It doesn’t matter what your partner says, how much they claim to not care, Valentine’s Day matters. So we’ve picked out our favourite gifts from The Rock to help you to discover the perfect match this Valentine’s Day.
Taking you seamlessly and stylishly from winter through to spring.
Hippie Chic
The 70s trend is here to stay. Think suede, bold prints, chunky layers, and flared pants to create modern 70s-inspired ensembles. We’re just thankful that double denim is no longer a style sin.
Kiss The Sky Talitha Cold Shoulder Dress £32.00 Ark (left)
The slip on
This may take until the weather warms to really hit the high streets, but the slip on is back and it’s sexier than ever. Underwear, outerwear, same thing. The key to this trend is layering, over fine knits and lace.
Bringing the soft florals of summer into winter, with moody, mellow, darker vibes. Look out for florals mixed with lace and team with even darker colours.
Whether they’re big and bold, delicate and detailed, or even combining them both together, for 2016, the stripe is oh so right. Instant style, without too much effort.
We know, we never thought we’d see the day either. But unlike Justin and Britney, 90s fashion is back. Dungarees, chokers, crop tops, matching sets, high waisted jeans and shirts tied casually around your waist, it’s the naughty 90s gone good.
Every Monday, without fail, we all go through the same painful stages. And yet it never gets any easier. But at least we’re not dramatic about it…
The ‘ I’m jealous of my dog/cat’ stage
Admit it. It’s a thought we’ve all had as the alarm goes off, and your pet curls up, all cosy and smug and all you can think is: “ I wish I was a cat.”
Denial
Also known as the 5 more minutes stage. The adult way to deal with it is to put your head back under the cover and pretend it’s not happening.
Re-Prioritising
If I don’t straighten my hair and I do my makeup on the train, and the kids have cereal instead of toast, that’s 10 extra minutes in bed. Well negotiated.
The Fantasy
As you queue for the bus, wait in traffic on the school run, or squeeze, arm pit to face on the train, your mind wanders to every other place you could be, the life you could lead, from beaches to baking and everything inbetween.
The ‘Did You Really Just Ask Me To Do That’ Stage.
No Linda, I will not do that totally and utterly (un)reasonable request for you. It’s Monday morning, for goodness sake, have some respect.
The Hunger Stage
After a weekend of breakfast, brunch and lunches, hunger hits hard by 10am, and a banana is not going to cut it. Do Subway deliver?
Grieving the Weekend
You can’t stop thinking about the freedom, the endless hours of shopping, lunches with friends, and how long it is until the next weekend. But can people please stop asking how your weekend was? That’s just rubbing it in.
Acceptance
Acceptance of the life you lead, the job you’ve fallen into and the lunch you half-heartedly prepared this morning when ham sandwiches seemed like the easiest choice.
3pm
When the realisation hits that you may actually make it through. That it’s all going to be fine. That this is just another day, and it happens EVERY week.
5pm
You’ve been counting down, pretending to type for the last 30 minutes. When 5pm strikes, you are out of there.
Have you already started weakening at the sight of a glass of wine, salivating over cookies or dreading the thought of a gym class?
Is 2016 already starting to feel a little… well… 2015?
Fail Friday, the third Friday of the month when on average we are most likely to break our resolutions, is almost upon us. But we’re NOT going to let that happen.
Now we’re going to tell you how to keep those New Year’s resolutions so you can reward yourself with the things you really enjoy.
Whether you’re after a new leopard print top from Primark, a Thomas Cook city break or you’re wanting to drop a dress size in River Island following your new body transformation, let us guide you on how to keep smashing your target right through 2016.
Practice your willpower
The more you say ‘no’ to things, the more natural your resolve becomes. It’s very much like a muscle. Steve Jobs, father of Apple, said: ‘People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are.’
Think about it this way. Saying ‘no’ to those few extra chocolate digestive biscuits in the office means saying ‘yes’ to that new figure-hugging little black dress you always wanted.
Outsmart your inner rebel
Don’t set yourself up for a fall. Rather than saying: ‘I’m giving up all chocolate’ or ‘I’m not going to spend on my credit card’, make your goals reasonable.
Saying something like I’ll only have a bar of chocolate as a treat on a Friday for example, reinforces that feel good factor after a long week at work. You deserve it.
Remind yourself of earlier victories
It’s only natural to beat yourself up about the muffin top or the way you gave up on the gym after the induction despite the cute instructor. Rejoice in the good times, no matter how big or small.
