SUGARED CRANBERRY MIMOSAS (CHAMPAGNE CRANBERRY GINGER ALE COCKTAILS)
Cranberry Mimosas are the perfect holiday cocktail! These tasty Cranberry Ginger Ale Cocktails are bubbly, tangy and topped with sugared cranberries. Plus they’re only three ingredients!

CRANBERRY MIMOSAS

Cranberry Mimosas with Sugared Cranberries are the most beautiful cocktails to serve at your holiday parties! These cranberry ginger ale cocktails are made with only three ingredients. This fizzy, bubbly drink is sure to get you and all your friends and family in the festive holiday mood!

I have a serious mimosa addiction. I’ve been drinking these Apple Cider Mimosas all through the fall, and I wanted to create a simple beverage that would see me through my holiday gatherings. This Cranberry Mimosa is it! It’s fruity, tangy, and oh so easy to make, you won’t even believe it.

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED TO MAKE CRANBERRY GINGER MIMOSAS?

These beauties come together in minutes with just THREE simple ingredients! Here’s what you need:

1   Cranberry juice

2   Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer

3   Champagne

That’s it! Oh, and some of these Easy Sugared Cranberries for garnish. Aren’t they cute?

THESE DARLING CRANBERRY MIMOSAS ARE AN EXQUISITE CHRISTMAS TREAT. BUT THEY’D BE PERFECT FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE OR VALENTINE’S DAY. ENJOY THESE FESTIVE MIMOSAS ALL WINTER LONG!

HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY MIMOSAS WITHOUT ALCOHOL

Entertaining younger guests? It’s so easy to make this a non-alcoholic beverage! Simply leave out the champagne. The ginger ale will still give it that bubbly texture that’s so fun to drink. The cranberry juice blends perfectly with the ginger ale. Your guests will love it!

MORE DELICIOUS HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

In the mood for more seasonal sips? Try a few (or all!) of these amazing cocktails:

•    Apple Cider Mimosas(My fall favorite!)

•    Strawberry shortcake Mimosa

•    Sparkling Strawberry Margarita Punch

•    Sherbet Mimosas

•    Sparkling Apple Cider on the Rocks

•    Sparkling Holiday Flirtini

•    Cranberry Limeade Holiday Punch

•    Pomegranate Champagne Sorbet

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO MAKE THESE DELICIOUS CRANBERRY GINGER MIMOSAS. ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

May your holidays be festive and bright, warm and cozy. Cheers!

SUGARED CRANBERRY GINGER MIMOSAS

Cranberry Ginger Mimosas are the perfect holiday cocktail!
Bubbly, tangy and only three ingredients!

To make the Sugared Cranberries

AUTHOR: BECKY HARDIN - THE COOKIE ROOKIE

INGREDIENTS

•    2-3 ounces ginger ale or ginger beer

•    2-3 ounces cranberry juice

•    2-3 ounces champagne

•    Sugared Cranberries for garnish

 INSTRUCTIONS

1   Combine all ingredients in a champagne flute.

2   No need to stir, the bubbles will make sure everything mixes up enough :)

3   Top with Sugared Cranberries (click HERE for the recipe)

As written by Becky Hardin from www.thecookierookie.com

the north pole cocktail!

The North Pole, this might just be the most festive drink ever!

When it comes to Christmas, I can’t help but to go all out. I love having fun with Christmas recipes, creating not only the cutest foods, but making them the most delicious too. This fun cocktail is no exception, this drink just screams Christmas and nothing else. It’s sweet and slightly chocolatey with just a hint of peppermint and ginger. Think gingerbread martini meets chocolate martini…basically it’s Christmas in a cup with a hit of vodka…

The key to this cocktail is the molasses and pinch of ginger. It makes the drink sweet, gingery and all things cozy! Well…the Kahlúa is pretty KEY as well, it adds a kick of coffee flavor and pairs really nicely with the creaminess of the drink. If you’re thinking this sounds like a lot for one drink, think again, everything together is truly awesome, and like I said, it’s pretty much like having Christmas in a cup! Still can’t decide if these are more of a cocktail or a dessert, but I’m going with a combo and saying it’s fair game to serve them either before or after dinner! <–I surely did both!

I actually served these up on Thanksgiving Day to my family and they where the perfect sweet drink to keep everyone decorating the tree and going until dinner. Plus, it was also my younger brother’s 21st birthday, therefore, cocktails were obviously needed. The fam has already requested these be made again over Christmas…so our entire family can try them. If you enjoy sweeter cocktails, these are totally what you NEED to be making for your next holiday party. These would be perfect for a night of Christmas tree decorating, or after a day hitting the stores hard. They’re a super fun way to celebrate the season. So relax, kick back, enjoy the tree lights, a nice roaring fire AND, if you’re like me, your favorite Christmas music. Yep, this is your holiday drink. <–DO IT.

THE RECIPE

the north pole.

By halfbakedharvest

Course: drinks

Cuisine: american

Keyword: festive cocktail

A fun and festive cocktail!

 prep time 15 minutes

 total time 15 minutes

 servings 4 drinks

 calories 297 kcal

INGREDIENTS
THE NORTH POLE

·       4 ounces vodka

·       2 ounces Kahlúa or more to taste

·       4 tablespoons chocolate syrup

·       1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·       3 teaspoons molasses

·       1/8 teaspoon ginger

·       1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk

·       whipped cream candy canes and gingerbread cookies, for serving (optional)

THE NORTH POLE

1.    In a cocktail shaker combine the vodka, Kahlúa, chocolate syrup, vanilla, molasses, and ginger. Shake until well combined. Add ice and shake again. Strain into 4 glasses. Top off each glass with heavy cream. Dollop with whipped cream and garnish as desired. DRINK!

PS. and how fun is the name? THE NORTH POLE?!? Love it.

As written by Tieghan Gerard from www.halfbakedharvest.com

Boxing Day Sales: One of The Best Days To Sell Your Home?

Every other sale starts almost as soon as the turkey’s been eaten so why shouldn’t you follow the same tactic when selling your house?

I know what you’re thinking, here we are talking about hitting the shops on December 26th. For some, the day after Christmas should be for one of three things – brisk wintery walks, festive parties or setting up camp on the couch with a blanket. Heading to the high street to get a discount on a TV doesn’t scream Christmas to all.

However, there is one sale you probably should be thinking about on December 26th and that’s the sale of your home. Tradition dictates that the spring months are the best time to sell your property but by waiting until the flowers start to bloom are you actually missing a trick?

Motivation to move

Think about it. Many people have just spent Christmas with extended family and the in-laws staying over and have realised just how small their house actually is! After days crammed in together with the added clutter of Christmas decorations it’s not surprising that they finally decide they definitely need more space.

And on a serious note the New Year is the perfect time to think about new starts and new opportunities. For many that will include a move. As such, a great number of people will start the house search straight after the holiday.

And, if you’re savvy, when they do there’s your house all shiny and new waiting to be snapped up.

Maximum Exposure

And if you don’t believe me just check out the stats. According to Rightmove last Christmas there were over three million visits to the site across Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Between 2014 and 2016 there was a 40% increase in visits on Boxing Day and on the first working day in 2017 there were over 4 million visits. In fact there was a 170% increase in page views between 25th and 29th December 2016 on Rightmove.

Meanwhile Zoopla has reported a 36% increase in Boxing day site visits between 2014 and 2016.

The key to getting a sale at the best price is to make sure your property is being viewed by as many people as possible and the key to achieving that is to make sure it’s listed on both Rightmove and Zoopla.

High street agents who are members of the industry group On the Market are bound by specific rules which dictate they can only list your property on either Zoopla or Rightmove and not both. Online agents, however, are not part of On the Market and can therefore list on both site, guaranteeing maximum exposure.

If you’re keen to get your home listed straight after Christmas though be careful about what photos you use. By late December most of us will be sick of the sight of our own decorations – photos of a festive looking property complete with tree, baubles and tinsel will be unlikely to entice buyers once the season is over! Leave taking the photos of the most Christmassy looking rooms until after the decs are down!

How Can Pinterest Help You Around The Home?

Everyone’s heard of Facebook and Twitter, but Pinterest is a little lesser known and, we think it’s the one which should be shouted about when it comes to the home.

Pinterest is a fantastic interactive scrapbook – think back to when you would buy home magazines, cut out your favourite ideas and stick them on mood boards when you were decorating. In effect, this is an updated version!

You can add images in three ways

• Upload from your computer (this could be a picture of your room so you can plan ideas for décor whilst looking at what you’re working with
• Search the Pinterest site (more on that below)
• Scour the internet and purchasing websites and add in particular products

You can make both open and private boards – which is why it is classed as a social channel. Your open boards can be found by other people by your board theme or which hashtag you used on there. If you use a private board, however, the content in it will only be seen by you.

The best functionality of this channel is the ability to link to products in images to their original websites. They will sit in your board as an image but you can click out to buy them whenever you’re ready, saving you the time and hassle of having to remember where you saw them first or having to run out into town!

