Sunday, December 26, 2010

London Nightlife and New Year’s Eve: Win/Win

If you’re looking for a great night out you can’t find a better place than London. There are plenty of choices and it is a city that has a great heritage in providing the best entertainment for all tastes. London nightlife has something for everyone and every occasion and every budget.

New Year’s Eve

One night of the year when even the usual stay at home types might want to venture out is December 31st. Instead of sitting at home with some family and friends with some mince pies and the odd sherry, watching the televised New Years Eve parties, why not try something different this year? London isn’t just about the organized events around Trafalgar Square but there are some really interesting events to make the New Year go with a real bang.

Places to go

Battersea Evolution recreates the Off-Piste experience. Battersea Park is transformed into a winter wonderland and if you love the alpine experience then it could just be the place for you. You’ll enter through trees draped with magical lights and through the forest you’ll come to an alpine village serving all the schnapps (or champagne) you like. If you prefer warmer climates, then Egg is where you should be heading. The Rio New Year Carnival is the theme here and in homage to that event everyone dresses to impress in white and rocks their socks off in four rooms of “A” list DJs.

If your tastes are a bit earthier, you could try the Oktoberfest Beer Hall New Year Bash at The Fest. You’ll love the authentic recreation of a Munich beer hall complete with an Oompah band, and there’s plenty of entertainment in the beer drinking Olympics. If toasting January 1st with a litre stein of ice cold German beer is your thing then you shouldn’t miss this.

All of the big clubs will be holding special themed nights and these themes include James Bond, a night with the stars (complete with a red carpet and paparazzi), and a circus so there’s bound to be something that is of interest to you.

Try one of these events and you might just find it creates great memories that rank up there with your best New Years Eve parties. Remember places are limited at all these ticketed events so you really need to decide where you’re going and get those tickets booked quickly.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

New Years In London: After The Clubs

If you’re one of those people who just never want to stop partying, then you might be worried about what you’ll do after the night clubs in London close on New Year’s Eve. After all, London nightlife is happening, but it does have to close down sometime, doesn’t it? Not to worry—there is something that you can do to keep the party going—throw one yourself! Why not? If you think you should put on one of the New Years Eve parties in London, follow along and we will review the steps.

Think About The Invites

If you’re giving a party, then you’ll want to make sure that you have the perfect guest list. Chances are that many of the people you know will be looking for an after-party, so be sure to think about your list and send out the invitations before they commit to something else. If you want your New Year party to stand out in the minds of people, be sure to create an original, funky invitation that they won’t forget. And don’t forget to include your address with the date and time of the party.

Think About The Theme

You will not be able to do a costumed theme because most people will be coming from the various nightclubs in London and will already be dressed, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with a theme. You might ask your guests to bring a CD of the worst music in history, a list of their top five resolutions, or even have a chocolate theme where no one gets to enter unless they bring some kind of chocolate. Use your imagination and have fun. By the time your guests get to your after party, they’ll be looking for something different.

Think About The Decorations

Just because your party will be the last one on everyone’s agenda, that doesn’t mean that the décor should be boring. Liven things up with New Year’s decorations in any theme you want. You might do the 2011 theme, or get a little more original and do a beach theme in January. Whatever you do, make it memorable so people will be talking about it for weeks to come.

However you decide to design your London New Year party, make sure that you keep it simple, entertaining, and most of all, fun!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Book yourself for London this New Year’s Eve, for a truly memorable experience

Among the many occasions in our lives – ones which we eagerly look to celebrate with great anticipation -- New Year's Eve certainly holds center stage. Like our birthdays, New Year’s Eve is exactly like a whole new beginning, the unfurling of yet another chapter in our lives.

Accordingly, we look forward to starting every New Year with complete pompousness, with the hope that the ensuing year will be far more pleasant and joyous than the one gone by.

In case you too hold such optimistic thoughts for the coming New Year, then consider shifting your celebration destination to London, unarguably the finest party joint on Planet Earth.

With its vibrant nightlife reverberating with nightclubs of various hues and sizes – that cater to all kinds of budgets, you can be assured of an absolutely gala time, no matter which of the various nightclubs in London that you actually head to.

New Year in particular is one occasion that is certainly not to be missed, when it comes to the vibrant city of London. In fact it is widely said that if you really enjoy celebrating New Year, no matter which part of the world you are located, at least once in your lifetime, you must make the effort to come to London and witness the vibrant New Year celebrations in the city for yourself.

That said; don’t worry too much though as far as the choice of the particular party joint in the city is concerned. No matter which of the various night clubs in London you choose to party away, you can be assured of a gala time that will remain in your memory for years to come.

