Tag Archives: Christmas

Why say thank you this Christmas when you can SING IT?!!! #bigthankyou @tesco

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So are you lot on to your second or third Christmas dinner yet? Need to say thank you to those family members who have slaved away for hours to cook that perfectly stuffed Turkey, roast those potatoes and sizzle those sprouts? Then Tesco has the perfect thank you gift, which should put a smile on everyone’s faces in time for 2014.

The supermarket giant has launched  the #Big Thank You campaign, providing fun ways to say thank you for the little things that matter to you at Christmas, using short songs.  (The Big Thank You videos can be watched and shared here.)

They’ve already had a whopping 200,000 views and shares between them and its not hard to see why… here’s one of our favourites, its the Instagram thank you…

Thank you’s are a changing and look set to go even more digital in 2014, so… 

Tesco’s jumped on the band wagon, and decided to join the social media fun by  providing a series of short YouTube videos for a fun way to share a thank you through entertaining songs.

With videos featuring a singing trio whose songs cover everything from Christmas socks to sprouts and cooking the dinner, the campaign has been running from Christmas day. There are 15 short clips which can be emailed, tweeted or posted to family and friends.

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But what about tradition we hear you say… 

It’s a traditional part of Christmas day to call friends and family and to say thanks for the gifts received, but this year we did it online more than ever. With over 90% of 16-24 year olds and 74% 25-44 years olds on social media, it’s clear that many of us will be spreading the Christmas cheer online.

Tesco has been emailing their millions of Clubcard customers the Big Thank You videos to offer their singing services, as well as sharing them through Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.Screen Shot 2013-12-29 at 22.45.28

This is all young people nonsense no? 

And it’s not just youngsters who’ll be on social media during this festive period either, as 19% of 65-74 year olds are also online tweeting and posting. Tesco expect to see grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles all sharing the Big Thank You videos with relatives. And, with record numbers of us expecting to unwrap tablets – 60% of us have one our wish list** there will be a tuneful way to say thank you with your new gift.

Get sharing and Sing a song of Thank You’s! Thanks to Tesco! 

The Big Thank You videos can be watched and shared here.

Have a happy and safe New Years everyone and bring on 2014!! x

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There’s still time to give an AMAZING Xmas present this year – look see! @otoneaudio @johnlewisretail #gifts #shopping

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Ho Ho Ho we hear you say! Can Christmas REALLY be just round the corner? Well from our experience it looks like the Christmas parties have well and truly started, and the idea of hitting the high street is causing all sorts of hung over dread! So to ease the pain and help you make some quick (and excellent) decisions on what to buy this year, we’ve found some goodies to share just for you! 

BREAKING THE BANK (in a great way!) 

OTONE’s newest speaker system, Soundship  £179.99.

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Soundship is the complete sound system for the home. The Bluetooth Smart dock has a futuristic design with interchangeable connectors, so no matter what device you have, you’re covered.

The system also features an FM radio and alarm.

http://www.otoneaudio.co.uk/products/smartdocking/soundship/

OTONE’s Aporto speaker system, £34.99.

Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 14.51.51This truly versatile speaker system manages to specialise in two distinct areas. As a travel speaker, Aporto’s sleek form fits easily into any travel case or bag – working as high quality USB laptop speakers through a simple connection. But thanks to its innovative modular design, Aporto can also be instantly transformed into a universal micro system: simply detach the speakers from each other and you can create a simulated surround sound effect, perfect for music lovers on the go.

http://www.otoneaudio.co.uk/products/portable/aporto/

TOP TEN UNDER £30 FROM JOHN LEWIS 

BaByliss Nano Dryer 1200 – £14.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 14.59.31
At less than half the size of a regular hairdryer, the BaByliss Nano Dryer is the perfect travel companion for fast drying performance in a handy little package. Available in pink and purple.

 

YupiiRun – £19.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 14.59.39
YupiiRun has been designed to make exercise effective and fun. Each program (from a choice of six) will tell users when to walk or run, at what speed and when to rest, all with the best music to workout to.

John Lewis Spectrum In-Ear Headphones – £19.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 14.59.44
Available in gunmetal, cobalt blue, orange and pink, these great value headphones feature silicone buds for comfort, as well as a built in microphone and remote control.

Bone Collection – USB Flash Drive 8GB – from £19.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 14.59.51
Searching for a fun Secret Santa? Check out these USB flash drives in Snowman, Gingerbread Man, Monkey, Kungfu Master and Queens Guard designs.

John Lewis Sound Cylinder Bluetooth Mini Speaker – £19.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 14.59.56
With a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to three hours on full charge as well as built in microphone, this Bluetooth mini speaker makes a fab gift. Choose from gunmetal, burnt orange, blue or green.