Remember how you built up a little nest egg for your trip to Disneyland; how you taught yourself how to bake a super duper chocolate cake the whole family loved; or how you finally cracked Facebook.
Write these accomplishments down on paper and read them back to yourself. You’ve set your sights before and you can do it again (and again)!
Power to the people
Being nice and serving the day with a smile will give not only you a kick but the people who surround you too. The comfort in great company will make everything seem all the more possible.
Better still, recruit more people to your cause, whether that’s in your office, at the gym or your school ground network. The power of many behind you will spur you on.
Tell your family and friends
Your family and friends are the best support network you have and will keep you going when that temptation to reach for a Galaxy bar strikes back (no Star Wars pun intended).
Share with us how you plan to keep up with those New Year’s Resolutions @therockbury.
The festive party season is here. But with so many invites, from cosy nights in to proper parties, it’s difficult to know what to wear, and when. So we’ve done the hard work for you and put together some of our favourite outfits to cover your diary.
Occasion: The Christmas Meal
Laid back chic meets festive frenzy. Throw on these coated jeans, this quirky robin jumper and pair with heels to take your outfit seamlessly from day to night.
Fluffy Christmas Robin Jumper £12.00 Primark
Sole Diva Fringe Suede Ankle Boots Wide E- Fit £69.00
Simply Be Braided headband £4.99 H&M
MOTO Black Coated Jamie Jeans £45.00 Topshop
Occasion: The Night Out
Just enough sparkle to feel special, without over doing it. All in black, because black will always be the new black. This outfit’s all about the textures- just check out the ponyskin clutch bag!
Black sparkly open back bodycon dress £42.00 River Island
Black ponyskin leather clutch bag £25.00 Simply Be
Peep-toe high fronts shoes: £24.99 Deichmann
Occasion: From meal to a night out
Smart, sophisticated yet effortlessly cool. An outfit that ticks all the festive boxes.
Shirt: Lyle and Scott Shirt Navy/ Wine £84.95 Infinities
Boots: Casual Lace-up Boots Deichmann £29.99
Dark wash Dylan slim jeans £40.00 River Island
From your meal to the night out to a day with family, we’ve got what to wear at your Christmas party covered head to heel. Share with us your festive fashion choices on Twitter @therockbury.
Christmas is the time of year to curl up in front of the sofa surrounded by the things that make you feel all festive and fuzzy.
It doesn’t get much better than your favourite flicks. So you bring the boxes of chocolates and we’ll bring the box sets. Here’s our list of the 10 best Christmas movies that’ll rock your festive socks off.
Home Alone
Nothing says bring on the mulled wine more than an 8-year-old Macaulay Culkin giving two con men the run-around the Christmas tree.
After a fall-out with his parents the night before a family trip to Paris, and in the rush to get to the airport, Kevin (played by Culkin) is left in the attic and his wishes of being home alone come true.
It’s a Wonderful Life
The 1946 classic follows a man with a different kind of wish. George, who wishes he was never born, is sent an angel to help this compassionate but frustrated soul.
He is shown how many lives he’s touched and how he’d be missed. A heart-warming tale made for a Sunday session.
Elf
Wrapped up in the excitement and holiday spirit that is Christmas, Will Ferrell who plays Buddy, goes to NYC to find his real father.
Spreading Christmas cheer in a world full of cynics, this is a tale of childhood innocence. Our favourite scenes include seeing him snarled by a feisty raccoon when he goes for a hug and getting lost inside a revolving door.
Chicken Run
Not so much a Christmas-themed film, but it’s become tied with this wonderful time of year. It’s a love story. And one of great escape and adventure from Tweedy’s chicken pie farm.
American smooth-talker Rocky lands on the farm, igniting dreams for Ginger and her gang of girls to flee to green new pastures. Enjoy a mince pie or two as you watch them squirm about ‘not wanting to be a pie’ because they don’t like gravy.
Gremlins
When a gadget salesman brings back an innocent-looking furry friend for his son, he’s clueless to the chaos that’s about to commence.
He was warned never to expose the little thing to bright light, water, or feed after midnight. The result: a super gang of Gremlins ripping through the town on Christmas Eve like a five-year-old on Christmas morning.
Deck the Halls
There’s nothing wrong with a little Christmas-off with your nextdoor neighbour. Who has the biggest tree? Who has the brightest lights?
Deck the Halls sees two neighbours (Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito) festively fight it out for the title of Father Christmas in a battle for the brightest lights- lights that are so bright you can see them from space (just imagine the electricity bill!).