There is also a great search functionality in Pinterest. You can search for other people’s ideas by keyword, their personal or company page or themed boards – so if you were looking for garden renovation ideas, for example, you can culminate the best ideas in one place. From here, you can pin other people’s pictures onto your board and add a comment or link into it as a reminder for yourself at a later date.

But how can you be using this site within the home?

Why not use Pinterest for:

• If you’re doing up a room of your home, why not plan out different wallpapers, potential furniture choices and decorative items to compare products or check everything matches. Just moved into a new house? Make a board for each room so your ideas don’t all get muddled!
• Planning to do up your garden? Look at what other people have done with a similar space or add in potential decorative items to one board.
• Adding a new addition to the family? Plan your room décor ideas alongside potential purchases, toys and even baby grows!
• Planning out your Christmas menu for when the family descend? Add recipe ideas and even food products (that wine that Aunty Meredith insists is the only one she’ll drink!) into a board so your ideas are all in one place.

There’s so much you can do with this social channel – we’ve just scratched the surface from a home ideas perspective! Sign up now and have a go at making some boards and plans (a personal tips, it’s a great idea for collating your Christmas gift ideas!). 

Winter-proof Your Home SOS

The weather has turned, you’ve found yourself digging out last year’s electric blanket and it seems Christmas will be upon us in no time. With this in mind, make sure your home is winter-proof against whatever the British weather decides to throws at us! Here are 10 of the best places to start:

 Easy steps

1.  As you know your bills will be higher in winter, so maybe it’s time to shop around again and make sure you’ve got the best deal? You might save yourself some cash – just think, that’s more spare dosh for Christmas present shopping!

2. If you have a specific room prone to getting a little damp, before the weather turns, make sure you move your furniture and objects away from the walls to allow the air to circulate and for the room to be a more consistent temperature throughout.

3. Still got your garden furniture out? You might not need those until Spring so make sure you cover them to protect them from rust in the coming months.

4. Change your thermostat ready for winter. You can set it to be lower when you’re not home and to get warmer just before you get in. With more regular heating, you’re saving your home from problems developing, like cracks and burst pipes, if the temperature changes too quickly.

5. It may seem a trivial thing to think about, but to save you losing heat, try these two home hacks: get out the sewing machine and line your curtains and add reflective foil behind your radiators on walls which are external on the other side. These simple hacks will help keep heat in.

6. Invest in three simple items – a draught excluder, a draught-excluding letter box and a rug for any wooden flooring you have to keep your home snug this winter.

 Bigger projects

7. This is the time to go around your home and check your gutters are leaf-free, the boiler’s healthy and to bleed your radiators in preparation for winter – it’s better to do it now than get caught out when the temperature’s a bit lower.

8. Have you checked the roof? Cracks or broken tiles can let in water and lead to damp so make sure you, or a professional, gets up there whilst it’s still dry and light and check it over.

9. Think about all of the places where heat could be escaping from your home this winter – the windows and doors, the loft, the conservatory? Have you got adequate insulation? If not, is it time to invest? Cavity insulation and getting double-glazing, to keep damp and mould at bay, may be a good option.

10. Trim back any larger trees around the property and drive as, with cold weather comes ice, and you don’t want any of the branches falling onto your home or car.

Make sure you’ve winter-proofed your home so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the winter season – finger crossed, we might even get some snow!

Kitchen SOS

With Halloween and Bonfire Night down, it’s definitely time to start thinking about the festive period. So, let’s batten down the hatches on these dark and cold evenings and get cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Here are 10 items you need in your kitchen to get you through the festive season!

Spiralizer

In a time when there’s sweets, cake and snacks all around the home, get yourself anything from a handheld to a mechanical spiralizer and get back to eating your salad and veg, in delicious but nutritious recipes.

Kitchen Aid Mixer

Christmas always sees us trying to do 10 different tasks at once so let the mixer take out all the hard work and leave you to get your little tasks done without losing your cool (!)

Blender or Nutribullet

It’s finally time for the season of soup to return! Get your pumpkins whilst they’re still in the supermarket, grab some lentils and veg and blend away for a healthy and warming treat.

A good quality corkscrew

It’s time to cheers in the New Year so make sure you’ve got a corkscrew or two handy to crack open the bubbles!

Slow Cooker

With all the family around you this festive season, you don’t want to waste too much time in the kitchen, so get your dinner into the slow cooker in the morning and leave it bubbling whilst you unpack the board games.

Folding chopping board

Get all your veg chopped up and swiftly into the pan without a carrot pile-up on the kitchen floor with a folding chopping board.

Hot plates

If your Christmas Day is anything like ours, we’ve definitely cooked one too many types of vegetables. Trying to juggle all of those timings is difficult so get a couple of hot plates set up on the side to keep food warm whilst you’re waiting for the last few bits which, inevitable, took longer than planned!

Electric carving knife

If there’s any time to invest in an electric carving knife, this is it – that turkey’s waiting!

Tuppaware

For the next few months, you’ll start to fill up every fridge and cupboard in preparation for the festive season, and chances are you’ll cook way too much. So, to save on waste, box everything up and use up your leftover turkey for sarnies, veggies in a stew and consolidate those ten boxes of Celebrations into one!

Mortar and Pestle

Has the festive period given you a bit more time to get creative in the kitchen? Get out your spices and oils to create sauces and marinades and get making some tasty treats in the kitchen.

Here’s 10 things you’ll definitely find a use for over the festive period, so stock up, and make sure you make the most of your kitchen over the coming months.

Create a Home ‘Snug’ in 9 Steps

If you’re hoping for a calm and relaxing month after all the Christmas chaos then having a cosy place to unwind in at home is essential.

We want to show you that whatever your home is like, you can always create a toasty, warm and cosy space for yourself to relax in, all while adding a little bit of the infamous ‘hygge’ factor to your abode.

So sit back as we take you through 9 super-simple tips to help you craft your ideal ‘snug’:

1.  Add a throw to wrap yourself up in

You can use a cosy throw on the end of your sofa in order to add a little bit of colour and texture to the room and, let’s face it, it’s perfect for those impromptu naps.

2. Choose your ‘comfy’ chair wisely

One feature that really does serve as the centrepiece in one’s snug is the seating. And choosing the right kind of seating is the biggest decision you’ll make, as it really is the main ingredient. So whether you choose an upright leather armchair, a beautifully engulfing sofa or even if you opt to go for an old-school classic like the bean bag, just make sure you choose whichever is right for you.

3. Feature your fireplace

We’re putting it out there now in writing – there may not be anything else in existence more cosy and relaxing than watching a beautifully flickering log-fire in the evenings. The real thing is preferable for obvious reasons, but if your home doesn’t feature a working fireplace then you can still make a feature out of it by putting candles in the centre, adding fairy lights in around the mantelpiece or even filling up the space with attractive wooden logs.

4. Light a candle… or four

By adding a scented candle to your home it will not only make the rooms smell lovely but it will also cast a nice warm glow that sets whatever atmosphere and tone you’re in the mood for. You could even go crazy and pick out a bunch of different ones to make your ‘snug’ a hygge paradise – full of low candlelight flickering away. Perfect

5. Introduce textures to add a bit of character

By introducing different textures to a room’s furnishings it will help make your snug space feel even more intimate and at the same time it adds a little more character and personality to the area.

6. Keep out the draughts

Dark winter nights can often feel cold, so it’s a good idea to add heavy curtains to your room to help keep out any draughts Winter might throw your way.

7. Bring on the colour palette

With all of this grey weather outside, the colour you choose inside your home becomes even more important. With just a few coloured accessories you can visually add warmth to a room through additions like cushions, flowers and ornaments. It can really make a big difference.

8. Keep the flooring nice and soft

If you have carpet you’ll probably be pretty sorted here but if you have wooden or laminate flooring you can either switch to a luscious deep-pile carpet or simply add in a large rug to provide some luxurious softness.

9. Make up your very own mini-library

Whether you choose a classic antique bookcase, a cheap but practical flatpack alternative or even just create a pile of books next to your seating, a snug is the best place for a good read.

11 Christmas Home Hacks

As the Christmas season arrives it can only mean one thing – it’s time to start decorating and bringing some festive cheer to your home!

If you’re hosting friends or family this festive season make sure you’ve got plenty of creative and wonderful Christmas décor around your home.

You can also get your kids involved to help with ideas! Below are our top 11 DIY Christmas ideas to help you get into the yuletide spirit and impress your guests!

1) ‘Wow’ your friends and make your front door stand out by creating a beautiful and unique homemade wreath.

2) Make your fridge something that will make you never forget Christmas is coming – pick up some snowman stickers and go crazy!

3) Everyone loves snow globes, right?! Show off your creative side and have a go at making these fun and wonderful Christmassy waterless snow globes!

4) Get creative with your kids by creating some wonderful crafts themed around Christmas pictures – like a reindeer crafted out of their footprints! Adorable!

5) Get your kids busy making some painted Christmas pine trees to place around the house.

