McGahee

Summer is calling so get thinking about summer footwear.

There may still be a chill in the air and it’s not quite shorts and t-shirt weather yet but the daffodils are almost out, the days are getting longer and the smell of spring is well and truly here.

It’s about now that any fashion savvy fashionista has one thing and one thing only on their minds……their summer wardrobe. London Fashion Week has been prompting people to think about fashion and clothing after the long, dark winter and all the fashion magazines are beginning to feature summer fashion tips and advice.
As much as any fashionista loves wearing boots and let’s face it, there were stunning ones around this winter, it has been long since many have seen their toes! It’s been too cold to have toes uncovered for any longer than it takes to have a shower and thick socks have ruled.

Footwear is an excellent place to start when first thinking of a summer wardrobe. The summer styles are in all the shops both on the high street and online, the styles are fresh and the full range of sizes are available so no disappointment. Close your eyes and think of sandals, holidays and sand between your toes! And think about all the festivals coming up. The UK does see its fair share of rain at these events so take your Hunter Wellies but also your sandals.

In terms of both womens sandals and mens sandals, the rise in comfort footwear is very much welcome. The summer is chilled out and about having fun so sandals such as from Birkenstock and Crocs give that chilled vibe.

Two of the UK’s leading footwear brands have gone all out for Christmas with their latest styles.

Introducing the Crocs Tembo Polartec winter clog available from Cloggs.co.uk. This Crocs winter shoe features a PolarTec lining for increased warmth and a classic Croslite™ material footbed for a truly comfortable clog. Warmth and comfort combine in a classically designed Crocs shoe that will be your best friend on those cold winter days.

Crocs Tembo PolarTec
The Crocs Tembo PolarTec Clog Features a creatively functional clog perfectly suited for winter wear. The Polartec® liner material provides exceptional insulation, warmth and breathability. A secure fit is provided by the Ripstop nylon collar with cinch cord and toggle system. The liner is both removable and washable. The lightweight cushioning is due to their fully-molded Croslite™ material construction.

Converse Sparkle Ox
It’s a wrap this Christmas courtesy of Converse at Cloggs with the latest Chuck Taylor designs for yourself and all your friends including kids, mens shoes and womens shoes. These sparkle, low tops have synthetic uppers which features wrapping paper patterns and a textured shine but not forgetting the ol’ faithful rubber outsole for grip.

Christmas is fast approaching and with the poor weather conditions the UK is experiencing at the moment, doing your Christmas shopping online is the way forward. Cloggs.co.uk offer free delivery as well as free exchanges.

The team behind Cloggs.co.uk has more than 35 years’ experience of trading on the high street and began operating online over ten years ago. Cloggs.co.uk now stocks more than 20,000 items across specialized departments covering womens shoes and mens shoes as well as boys and girls shoes. Other popular brands include: UGG boots, Converse and Crocs. The Cloggs.co.uk Bullring store also recently won ‘Best New Store’ at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2010.

The full Crocs and Converse ranges as well as all the mens and womens shoes ranges can be found on http://www.cloggs.co.uk.

There is such an emphasis for buying the right gift that is both memorable and unique.

According to the Giftware Association, the gift industry is worth and estimated £10 billion per year. This is made up of various sectors such as traditional gifts, design led gifts and cards and gift wrap.

Unlike Christmas, a Birthday is a special day for the person who Birthday it is solely. This makes it even more important that a special gift be sent. At Christmas time, the shelves are filled with generic Christmas gifts and it is very hard not to buy a gift set. Buying a Birthday gift is the perfect opportunity to purchase a present that is personal and unique.

A quirky, unique or personal gift, no matter what budget, can be extra special. A real emphasis should be on the thought, not the budget. Thoughtful Birthday gifts can be worth so much more than an expensive item which has hardly any thought. This is especially true with children. How many times does it happen that a child will be more
taken with a smaller gift but that is fun, than the main present that cost fortune?!

Special gifts are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face no matter what age as well as the giver of the gift. Quirky and unique gifts are available now for example, grow your own chilli plants, to become a laird or lady, or own a share in playboy.

The giving of gifts is not just birthday’s, sending Wedding gifts or at Christmas anymore. Easter, Mother and Father’s days, Christenings and moving house are seeing increasing amounts of gift giving. Everyone likes receiving presents so it enables even more excitement than just on the usual days.

Finding the right gift has never been easier now we have the internet. The online gift industry is huge. Having the choice of so many online retailers at a touch of button means a special gift can always be found and the ability to have the present gift wrapped and sent direct to the receiver makes it even easier.

Good quality, individual art has become more accessible for the consumer to purchase in recent years. Art is far more accessible to buy and view right now. Even famous works of art are being loaned out to local galleries so a wider audience can see them.

