Surviving Santa

A guide to sleep survival over the Santa Season has been published by The Sleep Council.

As the UK’s number one source of everday sleep tips, the consumer advice arm of the National Bed Federation has published its ‘Surviving Santa’ guide on www.sleepcouncil.org.uk

Said spokeswoman Jessica Alexander: “Christmas is the one time of the year when the sleep routine of just about everyone in Britain goes off the rails.

“Adults and children alike tend to go to bed quite a bit later than usual over the festive period. That along with all the preparations and partying can play havoc with sleep patterns.”

To help people survive the seasonal sleep disruption The Sleep Council suggests:

Try as much as possible to keep regular hours – we know it can be hard when you’re staying up late for Santa! Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time, all the time, will programme your body to sleep better.

Create a restful sleeping environment. Keep the Christmas decorations to the other parts of your home! Your bedroom should be kept for rest and sleep and it should be neither too hot, nor too cold; and as quiet and dark as possible.

Make sure your bed is comfortable. It’s difficult to get deep, restful sleep on one that’s too soft, too hard, too small or too old. It should also be as big as possible so your partner rarely disturbs you. Perhaps a new bed should be on your Christmas present list!

Take more exercise. Regular, moderate exercise such as swimming or walking can help relieve the day’s stresses and strains. But not too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake. A good brisk walk is ideal to stop you feeling sluggish after a hefty Christmas dinner!

Don’t end up compensating for lack of sleep by going too heavy on stimulants such as caffeine in tea, coffee or cola - especially in the evening. They interfere with falling asleep and prevent deep sleep. Have a hot milky drink or herbal tea instead.

Don’t over-indulge on turkey, mince pies and mulled wine! Too much food or alcohol, especially late at night, can play havoc with sleep patterns. Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially, but will interrupt your sleep later on in the night. It is hard in the party period but try to swap to water a couple of hours before bedtime.

Keep some ear plugs handy to block out the sound of your partner’s alcohol or feast-induced snoring.

Try to relax and insist on some ‘me time’ before going to bed. Have a warm bath, listen to some quiet music, do some yoga - all help to relax both the mind and body. Your doctor may be able to recommend a helpful relaxation tape, too.

Resolve arguments before bed. Ongoing conflicts are not conducive to putting you in the right frame of mind for sleep!

If you can’t sleep, don’t lie there worrying about it. Get up and do something you find relaxing until you feel sleepy again - then go back to bed.

www.sleepcouncil.com

Spurs Bath & Body Range, available from www.shop.tottenhamhotspur.com

Spurs Bath & Body Range, available from www.shop.tottenhamhotspur.com

An ideal stocking filler for the Spurs fanatic, the new collection features a relaxing Bubble Bath, Shower Gel and luxurious Hair & Body Wash. The range combines a spicy, fresh, citrus scent and boasts an empowering manly aroma. The sleek packaging features the iconic Spurs logo and founding year of 1882.

· Spurs Bubble Bath - £5

· Spurs Shower Gel - £5

· Spurs Hair & Body Wash - £5

Order by 22nd December Express Delivery in time for Christmas.

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Beat the Christmas Shopping Rush With Christmas Hamper

With Christmas just days away, and with more shoppers than expected heading to the high street, Christmas Hamper advise consumers on how to make Christmas a lot less stressful.

Shoppers have returned to the British high street in their thousands this year, as recent figures have revealed that more consumers than expected went Christmas shopping during the final weekend before Christmas, spending an estimated £1 billion on the Saturday before Christmas alone.

While this is great news for retailers after a rather difficult year, it isn't great news for customers, as more sales means more crowds and also longer waiting times. However, shoppers who still have presents to buy needn't worry because Christmas Hamper have a solution.

