Five fab last-minute Christmas food buys

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Having been to a heap of Christmas food shows and taste tested a fair amount of what’s on offer, I have come up with my top five Christmas food buys. They’re the tastes that won’t let you down and, with Christmas looming large now, there’s still time to pick them up…

best Christmas foods

Cornish garlic yarg Available at Waitrose, this subtle semi-hard speciality is covered in garlic leaves and is fabulous with a slice of traditional Christmas cake. £1.92 per 100g, Waitrose

Chocolate Fudge Can’t take any more Christmas chocolate? You might find room for this creamy, chocolatety treat. Enjoy a square a night and don’t tell anyone you’re hiding the box under your bed. £5.95 for 227g, Highgrove (available at Fortnum & Mason stores)

Smoked salmon cuts Perfect for topping canapes, slipping alongside scrambled eggs and adding to pasta, these salmon cuts are cheap and so, so delcious. £2 per 100g, Morrisons

Coconut Snowballs – Oh, these are fun. coconut truffle in white chocolate dipped in dessicated coconut. Guaranteed to keep your festive spirits up if there are no real snowballs in sight. £5.50 for 100g, Hotel Chocolat

Fortnum and Mason Petits Four mince piesFortnum & Mason Christmas Petits Fours Mince Pie Medley – And finally, I don’t let a Christmas go by without a box of these sumptuous mini mince pies – so much smaller than even the miniest mince pies, they are packed with sumptuous fillings and the pastries are melt-in-the-mouth soft. Only bring them out for your favourite guests. £18.95 for a box of 32, Fortnum & Mason

Merry Christmas everyone – here’s wishing you lots of fabulous festive eating and fun!

 

 

Hair : From Desk to Disco

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katehudson viviscal hairAndrew Jose  : Award winning celebrity hairdresser and brand ambassador for SALON SCIENCE® haircare says . . .

  • Grown up party hair on the go is the perfect balance of polished, effortless yet timeless hair that is elegant and fun.
  • Do bear in mind that less is more. If you have a statement dress, then keep the hair simple, if you have a simple dress then the hair can become more of a statement!
  • Do take into consideration head shape and the balance of your facial features when choosing a party hair up. A style that is soft and flattering on most face shape is the low chignon or bun.
  • Always tease hair at the crown to give volume and leave soft tendrils around the face
  • Soft waves and a side parting can take your style to the next level – a vintage take on a modern style looks timeless and chic.
  • Always wash hair the day before putting it up to combat hair being too slippery.
  • Teasing (back combing) and dry shampoo is a must have for volume and staying power.
  • Great hair takes time DON’T rush it!  If you are creating the style yourself, practise your look as some techniques can be challenging. Trial your style the day before to get it right on the night.
  • Always carry an emergency fix kit, a couple of bobby pins, a small backcombing brush and a handbag sized hairspray is essential!
  • Whether it’s a simple braid for decoration or a halo dutch braid for on-trend and current looking statement hair, simply adding a plait can give a contemporary twist to a simple classic style.

Speedy tricks for styling hair on the go. 

Hair ups are a great option for when you are short on time but need a high impact style for the day. If the thought of doing a hair up at home without expert help feels daunting, then help is at hand.

Salon Science Brand Ambassador and award winning hairdresser Andrew Jose has created three simple, yet stunning  styles for chic hair at home (without getting your fingers in a twist)

Any trends?

Hair jewellery is a big trend for winter – glam up a pony tail with gold cuff detail around a low slung pony for on trend metallic glamour

Your get-good-hair-quick kit! 

  • Salon Science Swiss Apple Cellumax volumising Foam (£17.00 Boots)
  • Swiss Grape Reglosse Smoothing Serum (£18.00 Boots)
  • A soft bristled brush (Mason and Pearson)
  • Pin tail comb
  • Kirby grips
  • Dry shampoo
  • Velcro rollers
  • Hair spray

The Plait Bun

Easy AND elegant, the plait bun can be sleek and polished or made to be looser and slightly messed up for daytime.