There is less stuffiness regarding art. Artwork can now be ordered more readily in bespoke commissions or particular colours and themes can be stipulated. A few years ago, this was an absolute no go area, the artist ruled and what they said was final. There are a number of artists now offering an easier to reach bespoke service, both by way of approaching the artist but also in terms of cost.

Not everyone has the money to buy modern canvas art produced by famous artists so it has enabled the not so famous but equally as talented new artists to produce work and be successful selling them. Canvas art is quite dramatic as the medium used is either oil or acrylic paint. Both achieve high depth in colour and on a bright white wall, a piece of canvas artwork on a stretched canvas frame has maximum impact.

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In general, the interior design of the home is being taken more seriously and is being enjoyed even by the average home owners. We are starting to see famous and notable designers creating ranges for leading brands which is enabling the homeowner to achieve an individual or more sophisticated look.

To complement the interest people have in cooking and dinner parties the items on a dining table and the settings should be strongly considered. How the food looks on a plate is extremely important as well as how the plate looks within the table setting. The look of the food is the first impression and as is regularly said, you eat with your eyes. The food itself needs to look appealing but what it is presented on can also greatly affect the way the dish looks. Top chefs know the importance of this and they will be the ones that choose the dinnerware range for the restaurant. Only a few years ago, a standard plate would be used to serve all the dishes. Now there are curved, square, rectangle, oval and shallow bowls.

You cutlery then needs to match the dinnerware. A traditional set of cutlery would look out of place next to a modern square plate for example. Likewise, a modern set of cutlery would not feel right with a traditional set of china plates. Leading cutlery brands such as Arthur Price cutlery have been manufacturing high grade cutlery for over 100 years. Their traditional ranges remain popular but they have introduced contemporary ranges in keeping with the modern look that many home owners are requesting.

One of the leading modern cutlery brands at the moment and one which is synonymous with innovative design is Villeroy and Boch. Villeroy and Boch cutlery as with other brands of such stature retain a timeless design but firmly keeping with a contemporary look. Due to the nature of stainless steel, cutlery can be a real statement on a dining table. For a customer wanting to achieve a very contemporary look, modern cutlery perfect finishing touch.

Holidaycottagescumbria.com are pleased to announce the addition of Hardcragg Hall to their portfolio of Lake District self catering properties.

Hardcragg Hall is the latest addition to Holidaycottagescumbria.com Cumbria portfolio of 5 individually owned luxury Lake District holiday cottages. Hardcragg Hall is the pinnacle of 5 star luxury self catering accommodation and can facilitate large groups of up to 14 guests with its 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. This stunning Elizabethan manor house makes an excellent choice for luxury family holidays, short breaks, celebrations, special occasions, wedding guests, parties, large groups or for a get together of family or friends.

Hardcragg Hall is steeped in history and dates back to 1563 and this grade II listed country manor house is reputed to be the oldest building in the local area. There are several spacious reception rooms that all interconnect, including the dining room, drawing room, bar area, breakfast room, library, the oak panelled entrance hall area with its roaring log fire and the snug lounge with patio doors leading out into the landscaped gardens and grounds. The recently furnished farmhouse kitchen is superbly equipped with everything you will need to cater for large groups or couples alike and boasts a four oven Aga.

This large Lake District self catering accommodation sleeps 10+ is ideally located in Grange-over-Sands on the Southern edge of the English Lake District. Grange over Sands is one of Cumbria’s secret gems and is the Lake District’s principle sea side town. This is an ideal location for scenic fell and woodland walks, together with a mile long, traffic free promenade overlooking the sands of Morecambe Bay.
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Spring time in the Western Lake District - Lambs, daffodils and action galore…
The snow on the fells is giving way to snowdrops. By May, the beautiful Eskdale valley is carpeted in bluebells. But one flower in particular is associated with the Lakes – and you can visit Wordsworth’s house for a fascinating re-creation of his early life, when gardens were planted with foodstuffs, not daffodils. While in Cockermouth, why not pop into the Lakeland Sheep & Wool Centre to see the spring lambs?
It’s a perfect time of year for bracing walks and rides. Try the coastal paths around Whitehaven, the guided walks from Keswick Rambles, or the meandering 27-mile Smugglers’ Route from Maryport to Ireby. Take to the beach on horseback, courtesy of Allonby Riding School. Play golf at one of several excellent courses such as the Silecroft and Silloth links, or Eskdale, where the 14th green is set within a huge trout pond and there’s private fishing too.

