Miss Beautiful

Air Hogs, Paper Jamz, Lite Sprites and more - Christmas gifts for your little helpers!

2011-12-06T12:47:00.004Z

Christmas 2011's season of goodwill is nearly upon us, so I have decided to do the hard work for you and feature my favourite children’s gifts currently on the market - sent to me from a number of great PRs. Get some of these stocking fillers for your little treasures now and enjoy the rest of the run up to Christmas Day in relaxation and happiness - result!

Air Hogs Hyper Active
The new Air Hogs Hyper Active Stunt is one of the fastest remote control cars around. It is capable of doing amazing stunts (well amazing for little boys), 360° spins and jumps, while always landing on its wheels!
Air Hogs Hyper Active Stunt costs £34.99 and is suitable for youngsters aged 8 and over.
Visit http://www.airhogs.com/ for more information.

Air Hogs Vectron Wave
Air Hogs Vectron Wave is the UFO you can control with the palm of your hand. Eliminate the need for a remote with this flyer, as the Vectron Wave uses altitude sensing technology and effortlessly glides over almost anything, using clever obstacle sensors to detect the proximity to the ground. When you’re done, dock it on the launch pad for easy charging.
Air Hogs Vectron Wave costs £24.99.
Visit http://www.airhogs.com/ for more information.

Bakugan Drago
Combine multiple Bakugan and traps to form one massive monster!
For the ultimate battle brawler, build a Dragonoid Colossus with 4 exclusive Bakugan Battle Gear and 1 Bakugan. Each piece fits together to make the most fierce Dragonoid yet and by dropping the final brawler into position, auto-transforms into the ultimate weapon!
Bakugan Drago costs £39.99 and is suitable for children aged 5 and above. Visit http://www.bakugan.com/ for more information.

Fab Effex
Fab Effex is a fabric youngsters can decorate clothes, shoes, hair bands or make rings and dolls clothes with.
The fabric can bend, shape, twist, wrap and stick to items to decorate and design.
It’s re-useable so youngsters can undo and re-make their decorations over and over again.
The Variety Pack offers lots of fabric sheets, pre-cut shapes and all the tools including moulds, key rings, a greetings card and finger rings to make and create. It costs £19.99 and is suitable for girls aged 6 and over. Visit http://www.fabeffex.com/ for more information.

Zoobles
Zoobles are colourful collectible toys which magically transform from tiny balls, into cute creatures when placed in their habitat.
When “petted” the Zoobles react by blinking their eyes, wagging their tails, wiggling their ears and more! There are now over 250 Zoobles to collect from every corner of the Zoobles Isle.
Each quirky character is named and numbered to ensure that keen collectors won’t miss out on any Zoobles.
The Mama and Zoobling Play set, which comes with exclusive twins and all the accessories, includes a highchair, nappy changing area, swing, slide, playpen and pushchair.
It costs £24.99 and is suitable for girls aged 5 and over.Visit http://www.zoobles.com/ for more information.

Pro Microphone from Paper Jamz Pro series
Pro Microphone has perfect pitch vocal-tuning technology and four other voice-enhancing effects to make you sound like a superstar.
Download MP3s to sing to - making it suitable for all musical tastes.
Available in three cool designs for girls and boys, Pro Microphone costs £34.99.
Visit http://www.paperjamzpro.com/ for more information.

Paper Jamz Pro Guitar
Pro Guitar, which features real chords, individual notes, a working ripstrip and a built-in accelerometer, plays like a true instrument.
Download MP3s to the guitar and play along to your favourite hits, switching between notes and chords in three different play modes.
Pro Guitar costs £44.99, and is suitable for youngsters aged 8 and over.
Visit http://www.paperjamzpro.com/ for more information.

Lite Sprites
Lite Sprites are a collection of interactive dolls which use and share colour and light to create a magical playtime for little girls.
There are five dolls available to buy.
The toys, recommended for ages 4 years old and over, cost from £14.99.
To occupy the dolls, why not buy your little one the Tree of Lite Play set where girls can hang the Sprites in the canopy and spin it for colourful lit-up display and sound. The play set costs £39.99. Visit http://www.litesprites.com/ for more information.

Light Strike
A bit like Laser Quest, Light Strike is a brilliant interactive shooting game - a dream present for young boys aged 8 years and above.
The fully customisable weapons come with interactive light and sound affects so youngsters can imagine being in the middle of combat while creating exciting ever-changing battle scenarios.
Youngsters can conquer individual challenges, play one-on-one or create the ultimate team battle with unlimited players.
Strikers start from £29.99 with accessories from £9.99.
Visit http://www.lightstrike.com/ for more information.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Elemis Little Superstars Top-to-Toe Spa treats - a perfect gift for Christmas

2011-12-04T12:37:00.005Z

Enjoy a touch of luxury withthis sparkling gift set from Elemis.

Beautifully packaged in a chicmake-up bag, these face and body treats come in handy travel-sized bottles touse at home or away.
The set containsPro-Collagen Marine Cream, Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser, Frangipani Monoi BodyOil, Tranquil Touch Creamy Body Wash and Tranquil Touch Indulgent Bath Elixir.

The aromas are truly delightfuland, in my opinion, a great Christmas gift for mums, aunties or sisters.

ElemisLittle Superstars Top-to-Toe Spa treats gift set costs £37.50,down from £47. For more information visit http://www.hqhair.com/elemis-little-superstars-top-to-toe-spa-treats/10535748.html

Be the belle of the Christmas ball with treatments from The Chelsea Day Spa

2011-12-02T10:18:00.002Z

There is almost nothing better than indulging yourself with a set of beautytreatments and relaxing after a hard week’s work.

So, you can imagine my delight when I was invitedto road-test the New York manicure and pedicure at The Chelsea Day Spain London.

I went to the beauty salon after work on a Mondayand I was surprised to see it was indeed very busy at 6.30pm.

The salon itself is cosy enough and decoratednicely but the room where the manicures and pedicures are carried out was tiny.

If it is comfort and relaxation you are lookingforward then The Chelsea Day Spa is probably not the place for you.There were six people in the room while I was having my treatments done - threeof whom were customers waiting to be seen next!

