Diary of a Freelance Working Mother: Park Life

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Catherine Balavage

A term time break. The summer holidays. This used to mean something when I was in school, but since my son is still in toddlerhood it does not hold the same excitement. I am not saying it has no effect on my life: the toddler groups close or become less frequent. When they are open they are busier than ever. It seems like everyone, apart from our family, has taken August off and is having a wonderful time sunning themselves in an exotic location. Cry. But what really changes during term breaks is that I end up going to the park with my little one. Parks that are busier than ever.

Usually my little one and I are too busy to go to the park. His social life is packed with different events and lessons. From Monkey Music to his toddler groups. But toddlers need to learn, get fresh air, and burn off their energy. Fun for toddlers, but not always for the mama. I usually love taking my son on the swing, and watching him do the assault course. There are a lot of parks near where we live in South-West London, and they all have something different to offer. But the real interesting thing is the people that each park attracts. Some are easy-going with friendly toddlers, others are full of aggressive children and mothers who do not care. General piece of advice to them: it is called parenting, not let-them-do-whatever-they-want-ing. I reckon I could write a book just on the politics of park life.

I recently had a lovely conversation with a little girl about Star Wars, had an aggressive 10-year-old call my two-year-old a ‘s**t f**k’ because he wanted to go on the bus, and strike up a conversation with a friendly Irish mother whose sons toy my son kept trying to steal. It went well until she told me that 5-year-olds are harder work than two-year-olds and then I just wanted to start drinking, everyday.

I have had many great conversations with other mothers and their children. Not every experience has been great however. Where there is all of life that will not happen. Recently it started to rain just as I took my son to the park, we waited under a tree until it passed. Another mother came to the fence near us and started saying how she had lost her phone to a friend, and had left it on the fence. She gave me the eye and I gave the eye back, irritated. She then went all over the park looking for her phone. A while later she came up to me and asked ‘if I had seen a phone’. I told her, no. The rain passed and I took my son into the park for some fun. I looked over at one point to see the mean mother, who had previously been bitching about me to all of her friends, On Her Phone. No apology. Difficult mothers cannot be entirely avoided. Neither can the competitive ones. One mother kept telling me my son was 3 ‘because he looks 3’ It is hard to argue with that kind of logic.

Negative moments aside I now get why I saw so many mother in parks before I become a mother. Some looked exhausted and spaced out, others were on their phones, and some looked happy as they watched their child play. The park allows parents to socialise while the children burn off energy. On a tough day, it takes some of those hours away when they feel endless. So I might see you at the park, but I will make sure it is a friendly one. Feel free to strike up a conversation.

Christmas Gift List For Mum

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Frostie

Christmas gifts for mums. Because they are AWESOME.

Fluffy dog slippers

We love these cute and comfortable slippers. They keep your feet warm. Babies love them too. Batting away at them with glee.

Slip your feet into the ultimate in warm, fluffy comfort with these super-cute dog slipper socks. One size fits most feet up to women’s size 7. PVC sole with multi grip for slip resistance.

Total Price: £14.99

Woodland Bear Candle Tin

Cute and smells great. We really loved this.

Long lasting and highly concentrated woodland spice scented candle with aromas of cedar, ginger, clove and cinnamon. 100% soy wax infused with pure beeswax, a natural ioniser. Lead free, double wick that leaves a clean even burn. Burn time 70+ hours. Presented in a gift tin with a bear illustration. Size: 92 x 92 x 50mm. Total Price: £14.99.

Sparkling Jewellery To The Moon And Back Necklace

Perfect for telling mum just how much you love her. From www.sparklingjewellery.co.uk

Cashmere Me Warm Hug Comforting Candle

A beautiful and comforting candle. Smells great.

Fake Bake Cashmere MeWarm Hug Comforting Candle, £20.00

This comfortingcandle with its double wick, creates more than just a scent, it creates an inviting ambience that envelops the senses, giving that warm hug feeling that’s like being wrapped in cashmere. Relax, unwind and take some time out.

SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit

Because mum is too tired and too busy for manicures and this lasts for up to 2 weeks.

Sensationail gel polish starter kit is available here.

Michael Bublé By Invitation

Stunning and elegant. A crisp floral oriental fragrance. Has top notes of red fruits and bergamot followed by notes of lily of the valley, elegant rose, wild jasmine and spicy peony. Base noted are sandalwood musks mixed with vanilla praline.

Michael Bublé By Invitation is available here.

Toni & Guy Style Fix Straighteners

A brilliant little straightener that is perfect for travel. Fits in a handbag. A great space saver. The style fix collection also has a waver and a curler.

Brand New TONI&GUY style fix appliances are available here and from boots.com

True North Cosmetics

Scandinavian skincare brand. The True North Cosmetics philosophy is to offer high quality products for those who desire a straightforward skin care program that delivers impressive results regardless of age or gender. Prior to your bespoke skincare prescription, True North Cosmetics offer a detailed skin analysis using an innovative biometric measuring tool, which gives a valuable insights into your skins need, such as skin moisture level, oil production, skin sensitivity and number and depth of lines and wrinkles.

True North values results and common sense above hip ingredients as they truly believe this creates positive long-term results for everyone. We love their De-stressed Day Fluid 7.1 SPF 30, De-Stressed Mask 6.1 and their De-Stressed Day 2.1 all with `aloe vera balancing complex. Highly recommended.

Available at Harvey Nichols and at leading spas and salons nationwide www.harveynichols.com

The Career Code by Hilary Kerr & Katherine Power

A great career book for mum with a side of life advice. Great book to give mum inspiration for her next career move.

The Career Code is available here.

Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré

Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré is a celebrity staple, this wonder cream tackles dehydration with ease using its combination of ingredients of natural origin, it has been a favourite of dermatologists, beauty professionals and makeup artists for decades, famed for its multi-purpose properties.

A great multi-functional nourishing moisturiser. Makes a great make-up primer.

Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream is available here.

Top 20 most Stressful Things about Parenthood

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Frostie

The answer to this could be everything. No, we jest. A recent poll of 2,000 parents has revealed the Top 20 most stressful things about parenting. The nightly teeth-cleaning battle, the bedtime routine and the dreaded school run are among the most stressful things about parenthood, a study has found.

The average mum and dad spend almost two hours a day feeling stressed, with trying to keep the house tidy the most common cause.

Others feel the strain at bath time, while trying to get children to behave in public and shopping for new clothes with the youngsters in tow.

Mornings – complete with getting the children out of the door for the school run, persuading them to finish their breakfast and clean their teeth – are the most stressful time of the day, claiming five of the 10 top stresses.

Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who has been working with belVita Breakfast to help relieve parents, particularly in the mornings, said: “The stress and challenges of parenting can feel overwhelming – especially when we feel under pressure to get a lot done in a short space of time.

“Morning can be especially challenging and it’s key to develop a positive, convenient routine in the morning as it sets the rhythm for the day.

“When it’s ‘back to school time’, trying to get everything done and leaving the house on time is at its most pressurised so developing strategies that you give you and your family a sense of control is really important.”

The study by belVita Breakfast of 2,000 parents of school-age children, found that staying on top of the house chores is the biggest cause of stress for mums and dads, while getting the children to do their homework and the bedtime routine are also big triggers.

Researchers also found the average parent spends one hour and 48 minutes of each day feeling stressed, with 63 per cent going as far as to say the majority of their stress is parenting related.

Mornings are the worst time of day for parents with the average mum and dad having at least one day a week where they struggle to get out of the front door on time for school and work.

The children taking too long to do things is usually to blame for the family’s lateness, followed by youngsters not doing as they are asked and not getting out of bed.

But as a result of the frantic mornings, one in five parents has dropped the kids off at school after the bell and the same percentage have ended up late for work as a result.

Others have given the children lunch money instead of a lunch box, sent them to school in dirty or un-ironed uniform or with wet hair.

As families prepare for the dreaded ‘back to school’ week, it’s not just kids who bear the brunt of the ‘morning madness’, with over a third of parents forgetting breakfast and 38 per cent having a fight with their partner over who takes on the most in the morning.

Eighty-seven per cent even said they look forward to the weekends when they don’t have to worry about the school run and leaving the house on time.

It also emerged that 66 per cent of parents believe mums bear the brunt of the morning and back to school stress, with half admitting they often argue with their partner about who gets the raw deal.

Top 20 most stressful things about parenthood

1. Keeping the house tidy and the chores up to date

2. Getting the children ready and out of the door in time for school

3. Getting back into a school/morning routine after the school holidays

4. Getting children to do their homework/reading

5. The bedtime routine

6. Getting children to eat certain foods

7. Getting children to clean their teeth

8. Making sure my children are well behaved in public

9. Getting back into a school/morning routine after the school holidays

10. Getting children out of bed in the mornings

11. Meal times

12. The school run

13. Entertaining children on a rainy day

14. Remembering everything they need for school

15. Shopping for new clothes

16. The back to school period

17. Getting children to sleep through the night

18. Getting children to eat their breakfast

19. Juggling your children’s different after school/weekend clubs schedule

20. Getting children dressed in the mornings

30 Days of Gratitude Day Six #30daysofgratitude

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Today I am grateful for mothers. Not only my amazing mother, but mothers everywhere. Most of whom work 24/7, seven days a week and not only don’t get paid, but sometimes don’t even get any gratitude. Mothers are amazing, here is to them.

