Detox and pure

Did you know the term "Merry" is actually a phrase for getting drunk? So while "Merry Christmas" rolls back around this year and people are reaching for the buck's fizz and Disorano, I'm reaching for my peppermint tea and organic honeys, 'cos it's cool to go herbal.

Celebrities are favouring health juices over fizzy alcoholic beverages. Whether out shopping or going to the gym, health drinks are becoming the top choice for all ladies with style and great health:

So in order to share my knowledge of teas, pure juice smoothies and oils I decided to make a top pick of my favourite fruit juices and teas to stay happy, healthy and blemish free this season, because no one wants a stuffy cold and de-hydrated complexions at the end of December.


DETOXIFIED PURE JUICES AND TEAS FOR THE WINTER SEASON:

Best for fighting illness:
GARDEN MEDICIDE TEA

Ingredients:

• Sprigs of peppermint
• Dead Nettle (don't panic, this is the one that doesn't sting you)
• Marigold petals
• Manuka or floral honey

It's really that simple, most of these you can acquire in tea-bag form and will just need to be steeped and then stored in a glass jar to chill and then add hot water to warm the tea up when served. But if your want to go uber organic then you can get dead nettle online, at gardening centres or even grow your own. With Marigold, this does need to be boiled down quite well to get any dirt and pesticides off. Peppermint can be steeped in hot water and will instantly add a pleasing flavour to any tea, juice or smoothies. Honey makes the whole thing sweeter to any health drink new-comers and for any sweet tooth's out there like myself.


Best for clearing up complexion:
BEST OF ZEST

Ingredients:

• 1 whole lemon
• 1 whole lime
• Organic honey
• Ground ginger

Okay so now this ball-buster of a juice packs a real punch so needs to be checked on to make sure the zesty flavour really comes through this drink as this, fundamentally is a cordial so can be added with water to lessen the strength of the tangy taste you'll definitely get with this little number.
Slice up the fruits thinly and place in warm-hot water that's been already boiled.
Store this in the fridge for a good 3 hours before you then add a dash of ground ginger and a dash of honey. You can add cinnamon or mint to vary the flavours.

Poem of the month

I decided on this little monthly feature on my blog as poetry actually inspires me when I'm under the weather or just lacking inspiration on my personal and college projects.
But most of all, I wanted to start off with one of my most loved poems that has carried me through my teenage years, being my ever constant companion when searching for the idea of love and romance. Being the 15 year old romantic fanatic as I was.

Here, I present "Having A Coke With You" by Frank O'Hara.

Having a Coke with You
is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne
or being sick to my stomach on the Travesera de Gracia in Barcelona
partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian
partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt
partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches
partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary
it is hard to believe when I’m with you that there can be anything as still
as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it
in the warm New York 4 o’clock light we are drifting back and forth
between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles
and the portrait show seems to have no faces in it at all, just paint
you suddenly wonder why in the world anyone ever did them

I look at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world
except possibly for the Polish Rider occasionally and anyway it’s in the Frick
which thank heavens you haven’t gone to yet so we can go together the first time
and the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism
just as at home I never think of the Nude Descending a Staircase or
at a rehearsal a single drawing of Leonardo or Michelangelo that used to wow me
and what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them
when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank
or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn’t pick the rider as carefully
as the horse
it seems they were all cheated of some marvellous experience
which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I am telling you about it
by Frank O’Hara

Happy mid-week.

Madison xxx

Beautiful and Damned

I'm a big Fitzgerald fan, I've read his beautifully done American novels, listened to his audiobook when I was young and was delightfully exposed to Baz Luhrmann's brilliant adaptation of The Great Gatsby, controversial topic I know but I absolutely adore it. But I had never read his Beautiful and Damned which put me to shame so as my birthday approached I knew what I was going to ask for. So on the 7th, I opened the shiny paper to receive a really lovely copy of the Fitzgerald's novel.

The story line is set in the roaring 20's, depicting a beautiful, luxurious and chaotic plot between the newly rich, young man: Anthony Patch and his newly wedded wife Gloria, delving into the themes of money, the Jazz Age and intimacy. It just promised to ooze decadence an delight.