6) Table decorations are a must at a Christmas dinner party – have a go at making these spectacular festive candle jars.

7) The more sparkle on the Christmas tree the better! Get your kids to help add to the sparkle on your tree with these beautiful baubles.

8) Make your night memorable with these impressive DIY Santa hat chair covers – awesome right?!

9) Everyone loves home-made Christmas tree decorations, don’t they?! Here is a fun Christmas ornament your kids can help with making.

10) Are you hosting this year for Christmas? Why not make these fun and creative Snowman centerpieces to really impress your guests?

11) Don’t know what to do with your old Christmas cards? Why not have a go at making a Christmas card collage?

Rightmove’s 40 Fave Christmas Songs!

We’ve hit December and Christmas is coming up fast so, to get you in the festive spirit, we’ve created a playlist of our favourite Christmas songs. 

Enjoy our picks, download the Spotify playlist – and whack it up to full volume if you’re heading home later this week for the Christmas holidays.

1. Chris Rea – ‘Driving Home For Christmas’
2. Brenda Lee – ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’
3. The Jackson 5 – ‘Frosty The Snowman’
4. Coldplay – ‘Christmas Lights’
5. Leona Lewis – ‘One More Sleep’
6. Destiny’s Child – ‘8 Days Of Christmas’
7. Wham! – ‘Last Christmas’
8. Mariah Carey – ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’
9. Elvis Presley – ‘Blue Christmas’
10. The Beverley Sisters – ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’
11. The Darkness – ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)’
12. The Temptations – ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’
13. The Supremes – ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’
14. Ella Fitzgerald  – ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let Is Snow!’
15. Michael Bublé & Shania Twain – ‘White Christmas’
16. The Fontaine Sisters & Perry Como – ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’
17. Bobby Helms – ‘Jingle Bell Rock’
18. Justin Bieber – ‘Mistletoe’
19. Glee Cast – ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’
20. Ariana Grande – ‘Santa Tell Me’
21. Bing Crosby – ‘White Christmas’
22. Andy Williams – ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’
23. Jona Lewie – ‘Stop The Cavalry’
24. Greg Lake – ‘I Believe In Father Christmas’
25. Slade – ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’
26. Cliff Richard – ‘Mistletoe & Wine’
27. José Feliciano – Feliz Navidad’
28. Shakin’ Stevens – ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’
29. Boney M – ‘Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord’
30. Johnny Mathis – ‘When A Child Is Born’
31. Tony Bennett – ‘Winter Wonderland’
32. The Ronettes – ‘Sleigh Ride’
33. Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman – ‘Somethin’ Stupid’
34. The Beatles – ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’
35. Elton John – ‘Step Into Christmas’
36. Justin Bieber & Busta Rhymes – ‘Drummer Boy’
37. Ella Fitzgerald – ‘The Christmas Song’

Christmas Is All Around Us

As Christmas time draws nearer and we don our over-the-top festive jumpers, party gear, and of course, paper crowns out of crackers, it is not just us getting dressed up for the holidays.

Many homeowners across the UK have been decorating their homes with a variety of festive delights, from banners to baubles, from star lights to streamers. Whether you favour an evergreen or a pine, it doesn’t feel as if the festivities can truly begin until you’ve bought your tree and your home is covered in green needles.

This year, we’ve been very happy to have notice that the Christmas tree is making an appearance in some of the recently added properties to our website – it has certainly brought us some festive cheer!

We particularly love the tinsel and lights on the tree in this house in Brickhill. Plus, if you look under the tree, it appears that Father Christmas has come early!

What is also great about those cold Christmassy evenings is being able to snuggle up on the sofa next to a warm fire. This household in Kempston have even added stockings and holly leaves to theirs!

Both of these properties have beautifully decorated trees – we particularly love the festive coloured baubles!

Another thing which has to be considered when purchasing your tree is its size and shape. We love that this household have gone all out and got a tree which almost touches the ceiling!

Positioning of the tree is also key – in this property, it is right by the window, so that anyone who walks past is in for a festive surprise!

How To Create That Cool Festive Style In Your Home

What with Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to get your home looking all exciting, wonderfully festive and with style. Check out our top tips and then it’s over to you to get your home looking all magical.

First of all you need to get over the annual decorating dilemmas:

To have a faux or a real Christmas tree?

Decorate a beautiful, traditional tree, that takes centre stage with its wonderful warm sweet pine smell or are you going to go for a minimalist modern yet eye-catching one? If minimalist is the way forward for you, think natural branches spray painted white with minimal white decorations hung upon them and placed into a simple yet solid vase. Or, chalk up your own tree onto a wall as your own “art-piece” and light it up with real fairy lights hanging across it and decorate it with real baubles for a 3-d effect.

Secondly, what’s your colour theme going to be this year? Are you going to go for one colourway and stick with it or are you going to go all out create a creative mix of vibrant bright colours?

If you’re thinking of going for one colour then pink is the all important hue this Christmas. We’re not talking a simple pastel girlie pink but pink with punch and attitude. Mix up the pinks, put hot pink alongside rich magenta and turn it up further with a hint of neon pink and then tone it down with a hint of dusky pink. It’s all about the mixing of the pink tones that creates that richness and “wow” feeling.

If it’s a modern mix of colours then go all out with an electric colour riot, teal blues, next to moss greens, midnight blues, regal purples, magentas, a touch of orange and even a dash of sulphur yellow.

Thirdly, now that you have decided on your “Christmas colour scheme” and also if you are mixing tradition with modern or are going to go for all out modern, it’s time to think about where to decorate. After all the decorating isn’t just for the tree, spread it out, make a statement and go for it across your home, deck it all out, after all it’s only Christmas once a year.

Decorate the tree, then think about your shelves, your side tables, fireplaces, coffee tables and windows. Add fairy lights around mirrors, cluster candles along your mantlepieces, add Church candles into your fire places or extra large oversized baubles in a transparent vase or large wooden bowl. Place beautiful garlands in your hallways, wrap them around and up your staircases. Just go for it but with style.

Fourthly, there’s the Christmas table, which deserves the same treatment as the rest of the house, if not more, as if you’re hosting Christmas – it needs to look inviting and get those festive flavours rising. Table mats, placemats, folded napkins and tablecloths add warmth to the table and then start layering on the plates, the cutlery, the glasses, followed by the serving bowls, platters and serving spoons. To top it all off, add baubles or candles, even fairy lights down the centre of the table for that perfect Christmas vibe.

Jamie Oliver Tops Britain’s Christmas Cooking Wishlist

Christmas dinner is perhaps the biggest household cooking event of the year, so choosing a chef to take on kitchen duties isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. 

Rightmove questioned over 4,200 home-owners on which TV chef they’d most like to hand over their kitchen to and cook their Christmas turkey – the findings revealed that Jamie Oliver is the chef who Brits would most like to cook their festive meal, coming out on top with just over a fifth of the vote (22%).

Jamie narrowly edged out Nigella Lawson (18%) and Delia Smith (15%) into second and third place respectively. One in ten would allow Nigel Slater (10%) and Gordon Ramsay (10%) to be their Christmas cook, while just 7% of Brits would put Heston Blumenthal in charge of their kitchen – perhaps mindful of Heston’s penchant for explosive culinary experiments! Interestingly a further 13% of respondents stated that they wouldn’t put anyone else in charge of their kitchen at Christmas time.

Moving Over Christmas and the Festive Period

Useful moving advice from Pickfords,
the UK’s largest removals and storage company.

Get your booking confirmed as early as you can
Once your move date is known, contact removals companies for quotes and make a booking as far in advance of that date as possible. Christmas is a busy time for everyone – removals companies included – so getting your name down early ensures your move can go ahead on your chosen date.

Plan for bad weather

While snow is very pretty and great for building snowmen, trying to move house in it is not easy. Gritting your parking areas and pathways will make life much easier for your removals team, ensuring they aren’t hindered by the conditions. With doors open all day as people move in and out, it’s a good idea to keep everyone wrapped up warm, and leave the kettle out until the last box is being packed.

Inform your gas and electricity suppliers

Make sure you tell your gas, electricity and water providers that you’re moving, otherwise there might be no fairy lights shining on the tree and turkey roasting in the oven! With Winter

Tell your friends and family

Give your new address to friends and family well in advance, otherwise your Christmas cards might end up at your old address! For any that do arrive after you’ve moved, leave a sheet of sticky labels with your new address on so the people moving into your old home can forward them on. Alternatively, set up a postal redirection service with the Post Office.

Draft in support for the move

We all know how much hard work is involved in moving, so bring in friends, family and relatives to lend a hand. This could be as simple as watching the kids or your pets while the bulk of the move goes ahead. Bad weather and low light can contribute to a more challenging move, so make the job as easy on yourself as possible. Friends can also help with the last-minute packing which will speed up the final loading process.

Arrive before sunset
The sun sets much earlier in winter, so try and get to your new home before the light fades. Keep a torch handy, as you don’t know where everything is in your new home, including light switches, and you don’t want to start off life in your new home by tripping and falling. Get all the lights on and fire up the heating to warm up.

