Cute or Creepy: ASOS Faux Fur Coat in Contrast Fur

One image, so many problems. Even if we ignore the fact that ASOS always seem to use models that hover perilously on the verge of pre-teen (no wonder I sometimes can't shoehorn myself into their clobber), then there's that Faux Fur Coat in Contrast Fur. I can see where they're going. It's a little bit boho, a bit Sienna (apparently that look is back yet again), it'll probably act as some kind of body blanket against the full horror of the British winter...

..and yet. And yet. It's quite Fraggle. It'll make even the tall and slim look padded. The fancy dress vibe is strong, which leaves ladies with juvenile neighbours and juveniley-minded boyfriends open to bus stop taunts. And I bet the fur will get matted, like you're wearing an all-over dreadlock.

Soz, ASOS. It's a no from me.

How about you?

Sluttishly Savoury: Butternut Squash Soup

Nobody told me it was going to get this cold and grey this quickly - I totally missed the memo. I definitely need to stock up on fluffy slipper-boots and hot chocolate, but in the mean time I'm mostly going to be living off this soup. It's one my Mama taught me to make for just this time of year, and it never fails to leave me warm and snuggly. Plus, the butternut squash has the cosiest name of all the vegetables. Win.

Butternut Squash Soup

(If you like, you could substitute half the squash for one small pumpkin - especially good in a month or two when pumpkins are properly in season.)

You'll Need:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 butternut squash, skin removed and chopped
• 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 sticks of celery, chopped
• 2 red or yellow onions, chopped
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 springs of rosemary
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped
• 2 chicken stock cubes (obviously, this can be replaced with vegetable stock for a vegetarian alternative!)
• 2 litres of boiling water
• 1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional, it adds extra flavour.)

Make it!

• Fry the onion and celery until soft.
• Add the carrots, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir well and cook for two minutes.
• Add the chopped squash.
• Crumble in the stock cubes and add boiling water. Add more water if needed, it should cover the ingredients plus go one or two inches above them.
• Bring to boil and simmer for around 45 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
• Blitz with a hand blender or pour into a blender in batches and whizz until smooth. Adjust seasoning and serve with a swirl of cream if desired.

Image taken from JoePhoto's photostream under the creative commons license.

Afternoon Delight: Storm Tea

I hadn't heard of Storm Tea until they sent me some of their teabags to try, but they've become my favourite reason to put the kettle on. These big, beautiful silk pyramids are crammed full of fresh ingredients, resulting in a more vibrant flavour.

Comparing it to a normal tea bag is like comparing espresso to instant coffee. Take the lemongrass and vanilla - it's fresh and zingy and you can see all the fruity bits bobbing around in the bag. Apparently lemongrass is good for your skin, but I suspect I counteracted any goodness with half a packet of Hobnobs. The peppermint tea tastes like it's been made with fresh leaves rather than the usual bag of minty dust.

The downside is the price. At almost £4 for a box of 15, you won't be downing it like builder's tea - this is a tea to savour with a plate of fancy biscuits, or give as a gift to a tea-loving friend.

Etsy Pick: My Cat Is Cooler Than Your Cat

There's been a lot of cat chat at Sluttery HQ recently, as it seems we're all either looking after friend's kitties or generally lusting over cats. We'll all be crazy cat ladies one day (probably next Wednesday at this rate).

This Etsy print from LuciusArt sums up what we're all thinking: that our cat is best. Well, step aside ladies, because the competition is over: I can confirm that my foster cat wins Coolest Cat In The Universe.


You can buy the print for £11.94 from Etsy if you want, but you'll know in your heart that its message is a sham.

Cocktail Hour: Graphic, London

Gin cocktails are a little bit of a ritual around these parts. Graphic is the only bar in London dedicated to gin and gin cocktails. They've got over 100 different varieties and it was about time a bunch of tipsy Domestic Sluts went to taste them.

Graphic is on the rather swish Golden Square, tucked away behind the Soho sex shops lining Brewer Street. It took a while to find (Google maps is wrong) but we were very pleased that we did.

