Author Archives: Frostie

Strength Training Exercises For Women Book Review

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January is full of the best of intentions, it is the time of the year when we are determined to get healthy and fit, but usually gym membership and exercise classes fall by the wayside. I know a lot of the time the effort to leave the house is what really gets me so it is exercise DVDs and books all the way.

Strength Training Exercises For Women- Tone, Sculpt, and Stay Strong For Life by Joan Pagano

My first thoughts of Strength Training Exercises For Women: Tone, Sculpt, and Stay Strong For Life by Joan Pagano is that it is knowledgeable and easy-to-use. It starts by testing your fitness and checking your BMI with a handy table. The introduction and chapter on why lift weights? highlights the importance of weight lifting for women. It then goes into your training programme, which includes information on equipment, muscles and exercise, posture and alignment. I learn a lot.

There are a variety of programmes in the book. One of my favourites is the 15-minute Workouts- perfect for the time starved. When I have more time, the focused exercises are brilliant. You can choose the lower body, upper body or core body programme.

The book is easy-to-use; each exercise has lots of pictures and tips. I was very impressed with this book. I think it is great for any women who wants to reach her physical peak, or has wanted to do weights but needed a dedicated programme. Highly recommended.

 

Rolling Stones Only Contemporary Portrait Series Released in London

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Michael Donald has been selected by Ronnie Wood to do new portraits of The Rolling Stones, the only series of contemporary portraits of the whole band to ever be released, to be displayed at Castle Fine Art from 7th Feb – 2nd March.

Half of the series was shot in Stagroves, the house Mick owned in 1971 where the band started to record Exile on Main Street. Ronnie was shot in London and Keith in New York. There are some fascinating stories to be told from the shoot.

keithrichards rollingstones

Buy Your Very Own Ryan Gosling

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For those with a Gosling obsession, and there are many; Fancy becoming Ryan Gosling’s personal stylist? The Ryan Gosling paperboy is the perfect way to get your Gosling Fix. Complete with a range of outfits from Drive to Notebook, You’ll be sure to have plenty of fun dressing and undressing your very own Gosling.

The Ryan Gosling Paperboy costs £6.95 from www.prezzybox.com

gosling

ryangolsing

goslingpaperboy

A Cocktail Fit For A Royal

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5AE6AE33-DE0D-4841-9728-65DAFA2B805ETo celebrate the arrival of Zara Phillip’s first child, a Royal baby girl who is sixteenth in line to the throne, Gallo Family Vineyards created a celebratory The Mini Monarch cocktail using Gallo Family Vineyards Summer White.

The Mini Monarch has sumptuous flavours of ripe apple, pear and citrus with subtle floral notes. Muddled with fresh strawberries, vodka, lemon and basil, this delicious cocktail is perfect for any royal celebration.

The Mini Monarch

6 oz. Gallo Family Vineyards Summer White

1 oz. vodka

5 Strawberries – keep 1 for garnish

1-tsp sugar

1 sprig basil

1 ounce lemon juice

 

–       Blend all ingredients, except wine

–       Strain into flute with a strawberry at the bottom

–       Top with Gallo Family Vineyards Summer White

 

Gallo Family Vineyards Summer White has an RRP of £6.99 and is available from UK retailers including ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Co-op.

 

Women Have £404 Worth of Clothing Gathering Dust in their Wardrobes

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  • Over 10 billion pounds worth of clothes languishing in British women’s wardrobes
  • 80% of women have fashion items they haven’t worn in the past year
  • 35% of women forget clothes in their wardrobes
  • 32% of women have stopped wearing clothes as often because they have put on weight

 

summer clothesBased on recent research, there could be up to 10 billion pounds worth of clothes lying unloved and unworn in British women’s wardrobes, left over from shopping sprees and Saturday afternoons on Britain’s high streets. A survey* released today by luxury resale clothing site VestiaireCollective.com has found that the average British woman has over £1900 worth of clothes, handbags and accessories in her wardrobe.

The survey, commissioned by YouGov, also found that 80% of women have items lurking that haven’t been worn for over a year. With the average woman having not worn 21% of the fashion items they own in the last year, VestiaireCollective.com estimates that this could mean that £10.1 billion pounds worth of fashion lying paid for but unworn in women’s wardrobes.

