NotonthehighStreet.com #LoveIsReal for Valentine’s Day

We find ourselves living in a time, when like no other we need to embrace LOVE. We need to LOVE each other, our friends, our neighbours, our loved ones, everyone. Come on show the LOVE. So whilst Valentine’s Day might be a man-made invention, love isn’t. Love is beautiful and creative and thoughtful. Love is passionate and Love is real. And in today’s world, with a nation full of flat-lined feelings, we need as much of it as we can get. With this in mind our friends at notonthehighstreet.com are reminding us, encouraging us, prompting us to remember, with Valentine’s Day just over a week away #LoveIsReal and as part of this loving campaign they want you to celebrate LOVE in all its guises, with meaningful unique gifts co-created with people who care. Because, remember when a gift is made thoughtfully, it’s loved completely.

With all this talk of amore and that #LoveIsReal it brought me to thinking about how myself and the wonderful and long suffering Mrs Mc met. Well let me set the scene of our own Mills & Boon-esque saga. Love was well and truly in the air, my friends loved her, her friends loved me, naturally and pretty soon after we met we’d started looking at rings. I know I’m a bit of an old romantic so I’d started dreaming up scenarios to pop the question. Over the Summer we found ourselves on holiday taking in the delights of the Emerald Isle and came across the beautiful Belleek Castle in County Mayo, so I thought, OMG what a perfect moment. “Should we stay here overnight?” I found myself saying. The place was incredible, as beautiful on the inside as out and as luck would have it, they had one room free for the night, strangely enough, the honeymoon suite, I kid you not, promise.

Amanda, as she was known back then, was enthralled and took herself off exploring, to which at this point somebody asked me, “Will ye be staying for dinner tonight? I hope so.” I span around to see a chef asking me this question and I blurted out rather confusingly, “I think I’m going to ask her to marry me tonight”. “Oh Jesus”, was his response. We sat down and between myself and the chef came up with a cunning plan. He decided he would build a box of Choux pastry in which the box containing the engagement ring would seat and he would construct the desert around this.

So dinner time arrived, “You OK? You look a little pale”. “Yeah, course, what’d be wrong.” I nervously laughed. In all honesty I have no idea what I had for dinner that night, all I can remember is eating and each member of the hotel staff that visited our table or caught my eye either gave me a big thumbs up, smiled radiating positivity or mouthed to me “you OK?” In an exaggerated manner. This resulted in the whole meal uncannily resembling a sketch from a hybrid sitcom somewhere between Faulty Towers and Father Ted.

The moment had come. Desert was served, I was sweating, the staff were buzzing around and Amanda cracked open the Choux pastry box……. “What’s this?” Was her question and what did I do. Well simply, nothing, I opened my mouth, for no words to come out. I tried to get out of my chair to get down onto one knee and assume the traditional position, but no, my mind and my body had decided to render me incapable. If only I’d have had an Artisan Chocolate Heart With Hidden Valentine’s Message of Will you marry me? To help fullfil this life altering event and complete the whole moment.

Yes #LoveIsReal. And just in case you were wondering, she said yes, and we are celebrating 10 years of marriage later this year. As you can see from the image below we are blessed, or is that cursed, no blessed with two amazingly crazy children. Ohh and we loved Belleek Castle so much we booked it that night for our wedding reception and were married exactly one year later, happily ever after.
That’s why this Valentine’s Day I’ve chosen one of notonthehighstreet.com‘s thoughtful gifts from their Love is real collection to express my love to Amanda and remind her of the amazing night we had together when I asked her to marry me.

Now if you feel all warm after reading this true life love story, share with us what love means to you. Go to Twitter and tell us your story tagged with @notonthehighst and the campaign hashtag – #LoveIsReal for your chance to win £150 to spend on thoughtful, unique gifts this Valentine’s Day at nothonthehighstreet.com

Six of the Most Romantic Hotels for Valentine’s Day

If you’re contemplating a romantic lil Valentine’s Day getaway, why not give the gift of relaxation by whisking your other half away for a romantic retreat? Forget air fares, queues and jet lag, the UK has an abundance of escapes perfect for spoiling your loved one. From London to Edinburgh, we’ve rounded up the top six hotels which offer the perfect couples’ escape.

