Monthly Archives: November 2012

500 Shakespearean Sonnets | Book Review

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I am a fan of poetry. So much so that I have made a film about poetry this year. So when I got a chance to review a book called 500 Shakespearean Sonnets I was quite excited. The book is already critically acclaimed. The Herald Scotland said about it, “Shakespeare managed to write 154 – Smith has penned more than three times that number. …splendidly contemporary… a tour de force”

High praise indeed. This book of sonnets is a diary in verse form from a man seeking to understand his own conflicted nature in this highly-praised new book of self-discovery from award-winning author, Ryan J-W Smith.

Ryan obviously has talent. The sonnets are incredibly well written. I have my own personal favourites, as I am sure you will have too. He has managed to be prolific but not skimp on quality. After an introduction Ryan goes into the sonnets. This book can be read in a few ways. It can be read through cover to cover, or you can just dip in and out when the mood takes you. Either way it is a poetic achievement. A great gift for any poetry lover in your life. Stunning stuff.

How many has he written now!? Check out Smith’s ‘Sonnet Blog’: www.sonnetblog.com

500 Shakespearean Sonnets: the Diary of a Poetic Quest for Truth

Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask | Beauty Review

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My mother got me started on face masks. The ritual of using a weekly face mask and relaxing was something we did before I grew up and moved out. It is something I really miss and is one of the reasons I think I get compliments about my skin.

I still use face masks, but finding the time has become a bit harder. Recently I have been making sure I fit it in and have been using Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask. Bee Venom? Yes, it is one of the the hot new ingredients now. Kate Middleton and Millie Mackintosh are fans. Did I like it? Read on….

I like the texture of the mask, it is quite thick and goes on well. It is like a thick moisturiser. Then when it comes off it flakes a little. It is also white so you don’t have a bright green face.

It really gives a boost to the skin. After I had used it only once I was asked by a friend if I had had a facial. She said I looked ‘rested’ and that my skin was glowing. Manuka claim it reduce wrinkles and scarring and it is not just a modest boost. It really, really works. It may cost £49.99 for 50ml, but it is completely worth it. One of the best face masks I have ever used, and I have been using them for years now.

Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask is definitely something to but on your Christmas wish list.

Natasha Hamilton has been very busy of late with an extreme juice detox, training for a charity cycle through India for cancer and the greatly anticipated ‘big reunion’ with Atomic Kitten in 2013 so it is no surprise she needs some time to relax beforehand. We can reveal that Natasha likes to unwind with Manuka Doctor’s ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask, in fact she took to twitter to let us all know… “just chilling at home with my Manuka Doctor Face Mask”

Manuka Doctor’s ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask (£49.99 50ml), harnesses the power of Purified Bee Venom to help stimulate collagen growth, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and renew damaged skin cells, leaving skin looking visibly younger.

Suitable for all skin types, apply the mask to thoroughly cleansed skin and leave on for between 15 and 30 minutes depending on your skin type. Remove any excess with water to reveal a glowing and youthful complexion.

Purified Bee Venom is a potent combination of minerals, peptides and amino acids that help to encourage cell regeneration and boost collagen formation. This, combined with moisturising UMF™18+ Manuka Honey, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E, deeply nourishes the skin and helps to reduce the appearance of scars and renew damaged skin cells.

Dr Sang Mi Han, who is the world’s most eminent bee venom expert, has been researching the subject for over 12 years, proving that this potent combination of minerals, peptides and amino acids works on all levels of the skin, to encourage naturally occurring cell regeneration and boost collagen formation.

Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask is available from Holland & Barrett or Superdrug.

Dana Wilkey – The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Exclusive Interview

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Frost Magazine have got an exclusive interview with the gorgeous Dana Wilkey, star of hit American TV show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Dana has recently bought a home in London’s Chelsea and is filming her own reality TV show, Rich and Ditched. The show is about Dana and her Irish millionaire businessman boyfriend, Philip Marley, setting up home in Central London and being ‘fish out of water’.

