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rgs lifestyle win lunch for two at carluccio s fabulous christmas recipes save money this christmas lots of style and beauty tips december 2010 january 2011 december 2010 january 2011 rgs lifestyle 1

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in this issue style on the cover photograph courtesy of asda 24 carat glamour range feminine fifties 4-5 bags of style 7 the winning formula 8-9 winter warmers 10 behind bespoke an affordable luxury 11 beauty gorgeous and glam in a month 12-13 winter beauty focus your hands 14 get the look this party season 15 food christmas made easy at carluccio s 16-17 christmas muffins 18 5 of the best after dinner treats 19 winter roasted vegetables 21 vegetable roast 21 business and money a budget christmas without losing the magic 22 the business gp it s all in your mind 24 how to choose the right savings account for you 25 life i hate christmas 26 step out of your comfort zone 27 competition 17 5 of the best winter scents 29 horoscopes 30 terms conditions whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss damage or omission caused by printing errors the publishers cannot accept responsibility for views expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers copyright rgs lifestyle is fully protected by copyright nothing in this magazine can be reproduced or reprinted wholly or in part without the prior written consent of the editor in chief advertising advertisements are accepted on the understanding that the descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate all artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given by any holder of any copyright regarding artwork and logos for use in this publication it is the advertiser s responsibility to ensure all artwork and information is kept up to date and accurate 2 rgs lifestyle december 2010 january 2011

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welcome to rgs lifestyle welcome to the very first issue of rgs lifestyle magazine when it was suggested to me back in july that we produce a printed magazine i had visions of running around like a chicken feathers flapping but i must thank my very hard working team and contributors for keeping me sane rgs lifestyle started as an online magazine helping women to make the most of their time and budget something i know a bit about as i have a rather large family since our humble beginnings as a blog we are now a fully functioning magazine website www.rgslifestyle.co.uk and fully interactive with twitter and facebook pages where our readers have access to the team 24 hours a day do pop along and say hello we love to hear from you and don t forget to sign up for the rgs lifestyle newsletter as we will be giving away lunch for 2 at carluccio s to one very lucky subscriber go to the website to subscribe just search for the rosie goes shopping facebook fan page and follow @missrosieday on twitter the rgs lifestyle team wish you a very merry christmas and look forward to hearing from you rosie day editor in chief our regular contributors managing editor ­ leila jerman leila jerman cook caterer and proud wife has spent the last 4 years at home bringing up her two children with some years left to go she has joined rgs bringing several years experience of business administration combined with a colourful history of writing catering and family life to the table this allows her ambition to be fulfilled whilst being lucky enough to stay at home to look after the family she is also the proud owner of sofia s kitchen men s lifestyle editor ­ mark jackman mark jackman is many things fiction author scientist iron pumper social commentator but is unfortunately a typically annoying bloke his views are not necessarily his own and may have been forced on him by peer pressure author of the great right hope sometimes even the best vampires need a good smack web www mark-jackman.com blog http mark-jackman.com/blog band www.mark-jackman.com mj/5inches.php the business gp ­ marc lawn our well travelled businessman marc is dedicated to helping our readers with all their business needs he has worked for 18 years as a permanent employee of mcdonald s whitbread honda and britvic more recently he has worked as a professional interim and consultant to a number of start-up businesses charities and public sector whilst also maintaining large corporate ties working for emi premier farnell bp and vitec he has also worked internationally most recently in dubai for dubai world in 2008 family lifestyle editor ­ nicki cawood mum of 1.5 kids and a lucky wife to a very supportive husband roy she is a freelance writer and reviewer who has a passion for all aspects of family life nicki a freelance writer and blogger will be bringing us a wealth of knowledge on budgeting on a family and lifestyle basis 3 december 2010 january 2011 rgs lifestyle

