The Sluttery Guide To Excellent Nails

My nails are now so awesome that they have turned into a terrifying dragon

 We love nails at Sluttery HQ. I owned 62 nail polishes as a teenager. My Twitter background is the Jaws manicure I got WAH! Nails to do for me the very first time I visited and Sara has one of those amazing/terrifying nail wheels on which she has painted every single one of her (vast) polish collection for reference.

You don't need talons in order to paint them nice colours, but there is something very chic and satisfying about having nails with actual whites that extend for 2 or 3mm. My nails are usually so incredibly thin and flakey that the only time I had really nice nails, I'd either paid for UV gel ones, or been on holiday somewhere hot and rubbing in sun cream every day.

I even tried those Perfectil supplements for three months, but no joy. I've tried Norwegian hand creams, nail-specific hand creams, OPI Nail Envy - nada. I have, however, spent a ton on trying to make my nails look nice over the years, so I promise that when I say these products work - they work.

Here are three products that will give you gorgeous nails. Pick one, any one.

Whenever I need cheering up, I like to go and browse the toiletries aisle at the nearby Waitrose. Feeling in need of a particular treat, I picked up this gorgeous-smelling, rich almond and milk hand cream (£9.99) from Burt's Bees a few months ago and have barely made a dent in it.

Sweet almond oil, vitamin E and beeswax do the business on your hands. I keep it on my desk at work and rub a smudge of it into my hands and cuticles a few times a day. It has a completely wonderful smell: at once fruity, dusky, almondy and rich, which makes me feel like a really expensive handbag getting some upkeep.

I'd never heard of Balance Me before I got a sample in a goodie bag after a brilliant Red Network event on writing at the The Hospital Club (I very much recommend these, I loved it).

This is a STUNNING hand cream, so packed with lavender, geranium, patchouli and bergamot that it sends me straight to sleep. I have to keep it on my bedside table to melt in overnight or I'd never get anything done. Super moisturising hand cream comes in three sizes costing £10, £12.50 and £14.50 and I feel ridiculously soothed the minute I get it on my hands.

So, my nails have grown like billy-o just by remembering to rub in nice thick creams through the day, but if you need a quick fix, or just can't stand creams, then Sally Hansen is THE BOMB.

I've tried quite a few of the range over the years, and to my mind the best one is Nailgrowth Miracle (£9.99). Just paint it on every other day and slowly but steadily you'll end up with lovely strong nails.

And when you've got your lovely nails, what to paint them? Answer: anything you like, with whatever you like.

Just remember the three commandments of nails:

• Don't pick your polish off
• Don't pick your polish off
• DON'T PICK YOUR POLISH OFF!

Sluttery Travels: The Manor at Weston-on-the-Green

Spending time in the beautiful, expansive grounds at the Manor at Weston-on-the-Green could cause you to think that you'd fallen down the rabbit hole. The combination of stunning croquet lawn and immaculate animal topiary could means that you half-expect the Queen of Hearts to appear chasing a white rabbit. Exploring a bit further, and I was sure I was going to stubble upon the doorway to the Secret Garden. This place feels like it's straight out of a storybook.

Last weekend, I stayed at the Manor at Weston-on-the-Green in Oxfordshire and, for 24 hours I almost completely forgot what century I was living in. The picturesque manor house has been recently refurbished and the guest rooms, each named after an historic figure connected with the house and the surrounding area, are individually decorated to reflect the history of the building. Everywhere, from the cosy bar to the bright morning room have also been refurbished to show off their breathtaking features.

It was a brilliantly relaxing experience, due largely to the tranquil surrounding and the hotel's attention to detail. Every part of your stay is carefully considered from the moment you arrive to when you checkout, from the fruit bowl in the room, slippers laid out by the bed as part of the turn-down service, to your choice of newspaper in the morning.

Dinner was served in the 11th century Baron's Hall which, given its vast size, is surprisingly intimate. The dark wood panelling and candlelight give the experience ambience without being too dark to see your food! (It was too dark for any decent photos of the food, which is a shame because it looked amazing.)  You can choose between the tasting menu or a la carte, we opted for the a la carte menu, mostly because was better for my gluten free needs. I'm quite glad we did, because there was no way we could have eaten five courses – three almost defeated us. 

The new head chef has put together a brilliant seasonal menu that's full of tempting dishes. The trio of seafood was a standout starter for me and the slow-roast pork belly with granny smith apple is definitely worth a try! The waiting staff were so attentive that, despite being really busy our waiter even offered to ask the chef to whip up a dessert that wasn't on the menu.