Of course, the party atmosphere at these night clubs takes on a whole new dimension on New Year’s Eve. In fact, New Year’s Eve parties in London are such that the who’s who from across the world eagerly looks forward to coming and having perhaps the most memorable time of their lives in the city.

Given this fervent demand for paarticipation in London New Year parties, one thing you necessarily need to do well in advance is make your booking; you do not want to be caught high and dry with no suitable place to party at, even after you have arrived in the city.

So go ahead and make the most of the vibrant night life in London, by booking yourself for this new Year’s celebrations, in the city of dreams!

Hobnobbing with the celebrities, this New Year’s Eve

London as a city has the unique distinction of offering all of us the opportunity to get up-close and personal with celebrities at virtually every nook and corner of town. In fact, no matter which part of the city you reside in or head to, there is every chance that you will run into a national or international celeb!

This aspect of getting an opportunity to rub shoulders with the glitterati of course gets significantly enhanced when the occasion at hand happens to be a New Year party. With London being one of the world’s premier party destinations, people from all over the world make their way to the city in order to have a gala time. Accordingly, if you are really looking for a unique and opportune platform to chit-chat with the celebs, then New Year’s Eve parties in London would be the ideal base for you to fulfill your starry dreams.

Don’t worry too much about the particular London night club or party house that you choose for the gala New Year night; with New Year parties galore all across town, no matter what nightclub you choose, you can be assured of a truly amazing time. Not only that, you can also be certain of the opportunity to get to meet a diverse range of celebrities, again thanks to the fact that virtually all of these party destinations are thronged by celebrities.

Say for instance, the RnB and funky house clubs in the West End part of London; at any given time, you are quite likely to find them absolutely brimming with celebrities! With that being the case, it makes perfect sense that you make the most of the opportunity by heading to any of these various night clubs in London yourself.

One thing of course that you must try and do well in advance is make your bookings or reservations. In fact, now is just the perfect time for you to do so, while most others are still firming up their plans for New Year. That way, you can be assured of the best seats at your favorite party destination along with the opportunity to get really close with celebrities.

Who said dreams in life don't come true?

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The importance of booking in advance for New Year’s Eve parties in London

With London nightlife being what it is, reportedly one of the most vibrant and “happening” in the whole world, obviously there are numerous grandiose celebrations being planned for New Year’s Eve 2010. In such a scenario, it makes perfect sense that you book yourself well in advance if you do indeed want to be a part of those celebrations.

That is because; remember that just as you are making plans on a large scale to be a part of such gala celebrations, so are plenty of others. The nightclubs in London are likely to teeming with people on New Year’s Eve, everyone looking to have a great time, ringing in the New Year. In such a vibrant scenario, would you want to be left out? Certainly not and that is the reason, you must make every possible strive to ensure that you book yourself well in advance for New Year’s Eve parties in London.

Remember that the abundant night clubs in London notwithstanding, given the capacity crunch they are quite likely to face on New Year’s Eve, entry to any of the numerous ultra-glamorous nightclubs in London is quite likely to be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, that too, to those individuals who have booked themselves up for these nightclubs, much in advance.

In fact if we recall previous New Year celebrations in the city, we find that there has always been a scramble for entry, given the enthusiasm among Londoners to make the most of New Year celebrations. Remember that London is not a city which simply sits at home and rings in the New Year quietly. Instead, it is well known to get out there and make it abundantly clear to the rest of the world that it is eagerly looking forward to ringing in the New Year and thus will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all New Year party celebrations planned in the city are also attended enthusiastically.

Given this backdrop, it becomes sufficiently clear that you really should make every possible effort to ensure that you book yourself well in advance for these parties. Don’t worry about knowledge of these parties; you will find a plethora of information on these parties and other gatherings, on the Internet. Further, word about these parties spreads through word of mouth as well, so one way or the other, you will certainly have sufficient knowledge about these parties!

So go out there and make the most of it…London beckons!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Party options for your last night before the big day!

The night before one’s wedding is often considered to be the biggest night of one’s life in terms of the final bit of freedom that one has, before finally losing it for good, in order to remain committed to the person one is getting married to.

Obviously such a state of affairs definitely calls for some truly grandiose celebrations. And in this regard, nightclubs in London certainly prove to be a perfect draw for that one big night of freedom – just before you are hitched forever!

Choices of night clubs in London? Rest assured you will be so spoilt for choice that you will in fact have a tough time zeroing in on the right night club for the occasion, given the fact that they are all pretty much equally enticing by themselves. Be it the ambience, the kind of music that is played, the delectable choices of food on offer…you and your friends can be assured of a gala time that such an occasion well and truly deserves.

