Author Archives: Frostie

3 of The Best Self-Tans For SS21: New In From St. Moriz

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St. Moriz 1 Hour Fast Tan Mist.

It develops fast and has aloe vera and vitamin E. It has a wash off guide colour so you can personalise your tan, and it soothes and moisturises skin. It is a great product.

Available from Boots, £4.99.

St. Moriz 1 Hour Fast Tan Lotion.

It does the same job as the mist but comes in a lotion instead. It is just as handy and good.

£4.99.

St. Moriz Advanced Colour Correct Tanning Mousse.

This has olive undertones to neutralise red tones. It provides an instant colour and a long-lasting tan. It has hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 so it cares for skin and leaves it super-glowing. Great stuff.

£9.99.

Happy summer everyone!

 

Working from home – workstation tips

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For many people, working from home has become a normal part of everyday life. Whereas the initial transition into home working typically meant sitting at the kitchen table or typing from the sofa, we’ve all been working from home for so long now that whole spare rooms or corners of bedrooms have necessarily become makeshift offices. 

If your workstation could use a little more thoughtful direction with regards to your setup, keep reading to find out how to turn your available space into a passable office environment.

Lighting is key

One of the first considerations that employers make over working environments is adequate lighting (buy E27 LED bulb – ideal for the home). Too much lighting has the same effect as too little. Your eyes will squint and the muscle will strain. It’s a one-way ticket to a headache and, as a result, a much slower output. 

Even if your home office is already up and running, and even if you think you have nailed the details, any concerns with regards to strained eyes, headaches, and noticeably poorer results in your work could be directly related to lighting. Take the time to ensure you research and implement adequate lighting levels for the space in which your work.  

Top tip: you will typically require around 20 lumens per sq ft for lower level bedroom lighting, and you will need around 80 lumens per sq ft for more clinical kitchen and bathroom lighting. Use those figures as a guide and find what works best for you.

Supportive chair

This one sort of speaks for itself. As grandma used to say, always make sure you have comfy sheets and comfy shoes, because if you’re not in one you’re in the other. Wise words. But grandma didn’t foresee the pandemic and endless months of working from home. What she should have said was, “… and in the event of a lockdown, invest in a chair with adequate back support”. But that’s nowhere near as catchy. But how do you choose a chair?

There’s a reason some chairs are taller than others. The higher the back, the more support the chair offers. For short stay seating, such as in a waiting room, a lower back is sufficient to support your lumbar. But for the nine to five grind, try to make sure you have access to seating that at least meets shoulder height when seated. 

How’s your internet connection?

If there’s one thing many people discovered as a result of the almost global lockdown, it’s that internet speeds are averages intended to reflect average use. Or to put it another way, the advertised internet speeds were brought down a peg or two when everyone was forced to work from home and servers began to buckle under the strain of the increased traffic.

If your internet speed regularly causes issues, look into an upgrade. Don’t fall into the trap of being lazy and sticking to what you know just because your direct debits are all set up. Make the change and reap the benefits of a smoother connection. 

 

Frost Loves: BONDS Baby Clothes

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BONDS, the biggest babywear brand in Australia have a gorgeous range of Wondersuits. We love the style, but we also love the high quality.
BONDS baby clothes BONDS baby clothes
Following on from their ‘Love” collection, we love the fruit inspired design of Wondersuits, features melons, apples, oranges, coconut and more has landed. Let’s be clear in the current climate, all we (and your little one) is thinking about is …food. So a timely addition to their Wondersuit designs.
Available from Next.co.uk and John Lewis. Wondersuits RRP £20, Leggings RRP £12 please check stockist.

Do you Have a Stye?

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Whenever anything feels a little off with your eyes, it can be worrying. After all, there are so many things that can go wrong with them, and with sight being so important and precious, you don’t want to take any risks. That said, getting a stye is is relatively common and shouldn’t cause you too many issues long-term. Luckily, you can learn all stye symptoms here and hopefully be able to diagnose and treat them yourself at home. 

What is a stye?