The Arch London, London
Five-star boutique hotel The Arch London offers impeccable comfort married with unrivalled luxury. Tucked away on a calm residential street in Marylebone, this opulent Georgian hideaway is one of the capital’s best kept secrets and offers the perfect Valentines retreat. The hotel oozes British glamour at its finest, with secluded rooms including the quietly glamorous Martini Library (where guests can order drinks using an in-built button). As dusk draws in, enjoy an aperitif in Le Salon de Champagne before dining under chandeliers in Hunter 486. Redefining romance in the capital, many of the rooms at The Arch London have flat screen TVs built into the walls above the bath.

The Witchery by the Castle, Edinburgh
The stunning interiors and delectable dishes at The Witchery by the Castle combine to create a desirable Scottish Valentine’s escape. The Witchery’s lavishly decorated dining room boasts a baroque setting with original oak-panelled walls and gothic style furniture. After dinner, retreat to one of the nine theatrical suits featuring romantic quirks such as four-poster beds and roll top baths for two.

King Street Townhouse, Manchester
Cosy up in the romantic setting of King Street Townhouse – an impressive Italian renaissance building, located in Manchester city centre. Housing only 40 bedrooms and suites, the hotel offers a stay with optimal service and a personal touch. Enjoy afternoon tea in one of the cosy lounges before heading to the hotel’s south facing terrace which boasts spectacular views of Manchester’s Town Hall.

The Club Hotel & Spa, Jersey
Situated within walking distance from some of the island’s most breathtaking beaches, The Club Hotel & Spa boasts a sought after St Helier location. Enjoy long romantic strolls on the beach before indulging in Michelin-starred dining at Bohemia Restaurant & Bar. The glorious Roof Garden Cocktail Bar is the perfect location to enjoy a pre-dinner drink whilst admiring the ocean views. Why not treat your other half to a couples’ treatment at the luxurious Club Spa before diving into the outdoor heated pool?

Limewood Hotel, Hampshire
Lime Wood hotel, in the heart of the New Forest, is perfect for those seeking a unique romantic getaway. From yoga sessions on the roof, to double-space treatment rooms for couples wishing to unwind and revive together, Lime Wood offers a romance-infused well-being break. Enjoy some down time with your Valentine in the sauna which boasts enchanting forest views.

Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa, Sussex
Set within 120 acres of glorious Sussex countryside, Alexander House is a luxury manor house with beautiful vistas, a choice of restaurants, an award-winning Utopia Spa and rooms designed for absolute comfort. It’s not just the hotel’s connections to Percy Shelley – one of the most famous English Romantic poets of our time – that makes Alexander House an exceptional place to spend this Valentine’s. The venue also presents cosy corners where guests can relax with chilled Champagne, a light aperitif or warming digestive, as well as a hot tub in the Zen garden.

Fade to Grey – Aveda Grey Blending

On a recent trip back up North to the Motherland, my ever caring, sharing, loving sisters made an observation to my appearance, in that way that only a family member can get away with, “aren’t you going grey !” Picture a monkey carefully preening a fellow colony member, that sort of thing.

In all honesty the thought hadn’t ever entered my head, yes the thought of losing my hair is a constant worry, but going grey hasn’t really worried me. My Mum is snowy white and always seems to have been from my memory. My Dad had a fine head of dark hair with scattered salt and pepper, only greying round the temples and sides. So greying hasn’t really been on my grooming radar, until now.

Now we know men have different needs and expectations when it comes to getting their hair coloured. We don’t want to spend a lot of time in hair salons and we have reservations about getting a hair colour service at all. The wonderful Aveda have introduced the 5-minute Natural Grey Blending. This is a professional service that quickly and discreetly blends away grey, with a natural finish, with low commitment results that lasts up to 4 weeks.

This formula is a 95% naturally derived and is infused with a plant oil blend including organic sunflower, castor and jojoba to help keep hair looking healthy and is designed to speedily blend away greys.

Now greying is one thing but thinning hair continues to be one of the biggest grooming concerns for men and the fear that products could potentially make hair appear even thinner, particularly when it comes from pastes and waxes. Aveda’s Men Pure-Formance Thickening Paste, uses the thickening agent Alma, to instantly expand each strand of hair. Alma helps to plump each strand from root to ends, to make the hair look and feel thicker.