If, on the other hand, you aren’t fussed about theabove, the quality of the manicure and pedicure - which costs a bargain £12.50and £20 respectively - was second to none.

My nail technician Pinkie Nguyen, who helped me choose agorgeous dark purple nail varnish, was ever the professional. She soaked, filedand shaped my nails, and sorted my cuticles out - quite a job as it had beentwo months since my last manicure!

The end result was brilliant - beautifullymanicured hands and feet.

To book an appointment at The Chelsea Day Spacall 020 7351 0911. Visit www.thechelseadayspa.co.ukfor more information about treatments carried out at the spa.

Give your feet a boost with Pedi Pro Deluxe

2011-12-01T12:06:00.004Z

The Christmas party season is nearly upon us!
With that in mind its imperative we ladies make sure our feet are in great shape and that cracked heels are not on show, when wearing gorgeous peep-toes shoes.

In just minutes, this can be done with the battery operated Pedi Pro Deluxe.
The bullet shaped gadget uses a rotating disc to remove hard skin, corns and calluses from your feet.
It also comes with buffing pads which can be attached to exfoliate and give your feet a smooth finish.
A pretty pink colour, Pedi Pro Deluxe is easier to use on dry skin before bathing.
I won’t lie to you, my hand did ache after working for a couple of minutes on my first foot but it was very worthwhile in the end for the silky smooth result.

The gadget costs £19.99.
Visit www.jmldirect.com for more information.

Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2011 awards - and a bit of bitchiness!

2011-11-16T17:05:00.001Z

Having attended the Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2011 awards last night, at London's Battersea Power Station, there seems to be three hot topics people are talking about today...

Kara Tointon's plunging neckline
Martine McCutcheon's weight gain
The Wanted's "heart throb" and celebrity winner of the Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2011, Max George

First of all, when in god's name did Max start wearing glasses?!
Second of all, Martine looked great. She isn't a beast, like some tabloids would have you believe.
Thirdly, what's the point in wearing a plunging neckline with no breasts?!

Here's what I enjoyed on the night...

The endless supply of champagne
Seeing TOWIE's Lauren Pope and Lauren Goodger
Speaking to The Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau about his forthcoming wedding and a 3D Printer (seriously!)
My goodie bag
Meeting some great journalists

Overall, a good night xxx

Becoming Mrs Smith!

2011-07-11T22:21:00.000+01:00

The Smith wedding!

SO we meet again :-)

I'm sure everyone in the universe knows by now but I thought i'd share my news anyway...I have become a MRS!!
Yes I married the man of my dreams and have taken on the rather unoriginal surname of Smith.
I have already experienced the 'are you really Mr and Mrs Smith or is she your mistress' looks while checking into a hotel in Paris for our minimoon! I think I am going to love playing the mistress...

Our big day occurred on July 2 at the magnificent venue of Tatton Hall in Cheshire.
The day was the most amazing I have experienced so far in my life (I like to think there are still good times ahead :-)).

Everyone who knows me knows I am ALWAYS late for everything so my wedding day was no exception. I arrived 35 minutes late! Luckily my other half wasn't too worried about me leaving him at the altar as he knows me so well!
The ceremony was beautiful.
Very intimate, romantic, nerve-wracking and overwhelming.
The harpist was superb.

The Ceremony

Afterwards we had our drinks reception in the stunning grounds of Tatton Hall while listening to the sounds of the steel band in the background and sipping on champagne in the sunny picturesque setting.

We then had a three-course wedding breakfast of which I literally ate zero of as my dress was so tight!
Both Andy and I gave a speech.
Mine was off the cuff and very, err, interesting!
Andy's was amazing. He said the nicest things about me, our families, bridesmaids and guests.
A true gentleman and really one of a kind :-)

After our first dance to Al Green's Let's Stay Together, we danced the whole night to our favourite songs (obviously the Jimmy Choos were tossed aside!). The 5ive megamix was one of my favourite parts of the night - brilliant!

Before we knew it it was midnight and time for Andy and I to go back to the hotel, take in the whole day and drink our mega expensive champagne!

Nine days later, I am only just feeling recovered!

Nobody warned me beforehand how hectic your own wedding can be and how every single person would want to spend time with you, leaving you and your husband separated more than you are used too.
I would definitely recommend, to all brides-to-be, to make sure you snatch a few minutes with each other at various intervals throughout the day to take things in.
Andy and I did this and those moments were so precious.

I had an AMAZING wedding day.
Go Team Smith!!
xxxx

The Quadrante by Douwe Egberts - for coffee lovers!

2011-04-30T18:07:00.000+01:00

The Quadrante by Douwe Egberts

Now I really like coffee.
I need one every morning to give me the strength to leave the house and battle my way through the commuters in the London Underground.
So, when I was sent The Quadrante - by Douwe Egberts who make the Senseo coffee pod machines in association with Philips - I was delighted.
With its sleek lines and edgy curves, the machine not only looks great in my kitchen but actually makes two coffee specialities in less than a minute.
All you have to do is fill the large eight-cup water tank and then simply pop a Douwe Egberts coffee pod into the tray. Within a minute you will have a quality cup of coffee ready to drink at a good temperature.
There is a wide variety of pods available from the Douwe Egberts Senseo Coffee Pod range.
These include, Moments Morning Americano, Classic Roast, Medium Roast, Dark Roast, Decaffeinated and Brazil.
There are also tea pods and various types of hot chocolate etc available (next on my list to try).
You can buy the pods from Amazon.co.uk
The Quadrante is an ideal gift for busy coffee-loving people.
It is available to buy from Philips.co.uk at a very reasonable price of £99.

The nightmare wedding invite challenge

2011-04-16T15:00:00.004+01:00

Now, I never knew making a wedding invite would be so time consuming and so stressful.
After months of researching invites on the internet and being sent dozens of invites from specialist wedding companies, Andy and I decided to go it alone and make our own.
Our reasoning for this was...
a) To save money
b) To make our wedding more personal to us
c) I wasn't 100% happy with ANY of the invites I had researched, most seemed to be plain and dull

So, after much consideration we decided to make scroll invites.
Easy, right?
Er no, it wasn't!
Having an image in my head of what I wanted the invites to look like was a lot easier that actually trying to turn that image into reality.