The Nightmare Before Christmas
For an alternative Christmas animation, we’ve chosen The Nightmare Before Christmas. Fed up of scaring people in his Halloweentown world, Jack Skellington reacts with awe and wonder at the warmth and light of Christmastown.
With a new lease of life, Jack plots to kidnap Santa and harness the power of Christmas by taking on the job (with dire consequences).
Bad Santa
There’s a holiday con brewing (a bit like the tinsel that doesn’t quite reach all corners of your Christmas tree). Posing as a shopping mall Santa with a friend who’s a bad elf, the two con men plan to rip-off the stores.
Luckily, befriending a small boy brings out Bad Santa’s inner child, proving there is still hope for him on the real Santa’s nice list.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The classic 1843 Dickens tale features a rather stingy Scrooge played by Michael Caine. Bah humbug!
Follow Miss Piggy, Kermit and The Great Gonzo as they teach him the errors of his selfish ways. Christmas is a time for sharing and caring.
The Grinch
Dr Suess’ book turned film follows the reclusive green Grinch who plots to steal Christmas from the cheery town of Whoville.
Proving that even grumpy people still have a heart, Jim Carrey’s Grinch falls for an endearing Cindy Lou Who played by Taylor Momsen.
Feeling festive?
Our Santa’s Grotto is open until Christmas Eve. We’ve also got a festive food fair, The Rock Express land train, plus festive entertainment every Saturday.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. From festive feasts to Christmas crackers, family fun to finding the perfect gift, here are 10 reasons why we love Christmas at The Rock….
1 – Advent calendars
25 days of chocolate in the morning. Can it get any better? Well, we tried, bringing you a giant advent calendar at The Rock with a new exclusive offer EVERY day. We announce them every morning on our Facebook page.
2 – Christmas singles
‘It’s Christmas!’ as Slade remind us every year, but the songs never get old. Whether you’re into Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You, Wham!’s Last Christmas or The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York, the list goes on.
Whether it’s Santa outfits, festive jumpers or a new party dress for your Christmas do, ‘tis the season to look jolly good. River Island are all about bold coloured dresses with faux fur, for a hint of glint head to Next or for the perfect combo of rich tartans and pretty velvet head to Ark.
5 – Secret Santa
You just don’t know what you’re going to get. It fills you with excitement and fear in equal measure… but it just wouldn’t be Christmas without Secret Santa. Struggling for ideas? There’s games, jigsaws and stocking fillers at The Entertainer.
It’s not so secret, but you can visit Santa’s Grotto at The Rock throughout December, for free!
6 – Topping the tree
Wrestling with the tree to get it down from the loft, tangling the dog up in tinsel as he bites baubles from the tree, and the yearly quest to find the one light that’s not working, all part of the fun and games of Christmas. But we all know that whoever gets to top the tree with the star is the real winner.
7 – Turkey dinner with all the trimmings
Turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes and veg, Christmas food is totally worth the extra pounds you’re probably going to put on. We’ve created a Festive Food Market full of our favourites including the German sausage swing grill, The Little Chocolatier, Donut and Creperie Cottage and Christmas roasts stall, running until 3rd January.
8 – Festive cheers
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a glass of bubbly in the morning and a sherry to wash down your roast dinner. Take the party home with you with a selection of festive fizz from M&S.
9 – TV specials
Your favourite TV shows are all scrambling for a slice of your attention like a new puppy on Christmas day. If you’re not the Queen’s speech sort-of family, there’s your classic Doctor Who, and recently turned festive favourite, Mrs Brown’s Boys.
10- And all the presents!
How could we forget? Whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, there’s lots to choose from here at The Rock. Build your own bear at Build-a-bear Workshop, pick up the latest video games from GAME or choose a new fragrance from The Perfume Shop.
With the arrival of Urban Decay in Debenhams, they recently held a make-up masterclass to show how to achieve a smoky eye using their new Naked Smoky palette and we went along to see how it’s done.
Prime your lids – To help keep eyeshadow in place, use a primer on your lids for a smoother application, more vibrant colour and to prevent creasing. Urban Decay’s Eye Shadow Primer Potions (£16) come in three shades and also in a travel size (£8), you only need a small amount so this product really will last you a long time.
