If you didn’t catch the video of hero cat, Tara, saving four-year-old Jeremy from a dog attack then you really are missing out. Watch it here and then watch Tara’s first interview with Jeremy. The event happened in Bakersfield, America.
How cool and loving is that cat?
This is quite possibly the best book I have read in a very long time. A realistic way we all can live like Audrey Hepburn and she would wholeheartedly approve, charming, fun and witty this book takes you through every aspect of modern living and how AH would have conducted herself in these modern times.
What Would Audrey doIt’s enigmatic, down to earth and modiste just like the lady herself. From advice on dating to style, coping in bad times to conducting yourself in public. It’s simply a must read and you won’t be able to put it down for love or diamonds.
This wonderful book will give you inspiration creating the perfect home, scattering your world with flowers, Diptyque candles and fine white china, it will embody your inner most self with touches of AH.
‘What Would Audrey do’ has ideas for party themes in an oh so graceful manner, how to apply the best simple makeup, for the look she created. It will give you so much advice, I live by these rules and so should each and everyone of you. Try it for a day and I promise you will feel amazing. Plus my own little rule…don’t stress, don’t worry about your day and don’t worry about tomorrow as it’s all meant to be. Even in nasty horrid times remember this has a path that’s leading me to a positive place and be calm, take a moment to understand this when life gets tough and you will be ok my friends!
Audrey’s Check List:
Wear Mascara
Stand up straight
Get your clothes tailored
Lower your voice
When in doubt love
Be generous
Don’t kiss and tell
Forgive
Turn around and check the back of your reflection in the mirror when you leave the house!
Smile.
It will want make you rethink your every day, you will instantly adopt her mantra for learning to do one thing at a time, you will get more done and feel more relaxed about life, the stresses of the days will drift away and in short you will probably be a lot happier and even loose a few pounds! Stress makes us put on weight didn’t you know!
It will make you feel rewarded for time out and not guilt for slowing down, for saying no every now and again when you feel you need to.
I say take yourself off for some time out and open this pretty book What Would Audrey Do?: Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace & Style: Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace and Style
It’s my new bible!
Tweet me @sarahbacchus and visit www.slbstyle for more fashion and lifestyle. www.sarahbacchus.com to take a look at my professional work.
Photo credit: Stephen Sutton Facebook
Sad news today as cancer fundraiser, Stephen Sutton, has died from bowel cancer.
The news was announced by his mother on his Facebook account. She said: “My heart is bursting with pride but breaking with pain for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 14th May.
“The ongoing support and outpouring of love for Stephen will help greatly at this difficult time, in the same way as it helped Stephen throughout his journey.
“We all know he will never be forgotten, his spirit will live on, in all that he achieved and shared with so many. Love, His mom x’
Before he died Stephen raised £3million for the Teenage Cancer Trust. He was only 19 and had battled the disease for four years.
Prime Minister David Cameron led the tributes praising his. He wrote: “I’m deeply saddened to hear that Stephen Sutton has died. His spirit, bravery and fundraising for cancer research were all an inspiration.”
Ricky Gervais tweeted: “RIP Stephen Sutton. A true hero & inspiration to us all.”
Ed Miliband also tweeted: “Tragic news that Stephen Sutton has passed away. His bravery & determination to live life to the full was an inspiration to us all.”
Cats get a lot of bad press but actually they are amazing, loyal, lovable creatures. You can take that from someone who has had four cats at different stages in her life, or you can just watch this amazing footage of the family cat saving a young boy from a dog attack.
This was all picked up on security camera footage and has officially made family cat, Tara, the best cat in the world.
P.S: Here is a picture of my family’s cat, Trigger. He’s gorgeous and he knows it.
Band/Artist: Keith Alan Mitchell
Location: San Francisco
Styles: Acoustic Rock / Alt-Country / Indie Folk
Similar to: Father John Misty, The Head and the Heart, Tom Petty, R.E.M., David Gray
CD: This Clumsy World
Release date: June 20, 2014
Members/Instruments:
Keith performs solo (vocals/acoustic guitar). Album credits: Keith Alan Mitchell – guitar/vocals; Jonathan Kirchner – bass; Andrew Laubacher – tambourine; Michael Zisman – Mandolin; Kirby Hammel – keyboards; Kathy Kennedy – backing vocals on “Swaying.”
