Carolyn Mandache

I read an article on huffpost.com recently entitled "R.I.P Barbie...", detailing the reasons for the decline in sales of the popular doll, which has been around since 1959. I read with interest the different viewpoints over the controversial toy, but having grown up with Barbies, owned a Barbie house, cars, horses etc, I honestly don't see much harm in young girls playing with them. I don't remember ever obsessing over growing up with the aim of reaching the glamorous blonde's unrealistic proportions. I also didn't think of her as some kind of WAG, a blonde bimbo with the sole ambition to marry a rich man. Surely Barbie was, and remains, a toy to inspire the imagination. Barbie can be whoever the child wants her to be, and behave in whatever way the child decides. The article can be found here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/barbie-sales-drop_n_4756734.html Barbie's manufacturer Mattel have done their best to please parents, and try to keep u...

I've written before about how "pure dead brilliant" my home town of Glasgow is. There is now another reason for that, in the shape of the brand new club Wild Cabaret. I was lucky enough to be invited along to the pre-opening night of the new Merchant city venue, which will officially open this Saturday, the 22nd of February. I'll admit I was a little apprehensive as to what exactly an evening in a place called the Wild Cabaret would involve. However, I was pleasantly surprised, my husband and I had the best night out we've had in a while. Arriving at the club, we were welcomed by two very glamorous show girls adorned with feathers and sequins, and then shown through to the Wicked Lounge. The Lounge is very classy, the colour scheme is black and gold, and you could happily sit and chat with friends for a good few hours. We were entertained by violinists playing modern music such as "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk/Pharell Williams and "When I Ruled...

February is finally here, hooray! Like most people, I have found it an exceptionally long, dreary month. I'm also feeling very sorry for myself, since, as is so often the case, my husband's away on  business...so the kids are ill. This time, it's been one after the other, I'm now starting week two of being housebound. I've decided to cheer myself up by thinking of all the romantic Valetine's treats my husband will be planning for me while he's away...some chance! Thankfully, he does not read The Daily Mail. I noticed a tweet with the alarming news that apparently 78% of women want Botox for Valentine's Day! Maybe it's just me, but if I were to receive such an offer, I'm pretty sure February 14th would turn out to be seriously UNromantic. Granted, it's certainly more original than flowers and chocolate, but not in a good way. The article can be found here, would you be pleased with the gift of Botox? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic...