Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

How To Build A Website

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buildawebsiteBuilding a website can seem like a daunting experience. Especially to the technologically challenged. But like most things, when you get the hang of it, it becomes a lot easier.

To get you on your way Frost has put together a handy guide. Good luck!

Get Some Hosting

If you are going to build a website you need to have it hosted on a server. When deciding what hosting site to go with ask around. Word of mouth is important. 1&1 My Website have a good reputation. They also have good customer service. My first ever website was hosted by them. Aw, memories.

Get a Domain

Different from hosting. The domain is the name of the site. So Frostmagazine.com is our domain. A good domain name enhances your brand and makes your URL (uniform resource locator) easier to find. These can be inexpensive. Although it you want katemiddleton.com not only would that probably be taken, but it would also be very expensive.

Think About The Design

You want a design that is pleasing to the eye and easy to read. Also think carefully about installing flash or lots of plugins. This will slow the site down and some people might not even be able to view it.

Content is King

This is the most important thing on your site. Nothing is more important than content. It will get people coming back to your site. You need to update your content regularly. Not only for your readers (if an online magazine) or customers (if for your business) but also for the search engines. If you constantly update your site then search engines like google love it as it shows growth.

Think About Getting a Template

You don’t need to learn how to code. You can use a wordpress template. We use one on Frost Magazine and so do a lot of other sites.

Ask For Help

Never be scared to ask for help. If you are stuck you can ask your hosting site’s customer service, search on the internet or ask the question on Twitter and Facebook. People love to help.

Back Up!

This is so important: Back up your site! If you don’t back up then you can lose all of your hard work in an instant. So many things can go wrong so back up at least once a week.

 Do you have any website building tips? Share them below.

 

Workforce Socks | Fashion

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404702_10151330557437093_1435897173_nSocks? Yes, socks. Few things are more underrated than wearing the right socks. If they make you too hot or too cold they can ruin your day. I also hate it when socks are so tight they stop your circulation, and don’t get me started on socks that only last a couple of wears and end up having holes in the heel and toe. In fact as I am writing this I realise just how hard it is to find a good pair of socks.

So, time to review Workforce socks. Are they any good?

They look good so straight away they get points for design. They also have an ‘R’ and an ‘L’ so you know that you are putting them on the right foot. They have padding on the heel and the ball of the feet. You would be surprised just how much of a difference this makes. They also have some padding on other areas.

The toes are also reinforced. Workforce call themselves the most comfortable socks on the market. A big claim.

I wear the workforce socks for a few days (not in a row. I washed them!) I have had sore feet from running all around London going to different events and stuff. It is surprising just how much abuse your feet take.

The socks really are comfortable. So much so that I don’t think I can go back to normal socks again. I am definitely going to buy these socks for my family and friends. They are just so much more superior than normal socks. They are comfortable, tough and just so much kinder to your feet. I really like them. Consider me converted.

 Workforce also say:

 

 Technical features to be found in the Workforce range include knitted arch support engineered for a precise fit and hold, terry cushion panels to provide excellent comfort from shock absorption. Specially constructed ventilation panels aid moisture management, specially treated yarns and bamboo fibres provide natural antibacterial protection.  Many styles include heavy gauge ribbing and fully cushioned soles for total comfort and heel and toe areas are enhanced with polypropylene for maximum durability.

 

 

Celebrity builder Tommy Walsh is impressed with the performance of his Workforce socks and adamant that they have improved his life at work:

“Workforce are the hardest wearing socks I’ve ever worn and also the most comfortable. They provide me with the comfort and protection I need when I’m working hard or when I’m out and about. They’re warm, but never get too hot; they’re padded, extra strong and fit comfortably with my working boots and shoes. I don’t know how they’ve done it, but Workforce have a range of socks ideal for workwear purposes”

Workforce Socks available from Amazon UK.

What do you think?

Disaronno Cocktail Recipes and Drink Review

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392781_10151288429292093_768028658_nDisaronno is an incredibly unique drink. Sweet and warm. It smells and tastes like marzipan. So if you like marzipan, you will love Disaronno. The packaging is also great. Iconic and sophisticated.

Disaronno Amaretto liqueur has a long history dating back to 1525. The Italian liqueur was discovered in the Renaissance. The artist Bernardino Luini, a brilliant pupil of Leonardo da Vinci – was commissioned to paint a fresco of the Madonna of the Miracles in Saronno (Madonna dei Miracoli in Saronno, where the Fresco is still displayed today). To portray the Madonna, he chose as his muse a beautiful local innkeeper. As a thank you she gave him a flask full of the now famous amber liquid.

