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Friday 28 January 2011

How to protect yourself from mosquito bites

Mosquito bites can really put a damper on your special holiday. In most cases they simply itch and are downright annoying. In some countries, however, just one tiny mosquito bite could result in a potentially life-threatening disease such as malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever, yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis. It can happen to any of us, even super rich celebs such as Cheryl Cole so check with your doctor before travelling. While you might have already thought of mosquito nets and sprays here are a few other things you can do to protect yourself.

Smell nasty!

No, I don't mean stop taking showers. There are some smells that mosquitoes absolutely hate and will put them right off their dinner, namely you! Eat lots of garlicky foods or if you don't want to eat it place it in your bedroom. Just like vampires, mosquitoes can't stand it. Take vitamin B tablets. As with garlic, the smell will be excreted from your body while you sleep, producing an odour that will make mosquitoes stay well clear. Marmite is also a great source of vitamin B. Mosquitoes are also repelled by certain scents found in perfumes such as jasmine, aglaia ordorata, rose or telosma cordarum merr.

Wear light-coloured clothing

In a group you may often find that one person is bitten all over whereas others remain completely untouched. This is often to do with the colour of their clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours especially navy blue or brown. Ensure that you wear light colours to avoid being bitten.

Use an electronic mosquito repellent

Electronic mosquito repellents emit a high frequency sound to repel mosquitoes and other insects. D2D sell one that comes on a handy key ring that can be attached to a belt, your keys or your headboard while sleeping. What makes electronic mosquito repellents so great is that they are completely chemical free. There is no unpleasant smell or itchiness and they are ideal for those with sensitive skin.

For great deals on all your holiday essentials please visit D2D.

Thursday 27 January 2011

Ski Essentials - Guide to Those Small Essentials for the Slopes

January and February can seem rather dull after all the fun and excitement of the festive season, which is why many of us decide to beat the New Year blues by jetting off for a week’s skiing. I must admit I have been looking forward to my trip for weeks now and as an extremely organised person I already have all of my essentials lined up in the spare bedroom ready to go. When packing for a skiing holiday there are so many different things you need to remember, from thermals to sunscreen and lip balm, not forgetting your jacket and salopettes, of course. So here are a few items on sale at D2D that you might not have thought of.


Nectar ease balm - After an active day on the slopes you may have a few aches and pains. A great way to relax your muscles is to have a hot bath then massage some nectar ease balm to any tense areas. Nectar ease balm is made from active Manuka honey and bee venom and is ideal for fast, effective relief. It has a soft, fine texture and its essential and cold-pressed oils mean that it is quickly and easily absorbed into the skin. You should wake up in the morning, refreshed and ready to hit the slopes all over again.

An EFX wristband - Wearing an EFX holographic wristband or bracelet places an energetic dot at one of your key energy centres or chakras. Like acupuncture, acupressure or deep therapeutic massage, this enhances the energy flow along the main meridian channels, which in turn maximises performance and overall well-being by increasing balance, strength, flexibility and endurance. By improving these key areas it could help you to significantly develop your technique while skiing. EFX technology has also been noted to provide effective relief from jet-lag which is an added bonus for anyone travelling to the United States or Canada for their ski fix.

Hand and body warmers - Although you may feel warm while slaloming down the slopes, it can get pretty cold while on the ski lift. Hand and body warmers are a great way to stay warm and comfortable in moments of inactivity. Grabber disposable hand warmers last for 24 hours. All you have to do is snap the packet and an instant chemical reaction takes place releasing lovely heat! And when you’re done you can simply throw them away. Heatease body warmers are great for putting on the lower abdominal or back areas and are adhesive so will stick to your skin even while you’re moving about.

• A trapper hat - Trapper hats are currently the hat du jour if you want to look cool and stylish. Screamer leather bomber hats are a spin-off style of those worn by aviators back in the day and are an ideal choice for skiers and snowboarders. These Screamer hats feature a fastback dome style top, extra long fur lined ear flaps, and wide fur lined front brim. You can wear the earflaps buckled over the top or folded down over your ears to keep out the cold. The Screamer Leather Vodka Bar Pilot Hat will keep you warm even in the toughest winter conditions


• A pair of sheepskin boots - Although originally designed for surfers to wear at the beach and keep their feet warm after coming in from the ocean, sheepskin boots are just as suitable for wearing in the snow. Sheepskin is a naturally thermostatic material meaning it will keep your feet warm and cosy no matter what the temperature. Unlike many styles sheepskin boots, Wombat Leather boots have a sturdy moulded rubber outsole that will support your feet and provide good traction on icy surfaces. They are also super stylish and are great for wearing while partying at a bar in the evening or just chilling in front of the fire at the hotel.

