My Own London Sanctuary, Tune Hotel, London Liverpool Street.

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It's taken me a week to put together my Cosmo Blog Award trip posts. I usually don't stray into the personal posts, especially now the readership of The World of Kitsch is quite large. This post however needs a touch of behind-the-scenes, so you understand how I came to spend almost 24 hours in my Tune Hotel room!

I have M.E. or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which delights me with a wealth of frustrating symptoms, the most obvious of which is being knackered very easily.

I knew travelling from Belfast in Northern Ireland to London the day before would tire me out, normal getting through a day tires me out- I do most of my blogging from bed. Add to that the actual awards event and that was more energy I'd use in a month, all spent in one day. So when I left my first hotel the next morning & took the short tube journey to Liverpool Street, I just couldn't wait to get into my Tune Hotel room and into my pyjamas again.

Tune Hotels are a bit like those Japanese capsule hotels, except you can actually function inside them and twirl a frock if needs be. Starting at £45 per room, even in Central London, the rooms are budget priced, but are the very opposite of the grotty hostel you'd be stuck in for that sort of price.

In fact Tune Liverpool Street turned out to be my own little recovery pod in the middle of bustling London. Clean, white furnishings, spotless bathroom, everything in the room is sleek & well designed. It's like the iPhone of hotel rooms.

On top of your basic room price you can add on a TV package, obviously most folks wouldn't need this as they'd be out seeing the sights, but this was very handy for me chilling out in my room with my supply of Boots' Meal Deals. Other add ons are use of a hairdryer, wifi and air conditioning. You can check out the prices pre-booking on www.TuneHotels.com but nothing is terribly expensive, probably the same price as a pint in London to get TV for 24 hours.

There are four Tunes in London, so far, and the Liverpool Street one I stayed at also had a beautiful little coffee garden which my room overlooked. There are also Internet access computers available if you don't have your own tech with you.

I can't fault my Tune Hotel stay, and would definitely book with them, if I ever recover enough energy to travel again! 

Click to www.TuneHotels.com to see if there is a Tune located in your next City destination, and like their Facebook to keep update with offers http://www.facebook.com/tunehotelsUK

As for the still exhausted me, I'm off to ask them on their Twitter what brand of mattress they install in those marshmallow soft beds of theirs. Zzzzzzz.


Iron Fist Kitsch at the Cosmo Blog Awards

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These are the red velvet wedged beauties that www.IronFist.co.uk sent me to wear to the very glam Cosmo Blog Awards.

The Love Me Now? wedge is part of Iron Fist's current colourful, proud collection. They were the fairy godmothers providing this kitsch Cinderella with her slinky slippers for the ball.


The Cosmo Blog Award event was jam packed in The Rose Club in Central London, so I didn't get a full length photo, but here are some snaps from home below.


So if you want to get your feet into your own Iron Fist heels, pumps or fur-trimmed boots, this is the perfect time. www.IronFist.co.uk have fourteen days of treats for the spookiest time of year with their Halloween Countdown Calendar. 

Find out what you can get your ghoulish hands on each day by following their Twitter @IronFist_UK and liking their Facebook http://www.facebook.com/IronFistClothingAndShoes

And check out their Halloween flash sale with 50% some pairs. Leopard skin! Tattoo print! Sequins & lace!

The Funkiest Hotel Room in London

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When I started planning my Cosmo Blog Awards trip to London, it seemed like a good idea to check out the city's most unusual hotels as part of my trip. 

The first night I stayed in arguably the most kitsch & fabulous hotel in London- The Pavilion Rock & Roll Hotel.

Situated a very short walk from Edgware Road Tube & Hyde Park, it was super easy to find, even for me who only visits the city once a year.

It's a thirty room palace, with each room decorated in its own unique style. With titles such as 'Goldfinger', 'Funky Zebra' and 'Secret Garden', the hotel itself is an attraction it's own right. And even better- it's affordable for budget travel too, so you can get your slice of bohemian chic and still hit Oxford Street with your left over cashola!