After buying the scroll postal tubes from a company in Essex we came across our first battle.
We couldn't find the exact paper I wanted to use!
Now most people would think this would've have been easy but by god it wasn't (well to me anyway). We bought loads of different textured paper and I wasn't 100% sure about any of them.
Finally after a good one (or four) months we (Andy) found the paper I was after.

Then came the difficult decision on deciding how the invites would look.
We bought some gold ink for the printer and sat down one evening at the computer and got to work on the design of the invites.

That process can only be described as being a nightmare!

Andy hard at work

The font, the size of the font and the actual information we wanted on the invite was so difficult to decide. We experimented with what seemed like hundreds of different looks (and had quite a few arguments!) until finally I was happy with a design.

We then had to print each invite out, cut each one into shape and glue ribbon onto them. Again, a nightmare.
Finally we wrapped each invite up, tied ribbon around them and added a few gold heart confetti pieces to each tube.
Then, the real nightmare came.
I decided I DID indeed love one of the sample invites we had made about 10 hours previously on a DIFFERENT textured paper!!

The final design

But by this time it was too late to go and change all the invites and I had to bite the bullet and go with what we had made.

That decision was the best one ever.
I now actually love our invites.
Even though they took so long to make, were more expensive than if we would have bought them, and nearly caused me and Andy to call off the wedding (well that's obviously a joke but at least that gives you some idea of how stressful it all was!!), we have truly unique invites and I wouldn't change them for the world.

So the moral of the story is, go with your heart and not your head and don't bother being practical and making sacrifices. If you have something in your head persist and you will get it.

Goodbye for now! xxx

A pleased and relieved Naiomi

P.S: 11 WEEKS UNTIL THE BIG DAY!!!!!

Marc Jacobs’ summery Daisy Eau So Fresh

2011-03-03T12:42:00.001Z

Fresh from the Marc Jacobs collection, and the latest take on classic favourite Daisy, is Daisy Eau So Fresh.

This beautifully presented perfume launched at The Perfume Shop on February 27.

It sounds cheesy but when I first opened the box and saw the perfume my first word was wow.

I love the way the bottle has been designed.

It has a very luxurious clear glass shape with a scattering of beautiful pink, yellow and white daisies which appear to bloom from the gold rounded cap.

The scent itself is very alluring, feminine, light, fruity and fresh.

Wearing the perfume makes me feel very girly and it somehow puts me in a good mood as it reminds me of summer!

I would go as far as to say Daisy Eau So Fresh is my second favourite perfume (my first is Chanel No5) and I would definitely recommend this to all my girl mates.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh is available to buy at The Perfume Shop.

It is priced from £47.50.

Spoil your partner this Valentine's Day with these great gifts

2011-02-10T21:42:00.000Z

Stuck for ideas on what to buy the love of your life on February 14? Worry no more as you can’t go wrong with the below fab gifts – all will go perfectly with the Valentine’s Day basics: cool cards, lush flowers and chocolate treats.

VALENTINE’S DAY FOR HER...

You Frame Photos to Canvas
Treat your good lady to a YouFrame DIY box canvas kit. The kit turns your digital photographs into stunning canvas wall art in minutes. Each Photo to Canvas takes less than 3 minutes to assemble and allows you to create stunning original canvas art from your digital photo library. The kit is a great romantic and thoughtful Valentine’s Day present and is priced very well too.
Cost: £10.49.
Purchase from Dealtastic.co.uk

Chloe Love
Now, this is a perfume I love. The scent is a gorgeous feminine and elegant fragrance that lasts for hours after just one spray. It’s not for everyone as the smell is quite sweet and flowery but it would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for a lot of women. The bottle has a lovely design too.
Cost: £22.50
Purchase from The Perfume Shop

Guylian chocolates
Chocolates! No one can celebrate Valentine’s Day without giving or receiving chocolates! My favourite pick is Guylian 'I love you' hearts chocolates. These are the perfect gift for those with a sweet tooth. They come in a gorgeous red heart shaped gift box and feature the Original chocolate Sea Shells or delicious heart-shaped pralines. I loved them.
Purchase from Guylian

Flowers
Roses are red; violets are blue, blah blah blah.
Show how much you care with a bunch of lush flowers for your favourite girl. Like chocolates no Valentine’s Day would be complete without a pretty bunch of flowers. Ladies you can also surprise your man with a bunch of flowers. You never know, they might like them…
Cost: as little or as much as you’d like to spend!
Purchase from all good shops…

Now I know the following two gifts, from Nicky Clarke, wouldn’t normally be classed as romantic and especially not for Valentine’s Day but if my man bought me them I would be VERY happy. I love my hair and if that is looking great then the rest of me is feeling great which means my other half gets great Naiomi and will be rewarded for that! Do you understand me men?!

2000W Frizz Control Dryer
The Nicky Clarke Frizz Control Dryer is perfect for creating lots of volume. My hair was left virtually frizz-free after using the stylish chrome powerful 2000W hairdryer. There are 3 speed settings, 2 heat settings and a turbo button which all help you to get more control and a perfect hairstyle. Whatever look you go for, this hairdryer will help you get great results every time. Accessories include a styling concentrator and diffuser. I have nothing but praise to say about this product. You lady should love it.
Cost: £21.99
Purchase from Nicky Clarke

Professional Flexi Stylers
These flexi stylers allow you to create all different types of curls including tight, spiral, large and bouncy curls. There are 18 of them in total – with my hair I reckon I could do with another 5 or so – and they come housed in a heated storage case with a step-by-step guide on how to create a host of different curls and styles. The curls are fabulous. I love the fact the stylers are hassle-free - you can leave them in your hair while you do your make-up and have a drink, then whip them out and have an instant gorgeous hairstyle. A must-buy for women who like to experiment with hairstyles.
Cost: £19.99
Purchase from Nicky Clarke

Boutique off Shoulder Sweat
This cute off-the-shoulder sweatshirt comes in a fetching shade of dusky pink. I understand it isn’t what you’d call a “normal” Valentine’s Day gift but it is pink, snuggly and don’t you men like us women dressed in big jumpers doesn’t it make us look sexy?! Anyway, I really like the jumper so would be happy to receive it as a present (with a lot more besides!).
Cost: £27.95
Purchase from Joe Browns