Simply speaking, a stye is caused by a bacterial infection in either a hair follicle or oil gland. These can happen when the area gets clogged up with dead skin cells and other matter, and can form a painful, swollen lump on either the top or bottom eyelid, 

If you are someone who has to touch your eyes more than most people, for example, if you are someone who wears contact lenses, or has allergies etc, you might find that you are prone to styes. If you have rosacea or long-term blepharitis, you may also find that you end up with more styes than average. 

Symptoms of a stye

One of the most obvious symptoms of a stye is the lump itself. It is usually a pink or red colour and can have a white head in a similar way to a pimple. Your eye may become watery and some people report having a sensitivity to light, or a ‘gritty’ feeling in their eye. Usually, the day before a stye appears people tend to feel as though they have something in their eye, but can’t see anything. 

If you have a swollen eyelid, but there isn’t a lump, it’s likely that you actually have conjunctivitis instead. If the lump is hard, but not painful, it might be a Chalazion. A stye usually only affects one eye at a time, but there can be more than one eye on your eyelid. Thankfully, they often go away on their own in around a week. 

One thing you can do to speed up the healing processes is to wet a clean washcloth with warm water and hold it against your infected eye for around 5-10 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day. Use painkillers to ease any discomfort and avoid wearing eye makeup and contact lenses until it has fully recovered. Remember that you’re more likely to get a stye if you’ve had one in the past, and you need to be careful not to use infected makeup or towels to touch your face. 

Although in most cases a stye will go away on its own, occasionally it might need a topical cream to help clear it up. If it is incredibly painful or swollen, impacts your eyesight or doesn’t heal within a few weeks you might want to head to your doctor to see if there is anything they need to do to help with the process. 

 

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

Keeping Your Child Active

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While younger children may be more inclined to burn off energy by running around, especially during play with their friends, you want to nurture this activity to help them remain fit and healthy as they grow up. Looking into ways that you can promote an active lifestyle without turning it into a chore, or something that they find boring, can help them to enjoy staying active, as well as provide some great opportunities for getting outdoors and spending time together as a family.

Active Toys

Children learn to develop their skills via play, which is why the type of toys that you buy your child can impact their growth tremendously. To encourage your child to engage in more active or outdoor play, you may want to consider toys for the right age from Wicked Uncle. This can allow them to begin to discover games or skills that incorporate exercise. Something as simple as a child’s first bike can help them to discover a love of cycling which can be great for both travel and keeping fit. This can also allow you to venture out as a family, exploring the local area, with the journey becoming part of the adventure. 

Clubs

As your child grows up and starts school, a number of clubs may be offered to them, both by their learning provider as well as other institutions. Encouraging your child to sign up for sports clubs can enable them to learn more about social interactions and keep fit. Some other clubs your child may join might also provide them with life skills, such as the ability to swim. Children can often make lifelong friends by taking part in these clubs, as well as developing their abilities. Many children who attend sports clubs from when they are young often go on to continue enjoying and participating in that sport, even into adulthood.

Combination with a Balanced Diet

While keeping active is important for your child to grow up fit and healthy, their diet cannot be neglected. Even when undertaking exercise, poor food choices can still cause weight gain, as well as other health problems which may affect their enjoyment and longevity. By providing your child with correctly portioned food, rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fruit and vegetables, you will be enabling them to make better food choices as they grow up, as well as to provide their insides with the correct vitamins and minerals they require to function properly. It is also important, after activity, that you do not overcompensate by giving them an increased number of calories. 

While processed or greasy food should be kept to a minimum, these may be incorporated into your child’s diet to allow them to practice moderation, as well as to avoid binging on forbidden foods once they reach an age where they have more autonomy over purchasing food.

Considering ways to keep your child active and healthy now can help them to grow up with a good relationship with both food and exercise. 

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

New Cocktail Recipe: Cotton Gin Mother’s Day Martini

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cocktail, cocktail recipes, cocktails, gin, gin cocktails, Yorkshire-based Premium Gin Cotton Gin has teamed with TV’s Andy Clarke to create a mouth-watering new Martini for Mother’s Day: Introducing the Cotton Gin Mother’s Day Martini.

