< PreviousNaturally beautiful Naturally beautiful 40-41.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:26 Page 1P eople still complain that what’s seen on the catwalk doesn’t have any place in everyday life. Yes… that’s kind of the point. This is the arena were designers show off the inner workings of their imaginations to the who’s who of the fashion world. Be that as it may, catwalks are also the best places to try and identify upcoming beauty trends for the coming seasons, a kind of fashion compass. One of the trends we’ve seen emerging this year is the move towards more natural and understated looks. We don’t know about you, but to us that comes as something of a relief. All those over the top hair and make-up looks were started to get a bit boring. For anyone fed up with contouring, the first trend we’re highlighting will be good news because bronzer is back baby. As we’re bidding the contouring trend bon voyage, it’s back to the bronzer though maybe not in the way your expecting. Before you probably would have used bronzer beneath the cheekbone, adding definition and getting a chiselled look. Hang on just a minute. The look we’re seeing emerging from the fashion scene is putting bronzer above the cheek bone and getting some serious glamour in the process. Runway makeup artists famously don’t like foundation and nor do we. Our faces aren’t blank canvasses, they’re already beautiful so it’s all about enhancing what’s already there rather than covering it up. With the big trend for clean looking natural skin, it’s really no wonder that foundation is on the out. Try opting instead for a touch of concealer or some blurring primer only where it’s truly needed and not all over. This will be music to the ears of anyone who sweats a lot which, let’s be honest, is most of us in the summer. Foundation and sunshine just don’t mix. The no make-up look shows no signs of slowing down but the name might be a little deceiving as it’s not a movement about banishing all make-up, but rather using a little bit for a big impact. So with your stunning skin enhanced with a little concealer, try using just a touch of mascara to bring out your lashes with a little iridescent shimmer in the right places. We’d suggest your cheeks and brows for a look that’s natural and will make you feel great. For a different approach on a fresh-look appearance go for glowing skin by softly highlighting your cheekbones and forehead with a liquid or cream luminizer. The natural look extends above the eyes where we’re seeing the trend for so-called virgin brows continue. That is to say, brows that aren’t plucked. It’s a refreshing break from the perfect and experimental looks clogging up our Instagram feed. Maybe a moment of clarification here as we’re not talking about unkept bushy brows, but gently groomed, brushed up brows. For this look you’ll want to ditch the tweezers but running a brow brush through will become a must. Nude look lips and gently shining balms are great but if there’s one area we still want to utilise a big bold look it’s with the lips. We’re talking louder than life reds, brash shades that really make people stop and take notice. It’s a great look when pared with a subtle shade around the eyes, with pastels our suggestion. There’s also a growing trend for taupe eyeshadow and soft washed looks. The thing to remember is subtlety. A natural colour palate is being favoured when it comes to nails as well, so think pastels and creamy shades. For shape, the rounded barely-there look has become a main-stay on the catwalk, it’s an understated but effective look. For something a little more playful that doesn’t come across looking like performance art, try a two-tone. We don’t mean mixing colours together but painting the bottom half in one colour and the top in another. Try experimenting with different shapes and see what works for you. When it comes to hair, we’re still seeing a fondness for baby bangs. It’s cute and effective, but hard to pull off without the right bone structure. Better suited for a long thin face with prominent cheekbones. Elsewhere there’s trends for going super straight or pulling it back in a long braid, better still if you’ve got a glossy look. Then there’s the ever-popular blunt bob, but the hair trend we’re most excited about is the grey look. Finally, age positivity and inclusivity are blooming in the beauty industry and we are here for it. This is elegant women not just going grey gracefully, but beautifully. However you want to take your look over the summer, just remember to play it natural. Less is more and going understated has a big impact. © Shutterstock/popcorner LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 HAIR & BEAUTY The beauty trend we’re most excited about this season is the move to a more understated look, one that celebrates and enhances natural beauty rather than covers it up. 40-41.