Flip hair upside down, apply Salon Science Swiss Apple Cellumax Volumising Mousse (£17.00) at the root

  • Back comb at the crown to create volume and ensure the style will stay in place.
  • Leave two sections at each side of your parting at the front
  • Back comb the hair in the ponytail, and twist hair around the base of the pony tail creating a bun and pin in to place
  • Create two braids with the sections left out at the front of the hair, secure the ends with thin loom bands,  pull back and pin around the bun

The half up twist

One of this season’s biggest hair trends, the half up style is a sneaky way of making a lazy day hairstyle seem cool – the top half of your hair is up, and the rest is down.

  • Spritz Swiss Grape Salon Science Reprotectant Thermal Crème (£16.00) over damp hair

Using a big barrelled brush – give hair a smooth blow dry. Then using irons or tongs, create a loose lazy wave

  • Add dry shampoo at the root for texture and backcomb at the crown  – the  Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo is great. Adjust height to your own preference and pin top hair piece into place.
  • Using thumbs and palms, pull the top half of your hair back into a half ponytail from about an inch above the ears, leaving most of your lengths free. pull the hair out at the crown a little to create more volume.
  • Make a hole right above the hairband by using your finger, splitting the hair in two and flip the ponytail through. Tighten the pony
  • Pull out strands at the front to mess up the style a little

Variation of this look is the ‘Hun’ or the ‘half bun’

  • Instead of flipping hair through the pony – simply back comb the half pony tail and wrap it around the base of the hairband – and pin into place
  • wear it high and sleek or low and undone –  depending on your mood

Tips on using dry shampoo if you haven’t time to wash it

  • A great tip for dry shampoo application is to section hair off with clips, spray a line of dry shampoo and repeat throughout oily areas. Wait for a couple of minutes then brush through with soft bristled brush to evenly distribute the oil absorbing powder. For best results do this in the evening before you go to bed and then again in the morning  to counteract oil build up overnight

STOCKISTS

Salon Science available exclusively at Boots Nationwide and Boots.com
www.salonscience.com

Andrew Jose Hair Salon
http://www.andrewjose.com/
1 Charlotte street, London W1

 

 

Botallack O’Clock by Eddie Elks

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Old Red Lion Theatre, Tuesday 12th January – Saturday 6th February 2016

Botallack O’Clock by Eddie Elks1

Something to cheer you up as January 2016 gets into its stride.

Botallack O’Clock is a funny, moving and thought-provoking journey into the creative mind of Roger Hilton CBE, one of the most unique voices in post-war British art. The show depicts a suspended hour of the night where Hilton’s past and present combine with his vivid imagination and tenacious personality, giving a humorous and intriguing insight into the mind of a true artist.

Botallack O’Clock by Eddie Elks2

In 1965, after representing Britain at the Venice Biennale, Hilton moved to the Cornish coastal village of Botallack, where his working routine began to break down, mainly as a result of his increasing addiction to alcohol (which he had long used to creative effect). For the final two years of his life, Hilton took permanently to his bed, where he continued to work, leaning over the side of his bed to paint on sheets of paper laid on the floor. Hilton would work through the night with only his thoughts, his imaginings and a temperamental radio for company.

Botallack O’Clock by Eddie Elks3

Writer Eddie Elks said, Roger’s thoughts and ideas, much like his paintings, are as relevant and arresting now as they were then.  In a letter to his mother, whilst serving in WWII, Roger wondered whether one day his life would be made into a story. I hope he would have approved.  Elks previously wrote a play about artist Sir Terry Frost and it was during research for this production that he first heard the name Roger Hilton and decided to bring his story to the stage as well.

Botallack O’Clock: Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ, www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk.

