5 Classic Films To Watch This New Year & A Giveaway

Do you ever find that you can reel off a whole list of classic films that you have never actually watched?

You tell yourself that since they're classics they're not going anywhere and you can watch them whenever.

I do this all the time.

But one of my New Year's resolutions is to catch up on my classic film watching instead of the endless repeats of Midsomer Murders and Marple.

Here's a few of the ones I always say are on my "must watch" list but never make it to a screen in our house.

Read on because you can win the lot!

Westworld

The original classic stars Yul Brynner and Richard Benjamin and was the directorial debut of 'Jurassic Park' author, Michael Crichton.

Westworld is an old Wild West theme park where for $1,000 a day, vacationers can indulge their whims.

They can bust up a bar or break out of jail, visit a brothel or shoot down a gunslinger but it's all completely safe. The park's lifelike androids are programmed never to harm the customers but it doesn't stay that way.

A lawyer and businessman (Richard Benjamin and James Brolin) take a dream holiday to the newly opened technological paradise, but when one of the computerized gunslingers (Yul Brynner) malfunctions, they find themselves in a battle for their lives.

Westworld has currently been resurrected into a hit TV show which is gaining legions of new fans. Caitlin and Ieuan also love the Aquabats' take on it in the episode "Cowboy Android".

Get Carter

Who doesn't love Sir Michael?  I love The Italian Job but this acclaimed 1970s British thriller has somehow passed me by.

Michael Caine plays hardened gangster Jack Carter who returns to his hometown of Newcastle to find the truth behind the death of his brother. Since leaving Newcastle, Carter has made his name in London as a tough enforcer for his crime boss, Gerald Fletcher.

On hearing of his brother's death, Carter returns to Newcastle for his funeral and to investigate his suspicion that his sibling may have been murdered. After visiting local gangster Cyril Kinnear, Carter is threatened and advised to head back to London.

He refuses and descends further and further into the city's underworld as his investigations begin to pay off. His search is merciless, unrelenting and fraught with danger and it becomes clear that he will stop at nothing to exact his own brand of justice.


GoodFellas

Directed in 1990 by Martin Scorsese's 1990 GoodFellas tells the story of the violent life of actual gangster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), from his teen years on the streets of New York to his anonymous exile under the Witness Protection Program.

Scorsese shows us Hill's ruthless rise to power in the 1950s as well as his drugged-out fall in the late 1970s through cocaine use.

Dirty Harry

Produced in 1971, Dirty Harry is the first in the series of films featuring Clint Eastwood as Lieutenant Harry Callahan - a right wing, bad-tempered San Francisco policeman, not averse to bending the rules to get his man. The maniacal 'Scorpio Killer' is on the loose and Callahan disregards procedure in his efforts to track him down, using his trusty Magnum .44 to dispense his own brand of justice.

Strangers on a Train

This 1951 film is class Hitchcock and tells the story of a battle of wits between tennis pro Guy (Farley Granger) and his mysterious, sycophantic admirer, Bruno (Robert Walker), who offers to kill Guy's unfaithful wife, in return for which Guy will kill Bruno's spiteful father.

But do both the murders actually go ahead?

You can find all of these films here or why not enter my giveaway to win the five films listed above?

Entry is via the rafflecopter below.

Extra terms and conditions apply which you can view on my competitions page. UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday 31st January 2017.



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Win A Global Gourmet Indian Curry Station By Sensio Home

At mealtimes, what do you do if you have a small oven and have to plate up a variety of dishes without them getting cold?

Or, what do you do if you've splashed out on a nice Saturday night curry takeaway and want to keep the food warm?

Let's be honest, serving dishes are a little too posh for routine family meals but by the time we get to sit down, the food's tepid.

We were recently sent a fabulous food warmer to try.

Made by Sensio Home it's called the Global Gourmet Indian Curry Station and it's a hot plate upon which you can warm or slowly reheat your curry and sides and even grill your naan or chapatis.

It comes with 4 surprisingly generous non stick aluminium pots (750ml each) with individual toughened glass lids and handles.

This meant the Husband was put on automatic curry duty so he whipped up his legendary chicken curry and a mix of Saag Aloo and Bombay Potatoes.

Simply warm the curry station up by turning the easy to operate dial to 1 for warm, 3 for reheat or 5 for grill, and then unplug and carry to your table.

You'll need to put it on heat proof mats and make sure that the children don't touch it or try taking the lids off without using a cloth to avoid burning fingers.

The curry station base is incredibly light and we found it simpler to carry the base and then add the pots afterwards.

We tested the curry station on the warming setting and found it kept our food warm for a good half hour.  The kids can be painfully slow eaters and it was great to be able to refill our plates with hot food!

The four bowls serve four adults comfortably but you may need an extra pot for rice.

The pots are dish-washer safe whilst the warming plate is not and needs to be cleaned with a damp cloth.

The length of the cable supplied is relatively short which may mean that, when using the station for grilling, you have to keep it plugged in to get enough heat to grill.  This is the only slight downside I could find.

I can say that the unit gets very hot very quickly though and it certainly retains heat well.

And of course, you could use the curry station as a food warmer for things such as gravy, stews, porridge or soup.  I am sure we won't be just using ours for curry!

The Global Gourmet Indian Curry Station retails at £49.95 and I have one to give away to one lucky winner.

Entry is via the Gleam app below.  Terms and conditions apply and the giveaway ends on 30th January 2017.


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*we were sent a curry station for the purpose of this review which contains some affiliate links.

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Tips To Get Your Home Ready For Spring

Whilst it's supposed to be bad luck to take your Christmas decorations down before 12th Night (January 6th), I suspect many of us have already removed them.