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:27 Page 242 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FITNESS Get a move on T here’s no denying it – we’re more sedentary now than at any other time in history. In fact, one in four of us spend more than eight hours a day sitting down. The biggest culprit here is almost undoubtedly modern technologies including smart phones and tablets making our sofas seem that much more comfortable. A landmark report from Ofcom exploring mobile phone usage over the last ten years found that we now spend an average of one day a week on our phones. A whole day, most of it spent mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds, watching some inane cat video, or sharing another meme. The great illusion, of course, is that these devices are supposed to make our lives easier and better than our forebears, but the evidence is anything if not damming. We’re in amongst an obesity crisis with well over half of UK adults classed as overweight. We’re also a nation of insomniacs, with more and more of us sleepwalking through life having suffered yet another night of disturbed sleep. Though not exclusively the result of technology, science has shown that the blue light waves emitted from screens messes with the body’s ability to produce melatonin, the hormone that helps send us off to sleep. Yet it doesn’t take a genius to realise that stimulating the mind with some frenetic Facebook game isn’t conducive to a good night’s rest. We’re not about to try and convince you to go on a digital detox, or part with your precious smartphones because it’s not advice we ourselves could follow. But what we’re trying to advocate is switching off smart devices in favour of healthier pursuits if only for an hour a day a few times a week. The benefits are two-fold, contributing to both a healthier body and mind. Firstly, there’s the body to consider. A sedentary lifestyle is dangerous to health, upping one’s risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease, leading to high blood pressure and a decrease in skeletal mass. It should go without saying that there can also be a rise in weight gain as one is much more tempted to snack when sedentary and with no real way of burning it off, the fat’s got nowhere to go except on the hips, thighs and belly. The challenge is that inactivity begets inactivity and so for an office worker who drives to work, sits at a desk for eight hours and drives home again, the temptation is just to slump down on the sofa for a few hours, go to bed and repeat it all over again. It’s time to break the cycle and take your health into your own hands. Starting is the hardest but most important part. The best advice is to start small, whether it’s going out for a walk after dinner or during your lunch break. From there it’s simply a matter of building it up and finding what works for you. That might be cycling or swimming, or it might be exercise machines and lifting weights down at the gym. There’s no right or wrong way, only what works for you. Unsurprisingly, exercise also has a positive impact on mental wellbeing. Being sedentary is like a lightning rod for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Even It’s time to turn off the smart phone and tablet for a while and transform that couch potato lifestyle into one that’s happy, healthy and productive. 42-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:29 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 HEALTH & FITNESS © Shutterstock/Giuseppe Elio Cammarata gentle exercise produces endorphins, those feel good hormones that leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied after getting a move on. No one can argue that the listlessness and lethargy of a life spent sitting and lying down is preferable to the high one feels from exercise. So there’s now no need to put up with it for any longer. Not everything hinges on physical exercise, with your mind as much in need of a workout. Instead of spending those few hours before bed whiling away the time with a screen, why not read instead? Novels, non-fiction and magazines will help your mind wind down and improve overall sleep quality. There’s also board games, arts and crafts, knitting, jigsaw puzzles and myriad other pursuits. If you’re struggling to fill that time without a phone, then take it as an opportunity to find a new hobby. These are simply steps that really can have a transformative effect on your life leading not to a brand new you, but the person you were always meant to be. It’s never too late to start. 42-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:29 Page 244 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING food Summer is here, and with it a chance to take our meals outside and enjoy the glorious weather that we have been promised. Here are some recipes you can make in the kitchen but eat in the comfort of your garden. 