Author Archives: Frostie

Spring/Summer Fashion Picks

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MyaBlueBeach is designed by Lindsey Brown and each piece is hand cut and individually hand finished. I checked out the range and not only are the designs great, but the cut and fabric is top class. Perfect beach wear which gives great shape, rather than a baggy tent shape. In sizes 8-20. We particularity like:

JEMMA_Turquoise-Cotton-Beach_Dress_BeachKaftan_large

EMMA – Turquoise & Pink Cotton Fitted Tunic with Short Sleeves £80.00
beachwear
AMORE – Designer White Kaftan beach kaftans with Gold Sequins £95.00

From http://www.myabluebeach.com/

We love this Labradorite necklace from Clea Silk Jewellery . Very summery. From http://www.cleasilk.com/jewellery.html

clea silk jewellery

The Cambridge Raincoat Company

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean it won’t rain. Especially if you live in Britain. We love these gorgeous coats from The Cambridge Coat Company: http://www.cambridgeraincoats.co.uk/

raincoat

Also worth checking out is Vida Moda, a great site for plus size fashion, they are an online boutique that showcases fashions from European designers. They have lots of beautiful clothes on the site, proving that you can buy beautiful clothes in bigger sizes. http://vidamoda.co.uk/

Zara Taylor Jewellery have this beautiful deer ring. A kooky and unique addition to any jewellery collection that always gets people talking. http://zarataylor.co.uk/

Zara Taylor jewellery deer ring

 

Amoir Camaira have beautiful and flattering swimwear. We love the colours and designs. http://www.amoircamaira.co.uk/

Amoir Camaira Amoir CamairaEsmaya_Pink_Swimsuit_lc_sm Amoir CamairaAnd these amazing pieces from Topshop.com

topshop dress

Bardot Floral Prom Dress £70.00

skater dress

Two Tone Bonded Skater Dress £75.00

pink platforms, pink, pastel

SHELLY Pink Cutout Platform £60.00

What do you think? What’s your favourite piece?

Errazuriz Pinot Noir Wild Ferment 2011 Review

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Errazuriz Pinot Noir Wild Ferment 2011 ReviewThis Pinot Noir has the perfect balance between light and full, harvested in the first week of March in Aconcagua Costa. This wine comes from Errazuriz, which was founded by Don Maximiano Errazuriz in 1870. Over 140 years later, They are now one of Chile’s most important wine producers.

The wine has aromatic intensity and is fresh and elegant. It has good structure and typicity and the tannins have ripened well. It is a beautiful ruby-red colour and it has subtle notes of sour cherries, rosehips and wild strawberries. It also has a smokey side thanks to being aged for ten months in French oak barrels, only 13% of which were new.

This is a wonderful Pinot Noir: crisp, juicy and with depth. It tastes great and goes down well. Drink now or let it age over the next 4 years. Drink with roasted lamb, turkey or goose.

 

Knit Quit Kit Review: Can It Help You Quit Smoking?

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knitquitkitowlFrost came across this unique and gorgeous knitting product that was launched to help smokers quit whilst learning a new and very popular skill.

Inventor, Vanessa Bracewell, says: “I am not an experienced knitter and only started the wonderful craft/obsession 8 months and 5 days ago when I stopped smoking – after 30 years of burning my money and probably damaging my health…From experience, when quitting smoking it is impossible to concentrate on anything, including counting rows.”

Included in the kit are three very easy projects using only cast on/off, knit stitch, increase, decrease and changing colour of yarn.

Everything needing to complete the three projects is supplied in the novelty cigarette style gift box. Includes extremely easy to follow patterns specially designed with tick boxes to keep track of your knitting.

The patterns include: Bill the Owl Keyring (to offer wisdom and support in moments of stress and weakness) BFT Bracelets (Best Friends Together) one to knit for yourself and one to knit for your quitting smoking helper to thank them for their support and a practical drawstring Purse/Bag – to save your well earned money in.

www.knitquitkits.co.uk

Our writer, Helen, tried it out.

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knittedhat

knittedowl

knitting

knittingkit

knitkit

Helen loves knitting so we sent her the kit. Helen is also trying to stop smoking. She liked the look of the kit but found some of the knitting hard because of her eyesight. Shouldn’t be a problem for people with good eyesight.

She thought it was easy to do and the owl, bracelets and drawstring bag were all cute and unique. The kit looks great and comes with easy patterns. The colours are also beautiful but Helen thought it was a little pricey at £17.99.

Whilst knitting and doing the kit Helen did find her mind occupied. She has not managed to quit smoking completely but has cut down considerably. Good stuff.