Just in case you find it tough to actually decide firmly on the particular night club in London where you would really like to go eventually, you can always take the help of various online resources on London nightlife as a whole – there are reviews galore of pretty much all of the various nightclubs in London. Not only that, these reviews are truly objective, given the fact that they come from real visitors these nightclubs - persons who have actually been to these nightclubs and had a firsthand feel and experience for all that is on offer at these places.

These reviews are in turn accompanied by plenty of pictures that can give you and your friends a very good idea in terms of the setting to expect once you are there at these nightclubs; it is always nice to have a firsthand idea in terms of the ambiance that you and your friends would hope to find yourselves in, on what would be a truly memorable night for you!

As a matter of fact, a lot of these night clubs in London are well known for hosting resplendent New Year parties which remain the talk of the town for a long, long time given the fervor with which New Year’s Eve is celebrated in the city.

If location is what is causing you concern with regard to the gala bachelor or spinster party that you have forethought for yourself on the eve of your marriage, let that not be a cause for concern, given the numerous choices of night clubs in London.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Confidence – they key to success with the opposite sex

When it comes to matters of the heart, many of us end up floundering for rather baffling reasons. We put in too much effort in what are clearly the wrong focus areas – maybe overemphasis on our looks, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, and so on.

In matters of relationships, it has in fact been noted that personality aspects such as confidence truly work wonders when it comes to striking a chord with the person you're trying to impress, no matter how bad you think you look.

Eventually, if you are able to strike up conversations with ease and also handle a variety of situations in the presence of the opposite sex, with complete deftness, then you can in fact be reasonably certain of hitting the home run with the person you have laid your eyes on.

Take the case of meeting a stranger, say at a London nightclub, perhaps at the time of any of the various New Years Eve parties in London. You are probably already dressed well enough for the occasion and so your attire should really not be a matter of concern for you. Further, your looks are what you already possess and probably cannot do much about, other than making the most of it. Therefore, in such a scenario, if you are looking to strike the right notes with other people, then what you really need is oodles of confidence; if you are able to strike up an intelligent conversation and get the ball rolling, you never know till where things lead up to!

Let us take another hypothetical example wherein at a New Year party in any of the various nightclubs in London, a complete stranger takes a fancy for you who in turn also asks you for a dance. Now, even if you know for a fact that you cannot differentiate your left foot from the right one and therefore grooving is not really your cup of tea, go ahead and just shake your leg with confidence; chances are good that unless your prospect is an expert dancer, he or she would not even notice your dancing steps.

Thus, in summation, if you are looking for a vivid experience with a new partner – one which you would really like to cherish for long -- make sure you up the ante to the fullest, as far as your own confidence levels are concerned.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Preparations for ringing in the New Year in London begin early!

In a city like London, even though it has a large number of nightclubs and other party destinations on offer, preparations for ringing in the New Year really need to begin much in advance since the demand for the aforementioned destinations is simply astronomical!

Keeping this aspect in mind, some visionary entrepreneurs have set up Internet platforms that suitably provide a complete lowdown on all the various New Year party destinations in London so that intending visitors can plan their itinerary and their moves accordingly. For instance, if you are on the lookout for New Years Eve parties in London and the west end of London, you can simply log on to these websites and gather the requisite information, well in advance, much before others will be scrambling to desperately make a beeline for these destinations. Further, once you are armed with all the necessary information that you require, you can suitably book yourself with these London nightclubs wherein entry for you, on New Year’s Eve, will be an absolute breeze, considering that you have booked yourself for the same, so much in advance.

Besides New Year parties in particular, you can of course be assured that London has a vibrant nightlife, all through the year. That is where the benefits drawn from the above mentioned Internet platforms increases manifold; irrespective of the time of the year, you can actually look up these sites to get a complete lowdown on all the various events that are taking place in the city, across all of its various nightclubs. Rest assured, given the vibrant nightlife culture of London, anytime of the year, you will find plenty of party destinations to choose from, to the extent that you will actually be spoilt for choice.