Watch the Cotton Gin Mother’s Day Martini – a mix of tantalising tarragon, zingy pomegranate, fragrant Rosé Vermouth and crisp, smooth Cotton Gin – be made on Insta Live with Andy and Distillery Founder Nicola at https://www.instagram.com/otterbeckdistillery/  – Tuesday 9 March @ 7pm

Method

 

FOR TWO

 

Ingredients (for two cocktails)

 

3 Parts (150ml) Cotton Gin

2 Parts (100 ml) Londinio Rosé Vermouth

1 Part (50ml) Pomegranate Juice

20 Pomegranate Seeds

2 Sprigs of Tarragon

A Large Handful of Ice

 

Equipment

 

1 x Cocktail Shaker

2 x Martini Glasses

 

Chill the glasses.

 

Put the ice to the shaker and add all liquid ingredients. Shake for 20 seconds or until the shaker condensates and is extremely cold to touch.

 

Pour into the glasses and decorate with the pomegranate seeds and tarragon leaves.

 

Bridal Style Terminology Every Bride-to-be Should Recognize.

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wedding planning, wedding, weddings,When searching for a wedding dress online or in-store, many brides may come across unfamiliar terms. While this could be due to a multitude of reasons, it’s essential to understand these terms, as they often imply a wide range of bridal styles.

Particularly for brides searching for designer bridal wedding gowns online, knowing and understanding these terms may also make it easier to find her ideal dress. However, this knowledge also helps brides shopping in-store when meeting with bridal consultants to discuss what dresses to try on. 

Silhouettes

The silhouette of her gown is the first aspect a bride should narrow in on. Think of it as the outline of the dress, its overall shape. It tells how fitted a gown is and whether it hugs certain areas of the body tighter. A few typical silhouettes are:

  • Mermaid: A mermaid style silhouette is fitted at the bust, waist, and hips while flaring out at the knee. The flare gives the effect of a mermaid tail (hence the name). This style flatters curvy body types or women with wider hips than shoulders. 
  • A-line: An a-line silhouette is fitted through the waist while flaring out softly to create an ‘A’ shape, which offers increased mobility. This style works well for all body types.
  • Ball gown: This silhouette is more on the extravagant side. The ball gown often hugs in at the waist or hips and dramatically flares out for an hourglass effect, hence why this shape works well on women with an hourglass body shape. Ball gowns look great on thin women or women with broader shoulders as it gives the illusion of wider hips. 
  • Sheath: A sheath silhouette is a perfect alternative to a voluminous dress. The style hugs the body and drops straight to the floor, which elongates the bride’s shape. Petite women may find this style flattering.
  • Jumpsuit: This style is a one-piece with a top and long connected pants. There are versions that look great on all body types.

Necklines

The next element is to learn about different necklines. Simply put, the neckline is the top edge of a dress near the neck and chest. Some of the most popular necklines include:

  • Sweetheart: Just like the name suggests, the sweetheart neckline resembles the top half of a heart and gives the bride a leaner appearance. This neckline is very popular on strapless dresses. 
  • High neck: A high neckline dress provides the most coverage of any bridal style and comes up to the base of the neck or above.
  • Off-the-shoulder: The off-the-shoulder neckline is perfect for summer weddings, as it highlights the collarbones and shoulders with its draped sleeves. 
  • V-neck: A v-neckline is ideal for brides looking for the appearance of a longer torso. V-neck dresses appear in a ‘V’ shape and usually have straps or sleeves.
  • Straight across and Square: These necklines are similar in that the dress’s edge lies in a straight line across a women’s decollete. The difference is whether the gown is strapless or not.

