Category: Christmas

1. Pinocchio at The Old Rep Theatre Birmingham

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 24th Nov 2018

   Going to the theatre is such a treat, it is a way to escape reality and Director of the Pinocchio at The Old Rep Theatre, Alec Fellows Bennett feels that in the age of iPads , smartphones and computer games that it is important to come together as a community and fall in love with live theatre. 

   

   This year The Old Rep are sharing the story of Pinocchio, the tale of a wooden puppet who wants to be a real child. "To me Pinocchio is the perfect story for this theatre," says Alec. "If you asked a young child to draw a theatre they would pretty much draw The Old Rep auditorium. The idea of a story where toys come to life and it's all make-believe is the perfect story for a classic theatre like The Old Rep."

    

   The lead is played by Holly Sayer and her ability to actually act and walk like a puppet had you believe from the outset that she wasn't a "real boy" and you are rooting for her portrayal of Pinocchio to be successful in his quest.  

   

   The ensemble cast for Pinocchio is made up of Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) students. This is very personal to me as my best friends daughter is auditioning for BOA next year, so it was a great chance for me to see the opportunities that are ahead for her. 

   Launched in 2011, BOA is an independent state-funded academy which specializes in creative, digital and performing arts. Sponsored by the Ormiston Trust and Birmingham City University, the academy is for students aged 14-19 years old and The Old Rep is an amazing platform for them to perform. 

   

   I couldn't recall the tale before we went into the show and I had forgotten quite how "dark" the storyline was. I was amazed to learn that the adventures of Pinocchio is the second most translated book in the world, beaten only by the Bible! The original version of the story was written to teach children moral lessons and whilst the live show is a little more light hearted than that Collodi's original story it still keeps its moral compass. 

   We were invited to the press showing of the stage show but the tickets are reasonably priced as;

   Stalls Tickets £19.00 (Conc £17.80)*
   Balcony Tickets £16.00 (Conc £14.80)*
   Schools & Groups £9.90
   *Price includes £1 restoration levy 

   We also got the chance to meet some of the cast after the show and I "may" have pinched the Fox's hat ....... he was crafty enough to get it back though! 

   

   At the start of this review, we mentioned that the Director wanted a new generation to fall in love with live shows and we were captivated by the Pinocchio production at the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham but fell in love completely with the Blue Fairy. Daisy Ann Fletcher might be my new girl crush.

   So if you are thinking about introducing your children to live theatre shows, The Old Rep Theatre is the perfect place to start.

   And don't forget, think Blue ....  

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2. It’s the Party Dress Season

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 19th Nov 2018

   It’s that time of the year again. The holidays are once again upon us, which means it’s time to bring out your favorite party dresses, get them dry cleaned and head out for a night of fun and enjoyment. Or, (as I love to do) you can go shopping for a new one. There are many great places to shop for a party dress and it never hurts to have an additional one in your closet should the need arise.

   

   Whether you’re getting dressed up for your office Christmas party or letting it all hang out for New Year’s, there’s something to be said about having a party dress (or party dresses) that makes you look and feel fantastic.

   Of course, on of the best things about heading out to parties for the holidays includes making the decision about what you’re going to wear. It doesn’t hurt that you get to treat yourself to a new dress in the process. Holiday parties are the ideal excuse for spending a little extra on a few special outfits that will make your family, friends, and co-workers sit up and take notice.

    

   Our top tips for finding the perfect party dress:

   1. Try it on, things ALWAYS look different on a hanger
   2. Know your body and what suits you.
   3. Make sure you know the dress code
   4. Accessorise .... where necessary.
   5. Be bold .... it is Christmas after all.

   It’s fun to dress up for parties, but finding the perfect outfit can be a painful process. There is no shortage of options from which to choose, and you want to make sure you select the one that looks best on you. Don’t forget think about the location and theme of your holiday party. It won’t do you any good if you’re under or over dressed. The most important thing, however, is to have a good time while you're picking out party dresses. Keep a watchful out for any dresses you think will be great for your holiday parties.

   And don't forget, while shopping for everyone else this Christmas, you could also be on the lookout for your own perfect party outfit.

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3. Elf for Christmas : Magical Ef Door

   Posted on 11:00am Sunday 11th Nov 2018

   Christmas is officially around the corner and having now seen a certain Coca Cola advert at the weekend, the holidays are definitely coming.

   

   Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you can't have escaped the build up to Christmas with Elf posts all over social media last year and this year is destined to be even bigger and better with the introduction of the Magical Elf Door and personalised letters!