Once the tree and baubles have been put away, the house looks bare, a bit unloved and, if you've got kids, in need of a thorough Spring clean!

Grab yourself a coffee and draw up a plan of action - and I've a great giveaway of some fabulous cleaning products from Kilrock to help you at the bottom of this post.

So where to start?

These are my 'grubby hotspots' which usually need tackling first.

The Bathroom

Attack the bathroom with a product such as Blast Away Mould – in spray or gel format, which is ideal for ridding door and window seals, shower units, bathrooms, sinks and WCs of mould and mildew. You can use it on plastic furniture too.

If the bath or sink are running sluggishly and have become clogged with yucky hair, try Kil-Block Drain Unblocker which is a powerful, fast-acting, multi-purpose drain and plughole unblocker.

Now is also a good time to chuck threadbare towels and flannels and replace them with some fresh new linen in bright spring colours.  Giving each member of the family their own colour flannel is a good idea too - and stops arguments!

Whilst you're at it, why not replace frayed toothbrushes and chuck any toothbrush mugs in the dishwasher.  Electric toothbrush heads can also be replaced.

I like to splash out on some fancy French soap - anything from Roger & Gallet is heaven.

If you want to go a bit "Marie Kondo" (from the cult decluttering book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying"), you should throw out anything that does not "spark joy".

That should include all those half used bottles of shampoo, face creams which just don't do the job, all those hotel toiletries you convinced yourself you'd use and those bath gels you hate the smell of.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is really the heart of the home yet it can often appear quite unloved (and grimy!).

Attack those surfaces and worktops with an effective, multi-purpose product like Bar Keepers Friend - a specialist, multi-surface cleaner that cuts through grease, grime, rust, and stains to give gleaming results every time. You can use it on steel, ceramics, copper, brass, chrome, glass and more.

Descale your kettle, coffee machine and iron with a product such as Kilrock-K Multi Purpose descaler which will totally clears heavily scaled appliances in minutes. You can also use it on your shower head.

Clear out any out of date food and leftovers which are unlikely to be used from the fridge and give it a thorough wipe down.

Put a date in your diary to defrost the freezer and make a note to start using up the food you have in there.

For example, chicken can be frozen for up to 9 months but bacon only lasts a month.

Emptying all the bins and adding a fresh bunch or two of Daffodils also works wonders!

The Bedrooms

Start by stripping the beds and vacuuming the mattresses to get rid of dust mites.  This is particularly important when you or your little ones have allergies.

Next, check that your mattress protectors are up to the job and actually cover the mattress.  If your mattress is over 8 years old, the advice is that is should be replaced.

Check that your pillows are not damp or mildewed and that they have their own protectors.  The Sleep Council advises that pillows should be replaced at least every two years.

Tidy up your bedding by storing a double sheet and pillowcases inside a double duvet cover so that everything is altogether.  I've wasted hours trying to find the right bedding.

If bedrooms are damp, you could try Damp Clear Moisture Trap which is an effective, hassle-free solution for the removal of excessive moisture. It protects against mould, mildew and damp, combats musty odours, lasts three months and is refillable.

If you would like to win a selection of Kilrock products worth £50 to help you get your home sparkling for spring, just enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.

Kilrock manufactures problem solving household products many of which are firm favourites among British households and motorhome owners. Available, variously, at Robert Dyas, Lakeland, John Lewis, B & Q, Homebase, independent homeware stores or www.kilrock.co.uk.

The prize is a selection of Kilrock Products - Contents May Differ From This Picture

The prize consists of:-

Damp Clear Moisture Trap x 2
Blast Away Mould x 4
Bar Keepers Friend x 3
Kilrock K x 2
KilBlock Drain Unblocker x 2

Please note that Kilrock K works best in hard water areas where limescale is a problem.

Terms and conditions apply and can be viewed on my competitions page.

UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 27th January 2017.

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Win Callanetics Countdown: 30 Days To A More Beautiful Body Exercise DVD

30 years ago Callan Pinckney created the very first Callanetics exercise programme which was released on video and subsequently garnered world wide fame.

Pinckney’s first book Callanetics: 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours was first published in 1984 and spent two years at the top of the New York Best Seller list. The first video of the program, “Callanetics” was released in 1986 and became the All Time Biggest Selling fitness video in both the UK and US.

Callan Pinckney was declared the “High Priestess of the new Fitness” by Vogue magazine.

Now Callan has released a new version "Countdown: 30 Days To A More Beautiful Body" on DVD.

It's a 30-day program designed to get your body in great shape, quickly and effectively.

Callanetics is a series of stretching and contracting exercises that activate the body’s largest muscles groups, using tiny, gentle, precise movements, called pulses. These pulses reach deep into the muscles to give you a strong, firm body, without adding bulk.

The exercise classes are presented by Lacey Kondi and her team as they help you to take your first step towards a lovelier body.

CaIlanetics helps you defy gravity. As many students have said, Callanetics is like a face-lift for your body. Most of all, the unique movements of Callanetics strengthen and relax you at the same time.

No longer will you feel exhausted or drained after a workout. You’ll feel energized and empowered.

The Callanetics Countdown is made up of 3 levels, each one getting progressively more challenging and included with the DVD is a 30 day recipe booklet to follow alongside the Callanetics 30 day programme, with delicious nutritionally balanced meal suggestions and recipes to try.

I really enjoyed this DVD and am currently on the first level of the 30 day programme.  I find it leaves me feeling invigorated without feeling hot and sweaty (very good for us ladies of a certain age!).

