Tag Archives: Things to do

Things to do in Lockdown: Chocolate Making Kit by the Raw Chocolate Co. 

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We’re almost half way though lockdown part 2, weheyyy, and we wanted to find you something inspiring and creative to do as we start to run out of treats to make and things to bake. We promise it will be a truly scrumptious experience for all. 

Thanks to the Raw Chocolate Co.  we tried our hand at making our very own chocolates using the bumper chocolate making kit. What’s great about this kit is that the instructions are very easy to follow, the quality of the ingredients  are high and you can add your own little twists to your chocolate and really make them as bespoke as you like. We tried adding a little chilli to the mix for a spicy kick and also added some coffee to another batch but believe me, the possibilities are endless. These little chocolates are not only a luxurious treat to indulge in but as we approach gifting season, these would make the best gift to any chocolate lover. The ingredients are organic and vegan so lots of attention has been paid to what goes in. We had to mention the smell of the Cocoa Butter which spills out of the tub as soon as you open it which is a treat for the senses. Whats more, it will definitely make you want to pay attention to what goes into chocolate and find out more.

What’s in the box;

2 x Organic Cacao Powder

2 x Organic Cacao Butter

2 x Organic Coconut Sugar 

You will also need chocolate moulds.

The process itself is super easy. We recommend softening up the cocoa butter before adding in the other ingredients but once everything is melted in, you’re good to go!

The standard of the chocolate at the end will make anyone think you’re a top Chocolatier, as you can see above. The kit provides you with the essentials but you can be as creative as you like and make yourself a box of bespoke chocolates. 

The kit is priced at £24.65 which will make you more than enough chocolates to dish out to all your loved ones this Christmas. 

To find out more check out; 

www.therawchocolatecompany.com 

Yes, You’re A Parent. But You’re Also a Person – And a Friend!

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Hanging out with your friends once kids are part of the equation can seem almost impossible. When you’ve got busy lives, it can be real tough to actually do something for yourself, let alone in a group with other people in your situation. However, your friends know the “real you”, the person defined by something other than the sole fact they have reproduced. It’s important to reclaim that person from time to time, which is why it’s imperative that you let your hair down every now and again.

Hit The Bars

If you can find a trusted babysitter, hold on to them for dear life! People you trust to take care of your kids are hard to come by – especially when you can’t ask a friend, because they’ll be coming out, too! Of course, the temptation to get out can be overwhelming, but we mustn’t sacrifice safety – just make sure you’re careful when searching for a sitter, and also make sure you communicate to them everything they need to know.

Bar hopping is the ultimate in “no kids allowed” activities, and although you probably shouldn’t carry on like you’re still in your college days, there’s no harm in dressing up and truly letting go just once in a little while.

Play Some Grown Up Games

As much as we love our kids, the thousandth game of Operation or Kerplunk can give us nightmares for weeks! Games as adults don’t have to be quite so tedious, and thankfully, many of the best are altogether unsuitable for children, anyway! Cards Against Humanity is a huge hit at parties, offering adults the opportunity to be a little bit naughty and play cards (literally) that they normally wouldn’t dream of.

If you’re looking for a more serious game that also trains the brain, poker is a classic option. Trying to keep a straight face is something people have been trying to perfect for years, and you know what they say – practice makes perfect! Nobody can argue with the fact that keeping a straight face – just like bluffing successfully – is a useful skill to have in our personal and professional lives too, so you can feel confident that you’re actually improving yourself while having fun. Of course, finding the time to actually go to a casino can be quite the challenge, so remember that there’s an option to play poker online. For those that are afraid that they’ll miss the social aspect of playing a round or two in person, poker operator 888poker offers “face to face” webcam poker, which uses your camera and allows you to see the faces of your opponents while you play online.

Get Away

Once the little ones are that little bit older, you may be able to escape for more than just one evening (imagine that)! Of course, you probably won’t want to go too far away, but if there’s a city nearby, you could always splurge for a hotel. Nice food, a few drinks, and some good, clean fun. What’s not to love?

