Cocktail Week? I'll drink to that!

The ladies at Amazing PR HQ have been so distracted by it being National Chocolate Week that we almost overlooked a rather important fact – it’s also London Cocktail Week. Thankfully it’s running until Sunday which means there’s three days left in which we can quaff cocktails to our heart’s delight. And featuring a whole host of bespoke cocktail tours this weekend, there’s never been a better, or indeed a more enjoyable way of learning more about the crème de la crème of drinks.

More than 5000 people took part in last year’s London Cocktail Week, and with over fifty bars and seven days of jam-packed events, it was a fierce reminder that London has one of the richest and most diverse bar scenes in the world. And having showcased events such as Molecular Mixology, Whisky-Tasting and a Bartender Competition in 2010, the organisers certainly haven’t disappointed this year.

Saturday is hosting an impressive eleven events including RumFest - a festival celebrating the diversity of everyone’s favourite dark liquor, A Museum of Cocktails – a bespoke pop-up bar within the Savoy Hotel, and Meet the Maker - a Gin tasting masterclass.

And if you’re still standing come Sunday why not celebrate with Champagne Charlie, a tutored tasting at The Wine Shop in Selfridges, or our personal fave – the Paradise Sunday Roast which does exactly what is says on the tin and is served with a complimentary Bloody Mary – perfect for those hankering after a mild dose of hair of the dog!

So, if you’re looking for something new to do this weekend, join in the fun with London Cocktail Week – a true celebration of our favourite tipple and a rather fabulous city. Bottoms up!

LAQA & CO

With the latest nail trends being followed as closely as the clothes at last month's Fashion Week it seems as though there is a new ‘It’ manicure popping up every week. From nail wraps, cracked nail polish, dip-dye and ombre nails, metallic tips and nail art worthy of a Turner prize it is clear that nails are where it’s at this season.

LAQA & Co. is a range of bright, high–gloss nail polish in an easy to apply pen applicator. They work just like a real pen, only these pens let you quickly and neatly do your nails anywhere in a few clicks. The pen applicator let’s you click and colour so it’s as easy as putting on a lip gloss and great for throwing in your handbag for on-the-go touch-ups. What’s more, each pen is beautifully packaged in unique artwork from a host of young designers, making them more than just polishes and more like little pieces of art. Each designer has created artwork to suit their chosen shade and receives a percentage of the profit from every colour bought.

Choose from the trend-led nudes ‘Birthday Suit’ and ‘Pimpin’ or deep pinks and purples ‘Nookie’ and ‘Bells & Whistles’ which are perfect for Autumn. We’ve been coating our nails with ‘Toff’ a deep, glossy navy whose packaging has been designed by Tatiana Plakhova, complete with futuristic images including micro fibers, jellyfish, nets and other imaginable objects. Next on our shopping list is ‘Blurple,’ a deep purple shade with packaging designed by Nazario Graziano although with names such as ‘Tigerblood’ ‘Those Meddling Kids’ ‘Fancypants’ ‘WTF’ and ‘ I Want a Pony’ we think we will be adding the whole collection to our shopping cart very soon.

LAQA & Co are available from Selfridges and the W Hotel store or online here.

Fancy indulging in a guilt free treat?

Have you ever gotten a Valentine’s gift of gummy bears? Or had a watermelon sweet during the Holidays? I know I haven’t. Valentine’s day and the Holidays are usually filled with stuffing myself full of fudge until I am sweating chocolate. Normally the after feeling is not quite as pleasant as the consumption. If you’re like me, you need a break from the constant chocolaty gifts and snacks that are always around and are in need of something just as satisfying but something that won’t leave you feeling quite so guilty.

And thankfully, a new company is devoted to giving people those luxury sweets that have always been put on the back burner. Jealous offer irresistable guilt-free sweets that are packaged in gorgeous gift boxes and suitable for everyone including those with special dietary and ethical requirements. All of the products have no artificial colours, no artificial flavours, are alcohol free, gluten free and suitable for vegetarians.

Whether you are looking for a new sweet to try for yourself or a fun present that won’t be the typical truffle or caramel, the Jealous gift will always be the best decision.

Everyone will be Jealous while you indulge in your new guilt-free choices. Exclusively available at Selfridges.

Honestly Healthy

Here at Amazing P.R we like to think we’re pretty good at eating healthily and although we may succumb to the odd late night burger (we are human after all) and definitely can’t resist the delicious chocolates our friends at Demarquette treat us to, there’s no denying that eating right definitely makes you feel and look better. However, as I’m sure you’ll agree, when you’re on the go or want to rustle up a quick dinner it’s often easier to grab a calorie laden sandwich or reach for the takeaway menu.

Luckily, next week Honestly Healthy arrives at Selfridges food hall to tempt us away from the unhealthy ready meals and Thai takeaways (which are definitely not conducive to our bikini bodies!) Honestly Healthy is a range of gourmet vegetarian food created by organic chef (and step sister to Sienna and Savannah Miller) Natasha Corrett and leading nutritional therapist Vicki Edgson. The two friends wanted to create food that was not only delicious but also filled with alkalizing ingredients to balance a typically acidic Western diet. Choose from four different types of ready-to-eat chilled salads or their specially made ready-to-cook dry mixes for those who want to cook at home. The salads promise only good things for your body  such as the Green Goodness, which will enhance your skin, or the Everlasting Energy that will guarentee heightened energy for the rest of the day.

The Honestly Healthy range is avaliable at the Selfridges food hall from the 1st July. More information on the food can be found on the Honestly Healthy website here:

www.honestlyhealthyfood.com

Next Post

We are all guilty of carting about way too much stuff in our handbags. Currently mine contains, alongside the usual paraphernalia; an ‘emergency’ chocolate stash (Kit Kat Chunky and a Boost in case you were interested), a broken padlock from my bike chain, 2 pairs of sunglasses (for some reason one is not enough) and a carton of Ribena. Consequently I am left feeling disorganised and short on space, a little help and incentive to get my act together would not go amiss.

I love a big bag, but they only serve to encourage me to fill them with yet more bits and pieces I can really live without. British luxury brand Penelope and Parker have come to the rescue with their uber-stylish range of bags, which have the added bonus of being laptop bags in disguise. The Lizi Caramel is my fave, designed to fit a 13.5” laptop in its removable faux fur (purrrr) lined laptop sleeve. It also has the handy additions of a removable makeup/cable bag and shoulder strap. Internal dividers and pockets allow you to go all organisation stations. Or you can remove the dividers, ditch the laptop and live in merry squalor – with a very stylish bag on your arm.

Lizi Caramel £295 is stocked at Selfridges.