WIN BECKSONDERGAARD CAPES FOR YOU & YOUR BESTIE!

To celebrate the release of Miss You Already, a brand new film about besties opening on Friday 25th September, I've got another competition for you! Danish designer Becksondergaard have adapted their signature cape, a lovely swooshy blankety number, hand-printed with a print that was created exclusively for the film.

I absolutely love capes, they are so perfect and cosy for wearing on their own in Autumn and layering up in Winter, so I was delighted to be sent one to try out, and get another two capes (worth £99 each!) to give away.

Cape* - Becksondergaard
Dress - H&M
Shoes - Ebay
Sunglasses - Forever 21

The timing of this competition feels very appropriate, as I've just spent the best weekend in London hanging out with my best pal, who I definitely do not get to see as much as I'd like! We met when we were teenagers and have grown up together (with adventures, arguments and everything in between!), and now, even though we're at opposite ends of a country, she's still one of my very favourite people.

Miss You Already stars BFFs Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette who have also been friends forever. It's a film about what happens when life goes wrong, and how friends get you through it. That might sound totally sappy, but I love film and tv that celebrates strong friendships (like Lesley and Anne in Parks & Recreation!), and Miss You Already is getting pretty brilliant reviews already.

So, for your chance to win two capes (one for you and one for your best pal), all you have to do is follow the instructions below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Miss You Already opens on Friday 25th (tomorrow!) and you can watch the trailer here.

WIN A STITCH & STORY KIT

There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of wearing something YOU have made. It's easy to see how knitting has gone through a resurgence lately - it's a super relaxing hobby that is perfect for cold, dark evenings, giving you the perfect excuse to hibernate under a blanket and watch movies, while also feeling pretty productive.

I came across Stitch & Story recently and I was instantly taken (and featured them immediately in my recent Autumn wishlist post). Stitch & Story make super-cute knitting kits that are designed to reflect current fashion trends and lifestyle products AND be super easy to use. Their site is also packed with knitting tutorials, so even total beginners can have a go, and they also run knitting workshops in London.

They're determined to break knitting's reputation as a difficult granny hobby, and it's totally working - all of their kits are cute and wearable (look at this bobble hat!) and they provide everything you need to get started.

Easy Slumber Socks - Dust pink kit

Stitch & Story are just about to launch a brand new knitting kit, Easy Slumber Socks, and I'm delighted that I've got two kits to give away! This kit comes in dust pink and fossil grey, and comes with:

• 2 x 100g Stitch & Story The Chunky Wool (100% merino wool)
• Short pair (25cm) size 8mm bamboo knitting needles
• Easy Slumber Socks pattern
• Sewing needle
• Basic knitting instructions
• Re-useable Kraft bag to store all your knitting gear

Easy Slumber Socks - Fossil grey kit

For your chance to win, just follow the instructions below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners will be picked on Wednesday 30th September and I'll email you to let you know you've won. By entering you also agree for your email address to be passed on to Stitch & Story (which I think means they'll send you cosy photos of wool and the occasional offer). UK entries only please. Thank you!

WIN TICKETS TO EDSCIFEST'S BIG BANG BASH

There's only ONE WEEK to go before the Science Festival launches (oh my god), and it's turning into such an exciting year.

To celebrate Edinburgh's best festival (ahem), I have FIVE pairs of tickets to give away to our amazing space party, the Big Bang Bash!

An out-of-this-world party celebrating the wonders of space, the Big Bang Bash takes place in the super beautiful National Museum of Scotland, on Friday 10th April.

These's so much spacey fun to enjoy! You can sample space-themed cocktails from the Bar at the End of the Universe, discover the solar system in a massive planetarium, make your own spacecraft to take home, watch roving scientists perform mid-boggling experiments, and listen to short talks from space experts including Marcus Chown, Prof Monica Grady and Dr Roberto Trotta. There's also vintage sci-films, a space-tacular DJ, and a model of the Mars Rover to ooh at, while you're drinking your drink and getting your geek on.

