Christmas Gift List For The Tech Lover

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Frostie

Tile Slim

This great gadget allows you to find your phone, wallet or anything else. It makes a great gift for the forgetful. It will even make your phone ring if you tap it twice, can be slipped into pockets and it adheres to flat surfaces. I am going to try to attach it to the remote.

Tile Slim is available here.

Meem.

This absolutely brilliant device ‘mirrors’ what’s on your iPhone in case you lose it or change it. It also automatically backs up your iPhone every time you charge it. We can’t praise it enough.

MEEM Memory for iPhones available here.

Roku

This great streaming stick just plugs straight into your TV. It then allows you stream from over 1000 channels. Yes, that is right, 1000 channels. From YouTube, 4OD, Netflix and the BBC iPlayer, there is lots to choose from. Will give hours of fun and entertainment. An ideal present for Christmas when TV watching is at its peak.

Roku Streaming Stick is available here.

Moov Now

Fitness is more popular than ever and we could not be happier about it. This personal coach and sports tracker not only talks you through your workout, but is also so stylish and gorgeous. It analyses and coaches your form, counts reps for you (very handy!), talks to you as you work out, and has sport-specific metrics. It will tell you if you are landing too hard and makes workouts more fun and challenging. It also does activity and sleep tracking. The perfect gift for a fitness bunny.

Moov Now Wearable Audio Coach is available here.

Alcosense Excel

We could not be more of a fan of this at home breathalyser. It is superb value and it can save your life and your job. It is hard to know if you are over the limit sometimes, especially the next morning. The Alcosense has been in development for three years and it costs less than £100. A brilliant device to keep in your bag. We can’t recommend it enough.

AlcoSense Elite Breathalyzer & alcohol tester is available here.

The Frost Food And Drink Christmas List

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Frostie

Panettone from Carluccio’s

It is just not Christmas without it.

http://www.carluccios.com/shop-online

I Sea Pasta

Organic seaweed pasta. Original, healthy and delicious.

From planetorganic.com

Żubrówka Embossed Bison Grass Bottle

Żubrówka Vodka, the Original Bison Grass Vodka, has over 500 years of tradition and history. Żubrówka’s exceptional character is emphasized by a single bison grass blade that is hand placed in every bottle. Each blade of bison grass is hand-picked and dried under natural conditions, making each bottle of Żubrówka an exceptional gift this Christmas.

For the perfect Christmas cocktail our brand ambassador, Przemyslaw Matuszewski, suggests our legendary Apple Zu, an extraordinarily smooth and aromatic cocktail, with a festive twist.

Glass
Highball

Ingredients
50ml Żubrówka
100ml traditional pressed cloudy apple juice
Squeeze of lime

Method
Fill a highball with ice, add all the ingredients and stir
Garnish with a few slices of apple and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon to tickle your festive tastebuds.

Available at Tesco.com, Waitress.com and Sainsburys.co.uk

Courvoisier VSOP

Cognac is experiencing a revival this year, with the discerning drinker opting for spirits steeped in sophistication, history and glamour. Whether you drink a quality cognac such as Courvoisier neat to enjoy the pure flavours of lavender and citrus, tobacco and patchouli, or as a part of an aromatic cocktail before dinner, let Courvoisier help you celebrate this Christmas.

Luxury cognac house Courvoisier has been an expert in celebration since the opening of the Eiffel Tower in 1889 where its cognac was served as a drink of choice. The cognac can now be served at your own Christmas celebration, alongside your favourite Christmas indulgence. For a real delicacy, try our VSOP with your smoked salmon or alongside your coffee and a decadent chocolate Christmas treat.

Since no celebration is complete without Courvoisier, make sure to add a drop of luxury to your Christmas festivities this winter.

A gift for cocktail lovers – Courvoisier VSOP

Courvoisier VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a distinguished cocktail. This blend of Courvoisier is an elegant mix of cognacs that are up to 10 years old, from two of the finest crus in the Cognac region.

For a cocktail that is as indulgent as it is delicious to serve at your festive soiree, try the Courvoisier Champagne Cocktail with your chic canapés.

