I blame Beckham (H&M short film directed by Guy Richie)

The Wedgie

The Wedgie

I’m having a few issues getting any work done today.  And I totally blame Beckham.   There is a stack of blog posts to be written  and, well… the new H&M short film shot by Guy Richie is on FULL ON repeat here at Life of Yablon HQ.

Men’s pants are not usually my thing.  But doesn’t he run well in these army-green ones (part of his collection at H&M launching today)?  Who would have thought rearranging a wedgie could be so utterly seamless and sexy?  And damn that bush which robs him of his vest top!

OK, if you’re frowning either at my explicit lust or just because you haven’t seen the film yet…. View it now before you read further.  (I’d hate to feel responsible for spoiling the end).

Other than the obvious, particular highlights for me are seeing him run in bedroom slippers (never easy), the slightly naff ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ moment and the power crawl across the ridiculously dressed neighbour’s pool.

So, I predict internet frenzie.  And that I’ll watch the film just ONE more time…

Despite not being a tweeter, David Beckham has taken over @HM Twitter feed today and will host a Q&A session for fans at midday.

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Just call me dense…

'em bones...

dem bones…dem bones…

‘If only,’ I thought as I first glanced at the results of my recent bone density scan at the London Imaging Centre.

As a reasonably healthy, exercise keeno, I had skipped off for this benchmark check, without an inkling that my bones were anything other than dense.

You see, having had my ovaries taken out aged 40 (to dramatically reduce my risk of ovarian cancer), a bone density scan was in order because thinning bones and osteoporosis are very much associated with early menopause.  And these results, now aged 41, would help me to understanding how my bones would fair without ‘normal’ hormones in future years.

Yehudi Gordon at Viveka

Yehudi Gordon at Viveka

So, unexpectantly, I am confronted with low bone density in my spine.  Just like that.  Often osteoporosis is referred to as “the silent disease” because bone loss usually occurs gradually over the years without symptoms. Many people aren’t aware that they have osteoporosis until they either have a scan like mine or have a minor fall which causes a bone to break.

Without further ado, I headed directly to my main (hormone and baby-making) man, Yehudi Gordon.  I make HUGE claims about Yehudi and his Viveka practice as they were once faced with a miserable girl and boy failing in the pregnancy department.  Four years later, I was whining about the amount of nappies I was faced with changing.

Blood and urine tests followed and I was keen to visit Yehudi today to hear what he could do with this bag of porous bones.

It turns out I have probably had low bone density since the age of 20 and it is only due of my recently departed ovaries that I have made my weak bones discovery.  The good news is that there is a fair bit you can do to strengthen up.

vitamin supplements to build up my bones

vitamin supplements to build up my bones

Yehudi broke it down for me into three categories:

Exercise – in a nutshell, the right exercise (particularly weight bearing) can improve the thickness of your bones.  Yehudi advised walking with a weighted backpack and trampolining as well as sessions with a PT who knows about weight training.

Diet – this should include plenty of calcium, magnesium, Vitamin D, Omega 3 fatty acids and fruits and vegetables. It also turns out that foods which contain lots of antioxidants help to slow down many aspects of the aging process, including thinning bones.

Supplements – I need additional calcium, magnesium, selenium and boron. Yehudi is a huge Marilyn Glenville fan and – cross-referring with my test results – he has advised me to take her National Health Practice vitamins:  Osteo Support, Multi Menopause and Omega 3 Support.

16004965-skull-and-bones-pirate-symbolSo here I am on a bone building mission.  With three years until my next bone density scan, I am determined to boost these bones.

Bone density loss affects us all. This process begins at the age of thirty and the average density loss is about 1% per year.  If you are interested in contacting Viveka, call 020 7483 0099.

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a right royal bouquet

Moyses Stevens a new concession in Harrods Food Hall

the new Moyses Stevens  concession in Harrods Food Hall

On the school run this morning, as I finished firing times tables like bullets into the back seat of the car, the Smalls meekly asked me what I was up to today.  They like to be kept up to speed with what I’m writing about and often broadcast my schedule to their friends and teachers curiously expecting some sort of enthusiastic applause.  (Clearly they have some inaccurate image of me as editor of The Times or something equally influential…)

I explained that I was going to learn how to create a hand tied bouquet.  The flower lover in Mini immediately developed a ‘terrible tummy ache’ and ordered that I took her along too.  ‘Not a chance!’ I cried, and promptly raced off to Harrods where Moyses Stevens has just opened their concession within the world famous food hall.