Catch up on other days:

Day 1.
Day 2.

Day 3.

Day 4.

Day 5.

What are you grateful for?

Nearly Half of Working Mums Would Consider Sharing Parental Leave

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Frostie

Some 44% of working mums would consider sharing their maternity leave with their partner, according to Workingmums.co.uk annual survey.

The number of women who would consider sharing their leave when the new shared parenting legislation comes in next year has risen by 3% since last year and may in part be due to a rising number of women who are the main breadwinners in their families – over 17% of women who were living with a partner say they are the main breadwinner and only in a small number of cases is this because their partner has been made redundant or had to reduce their hours.

The survey of over 2,390 working parents, sponsored by McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd, covers a wide variety of issues, from childcare and flexible working to finances, discrimination and self employment.

It shows that, despite the rise in women breadwinners, the number of women who claim to split childcare and housework equally with their partners is just 21%, down from 27% last year. Some 17% say their partners work flexibly with 4% of partners working part time.

Many women said the economic situation was affecting how long they took for maternity leave. Some 46% had returned to work early due to the recession or cost of living. Some 10% only took between one and three months’ maternity leave. The majority, however, took between seven and 12 months. Although 70% said they went back to work because they needed the money, 60% said they would work even if money was not an issue.

Other findings from the survey include:

– 56% of women say they earn less pro-rata than they did before having children.

– 49% say employers discriminate more against women in the current climate

– 60% think they have to work harder than men due to unconscious bias

– the number of parents using grandparents for childcare has risen. 56% make use of grandparents to reduce their childcare costs, 18% use tax credits, 25% have childcare vouchers; 23% use friends; 8% get older siblings to help and 18% get help from other relatives [many use a combination of options]

– 41% [up 11% on last year] spent nothing on childcare while 20% pay over £500 per month

– 32% say homeworking is their most favoured type of flexible working and homeworking is the most likely thing to encourage more women to work full time.

– 53% said that more flexible working would aid them in their career development

– Most women got the flexible working they requested, but 23% did not with 11% feeling their employer did not even consider their request at all

– Only 13% who had taken a career break found a job fairly easily afterwards

– Most women [53%] want part-time work and 15% of part timers work at least 6-8 hours extra a week

– Just 4% do a job share

– 74% of working mums are logging on to emails outside of their working hours, with 48% doing so regularly.

– 14% of respondents were on a zero hours contract or variable shifts – of these 54% prefer it as it offers flexibility, but 17% find it difficult to arrange all the childcare they need. 28% like it for the flexibility but also find it a challenge with childcare.

Gillian Nissim, founder of Workingmums.co.uk, said: “Our annual survey always throws up a wealth of information on the way women are working or would like to work and what the hurdles many face when attempting to reach their potential. It is interesting to note the appetite for shared parenting in the light of expectations that initial take-up will not be significant. This perhaps reflects a growing awareness among couples of the link between equality in the workplace and at home. It is vital that policy supports parents in having greater choice over how they balance work and family life.”

The Current State-of-Mind of Working Mums Today

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Frostie

GUILT-RIDDEN, TORN BETWEEN TWO ROLES AND OVER-LOOKED -The current state-of-mind of working mums today

* Over three quarters (80%) of women feel guilty about going back to work and worry about leaving their child in the care of others compared with just 39% of men.
* Childcare responsibilities still fall on the mother’s shoulders, even when both parents are working.
* A fifth of dads (20%) say they wished they hadn’t gone back to work after having a family, saying they wished they could have looked after their child while over a third (37%) of men say they work full time with NO flexibility at all.

New research into the state of mind of working parents in the UK has found that we are a nation divided with women battling to find a healthy work-life balance, taking on the majority of childcare responsibilities while not at work. The research, undertaken for The Work & Family Show which is due to take place for the first time on 21st and 22nd February, found that over three quarters of women (80%) feel guilty about going back to work after having a family. Men, on the other hand, are relatively confident about returning to their jobs with just 39% feeling guilty about leaving their children in childcare.

The biggest concern for more than 35% of women was not having the help or understanding from their employer when dealing with the difficult transition from working woman to working mum. They also worried that their employers would be discriminatory towards them, entrusting them with responsibility and fewer big projects.

One mum who struggled to return to work after having a baby is 31 year old Leah McGrath. She returned to her role as an HR Service Manager at a large agra-pharmaceutical company after a year at home with her daughter. The plan was for Leah to do a job share but this fell through and she found herself fitting in a full time job into her contracted three days a week. She says: “I was finding it such a struggle, commuting three hours, three days a week, and trying my best to be a good mum. I was getting ill all the time; whenever there was a virus going around, I would catch it as I was so run down and my little girl’s behaviour was becoming very challenging. After a while I realised there must be more to life and resigned. It was extremely scary but I am so pleased I did.” Leah has since re-trained as a yoga teacher, running her own Yogabellies franchise, teaching pre-natal, post-natal and baby massage classes in her lo cal wellbeing and community centres. She has managed to get a healthy work-life balance and work flexibly but only by leaving her past career behind her.

Ben Black, Director of MyFamilyCare.co.uk who, together with Clarion Events, are organising The Work & Family Show says: “Due to the lack of support from their employers on returning to work, women often feel forced to give up the careers they have trained and worked so hard for in order to fit in their new role of motherhood. However, it shouldn’t be like this. Staff need to be supported as they return to work and deal with the challenges that being a working parent can bring. Employers who respond to their needs will be rewarded with engaged, productive and loyal employees.”

The research also asked fathers how they felt about the transition from working man to working dad. More than a third (37%) said they returned to work and received no flexibility at all. One in five, meanwhile, said they wished they had never gone back to work at all, wishing they could take on the full-time role of child carer.

Ben Black continues: “So many big companies like Barclays, Discovery Channel and Rolls Royce have made big improvements to their policies to help their parents who work, but these results show there’s a huge deficit. Women shouldn’t feel restricted in work when they become a mother and a man’s role in bringing up a child has evolved so much in the past 30 years and it’s time that businesses recognise this too.”

The Work & Family Show has been born out of the high demand from families in need of help when returning to work or starting up their own business. Jenny Willott, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs, will introduce the show while inspirational experts and employers on the lookout for motivated staff will be on hand to give working parents and career break women access to practical advice. Organised by Clarion Events and My Family Care, it takes place on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd February 2014 at the ExCeL London. Tickets are available from www.theworkandfamilyshow.co.uk from just £12, and people coming to the neighbouring Baby Show will have free entrance*.

Opening times:
Friday 21st February: 9.30am – 5pm (trade and press entry from 8.30am on Friday for a networking breakfast)
Saturday 22nd February: 10am – 5pm
**Ends**

*Free entry will be for everyone who has a paid-for ticket to The Baby Show

We have six tickets to the Work and Family Show to giveaway

Frost Magazine Christmas Special: What To Buy, What To Do

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Frostie

Frost Magazine has put together an amazing Christmas special of things to do, stuff to buy and interesting Christmas stories. Grab some mulled wine and have a read.

BROOMBALL AT BROADGATE IS A GREAT WINTER WORKOUT

Canadian ‘ice hockey’ game hits the City

Broadgate Ice – the only rink in the City’s Square Mile – is offering Londoners a unique opportunity to try their hand at Broomball; a fast and furious import from Canada currently sweeping the UK. Broomball resembles ice hockey, with teams kitted out in trainers, knee and elbow pads and a crash helmet slipping and sliding across the ice scoring goals using a ‘broom’.

Teams of six players battle it out in eight minute matches, with four players from each team on the ice at any one time.

Burning close to 500 calories an hour, Broomball is a great way to work off the Christmas excesses and keep fit during the cold winter months. It’s being considered for inclusion in the winter Olympics: will the next Gold Medal heroes be discovered at Broadgate Ice?

Broadgate’s 2012/13 ice season runs until 24^th February. Other activities include Christmas food markets, skate disco nights and skate dates. Those seeking the limelight can have photos of their group, with suitably wintry background effects, shown on the big screen above the rink and posted to their Facebook page.

Broomball Competition Evenings

Pre-booking is essential for Broomball. Please call the Broadgate Ice Rink office on

020 7505 4100. Teams of six are required, at a team cost of £66 per session. Matches are played in ‘round robins’ between all participating teams.

For those who prefer a sedate skate:

Skate prices: Adults £9, Under 16s/Students/OAPS £7, Skate Hire £2. Monthly and season tickets available, check these out on your first skate

Booking: No need to book, just turn up and skate (see timings below)

More information: Keep an eye on www.broadgate.co.uk for updates

Start Skating

A first come first served system means spontaneous skaters can turn up to a number of sessions each day, with no need to book. The rink will be open 7 days a week – excluding Christmas Day.

