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

EDF Energy London Eye welcomes Christmas with all the trimmings

This winter the EDF Energy London Eye is bringing back Eyeskate, and it promises to be bigger and better than last year. Guests are invited to glide across the ice under the silhouette of London’s most iconic landmark, where they can also opt to experience the London Eye or the London Eye River Cruise to enjoy the best of London’s Christmas offerings.

The Eyeskate rink will open with a breathtaking, free performance of the well-renowned Nutcracker on Ice on Friday 18th November at 4pm. Choreographed and performed by the National Ice Skating Association, this enchanting display will bring a sprinkle of festive charm upon guests to the London Eye and passers-by on the South Bank. As the skaters expertly dazzle the audience to the Sugarplum songs, spectators won’t be able to resist the magical mood.

For an additional flutter of festive frolicking the EDF Energy London Eye will host a Spectacular Skate-Off on Sunday 4th December at 11am. This free-to-enter, open-to-all competition, judged by the head choreographers at the National Ice Skating Association, will see budding ice-skaters competing to win. All those who take part in the challenge will receive a complimentary ticket to the London Eye, but the real prize for the winner is being named the London Eye’s ice-skating champion.

Further in-season indulgences will abound at the EDF Energy London Eye this Christmas, as guests are invited to toast the winter cheer and embrace that festive feeling.

New for this Christmas is the Vinopolis Pommery Champagne Tasting Experience. Guests are invited to sample five elegant Champagnes, as experts from Vinopolis, the top London wine and Champagne tasting venue, guide them through the selection. Take-home notes are also provided, to ensure visitors can impress friends at their own Christmas parties.

Individual Mulled Wine Experiences are also on offer, ideal for small groups, couples or families to enjoy a cosy winter warmer. Alternatively, the Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Private Capsule, allows guests to sip on a warming glass of the season’s favourite beverage and devour delicious mince pies, all in their own private capsule.

For those who like to add a touch of glamour to their Christmas celebrations, the Champagne Capsule is the perfect way to indulge. Guests can relax and enjoy feeling spoiled as the host serves chilled Pommery Brut Royale Champagne with the option to add canapés, nibbles or mince pies.

Perfect for amorous couples, the Mistletoe Cupid’s Capsule provides the ultimate romantic opportunity to take in the stunning skyline and indulge that special someone. This charming treat is made complete with mistletoe, a bottle of Pommery Brut Royal Champagne and a box of luxury Charbonnel et Walker pink Champagne truffles.

For more information on the London Eye and to receive a 10% discount on bookings visit www.londoneye.com or follow the London Eye on twitter www.twitter.com/thelondoneye

Doodlenation.com - on a mission to get UK kids and adults colouring creatively

Families are being urged to enjoy fun and creative times together this Christmas, free from the annoying bleep of computerised gadgets – by colouring-in, on a massive scale.

Doodlenation.com produce giant, intricate colouring-in poster kits which are sure to absorb the whole family for hours, and probably days, on end over the festive period.  Both adults and children can enjoy the Herculean task ahead when confronted with an elaborate poster to complete.

The artwork comes in a range of themes to appeal to children, parents and colouring fans of all ages such as nature, animals, a world of Cyborgs, Native American themes, angels and a giant, intricately detailed, sun! The posters are unique and created specially by Canadian artist Julie Van Alstine.  

Doodlenation.com owner, mum Nancy Detchon, jumped on the idea of colouring-in giant posters when thinking of ways to entertain her own children ahead of a rainy holiday in the Lake District.

Nancy, 42, said: “The children were getting fed up with being stuck indoors and were already tiring of the toys they’d brought along. Luckily, I’d thought ahead and remembered how I used to love colouring in giant posters as a child. I’d been online and ordered some but they were very expensive. When I surprised them with the posters, I couldn’t believe the effect they had on our technology obsessed children. Initially the kids were overawed at the size of the task ahead of them. Then, they became quite obsessed and, more to the point, wonderfully quiet.

"My partner and I joined in too and before we knew it the whole family were sitting around the table chatting, laughing and being sociable together – whilst completing our giant work of art. The children enjoyed the task so much they asked if I’d order more posters for them and so the seed of an idea for my own business was sown.”

Parents appreciate Doodlenation.com’s non-reliance on technology and the fact the relaxing act of colouring-in the giant posters encourages children to be creative and sociable. Children tend to enjoy the challenge of the poster project as well as the satisfaction from completing a giant work of art.

For more information visit www.doodlenation.com where the posters can be viewed in more detail and purchased.

FACTFILE:

Doodlenation.com’s posters are black and white A1 size measuring 841mm x 597mm.

The matt paper is high quality 170gsm and there are seven individual posters to choose from.

Each poster is rolled into a recycled postal tube and comes with a set of 10 free high quality, double-ended, Staedtler felt tip pens made from environmentally-friendly, water-based ink. The pens also have ventilated caps to reduce a choking hazard if swallowed.

Shipping within the UK and to Europe is free.

Poster kits cost £16.99 each or two for £29.99.

In a bid to support the local economy Nancy has ensured the posters are printed in her home county of Derbyshire and plans to bring new poster themes to the range.

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iball3 Voted Toy Launch of the Year 2011, The Perfect Christmas Gift

The stunning iball3 has been voted the top new toy of 2011!

The Amazing New iball3 Presses All the Right Buttons as the Perfect Christmas Gift.

The iball3 www.iball3.com, is a colourful, exciting, cutting edge electronic game. It is an interactive, brain training game with a world class on-line leader board, showcasing those who are the very best.

The brainchild of genius inventor Andrew Reeves, the unique iball3 has been voted the top new toy of 2011 by the Gadget show and is predicted to be a top 10 best seller this Christmas by Hamleys. The iball3 is suitable for any one aged 8+ and is the perfect Christmas gift for fans of games and gadgets. It is available from a wide number of specialist toy and major retailers or can be purchased on line via www.iball3.com, costing RRP £19.99.

What is the iball3?

• The iball3 is a clear electric blue ball with electronic wizardry inside. The iball3 has 6 light buttons and a single LED display. The iball3 can easily be played with by children (8+) or adults.

How does it Work?

• The object of the game is to turn on all the lights to the same colour within a specific time.

• Each iball3 is unique and has a pre-programmed registration number which allows you to compete on a World leader board at: www.iball3.com.

• The iball3 has two levels which reset after 90 seconds, which is plenty of time for practice games.

• The first level of the game (3 lights) must be completed within a time limit of 20 seconds before the iball3 moves to an automatic advancement sequence of 4 lights to level 2.

• Level 2 must be completed in less than 60 seconds if you want to have a chance of getting onto the World leader board. If the 4 light sequence is completed within 60 seconds you will be rewarded with a unique i-code that can be entered onto the World leader board. This special i-code once entered onto the iball3 website will let you know how long it took you to complete the game within hundredths of a second.

• You can easily Reset Level 2 to the original 3 light sequence game by Pressing buttons 1 & 5 at the same time.

• There are other special button sequences for turning sound off and re-displaying the unique serial number.

The iball3 “Elite”

• Players who achieve a sub 9 second time on the iball3 world leader board will be rewarded in 2012 with a free iball3 “elite”. The elite version has an extra 3rd level and has additional randomization processes to really test the very best in the brain training world.

• The www.iball3.com has a new elite world leader board to post “Elite world Record times” for those that can achieve success on the 3rd level game play.

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