Of course, sometimes you do need to compromise. A trip with the kids to a resort where there is childcare available is a middle ground. The kids have their fun in the day, and the adults have theirs at night. There are plenty of family adventures right here in the USA, that could easily double as a whole group getaway.

Remember, before parenthood, there was personhood. That part of you doesn’t just disappear because you have children. Live for them – but also live for you.

 

 

2016 Chinese Food Festival | Things To Do in London This Weekend

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Chinese Food FestivalIf you are looking for something to do this weekend the 2016 Chinese Food Festival is taking place on the 19th, 20th and 21st in Potters Fields Park adjacent to the magnificent Tower Bridge. Entry is free and following the huge success of last year (the festival welcomed over 30,000 visitors) the opening hours have been extended and exhibitors increased. I love Asian food so I will definitely be making an appearance.

Chinese Food Festivallondon


2016 Highlights include:

– Chinese Food Fair (over 30 stalls selling huge variety of Chinese food and drink)
– 2016 UK Chinese Streetfood Competition (previous winner was Chong Qing noodles 重庆小面)
– Celebrity Chef Theatre Demonstration (feat The Dumpling Sisters and a Hot Pot Workshop)
– Chinese Fine Dining Lounge (feat. Shanghai Supperclub pre-booking required)
– Chinese “Night Market” (DJs, streetfood, cocktails and light show)
– Chinese Traditional Performances and Entertainment (inc. Tai Chi Fan Dance, origami, calligraphy)  

 

Location:
Potters Fields Park (beside London City Hall), London, SE1 2AA
Facing the fantastic Thames River view, 2015 London Chinese Food Festival is ideally located by the busy Southbank river side.
The venue is just few minutes walk from BFI IMAX, South Bank’s National Theatre and the ITV London Television Studios.
The closest underground stations are Waterloo and Southwark.

Dates:
August Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st

Hours:
Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm
Sunday 11am-6pm

Entry:
Free

Website:
http://www.chinesefoodfestival.com

Social:
https://www.facebook.com/chinesefoodfestivallondon
https://twitter.com/chinesefoodfest
https://www.instagram.com/chinesefoodfestival

Competition Hashtag: #CFF2016
Link: http://www.chinesefoodfestival.com

Timings:
Friday: 11am – 10pm (public hours)
Saturday: 11am – 10pm (public hours)
Sunday: 11am – 6pm (public hours)

 

An interesting concept comes to London in July

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Duncan Graham’s CUT has already taken the 2015 Adelaide Fringe by storm, and the good news is that CUT’s  London premiere will take place at The Vaults in July.

Where? Yes, that’s right, The Vaults – under the Waterloo Railway arches.  Set against a black backdrop with unsettling moments of complete darkness, a small audience is sealed in an atmospheric Vault under the Waterloo railway arches.

A woman prepares for work. Pursued by a man, she is hunter and hunted. CUT is a total work of art. A Lynchian dream that transports an audience deep into the heart of 21st century fears – the psychological equivalent of extreme turbulence. Part installation, part theatre poem, part noir thriller, prepare to be sealed into this intimate and unforgettable experience.

Part installation, part theatre poem, part noir thriller, this promises to be an interesting experience.

The fragmented storylines, technical wizardry and first class performance manifest into a theatrical trip you will find fascinating.

Writer Duncan Graham, comments: The idea for CUT was conceived in London, as I flew into the city, moved around on its trains, through its parks. Having had a season in Sydney at Belvoir, it’s so great to be presenting the work in what I consider to be its home. Hannah Norris is startling in the role, and she’ll haunt The Vaults with her breed of pure vengeance.

‘Hannah Norris’s ability to flicker from victim to predator in the blink of an eye truly sends shivers down the spine… If you enjoy taking a step into the darkness, then this award winning show certainly delivers the chill factor’ (Edinburgh Evening news).

When: Tuesday 5th – Sunday 31st July 2016 Tuesday-Friday, 7.45pm
Weekend, 5pm and 8pm

Where: The Vaults, Launcelot Street, London SE1 7AD

The Vaults are located underneath Waterloo station (on the Northern, Bakerloo and Jubilee lines). Leave Waterloo Station via Exit 1 and they are a short walk away.