It proved me right. The beginning showed Patch's early and swift beginnings as a blossoming gentleman with riches, education and charm at his side. Meeting the beautiful but troubled Gloria, the two begin a romantic involvement, evolving into a quick marriage.
It shows the struggle these two young people have with the decadence and the passion that the jazz age represented.

The book was grand, glamorous and really shoed the full idea of the "American dream" and highly underrated. It's quite and easy and enjoyable read. Especially if you love the 20's era as much as I certainly do.

To get it cheaper and quicker, head over to Amazon right now to get a first or second hand copy in time for Christmas:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/books-used-books-textbooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=266239

Book score: 8/10

Right, I'll be off to invest in jewel headpieces and Mary-Jane T-bar heels.

Madison xxx

Anxiety and Burritos

Okay so three weeks ago, I officially closed the chapter on my childhood and legally entered the whole of adulthood. And now as a fully fledged "adult" I can honestly say it sucks massively.

I don't know what I was expecting in truth, I really don't know. Balloons? Fireworks? All my big life decisions just magically resolve for me? Well none of that happened and I can say I feel most positively younger than I feel 3 weeks ago. I feel like I'm about to enter high school again, all gawky with braces, greasy hair, social anxiety and no bloody clue what to do with my self. It's come back around to hit me in the face.
I'm leaving 6th form next summer and then plonked in to real life. Where they are no rules, exams, sick-days, lessons, no designated bench where all your friends go to for lunch times, no more scrolling through tumblr without guilt for not paying bills and doing work or whatever. I'm going to have to deal with it all on my own and not having a net under me to catch me. It's bloody scary and I feel like I am being fed to the sharks.

And no amount of coffee, music, literature or burrito meals can make it evaporate. But I guess this is one step to realising this is life and I actually have to start doing things myself, because it's not going to be offered to me through a link on tumblr.
I had this talk with a friend the other day and my issue is I'm all talking and over-thinking. So from this day forward, I'm actually going to make a massive effort on this feminist, review blog and also on my main fashion, styling blog by getting involved with social media, magazine reviews and to really get in to getting a audience.

So if you are interested and want to get involved with my developments, I suggest you keep an eye out on this and my other blog for exciting news.

What you can look forward to is music and social reviews, creating food and drinks, advice, feminist news etc.

Love
Madison xxx

"Skinny Club" to go in the trash

Hello all,
I'm currently writing a baking/foodie post for Thursday, however my little ears had pricked up at a video response to the controversial Company Magazine article that was featured around the June 2013 issue where they published a certain piece that was very blatant about eating disorders, condoning them as well as not issuing any trigger warning of sorts. This was a messy material that could have been dangerously taken in by readers and caused horrible body image as well to the extreme of sparking off an eating disorder. Myself, being a recovering anorexic, I foud this earth-shattering. As I could only imagine the effects that it would have impacted on readers old and especially young.

I wanted to draw this to peoples attention, just to say it is NOT cool for these type of articles to be published in a monthly magazine that prides itself for not publishing, typical articles that draw readers in to get slimmer for summer or better in bed.

What really got me was that this article was not even 4 pages away from another article titled: Feminism 2013 where it was supporting those who deem themselves as feminists with different views and opinions. One where body shaming is very wrong and not to support eating disorders. Only for that to be supported 4-5 pages later. It was a disappointment and a tragedy. I had high hopes for this magazine as it had been doing so when since the re-vamp of the magazine 2 years ago for being a magazine to only post news in fashion, music, FOOD and just being a real cool haven to be absorbed in to every month. My annual subscription to Company Magazine has ended and I am grateful, as I am never investing in the magazine again. Good features or no good features.

 A fantastic you tuber has made a video response to the article and has shed some very insightful opinions to chew over. Head to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwD8U1IkpBc for a few minutes that should be spend seeing it.

Thank you all, will see you Thursday.

MODEL DON'T GO TO BROTHEL

I was going through my tumblr feed today and stumbled upon this article that instantly stopped me scrolling. It was an article of an incident that occurred on an actual runway at one of the S/S14 shows where two femme activists burst onto the catwalk in the midst of the show, topless, screaming and "model, don't go to brothel" scrawled across their chests in paint.

It struck me.

