The effortlessly stylish Emilia Fox attended the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition yesterday evening wearing a gorgeous butterfly silk maxi-dress by Milanese designer Luisa Beccaria. We love it and think she looks great.
What do you think?
Author Archives: Frostie
Rihanna Goes Rogue In Paris
International singer and mischievous superstar, Rihanna appeared in the city of love this week to launch her latest fragrance ROGUE by Rihanna exclusively in Sephora, Paris.
This week has certainly been a whirlwind for the star, from the jaw-dropping dress at the CFDA awards and for landing in hot water over the risqué ROGUE fragrance ad. But the media frenzy certainly didn’t stop the music, as Rihanna bared the rain to meet her fans and launch her fragrance in Paris.
ROGUE by Rihanna is the star’s fourth fragrance, adding to the current fragrance line up, which includes Reb’l Fleur, Rebelle and Nude.
Green Beret Gives Gwyneth Paltrow Some Stern Words After She Compares Mean Tweets To War
Gwyneth Paltrow got a lot of criticism for saying that reading mean tweets about herself was like ‘war’, but the best response comes from Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient Bryan Sikes on Clash Daily. Read on and tell us what you think.
This is what Paltrow said: “You come across (online comments) about yourself and about your friends, and it’s a very dehumanizing thing, It’s almost like how, in war, you go through this bloody, dehumanizing thing … My hope is, as we get out of it, we’ll reach the next level of conscience.”
To Miss Paltrow,
I’d first like to start out by saying how terrible I feel for you and all your friends that on a daily basis have to endure mean words written by people you don’t know. I can only imagine the difficulty of waking up in a 12,000 square foot Hollywood home and having your assistant retrieve your iPhone, only to see that the battery is low and someone on twitter (the social media concept that you and all of your friends contribute to on an hourly basis to feed your ego and narcissistic ways), has written a mean word or 2 about you. You’ve hit the nail on the head, war is exactly like that. You should receive a medal for the burden you have carried on your shoulders due to these meanies on social media.
You said, “Its almost like, how in war, you go through this bloody dehumanizing thing and then something is defined out of it.” I could see how you, and others like you in “the biz”, could be so insecure and mentally weak that you could pair the difficulty of your life on twitter to my brothers who have had their limbs ripped off and seen their friends shot, blown up, burned and disfigured, or wake up every morning in pain – while just starting the day is a challenge. How about our wives? The ones that sign on to be there for us through thick and thin, that help us to shake the hardships of war upon our return? And do all this while being mothers to our kids, keeping bills in order because we are always gone, and keeping our lives glued together. They do all this, by the way, without a team of accountants, nanny’s, personal assistants, and life coaches. Yeah, reading a mean tweet is just like all that.
You know what is really “dehumanizing”, Miss Paltrow? The fact that you’d even consider that your life as an “A-list” celebrity reading internet comments could even compare to war and what is endured on the battlefield. You and the other “A-listers” that think like you are laughable. You all have actually convinced yourselves that you in some way face difficulty on a regular basis. Let me be the first to burst your bubble: a long line at Starbucks, your driver being 3 minutes late, a scuff mark on your $1200 shoes and a mean tweet do not constitute difficulty in the eyes of a soldier.
Understand me when I say this: war does not define me. It is a chapter in my life that helped shaped me. Being a husband and father is what defines me. Remember, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never…be close to what war is.
Cindy McCain, wife of decorated war veteran, Senator John McCain also tweeted:
Gweneth Paltrow is a joke. Her life is like taking bullets for a soldier. What a joke! My 2 sons serving in the military should talk to her.
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) May 29, 2014
Perhaps Gweneth Paltrow should go out on patrol with some soldiers. Kind of like a Red Carpet in her mind I guess!
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) May 29, 2014
Lily Allen Shares Her Love of Spanx
We all need a little bit of help sometimes and Lily Allen is no exception. Lily Allen shared her love for Spanx with the world by posting a video on Instagram of her dancing in her dressing room in a pair of Spanx. Later that evening she stunned the crowd in Brussels in a metallic cut out dress, proving that Spanx is the not-so-secret wardrobe essential for women.
Lily is wearing the Trust Your Thinstincts High Waisted Mid-Thigh Shaper, available from spanx.co.uk for £74.