 

Dana has a huge profile in America and when she isn’t starring in  TV shows, she is a party planner for the Hollywood A List.  Her clients include Pierce Brosnan, Anthony Hopkins and  Bruce Willis.

 

What made you move to London?

I moved to London because I was looking for a fresh start from my Beverly Hills, CA saga.  It’s been a rough 6 months.  I have always loved London, have businesses there  and my new boyfriend and have good friends live there so it seemed like a natural progression of things.

 

What is your favourite thing about London?

My favourite thing about London is the currency!  To make money in the pound is the best possible situation to be in for the current global economy… oh! And I love the shopping and the level of your private clubs like Arts Club.
Why Chelsea?

Currently Chelsea seems like the hot spot to be in so I would of course want to live there and join the fun! Also I love the convenience of Kings Road and the fact that most of the brownstones have been redone with lots of modern touches that you don’t find in other more posh areas.


What is the premise of the show, Rich and Ditched?

I have been ditched by my friends in Beverly Hills and my ex fiancé.  I am moving to London to start over and hopefully FINALLY fine my prince charming.  I have 5 people that are both married and single that are all living in London but pretty much all came from some other country that I hang out with and well let’s say the sparks fly on a bunch of fronts…cultural conflict, relationship issues, American fish out of water in London syndrome and the usual cattiness you see on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!

 

How much has The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills changed your life?

It has changed my life for the positive and I continue to support the show and fans whenever possible.   If you try to shoot and be honest without a filter it can be a fun experience even if you look like an idiot in the final edit.  You must get over all your fears to be on a reality show so it can be an experience that can help you grow as a person also you meet so many amazing people through the opportunities it can provide.
Why did you leave?

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills shot some of this so I don’t want to disclose this until I know for sure what will air, but let’s just say my life over the last 6 months has been like the worst movie of the week you can imagine and now I want to have a chance at the Disney ending.

 

How do you feel London will differ from Beverly Hills?

On the down side, the differences are the weather obviously, the systems are more cumbersome and SOME of the people can be really judgemental and reserved compared to what I’m used to.  On the upside, London at the wealthiest levels make Beverly Hills look like the poo so that should make for some good parties, shopping is similar and the average person is so much more global which is so important!

 

What party planning tips can you give us?

I need more info on this question…for what type of party and what budget?

 

What is the best party you have been to?

Monaco Grand Prix ball with Wycliffe and U2.
What is the best party you have planned?

I rented the RM Elegant, which at the time, was the 17th largest yacht in the world during the Cannes Film festival. I then outfitted the yacht rooms with different vibes of décor and lighting.  You had to have a credit card to get on the yacht even if you were invited to the events so it was super exclusive and the talk of Cannes that year. I had Bruce Willis, Bret Ratnor and Petra Nemcova, etc on the yacht that year.

 

What are your plans for Christmas?

I am doing a winter wonderland theme with complete lighting and build out at my house.  I am famous for my Christmas decorations and lights in America. I will host a dinner for about 14 people in my movie theatre in London that will be especially decorated for the Holiday.

 

 

Living On A Budget

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Times are tough and very few of us have cash to splash. So here are some tips to make your money go further.

Go To Markets

  • Check if you have a local market near you. The food sold there will most likely be a lot cheaper and fresher than a supermarket and you can pick up some real bargains.
  • Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season. These are normally much cheaper as they haven’t had to be imported.

Scout The Supermarket

  • If you don’t have access to a market, then go to a large supermarket, rather than a smaller ‘express’ one, as it will have a much wider selection of products.
  • Write a shopping list to avoid impulse buying and plan meals, so you won’t arrive home with just a random assortment of ingredients.
  • I highly recommend checking out the reduced section, as you can find some amazing items at rock-bottom prices.
  • Don’t be afraid of economy food; the majority of it doesn’t taste too different to the more expensive brands and they can be less than half the price.
  • Look out for special offers and if you can, stock up on foods that keep, such as pasta, rice and tins, whilst they’re cheap.

