Spoon-Licking-Good Seasonal Family Fun To Be Served Up Before New Year

A festive, cookery-focused activity day involving family fun in the kitchen can be enjoyed at the relaxed and friendly LucyCooks cookery school in Staveley, near Kendal in the Lake District, on December 30.

Floury faces and sloppy spillages are all part of the enjoyment on the Family Fun Day, which lets parent and child loose in the kitchen together to tackle a full meal challenge by creating three courses and accompanying dishes.

Timed in between Christmas and New Year, this is a perfect Christmas holidays boredom buster and it also gives parents truly memorable moments in the kitchen with their children.

The two-generation team will have scrapes, spoon licks and stirrings together, enjoy refreshments and lunch with other families in the LucyCooks Aga room and take home a goody bag of food cooked, to impress friends and other family members.

With a festive feel to proceedings, lots of giggles and guffaws are on the cards with this delightful day truly setting the tone for 2012.

Family Fun Days run each month at LucyCooks and cost £125 for one adult and one child to attend. Additional children are charged at £62.50. The price includes all tuition, ingredients, refreshments, lunch and the food to take home.

These experiences can be booked online or by calling 01539 822507. Gift vouchers are also available for purchase, to any value. Many more courses for staged at the school can be viewed and booked at www.lucycooks.co.uk

Autism Friendly Pantomime Performance

This panto season Hall for Cornwall is running a Loud performance of its pantomime Robinson Crusoe & The Cornish Pirates.

In a Loud Performance the main lights remain on in the seating area, there are no loud bangs, pyrotechnics or unexpected startles and the audience can be as loud as they like (actually in panto everyone can anyway!).

It's an autism friendly performance, aimed at those on the autism spectrum or those who have sensory sensitivities.

HfC is one of the first theatres in the world to offer this - with it only having been done on Broadway and a handful of other venues.

The Loud Performance is on 5th January, 7pm

Other access performances:

Signed: Dec 30th 7pm
Audio Described & Touch Tour: Dec7th Jan 2pm (touch tours 12.30pm) 

http://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/

X Factor Fans Book Popstar Experience Days For Christmas

‘Pop Superstar’ days are proving a top Christmas ‘Red Letter Day’ seller at money-saving site www.ILoveCashback.com.

Hundreds of parents across the UK are snapping up last minute discounts, vouchers and cashback on all kinds of ‘experience days’, with a day at a recording studio proving particularly popular, just as Little Mix hit Number One!

Red Letter Days - or experience days – that are proving popular this festive period range from the ridiculous, such as zorbing, chocolate massages and fish pedicures, through to the sublime, including spa pampering, Ferrari driving and cupcake decorating.

ILoveCashback, the UK’s only site to combine price comparison, voucher codes and cashback in one place, says there’s been a last minute rush on Red Letter Days as shopped out Brits seek a break from the norm!

“Experience days have being selling constantly in the run up to Christmas but we have seen a spike in searches during the last week as some reduce their prices up to 60%,” said Brad Blake, ILoveCashback managing director.

“Superstar days where budding popstars can record their own single with professional help are rushing up our top ten. It must be down the excitement of the X Factor and Little Mix hitting Number One!. In short, there’s a nation of Little Mixers out there!”

"Zorbing, rolling down hills in giant inflatable spheres, Ferrari driving and indoor sky diving are proving popular alongside the more sedate offers like pamper days and hot air ballooning."

ILoveCashback.com offers price comparison and 10,000 voucher codes for over 1,200 stores and 8 million products. The triple-save site kicked off Christmas by offering  cashback on every first purchase and is currently offering a £100 prize in a 'hunt the virtual Xmas tree competiton.'


http://www.ilovecashback.com/win-100-play.com-vouchers/

According to reports, we'll spend a total of around 350 million hours Christmas shopping on the net this year. That’s apart from shopping on the crowded high street, standing in queues and trying to find a parking space to spend a total of around £13bn.

ILoveCashback was recently shortlisted in the Consumer MoneyFacts Best Cashback Site awards 2012.

“There are some weird and wonderful breaks as well as those for relaxation and people are snapping them up not only as Christmas gifts, but also New Year breaks and ‘thank you’ presents,’ added Blake.