For instance, if you are in a groovy mood and would simply like to dance the night away, you will find a veritable range of London nightclubs to choose from. With the renowned, throbbing night life that London is world famous for, you can be assured that you will have no shortage of options to choose from. No matter whether you are looking for RnB and Funky House Clubs in the West End or any other part of the city, you can be assured that London nightlife simply has a mindboggling array of options to present forthwith!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Apart from whether you're smiling or not, the aspect of your appearance that most influences people's first impressions of you is your hairstyle! If you're feeling bored of the old you, and are looking for a new image and a new feeling for clubbing in London this weekend, one fabulously easy to transform yourself is with a new hairstyle. Today we check out 4 of the most unusual and awesome hairstyles for London nightclubs!
Katy Perry's All-Color Look

If you're happy to be the star of the party - and very literally have every single person in your London nightclub looking at you - then this Katy Perry do is perfect! Of course, it can be done with spray and it can be done with a wig ... but it just doesn’t look the same, does it? So, this hair color is best for blondes who can easily pop in a bright temporary rinse. Once the color's in, all you need to do is pop a few big curls in the ends, volumize it with some hairspray and smooth down your bangs.
Business in front, party at the back
It's so much sexier than the mullet - and this 'business at front, party at the back' hairstyle is perfect for clubbing in London, as long as you have the time to style it. Tease the hair up at the back before curling it, and then blow dry the bangs smooth for contrast. It won't work for very fine hair - but it's a fab and fun all-rounder style for most gals.
The Wave Tower
Even a relatively 'safe' short and wavy hairstyle can be easily transformed into this party-starting do. You'll need the haircut to match - but it can be easily dressed up or down for work. You don't actually need much time for this one - just a good eye for balance and texture.
Kimberley Caldwell
This striking asymmetrical cut can be copied even if you have hair on both sides of your shoulders - it's a lovely mix between vintage style and complete postmodernism. It's best suited to long face shapes, and all you really need to do is use your favourite styling product to direct the hair exactly where you want it to go.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Get Her Nightclub Look: Fearne Cotton

If you haven't seen Fearne Cotton on television, you probably haven't been watching television for the past 10 or so years! This stunning 28-year old is not only set to be one of the world's leading television presenters, but also has fantastic taste in evening wear. If you've got the same elfin face, cheeky attitude and tidy, but fairly achievable figure that Fearne Cotton does, you'll be interested in some Fearne-inspired outfits for clubbing in London.
This little purple shift dress is very simple, yet very cute. In fact, if you can’t find it, it would actually be quite easy to knock up on the sewing machine! Okay, perhaps have your Mum do it while you make do with some other party dresses ... so easy.
Fearne was wearing this white dress/purple tights/white shoe combination at the Elle Style Awards ... and for me, it is an absolute hit! There's no better way to create a unique, sexy, individual, day/night crossover look than pairing neutral colors with delicious shades of tights. How can you not think boysenberries and cream?
We aren't quite sure what Fearne was up to in this picture, but it was definitely a party of some sort. Little black dresses like this are great to keep in your wardrobe for all sorts of non-specific evening events ... they look just as good trotting off to a nightclub in London as they do sitting down to a dinner party at a friend's house.
Worn to the Glamour Women of the Year awards, I'm not sure if this dress is particularly glamorous ... but it is definitely fun, and very suitable for clubbing in London with its sleek, touchable fabric, comfortable length and easy-match style.
It isn't the most overtly party-style dress that can be found, but this Fearne Cotton style shift dress is great for fun (but not raucous) Saturdays hanging out listening to soul music at your favourite London clubs ... drinking and dancing, without any expectations.


Friday, July 9, 2010

Get Her Nightclub Style: Katy Perry

She's hot then she's cold, she's yes then she's no ... you know the rest of how Katy Perry can be! But when it comes to dressing for the New York, LA and London night club scenes, Katy Perry is all hot! She likes it small, she likes it skimpy, and she likes it hot! Today we get some style tips from Katy Perry's wardrobe for your next night of clubbing in London. You might have to develop that sassy, naughty attitude all by yourself though!
Classic Katy Perry style - tight, simple yet stylish and with a bit of a twist. This Katy Perry number os probably actually bit too tight to dance in ... but if your main aim is to look great sipping a fruity cocktail at your favourite club this weekend, why not try out this number?
Grr! She almost looks like she'll bite :-). If you've had a hard week and are looking to really let loose at your favourite club without taking any lip, Katy Perry has inspired us with the perfect outfit to do it in.
I was actually in two minds about including this beautiful nightclub dress from Katy Perry's history books. That's because, despite its classicism and suitability for a decent range of weather events and body shapes, it is just so un­-Katy Perry-ish! For elegant London nightclubs dominated by lounges and cigars, this is the perfect look.
Aahh, that's better! In a dress so short that she threatens to explode out of either the top or bottom, or both at once, at any second ... with her trademark thick black eyeliner and the sassy wave in her hair ... generally looking very hot, this is classic Katy. If you want to copy Katy Perry's nightclub style, pieces like this are essential to have in your wardrobe. And pack an extra little box of confidence and a roll of Hollywood tape for your clubbing trip, if you go down this road!
Nawh, isn’t she gorgeous! Not much like the Katy Perry we know and love ... she certainly turned on the charm for this visit of hers to a club in London after appearing at the V-festival. It's short, it's got shoulders, and it gets guys (and Katy) shivering!