Melvita Petal Soft Skin Gift Set
Now every lady loves to be pampered and this scented collection, containing three beauty treats, is a great gift.
There is the Rose Shower Cream - leaves your skin feeling soft, silky and smelling divine - Moisturising Body Lotion - absorbed in nourishing Rosehip Seed Oil and Olive Squalane leaving your skin feeling smooth and radiant - and Rose Raspberry Soap Bar - a velvety soap that leaves skin clean and soft and is gentle enough for sensitive skin like mine.
Cost: £25
Purchase from Melvita

Little Messages' Love Message Cards

Surprise your valentine where she least expects it with these Little Messages’ credit card sized Love Message Cards. There are 8 cards in the pack featuring messages such as 'Hey Sexy', ‘I Love You’and We're Great Together'. To be honest the cards are pretty cheesy but if you're a chessy person they will be great for you! I personally like my unique messages left in places around the house by my other half on simple post it notes. ,uch more personal to me. There are lots of gifts available from Little Messages so the website is definitely worth a visit.

Cost: £2.50
Purchase from Carteblanchegreetings.com

LOVEheart pendant
The LOVEheart pendant is the ideal main gift for your Valentine this Monday. The quirky pendant, which is set in silver and diamond, has the word 'love' and heart entwined together and is highlighted by a solitaire 0.10ct diamond.
The large pendant is 37mm in length and is supplied on a 45cm silver chain. The brilliant-cut diamond set in silver is available from £195.
The pendant is also available in a blue or pink sapphire set in silver for £145. If you are loaded and feel like splashing out treat your lady to an 18ct white, yellow or rose gold heart set with 0.10ct diamond for £750.
Purchase from David M Robinson

VALENTINE’S DAY FOR HIM…

BOSS Orange for Men
This scent is both uplifting and energizing. It smells like vanilla but with a masculine blend of crisp apple.
It is apparently “a relaxed and sociable character; just like the BOSS Orange man himself.”
Cost: from £24.50.
Purchase from The Perfume Shop

52 Weeks of Naughty Nights
This game is supposed to be full of surprises, sensual thrills, kinky surprises, expressions of love and playful games of seduction.
It contains a year's supply of scratch and win cards with naughty I.O.U.'s, suggestions, coupons, roll plays, gestures and more...
Now I’m yet to test this but it does sound good and I’m sure our guys would quite like it!
Cost: £9.99
Purchase from Treathim.com

Personalised Champagne And Gift Box
Now as my other half is a wine connoisseur it’s so difficult for me to know exactly what wine/champagne will make a good present for him – so I tend to stay clear from that!
But for men who may lack an extensive knowledge of fine wine and champagne this Veuve Hennerick Brut Champagne could be a brilliant gift for him. Not only will he have something nice to drink he will also get some delicious Belgian chocolates as they come with the alcohol luxuriously presented in a satin-lined box with a pull-out tray. Kills two birds with one stone!
Cost: £45
Purchase from Marks and Spencer

Emporio Armani watch
I bought a watch similar to this for my other half one Christmas and he hardly takes it off!
Lovely design, Amber Dial with Roman Numeral, Stainless Steel Case, Brown Leather Strap and Quartz Movement.
Cost: £179
Purchase from Goldsmiths

So there it is - some perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day.
If you’re like me - a Valentine’s Day cynic who loves her fiancé spoiling her every day apart from February 14 - you’ll be pleased to see most of the above presents are great for any day of the year. Plus most of the gifts are great for singletons so get treating yourself!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! xxx

Happy New Year - finally!

2011-01-18T19:31:00.001Z

Hi everyone

It has been a while and for that I am sorry. Oh yes and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I hope you all have had a great start to the year so far.

AS IF I am getting married this year! Haha!
So, Andy and I went home to Manchester for Christmas and New Year to spend with the family. It was a brilliant Christmas, full of presents (woo!), happiness and surrounded by my favourite people. Obviously no Christmas would be the same without an argument and mine had one of those too but that is all just part of the fun!

A small selection of the Madden family!

Armed with my bridesmaids on New Year's Eve I headed into town (Manchester) to find their dresses for the big day. This was at 10am.
By 10.50am I had found my dream wedding dress, tried it on (and a few others to be extra certain) and had paid for it!!!
I obviously can't reveal too much about the dress as we don't want the other half finding out but it is definitely my dream dress. I can't wait to wear it!
Hmm and we never did find the bridesmaid dresses :-)

Anyway, I do love the start of a New Year. I just love getting a new diary (or five this year - don't ask!) and filling it in with exciting plans for the next few months. It makes me feel like I'm important and wanted! Also, I love the start of a New Year because my birthday is in January. And yes that means more PRESENTS!!

I hope you have all got your diaries (or you can have one of mine) and have started making plans for this year. What else is better than planning lots of fun things to do - holidays, weekends away, parties and shopping trips - while you're skint and waiting for your January payslip?
I would say not much!

Have a brilliant New Year!

Love Naiomi xxx

Cheers!

Fun presents for Santa's little helpers - Christmas 2010

2010-12-07T13:50:00.002Z

Ho ho ho! It's that time of year again - Christmas time!
With just over two weeks to go until the big day, most of us have been busy running around the shops spending money like there is no tomorrow on what seems like, and in some cases is, hundreds of presents for the whole family.
But if you are still trying to decide what to get the little ones, worry no more as I have decided to take a look at some of the toys currently on the market.
Grab some of these stocking fillers now and enjoy the rest of the run up to Christmas Day in relaxation and happiness - until next year...