For your chance to win tickets (remember, you'll need to be in Edinburgh on Friday 10th April!), just fill in the form below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck! I'll pick a winner on Wednesday 8th April and will notify them by email.

WIN A CHAMPAGNE TRUFFLE EASTER EGG

If you've ever been lucky enough to be gifted a box of very fancy chocolates, you've possibly come across Britain's fanciest chocolatier, Charbonnel et Walker.

Founded in 1875, Charbonnel et Walker is one of Britain's earliest chocolatiers. They specialise in making seriously dreamy English chocolates, truffles and confectionery, and even hold the Royal Warrant as Chocolate Manufacturers to Her Majesty the Queen (who knew that was even a thing? What an amazing fact).

It's not long until every chocolate-lover's favourite holiday (Easter, obvs), which I am counting down to with great anticipation (as I haven't eaten ANY sugary treats since Pancake Day, weep!).

As all good chocolate shops should, Charbonnel have put together an Easter range of treats, including super deluxe easter eggs, mini speckled chocolate eggs, bunny themed goodies, and a massive chocolate fish (which I assume is a traditional easter gift...? I've never come across massive chocolate fish before, but I'd very happily eat it!).

To celebrate all of these Easter treats, Charbonnel have very kindly given me three of their super deluxe Milk Chocolate Easter Egg filled with Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles to give away. For your chance to win, all you have to do is follow the instructions below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners will be picked on Wednesday 1st April and I'll email you to let you know you've won. By entering you also agree for your email address to be passed on to Charbonnel (which I think means they'll send you delicious photos of chocolate and the occasional offer). UK entries only please. Thank you!

WIN AN ARRAN AROMATICS GIFT SET!

I haven't had a giveaway for AGES, so here's a nice Christmas treat for you!

Arran Aromatics are a Scottish beauty brand (based, unsurprisingly, on the very lovely Isle of Arran), who make luxury candles, bath and body products infused with original fragrances inspired by the landscape and scents of the island. They are good guys too - all of their products are cruelty-free and they are dedicated to caring for the environment and being super enthusiastic about recycling.

I am currently obsessed with candles (as soon as I turned 28 I suddenly understood why people spend a fortune on nice candles), so I've picked one of their candle Christmas gift sets to give away.

Perfumer Collection: Travel Candle Collection - £32

The Perfumer Collection is a super cute set, inspired by their travels and fragrances from around the world, all infused with the essence of Arran. In the limited edition gift box you'll receive: Wild Gorse, Ultimate Fig, Just Grapefruit, Jasmine & Philadelphus, Amber Wood, Cedarwood & Citrus, Bergamot & Geranium, and After the Rain.

To enter, just follow the instructions below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The competition ends on December 3rd and is only open to UK readers. I'll email the lucky winner to get their details. Good luck!

Win tickets to the Edinburgh International Science Festival!

It's festival time! Well, almost. The Edinburgh International Science Festival (which I've mentioned a few times on here) is fast approaching, and thanks to my lovely pals at work, I have a few pairs of tickets to give away...

This year the Festival is celebrating science at the heart of everything - which basically means no matter who you are, or what you are into, science is connected in some shape or form. 

The Festival isn't all white coats or stern lectures either (although both can be found if you're into that sort of thing), there's food and fashion, comedy and film screenings, live music, robots, codey things, vampire, cocktails, theatre, musical pinball tables, and the chance to pretend to be a big kid and play with slime, eyeballs and potions (with beer in hand) at the opening party.

I've got two pairs of tickets to giveaway, and you can pick from one of the following events....

Science Festival Lates  Thursday 3rd April, 7.30pm

Fancy embarking on a Jungle Safari? Or having a go at keyhole surgery in A&E? Science Festival Lates is just the ticket as we turn our flagship children's venue over to adults only for one very special night. Celebrate the opening of the 2014 Festival with us as we explore science at the heart of things – we’ve got blood and guts, eyeballs and slime, bubbles and robots all mixed in with music, bars and fun. Don’t miss the chance to get hands-on and get your geek on – grab a drink and join the party!