Monday, June 21, 2010

5 More Fun Cocktails to Try This Weekend

Are you well and truly stuck in a beer-rut, and vodka and orange rut or a cider rut? If you’re willing to branch out and try different London nightclubs, but not have a different drink, then you’re truly missing out. The one thing that remains good old-fashioned fun in this furiously fast technological world is a cocktail night at your favorite London nightclub with the girls… here are some of the most delicious and not-to-be-ignored drinks to try this Saturday!
Peppermint Stick
Peppermint drinks (and indeed, anything that a little candy-cane like or Christmas-themed) have been really popular this year. Unlike the peppermint schnapps flavoured candy cane martini, this is a rich and creamy drink using crème de cacao, rich cream and peppermint schnapps poured over ice.
Orgasm
If you ask someone else to order this drink for you, be prepared to trade innuendoes, hints and cheeky winks for a while before you get to start your drink! It's just a shot of Irish cream mixed with peppermint schnapps … and if you don't do well on strong alcohol tastes or sugary drinks, it's not recommended! A variation uses Amaretto, coffee liqueur and Irish cream in a shot glass, or you can have a 'Multiple Orgasm', which uses Cointreau and Galliano along with Irish Cream.
Shirley Temple
If you're a designated driver, or have volunteered to make sure that your friends get home in their taxi or train safely, order a Shirley Temple to feel that you aren't missing out on anything at your London nightclub. Ginger ale, grenadine, lime juice, a maraschino cherry and orange slice make you feel special … but not tipsy.
Alabama Slammer
Ready to work out some frustrations from the week at your favorite nightclub in London? An Alabama Slammer will help you let loose. Sloe gin, amaretto, Southern Comfort and lemon juice create a rich drink with a lot of kick!
Pina Colada
There's a reason that entire songs have been written about this drink! It's sweet, it's sharp, it's summery and a lot of fun. They are easy to make at home as well - 4 ounces of pineapple juice mixed with 1.5 ounces of coconut cream and 1.5 ounces of gold rum. Garnish it with a cherry and pineapple stick, and pour it into a Collins glass.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

5 Secrets of Speaking to Girls at London Nightclubs

"Your Dad must have been a criminal!"

"What?"

"Uuhh … I mean .. your father must have been a thief, because he stole you!"

"Bouncer!!"

"Wait! I was just trying to say that your Dad must have been a thief, because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes … Nooooooooo! Let me back in!"
Sound familiar? If it does, you are probably familiar with that horrible burning sensation at the back of your eyes, the pounding heart and the sweaty armpits that come along with trying to talk to girls at nightclubs in London. It can be hard talking to strangers at anytime, let alone when the music is thumping and your mates are busy making fun of you. So today we check out some top tips for talking to girls while clubbing in London. A couple of successes and you'll find it isn’t as hard as you think…
  1. Know the most ladies are open to the idea of getting together … but don't act like that
    According to surveys, around two-thirds of the girls that go to nightclubs are single and actively looking for a man. Know that, and use it as a confidence boost to help you go talk to the girls. But never, ever act as though you are going to get together when you first start talking. Don't mention it, don't leer at her boobs … just try talking to her first and seeing if you click. That's what she's expecting!
  2. Know who wants a drink bought for them
    Watch a girl and see who's already getting her drinks (without being creepy). If every man and his dog at the nightclub in London is already buying a girl drinks, you'll stand out more by asking her to dance, or just having a conversation.
  3. Whatever you'd say to your mates, say to the girls
    Okay … perhaps 'some of the things you’d say to your mates' would be a better idea! If you were going to tell them how funny the bartender's accent was, tell her. If you were going to comment on how cold it is in the club, tell her. You'll sound much more natural.
  4. Be an active listener
    When she talks, look into her eyes or face, nod at the appropriate times, and answer in a way that encourages her to go on. You don't actually have to do much talking if you learn this skill!
  5. Ask open ended questions
    Yes/no questions can make a conversation feel really stilted and awkward. Ask open ended questions that can’t be answered with a yes or no when talking to girls at London nightclubs.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Nightclubs and Dating … A Perfect Match?