A spokesperson for Christmas Hamper explains: “December has been a much more profitable period for retailers than previously expected, as more consumers than expected have returned to the high street. However, the increase in sales has led to issues for customers, as the surge in people visiting shops, supermarkets and other retail centres had meant that their shopping experience might not have been as enjoyable. At Christmas Hamper, we know how stressful Christmas shopping can be, and so we've taken a lot of time and care to that our customers can order our hampers in the comfort of their own home, and with no stress.

While the retail figures from last weekend before Christmas have revealed that shoppers in the UK spent an impressive £1.5 million every minute last Saturday, the high street is obviously a very busy place to be this Christmas. But at Christmas Hamper, they have some advice for any shopper that has to do last minute chopping during the festive season, including the final day to order gifts to ensure they arrive before Christmas day.

The spokesperson for Christmas Hamper continues: “Christmas time is obviously the busiest time of year to go shopping, with so much to buy, such as cards, wrapping paper, gifts, toys and hampers but we realise that there are certain times when a consumer has to go to the high street or their supermarket to get some last minute presents and other essentials for the festive season.

"So our advice to customers is that if they are worrying about going shopping during this time, then they should be organised, they need to have a plan before they leave the house: such as writing a list of what they need, how much it costs, and where they have to buy it, and they should leave the house early in order to beat the crowds. If they are ordering presents online, then it's vital that they are aware of the final day to order gifts to ensure Christmas delivery.

At Christmas Hamper, our final order date before Christmas is the 21st of December (EDITOR: That's today!) which means that anyone who orders on this date will receive their hamper before the 25th. Once all the shopping is done, it's time to relax and enjoy Christmas, and so we want to wish all our customers a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.”

FACTFILE:
ChristmasHamper.com owned and managed by Highland Fayre Ltd. have been supplying Luxury Christmas Hampers, since 1985, to thousands of corporate and private customers throughout the UK and Europe, becoming Scotland’s premier hamper company.

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The Westfield gift card takes the stress out of last minute Christmas shopping

With just 4 days until Christmas, British shopping centres and high streets are awash people trying to find the perfect last minute gift. If this sounds like you, then don’t panic! Westfield’s gift card has arrived to take the stress out of this year’s Christmas shopping.

The Westfield gift card can be purchased right up until Christmas Eve, so it removes the need for the pre-Christmas rush. It can be used at Westfield’s designer and high street stores and the Vue cinemas at Westfield London or Westfield Stratford City. This means loved ones can buy something they really want for Christmas.

Gift cards are available now, from: http://uk.westfield.com/uk/news/westfield-gift-card and are accepted at all Westfield UK centres including: Westfield Stratford City and Westfield London, Westfield Derby and Merry Hill in the West Midlands. They are redeemable against all purchases, including sale goods, at all stores within Westfield centres. 
Shoppers can choose from a variety of card designs (including a special edition Christmas snowflake design) and delivery options to make sure they receive their orders in time for Christmas day.

Westfield Gift cards can be spent at Westfield London, Westfield Stratford City, Westfield Derby, Merry Hill, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, The Friary, Guildford and CastleCourt, Belfast.

The Westfield Prepaid Maestro Gift Card is issued by Newcastle Building Society (NBS) pursuant to licence from MasterCard International or its Affiliates. NBS is authorised and regulated by the FSA (Registration 156058).

There is an activation fee of £2 charged per Westfield gift card at the time of issue.
Online purchased gift cards require activation after delivery and expires 12 months from the date it was issued.
Visit the concierge or westfield.com/ukcentres for full Westfield gift card terms & conditions.

To ensure that their online order arrives at their account address in time for Christmas customers should be aware of the suggested last online order dates:

To beat the Christmas rush, make sure you order before the recommended last ordering date.

- Special Delivery (£8.49)
Last date for purchase 21st December AM – recommended last ordering date before Christmas

- Overnight courier service (£19.99)
Last date for purchase 22nd December AM – recommended last ordering date before Christmas

Top ten bestseller for Christmas

Associated Editions is pleased to announce that their book and CD for Christmas has now entered the top ten bestselling books in Ireland. 

