Site move

I have moved my site to clairerecommends.com. I hope you will join me there for new posts.

Reading Spa in Bath

I had a truly lovely day yesterday. Despite driving to Bath and back I actually had energy last night that I don’t usually have so it must have been good.

Yesterday I went to Bath for a spa. Not the usual spa you get in Bath (I’m not keen on those. I don’t do massage etc as I don’t like people touching me.) Instead it was a Reading Spa. Mr B’s emporium is a lovely independent bookshop in a quiet street adjacent to some of the shopping streets. It is a real gem. Sadly, I didn’t get much time to browse its shelves but that just means I’ll have to return.

I went with a friend so mooched around some shops while she had her spa and then went in for mine. A mug of tea was supplied and we had a little chat and browse before my spa experience. Ed met me at about 1.30 and asked me about what I was reading, what I liked to read and what I wanted to try. I had tried to think about these questions in advance but he somehow guided me in such a way that I remembered even more and we really drilled down to the type of writing I enjoyed. Ed’s enthusiasm for books and reading  as infectious and the time flew by as he went off to find me books I might be interested in. I could have bought them all.

With time running out on the car park I made a quick selection making the most of the £55 of books included in the £80 price. They said they will email me a list of the books I didn’t take but I also took a quick photo.

I thoroughly recommend this experience for book lovers. And if reading’s not your thing it makes a great gift. And I will be returning just to spend time in that lovely bookshop although I might pop into a couple of shops too.

Rad more about Mr B’s Reading Spa

M&S Muslins

You're having a baby. You think let's do the John Lewis nursery visit. Everyone who already has babies tells you you need loads of muslin squares (they are not wrong). And so it happens. You buy loads of John Lewis muslins.

But it turns out the best muslin squares are from Marks and Spencer. Two main reasons:

1) They are thicker and so prove a better defence especially if your baby is cursed with reflux. It didn't seem a lot of milk going down but it seems like loads when you see it again. 

2) There is a proper hem on them. After 20 goes through the washing machine (that'll be about a month) the John Lewis ones start to fray and/or curl up. 

There is a price difference. John Lewis: £8.50 for 6. M&S £10 for 5 or £18 for 10. But I think it's worth it. Get them here.

Chrome update

Last year I wrote about Chrome, the then new internet browser from Google. Today, while trying to load a game via the new version of Internet Explorer I realised that I, by default, use Chrome.

Last time all I could do was give an early review and I was reasonably favourable. Today I recommend Chrome. And there are two main reasons why:

1. It loads fast. Noticeably fast. Both when you open it up and when browsing.

2. The home page as your most visited pages which is really handy, more than I thought it would be.

Compared to IE8 it is reliable. It has hardly ever crashed. IE8 keeps crashing!

When I wrote about Chrome in October 2008 I thought I wouldn't use it as my only browser because of the lack of RSS feed capability - turns out it doesn't matter, now I have got google reader set up how I like it I use that all the time.

I also thought I would miss the integration of gadgets into firefox. Nope, haven't missed them.

My friend at work likes the incognito mode because she shares a computer with her flatmate. So no trail left behind.

Chrome is my browser over 95% of the time at home. Now I just wish IT would load it onto the work machines.

Photo credit: Bauchidgw

Hot Cross Buns - Apple and Cinnamon

I love them. I hate ordinary hot cross bun becuase of the peel. Peel is wrong. These delicious things are peel free. Just lovely bits of apple and sultanas and some cinnamon to make them a bit more interesting.

A fabulous snack or breakfast or lunch. Try toasted with butter. Or not toasted with butter. Or not toasted with no butter. Not sure about toasted with no butter.

And buy one get one half price. What more could one want? Well BOGOF actually. Or for a pack of four to cost 10p, with a free M&S bag thrown in.

Good Friday is one week away. Get them while you can or else you'll have to wait about 8 months for them to reappear.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow

First of all I would like to blame my boyfriend for the gaps between blogposts. Who knew a boyfriend would take up so much time.

Anyway I wanted to tell the world about my love of Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow and in particular the Birthday Suit shade.

I use it everyday (excpet the days I stay at his when I use a 17 make up set i got for Christmas). I use it for work; I use it for nights out. It is subtle but apply a bit more and it's not so subtle.