Tuesday 12th January – Saturday 6th February 2016 Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm
Saturday matinees, 2.30pm
Sunday matinees, 3pm

70 minutes
@thirdmantheatre @ORLTheatre, #botallackoclock

Tickets are available priced £15 (£12 concessions) Previews and matinees priced £10
Available from Old Red Lion Theatre Box Office and www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk or 0844 412 4307

 

 

Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide for Mums: Chambord & Licor 43

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chambordchambordandlicor43Panicking about what to get mum for Christmas? These two make great stocking fillers or proper presents for mum: Licor 43 (the premium, Spanish liqueur) and Chambord (the premium French Black Raspberry liqueur). The Chambord 20cl bottle is available in a beautiful gold box, and is the perfect stocking filler. It retails at all major supermarkets throughout the UK for just £7.50. Licor 43 70cl (700ml) bottle is available from ASDA stores and asda.com nationwide as well as through www.drinksupermarket.com with an RRP of £17.50-£17.99.

 

Cocktail recipe ideas below. 

Licor 43 winter serves for 2015

 

Mulled Wine 43

  • 50 ml Licor 43
  • 125 ml shiraz
  • 15 ml lemon juice
  • 1x sugar cube
  • 4 dashes of angostura bitters
  • 4 dashes of orange bitters
  • 1x cinnamon stick

Soak sugar cube in both bitters, place soaked cube, lemon juice and wine into a pan and place on the hob until hot. Add Licor 43 and pour into a balon glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

 

Spiced Cider

  • 50ml Licor 43
  • 125ml cider (apple or pear)
  • 15ml lemon juice
  • 2x barspoons of honey
  • 4 dashes of angostura bitters
  • 4x dashes of orange bitters

Place all the ingredients, except the Licor 43 into a pan and heat on the hob until warm. Add the Licor 43 and pour into a balon glass.

 

Spanish 43 Coffee 

• 25ml Licor 43
• Black coffee
• Whipped cream
• Cocoa powder

Warm the Licor 43 and pour into the coffee. Top carefully with the whipped cream and garnish with cocoa powder.

 

 

Chambord Royale

You take the fizz, you top with Chambord, and puff! Now watch the bubbles storm.

Ingredients 

  • Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
  • Champagne, prosecco or cava

Method
Pour your favourite fizz into a flute glass and top with Chambord. Garnish with a raspberry.

 

French Martini

Christmas calls for a classic cocktail. Take pineapple juice and shake, shake, shake it with Chambord and vodka and voila! You have the French Martini.

Ingredients 

  • 15ml Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
  • 50ml vodka
  • 60ml pineapple Juice

Method
Vigorously shake Chambord with vodka, pineapple juice and plenty of ice.

 

Chambord Very Berry

Brrr. When the snow is cold but the fire is burning, warm your hands with a Chambord Very Berry.

Ingredients 

  • 25ml Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
  • 125ml red wine
  • 25ml fresh lemon juice
  • Spoonful of sugar
  • 3 raspberries
  • Slice of lemon studded with cloves

Method

Crush raspberries in a wine glass with sugar, then add Chambord, wine, and lemon juice. Top with hot water and garnish with a slice of lemon.

For more inspiration visit www.facebook.com/ChambordUK

The Christmas tree looks best when there are presents beneath it. Wish your friends and family Joyeux Noel with a 20cl bottle of Chambord packaged in a beautiful gold box. Available from all major supermarkets (asda.com, tesco.com, sainsburys.co.uk) throughout the UK. RRP: £7.50. Bon!

 

 

 

 

Above Us The Sky by Milly Adams Book Review

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Above Us The Sky by Milly AdamsMilly Adams is an exciting new author, with a wonderful knack of bringing characters to life vividly and bringing the story off the page and into the imagination. Above Us The Sky is a brilliantly researched, and hugely enjoyable novel. Sad in places but ultimately uplifting, this book is set in wartime Britain. Phyllie, a young teacher, is a great character. She becomes a surrogate mother to her pupils. She is particularly protective of Jake, a Jewish boy who has to put up with anti-Semitism. She is a great teacher but finds it hard to adjust to country life and custom. As things become tough she finds love and support in community.

This is an engaging and entertaining story of love and loss. The attention to detail is superb. I loved that the role of the Women’s Institute was including in the novel and you really feel like you are in the submarine, such is the brilliance of her writing. This is a well-written book and a stunning debut. I cannot wait for another Milly Adam’s book as this one is educational, entertaining and riveting all at once.