Build your eye-shadow – When creating a smoky look it is important to slowly build the colour to achieve the shade you want, smoky eyes isn’t just about using shades of black. Using the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette (£38), apply the shade Dagger on to middle section of your eyelid across to the outer edge with a flat eyeshadow brush, patting the shadow on to build the colour to a shade you are happy with. With a clean eyeshadow brush apply the shade Armor to the inner corner of your eye up to the middle of the eyelid. Build on top of the middle section where you put Dagger with the shade Smolder, and also take this colour underneath the eye along the lower lash line using the smoky smudger side of the double-ended brush included with the palette.
It’s all about blending – Using the tapered crease end of the applicator brush blend the colours together using small circular movements, this will create the smoky look you are aiming for. With an angled brush take the shade Black Market and create a V shape on the outer edge / crease of your eyelid, you can keep building this if you want to make it darker. Again use the tapered crease brush and buff this colour into your crease using small circular motions to blend it all together.
Define your eyes – To create definition and for the ultimate smoky look, eye liner is a must. Use the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye-Pencil (£15.50) in the shade Black Velvet along the waterline (just above the lower lash line) from one corner of the eye to the other. Use Ink for Eyes precision eye pen (£15.50) and draw a smooth line along the top lash line from the inner corner to the outer edge of your eye, add a wing or flick using the precision pen applicator.
Mascara is a must – To finish off the smoky look and create dramatic dark lashes first use the Subversion Lash Primer (£15.50), it conditions and primes lashes helping them appear thicker and fuller, don’t be put off by its white appearance as your mascara will mask this when applied after. Follow with the best selling Perversion mascara (£17.50) which is the blackest of blacks, apply one coat to one eye and then move on to the next eye before going back to other to build up the mascara, apply on top and bottom lashes. Use Naked Concealer (£17.50) to tidy up any fall out from the eye shadow or to neaten up edges, and your look is complete!
How to achieve the smoky eye look the Urban Decay way
To get your hands on the new Naked Smoky palette or to book in for a smoky eye make-over of your own (cost of make-over redeemable on purchases on the day), visit the Urban Decay counter at Debenhams, The Rock.
We’ve picked our top products from stores at The Rock so you can fake that golden glow or extend what’s left of your holiday tan beyond the summer months.
The Self-Tanning Kit from Clarins is the perfect set for beginners, included is a cosmetics purse which contains Exfoliating Body Scrub, Body Lift Cellulite Control and Delicious Self Tan Cream enriched with aloe vera and a cocoa fragrance that creates a natural looking golden glow in just a few hours. (Clarins at Debenhams – £23)
Their Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster (£19) is a made to measure self-tan, add a few drops to your daily moisturiser or night cream to create a healthy glow that slowly develops and is simple to apply. (Clarins at Debenhams – £19)
Black Stockings body tint bar from Lush contains a blend of brown and bronze pigments in a moisturising cocoa and shea butter bar. It creates a sheer glow with a subtle but stunning shimmer. Sweep the bar over legs, arms or the whole body, or build up in layers for a deeper tan. (Lush – £7.95)
Sally Hansen’s’ Airbrush Legs can makeover legs in seconds, helping hide imperfections such as freckles and veins while creating a flawless tan. The water resistant formula is easy to apply and creates an instant tan. Airbrush Legs comes in four shades of light, medium, tan and deep in both a spray on and lotion formula. (Superdrug £9.99-£13.99).
For a shimmery bronzed look try Rimmel’s Natural Bronzer powder, its waterproof, contains SPF15 and is available in three shades. It has a velvety soft texture and is long lasting, perfect for dusting along the edge of your forehead and contouring under cheekbones to create a natural sun-kissed glow. (Superdrug – £5.99)
Do the Hoola is a new kit from Benefit for skin, eyes and lips containing mini versions of some of their favourite summer products. It includes their best-selling Hoola bronzer powder, They’re Real mini black mascara, Benebalm hydrating tinted lip balm, Hoola Ultra Plush lip gloss and new Dew The Hoola liquid bronzer. (Benefit at Debenhams – £28.50)
So there’s no need to hit the sun beds this summer when it’s much safer to fake it!
With a heatwave upon us why not make the most of the warmer weather and get yourself outdoors? Whether it’s a meal out with the family, a BBQ or picnic, we’ve got it sorted
The perfect picnic from M&S
If you want to dine al fresco this weekend then head to Marks and Spencer where you can enjoy free wine when you buy four picnic items. They have a range of delicious options to make the perfect picnic, from handmade hog roast sausage rolls and coronation pork pies, to lentil and goats cheese salad and orange marmalade ham. And it’s not just food, M&S have a range of picnic accessories to choose from, their handy picnic rucksack (£36) comes with cutlery, wine glasses and plates for two people, while a separate compartment will keep your food and drinks cool. It even comes with a foldaway rug so you can sit down and enjoy your picnic in the park.