Crockpot 374 Slow Cooker – £22.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 15.00.01
A thoughtful present for a busy couple, this brushed chrome slow cooker has two heat settings, a keep-warm function and a removeable stoneware pot and glass lid that can be put in the dishwasher.

Juice Cube, Emergency Mobile Charger – £24.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 15.00.06
An ideal choice for technology fans, this mobile charger will make sure their gadgets never run out of juice when on the go. Users just need to charge the compact Cube and attach it to a phone, games console or MP3 player via a USB cable with the appropriate connector.

Lego Builder Case for iPhone 5 and 5S – £24.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 15.00.11
A quirky stocking filler; these cases feature a hard plastic back in the style of a Lego base plate, allowing them to be customised with Lego bricks. The shell of the case is also shock absorbent and provides protection for the back, sides and buttons of an iPhone.

Gourmet Gadgetry 3 in 1 Drinks Maker – £29.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 15.00.16
With a 1950s inspired design, this drinks maker can be used to prepare milkshakes, smoothies and cocktails. The Gourmet Gadgetry range also includes a retro Chocolate Fountain, £29.95.

Beatrix New York Cases for Tablets up to 10.1″ – £29.95Screen Shot 2013-12-11 at 15.00.21
Available in four cute designs, these water resistant, padded and velvet-lined cases provide protection for a child’s tablet.

 There you go… don’t dread it, spend it! Tis the season to give (and receive – hehe!) so go have some fun! 

Happy Holidays! Almost! 

Dish up dreamy desserts this Xmas with @BaileysOriginal Christmas Creams #baileyschristmascreams #food #drink #christmas

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Ever heard of the phrase “cant cook, won’t cook?” Yes, well it very much applies to us, the idea of a takeaway as the far easier option always comes to mind at around the 7pm timeslot, and the thought of hosting a group for dinner fills us with fear…until now.

With a little help from the latest Baileys Christmas Cream collection, this week we were taken on a culinary cuisine cruise around Les Atelier Des Chefs in London, to get ready for the Christmas season in style, and iron out any doubts we may have had about our cooking (or at least baking) abilities.Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 18.09.18

Luckily for us, in just a couple of hours, what we found, is that actually cooking is not only hugely fun and rewarding, but it also can be incredibly simple and yet produce results that even Mary Berry would be proud of. Oh and the fact that all the food we made had Bailey’s in it REALLY helps!

So where did this culinary cruise start?

Well as any good Christmas party host knows, it started with a nice glass of Prosecco… just to ease us into it of course! Now we would also recommend a quick pit stop before you get started, alongside a bowl of Baileys Original Sauce (£2.35 300ml) which you dip some yummy strawberry’s and marshmallows into as a pre dessert nibble!

Then with our advice, you skip the main meal and head straight for dessert!!!

Dessert you say…already?

Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 18.12.45Well isn’t this splendid, who said Christmas isn’t about indulging yourself entirely. With the help of a fantastic Food Innovator called Janey Greene, (who taught us everything we needed to know on the day) Baileys has mustered up some fabulous dessert treats that have convinced us that we could pose as master chefs in no time at all!

All you literally need is a little bit of Baileys very own Christmas Cream selection and you will have a unique recipe or two to impress your friends with in no time

Here’s what we made on the day – oh and a little look at us in action….

Baileys Creamy Custard Fruit Brulee – by Janey Green

Apples and Dates infused with Tangerine and Basil, topped with Baileys Cream Vanilla Custard and finished with a Brulee toppingScreen Shot 2013-12-05 at 18.17.03

Baileys Cream with Chilli Chocolate and Sour Cherry

Warm dipping sauce served with Filo Pastry ‘cinnamon sticks’Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 22.24.26

For these recipes, make sure you visit Janey’s wonderful blog A Slice of Slim.

 It really is that simple!

We cant express enough how easy these recipes were to make, and just how unique they all taste with a yummy Bailey’s twist. Even if its not your immediate top tipple, the addition of this to any dessert at Christmas is really worth it.

It’s guaranteed to make you fall in love with puddings all over again! Here’s some ideas for you…

Try classic Baileys Original Irish Cream with gooey chocolate cakes and tortes, while Baileys with a hint of Crème Caramel is the perfect accompaniment to warm sticky toffee puddings or fresh fruit crumbles and tarts. You can even use it to add a little extra luxury to recipes that traditionally use chilled cream, such as trifles or tiramisu.