Don’t forget to eat

Over Christmas the opening hours for shops change, so make sure you’re not caught out by planning ahead and either do a food run as soon as you get your keys, or treat yourselves to a takeaway on the first night – after all you’ll have been lifting boxes and unpacking all day, and who wants to cook after that?

Property Wisdom – Don’t Be An Xmas DIY Daredevil

There’s no better time than the holidays to embark on a few household repairs. Just be realistic – don’t tackle a job unless you have the skills, says property expert Laura Henderson.

It’s great for the bank-balance and gets the feel-good endorphins flowing, so it’s a sad indictment that so many of our well-intentioned DIY efforts actually end up costing us more in the long run, with more than £150 billion spent on botched home ‘improvements’ in the past decade alone. So what precautions can you take to avoid a DIY disaster this Xmas?

Home insurance

Check to see if you’re covered for accidental damage including ‘call-out’ cover, particularly if you’re carrying out major work such as relaying the roof or fitting new windows. Make sure also that any structural changes will not void your policy. If you live in a new home, check that any work you carry out will not invalidate the building guarantee the property may have.

Give your toolbox an MOT

Check flexes and guards are secure, workbenches are wobble-free and cutting blades are sharp. Any equipment you buy should display approved British or European standard safety marks and come with an operating manual. If hiring equipment, ask for a demo and check the equipment has a tag confirming it has been recently serviced.

Wires and cables

Always switch off the power and remove the fuse or circuit breaker (MCB) when fixing or checking electrical appliances and take care not to overload plug sockets. A residual current device (RCD) should be used, especially when operating tools outdoors. It will cut off the power supply to the equipment if you accidentally cut through a cable, minimising the risk of electrocution.

Suited and booted

Always wear with the right protective gear – safety goggles to protect your eyes from debris and fumes, a solvent respirator when working with paint or glue and a dust mask for sanding. Gloves should also be worn when sanding and scraping.

Gas and electrics

It’s illegal for an unqualified person to undertake work on electrical wiring or gas installations. Make sure you get the job tested by a fully qualified electrician and get a Minor Works Certificate of approval. Likewise, a CORGI registered engineer should always carry out any gas installation, servicing and repair work. Ensure your gas appliances are serviced regularly to prevent any build-up of carbon monoxide and get an audible carbon monoxide alarm installed near any gas appliances to detect leaks.

Laura Henderson is a property columnist, author and investment expert. Her latest book Tricks and Mortar: The Little Book of Property Wisdom (Book Guild Publishing) is out now on Amazon.

Opening in September of 2001 by Karen and Michael Graham, Kazmicks, is a family run restaurant in all of the best ways possible. This Dunstable gem is located across the street from Suitcase Travel and is usually known by in café eating crowd with their quick service, decent portions, and great prices.

Being a regular at Kazmicks already, I was surprised when they announced they were serving a dinner menu for Friday and Saturday nights henceforth. I was invited to attend their opening launch and was enamored by their offering of “Hot Rocks” and their food selection, which stays true to their love of burgers and chips, with a few added treats!

We ordered the Nachos Platter for sharing, and the Mixed Sharer, which has cheesy garlic bread, calamari, crispy potato skins, chicken wings with BBQ sauce, salad, and sour cream. The nachos were my favourite, as it had enough guacamole to keep any millennial happy. I enjoyed the other selections as well and recommend trying the delicious cheesy garlic bread which was thickly layered with cheese.

For main course, Ed tried the Hot Rocks - 8oz Fillet Steak, which was a generous size. For those unknown to the Hot Rocks scene, it is basically a very hot stone given to you with your choice of meat on top, in which you are able to cook it how you want it. The steaks we got were juicy, thick, and full of flavour. It came with a peppercorn sauce, or options like mushroom or blue cheese sauce and was served with garlic butter, chips, and a salad.

I tried the Crispy Chicken Burger, which came with chips and a rather large chicken slice inside of my poppy seed bun. It was appetizing and crafted well, and definitely a great evening dish. 

For desserts we all opted to share the Chocolate Fondue, which came with marshmallows, bananas, waffle pieces, and strawberries. It was enough for 3 people and came served in a heart shaped bowl. Dunstable has no other restaurant like this around and I am certain it will quickly become a date night special for the town. I want to also make a note of their Pornstar Martinis, which were made correctly, and were some of the best I have ever had!

I fully recommend trying out Kazmicks for lunch, and also for dinner where the menu and atmosphere completely changes. They have gotten new chairs and tables in and have decorated it to give off less of a café vibe. I do want to say that Kazmicks needs a Trip Advisor account, only because I would love to leave them a positive review on there! The servers were all incredibly friendly, and the Graham family are lovely people. Dunstable is blessed to have them and their restaurant around. Thank you Kazmicks for an honestly superb evening!

Vantage, known by the locales for their incredible curry they serve up, is ranked number 3 on Trip Advisor for the areas, out of 91 other restaurants. It has 321 reviews and has a 4.5 star rating out of 5 total stars. It is known also for the excellent range of “curry cuisine,” and specializes in Bangladeshi, but has Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten Free options. 

If that wasn’t enough of a reason to come in and try the food, they were recently honoured by the British Curry Awards, and were shortlisted as one of the best restaurants in the whole of the South East of England.To top off their gold star quality, from start to finish, I was mesmerized by the kindness of the staff, and the friendly atmosphere was really relaxing.

Starting the meal off right, I tried one of Onion Bhaajis, a must for Vantage goers. It was dense enough to have as a fulfilling appetizer before the meal came out, yet not overwhelming to eat. We also of course had the papadoms, with absolutely delicious sauces. The mango chutney was my favourite and it was very tangy and thick.

For mains I tried the Manga and Danya Chicken, which is cooked in a mild and creamy coconut sauce with mangos (yum!) coriander, and sultana, and then is garnished with almond slices. Being a fan of sweeter curries, I was absolutely enthralled to try this dish, and it will be my regular there in the future. We all had rice to match our dishes, and I had the Paswari Naan bread (seeing a trend!?) to add to the mix of sweetness and texture.

This being my first time at Vantage, I was in awe at the top-notch quality of food they served. The only quibble I had was that ordering our food took a while, despite the amount of people in the restaurant. The attentiveness of the staff when our drinks were running out, or needed something for else for the table, seemed fine during the evening, though. 10 out of 10 would recommend for a lovely evening out if you are wanting a curry and will definitely be going again. Thanks Vantage!

Tired of seeing plastic pollution everywhere you go? Littered on the street, taking up land space... the list goes on. For those into the #PlasticSucks movement, there is a solution! No not paper... that's just as bad right? Wasting trees, killing our Amazon rainforest, again how does this help the world? Look no further than PASTA STRAWS. Yep, you heard that right.

Straws made from biodegradable materials that you can even cook with. Pasta straws are the revolution.They are sturdy, strong, don't give off a weird taste, have enough ample space to drink your drink without them "bending" or "folding" like paper or plastic does, honestly they are the perfect solution to our plastic problems. Many companies are catching on to the trend.

"Founded in Malibu, CA, The Amazing Pasta Straw team is dedicated to helping restaurants reduce their pollution footprint one straw at a time because #PLASTICSUCKS.

Coming from the beachfront restaurant industry, we realized there is so much waste, and we weren't being good stewards of our environment. After Malibu banned plastic straws, we scoured the earth for replacements to our biggest "disposable" item - plastic straws.

The idea was hatched, and Paradise Cove Beach Cafe in Malibu was kind enough to let us test the market. Needless to say, PastaStraws were a huge success! 

Inspired by the need to keep our oceans clean and encouraged by the recent wave of political bans, The Amazing Pasta Straw plans to stay one step ahead of the game to bring you the best eco-friendly and consumer-friendly alternative to plastic, and even paper straws.

The Amazing Pasta Straw is the perfect replacement for harmful plastic straws and are the better alternative to flimsy paper straws, pricey bamboo straws, or even unsanitary reusable straws.
Benefits include that is lasts your WHOLE drink, is completely biodegradable and safe to eat! It's also 100% vegan, and is a product of Italy and hand sorted in Malibu, CA."

We know the trend is here to stay, and we couldn't be happier with our pasta straws.

Moving home at Christmas can be incredibly stressful for so many reasons from complicated chains being slowed down even more than usual to businesses like removal companies being closed for the festive period. But one of the main stresses can be how chaotic everything is right at the time of year you want to relax at home with family and friends.

So if you know someone who’s braving a festive house move then we’ve come up with 11 Christmas gift ideas (that double up as housewarming presents!) to lighten the load, provide some yuletide cheer and help bring some warmth to that special someone’s new home.

A Welcome Mat

It’s one of the first things people will see when they come for a visit so having a friendly and inviting doormat is a nice, simple way to bring a bit of personality and style to a property.

Whether you choose something classic, something personalised or even one with a tongue-in-cheek joke written on it, a welcome mat can be a thoughtful present those new homeowners will appreciate.