Tasty and decadent stuff. We love it.

Courvoisier Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 part Courvoisier VSOP
1 Demerara sugar cube
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Top up with Champagne

Method: Soak a sugar cube in bitters and drop into a champagne flute. Cover with Courvoisier VSOP and slowly top with champagne.

Casso Cocktails
Available from cassococktails.com

Casso Cocktails has launched in the UK with a delicious range of ready-to-shake cocktails. Served in their signature individual jars and available in both glass and plastic format, opportunities for cocktail sipping moments are now endless.

The carefully curated range features five ‘twist on the classic’ flavours; Raspberry Cosmo, Coconut Mojito, Apricot Mai Tai, Peach Appletini and Grapefruit Sling. With equal focus on flavour and convenience, this delicious array of cocktails has been developed under the discerning tastebuds of Casso’s in house mixologist team, perfect for those unforgettable Christmas parties.

A great idea. Just add ice for a delicious cocktail.

Harveys Bristol Cream

Let’s face it, Christmas isn’t Christmas without Harveys, so what better gift to bring to your next Christmas party? This year the UK’s favourite sherry celebrates its 220 year anniversary and has launched a new campaign celebrating the timeless moments that Harveys has been a part of.

Harveys Bristol Cream is not only the UK’s favourite drink at Christmas it’s also a world renowned icon for its quality and heritage, This unique blend of Sherry combines the character and body of aged olorosos with the aroma and finesse of finos and amontillados, sweetened with the addition of high-quality Pedro Ximenez wine. It has a deep golden colour with a full, fragrant aroma and rich, mellow and long-lasting flavours.

This Christmas classic is the perfect way to embrace the festive season whether it’s to refresh your palate with a classic serve over ice with a slice of orange, shared amongst friends over Christmas party snacks, or alongside the inevitable stocking sweet treats and heaving Christmas cheese board. You can even impress your festive guests with a simple Harveys cocktail like our delicious Frosted Apple & Ginger recipe below:

Harveys frosted apple & ginger
Harveys frosted apple and ginger is bursting with effervescent flavours and is great served in a punch bowl so you can share with friends

Recipe:
Fill a highball glass with ice (crushed ice looks even better!)
Pour over 50ml Harveys Bristol Cream and 50ml premium pressed apple juice
Top up with a dash of ginger ale
Swirl with a cinnamon stick and leave in the glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and apple slices

A Hamper

We got sent this wonderful hamper full of delicious and original products. Unfortunately it didn’t have a label and we couldn’t see a press release. We just had to feature it anyway. Please let us know if you know where it is from. Thank you!

Merry Christmas from Frost Magazine.

Christmas Gift List For Your Brother

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Frostie

Kingston Technology 8GB Micro SD

Because you can never have enough storage.

Kingston 8GB Micro SD is available here.

Cross Star Wars Pen

A great lifetime gift. We love this Star Wars click pen.

Cross Star Wars Click Pen is available here.

Framed by Ronnie O’Sullivan

A great debut crime novel from the sporting genius.

Framed is available here.

Mio MiVue 618 Dash Cam

Has extreme HD recording, GPS tracking, wide angle viewing and safety camera warning. A great present that will keep your loved one safe.

Mio MiVue 618 Car Dash Cam is available here.

Stocking Filler Ideas For Christmas

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Frostie

Let’s be honest, Christmas is just not the same without a stocking. Here are our picks.

Pure Reship Oil from Nelsons

Pure Rosehip Oil is a must have. Made from 100% pure Rosehip Oil, cold pressed to create the highest grade product, the richness of the Rosehip makes it wonderful for dry skin. Rosehip Oil was also reportedly favoured by Kate Middleton during her second pregnancy making her look radiant throughout, so it’s the perfect stocking filler for those who love to take care of their skin.

You can even keep a cool head over the busy festive period with Rescue Plus Lozenge. Whether you’redoing final checks on the turkey or flitting between family members, ensuring their Christmas spirit is still going strong, Rescue PlusLozenge has a soothing orange and elderflower liquid centre and contains pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) which helps support normal mental performance.