A Stella Collection – The Launch of Stella McCartney Menswear

Stella McCartney, is a name which needs no introduction, often referred to as Rock Royalty. Her Father Sir Paul is not only responsible for writing and producing some of the best known and loved songs of the last 50 years, but was a member of THE most iconic bands ever. Stella’s client list reads like an A-Z of A-listers since it’s launch in 2001. Since then she had developed a signature silhouette which re-mixes evening wear, sportswear-inspired clothes and sharp tailoring. Thus far this this has been restricted to womenswear, so far. For Spring 2017, McCartney debuts her first-ever Menswear Collection, aptly, the launch was held at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London.

Strangely it’s taken her so long to launch this side to her clothing empire as while a student at Central Saint Martins Fashion college she studied under Savile Row stalwart Mr Edward Sexton. He himself shared a very musical based background having dressed many of the stars of his day and in fact his first store with fellow Tailoring Master Tommy Nutter was financed by another singing Scouse legend Cilla Black and her husband Bobby Willis.

For this collection, which of course was leather and fur free, she was inspired by leading British Subcultures and of course the style of her Father to produced a range that despite being seeped in retro nostalgia was contemporary in its approach and fusion of formal and streetwear.

I’ve long desired to marry the Stella woman to a man and now the time just feels so right.” – Stella McCartney.

HAIRSTYLES FOR SPRING 2017

“A new hairstyle is one of the easiest and cheapest ways for a man to kick-start his confidence,” says Tom Chapman, one of the most sought after barbers in Britain, owner of Tom Chapman Hair Design and co-founder of the Lions Barber Collective. With this in mind Clothes-Make-the-Man have teamed up with Tom and men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge to identify the top five men’s hair styles/trends for the coming Spring/Summer season and what you should ask your barber for and how to maintain the look at home.

Side-Parted Pompadour:

The pompadour is a classic barbershop cut that’s known for its versatility: it can add professionalism to your office antics, while also presenting a delightful suave to your evenings out.

Ask your barber for:

A tapered cut with plenty of length of top to create the classic pomp look.

How to style at home:

Apply The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Paste to wet hair as a pre-styling agent.
Blow-dry your hair and use The Bluebeards Revenge Quiff Roller to mould your new style into shape making sure to create a side-parting.
Finish by applying a small amount of The Bluebeards Revenge Pomade and comb through for the desired effect.
Scissor-Cut Contour:

With tapered cuts and fades being all the rage, a top-quality scissor-only cut will always stand out from the crowd, especially when it boasts this much texture.

Ask your barber to:

Put the clippers down and use scissors to create a textured look that’s longer on top and shorter on the back and sides.
At home:

Apply The Bluebeards Revenge Sea Salt Spray to wet hair as a pre-styling agent.
Blow-dry your hair and use The Bluebeards Revenge Quiff Roller to create volume and texture on top.
Finish by scrunching The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Paste into your hair for a look that will last all day.

Tapered Crop:

The tapered crop is a style that’s easy to maintain on a daily basis, yet has enough texture and personality to leave you feeling on top of the world.

Ask your barber for:

A tapered back and sides that blends into a choppy, textured top.

At home:

Apply The Bluebeards Revenge Sea Salt Spray to wet hair and rough dry with a towel to create a natural look with added texture.
Finish by evenly distributing The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Clay from the root up.
Disconnected Slick-Back with Burst Fade:

This cut sounds a little complicated, but in reality it’s a modern adaptation of the classic slick-back that provides a professional, classy style.

Ask your barber for:

A grade two on the back and sides that fades away to the nape; leave plenty of length on top so that it can be slicked-back to the crown.

At home:

Apply The Bluebeards Revenge Sea Salt Spray to wet hair as a pre-styling agent.
Blow-dry the hair straight back towards the crown of the head using The Bluebeards Revenge Quiff Roller.
Finish by running your fingers through your hair with The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Paste for added hold.
Caesar Crop with Surgical Line:

The Caesar crop is a classic cut that’s been modelled by many celebrities throughout the years. This adaptation incorporates a surgical line for a more millennial finish.

Ask your barber for:

A drop-fade on the back and sides with a scissor-cut top and a fringe.

At home:

Apply The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Paste to wet hair and blow-dry it forward towards the fringe using The Bluebeards Revenge Military Brush.
Rub a small amount of The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Clay between your palms and fingers and scrunch into the tips of the fringe.