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feminine fifties style 1 m those stylish mad men girls have heralded the return of all woman fashion for the winter aybe it s a reaction to all the super skinny jeans and tomboy tailoring we ve been squeezing ourselves into lately but this winter sees the return of the all woman woman in a nutshell curves are back following hot on the kitten heels of super stylish tv series mad men fifties-style fashion hasn t been hotter since well the 1950s nipped in waists full-circle skirts and heaving cleavages caused quite a fluster on the catwalks when prada and louis vuitton unveiled their take on the feminine fifties trend but you can get the catwalk look at a fraction of the cost as the high street enjoys a seriously sexy retro moment with its chic tailoring and sophisticated pastel grey roseprint this linea dress from house of fraser £130 could have come straight from the mad men costume department find more full frock numbers at phase 8 £130 or beyond retro which does a to-die-for range of real vintage dresses red lace dress £22 from a selection not a big fan of florals try updating the fifties full skirt with some sensuously soft knitwear like this handembroidered pashmina wool cardigan from people tree £160 or cute bolero jacket from fever £48.99 if you love the look but need a little help in the curves department snap up some vintage style underwear like this bra £20 and girdle £16 set from next finally no self-respecting fifties vixen would be seen without some drop dead gorgeous accessories grab a mock croc handbag marks and spencer £29.50 a pair of fancy heels frenchie shoe £64.99 at schuh and pearls your grannie would be proud of necklace £12 new look brooch £14 at talullah tu now get working those womanly curves 1 house of fraser linea eveningwear grey powder `rose dress £130 mawi silver `skull bracelet £300 2 beyond retro vintage red lace party dress £22 3 fever corsage fez bolero in grey £48.99 4 people tree karen nicol hand-embroidered cardigan hand-woven 100 pashmina wool £160 5 phase eight sasha dress £130 6 talullah tu military cross pearl crystal brooch £14 7 marks and spencer mock croc bag £29.50 8 next vintage-style bra £20 vintage-style girdle £16 9 new look white velvet ribbon pearls £12 10 schuh frenchie butterfly court shoe £64.99 4 rgs lifestyle all photography courtesy of prshots december 2010 january 2011

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style 2 9 4 8 7 6 5 3 10 december 2010 january 2011 rgs lifestyle 5

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start your online grocery delivery now book a delivery slot add a few essentials to the basket then you can add things as you think of them right up until the day before delivery delivery costs do vary but the time that having your groceries delivered saves is priceless send a big warm hug this christmas with flowers and gifts from interflora whether it s a not so subtle hint with this mistletoe gift box £9.99 or a more traditional basket of winter flowers £29.99 £64.99 you can be sure that they will be gratefully received order online at www.interflora.co.uk for delivery right up to and including christmas eve 6 rgs lifestyle december 2010 january 2011

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bags of style by carole hallett mobbs style elegant sophisticated casual dainty or business-like handbags come in any colour shape most materials and can sometimes become an obsession the perfect bag is often elusive which can result in a wardrobe full of unused pieces therefore take time to try on handbags the same way as you try on clothes and always work out what you actually need before buying choosing the right bag for you should be treated as an expedition take your lifestyle into consideration a woman who spends her summers camping will choose a different bag from the lady who lunches at the ritz while a mother with small children will need something hardwearing and practical having said that a handbag always fits carefully choosing a bag that flatters you can emphasise your good points and draw attention away from those parts of your figure that you re less happy with focussing on shoulder bags here are some suggestions to help you choose the ideal style choose a bag that is the opposite of your body shape so if you are tall and slim select a slouchy rounded bag while a shorter heavier person should go for a tall rectangular shaped bag the rounder your figure the more structured your bag should be as a general rule pick a bag that lies in the middle of your body as this length will complement most figures longer or shorter straps will draw attention down or up top-heavy women should choose a bag that draws attention down so select a bag that has a long strap while the most flattering style for a curvy lady is one that sits just above the waist proportion is also important a tiny bag on a tall large woman will make her look enormous while a huge bag on a petite person will make her look worn by the bag rather than the other way around a lot of women buy a handbag just because it is fashionable don t base your handbag choice solely on trends it should last longer than that also a handbag doesn t have to match your outfit but it should complement it now go out and find your perfect handbag while the sales make really good ones more affordable t there s a wardrobe accessory for women that can be used to dress an outfit up or down can be a piece of art is immensely no longer does one useful a way to express your personality and even better bag suit all occasions it will always fit what is this if you need an excuse to buy more than one our diverse lifestyle means miraculous item a handbag he right handbag can effortlessly pull an outfit together so you look effortlessly stylish what s more it s also extremely practical you can wear simple clothes jeans and a t-shirt which together with a lovely bag will look amazing whereas someone all dressed-up but carrying a tatty handbag just looks as if they don t care about themselves whether you choose timeless classic bags or trendy styles the right handbag can make you feel sexy chic we can look for a `dream set of bags the ideal basic collection of bags a woman should own is a daily work bag to hold all the necessities for the day a social bag for those casual nights out or shopping trips a glamorous evening bag for special events and a fun bag which brightens your mood i can think of many other reasons for buying a new bag or is this merely justification for my over-full bag cupboard different bags suit different people depending on their size and body shape december 2010 january 2011 rgs lifestyle 7