On Your Bike

  • If you live in a city, cycling is normally quicker than public transport and buying a bike can work out significantly cheaper than paying for a travelcard each week. Have a look in a second-hand bike shop and you should be able to find a decent one for about £100.
  • Having a car gobbles up money, with the rising petrol prices, insurance and road tax you can find yourself spending a fortune. Think about whether you really need a car, as not having one could save you a lot of money.

Check Out Offers

  • When buying something, do your homework to see if it’s cheaper elsewhere or online.
  • Have a look for special offers. Companies want to entice you in, so see what they are offering, whether it’s a half price hair cut or a free eye test.

Do It Yourself

  • A great money-saving tip is to do things yourself rather than paying other people to do them. Whether it’s decorating or cleaning, it’s much cheaper to get your hands dirty.

Prioritise

  • If you can’t afford to do everything that you want to do, you need to prioritise and decide what is most important to you. Budget how much you can afford to spend after paying for food and rent and other necessities.

Get Creative

  • For a friend’s birthday splashing out on a card, present and cake can easily add up to quite a bit. However, with a bit of creativity you could make the lot yourself for a fraction of the price. Why not make them a personalised cd? It’s cheap to make, but there’s a lot of thought and effort behind it.

On the go

  • Buying convenience food can be extremely costly and really does add up. It is much cheaper to buy a bulk of ingredients and prepare a lunch each day.
  • Carry a water bottle with you to refill rather than buying a new one.

Spend wisely and live well!

 

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge unveils Natural History Museum Treasures

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Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was guest of honour at the grand opening of the Natural History Museum’s new Treasures gallery this evening. Treasures displays 22 of the most extraordinary specimens that have ever been on show at the Museum, and opens 30 November to the public.

The Duchess, who wore a green Mulberry dress for the evening, commented:

‘The Natural History Museum has a very special place in the heart of this nation. William and I are just two of millions of people who have passed through these doors, and marvelled at the spectacular wonders of the natural world, housed in this beautiful gallery. I care passionately about what this museum stands for.  Being here tonight, seeing some of nature’s finest treasures, reminds me just how precious and awe inspiring the natural world is. That is why the opening of Treasures is so incredibly exciting.  If it were ever needed, there is now even more reason to visit this wonderful museum.’

The Duchess met curators and viewed four star specimens in detail:

  • Archaeopteryx fossil – the most valuable fossil in the Museum’s collection, this 47-million-year-old rock slab contains the remains of the earliest known bird. With its combination of bird and dinosaur characteristics, it is a famous snapshot of evolution in action.
  • Audubon’s The Birds of America – the world’s most expensive book and one of the best-known natural history books ever produced. It was first published in double elephant folio size between 1827 and 1838 and is famous for its stunning life-size illustrations of birds.exquisite glass models of marine life
  • Charles Darwin’s pigeons – Darwin’s pigeons provided him with the crucial evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection. He bred them in his garden as an experiment and donated these fancy breeds of rock dove to the Museum in 1867
  • Wold Cottage meteorite – earliest surviving meteorite seen to land in the UK. The rock formed during the birth of the solar system, 4.6 billion years ago, and was seen to fall near Wold Cottage, Yorkshire, in 1795, confirming the extra-terrestrial origins of meteorites.

Each of the 22 objects have been hand-picked by Museum scientists for the fascinating story it has to tell and all objects represent an important part of the Museum’s scientific, historical, social and cultural worth.

Treasures in the Cadogan gallery is free to visit, giving a snapshot of the vast collections in a short space of time. It is located in the upper mezzanine floor of the awe-inspiring Central Hall, overlooking the iconic Diplodocus.

Dr Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum said;

‘We are thrilled Her Royal Highness joined us to celebrate the opening of Treasures. We hope that she is the first of many visitors to discover everything the Museum represents in this special gallery.’

Morrisons Christmas Showcase Event: What Food to Buy for Christmas?