For many of us, from the well-practiced single ladies to the newly unattached, think first of bars and clubs when we think of trying to find a new partner - a new person to connect with. It's a ritual all over the world - relationship seekers get dolled up, practice their best hair-flicks and coquettish stares, grab a couple of mates and let alcohol lubricate their interactions with the opposite sex. But is this a smart way to find a real, lasting relationship? The answer is a bit more complicated than many of us realize … today we are discussion whether relationships born while clubbing in London have any chance of success.
Just party people?
There's a general perception out there that the type of people that go to London nightclubs are just party people - a little loose, a bit trashy, and that both the guys and the girls are not really people that you'd take home to meet your Mum. But think again, before you mentally indulge this stereotype. You've been out to clubs, haven’t you? Is your Mum proud of you? Clubbing is generally just one of the things that many people find enjoyable. Don't judge a book by its cover!
The conversation factor…
Much of human communication is non-verbal - and for that sort of communication, it doesn’t matter at all that the music is up too loud for you to even hear yourself shouting! To know whether you have the basis of a real relationship, though, the nightclub can be a bit self-defeating. You have only animal instincts to go on, none of the value of actually hearing about someone's views and thoughts. The beauty that you see is only on the outside, remember!
Confidence boosters
However, especially if you've just come out of a long term relationship, nightclubs in London can be a great way to ease yourself into contact with the opposite sex again. You don't have to explain yourself or talk too much - you can just chat without pressure and have a good time. And that can be a vital first step in actually finding a real relationship!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Nightclub Makeup - Top Tips Ever!

Sometimes your makeup just seems to work - the mascara doesn't clump, your foundation goes on smooth and your eye shadow application is deft and delicate. Other days … lets just say the Priscilla, Queen of the Desert would hang her head in shame! To save you much frustration in prepping for your night out at a nightclub in London, memorise these best-ever makeup application tips and commit them to your Saturday-night memory!
  1. Always exfoliate first
    Even the littlest lumps and bumps on skin can make it more difficult to evenly apply your base makeup. Time your exfoliation for a nightclub night - you should only do it 2-3 times per week.
  2. Stick with the colours you know
    Your hands need to learn a different level of touch for every different makeup colour you use. Just before you go clubbing in London is not the time to try and learn to apply a new colour - practice first!
  3. Prep your pout
    Your lips need exfoliation and moisturiser as much as the rest of your face - but we tend to forget about them! Use a specialised lip exfoliant as part of your pre-club shower, and make sure you moisturise your lips every single day.
  4. Invest in a good brush kit
    Brushes are not the place to be improvising with less-than-adequate products. It is very important to have a range of sizes … and almost as important to have good quality fiber brushes.
  5. Choose ONE focal point
    This can’t be your lips, eyes AND cheeks! Resist the temptation to try and 'balance out' the various parts of your face. Let one feature do the talking (and it doesn’t necessarily have to be your mouth!).
  6. Practice with a friend
    Practice is essential to putting on makeup well - and especially essential if you want to branch out your look to include anything other than a signature day style, and a signature night style. Practise on yourself - but also get a few girlfriends round and have a styling party! See how you do putting makeup on someone else - you can instantly see what you’re doing wrong.
  7. Grab some makeup wipes for after the club
    Because if you don't, then your skin will breakout or look dull for next time round … and you'll have a harder time prepping for your London nightlife experience next time round!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Before the Club: Best Finger Food Recipes!

There's no way that you can go from lunch until club time with nothing to eat. Most London nightclubs don't open before 10 p.m. … and an empty stomach fuelled by alcohol is a recipe for disaster! However, there's nothing quite as uncomfortable or disappointing as squeezing into your favourite clubbing dress, only to find that you have a bulge around the middle like a little potbellied pig! Finger food for dinner is the solution -- today we check out some yummy recipes to invite your mates round for before the club.
Om nom nom nom, says London nightclub snack monster! These nacho bites are absolutely delicious. I truly believe that the only reason nachos aren’t the national dish of every country on earth is that they are waaaaay too messy. These little bites will keep at least 6 friends going until the clubs open, without the need to redo makeup, or do any emergency dress changes.
You'll only need a few of these on your platter, and will most likely only need to hand them around the boys circle before they disappear! They are sinfully meaty … delicious, but not the best at absorbing alcohol. The tomato relish is a great allrounder for chips and crackers, though.
Make these ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until your friends are around. To finish them off, all you need to do is throw them in an oiled frypan for a couple of minutes, and put them next to some aioli. Definitely not heavy enough to cause any unwanted dress bulges. YUM!
You can’t go wrong with antipasto platters for entertaining before you go out to your London nightclub - everyone loves them. Don't overdo them, though - even the vegetables are oily!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

A Jolly Good Time

I was fortunate enough to be a part of one of the greatest New Year’s Eve parties in London this past year. I thought New York put on a good party but I have to say Londoners know how to bring in the new year right.