Sonic Colors - SEGA
Released just in time for Christmas is Sonic Colors, a brand new high speed action adventure - the ideal gift for old school Sonic fans as well as boys and girls.
Whilst I'm not a huge fan of playing on computer consoles, I used to love playing Sonic the Hedgehog, on our old Sega Megadrive, when I was younger. I was an expert (even if I do say so myself!), but if I'm being honest, my seven-year-old nephew is today a lot better on computers than I ever was. So, I gave him Sonic Colors to play on his DS.
He loves it. The game, available on Nintendo DS and Wii, sees Sonic accelerating to adrenaline-pumping super speeds and blasting through obstacles. It features the diabolical Dr. Eggman, who in a bid for world domination, has built an extraordinary amusement park floating in space around Sonic’s home planet - and has abducted an alien race. Before Dr. Eggman completes his evil plans, Sonic discovers his mysterious theme park in space.
Sonic will need all his speed and skill as he faces this test, but it’s a test he’s sure to pass with flying colours, isn't he?
Sonic Colors costs £24.99 on Nintendo DS and £29.99 on the Wii. It is available from game retailers such as Play.com and Amazon

Build it with Bob - Bob the Builder

Popular children's show Bob the Builder first appeared on UK TV in 1999. Since then it has broadcast in 240 countries across the world! Kids just seem to love Bob and his Can-Do Crew - not to mention the vast range of toys. Therefore, my pick for a great present for Christmas this year is Build it with Bob - a 50 brick construction set.

This set features actual real bricks and cement - amazing! Suitable for children aged three and over, the construction set allows youngsters to use their imagination to build all kinds of structures. As well as the bricks and cement, the set comes with a large wipe clean playmat, bowl and trowel.

The only negative thing I can say about this gift is that it does create a lot of mess from the bricks and cement, but for children, I suppose that is great!

Build it with Bob, by Maps Toys, is available to buy from stockists such as Amazon, Boots, Toymaster, Play.com

It costs between £9.99 and £14.99.

Castle Pop Up Book (Life in a Castle) and Pirate Fun Masks - British Heart Foundation

Who knew heart charity, British Heat Foundation (BHF), sold children's toys? I didn't until I was contacted by one of their PR team. And to shock you even more, they also sell wedding items, gifts for adults, home and garden equipment and so on. Obviously for this feature I am most interested in their children's toys for Christmas (I will take a look at their wedding items tomorrow!).

There are far too many children's gifts from the BHF to mention, so I will concentrate on the Castle Pop Up Book and Pirate Fun Masks.

The Castle Pop Up Book is a tie back book which contains a highly detailed two-story, six-room castle, filled with three-dimensional wonders including a moveable drawbridge. There are press-out figures and a story book which should keep children amused for hours - giving you time to cook the Turkey in peace! The book is for children aged five and over - although personally I'm not too sure why as I cannot see any really small parts - and is perfect for travelling with as the castle folds back into the book without any hassle. The Castle Pop Up Book is available to buy from the British Heart Foundation at a cost of £16.99.

The Pirate Fun Masks is a great way for children to let their imaginations run wild and imagine they are Captain Hook (and whatever other fantasy pirates there are!). The pack features a set of 12 card pirate masks, a treasure map, elastic, crayons and pirate tattoos. Little ones need to be aged three and over to be able to use this set due to the elastic. At a cost of just £6.99, the Pirate Fun Masks should make a great stocking filler for any young boy. It is available to buy from British Heart Foundation

Bloco - construction toy
The next fun present for little one's this Christmas 2010 is the Bloco construction Toy, by Map Toys.
Using high density foam designed in unique colourful shapes, the Bloco toy is formed of foam pieces which children can link together and rotate to any angle using the special connectors. This then enables youngsters to build and create 3D models. The one I tested was of dinosaurs Velociraptor and Pterosaur. Now, i'm no dinosaur expert (although I did used to love The Land Before Time) but the one's pictured to the left are not the one's I recreated, god knows what they are called. As a 27-year-old you would think I would've found these two models easy to assemble, but no, I found it a little tricky. I definitely needed to follow the instructions! My eight-year-old nephew had no trouble whatsoever assembling the creatures, so I can only imagine kids today are smarter than us adults when it comes to toys!
Bloco, which comes with two models per box, is available to buy from places such as Amazon, Boots and Great Little Trading Co
It costs £20.

Postman Pat - Special Delivery Service DVD box set

I can't believe Postman Pat is still going! The iconic children’s favourite is still as popular as ever - and stars in this new “Head of the Special Delivery Service” DVD box set. The set contains three DVD’s, an interactive game, an interactive tour of Greendale and colouring pages. I think it is great for keeping the kids entertained while us adults get on with clearing the mess from Christmas dinner - woo hoo, not!

The set costs from £9.99 to £14.99 and is available to buy from Postman Pat and Amazon

That's it for my list of fun presents for Santa's little helpers this Christmas - I hope it helps. Obviously there are loads more on the market but I think all the above gifts are great for stocking fillers (not forgetting the traditional oranges and apples!). Whatever you get up to during this year's festive season, I hope you all have a fab time.

Merry Christmas!!

New Baileys Hazelnut Flavour - review

2010-12-02T13:43:00.004Z


Baileys Hazelnut Flavour

I don't half love an ice cold glass of Baileys Original Irish cream liqueur.

Even though it's available to buy all year round I tend to crave Baileys around Christmas time. I think it must be the richness and smooth luxurious taste which makes the drink a festive must-have for me. It makes me feel all Christmassy!

Anyway, I was excited to hear about the October launch of Baileys Hazelnut Flavour and even more excited when I was asked to sample a bottle.

I first tried the new flavour while getting ready to go to my work's first Christmas party.

The drink was very rich and blended the ingredients of Baileys Original, comprising fresh Irish cream and triple-distilled Irish whiskey, with the hazelnut flavour.

It also tasted a little like chocolate - great for chocolate lovers!

However, I could only drink two small glasses because of its rich flavour, but that wasn't a problem as it's not the sort of drink you down or drink lots of in any one drinking session.

A spokeswoman for Baileys, which also makes Baileys with a hint of coffee, Baileys with a hint of Mint Chocolate and Baileys with a hint of Caramel, added: "With its velvety smooth and luxuriously rich taste, there is no better way to discover the delights of new Baileys Hazelnut Flavour than by pouring it over ice and sharing it at home with your partner or friends."
The drink is available to buy from all good supermarkets at a cost of £15.50 for a 700ml bottle.

Duvet covers for your feet?! Well, Big Brother's Craig Phillips loves them

2010-11-25T21:00:00.003Z

Big Brother 1 winner Craig loves Heat Holders socks

I love the summer and HATE the winter.