High Costs Putting People Off Higher Education Courses
An educational charity have outlined that the high cost of further education has prevented almost half of UK adults gaining advance qualifications. This comes as figures show that the average graduate debt is now £53,000 after tuition fees rose in September 2012.
The NCFE (Northern Council for Further Education) surveyed 2,000 adults across the UK and found that being too old (36%) and family commitments (24%) were also factor when deciding to undertake a further education course.
Despite there being a demand for degrees over the past 20 years, with a 140% increase in the number of people studying medicine, and 162% increase in degrees in mass communications and media studies between 2000 and 2012, there is currently a lack of graduates in technical disciplines which has led to a significant skills gap.
With an average of 250 people applying for each corporate job, and with 20% of graduates unemployed in their first 6 months after completing their University course, there is an increasing demand for vocational courses.
In the past couple of years, the Government has put more money into apprenticeships than ever before, and with the demand for vocational courses predicted to peak in 2050, there is an ever increasing demand for more practical and vocationally led courses.
UK’s Top 10 driving songs
· 60 per cent of Brits say “golden oldies” and “cheesy classics” make the best driving playlist
· Three quarters of UK drivers indulge in ‘car-eoke’ – belting out tunes behind the wheel
· Holly Willoughby and David Beckham are the UK’s dream road trip companions
· Katie Hopkins is the UK’s nightmare car companion!
Frost is not adverse to singing in the car and it seems we are not the only ones. In an age of digital addiction – where everyone is keen to be connected, informed and upgraded – it seems our music taste hasn’t changed with the times. Despite a thoroughly modern lifestyle, Brits prefer to listen to classic bands like Queen in the car, a survey of 1,000 UK drivers revealed.
While one in three Brits use a smartphone or iPod to listen to music when driving, the majority of people prefer songs that were hits long before these devices were invented. Nine of the ten songs revealed as the best driving songs were released in the 1970s and 1980s. Brit rockers Queen topped the poll, stealing the first and second spots.
To mark the arrival of the New Original MINI, 55 years after the original Mini was launched in 1959, MINI has delved into the past to find the greatest driving tracks of all time.
Long live the Queen
The band Queen is the nation’s favourite artist overall to play in the car (16 per cent of votes), having beaten the likes of Michael Jackson (9 per cent), Fleetwood Mac (8 per cent) and Meatloaf (6 per cent) in the national poll. Their 1978 hit ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ was voted best driving song with a quarter of the votes, and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ claimed number two with 21 per cent of the votes. Londoners favoured Michael Jackson while Scottish respondents voted for Fleetwood Mac and Geordies preferred to play Meatloaf.
UK drivers love ‘car-aoke’
Three quarters of Brits admitted they like to belt out a tune when behind the wheel. In fact, 28 per cent of respondents said they sing “loud and proud” no matter who is listening. However, almost half of the UK (46 per cent) will only sing when they are in the car on their own. ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA is the nation’s favourite guilty pleasure to croon along to.
Fantasy road trip: Holly Willoughby or David Beckham on Route 66
When it comes to choosing the dream trip to accompany a soundtrack, Brits opt for Route 66, with one in three of us saying that would be our fantasy drive. ITV’s Holly Willoughby topped the poll for the person we want most in the passenger seat – chosen over royalty, sporting heroes and film stars including Kate Middleton, David Beckham and Daniel Craig. David Beckham did however top the poll for women. Holly’s TV nemesis, Katie Hopkins, claimed top of the list for the ultimate nightmare car companion. Others on the nightmare list included Bruce Forsyth, Boris Johnson (who topped the poll for Londoners!) and UKIP party leader Nigel Farage.
Robbie helps us to relax
When it comes to tunes that calm us on the road, the song to choose is Angels by Robbie Williams. The hit topped the list of songs that soothe road rage, with a quarter of respondents selecting the popular 90s ballad. Conversely, Angels by indie band The XX had just four per cent of the vote for their 2012 single. Once again the more classic tracks, including Dionne Warwick’s Walk on By and U2’s With or Without You, were chosen over current chart favourites such as Strong by London Grammar (2 per cent) for relaxation.