Weekdays

Lunchtime skate 12.15 – 14.15

Afternoon skate 15:00 – 17:00

After work skate 17.30 – 19:00

Late skate 19.30 – 21:00 – please check availability on the website, as the late Skate session will be affected by Broomball matches / private hire

CHRISTMAS MOVIES UNLEASH INNER CHILD

– THE SNOWMAN TOPS FESTIVE FILM POLL –

With Christmas just around the corner, a new poll revealed today shows that this year Brits are turning their back on festive film favourites such as It’s a Wonderful Life, instead choosing to channel their inner child, selecting The Snowman as their top festive film.

The seasonal survey by Gallo Film Club, the home of great wine and great film, unveiled that after a busy year 85% of UK adults chose a kid’s film as their favourite, as they felt it enabled them to forget work and home stresses and really get into the Christmas spirit.

The poll, which questioned over 1,500 films fans, saw the 2004 computer-animated fantasy film Polar Express and the 1990 kid’s classic Home Alone closely following ‘The Snowman, beating British rom-com Love Actually and black and white classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

‘The Snowman’s’ popularity shows no sign of slipping, celebrating it’s 30^th anniversary this year will reveal a new 23-minute version titled ‘The Snowman and the Snowdog’ on Christmas Eve, featuring a new little boy who’s son to the original boy now an adult, flying over international landmarks set to enthrall yet another generation of adults.

The top ten films include:

1. The Snowman	(26 per cent)
2. The Polar Express	(16 per cent)
3. Home Alone	(14 per cent)
4. Elf	(12 per cent)
5. Muppets Christmas Carol	(9 per cent)
6. Miracle on 34^th Street	(8 per cent)
7. Arthur Christmas	(7 per cent)
8. Love Actually	(4 per cent)
9. It’s A Wonderful Life	(3 per cent)
10. Scrooged	(1 per cent)

Why not host your own film-themed night this Christmas with the Gallo Film Club and a warming glass of Gallo Cabernet Sauvignon, a delicious medium-bodied wine with rich blackberry and raspberry flavours. Serve with thick cuts of prime rib or juicy oven-roasted lamb for the ultimate winter warming night in: www.gallofamily.co.uk/filmclub
The White Company: Get 20% off Selected The White Company & The Little White Company Gifts plus free delivery with code: AB494. Offer extended until 23/12/2012

And Stocking Fillers are always popular. Fill them up with goodies from ASOS and John Lewis.

Other great offers are….

UNIQLO have some amazing Christmas offers!
– Get Free Next Day Delivery until 4pm on 20/12/2012!
– Get up to 20% off 100% luxury cashmere LIMITED OFFER!
– Get up to £20 off Down jackets and coats LIMITED OFFER!
– Orla Keily HEATTECH only £9.90 LIMITED OFFER!

Myprotein also have the following amazing Christmas offers!
– FREE Mix Shaker when you spend £20 with code: MIXANDSHAKE
– 10% off when you spend £30 with code: NEWYOU10
– 15% off when you spend £60 with code: NEWYOU15
– 20% off when you spend £90 with code: NEWYOU20
– 10% off Lean Definition Advanced bundle & Bulk Up Advanced bundle with code: BUNDLE10
All offers valid until 10/01/2013

Indulge In A Glass Of Christmas Cashback

Shopitize, the mobile couponing specialists, is spoiling savvy shoppers this holiday season by giving Christmas cashback on everyone’s favourite festive liqueur

Shopitize (www.shopitize.com) is helping families celebrate this season by giving £2 cashback on a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream.

Christmas is an expensive time of year – especially this year when the price of food is going up the chimney. The latest inflation figures show that food prices are rising at 3.9%, faster than overall goods and services.

The wet British summer has also meant the traditional Christmas dinner is going to cost families far more. Although the price of a turkey has stayed the same, the cost of all the trimmings has increased like never before.

On average potatoes cost 43% more than last year, sprouts are up by 24%, and a 12% rise in the cost of white bread means there may be a little less bread sauce round the table than normal. The cost of alcohol has also increased by 1.4%.

So UK families need all the help they can get at this time of year.

All shoppers need to do is look out for their mobile guiding star which will safely lead them through the expensive shopping isles to the Shopitize’s gift bag of Christmas cashback.

Shopitize specialises in connecting brands with their customers by offering cashback on big-name goods.

As well as the Baileys offer, smart shoppers with a money saving craving can pick up a few more Christmas crackers by using their free Shopitize mobile couponing app.

Users can get £2 off a fresh or frozen whole/basted/crown turkey, and 50p off Aunt Bessie’s Classic or Perfect for Chicken Gravy. Other offers include £1 off Mars Celebrations or £1.50 off if you share the offer, £1 off Gu After Dark Hot Chocolate Soufflés and 50p off Mr Kipling Mince Pies.

“Shopitize’s mobile couponing app is all about making the shopping experience easier for users and saving them money,” says Dr. Alexey Andriyanenko, co-founder and managing director of Shopitize.

“At this time of year everyone is getting ready for Christmas. Shoppers are stocking up on all their favourite goodies and brands are competing with each other to grab the attention of the festive shopper.

“We at Shopitize are the middle men helping to bring both sides together, offering cashback gifts and pointing the way to a paperless future.”

Ideas For an exclusive Christmas for him and for her by Maserati

Christmas with style: Maserati presents five exclusive Christmas ideas for him and for her. According to the famous Italian brand, exclusive accessories are definitely among the most appreciated Christmas presents for both men and women.

In the top position of the wish lists of women and girls worldwide are definitely handbags, made of materials ranging from leather to hi-tech nylon, often used together to create accessories that mix elegance and practicality. The star of Maserati handbagswinter collection is Momaboma’s limited edition, a collection of ecologic bags with a unique design: 100 handbags combining paper and leather together with the famous Maserati logo. These hard-to-find accessories are definitely proof that women can be car lovers and eco-chic at the same time.

Maserati silk scarves are also highly sought after. Lighter and smaller than a traditional scarf, a silk scarf is the perfect match for shirts and tops of all kinds and for mono-chromatic handbags too. This year, Maserati presents a collection of Madein Italy silk scarves, whose colours make them suitable for any kind of style.

Among the most popular ideas for men, the top is definitely represented by Maserati’s watch collection: 50 models offering the right mix of fashion and elegance.

For a unique present we recommend the Calandra Swiss-made line, a numbered limited edition characterised by a classic tonneau shape, reinterpreted with an elegant leather wristband and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The details adding a hint of Maserati style to the mix are many, among them the trident-shaped hands and the dials inspired by Maserati cars’ speedometers. .

To add a sophisticated touch to shirts, Maserati recommends its cufflinks, minimalistic and versatile in their design and made with materials of the highest quality. The Pure collection by Damiani, only available in silver, is perfect for a distinctive present. Pure cufflinks are part of a broad collection ranging from jewels to key-chains.

Finally, for both him and her, a good bottle of wine for the perfect relaxing evening is the perfect gift. A special collaboration between Maserati and Scrimaglio resulted in the creation of three exclusive Maserati wines: a Barbaresco DOCG, a Barbera Asti DOCG superior and a Piedmont DOC Classic – for those who prefer sparkling wines.

All products featured in the Maserati’s Christmas wish list for 2012 are available on maseratistore.com. A few days are left before Christmas and the race for the best present is on: trends show a great popularity of e-commerce stores and car lovers seem to confirm this tendency. This Christmas, car lovers worldwide can say goodbye to slow queues in shopping malls and traditional shops and buy online with just one click.

Will the Retail Sales Figures out today give retailers hope?

Less than a week to go as pre-Christmas competition puts the heat on retailers

ONS Retail Sales Figures due out today are expected to show an increase in retail sales over the last month. However the underlying trend still shows trouble ahead for retailers who do not have a coherent strategy embracing multichannel retailing to attract increasingly savvy consumers.

In what is classed as the final ‘golden quarter’ for the sector, which includes the usually profitable Christmas, many firms are relying on the festive season to boost disappointing sales seen throughout the year. With less than a week left before Christmas, retailers are using all the tactics they can to drive sales both online and on the high street to make sure this happens.

Consumers are increasingly using tablets and mobile phones to compare prices, download coupons and vouchers and find the best bargains around across the entire retail landscape including the high street and online. This is changing the game for retailers.

Chris Thomas, CEO and founder of the UK’s largest independent shoe retailer, Cloggs, said, “Compared to last year, we have seen a 1000% increase in the number of sales on mobile devices so we are very much aware of the power of shopping on the move. This Christmas, shoppers will be looking to combine convenience with cost cutting. As a result, we will see a greater use of mobile devices as people pick up bargains and share their deals via social media.

“Whereas previously, shoppers found it convenient to shop online in the comfort of their own homes, we are now seeing a new era of shoppers who are taking that convenience one step further and are making purchases whenever and wherever they want.”

Chris concluded, “For Cloggs, we place a high value on our high street store, but also ensure that our online offering is easy to use and has a wide selection that offers added value. It’s important for the high street to take note and utilise all the sales channels to the best of its abilities.”

Christmas has come early for Brent Cross Winter Wonderland, as the centre saw X Factor star Melanie Masson getting her skates on!

Melanie joined Dancing on Ice stars Natalia Pestova and Alexi Kislitsyn at the Centre’s first ever outdoor ice rink for an ice skating lesson she’ll never forget.