It's not that I don't like seeing crisp white snow layered upon every surface outdoors - I do. I just hate having to drag myself through the centimetres of thick snow and then arriving at work with freezing cold feet of which, no matter how hard I try, do not get warm again!

So, I was thrilled when the Sock Shop contacted me in regards to their new range of Heat Holders Thermal Socks.

I was told the socks can keep your feet seven times warmer than normal cotton socks. When I first heard this I was a little sceptical but thought there was no harm in trying them.

I received two pairs of the socks - one long length and suitable for wearing with wellies and the other best suited to shorter boots. They both came in pretty pink girly colours, which I was very happy about, but the most interesting part is they both have a tog rating of 2.34.

As soon as slipped the socks on to my feet I was amazed. Honestly it is like wearing a foot duvet!

I have never EVER come across socks that are so comfortable.

I know it's not snowing everywhere - yet - but it has gotten quite cold these last few weeks, so I have worn the socks pretty much daily (when I have had boots on) to work. While in the house, I haven't even bothered to wear slippers, there is just no point when you have socks on which are that good!

A spokeswoman for the Sock Shop said: "Heat Holders provide a practical and economical alternative to layering socks. The intense brushing process each sock has been through holds warm air close to the skin, keeping feet warmer for longer. The long pile cushioning adds comfort and support where feet need it the most. Their gentle grip prevents rubbing or discomfort that may be experienced from a sock with a lower tog rating."

She added: "Heat Holders provide a perfect solution to the snow day blues. No longer will family snowball fights in the garden be plagued by cold feet."

Available in a variety of different colours Heat Holders, suitable for men, women and children, start at around £4.99.

The socks are perfect and can be used time and time again.

As they are so thick my only criticism is you can't wear them with certain boots and shoes - I couldn't get my feet into one pair of boots the other day. But just do what I did - change your boots and be warm!

With Christmas just weeks away a pair of Heat Holders will make a brilliant stocking filler so visit the Heat Holders website and get yours now.

Elemis Eau De Parfum Exotic review

2010-11-20T13:05:00.002Z

The second fragrance from spa and skincare brand Elemis, loved by celebrities Sienna Miller and Emma Bunton, is Elemis Eau De Parfum Exotic.
After trying Elemis' first fragrance Eau De Parfum, after its launch in spring this year, I was eager to try the second creation from this well-known brand.
Described by Elemis as "intoxicating, sensual, mysterious and exotic" I decided to try out the perfume to see if it was indeed those things - although if i'm honest I really don't know how a perfume can be mysterious!
Upon using the product for the very first time, my initial thoughts were that of a overwhelming floral scent.
As an avid fan of Chanel No.5, which has a delicately light flower feminine fragrance, I found Elemis Exotic had a smell which was maybe a bit too powerful for my liking.
It is the type of perfume you smell on people when they walk pass you on the street and you can still smell it minutes later!
However, after an hour or so when the smell was less powerful, the fragrance - which combines ylang, ylang with sandalwood, tuberose, frankincense and jasmine - was a lot nicer and quite traditional but not old fashioned.

Noella Gabriel, Director of Treatment and Product Development at Elemis, said she was thrilled about the new perfume addition.
She said: "Following the debut Eau de Parfum I am excited to introduce a second scent that encapsulates the ‘exotic’ discovery phase within Elemis’ 20 year journey. The combination is a deep fragrance with a heady mystery and a powerful effect on your mood.”
For me as a 27-year-old woman, I personally wouldn't put Elemis Eau De Parfum Exotic in my top 10 list of favourite perfumes, but I'm sure women in their 40s and above would love the traditional, powerful smelling scent.
I really loved the packaging and the purple pouch that comes with the perfume as it is really stylish and also means the bottle can pop into your bag neatly.
For those who would love to try Elemis Eau De Parfum Exotic, it costs £35 for a 28 ml bottle.
It is available to buy from timetospa.co.uk, Elemis spas and salons nationwide and at Elemis counters at selected Debenhams, Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Selfridges' stores.

Coca-Cola launches receipe book

2010-10-26T19:12:00.005+01:00

Nowadays cooking and entertaining is something of a phenomenon.

With shows like Come Dine With Me, Masterchef and Saturday Kitchen becoming increasingly more popular it has become more cool than ever before to learn how to cook.

For those of us who aren’t yet culinary experts (naming no names) a cook book, released this month by Coca-Cola, YES the manufacturer of Coke, Diet Coke, Cherry Coke and the like (who would've thought they published books and knew anything other than what makes a nice soft drink?!), could be right up your street.

When You Entertain, edited by Tiffany Darke, editor of the Sunday Times Style magazine, is a modern twist on the original 1932 recipe book by Ida Bailey Allen.

The limited edition cookery book features recipes from four food celebrities: Michelin star chef Tom Aikens, Celebrity Masterchef Winner 2008 and former Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon, organic farmer and former Blur member Alex James, and food writer Julia Parsons.

Each foodie has picked 10 recipes brings back memories of family mealtimes and other special (food) occasions for them.
Some but not all of the simple and easy to follow recipes have Coke integrated into the ingredients.
Examples I tried were Alex's Coca-Cola Chicken Salad with Garden Potatoes, and Julia Parsons' tasty Cherry Ice Cream Sundaes - surprisingly the Coke didn't taste out of place in any of the dishes.
Plus it was great making these receipes as I always had a nice refreshing glass of Coke to wash down when I was thirsty (not good for my wedding diet plan!).

There is quite a variety of mouth-watering recipes in the book, with each dish being divided into four sections: Saturday Nights with Friends, Family Meal Times, Weekend Lunch & Brunch and Easy Lunch.

"When You Entertain offers ideas from food-linked personalities for entertaining family or friends, while celebrating a long-standing heritage and association of Coca-Cola enjoyed at meal times,” said a Coca-Cola spokeswoman.
"The book has delicious recipes that will excite your taste buds,"

Overall, none of the recipes in the book are too difficult to master which makes them perfect for those of us with busy lives and who wouldn’t class themselves as a talented cook.
For those people out there who are talented cooks, I reckon your expertise would be wasted on this book!
When You Entertain is available to buy now exclusively at Harvey Nichols.

What a great haircut!

2010-10-19T21:07:00.008+01:00

EVERY girl loves to be pampered.