Mathemania! Wednesday 9th April, 5.30pm

Mathemania has broken loose! Equations have broken through the ivory towers of academia to infect every part of our daily lives. Banking, betting and betrothing now have maths in their DNA, and you’re next. Your only antidote to this epidemic is to understand it. Luckily, stand-up mathematician and Australian Numeracy Ambassador Simon Pampena can help. He finds the whole situation hilarious... as will you!

Sin Academy  Thursday 10th April, 8pm

Merging science and sin, author and ‘hedonism expert’ Zoe Cromier of Guerilla Science leads an interactive celebration of the unholy trinity of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll as she explores the science of hedonism. From tortoiseshell condoms to superstar athletes on hallucinogens, expect stories from some of the more sinful annals of science. But you don’t get off that lightly! Get up close and personal with science in a series of interactive experiments that will give you the chance to smell your way to your perfect partner, extract DNA and feel electricity when you kiss. Naughty? Perhaps, but rather nice! Hosted by science songstress Helen Arney.

The Hangover Hypothesis Sunday 13th April, 11am

We all have a routine for the morning after the night before, but is it really effective? Bring your own hangover along (optional!) and join us as we attempt to stretch, slurp and scoff it into submission. Under the supervision of Milton Crawford, author of The Hangoevr Cookbook (sic), we’ll try morning after cocktails, a spot of yoga with Linda Douglas and – experiment with the classic cure – a bacon roll. Learn what science has to say and seprate the myth from reality.

Gotta Get Up to Get Down Sunday 13th April, 8pm

If you had to express your personality through dance, what would you be? A cheeky Charleston? A proud Paso Doble? Or a cocky twerker? Let dance psychology expert Dr Peter Lovatt, AKA Dr Dance, show you how the way you are and the way you feel can influence how you move your body. No need for a leotard and dancing shoes are optional in this terpsichoreal tour of wonder.

To enter just fill in the following form. I'll pick two winners and let you both know by email by April 1st. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

p.s. please only enter if you are able to attend the event (which is in Edinburgh!) on the date listed above. Thank you!

Win tickets to see Taylor Swift!

Okay, London pals, listen up! The nice people at Seatwave have given me two tickets to give away to see the country-pop superstar of brilliant hair and excellent dresses, Taylor Swift, on Monday 10th February at the O2 Arena, London.

I AM SO JEALOUS.

Seatwave, it you ain't heard of it, is an online marketplace where fans can buy and sell tickets for gigs (from Chvrches to Lady Gaga tickets) , theatre, sport, and any other live event you can think of. It means you don't have to totally stress out when gigs sell out in an instant (I'm looking at you, Beyonce), and it removes the stress of dealing with potentially dodgy people on gumtree!

If you would like to enter, please fill in the form below. You need to be able to travel to London on Monday evening, so please enter only if you can go along (although this is, of course, a perfect excuse for a last-minute London trip), and you have to tell Taylor that I think she has wonderful hair. Enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Win tickets to the Pleasance Sessions!

Alright, Scottish people, listen up!

You probably already know The Pleasance from Festival time. It's one of the big Edinburgh Fringe venues, and is normally packed with comedians (from properly famous ones in Pleasance Grand, to first timers in tiny hot rooms), a courtyard full of beer, picnic tables and MILLIONS of flyerers.

But, unless you have been a student at Edinburgh Uni, you probably don't know that it hosts live music, comedy, theatre and film events all year round. AND you don't have to be a student to go along (although I'm pretty sure that you still get to buy drinks at student prices... hello).

In October they are launching a brand new festival, The Pleasance Sessions, which brings together some of Scotland's favourite promoters, festivals and publications to curate three weeks of handpicked live acts, and it looks brilliant!