A compelling new Second World War novel. Evacuees, the WI, and keeping calm and carrying on. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Ellie Dean.

As the threat of bombing raids intensifies, newly-qualified teacher, Phyllis Saunders, is evacuated with her school to Dorset.

Here she encounters prejudice and suspicion. But she is determined to make the best of life, for herself and the children in her care. All the while her fiancé and submariner, Sammy, is facing danger out at sea.

Then the Blitz hits London and Phyllis, trying to persuade her mother to return to Dorset with her, gets caught up in it herself. Shaken but alive, she returns to the relative peace of the countryside. But soon she is nursing a secret she can tell no one.

Until the news that Sammy’s submarine has been sunk reaches her, and she is forced to make a decision she hopes she will never regret…

Above Us The Sky is available here.

 

 

Pop-Up To Covent Garden And Celebrate A Chanel Christmas…

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

What could be more special than a festive pop-up featuring a giant snow globe and offering free flash makeovers – after all, you deserve it after the chaos of all the Christmas shopping, right?

CHANEL are offering shoppers and beauty fans a pep-up at their Covent Garden pop-up located a few steps away from the Chanel beauty boutique at the piazza, which is the temporary space before becoming Chanel’s permanent bigger home next year.

The exquisite pop-up pays homage to the world of Chanel No.5 as depicted in the Baz Luhrmann-directed campaign starring Gisele Bündchen.

In 2012, CHANEL opened its pop-up covering 57 square metres of Covent Garden, inspired by London’s vibrant personality – the first of its kind in the UK.

Featuring some of the world’s leading make-up artists, theatrical artists, nail technicians and models, the Chanel pop-up beauty boutique debuted exclusive products, showcased London’s first ever Chanel nail bar, offered bespoke make-up tutorials and now offer their discerning customers the experience of having a specialist fragrance expert to guide you through the extensive Chanel scent collection.

 “No elegance is possible without perfume” –  Mademoiselle Chanel

With a vintage-inspired décor, the Chanel beauty parlour draws you in from the cold with its giant snow globe, complete with illuminated number five, welcoming you to take part in a variety of workshops and events throughout December.

 Settle down on the plush red cinema chairs for a manicure – using Rouge Noir, naturellement – or pop by for a complimentary 15-minute flash makeover, the perfect shop-to-cocktails refresh.

If you wish to linger longer, book in for a full one-hour makeover for £45 (redeemable against products bought). Whether you want to learn how to master the art of the up-do or perfect your smokey eye, the professionals will be on hand to impart their words of wisdom.

Makeover complete, there’s the irresistible chance to channel your inner Gisele with a photobooth from The London Lightbox – pose in front of the backdrop featured in the campaign and receive a print-out photo as a souvenir of your jaunt into the world of Chanel. And if you can’t resist the temptation to shop, of course there are plenty of little black boxes to take home too.

Offering a personalised gift wrapping service, complete with a hand written message by a CHANEL calligrapher alongside a choice of quotes from Mademoiselle Chanel herself, this delightful pop-up will kick-start your Christmas and indulge your inner ‘me’ time…

Chanel Christmas at Covent Garden is open until the end of December.

To book an appointment please call 0203 077 1198 or email covent.garden2@chanel.co.uk.

Chanel Christmas at Covent Garden

6a The Market The Piazza Covent Garden London WC2E 8RF

www.chanelatcoventgarden.com

 

The Christmas gift with a conscience

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The Christmas gift with a conscienceHIV:ADIS

Think HIV/AIDS isn’t a problem anymore? AIDS is the leading cause of death for teenagers in Africa and the second leading cause of death among teenagers globally. 

 Introducing the Christmas gift with a conscience: Styloko.com and the new Red Box Shop: http://redboxshop.styloko.com/  for Christmas in aid of MTV Staying Alive Foundation

The Styloko concept is simple; a pop up online store selling a plethora of fabulous Red Boxes perfect for anyone with a serious love of fashion and culture. Each box is filled with desirable products, including jewellery, make-up, watches and even beautiful books, kindly donated by leading brands such as Chanel, The Cambridge Satchel Company, Timex, Radley, Fake Bake, Swatch, Kendra Scott Jewelry and Dana Rebecca Designs.

