Brand Alert: Grasshopper Art Project

From time to time I have been lucky enough to be contacted by hidden brands trying to break the market. Grasshopper Art Project has something a little different to offer. As you know I am a big Lush fan because of it's natural and ethical qualities (and because they have kick ass products) Anyway, I'm sidetracking again. Grasshopper is a ethical, hand printed design company who are currently focusing on t-shirts.

They have really unique designs that your average high street store do not possess and the fact they have organic cotton tee's that are hand prints means every single top is going to be that little more unique. I loved their tee's so much I got 2 myself (outfit posts will come soon enough)

The fit of the tee's themselves are awesome they sit a little longer than most so it looks brilliant teamed with some boat shoes, rolled sleeves and some nice jeans. Definitely a company to keep an eye on as they are relatively new but growing fast. Check out their e-bay store for some goodies (CLICK HERE)

Don't worry ladies all their tee's are unisex so there is room for you too and they are a bargain really at only £12 a tee so it's worth checking them out.

All this talk of hand printing is making me feel creative maybe I should bring out my own PolkaDotPrince tee what do you guys think?

Outfit Post: White Washed

This time I wanted to show you guys an outfit that involves something that I have made personally myself. Regular readers of PolkaDotPrince will notice that the hooded jumper in this top has been featured before in an illustration I drew at uni. I really love this top. It has a paneled front and a working zip that leads from one corner of the garment to the other.

What do you guys think of my design? 

God Of War

I always used to sit watching my brother play the latest craze in gaming and I used to wonder how on earth he could sit for hours and hours on end staring at a screen, talking through his headset to his friends in some sort of foreign language, 'The gaming code' I used to call it. After failing many times to play games such as Call of Duty, Portal and Hitman I basically gave up. I realised that I could never be a gamer.

Recently I noticed a game called God Of War and I watched a few trailers on YouTube to try and see what it was about. It seemingly ticked all the boxes, Greek mythology, scary man fighting, mystical weapons and magic but nervously the people who have put these demo's online are clearly pro gamers, I could never play like that.

Luckily I have an amazing man who surprised me by buying me God of War 1,2 & 3. I have to admit I am 100% hooked! Its amazing because it really eases you into how to fight and as the game goes on you learn more and more rather than just doing everything at once. It's a perfect game for a beginner to the gaming world especially if you wish to impress your gaming friends. 

The story is simple one leading spartan prays to the god Aries to save him in a battle, in return Kratos (main character) gives his life to the god. In a twist the god indirectly makes Kratos kill his family so he would have no emotional weaknesses. Now Kratos wants to kill him and the gods Poseidon, Zeus and Hades want to help.

I just can't wait to hit the next game... it's been 2 weeks and I'm close to completing the first one, once I battle Aries. I would highly recommend this game to newbies and gaming pro's alike as its not only fun and eases you in but is visually amazing, the view point when fighting monsters truly makes the game.

PolkaDotPrince review- ***** 

England: 6 Nations.

So once again we were faced with the 6 nations, possibly one of the few sporting events I enjoy watching (and drinking to). It went really well to start by fighting off the Scottish, Irish and then the French. It seemingly was going well the only other team that could stop us being the Welsh, because they are beasts, the good kind. There was even talk of a grand slam on the horizon.

Next came the Italians and once again we fought them well, not so far off the grand slam after all! A week goes by and now it's the final decided England vs Wales. Now lets be honest here, England had a pretty fresh team and Wales were pumped with experience... and did I mention they are beasts? Anyway as most expected the Welsh destroyed us by miles. The final scare came to 30/3 to Wales, that's not winning that is putting our team to shame. And because of that pitiful game we came second in the league. Better luck next year? 

All our team needs is a good bump in the ego and a little more experience and we will fight the Welsh again next time! Then who knows maybe we could get the grand slam we were tantalizingly close to this time round...... we shall see!

Bucks&Co Clothing.