There is almost nothing better than indulging yourself with a new haircut and massage after a hard few week’s at work.

So you can imagine my delight when I was invited to the very stylish and sleek Mahogany Hairdressing in King Street, Manchester, courtesy of Wahanda - a global health and beauty website.

As part of Wahanda's MobDeals - where you can save up to 90 per cent on daily limited time offers for beauty products, spa, salon & wellbeing deals in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester (soon to be in Liverpool and Newcastle) - I was treated to a haircut, intensive conditioning treatment and head massage by senior stylist Kalvin.

Having been a hairdresser for 12 years, I was certainly in very capable hands with Kalvin (although if I'm honest I was at first a little sceptical about letting a man cut my hair).

I needn't have worried.

After a full consultation and some recommendations to lose some of my (bland) layers, Kalvin was the BEST hairdresser I have EVER been too (sorry girls).

His attention to detail was second to none.

He worked his way through my hair with extreme skill and sophistication.

He really listened to what I wanted from the experience providing me with a hairstyle I really wanted rather than the hairstyle he THOUGHT I wanted.

The end result? A lovely modern haircut, with a sweeping fringe and the feeling of looking pretty hot (even if I do say so myself!).

Kalvin, trained internally by the Mahogany Creative Team to ensure a consistency in skill and technique, and the rest of the staff at Mahogany Hairdressing were very professional during my visit and they made the whole experience truely wonderful.

It is clear their clients mean a great deal to them - and that can sometimes be a bit of a rarity these days.

I for one will be gracing the stylish award winning hairdressers again in the very near future.

For more information on treatments, opening times, and prices at Mahogany Hairdressing visit Mahogany Hairdressing

For more information about Wahanda's fab MobDeals visit Wahanda MobDeal

Back to school...

2010-10-07T15:05:00.002+01:00

So, I've been in my new job for nearly two weeks and I'm now starting to feel like a proper member of the team!
My first day was, in one word, weird.
It was weird because I felt like I was eleven again and just starting high school!
You probably all remember feeling both excited and nervous, dressed in your new school uniform not knowing what the hell the day, left alone years, would consist of.
That's exactly how I felt when I began my new job (only this time I made sure my hair looked nice rather than in a big disgusting pineapple type hairstyle!).

Even though I'd had two interviews for the job and researched the company I still wasn't 100 per cent sure what my actual job would entail - and to be honest I'm still not exactly sure!
But what I am sure of is I am happy with the way things are going at the moment. My employers (who are oozing with professionalism) are gradually easing me into the role and the company definitely seems to be going places.

The people are all so friendly, which is always a good thing because no matter how much you love a job if the people are freaks you just don't enjoy the experience as much (plus they seem to like a drink or two something I realised when I was drunk and had to go home at 9pm one night!).

For the moment I'm happy and the future looks bright.
I hope you all feel the same!

Until next time people, take care xxx

She's back!

2010-09-16T16:42:00.004+01:00

Hello, hello, we finally meet again!
It’s been four months since I last blogged and for that, I am sorry.
But I am back, hell yeah. And in the words of the band Take That (have you heard of them?) I am back for good.

I’ve changed the blog template (was a bit bored of the other one) and I have added a few new pages (oh yeah call me a technological queen).
Over the coming days I’m going to fill the pages with more info about myself, including both personal and work related stuff.
I’m also going to branch out and do reviews on a number of subjects, such as beauty, fashion, restaurants etc.
So if there is anything you’d like me to test please get in touch!

It’s been a busy few months in the land of Naiomi.

Andy and I have booked the majority of suppliers for the wedding of the year (well, next year).

Tatton Hall (host to Roy and Hayley's wedding in Coronation Street!)

Planning the big day, which takes places at Tatton Hall in Cheshire in July, has been sooooooo much fun but also quite a lot hard work.

Those of you who are married will know exactly what I’m talking about. Those of you who haven’t will someday know exactly what I’m talking about!

Even though the wedding is months away, a bride-to-be can find themselves stressing at the smallest of things.
In my case, it is the favours!

I mean, bloody hell, who would have thought something as simple as favours would interrupt a person’s sleep?! I honestly do not know why. Does anyone else get bothered by small, unimportant things?!
Anyway, forget trailing around venues, whittling down millions of DJs, choosing the right caterers etc, the favours are and will be (until we decide what to have) the bane of my life!

Ok, so what next shall I tell you?
Oh yes, after nearly three years on the Welwyn Hatfield Times and Potters Bar Edition I am off!!!!

On September 27, I start my new job with online media business Gorkana.
The company provides a range of products and services to PRs and journalists to help them communicate with each other more effectively.

They have around 150,000 journalists signed up to their huge database so I may have one of the best contact books in the business!
While I’ll be concentrating on my job at Gorkana (I can't wait to start and learn new things!), I will also carry on with freelance magazine journalism, woo!
Did I tell you my new job is based in Covent Garden in London?! Woo hoo, bring it on!!

Right, I’ll leave it there for today.

Until next time… xxx

http://www.gorkana.com/uk/

For the love of Twitter!

2010-05-01T14:20:00.005+01:00

Naiomi Twitter

I absolutely love Twitter.

Some of you may never have heard about it, some of you may have heard the word because i'm always going on about it, and those of you who do know about it love it just as much as I do!
It's a social networking site, not to unfamiliar with Facebook and MySpace etc.
You follow people (anyone who has an account: celebrities, 'actual' friends, journalists, business people, ANYONE).
You tweet updates (no more than 140 words) every so often to let people know what you're up to and you speak to other people by tweeting them.

For me, Twitter has been a brilliant tool for making contacts in the media industry (even though I am already a journalist).
Once upon a time it was so hard to be able to speak to an editor of a national magazine or newspaper.
Having known I wanted to become a journalist at the age of 11, I would frequently send letters to journalists in the industry asking for advice and tips on how I could get into my chosen career path.
Sometimes I was lucky.
I got quite a few responses (my favourite one was from GMTV presenter Carla Romano whose best tip was to dress to impress - seeing as though the industry was full of men!).
However, there were also many times I would not get a response at all.
I never got annoyed with that, seeing as though editors are busy people.