The whole festival celebrates stripped back sets and fresh collaborations, and features all sorts of super-cool Scots, including Miaoux Miaoux, Sparrow and The Workshop, Rick Redbeard, The Pictish Trail, Abandoman, Three Blind Wolves (I love them!), Conquering Animal Sound and an LP launch from Lau’s Aidan O’Rourke.

Photo from EUSA Live

AND because they are such cool guys, the very nice folk at EUSA have given me some tickets to give away! You can win a pair of tickets to the Opening Night on October 10th (that's this Thursday!) AND a pair to any of the Pleasance Sessions events...

Take your pick!

To enter, all you have to do is follow the instructions below... Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win tickets to the Edinburgh International Science Festival!

Recently I jumped ships, leaving my lovely magazine job to work in the new, exciting world of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. I've been here almost a month (how quickly does time fly?!), and the festival is only one week away!

I feel mildly guilty actually, as everyone is so busy & productive, and I am spending lots of time "learning" (aka going for coffee with clients & visiting tiny children with the science workshop team!). It's useful - promise!

If you don't know, the Edinburgh International Science Festival was the world's first science festival, and is still one of Europe's largest. It used to be aimed at kids & families, but over the last few years they've really stepped up their adult programme & now put on LOADS over two weeks in March & April. It's not all aimed at super-smart people either (although there are lots of lectures if that's your cup of tea!), there's comedy, music, art & fun workshops - loads of chances to be a big kid and play with things! (You can see what I got up to last year here).

One of the most fun-looking events this year is Science Festival Lates, which is going to be the Opening Party of the festival on March 21st. The City Art Centre (used as EISF's flagship children's venue) is going to be open to adults for one night only - you can do experiments, take part in workshops, and just play, with a beer in hand. 

Sound good? Well, I have three pairs of tickets to give away! All you have to do is enter via the rafflecopter form below. This competition is open to all UK entrants... although please do only enter if you are able to attend the event (which is, I repeat, in Edinburgh on March 21st). You also have to be over 18, as there will be drinks aplenty.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'll be picking winners on Wednesday 20th March & will get in touch by email if you've won. Good luck!

p.s. if you aren't one of the winners & still want to go, tickets are only £10 - that's less than £3.50 an hour. Bargain!

The Amazing Spider-man nail art (& DVD giveaway!)

Let's talk Spiderman! 

I knew I was going to like the newest Spiderman film as I'm such a big fan of Emma Stone (I love her!) and Andrew Garfield (er, hello) but I didn't realise just how much I would love it. There's a scene where he swings through the streets of New York & I genuinely got a bit of a lump in my throat. Aw. 

So I was pretty chuffed when Sony Entertainment got in touch  asked me to put together a spidey nail art look using a couple of polishes from the OPI Spiderman collection to celebrate the release of the Amazing Spider-Man on DVD & Blu-ray. 

OPI - Call me Gwen-ever* | OPI - Into the Night* | OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls*

I was sent Call me Gwen-ever (a corally orange), Into the Night (a metallic dark blue), and My  Boyfriend Scales Walls (a white polish with a tinge of grey). I had thought about trying to do a subtle spiderman pattern (maybe a tiny bit more appropriate for the serious work meetings I have this week), then thought nah - I'm going full spidey!

So I painted this mix of webs & the Spiderman mask. It's really easy to do - all you need is a thin brush or nail art pen to paint the lines of the web.

Sony have also kindly offered a couple of copies of the DVD as a giveaway - so if you'd like a chance to win one, just comment with your email address below!

The Amazing Spider-Man is out on Blu-ray & DVD on Monday 26th November (that's today!).

The competition will close on Monday 2nd December & winners will be notified by email. 

Win Edinburgh Gin!

Let's talk gin. Tasty, tasty gin.