I chose the amnesia roses as my hero flower

I chose the amnesia roses as my hero flower

I am ashamed to admit I have absolutely NO IDEA what to do with flowers.  Clearly the flower arranging courses (as well as the deportment and needlepoint classes) slipped through the net between my boarding school days ending and the Manchester student life beginning.  So, whenever I am stuck with a whole load of thorns, foliage and some sweet smelling flowers, I speed dial Lady Y who can make even daisies look glamorous.

step by step I learnt to build up the bouquet

step by step I learnt to build up the bouquet

I chose Moyses Stevens to help me out here for 3 simple reasons.

  • The florist has been a floral master since as early as 1876.
  • Known for their creativity, the company even first introduced the hand held bouquet.
  • If they are good enough for the late Queen Mother and HRH Prince Charles (both have awarded Royal Warrants) then they are good enough for me.

IMG_1985Met by the florist, Jodie, I was asked to pick out the flowers I would like to use for my bouquet.  The amnesia roses with their soft vintage look immediately appealed to me.  So then, adding some white lilacs and gilder roses along with some soft foliage, my perfect bunch was coming together.

We were then ready to start.  Jodie showed me how to begin the bouquet, turning the bunch (held loosely in my hands) as I added each stem facing out.  This way, it would be easier both to add in additional stems as well as arrange in a vase once I got them home.

fit for the Palace... almost

the end result…fit for the Palace… almost

Of course, it is flower day coming up and we all expect nothing and everything.  They (the Hims) can’t win.  We don’t want bad flowers nor over-priced ones AND would be even more furious with no flowers at all.

So here is my plan: send your Him to Moyses Stevens in Harrods, he should ask for Jodie and she has promised me she will advise accordingly!

£100 bouquet to win @LifeOfYablon

just one of the Moyses Stevens bouquets designed exclusively for Harrods

COMPETITION:  Meanwhile, here is a chance to win your own beyond-beautiful flowers (worth £100) from Moyses Stevens!  To enter this competition all you have to do is sign up to my blog (top right of homepage),  follow me on Twitter and RT the picture of this incredibly bouquet prize (above) on Tuesday 19th Feb.  The lucky winner will be selected randomly on Wednesday 20th Feb 2013. 

My bunch of flowers would have cost £35.

If you would like to know more about Moyses Stevens’ flower arranging courses, call their Temple Fortune shop on 020 87720094.

 

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Buddha-Bar: to theme or not to theme

Last night I had one of those headaches.  You know, the type that doesn’t go – even when you neck some painkillers, send the Smalls to their room and lie in a darkened room.  And anyway I couldn’t do that, I was due to go and check out the recently opened Buddha-Bar, 145 Knightsbridge.

gold mesh chained Buddha

gold mesh chained Buddha

Buddha Bar, Knightsbridge

Buddha Bar, Knightsbridge

To be really honest, I hadn’t actually noticed that the original Buddha Bar (NB without the hyphen) had shut down and that the new, improved version (with a hyphen) had opened its doors last November.  But what I did remember was a HUGELY fun night out at the original venue in Paris back in 1998 followed by hours and hours of listening to the Buddha Bar mix compilations by French DJ Claude Challe.

So, once the thumping head eventually gave way, I headed out.

ZEO - the new mixer at the bar

ZEO – the new mixer at the bar

Word on twitter yesterday was that ZEO (the new-ish non-alcoholic mixer) was hosting its inaugural Just January party on the upper-mezzanine level of this palatial Budha venue. I was a blogger desperately seeking partying celebrities… or at least breaking their detox at the end of the longest month of the year.  But I found none (might have been because I was late… the headache) so I introduced Him to my latest sparkling beverage find before we were sat in the oriental restaurant, down in the basement.

pretty good black cod at Buddha-Bar

pretty good black cod at Buddha-Bar

It’s dark down there.  And it’s themed.  He and I discussed the concept of restaurant theming in depth.  It worked so well a few years ago and now it’s, well, less fun.  (Or perhaps WE are less fun?)  But I must admit the pan-Asian food was good; we ate well and the service was pretty good too.  (Our hot dishes took a little longer than expected, but nothing worth mentioning.)

The question is does Buddha-Bar feel worth it (because it certainly isn’t cheap)?  I think it’s fair to say that my jury is out. Curiously it also doesn’t feel like London (might be a plus for some) so I’m not sure I would rush back, despite the food being pretty good.  I suppose the point here is that we demand a lot from our restaurant experience nowadays. The cool factor, decor and general ambiance need to be spot on. Oh and the music wasn’t mixed by Monsieur Challe either.

www.buddhabarlondon.com

 

 

 

 

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