Production: Recorded by Scott McDowell at Hyde St. Studio C, San Francisco. Mixed by Randy Rood. Mastered by Brian Lucey at Magic Garden Mastering.
Tracklisting:
1. Been Buried (3:08)
2. Swaying (5:15)
3. You Just Disappear (3:15)
4. Crossed That Line (4:23)
5. What it Means to Soar (4:14)
6. Tavern Angeline (3:35)
7. The Feud (3:42)
8. Next Time (4:19)
9. Every Every (3:07)
10. The Low Way (3:01)
11. Diamond Blues (3:12)
12. Our Eyes (3:39)
Bio:
Keith Alan Mitchell is a singer/songwriter based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
His first album, This Clumsy World, will be released in mid-June. He will be playing shows in the Bay Area and beyond to promote the release, beginning June 20th in San Francisco. After fronting bands in his native Ohio and in California, this is his first solo album.
Influenced by a range of songwriters including David Gray, Paul Westerberg, and Tom Petty, Mitchell values a sincere voice, thoughtful lyrics, and a rock ‘n’ roll groove in his acoustic guitar-driven music.
The upcoming release, This Clumsy World, features a variety of seasoned and up-and-coming Bay Area musicians. However, Keith Alan Mitchell usually performs solo, often including a favorite cover song or two among his many originals.
Beyoncé has responded to the rumours that Jay Z’s 100th problem, her sister Solange, is no longer her friend by posting a lot of pictures of the two together on her Instagram.
32-year-old Beyoncé uploaded a picture of them at Coachella last month, one of them hugging and one of the sisters looking happy together on the back of a truck. But where does this leave Jay Z? What really happened in that lift? Will we ever know? Maybe not, but some of the rumours are that Jay wanted to go to Rihanna’s afterparty, or that Solange has just never liked her brother-in-law and has flipped out before.
Tell us what you think.
With summer fast approaching, getting food on the table everyday isn’t easy as we find ourselves longing to spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside with friends and family.
Thankfully, Great British Bake Off contestant and mummy baker, Cathryn Dresser knows just how you feel and together with Sun-Maid Raisins has created three exclusive new recipe videos, proving that even the quickest and easiest of recipes can be enjoyable for the whole family.
The recipes include Cathryn’s nutritious and delicious Honey Nut Cereal Bars, which are great for those rushed mornings as a breakfast on the go, or a lunchbox snack.
When you’re snuggled up on the sofa with a cuppa, Cathryn’s Snickerdoodle biscuits make for a perfect treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth and can be enjoyed by all the family.
To watch Cathryn Dresser make these deliciously tempting recipes, take a look at the videos below and let’s bake!
Honey Nut Cereal Bars Recipe
MAKES 12 – 15 MINUTES PREPARATION – 30 MINUTES COOKING
Ingredients
100g butter, plus extra for greasing
200g Porridge Oats
100g Sunflower Seeds
50g Sesame Seeds
50g Chopped Walnuts
3tbsp Honey
100g Light Muscovado Sugar
1tsp Ground Cinnamon
50g Sun-Maid Raisins
50g Dried Cherries
Method:
Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3. Grease and line the base of an 18 x 25cm baking tin.
In a separate roasting tin, mix the oats, seeds and walnuts in a separate tray, then pop them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes to toast. Meanwhile, warm the butter, honey and sugar in a pan, stirring until the butter has melted and the sugar has mostly dissolved. Add the toasted oats, nuts and seeds, cinnamon, Sun-Maid Raisins and dried cherries, then mix until everything is completely coated.
Tip into the prepared tin, press down lightly, then bake for 30 minutes. Cool in the tin before cutting into 12 bars.
Snickerdoodle Biscuits Recipe
MAKES 20 – 15 MINUTES PREPARATION – 10 MINUTES COOKING
Ingredients
240g Unsalted Butter, Melted
180g Soft Brown Sugar
100g Caster Sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 Egg
1tsp Vanilla Extract
½tsp Cinnamon, plus extra for rolling
1/2tsp Baking Soda
50g Sun-Maid Raisins
1/2tsp Cream of Tartar
1/2tsp Allspice, plus extra for rolling
Pinch of Salt
300g Plain Flour
Method:
Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3, and grease a large baking tray.