All proceeds from The Red Box Shop are going to aids projects around the world, particularly in Africa.  HIV/AIDS is still a  devastating global disease and the second leading cause of death among teenagers globally. The store will run through the 20th of December.

Every single penny/cent from the sale of the red boxes will go straight to helping raising global awareness for HIV/AIDS.

@mtvstayingalive  @styloko

The mission of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation is to stop the spread of HIV before it starts. They provide funding and training to youth-led HIV-prevention projects around the world, helping them develop the skills to build innovative, culturally relevant and sustainable organisations that lead the fight against HIV on the ground.  Their relationship with MTV means that the ground-breaking content they produce reaches millions of young people globally.

 Since the international grants and training programme was established in 2005, they have given US $5.3 million to over 500 youth-led projects in 66 countries, directly educated 2.7 million young people on HIV, distributed 7 million condoms and tested 200,000 young people for HIV.

 

 

Avoid Waking up Next to a Sad Cracked Phone Screen This Festive Season

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Over a quarter of UK revellers aged 18-40 have damaged their phone on a night out. London named the clumsiest region (29%), and Newcastle the most accident-prone city (23%). Only 1 in 10 covered by insurance. Average amount spent on repairs is £49, roughly double the price of a protective case

Sound familiar? The Christmas party season is in full swing and we’ve all been there. A “get into the spirit” festive tipple turns into seventeen “IT’S CHRIIIIIISTMAAAAS” Jager bombs, or perhaps cocktails, and before you know it, you’ve a smashed phone screen staring back at you, accompanied by a hollow feeling of regret.

Ahead of ‘Mad Friday’, the last Friday before Christmas and most popular for office parties, it has been revealed that 27% of lumbering UK revellers aged 18-40 have damaged their phone on a night out. In the survey of 2,000 British adults, conducted by Griffin Technology, Newcastle topped the list of clumsy cities, while London is the region reporting most mobile emergencies.

As only 12% of damages were covered by insurance, our resident Griffin Gadgetologist, the brains behind the tough-as-nails Survivor phone cases, is on a mission to help the buttery-fingered amongst you.

So  here are some top tips to avoid having to fork out for a pricey repair, or even a new phone, come Christmas.

Avoid waking up next to a sad cracked phone screen this festive season

Resist the urge to take a bathroom selfie: tiled flooring and all that running water (amongst other things) spells disaster for your phone, both inside and out. Research shows water damage comes second only to cracked screens as the cause of smartphone failure, so do your phone a favour and protect them from the elements.

 

Watch out for office geeks in YOLO party mode: if you must grab that group shot on the dance floor, stand well out of the way of errant dancers. Christmas does funny things to people – we tend to get overexcited and fling our arms in the air like we just don’t care, cue phones being knocked out of hands left, right and centre.

 

Keep it zipped: the more barriers there are to your phone, the less chance it has of falling to its demise. Whether it’s a zipped compartment in a handbag or buttoned pockets, something to stop you reaching for it every 10 seconds can work wonders.

 

Invest in a super-sturdy phone case:if you’ve been known to hit the deck after a few shandies, it could be worth taking a good hard look at your phone’s attire to decide if it’s up to the job. Even if you’re the type to dance on tables, Griffin’s new Survivor Summit and Journey cases survive drops of up to 3 metres!

Avoid waking up next to a sad cracked phone screen this festive season griffins

Simplicity is key: everyone knows that nothing says it better than an emoji, but the tinier the buttons and more intricate your conversation, the longer it takes to text and the more likely your phone is to slip from your hand. Do everyone a favour and stick to the classic … “by the bar”.

 

Don’t drink too much: not a popular tip, but it works.


Finally, and perhaps the icing on the cake – try a tough case, and put your minds at rest: the toughest Griffin Survivor cases yet are available now from

http://bit.ly/GriffinTechnology