That's Christmas 365

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

That's Entertainment News: Party with the Bridesmaids

That's Entertainment News: Party with the Bridesmaids: “Round up your girlfriends and roar with laughter”- Grazia Never mind catching the bouquet, you can now catch the ultimate in wedding mem...

Get the Hexbug this Christmas!

Currently taking the UK by storm HEXBUG is the perfect present to delight children everywhere this Christmas

Original, innovative and highly entertaining, these micro sized robotic critters will keep your kids entertained for hours. These colourful, collectible creatures behave just like real insects. Powered by tiny motors they scuttle over the surface and each type of HEXBUG behaves in a different way with its own traits unique to them.

Winners of a multitude of awards including ‘Mums Choice’ and ‘ToyTalk’, and with a cult following of celebrity fans including Lily Allen and Ben Shephard, HEXBUGs are almost as popular with adults as they are with kids!

Small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, the HEXBUG’s robotic intelligence makes them fascinating for all ages, meaning parents everywhere will love playing with them alongside their own children - making them a great gift to deliver this Christmas.

The HEXBUG family of critters is available in a variety of designs and colours including the Nano, Inchworm, Crab, Original, Ant and Spider.

HEXBUG Nano is the smallest HEXBUG in the collection, but amongst the most mighty. It uses the physics of vibration to propel forward and explore its environment. Powered by a tiny motor and 12 fixed, angular legs, they can quickly navigate through the most complex mazes. Possessing an uncanny sense of balance, it can even flip to its feet and zoom forward when turned on its back! When coming into contact with an object in its path, the energetic insect will switch directions and scurry away on a new path due to its persistent random behaviour. Check out the HEXBUG range of Habitat Sets – the natural home of the HEXBUG Nano at www.hexbug.com/nano

The newest addition to the range is the brand new HEXBUG Spider - an electro mechanical marvel to watch and operate. HEXBUG Spider features 360 degree steering, an LED forward eye, and two-channel, user selectable infrared remote control. The two-channel remote control enables the user to operate multiple bugs independently or at the same time. The largest member of the HEXBUG family, the complexity of its internal mechanisms and six-legged crawling motion is simply fascinating to operate and watch.

HEXBUG Inchworm is a tiny electro mechanical wonder that is directed by the user via a miniature infrared remote control unit. Each HEXBUG Inchworm and controller is outfitted with two channels, allowing two bugs to be operated independently or at the same time. The HEXBUG Inchworm offers seven-way steering and its crawling motion is fascinating to operate and watch.

HEXBUG Crab uses its autonomous light and sound sensors to hide in the dark and run from loud noises. You can control where each HEXBUG Crab scurries and can make it change direction with the clap of your hands.

The HEXBUG Original feels its way around by sensing objects in its path and avoiding them, using its bump sensor feelers. Users can control where it scurries and make it change direction with the clap of a hand or making a loud noise.

The high-speed HEXBUG Ant has probing, tactile antennas and hooked claws. The industrious critter features front and rear touch sensors that allow it to manoeuvre around objects in its path, whilst its wheel-legs that propel it forwards, backwards and over small obstacles with furious speed.

FACTFILE:

Each HEXBUG is available in assorted colours

Replaceable cell batteries are included with each product

Products are sold separately. Current RRP for each product are as follows:

Nano £8.99
Ant £10.99
Original £10.99
Crab £14.99
Inchworm £18:99
Spider £24.99

Available now at Hamleys, Next, Selfridges, Toys R Us, Red5 stores and Red5 in House of Fraser, Waterstones and HMV, other specialty retailers or at www.hexbug.com (a full list of suppliers is also available on the website).