We were looked after by Adam, on of the most fun and charming barmen in London. He knows his way around a gin bottle! Not just how to make a decent cocktail, but he can also tell you tales of drinks all the way back to the olden days.

First up, we had Graphic's famed paint pot cocktail. It tasted fabulous but I honestly can't remember what was in it aside from gin. Terrible reviewing on my part, I know. But in my defense, each little paint pot 'glass' holds a PINT. That's a hefty amount of cocktail for one person. I absolutely love the design of the drink, the palette is a cute touch and it means that none goes to waste once you've sloshed it everywhere because you're tipsy.

There wasn't a gin cocktail that we tried that we didn't like. Adam served up an aviation, which with cherry flavour was much tastier. It was sweet and delicate and very pretty indeed. Adam serves his French 75 in a high ball - apparently it was originally a long drink. But, I do like my champagne flute cocktails so I'll stick with the usual tipple on that score. Drinks were passed around the Domestic Sluts and were debated our favourites, actually sticking to the ones that Adam had suggested for each of us - he knows his stuff. Tell him what you like - sweet, sour, fruity - and you'll get something new and original to suit your taste.

With bar staff so friendly, and cocktails so tasty we didn't want to leave. But we were quite trollied indeed and one more cocktail would have had us passing out on the nightbus. That said, as much as I enjoyed myself, the atmosphere in the bar was a bit stale mid-week. It was quiet, but I'm not entirely convinced that I like the lighting and decor. It was a little garish for me. I like my bars a little darker and more intimate. But given that Soho bars are usually standing room only, Graphic is a great option if you like your cocktails and gin. They're just off the beaten track and this serves them well as they've got lots of space. Ask them to surprise you with something new and I'm sure they will. They're excellent at what they do.

Graphic Bar are in Golden Square in London. Many thanks to Adam for looking after us and being charming and silly, and not letting us pay for a single drink. We weren' so grateful for our gin hangovers the next day.

Sites we love: Draw A Stickman

Here's something very, very happy to bring the working week to a close.


It's called Draw A Stickman and I'm not going to tell you any more than that or it will spoil the most joyful surprises.

Have a wonderful weekend one and all!

Healthy Buzz: Scheckter's OrganicEnergy

I know it's chronically bad and will probably be doing all manner of awful things to my heart, sense of zen etc, but I MUST HAVE CAFFEINE at all times.

If I'm hungover, then a sugar-free Red Bull will do the trick. If I'm a bit bored, or it's a time of the day, then it's a medium black Americano. And regardless of the time or my plans for sleep, any trip to a restaurant after 7pm requires a double espresso.

(I'm probably going to die quite young. Of stress.)

So I wasn't terribly convinced at the prospect of an all-natural energy drink. How do you know if it's working if you can't feel it coating your every brain cell with e-numbers and inciting a slight sense of peril? THE GOOD STUFF.

But Toby Scheckter does know his stuff. He used to be a racing driver for God's sake - look! Look at him there! - and spent more time driving around corners and necking sugary energy drinks than I've had arguments about why coffee with milk is just disgusting.

He grew up on an organic farm, so for his energy drink (the first natural one ever. Worrying, that...) he's made is buttoned up to the neck with ethics. It's Soil Association and Vegetarian Society approved, and the label says that it's minimum 75% Fair Trade "excluding water." And I bet that if they could make Fair Trade water, they probably would have done by now.

The kick comes from guarana and raw green coffee bean extract, with a boat load of pomegranate, ginseng, gingko biloba and other organic goodies to stroke your stressy head while you get hepped up on caffeine. It tastes like a more cerebral Ribena. Half an hour in, and I was quite happily buzzed.


The Scheckters website features lots of people leaping in the air in the manner of excitable A-level students, which I don't particularly understand, but then again I don't jump anywhere due to my ridiculous fear of falling.

On the bright side, at £1.49 this costs the same as most energy drinks and it's all natural and good for you. Banging.