Normally it’s tennis players or athletes that get to pose with massive trophies to recognise their achievements…but now novelists are starting to get the attention they deserve as well. I’m pretty pleased about this as it means there’s hope for me and the novel that I am trying to write and it looks like this year’s Romantic Novelists Association winner Jenny Colgan is pretty chuffed too.
Jenny’s book, Welcome To Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop of Dreams, thoroughly deserved to win the prize for best romantic novel of the year if the Amazon reviews are anything to go by. I cannot remember the last time I saw so many glowing reviews in one place.
It tells the story of Rosie Hopkins, who thinks leaving her busy London life, and her boyfriend Gerard, to sort out her elderly Aunt Lilian’s sweetshop in a small country village is going to be dull. Boy, is she wrong. Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton’s sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to settle up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets.
Now it’s competition time! We have THREE SIGNED COPIES of this amazing novel to give away and to be in with a chance of winning one all you have to do is answer this question:
QS: Where is the sweetshop in the book located? (The answer can be found within this blog post).
Email the answer to competitions@livelikeavip.com with your name and address by 2359 on Sunday 26 May. Good luck!
COMPETITION CLOSED: WINNERS AMY RIPLEY AND GILL ADAMS
Have you heard of the comedienne Vikki Stone? Have you heard about Cadbury’s new Crispello chocolate? Well stay tuned VIPs as I’m about to give you more info about both and you can win a cheeky and delicious prize…
The photo above shows Vikki with the chocolate. She is the new face of the campaign …..but who is Vikki Stone?
Vikki’s a trained musician (she’s even done backing music for Elton John) but she combines music with comedy in a way like nobody else which mean she’s constantly voted as one of the ‘must-see’ acts to watch at the Edinburgh festival and is able to tour the UK doing solo music-sit-by-the-piano comedy gigs. If you’ve not seen her yet then just check out this YouTube video. If you’re anything like me you’ll want to find out more after watching this naughty, cheeky ditty about Phillip Schofield
I had a chat on the phone with Vikki to find out what she’s doing with Cadbury’s and what it means for you readers.She explained: ‘I’ve teamed up with Cadbury’s Crispello to find the nation’s cheeky moments. My songs are all about being cheeky and I know the people in the UK have a lot of cheeky confessions to share.
‘We are asking the public to share their naughty moments on the Cadbury’s Facebook page (click on the Crispello tab next to where you see their number of likes). The three best entries will get their cheeky moment turned into a song by me and I’ll come to their home town and do a special gig for them and their friends.’ Just like she did for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning…
Readers, you have until 10 May to enter your moment. Have you flirted with a barista to get a discount on your coffee? Have you sneaked some fake tan into your boyfriend’s moisturiser because you think he was looking a bit pasty? What’s Vikki’s own cheeky moment?
‘Sometimes I use under-eye concealer to reduce the bags on my eyes,’ she said. ‘I like to leave it to soak in for a while and one day I left the house and got on the Underground with big light cream under my eyes – I hadn’t rubbed it in.’ Oops! After talking to Vikki longer, I heard she had another cheeky moment, getting fired from a supermarket job as ‘head of bagged salad’ after just 6 weeks. Did she order too much lettuce? Who knows. Who even knew there was a job as head of bagged salad?! If you talk to Vikki and don’t crack a smile within three minutes there is something wrong with you.
But, don’t let this fool you. Vikki is a woman in demand! To give you an idea of how a bespoke song by Vikki is valuable, you just need to look at her packed schedule. She’s got gigs on London’s Southbank in June, she’s spending the whole month of August at the Edinburgh festival and she’s writing songs about tons of VIPs. She’s done Sinitta, she’s done Brian Cox and you must check out this cheeky video of her impersonating Hilary Devey, which is not musical but it is hilarious (and useful if you actually want to look like Hilary Devey)
So, VIPS – are you going to enter via the Cadbury’s Facebook page now for a chance to win a party with Vikki and tons of Cadbury’s Crispello?
AND as an extra special treat, you can win some Crispello right now through Live Like a VIP. Two readers can each win not one, not two, but 12 bags of the delicious bags of delicate crispy shells with a creamy chocolate filling covered in delicious Cadbury’s chocolate .
Just answer the simple question below and send your answer to competitions@livelikavip.com before 2359 on Tuesday 7 May.
QS: What festival is Vikki appearing at in August?
Who wants full lips like Angelina Jolie? Both my hands shot up in the air at this question! Thankfully I have found a product that is scientifically proven to make your lips bigger and more plump – Fillast.
The science bit is that the skin / lips contain a molecule called Hyaluronic Acid to hold moisture and the more you have the plumper the lips. the vast majority of HA-based anti-aging products only supplement HA to the epidermal layer, where it only has a superficial effect. Fillast is the only anti-aging product to Supplement, Synthesize and Inhibit the breakdown of HA, reaching the dermal layer. If you like the geek stuff you can find out more info on the Fillast website.
The product costs £36 but we have five to give away to Live Like A VIP readers. To win one simply answer this QS;
Q: What is the name of the man in Angelina Jolie’s life?
Send your answer to competitions@livelikeavip.com before 2345 on Tues 2 April. Usual T&Cs apply
Good luck!
If you don’t win the product is available at the SkinMed or Fillast websites
Cadbury is on the hunt to find the word that perfectly describes the deliciously creamy taste of Cadbury Dairy Milk. The most scrumptious description will go down in chocolate history – and the person who comes up with it will be named Honorary Cadbury Taster.
The Taster role has a sweet benefits package; an exclusive first taste of all new Cadbury chocolate before it hits the shelves, the opportunity to design your own truly unique Cadbury Dairy Milk bar, and plenty of delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk! What more could a person want?
