All we want for Christmas....

With Christmas just over a week away and with all our pressies almost bought, here at Amazing PR HQ we have decided its time to turn our attention to our own Christmas wishlists. So Santa, if you are reading this, any last minute stocking fillers would be very well received. After all we have been awfully good girls this year... Edwina’s Wishlist:

A Bouquet Delivered Monthly from Pinstripes and Peonies - £880 PA

Slightly decadent I know, but a beautiful bouquet delivered to your door each month is guaranteed to lift the spirits and provide a stunning statement. Pinstripes and Peonies are renowned for their breathtaking and individual designs and will even supply next year’s Christmas wreath free of charge on top of the twelve arrangements.

Les Queues de Sardines Icar Tights - £36

These tights bring a quirky twist to festive dressing. Les Queues de Sardines are noted for their unconventional and unique graphic style. Produced in limited quantities, they are screen-printed by hand on a rural farm in France, so I can be sure I will stand out in a sea of black opaques.

GelaSkins Phone Cover – Around £30

Want to personalise your phone? I mean REALLY personalise? GelaSkins makes art portable with their collection of designs from over 100 artists that can be made into a ‘skin’ for any mobile phone. For further individuality you can even upload your own photo and they will convert it to a clever little anti-scratch, anti-UV cover. I'm sick of other people walking off with my phone in meetings,  so I rather fancy a bit of leopard print for my Blackberry:

Katie’s Wishlist:

Emma Franklin Gold Hippopotamus Ring - £115Central St Martins graduate Emma, designs and makes each individual piece from her animal kingdom inspired collection at her Clerkenwell studio. Her menagerie of designs are heirlooms in the making. I am particularly taken with this gold hippo ring, such a unique and individual piece it’s sure to get people talking. Emma makes each piece to order and also takes commissions, get your order in early, this girl is going places.

Coulson Macleod ‘Love Makes The Ride Worthwhile’ Limited Edition Print - £199

The simplicity of the messages in Coulson Macleod ‘Love Collection’ is what makes them so powerful. This combined with the raw, distressed finish of the typography within a vintage-style, handmade oak frame and you have a unique piece whose sentiment resonates widely, but still retains a personal touch. I have been lusting after a Coulson Macleod design for so long now, it is really is the most perfect understated declaration of love you could give...

Elizabeth and James Rabbit-Trimmed Stretch-Jersey Blazer - £665

Ok this may be a bit of wishful thinking, but this blazer is my perfect piece, casual, easy-to wear style with a luxurious twist. The olive green colour makes it so versatile; I would wear it with everything, from jeans to add a bit of glam, right through to a little black dress with biker boots to give a grungy edge. The Elizabeth and James range is designed by the Olson twins and incorporates the pair’s eclectic-chic style. The blazer is available from Net-A-Porter and as usual they have provided some great styling pointers (see image below).

Eleanor’s Wishlist:

Astley Clarke Evil Eye Charm Bracelet - £125

A lapis lazuli and 18ct gold vermeil chain wrap with a yellow gold, turquoise and diamond micro pave evil eye charm. The evil eye charm safeguards and protects, while lapis lazuli strengthens truth and bonds relationships, my little lucky charm for the year ahead!

The Modern Girl’s Guide to Fabulousness by Bethanie Lunn - £9.99

The essential A-Z of life skills girls! Including tips on how to make the perfect cocktail, find the best vintage boutiques, walk in high heels, diet successfully, a guide to the coolest boutique hotels and best online dating sites. Celebrity contributors include Elle Macpherson, Dita Von Teese and Mark Hix.

Acne Pistol Boots - £415

A classic Acne boot that will keep me going for seasons to come. The high leg shaft is very flattering and the heel is the perfect height for everyday wear. This really is a boot for all occasions, so I think that justifies the expense...doesn’t it??

And not forgetting the fourth member of the Amazing PR team, a cheeky little Tibetan Spaniel who is mainly wishing for a Santa sack full of treats this Christmas.

Mojai’s Wishlist:

Paragon Christmas Stocking for Small Dogs - £5.99

This all-natural stocking stuffed full of treats will keep both me and my human happy. The tasty treats will give me hours of chewing fun, but it’s also healthy and nutritious so will stop her worrying about my waistline. Bring on the Christmas day over-indulgence!

http://www.naturalpetproductsltd.com/healthy-treats/christmas-stockings/prod_14.htm

Mungo and Maud Cashmere Pullover in Chocolate - £108

It’s Mungo and Maud, it’s cashmere, it’s my colour and I am so worth it...need I say more?

http://www.mungoandmaud.com/store/product/1780/Cashmere-Dog-Pullover-Chocolate-25cm/

Jacks Cabana ‘The Cuff’ Dog Bed – POA

Jacks Cabana offer elegant, hand-crafted designs for style conscious pets and their humans. This bed is a statement piece in its own right, so I will definitely be centre stage when visitors come over (think of the possibilities for fuss and treats!). Available in a range of wood finishes and with a clever little space saving drawer, this is slicker than your average dog bed. Better start practicing those puppy dog eyes if you want to be curled up in this in time for Christmas.

http://www.jackscabana.co.uk/bed1.html

And finally, they say money can’t buy you love, but I think my human could give me a helping hand by getting me a girlfriend of my very own.