And being an aspiring fashion designer/communicator, this made me take another glance at the fashion industry and then a look at the public and how they perceive it so.
The two women, unknown, crashed a Nina Ricci S/S14 show at Paris Fashion Week, erupting from the crowd, cheering, trying to communicate with the models. the ones sat down, and those witnessing everything live over the live stream to those with internet access. They were then, seconds later, drug violently off-catwalk by a body guard to then be dispatched outside.

It may sound a little dramatic and over shown, however I think that in 2013/2014 while women's rights are steadily gaining more recognition and respect. Sometimes people are turning an eye from the bigger picture. What was these women's message? To end sexual exploitation for sure, but on the other hand, to challenge a multibillion industry, they seem to be targeting the fashion world and the downfall of existing/aspiring models and those who are idolising them. It's not just sexual exploitation, they are almost challenging how fashion is almost setting guidelines to how we live, to dictate how we dress; almost forming  a social group in which you need an exclusive Willy Wonka's golden ticket to enter the private world of the 21st Century elites. This has happened centuries before now, but it's now become almost political. And that's a damn shame.

It's high school all over again. Only the sickest of body weight need apply, those who roll in fistfuls and those who know the person of the person of the person who did that one runway in this seasons fur. Also your granddaddy may also be Karl Lagerfeld. It's madness.
Fashion used to be a way of expressing your identity, instead of hiding it under wraps of faux leather because Dolce And Gabana told you so.

But what these two women are doing is a little bit of slut shaming which isn't fair. The models know very well what they are doing, how much skin they're showing and how much money they are ending up earning. You can't pull the polo necks over their eyes, no sir.
It's a similar situation with those of the sex industry, escorts and prostitutes know what they are doing, they are getting good money from it, and they don't really care. These women are confident in themselves whether they are promoting their own promiscuity or not. But to assume that models, because wearing see-through shirts, are "harlots" and "sluts", are extremely wrong.
We should just take a step back from upping in everyone's grill, so to speak, check yourself before assuming the worst and really evaluate feminism. Yes I agree that the whole concept of "sex sells" in the fashion industry- but remember, both female and MALE models do this. It is not exactly targeting one specific genre. However I have beef with those who promote anorexia, bulimia, and other guidelines on how to look to "fit in" or "be trendy". That is meddling with mental illness. And if those two protesters are squaring up about that, then that is a noble cause for sure.
At the end of the day, I have my beliefs and those two, albeit brave, women  have theirs. And if you're passionate about a thing, NEVER GIVE UP ON IT. Stick to your gut feeling and don't back down because someone in crocodile-leather shoes is telling you to.

Madison
xxx

Bloglovin'

You can now check me out at Bloglovin' which will be easier to contact and find me!
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10777121/?claim=ajpqzam2wtc">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Shall see you there,
Madison
xxx

Tuk-Tuks for Teenage Cancer Trust

Hey Guys,
Sorry I haven't been able to do a whole lot of posts at this current moment in time, it's just that my last year at college is kind of crazy with work, I've just landed my dream job at a hands-on Bridal Studio and I'm also designing and making for my personalised Etsy line which will be coming hopefully early next month (so look out for that one!). Oh and plus one of my best friends is turning over the new school year as eighteen in only two days, and we've been trying to organise a cheeky surprise party for the big one-eight.

But I have come to break through this crazy void of the web with important and exciting news, so listen up.
Many of you internet-roamers must know the likes of two massively, young, successful youtubing twins from the YouTube site JacksGap: the one and only Jack and Finn Harries.
What they have been up to over the past month was organising a massive charity extravaganza where by themselves and an array of friends drive across a lengthy 2,000 miles across India in little, rickety tuk-tuks, all in the name of charity. Yes there will be blood, sweat and tears but they are all doing it for a great cause.

All this madness is for the incredible Teenage Cancer Trust. This organization supports teenagers across the U.K who suffer from terminal cancer and sets up youth nights such a movie nights, bowling, pool nights and much more, just to feel like normal kids, to forget about their cancer and just have unadulterated fun. They look after the emotional needs of these teenagers as they go through their journey with cancer, they are amazing and need our help. We need them around longer, and more of them to support new cancer sufferers every single day. That's where you guys come in!