'Gloria: an introduction to 1,000 years of Sacred Music' by Tim Thurston has a special Christmas theme and tells the story of European sacred music earliest times to the present day, interspersed with 20 pen portraits of the key composers.

It also incorporates a CD (21 tracks) featuring the best of their Christmas music from the renowned Hyperion catalogue and is sumptuously illustrated with Sacred Art for Christmas from Irish collections, some published for the first time.

Choirs included on this CD are:

The Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge, Gothic Voices, Red Byrd, The Binchois Consort, Westminster Cathedral Choir, The Choir of the King’s Consort, The Corydon Singers, The Choir of Wells Cathedral, The Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Images in this book include Sacred Art from British and European Artist’s spanning a millennium.

Book & CD: £20
ISBN: 978-1-906429-18-8

Stand Out From the Crowd this New Year's Eve, with M&S Online Exclusive Partywear

Marks & Spencer’s online exclusive range of party dresses and shoes means women everywhere can find that perfect New Year’s Eve outfit whilst avoiding the busy high street.

With just the click of a mouse women can view stylish dresses in a range of sizes, from petite to plus sizes like the Autograph Occasions Sleeveless Satin Prom Dress.

The newly-launched Autograph Italian Exclusive shoe range offers luxurious leather shoes handcrafted in Italy for £129. With built-in Insolia technology these statement party shoes also provide a more comfortable wear for all-night dancing.

More importantly, by opting for something unavailable in stores, women can reduce the risk of same-outfit embarrassment with other party-goers and snap up something exclusive!

FACTFILE:
• Items available now from www.marksandspencer.com
• Dress sizes vary from 6–22 and shoe sizes vary from 3–7
• Insolia® with Silver Technology keeps feet feeling fresh and makes fashionable high heels comfy by reducing forefoot pressure, improving body alignment and enhancing ankle stability

Don't condemn £1.1bn of unwanted Christmas gifts to the scrapheap!

Recent research commissioned by the British Video Association shows £1.1 billion worth of unwanted gadget gifts could be destined for the scrap heap by the New Year. A staggering sum which aligns with RentMyItems.com commissioned research which showed £2.9 billion had been spent on unused or little used items in the last twelve months.

So... what are you going to do with those unwanted Christmas presents that family and friends have very kindly given you, but you simply have no interest in and will never, or rarely, use them? You feel guilty about giving them away and so they sit in your home gathering dust, or at the back of a cupboard, until one day you find a use for them, dispense of them, or simply forget about them.

The simple www.RentMyItems.com solution to this is to rent them out and give yourself an additional source of much needed income as you start the New Year. With online listings free for all users until the end of March 2012 – there is literally nothing to lose.

So whether it’s a digital organiser, a bread maker, an electronic sudoku machine, a foot spa or a digital photo frame why not visit RentMyItems.com, register as a Rentor for FREE, list your unwanted items for FREE – and make a little bit of extra money to pay for those bills in the New Year!

RentMyItems.com enables you to do this and you can list your items for free until the end of March 2012. The website launched on 19th September, and is seeing its membership and listings grow weekly as it sees the effects that the £2.9bn that was wasted on rarely used items in the UK in the last 12 months* is having on personal finances and the environment. The burgeoning market of Collaborative Consumption is, and will continue to, influence our thinking on renting rather than buying.

Warren Heal, Founder of RentMyItems.com, said, “Most of us feel the pinch after the holiday season and, for this reason, RentMyItems.com is continuing to give users the opportunity to earn some extra cash by renting out presents and household items that they are either not going to use at all or will rarely use. With our online Listings currently free there literally is nothing to lose, plus users might find something on our site that you may have a temporary use for and can save yourself money by not purchasing your own. We are proud that RentMyItems.com has recently been named as one of the 40 best new websites that save you money (WebUser Magazine, December 2011), as it proves our concept helps personal finances in these difficult times”.