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style 8 rgs lifestyle december 2010 january 2011

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style 2 3 1 marks spencer autograph leather biker jacket £225 blue harbour rib crew £39.50 autograph modern straight cut jeans £25 2 superdry brad leather jacket in brown £174.99 3 debenhams ffp coated gilet £58 4 french connection sendof magneto denim jeans £65 5 asos.com twisted jeans 6 republic soul cal doublelayer jacket £44.99 7 house of fraser luis juke rainbow print briefs £14 each 4 8 white stuff slip-on boot £75 9 debenhams ffp t-shirt £15 5 6 7 8 9 december 2010 january 2011 rgs lifestyle 9

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winter warmers embrace all that is warm and snug this winter ­ luxurious faux fur and chunky knits combat the cold alpaca hot water bottle cover by samantha holmes available from selfridges £49.00 aristoc angora cable knit slouch socks from sock shop £15.00 www.sockshop.co.uk chunky patterned waistcoat from next £60.00 heather charcoal cable knit snood from pure collection £79.99 patterned leggings from next £22.00 faux fur throw £100.00 and cushion cover £25.00 from the white company 10 rgs lifestyle december 2010 january 2011

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behind bespoke ­ an affordable luxury t gone are the days when bespoke tailoring was for the privileged few which is great news for stylish individuals wanting something `that little bit different that won t break the bank raditionally bespoke tailoring has been synonymous with sartorially aware city gents yet its benefits are now being reaped by a far broader spectrum as women especially we re all too familiar with the challenge of finding an off the peg suit or separates that fit all our curves so more and more ladies are turning to bespoke to ensure their garments look just how they want them to a common misconception about bespoke clothing is that it s time consuming and there s no place for it in the fast-paced modern retail environment after all in our day and age when a personal relationship with our butcher or grocer is unlikely it would seem improbable for the tailor­ customer bond to be resurrected this is where modern technology comes in perhaps the most `time consuming bit of bespoke is the decision making most people aren t aware of the huge variety of fabrics linings and cuts that are available and `going bespoke can often present a daunting number of choices when fabrics linings and cuts are all available to view online however you can browse the options from the comfort of your own home with a glass of wine with friends or during an office lunch break then when you come in to see a style advisor you will have a much better idea of what you want and be able to get stuck straight into designing your ideal garment a suit that fits is a leading online tailoring company and their digital marketing executive betony lloyd agreed to explain more about the changing face of bespoke at a suit that fits we re delighted to have found a way to bring the traditional prestigious art of tailoring to a wider audience through broadening the options available to the customer with a branch network of three studios in london and 24 more nationwide it s convenient wherever you are and appointments can all be booked online or over the phone simply come in and see a style advisor to design something your suit will be made up in your measurements and then come back in a few weeks for a fitting we recognise that the pressures of modern life do not allow some people the luxury of poring over fabrics for hours and we also know that some customers rgs lifestyle promotion style know exactly what they want for that reason all our fabrics linings and cuts are available online to browse through before your first appointment sometimes once customers have bought a few suits from us and are confident that we will get the fit just right they forego the appointments and choose to go through the whole cycle online from requesting a swatch to be sent in the post to ordering and paying to submitting a review of the final product for others to see a suit that fits has also found an answer to the affordability question because the suits are produced in nepal by skilled craftsmen with long family histories of tailoring they support a nepalese school donating 5 of the cost of each suit and pay their workforce over there 50 above the average wage so with ethical credentials too there really is no reason not to go bespoke for those looking for something a bit different to give the man in your life why not give the gift of bespoke a suit that fits have luxurious satin gift vouchers personally embroidered with the recipient s name and the voucher value presented in a beautiful gift box order online at www.asuitthatfits.co.uk or call 0203 0067999 december 2010 january 2011 rgs lifestyle 11

