On April 12, 2021 River Island reopened its 192 stores across England and Wales supported by its nostalgic “Shop Like It’s 2019” advertising campaign. The reopening of the store, with the well-being of customers and employees being the priority will follow government guidelines on social distancing and hygiene measures. As customers restore to enjoy the […]
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Whether it’s a turkey and cranberry sandwich or a classic stir-fry you stick to, we’re always trying to come up with new ways to be inventive with our left-overs on Boxing Day. Here’s some perfect recipes to help Turkey & Black Bean Chilli Bowls Preparation time: 15 minutesCooking time: 20 minutes Ingredients 300g pack British […]
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As it’s clear we’ll be spending most of Christmas indoors, we’re so glad the TV schedule is looking good. Here’s what to watch this year Christmas Eve Katherine Jenkins: Christmas Spectacular from the Royal Albert HallITVWe can’t wait for these seasonal favourites to get us into the spirit before the big day. Gavin & StaceyBBC1So […]
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Challenge your family this Christmas with our fun and festive Quiz How did you do?
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Christmas is set to have more sparkle than ever as Champagne sales at Waitrose are up 33% compared to last year Overall searches for ‘Champagne’ are up 343% compared to last year, while ‘Waitrose Champagne’ is up 272% on their website – so it’s clear what’s on the drinks menu for many this Christmas. In […]
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Sick of the same old songs at Christmas? Here’s some new ones to add to your playlist This Year – Will Jennison Winter Wonderland – Martine McCutcheon Mariah – Oh Santa! (ft Ariana Grande & J.Hud) Holiday – Lil Nas X Christmas Eve (Soul Purpose) – Blossoms Goo Goo Dolls – This is Christmas https://www.instagram.com/p/CJFM3DYhofe/ […]
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We’re all about oversized baubles and homely trees this Christmas. Here’s our celebrity inspiration this year North east… Sophie Kasaei Vicky Pattison Charlotte Crosby https://www.instagram.com/p/CI79KnznNUs/?igshid=9q160ewbv3kq Elsewhere… Cher Lloyd Kourt Kardashian Jac Jossa
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Stay inside, stay safe, keep your bubble small and play these games to stay entertained this Christmas.
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With household mixing now only on the big day, we’ll be looking for things to do at home for the Christmas period – so here’s some fun and festive ideas. Faye’s picks: Get creative in the kitchen Test out your bake off skills just in time for The Great Christmas Bake Off and make some […]
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Just like our take on Destiny’s Child’s track, we’re finding local alternatives to all the things Mariah Carey doesn’t want in ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You.‘ I don’t need to hang my stocking, there upon the fireplace Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best stockings this year here. Santa Claus […]
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Tired of Christmas pudding and want to try something new? Here’s some festive recipes to give you some inspiration. Festive Spiced Latté Cake Preparation time: 25 minutes, plus coolingCooking time: 50 minutes Serves: 10–12 Ingredients 250g unsalted butter, melted 300g self-raising white flour 1 tsp baking powder 250g Billington’s Light Brown Soft Sugar ½ tsp […]
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From in-their-own-words stories to fictional favourites, these new releases will keep you busy throughout your Christmas break at home (and may make perfect gifts too). Faye’s picks: 1. The Wrong Family Tarryn Fisher Have you ever been wrong about someone? Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect perfect life, but only now […]
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As we’re all spending Christmas at home, in small groups with our loved ones, we’re celebrating the amazing places and spaces around us. Treat your loved ones this Christmas with a reminder of home. 1. Newcastle Ceramic Bauble 2. 2021 FTLOTN Calendar 3. Angel of the North Necklace 4. The Alnwick Garden Mini Candle Collection […]
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Hang them by the fire, or give them to a loved one filled with gifts, here’s the stockings you need this Christmas. 1. Faux-Fur Christmas Stocking 2. Alphabet Stocking 3. Personalised Stocking 4. Quilted Alphabet Christmas Stocking 5. Traditional Christmas Knitted Stocking 6. Jolly Reindeer Christmas Stocking
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While we’ve overplayed every popular Christmas song you can imagine, we’ve realised plenty of them can be good for gift inspiration. So, we’re taking this Destiny’s Child track and finding local alternatives this Christmas. On the 8th day of Christmas my baby gave to me: A pair of Chloe shades and a diamond belly ring […]
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Love them or hate them, they’re a festive necessity. Here’s where to get your mince pies this year. Graze and Gorge Why we love it: Perfect for sharing with the family Where: Newcastle Cake Stories Why we love it: A twist on the tradition Where: Newcastle The Rabbit Hole Why we love it: A bite-size […]
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The Queen of Christmas (Mariah Carey, obvs) has finally reached Number One in the charts with her iconic, festive track All I Want For Christmas Is You (take that East 17). Here’s our favourite Mariah inspired Gifts to celebrate. It only took 26 years for her to finally reach the top of the charts… Mariah […]
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Here’s everything that’s making the run up to Christmas that little bit better for team Style and Wear. We’re watching: Festive films Be it Elf, The Grinch or Last Christmas, we’ve got our festive favourites on repeat. We’re listening to: Fairytale of New York It just never gets old. We’re following: @zoesugg Not just for […]
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Is Christmas really Christmas without a glass of mulled wine? Although Christmas markets are a no-go, we’ve picked our fave producers in the North East who have the treat waiting for us Graze and Gorge Why we love it: Extra treats for at home indulging Where: Newcastle Surf Café Tynemouth Why we love it: A […]
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There are many ways to celebrate Christmas Day, however this year options are limited and while we have the option to mix with two other households for five days during the festive period, it’s likely most of the day will be spent indoors. There are two types of people on Christmas Day, the ones that […]
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So Costa, Starbucks and Greggs are back with their festive drinks, but we’re all about supporting local. Here’s where to find the best hot chocolates for the festive season. Surf Café Tynemouth Why we love it: The amazing variety Where: Tynemouth Flamingo Bar and Café Why we love it: They’re a surprisingly healthy option Where: […]