I used to apply with my finger but I got upsold when restocking in Macy's in New York and now use a brush. I regretted my falling for the upselling but now am happy about it. Never really wore the blue mascara I got upsold as well though.

I like a lot of Benefit stuff but I worry about wasting it becuase it's not cheap. However, I replaced all my other eye shadows with this one and so it feels like value for money. After my friend showed me her new "Hello Flawless" I may have to buy that too. Over dinner we discussed how, as you reach thirty, you realise you may actually have to reapply make up during the day. I knew this but was in denial but maybe it is time to take the plunge and do it.

I am alerting you to this now because I fear "Birthday Suit" is being withdrawn. There is no trace of it on the Benefit site. Buy it now people. I will be. Two. Or maybe three.

Duo Boots

Last year I realised that knee high boots were not going away. They had been going as a good-thing-to-wear for over a decade and yet I had never owned a pair. Frankly there were two reasons. Number 1: the price of them, they are not cheap. You've got to love them. And Number 2: most importantly they wouldn't zip over my calves.

I don't know how I found out about Duo Boots but I'm really pleased they did. They do boots in 21 different calf fittings. So whatever your calf size: average, more than average (hand in the air), less than average. They do load and loads of styles casual, smart, calf length, colours, really high heels (definitely not for me).

Basically you measure your legs, order them online and they deliver to you. They have shops in Bath and Manchester (where you can get the boots right away) and fitting rooms in London, Edinburgh and Amsterdam where you can be measured and try them on before placing an order (and they are delivered to you). I went to the London fitting room on Saville Row and recommend that because I'm not sure I would have ordered the correct size.

Price wise –not the cheapest but as expensive as a good high street shop. And there is a sale on at the moment.

Ooh, they also do shoes… so tempting.

Marks and Spencer

There are loads of reasons why I'd like to recommend Marks and Spencer. But there is one particular one on my mind and in my tummy).

Marks and Spencer are now selling entire packets of coconut chips (you know the yellow and pink coconut wheels from liquorice allsorts. Love them.

Parsnip, Beetroot and Carrot crisps

I like crisps but I'm not an obsessive fan. I can take or leave them really.

But I just discovered Parsnip, Beetroot and Carrot crisps and they are my new latest obsession. They are a bit sweet so it is like a savory and sweet snack. I only wish they were cheaper really. 90p for 40g in eat and 70p for 25g in Pret.

Photo credit: Dilona

The little dry cleaning place practically inside Holborn Station

Because my trousers are now hemmed properly (and pressed for £6.50) and my cardigan with the hole looks like the hole was never there (for £2.50).

I'm a happy lady.

Photo credit: Fimb

Chrome

OK this is more of a review than a recommendation. But I feel like I need to say something about it after two weeks of using it. I have one very big reason (for me) to recommend it and two reasons why it won't be my only browser.

But before I start let me explain. Chrome is Google's new internet browser software. If you are my mum that means it is like Windows Explorer. You know, the big blue e that you double click to get on the internet.

I converted to Firefox a few months ago but when Google announced Chrome I thought I'd have a go. The main reason was that I use quite a lot of Google applications – notebook, calendar, igoogle, blogger, talk. I thought that being a google browser these would be more integrated into the brower – WRONG. They are better integrated into firefox as it happens.

The second thing that Chrome hasn't mastered (in my opinion) is RSS feeds. [Quick explanation: RSS feeds are a way of knowing if a website or blog have been updated and the content delivered to you without you going to the website itself to look for it]. I know that Google have a reader application but as none of their applications seem to be easily accessible from the browser it seems an oversight when compared to Firefox or Internet Explorer.

So why might I recommend it at all? Well apart from the usual "challenge the dominance of Internet Explorer argument" my reason is the spell check.

My name is Claire and I cannot spell. I can tell you where to put apostrophes but my typing fingers work faster than the spelling bit of my brain which has never been that reliable.

However when writing forum posts or comments on blogs etc. Chrome comes up with a red wiggly line under mis-spelt words, Now, like any spell checker it's not perfect. And you can't right click to get a list of alternatives. But it is great for me who is used to the horrible feeling of noticing a spelling error just as I click the post button.

So not an overwhelming recommendation but it is in beta (whatever that means) and so things might improve…

Photo credit: Randy Zhang

Percy Pigs

I love love love them. They help anyone get through a planning meeting!