A Beautiful Succulent Terrarium

House plants are a must when it comes to decorating a property to bring a bit of nature indoors and add some soft touches to a place. And terrariums seem to be one of 2016’s buzzwords when it comes to home furnishings.

Simply fill up a vase or glass bowl with some colourful gravel, a few eye-catching pebbles and a selection of easy-to-look-after succulent plants and you’ll quickly create a centerpiece the new home owners can enjoy, and not have to worry too much about!

An Inviting Coffee Pot

One gift no sane caffeine-addicted human could possibly refuse is a brand new espresso coffee pot like this one. Especially since the home movers are likely to have their old coffee pots or makers packed away in an unnamed storage box somewhere, waiting to be unpacked.

They come relatively cheap and if you pair the pot with a nice bag of freshly ground coffee then your welcome present can be used straight away when you visit so you can have a catch-up over a nice hot mug of coffee.

A Spice Rack And Some Goodies

One irritant in that first week after moving home is trying to find all the little things you’ve got packed away in boxes that could help make everything feel homely and happy again.

Save your friends the trouble and pick them out a brand new spice rack gift filled up with cute jars of their favourites (cumin, nutmeg and paprika for us!) so those first few meals can be a treat for the senses rather than some risky looking takeaways!

A Collection Of Gardening Must-Haves

If the new homeowners have a garden in their new property then chances are it may just need a little work and hard graft to bring it up to scratch and make it into an outdoor space to dream about.

Most people never get around to replacing their garden tools as the years go by – or  they may not even own any to begin with – so why not put together a starter pack as your Christmas gift? Pick out some nice looking trowels, forks and gardening gloves so they can get straight out in the back garden and get to work putting their stamp on the land.

Flowers In A Pretty Vase

This one’s obvious – no one’s ever been disappointed by being presented with a bunch of stunning flowers to cheer them up. If your friends or family are still swamped by unpacked boxes, gaudy wallpaper and a lack of home comforts – brighten up their house with some seasonal flowers presented in a beautiful vase. Instant #homehappy!

An Essentials DIY Toolbox

A practical idea, but no less thoughtful than the rest of our gift suggestions. We’re pretty sure if you asked around your friends whether they have all the home tools they need the answer would quite often be a resounding ‘no!’

It turns out tools are something people tend to only buy for themselves when they really need them – when a cupboard door’s fallen off, a picture needs handing or there’s copious amounts of furniture to put together. So putting together box of essential tools as a Christmas gift could be a god-send!

A Selection Of Scented Candles

For the first few weeks of a house move it’s not unusual for the most common smells in the house to be dust, fresh paint and burning (those new ovens take a while to adjust to!). So picking out some candles in the home owners’ favourite scents can be a thoughtful way to add some fragrance back into their home life.

A New Fresh Herb Garden

When moving home there’s a good chance a herb garden will either be left behind – or won’t make the journey intact! If you’re buying for someone who thinks they’re a bit of a foodie – or even if they’re just a dabbler, buying some hardy herbs like thyme, mint and bay means they can quickly spruce up a tasty meal! Bonus points or some matching plant pots!

A Loaf Of Home-Baked Bread

The Great British Bake-Off might be over for another year but if you’ve picked up some skills along the way and fancy a challenge, why not whip up a loaf or two of bread to give the new homeowners on their first few days?

Better still, flavour the bread with some seasonal ingredients to make it even more special – perhaps a fruit loaf with raisins, walnuts and cinnamon for a bit of a Christmas kick?

A Food Hamper Of Treats

Christmas is a time of celebration, family and… food! But if you’re moving home the chances are your collection of treats and goodies is going to prove a little limited.

If you’re buying for a new home owner then one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give is a basket of culinary surprises – from everyday cupboard essentials to help them restock to a collection of gourmet treats for enjoying over the festive break.

So there you have it – 11 gift ideas to give that special someone who’s braving the Christmas home move! Happy shopping!

The countdown to Christmas is officially underway. With the hustle and bustle of attending parties, visiting relatives and cramming in some last minute Christmas shopping, it can be hard to keep track of what day it is. However, all this chaos also means that our homes are left vacant and vulnerable, and as it’s present buying season, often filled with goodies.

That’s why it’s not surprising that we’re not the only ones making the most of the festivities, with research showing that burglaries increase by 20% over the Christmas holiday period*.

With this in mind, the security experts Yale have put together their own handy hints to make sure you’ve got Christmas all wrapped up.

1. Keep presents hidden until the big day

Once wrapped, it is tempting to leave gifts out in plain sight under the tree. However, this makes it much easier for window-shopping thieves to spot any presents you may have. Keep these hidden out of sight until the big day.

Similarly, you don’t want people knowing what valuables you have after you’ve opened them. Don’t leave packaging outside by your bins, instead take this straight to the tip and don’t share images of your gifts on social media, creating a ready-made catalogue of presents for thrifty thieves.

2. Consider storing valuables in a home safe

Jewellery, small electronics, and cash are all popular items for picking as they are small and easy to sell on. Consider storing these in a home safe that is securely bolted to the floor or wall for added peace of mind.

3. See who’s being naughty or nice with a home IP Camera

A small IP camera can be placed freestanding anywhere in your home, letting you see inside your property at the touch of a button. These can be used as a standalone device or connected as part of a wider smart home security system.

And it’s not just thieves these are useful for tracking! You can also monitor your property to see if your kids are home safely or if your pets still chewing the furniture.

4. Set your alarm before leaving

A surprising 34% of homeowners admit that while they have a home alarm fitted, they rarely remember to set it!** While visually having an alarm acts as a good deterrent, they are no use if they are not activated in the event of a break-in. Make setting your alarm part of your routine before you leave home.

Invest in a newer, smart alarm device that can send real-time notifications, updates and images direct to your smartphone or tablet to give you added peace of mind that your property is protected.

5. And remember; lock all doors when leaving your property

Perhaps the most obvious piece of advice, but also the most neglected, always remember to lock your doors and windows when leaving your property.

Where security is concerned, ensure external timber doors are secured with a mortice lock and/or nightlatch that meet British Standard BS3621. Or if you have a PVCu or composite door, consider upgrading the cylinder to a British Standard TS007 Kitemarked model.

 Still not quite sure where to start when assessing your own home security? Santa Paws’ is here to help:

December 25th is rapidly approaching and by now many of us already have our Christmas decorations proudly on display. In fact, a recent survey by 247 Blinds discovered that 51.8% of people have put their festive decorations up by the second week of December.

If you are one of these zealous decorators, have you ever considered what your friends and family think of your illuminated exterior and tinsel adorned tree? Well, you may want to think twice before covering your house in fairy lights as the survey also revealed that, according to the British public, this is the number one seasonal faux pas. Additionally, for 13% of people, the overuse of tinsel is considered to be a big no-no.

One in six respondents stated that ‘tacky’ decorations are a huge turnoff when visiting friends and family while 15% of those surveyed frown upon those who decide to litter their garden with rotund Santa’s and inflatable reindeer.

But it doesn’t end there. Surprisingly, men appear to be three times more likely than women to judge their friends for having a fake Christmas tree. Women on the other hand have zero tolerance for those who opt for clashing colours on the tree.

So where are people getting their Christmas décor inspiration?

Well, the survey turned up some interesting results. 14% of people still look to family and friends for tips on how to dress their home over the festive period, while 22% of people head straight to social media for their picture perfect inspiration. Unusually, 8% of people admitted to having a nose through other people’s windows. Keeping up with the Joneses springs to mind!

As if having to deal with the judgement of family and friends isn’t tough enough the survey also uncovered the most common injuries that occur, when decorating for the festive season.

The top 10 are as follows:

1. Decorations dropped on them
2. paper cuts from Christmas cards
3. standing on a bauble or other decoration with bare feet
4. pierced by pine needles
5. tree falling on them
6. falling off a ladder while putting decorations up
7. a super glue mishap
8. electrocuted by lights
9. back injury while carrying a tree
10. hitting their hand with a hammer.

Jason Peterkin from 247 Blinds said:

“Some of us get into putting up our Christmas decorations, but sometimes we’re so involved that we don’t see that we’ve gone slightly overboard. However, at the end of the day, you should celebrate Christmas however you like, and if that involves a ton of tinsel and reams of fairy lights then that’s great!”

Hosting Christmas? Then we’ve got some amazing food ideas to help keep you calm this festive season. So if you’ve got a bit of time, a bit of patience and a LOT of icing sugar, then read on!

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

We love the idea of of this – topping a tasty chocolate brownie with a nice juicy strawberry and using the shape to create a delightful looking Christmas tree by piping on ready-made green icing and crafting some colourful baubles and a star out of sugar paste. Perfect!

Credit: FancyEdibles

Mince Pie Macaroons

It would pretty much be criminal not to enjoy a cheeky mince pie at Christmas time but that doesn’t mean you have to stay traditional when it comes to this classic sweet snack!