Lacey does speak rather fast so you do have to pay attention but for those of us with hearing loss there are great subtitles!  I wish other exercise DVDs had these.

The routines are easy to understand and follow in a gentle way.  This isn't a power-based, shouty work-out.

If you are looking for something that allows you to really focus on the parts of the body you are working, why not give this one a try?

I will certainly be carrying on to complete my 30 days to get rid of those Christmas excesses!

I have one copy to give away to a lucky winner.  Simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget in the usual way.  Terms and conditions are available to read on my Competitions Page.  UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 20th January.


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If you can't wait to start your Callanetics Countdown, you can find the DVD on Amazon and the other usual retail outlets priced £12.99.

*promotional copy received for the purpose of this review. Post contains affiliate link

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Win A Man's Suit From Dobell Menswear

After the Christmas festivities, it can be a bit of a relief to don our workwear again and prepare for a fresh new year.

We make our New Year's resolutions and determine that this year will see us become even more successful and what we wear definitely helps us to "walk the talk"!

In fact in a survey undertaken by car manufacturer Kia in 2014, when asked what made them feel confident, the top 10 list for women included: high heels, a little black dress, and designer perfume and for men the list included: a freshly shaved face, a new suit, and a nice smelling aftershave.

If you're looking to spruce up your man, there's nothing like a crisp new suit to make a statement and Dobell Menswear have kindly provided a man's suit for a lucky Mother Distracted reader.

Dobell menswear have created fine men’s suits, tuxedos and wedding suits for over 10 years, and create handsomely fitted suits and formalwear accessories, at great value - up to 50% cheaper than the high street.

They stock leading suit and shirt brands such as Paul Costelloe, Tommy Hilfiger, Noose & Monkey, Esprit, Lambretta, Paul Gross, and Alexander Dobell.

They also cater for men who want to look and feel correctly dressed when they’re attending black tie dinners, weddings, balls, business conferences or calendar events such as Glyndebourne and Ascot.

There's free standard delivery, and free UK returns, a next day delivery service, and international delivery. Their site offers on-site expert advice articles and sizing guides or, if you prefer, you can talk to their dedicated customer service team who are on hand to help from 9 am to 6 pm weekdays.

For a chance to win, just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.  Terms and conditions apply (please see my Competitions page).  UK entrants only.

The prize is one Dobell branded man's suit in your preferred size (jacket and trousers).

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 13th January 2017.


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Win 5 Great Movies For His Christmas Stocking

It's always difficult to know what to buy the men in your life, isn't it?  But you can go far wrong with some great DVDs and here are 5 suggestions that are sure to prove popular.

Plus I have the chance to win them - just read on.

So grab the mistletoe and get ready to find the perfect gift for that special someone this Christmas. Warner Bros. has the ultimate selection, whether you’re looking for him, for her, or for festive favourites to get the whole family in the Christmas spirit.

For Him they have a great selection of festive thrillseekers, including Batman Vs. Superman, Creed, Black Mass, Point Break and Mad Max Fury Road.

Batman Vs. Superman





Directed by Zack Snyder and starring Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent comes "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," in the characters' first big-screen pairing.

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it's ever known before.

Creed

This is a new chapter in the Rocky story from acclaimed director Ryan Coogler.

Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Johnson, the son of deceased world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, with boxing in his blood. Looking to win his own title, Adonis heads to Philadelphia and convinces his father's rival-turned-friend, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), to train him – even as Rocky battles his own deadly opponent outside the ring. Now Adonis has a shot, but first he must develop the heart of a true fighter.


Black Mass





Johnny Depp portrays real-life serial killer James 'Whitey' Bulger in this biographical crime drama set in 1975. Winter Hill Gang leader Whitey's hold over South Boston is threatened by the Angiulo Brothers of the Italian-American Mafia.

In order to bring down his opposition and protect himself and his family Whitey agrees to turn informant against the Angiulo Brothers at the request of FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), a friend of Whitey and his brother Billy (Benedict Cumberbatch), the President of the Massachusetts Senate.

When Whitey uses his connection with the agent as a cover for committing murder and Connolly's control over his informant is scrutinised by his boss Charles McGuire (Kevin Bacon) and prosecutor Fred Wyshak (Corey Stoll), he is left with no choice but to go on the run.

Point Break

A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists. The film stars Édgar Ramírez, Luke Bracey and Ray Winstone and is a remake of the original Point Break film.

Mad Max Fury Road

Starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, the film finds Mad Max haunted by his turbulent past and convinced that the best way to survive is to wander alone.

Despite this, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Now, if you would like a chance to win the lot, just enter via the rafflecopter below.  Extra terms and conditions apply which you can view on my competitions page.

UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 18th December.

Please note that whilst every effort will be made for the winner to receive their prize before Christmas, this cannot be guaranteed.



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Win A Clif Energy Bar Hamper Worth Over £50

If you are a fitness fanatic or if, like me, you're promising yourself that yes!  2017 will be the year that you finally beat inertia, I have a great giveaway for you - a hamper from Clif Bar worth over £50.

Clif Bars are America's favourite energy bars and they are designed to help keep you on-the-go whenever you need a boost.

They are made of a combination of wholesome ingredients such as organic rolled oats and organic dates.  They also contain protein and 11 vitamins (including B6 and B12) which help the body release energy.

Clif Bars come in 7 flavours, Chocolate Chip, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, Blueberry Crisp, Chocolate Almond Fudge, White Chocolate Macademia Nut and Coconut Chocolate Chip.

They are available from Boots, Tesco, Holland & Barrett and all good independent health food shops priced £1.60.