The Brent Cross Winter Wonderland has a host of other rides and attractions including a Ferris wheel and carousel Shoppers can also enjoy a different kind of shopping with a browse around the Christmas Village market for food and drink, on until 5^th January. www.brentcross.co.uk

Forget perfume, chocolates and underwear, real men buy women accessories for Christmas, says fashion recommendation site Dressipi

With only five shopping days left until Christmas, fashion recommendation site Dressipi is urging any men who have left it to the last minute to buy presents for the most important women in their lives to forget boring old chocolates and perfume and splash out on some beautiful accessories.

Dressipi’s Last-Minute Gift Guide has been handpicked by its top stylists from a selection of the most popular items on its site from 708 retailers, suggesting three foolproof gift ideas for a man’s wife or girlfriends, Mum and sister. Its selection ranges from H&M Sunglasses (£14.99) and Topshop Martini drape earrings (£12.50) as perfect fun gifts for sisters, right through to a luxurious and sexy Yves Saint Laurent ‘Tribute’ sandal £551.15 and desirable Marc by Marc Jacobs shoulder bag which are a perfect way to say “I love you” to a wife or girlfriend.

Dressipi stylist Natalie Theo said: “Buying your mum, sister or significant other something beautiful to wear over Christmas is a brilliant way of showing you appreciate and understand them. But it can also be a minefield if you don’t get the size right. No one wants to receive a dress that’s two sizes too big on Christmas morning.

“This is why buying accessories is such a good idea. A gorgeous new handbag, fashion-forward scarf or some killer heels sends out all the right signals without any potentially embarrassing sizing drawbacks. Savvy women have known for ages that a well-judged accessory can go with more or less anything and it’s high time men got with the programme.”

And for those men who are determined to buy the women in their lives clothes for Christmas, Dressipi also has a solution in the form of the Dressipi wishlist. This function allows any woman signed up to the site to create her own figure-flattering, style-specific, size-perfect personalised shopping list and share it with their chosen gift buyers. But with just a few shopping days left, Dressipi urges men everywhere to make haste…

The Dressipi Last-Minute Gift Guide

For Sisters

Ash Cool Wedge Hi Top Trainer Shoes in Cobalt blue- £85 (reduced from £169), House of Fraser

H&M Sunglasses – £14.99, H&M

Martini Drape chain earrings – £12.50, Topshop

For Mums

Michael Kors leather shopping tote bag – £234.99 (Farfetch)

Marlene Birger Edouard Print Scarf – £79.99 (MyTheresa)

Anniel Ballerina flats – £98.00 (Shoescribe)

For Wives and Girlfriends

Alexander McQueen Dragonfly Cuff bracelet – £393.07 (Farfetch)

Yves Saint Laurent ‘Tribute’ sandal – £551.15 (Farfetch)

Shoulder bag, Marc by Marc Jabocs – £239.26 (Farfetch)

C4 choir in quest for Xmas No 1

What have the following got in common? Benny Hill, Leon Jackson, Mr Blobby, Cliff Richard and Bob the Builder? No, it’s not that they’ve all signed up for the next Celebrity Big Brother. No, it’s not even that they were all in my particularly weird, semi-sexy dream last night (although they were – I must cut out that evening Gouda). No, it’s that they have all been Christmas Number One.

Now it’s time to add a new name to the list, with the news that the Channel 4 choir (which, of course, had to be called The 4Tunes) has launched its own assault on the ears – sorry, on the Christmas top-spot – with a brilliant cover of East 17’s undeniably excellent ballad Stay Another Day.

The single has all the makings of a Yuletide hit. It’s for charity (as with Xmas No 1s Band Aid, Band Aid II, Band Aid 20, Band Aid Please Stop It Now Will You, Military Wives) it’s been sung by a choir (Military Wives, St Winifred’s School Choir) it’s got a gorgeous video featuring a string of beautiful people* (Bob the Builder) and it’s a deliciously soupy ballad that makes you want to cuddle a puppy (Rage Against the Machine – sample lyric: F*** you I won’t do what you tell me).

So, why should you buy this single, which, incidentally, is available on iTunes. Well, firstly, all proceeds go to Crisis at Christmas. Secondly, it sounds ruddy marvellous, like bathing your ears in pleasantly-warmed blancmange while having an ocelot massage your adrenal glands. And thirdly, it might keep the X Factor single off the top of the charts. That’s right, Cowell, that’s right, ITV, we’re coming for you. WE ARE COMING FOR YOU! And this time, we’re wearing really cosy-looking puffa jackets and singing in harmony. Ha! Take that! Kapow!

Visit the Boux Avenue website for further Christmas gift ideas. Get the buying guide for your own website here. infographic credit: bouxavenue.com

Tug of war over the Turkey?
Food intolerances could be the reason for your family feuds

Is Food Intolerance behind your winter blues?

We all make emotional connections with the foods we eat, but many of us don’t realise just how direct the link is between food and our mood. It may surprise you to know that most of the happy hormone serotonin is actually produced in the gut, not the brain, and as such issues of food intolerance can significantly impact on our mood and mental wellbeing.

1 in 4 people in the UK will suffer problems with their mood or mental health every year, with anti-depressant prescriptions increasing by over 40% in the last 5 years*. According to charity Allergy UK, a shocking 45% of us suffer with food and drink intolerances, and with so many people in the UK suffering with low mood, identifying the root cause is essential to treat the problem.

Recent research from YorkTest Laboratories, leading experts in food intolerance testing, has found that 97% of their customers reported problems relating to mood as a significant symptom of their food intolerance, of which 73% felt that their mood had significantly improved after altering their diets to remove foods to which they reacted**.

In addition, in a recent paper published in the journal of Nutrition and Food Science, over 81% of patients reported a significant improvement in mood and mental wellbeing as a direct consequence of applying the dietary changes recommended by YorkTest.

“Most people are aware that a healthy diet is important to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other physical health problems. Recent evidence also suggests that good nutrition is just as important for our mental health and that a number of mental health conditions may be influenced by dietary factors; this body of evidence linking diet with mental health is growing. A healthy diet can help recovery and lift your mood, although it should always sit alongside any treatments recommended by your doctor.” Eva Cyhlarova, Research Director, Mental Health Foundation
So how is it that the food we eat can have such a significant impact on our mood? Dr. Gill Hart, Scientific Director at YorkTest Laboratories, explains.

“Many people will not be aware that 90% of serotonin, the brain’s ‘happy hormone’ is produced in the gut, and that the nervous tissue in our gut does much more than merely handling digestion – it is heavily involved in influencing our mental state. It is for these reasons that the gut is often referred to as the ‘second brain’. In addition, research has shown that depression is frequently associated with gastrointestinal inflammation – a common symptom of food intolerance. By tackling unidentified food intolerances, not only will physical symptoms benefit, but mental health symptoms can often show significant improvement.”

Commenting on the link between food intolerance and mood, Professor Whorwell, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology, University Hospital of South Manchester, said: “Of the relaxation therapies available, we find that hypnotherapy can be very helpful when it comes to treating IBS. The link between mood and gut symptoms is clear and hypnosis not only helps to reduce anxiety but also has a direct effect upon the gut, thereby reducing symptoms”.

To help identify potentially mood suppressing food intolerances, help is at hand from YorkTest Laboratories, Europe’s leading provider of food and drink intolerance testing with over 30 years’ experience. The YorkTest food and drink intolerance test called Food&DrinkScan can uncover potential food and drink triggers, allowing people to simply modify their diets with life changing health benefits.

Food & Drink Scan measures reactions to 158 foods and also ingredients found in beverages.

A First Step Test is available for the offer price of £9.99 (usually £19.99). Following the First Step, if your result is positive you can then progress to either the FoodScan, which tests for intolerances to 113 trigger foods for £250, or the full Food&DrinkScan for £299. For a limited time, if you progress to the full Food&DrinkScan after taking the First Step, the initial test price will be discounted from the cost of your full test.

Food&DrinkScan is available to buy online or by phone for £299.

SOUNDWAVE CROATIA FESTIVAL

RETURNS FOR IT’S 5^TH SUN SOAKED YEAR

19^th – 21^st JULY 2013

TISNO, CROATIA

A stunningly beautiful european festival bringing the best UK and international artists, DJ’s and music collectives to the heart of the Dalmatian Coast…

· First wave of acts announced

· Big headliners to be announced shortly

· 3 days of UK and international Funk, Electronica, Soul & Reggae artists across 3 outside stages

· Boat parties, open air after hours nightclub, sun, sea & private beach cove, outside Euro Zone prices

· Cheap flights currently available for £100 return

ARTISTS CONFIRMED SO FAR:

BONOBO (Full Live Band)

SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA

RIOT JAZZ // CRAIG CHARLES

CHANNEL ONE SOUNDSYSTEM

KUTMAH // ANCHORSONG (live) // OM UNIT

KIDKANEVIL // ESSA & YUNGUN

ELIPHINO // RICH REASON // GILLA // MIKEY J

+ many more acts to be announced shortly!

Tickets on sale now only: £119 after (including festival programme)

CHEAP FLIGHTS AVAILABLE NOW FOR £100 RETURN!