I've actually got a confession - before trying Edinburgh Gin at the Book Festival earlier this year, I was a bit scared of it (I thought it was only for old men & people who like tennis). But it was light! & refreshing! & nice! Plus I am an absolute sucker for pretty packaging.

Anyway, this is an interesting story (I promise) because the lovely people over at Google+ and Zagat have teamed up together to offer a gift pack of gin (original, raspberry & elderflower flavours) to you fine folk.

For a chance to win, all you have to do is review your favourite Edinburgh bar, pub or club by clicking here.

Luckily for us lazy folk, by "review" they literally mean a few words.. not much longer that a tweet! Just the sort of thing you would tell a pal if you were recommending it. You can add as many reviews as you like & the more you add, the higher your chances of winning. Hooray!

The contest closes on December 9th, so be quick! Google Edinburgh will choose a winner and be in touch shortly afterwards. You must be 18+ years of age and a resident of Scotland to be eligible.

Gin gin gin gin!

Good luck! x

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. The gin is bloody lovely though (I definitely recommend it!)

Rekorderlig cider giveaway

We've all heard of Rekorderlig, yeah? It feels a bit like this Swedish cider has taken over the world this year (kicking the less tasty, fizzier versions out of the water), but for good reason - it's bloody lovely! 

This summer they launched their Swedish School - a campaign teaching cider-lovers how to bring out their inner-Swedishness (which I'm sure we all have). The videos are funny, but (more importantly) feature people with THE MOST INCREDIBLE HAIR. Effortless, just look at my lovely bed head curls hair. I'm a bit jealous. 

THERE IS NO SUN IN SCOTLAND (ruining the nice picnic photos I had planned). But look, you can drink it inside! With fruit! Hooray! 

To celebrate the new campaign, the lovely folk at Rekorderlig have given me THREE CASES for you lovely lot to win. The ciders come in a whole host of flavours, and the winners can pick their flavour of choice (I recommend wild berries. Mmm!).

To enter, just fill in the rafflecopter form below. If you've been taking part in my other giveaways (it's been a bit of a theme this week) then it is super easy to take part - you'll have done it all already!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The competition is open to anyone from the UK who is over 18 (tsk tsk underagers).

p.s. if giveaways do your head in, I promise I will be back to normal service next week!

Hotel Chocolat halloween chocolate (& giveaway!)

I know you aren't really meant to brag about the nice things you get as a blogger, but I just can't resist on this occasion. Not only was I sent chocolate (always good), I was sent Hotel Chocolat chocolate. & not just any Hotel Chocolat, but a few things from their brand-new, ridiculously cute, try-not-to-eat-it-all-at-once Halloween range. Hiya! It looks a little something like this.

It includes the Halloween Bites box, a Little Bag of Horrors (which surely someone should buy for Ayden at Little Blog of Horrors?), & chocolate skulls. The range also has the most amazing looking chocolate box - Dead Gorgeous, a limited edition, satin trimmed coffin filled with milk and dark chocolates that are finished in 24 carat edible gold. How amazing is that?

Another benefit of spooky themed chocolate? You can do idiotic things like this.

Don't judge me. It was late.

& it tastes gooooooood.

To continue my "unplanned but excellent" week of giveaways, the lovely people at Hotel Chocolat have offered a goody bag for a lucky reader. Woop. Just follow the rafflecopter instructions below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sugar & Vice necklace giveaway!

It never rains but it pours, right? It has been AGES since my last giveaway... I had planned to have a couple across the year (nicely spaced out and all), but have somehow managed to set up three over the next week with no special reason to do so. Still, free stuff is always nice, right?

So as a massive THANK YOU to everyone who reads this blog (and according to google analytics that's a massive 4,500 of you per month, jeeezo), here's the first prize - an amazing Stag in Disguise necklace by Sugar & Vice.

I came across Sugar & Vice a few weeks ago and was SO impressed with their wares that I was over the moon when they agreed to partner up with me for a giveaway.