Summer time in the Western Lake District - Sun, sails and sound-checks
Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets of Whitehaven, Silloth, Cockermouth… Local festivities and music festivals abound. Don’t miss Workington’s ‘Paint the Town Red’, the multi-award-winning Solfest, the Seaton Carnival, the Festival of Fools at Muncaster Castle, Millom’s Scarecrow Festival or the impressively named CockRock, to name but a few.
What better time to hit the quiet beaches of Allonby, St Bees and Haverigg, to try the fascinating town and harbour walks in Egremont and Harrington – or to set out by foot or on bike along the famous Coast to Coast routes? There are many Lake District Accommodation venues and Lake District hotels to stay at. There are strolls, hikes and rides for all the family, from coastal walks at Flimby to pony rides on Silecroft beach, organised through the Murthwaithe Green Trekking Centre. Golf at Workington and the Harrington driving range? Or what about a perfect, lazy day’s fishing on the Salterbeck reservoir, or from the pier at Whitehaven?
Of course when the sun is dancing on the Lakes, the urge to get out on the water is irresistible. So don’t resist.
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Cottages are becoming more and more popular for UK holidays but they can be quite expensive and the locations of them can be a little too remote for some tourists.

Static caravans are a good choice for combing the freedom of self catering whilst being in the heart of the area you are staying in. They provide a cheaper alternative to a cottage rental and the caravan sites often have a convenience shop and a bar. There are many caravan sites in Devon and this area attracts a lot of tourists for its good weather, long white sandy beaches and an excellent range of activities. Alternatively, many of the Devon caravan sites offer touring caravans for sale.

The magnificent North Devon coastline has a choice of beaches including Woolacombe, which has been acknowledged as one of the top ten beaches in the world and is a regular winner of both Blue Flag and Premier Awards for beach safety and cleanliness. There are also the beaches of Croyde, Saunton and Westward Ho!, all of which rival the most exotic of Mediterranean resorts.

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Being adequately protected on a motorcycle doesn’t just mean wearing a helmet.

It is often under estimated the importance of wearing the correct type of motorcycle clothing from gloves through to boots and even the correct garments underneath. Most motorcyclists know the importance of wearing a helmet but there are still some that do not wear adequate clothing on the rest of their body.

Leathers come in a wide range of styles to suit the bikes, riders and different needs and situations. The leather used for motorcycle gear is a very tough form of leather to give maximum protection. All aspects of the suit or separate are tested from the seams to the zips to check for tearing, impact abrasion, cut and burst resistance. Armour for extra protection is inserted into the shoulder area, back, hips, knees and elbows such as in the Alpinestars clothing range. Leather is the most traditional form of motorbike clothing but even that has advanced in recent years. Kangaroo skin is now used, especially for race suits, as it gives great protection and maximum comfort. The kangaroo skin moulds to the body ergonomically with great movement which is why it is so popular when in a racing position.

Specialist motorcycling clothing has really gone forward during the past few years with advances in manufacturing techniques, materials and product development. Leather used to be the only material for motorcycling clothing but there are now a choice of materials including nylon and Kevlar. These materials are much lighter than leather making them more comfortable whilst riding but they are also far better for protection against the weather. The ballistic nylon and Kevlar materials have fantastic anti abrasion properties. These materials took over 1700 cycles on an abrasion test before failure. If you put that against a pair of jeans which failed after 50 cycles, it is evident the importance of such protective clothing.    

Ballistic nylon (e.g. Cordura) and Kevlar materials keep warmth in when needed but also allow vents in the design of the garment to let air in when it is hot. Textile garments dry out much faster than leathers so when touring, clothing made from these materials are a good idea. Many of the top motorcycle clothing brands such as Dainese and Spidi do both leather and textile ranges.

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Flamingo Gifts stock a varied and unique range of gifts to suit everyone and all occasions. From kitsch to traditional, from adults to children, we have everything your heart desires. So much so you’ll find it easy to treat yourself and your loved ones.

Flamingos are always on the lookout for new and interesting gifts to add to their Aladdin’s cave of treasures. They cater for any budget, and offer the lowest price possible for extremely high quality goods and pride themselves on providing a top class service. They stock a large selection of cards and wrapping paper so your whole occasion can be sorted in one easy shop.

Many of Flamingo’s products were gifts of the year, which shows we buy only the best, and are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Such gifts include grow your own chilli plants, cushions, candles and lip glosses good enough to eat. You could even become a laird or lady, or own a share in playboy if you so desire.

Choose from an assorted array of mugs, from monopoly designs to vimrod and many more.

Edible banana slugs and build your own Lamborghini are perfect gifts for the jack the lads. Door mats, teapots, tasteful photo frames and personalised eye-catching clocks are ideal for mother dearest.

Where as young fillies in the family will adore the simply stunning make up bags, ice cream lip balms, and momiji dolls. 

Flamingo gifts are perfect for every occasion, whether you are looking for Valentines Day gifts, Birthday gifts, Wedding gifts, Christening gifts, Christmas gifts or just treating that special someone.