Christmas can be a hectic time, so help friends and family take a moment to unwind and enjoy the festivities, by putting Rescue Plus Spearmint Chewing Gum in their stockings. With the act of chewing suggested to help calm and relax the mind, RESCUE Spearmint Chewing Gum, with its liquid flower essences centre, is both a handbag and desk essential.

The winter months can often be harsh on hands and skin, so treat your friends and family to Nelsons Calendula Cream in their stockings this Christmas. Containing natural extract of calendula and known for its skin conditioning properties, it will leave their hands and skin in tip top condition, ensuring they look and feel their best throughout the festive period.

RESCUE, Nelsons arnicare and Nelsons Calendula are all available from Sainsbury’s, independent pharmacies and health food stores, grocery stores nationwide and online at www.amazon.co.uk.

We are fans of all.

Lord & Berry Crayon Lipstick

Lord & Berry 20100 Lipstick Crayon’s are streamlined lipstick pencils, the perfect size to fit in your travel makeup bag. They’re small in size but pack a punch with colour. Perfect stocking gifts.

by Sainsbury’s Small Hot Water Bottle with Socks

We really loves these. So comfy and fluffy. from sainsburys.co.uk

By Sainsbury’s sweet shop
Great retro sweets in great jars and a caddy. A good gift from sainsburys.co.uk

by Sainsbury’s Copper Coated Measuring Cups

Take the guess work out of cooking with these beautiful, yet functional measuring cups. From sainsburys.co.uk

Paw Paw Papaya

A great moisturising balm from Australia. Enriched with Bio Active Manuka Honey 20+, this is a topical balm that soothes, relieves and moisturises dry, sensitive skin. Great for chapped lips. It has no parabens and no sulphates. It can even be used on children and those with eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

Jojoba 100% Natural Jojoba + Rosehip Oil

Wonderful stuff that makes a difference to skin. 100% natural. Great for dry skin, strechmarks, scars and hair. Can be used on all skin types.

PMB Moustache Wax

One for the well groomed men. Pall Mall Barbers Sandalwood & Clove Moustache Wax

A must-have product for men with facial hair, the moustache wax is designed with only the finest ingredients in mind. Naturally found in essential oils, our firm hold wax helps keep your moustache fixed in place all day long, as well as helping to moisturise and neaten the facial hair. Developed with their classic signature London barber fragrance of sandalwood and clove, skin is left with a subtle scent lasting all day long. Available from Pall Mall Barbers stores and http://www.pallmallbarbers.co.uk

No Stocking would be complete without some sweet stuff. We recommend…

Mr Stanley’s Salted Almond Brittle

A bit different and very yummy.

Mr Stanley’s White Chocolate Matches With Popping Candy

Unique and delicious. The popping candy is very subtle.

Mr Stanley’s Salted Chocolate Truffle Fudge

These were wolfed down quickly at Frost HQ. The best fudge we have ever tasted.

Mr Stanley’s Gummy Gingerbread Men

Original and they taste great.

All from mrstanleys.co.uk

Carluccio’s Fichi Al Rhum

Chocolate coated fig, rum and walnut bar. Wonderfully boozy. Perfect for Christmas. A winner.

Swizzles Drumsticks

A classic.

Swizzles Drumstick Squashies

Another classic but with a (relatively) new twist. We LOVE these.

Understanding Property Jargon Checklist

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Frostie

Buying a home is one of the most exciting times of a person’s life. Similarly, selling up to move into a bigger or more practical house, or perhaps dipping into the investment market by snapping up a buy-to-let property, are also moments to savour.

However, for those unfamiliar with the many terms of the housing market it can also be a linguistic nightmare, from the initial research through to contract exchange.

The guide below can help clear up some of the jargon associated with property. It’s perfect for either the aspiring homeowner or the seller moving on to their next home, a person aiming to make money as a landlord, or perhaps someone wishing to learn more about property and investment but unsure about some of the key terms and expressions.