By supporting Jack and Finn across India on a wonderful, exotic adventure you can also support the lives and needs of teenagers that the trust can help by being able to donate the sponsored tuk-tuk run.
It's a wonderful trust that does incredible things to help those who need it most at this point in their lives. Be the change and support that these teenagers need most.
 Come along to find out more yourself or donate at: http://www.prizeo.com/prizes/jacksgap/a-london-rickshaw-run-experience
And keep updated from the boys themselves at their new site: http://jacksgap.com/ where they'll be videoing and blogging their whole way across India.

But there's more for all you JacksGap fans across the globe. When you donate money for the sponsored trip, you are immediately are entered into a prized draw for the one in a lifetime chance to go to London, meet and spend the day through London with both of the Harries twins, even if you live in a different country, you are flown out and given a hotel to stay in all-inclusive And when you also donate your money, depending on how much you give, the boys will send you different thank-you prizes including a rare JacksGap tuk-tuk t-shirt designed by Finn himself. What could be better about this event?
For those who don't know these two adventurers, please feel free to check them out at they're finest on their YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JacksGap
And/or check them out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JacksGap and https://twitter.com/FinnHarries
Get involved!

Liverpool chicken is bad for you.

So this month, I've been abouts one of the largest cities in the U.K next to London, Birmingham and Manchester. Truth is, I'm getting on, "I'm seventeen going on eighteen", in a years time I'm looking to leave the family nest in rural East Cheshire to fly out in to the big wide world out adulthood, 2 for 1 shot "happy hour" nights in student bars and the creeping existential crisis awaiting me when I start paying heating bills.

I remember last year when I turned seventeen and blew out my candles on my birthday cake, I can just remember thinking to myself: "Another two years to get through until I'm free from all ties, rules and traditions, finally I can write my own story, move on from deadbeat friends and actually live." I was outgoing once, fearless even. But the thought of me moving away from familiarities and living off noodles day and night makes me choke back tears and hide under my duvet, both feet tucked under.
That was when I firmly adjusted my gut and asked an acquaintance to show me around Liverpool, my most desired location to study Fashion Communication at the large and prestigious John Moores University and work on fashion advertising, designing, trend prediction, art film, branding and more. The idea of this makes me so excited, I can't breathe normally; the actual act of being part of creative projects, you putting forth valuable ideas? You can say I'm extremely passionate about it.

So I packed up for a day up in the northern port town of Liverpool for a little sight see day. The guy who gave me the grand tour that spanned from 10:30pm-5pm, he was an absolute delight for putting up with a younger, eager-beaver who did nothing but ask questions landmark to bar. He's a student at one of Liverpool's universities: a music, stage speciality school where he had formed a band and tours around the u.k. He was thrown in to the social life of Liverpool and could rattle off every single meal on every single menu of every single restraunt in the city and could still tell you what was better for money and taste. Luckily he is a massive food lover as I am and led me to exotic, yet reasonably priced exotic supermarkets and cafes.

This is what I have learnt from a day in Liverpool, the do's and don'ts and advice for any wannabe Liverpool students:

• There IS an existing china town, being beautifully decorated and all, it is incredibly small and most of the shops are going out of business. A place to be at Chinese New-Year but not one for a little dim-sum snack.
  
• There is fantastic graffiti art all about the city, strategically placed and gorgeously done up. You just need to look for it, so keep your eyes peeled and camera ready if you are inspired by street art like I am.

(This one had my mouth hanging open by the hinge, sci-fi inspired.)

(There was a ton of typography in the city.)

• If there are any modern art galleries advertised within walking distance, don't hesitate to wait! The artists from around this city are so inspirational and talented, you never know what you could see.
• When you go out drinking, never end up eating a greasy half a chicken in those corner fish and chip shops, they heighten any hangover that you may acquire the next morning but 110%. (But apparently you'll do it anyway.)
• Scene kids should stick to "Bold St.", they have the best retro, vintage stores that have little clothing, games and comic covens. You sit in culture coffee shops with the latest music paper and can find secret, second hand book shops that also do vinyl. Massive tick from me.
• You can get belts from vintage stores for 90p-crazy I know.
• The best nights out are those in Mexican bars: mariachi + tequila = The best night ever (according to source.)
• Cocktail bars are "little shits" as they serve the tastiest little treats imaginable and suck all your money out of your pocket, like THE WORST for undergrads with badly paid jobs.
• Head to the Zanzibar music venue for pure folk and rock soul, your feet will hurt from dancing. Stock up on the Scholl guys.