If your workout needs a protein boost, there's Clif Builder's 20g Protein Bars to help aid the growth and maintenance of muscle mass and vitamin B6 to help contibute to normal protein and glycogen metabolism.  They are also free from hydrogenated oils and sugar alcohols.

They contain natural ingredients such as organic oat fibre, nuts, cocoa, peanut butter and organic soy protein.

Suitable for vegans and certified kosher, Clif Builder's 20g Protein Bars come in three flavours, Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mint and cost £2.35 per bar.

Then there's Clif Shot Energy Gels and Blok Energy Chews are both portable shots of carbohydrate designed to give an instant energy boost before and during activity.

Clif Shot Energy Gels come in 4 flavours - Chocolate, Razz, Citrus with 25mg caffeine and Double Expresso with 100mg caffeine. They are available from Ocada at £1.59.

Clif Bloks Energy Chews are semi-solid and come in 33 calorie cubes. Their flavours are Mountain Berry, Strawberry, Tropical Punch with 25mg caffeine and Black Cherry with 50mg caffeine. These are available from Tesco, Ocado, health food shops and sports retailers priced £2.69.

No matter what your level of activity, there's a Clif product to suit.

You can find out more at www.clifbar.co.uk on Twitter.

The prize hamper contains a complete range of Clif Bars, Clif Builder’s Bars, Clif SHOT Energy Gels and Clif BLOK Energy Chews, plus branded Clif Bar merchandise, worth more than £50.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 30th December just in time to help your 'get fit' New Year's resolution.

UK entrants only and terms and conditions apply (please see my competitions page).



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Win Organic Coconut Body Care Products From Urtekram

Hygge is everywhere at the moment. It's the Danish concept of making ordinary, everyday moments special and there's nothing like making the most of your beauty and bathing rituals.

I don't know about you but all that Christmas planning, shopping and mince pie eating is quite exhausting and a restorative hot shower can help set the world to rights - especially if you can lock the Husband and kids out of the bathroom!

To help, organic Danish brand Urtekram (which means 'herbalism') has launched a new coconut-scented organic body care range and I have a basket of goodies to give away to one lucky winner.

Founded in 1972, Urtekram is renowned for creating plant-based products which are wholesome and natural. Their organic body care ranges contain shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, shower gels, soaps and scrubs, crystal deodorants, hand creams and toothpastes in a variety of natural fragrances which use aromatic herbs, fragrant flowers and natural oils.

The new Urtekram coconut range has four products - shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion, each infused with organic virgin coconut oil and organic coconut nectar, from palm trees in the South Seas.

Urtekram Coconut Shampoo has organic coconut nectar and daisy flower extract, to naturally moisturise, and seaweed extract to revitalise the hair.

Containing organic virgin coconut oil, the Coconut Conditioner naturally helps to nourish and moisturise normal hair.

Both products are lightly fragranced and designed to leave hair with a delicate scent of natural coconut sweetness.

The Coconut Shower Gel has organic coconut nectar and diglycerin to naturally cleanse and moisturise, while Urtekram’s Coconut Body Lotion, has organic virgin coconut oil and hyaluronic acid which is easily absorbed, nourishing and rejuvenates the epidermis.

Like all Urtekram products, all four new hair and body care lines have achieved the Ecocert COSMOS Organic Standard, the new gold standard governing the content and the methods approved for the manufacture of organic ingredients.

The whole range of Urtekram hair, body and oral care products are hypoallergenic and Vegan Society-approved, and they are free from parabens, synthetic ingredients and artificial colours – just as nature intended.

Urtekram products are also certified by Ecocert Greenlife and meet the COSMOS Organic Standard.

Urtekram skin and beauty preparations are priced from £1.75 and available from Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic and independent health and beauty retailers nationwide.

You can find further information at www.urtekram.com or www.healthyfoodbrands.co.uk.

Now to the giveaway. To win the lovely selection of products below, just enter via the Rafflecopter widget.

The giveaway is open to UK entrants only and the usual terms and conditions apply which can be viewed on my competitions page.

The giveaway ends on 11:59 pm on Sunday 18th December.  The winner must confirm their details no later than Tuesday 20th December in order to receive their prize in time for Christmas.



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Win A Haribo Christmas Selection

HARIBO are kindly giving one lucky winner the chance to leave some HARIBO goodies out for Santa this Christmas eve.

The prize includes HARIBO’s Starmix and Tangfastics Crackers, a Mega Stars Selection Box and new Starmixmas, along with a Christmas t-shirt.

All you have to do to be in with a chance is to enter via the Rafflecopter below.  UK entrants only. Terms and conditions apply (on my competitions page).  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Monday 19th December.

Please note the winner must supply their details no later than 21st December in order to receive their prize before Christmas.



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Win A Men's Fitness Bundle From Discount Supplements worth £40+

If you're struggling to come up with a Christmas present for the health enthusiasts in your family, Discount Supplements have come up with a range of great ideas that all offer something different. They also offer free UK delivery and same day despatch.

The Perfect Gifts for Vegans

If you are looking for a gift for a vegan or vegetarian it can be difficult to make the right choice. Look no further then Discount Supplements range of Faith in Nature products, all kind to nature and the environment.

There's Faith in Nature Pineapple and Lime Shampoo and Conditioner (£5.49 each), Faith in Nature Rejuvenating Facial Wash (£6.29), Faith in Nature Coconut Soap (£1.93) and Faith in Nature Restorative Hand Cream (£6.52).