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:43 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 FOOD & DINING Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients 2tsp oil 320g sweetcorn (Frozen is fine) 400g can kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 red pepper, cut into 1cm dice 75g mature Cheddar cheese, grated 1 Little Gem Lettuce, roughly torn (85g) 110g bag Baby Leaf Herb Salad 2tbsp garlic and herbs soft cheese 3 tbsp white wine vinegar Method Heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the sweetcorn until slightly charred. Mix with kidney beans, pepper and cheese in a large bowl. Mix in the lettuce leaves. Combine the soft cheese, vinegar and 3 tbsp water and gently toss into the salad. Serve immediately. Cook Tips This salad can also be served with 225g/ 8oz cooked and sliced new potatoes and 1oz/ 25g of walnuts if you want to serve a couple more people or if you’re just hungry. Salad Used Little Gem, Baby leaf herb salad AMERICAN RANCH SALAD 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:43 Page 246 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING From private board meetings to lavish celebrations, the Best Western Oaklands Hall Hotel, Grimsby creates the perfect setting for your event. Whether you're planning a wedding, a conference or business event, or you're looking for exciting events in Grimsby throughout the year, a member of our events team will be on hand to help you find the perfect venue and guide you through every aspect of your event. The Oaklands Hall Hotel Barton Street, Laceby, Grimsby, Lincolnshire DN37 7LF Telephone (01472) 872248 www.oaklandshallhotel.co.uk Contact us for further information 01472 872248 Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients 1 x 85g bag watercress 8 slices sourdough bread, not too thick 3 tbsp salted butter, softened 200g gruyére, sliced 200g sharp Cheddar, sliced 200g cooking chorizo 1 ⁄ 2 a red onion, finely sliced Olive oil Method Thickly slice the chorizo at an angle. Place a large frying pan over a high heat and add in a small splash of olive oil. Pan-fry the chorizo, turning frequently with tongs to prevent burning. After frying for a few minutes remove from the heat and drain the chorizo slices on kitchen paper. Take your slices of bread and butter on one side. The buttered side must remain on the outside when you build your sandwiches, this will create a lovely crunchy crust. Fill your sandwiches with the chorizo, cheese slices, red onion, and watercress, splitting the ingredients evenly between the four sandwiches. Place a clean, dry frying pan on a medium heat. Place your sandwiches carefully into the pan and cook for around four minutes on each side, using a spatula to press down and ensure the cheese melts. Manage the heat carefully so that the outside doesn’t burn. Remove the sandwiches from the pan and serve immediately with some more watercress on the side. Courtesy of www.watercress.co.uk CHORIZO, CHEESE AND WATERCRESS TOASTIE 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:43 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 FOOD & DINING Picture your venue The George Hotel 1 Boston Road, Spilsby, PE23 5HB Tel: 01790 752528 Web: www.spilsby.info/georgehotel The George Hotel guarantees a warm welcome and the perfect pub environment. Karaoke is on every Saturday night, and with live music held once a month and a large function room (available free of charge for parties), the George Hotel is the perfect venue for entertaining. The accommodation boasts eight letting bedrooms with TV, tea and coffee making facilities and free Wi-Fi. The China Royal Restaurant 6 Bridge Streets, Brigg, DN20 8LN Tel: 01652 650688 (reservations)/654762 (takeaway) Web: www.chinaroyal.co.uk The intimate, warm surroundings of the China Royal are ideal for the most romantic dinner or the largest banquet. Serving the best in Chinese cuisine, it has five stars on the doors, and is open throughout all Bank Holidays. Click’em Inn Swinhope, Nr Binbrook, Market Rasen, LN8 6BS Tel: 01472 398253 Web: www.clickem-inn.co.uk The Click’em Inn is a family-owned freehouse, established for over 30 years in its current incarnation. Steeped in history, the inn is open seven days a week, offering a wide choice of drinks, including six real ales available at any time, with a regularly changing selection of personally recommended guest ales. The kitchen is open all week for evening dining, plus lunchtimes on certain days of the week. The menu varies from day-to-day with the chef’s specials, alongside regular meals. The Blue Bell Inn 1 Main Road, Belchford, Horncastle, LN9 6LQ Tel: 01507 533 602 Web: www.bluebellbelchford.co.uk The