Merry Christmas everyone! xxx

Italian Gold

Like us the Italians enjoy a sneaky drink (or three) after a long and stressful day at work. Milan, is particularly well known for its ‘L’ora d’ apperativi’, roughly translated ‘happy hour’, when around clocking off time pubs and bars begin to fill with people looking to let loose and blow off some steam after a day in the office. But while our ‘happy hour’ usually consists of a pint of beer or glass of wine and a packet of crisps before venturing out into the rain to wait for the Number 59 bus home, our European cousins’ version is a little more sophisticated. I picture Armani clad model-types zipping down side streets on Vespas, before dropping into a pavement cafe for a quick aperitif. So clearly a pint of bitter is not going to cut it. No, the drink of choice in the Italian fashion capital is of course, Martini.

Only recently Martini teamed up with another Italian icon, Dolce & Gabbana, to create a unique blend which combines the atmosphere and flavours of the Mediterranean with aromatic spices from the Far East. The result of this collaboration is Martini Gold by Dolce & Gabbana.

With an ad campaign featuring the utterly ravishing Monica Bellucci this is an all-Italian production, embodying the passion, fire and exuberance of the Italian spirit.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFbIZNdFIYQ]

I had my first taste of Martini Gold by Dolce & Gabbana a few weeks ago in the Martini Bar situated on Corso Venezia in Milan The myriad of carefully blended flavours delighted my palate: bergamot from Calabria, lemons and oranges from Sicily, cubebe pepper from Indonesia and ginger from India.

Well done Martini and Mr’s D&G you have struck gold.

MC

Sumptuous Silk - One of Life's Little Luxuries

With Christmas just around the corner how about treating yourself to something so luxurious and indulgent that you’ll be reclining on a chaise lounge eating peeling grapes in the style of an old Hollywood star before you know it (this is how we like to imagine the likes of Grace Kelly and Marlene Dietrich spent their time). Alternatively if you are in the process of dropping subtle (or not so subtle) hints about the items on your Christmas wishlist, ‘The Essential Collection’ from Anne Wiggins should be top of that list. Anne’s debut collection of loungewear and nightwear, appropriately called ‘The Essentials Collection’ offers the highest quality and most luxurious silkwear. The range includes gowns, pyjamas, robes, jackets, camisoles and palazzo pants. Each garment comes in the same flattering champagne colour and can be worn as loungewear, nightwear or under clothing. In particular, the camisoles and gowns work perfectly as slips to wear under tops or your favourite party dress.The old saying ‘If you want a job doing properly, do it yourself’ applies here, Anne spent a long time searching as a customer for the perfect silk range and found all of those available to be lacking  in some way. She decided to create a range that addressed all of her needs and the needs that she felt sure other women must share. Not only are the pieces made from the finest and purest silk Anne could find (which happens to be on a small farm in Japan) they are also completely ethically sourced and produced, as well as being free from any chemical treatments. Anne’s Buddhist beliefs influence every step of the design and creation of the garments, so much so she even insists on an expensive and rare humane method of farming the silk worms to ensure they are not harmed. As an added bonus to all this lovliness Anne’s silk does not demand to be dry-cleaned, it doesn’t even particularly want to be hand washed, it is perfectly happy in a mesh bag on a delicate wash cycle with some silk and wool wash.

The care and attention to detail has gone into each item is clear, reflecting the philosophies and Buddhist beliefs of their designer. Each of the camisoles and gowns has hidden mesh bust underlays so that they drape and flatter your figure. They also come beautifully packaged, boxed in tissue paper with monogrammed ribbon and organic lavender bags.I’ve got my eye on the long gown (£205) and robe (£270), perfect for reclining glamorously on the sofa and entertaining gentleman callers...Oh ok, more realistically for snuggling down and watching X Factor, but a girl can dream can’t she?! The short gown (£180) would also go perfectly under any party dress as a slip to create a smooth silhouette.

We suggest you start dropping hints pronto…but if that fails why not treat yourself? Come on, it’s nearly Christmas!

www.annewiggins.com

E M-H

The Signature Melt Massage at Blue Harbour Spa in Chelsea

Feeling  a bit nippy? Why not warm up with a melted candle massage at Wyndham Grand London’s brand new Blue Harbour Spa?