The Perfect Gifts for Gym Bunnies 

40-50% of adults in the UK will make a new year’s resolution in 2017 and the most popular ones usually involve diet and fitness.

Why not get your friends and family off to a great start with some health and fitness related gifts. You could combine Yogi Women’s Tea, Yogi Detox Tea with Lemon (£, Yogi Women’s Balance Tea and Yogi Women’s Energy Tea (all £2.32 for 17 bags) with some Optimum Nutrition Vitamins for Women (£20.36 for 120 caps) and some Women’s Cross Training Gloves (£10.66).

The Perfect Gifts for Tea Lovers

The UK consume an amazing 165 million cups of tea a day! Why not spice up your tea lover's day with some different flavours from Yogi Organic teas. How about Yogi Choco Mint Tea, Yogi Orange and Vanilla Tea, Yogi Lime and Mint Tea, Yogi Detox Tea with Lemon or Yogi Liquorice and Mint Tea (all £2.32 for 17 bags).

The Perfect Gifts for Male Fitness Fans

If the man in your life loves the gym then how about this nifty little bundle? Yogi Detox Tea with Lemon (£2.32 as before),  Optimum Nutrition Mens Multi Vitamins (£5.81 for 90 tabs), Grenade Thermo Detonator Capsules (£17.45 for 44 caps) and some Schiek Cross Training Gloves (£29.10).

And I have a Male Fitness Fan bundle worth over £40 to give away to one lucky winner.  Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the usual terms and conditions apply.  (Please see my competition prize).  UK entrants only.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 16th December.  

Please note that the contents of the bundle may vary slightly depending on stock availability.  Whilst every attempt will be made to deliver the prize in time for Christmas, this is not guaranteed.

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Win A Gorgeous Kate Spade Watch From Shade Station

Shade Station is the UK's largest independent designer sunglasses, glasses and watch online retailer with over 140 of the world’s leading brands - and a brilliant place to find Christmas presents for all the family.

I have spent quite some time browsing their ranges which include brands like Fossil, Guess, Emporio Armani, Calvin Klein and DKNY.  They even do prescription glasses - Chanel, Oliver Peoples and Rayban to name a few.

They offer 35 designer sunglasses brands so even the fussiest person should find something they love from Tom Ford, Chanel, Dior, Gucci and Prada to edgier brands including Ray Ban, Carrera, Police and Prada Sport and the sports focused brands including Oakley and Dragon.

They carry a huge range of watches - over 55 brands and I particularly love the Kate Spade Watches.

Kate Spade New York Gramercy Grand Watch

and then there is a great selection of unusual men's jewellery from brands like Storm, Calvin Klein and Emporio Armani.

The husband isn't a big jewellery fan but he will wear cufflinks.

Calvin Klein Cufflinks

Storm Kempa Pendant

although I might persuade him to wear one of these.

Shade Station also offer goggles for extreme sports enthusiasts and lifestyle accessories such as backpacks, luggage, belts, hats, key rings and belts by leading brands including Oakley, Nixon, Dragon and East Pak.

Shade Station also offer free next day UK delivery.

Now to the giveaway.

I have a fabulous Kate Spade New York Holland Watch worth £173 to give away to one lucky winner.

Kate Spade New York Holland Watch worth over £170

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and terms and conditions apply (see my competitions page).  The giveaway is open to UK entrants only and ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 16th December.

Entrants must complete all the mandatory questions on the Rafflecopter and leave the answer to the giveaway question in the comments below this post.

Please note that whilst every attempt will be made for the winner to receive their prize before Christmas, this is not guaranteed.   

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Win Amazing Anti-Hair Loss Products From folliOne

When you get to a certain age, particularly around the menopause, or perhaps after surgery or medical treatment, you may find your beloved hair starts to get thinner and that your scalp starts to make an appearance.

There's no denying that it's hard enough for a man to lose his hair but there is far less social stigma about male hair loss than there is for hair loss in women.

These days there's no shame in talking about this issue and there are more and more treatments available to help cope with this distressing condition.

Did you know that nearly 40% of women experience some form of hair loss by the age of 60?  But you need to be sure of the cause.

Women’s hair loss may appear at times of hormonal change and is identified by overall thinning as opposed to a more patchy loss.

Common causes of women’s hair loss include: starting or stopping birth control, having a baby and just before and after going through the menopause.

Women rarely go completely bald but the end result is a visible decrease in the density of the hair in the affect areas.

Also, there's a difference between Alopecia and the kind of hair thinning which may be only temporary - for example after you have had a baby.

With Alopecia, the reason for the hair loss is thought to be a sensitivity of your follicles to the hormones in your scalp, in particular the hormone DHT (Dihydro-Testosterone). This is why treatments for female alopecia include DHT blockers, and antiandrogens, just like the treatments for male hair loss.

If you are suffering with this distressing problem, you should talk to your GP for advice and support but there are products that can help with thinning hair.

I have discovered one such range of products from folliOne who offer a range of treatments including Growth Stimulators, Anti Hair-loss shampoos and liquid hair nutrition to help maximise hair growth.

I tested two of the three following products, the anti hair loss shampoo and the liquid nutrition.

folliOne Growth Stimulator for Women

This non-alcohol based formula is designed to gently strengthens your scalp, allowing the ingredients to penetrate the scalp without evaporating or crystallizing.

Diaminopyrimidine Oxide, one of the main active ingredients in folliOne Growth Stimulator For Women, has been shown through clinical research to disrupt 5α-reductase activity and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production, these two substances are linked to hair loss.