If you’re a macaroon master, or perhaps if you’re just testing your skills by creating this patisserie favourite, how about mixing things up by flavouring the macaroon shell with some mixed spice, stirring some top-notch mincemeat through your buttercream and sprinkling on some cinnamon to finish?

Credit: TheExtraordinaryArtOfCake

Reindeer Rice Krispie Cakes

We love this idea because it’s simple but straight away brings a big smile to your face! Simply adding a lollipop stick to some store bought rice krispie bars and then decorating them with some sweets and candy to make a little reindeer face. So cute!

Credit: ThirtyHandmadeDays

Christmas Fruit Tree

What a great idea! This creative blogger managed to fashion a Christmas tree centrepiece out of just fruit to make a festive desert that’s both healthy and eye-catching.

You’ll need a steady hand and a lot of patience for this, but the process starts by building up a frame for the display using an apple and a carrot and then poking cocktail sticks out of the carrot at various intervals to create the ‘branches’. After that it’s about layering on any fruits you want onto the sticks – think strawberries, grapes, kiwi fruits and raspberries!

Admittedly there’s an element of ‘Jenga’ fear with this one that you’ll go to far, but so long as you have a solid base and keep things balanced you should be fine.

Credit: GoodsHomeDesign

Marshmallow Snowmen

This super-cute creation comes from TastyShare who came up with the idea to use marshmallows on cocktail sticks – and a few delicious decorations – to craft some cheeky looking snowmen for a late-night Christmas Eve snack. Give it a go!

Credit: TastyShare

Cheesy Star Puffs

Another kooky Christmas idea, this time from Pinterest pro MyFussyEater – who uses ready-made puff pastry shaped into stars, covered in cheese and coated in egg wash before being baked to make a cheeky little snack – perfect for Boxing Day.

Credit: MyFussyEater

Christmas Pudding Tea Cakes!

Blogger Nikki McWilliams had the lovely idea to coat a batch of the classic Tunnocks Teacakes with some nice thick white icing, topped with some cut-offs from strawberry laces and some decorative holidays. A perfect festive snack for a Sunday evening. Bravo!

Credit: NikkiMcWilliams

Christmas Santa Berries

Over on CraftingIsMyLife they had the adorable idea to use a strawberry with the top cut off (and turned upside down for a Santa hat) and filled up with fresh cream… or maybe even some Italian meringue. And there you have it – a Father Christmas snack!

Credit: CraftingIsMyLife

While for many, the countdown to Christmas means buying presents, putting up decorations and indulging in lots of festive food, it’s also a time when others are focusing on more urgent matters, such as moving house!

Moving house can be one of the most stressful event’s in a person’s life, particularly at Christmas time, but surprisingly this is one of the most popular times for moving home, so we’ve listed a few tips to help make your move as stress-free as possible.

1. Plan ahead

Be sure to confirm your move date well in advance (preferably before the 24th December, so you can have a somewhat relaxing Christmas).

2. Book your removals company

By getting a quote you can book your preferred moving day, so you will know when you need to have everything ready by.

3. Organise your packing

Aim to start packing at least 2 weeks before your move date and ensure all of your boxes are labelled correctly to speed things up on the other end.

4. Inform your utility companies of your move

Let them know your move date to avoid spending Christmas without water, heating or electricity and remember to read your meter, so your final bill payments are accurate.

5. Get your Christmas shopping done early 

This allows you to wrap all of your presents and send them out before you move, giving you more time to focus on other tasks.

6. Pack your presents and Christmas decorations in the same boxes

You will want to create a festive feeling in your new home, so make sure all of your decorations and presents are easy to find amongst all the other boxes.

7. Clear your drive and pathways 

The winter weather can cause issues for your move – wet leaves, ice, snow and sleet can make carrying heavy boxes and large items a dangerous task.

8. Remember to lock away your valuables

Christmas time sees an increase in burglaries, so make sure you keep your valuable items secure and out of sight throughout your move.

9. Don’t forget about your TV provider

Book in a pre-Christmas slot or you will miss out on your favourite Christmas television shows!

10. Remember to celebrate

Don’t forget what the season is all about – although moving house can be challenging, don’t miss out on your usual Christmas traditions.

By following these 10 top moving tips, your Christmas move will be a lot less stressful than you expected. Happy moving and merry Christmas!

Advent Calendars

Stemming from 19th and 20th century German Lutherans, the Advent Calendar tradition is known by most. It leads one into blissful anticipation of the coming of Christmas, or for some, the birth of a Saviour, Jesus.

The more traditional calendars focus on a manager scene, or Jolly Old Sit Nick, and will often include the stormy and snowy weather most associated with Christmas. Modern twists often feature sports or technology but will still include the “flap” to open up to a window where it will feature a sport image, or a Christmas image. It can have a small gift such as chocolate or often they will be advent devotions, or it can have games or puzzles printed on them. 

24 Christmas sculptures in Hotel Chocolat signature 70% dark chocolate. Let the countdown begin! Vegan friendly!

These “windows” being displayed will often start on December 1st, with consecutive days following up until either the 24th day, or the 25th day, which is Christmas. Often these “doors” into the box set will be randomly assembled with no particular order, or will have them in line order from 1-25 for all of the days in counting.

John Lewis

Advent calendars are without a doubt, trendy. And in the modern-day search for the perfect countdown to Christmas, John Lewis has you covered. Whether it be a different gin each day, or a different toy for your child, these moments of short of respite are reminders of the season of more, and a joyful reminder that each day can be a surprise if we have a child like faith. 

The countdown to Christmas will be merry, warming and aromatic with this Edinburgh Gin Advent Calendar of 25 mini 5cl gin bottles. Enjoy a variety of tastes including clean, fresh and spicy on-the-nose gin. Delighting the palate of gin connoisseurs, hints of juniper, pine, floral, lavender, soft spice and citrus wait behind each calendar window.

 
May the force be with you this Christmas with the LEGO Star Wars 75213 Advent Calendar. Ensure a galactic Christmas as you countdown to the big day. Open a door every day to reveal 24 different LEGO Star Wars themed gifts. There are mini-figures, starships, vehicles and other collectables ready to surprise you!

John Lewis as many know, take the season of Christmas seriously. Their advent calendar section also shows not relent on this and the festive fun continues with a different pair of socks each day, or a range of fashion friendly beauty products. Calendars such as the advent are a uniting piece of hope that can assemble everyone together to see the prize or the gift. The moments captured bring life to the home, much like the season of Christmas itself does, and brings the fun of "getting" to a new level. As much fun as getting is, we all know that giving is much better, and gifting an advent calendar is the epitome of fun, as you can see your recipient open a present for 24 days instead of the one.

Discover a selection of new and iconic beauty treats in the countdown to Christmas with our indulgent Beauty Advent Calendar. A delightful gift for beauty enthusiasts or to treat yourself, our collection of 25 full and luxury trial size products is brimming with radiant skincare heroes, makeup must-haves and beautifully scented fragrance favourites. 

Many forms of advent take place, such as a Yule Christmas show, or a chocolate for each of the 24 days until Christmas, or a form of wording or encouragement to keep the peace until the end of the countdown. But young or old, these traditions form the Christmas Spirit that captivated us when we were children, and still hold us captive as adults.

Work on improving Dunstable High Streetstarted at the end of September. The public told us you wanted to prioritise pedestrians, as they are the ones spending money in the shops and businesses, through a boulevard-style high street with cafes on wider pavements; more greenery; and more public areas and places to sit. 

The improvements will take around 12 weeks.Initially we’ve started by removing the railings and some other unnecessary street clutter from the High Street,so that pedestrians can get to different areas around town. We will also be installing four ‘gateway’ features at key locations to help to define the town centre, and to indicate to drivers that they are entering a pedestrian-friendly area. 

The gateway features will also include information about the history of Dunstable and have a map to show key places of interest. The Northern gateway will be by Grove House Gardens; the Southern gateway by Market Square; the Eastern gateway by Priory Church; and the Western gateway by St. Mary’s Gate. Here are some pictures here for you to seen how our improvements will help enhance the town.

We will continue to bid for more funding, so we can undertake further improvements to the High Street area, including to the layout of the main crossroads. These are also things we spoke to you about last year. You can read more about our ambitions at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/yourhighstreet

Meanwhile, the construction of the new £20.1million Dunstable Centre community buildingin Court Drivecontinues.The new building will incorporate a brand new, state-of-the-art leisure facility, including gym and swimming pools; a relocated, new and bigger library; new crèche; new, bigger café; and flexible community space for other public and community services, such as Citizens’ Advice and adult day care.

The brand-new library will be a large, bright and airy open-plan space, incorporating state-of-the-art equipment. The space will flow seamlessly within the main foyer and will be zoned for different activities, as well as flexible space for activities, events and clubs. In preparation for their move, the current library in Vernon Place has changed its opening hours.This will help to provide time to sort out the old building, the recruitment and training of new staff and the move to the new building. Its last day at the current site will be 22 December, when it will close its doors for the last time at 2pm, ahead of the move. 