AND exclusive to fans of Live Like A VIP, Cadbury is also offering one lucky winner an overflowing Cadbury hamper and one of only ten limited edition books with a secret space inside to store your Cadbury Dairy Milk bar! Simply answer the question below to be in with a chance of winning:
Question:
What word-related famous London location is the Cadbury Joyville Worker reading his ‘Definition of Great Tasting Chocolate’ book in front of in the photo above? Hint: Dabble in some open air debating at which famous London park?
Live Like A VIP has teamed up with a Experience Card – a LUXURY version of a discount club – to give you the chance to win free membership and we have two exclusive memberships to give away.
This will get you discounts on things like the sumptuous Baglioni Hotel (below)
Offering you 2 for 1 or a minimum of 33% off a range of experiences in and around London from flying lessons to drinks tours, you could find yourself having a much-needed massage at The Baglioni Hotel Spa or tasting the finest cheeses and champagnes at French Bubbles in Covent Garden. And all you need to do is quote your membership number when booking wherever you want to go!
Every month one lucky member will win two tickets to a featured experience – and there is no need for vouchers or coupons as you get your own personalised card!
To be in for a chance to win this VERY VIP members-only membership, send to competitions@livelikeavip.com your name and answer to this question: What country does Champagne originate from? Is it (a) Argentina, (b) France or (c) Switzerland?
And within no time, you could be lapping up the perks of the VIP lifestyle. Good Luck!
CLOSING DATE: Enter before 2359 on MONDAY 25TH MARCH
If you want to buy an experience card it’s £35 a year and full details are on the Experience Card website
Working with one of the world’s foremost fashion photographers, Patrick Demarchelier, and expert hair stylist Armin Morbach, Schwarzkopf has created four trend-inspired looks for 2013.
With New York as its muse, these on-trend looks take inspiration from the iconic Manhattan scene. The Schwarzkopf Looks Collection comprises of four expressive yet wearable concepts; Gloss, Big Bob, Sleekcolor and Fringer.
And now, LiveLikeAVIP readers can recreate this glamour in their own homes with the chance to win their very own VIP Fashion Packs, courtesy of Schwarzkopf.
For your chance to win send to competitions@livelikeavip.com your name and answer to this question: What magazine is The September Issue about?
And ONE lucky winner will receive a goody bag full of Schwarzkopf products to keep hair looking its best, the Vogue documentary, The September Issue, which features Schwarzkopf Looks 2013 photographer Patrick Demarchelier, and the ultimate style guide, The Fashion Book, the a –z guide on fashion.
Plus Six runners-up will also win The September Issue and The Fashion Book.
CLOSING DATE: ENTER BEFORE 2359 ON MONDAY 12 MARCH
Win a pair of tickets to see Lawson perform at an intimate money can’t buy performance – LITERALLY!
Ibis Hotels have teamed up with the guys from Lawson to bring you an intimate performance to just a handful of their lucky fans at the ibis London Blackfriars hotel in London. We are giving 1 lucky reader the chance to get up close to the boys and win a pair of tickets to this invite only event on March 3.
Ibis Hotels are located in city centres – ideal for exploring, shopping and going to gigs! With over 50 hotels across the UK & Ireland and luxuriously comfy beds at great prices, you can spend time away without spending a fortune.
For your chance to win send to competitions@livelikeavip.com your name, address and answer to the following question:
What is the name of Lawson’s current tour ?
We will decide who the winners are on Saturday 2nd March – That’s just a few days away, so be QUICK! We’ll announce the winner at the end of the day on Fri 1 March. And remember entrants must be age 16 or over and have parental consent.
We are so excited to tell you about our latest competition at Live Like A VIP! If you love to read about all things romance then this the competition for you.
You could be in with a chance of winning a selection of 5 books from each of the categories shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards. The categories are – Contemporary, Epic, Historic, Young Adult and Romantic Comedy.
All you need to do to enter is email us at competitions@livelikeavip.com and tell us your name, address and answer to the question below.
QS: Which celebrity just revealed her new clothing line with River Island?
We’ll decide who the winners are on Tuesday 26th February – that’s just a week to enter, so do it quickly!
Winners will be announced on Wednesday 27 February. Usual t&cs apply. Good luck!
For more details about The Romantic Novel of The Year, visit their website here
The poster above says it all – style, glamour, beach couture and accessories in one of London’s most spectacular venues. And you could be there with one of your friends…and the Live Like A VIP team.
Money cannot buy you tickets for this event, it’s invite only, plus you get to hang out with us if you want. (You could always just go with your friend and not talk to us at all but this may be awkward?)
Anyway, to enter simply: follow us on Twitter @zoegriffin and tell us why you deserve to win the tickets. We’ll pick a winner on Thursday 14th February. The best answer will get a Valentines Day twee from us and we’ll send you tickets to the show. GOOD LUCK.
Bumble and Bumble shmapoo and conditioner is a favourite of celebrities like Sienna Miller and Kim Kardashian and Carmen Elecra, who have all said in intervies that it’s one of their must-have beauty secrets.
It’s also used at the Kaizo hair salon in Shoreditch, where I visited last week before I met Denzel Washington. See the video of how gorgeous it made me look below. I wish I looked like that all the time!
If you want to make your hair more manageable and shiny then today’s competition involves some Bumble and Bumble Coco shampoo and conditioner (RRP £18.50 each), which was voted by InStyle magazine readers as a Best Buy Beauty Product 2012.
TO ENTER: Watch the video above and tell us what was the name of the clothes shop we visited at the start of the show. Email your answer to competitions@zoegriffin.co.uk with your name and address.
CLOSING DATE: Enter befoe 2345 on Friday 1 February 2012
Good luck!!
And thanks to everyone who entered last week’sBenefit make-up competition. The winner was Amanda Sanbridge from London.
