Sunday, 2 October 2022

Plastic-Free vegan-friendly Shaving Brush. The ideal eco-friendly Christmas gift

A massive advantage of using a shaving brush is the absolutely luxurious feel.

Plus they will help you get a closer shave, cutting down on pesky skin irritation, and fewer ingrown hairs! (Thank goodness!) Once you switch, you'll never look back! It's perfect for the green-minded Christmas gift recipients in your life.

The bristles are made from sisal bristles, which is a type of grass.

But the problem is that, even for some people who aren't vegetarians or vegans, they don't actually like the idea of using a real bristle brush on their skin. 

And as for those of us who are vegetarians for vegans? They'll have to avoid the luxury of a bristle brush shave with real, foaming soap.

But not now! Because now you can buy them the perfect stocking filler, a Plastic-Free Vegan Shaving Brush!

Not only is it totally plastic-free, it's also vegan friendly and completely cruelty free, offering them an improved shave performance using a perfect shaving brush, with a stylish wooden handle.

It costs £14.97 and is available from Clear Confidence.

https://www.clearconfidence.co/product/plastic-free-shaving-brush.

Friday, 30 September 2022

Christmas Morning Marmalade Buns

This is another wonderful festive recipe from our friends at Cottage Delight. It uses their Winter Warming Thin Cut Marmalade

Prep: 1 hour (including rises): 4 hours 30 mins  

Cook: 25 mins

Makes: 12 buns

For dough: 

240ml whole milk

135g dark brown soft sugar

2 tsp mixed spice

½ tsp ground cinnamon

2 sachets instant yeast (7g per sachet)

115g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, cut into 4 pieces

2 large eggs, lightly beaten at room temperature

½ tsp salt

563g strong white bread flour, plus more for surfaces

2 tsp oil for bowl 

For the marmalade filling: 

1 x 340g jar Cottage Delight Winter Warming Thin Cut Marmalade, at room temperature

100g unsalted butter, very soft/room temperature

For orange cream cheese frosting:

55g full fat cream cheese

250g icing sugar

2 tbsp double cream

2-3 tsp orange extract (taste for desired flavour) 

Method

Grease a large bowl using 2 tsp of oil, set aside. Heat milk to just below boiling point to scald. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature (must still be warm). 

In a stand mixer, using the dough hook attachment, combine all dry dough ingredients. Add eggs, followed by the warm milk. Mix at a medium speed for 10 minutes before tipping onto a lightly floured surface. (Dough will be soft).

Knead dough into a ball and place into a large, greased bowl. Cover tightly with cling film and move to a warm spot to prove for 2 hours, or until double in size. 

Once proved, knock back the dough. Tip onto a lightly floured surface. Gather into a neat ball and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 50x35cm rectangle, making sure the dough is smooth and evenly thick as possible. 

Place the rectangle of dough with a long edge facing you. Spread the softened butter all over the dough, ensuring you go right to the edges. Spoon over jar of Winter Warming Thin Cut Marmalade (reserve 1 tbsp for dressing) and spread over the top of the butter. 

Starting from the long edge furthest away, roll the pastry towards you, keeping the dough as tight as possible as you roll (make sure the seal is on the bottom). Take a sharp knife and trim the ends (roughly 1-2 inches each side). 

Cut the rolled dough in half, then halve your two halves again (leaving you with 4 quarters). Slice each quarter into 3 equal slices and place on their cut side into a greased and lined 20x30cm baking tin. 

Cover the rolls tightly with cling film and allow to rise until doubled in size (approx. 1 hour). 

Pre-heat the oven to 200°/180°C fan/gas 6. Once doubled, remove cling film and place in oven for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly golden on top. Place tin on wire rack to cool. 

In a medium bowl, using a hand-held or stand mixer beat the cream cheese on a medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add double cream and sifted icing sugar. Switch to high and beat for 1 minute. Add orange extract and beat on high to combine. (Taste for desired orange flavour).

Spread the icing over warm rolls in swirls and serve immediately. 

Dust with cinnamon and decorate with reserved Winter Warming Thin Cut Marmalade. 

I have a feeling that these buns will not make it to Christmas morning at our house as they'd be chomped down with some festive tea as soon as they were baked!

Fuze: An ideal Christmas gift for the gamer in your life

Debut 'Made with FUZE' game release, SUPER FUNKY BOWLING for Nintendo Switch™ opens the gates for budding game developers, Bedroom Coders and Homebrew Heroes everywhere. 

FUZE Technologies removes the barriers to entry, making the process of games development and publishing more accessible than ever before!

FUZE Technologies are the creators of FUZE4 Nintendo Switch, an application designed to make learning real coding as accessible and beginner-friendly as possible. With its comprehensive suite of features and tutorial content, users can learn the fundamentals of coding in a forgiving environment, therefore removing the barrier to entry often found in professional platforms.

Made with FUZE is a channel for FUZE4 Nintendo Switch users to get their games on the Nintendo eShop, allowing them to start earning money for their games and leaving the complexities of publishing to FUZE.