2013 PROMO VIDEO HERE: http://youtu.be/cEfMAjC2Uxk

Further information: www.soundwavecroatia.com // www.croatia.hr

‘All the quirks of Bestival but in a far more beautiful and sunny setting’ – The Guardian

‘Soundwave is one of the best festivals in the World’ –Roots Manuva

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Fresh off the back of another sell out festival this year Soundwave Croatia Festival returns to idyllic sunny shores of Tisno for it’s fifth year in July 2013 featuring the best in sunshine music from an array of international and UK artists playing beautiful, thoughtful, and inspiring sounds, Soundwave Festival offers the perfect setting in which to enjoy music with like minded people, and not a wellie in sight!

Hosted by established boundary pushing UK promoter collectives, Soundcrash and New Bohemia and set over five days in the heart of the stunning fishing village of Tisno, nestled on the Dalmation Coast in between Split and Zadar, the festival offers an unrivaled setting that features guaranteed sun, a beautiful private beach cove on the glistening Adriatic Sea, daily boat parties run by the UK’s premier music collectives, an open-air nightclub for dancing under the stars until sunrise and crystal clear Funktion 1 sound systems.

Not only that but Croatia is outside euro zone prices and cheap UK flights and coach travel are plentiful, matched with enviable range of accommodation to suit every budget from on site camping to luxury villas, all within easy access of island hopping and stunning national parks, making Soundwave not only the perfect festival but also the holiday of lifetime.

Past artists to have graced the Soundwave stage include the likes of De La Soul, Ghostpoet, Little Dragon and 2013 is no exception bringing even more great music to the shores of Tisno with this year’s first wave of acts which already looks like a the A-Team on turbo charge…

This year one of Ninja Tunes premier artists, Bonobo will be heading back to his much-awaited second Soundwave. After the tremendous success of the ‘Black Sands’ album and subsequent remixes in 2011 which earned a nomination for ‘Best Artist Album’ and ‘Best Dance Remix’ in DJ Mag he will be showcasing cuts from his upcoming 2013 release with a full live band in support.

Submotion Orchestra will also be gracing the Soundwave stage, often leaving crowds inspired and often open-mouthed in their wake, this is live dubstep not to be taken lightly.

Alongside them Tokyo-born Anchorsong will be leaving fans agape as he build tracks from scratch on stage using an MPC, an incredibly innovative and exhilarating live act.

Kutmah is arguably London’s best distributor of mind bending low end and psychedelic Hip Hop. One of the forefathers of the beats movement in Los Angeles, his acclaimed Sketchbook radio nights broadcasted the earliest efforts of Flying Lotus and The Gaslamp Killer (among many others).

Representing London’s vibrant beats scene is Kidkanevil, a versatile producer equally at ease making beats in his studio or playing out in clubs, giving his live sets a distinct personality as he weaves his own productions with the heaviest beats around.

Expect roadblock action as Infamous poet, actor, television presenter, stand up comedian Craig Charles brings his infamous Funk & Soul selections to the party as he explores the past, present and future of the genres in the sunshine.

Kelpe has been making a name for himself across and beyond Europe for solo live sets and as a duo with long time collaborator Chris Walmsley (Psapp, Broadcast, etc), his live setup incorporates MPC style beat manipulations, tiny analogue synths and a lot of bass.

Purveyor of the finest vibrations, Eliphino has released and performed for some of the UK’s most progressive, cutting edge electronic music enclaves, including Hoya Hoya in Manchester, First Word Records in London and has had circulation on Brownswood Recordings.

Essa & Yungun are widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading MCs, Essa (formerly Yungun) has garnered praise and collaborated with the likes of De La Soul, KRS-One and Slum Village.

Soundwave Festival favourites the Riot Jazz Brass Band navigate a minefield of original peace-lovin’ aggro jazz, hip-hop samples, funked-up favourites and re-interpreted dubstep, drum’n’bass and dancefloor bangers that never fail to send limbs flying!

With his trademark slick blend of classic breaks, hip-hop, electronica, rock, kid’s records, d&b, and in fact everything in between and beyond, Cheeba has the unrivaled technical ability, knowledge and humor to pull it all together like no one else.

With big headline acts to be announced shortly 2013 is shaping up to be the best Soundwave yet.

Soundwave Croatia co-founder Rob Waller says: “We had amazing feedback on our move to Tisno last year so we have decided to stay for 2013. Our new larger site has created space to breathe, the secret beach cove is fantastic and the surrounding village and National Parks are some of Europe’s most beautiful spots.

The beauty of Soundwave is how cheap and easy travel is to the festival, with a plethora of budget airlines flying to Zadar & Split on daily basis and with the introduction of on site camping as well as our range of top end villas, there is something on offer for every budget range. We’re looking forward to what’s set to be the best Soundwave year ever!”

Soundwave has become the summer highlight for a growing number of regulars who return year after year with a third of the tickets selling before any artists are announced. With a handful of festivals starting up in the concrete tourist hotspots across Croatia, Soundwave has become the festival synonymous with beauty in addition to its amazing line-up. Tickets sell out early every year, as ticket numbers are limited to retain its intimate spirit so expect tickets to sell out fast!

Big headliners and more line up to be announced soon check in for all the latest news: www.soundwavecroatia.com

Hostess with the Mostess? Over Half of Brits worried about impressing with Christmas hosting skills

YouGov research shows over 17 million Brits are worried about impressing guests with the state of their home this Christmas

Research from home furnishing store Dunelm Mill shows there’s nothing like peer pressure as Brits rank their friends above their own in-laws and parents as the people they are under the greatest pressure to impress with their Christmas hosting skills.

The survey of over 2,000 adults in Great Britain, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Britain’s largest homewares retailer, found that 60 per cent of British adults who have guests visiting this festive season feel under pressure to impress with their hosting skills, the equivalent of over 17 million people.

When those who are hosting at home this Christmas were asked who they were under greatest pressure to impress the results broke down as follows:

1. Friends

2. Mother

3. Mother in law

4. Brother/sister in law

5. Children

6. Sister

7. Husband/wife/partner

8. Father

9. Father in law

10. Brother

The tyrannical Mother in law stereotype is dispelled by the fact that people are far more worried about impressing their own mothers rather than their partner’s (13% vs. 8%). Interestingly men feel the pressure of their mother’s critical eye more than women with 15% of men being most worried about their mother visiting this Christmas compared to 12% of women.

The myth of a modern Britain could be wrong, as couples who co-habit, but who aren’t married, feel the most pressure to appease their parents, with 20 per cent most worried about their own mothers views of their home when they come to visit, and 17 per cent worried about their partner’s mums, this festive season.

Getting the hosting right is a delicate balancing act when your friends and family descent for the festivities, and of the 2,000 people surveyed the most common Christmas complaints were:

Most common Christmas complaints

1. House is too cold

2. Home is too cluttered

3. Christmas tree is not big enough

3. Christmas decorations are too extravagant

3. Christmas decorations are not extravagant enough

5. Home is too noisy

6. Christmas decorations are not traditional enough

Carole Brown, Director of Marketing for Dunelm Mill commented: “Getting the home ready for Christmas is part of the fun of the festive season, and of course we all want to make sure that our home is welcoming for friends and family. While our research has shown that we all feel pressure to impress, at this time of year it’s really all about having fun with loved ones.

“Everybody has their own style and whether your favourite colour scheme is red and gold, blue and silver or something else you can make your home a welcoming place for all guests this Christmas. All it takes is a few creative and simple touches that can give your home an inimitable festive feel.”

TURKEY WITH A DASH OF LAUGHTER PLEASE

Britons are craving laughter at the Christmas dinner table as comedians top the list of ‘ideal’ Christmas lunch guests

We are a nation in need of laughter as Britain’s top comedians including Stephen Fry, Paddy McGuiness, Miranda Heart, Paul O Grady and Alan Carr dominate this year’s Travelodge ideal Christmas lunch guest poll.

For the first time ever royalty, celebrity chefs and musicians have been snubbed in favour of our most loved comedians. In a quest for more laughter this year’s poll leads with Stephen Fry, renowned for entertaining his five million Twitter followers with his intellectual wit and humorous tales. The comedian, also known as one half of the duo ‘Fry & Laurie’, moved up from last year’s number two spot to this year’s number one position.

In second place the nation opted to keep their light-on for ‘Take Me Out’ host Paddy McGuinness as their ideal Christmas dinner guest. Famous for his ‘Paddy-isms’ on his dating show, the Bolton born comic beat his sidekick, Peter Kay, who debuted much further up the list at number seven this year.

In third place Britons choose the self acclaimed ‘giant’ of comedy and award winning comedienne Miranda Hart, star of BBC Two’s Sitcom ‘Miranda’ to join them for the most important meal of the year.

Other comedians making the top 10 ranking of ideal Christmas guests were Liverpudlian Paul O’Grady who reached fourth place followed by flamboyant comic and TV presenter Alan Carr. Taking sixth place was stand up comedian Russell Brand.

Stephanie Davies, Behavioural strategist & Author of Laughology: the science of laughter to improve your life commented on the research findings: “It’s no surprise that Britons have chosen some of the UK’s most popular comedians as their ideal Christmas dinner guests. This year has been a tough year and we are all in need of a belly full of laughter.