Sleeve Styles

Depending on the season, a bride may opt for a dress with sleeves. Some of the most popular sleeve styles include: 

  • Long sleeves: These are more of a formal style and come down to the wrist without being over-the-top. Within the category of long-sleeved dresses is variation in sleeve style. Some dresses have fitted long sleeves made from just lace, while others feature illusion lace. Bell sleeves are another option; made popular in the 1970s but are currently making a comeback. 
  • Off-the-shoulder: These sleeves are great for highlighting the bride’s shoulders and collarbones in a very chic way. 
  • Cap sleeves: These are very short and flutter from the shoulder but does not feature any fabric underneath the arm.
  • Strapless: This style means there are no straps or sleeves on the dress, highlighting the neck, shoulders, and collarbone. For a traditional bride, long gloves look elegant with a strapless ball gown.
  • Puff sleeve: A puff sleeve is fitted at the bottom of the wrist with elastic to keep it in place. It offers a youthful look and can sometimes look bohemian if done right. 
  • Spaghetti strap: These are more of a dainty detail and hold up the dress without covering the arms.

Waistlines

The waistline may seem insignificant compared to the other elements of a wedding dress. However, it adds a signature defining area to the silhouette. Some popular waistline styles to consider are: 

  • Basque waistline: The seams on the basque create a ‘U’ or ‘V’ shape in the front and are on hourglass ball gowns.
  • Empire waistline: This waistline sits just below the bust and is high and raised, creating a tall and slender appearance. 
  • Dropped waistline: This waistline drops to the thighs, creating a leaner and longer torso. This is not necessarily the same as the mermaid style.
  • Medium/natural waistline: This waistline sits at the bride’s natural waist, offering more comfort. 

Trains

The train of a wedding dress adds extra length to the end of the dress. The most common train styles include: 

  • Sweep: This is the shortest train for a dress, at about 10 inches long, and is perfect for outdoor weddings. 
  • Court: The court train is the same size as the sweep, except it extends from the waist rather than the hem. 
  • Chapel: This is 3 feet from the waist and is perfect for brides who want simple.
  • Cathedral: This train is 6 feet from the waist and suits indoor weddings the best.

Terminology Is Helpful 

With so much variation in the style of wedding dresses, researching and understanding bridal terminology before shopping can make the experience much less stressful. It’s helpful for brides to understand what they want but also for when it comes to explaining what kind of dress they’re looking for with ease. 

 

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

How To Appear Successful In A Business Environment

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Creating a successful image of yourself is a big part of excelling in the business environment. 

When you look the part, you’re more inclined to feel the part. You’ll have the appearance of someone who knows what they’re doing, coming across as being confident and sure of yourself. Even during tense negotiations or important client meetings, you will still appear as if you are in control.  

Some workers have even found a way to look busy and successful without actually doing anything useful at their place of work. There is a power in a look, and one would be foolish to underestimate it. Of course, we are not recommending putting style over substance; only to fuse the two together in a mutually complimentary fashion.

Therefore, here are a few tips suggested by UtilitySavingExpert.com that will help you appear more successful in a business environment. 

Practice Good Hygiene

A successful image starts at basic hygiene. 

It might seem obvious, but no amount of fancy clothes or bottled odours can mask what is undoubtedly poor personal hygiene. Cleanliness is the starting point from which you can create your perfect persona, from which you can add more touches of character to polish up your air of success. 

Successful people have money, and money buys showers and soaps. Use them both well, because if you skip the wash, then every other effort you make to look successful will fall decidedly flat. Floss your teeth, trim your nose hairs, clean your hair with shampoos and conditioners, and keep your nails trimmed or clipped to a presentable standard too. 

If you can’t perform the basics of day-to-day life, then who can say that you can represent the interests of a company? The essentials can’t be missed, so commit yourself to them for the best results possible. 

Wear Luxury Accessories

It’s the extras that communicate real success, showing your ability to go the extra mile with your money. 

Desiring a quality timepiece? Certified Nomos watches sold by Chronext are all brand-new, backed up by a flurry of great reviews. Fast delivery times are also available, and you can search for over 7,000 excellent watches until you have found one that speaks to you. Such a range of choice is not only to be commended but utilised to the full also. These watches are a fresh update in the industry, being incredibly elegant thanks to their minimalist design, all of which is the will of a younger company. 