I don't know man, I got these from an actual student, put faith in him.

So to sum up my day, china town is crazy disappointing, Bold St has THE ULTIMATE coffee blends and never drink a high-end martini.

To check out my ultimate tour guides band, head to their Facebook page for info on gigs, new realises and other crazies: https://www.facebook.com/edgeofedenband?fref=ts Their sound is pretty cool.

 

Rad.

Madison xxx

 

 

Paper cuts and fictional adoration

So I was very recently given a swag-bag full of hard back copies of classics and lesser known stabs at fiction to rifle through and find new adventures within the coffee-stained pages and new loves. There was a selection of at least a dozen assorted books in a heap, all different genres and plots but I decided variety is the spice of life, right? (Plus, I love good novel however if there is a cheeky vampire romance, I'm not exactly going to say no)
If you're a reader similar to me then you'll be reading three books within a week, hard backs are easy reading in my opinion, something to keep my creative juices flowing whenever I'm low on inspiration for blogging, writing, learning, living.

So to dig in to all the fictional goodies I started off with one dinger of  a good-hearted, comedy classic: Bridget Jones Diary: The Edge of Reason by -, this is because curiosity got the cat in this instance, I'd absolutely loved the two remake films and the original novel and wanted to see if this one could make me laugh and relate (most embarrassingly) as I did in the films and previous book.
If no one has read or seen Bridget Jones Diary then you a missing out on a good belly ache of comedy gold. It's fundamentally about a 30 something British woman going through a patch in her life where there are changes in the romance, weight, friendship, career area that reflects honesty and clarity. She is awkward, impulsive, un-decided and a wonderful flurry of a female. It is relatable to the younger and older generation of females as it shows the inner struggles women have to be accepted in a male dominated modern world, to be accepted in their friendship group and just in general trying to find long lasting love. There is no polished off edges in these books, they uncover the reality of living away from parents, sex/one night stands and trying to make it in a dead end job but through the view of one with a wicked sense of humour.

Read this one, it's a cracker, you'll feel liberated and understood at the very same time!

Until I speak again, keep rad.
Mads.
xxx

Pussy Power

Good Morning my loves,
An early start for me today, stomach full of porridge and coffee with thoughts tumbling out of my head- I had to do something.

Okay, so most of you may know possibly about the recent events and prosecutions surrounding Pussy Riot: Punk, feminist band originating from Moscow, Russia. Founded in 2011, with a variable membership of approx. 11 women who run protest performances and are known for their "guerrilla" performances in unusual places of choice. However, 3 members staged a performance outside Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on February 21st 2012 and were immediately removed by safety officials are were jailed at a later date following protests and appeals for their release but to no avail. One member has been since bailed, but the other two women are still alone and cut off from one another.
This is where Shatter Japan come in to play, they are an online journal-column that showcases and writes online about artists of the edgy music and social culture and of minority. Founded by Olivia Mayumi Moss in Tokyo, in frustration about the lack of media and attention on female, coloured and minor artists, she set out for a change and to help in getting them the attention they deserved and to have their voices finally heard. Shatter Japan is super cool, as they have been tracking the Pussy Riot situation for a while now, they are now hosting a Pussy Riot commemoration festival in Manchester, UK at Krakk on the 18th-19th August this year. With it being a non-profit event it certainly is a brilliant event that should not be missed. There will be musical appearances there whilst talks and other activities. The whole event is in celebration of the talented members of Pussy Riots and especially the 2 members, still jailed.

As it being non-profit, they aren't asking for any payment but donations to Pussy Riots case are welcomed greatly. Why don't you check out the event for yourself at Shatter Japan's site here: http://www.shatterjapan.com/ or for any other information for future Shatter Japan events.
Come down, it's a fantastic experience-show your support to the remaining two members, heath and safety of these two marvellous women are detracting and they need our help! This treatment isn't fair or acceptable, time is running out.

Tweet Shatter Japan on twitter, hash-tagging "this shit is fucked", show some love and support online. Because one person can still make a difference.
#thisshitisfucked

Madison xxx