The Manor at Weston-on-the-Green is the perfect location for a romantic mini-break, especially if you love quaint villages, market towns and naturally beautiful countryside, or for a girls' escape – Bicester Shopping Village, need I say more?! Rooms start at around £175 per night, or £485 for a four poster room.


The 4th image, The Baron's Hall, is used with permission from The Manor at Weston-on-the-Green. I was their guest for the evening.

Design Porn: Shoes of Prey

Playing shoe designer is one of my favourite ways to waste hours of my morning (only just behind getting lost in a Buzzfeed blackhole and throwing balled up newspaper for the kitten to play with). I'm already having a long-term love affair with Upper Street, but after this morning, I'm thinking that I might have a thing on the side with the new kid on the block: Shoes of Prey.

The thing I like most about Shoes of Prey? BROGUES! I'm a recent brogue convert and the idea of making my own is very exciting. For £109 those Oxfords will be handmade just for you. In pink, if you'd prefer. Or with a heel.

There are some potential downsides to the shoes, especially if you're used to creating designs on Upper Street: I can't find a strappy strap. Now, this might not seem like a big deal but thanks to an old foot injury I can't wear a court without a strap, my feet slip and everything hurts for days after. I love the chunky straps on these sandals, though. I'd rock these.

It's hard not to compare Shoes of Prey to Upper Street, and I think both have positives. I do prefer US's design platform. I think the software is simpler and it's just a little more elegant to use. The Shoes of Prey software feels a little clunky in comparison and I think you get a better idea of the shoe with Upper Street. But I do like the other options that you get with Shoes of Prey (brogues! brogues!) and I do love a wedge heel.

I'm also really impressed with the price point - prices start at £109. Not too shabby for a pair of shoes that you created yourself. Their shoes are made in European sizes, starting at a size 34 (a size 1!) and going up to a 49 - that's a size 13.5, fact fans. SIZE 13.5!

And if you really want something crazy on your feet, then Shoes of Prey have plenty of options for those - I don't think I could wear these to the office (that's a fiv, I could and I would). Of course, with any design creation software your creations can be as bold as you like, it's very much what you make of it. There's only one way for you to find out, go lose your lunchbreak to making a pair of shoes or seven.

Sluttishly Vintage: Let's Party Like It's 1925

So have you seen it yet? I'm obviously talking about Gatsby, the film we've been eagerly awaiting since ... oh probably since gin first touched our lips. Today is the bright new dawn of a dedicated vintage column on Domestic Sluttery (Hello! Please do bombard me with all things vintage!), so we're tipping our cloche hats to this mysterious new genre called 'Gatsby style'. Gatsby/1920s/flapper/Jazz Age/Art Deco: whatever I call it, you know what I mean. It's sequins and sparkles and gin rickeys a go-go.

Original 1920s pieces can be very expensive, especially the ornately beaded dresses. But luckily it's one of those styles which is so popular, it's always popping in and out of fashion (I wrote this post about flapper fashion a couple of years ago, and even The Great Gatsby film is dressed using reworked old season Prada), so you can pick up cheaper pieces that still have the right look. The style had its biggest revival in the 1970s, thanks in part to films like Cabaret and, oh wait, the 1974 version of The Great Gatsby, which means you can pick up 70s Deco-inspired pieces at fractions of the price of the originals. If, like me, you've been obsessing over Daisy's headscarf, this 70s scarf available from Love Miss Daisy for only £8, does the job perfectly. After a few glasses of champagne, who'll notice the difference? Let's play dress up!

I love this style for an excuse to pile on the glamour. These are dresses that were made to go dancing in. However, at prices like £1600 for this (admittedly gorgeous) flapper dress, unless you are Kate Moss, you completely wouldn't dare. The original dresses can look quite unflattering to modern eyes thanks to their emphasis on the hips. Revival Retro are stocking a 1920s-inspired range that's easier on today's figure. Their Gatsby dress (see what they did there?) is pictured at the top of the post but, even that, at £395 is hardly an everyday buy. For better value, go for the jewels instead: this Art Deco ring is £75 from The Old Cinema, while the earrings shown in the top image are £125 from Linda Bee at Grays Antique Market. I also like all the sparkles available from Hannah Peters.

Gorgeously impractical, this metal 1920s purse is more affordable, available for £21.99 on ASOS Marketplace. The silver shoes in the top image are another Revival Retro special and are full on Gatsby - one of the "hundred pairs of golden and silver slippers" described as "shuffling through the night" - but are £189. For better value, here's where you go Seventies. These snakeskin shoes from Absolute Vintage are exactly the right shape but only £35. Don't forget to pick up a book of Modern Dances too, to brush up on your moves.