By Patrick Vernon.

Christmas Gift List For Mum

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Frostie

Christmas gifts for mums. Because they are AWESOME.

Fluffy dog slippers

We love these cute and comfortable slippers. They keep your feet warm. Babies love them too. Batting away at them with glee.

Slip your feet into the ultimate in warm, fluffy comfort with these super-cute dog slipper socks. One size fits most feet up to women’s size 7. PVC sole with multi grip for slip resistance.

Total Price: £14.99

Woodland Bear Candle Tin

Cute and smells great. We really loved this.

Long lasting and highly concentrated woodland spice scented candle with aromas of cedar, ginger, clove and cinnamon. 100% soy wax infused with pure beeswax, a natural ioniser. Lead free, double wick that leaves a clean even burn. Burn time 70+ hours. Presented in a gift tin with a bear illustration. Size: 92 x 92 x 50mm. Total Price: £14.99.

Sparkling Jewellery To The Moon And Back Necklace

Perfect for telling mum just how much you love her. From www.sparklingjewellery.co.uk

Cashmere Me Warm Hug Comforting Candle

A beautiful and comforting candle. Smells great.

Fake Bake Cashmere MeWarm Hug Comforting Candle, £20.00

This comfortingcandle with its double wick, creates more than just a scent, it creates an inviting ambience that envelops the senses, giving that warm hug feeling that’s like being wrapped in cashmere. Relax, unwind and take some time out.

SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit

Because mum is too tired and too busy for manicures and this lasts for up to 2 weeks.

Sensationail gel polish starter kit is available here.

Michael Bublé By Invitation

Stunning and elegant. A crisp floral oriental fragrance. Has top notes of red fruits and bergamot followed by notes of lily of the valley, elegant rose, wild jasmine and spicy peony. Base noted are sandalwood musks mixed with vanilla praline.

Michael Bublé By Invitation is available here.

Toni & Guy Style Fix Straighteners

A brilliant little straightener that is perfect for travel. Fits in a handbag. A great space saver. The style fix collection also has a waver and a curler.

Brand New TONI&GUY style fix appliances are available here and from boots.com

True North Cosmetics

Scandinavian skincare brand. The True North Cosmetics philosophy is to offer high quality products for those who desire a straightforward skin care program that delivers impressive results regardless of age or gender. Prior to your bespoke skincare prescription, True North Cosmetics offer a detailed skin analysis using an innovative biometric measuring tool, which gives a valuable insights into your skins need, such as skin moisture level, oil production, skin sensitivity and number and depth of lines and wrinkles.

True North values results and common sense above hip ingredients as they truly believe this creates positive long-term results for everyone. We love their De-stressed Day Fluid 7.1 SPF 30, De-Stressed Mask 6.1 and their De-Stressed Day 2.1 all with `aloe vera balancing complex. Highly recommended.

Available at Harvey Nichols and at leading spas and salons nationwide www.harveynichols.com

The Career Code by Hilary Kerr & Katherine Power

A great career book for mum with a side of life advice. Great book to give mum inspiration for her next career move.

The Career Code is available here.

Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré

Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré is a celebrity staple, this wonder cream tackles dehydration with ease using its combination of ingredients of natural origin, it has been a favourite of dermatologists, beauty professionals and makeup artists for decades, famed for its multi-purpose properties.

A great multi-functional nourishing moisturiser. Makes a great make-up primer.

Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream is available here.

Frost Loves: The Cadbury Christmas Chocolate Range

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Frostie

At Frost it is known that we love chocolate, and you cannot beat Cadbury when it comes to chocolate. We reviewed the new range for our readers. Hard job, we know.

There are much-loved favourites and new and exciting products this Christmas. These novel and fun products are sure to be a winner with the family.