It started early and lasted well into the morning of January 1. There were live bands playing all around town and the streets were blocked off so that everybody could have the run of the city. There was something for everybody and all the night clubs in London made sure it was a night to remember.

Most of the clubs offered food to their patrons and all of them had free champagne for the toast at midnight. It seemed that everybody in London had a glass of champagne to bring in the year with a cheer. The hotel where I was staying had one of the biggest parties of the night with two well known bands playing. There was just so much to do and not enough time to do it all.

Live television was being broadcast in the middle of the city and the most amazing thing of the whole night was when it got close to midnight, everybody took their glasses of champagne out into the streets to bring in the year together. The amazing London nightlife was alive and well and I simply fell in love with this city.

I enjoyed all the New Year parties in London so much I’ve already booked my reservations for next year. I’ve even seriously considered moving to the UK because I was overwhelmed with how much everybody seemed to genuinely care about each other. It was such an amazing experience I want to get more of it. There is no other place to be on New Year’s than in London.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Theme Party

This past year I decided to begin a tradition of having a theme to my New Year party. I figured I would pick a city and decorate my house to match that city’s atmosphere. For my first themed New Year’s party I decided to decorate my house like London, England. I did some research to find out some of the traditions they have geared around the New Year and the type of foods they serve. It was a great success and I’m looking forward to continuing this tradition.

When I did my research I took a virtual tour of the London night life to see what kind of style they have in the city. The nightclubs there are much like those in the US so it wasn’t too difficult to imagine. The music was a bit different as they generally stick with local talent to supply the music for the night. I hired a band that came to the United States from London to give my party a very unique and genuine London feel to it.

I found that New Year’s Eve parties in London begin early in the afternoon and last well into the next morning; until daylight actually. I wasn’t prepared to party that long so I had to modify that element of the theme but all in all it was pretty close to feeling like one was in London. Many of my guests played the part well by dressing and talking as the English do. It was a smashing time, if I must say so myself.

I’m not sure what city I will pick for next year’s bash; possibly Paris or Rome. My guests really enjoyed the London nightlife theme I gave this first one and many said it would be hard to top it. I’m pretty sure I’ll do just as well with my next theme party as I did with my first.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

When in London

My husband and I were married on December 28 and spent our honeymoon in the town he grew up: London. He had told me all about the London nightlife but I was not at all prepared for how extraordinary it actually was.

We stayed at a London hotel which was hosting a lavish New Year party for all the guests. This party began on December 30 and continued on until the very early hours of January 1. I found that the English people are very welcoming and they made me feel like I was at home in their city.

Nightclubs in London are similar to those in the United States. Music spills out into the streets where many people can be found dancing and having a good time. What is most different about London is the lack of anger or violence you might find in clubs in the US. Everybody is out to just have a great time and nobody is looking for a fight. I enjoyed every minute we spent out in the city and quickly fell in love with London and its people.

Besides all the places to go clubbing there are also many quaint little pubs where many locals spend their evenings listening to bands play. I enjoyed the nightclubs but I really, really liked the pubs even more. It was such a treat to find a warm, dark corner, order a meal, and sit for hours watching and listening to the local people carry on their conversations. This was just the kind of place I would love to live and raise a family.

We spent two full weeks in London and I really hated having to leave. My husband and I are making plans to go back in the summer and we’ve also talked about making our lives there. I can’t think of anything better than to live in that great city and be a part of every New Year party that takes place in London.


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Clubbing in London

Planning a surprise trip to London was one of the things that my girlfriends did for me on my birthday. This was one of the best birthday presents I have ever received. My friends took care of everything, even down to the smallest detail.

When we got to London, we wanted to see all of the sights of the city. Of course we went to the London Zoo, Big Ben and Windsor Castle to name a few places of interest. This was all great fun during the day, but in the evening was when the fun really began. My girlfriends knew all the hot night clubs in London to go to.

We had always heard that the club scene in London was hotter then the clubs in New York. There was no comparison. These clubs were amazing and the music was even better. The London night life was so much better then many of the clubs that we had been to in the United States. These party’s music was hopping and the clubs were filled with some of the greatest looking guys in the London area. That made us all happy.

The first night that we went clubbing in London was awesome. One of the first clubs that we went to was Stanza. They had Soul Friday going on and they played some great RnB music. It was made even better that ladies all got in free before 11pm. This club was one of our favorite clubs in the West End. We danced all night and had a great time.