Daisy isn't the best example, but in the 1920s women started to do stuff. Tennis and sailing stuff, as well as languishing. As this post points out, it's Jordan Baker, the golfer, who is far the cooler female character (this fabric from Donna Flower is a fab 70s Deco take on the 20s golfing craze). I bet Jordan Baker wore some awesome clothes. I'm picturing neat knitwear, white flats and some great culottes. I'm also now seriously lusting over Levi's dusty pink 1920s chinos to wear on my next round of crazy golf.

I bet Jordan would set off her brown bob with an oh-so-fashionable cloche hat, like this 1920s original available on Etsy for £61.43. And she'd definitely accessorise with something fun like this Ric Rac brooch, available for £95 from London-based Smokey Pearls on Etsy.

More fun jewellery. The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 sparked off an Egyptian craze seen right across designs of the period, as can hardly be missed in these amazing 1920s Egyptian earrings, again from Linda Bee. This was the era for exotic adventures, when the rich could really afford to travel in style: take a look at this jewellery travel case for a reasonably priced example. This Bon Voyage vintage compact is a charming take on the trend. For inspiration, pick up a copy of the new book World Tour, the collection of luggage labels collected by Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the famous Louis's grandson. From Raffles to the Riveria, it's envy-inducing stuff.

As is the concept of loungewear. Silk jackets or pyjama pants, I love the 1920s concept of lounging in style. This 1920s silk jacket is gorgeous, with a price tag of £265 to match its scarcity. Too expensive? Asking a silly question? Don't worry, we've got some modern lounging alternatives.

If you need some more style inspiration, take a look at the La Gazette du Bon Ton range at Easy Art. La Gazette was a luxurious magazine published between 1912 and 1925 and featuring the work of some of the best illustrators of the period to showcase the latest couture fashion, like this image from 1924. A reproduction print starts at only £19.95. There are some wonderful original posters available from Dodo Posters at a whole range of price points too. And I'm rather taken with this photograph of a golfwear model, available as a print from Museum of London. Surely Jordan Baker would approve.

Phew! So I hope that sorts out Gatsby fashions for you. Do tell us about your sparkliest vintage finds, or any vintage topics you'd like us to cover in the comments, or on Facebook and Twitter. In the meantime, I'm off to do some lounging.

Make your own jigsaw cookies!

Last year I went through an obsession with making Sara's lemon and elderflower shortbread. I made it every week for about two months, flogging at the local café (for the good of the park rather than YT, honest) and just putting it in my mouth at regular intervals.

This had to end. Partly because of the Olympics, and partly because if I ate any more shortbread I would have exploded.

Now, unless you've been under a brick for the last four years you will know that our interest in cookie cutters knows no bounds. I mean, it's not like we need any more ways to shape dough, but need and "I would quite like that please" are two very different kettles of fish-shaped biscuit.

With that in mind, I take a great interest in this lovely jigsaw cookie cutter from Cox & Cox. In part, because it is mega. And also because it's on sale for £2.25 down from £4.50. But really because I think it would be amazing on Laura B's ice cream bread.

Delicious.

Baking for Beginners: Ice Cream Bread

Ice cream bread has been doing the rounds of this here internet malarkey for the past few days, and obviously my Foodie-sense (like Spidey-sense, but way better) went into overdrive at the mere whiff of a new vaguely bonkers recipe to try.

BUT WAIT! STOP AND THINK! COLLABORATE AND LISTEN! It isn't bonkers at all: ice cream has all the bits you need to make a sweet bread (not sweetbread, actual boak-town), namely fat, eggs, and sugar - all we have to do is add some self-raising flour and ta-da! BREAD. Using two ingredients. TWO.

I used honeycomb ice cream, but you can use whatever flavour you like! I've fiddled with the quantities a little to suit my own loaf tin (selfish to the core), but it's a standard 2lb tin so you're bound to have one in the back of your cupboard.

Ice Cream Bread (makes one small loaf)
You will need:

• 750ml ice cream, any flavour, softened 
• 300g self-raising flour
• Hundreds and thousands. Not literally hundreds and thousands of them, but loads.

Make it!