It's a Wonderful Life, released in time for Christmas

Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd presents... It’s A Wonderful Life The 65th Anniversary Release

“An inspiring Christmas cracker” Film4

“A genuine classic” The Guardian

“An unrivalled classic” Total Film

Don’t miss your opportunity to reclaim the true spirit of Christmas with the 65th anniversary release of It’s a Wonderful Life, a timeless and moving story of one man and his journey of discovery. Nominated for five Academy Awards® and voted the most inspirational film of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life limited edition anniversary release will make the perfect Christmas gift for young and old when it releases on DVD and Blu-ray™ from 7th November 2011.

To celebrate a wonderful 65 years of the heart-warming masterpiece from the immortal director Frank Capra, a special limited edition poster produced from the original cinema artwork and 4 beautiful art cards will be included in 2-disc DVD and 1-disc Blu-ray™ box-set. The classic black and white film has been digitally restored with enriched sound and the package also includes the digitally re-mastered colour version.

Starring one of the founding legends of film, James Stewart, and featuring a superb ensemble cast including Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore, audiences follow one man’s journey from the depths of despair to the realisation that through the existence of love and family, it really is a Wonderful Life.

Eternally preserved in the United States Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1990, this film is essential Christmas viewing, provoking unity among viewers of all ages across the globe. Undoubtedly uplifting, the story of George Bailey will not fail to touch the hearts of both young and old. Make sure your Christmas is wonderful and join in the 65th anniversary celebration of It’s a Wonderful Life when it releases on Blu-ray™ and DVD from 7th November 2011.

SYNOPSIS

It’s a Wonderful Life is the story of one man’s journey into happiness, from the grips of a dark and desperate time. James Stewart is George Bailey, a man who at a low point in his life considers his suicide on Christmas Eve. Seeing his despair, an unconventional guardian angel, Clarence, comes to visit George and takes him on a journey through his home town of Bedford Falls. Throughout their journey, George comes to see just how destitute and unhappy his family, friends and community would have been had he never been a part of their lives.

The American Film Institute has recognised It’s a Wonderful Life as one of the 100 best American films ever made and is number one on their list of the most inspirational films of all time.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:

Release Date: 7th November 2011

Aspect Ratio: 1.37: 1

Rating: U

Sound: Dolby Digital

Run Time: 130m

RRP: £19.99

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD

Street Date: 7th November 2011

Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1

Rating: U

Sound: Dolby Digital

Run Time: 130m

RRP: £17.99

It’s a Wonderful Life

Directed By: Frank Capra

Produced By: Miranda de Pencier, Fran Giblin, Lars Knudsen, Geoff Linville, Joan Scheckel, Leslie Urdang, Jay Van Hoy, Dean Vanech

Written By: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett

Production Designer: Shane Valentino

Film Edited By: Olivier Bugge Coutté

Original Music By: Roger Neill, Dave Palmer, Brian Reitzell, Jo Swerling and Michael Wilson

Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen

This year’s essential Christmas viewing releases on Blu-ray™ and DVD on 7th November 2011

Monday, 7 November 2011

A crafty gift from Dremel

The Dremel 7700 White Edition is for the creative crafter or hobbyist on your Christmas shopping list.

This kit comprises the versatile Dremel 7700 cordless multi-tool, five engraving accessories, 15 multipurpose accessories and two ready-made engraving templates - presented in a stylish, translucent white storage case.

It's a great kit for decorative hobbies, general crafts and seasonal adornments in glass, wood, ceramic, paper and other materials.

Priced at £49.99 - saving nearly £35 on the usual price - from B&Q, www.amazon.co.uk or www.tool-shop.co.uk.

For more info, visit: http://www.dremel.co.uk

Now, that IS smart! new from One For All

Now you can operate your TV, DVD and set top box with a flick of the wrist, thanks to the new SmartControl Motion universal remote control from One For All.

Simply move it up then down to play, or down then up to pause. And turn everything off by just flipping it onto its front.

It works with all your digital equipment and will control up to six different devices. Set up takes less than three minutes, with just three key presses to programme all the most popular brands. You can then operate multiple devices by pressing one button.

Available at Dixons, Currys and PC World, as well as online at www.amazon.co.uk, priced £34.99.