Top Red Letter Days At ILoveCashback.com

1. Two For One Zorbing (RedLetterDays)

2. Two For One Indoor Skydiving (RedLetterDays)

3. PopStar/Superstar Days (Recording Session) (Activity Gifts)

Ferrari Driving (RedLetterDays)

5. Kids’ Lamborghini Driving (RedLetterDays)

6. Two For One Floatation Therapy Day (VirginExperienceDays)

7. Two For One Pamper Day At Bannatyne's Health Clubs (BuyAgift)

8. Ultimate Fish Pedicure For Two (RedLetterDays)

9. Champneys Chocolate Wrapper Experience Day (PrezzyBox)

Deluxe Makeover Experience For Two (PrezzyBox)

ILoveCashback Cashback Offers:

Red Letter Days - 6.5% - http://www.ilovecashback.com/shop/red-letter-days-cashback/

Buyagift.co.uk - Up to 5% - http://www.ilovecashback.com/shop/buyagift.co.uk-cashback/Activitygifts - 6.5% - http://www.ilovecashback.com/shop/activitygifts.co.uk-cashback/

Virgin Experience Days - 6% - http://www.ilovecashback.com/shop/virgin-experience-days-cashback

Gifted.com - 5% - http://www.ilovecashback.com/shop/gifted.com-cashback/

Prezzybox - Up to 10% - http://www.ilovecashback.com/shop/prezzybox-cashback/

A1 Gifts - 6% - http://www.ilovecashback.com/shop/a1gifts.co.uk-cashback/

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No rest for the thrifty – Shoppers to return to the web on Christmas Day

Although much of the country will have a day off from work on Christmas Day, there will be no recess when it comes to shopping online. It is predicted that £186 million will be spent online on Christmas Day, followed by another £367.8 million on Boxing Day as shoppers look to be among the first to snatch the best bargains in the sales.

Ellen Flood, independent shopping expert from Shopow, said, “Budgets have been tight for shoppers this year and so retailers have responded by rolling out rock bottom prices online and on the high street. But now they have bought presents for friends and family, many will be returning to the online stores at the earliest opportunity to get something special for themselves without breaking the bank.

“There are many discounted items being introduced immediately after Christmas and therefore plenty of bargains to be had. The danger is that shoppers could become desensitised by the idea of lowered prices and may not see the attraction as vividly as previous years. Those stores that did hold their nerve and their prices in the run up to Christmas have their last throw of the dice for this year if they are to recoup earlier losses.”

Shopow is a new revolutionary site that has launched at www.shopow.co.uk. It is the first Social shopping search engine in the UK and is powered by the impartial reviews and experiences of users; allowing them to make an informed choice about their purchases. The visibility for businesses of all sizes gives shoppers access to a greater range of retailers and products than ever before.

For an informative video about the Shopow concept have a look at this special video introduction:-

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New Cocktails Video Course Teaches How to Taste Spirits and Demystifies Mixology

Spirits and mixology are popular again, thanks in part to movies, TV, and magazines that show cocktail culture in a sexy, sophisticated light. Now that we've got the look down, what about the drinking experience? Are people fully enjoying spirits? Just as knowledge enhances your wine appreciation, the same is true for spirits, according to Certified Specialist of Spirits Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, an acclaimed expert and host of The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails: Tastes and Traditions, a new video guide to cocktails.

Ms. Simonetti-Bryan comments: "Understanding how to detect aromas and flavors within the different types of vodka, gin, and rum ensures you can maximize the experience. Despite their varying degrees of sophistication, spirits can be understood and enjoyed by everyone, and this new guide demonstrates in a fun and engaging way how to get the most out of tasting a wide range of spirits."

Learning to taste spirits correctly is not an exact science, but mixology courses offer a number of techniques to help you understand what you are drinking. To create delicious cocktails, it's important to understand how to identify flavors and aromas in the base spirits. According to Ms. Simonetti-Bryan, the best way is to employ the “Four Ss” technique of tasting neat spirits: See, Sniff, Sip, and Savor.

First, see the spirit. Take a look at the color to get an idea what it will taste like. A darker color, as in cognac or rum, indicates the spirit has been aged in oak barrels, which results in flavors such as spice, vanilla, caramel, or toffee.