Tickets are available from £12.50 from http://www.thevaults.london/#!cut/c1e1t.

 

 

Downley Village Festival 2015 by Margaret Graham

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Downley is a village perched on the top of a hill, and easing down the slopes  almost to the edge of High Wycombe. Vastly extended since the 60s, it is in some ways the classic suburbia, with houses, ranging from that time, intermingling with those of the ancient village.

Downley Village Festival 2015 by Margaret Graham 1

All this adds up to fantastic community which fizzes with heart and ‘things to do’. It is an environment that is helped by having countryside and beech woods within five minutes walks from the three parades of shops placed around the village. Added to this, the fact that there are regular buses into High Wycombe, and easy walks to Hughenden Manor (and café) through the woods, and half an hour by train to Marylebone, it’s a good place to live.

Last year Downley held its inaugural Village Festival and such was its huge success, it is to take place again.

The Downley Village Festival will take place between Downley Day on 20 June and Concert on the Common on 11 July. Some 20 activities are in place,  so there’s something for everyone.

As always there will be local school events, the annual art exhibition and craft fair together with a local talent show, a comedy evening, a talk on Downley history, a free creative writing class by bestselling author, Margaret Graham.

Downley Village Festival 2015 by Margaret Graham4

We have a fun run, art workshop, ceilidh band, and our very own scarecrow competition back by popular demand. Come and enjoy what we have to offer.
http://festival.downley.org/

 

 

The Changing Seasons at Kew by Kelly Snow

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During late winter I take myself off to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

‘What?’ I hear the protests. ‘Stomping through 300 acres of bare trees, empty flowerbeds and mud with temperatures dipping the wrong side of double digits?’

Ah, but think of the sprinkling of purple crocuses amongst trampled grass and, further on, the daffodils.

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These flowers herald that a new season is on its way, one that means colour and warmth and the hope that things are changing for the better. A few days ago I went along to see the garden’s annual orchid display. The display promised ‘a floral feast to seduce the senses.’ In many ways, it delivered.

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The orchids were nothing short of stunning with their vibrant colours and intricately engineered petals. Even their scent was alluring: nothing too heady, just a gentle waft to keep tourists (and pollinators) interested.

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Kew made the display intriguing, even sexy, by using spotlight ultraviolet lighting to reveal the orchids’ patterns and markings, used to attract insects and hence propagate themselves.

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I wondered, however, if it wasn’t enough just to walk through the display and be awed by the variety and sophistication of the flowers? Having said that, I was fascinated to learn in a video presentation that there is an orchid that traps insects inside its flower, curling its petals around its prey, like a cage, until the plant is pollinated.

I looked for this orchid, touching the tip of my finger to the centre of each purple plant as illustrated in the video, without success. So, perhaps better signage wouldn’t have gone amiss?

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The official orchid display runs from February to March every year, but if you’re quick you might still spot them in bloom at the Princess of Wales Conservatory. And there is plenty more to see during the transitional months: the desert and savannah plants, arboretum, the world’s oldest potted plant – a rather wonky palm – and the tree top trail 18 metres up (empty branches, but a great view).

The Alpine house is certainly a highlight with its crags and waterfalls; the mountain plants exhibit more determination than parents queuing for coffee in the café. And speaking of cafés, I was thrilled to find gluten- and dairy-free soup and cakes on offer, making Kew not only a feast for the eyes but my stomach as well.

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Upcoming events at Kew include the International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition (now until 5 April) and ‘Shaun the Sheep’ will be visiting for the children during the Easter Holidays.