The list is endless, and the taste is priceless! So what are you waiting for, its time to get in the kitchen, pretend you’re Nigella (in better times) and become the hostest with the mostest this Christmas! Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 22.30.06

Get ahead of the Xmas rush and grab a @johnlewisretail bargain for under £50 #shopping #buying #xmas

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The time is nearly upon us, the shops are prematurely changing their in store decorations and we know its not too long until Jingle Bells starts playing on loop! So we thought, to get you all ahead of the game we would showcase one of our favourite Xmas go to shopping centres, John Lewis, and show you the kind of bargains you can expect this festive season. So if its mum, dad, brother or sister, this famous department store has it all, and just for you we have some of the finest selection of goodies for £50 and under! Enjoy!! 

Lets get shopping!! 

BaByliss Pro 200 Nano Straighteners, Pink – £9.95 – Available from end of September

The perfect size for your suitcase or handbag, the Babyliss Nano straighteners provide all the performance but in a handy little package. Great for touch-ups and fringes, they heat up to 200°c and come in stylish purple or pink.

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USB Snowman and Gingerbread Man – £19.95 – Available from October

These cute novelty USB sticks make storing your most important documents fun! With a substantial 8GB of memory available, and no removable cap to lose, your documents will stay safe and secure thanks to the lifetime flash drive guarantee.

Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.09.19Krups F20342 Coffee Grinder – £19.95 – Available from end of September

With the Krups F20342 you can grind beans with ease and efficiency. The oval, easy to hold shape gives even grinding and a single speed assures fast results at the touch of a button. With a large grinding capacity of 75g, this can guarantee up to 15 cups of coffee; perfect for entertaining.

Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.09.24 John Lewis Boom Bar Wireless Speaker, Graphite – £29.95

The John Lewis Boom Bar features great sound, Bluetooth connectivity and a huge battery. Ready to play all of your music in exceptional quality, it even features a built-in microphone to use it as a hands-free calling device.

Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.09.31John Lewis Spectrum DAB/FM Radio, Red – £29.95

Compact, functional and fun; the John Lewis Spectrum DAB/FM radio is a smart choice for digital listening. It can be fully powered by mains or battery making it just as at home on the move or on a shelf at home. The soft touch finish also makes it easy to pick up and carry around.Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.09.37

Barbour Quilted Flip Case for iPhone 5, Olive – £34.95

Protect your iPhone 5 in style with this quilted flip case from heritage brand, Barbour. The exterior is quilted with a small leather section displaying the Barbour logo, while the interior features a mix of leather and the Barbour tartan pattern. The click in shell keeps your iPhone safe with cut outs for your camera and volume controls.Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.09.48 John Lewis Spectrum DAB/FM Clock Radio, Aubergine – £34.95

The new John Lewis Spectrum DAB/FM clock radio is a great choice if you need help waking up in the morning! The clever snooze function is activated by its feet, so it can be turned off by touching the radio anywhere. Fully powered by mains or battery, it also features a soft touch finish.Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.11.20Wild and Wolf Trim Classic Corded Telephone in Peacock Green – £35.95 – Available from October

For those who love retro styling, Wild and Wolf’s replica of a 1970s classic will help complete the look in any room of the house. Available in stunning Peacock Green, features include last number redial and ringer volume control.Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.11.24Lomography Fisheye 1 Analogue Camera, Orange – £44.95

Lending itself to the current Instagram trend, the Lomography Fisheye camera captures great shots with fun distortion. It sees a sweeping 170-degree view, compacting everything around you into a circular image. Whether you get right up close or use the huge depth of field, the built-in fisheye lens offers bright colours and great contrast.Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.11.29Wild and Wolf 746 1960’S Corded Telephone in French Blue – £49.95 – Available from October

Based on the original post office telephone model from the 60s, Wild and Wolf have brought the 746 right up to date in a range of striking colours, featuring the bold curves of the original design. For modern convenience, the dial has been replaced by buttons and the phone simply plugs into a standard phone socket. It also includes a re-dial button and authentic bell ring sound!Screen Shot 2013-09-29 at 17.11.35

Its already time to think about Xmas as @nicolephillipse launches some fab festive products!

Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 07.49.40With the crunch of the autumn leaves underfoot and the conkers ripening nicely, Nicole Phillips England has been busy putting together her Christmas collection of festive delights. Imagine chestnuts roasting on the fire, the lights twinkling on the tree and the smell of mince pies wafting from the kitchen.

The ideal accessories to this scene are Nicole’s delicate hand-painted range of Christmas products, featuring tea towels, napkins, fabric by the metre and stockings, all designed to give your home some quirky merry-themed touches that are a little bit different.Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 07.49.27

Nicole’s distinctive watercolour artwork is featured on each 100% pure cotton tea towel, complete with a fabric loop for convenient hanging storage. The Christmas designs include Deck the Halls, Mistletoe & Wine and Sage & Onion Stuffing. The fun and unusual imagery suit every style of home and make the perfect gift for your host, loved one or even as a stocking filler this Christmas.