But now luckily for up and coming journalists, there is Twitter!

Over a year ago, I set out to use Twitter as a way to source industry contacts (something you can't really do on Facebook).
And now I regularly speak to successful magazine editors, journalists, authors, PR people and actors about everything and anything!
Like I said, Twitter is great!

A few people I work with said Twitter was rubbish.
They just couldn't understand the point of it.
Now, having gone on about it loads, some of these people have converted to Twitter having heard of the benefits - which is great.

Twitter is not just good for making contacts; it's a valuable tool for sourcing news stories.
Often the biggest news stories appear first on the site before making it into the national newspapers.

So, getting back to how Twitter has helped me.
Over the year I have worked shifts at Real People magazine, Star magazine and Chat magazine.
I got these placements PURELY through my contacts on Twitter (one of them was by chatting to the editor herself!).

I've talked/emailed/called/got drunk with editors, journalists, freelancers, an author, a 3am girl and a Cosmopolitan girl (to name a few) about the industry.
All gave me valuable tips - something which would have been a lot harder to do if it had not been for Twitter.

The majority of the contacts i have made through the site are not just contacts to me anymore; they are actual friends.
We go out, get drunk and have a laugh (just like my actual 'real-life' friends!).

Of course, you cannot just rely on Twitter to help you further your career, that's something that requires way more work than just joining the site.
But it definitely will not do you any harm.

Twitter is great, so if you want to get with the times and maybe help your career get joining now.
My name is @Naiomi so get following me and i'll follow you back (if you're lucky!).

Have a brill weekend.
I'm off to get drunk (with people who unfortunately are not YET on Twitter!!)

Byeee
xxx

Celebrities blowing me out!!

2010-03-30T21:21:00.001+01:00

After an eventful week, I thought it was about time I filled you in with the latest "exclusive" celebrity gossip straight from the horses mouths.
Well, that would have been the case before I was blown out in FIVE days by two MAJOR celebs!!!

The MAJOR celebs were in fact the singer Lemar and Dancing with the Stars contestant, Aiden Turner (ok, well I may have exaggerated the MAJOR part!).

They may not be a-list stars but I was actually really excited about grilling them for a bit of showbiz gossip!
You can of course imagine my annoyance when just four minutes before Lemar was due to call me, his management called to say he could "no longer do the interview".

That's it.
There was no apology, no explanation whatsoever.

All this and he was earmarked for the front page of our Potters Bar edition. ARGH!
In the end I had to email his team the questions.
Yes I got a few answers back and it was the front page but obviously the story wasn't as good as it would've been if I had actually gotten to speak to him.

Right, so my next disappointment was my chat with MEGA fit former soap star Aiden Turner.
His agent phoned ME and asked me if i'd like to interview him, so of course I said yes!

So, we arranged for Aiden to call me at 3pm on Friday.
Well, in the words of Cilla Black, Surprise Surprise, the big American star didn't call me and I am still waiting for an apology and a tiny explanation as to why he left me hanging around like a weirdo!

Seriously, what the hell?!!!
I could understand being blown out by the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt or Samual L Jackson.
But god, Lemar and Aiden are barely c-list stars.
Surely they need ALL the publicity they can get?!

It may seem like i'm being a little harsh, but whatever happened to manners and professionalism?
I don't blame the "stars" themselves, they probably didn't know their management had arranged the interviews (like the Gok Wan incident, but i'll save that for another day!), I blame their managers.
One of their jobs is to gain publicity for their clients.

Isn't all publicity good publicity, even if it is "only" with a local newspaper?
One thing celebrities and their teams need to remember: without the media, the stars would be nothing!

That's my rant over!
Goodnight everyone,
Naiomi xxx

Popping My Cherry!!

2010-03-14T14:08:00.002Z

My southern fiance and I!

From the title of this blog post i'm sure you'll be expecting me to talk about the first time i got down and dirty with a man and, err, lost my virginity!
Well unfortunately i'm not going to talk about that far-from-memorable-drunken-night but i am in fact referring to my first EVER blog post!!

I joined in January this year having been pushed to do so by my friend and author of a brilliant dating blog, Sarah Finley.
Over a few vinos we discussed the benefits of blog writing and how important it is to have one in this day and age, especially in the "glamorous" world of journalism.

As i am a local newspaper journalist i thought i would have a go, i mean surely it couldn't be that hard?
But actually it is harder than i first thought and now three months down the line i am only just writing a post!
I was so worried about how to start it and whether anyone would even give a crap about what i had to say for myself, that i decided to put it off.
Until now!

Ok, so as you know i'm a journalist on a local newspaper in Hertfordshire.
I crossed the border (!) and moved down south from the lovely northern city of Manchester (where i grew up) just over two years ago.
At first i didn't know a single person down here (southerners were alien-like to me) but suddenly i had made loads of new friends and even bagged myself a gorgeous (southern) fiancé in the process!

I love it down here now!
All in all, moving to pursue a career in journalism was one of the best things i have ever done.

I've wanted to become a journalist since the age of eleven.
The thought of actually being able to interview the Spice Girls and Five was the main reason why i embarked on this career (and because i'm SO nosey and LOVE talking to anyone).

On my 27th birthday, January 22 this year, my all-time dream came true...

I interviewed Scott and Abs from Five!!!!!!!!

To say it was one of the best days of my life would be an understatement!
I followed the guys (FIT guys) around the country from the age of 15 onwards and was their biggest fan (no, really) from the moment i heard their first track Slam Dunk Da Funk!
I was a proper teenybopper and waited outside to meet them for HOURS at a time!!!

Anyway, i met them at the University of Hertfordshire when they played a gig for all the students.
We talked about everything and i even got out the old photo albums of me and them together to show them!
I did a piece on them for the paper (working on a local newspaper does have its benefits at times!) and the article now takes pride of place on my mantelpiece!
It was a brilliant night and even though i have interviewed many celebrities, this was by far the highlight in my career.

So the moral of that story is "dreams can come true".

Hopefully you'll keep reading my posts and one day see my next dream come true - getting a job in London as a features writer on a real-life women's magazine.
It'll be a challenge but if you haven't got dreams then what is the point in life??!

Goodbye for now,
Love Naiomi xxx