I was lucky enough to win a pair of jeans courtesy of Bucks&Co Clothing back when they were doing a competition advent calender in December. It has been a little while but I wanted to wear them in a bit before I spoke a little about the brand. As you all may know jeans fit best once they have been worn in and scruffed up a bit.

Bucks&Co- Bucks is inspired by authentic hunting goods. Taking inspiration from the smallest of details which are evident on hunting garments, such as the colour orange (warning/safety), game pockets(carrying dead foul), concealed bullet holders, 'D' rings (attachment for hunter's ID), reinforced pocketing & stitching. Any number of these inspiring but crucial details can be found on a Buck's garment.

These pictures show the beautiful 'Game' fit jeans I won and after a few months of wearing them in I can comfortably say they are brilliant worth every penny. The fit doesn't loosen around the waist like most of jeans do. The colour has also stuck well even though they have been washed a few times. Best of all however is that they have now survived a few drunken falls on nights out and have come out the victor. I am so happy with them I already have my eye on purchasing another pair. 

Make sure you check out their online store.... (CLICK ME)

The Gold Cup, Good/Bad?

This week see's the arrival of around 60-80 Thousand tourists to the small town of Cheltenham (my home). All of these people, as you may know are here to experience the hype that is the Gold Cup Horse Racing week. The problem that I face is is the gold cup good or bad! Lets start on a good note;

Good.....
The reason why the Gold Cup week is a good things is because of the tourism. The Thousands of people that hit Cheltenham, hit it hard and spend spend spend meaning local hospitality businesses are in-undated with customers and I know this first hand working in a restaurant. They tip well and are generally a good laugh despite the odd drunken idiot (expected). There is also the fact that Cheltenham gets a huge exposure to the rest of the country making it known and creating a tourist appeal. Notice the trend on money so far. I have noticed more and more that 'Cheltonians' are actually renting their houses to the race-goers and going on holiday so they are making money themselves.

Bad...

Where to begin well in light of all the tourism we are receiving there are standard repercussions such as all the litter, vandalism and the fact that the council every year still doesn't know how to sort it out quick enough. There is also the fact that Cheltenham's night clubs seem to turn into some whore-fest, have some class ladies. Also the fact that it is encouraging gambling and drinking but that is not an opinion I feel strongly about as I have partaken in both in my time, could you imagine 3 years of uni and no alcohol haha. Another factor is that as I have mentioned the races and influx of people that support the small businesses and hospitality trade, bringing in a lot of money, it doesn't support all businesses. Places such as optometrists, chemists, cosmetics shops etc do not receive any more sales just a lot more hassle. Now to the main issue of The Gold Cup, the nature of the sport. Horses have been destroyed every year and Cheltenham holds an impressive 'Highest Fatality' record. (Facts and Figures- Click Here) People are betting on a sport that runs animals into an over worked frenzy We stopped cock fighting and fox hunting and bear baiting for the same reasons we watch horse racing, to fuel our desire of money and sport that ultimately ends in unnecessary death. Now before I receive tons of hate mail for this post I would like to say my opinion is just that, an opinion and forcefully I would not stop the races, I'm not a joy-kill I would however push for the conditions of the courses to be altered. For example the material of the jumps to be changed, the jumps to be lowered and stricter regulations to what is deemed 'Fit' to race on. 

My opinion has been backed wonderfully by the team of Lush in Cheltenham. With the team already planning a mourning of the 5 racehorses lost last year, the team and I have been working to get signatures to support the changing of conditions, this then will allow for a lower death toll and better conditions or the horses. Find out more by clicking on the pictures.

Well now I have ranted at you and you know my opinions I would really like to hear yours! let me know if your for or against this sport?

The Delay....

Hey hey hey.... Long time no speak my apologies for the lack of blogging recently I have been a busy busy boy however I thought just to keep you interested I will tell you a little bit about the content to come over the next few weeks;

• Horse Racing, Good or Bad? (including campaign pictures from Lush in Cheltenham) 
• Brand Alert 'Grasshopper art project' 
• March 13th No Smoking Day
• Some lovely outfit posts

See fun things to read and fun pictures too... so stay tuned my loyal followers! Love y'all