MINI has recently launched the newest addition to its fleet, The New Original MINI, which combines over half a century of heritage with state-of-the-art technology and design. The stunning new Hatch – packing twin power turbo engines, in-car technology with ‘MINI connected’, and cutting-edge safety features – answers the nation’s need for a car that meets their modern requirements while satisfying their classic tastes.
TOP TEN DRIVING SONGS
1. Don’t stop me now – Queen
2. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
3. Bat out of hell – Meatloaf
4. Don’t stop Believin’ – Journey
5. Dancing Queen – Abba
6. Hotel California – The Eagles
7. Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
8. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
9. Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea
10. I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) – The Proclaimers
THE TOP TEN GUILTY PLEASURE SONGS TO SING ALONG TO IN THE CAR
1. Dancing Queen – Abba
2. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
3. Come on Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
4. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
5. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
6. Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
7. I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) – The Proclaimers
8. Black Velvet – Allanah Myles
9. All Out of Love – Air Supply
10. Relight my Fire – Take That
THE BEST SONGS TO SOOTHE ROAD RAGE
1. Angels – Robbie Williams
2. With or Without You – U2
3. Walk on By – Dionne Warwick
4. Always – Bon Jovi
5. Yellow – Coldplay
OUR IDEAL ROAD TRIPS
1. Route 66, USA
2. Amalfi Coast, Italy
3. Land’s End to John O’Groats, UK
4. East Coast, Australia
5. Auckland to Queensland, New Zealand
OUR TOP FANTASY CELEBRITY ROAD TRIP COMPANIONS
1. Holly Willoughby
2. David Beckham
3. Daniel Craig
4. Kate Middleton
5. Boris Johnson
OUR NIGHTMARE PASSENGER SEAT COMPANIONS
1. Katie Hopkins
2. Bruce Forsyth
3. Boris Johnson
4. Nigel Farage
5. Harry Styles
Kent & Fraser Gluten Free Biscuits And Cocio Chocolate Milk Review
We were pretty happy when Spicy Ginger Crunch Cookies and Lemon Butter Shortbread from Kent & Fraser arrived hot on the heels of Cocio Chocolate Milk.
Right, let’s start with the chocolate. Cocio is the new chocolate milk from Aria. This Danish chocolate milk has only three ingredients: fresh milk, luxury cocoa and natural sugar. It is best served ice cold and drunk straight from the bottle after giving it a gentle shake to mix the three ingredients. For those watching their waistlines there is Cocio One which only has 1% fat and 1% added sugar. It’s only 130kcal per bottle and is as delicious as the classic. We love Cocio chocolate milk and would buy it. It goes on sale this month nationwide priced at £1.39 for 270ml.
These were amazing. They are gluten and wheat free but are just as delicious as ‘ordinary’ biscuits. The lemon butter shortbread is light and zingy. The amount of lemon is perfect and they are very moreish. They melt in your mouth. The spicy ginger crunch cookies are superb. Not too spicy that they are not enjoyably, just a good kick which is not uncomfortably hot. They are crunchy and delicious. We polished both packets off worryingly quickly. These biscuits taste too good to be natural, but they are, so even better.
Available from Harrods, Selfridges and Ocado priced £2.29
And a special mention for…
Magnum Marc De Champagne Ice Cream Bars
These were bought in Sainsbury’s because, why wouldn’t you? They are delicious and we highly recommend them. Chocolate, ice-cream and champagne. Sigh. The champagne is subtle but noticeable. £2.99 for three and the alcohol content is only 0.5% so you can have a few….
What will you be indulging in?
Harry Styles, Russell Brand Pay Tribute To Gay Equality Charity Stonewalls 25th
Sam Smith, Harry Styles, Russell Brand and friends pay tribute to gay equality charity Stonewalls 25th anniversary
Celebrities have contributed to a #FirstSNOG Insta-Exhibition using an app created by SNOG frozen yogurt to pay tribute to gay equality charity Stonewall’s 25th anniversary
Celebrities from the worlds of fashion, film, music and art provided their image in support of the charity’s international work and decorated them with graphics by Cassette Playa inspired by peace and love.
From top to bottom: Harry Styles, Russell Brand, Sam Smith, Alan Carr and Rita Ora.