“Keeping your sense of humour and, most importantly having a good laugh, are important. Laughter is a natural way to release tension and creates happy hormones called endorphins. These help us to feel better, they make bonding with people easier and they help us relax – resulting in the perfect mindset to be in when we sit around the table enjoying Christmas lunch with our families.

“My top tip for avoiding any tension at the dinner table on Christmas Day is to remember to find the humour perspective and step back from a situation, take a deep breath and imagine how the scene might be played out in a sitcom. I always think of The Royle family and their comedy Christmas dinners, the reason why we find those programmes funny is because most of us can relate to them.”

“My favourite Christmas joke is there are two snowmen in a field: one looks at the other one and says “can you smell carrots!?”

Outside of the comedians, the only other personalities to enter the chart were TV’s golden girls Lorraine Kelly in eighth place and Holly Willoughby in ninth place. Completing the list and taking tenth place was Geordie princess Cheryl Cole.

The 2012 ideal Christmas dinner poll is listed below:

1. Stephen Fry

2. Paddy McGuinness

3. Miranda Hart

4. Paul O’Grady

5. Russell Brand

6. Alan Carr

7. Peter Kay

8. Lorraine Kelly

9. Holly Willoughby

10. Cheryl Cole

The survey also delved further to investigate Britons views on the most important meal of the year. Key findings revealed we are traditionalists at heart as 87% of Britons still opt for a turkey lunch with all of the trimmings. This year Christmas lunch will be served nearly an hour earlier from last year at 2.23pm in British homes across the country. Three out of 10 adults will have to endure up to four Christmas dinners on the 25^th December due to family commitments and pressures:

Eighteen per cent of adults will be eating two Christmas dinners
Nine per cent of adults will have to endure three Christmas dinners
Three per cent of adults will have to the mammoth task of devouring four Christmas dinners in one day.

The research also revealed the Mother-In-Law is still the most dreaded Christmas guest, followed by Mum as both women know best and will interfere with the day’s planned proceedings. Sixty eight per cent of women said it really annoys them when their Mother-In-Law or Mother tires to take over on Christmas Day. Thirty one per cent of respondents said it makes them feel inadequate and not a good host. A fifth of women said if it gets too much on Christmas day they will use the excuse of having a migraine so that they can have a sneaky catnap.

Father-In-Law takes third position of dreaded guest followed by Father and ex-partner in fourth and fifth position.

Listed below are Britons top 10 most dreaded guests for Christmas dinner:

Mother-In-Law
Mother
Father-In-Law
Father
Ex-Partner
Brother
Sister
Cousins
Grandparents
Stepmother

British households can rely on the men in their family to keep them amused during Christmas dinner as Britons reported when it comes to providing the laughter and entertainment around the dinner table, brothers, dads and grandfathers win.

Six out of 10 British adults reported they find it very stressful keeping the conversation flowing around the Christmas dinner table and a quarter of hosts will plan an itinerary of conversation topics prior to the day. Listed below are the top 10 most popular topics of conversations taking place in British households over Christmas dinner.

1. Catching up on family gossip

2. Running through the key events of the year

3. Reminiscing past memories

4. The cost of Christmas

5. The Queen’s speech and the royal family

6. Discussing the story lines of the soaps

7. The weather

8. The football

9. Politics

10. How good or bad the food and presents are this year

Travelling?

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokeswoman, said: “In 2012, we may be short of cash but we are certainly rich in Christmas spirit as 42% of Britons will be travelling around 99 miles to spend Christmas in the bosom of their family this year. However, savvy Britons are forgoing imposing on their families and avoiding the dodgy sofa and bed by booking themselves into a nearby hotel. This actually gives both parties free time to enjoy the holiday season and make the most of their time together, rather than getting under each other’s feet.

“This year we have seen a significant boost in room bookings for the festive season as consumers turn a family trip back home into a short festive break.”

CHARITIES HOPE TO CASH-IN ON CHRISTMAS AFTER DONATIONS DROP 20%

The increasing trend for giving cash through gift cards could provide a much-needed festive windfall for UK charities.

The exclusive Text Santa Gift Card design has been launched by One4all in partnership with ITV’s Text Santa Charity Appeal, which is supporting six charities across the UK: Age UK, Anthony Nolan – Be a Match, Carers UK – The Voice of Carers, Marie Curie – Cancer Care, Together for Short Lives and Whizz Kids – Move a Life Forward.

For every Text Santa gift card that is sold, 2 per cent of the amount of money loaded on to the card will be donated to the ‘Text Santa’ appeal.

The cards can be loaded with amounts starting at £10 to £400. The card can then be used at 17,000 different retailer outlets nationwide.

The move comes at a time when donations to charity are falling and the amount of cash given through gift cards is on the rise.

Data from the Charities Aid Foundation and National Council for Voluntary Organisations reveals that donations to charity in the last year fell by 20%.

It is hoped that the rising amount of cash given through gift cards will be one way to help meet the shortfall.

One4All reports that this Christmas the average amount of money people give as presents through gift cards has risen to £106 (up just under 10% from the average in 2010). Sales of multi-store gift cards are rocketing this Christmas, up 33.9% on last year.

Declan Byrne, Managing Director of One4all, says, “Christmas has traditionally been a time when charities have hoped to raise extra funds through the sale of Christmas cards and other gifts.

“However, with donations severely hit by wider economic factors, it’s important to find new ways to tap into people’s festive spirit and encourage them to buy presents that also help charities.”

FIREFIGHTERS OFFER TO FIX COLDPLAY CHRIS’S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

London firefighters have today pledged to ‘fix’ Coldplay’s Chris Martin after his wife Gwyneth Paltrow revealed his cooking disasters have twice led to 999 call outs.

London Fire Brigade is offering Martin, 35, a free home fire safety visit where crews will talk to him and his family about how they can stay safe from fire and avoid cooking fires – which are the most common cause for fires in the capital. Gwyneth Paltrow’s revelations came last night on a new Channel 4 cookery show, ‘Jamie and Jimmy’s Food Fight Club’, presented by Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty.

The Shakespeare in Love actress said in the programme:

“He has twice cooked a meal and this is not a joke, both times the fire brigade came. I swear on my life – both times.”

The Brigade targets its home fire safety visits to people and places where there is a higher risk of fire, but is also concerned about young professionals in London, like Chris, as they are responsible for one in four of all house fires. Kitchen fires account for at least three out of five house fires. Figures taken from the last five years show that there are on average nine kitchen fires a day in London. These caused over 2,500 injuries and 21 deaths.

Kitchen fires are often caused by cooking that has been left unattended. Ovens or hobs being accidentally left on are also a concern, as are chip pans and items being left too close to cookers. A large number of serious kitchen fires also begin when people have been drinking.

London Fire Brigade‘s Head of Operations, Prevention and Response Dave Brown said:

“People often think that fires only happen to vulnerable people but young professionals have a quarter of all house fires in London. Chris will know that fires can develop almost at the ‘Speed of Sound’ so it’s important that when they’re cooking, people don’t have ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ and leave their cooking unattended causing a lot of ‘Trouble’.

“Three out of five house fires start in the kitchen so at this time of year with the family coming round from Christmas dinner it is important to follow our advice.”

Cooking fire safety

Keep handles of pans turned to the back of the hob and away from other gas burners/electric rings.
Take pans off the heat and turn off the hob and/or grill if you have to leave the kitchen while cooking, and make sure the oven, hob and grill is turned off when you have finished cooking.
Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that can make you drowsy.

Never fill a pan more than a third full with fat or oil.
Dry chips/food before putting them in the pan.
If the oil has started smoking turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool down, otherwise it may catch fire.
Turn off the hob if you have to leave the kitchen whilst cooking.

VARIETY, THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY, SPREAD FESTIVE CHEER AT ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCH RAISING OVER £45,000 IN AID OF DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN THE UK

Variety Young Ambassadors and Paralympians treated to musical performances by Joe McElderry, Britain’s Got Talent contestants Jonathan and Charlotte and the cast of Thriller

Variety, the Children’s Charity’s Chief Barker Keith Andrews announced today that the guests who attended Variety’s Christmas Lunch on Tuesday at The Bloomsbury Big Top, raised an impressive £45,000 for children throughout the UK who are sick, disabled and disadvantaged.

The Christmas Lunch saw musical performances from past X-Factor winner Joe McElderry, along with Britain’s Got Talent runners-up, Jonathan and Charlotte and the cast of West-End musical, Thriller.

The event was attended by Variety supporters along with special guest attendees from Variety’s Young Ambassadors, selected from the charity’s Wheelchair Programme, and eight of their funded Paralympians from this year’s 2012 games, who took part in a celebration of their achievements with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, DBE and Duncan Goodhew, MBE.

Chief Barker of Variety, the Children’s Charity, Keith Andrews said: “The Christmas Lunch brought together a fantastic mix of guests, including our celebrity and musical supporters and Young Variety Ambassadors exemplifying the work we do as a Charity: to have a good time while raising money for disadvantaged children – ensuring we can help them make the most of their childhoods”.