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beauty by glynis kozma gorgeous and glam in a month m have you ever caught sight of a bedraggled woman in a shop mirror and wondered who s that then recoiled in horror as you realised it was in fact you i have ost of us are so busy looking after everyone else s needs that ours are bottom of the list and that includes time spent on making ourselves look and feel great psychologists reveal that it takes three weeks of new thinking to change behaviour patterns so in four weeks you are going to look and feel great looking and feeling good doesn t just come from what you do to the outside it s a reflection of what is happening on the inside start with some selfaffirmation being your own cheer leader is a great way to boost your self-esteem and positivity take a pack of post-its and jot down as many of your good qualities as you can one on each post ­it you might be a great chocolate cake maker patient kind a fantastic multi-tasker and a great daughter write each one down put two or three of these where you can see them daily then replace them with a couple more every few days over a month next decide what you 12 rgs lifestyle want to achieve in four weeks some weight loss better skin a new hairstyle a healthier diet take a post ­it and write it down as if it s happening now write i am slim i am a healthy eater i have great hair pop the post-it on your bathroom mirror inside your wallet on the fridge ­ anywhere you will see it regularly you have changed it from a fuzzy dream into reality it works losing a few pounds doesn t have to involve drastic changes go nuts ditch biscuits for brazils nuts are packed with vitamins and minerals essential for health and skin three being your own cheer leader is a great way to boost your self-esteem and positivity brazil nuts give your daily selenium which is a powerful antioxidant to prevent cancer and heart disease other great nuts are almonds and walnuts a small handful of 15-20 nuts a day as part of your overall calorie intake can help your skin heart and memory eating more oily fish is great for your skin have at least three portions a week of salmon sardines mackerel or fresh tuna are you getting enough five a day is the minimum but the more brightly coloured fruit and vegetables you can pack into your diet the better give yourself a new target 2 more pieces of fruit and 2 more vegetables every day with the best intentions we can all slip up there is nothing worse than trying hard for a week then reaching for the biscuit tin in a moment of weakness but don t give up accept december 2010 january 2011 photograph courtesy of next

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beauty you have had a bad day and get back on track you are already your own cheer leader take this one step further by rewarding yourself if at the end of a week you have stuck to your targets buy yourself a treat flowers perfume a magazine it s a well done you from you l ooking polished and groomed comes down to planning and having a routine not expensive products lock the bathroom door for an hour once a week for routine grooming y scrub your skin daily in the shower with a body scrub or loofah y massage in body lotion after every shower or bath y file your heels every day before you shower use foot cream and apply polish once a week y exfoliate your face once a week y cleanse and moisturise twice a day boots and superdrug have excellent ranges from as little as £1 y use a daily moisturiser with a high spf y file your nails and apply a neutral or clear polish weekly y give your hair a deep conditioning treatment weekly y book a free consultation with a hairdresser for ideas on updating your style and colour take the plunge if you can afford it y don t be afraid of make up tinted moisturiser cream blusher lip gloss and mascara can be applied in 5 minutes and can take 10 years off you experiment with budget ranges y visit a store for a free make over bobbi brown clinique mac and benefit are good y ditch the clothes that don t make you feel great sell on ebay or donate to charity y get active do something every day that makes you sweaty and raises your heart rate a brisk 30-minute walk or even a dance around the lounge to your favourite music y three squares of quality dark chocolate a day are good for you enjoy y laugh make the effort to spend time every week with friends who make you feel good remember you are gorgeous if you believe it everyone else will too sweet feet salve rose co £6 treacle moon range tesco from £2.95 perfection quick dry m&s £5 girl meets pearl benefit describes their brand spanking new winter beauty product as `a girl s best friend this season and we can t help but nod in agreement girl meets pearl £24.50 is a luminous liquid pearl for the face that can be worn alone under or over make-up for the party season the pearl gives skin such a beautiful natural-looking glow girl meets pearl is also super kind to skin as it contains lightreflecting pigments raspberry and chamomile to sooth sweet almond oil to smooth and firm plus sesame seed oil to moisturise and nourish the raspberry scent is simply irresistible too ­ we re hooked available via www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk december 2010 january 2011 rgs lifestyle 13