Against a backdrop of chilled out music and glowing aromatherapy candles, the star of the show is a Yon-Ka candle.  The therapist massages this magical mixture of melting shea butter, Petigrain, Lavender and Vervain on to your skin, cocooning your feet in the silky “wax” before working the rest of your body.  The treatment can be personally tailored too, to help take care of niggly problems like an unaligned back or sore neck and shoulders.

It's quite possibly the best "lie down-pick me up" around this winter season, but maybe it should come with a warning - you may have trouble leaving the massage bed! Luckily there’s a relaxation area with loungers and low lighting where you can sip cups of warm ginger tea and nibble at chocolates while you gently return to planet earth. Before venturing out into the big wide world again you will be presented with – a lovely touch - your very own Quintessence Yon-Ka candle to take home.

The Signature Melt Massage (75 bliss-inducing minutes/£90).

FK

Fright Night Fun

Despite our best effort to remain frightfully (sorry!) English we feel we are slowly being won over by our American cousins’ enthusiasm for this ghoulish fiesta. Every year around this time a seemly ever-expanding range of Halloween themed parties, events and experiences spring up. So to get you in the spirit of things here is our roundup of some of the best things to see, do and try this Halloween. To really nail your Halloween look you should get down to see nail artist Megumi Mizuno at MA&D Nails, Hands and Feet Treatments in Fulham. Megumi is an award winning technician after scooping first prize in Scratch Magazine’s ‘Great Scratch Shoot Out 2010’, a global competition for photographic nail design. She has created these adorable little designs in time for Halloween. Spooooooky! http://www.maandd.co.uk/home.html

If a good horror movie is guaranteed to have you hiding behind the sofa, imagine what would happen if the frightfest was played out live in front of you in a convincingly deconstructed theatre, complete with jump-out-of-your-seats special effects. The plot of Ghost Stories has been conjured up by the disturbingly macabre minds of the writers behind The League of Gentlemen and will have even the most hardened horror fan clutching for their coats to hide behind. Showing at The Duke of York theatre this is definitely not one for the faint hearted and carries a 15+ advisory age limit. If you think you are brave enough this Halloween they are putting on a special midnight showing, prepare to experience utter terror and a twist you never saw coming...  http://www.ghoststoriestheshow.co.uk/home.php

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6imdrushO4]

For something a bit more PG head to Richmond Park where everyone’s favourite circus has rolled into town. Zippo’s features a high-wire act from father and son team, slapstick clowns and glorious liberty horses. Children in Halloween costume go free on 30^th – 31^st October. http://www.zippos.co.uk/

The Mad Artists’ Tea Party presents the first ever Over-18s Pop-up Cake Shop encouraging bakers, artists and creative types to explore the darkest recesses of their minds and develop some truly terrifying cake creations. The shop will be open from 29^th – 31^st October in the ‘dungeon’ of Maiden, 188 Shoreditch High Street. The designs are strictly for grown-ups, come along and give them a try...can you stomach it?? http://evilcakes.wordpress.com/

Like the costume of the person next to you more than your own? Well the folks at Swap or Die actively encourage you covet and take thy neighbours belongings (keys, wallets and phones excluded guys). This is a Halloween special from the Swap-a-Rama crew, so expect the usual crazy clothes exchange (wear something you aren’t going to miss!) with witches, vampires and the un-dead, all set to a ghoulish soundtrack of rock and roll and party classics. Spooky secret venue to be revealed on 29^th... http://www.swap-a-rama.co.uk/event.php?eid=33294

Top-secret bar Barts invites you to come and find them in their Halloween House of Horror until 31^st October. We’ll be heading along for a Pumpkin Martini and a peek in their fantastic new fancy dress trunk stuffed full with suitably spook-tastic outfits. Oh and for those of you worried about missing your X Factor fix in the midst of all the Halloween hoopla Barts will be screening the Sunday night show. http://www.barts-london.com/halloweenweek/

Finally, if like me you will be hosting your own Halloween party here are a couple of cocktail suggestions to get your guests in a suitably spirited mood (again, sorry).

Witches Brew Cocktail:

Mix brandy, light rum, dark rum and pineapple juice (I'll leave you guessing for quantities, I will be!) in a cauldron (or large saucepan if your cauldron is in the dishwasher). Garnish with jelly bugs and snakes and maybe some plastic eyeballs.

Blood Shot:

This is inspired by the signature shooter at rockers den Garlic and Shots on Frith Street. Make a large jug of bloody mary, lots of horseradish and Tabasco essential, and serve with a ghoulish cackle in shot glasses.

KM