Unique Vintage Coats

There's no black or grey, play-it-safe coats in today's round-up. These three pieces are bold and different and I love them. The Tapestry Coat is fun and right out of the '60s while the Blue Coat provides a strong bolt of colour and the blazer offers something a little more unusual yet stylish.

Kooky coats work so well for fall and winter. Whenever I'm vintage shopping, I always gravitate towards the coat section. You always find the most unique pieces that somehow look perfect for 2010 (and beyond). If you can't get your hands on one of these three coats, why not see what your local vintage store has to offer?

Tapestry Coat - Crafty Crow Vintage (Etsy) $44
Blue Coat - Jules Atelier (Etsy) $98
Tapestry Blazer - Huckleberry Vintage (Etsy) $30

Gamarde Organic Concealer Review

I'm always looking out for a stellar organic concealer. I've been using Gamarde's Concealer for Dark Circles for several months now and think it's so good, it's worth telling you about it. I love how this concealer doesn't go cakey or dry the eye area like so many other concealers do. It blends in well and looks natural but like it's doing its job (disguising dark circles and imperfections).

The 6g tube that the concealer comes in looks teeny but it seems to last a long time. You only need to apply a small amount under the eyes or any other iffy areas on the face requiring a bit of extra coverage. Remember to apply the concealer gently by tapping it under the eye, rather than dragging the delicate skin. I don't apply an eye cream or anything beforehand because the ingredients feel nourishing and moisturising.

The concealer contains Gamarde thermal water from France as well as exotic argan oil. Gamarde list their full ingredients on their site in French but thanks to Google Translate, the list should read something like this in English:

Ingredients:
Gamarde water, eucalyptus hydrosol, argan oil and sunflower oil, bamboo extract, horse chestnut tincture, essential oils of lavender, palmarosa and ylang ylang.

Certified organic by Cosmébio. Made in France. Not tested on animals.

Gamarde Concealer for Dark Circles is available at Naturisimo for £13.22. For further information on this product, you can view Gamarde's page in French.
Image from Gamarde

The Best Falafel Recipe

Here's a great falafel or vegan burger recipe. I've made this recipe a lot with chickpeas and other beans and it's definitely a staple for me now. The two tablespoons of plain flour bind the burgers really well (I shape them like burgers rather than typical falafels). Just make a batch over the weekend and then pop them into your freezer and you'll be able to make hearty sandwiches and burgers any day of the week. It's quick, nutritious and scrumptious!

View recipe at BBC Good Food


image: BBC Good Food

Expand Your Yoga Repertoire

The first of the month is often a good time to start something new. If you want to try doing a bit of yoga each day but can't make it to a class, you may like to check out Yoga Journal. You can view a ton of poses that are categorised either by anatomical or therapeutic focus. If you want to find a pose that targets your arms or helps with insomnia, you can find it on their site. There is even a tool to help you build your own yoga sequences so you can enjoy a personalised session at home. My new favourite pose is Half Moon but maybe I'll be able to do this Side Crane pose (above) by the first of October. Ha!

Image: David Martinez (Yoga Journal)

Jewellery Made From Biscuit Tins

You can find the sweetest collection of jewellery over at Kate Hamilton-Hunter Studio. There are earrings and necklaces made from 'recycled and reclaimed biscuit tins' that are all handmade with care and flair in North Wales. I especially love these small rectangle earrings made from an old pastille tin. They're only £13.99 too!

You can view more stunning pieces at Kate HH

In Season - Vegetarian Aubergine Recipe

Aubergine with Spicy Apricot Tabbouleh

If you want to try a new recipe this long weekend that utilises a seasonal vegetable, why not try this rather special-looking dish? It looks divine with harissa couscous and many fresh herbs. You may also like to try an Eggplant Caviar. I think I will have to try and make this dip over the weekend. The tablespoon of mayonnaise is optional but vegans may wish to substitute it for Plamil's Egg Free Mayonnaise.

View recipe at BBC Good Food (Sarah Cook)

Elroy Organic Cotton Jackets

I keep telling myself it's still summer but deep down, me and everyone else in the UK knows the truth. It's okay though because I've found some amazing jackets from Elroy that are perfect for this chillier weather (and they're on sale!).

Inula Jacket - $120 CAD, was $235 CAD
Iberis Trench - $99 CAD, was $255 CAD

Both jackets are made in Canada with organic cotton (also available in other colours).