The perfect missing ingredient for your festive feast, the stunning hand­painted designs of mistletoe and holly, each offset against a stylish stripe background and printed on high quality 100% cotton are available by the metre.

Fancy some inspiration to draw Father Christmas to your chimney? Nicole’s Christmas stockings will make wonderful gifts for both adults and children alike, with their patchwork styling that encompass some of the classic Nicole Phillips E designs such as fish on a line and trailing roses, as well as some with more typically festive elements such as mistletoe and holly.Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 07.51.32

Inspired by country and coastal themes with a foodie influence, the full Nicole Phillips England range also includes cushions, aprons and hob covers, all of which are made here in Great Britain.

Prices start from £12 and all products are available to buy online at www.nicolephillips.com

Get creative this party season with these amazing #baking products from @passion4cakes @hobbycraft @therangeuk #cakes #baking

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So party season is not too far away, and all you budding bakers out there may need a bit of inspiration if you’re trying to impress with your culinary skills this Autumn. Well fear not, if it’s a ghoulish delight that you’re after for the perfect Halloween party next month, its time to invest! We’ve found this devilishly brilliant bakers airbrush kit from Shesto that may just put you into the highest rankings when it comes to sweet treats!  Screen Shot 2013-09-17 at 18.44.52

Using  the Cassie Brown Cake Craft Airbrush Kit, this special cake decoration technique gives beautiful, professional-looking results every time, and you don’t have to be an experienced chef or baker to use it (phew!) . The airbrush kit is quick and simple to set up, use and clean, and comes with three mixable colours, so it’s ready to go – straight out of the box.Screen Shot 2013-09-17 at 18.45.01

Why all the fuss about airbrushing?! 

Airbrushing is a relatively new cake decorating technique and is one of the quickest and easiest ways of adding colour to a cake, eliminating the need to work with multiple pieces of coloured sugar paste or royal icing, and at the same time reducing waste and mess. The liquid cake colours are sprayed smoothly through the tip of the precisely-designed airbrush using compressed air, giving the user complete control over the design and finish.

So if you fancy yourself as an ‘artisan artiste’ this winter, we would highly recommend that you give this a go!

Where can I buy this amazing contraption?! 

The Cassie Brown Cake Craft Airbrush Kit is available directly fromwww.shesto.com, or from leading craft and kitchenware retailers including Hobbycraft, The Range and craft and cake decorating shops nationwide, at a suggested retail price of £99.99.Screen Shot 2013-09-17 at 18.45.19

What? There’s more?! 

And just in time for some ‘spooktacular’ spell binding cake decorating, Cassie Brown has also brought out a “How-To Christmas and Halloween DVD (£14.95) featuring top tips from the award-winning sugar craft expert on how to make stunning seasonal cakes.

So what are you waiting for… get baking and share with us your creative creations!

 

Remember the Power Rangers? We’ll they’re back on DVD in August @PowerRangerNews

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Yes, you might have to search back to your teenage years to remember those mighty morphin guys and gals, in skin tight lycra with biker helmets and too much energy for the average human being!! Well, they’re back for a brand new series, straight to the small screen in The Ultimate Duel!

So if you’ve got kids, then this is the perfect present for them – here’s what to expect!! 

Screen Shot 2013-07-01 at 09.18.09In the epic finale to Power Rangers Samurai, Jayden is forced into meeting Deker in The Ultimate Duel of good vs evil. With Jayden refusing the help of Kevin and the other Rangers in fighting Deker, Jayden puts Kevin in charge of leading the team to defeat Rhinosnorus and the Moogers attack on the city.

Also includes two special episodes; ‘Party Monsters’ in which the Nighlok hold a Halloween party and ‘Christmas Together, Friends Forever’ where the Power Rangers reflect on their first year together.

Combining Power Rangers nostalgia and the revamped Samurai Warrior team, Power Rangers Samurai shows that the franchise is still at the forefront of childrens’ entertainment, with an experience that can be shared across generations. With the first season reaching a thrilling finale, the DVD also contains 2 bonus seasonal episodes for even more samurai action.

Believe it or not, but the Power Rangers have been going for an incredible eighteen years!! And they really don’t show any sign of slowing down, still attracting around 2 million viewers per episode, if you or your kids are a fan of this kung-fu fighting franchise, then this next instalment is not one to miss, it will be yours to own on the 12th August!