It also contains Oxothiazolidine Carboxylic Acid to stimulate new hair growth and prevents further hair loss, and it also delays the ageing of the skin in the scalp.

folliOne Shampoo for Hair Growth and Recovery

This shampoo is formulated to stimulate hair growth and prevents hair loss whilst supporting a healthy scalp, new hair follicles, and the growth of hair cells.

It reduced sebaceous secretion from the scalp (oil in the skin) and targets dandruff caused by hair loss. It is also designed to enhance the body’s ability to prevent the recurrence of scalp itching, irritation, redness, and flaking.

This is quite a runny shampoo with a strong medicinal smell and it is quite strong and rather drying. This is what it is designed to do though! You will need conditioner and possibly some conditioning hair products afterwards.  Because it is strong, I would caution against using it on coloured hair - certainly freshly coloured hair.

It does contain the magic ingredient that seems to be the latest buzz word in preventing female hair loss - caffeine and the product is not tested on animals so full marks for that.

I found that this shampoo boosted the volume of my hair and did not irritate my scalp or my skin. In fact, I found my facial skin looked smooth and had more of a glow which is an interesting side effect!

I think it is certainly worth persisting with if you can find a way of conditioning your hair afterwards.

folliOne Liquid Hair Nutrition for Hair Growth

folliOne Liquid Hair Nutrition is a daily dietary supplement designed to give your hair the essential vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and protein it needs for normal growth.

You can take it on its own or mix it with fruit for an easy smoothie.  It has a pleasant orangey taste and the daily dose is 15ml which you can drink straight down - far easier than taking bulky pills.

As well as the usual vitamins you would expect to find, there's biotin, iodine, folic acid and selenium. It is certainly a specific blend rather than a standard liquid nutrition supplement and it is a more powerful way of getting these vitamins and minerals than ingesting them from natural sources.

To give you an idea, you would have to contain 750mg of amino acids from your foods to get the same benefit as 15ml of folliOne Liquid Hair Nutrition.

If you would like to try folliOne products I have a great giveaway for one winner to win two folliOne products of their choice from the range worth £30.

You can find more information about the range at www.follione.co.uk.  You can also find help and advice about hair loss at www.hairlosstalk.com.

Entry this time is via the Gleam app below and the giveaway ends on 28th December. Open Worldwide.  Terms and conditions are on my competitions page.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW

Win a choice of any two Follione products #3

Good luck!

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Protect Your Family From The Winter Cold With Redoxon® Multivitamins [closed]

As the festive season approaches with all its social events, shopping and entertaining, we often find our systems need a boost to make sure we're in a fit condition to enjoy it all.

To stay healthy we're trying to eat nutritious, vitamin-rich foods and to get outside to enjoy the beautiful autumn countryside with lots of walks and cycling.

But we parents live in fear of the kids coming down with coughs, colds and the dreaded 'puke bug'.  I am already giving Caitlin and Ieuan daily probiotics and slathering them in anti-bacterial hand gel but there's always the chance that they will come home with something virulent that we'll all get.

So we've been trying new Redoxon® Triple Action effervescent tablets, which contain high strength vitamin D to help support the immune system, vitamin C to help us to feel energised and zinc to help maintain our skin.

Why is Vitamin D important?

Our bodies need vitamin D to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. Too little vitamin D results in soft bones in children (rickets) and fragile, misshapen bones in adults.  Vitamin D is also needed for other important body functions and a lack of it has been linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, depression, weight gain, and other maladies.

Read on for a fabulous giveaway ......

Redoxon® is the leading immune brand in the UK with over 80 years' experience of helping to keep families' immune systems on top form.

There's Redoxon® Triple Action for when you need a bit of extra help and Redoxon® Every Day Immune support for day to day support.

Caitlin and Ieuan have been trying the Triple Action formula in the form of gummies for children.

NEW Redoxon® Triple Action effervescent tablets

When you need a bit of extra help, Redoxon® Triple Action is a combination of high strength vitamin C, D and zinc to support your immune system.

Why use Redoxon® Triple Action?

• Top up of vitamin D even when there is less sunlight. During the summer months, vitamin D is mainly formed in the skin through UV-B sunlight, and functions to help support the immune system
• Vitamin C can help you release your energy
• Your skin is the body’s first line of defence. Zinc can help maintain your skin

The effervescent tablets are for adults and children over 12 years of age. Simply dissolve 1 tablet per day in a glass of water to make a refreshing orange drink. Available in packs of 10 at a RRP of £3.80.

New Look Redoxon® Every Day Immune Support for day to day support

Even though you may not feel it, your immune system works 24 hours a day and that is why you need to take care of it. When you have a busy lifestyle, sometimes it can be good to have extra support.

Redoxon® Every Day is a daily multivitamin for children and adults, providing day to day support for the immune system. The effervescent tablets contain vitamins (A, B6, B12, C, D and folic acid) and minerals (zinc, iron, copper and selenium).

Why use Redoxon® Every Day?

• Vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc help maintain the skin
• Vitamin C, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 help reduce tiredness and fatigue
• Vitamins (C, A, D, B6, B12 and folic acid) and minerals (zinc, iron, copper and selenium) help support your immune system – your body’s natural protector

Children over 12 years of age and adults: Dissolve 1 tablet per day in a glass of water to make a refreshing orange drink. Children 6-12 years old: Half a tablet per day. Redoxon® Every Day come in packs of 15 (RRP £5.00) and 30 (RRP £9.50).

These make a lovely, refreshing orangey drink with no chemical after-taste.  It dissolves easily and I wasn't left with powder at the bottom of the glass.