With a focus on helping children who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged to make the most of their childhood, Variety, the Children’s Charity, provides practical support through its mobility (Sunshine Coaches and electric wheelchairs), caring and health (equipping children’s hospitals), youth and education programmes (Variety at Work and outings to exciting places). In 2011 alone, the charity ensured that almost 60,000 children throughout the UK were taken on fun days out.

To find out more about Variety, the Children’s Charity, or to donate to their various projects, please visit www.variety.org.uk

Top Window’s Phone Apps.

Parcelgenie

eBay

GAME Reward

Send gifts to all your friends with ease this festive season. With ParcelGenie you can mail gadgets, mugs, sweets and more to anyone with a mobile phone and you don’t even need to know their address. They receive a notification text and the real pressie arrives in the post.Windows Phone 7.5 or higher

Left your Christmas shopping until the last minute? Fear not! this app has you covered. Buyers can now submit that last-minute bid, sellers can check on their sales, and act on time-sensitive information on the spot.Windows Phone 7 or higher

The improved GAME Reward scheme is a great way to receive more value for your money when buying your favourite games. Collect points on everything you buy in-store and online. Just download this app, fill in your details and use the points on items whenever you shop.Windows Phone 8 or higher

View in app store

Ocado On The Go

Christmas Presents

Heathrow Airport Guide

Take away the stress of shopping for your Christmas celebrations this festive season. With a catalogue of over 22,000 products stored to your phone, you can even shop offline. Seamless app syncing with ocado.com means you can start an order on one device and complete it on the other. Windows Phone 7 or higher

Too many presents to purchase and too little time – here’s an easy way to manage your shopping. The Christmas Presents app ensures you don’t forget to buy any gifts this year and helps you stay within your budget! You can even mark items as purchased and wrapped so there are no excuses this year!Windows Phone 7 or higher

Heading abroad this Christmas? The Heathrow Airport app guides you smoothly through each step of your winter getaway. Get travel updates through Windows Phone’s Live Tiles and even plan which shops and restaurants you would like to visit with interactive terminal maps.Windows Phone 7 or higher

View in app store

HolidayExtras.com launch gadget cover in time for Christmas

Holidaymakers can protect their much-loved gadgets with a new policy from award-winning insurance provider Holiday Extras.

The Silver Gadget Policy, which costs £15, insures up to five electronic items to the value of £2,000. The cover is valid for 17 days, and will pay out if any item is stolen or accidentally damaged.

The insurance is available as an add-on to customers who make an airport hotel or parking booking with HolidayExtras.com.

Andrea Clayton, Head of Insurance, commented: “Losing your treasured holiday snaps would be bad enough … losing your expensive camera at the same time would be a complete kick in the teeth!

“This new type of cover can’t protect the irreplaceable, but if you happen to drop your smartphone in the pool or your laptop gets swiped, it could be a financial bonus.”

BORED GAMES – ARE TRADITIONAL BOARD GAMES BECOMING A THING OF THE PAST?

· Battle to save the family favourites as a quarter of mums now only play board games with their kids twice a year

· Double the number of parents believe board games are good value compared to computer games

· Over half of parents still keep treasured board games from childhood

· Nine in ten families say board games have the greatest appeal across the generations

MUMS are now so busy that over a quarter (26 per cent) only play board games with their families twice a year, new research from the UK’s largest parenting site Netmums reveals.

While 92 per cent of mums and dads grew up playing board games, just 68 per cent of modern kids now play them as parents don’t have enough time to set up the games or teach children the rules.

Only one in seven mums still play board games weekly with their families (14 per cent), while 35 per cent play once a month and one in 15 bring out board games solely at Christmas.

But along with treasured soft toys, traditional board games were the most popular item for parents to keep from their childhood, with 54 per cent hanging onto vintage games.

The study also showed a huge 91 per cent of parents believed board games had inter-generational appeal and could be played by the whole family – compared to just 23 per cent who played on video games and 14 per cent who used apps.

Board games were also voted the best value for money toy with kids getting the highest ‘play per purchase cost’. Almost three quarters (69 per cent) of mums believed board games to be good value – eight times higher than for computer games (8 per cent).

Over a third of mums (35 per cent) said they would play more frequently if the board games were quicker – but a further 35 per cent said their games lasted for 30 minutes or less, making it easy to fit into the family schedule.

Tellingly, 95 per cent of mums quizzed said they thought board games were educational and taught children about ‘taking turns’ while 87 per cent believed they instil ‘patience’. A further 87 claimed they promoted ‘family bonding’ while 73 per cent said they improved their child’s ‘spelling ability.’

To raise awareness of the importance of play, Netmums has teamed up with Mattel, a leading games manufacturer, to create Mattel Fun Times. The aim of the campaign is to educate mums that game play doesn’t have to eat into those precious minutes of the day, but can be enjoyed in manageable chunks of around 20 minutes

Siobhan Freegard, Co-Founder and Director at Netmums, says, “There are benefits to be had by all the family when playing a game. Whether it’s on an educational level, to spend more time with the family or just to have some fun, game play should be an integral part of family life. There are a variety of games available and many take less than half an hour to bring the generations together and teach your children while they have fun.”

CHARITY SUSTRANS URGES FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO STAY ACTIVE THIS CHRISTMAS

This year, charity Sustrans is urging families and friends to beat the festive excess and stay active during the Christmas period by walking or cycling on some of the country’s most scenic routes.

From the iconic Lochwinnock Loop Line in Scotland to the picturesque Wandle Trail in London, the Sustrans traffic-free routes pass through some of the country’s most attractive locations.

The routes, which are good for short jaunts or longer hikes, are suitable for family and friends of all ages who want to explore their local areas during the season of goodwill.

To help plan your trip, the Sustrans website has an online mapping facility which allows you to search for routes near you, please visit http://www.sustrans.org.uk/map

Sustrans Chief Executive Malcolm Shepherd said, “After eating a heavy Christmas lunch or being cooped up in the house for most of the Christmas period, getting out and about in the fresh air will get your blood pumping and do you the world of good.

“With 75% of people in the UK now living within a couple of miles of the National Cycle Network, organising a cycling or walking trip is a fantastic way to bond with members of your family or friends and shed some of those unwanted calories. If you’ve got a new bike for Christmas, it also gives you a great opportunity to show off your shiny new present!”

Spanning the UK, the National Cycle Network’s 13,500 miles of walking and cycling routes include scenic traffic-free paths, quiet roads and lanes, signed on-road routes and themed long-distance routes. Last year, the network saw 484 million journeys made by 3.3 million individuals.

Make the most of your cycling or walking trip this Christmas by following these top tips. More can be found on www.sustrans.org.uk

· Don’t risk it. Cycling can be tricky when it snows or in icy conditions, so please think twice before getting on your bike. If you decide to walk make sure you wrap up warm, wear some reliable boots and take your waterproofs.

· When you’ve got a young child on the back of your bike, they won’t be generating heat like the person doing all the pedaling! So take extra clothes and waterproofs for them also.

· Got some cold turkey left over? Rustle up some turkey sandwiches and drinks to keep everyone’s energy and spirits up.

· Keep the trip packed with interest. Plan your trip around interesting stops and sights along the way.

· Don’t be too ambitious and gauge the mood of the group. Its much better that everyone returns home feeling refreshed and revitalised – not exhausted and put off.

· If you’re cycling with children, ride in a line with the children in the middle of the adults. If there’s only one of you, the adult should be at the rear, keeping an eye on all the children in front.

· If you think it might get dark whilst you’re out, consider wearing bright or reflective clothing.

THE CHRISTMAS SPENDING EX-FACTOR!

8.4 million UK adults regret spending money on Christmas presents they bought for ex-lovers
Great expectations: Men think their partners will spend more money on their Christmas presents than they actually will

When it comes to buying romantic Christmas gifts this year, women are definitely the most frugal, reveals research by MoneySupermarket*. Men will spend an average of £131.90 on their partners, whilst women plan to keep it very much under the £100 mark, spending an average of £93.50. However, it seems men and women can’t always let go of the ghost of relationships past, as 8.4 million (17 per cent) say they regret spending so much money on Christmas presents for their old flames.

The Spending Ex-Factor

Research into the Christmas spending patterns of UK’s adults further reveals it is younger adults aged between 18 – 34 who most regret their festive spending on ex-lovers. One in four (25 per cent) state this is the case – more than any other age group. When asked why they regretted spending money on their ex’s presents, unsurprisingly 39 per cent of adults said it was because they broke up with their partner soon after giving them. However, 35 per cent of women also stated they didn’t think their partner was worth spending that much money on, whilst just 25 per cent of men said the same.

The research also shows that these feelings may be impacting how much money men and women plan to spend on each other’s Christmas presents this year, especially if they are at the start of a new relationship. Men who have been dating their partner for less than three months, for example, plan to spend an average of £38.40 on their loved one, whilst women plan to spend a more modest £21.60.

Great Expectations

However, the research also revealed a disconnect between what men and women will spend on their partners vs how much they will actually spend. Whilst men think their partners will spend £100 on them they are actually planning on spending less at £93.50 on average. Similarly, women think their partners will spend £87.50, when they are actually planning to spend a lot more at £131.90 on average. When it comes to buying the presents themselves, it seems women get it more right than men, with two thirds of men (66 per cent) stating their current partner is the best at buying Christmas presents for them, compared to just four in 10 females (43 per cent).

