Lifestyle

Deadlines are everywhere at the moment, and spare time is nowhere to be found. It's at times like this when you need something filling yet simple to make, and it doesn't get much simpler than this. Roasting the tomatoes releases the flavours in a way that no amount of cooking on a hob can – and saves the effort of standing stirring a pot to boot. This warming, vibrantly flavoured soup is super healthy and also vegan, in case anyone fancies their hand at trying out the vegan experience! Ingredients (serves 4): - 1.5kg tomatoes, roughly chopped - 1 large red onion (or two small), roughly chopped - half a red pepper, roughly chopped - 3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped - 1 litre vegetable stock - large bunch basil leaves, torn - salt and pepper, to taste Method: 1. Put ...

February is that limbo stage where one day it's pouring down with rain, and the next day sun rays are peeping through the clouds. We have seen the comeback of the conventional heeled boot – the cut-out buckled boots. We have even seen Karl Lagerfeld sporting the laidback trainer trend on the Paris Fashion Week catwalks, with Chanel's Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2014 collection transforming the traditional bridal look into a sporty snow queen style by pairing chic dresses with conventional trainers. So we can continue wearing our classic converse: a timeless shoe-cupboard essential that can tone down any outfit and ensure day-to-day practicality. The fashion predictions of Spring/Summer 2014 foresee us fashionistas transitioning from dark shades to lighter hues and sporting pastel loa...

I've never been one to enjoy winter weather, especially not when it consists of seemingly endless rain. When I find myself feeling particularly despondent in the face of another downpour, I begin to daydream of sunnier climes; if you, too, resort to this technique, then look no further. Here is a comprehensive list of places to go, in and around one of my favourite parts of the world – the sunny and gorgeous Amalfi Coast, where I was lucky enough to live on my year abroad last year. Sorrento Only a ferry-ride away from the beautiful Capri, but not a place to be overlooked. Sorrento showcases stunning sea views wherever you are in town. Perfect to get yourself in a sunny mood by sitting at a bar by the sparkling water, sipping a cocktail and building up a glamorous tan. Pompeii You'd th...

Intricate nail art has been a huge trend in recent years, and artistic nails are sure to be a fashion statement that lasts! With the return of London Fashion Weekend this month, I wanted to try something a bit more complex. Some designs are simply too detailed to achieve with a brush, which is why nail stamping is so fantastic: the design is already made for you to transfer onto your nails. I was so impressed by how simple it was to achieve this look and how well it turned out. To get started you will need an image plate, a stamper and a scraper. These are available in kits from Amazon for around £15, and I'd definitely recommend investing in a set if you're a nail art enthusiast. They look fantastic on and there's no limit to the designs you can choose as the plates are reusable! Start...

Hold the Facon jokes and jump on board the vegan experience. Veganism is unquestionably hot in the celebrity world right now, and it is a trend that is not going away… I'd be lying if I said compassion for animals had driven me to experience veganism: a friend had poked fun at my incessant love for meat and cheese, challenging me to go vegetarian for the week. Not being one to resist a dare, I foolishly extended my elimination of meat to a full vegan diet. The moment the words slipped from my mouth I knew I would regret it – as did she. I knew a vegan diet would be difficult for me to convert to, with meat and dairy being the focal point of all my meals. Lulling myself into a false belief, I professed: ‘How hard can it be to stay away from meat, milk, eggs and butter?', but upon scou...

Sponge Cake! You will need: 200g sugar 200g butter/margarine (at room temperature) 200g self-raising flour 4 eggs 1tsp vanilla extract 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 2. In a bowl, cream together the sugar and the butter/margarine until pale. 3. Gradually add in the eggs and the flour until well combined, then stir in the vanilla extract. 4. Either spoon the finished mixture into cupcake cases, or divide it evenly between two cake tins. 5. Bake in the oven. The cupcakes should take around 12-15 minutes, and the larger cakes will take around 25-30 minutes. Towards the end of the baking time, check whether they're done with a metal skewer (or a knife)– if you poke the skewer into the cake and withdraw it, it should come out clean. If any cake sticks to it, your cake is ...

*Disclaimer: this article contains magic* Walt Disney is one of the most influential figures of an individual's childhood and their dreams. Everyone has his or her favourite film and accompanying songs, and the princess they all wanted to be (for the record I wanted to be Belle – did you see her library?!). Disney is gender and age inclusive. Which is why the week before Christmas I saw myself and three friends head off to Disneyland Paris to celebrate our 21st birthdays in style. This trip had been in operation since October, and to say we were excited was an understatement – even though three of us had been before. From the moment we arrived and saw our Cars themed hotel we turned into excitable children, bouncing up and down, admiring the bedding, lights, wallpaper and even the bathroo...

This time of year sees all of us peering down at the scales in a haze of post-Christmas regret. During my gap year last year, I was lucky enough to meet lots of inspirational people (personal trainers, nutritionists, yoga fanatics, health enthusiasts), all of whom passed on great advice that contributes to living the healthiest, happiest lifestyle possible. I'm Healthy Hannah, and here are my tips on how to stay healthy in the new year. Eat three meals a day. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Factually, people who eat breakfast are slimmer than those who don't. And breakfast is a great thing: it starts up the metabolism, gets us fuelled for the day ahead, and will stop those awful hunger pangs at ten o'clock and the Kit Kat we seek thereafter. Think 80/20. I've noticed that many people decide ...

In my time as a university student I've done an awful lot of cooking with alcohol. Some of the alcohol even made its way into the food. This tomato vodka pasta is a simple, speedy recipe, and if you make it once I promise you will be craving it again soon. It's excellent food for a hangover, and this recipe makes enough for two servings so you can share it with a friend or pack some up and take it with you to the library for some great-tasting brain food. You won't get intoxicated from eating this recipe because the alcohol evaporates as it cooks, but it leaves the tomatoes tasting splendid. Ingredients 1 red onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tbsp olive oil 20g butter 200ml vodka 400g can of chopped tomatoes 1 vegetable stock cube 1 tsp of dried rosemary 100 ml double cream 125g p...

Freddie Rayner: I've been modelling since I was 17 – I got scouted waiting for a bus in my school uniform and it's been a roller coaster ever since. There have been crazy shoots… there was one in Paris where we had to get up at some god-awful time and we ended up just running around the city. It's quite difficult to find clothes in my size so I usually go all over. If I see something cool I'll probably buy it – but knowing me I'd probably wreck it a few days later. If I could, I would probably change my height, by about an inch or two. My favourite thing about myself? I'd say it's the travel I've been on – it just feels really good to know I can ship myself off to the furthest flung places across the world and somehow survive. Photography: Gyan Gurang