NEW FOR 2016

Cadbury Dairy Milk Snow Balls

As Christmas approaches, this brand new product is sure to get families across the country in the mood for the festive season. These Cadbury Dairy Milk Snow Balls are the ideal treat to share and come in a pack of four. Simply crack open the top of the Snow Ball and use the spoon provided to scoop out and enjoy the fluffy mousse centre. Yum! RRP £2.99

This is novel, tasty and fun. You eat the middle out with the spoon enclosed. Very festive.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Santa Gift Box

Another new product for 2016, this Santa gift box – filled with delicious chunks of Cadbury Dairy Milk – is the perfect stocking filler. To spread the excitement and magic this Christmas, why not treat a loved one to this cheeky chappy and tuck into the delicious delights from Santa’s sack. RRP £2.99.

Gorgeous Dairy Milk chunks in a fun santa.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar, the best way to count down to the most magical day of the year. If you can’t get enough of the delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, this advent calendar will keep the festive excitement growing this holiday season. Complete with a tantalising assortment of milk chocolates, and milk chocolates with vanilla flavour fillings, everyone will want a piece. 200g RRP £4.99

If you can’t get enough of the delicious CadburyDairy Milk chocolate, this advent calendar will really keep you wishing away the days to Christmas. Open a door to reveal a delicious piece of Cadbury Dairy Milk every day until the big day. RRP £2.19

A must for the Christmas season. A tasty chocolate for each day.

STOCKING FILLERS

If you are looking for a sweet stocking filler for the kids, the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hollow Santas are just the perfect reminder that Santa will be on his way soon. A quirky twist on the classic Christmas traditional icon, these Santa’s are made from delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk, a supremely scrumptious Santa if we ever saw one! 50g RRP £1.49, 100g RRP £2.99

These hollow Santas are perfect for Christmas.

For a jolly way to treat family and friends during the festive season, Cadbury Dairy Milk Jolly Santas are perfect as they come in packs containing five pocket sized Santas, each presented in fun wrapping. Santa has had a makeover and there are now seven cheerful looks to be discovered. Kids will surely love them! RRP £2.99

These are so jolly and awesome. We love them.

There is no better feeling than opening your stocking on Christmas morning. Here to put a smile on the faces of every chocolate lover, the Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo Faces Tube is bound to be the kids’ favourite. The festive tube is packed full of cheeky choccy pieces, with Freddo pulling a range of playful faces to entertain the little ones. RRP £1.42

These were a huge hit. Our new favourite. So tasty.

For a timeless treat that will be well received by kids and grandparents alike, slip a tube of Cadbury Dairy Milk Button in the stockings. The classic bite-size button shapes of solid Cadbury Dairy Milk come packaged in an exciting festive tube that will bring joy to everyone. RRP £1.42

A classic chocolate in great packaging. We love the owl.

If you know someone who really cannot get enough of the delicious Cadbury Wispa we have the perfect gift for them, the Cadbury Endless Wispa. The classic and much loved Bitsa Wispa now comes in a giant Christmas stick, so why not impress your friends with the gift that keeps on giving. RRP £2.49

How much Wispa is enough Wispa? This almost gets there, but not quite. Perfect for Christmas.

DECK THE HALLS

Add a touch of Cadbury Christmas purple to your tree, or surprise your relatives by gifting them with the new Cadbury Dairy Milk Baubles. These spectacular supersized baubles are available in two different varieties. Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo Baubles are filled with Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates complete with a vanilla flavour filling and Oreo biscuit pieces. Cadbury Dairy Milk Snow Bites Baubles includes 4x34g bags of Snow Bites; Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate balls encased in crisp sugar shells and dusted with delicious icing sugar. RRP £4.99

These are just the most perfect thing ever. A great invention and so tasty.

Make your tree even sweeter with Cadbury Dairy Milk Tree Decorations. There are different designs and shapes for everyone in the family to leave their sparkly mark on this year’s decorations. Available in both 84g (RRP £2.13) and 144g (RRP £3.46) packs.

Yummy and look perfect on the tree. Just keep them away from the lights.

FAMILY FAVOURITES…

Everybody loves classics at Christmas and there is nothing more classic than Cadbury chocolate during the festive season…

Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Edition is made up of mini white and milk chocolate tree-shaped chunks, perfect for also decorating your Christmas cake. You can break them apart and share with the family for an instant taste of Christmas joy. RRP £1.42

So festive and is both white and milk chocolate. What more could you want?