During the closure, library users will be able to access the same library services in Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard. The library will be running a drop-off point for people to return library items at The Grove Theatre. The drop-off point will be open between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am and 2pm on Saturdays throughout the closure period. Items will have been issued for a longer period than usual, so that members will not be charged fines whilst the library is closed. The new building is on-track open in winter 2018/19. You can read more about the new building and its progress at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/DLC

Councillor Nigel Young
Executive Member for Regeneration

Meet the Team - Emma

What is your role at Deakin-White: Sales Progressor! I deal with all the sales once they have been agreed all the way through to completion.

What school did you attend: I attended three different schools in Dunstable - lower school was Beecroft, middle school was Brewers Hill and my upper school was Queensbury.

What got you into real estate: Ed Harrison - it was a chat with him on a night out and he asked me if I would like to come and work for him!

What is your job like day-to day like: It’s varied and interesting to go through each sale no two sales are the same. It can occasionally be stressful when trying to work towards everyone’s goals and personal situations. There is nothing better than the end result of getting somebody into their new home.

What are some tips for someone looking for a home: Make a list of your wants and needs and work from there. For example if you have children you may want a certain catchment area for a school; the number of bedrooms; and of course budget being a massive decider. You should always see a broker and work out exactly what you can afford.

Why are you in Dunstable: I have lived in Dunstable my whole life. It is where I grew up and where I have stayed. The majority of my family live here also.

Describe the town of Dunstable to someone who has never been there: A historic market Town which is hopefully going to see improvements with all the work that’s going on right now.

What is your house like:I live in a three-bedroom mid terraced house in a nice quiet area of Dunstable. I am currently planning a complete overhaul of the house after living there for six years. It is time for a move around and change.

Favorite comfort item in the house: Fluffy Blankets! Nothing like snuggling under a blanket on the sofa especially now that it’s getting colder. I always have a nice smelling candle burning too.

Did you know Ed Harrison before Deakin-White: Yes, we went to Queensbury upper school together and we also lived in the same street as teenagers literally six doors away from one another!

Describe working for Ed: It’s great, I love it! He has been very understanding in helping me have a career and also letting me spend time with my family, and helps me have a work life balance. It is also great fun, it’s like having another family whist being at work who all work well together to help everyone get sold and moved.

Tell us how you feel about the color purple: I love it, it has always been one of my favourite colors.

What do you do when you are not working: Spending time with my family and friends and catching up on all the stuff I haven’t managed to do in the week.

What are some of your hobbies: I do not have too much time between working and spending time with my family to think about hobbies. But I would love to learn how to snowboard and spend some more time doing floristry which I trained to do many years ago. I also love to read.

Favorite TV shows: Silent Witness,  Killing Eve, Our Girl, anything that gets you gripped.  I hate to admit it, but I love to watch EastEnders also.

Dog or cat: Cats as we always had them growing up, but I personally wouldn’t have either as there is nobody home all day and I don’t believe it’s fair.

What do you think about Brexit: To be honest, I do not really have a view on it, I don’t think anybody really knows what is going as yet and still lots of questions unanswered.

Favorite shop in town: Celebrations in Ashton Square - they do a vast range of different bits and pieces,  and I love to have a nosey in there! I always end up buying something.

Favorite place to eat in town, or grab a drink: There is a couple of places I love - Grazianos which is Italian and Coconut Garden which is Thai. If I fancy a cocktail I would go to Ivory Lounge as they have a vast cocktail menu!

House Prices are falling. What does this mean?
Over the last few months house prices in Dunstable & Houghton Regis have been falling. This may be a realignment from ambitious asking prices over the last year or so and the economic & political uncertainty with Brexit. 
With an uncertain few months ahead until Brexit occurs and the aftermath what does this mean? 

Thankfully, if we do see another recession and property price fall like we did in 2008 & 2009 then we shouldn’t see too many home owners in negative equity due to the removal of 100% and 125% mortgages. Most home buyers over the last 10 years have purchased with at least a 10% deposit and the increase they have seen in their property price should mean that we don’t see negative equity occur.  

For first time buyers a house price fall is a positive thing as it’s a realignment of prices and will help them get on to the property ladder.  Prices have been rising year on year and we are always hearing about how difficult it can be for first time buyers.  After the recession in the 1990’s we saw lots of First Time Buyers get on the housing ladder and again after the recessions of 2008 & 2009.

For people moving upmarket it’s a great time to move. If you are selling a property and the market has changed by 5% your property was worth £250,000 and is now worth £237,500 but if the property you were going to buy was worth £400,000 it is now £380,000. This means you would be £8,500 better off.  

If you are downsizing, unfortunately, in this market you may be the biggest loser, but it all depends why you are looking at downsizing. People downsize for lots of different reasons & depending on why, Deakin-White can advise you on your best course of action.  

In any market people always need to move. Some people will need to relocate for work or move for a different school catchment area; people outgrow their homes needing more space. There are lots of reasons and no matter what is happening politically or economically life goes on. 

With mortgage rates still amazingly low and fairly easy to obtain, for both mortgages and remortgages. it is worth looking at your options with a qualified mortgage consultant. 
At Deakin-White we are happy to help you and give you our expert advice on what may be best for you in this market. If you are looking at moving, buying or selling or need help and advice with your mortgage please get in touch. We will give you honest advice. 

Ed Deakin-White Harrison
Managing Director of Deakin-White Estate Agents
Deakin-White, The Quadrant Shopping Centre, Dunstable, LU5 4RH
01582 343 548

You've found your perfect home and settles into your new neighborhood, so what's next? For many, it's time to add a splash of personality and style with a spot of decorating.

Choosing the right on-trend colours, best-suited furniture and room layouts can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be as there’s an app out there to suit your every need, whether you’re a self-confessed design guru, DIY-dodger or doing this for the first time.

To help you create the home of your dreams without the stress, we’ve selected six apps with tools from colour swatch technology to virtual consultation designed to inspire you. Some also have 3D augmented technology so you can visualise objects in a room setting before committing to a purchase. 

All five apps are free to download from the App Store for iOS and Android phones. Happy decorating!

Houzz 

Unsure where to start? Try the Houzz App. Houzz has a database of over 14 million images of home interiors and exteriors to provide inspiration. Users can also share photos with friends and family to gather opinions as well as connect with over 1.5 million home improvement professionals via the app’s social sharing element. 

Dulux Visualiser 

Keen to experiment with your wall colour? Using augmented reality technology, the Dulux Visualizer App allows you to see different paint colours on your wall risk-free. You can even match a colour from your existing furnishings and the app will suggest co-ordinating paint colours. Better yet, once you decide on a shade, place an order direct to your door straight from the app.

IKEA Place 

To see what furniture would look like in your home, IKEA’s Place app lets you virtually ‘place’ IKEA products into any room. The app includes 3D models of its products from sofas and armchairs to footstalls and coffee tables. You can also consult your friends and family by sharing images of your room set up including the furniture items you like on social apps from WhatsApp to Instagram. 

WikiHow

You’ve decided on your colour scheme, furnishings and where to put everything, but may have some questions when it comes to DIY. Luckily, the WikiHow App has thousands of how-to guides to prepare you for the simplest and even trickiest jobs. You can search through categories to find what you’re looking for as well as bookmark guides to save for later.  

iHandy Level

Before you take on any DIY tasks from hanging pictures to building furniture, make sure you have the iHandy Level App downloaded onto your smartphone, as great interior design all comes down to the small details. Saving you from having to go out and buy a leveller and tape measure, the app helps you to level items, markings and fixtures as well as angle measurements, check the verticality of a wall and the alignment of furniture. 

Miller Homes Kitchen Visualiser

Decorating is a very visual task and being able to visualise something before actually implementing the idea is a great way start your decorating process. The Miller Kitchen Visualiser tool enables you to pick and choose from our great range of kitchen styles, cupboard door fronts and worktops to find your ideal combination. 

The Government has shown that they are willing to make changes to stamp duty to impact on the market, so it is no surprise that many groups see this as a way that further changes can be made to the property market. While there may not be consensus on what needs to happen next in the property market, most people would agree that there needs to be change and RICS are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of housing taxes, which would include stamp duty changes.

RICS have stated that housing taxes are “outdated” and they prevent people from getting on to the property ladder. An area of contention in recent times is the number of elderly people who are willing or keen to downsize their home but are unable to. Making it easier for elderly people to downsize their property will help stimulate the market and could lead to first-time buyers and younger buyers getting on to the property ladder.

Downsizing Could Energise Property Market

The claim from RICS comes on the back of their most recent survey which suggests that close to half of the estate agency surveyors who took part in the survey suggested that a way to incentivise and encourage downsizing would be to offer tax incentives. A suggestion which has already gathered some positivity is the idea that people moving out of a larger sized home to move into a smaller sized home should be exempt from paying the stamp duty.