Next, sniff the spirit. Don’t breathe in too deeply, as the alcohol content may be overpowering. Keep your mouth open to reduce alcohol burn, which can mask flavors, and inhale through the mouth and the nose.

Then, sip the spirit. The intensity of the alcohol can be a shock – most spirits will have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of around 40%. Take only a small amount, and allow your palate to adjust by waiting 30 -60 seconds before taking the next sip.

Finally, savor the spirit. To really appreciate the taste and flavor, savor the spirit in three stages.

• In the "attack" you will identify one set of components – usually the most volatile ones.
• In the "mid palate" (after a few seconds), you will identify a different set of flavors.
• In the "finish," the flavors linger on your palate for 10-20 seconds or longer. This "length" demonstrates the quality of the spirit; the longer the flavors last on your palate, the greater the likelihood you are enjoying a superior drink.

"There is a lot more to tasting spirits than downing a shot movie-style," says Simonetti-Bryan. "Knowing how to taste a spirit properly provides a solid foundation in distinguishing and appreciating different varieties, and helps to enrich the whole drinking experience. Anyone wanting to create and mix cocktails should ensure they understand the importance of tasting correctly, in order to recognize why certain flavor combinations work so well."

The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails: Tastes and Traditions is one of the leading interactive cocktail courses available. It includes eight lectures covering classic spirits, cordials and liqueurs, recipes, and a mixology toolkit. For further information on how to purchase a DVD or a digital video download of the course, visit http://www.thegreatcourses.com/cocktail-courses.

For further information on The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails: Tastes and Traditions or The Great Courses, please contact Kirsty Shaw or Gina Tunley at Punch Communications: +44 (0) 1858 411 600 or tgc@punchcomms.com

• The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails: Tastes and Traditions is available from www.thegreatcourses.com/cocktail-courses for $27.95 (digital video download) and $29.95 (DVD). Shipping and handling costs apply.
• Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is a definitive authority on spirits in the United States and among a small number of people to have received the highest credentials in the spirits and wine industry. She has a Professional Certificate in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Specialist of Spirits from the Society of Wine Educators. Ms. Simonetti-Bryan is also one of only a few hundred people in the world to hold the Master of Wine title (M.W.) from The Institute of Masters of Wine in London, England—the highest and most difficult title to achieve in the industry.

Winner of the Wiesbaden Tasting Trophy from the Institute of Masters of Wine, Ms. Simonetti-Bryan has trained thousands of professionals in the spirits and wine industry, has judged international spirits and wine competitions, and has hosted seminars with Food Network stars including Rachael Ray and Bobby Flay. She is a frequent guest on television programs, including Fox Business and Bloomberg TV, and has been featured in Fortune, Wine & Spirits Magazine, and Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
• The Great Courses is a highly popular series of university-level lectures crafted and delivered by top professors and experts. Designed to meet the demand for lifelong learning and to change the way people think about the world, The Great Courses currently offers more than 350 courses in a range of video and audio formats including DVD, CD, and digital downloads.

Courses span over 5,000 hours of content across ten subject categories: science and mathematics, history, fine arts and music, religion and theology, philosophy and intellectual history, literature and English language, business and economics, better living, professional, and high school. Since 1990, over 10 million courses have been sold around the world.

Over one in ten sales shoppers set to avoid the crowds this year by shopping on their mobiles

• 14 percent will be using their mobile phone to either purchase sales items online or find discounts from their favourite brands

Research by mBlox, the mobile consumer interaction and payment specialist, reveals that one in ten UK consumers are planning to avoid the High Street this sales season and are shopping from their mobile while they are on the go.

The research, commissioned by Opinion Matters, unveils how in the upcoming post-Christmas sales, nearly 10 percent of UK consumers would opt to use their mobile phone or smartphone to purchase items online, rather than shop in-store for bargains. These consumers indicated they would use the discounts and sales offers they receive on their mobile phone to purchase gifts in-store.

Michele Turner, Chief Marketing Officer of mBlox says: “We’re seeing more consumers who want to combine High Street shopping with mobile online purchasing while they are on the go.. The way in which shopping habits are evolving indicates that the way brands interact with their customers has never been so important. Our research demonstrates that 2012 is gearing up to be the year of mobile shopping, as more people choose this shopping and payment option as an alternative.”