BBQ time at Trespass
Fancy a barbie? If you want to enjoy BBQ food while you’re out and about for the day or camping overnight, the portable BBQ from Trespass is the perfect solution and it’s a sizzling deal at only £16.49 (was £32.99). You can get 3 for £10 on BBQ items at M&S Food, with plenty of mouth-watering options to choose from such as juicy burgers and sizzling steaks, they’ve got everything you need to host a brilliant BBQ with friends or family.
Treat yourself to Pizza Express
If you don’t fancy cooking then let Pizza Express do the work, they’ve got some delicious additions to their summer menu such as the Romana Prosciutto Fichi. Their new summer pizza features mozzarella and gran Milano cheeses baked on a béchamel base finished with rocket, prosciutto crudo, shaved Gran Milano, fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil and fresh balsamic figs. Or why not try the new Fichi Fresca Salad? This fresh summer salad uses creamy buffalo mozzarella with fresh balsamic marinated figs and cured Italian prosciutto crudo ham and is served with their famous dough balls. And what’s even better is that you can get a starter and a main course for just £11.95 from their set menu!
Cool down with a Costa
Costa serve a delicious selection of cold drinks perfect for a summer’s day for you to enjoy on the go, in St John’s Gardens or in their outdoor seating area. Try your favourite coffee shaken, blended or poured over ice like the Iced Caramel Latte or Iced Macchiato. If coffee isn’t your thing then they have refreshing range of Fruit Coolers, from Mango and Passionfruit to Watermelon and Strawberry, as well as Creamy Coolers such as Mint Choc Chip with blended mint syrup, chocolate chips and milk topped with cream and chocolate sauce.
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Nothing says bring on the mulled wine more than an 8-year-old Macaulay Culkin giving two con men the run-around the Christmas tree.
the colour to achieve the shade you want, smoky eyes isn’t just about using shades of black. Using the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette (£38), apply the shade Dagger on to middle section of your eyelid across to the outer edge with a flat eyeshadow brush, patting the shadow on to build the colour to a shade you are happy with. With a clean eyeshadow brush apply the shade Armor to the inner corner of your eye up to the middle of the eyelid. Build on top of the middle section where you put Dagger with the shade Smolder, and also take this colour underneath the eye along the lower lash line using the smoky smudger side of the double-ended brush included with the palette.
Use Ink for Eyes precision eye pen (£15.50) and draw a smooth line along the top lash line from the inner corner to the outer edge of your eye, add a wing or flick using the precision pen applicator.
e blackest of blacks, apply one coat to one eye and then move on to the next eye before going back to other to build up the mascara, apply on top and bottom lashes. Use Naked Concealer (£17.50) to tidy up any fall out from the eye shadow or to neaten up edges, and your look is complete!
their favourite summer products. It includes their best-selling Hoola bronzer powder, They’re Real mini black mascara, Benebalm hydrating tinted lip balm, Hoola Ultra Plush lip gloss and new Dew The Hoola liquid bronzer. (Benefit at Debenhams – £28.50)
picnic, from handmade hog roast sausage rolls and coronation pork pies, to lentil and goats cheese salad and orange marmalade ham. And it’s not just food, M&S have a range of picnic accessories to choose from, their handy picnic rucksack (£36) comes with cutlery, wine glasses and plates for two people, while a separate compartment will keep your food and drinks cool. It even comes with a foldaway rug so you can sit down and enjoy your picnic in the park.
summer menu such as the Romana Prosciutto Fichi. Their new summer pizza features mozzarella and gran Milano cheeses baked on a béchamel base finished with rocket, prosciutto crudo, shaved Gran Milano, fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil and fresh balsamic figs. Or why not try the new Fichi Fresca Salad? This fresh summer salad uses creamy buffalo mozzarella with fresh balsamic marinated figs and cured Italian prosciutto crudo ham and is served with their famous dough balls. And what’s even better is that you can get a starter and a main course for just £11.95 from their set menu!
he go, in St John’s Gardens or in their outdoor seating area. Try your favourite coffee shaken, blended or poured over ice like the Iced Caramel Latte or Iced Macchiato. If coffee isn’t your thing then they have refreshing range of Fruit Coolers, from Mango and Passionfruit to Watermelon and Strawberry, as well as Creamy Coolers such as Mint Choc Chip with blended mint syrup, chocolate chips and milk topped with cream and chocolate sauce.