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beauty winter beauty focus your hands while we lavish expensive creams and lotions on our face and body to keep young and beautiful thoughts or money are rarely spent on keeping the skin on your hands looking and feeling good why should you bother julie penfold reveals all j ust like the skin on your face hands need to be well nourished to stay smooth and soft our hands are made up of a thin delicate layer of skin which along with our nails and cuticles can become dry and chapped very easily in the winter as cold weather rain and changes in temperature can all affect the skin s barrier function using a hand cream not only helps to keep skin hydrated but also works to protect skin and prevent signs of ageing skin ages on average five times faster on our hands than other parts of our body largely due to daily exposure to cold weather hard work and lack of hydration simple everyday washing cleaning and using household products can all contribute to dry brittle undernourished hands taking care of nails and cuticles is vitally important so do ensure when applying lotions that you nourish the nails and cuticles liberally cuticles are essential to healthy nails and can become dry and cracked in winter so it is very important to keep them hydrated to avoid damage to hands it is best to apply a thick layer of a rich heavier moisturiser twice daily in winter as a minimum applying a hand lotion adds an extra layer of moisturiser helping to form a protective layer over the fragile skin on your hands hand creams lotions and oils that contain natural ingredients like aloe vera vitamin e macadamia oil sesame oil and jojoba oil all work to help keep skin looking healthy and youthful our three choice picks a kin unscented intensive hand nail cuticle treatment £7.99/75ml via www.lovelula.com 14 rgs lifestyle vitamin e hand nail treatment £8.00/75ml via www.thebodyshop.com trilogy rose hand cream £15.00/100ml via www.lovelula.com december 2010 january 2011

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beauty get the look this party season w want to be the belle of the ball this christmas but not sure how to make your make-up work for you look no further expert help is here writes julie penfold hen in doubt ask the expert is a saying we firmly adhere to at rgs lifestyle giving us the lowdown is sheelagh powell a midlands-based freelance make-up artist with a passion for making women look and feel beautiful sheelagh says maintaining a good skincare regime and always remembering to cleanse tone and moisturise is a must for healthy skin dermalogica s skin hydrating booster is my favourite at this time of year using a good primer is a must too as it smooths out fine lines and allows all types of foundations to glide on ­ keeping your make-up in place all day and night my top tip when using a primer is to place some on your eyelids prior to applying shadow as it will make it last longer you can also apply primer to lips to help lock in colour using a light-reflecting concealer under the eye area is also great for banishing evidence of tiredness ­ this is a must for us girls hot-footing it from work to parties and nights out sheelagh suggests blending the concealer with fingertips in a tapping motion and not rubbing as this just removes the product set your foundation with a light dusting of loose translucent powder ­ using two light layers for areas of the face prone to shine as this will also help absorb any excess oil pay special attention to sheelagh s warning about overdoing it on the powder front always tap any excess powder from the brush as using too much powder will sit in any fine lines and creases highlighting these problem areas glossy and nude to enhance the look a slightly stained look on the lips is what you are trying to achieve for an extra dash of glamour ­ false lashes are a must for more information on sheelagh powell please contact sheelagh on 07967 551069 email at info sheelaghpowellmakeup.co.uk or take a look at sheelagh s website via www sheelaghpowellmakeup.co.uk sheelagh says pale porcelain plumped and moisturised are this season s beauty buzzwords a hint of sheen to cheekbones and up towards the temples is a great way to add texture to the face highlight the bridge of the nose cupids bow and the tear ducts to complete this look this season opt for luscious red lips sheelagh says contour your eyes with natural taupe and grey to give a dressed down look to the eyes to allow your lips to take centre-stage go for glossy red lips or deep matte colours according to your preference if you are unsure which tone to choose ­ a brick red colour is a safe bet if you would prefer to draw more attention to your eyes use eyeliner to add definition and make your lashes look fuller sheelagh adds a white brightening pencil is perfect for creating `baby doll eyes apply to the inner lower eye rim to make your eyes look bigger and brighter it is a perfect solution for dark tired eyes if going for this smoky look keep lips december 2010 january 2011 getting party make-up right rgs lifestyle 15

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