Melt the butter and add the sugars. Beat the egg well, then stir into the butter and sugar mixture. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, Sun-Maid Raisins, cream of tartar, allspice and salt. Mix well. Add the flour gradually mixing well each time.
In another bowl, mix the extra cinnamon with the extra caster sugar – approximately one teaspoon of cinnamon to one tablespoon of sugar. Form the cookie dough into small balls about the size of a walnut and roll in the cinnamon/sugar mix before placing on the prepared baking tray.
Remove from the oven, leave to cool on the baking tray for two minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool properly.
White Chocolate and Sun-Maid Raisin Fudge Recipe
MAKES 15 – 20 PIECES – 5 MINUTES PREPARATION – 20 MINUTES COOKING
Ingredients
500g Golden Caster Sugar
500ml Double Cream
3tbsp Liquid Glucose
140g White Chocolate, roughly chopped
100g Sun-Maid Raisins
Method:
Line a 22cm square non-stick tin with baking parchment.
Put the caster sugar, double cream and liquid glucose in a pan. Heat slowly, stirring continually, until the sugar melts. Now turn up the heat and fast boil the mixture until a small amount dropped into a glass of cold water sets. Turn off the heat and keep stirring for five minutes, or until the mixture starts to thicken. Sprinkle in the white chocolate and Sun-Maid Raisins and very briefly swirl through the mixture.
Pour into the tin and leave to set overnight, then turn out and cut into squares.
What’s your favourite?
‘Physically fit’, ‘perceptive’ and ‘passionate’ – the words to a woman’s heart revealed
They may only be words, but the language men use in their online dating profiles can have a serious impact on getting them noticed by the opposite sex.
In a study of 12,000 dating profiles on eHarmony.co.uk, the relationship site identified the top ten words with the ‘D Factor’ – or ‘date factor’ – that were most likely to grab the attention of single women looking for great dates.
The data showed that men who mention some form of physical fitness, or described themselves as perceptive, passionate or optimisticall saw more approaches.
Conversely, women describing themselves as sweet, ambitious or thoughtful were more likely to see men start up conversations with them.
Interestingly the word ‘funny’ saw both male and female dater’s ears prick up, with both sexes ranking it sixth out of the top ten list; showing there are some things men and women do agree on.
And these extra approaches are far from insignificant. Physically fit or perceptive men attracted between 60-70% more interest from women who wanted to get to know them better; whereby sweet, ambitious or funny women saw between 20-45% more approaches.
The study also revealed that women are more interested in what men have to say for themselves, not just their looks – being more likely to consider a man based on his description rather than his picture. Words used on a profile were shown to have a wider impact (-64% to +69%) on women’s decision to approach, whereby this scale was narrower for men (-43% to +46%).
Jemima Wade, spokesperson for eHarmony.co.uk, said: “Whilst the research shows certain words serve to grab fellow daters’ attention, at eHarmony we know that daters are looking for quality dates every time. And that takes more than just a few words; it’s about finding someone with the same values, who instantly gets you.”
Jemima added: “That’s why we worked with the University of Oxford to develop our Compatibility Matching System and employ scientists to keep refining and improving our algorithm to ensure it’s the best tool to help people find that extra special someone.”
The top 10 words with the ‘D Factor’ (female / male)
1. Sweet (+46%) / Physically fit (+69%)
2. Ambitious (+39%) / Ambitious (+64%)
3. Thoughtful (+30%) / Perceptive (+63%)
4. Spontaneous (+30%) / Passionate (+54%)
5. Physically fit (+22%) / Optimistic (+44%)
6. Funny (+21%) / Funny (+38%)
7. Outgoing (+19%) / Spontaneous (+33%)
8. Optimistic (+17%) / Thoughtful (+21%)
9. Hard working (+17%) / Affectionate (+17%)
10. Passionate (+16%) / Outgoing (+17%)