American Apparel - Save 50% online or instore!

Here's another great deal for our readers! After you've got yourself pampered and relaxed with Monday's 25% off a facial or massage offer, get yourself kitted out in some rather funky threads!

Deal-of-the-day website Groupon are offering at £50 American Apparel voucher for only £25, which can be redeemed instore or online. Amongst their stores in London, there's one at 176-178 Portobello Road, W11 and another at 40 Kensington High Street, W8, so it's easy for anyone in the area to pop into a local branch and peruse the racks.

Those familiar with the store will know the wide range of men's, women's, kids' and baby clothing that they sell, as well as featuring a good line of accessories. Whether it's something to help wrap yourself up in for the current cold weather (I've found their fleece hoodies very comfy, whilst their multi-functional, soft scarves rather versatile) or something more suitable for the party season (who can resist all that sparkle and lamé? I can't!), the voucher can certainly be put to good use.

Click on the above banner for further details, or see £25 for £50 Worth of Clothing and Accessories In-Store at American Apparel.

25% off a massage or facial at a top Notting Hill spa!

Here's a very special offer for you - 25% off a massage or facial at one of Notting Hill's top spas! Perfect for a bit of pre-Christmas or New Year pampering!

hydrohealing in Notting Hill, a celeb favourite, are very kindly offering our readers this wonderful deal on some of their treatments. Founded in 2006 by pharmacists Amo Khan and Vim Patel, the spa specializes in holistic and mineral based water treatments helping to purify, balance and revive both body and mind. Recognized by many as the UK’s leading spa and wellness centre, hydrohealing is well known for its popular hydrocushion massage which was voted best massage in London by the Evening Standard. You can book treatments online at www.hydrohealing.com, although be sure to call the spa direct to make use of this offer.

Aside from the hydrocushion massage, you can also enjoy the hydrostone hot stone massage therapy, or the hydrofirm deep tissue massage, whilst you can also take your pick from hydroblitz and hydrodermabrasion facials, amongst others.

There's also plenty of other treatments that you can book yourself in for (note: these are not included in the 25% offer) such as anti-cellulite and toning treatments, homeopathy, colonic hydrotherapy, waxing and a range of manicures and pedicures. There's even a number of treatments for expectant mums, and for men as well, lest they feel left out!

Simply quote "The Hill" when making your booking and you will receive 25% off the full treatment price.

Note: 25% off is only offered on a massage or facial, and can only be redeemed Monday to Friday. Offer expires 31st March 2011.

hydrohealing

216a Kensington Park Road

W11 1NR

Tel: 0207 727 2570

www.hydrohealing.com

A walk around the Portobello Road area

Prompted by a feature in last week's Sunday Times Magazine, which mentioned Lutyens & Rubinstein on Kensington Park Road, I thought I'd have an amble round Portobello Road and the surrounding area today to try and convey what it's like from a regular visitor.

As mentioned, Lutyens & Rubenstein (12 Kensington Park Road) is one of a number of very fine specialist bookshops in Notting Hill, with others including The Travel Bookshop (13-15 Blenheim Crescent) and Books For Cooks (4 Blenheim Crescent). Whilst there, I had to stop off at a wonderful newsagent at 12 Blenheim Crescent called Rococo, which sells an absolutely amazing number of foreign titles. Even today's edition of The New York Times was there!

Portobello Road Market was as busy as always with the usual array of items that it sells, plus some bits and pieces that you can pick up for Christmas - including door wreaths for £5, which I thought was pretty good value.

Walking up further north on Portobello Road, at its intersection with Golborne Road, I encountered a number of food stalls selling rather amazing-looking Moroccan food - one of my favourite cuisines! There was one stall selling all manner of grilled fish dishes, including sea bass, for £6.50. I was very tempted to indulge, but the long queues at each stall (which obviously shows the quality of the food) meant I decided to carry on with my walk.

Then I stumbled across an ideal store for me - Portobello Pet Shop (308 Portobello Road). As a cat owner (and feeder of the bird visitors to my garden) it's the kind of place where I can stock up on plenty of things I need! However, I jokingly enquired instore about whether they had anything for "fussy cats". "Yes, of course" was the reply - and handed a bag of cat biscuits that is actually labelled "for very fussy eaters". Who would have thought! I was very happy to also find a packet of seeds for robins, which will also no doubt please the most frequent visitor to my garden - a very pretty brown pigeon that we've named Jessica. Far more confident that she used to be in battling the other birds for food, I'm sure she'll enjoy it!