Accessories always lend extra dynamics to an ensemble, and the more depth your look has in the business environment, the better. It tells people that you pay attention to details, that you have an appreciation for tradition, and that you’re familiar with making good decisions. 

It’s not crass to celebrate the fruits of your labours, either. There’s a fine line between showing off and enjoying your success, and most accessories can help communicate the latter. Additions such as the watch have practicality as well as style, as do things like glasses, headbands, and bags, all of which have incredibly stylish variations if you search hard enough. Flaunt your success – you’ve earned it! 

Develop Your Body Language

Anyone can wear a fancy suit and flashy accessories. The real question is – will your demeanour help or hinder you in wearing them well?

A suit can only ‘suit’ you if you have the charisma and swagger to pull it off. One glance at the models who adorn them in the broadsheets will tell you that their attitude sells it. The character comes through the clothes, not from them. Adopting your body language when you’re wearing your business attire is what lets people know that you’re not only stylish, but serious about being so. 

Your success shines through in every movement you make. Great body language may include: 

  • Keeping Your Head Up: Averting your gaze to the floor might be perceived as a sign of weakness. Look everybody in the eye, and face everything in your working day head on. 
  • Holding Your Shoulders Back: Slumped shoulders will drag down the rest of your posture with them, likely stooping your back also. Keep them back to a degree, so that they can better accentuate a confidently bold pose. 
  • Uncrossing Your Arms: Many people interpret crossed arms as a sign of tension or confrontation. Keep your arms at your side, and you will have an air of openness about you, which is attractive to all your colleagues in clients for business-related enquires. 
  • Maintaining Handshakes: Much can be communicated in something as simple as a handshake. Early withdrawal can indicate nerves, too late an end might flag an overbearing nature. A strong grip and 2-3 shakes is the best way to land a positive first impression. 
  • Controlling Your Facial Expressions: Business can often be like a game of poker, whereby you don’t want to give away your true feelings on matters so easily. Maintain a pleasant demeanour, smile and schmooze, and master suppressing frowns or contorted expressions. Successful people are never broken. 

There’s a great deal of subtly in body language that can influence what direction things take in business. Some of the tips above may not be particularly revolutionary, but they can be reasons why people fail job interviews or land a bad impression with potential clients. Textbook ideas are textbook for a reason, so keep them in mind. 

Practice Your Speaking

You might think you have been able to speak since you were a small toddler, but business environments require something a little extra in the speech department. 

Clear diction, pronunciation, and a wide vocabulary are all incredibly useful assets. The ability to articulate yourself properly is vital in circumstances such as presentations, performance reviews, or any important series of meetings. Not only are you discussing the topic at hand, but you’re also using persuasion to subtly demonstrate your worth to the clients and colleagues around you. 

Short, minimal responses won’t impress anybody, neither will long-winded speeches that lead to nowhere. Try to land your own speech patterns somewhere in the middle, where you use every sentence to full effect. Consider seeking professional support, such as presentation skills training, to refine your delivery and maximize your impact. An aptitude for crisp storytelling and charming turns of phrase could serve you well also.

Public speaking is now required in many fields. In 2016, Jeannette Nelson who serves as head of voice at The National Theatre, said that “your voice […] carries your history as much as anything”, and that people tend to become more self-conscious when told such a thing. If you embrace that side of things openly, though, you can appear more successful as your confidence radiates through your speech patterns. 

Help Your Colleagues 

It might seem like a rather cheesy point to make but making time for others can be a great way to signpost your success. 

There has been an increase in schemes whereby colleagues can tip each other in “peer-to-peer micro-bonuses”, with small cash rewards being used to build team dynamics and boost performance. Therefore, it could be a good idea to recommend the scheme to your employers or participate in it if it exists in your firm already. 

Using your success for the betterment of others speaks volumes of your character. It shows that you’re a team-player, and that you value the performance of the business more than covering your own back and going home early. If you can sprinkle some of your own good fortune on those around you, you’ll be looked to as a leader, and that’s true success. 

Collaborative post with our partner.