The research also found that nearly 18% of those polled were happy to receive promotional offers on their mobile over the Christmas and New Year sales period. Of this figure, 12 percent preferred to receive offers that were relevant and personal to them.

Turner continues: “Customers still want to shop in-store for many purchases, which is good news for the High Street. However, with a growing proportion of consumers who are keen to engage with brands and shop on their mobile phones, there is now an opportunity for businesses to engage personally with these customers when they aren’t face-to-face in store. Yet, with mobile marketing being such a personal tool, consumers can be fickle if they find these promotions become a nuisance: brands may only have one opportunity to get it right. Businesses will need to market to its customers in the right way and be mindful that the consumer should have control over the messages they receive, whether that is through an opt-in service or through targeted and relevant content.”

FACTFILE:
mBlox is a mobile interaction and payment specialist that provides enterprises and solution providers with the fastest and most reliable way to engage with their customers on mobile devices without compromising on security. mBlox delivers a combination of software and services that allow businesses and solution providers to create mobile solutions with the greatest possible reach. Backed by leading venture capital firms, mBlox offers a network of more than 800 operators in over 180 countries, covering over 90% of the world’s population.

Notes to editors:

The research results from Opinion Matters can be found below. A further breakdown (gender/demographic etc.) is available on request.

The research was carried out between 5th December 2011 and 16th December 2011. A sample of 2002 UK mobile phone users and 2003 US UK mobile phone users was taken.

UK research results

Will you be using your mobile phone / smartphone to purchase items online in the post-Christmas sales, rather than shop for sales bargains in-store?

No, I will not be using my mobile phone / smartphone to shop online in the post-Christmas sales 88.3%
Yes to buy sales items online in the post-Christmas sales as I think there will be better bargains 5.2%
Yes to buy sales items online in the post-Christmas sales to avoid the crowds and the queues 4.5%
Yes but I won’t use it to purchase the items online. Instead, I will use it to find the discounts / sale offers of my favourite stores and then I will pay for these in-store 3.7%
Yes (other) 0.1%

Would you be happy for brands to send you promotional offers on your mobile about post-Christmas sales?

No, I do not want brands contacting me on my mobile with promotional offers 82.5%
Yes, I would like to receive promotional offers on sales items from brands on my mobile, providing they are relevant to me 12.1%
Yes, I would like to receive promotional offers on sales items from brands on my mobile 5.4%

US research results

Will you be using your mobile phone / smartphone to purchase items online in the post-Christmas sales, rather than shop for sales bargains in-store?

No, I will not be using my mobile phone / smartphone to shop online in the post-Christmas sales 85.3%
Yes to buy sales items online in the post-Christmas sales as I think there will be better bargains 7.2%
Yes to buy sales items online in the post-Christmas sales to avoid the crowds and the queues 6.7%
Yes but I won’t use it to purchase the items online. Instead, I will use it to find the discounts / sale offers of my favourite stores and then I will pay for these in-store 3.8%
Yes (other) 0.1%

Would you be happy for brands to send you promotional offers on your mobile about post-Christmas sales?

No, I do not want brands contacting me on my mobile with promotional offers 80.8%
Yes, I would like to receive promotional offers on sales items from brands on my mobile, providing they are relevant to me 11.7%
Yes, I would like to receive promotional offers on sales items from brands on my mobile 7.4%

Christmas comes to the Honey Monster's Sugar Puffs. Special Christmas edition

As if Sugar Puffs were not tasty and fun enough and also nutritional (there's nowt wrong with honey, cereal and a bit of sugar!) the clear chefs at Honey Monster Foods have created a new, limited edition version of this old favourite.

It is called Snowy Puffs, and it is ordinary, super tasty Sugar Puffs with the special addition of fantastic little balls of crunchy sweet white meringue! Children, adults and African Grey Parrots just love them!

To find out more about these delicious Breakfast treats just visit www.honeymonster.co.uk

You can also follow them on Facebook, too!

Unfortunately Snowy Puffs are limited edition only. Unless, of course, enough people ask for them to be a regular breakfast food? Just a though!