The irresistible Cadbury Dairy Milk Snowman will bring you the joy of a snowy Christmas day regardless of the weather. Available with chocolate mousse or vanilla mousse, the Snowmen are encased in a Cadbury Dairy Milk shell, with a light and fluffy mousse centre that tantalises the taste buds. Whether you choose a vanilla or chocolate mousse is up to you! RRP £0.65

Very yummy. The mousse is great. We loved these.

PERFECT FOR SHARING

Everybody loves a selection box at Christmas time.Cadbury selection packs comes in two sizes, small and medium. The smaller selection pack enables chocolate fans to enjoy all their favourite Cadburyclassics as they count down the days until Santa arrives! There is a bar for each day with CadburyChomp, Cadbury Curly Wurly, Cadbury Fudge and Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo. The Cadbury Medium Selection box contains a mix of favourites, such as the Cadbury Double Decker, Cadbury Crunchie and Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons. 81g RRP £1.09, 180g RRP £2.99

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo selection box is a fun sharing box with a sweat treat for everyone in the family. For extra fun, each pack contains a voucher for free child entry to Cadbury World. Classics include Cadbury Crunchie, Cadbury Chomp, Cadbury Curly Wurly and Cadbury Fudge. RRP £2.99

Christmas is not Christmas without a selection box. This Fredo one is full of the classics.

The Economics of Education

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Frostie

You may not realise it, but schools run a bit like businesses. Aside from the task of teaching children, instilling key values and ensuring that children are knowledgeable and rule-abiding adults by the time they leave at 18 years of age, schools have to balance the books. It costs a lot of money to run our nation’s schools, and while the aim isn’t to make a profit, it certainly pays to not overspend. Here’s a little bit of insight into the economics of education in the UK…

What is the average school spend per pupil?

The average spend per pupil in a local authority maintained school for 2014-2015 was £5,212. This figure accounts for spending on school supplies, staff, support staff, other employees and running expenses. Sadly, many teachers feel that it’s becoming more and more challenging to deliver the kind of teaching and results they want to after recent cuts to the budget by the government.

And what about unforeseen spends?

The BBC recently reported that schools in England are having to spend £1.3 billion per year on supply teachers because of chronic shortages. The average school spends a little under £60,000 a year on supply agencies, which of course is a high cost to be factored into already tight budgets.

Where does the funding for schools come from, and is it apportioned equally?

Well, the short answer is that, for the most part, funding comes from the government. And no – funding is not equal across the country. In fact, last year the Telegraph reported that there is a serious discrepancy in the amount of funding that schools receive across the country.

The Association of School and College Leaders carried out an analysis, and found that the ten best funded areas of the country received grants of £6,297 per pupil in 2015-2016.

However, in the ten most poorly funded areas, grants were only £4,208 per pupil. Ultimately, it’s a ‘post-code lottery’ (according to the Association of School and College Leaders), meaning that it’s really a question of luck whether or not children will get to benefit from the maximum grant available.

This is concerning when you think about the fact that more funding tends to equate to higher chances of success – especially for children from poorer backgrounds.

So what about the top private schools? How do they spend their money?

Well, prestigious private schools such as Eton face some of the same spending issues that state schools do (such as staff costs), as well as some that are unique to them (such as the cost of boarding children and safeguarding boarders’ welfare).

In 2014, the Guardian reported on this, explaining how private schools spend their money. Here is an excerpt for Eton’s accounts in the year to 31st August 2014:

Total income: £62m (£56m – 2013)

Expenditure: £59m (£55m)

Gross school fees: £44m (£42m)

Fee remission: £5.8m (£5.2m)

Fee reductions: 21% of pupils (20%)

Number of pupils: 1,300+ (aged 13-18)

Overall, it’s clear to see that whether pupils are attending state schools, private schools, academies or grammars, educating children is an expensive business.

By Patrick Vernon.

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