to the origins of the brand – which now has over 130 outlets worldwide – in order to make sure it retains the spirit with which it started when she co-founded in 1996 in London.

She added: “We call it The Spirit of Mocomb Street, which is where the very first Jimmy Choo store was, and the company ethos has remained unchanged since the very beginning.”

Tamara was also appointed a UK business ambassador in January by the country’s Prime Minister David Cameron.

She added: “I was so honoured to be appointed by David Cameron, to focus on growing the economy by increasing overseas trade and I will do everything I can to promote British business abroad.”

Nicole Richie to judge Fashion Star

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Nicole Richie is set to get a judging role on ‘Fashion Star’.

The 29-year-old star – who owns clothing and accessories brands Winter Kate and House of Harlow – will join model Elle Macpherson and singer-turned-designer Jessica Simpson on the TV show, which sees aspiring designers compete for a contract to have their prodcuts sold in retailers in the US.

The programme does not yet have an air date.

Just days ago, Nicole – who has children Harlow, three and 22-month-old Sparrow with rocker husband Joel Madden – announced she would be expanding her fashion range, with a new collection of handbags as part of her House of Harlow 1960 line.

Discussing her own design credentials, Nicole revealed she only ever created clothes she would want to wear herself.

She said: “My main goal for this particular collection – and for all the footwear that I design – is I want the shoes to look great but be comfortable at the same time.

“I’m a girl and I love shoes. Who doesn’t want to make exactly what you want?”

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert: 'Runaway' Brides Dress

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Giorgio Armani wanted modern dress for Charlene

Giorgio Armani wanted Charlene Wittstock’s wedding dress to be “completely modern”.

The Italian designer created the South African beauty’s gown she wore to marry Monaco’s Prince Albert II on Saturday and says he was conscious for the dress to be different from Albert’s late mother, Princess Grace.

Writing for vogue.com. Giorgio said: “The idea was to go for a completely modern look, without an obvious sense of nostalgia or revivalism. I felt this was appropriate given that there would inevitably be comparisons with Princess Grace, and though such comparisons are of course a sign of admiration, each person has their own individual and unique style, and style is an expression of the times.”

 

Giorgio says former Olympic swimmer Charlene was a pleasure to work with and the perfect muse, saying: “Charlene is without a shadow of a doubt very beautiful. Tall and slim, she is sporty and at the same time has a natural elegance about her. Dressing her is such a pleasure – she knows how to wear my creations with the nonchalance and confidence of youth. I believe Charlene has the ideal figure to show off great dresses, because they highlight the fine curves and beautiful structure of her back and shoulders.”

The dress took 2,500 hours to create, including 700 hours for the embroidery alone, and featured 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother of pearl teardrops and 30,000 stones in gold shades.

Kate Moss Still John Galliano Muse

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John Galliano considers Kate Moss his “biggest muse”.

The troubled fashion designer – who created the oyster silk wedding dress worn for her nuptials to rocker Jamie Hince last week – was “never” going to let her down, despite his personal problems, including his recent sacking at French fashion house Dior for proclaiming he “loved” Adolf Hitler.

A source said: “Kate is his biggest muse and he was never, ever, going to let his friend down. He did Kate’s 21st birthday dress, her 30th birthday dress and Galliano’s show was the first she ever walked for. So this wedding day ties up a lot of things beautifully.”

British designer Alice Temperley recently revealed she thought the 37-year-old model would set a trend with her dress, whatever she chose to wear.

She said: “I am certain she will look absolutely stunning, unique, beautiful with a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll twist. I would love to see her in something vintage looking, romantic and slightly bohemian.

“However, whatever she chooses, she will look fantastic and I am sure women will want to wear something similar to their weddings for years to come.”

 

Duchess of Style: Kate Middleton Wows On Royal Tour

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Hit: Elegance personified Duchess Catherine

Catherine certainly knows how to make an impression and once again she wows in the style stakes as she and Prince William arrive in Canada in this gorgeous lace dress, which highlights her enviable figure while remaining classy. The Duchess has brought 30 outfits with her on the Royal Tour, so far they have all been as stunning as this one.