For more info visit: www.oneforall.co.uk

From Dremel, with Christmas good wishes!

The Dremel 300 Black Edition offers everything you need to get started in DIY - the iconic Dremel 300 Series multi-tool plus five outstanding attachments: a line & circle cutter, a flexshaft, a detailer's grip, a multipurpose cutting kit and a shaping platform.

This special Christmas gift set also contains 45 handy accessories and comes packed in a luxury black toolbox. Perfect for all manner of DIY and other projects, such as grinding, carving, routing, sanding and cutting.

Priced £89.99 from B&Q, or online at www.amazon.co.uk and www.tool-shop.co.uk - saving a huge £85 on the usual selling price.

For more info visit: www.dremel.co.uk

Christmas gift for the petrolhead in your life!

It's a match made in petrolhead heaven. The limited-edition TomTom Top Gear sat nav brings fans of the show a combination of a Stig mode (silent!), Jeremy Clarkson's directions and unique Top Gear points of interest, including race track and raceway locations.

Featuring TomTom's congestion-busting HD Traffic technology, it will steer drivers through traffic jams and is packed with features including Top Gear start-up and shut-down screens and car icons. The bundle also includes mobile and fixed speed camera alerts, plus TomTom Places to help find local shops and businesses.

Available priced £179.99 from Halfords stores or www.halfords.com and www.tomtom.com.

For more info visit: www.tomtom.com

Sunday, 6 November 2011

That's Books: Surfing, the Essential Guide

That's Books: Surfing, the Essential Guide: Surfing, the Essential Guide is a new book out in paperback from Need 2 Know Books. It is written by an expert surfer, Kathryn Dawes. It'...

Go Christmas Shopping in New York for Free!

The cost of Christmas presents can be astronomical points out Beat the Brochure. But many goods can be bought for a lot cheaper in New York and you get a unique Christmas experience as an added extra.

Online Travel Company Beat the Brochure say the cost of travelling to New York to do your Christmas Shopping could potentially be cheaper than Christmas shopping in the UK.

The New York City outlets and US dollar exchange rate allow customers to purchase goods for less than they would cost in the UK, which in turn, covers the cost of a trip to New York. With New York City breaks available from GBP599, an unforgettable New York break is the perfect way to start the festive season.

Prices are shown in GBP taking into consideration an exchange rate of USD1.5 = GBP1.

Ralph Lauren Jumper    £130 / $40
Abercrombie & Fitch Trousers     £72 / $21
Nike Trainers (kids)       £35 / $26
Calvin Klein Perfume                   £38 / $22
Kindle                                         £89 / $52
Ipad2                                         £399 / $332
Levi Jeans                                  £90 / $35
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts      £50 / $33
Women’s Christian Louboutins   £495 / $146
Playstation PSP                          £125 / $100
Total:                                         £1523 / $807

With a difference of £716, Beat the Brochure offers New York Christmas Shopping breaks from £599 for 3 or 4 Nights to experience the festive magic New York City offers visitors every year.

Daniel Ox, of Beat the Brochure, comments, “Christmas Shopping in New York City is more than just buying cheaper Christmas presents, it is a complete Christmas experience for the same price as a day’s Christmas shopping in the UK. The top New York attractions are extra special when covered in Christmas lights and a 3 night break is often exactly what people need in the run-up to Christmas, as many people will not have had a break since the summer holidays and it’s a long wait until summer 2012!”

Beat The Brochure’s technology brings all the leading UK travel suppliers together in one simple search, affording our customers access to the very best deals from leading operators such as Thomson, Thomas Cook and First Choice.

Our technology also has the ability to bring together a huge range of hotels, flights, cars and transfers to create your own bespoke package - offering you the ultimate in flexibility at lowest possible price in one seamless experience.

Beat The Brochure is part of the award winning Como Street Travel Group with offices based in Central London, Essex and Blackpool and Florida, now boasting a team of almost 100 experienced travel consultants.