New Redoxon® Triple Action gummies

• 3 tasty fun flavours (orange, strawberry and papaya)

Per gummy:-

• Vitamin C 30mg
• Vitamin D 5μg
• Zinc 2.5mg

Suitable for children 4 years and older: • Children 4-8 years: 2 gummies per day • Children 9-13 years: 3 gummies per day • Adults and teenagers over 14 years: 4 gummies per day Come in packs of 25 at a RRP of £2.49.

The kids like the taste and texture of these and, unlike some of the vitamins we've tried, I've had no protests from Ieuan at all!

Redoxon® products are available at a range of stores including Boots, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Tesco, and Waitrose.

It's good to know that we are taking care of our immune systems - and hopefully warding off Mr Puke!

If you would like to try Redoxon® for yourself and win some lovely goodies and a shopping voucher, why not enter my giveaway?

The giveaway 

Redoxon® are kindly giving one of my lucky readers a lovely goody box containing plenty of Redoxon to try along with a winter support kit containing a scented candle, hot chocolate and a mug, winter socks and a 2017 diary to help you get the family organised.  Not only that but there's a £50 Tesco voucher to stock up on some healthy food too (or some mince pies....).

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget.  UK entries only and the usual terms and conditions apply which can be viewed on my Competitions Page, where you can view my other current giveaways.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 4th December.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Save 25% & Beat Rylan At Christmas Carol-oke To Win With Buyagift.com

Here's a great competition for all you budding X Factor stars out there and all you need is a smartphone and the ability to carry a Christmas tune - specifically "The Twelve Days Of Christmas".

Buyagift.com, the UK's leading gift experience provider, is looking for Christmas Carol-oke stars to create their own unforgettable moments, so they gave ITV’s Xtra Factor Presenter and previous X Factor contestant Rylan Clark-Neal a Christmas challenge he will never forget to see if he is up to the job!

Rylan’s task was to sing Christmas carols whilst being driven around the Brands Hatch race track by a professional racing driver at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, with plenty of hair raising moments along the way!

Watch Rylan’s hilarious attempt at Christmas Carol-oke!

I think it’s safe to say Rylan failed the challenge and apparently he is no longer friends with the driver Pete (!) but he was definitely a good sport.

Rylan said, “Singing Christmas carols whilst being driven around a race track at over 100mph was certainly an experience I won’t forget in a hurry! It was harder than I thought it would be to sing at those speeds and even though I was worried about getting helmet hair, it was definitely an adrenaline rush!”

So if you want to give your loved ones the gift of an unforgettable experience this Christmas, have a look at Buyagift.com’s extensive range.  They have over 4,500 gift experiences, with everything from adrenaline fuelled days including the longest zipwire in Europe, sky diving and car racing, to relaxing spa days and hotel breaks.  Personally an afternoon tea is about as racy as I'm prepared to go!

As Rylan says “Experiences are the perfect gift for Christmas as the sentiment lasts longer than other gifts and they create long-lasting memories. Its experiences like I had, speeding around a top race track in a supercar that you can give to your family and friends this Christmas, which are sure to be remembered for years!”

Buyagift.com and Rylan are making it easy for people to give their loved ones a Christmas they’ll never forget by offering a discount of 25% off the Buyagift.com website, just enter the code RYLAN25 at the checkout (expires midnight 7th December 2016. Exclusions apply).

And if you think you can do better than Rylan at Christmas Carol-oke, send a video of you or your friends singing ‘The 12 days of Christmas’ carol and you will be entered into a competition to win £300 worth of Buyagift.com vouchers, just in time for Christmas to share an unforgettable moment with your loved ones. Not only that, but you will also be in with a chance of starring in the Christmas Carol-oke video edit made from the entries!

Just go to www.buyagift.co.uk/christmas-caroloke  to enter!

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Win Stoopido Game From Drumond Park - The Game Of 1000 Silly Faces!

Looking for something a little more exciting than Charades after your Christmas lunch this year?  Drumond Park’s hilarious new Stoopido (rrp £17.99, for ages 8 to 100!) is a downright silly game that the whole family will absolutely love!

The point of the game play is the opposite of what you think – the winner is the person who is the only player left without a full face covered with quirky colourful eyes, ears, noses, hats and foreheads!

This fast and furious new game is about as stupid as it gets! Everyone dons plastic glasses, the dice is rolled, and if Nose, Eyes, Hat or Ears come up, the players race to hang the relevant colourful cardboard pieces on whichever player they choose.

As play proceeds, everyone gets loaded up with ever more comical items, for a totally mis-matched look. The winner is ‘the last man standing’ – the only player left with a gap or gaps on their glasses.

And I have one copy to give away to one lucky winner.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and terms and conditions apply (on my competitions page).  UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 25th November.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information and stockists, visit www.drumondpark.com

And for grown-up giggles and to share adult games experiences, why not go over to their ‘Not so Quiet Night In’ blog . You can also find out more on Facebook or Twitter.

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Win New "Milkshake! Fabulous Friends" DVD - Peppa, Thomas, Pip, Ben & Holly, Fireman Sam & More

Channel 5's Milkshake is releasing a new DVD via Abbey Media entitled “Milkshake! Fabulous Friends" this Monday 7th November.

This unique compilation of the very best childrens shows from Channel 5's Milkshake features two hours of entertainment from some of their biggest stars, such as Peppa Pig, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, Lily’s Driftwood Bay, and Bob the Builder.

Featuring in this new collection are:-

Peppa Pig – In ‘The New Car’, Peppa's family car breaks down. While it is being mended, they borrow a shiny new one from Grandad Dog's garage.