I stayed in the Honky Tonk Afro room. A mirrored ceiling masterpiece of kitsch, with leopard skin carpet and beaded curtains galore. The photographs explain it's wonder better than I can in words. I was in love. I tweeted pictures that evening as I got ready for the Cosmo Awards & my followers (I'm @rudedoodle) said it was the most 'me' hotel they'd ever seen.

Which of their rooms is most YOU? You can browse the gallery of each of the rooms on http://www.pavilionhoteluk.com/

They even had a kitsch bathroom. I think I need to step up my game and get myself a glitter loo seat at home.

The opulent reception room. The entire hotel is a work of art. Thanks again, Pavilion team x

Happier Halloween Plans for Toddlers. The World of Kitsch in Junior Magazine

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The World of Kitsch is in print monthly in local publication Junior Magazine. If you're in the North Down area of Northern Ireland you can pick up the magazine with The County Down Spectator.


Halloween can be a strange old time for toddlers and tots. The shops are full of scary masks and spooky decorations, which can overwhelm tiny minds who sometimes struggle to learn which frightening things are real, or just pretend. The last thing us parents want after a busy Halloween Night party is a scared sleepless little man or lady with images of witches & monsters lurking outside the window in their imagination.

There is an alternative that the whole family can enjoy. Halloween parties don't have to be devilishly themed. There are other ways to give your little ones a party for the time of year, without the nightmares after the sparklers have fizzed out. 

Here are two ideas to build an evening of fun around.

1. Harvest Carnival
Everyone loves a trip to the fun fair. How about a harvest carnival, celebrating the rich food & vibrant colours of the season. Set up 'stalls' with pumpkin or turnip carving and bobbing for apples.
Make your own ring toss game with painted used drink bottles, making these themselves can be part of a crafting afternoon the week before the party. Your children will feel very proud they have contributed to the decorations too.
Use threaded strings of popcorn & homemade paper bunting as carnival decor. Another idea is to make plain cupcakes and buy a set of icing pens. Let the children doodle their own cupcake designs and add sprinkles.


2. Noah's Ark Party
One of the best parts of Halloween is the fancy dress, and there are so many options outside the whole horror genre that will still be wonderful fun for boys and girls alike.
A Noah's Ark party is also a great alternative to a Halloween party for any church young people's groups.
The fancy dress code is straightforward, any animal, beast, bird or fish you desire. Decorations can be bright and colourful streamers made from coloured paper & balloons. Don't forget to make a giant rainbow with paper and paint, again that could be a weekday craft afternoon with your children as you prepare for your guests' visit.
With a Noah's Ark party you can really be inventive with the food. Try to make the spread unusual, use dried cereals as 'feed' for the animals. Green jelly as 'grass' and burgers and hotdogs for your tiny carnivores. 

You can add to these ideas and you'll end up with an alternative to a Halloween party that everyone will remember. Happy Halloween readers.


Products for your parties can be bought at www.HandpickedCollection.com and www.TalkingTables.com

Cosmo Blog Awards Update

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Hello readers! 

I've been on blog silence for a few days as I travelled over from Northern Ireland to London on Thursday for the Cosmopolitan Magazine Blog Awards.

I have so much about it all to blog. My outfit from The Rodnik Band, my skyscraper high, tattoo wedges from Iron Fist, my goodie bag of goodies, and the two fabulous hotels I stayed in, The Pavilion Rock Hotel & Tune Liverpool Street.

I will get to all those this week, but for now I'm trying to catch up with myself. If you aren't one of my Twitter followers you might not know I suffer from M.E. which means I spend a huge proportion of my current life in bed. I blog from bed. I tweet from bed. I do everything from bed!

The travelling has really taken it out of me & my brain is too foggy to do the reviews justice right now, but I will hopefully have all the gossip for you this week.

In the meantime here is a snap of @LollyGee from Panda & Crumpet, and myself (I'm in the glasses) waiting to go into the awards party. I didn't win my category, but Lolly won Best Sex & Relationship Blog, so I got to celebrate in her honour! 

Have a read of Panda & Crumpet- it's lovely & rude.