Photo credit: Philippe Lin

Warburtons bread

Well following on from my post about Somerfield I thought I ought to write about Warburtons bread. Truly I believe it is the best branded bread on the high street. I am certain that better bread can be bought from nice little bakers but I live in South Oxhey so I have to make do.

Warburtons do a wide range of bread but I have two favourites:

1. The Seeded Batch (see above photo). Perfect for eating with soup. Lovely just spread with butter.
2. Toastie (the small loaf version). White, thick cut loaf. Good size, stays fresh for ages and is the perfect bread for sausage or bacon sandwiches.

I found out about Warburtons and they are still a family company which makes me like them a bit more and makes me less guilty for buying bread wrapped in plastic from a supermarket. The fact that Tesco Express stores don't stock Warburtons tells me they must be less evil.

Photo credit: Duncan http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan/

Update on next

Seriously, someone stole my Next catalogue. And I need to buy three pack tops!

Photo credit: egg on stilts http://www.flickr.com/photos/eggonstilts/

Wordle

I love Wordle. I like finding large chunks of text just so i can Wordle them. They are so pretty.

Basically they create a cloud of the most frequently used words. Normal words like "the" and "and" are eliminated.

You get to decide the colours, the direction, the font.

Go wordle something - you'll love it. http://wordle.net/

Somerfield

My favourite supermarket is Somerfield. No really. Two relevant reasons.

1. Their offers are great. And they publish them in a leaflet that someone delivers to my house. Total bargains on stuff you might actually want.
2. They sell Warburtons bread (idea for another blog post perhaps).

My love for Somerfield grew stronger at the weekend. Last Friday I drove up to Latitude. About 20 minutes away from the park where it was being held was a little village called Saxmundham. It was our last flushing toilet prior to Latitude and so grateful were we that it was our first after leaving on Sunday.

I heard Somerfield have been bought by Co-op. It won't be the same people. Go there now! Enjoy it while you can! (and yes those exclamation marks are being used properly; it is an order)

Next three pack tops

I'm telling you now because the autumn catalogue is out. There was one in the corridor last night which I thought might be mine. But when I went to get it this morning it had disappeared. Might have been for upstairs though.

Anyway – every season I buy a new set of Next three pack tops for work. They are fab. They are reasonably priced, wash well, don't need ironing, and don't need engagement of the brain before 8am. I have a boring job, I need to look smart not fashionable. They work well on their own or under a suit jacket. Three tops, three days – bliss.

Addendum: I published this from Word 2007 - how cool is that?!

Voting

I know this is sort of not what this blog was supposed to be about but I do thoroughly recommend voting. I'm not that bothered even who you vote for although if you want me to rant I will. I just want everyone to show that they care about the right to vote. And only by going to the polling station (too late for a postal vote now) can one express that voting is important.

If you really don't know who to vote for spoil your ballot paper because they will be counted.

Photo credit: Dean Terry

Museum Days

A couple of years ago my friend asked me if I wanted to do a museum day with her. We both took a week day off and decided to tackle three museums in a day: British Museum; Natural History Museum and Science Museum.

We both live in London and have travelcards and now the museums are free (apart from the special exhibitions) it was set to be a cheap day.

It was great but three was overambitious. Given the travelling needed two would have been more realistic. By the time we got to the science museum we were flagging.

But the point is this, who really spends time as a tourist in their own city? Take a day off and be a tourist.

*Photo credits: J!mbo and TwOsE

The Girl’s Guide to Being a Boss (without Being a Bitch)

This is the book I was talking about in my first post: The Girl’s Guide to Being a Boss. The book is basically a really good guide to being a manager but with a useful female angle. Because I think it is hard being a female manager. Especially if you have male members of staff.

Do I agree with everything? No, but definitely 90%.

Is everything relevant? No because I work in the not-for-profit sector but it is interesting.

It is written by two American women, Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio, who work together in PR. And whilst researching this post I stumbled across their site: Girls Guide. It is a site, about business, for women. As they say:

"This is a "New Girls Network" that will put the "Old Boys" to shame"

Something for me to have a look at I think.

Their next book The Girl's Guide to Kicking Your Career into Gear is out in May and it's already on my Amazon wishlist.

p.s. the books are cheaper on play.com than Amazon.