Thomas & Friends – In ‘The Thomas Way’, Harold the Helicopter breaks down, so Thomas and Duck take him to Sodor Search and Rescue for repair. Thomas wants to show them the sights but Duck isn’t keen. They need to learn to work together.

Pip Ahoy! – In ‘ Alan Loses His Bounce’, Alan starts the day full of music and bounce, until Norman the Snail tells him that bouncing is silly. Pip and Alba organise a surprise to cheer him up and get his bounce back.

Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom – In ‘Books’, Queen Thistle reads the children a story which inspires a question. They can't find the answer in the magic books in the castle, so go to the Wise Old Elf in the Great Elf Library.

Fireman Sam – In ‘Jupiter on the Loose’, the Pontypandy Pioneers visit the fire station, and Norman ends up accidentally driving Jupiter through Pontypandy. Sam races to the rescue!

Lily’s Driftwood Bay – In ‘Stop That Pudding’, Lily puts her newly discovered set of measuring spoons to good use when Nonna takes a tumble and needs a rest, leaving Salty to step in and cook an important pudding.

Bananas In Pyjamas – In ‘Power Cut’, Morgan accidentally causes mayhem in Cuddlestown when he plugs in too many lights and speakers in preparation for Camembert's birthday party.

Little Princess – In ‘I Want My Treehouse’ Little Princess builds a treehouse, then discovers Algie and Maid are also building one in the tree next door! Soon they are in competition to see who can build the best one.

Bob the Builder – In ‘Lofty Lets Loose’, Bob and his team are building a new giraffe enclosure at the zoo, but Lofty's excitement about meeting his favourite animal gets the better of him.

Wanda and the Alien – In ‘Starfish’, Wanda and friends help a hermit crab to find his starfish friend who was swept out to sea, aided by a giant whale and some important fish.

Toot the Tiny Tugboat – In ‘Toot's Funny Side’, Toot arranges a funny No Talent Show to help Paula the Trawler overcome her embarrassment when she makes a mistake.

Toby’s Travelling Circus – In ‘Ribbons and Strings’, Toby is inspired to create a ribbon-and-strings act in the show after witnessing the havoc caused by Momo and Freddo earlier with a yo-yo.

Wissper – In ‘The Slow Slow Loris’ Sonia the slow loris asks Wissper to help her speed up as the chattering monkeys keep taking all the best fruit first. Wissper decides to enlist the help of Monty the meercat.

Paw Patrol – In ‘Pup Pup Boogie’, Ryder, Chase and Rubble use their dance moves to help repair the tracks before the next train arrives.

There's plenty there to keep your little ones occupied and I have two copies of the DVD to give away.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter and terms and conditions apply (on my competitions page).  UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 25th November.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

More free to enter competitions at www.theprizefinder.com and www.loquax.co.uk.

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Win £200 Amazon Vouchers In The Bloggers' Santa's Surprise Giveaway

Welcome to November and the second to last month of the year! We all know that December is an expensive month and to try and help 2 of you out, I have teamed up with a fantastic team of bloggers to offer a duo of great prizes.

However before I tell you more about the prize, lets meet the bloggers:

Adventures of a Yorkshire Mum | Keep Up With The Jones Family | Sparkles at Midnight | Mother Distracted | Missing Sleep | Hubby Helps | Mums Wine HQ | Chilling With Lucas | Purely Amy | The Mighty Duxburys | Petit Moi Big World | Sally Akins | The Adventures of a Silver Surfer | My Life As A Mummy | Bump and Beyond | EmmaDrew.info

A Testing Time | Melanie's Fab Finds | Spanish Mummy | Precious Little Worlds | Life As Mum | We Made This Life | Nine to Three Thirty | Hex Mum Plus 1 | Big Family Little Adventures | The Diary of a Jewellery Lover | Kumbear XO | Cosmic Kick | Becster.com | Accidental Hipster Mum | Mummy Vs Work | Life at 139a

Charli B | Renovation Bay-Bee | Ickle Pickles Life and Travels | Tanned Beauty Addict | Life in a Break Down | UK Bloggers

The Prizes

What can you win? Well one grand prize winner will be walking away with £200 of Amazon vouchers, while a runner up will get £50.

How to enter

So how do you enter? To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is let us know: What would you spend the vouchers on, should you be the lucky winner?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

The prize draw opens on 1st November at 11:00 GMT and closes at 23:59 GMT on the 30th November, the competition is open worldwide, with winners outside of the UK receiving their prize via paypal funds. For full T&C please see the rafflecopter application.

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Win 5 Classic Film DVDs From the Exclusive HMV Collection [closed]

I have yet another treat for film buffs - 5 fabulous classic film DVDs to give away.

The HMV Premium Blu-ray Collection, exclusive to HMV, contains special editions of sci-fi classics Logan’s Run, Soylent Green, Forbidden Planet, Them!, The Omega Man; horror classic The Shining; horror comedies Gremlins 2 and Little Shop of Horrors; and classic dramas Diner and All The President’s Men.

These come to Blu-ray® in the UK in these special editions for the first time from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

These beautifully packaged combo packs (featuring Blu-ray and DVD discs as well as digital download) include director’s cuts and extended cuts never seen before on Blu-ray. Each title is packed with extras and comes with a set of highly collectable film cards .

The 10 titles (£14.99 RRP each) are available to buy exclusively at HMV, right now and I have 5 of these for one lucky winner who will receive:-

The Omega Man
All the Presidents Men
Diner
Logan's Run
Gremlins2

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget.  UK entrants only and additional terms and conditions apply to this giveaway which are to be found on my competitions page.

The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 9th November.

Perfect for cold wintery evenings!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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