The survey of over 1000 women found that over one in three women (35%) had actually just forgotten about the clothes in their wardrobe, suggesting that there are some women with a few too many items nestling in the darkest recesses of their closet. Thirty two per cent of women had also stopped wearing their clothes as often because they had put on weight since buying them, with their growing waistlines accounting for smaller sizes being left to hang. Surprisingly, 26% of women stated that they don’t wear certain items more often because they are the wrong size or fit for them.

The average value of a woman’s wardrobe was £1909, the value of the contents rising with age; 18-24 year olds typically having wardrobes worth £1495, and the 55 and overs with £2,232 worth of items.

Fanny Moizant, UK Managing Director and Co-Founder of Vestiaire Collective believe that women should clear and recycle their clothing. She says: “It is sad to see so many once loved items lying unworn in women’s wardrobes. Clean and well-kept branded items will sell in a few days and will give the seller extra money to spend on something that won’t be forgotten or will actually fit. Vestiaire Collective has made it easy for pre-loved fashion to be given a new life and sold on, which can net sellers a sizeable profit in the cash-strapped few months of the New Year.”

Fanny continues:

“And the good news for British women is that this year many of our global shoppers have asked for more British high street, heritage and luxury brands to be sold on the site. With the average clothing item starting from £40 on the site, we’re encouraging everyone to de-clutter and make space in their wardrobes this year.”

 

* *Calculation by Vestiaire Collective: £1909.92 (average worth of wardrobe) x 21.17% (average amount of clothes not worn in the last year) = £404.43 (value of unworn clothes) x 25,074,877 (women in Great Britain) = £10,138,526,622

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,046 adults (1,053 female adults). Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th – 16th December 2013.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Reviewing the Bodog Sportsbook: One of the Best Platforms for Live NFL In-Play Betting

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Football is one of the most popular sports in the world today and online football betting is quickly becoming the venue of choice that fans are utilising to place well-educated wagers in an attempt to win substantial sums of money. As should be expected in an age where the Internet offers nearly countless virtual gambling sites, certain platforms are more beneficial than others at providing reliable sportsbook betting services. Although understanding the latest football predictions is certainly important, it is equally critical to only employ such sites that can offer the best overall gaming experience. One such site that has gained a considerable amount of attention recently is the online gaming giant Bodog. So, let us have a quick look at the best features that fans should seek out when determining what are some of the best online sports wagering site to join.

Reviewing the Bodog Sportsbook- One of the Best Platforms for Live NFL In-Play Betting

Follow all the action in the NFL with Bodog’s Online Sportsbook

Keeping Abreast of the Latest NFL Developments

The first thing to recall when developing a robust football betting strategy is the necessity to be aware of any and all recent updates and changes. A few of the main areas that fans of sports betting online need to keep in mind are:
·        Recent injuries and/or recovery predictions.
·        Point spreads.
·        Player history.
·        Industry favourites.
·        Playing conditions (weather, temperature, location).

All of these variables will absolutely affect the outcome of a particular match. For example, news has emerged that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be courting Carson Palmer for a new quarterback position. Reports have also surfaced that Antoine Winfield (formerly of the Minnesota Vikings) may be slated for a reunion with the team. Each of these stories can represent potential game changers when engaging in sports betting online. While official social media sites are excellent at providing the most pertinent updates, web sites such as Bodog also provide all of the latest news directly included in their betting platform.

American Versus European

It must be remembered that American football may not be completely familiar to European wagering enthusiasts. Indeed, there are a great many differences between American and European football. Not only is it critical to understand the rules of the game, but any online sportsbook betting software needs to be equally as easy to work with. This streamlined integration will allow fans to place more of an emphasis on their bets as opposed to having to learn the intricacies of an obscure system. Bodog’s sportsbooks are some of the easiest to understand and the software can be downloaded in a matter of minutes.

Other Benefits and Tips

An equally important factor in weighing which site may prove to be the most beneficial betting platform is the number of amenities that the provider offers. For example, not only should a clear image of the odds and amounts wagered be present, but a massive variety of player and team props is desirable. Furthermore, real-time betting possibilities are becoming greatly favoured in the age of high-speed Internet and mobile access. Sites such as Bodog provide an online sports book that allows for such integrated betting strategies as well as the ability for members to download a mobile phone application to place bets while out and about.

Matched Bonuses

A final amenity that only the most reputable sites provide is to match a member’s but up to one hundred per cent. Bodog takes this advantage a step further; offering a one-time welcome bonus that matches a first deposit one hundred per cent for up to one hundred dollars. Simply stated, a member begins winning by signing up alone! If we combine this service with state-of-the art software, real-time customer support and an easy to navigate web page, it is clear to appreciate the need for betting aficionados to only choose the largest sites when placing a NFL wager.

