Silent Sunday

Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Christmas Gift Wrapping with John Lewis

As most of you probably know I'm lucky enough to have a lovely working relationship with John Lewis and so whenever they have fun stuff going on in store they tend to invite me. With Christmas being just around the corner they gave me an option of Christmas Master Classes and I decided to go with the wrapping one. In my head I know exactly how beautiful I want my presents to look but it never works out quite as I imagined!

  I actually didn't take that many pictures because I was too busy asking questions and being nosy!! The first tip for awkward shaped presents is to put them in a box and make life easier for yourself!

Tip 2 - Use sharp scissors to cut the paper

Tip 3 - Sellotape the paper to the box to keep it in place:

Tip 4 - Use double sided tape as it looks so much neater

Tip 5 - Cut off the excess paper which then leads to to tip number 6.....neat, straight edges:

(remember double sided tape!!)

Once neatly wrapped, cut the ribbon to six times the size of the side of the box and start it on the front on the present:

Tie the ribbon into a bow and cut the ends to make it look fancy. If you have any ribbon left over then tie another bow, take a piece of ribbon and tie under the bow to make neat and prominent. Your finished item should look something like this:

After all the excitement of the gift wrapping, I had a wander around the store to get some inspiration for our Christmas day. I only wish I had enough room for a lovely table like this:

I also got a chance to talk to the Marketing Manager for the shiny and lovely Leicester branch and she was telling me that at the end of the Christmas season they a lot of the in-store decorations away to local charities. Mainly baubles like these:

If you live in the Leicestershire area and work for a charity or know of a charity that could use some of these Christmas decorations then please e-mail me and I'll pass along the details you need :-)

Merry Christmas!

Anti-allergy bedding......the benefits!

This is a sponsored post but I do love a bit of John Lewis and I am an allergy sufferer so it fits perfectly with my life :-)

Around one in three people in the UK will be affected by allergies at some point in their lives. Worryingly, this number is on the rise, with more and more children in particular being affected by an allergy. One major culprit lies in the bedroom – dust mites are a common cause of allergic reactions and they seem to love a good mattress, suchas those available at John Lewis. With over 10,000 dust mites thought to be thriving in the average bed, it’s good news that there is a great range of products on the market that can help, including anti-allergy bedding, designed to help prevent or reduce the impact of allergies.

Choose an anti-allergy mattress protector to cover your mattress for the best protection against allergens. Available from cot right through to king-size, a good mattress protector will form an effective barrier against dust mites and other allergens.

Squeaky clean comfort

If you’re shopping for a new duvet and pillow, there is a range of anti-allergy options on the market to choose from. One product that has been recognised for its innovation is the Sleep Angel pillow, also available at John Lewis, which is billed by its makers as the first and only pillow to be impermeable to viruses, bacteria, common flu bug, water droplets, bed bugs and dust mites.

Only air can enter and leave the Sleep Angel pillow, making it incredibly hygienic – in fact it was originally designed for medical use, helping reduce the risk of patients picking up bugs. The case is can be wiped clean but – crucially – is still comfortable to lie on, so you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep.

Love the one you’re with…

If you’re not due for total bedding overhaul at the moment, there are still products you can use with your existing duvet and pillows to provide you with a barrier from allergens like dust mites. You could opt for a polypropylene anti-allergy duvet protector, which zips up to fully enclose your duvet, and can be used inside your normal duvet cover.

Apart from buying anti-allergy bedding, there are some other steps you can take to minimise the impact of dust mites. Top tips include:

• Regularly washing clothes and bed linen at 60 degrees to kill dust mites
• Keeping your room tidy – dust mites can thrive on clothes left out on the floor
• Not making your bed straight away when changing the sheets – this will give a chance for moisture to be released from your mattress, which will help to prevent further dust mite growth

Silent Sunday

Sun, sea & siesta's

This is a sponsored post

As many thousands of holidaymakers can ascertain each and every summer, Spain is a popular destination for anyone seeking, sun, fun and good times. Its fascinating heritage and glorious climate has long held a fascination with British tourists as well as those from further afield, and for many, there is no place they would rather be.

When it comes to family holidays, Spain really comes into its own. Throughout the bubbly resorts that have grown around the coast over the past few decades, family accommodation comes in various different forms to suit many different tastes, ages and preferences. You could choose to stay in a modest self-catering apartment, and whip up Spanish-inspired meals such as tapas or fresh seafood paella using ingredients from the local market, and pack up a picnic for a day trip to the local attractions. Or you could opt for a more relaxing experience and book into a family hotel. Often, designated family hotels offer child-friendly facilities and rooms, and many will also offer kids' clubs and creche facilities – which allows Mum and Dad some free time while the little ones are kept busy draining their energy under the supervision of qualified carers.

Or perhaps you're here to make the most of Spain's loud and lively nightlife, whether it's in the cheesy clubs and karaoke bars of neon-lit Benidorm, or in the plush restaurants and chic wine bars of Marbella. And for the adventurers among us, Spain is a non-stop haven of exploration. Discover the beautiful Old Town of Alicante, follow the criss-crossing paths and walking trails of the Sierra de la Pila Regional Park, or head to the bright lights of Valencia for a coastal city break.

Whatever you fancy, holidays in Spain are a force to be reckoned with. This glorious destination can tick virtually every box on the holiday wish-list, so it's no surprise it's top of the list for so many people seeking a sun-filled holiday with a difference.

The Ritz and Christmas Shopping in London

You probably don't remember but waaaay back on Valentines day my gorgeous boyfriend bought me a voucher for champagne and afternoon tea at The Ritz which we finally got around to using yesterday. It's been on my bucket list of things to do for years and I have to say that I wasn't disappointed!! The Ritz is completely amazing......understated, classy and all very civilised and I even managed to behave myself  and not drop anything or knock anything over ;-)

We only managed to get one picture of us together but it's a bit blurry (sack the camera man!!)

After The Ritz we headed off to Hyde Park to visit Winter Wonderland. It's basically a Christmas market with fair rides, a big wheel and a chance to wander around and feel all Christmassy! There is also this really cool sculpture exhibit called The Magic Ice Kingdom. At £8 each it's pretty pricey but it was so cool it was almost worth the money:

In this one The Man and I look like we're in some weird Sci-Fi movie:

Last night we went to see one of my favourite musicals which was as fab as ever:

Today we've been Christmas shopping on Oxford Street and Regent Street where the lights are looking very festive:

What an amazing weekend and how very lucky I am!! What are you up to this weekend?