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There are many great things about Christmas, and one of the best parts is the lead-up, the anticipation and the festive spirit. One way we can all get involved is social media, and nobody doesn’t it better than beauty influencers who spend the season creating beautiful Christmas-themed makeup looks, inspired by classic movies and festive […]
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These days, more people are going plant-based, choosing cruelty-free products or going vegan, and there are many reasons someone may choose this lifestyle. Someone may have an allergy or intolerance, they may be against animal testing and cruelty, or are choosing a plant-based diet for health reasons. Regardless of your stance, it’s likely you know […]
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The festivities continue, last week shoppers went crazy for sequins and according to Lyst’s latest data drop Christmas parties at home are influencing shopping habits once again. This holiday season, luxury pyjama sets are in high demand, with searches rising by 56% over the past week, with “silk” and “satin” being the most sought after […]
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One of the best things about winter, especially for women is being able to fill our homes with scented candles and light them on dark nights and fill the house with scents of Christmas; cinnamon, gingerbread, maybe a dark cherry or soft cotton. We all have our preferred scent, but it never hurts to try […]
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It’s time to eat, drink and be merry as Christmas is just around the corner. We’ve picked five winter cocktails to put you in the festive spirit with flavours of fresh peppermint, warm gingerbread and zesty citrus fruits. 1. White Chocolate Peppermint Martini 2. Naughty Rudolph 3. Buck’s Fizz 4. Gingerbread Martini 5. Jack Frost […]
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Christmas Eve is fast approaching, leaving little time to get all our Christmas shopping in order. Which means it’s about the right time to start thinking about Christmas Eve boxes. You may put one together for your children, partner or even treat yourself to one, because they’re a wonderful part of Christmas Eve as you […]
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The arrival of a new app in Sunderland, which is being backed by a Dragon from BBC’s Dragons’ Den, is perfect for the city’s shoppers this Christmas. Faye finds out why… ParkingPerx rewards shoppers with free parking when they spend in participating stores and is now live in Sunderland. Ashington-born Chris Reed impressed the panel […]
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Despite lockdown, and tier restrictions put in place this holiday season it appears as if the nation refuses to give up its Christmas spirit. According to new data from Lyst, over the last two weeks searches for items with sequins have increased significantly, by 165% and demand for sequin skirts specifically increased by 26% week-on-week, […]
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While baking Christmas cookies is usually an American tradition, there is nothing wrong with adopting a little festive cheer, especially this year. Baking with your family can be one of the most enjoyable and satisfying activities. So, gather the troops and pick your favourite cookie recipe because it’s nearly Christmas and there is no excuse […]
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It’s December, and while most started celebrating Christmas early this year due to the pandemic, we’re still in need of some festive cheer. We’ve put together a Christmas playlist with more than 100 songs that will have you up on your feet dancing and singing with your family for hours. So, stay merry this December […]
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Since 2020 has been about all things cosy with loungewear being the go-to for most, it’s finally time to honour the most important of all loungewear sets – Christmas pyjamas. Is there anything better than getting in your Christmas pyjamas, and getting all smug with a hot chocolate while watching your favourite Christmas movie? Answer, […]
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and even though lockdown is over, a lot of the country are still living under high tier restrictions – especially in the North East. As the outlook for December looks a little bleak in terms of activities, we’ve looked to some of our favourite Christmas movies for […]
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We all know a Star Baker, someone in our life who just loves to bake and whether they nail it or fail it you can’t help but support them. As baking has been a growing hobby this year due to the pandemic it seems only right that we make a special gift guide suited for […]
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Yesterday we woke up to the first frost of Autumn, we could see our breath in the air as ice nipped at our finger tips. So, in preparation for the cold days ahead we’ve gathered up some of the best hot chocolate recipes to keep you warm on the run up to Christmas. Classic Hot […]
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Everyone is getting excited for Christmas – us included. One of the more stylish parts of the holiday season is getting your nails done with festive designs sure to catch the attention of those around you. So, from cute reindeers to classic tartan these Christmas designs have caught our eye. Classic Christmas View this post […]
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We all know an animal lover, some of us are animal lovers ourselves and probably spend too much time doting on our pets. It’s really easy to think of a persons interests or hobbies, such as fashion or football, but if a person has a pet there are some adorable pet-themed or pet-friendly gifts that […]
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Stocking fillers may not be the highlight of Christmas morning but they can still surprise a loved one. Usually, when you think stocking fillers your mind may jump to socks and underwear, which as a child are boring but as an adult is an amazing and much-needed gift. The great thing about stocking fillers are […]
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There is only a month till Christmas which doesn’t leave much time for shopping and it’s likely you’ve got a number of gents on that shopping list, such as your partner, father, brother, best friend, cousin, uncle, maybe even housemate. So, from beauty essentials to practical everyday necessities we’ve picked out some of the most […]
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Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock has announced her first solo project after bandmate Jesy Nelson’s extended break from the group. Leigh-Anne, 29, teased her first ever movie role in an upcoming British romantic comedy Boxing Day and will join an all-black cast which includes, Aja Naomi King, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and actor Aml Ameen in his […]
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