They let me choose which item to pick for you lovely lot and it was so hard! I was properly swithering over the magpie necklace, crown necklace & heart padlock brooch (I want them all) but in the end I couldn't resist this fellow. It's a stag. With glasses. And a mustache. Do you need anything else?

To enter you just need to fill in the simple rafflecopter form below. This is the first time I've used this so here's hoping it runs smoothly!

This will be running for just over seven days and is open to everyone (hooray). Thanks to Sugar and Vice for being so lovely to work with too. x

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my recent giveaway (and sorry for the delay in announcing a winner - I've had a pretty manic week!).

I used random.org to pick a winner for the pastel polish set, who I'm pleased to announce is...

New Found Glory are pretty stoked that you've won too.

... Jen from Adventures of a Nerdasaurus! Wooo! I'll be emailing you shortly, so keep an eye out.

Thanks again everyone, and have a lovely weekend! x

Models Own giveaway

I originally planned to do this giveaway to mark reaching one hundred followers (hiya!), but got a bit distracted by New Year! But better late than never, right? So as a big thank you to everyone who reads this blog  I've got this amazing pastel polish set from Models Own to give away. 

Shades in the set: Feeling Blue, Lemon Meringue, Pastel Pink, Lilac Dream, Top Turquoise and Fuzzy Peach!

I use these polishes all the time (if you scroll through the nail art tag you'll see what they are like on). Models Own is such a lovely brand - the colours go on really smoothly and stay on well too.

Here's how to enter:

1. Be a follower through google friend connect.

2. Comment on this entry with your email address.

3. For extra entries: 

• follow @julietblog on twitter
• like eversojuliet on facebook
• tweet "Win a set of models own polishes from @julietblog: http://tiny.cc/julietblog"
• & tell me about these in a comment (1 extra entry for each of the above).

This giveaway will close on Monday 20th February.

Good luck! x

Giveaway winner!

Thank you to everyone who took part in my first ever blog giveaway! I was a little nervous that no one would enter (ha) but you did, and hopefully you liked the fun things I brought back from America.

So, with a little help from random.org, I can reveal that the winner is....

(I'm a photoshop master these days).

... Rosie from a rosie outlook ! Yay. An email will be winging its way to you, and I'll send out your prize shortly.

I'm going to try and line up another one before Christmas, so keep an eye out! x

Giveaway!

Hi, I'm back! I had an absolutely amazing holiday... loads of sunshine, theme parks, american food, meeting an astronaut (!), beaches, ice cream sundaes, zombie nights out, pop punk gigs & so much more!

I am currently resizing and organising over 1000 photos (oh god oh god oh god) & will have a couple of holiday blog posts soon (although only a tiny number of photos, don't worry!). But in the meantime, here's my first blog giveaway - some lovely things I picked up in the USA!

Wilton cookie cutters - these are SO cute. I swithered over getting a set for myself too and didn't because I was worried about suitcase space.... I am regretting it now! I really like food in the shape of other food... and now you too can make cookies shaped like cupcakes!

Goobers - chocolate covered peanuts. Not going to lie, I bought these purely for their name. It is daft.

Crayola nail art pen - this is AMAZING! It's so easy to use (I think maybe even easier even than the wah nail art pen!) and really does work just like a pen, no squeezing or brushes involved.

Crayola scented nail polish - these are clearly aimed at children but I don't care, they smell amazing (and actually work!). Your nails can be grape, blueberry, green apple, orange or bubblegum (or grape & bubblegum if you use it for leopard print nails).

Here's how to enter...

1. Follow the blog on google friend connect.
2. Comment on this entry with your email address.
3. For extra chances - follow on twitter (1 extra entry), like on facebook (1 extra entry) or blog about this giveaway (3 extra entries!). Tell me about this in your comment.

The giveaway will close on November 4th! Good luck.

p.s. please don't enter if you are deathly allergic to things that have been sniffed by curious cats. I did try to keep him away, but he likes to nosy at EVERYTHING.