The debut ‘Made with FUZE’ release is the incredibly awesome ‘SUPER FUNKY BOWLING’ by FUZE community member Nathaniel Strub (aka. Scrubz). The game was created for a high-profile competition judged by video game veterans (including Jeff Minter, Eugene Jarvis and the Oliver Twins) and exemplifies beautifully what is possible in FUZE!

David Silvera, FUZE Product Manager, said: “This is all about lowering the barrier to entry for new developers, celebrating hidden talent and opening doors for people with less access to the support they need to get started.”

Over the past several years, FUZE has seen the creation of a thriving community of coders at every stage of their journey - enthusiastic beginners and seasoned programmers alike are sharing their knowledge, lifting others up and collaborating on awesome creative projects. Their work is celebrated by both FUZE and the community alike, fostering an environment of support and empowerment.

“Game development has always just been a fun hobby for me. I’ve never made a game expecting to make a profit from it. Sure, I’ve dreamt of publishing and selling my games somewhere special, but the process seemed too convoluted to be worth it. Then the FUZE team came along, took a game I made with FUZE, and did the hard work of putting it on the eShop for me! How awesome is that!” – Scrubz, Super Funky Bowling Developer.

Super Funky Bowling is available exclusively on the Nintendo eShop from October 14th 2022 for only £2.99 

Who are they? FUZE Technologies Ltd, Oxfordshire, England has a core focus on making learning to code as easy, accessible and enjoyable as possible.  As well as local Coding & Gaming activities, FUZE provides award winning, curriculum-mapped, computing workshops to schools and STE(A)M events country-wide.

FUZE developed FUZE4 Nintendo Switch, an application designed to bring accessible coding, and even games publishing, to the world’s best-selling games platform and will soon announce versions for additional platforms.

Supporting its activities, FUZE offers freely downloadable teaching content, a vast number of YouTube coding tutorials and operates the FUZE Arena, a community driven platform for coding advice, creative inspiration, and events such as Game Jams and competitions.

To find out more about FUZE Technologies Ltd: fuze.co.uk.

FUZE Arena, YouTube, Twitter & TikTok / @fuzearena

General & Education enquires: contact@fuze.co.uk


 

Meet tonies® - This Year's Fastest Growing Preschool Toy Brand - Set to be on Every Child's Christmas Wish List

tonies®, said to be the world's largest interactive audio platform for kids, is readying itself for a bumper Christmas season this year. 

The latest NPD data for July 2022 has revealed tonies® to be the fastest growing preschool toy brand in the UK for the year to June 2022. 

Their iconic Toniebox ranks as the fastest growing toy in the overall UK market*, making tonies® the toy brand to watch this Christmas.  

No wonder families across the world love the Toniebox so much, it gets played 148 times more than the average gifted toy.

Lucia Kreuzer, the General Manager for the UK and Ireland at tonies®, said: "We are thrilled with the latest NPD results. Being the fastest growing preschool toy brand over the last 12 months is a testament to the team's hard work and commitment to create a product and content that children love. 

"These results are also proof of the strong collaborations we have with our wonderful retail partners and licensors. Knowing we are the top toy brand on gift lists this Christmas is something we're obviously very proud of. But we're far from complacent and we will continually strive to find new,  exciting ways to bring joy and happiness to families and children via the magic of audio entertainment."

Designed for children to replace bright and overstimulating screens, the Toniebox is a robust, softly padded musical storytelling box, designed and built exclusively for kids.

With an extensive range of accompanying hand painted figurines, called Tonies, they are simply placed on top of the Toniebox to play music, songs and also educational content. 

The award-winning, intuitive audio system with its child-safe, wireless,  screen-free approach is transforming the way in which young children independently play and learn.

tonies® has taken the toy world by storm since they were launched back in 2016, developing over 600 different Tonies and selling in excess of 3.9m Tonieboxes and 47 million Tonies globally.  

To date, every second child in Germany owns a Toniebox.

On Black Friday last year, tonies® was the third most searched for brand in its home country Germany, and sold out within hours in the UK. 

tonies® have won multiple awards worldwide. tonies® partnerships have included the launch of educational Tonies with National Geographic and the CBBC favourite, Horrible Histories, besides expanding the growing portfolio with British storytime favourites from Roald Dahl, Julia Donaldson, Enid Blyton and Michael Rosen. 

The brand has also launched collaborations with the UK's top educational resources platform Twinkl, and a partnership with Moshi, the sleep and mindfulness app for children, launching this month, demonstrating their strong commitment to supporting parents and caregivers with content that helps enhance children's educational and emotional wellbeing.   

tonies® has attracted a worldwide fanbase, with celebrity fans in the UK including Millie Mackintosh, Giovanna Fletcher, Martine McClutcheon, Cath Tyldesley and Helen George, to name just a few. Loved by the whole family, it's easy to see why the Toniebox has developed a cult following since its launch.

