Panto and Family Shows this Christmas

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a family visit to a Panto or Show. Be it one of the major productions in Manchester, or a smaller one local to home. Check out our guide here and get ready for a great time.......OH YES YOU WILL!

Hullabaloo's Independent View on Toys This Christmas

Following our recent article from Vivid about the most popular mainsteam toys for this Christmas, we thought it would only be fair to represent the independent toy shops out there and spoke to Jo Nicholson of Hullabaloo (formerly Little Nut Tree Toys) in Wilmslow. The shop has recently changed names, but the toys and staff are just the same! Read on to find out about the more indie toys that you can wow your kids with this yuletide, particularly if you are fed up of toys made of primary coloured plastic! Remember if you want to purchase any of the products below, support your local retailer and head into Hullabaloo Wilmslow.

The Vivid Top Ten Toy Countdown

Buying Christmas presents for your children can be a daunting task, especially if you have children like ours who say 'Can I have that for Christmas? And can I have that..and that..and that??' at every advert on Nickelodeon. Fortunately for us, we were able to turn to the fantastic Vivid Imaginations toy manufacturer for some advise.. and great advise it is too as Vivid is the UK's Number 1 independent toy and gift product developer, constantly working on many of the hottest properties in the child/teen entertainment market. They have brought to our shelves toy brands such as Thunderbirds, Puppy in my pocket, Bratz, iPets and not forgetting the first ever Take That dolls, joined by One Direction dolls recently!

Mums........Christmas is Coming!

Guest Blog by Louise Barson of Silver Concierge

Christmas is a huge event and, more often than not, eagerly anticipated by everyone but the chief organiser. In order to lower your stress levels and increase your own levels of enjoyment, start planning early. I hate to say it but the earlier you begin the process, the less daunting the task will seem.

An easy way to start is to put the following 3 essential tools in place:

                                                       *  a check list

                                                       *  a timetable for the week(s) leading up to Christmas day and over to the
                                                          New Year

                                                       *  a note book exclusively for Christmas

Checklists

No matter how trivial, write it down. Categorise things into general areas ie cards, presents, food, drink, events, visitors, cleaning. Leave space for adding other notes under each topic  Once you’ve done this, put some deadlines against them and delegate where you can.