Another suggestion which arose from the survey was that stamp duty should be scrapped entirely with adjustments to council tax rates being implemented to cover the lost revenue. This move would be seen as a positive step for many as it would remove the tax burden from the property transaction and place it on to owners and occupiers. There is an argument that this action would release funds for the buyer during the buying process, which could make that process easier too.

Help To Buy is also Coming Under Scrutiny

With the Help To Buy scheme being debated at the moment, it was interesting to note that there were calls for the scheme to be extended beyond the 2021 deadline but only to support first-time buyers. Recent findings of Help To Buy assisting people further up the property chain has led many people to re-evaluate the scheme. There is no denying that a lot of good has come from the scheme, but it has perhaps moved away from the stated intentions.

In the light of the recent survey, RICS has called upon the Government to carry out a full-scale review of the Stamp Duty system. There is still a feeling for many in the industry that the only change that would have any impact is the provision of more property, but other changes are far more likely.

No matter what you want to do next in the property market, it makes sense to call on an expert for support. If you are looking for support and guidance, contact Deakin White and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Old Palace Lodge

Nestled in the heart of Dunstable, this hotel establishment serves much more than a bed for the night. Home to the best Sunday roast in the town, it has instantly become one of our favorite places to eat a hot three course meal. 

On Trip Advisor it as a 4.0 rating out of 5.0 and has 69 reviews on there, and it is ranked number 32 for restaurants in the area out of 90. Honestly for only £17.50 for three courses for a Sunday lunch, it is unbeatable. 

Taken from their website: “The popular Henry’s Restaurant, with our Head Chef and his brigade pride themselves on their expertly curated menus, ranging from the A La Carte, Wedding, Banqueting to the Room Service and Lounge. The superb presentation, accompanied of course by our selection of fine wines, would compliment any palate.” Those words couldn’t be more true, and it is the perfect place to host a Birthday party, a Christening lunch, or any other worthy means of gathering family and friends together.

As we sat down for lunch on a Sunday, we were instantly asked what we wanted to drink, and were promptly served the entire time we dined with some of the best customer service I have ever seen. For starters I tried the Roast Plum Tomato & Basil Soup. The soup was an incredible selection to have and was hot and just enough of a portion to not overfill on food. 

For our mains, I had the Roast Beef which includes a Yorkshire pudding and a pan gravy sauce with roast potatoes, and seasonal vegetables. Ed tried the Roast Chicken with the same sides. Our main meals for filling and well portioned, and incredibly delicious. The plates were stacked high full of food, and looked like a masterpiece. I recommend both no matter the event or occasion and make sure you bring your appetite! Other choices for mains include Roast Pork Loin, Fillet of Seabass, and Butternut Squash Risotto. I’m looking forward to going back and trying other selections and switching up my options for the three-course meal and trying what else they have to offer.

For desserts, we tried the Vanilla Crème Brulee made with homemade shortbread and the Citrus Tart made with a mixed berry coulis. The Citrus tart was a nice sweet bite with a kick, and the berry coulis was such a fantastic touch to “cool” it down. The Crème Brulee was cooked to perfection looked like a work of art. 

Aside from putting my relatives up in the hotel, The Old Palace Lodge, will now also be one of my favourite places for a hot Sunday lunch and it is a lovely place to go for some of the best desserts around and a nice glass of wine or two after a long day.

Thank you, Old Palace Lodge, for such great customer care and amazing food!

Go Houghton 

Not only is the Go Houghton restaurant number one on Trip Advisor for the area, but this spacious and renovated place of finery gathers together cultures from all over the world to put on your plate. Located in Houghton Regis, and ranked out of 90 other restaurants, it has 537 reviews on Trip Advisor and has a 4.5 out of 5 rating. 

Owner, Kishor Patel has not only transformed this restaurant from a rowdy pub, once known as The Dog and Duck, but he has established a standard of transporting cultural cuisine experts to ensure the quality and authenticity of his food – no matter what genre of eating you desire. He has on the menu: American Grill, Indian, British, Italian, Tex Mex, and a Green selection for the vegetarians and healthier eaters amongst us. 

With that said, Ed Harrison and I tried several of the starters to get a feel of what they offer, and two of the main dishes we thought sounded nice. For the starters we tried the Onion Bhaji, Pâté, Bruschetta, and Halloumi. Each selection we had was fresh, cooked correctly, and full of flavour. I recommend the Onion Bhaji, to accompany an Indian main dish.

For our mains, we both tried the Lasagna, and the Butter Masala Curry. The Lasagna was made from sheets of pasta with a Bolognese and béchamel sauce topped with parmesan and mozzarella cheese. It was rich, piping hot, and enough food to fill you for an entire evening plus some. It was fully enjoyable and come in a lovely serving dish that was perfect for one person.

The Butter Masala Curry was mine and Ed’s favourite of the night. This decadent dish was served with rice & naan and we both tried the Chicken option. It also comes with a few other choices of Prawn, Lamb, Vegetarian, or Paneer. It is stated on the menu as “spicy” but wasn’t overbearing with spice or heat, and it was a nice touch with the sweetness of the sauce. Loving a good curry, I was impressed with the rich and sweet flavour, and very impressed with the portion and amount of chicken it had in it. The sauce is made with a special creamy coconut butter sauce. Honestly, the best part of this sauce was dunking my chips into it as it was so delicious!

For dessert I had the Sticky Toffee Pudding, also one of my favorites for a treat, and it was hot and very tasty! Thank you Go Houghton for such a lovely selection of food, and great customer service!

If you are looking to sell your home, it is natural to focus on what buyers want to see. When you know what a buyer is looking for, you can tailor your home to meet their needs, and hopefully, this will make your home more appealing to the buyer. However, you may also want to focus on the aspects that buyers don’t want to see at your home.

There are some features that will turn a buyer off from a property. If these are present in your home, and if there is anything you can do about it, it makes sense to remove them or minimise the impact of these matters. You’ll find that there are some matters that you cannot do anything about, such as the recorded crime statistics for your area, but if you know that there are negative elements associated with your home, you need to ensure that there are more positive aspects to outweigh these negative elements.

Be Wary of What Buyers Don’t Want to See in Your Home

Some of the most commonly listed negative aspects that can be found in or related to a home include:

·      An elevated level of crime in the area

·      Location of the propert

·      No garden in the property

·      No parking space or a garage

·      Noisy or bad neighbours

·      Price of the property

·      Structure and condition of the property

·      Substandard plumbing

·      The size of the property

The aspect that you can have the most impact on is the condition and structure of the property. Therefore, if this is in poor condition, it makes sense to spend time and money improving the condition of the property, or you may have to revalue the price and your expectations of the property.

Answer Questions About Concerns Buyers Have

Sometimes being aware of problems and minimising the impact is all that matters when selling your home. If there are negative aspects of the property, don’t shy away from these matters, be prepared to discuss the problem. It may be that there are mitigating circumstances for a problem at the home or it could be that the problems are no longer relevant or present.

If you don’t confront potential problems and a prospective buyer finds a problem, they will be suspicious and will believe that there is a significant problem with the property. However, if you take control of the situation, you may be able to assuage any fears and minimise the way a prospective buyer feels about a property.

You don’t want to necessarily lower the price for every issue or problem at your property, but you may want to be realistic about the pricing of the property. If there are clear issues or problems that may put a buyer off at the expected price, you may need to be realistic. This is a challenging time in the property market, so knowing what buyers are looking for and what puts them off is important.

If you are selling your home and you want support, contact Deakin White and we will be more than happy to assist you.

The new Dunstable Centre is soon to re-open its doors in early 2019 after a £20.1 million investment to build and renovate. Known as the “Leisure Centre” for the Dunstable community, this brand-new building is already recruiting staff for positions there, and the whole building job is on-track to be finished by the upcoming February or March months. 

The Centre will feature a bright and modern style with a large six-lane swimming pool, studios, changing rooms, six-court sports hall, two squash courts, group cycle, and an area for disabled sports. It will include services like Boditrax, Personal Training, Free Lifestyles Programmes, Exercise Referral, Technogym, and Mywellness.

One of the main new features will be the library, which will have an open plan and will have state-of-the-art equipment for different activities it will be zoned for. The new building will also include a 100-station health and fitness gym, crèche, café, a community space for working that will be open to the public for community services and adult day care.  

The new gym will also include 70 free fitness classes each week, and fitness junkies can now get their hands on half priced membership for the year, and also half off the joining fee. They will also not have to pay anything until the Centre opens, and it will include unlimited access to the Fitness Suite and booking classes in advance.  

“The previous leisure centre and library were no longer fit for purpose or cost effective to run. Both require substantial improvements. By bringing services together under one roof, the new facility will reduce running costs, while providing more flexible services to customers, such as improved opening hours for public services.” http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/leisure/centres/dunstable/redevelopment/overview.aspx

The new hours it will stay open also hope to benefit the public by being more flexible for those that work, and will include public service times for Citizens Advise.

To get in contact or for more information please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/lifestylesatdunstable

https://www.sll.co.uk/dunstable/