One of the most unique clubs that they took me to was the Carwash at the Aquarium. This was a funky retro themed club that played Disco. This was so much fun because we all dressed up in disco clothes and boogied down all night. It was the highlight of the whole trip to London. It gave us all a chance to be goofy and have fun dressing the part. This was one of our all time favorite nightclubs in London and we plan to be back next year.

These clubs were so good that we want to plan another trip to the UK just for the club scene in London. We decided that going for new years would be a great time to vacation here again. The new years eve parties in London would make an exciting trip for next year.


Saturday, January 16, 2010

Makeup for Nightclubs in London: 5 Steps for Sultry Eyes

Eye makeup is hard … much harder than it looks! Men simply do not understand how difficult it is to walk the line between street-corner tramp, and sultry sex kitten in eye makeup. While the lighting and atmosphere in London nightclubs is forgiving of many makeup flaws, looking like a raccoon is something that stands out no matter what. Today we are looking at how to avoid frustration next time you're preparing for a hot night out at London's clubs -- do that sultry eye makeup once, and do it right!
Step 1: Buy good brushes and quality colours
It is so, so easy to miss the look you are going for if you don;t have good quality products. Dark eye makeup is definitely not for hiding in the shadows, and if you miss your line (or it wears away too quickly), you'll look more than a bit silly! Budget isn’t usually best.
Step 2: Prepare
Prepare to do you eye makeup by using an eyeshadow primer, usually a mousse textured one. This helps the colour stay put! Part of the preparation is also filling in your eyebrows, using a powder that matches your natural hair colour.
Step 3: Eyeliner
The colour around your eyes will move from darkest closest to your eye, to lightest furthest away. Use a black, navy or dark grey eyeliner around your upper and lower lids to start off the process.
Step 4: Contour brush and eyeshadow
Using a shade that isn't quite black, but certainly blends with the black eyeliner, brush your eyeshadow colour across your top lid using the flat edge of your eye shadow contour brush. You can also use a small amount of eye shadow under your eyelid -- but use the pointed edge of your contour brush to apply it.
Step 5: Lightest colour
Add another colour using either a small soft brush, or your contour brush with a lighter touch. Iridescent powder is usually used as the topmost colour. You can use it around both the top and bottom of your eyes … as long as you prepped the bottom in step 2! London nightclubs are sweaty and unkind to eye makeup, and that primer is essential to stay looking good.

Monday, January 4, 2010

London Nightclubs -- Are they Just What the Doctor Ordered? 4 Health Benefits of Dancing

As if you needed another excuse to hit the clubs this weekend … your doctor might very well order you to! Well, indirectly, of course. This is because if you go to nightclubs in London for the dancing opportunities (it's so much more fun dressed up, with a heap of other people, than in your knickers singing into a hairbrush!), you could be doing your health a real favor. We don't usually think of nightclubs as being equivalent to health clubs, but from your body's point of view, if you're out to dance, there is little difference! Here are the top four health benefits of dancing at London nightclubs.
  1. Cardio workouts
    Vigorous exercise is enormously important to keeping your cardiovascular system in good working order. Gentle strolls around the block might burn a few calories, but there's nothing to keep those vital arteries and lungs in good condition like a workout that leaves you short of breath. Stop dancing if you start feeling dizzy, overheated, or truly exhausted. Otherwise, viva la dance!
  2. Burning calories
    Being overweight for your height puts you at increased risk for a huge number of very common diseases, from type 2 diabetes, to a variety of cancers, to heart attack and stroke. Simply put, there is no diet in the world that can help you lose weight long term, if it doesn’t also make use of exercise. It is critical that you find a way you enjoy to burn off any calories that you don't need -- if that's dancing at aLondon nightclub, then do it!
  3. Bone health
    When you put pressure and strain on your bones, tiny, tiny fractures occur, which your body then knits over to produce new and stronger bone. Sitting down all day actually weakens your bones, and non-weight bearing exercise like swimming might be good for cardio and calories, but has no bone health benefits. Get jiggy with it to save you hip fractures later in life.
  4. Alleviating symptoms of depression, increasing sociability
    The power that exercise has to alleviate the symptoms of depression, and prevent people developing them, is not purely a placebo effect. The neurological and physical effects of exercise are enormous; the fact that you have chosen a sociable form of exercise like dancing at nightclubs in London, also panders to the human need for the company of our own species.
So, is dancing at London nightclubs just what the doctor ordered? If you wear sensible shoes, don't drink too much while you do it, and try not to go physically too far, definitely!