Anti Slip Grips for Shoes and Ski Boots - This traction aid simply slips over your shoes allowing you to turn them into snow shoes in seconds. Because the Get a Grip traction aid can fit onto any kind of shoe, it is great for shoes and even ski boots as you make your way to the slopes – 6 spikes on each 2 on the heel and 4 on the ball of the foot - Due North’s innovative Ice Diamond ™ spikes are made from resistant and hardwearing tungsten carbide. This makes them 10 times stronger and longer lasting than those found on other traction aids.

Monday 17 January 2011

New to D2D - long sheepskin boots from Wombat Leather

Wombat Leather’s long sheepskin boots have finally arrived at D2D and this much anticipated style has already caused quite a stir. At D2D we take great care in choosing quality products that we believe our customers will enjoy and these Wombat long sheepskin boots are no exception. We feel proud to be able to offer these fantastic boots which, in our opinion, are Wombat Leather’s best yet.



These long sheepskin boots are essentially very similar to Wombat Leather’s bestselling classic style. They differ in that they are longer, reaching mid-calf on the average person, which allows for extra warmth in winter and are available in two tasteful and wearable colours, chestnut (tan) and chocolate (dark brown). They are made from authentic Australian twin-faced sheepskin, the quality and softness of which is beyond comparison. As well as being made from only the finest raw materials they are also skilfully crafted for optimum comfort and practicality. The heel is reinforced to prevent the collapse that sometimes occurs in poorly produced boots and the outsole is made from moulded rubber that is extremely durable and has good traction on icy surfaces.

Customers have likened wearing these boots to ‘walking on air.’

Sheepskin boots were one of the most popular styles of boots in 2010 and they are set to be just as popular in 2011. Worn by women of all ages and with widely differing tastes in fashion, Wombat boots are a truly universal kind of footwear. They can be worn with almost anything and anywhere and will ensure that you stay warm and comfortable as well as looking modern and stylish.


To view our full range of Wombat boots, please visit D2D.

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Attention all students - start the new term with a new book bag

Is your book bag looking a little worse for wear? Clear out all your junk and start the new term back at uni afresh with a new bag free of last year’s crumpled lecture notes, empty gum packets and coffee stains. Backpacks are not easy to fit a laptop as well as books, folders, and A4 notepads in without damaging the corners so we recommend messenger style bags. They will neatly hold all of your study essentials and you can just as easily sling it over your shoulder while cycling to and from your lectures, seminars and practicals. At D2D we have a wide selection of canvas messenger bags to suit every taste and personality.


This black canvas messenger bag is a great basic bag for everyday uni life. It’s practical and functional and has lots of different pockets and pouches, good for keeping all your bits and pieces organised and to hand. This no frills canvas messenger bag is the ideal bag for natscis, mathmos and engineers, for any sensible student whose primary consideration is practicality.

The typical law or business student is smart, well dressed, although, not a fashion victim and well organised. They are determined, focused and career minded and need a bag to suit. This thick canvas bag trimmed with bull leather frim Hansson is a bag that means business. It’s simple, elegant and classy as well as being practical and functional.

Arts students are generally the most laid back and fashion conscious so this black messenger bag from Obsessed Surf is great for any cool dude on campus. It front flap has a distressed finish and the large silver buckle is a nice detail. For fun, arty girls we have a selection from Pro Sport in bright manga-inspired patterns with rainbow zips.

Finally we must not forget the compscis who will need something to carry around their latest gadgets. This iPad bag from Prime Hide is the perfect solution for carrying an iPad while keeping it well-protected.

To view our full range of canvas and leather messenger bags please visit D2D.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Sale on selected Winter Boots at D2D

Sale on selected Winter Boots at D2D


It may be sales season but Britain’s coldest winter for 120 years is far from over. This is a great time to stock up on warm and practical winter boots and take advantage of our fantastic post-Christmas discounts.