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease or line a 2lb loaf tin (9 x 5 x 2¾"/23 x 13 x 7cm).
2. Combine the softened ice cream and the flour in a large bowl. Stir (no need to use a mixer!) until the ingredients are combined and you've got a doughy-looking mixture. Don't overwork it, not least because you'll end up with a broken wrist.
3. Scoop the dough into your loaf pan, smooth the top with a spatula, and bake for 60-80 minutes in the centre of the oven. Use a toothpick or skewer to test whether or not it's baked through - whatever you poke in there should come out clean. 
4. Leave to cool before turning out. Serve as you would normal bread - I toasted mine and plonked some butter and hundreds and thousands on top (like the Dutch delicacy of hagelslag on toast - they are geniuses, those Dutch people) for maximum ice creamy effect.

What have we been reading recently?

What books have we been carrying around in our handbags? Which authors have been getting us talking? Here's what we've been reading recently.

Sian: I recently found myself in possession of an eReader (after Frances and I went to a Kobo event and ate all of the canapes). I was skeptical, but I love it. After sterling recommendations from Sara and Kat, my very first ebook purchase was Life After Life. It's a fabulous book, tragic and gripping without becoming sentimental. I'd wanted to read Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore for a while and although it started off brilliantly, it really dragged in the middle. Now I'm lost in The Night Circus (a year after everyone else) and it's absolutely dreamy.

I haven't totally turned my back on books! I recently nabbed a first edition of The Poisonwood Bible - my favourite book . And call me biased, but I devoured The Rough Guide to Vintage London the second it landed on my desk. It's full of actual insider information and great big fabulous chunks of it were written by our very own Frances Ambler.

Kat: Having quite enjoyed the 100 Year-Old-Man Who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared last month, I took the Kindle store's recommendation and went for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It was ok, but felt weirdly empty in the middle which some lovely writing couldn't solve. Much more excitingly, I rediscovered a childhood favourite: L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon trilogy. Emily, a dedicated writer with an other-worldly nature, is a far more engaging heroine than Anne of Green Gables, and Montgomery clearly finds her much more interesting to write. The whole thing is 77p on Amazon, so do yourself a favour and plug yourself in.

Laura B: I started the month reading Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's book, Lean In. It explores gender inequality in the workplace, and encourages women to be assertive when it comes to their career ambitions. Although criticised for being written with über-women like Sandberg in mind, I found it relevant to my life. Next up was Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman's new book, Be Awesome, which is a brilliantly funny and wise book of essays, filled with '80s and '90s pop culture references and feminist awesomeness.

I'm currently dipping in and out of Cucina Povera by Pamela Sheldon Johns, a wonderful collection of Tuscan peasant recipes (cookbooks make excellent bedtime reading), and I'm about to start rereading The Secret History by Donna Tartt, because it's one of my favourites, and I can't wait until her new book is published in October!

Frances: I spent this month catching up on books people have been eagerly thrusting under my nose for years, starting with The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Cell research? Normally straight over my head but this story skilfully balances the story of Henrietta - whose cells became the most commonly used cells in research the world over - with larger political and ethical issues, and in a way even the most unscientifically minded can follow. If you like Brain Pickings, you’ll probably adore Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird. Lamott is a funny and generous guide and the book is full of wonderfully worded thoughts I want to commit to heart.

My only new release this month was Leanne Shapton's Was She Pretty? a collection of illustrations and neat one liners, inspired by the strange feelings we have towards ex-partners and the exes of exes. It feels voyeuristic, a bit painful and was utterly impossible to put down. My current book is a slightly gentler poke at relationships: Barbara Pym's Excellent Woman. Written in 1950s, it’s got vicars, anthropologists and jumble sales and I can’t wait to find out how it all unfolds.

Hazel: Once again it's all cook books for me! Pasta - Mastering the Basics has been in my kitchen all week, it covers pasta making and drying then moves onto recipes that are all simple and really appealing, the rigatoni with sausage and parmesean was the most comforting thing I've eaten in ages. I also found The Pleasures of Cooking with Wine by Emily Chase which was first published in 1960 and could have been written just for me. It  has a whole section on booze salads, yes BOOZE SALADS! Marvellous stuff!

Laura H: I've been on a crime-spree this month... that is reading about it, not committing it. I'm starting with the classics, and so far have covered Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' and Thomas De Quincy's On Murder. Poe is at his best with his insouciant, oddball genius crime solver C. Auguste Dupin - a precursor to Mr Holmes - the grizzly murders always drawing to a surprising conclusion. De Quincy is deliciously dark, reveling in and dissecting a series of notorious murders committed in 1811 in an alarmingly funny way.

I've also been wallowing in the delightful ambiance of our featured book of the week, The Ethicurean Cookbook. Produced by the team of four friends who run the same-titled restaurant just outside of Bristol, the book is a thing of beauty; finely bound and beautifully produced inside and out - much like their food.

What have you been reading recently? What should we read next?