Category: Features

Books, image via Flickr by Sriatic

From cover to cover, as you delve deeper into the words, you don’t realise the emotional power a book has to inspire and shape your life. 

From my early years as a little girl growing up on the remote island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. I was brought up with 6 sisters and a brother, so you can image life was crazy.  We didn’t have alot of money, and life in such a remote place was simple. We were lucky that the school was equiped with lots of books to read. Books have always been important to me. They gave me a sense of the real world that was outside my little island and taught me alot.  Enid Blyton and the Secret Seven opened up a world of adventure full of strange places and they allowed that little bit of naughtiness which I thought I could escape to. 

When I was old enough to leave the Island, I spent the rest of my teens and twenties training to be a nurse in Edinburgh. In such a big city, and still finding my feet, books were my constant companion for learning and relaxation. The stresses and strain of the medical ward were swept away by Mills and Boone classics and the Prime of Miss Jean Brody. These books brought back the most essential part of me. My femaninity. So much of my time was consumed by night shifts and medical exams, even a spare fifteen minutes so finish a chaper felt like bliss.

Books have been my reliable friend during my married years. My husband’s work meant that we were always travelling all over the world. It could have been so easy for me to feel out of my depth but because the books I read showed me different ways of thinking and living, it helped me to cope with the many cultures and people that I was very fortunate to meet along the way.  The popular travel books The Lonely Planet Guide was able to give me facts and figures about the countries I was visiting.

I feel it’s very important to have a certain level of understanding about a country before you visit and so those fact books gave that different perspective I felt I needed. In contrast to the  factbooks and guides that led me to basic facts and languages of a new place, books like Out of Africa, The Far Pavilions and Death of a Princess let me see inside the mind and soul of the people I meet along the way. For me that’s possibly the most amazing part of moving alot, discovering new people from new walks of life along the way. It’s incredible and allows you to really understand a new culture.  

Now that I’m back home in Livingstone, Scotland, where we live permenantly I have a little more time to read at my leisure and take my time when reading a book.  The thing about books is that incredible buzz you have, so much so that when you’re so involved in the story you can’t put it down, and it takes all your effort to do so. Those are the books that change your life. The ones that have fallen apart by your egarness to read, the ones you end up buying all your friends as presents because it’s a must, the one’s that even after years of sitting, gathering dust on your shelf, you still cannot wait to pick up again. The one’s that make me tingle. Those are the books that made me.

 

Tina’s Top Reads.

• Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott.:
This charming novel tells the much-beloved story of the four March girls, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, as they grow to adulthood in 19th-century New England.

• The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford:
The story explains the nine year acquaintance that the lead character, Dowell, and his wife Florence have with another couple. The opening line of the book says it all “This is the sadest story I’ve ever heard”

• Housekeeping Marilynne Robinson:
Ruth narrates the story of herself and her younger sisters upbringing by a succession of relatives. Warm and enchanting with no sign of a possible outcome

• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossini:
It tells the story of Amir, a young boy in Kabul, who befriends the son of his fathers servent. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events. A heartbreaking and moving novel that puts friendship to a real test.

 

 

 

 

One of the easiest ways to give yourself a confidence boost is to buy statement make-up. With the ever glamorous red lips being hot right now, and the likes of celebrities such as Rihanna, Cheryl Cole and Misha Barton sporting this season’s look, there is no reason we can’t perfect it too!

Dior manager Mandy Deacon says, “Red lipstick has been a statement of women’s sexuality for centuries. With the first ever red lipstick being brought out by Dior in the 1940s, it is still a big seller today amongst many customers.”

“There is just something about red lipstick that gives women automatic sex appeal and self confidence the minute they apply it. I’ve definitely see the lift in confidence in my customers.”

Mandy says she’d describe red lipstick as sexy, glamorous and eye catching. She says “It’s a great way to glam up any outfit, be it day or night, and make you feel great about yourself.”