Clare Francis, personal finance expert at MoneySupermarket.com said: “The last 12 months have been difficult for many people across the UK, especially as budgets have been stretched, and many people may find they don’t have much spare cash around this Christmas. With this in mind, it might explain why couples in new relationships are planning to keep their spending relatively controlled when it comes to buying their new partner a Christmas present. However, they may also be hedging their bets and want to see how the relationship turns out as well! With 8.4 million adults already saying they regret spending so much money on previous partners presents, it could be that sensible adults are really trying to watch their spending when in a new relationship this year.”

CHRISTMAS ‘APPY HOUR’ IS ON ITS WAY

· Over three hits every second anticipated on the M&S mobile website

· ‘Secret Santas’ turning to mobile shopping to keep Christmas gifts under wraps from nosey friends and family

M&S is anticipating over three hits every second to its mobile site, as customers shop from the comfort of their sofa whilst watching primetime telly. According to brand new research², time poor customers are opting to multi-task by shopping via mobile and tablet devices. 42% of shoppers using their mobiles this Christmas reveal they shop whilst doing other activities, such as watching TV. M&S expects this sofa shopping to hit fever pitch during this Sunday’s live X-Factor final on ITV.

Mobile sales on the equivalent Sunday last year were 300% up on the average day, but this year is expected to be even bigger – as mobile sales at M&S have more than doubled since Christmas 2011.

Laura Wade-Gery, Executive Director Multi-channel E-commerce at M&S said: “Mobile shopping is quick, discreet and ultra convenient. Customers can shop whilst doing everything else they need to do to get ready for the busiest time of year. Sunday evening is the perfect opportunity – as customers up and down the country settle down in front of the TV with a mobile or iPad in hand. It’s a growing trend and at M&S alone, we’re now seeing almost one in five orders come via mobile and tablet devices.”

The research findings also reveal that many shoppers are using mobile to help keep their Christmas purchases under wraps – almost a quarter (22%) of these respondents believe it’s easier to hide what they’re buying from loved ones and keep their gifts a surprise.

The immediacy of mobile is also helpful for those in search of gift inspiration – with almost a quarter (23%) of mobile shoppers, reaching for their phone the moment they see a product they like in a magazine or on TV.

Around one in six (15%) male mobile shoppers admit they turn to the convenience of mobile device for last minute Christmas purchases; reflected by the fact one of the most popular products bought on mobile last Christmas was an Autograph silk lingerie set. M&S expects to see this trend continue, with Rosie for Autograph lingerie, hampers and sleepwear set to be amongst the most popular purchases.

Mobile research findings:

· Over a quarter (29%) of respondents online plan to do some of their Christmas shopping via mobile or tablet device – a further 12% revealed they would if they owned a smart phone or tablet.

· Mobile shopping is most popular amongst the 25-34 year old age group with 43% intending to use a mobile or tablet device this Christmas.

· Almost a third (30%) of respondents say that using a smartphone or tablet helps them make the most of spare moments in their day.

· Some mobile shoppers surveyed seem to have no choice but to shop by mobile, as one in five (20%) of those with children in their household reveal that other family members monopolise the main household computer.

M&S Mobile facts:

· M&S was the first major high street retailer to launch a mobile enabled website in May 2010 and undertook an upgrade of the site in May 2012.

· M&S has seen rapid growth in mobile sales over the last year, with almost one in five orders now coming via mobile or tablet device.

· In July this year, M&S launched its first ever shopping app, which has already been downloaded by more than half a million customers.

· M&S is now rolling out free WiFi to its stores to make it even easier for customers to use the mobile web and access more detailed product information.

INSPIREMYCASE.COM LAUNCHES UGLY SWEATER RANGE & CASE COMPETITION IN CELEBRATION OF THE HOLIDAYS

‘Tis the season for ugly holiday sweaters! InspireMyCase.com has decided to take the ugliness to a whole new level this season with their new Ugly Christmas Sweater Case Collection and Facebook competition.

Choose from a range of four ugly sweater designs that will be sure-fire conversation starters at your ugly sweater party.

And it gets better…

Don’t have an ugly sweater yet? No Fret! Win one of four matching ugly sweater and phone case sets and really show-off at your annual sweater party this year. Simply “like” our Facebook page and state what your favourite out of the four sweaters is: The Penguins, Funky Bears, The Village or Santa’s Coming.

And that’s not all. 20% of all purchases go directly to the charity AngelMule, in order to purchase art, music and sports supplies for children in need around the world. Get your case all festive and ugly this holiday while inspiring a child’s future!

Have a Crafty Christmas with QVC!

Whether you’re making Christmas cards, decorating the house or just having festive fun with the family, QVC has all the answers for a crafty Christmas.

Martha Stewart Set of 3 Christmas Punches

Item number, 500256. QVC price, £27.12

Create beautifully die cut patterns anywhere on the page for making window cards, punching out a repeat pattern and creating small frames. Ideal for card making, scrap booking, and other craft projects, enjoy this Christmas Punch set from Martha Stewart.

24 Sheets of Christmas Holographic Peel Offs

Item number, 590797. QVC price, £14.25

Features an assortment of festive peel offs including snowmen, stars, Santa Claus, baubles, snowflakes and more. Perfect for giving your cards and crafts a festive glow.

Bucilla Make Your Own Christmas Decorations Kit

Item number, 502333. QVC price, £14.75

This festive set contains stamped felt, coloured cotton, sequins, beads and more to create six whimsical, felt ornaments for your tree. Get creative and add a personal touch to your home this Christmas, with this superb kit.

Sizzix Set of 12 Christmas Embossing Folders

Item number, 502313. QVC price, £27.50

Contains five sets of embossing folders that give a deep embossed appearance to ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil or vellum, with designs featuring holly, Christmas trees, snowflakes, flowers and much more. Give your crafting projects a professional finish with this wonderful Sizzix Christmas embossing folder set.

Ranger Set of 5 Ice Stickles Christmas Glitter Glue

Item number, 501806. QVC price, £18.75

Each bottle features a different colour glitter glue with a fine point application tip allowing you to write on or embellish your craft projects. Create your very own eye-catching Christmas designs with this selection of glitter glues from Ranger.

Fantastic Ribbons 12 Rolls of Christmas Ribbon

Item number, 501925. QVC price, £15.24

This collection includes ribbons in assorted sizes, colours and designs. Embellish a wide range of Christmas-themed craft projects and cards with this versatile and colourful set.

UK’S WORST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS REVEALED

Power Tools Top List of UK’s Worst Christmas Gifts as Practical Presents get the Thumbs Down

A survey to find the UK’s worst Christmas presents reveals that DIY equipment, such as power tools, top the list of our most unwanted gifts.

Research carried out by One4all Gift Card reveals that other practical gifts, such as kitchen appliances or items for the garden, have also fallen out of favour.

It seems that rather than DIY, people are opting for BIY (or Buy It Yourself), with the vast majority of people wishing for cash (91%) or a multi-store gift card (94%) rather than another disappointing Christmas morning.

Examples of the worst practical presents that people had received in previous years included:

A brass hammer
A key for bleeding radiators
An extractor fan
A rake
An onion slicer
A new toilet

One4all have partnered with ITV for their annual Text Santa Charity Appeal which is supporting six charities this year: Age UK, Anthony Nolan – Be a Match, Carers UK – The Voice of Carers, Marie Curie – Cancer Care, Together for Short Lives and Whizz Kids – Move a Life Forward.

In support of the appeal, One4all have launched an exclusive Text Santa Gift Card design.

For every Text Santa gift card that is sold, One4all will donate 2 per cent of the amount of money loaded to the ‘Text Santa’ appeal.

Managing Director of One4all UK, Declan Byrne said, “We’re hoping that by creating the Text Santa Gift Card, we’ll encourage more people to think twice before buying some of the gifts appearing on our least wanted list.

“Instead, friends and relatives can allow their loved ones to ‘buy it themselves’ while also raising much-needed funds for some really great causes.”

The ‘Text Santa Gift Card’ and all One4all Gift Cards can be bought at 11,500 Post Office branches nationwide and at www.one4all.co.uk. It can be loaded with any amount from £10 to £400 and can be spent at 17,000 different retailer outlets nationwide from Fashion outlets, department stores, Home and Garden, Electrical goods to Travel and Hotels.

According to the One4All research the top 5 worst Christmas gifts are:

Power Tools
Kitchen Appliances
Garden Equipment
Socks
Underwear

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Martha Stewart Set of 3 Christmas Punches

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Bucilla Make Your Own Christmas Decorations Kit

Sizzix Set of 12 Christmas Embossing Folders

Ranger Set of 5 Ice Stickles Christmas Glitter Glue

Fantastic Ribbons 12 Rolls of Christmas Ribbon

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Martha Stewart Set of 3 Christmas Punches

24 Sheets of Christmas Holographic Peel Offs

Bucilla Make Your Own Christmas Decorations Kit

Sizzix Set of 12 Christmas Embossing Folders

Ranger Set of 5 Ice Stickles Christmas Glitter Glue

Fantastic Ribbons 12 Rolls of Christmas Ribbon

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