EWE leather/wool boots now only £45

Previously priced at £75, this is a truly excellent discount on Gumbies’ bestselling boots. EWE boots have proved extremely popular for their comfort and practicality. They are very cosy and are great for wearing both outdoors in cold, icy weather as well as indoors as slippers. Ewe boots are made from strong high-grade cow suede that is tough enough to withstand even the harshest winter conditions and have a reinforced heel to prevent the collapse often seen in poorer quality Australian-style boots. They have a soft wool lining for warmth and also feature innovative ‘pull-on’ tabs at the side, making them easy to put on despite almost coming up to the knee.

Wombat Alice Microfiber boots now only £20.99

Wombat Alice Microfiber boots have been a runaway success this season and we now have only a limited supply left. Like the EWE boots they are also made from strong high-grade cattle suede but they have an extremely silky faux-fur lining. Indeed many of our customers have commented on how soft they are. However, I personally feel their biggest point of difference from other Australian-style or ugg boots is the substantial, hardwearing sole, typical of all Wombat boots. The sturdy sole provides good support for your feet, will not easily wear down and has good grip in snowy or icy weather. Wombat Alice boots also feature faux-fur detailing on the outside and look great worn up or rolled down. As with all Wombat boots they are accompanied by a Wombat Leather dust bag to protect them when you are not wearing them and to keep them looking as good as the day you buy them. Make sure you get yours before they all sell out.

Get fit for 2010 with our range of fantastic health devices

Get fit for 2010 with our range of fantastic health devices


It’s that time of year again! Many of us make a New Year’s Resolution to get fit and healthy but it’s not one that’s always easily kept so at D2D we have a few products that should help you stick to your new fitness and health regime.

If you are worried about your blood pressure, the Inovalley wrist blood pressure monitor is a great device for you. You simply strap it to your wrist and use the readings to decide if and to what extent you need to change your lifestyle in order to stay healthy and avoid heart disease. The Inovalley wrist blood pressure monitor uses the oscillometric measurement method (i.e. it measures the amplitude of oscillations in the blood flow as it passes through the wrist) to give you two readings or levels, your systolic blood pressure and your diastolic blood pressure. These levels are shown on top of one another on the screen and are measured in mmHg (millimetres of mercury). The top number represents your systolic blood pressure and is the highest level your blood pressure reaches when your heart beats and pumps blood into your arteries. The bottom number represents your diastolic blood pressure and is the lowest level your blood pressure reaches as your heart relaxes between beats. Your blood pressure should ideally be below 140/85mmHg. The monitor will show you if your blood pressure is healthy or not by indicating your measurement on a colour scale from red through orange and yellow to green. If your blood pressure is constantly higher than is, you have high blood pressure or hypertension and thus your chances of having a heart attack or stroke are higher than normal. Causes of high blood pressure can be not doing enough physical activity, being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, eating too much salt in your diet and not enough fruit and vegetables.


Once you have used the Inovalley wrist blood pressure monitor to determine your initial blood pressure you can continue using it over time to measure how effective you new health regime is. For example, you could try reducing your alcohol intake and eating a healthier diet and see what effect this has on your blood pressure. If this doesn’t reduce it enough, you may have incorporate more exercise into your regime.

The Inovalley wrist blood pressure monitor also measures your heart rate or pulse which is a great indicator of your overall general fitness. This is another useful reading to watch over time.

For those who work all day at a computer or for keen tennis and golf players the Wristwand is a great fitness tool for combating repetitive strain. Using the Wristwand helps to protect you and provide relief from all sorts of repetitive strain injuries such as tennis elbow by stretching key muscle groups of the hands, wrists, forearms and upper arms. Regular stretching promotes circulation which improves the blood flow to the working tissues and encourages tissue repair. It reduces muscle tension, increases range of motion and helps to prevent injury. Stretching also requires a change in position, not only in the wrists, but in the arms, back and neck as well, relieving the stress of previously held postures. Many professional golfers swear by the Wristwand and it is an official product of the PGA Tour Partners Club. The Wristwand is available in 5 different colours and comes complete with stretching instructions, FAQs and further information on repetitive stress injuries.


For more great health products please visit D2D.