Mandy explains how it’s important to choose a shade of red to suit your skin tone:
Pale skin: If you have pale skin, dark and vibrant reds can be draining, so choose a shade with a hint of orange to brighten pale undertones, and soften your complexion.
Medium skin: If you have a medium skin tone, you’re lucky as you can pull off most colours. A vibrant shade looks amazing on medium complexions, so why not try a colour like a post box red.
Olive skin: Olive tones suit most colours too, but reds with depth to them look amazing so be daring and go dark! Deep mahogany and dark reds with purple shades will flatter your tone too.
Black skin: Pick a lipstick that stands out from your skin tone but still compliments, go for a vampy red that is rich in texture. Avoid orange tones which may wash you out, and go for slightly bluish tones instead.
Mandy’s Top Tips for Red Lips
• Keep the rest of your make up subtle when wearing red lipstick, for day time go for natural make-up and for night a soft smoky eye. Don’t over do it though as you don’t want to risk looking tacky!
• There is nothing worse than seeing someone who’s lip colour has run past the edge of her lips. Use lip liner to stop that dreaded bleeding, and apply all over your lip to create a solid base colour.
• Make your lip colour last longer – apply a coat of lipstick, dust loose powder over the mouth (lightly), then re-apply the colour!
• Dot a little concealer or highlighter onto your cupid’s bow, just above your top lip, it will make your lips look fuller.
• What not to do- to much bronzer with red lips is a big no-no. Instead create a flawless base and apply cream blusher, it will make your red lips look classy and avoid tarty.

Top 10 things to do before you’re 40.

Feeling a little restless? Is there something missing? If you’re worried about approaching the big 4-0 and want to add a bit more excitement to your life, take a look at our top ten of things to do before you’re 40.

1.       Go to a festival.

Yes it usually rains, involves camping and sharpening your elbows to get a decent view but the festival experience is a must. What better way to liven up your summer than seeing a weekend full of the coolest music superstars live on stage. Only at a festival are bed hair and wellies acceptable. It’s an experience that has to be done at least once, and will provide you will plenty of antidotes every festival season.

2.       Stay awake for over 24 hours

While it is not the most entirely sensible thing to do, an all-nighter must be pulled at some point. If it’s meeting a deadline, partying until sunrise or gossiping with a friend, there is nothing quite as fun and almost mischievous about staying awake all night. Yes the next day may not be so fun, but that’s why they invented coffee.

3.       Treat yourself to something expensive

Nobody can spoil you quite like yourself, and although its naughty, it is nice to reward yourself with the odd treat. It’s important not to make it a regular thing, but if you have the money and that certain something has caught your eye for some time, then nothing will quite make you smile more than treating yourself. The memory it holds is a bonus.

4.       Raise money for charity.

We often talk about helping a charity, but how often do we? Challenge yourself to achieve something in the aid of charity and get people to sponsor you. Not only will you feel that great sense of achievement but you’ll also have that warm feeling of giving to those less fortunate. Think of something you’ve always wanted to do, and please yourself and a charity at the same time.

5.       Visit that place you’ve always dreamed of.

Whether it’s New York, Paris or Tokyo, stop dreaming about visiting there and make it a reality. Look for cheap flights (January sales are usually best) and hotel deals, and it won’t cost as much as you think. The only person that can make your dream journey happen is you, so go for it, the memories and excitement will last a lifetime.

6.       Do something that scares you.

We all have our fears, but to face them takes guts. Battling something that scares you will give you such a buzz. So if its heights, public speaking or spiders find a way to confront it and not let it get the better of you. Overcoming fear will make you a stronger person and show you that nothing can hold you back in life.

7.       Have a job you love.

Life is too short to be stuck in a job that you hate. If you’re unhappy in your career, find ways to make you dream job a reality. Do research and look into job opportunities, but of course, don’t leave your current job until you know a new career is a possibility. Having a job you enjoy, will make Mondays less of a chore and your life a lot happier.

8.       Learn a new language.

It doesn’t matter if you’re fluent or just know the basics, being able to speak another language is a great skill and goes down great with the locals.  It will also impress your friends with your worldliness and make your travels that much easier. Getting through a situation in another language is great fun and will make you feel like a culture vulture.

9.       Learn to have no regrets

As you get older, you soon learn to have no regrets. As a right of passage, you should learn that every mistake teaches you something and helps you move forward. It doesn’t matter if you kept forgiving that love rat, spent your rent on shoes or embarrassed yourself at the Christmas party, you learn not to do it again and become a stronger person because of it.

 10.   Fall in love

If it ends in heartbreak or happiness, it’s a life lesson we all have to learn.