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The perfect Christmas scene

Last week Frost was lucky enough to attend the Morrisons Christmas showcase event. We tried out all the delicious treats Morrisons is offering for this year. You may have already seen our Morrisons Christmas range article

Morrisons does an exceptionally good job of transcending the image of the corporate behemoth. Whilst other supermarkets were hosting investor days, Morrisons was focused on getting its message out to its customers. The event was hosted in a magical house which had apparently been featured on Grand Designs. It felt like it was Christmas day already! What struck me was the genuine passion and honesty of all the Morrisons team.

After being warmly greeted we were offered a glass of Morrisons award winning champagne. I don’t pretend to be much of a wine expert but my partner and I have been sold on Morrisons champagne ever since we first had some a few months ago. Honestly some of the best champagne I’ve ever had.

Moving on we were invited to try some of Morrisons bakery products. Graham, one of the bakers responsible for Morrisons new products, proudly encouraged us to try some of their new work. Morrisons employs more bakers than any other supermarket. All of the products we tried are made directly in the store.

mmmmm

White Christmas Pudding

Morrisons has brought in Claire Clark, world-famous pattissiere, to make this delicious alternative to the original Christmas pudding. It’s moist lighter and dare I say in many ways better. For those who aren’t fans of more traditional Christmas puddings this is well worth trying. Good value at just £3 as well.

Snow Capped Baked Alaska

Baked Alaska with cassis liquer, blackcurrant cream and sauce.

Christmas Tree Bread

Delicious and easy. Eleven mini buns locked together in the shape of a Christmas tree. Ideal for breaking and sharing.

Candy Cane

My absolute favorite of the new range. These look and taste wonderful. It is essentially a chocolate brioche wrapped around a currant bun. Definitely worth getting a couple for Christmas breakfast.

Panettone Cheesecake

This was a wonderful creation. I love cheesecake so it was great for me to try a Christmas version for once. It tasted superb the Morrisons team can be rightly proud of this one.

We next meet baking specialist Martin. Martin is very friendly and passionate like everyone else. He encourages us to try Morrisons old favourites, the award winning Panettone and Stollen, both have been updated slightly with extra fruit. Both are exceptionally good. I don’t think I’ve had better. I love Panettone.

I have barely finished stuffing my face when I am greeted by Roy, Morrisons meat specialist. He brings me a huge plate of Morrisons Christmas meats.

The quality of the ingredients really shines through, everything was excellent.

I really enjoyed the Crusted Turkey joint

The Morrisons team has worked with Michelin-starred chef Nigel Haworth to develop this.

You definitely won’t go wrong with Morrisons pigs in blankets. They were delicious. The cranberry sauce, stuffing and lamb were all excellent.

Everything is washed down with a delicious glass of Chilean wine. Morrisons is doing a lot to help their customers choose the right wine. Wine can be pretty confusing and often I get overwhelmed by all the different choices. Try out their new online taste test to see what wine is right for you.

The items above are just a small sample of Morrisons huge Christmas range.

Morrisons is a fantastic supermarket. An example of a great British business which provides food and livelihoods for a huge number of people.

I was really impressed by the genuine passion of the Morrisons team. There was no fake interest or pretence, just satisified people with a passion for their work.

Morrisons often doesn’t get the credit it deserves when it comes to the quality of its food. They’ve put together a fantastic Christmas range make sure to check it out.

 

Encouraging Imaginative Play is the Best Gift you can give this Christmas

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When children play, it looks and sounds incredibly random. They seem to shift from one imaginary game to another with each game having no relation whatsoever to the previous. One minute they are quite happy creating mud pies with a delightful concoction of grass, worms and dirt while leaving horrifying holes in the grass, and the next minute they are hiding from dangerous jungle creatures in their exciting safari shelter / garden bush. No matter where they are, who they are with or what they’re supposed to be doing, children will find extraordinary ways to create some fun imaginary
playtime.