The Kills In New Online Film Exploring Double Acts In Art

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In Unlock Art: Great Double Acts, The Kills investigate the importance of collaboration to the artistic process, and how artists have always collaborated in some form or other throughout history including Rubens, Jeff Koons, Gilbert & George and Jake and Dinos Chapman. The film challenges the popular myth: that art is made by solitary, angst-ridden artists, and reveals just how varied and abundant artistic creation can be when collaboration is involved.

jamiehince

madeinheaven

thekills

thekillsfilm

This is the sixth Unlock Art film in the series of eight produced in collaboration between Tate and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts which aims to unlock the big stories and ideas behind art. Other presenters in the series include author and broadcaster Dawn O’Porter, HBO Girls star Jemima Kirke, actor Alan Cumming and new Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi.

Unlock Art aims to take viewers on a journey through various art movements and themes, from the history of the nude and humour in art, to Surrealism and Pop – offering the need-to-know facts, and making the arts more accessible to a wider audience.

Le Méridien ‘Unlock Art’ microsite: www.lemeridien.com/filmseries

#UnlockArt

One Beer, Das Horn | Cool Things

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Here is one for the boys: Quite simply, Das Horn is beer for heroes. Drink with real class, not a glass and drink 709ml (24oz) of refreshing juice of your choice. Made from BPA free plastic it has a stainless steel finish with a Bavarian neck strap and stand. Great for parties or showing off in your home.

beerdrinking

Features:

Channel your inner Viking conqueror and make your next beer epic!
Includes neck strap and display stand
Colossal 709ml/24oz capacity
BPA free plastic with stainless steel rim
Hand wash with warm soapy water
Not intended for use with hot liquids
Dimensions: 9.5 x 12 x 32.5cm

Das Horn costs just £24.95 from www.prezzybox.com.

UK’s Historic Architecture On “Identikit” Collision Course

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David Twohig Living in Wonderland: Urban development and placemaking by David Twohig, Battersea Power Station Development Company Head of Design and Placemaking, offers a unique look at urban development and placemaking and makes the case for a radical change in how this should be approached ~

 

Britain is home to an extraordinarily eclectic array of buildings. From its magnificent public buildings to its iconic skyscrapers and cutting-edge developments, the wonderland that is British architecture defines a nation and continues to shape the lives of those within it.

 

But according to author and expert David Twohig, Head of Design and Placemaking for the Battersea Power Station Development Company, that could all change within 15 years. Twohig, responsible for one of the most high-profile urban regeneration projects of the century, warns that the UK’s cities are on a collision course to be overrun with “bland, homogenous developments”.

 

Global cities including London are in danger of being swamped with “identikit” shopping centres, office towers and sprawling, analogous housing estates as uninspired and cost-cutting developers increasingly seek “one-stop” solutions to the built environment.

 

This, Twohig predicts, will compromise people’s health, wellbeing and general happiness, as well as pacifying a city’s unique identity – a key attractor for foreign investment and economic success.

 

The arguments are laid out in Twohig’s astonishing new book, Living in Wonderland: Urban development and placemaking (Harriman House), which explores the challenges facing urban development on a global scale. Twohig’s argument for change – and the need to explore “non-default” development solutions – is based upon the study of real-life projects in residential, retail and workplace environments.

 

This thoroughly-researched title fills the gap between superficial coffee table books and theoretical academic papers, and has been described as a “must-read” for anyone with an interest in development, architecture, town planning and the urban environment.

 

“Over the next 15 years China is set to urbanise 300 million people and build the equivalent urban area of North America,” Twohig says.

 

“London alone is set to grow by two million people by 2030. This is the greatest period of urbanisation in human history and yet the buildings and places we are designing and developing leave a great deal to be desired.”

 

Living in Wonderland: Urban development and placemaking (Harriman House) is published on March 24, 2014.

 

Ricky Tomlinson To Star In New Mike Bassett Film

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Ricky TomlinsonEngland’s most notorious football manager Mike Bassett is heading back to the big screens with a sequel to the cult classic comedy planned for production later this year.

Director/Producer Steve Barron will return for the sequel, titled, Mike Bassett: Interim Manager, with Ricky Tomlinson as the foul-mouthed Bassett. This time Bassett is brought in to the England camp as number two to the tactically brilliant German coach Jorgen Mannstein who has the England team playing like a dream. Not for long!

Steve Barron said: “Bassett was the last England manager to take the national team to Brazil. We reached the semi’s then, who knows what we could achieve this time? I’m very excited to be back with the team including football legend Andy Ansah who cut his teeth on the first film. As the years have gone by Bassett seems to have dug deeper into football folklore. There is hardly a manager in the game that hasn’t been compared to him. Usually at a low point. Sometimes a very low point.”

The movies development at London-based Riley Productions has been funded again through the BFI. Newly launched Goldfinch Pictures, headed by Harrigan producer Kirsty Bell, has been appointed to raise £2.5m from EIS investors to help fund the film. The original Mike Bassett was the highest grossing film at the UK box office, grossing £3.5m, in it’s original 2001 year of release.

Mike Bassett: Interim Manager sees the return of writing duet Rob Sprackling and John R Smith, who penned the first film and also co-wrote Disney blockbuster Gnomeo and Juliet.