To be certain, NFL betting is not for everyone. Some individuals may be interested in the latest films while others will instead enjoy a lazy afternoon in the shade. Nonetheless, those who are avid sports betting fans should keep in mind all of the aforementioned variables to make certain that they receive the most out of their online gaming experience.


 

 

Achieve Oscar-Winning Skin

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While red carpet glitz and glamour is achieved by fabulous stylists and make-up artists, fresh, glowing skin is definitely the best accessory- and you don’t need a celebrity budget to look good.

Follow Facial Therapist and Skincare Expert Amanda Elias’ inexpensive solutions to Oscar-Winning Skin:

EXFOLIATING

WHY? Exfoliating removes the dead skin layer which sits on the surface of our healthy, new skin. When there is an accumulation of dead skin, it leaves the complexion looking lifeless and grey because light isn’t reflected evenly. By removing this dead skin the light will reflect evenly and directly off your healthy skin.

oscarwinningskin

HOW? You can achieve beautiful skin with scrubs but my personal recommendation would always be chemical exfoliation. Using a product daily that contains AHA’s (like Glycolic Acid or Lactic Acid) or a BHA (like Salicylic Acid) will gently exfoliate by loosening the bond that holds the dead skin to the surface, rather than scrubbing it which can cause irritation and inflammation in sensitive or problem skin. Don’t let the word acid scare you; daily use products typically contain a concentration of 10% AHA and lower so although powerful, they won’t burn the skin.

SUFFERING WITH ACNE OR BLACKHEADS? Exfoliation is the key treatment. These conditions occur when dead skin and oil gets trapped within the pores and bacteria breeds. By removing the dead skin you’re helping to prevent these blockages which in turn will reduce the breakouts. Using chemical exfoliants rather than a manual scrub will also help to fade any discolouration left over from spots.

FIGHTING THE SIGNS OF AGEING? Glycolic and lactic acid helps by increasing cell turnover, this in turn stimulates the production of collagen which is the support matrix of the skin. Collagen starts to break down as we get older which is why we want to stimulate the body to produce more; lots of collagen means plumper skin and less wrinkles.

UNEVEN SKIN ON THE BODY? If you have rough skin with red dots on your arms, thighs or bottom this could be a condition called Keratosis Pilaris. This is caused by too much keratin, found in the top layer of the skin, blocks the pores. There is no cure but exfoliating, especially with AHA’s and BHA’s, can make a dramatic difference to the appearance and texture of the skin.

So you’re well exfoliated, now there’s cleansing and moisturising.

CLEANSING is essential to keep the skin healthy and you looking your best. The majority don’t cleanse enough; twice in the evening (note evening not night) and once in the morning. If you find cleansing often strips your skin, change your cleanser. Use a cleanser designed for your skin type and steer clear of soap. With its high PH, soap can cause dryness as well as help bacteria to breed in problem skin.

MOISTURISING is vital, particularly with product that contains an SPF. In the winter UVA is still present in the atmosphere; while UVA doesn’t burn us (it’s the UVB rays from the sun that cause burning) it can still cause premature ageing and is the number one cause of ageing to our skin. No matter what anti-ageing products you use, if you don’t use an SPF daily- even when it’s grey and miserable- you’re not fighting ageing.

When choosing a moisturiser make sure you choose one for your skin type to keep your skin moisturised and therefore youthful.

If you have oily skin but you use an anti-wrinkle cream designed for mature skin, it’s likely to cause breakouts and can leave the skin looking puffy. If you don’t like moisturising because it leave a sheen on the skin, look for a moisturiser that has a matte finish.

GLOW Leonardo Dicaprio dazzled on the red carpet showing off an enviable tan recently. To get a healthy, natural looking glow I would recommend a spray tan for both men and women. If you’d rather give it a go yourself, try a tan like Cocoa Brown which gives a gentle tan in only an hour. If you have facial hair, be careful to gently rub as close to the hair as possible or you’ll have a tan line around the hair.

Highly experienced within the industry, Amanda Elias is the brains behind effective yet affordable skincare brand, Bravura London  a business founded following Amanda’s own skin problems and subsequent discovery of using AHA, BHA and Hydraulic Acid for troubled skins.