With Christmas on its way, mummies and daddies all over the land are trying to find the perfect gifts for their little ones, and with the latest flashy gadgets arising from the tech-toys market, it’s easy to become distracted by their bright lights and impressive noises, and we forget why traditional imaginative play is so important. With technological advances in children’s toys, playtime appears to become more and more complex with lots of working buzzers, buttons and mechanical devices;
however the very nature of these modern toys actually encourages play to become simpler. The
more complex the toy, quite often the play becomes less thoughtful and the style of play is already
decided by the gadget itself.

Whilst the recurring holes in the grass and injured garden foliage may become increasingly annoying,
it’s this sort of play that can be the most beneficial for our youngsters’ development. Don’t despair,
though, these benefits don’t just apply to garden antics; it’s the imaginative factor that’s so crucial.
Imaginative play is encouraged the most if children’s toys leave some things to the imagination.
Wooden dolls houses, for example, are one of the best sources of imaginative play; a wooden dolls
house creates a whole world of possibilities. Playing with dolls and furniture inside a dolls house
gives children chance to create any type of story they wish; the dolls can become lots of different
characters that talk and play with each other, and these conversations help to develop important
communication and language skills.

Although dolls house dolls and furniture have a gorgeous amount of detail and special features
these days, the style of play is still left to the imagination. Children’s dolls houses are designed to
encourage imaginative play, and it is this freedom that helps children to learn so many valuable
skills. The very nature of a children’s dolls house encourages children to share with each other and
enjoy making plans together; whether that’s making the dolls pop to the local shop for some milk,
or having fun making lunch in the kitchen. When children take part in role play with the characters,
they are involving their own feelings about the world around them, and making decisions about
how the characters behave and talk is a lovely opportunity for them to explore behaviours and conversations that they’ve seen and heard in the real world. This involves important decision making and helps to develop logical thought processes in preparation for real social experiences.

While wooden toys are perfect for imaginary play, they are also wonderfully eco-friendly and
economical; they don’t include any chemicals or harsh substances which makes them perfectly safe – particularly when little ones have a habit of putting anything they can find in their mouth! The durability of high quality wood means that the toys have a very long life and are perfect gifts to pass down to future generations, making them timeless and extra special for those loved ones.

Written by Hannah Davey, a consultant for The Play Experts at the Big Game Hunters Dolls Houses
team.

Adam Green + Binki Shapiro, Bush Hall | Live Music Review

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Adam Green first burst onto the scene in 2001 as one half of New York anti-folk duo The Moldy Peaches. 12 years on he’s stood in West London on a Wednesday evening alongside Binki Shapiro crooning out a beautiful 60’s folk-pop sound. It’s been quite a time for the irrepressible Mr. Green.

Adam and Binki’s collaboration has been described elsewhere as being similar to that of Nancy & Lee and as they open with “Don’t Be Jealous With My Thoughts” it’s not hard to spot the similarities, with Green’s soft guitar plucks swirling around Shapiro’s honey coated swoon of a voice. The arrangements are lush and the only thing that seems off here is the time of year; with the weather cold outside, close your eyes inside Bush Hall tonight, take a sip of your pint and you could be in some beautiful piece of countryside on a hot summers day. It’s a splendid show on a cold night on the Uxbridge Road and “Just To Make You Feel Good” has the sound of romantic possibility running through its sound but the lyrics hint at altogether less than convivial romantic ties. The pair are backed by a full band who blend into the background with a heads-down, workman-like attitude but add layer upon layer of beauty to proceedings.

Duets can often be a horrible thing and end up being corny, cheesy and slushy muck but this collaboration has the crowd, including a rather fat, legging-clad Carl Barât, enthralled from start to finish. Green and Shapiro come across as kindred spirits, fashioning difficult circumstances into beautifully crafted songs. With little music released there’s little familiarity with the tunes but after 13 songs they exit stage left  with the crowd wishing for more.

With my expectations for the show low I wasn’t disappointed but even if they were higher than Adam’s old pal Pete Doherty, they’d not disappoint. The LP for this project isn’t due out until January 2013 but on this performance expect it to be amongst the records of 2013.