Beat The Brochure is a fully bonded member of the Travel Trust Association (TTA U0898) and is licensed by Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL - T7270) offering you and your money the very best in financial protection and peace of mind at all times.

You can find out more about the fantastic deals we have on offer by following @beatthebrochure on Twitter or becoming a fan on Facebook.

Luxury children’s clothing company to open first store

A company that has built up a reputation worldwide for its luxury cashmere baby clothes and baby gifts is opening its first store. And just in time for Christmas!

Sue Hill Handknits has chosen The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells for the store which will sell handmade boys’ and girls’ clothes, as well as shoes and children’s jewellery.

One of the unique features of the store will be the workshop where customers can see patterns being cut and the different types of yarn available. Clothes sizes include newborn to age ten and there will also be a range of girls ribbed tights from Paris and designer swimwear usually only available from Harrods.

Founder Sue Hill started her business seven years ago and now has a number of celebrity customers who demand the highest quality clothing for their children and especially love the luxury Loro Piana yarn used by Sue’s large team of knitters across the UK. High-profile names associated with Sue’s handmade clothing include Stella McCartney, Geri Halliwell, Charlotte Church, Davina McCall, Sting and Trudi Styler, Tamara Beckwith, Plum Sykes, Sophie and Jamie Cullum and Tamara Van Cutsem.

Sue Hill said: “The store gives us an opportunity to showcase our clothes to local customers who want high-quality, unique clothing that they won’t find anywhere else in Kent. We also thought customers would like the idea of an ‘atelier’ or workshop where they can see the clothes being made and the different yarns for bespoke pieces.”

Councillor Catherine Mayhew opined: “Tunbridge Wells is well known for its individual and interesting shops so as Portfolio Holder for Economic Development I am delighted to welcome Sue Hill and her gorgeous shop to our town. It will give lovers of high quality and unique items another good reason to shop in The Pantiles.”

Sue, taught by her mother Valerie at the age of ten, had always knitted but mainly for children’s birthday and Christmas presents. Valerie persuaded Sue that she could turn her love of knitting and skills as a seamstress into a business. So, after her son Jack was born Sue gave up her high-flying career in exhibitions and worked with her mother to make up some patterns. They then started knitting designs using the best yarn they could find.

As their hand knits became known, Sue and Valerie were increasingly asked for softer yarns, cashmere with cotton or wool and then pure cashmere. At the same time, one of Sue’s most trusted knitters lent her some of her patterns that she had knitted for her children. Sue fell in love with the beautiful vintage designs, which were mainly from the ‘50s, and started concentrating on adapting these designs to use with modern yarns. As Sue took on more knitters, more vintage patterns came to light in attics and dusty boxes, some dating as far back as 1935! Now the range includes designs adapted from the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

Different ideas came to fruition such as her unique buttons – hand covered in the same knitted yarn as the garments – with hand-embroidered daisies, roses and soldiers.

The yarns used by Sue Hill Handknits are the finest available – pure cashmere and cashmere/cotton blends by the famous Italian company Loro Piana and blends of cashmere and fine merino all spun, twisted and dyed to Sue’s specification in Italy. When a garment is completely finished and ready for sale, Sue attaches a signature tag showing the knitter’s name and proving its uniqueness. It is then packaged in a lilac signature gift box and finished with white ribbon.

Sue is best known for her vintage cashmere baby knits which include dresses, matinee jackets, pram coats, bonnets and bootees. In 2010 she added a clothing collection, handmade in Liberty fabric blended with 100 per cent cottons, wools and other luxury fabrics. Just like the hand knits, each garment has a tag attached showing the name of the seamstress who made it.

Sue’s collections can be found in the best stores including Bergdorf Goodman, New York, Fortnum & Mason, London, Ma Mere, Tokyo (from AW11) and independent stores in Berlin, Paris, London and other UK towns and cities. For more information go to www.suehillhandknits.co.uk