    

   If you honestly haven't heard about the Elf, it is the perfect way to create a modern family tradition, ‘Elf for Christmas’ is an enchanting toy and reward kit perfect for girls and boys aged two and over. You can choose from a girl or boy Elf and this charming toy brings fun and magic to your home throughout December – while promoting good behaviour and family engagement.

   We LOVED seeing the Elf mischief last year and cannot wait for our very own Elf, Pip to make his appearance on the 1st December. The Magical Elf Door is the perfect way for your Christmas Elf to travel back and forth from the North Pole to your home – the Magical Elf Door is new for 2018 and is sure to get the magic started this winter. 

   

   One of the favourite things from last year was that Pip brought a letter with him every day and I was a little worried about re-using them again this Christmas but Elf for Christmas have thought about that too and added the bonus of having them personalised this year too. 

   

   The Elf for Christmas Personalised Advent Letters are written directly to your child or children, from their very own Elf, and mention their hometown and the other people in their house throughout. How amazed will your little ones be when they see their Elf pal has written special letters just for them!

   

   Our Instagram feed is due to be filled with Elf for Christmas mischief from the 1st December and if you would like to join in the fun, we are delighted to be able to offer you an Elf for Christmas Magical Light Up Door to our readers. All you need to do is enter below >

    Elf for Christmas Magical Door

   Good luck! 

   Terms & Conditions

   The Prize: Elf for Christmas Magical Light Up Door
   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Gleam and notified within 2 working days by email
   Elf for Christmas will make every effort to provide this by the 1st December but this cannot be guaranteed
   By entering this competition, you understand that your details may be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
   There is no monetary equivalent.
   Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
   If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
   End Date 25/11/2018 12am

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4. 5 reasons why a festive break is the best Christmas present

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 8th Nov 2018

   Halloween is out of the way and we are into November, which means that we can mention the C word without fear of too much reproach. Seeing your children’s eyes light up at Christmas keeps the magic of the season alive — but away from the tinsel and crackers, it can be a testing time.

   So some of us are opting to spend our Crimbo cash on a sun-kissed break rather than presents and party food — according to a British Airways survey, 45 per cent of Brits would rather head for the horizon than spend big on gifts.

   If you’re tempted to get away from it all, here are five reasons why a festive break is the best Christmas present.

   1.       Expense

   Christmas figures from stats gurus Statista show that the average spend per British household was £821 in 2017.

   And since many of us spend considerably more, perhaps this hard-earned cash would be better invested in a flight to take us on a revitalising winter break?

   With bargains available in a range of destinations in Europe and beyond, no wonder we’re rejigging our festive priorities.

   2.       Choice complexity

   Choosing an appropriate gift for friends and loved ones feels tougher as we get older and research from US clothing brand Trunk Club suggests that this struggle is real.

   Apparently, someone aged 55 or over is twice as likely as someone in their 20s or 30s to consider themselves poor at giving gifts and 26 per cent of all age groups find festive shopping frustrating.

   So perhaps it’s worth abandoning those trips to source socks and soap-on-a-rope in order to stay calm and composed?

   3.       Cheap holidays

   Destinations like Tenerife and Lanzarote are perpetually popular with Brits looking for an affordable winter break to top up their tans and sink some sangria.

   But according to info from travel experts Lonely Planet, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is the cheapest place to fly to this year for a Christmas adventure.

   With a week-long break coming in at just £923, it’s not much more than the average household Christmas bill, and a reasonably small price to pay for experiencing an exciting culture.

   4.       Disposable gifts

   If you’re worried about waste and the environment at Christmas, cover your eyes — a study by retaildive.com last year revealed that a staggering 5 billion pounds of unwanted Christmas presents end up rotting away in landfill sites.

   

   So if you want to save the planet and avoid wasting your cash, it might be appropriate to cut back or consider a charity donation as an alternative.

   5.       Stress

   Christmas is officially stressful — a survey from discount app Zeek reveals that 15 per cent of us find it worse than moving house and ten per cent report that it’s more nerve-wracking than a child’s first day at school.

   So you’ve got to ask yourself if your time’s not better spent booking airport parking from comparison specialists Looking4.com and stashing your car at the terminal before sashaying to check-in for a chilled-out winter break.

   

   There’s no reason this season should be nerve-shredding — perhaps a change of scenery’s all you need.

   That’s our list! Are you flying abroad this Christmas? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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