For parents, grandparents and others looking for Christmas shopping inspiration, the tonies® collection is the ideal present to light up little faces and is the gift that keeps on giving.  With a raft of screen-free content, the Toniebox (£79.99) and accompanying Tonies (from £11.99) provide hours of entertainment for different ages, making it a cost-effective purchase which will be loved for many years. With a range of matching accessories including headphones, carry cases and a car organiser, the tonies® collection is perfect for travel too, allowing kids to enjoy the magic of tonies® at home or away.

To buy your Tonibox visit them at https://tonies.com.

That's Food and Drink: Energy efficiency experts give top five tips for c...

That's Food and Drink: Energy efficiency experts give top five tips for c...: Energy efficiency experts' five energy-saving tips could save up to £782 a year. Experts have given their top five tips for saving fuel ...

‘Enchant,’ the World’s Largest Christmas Light Spectacular, Announces U.S. Event Locations

Opening officially everywhere on Black Friday (Nov. 25), the sprawling 10-acre event is produced annually on the playing fields of major league sports stadiums and iconic outdoor spaces. Featuring an immersive walk-thru light maze created with over 4 million stunning and sparkling lights.

Enchant also includes an impressive 100-foot-tall holiday tree, a unique ice-skating trail, live entertainment, Santa visits, and a holiday shopping marketplace with crafts, gifts and culinary treats including festive holiday beverages and cocktails.

“We’re looking forward to hosting millions of guests again this year and introducing Enchant to millions more as we expand to cities across the U.S.,” said Enchant Christmas founder and CEO Kevin Johnston. “We bring a new story and elements to our featured light maze each year, so guests always have something special to experience when returning to enjoy a holiday night at Enchant with family and friends.”

This year Enchant will string its incredible light displays coast to coast from Florida to California and will be joined by first-ever national sponsor, the Hallmark Channel.

“Hallmark Channel’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ is synonymous with the holidays, bringing warmth, connection and happiness to millions of viewers,” said Lara Richardson, chief marketing officer, Hallmark Media. “Lights are such an integral part of Christmas magic, whether they be displayed on your house, strung throughout your favorite hometown spots, or featured in grand, eye-opening light displays like Enchant, and this partnership creates a new way to spread Hallmark Christmas joy.”

The popular television network will be offering guests a variety of custom experiences, including a “Hallmark Cozy Christmas” lounge, photo opportunities, Hallmark Channel wine tasting and a chance for fans to win a set visit to a Hallmark movie while in production.

“Hallmark Channel is the perfect partner to join Enchant across America this year. It’s an amazing brand fit in every way with the premium, experiential holiday celebration we’ve created,” said LeeAnne Stables, chief marketing officer for Enchant. “We have so many fun surprises waiting for their millions of fans, including that Hallmark classic—delicious mugs of Enchant hot chocolate ready to go.”

Returning cities for the holiday extravaganza include Dallas; Washington, D.C.; St. Petersburg; and Las Vegas. Debuting Enchant events in 2022 are Sacramento, San Jose, Scottsdale and Nashville.

Tickets for all Enchant cities are on sale at enchantchristmas.com

Enchant is the world’s largest holiday light event experience encompassing over 10 acres, featuring a dazzling installation of over 4 million sparkling multicolored lights creating a one-of-a-kind, story-themed walk-thru maze, with holiday trees over 100 feet tall. 

Produced on the playing fields of major league sports stadiums and iconic outdoor spaces, the event offers an ice-skating trail, live entertainment, interactive games, Santa visits and a charming holiday marketplace featuring local artisans, along with holiday foods and festive drinks. Founded in 2016 by Canadian entrepreneur Kevin Johnston, Enchant has since delighted over 3 million guests in major cities in the U.S. and Canada. Visit enchantchristmas.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

If any readers of That's Christmas live in the USA or are on holiday in the USA this looks like a fun event to attend.

Gracias Choir Brings the Joy of Christmas to the City of Los Angeles this October

If you are going to be in LA next week, please remember that The Gracias Christmas Cantata is happening on Monday, October 3rd, 2022 at the Microsoft Theater (777 Chick Hearn Ct., Los Angeles, CA 90015) for free. 

The City of Los Angeles gave a Certificate of Appreciation for the Gracias Choir & Orchestra for their combined efforts.

Founded back in 2000, the Gracias Choir is an internationally award-winning, non-profit choir and orchestra that has taken the highest prizes at the world’s most prestigious choral competitions. Since 2011, the Gracias Choir has performed its world-famous Christmas Cantata in major cities in the U.S. every year.

The Christmas Cantata features cherished music through three unforgettable stages: the Opera Act will present the Nativity, the heart-warming Musical Act based on the “Gift of the Magi,” and the Traditional Christmas Act will showcase a glorious rendition of Handel’s Oratorio, “Messiah.”

To request for free vouchers or to make guaranteed reservations for a donation of $20, please call 310-779-6392 or go to www.ChristmasCantata.us and go to Request Tickets and find the Los Angeles performance on October 3rd, 2022.

To ensure the quality of the event, no children under the age of five years old are allowed to attend. Also, the free seats are given on a first-come, first-serve basis so please be sure to arrive early.