Blue Bell Inn is a pub/restaurant situated on the Viking Way between Horncastle and Louth. It has an excellent reputation for fine food, good wine and friendly service. It offers an a la carte menu and fresh local ingredients. Now open seven days a week, Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm, Sunday noon to 10.30pm. Serves: 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes You’ll need: 1 tbsp olive oil 1 shallot, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 potato, peeled and chopped 100ml dry white wine 1 pinch of chilli flakes 170g watercress squeeze of lemon juice 4 tbsp half fat créme fraiche King prawns, barbecued wedges of lemon to serve WATERCRESS AND GARLIC DIP WITH KING PRAWNS What to do: Heat the oil in a frying pan add the shallot and sauté over a gentle heat for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, potato, wine and chilli, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the potato is tender. Add the watercress and cook, stirring for 4 minutes until the leaves have wilted. Cool. Add the créme fraiche, then transfer to a food processor and blitz until just smooth. Season to taste. Spoon the dip into a bowl ready to serve with the prawns. Cook the prawns on a barbecue or griddle for 3-4 minutes on each side until they turn pink. Place on to the plate while still sizzling hot. The dip can be served with barbecued fish and meat or for a vegetarian option with roasted vegetables and warm pitta bread. Courtesy of www.watercress.co.uk 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:43 Page 4Lincolnshire wildlife Photos courtesy of Stephen Plant (www.snap-net.uk) 48 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 48-49.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:31 Page 1The great spotted woodpecker might very well be the most numerous and widely distributed woodpecker in Europe, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to spot. Though tricky to see, the bird’s distinctive drumming sound is a beloved part of the natural chorus of our parks, gardens and woodlands. This drumming is used two-fold, firstly as a form of communication in a practice undertaken by both sexes. Mostly in this regard it’s used to mark territories and to display in spring. Then, of course, it’s also used to uncover insect nests in trees where the woodpecker will use its long sticky tongue to tuck into grubs and larvae. Anyone who’s ever heard the iconic “drrrrr” sound produced by the woodpecker’s jackhammering can appreciate the quickness with which that beak must tap-tap against trees. It’s estimated that the bird can peck up to twenty times a second, clocking up between 8,000 and 12,000 pecks a day. Far from only tree trunks, these woodpeckers have been observed drumming on man-made structures including weathervanes and metal poles. The bird is perfectly evolved to this task, with shock absorbent tissues between the base of the bill and the skull cushioning the impact of drumming. However, for this safety measure to be entirely effective, the bird must peck at a perfect ninety- degree angle, ensuring the shockwaves are guided towards the absorbent tissue. The birds are also zygodactyl which means that on each foot they have two toes facing forward and another two pointing backwards. It provides four points of contact, giving extra purchase and dexterity to perch on tree trunks. Unlike other birds, their tail feathers are thick and strong to help prop them against the side of a tree. This is aided by an enlarged vertebra at the end of the tail ensuring a tight hold on the thickened feathers. Roughly the size of a blackbird, the great spotted woodpecker can be identified by its black and white colouring, white shoulder patches and its red feathers beneath the tail. Males can be told apart thanks to the red patch at the back of the head, while young birds stand out because of their red caps. The birds nest in holes excavated invariably by both sexes in broad leaved woodlands, large parks and gardens (should you be so lucky). Both sexes can also be found incubating clutches of eggs which take about twelve days to hatch. For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the great spotted woodpecker, you can try your luck with a camera as reader Stephen Plant did for the beautiful images you see adorning this feature. Or you can try encouraging the birds into your garden with peanut feeders and suet balls. But keep your ears open the next time you’re out walking in the county and you may just hear that distinctive drumming sound coming down from the treetops. Heard yet rarely seen, the great spotted woodpecker is one of the most iconic birds to grace our green and pleasant land. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 48-49.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:31 Page 2Next >