For more information, visit www.kew.org

 

 

Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters Fields | London Gems

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Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters Fields | London2015 is the year of Mexico in the UK and to celebrate there is a wonderful and vibrant pop up Mexico exhibition which opened yesterday in Potters Fields. I went along to take in the culture and the fun experience.
Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters Fields Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters Fields | London Gems Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters F
 As I headed towards Potters Field I heard beautiful Mexican music and already saw the bright colours and statues. There were crowds everywhere. The exhibition had certainly caught the attention of Londoners who were having lots of fun. There was a huge queue at the Wahaca truck for burritos and nachos. But it is not all food, statues and music. There is an immersive pop-up pavilion in London’s South Bank. It is a multi-media experience and is not just educational but also tons of fun. You learn all about Mexico through state-of-the-art innovation, using cutting-edge modern technology. Best of all, it’s free!
Pop Up Mexico Exhibition Pop Up Mexico Exhibitio
 Inside the dome is a very cool colourful car, clothes, the opportunity to experience Mexico City, lots of art and lots of other immersive media. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. I had a great time and I learned a lot. I definitely want to head to Mexico now. It has made its way onto my bucket list as it is so beautiful. Mexico has a lot going for it.
Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters Fields | London Gemsclothes
 2015 marks the beginning of an exciting collaboration between Mexico and the United Kingdom.  For twelve months, the two countries will create new connections in the areas of culture, arts, education, science, innovation, trade and investment. There will be a series of events taking place across the UK, all of which are designed to address the preconceptions people have about Mexico. Mexico is not about mariachi, tacos and guacamole anymore.This is all about the modern and contemporary Mexico that has everything to offer: wonderful culture, great food, nature and art. In fact, Mexico is the only nation to have its cuisine designated by UNESCO as of Intangible Heritage of Humanity so after checking out the exhibition enjoy some great food by acclaimed Mexican restaurant, Wahaca.
Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters Fields | London Gems food Pop Up Mexico Exhibition In Potters Fields south banl Pop Up Mexico
If you don’t live in London, don’t worry, you won’t miss out. Later in the year the dome will be travelling north to Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh. This is a great day out for all of the family. Pop along before it closes on the 12th March.
The dome is open to the general public: 26th Feb – 12th March, Potters Field Park next to City Hall, 10am – 8pm. Entry is free.
 

Sponsored post.

 

 

Bust Boredom Online

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The Christmas season is a wonderful time, families and friends coming together to kick back, relax and enjoy a little time away from the daily grind, celebrating the end of another year. Naturally this was all a lot of fun, though looking past the enormous amounts of food and frivolity, the post-Christmas period can be a rather tedious experience. Bank balances have been drained, the hangover from the season’s parties just doesn’t seem to want to lift, and as such we’re stuck inside, boredom easily setting in. Luckily however, there is one thing that can satiate our desire to actually do something, a cheap, fun, endlessly enjoyable resource; the internet!

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Shopping online is a great way to while away those boring moments, and has long been one of the most popular ways for people to get hold of their favourite wares, and for good reason. There’s hundreds of deals out there, and online retailers are well known for regularly releasing huge numbers of discounts in order to entice wily shoppers. Take, for instance, poster site AllPosters. This site regularly has sales, so if you’re thinking of changing the flavour of your home you should definitely spend an hour or so scrolling through the millions of images on offer.

 

If your bank balance isn’t up to the task of funding a little online shopping, then injecting some excitement into your post-Christmas period is easy- indulge in a spot of gaming! We’re not talking board games- we want to reduce the levels of stress, after all- but online games. Gaming site Betsson’s selection of titles is very large indeed. With slots, poker, blackjack and plenty of themed games including Game Of Thrones, you’ll have no excuse to go bored this January! If that doesn’t tickle your fancy then there are heaps of apps, downloads and console games that will similarly shield you from the ravages of boredom! Kongregate has a huge number of browser games, many of which are in complete 3D, and if you enjoy the MMO experience, Planetside 2, a first person shooter that hosts literally hundreds of players in battles could be a great way to pass the time!

 

January doesn’t have to be all about relaxation, and if you’ve got a rather large amount of free time until you get back to work then now is a great time to get planning for the year ahead. Been putting off researching that career or education move you’ve been hankering for? Crack out the laptop and get looking- you won’t regret it when you’re sitting pretty in February, all plans having been set into motion.

 

If none of the above has done enough to beat back banality, then there are still better things to do than pointlessly surfing clickbait sites. Instead, sign up to a site like stumbleupon! On these kinds of sites you can choose a number of interests which the website then uses to come up with fun, interesting and thought-provoking content for your consumption. You’ll never be bored again!