The recipe was rediscovered by Giovanni Reina. Since then the Reina family has closely guarded the secret formula, passing it from one generation to the next.

Disaronno tastes great with apple juice or lemonade. It is also a great cocktail ingredient. Check out the recipes below.

DISARONNO CRANBERRY CHILLER

 

  • ¾ part DISARONNO
  • ½ part Vodka
  • ¾ part Triple sec
  • 3 parts Cranberry juice
  • Orange juice

Method
Shake all ingredients and strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with orange juice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Taste: Bitter | Strength: Mild Top Tip:
Do use freshly-squeezed oranges! Keep them warm and roll them under your palm for maximum juice.

DISARONNO Sour

Disaronno Sour - LOW
Recipe: 1 part DISARONNO, 1 teaspoon of sugar, ½ lemon squeezed, Crushed ice

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice filled glass. Garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry.

DISARONNO JAZZY HOUR

A fine fusion of flavours

Create a sensation of top notes with this fruity favourite. Fusing DISARONNO, vodka, tangerine liqueur, pineapple juice and a splash of fresh lemon, it’s a mouth-watering mix perfect for any occasion.

  • ½ part DISARONNO
  • 1 part Vodka
  • ½ part Tangerine liqueur
  • 1 part Pineapple juice
  • Splash lemon juice

 

Method

  • Shake with ice and strain into a martini cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange slice. Taste: Sweet | Strength: Strong Top Tip:
    Do use freshly-squeezed lemons! Keep them warm and roll them under your palm for maximum juice.

DISARONNO COLADA

 

Simply mix DISARONNO with colada mix for a truly tropical assault.

1½ parts DISARONNO
4 parts Colada mix

Method
Mix all ingredients in a blender with ice and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with slice of pineapple and a cherry.
Taste: Sour | Strength: Mild

 

DISARITA FRESH VERSION

DISARONNO with tequila blanco, tropical guava juice and a generous squeeze of lime. Just add a sunset.

¾ part DISARONNO
1¼ parts Tequila blanco
1¼ parts Guava juice
½ part Lime juice

Method
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime slice. Taste: Sweet | Strength: Mild Top Tip:
Do use freshly-squeezed limes! Keep them warm and roll them under your palm for maximum juice.

 

DISARONNO ITALIAN KISSES

 

DISARONNO Italian Kisses, a seductive blend of DISARONNO, pomegranate juice and crisp prosecco.

1 part DISARONNO
½ part Pomegranate juice
Top prosecco

Method
Pour DISARONNO and pomegranate juice into each flûte, then top each with prosecco. Garnish with an orange peel. Taste: Bitter | Strength: Mild Top Tip:
Cocktails with champagne and sparkling wine go well with food. Drier wines work well with seafood and sushi, while sweeter wines go better with fruit.

 

DISARONNO SPARKLING

 

DISARONNO and crisp sparkling wine. Smooth, sweet and offering a refreshing hit of bubbles, it’s a great way to get the party started.

¾ part DISARONNO
Top with sparkling wine

Method
Pour DISARONNO into a flûte glass, top with sparkling wine.
Taste: Bitter | Strength: Strong Top Tip:
Did you know – a sparkling wine only needs around 45 minutes in the fridge before serving. In fact, if it is served too cold, the taste and smell will be lost.

 

DISARONNO BED OF ROSES

 

DISARONNO, zesty orange, a drizzle of triple sec and a dash of crisp champagne.

1 part DISARONNO
1 part Orange juice
drizzle Triple sec
Champagne

Method
Shake first three ingredients with ice and strain into flûte glass. Top with champagne. Garnish with an orange peel. Taste: Sour | Strength: Strong Top Tip:
Cocktails with champagne and sparkling wine go well with food. Drier wines work well with seafood and sushi, while sweeter wines go better with fruit.

 

DISARONNO MIMOSA

DISARONNO, orange juice and a splash of crisp prosecco.

¾ part DISARONNO
1 part Orange juice
Top prosecco

Method
Pour all ingrendients into a flûte glass, top with prosecco. Taste: Sweet | Strength: Strong Top Tip:
Pop the flute glasses into the freezer for a few minutes before you pour the cocktail into them, to ensure your mimosas are deliciously cold.

 

DISARONNO ROMAN CHOCOLATE

Blend DISARONNO, dark crème de cacao and half & half mix.

1 part DISARONNO
1 part Dark creme de cacao
1 part Half & Half mix

Method
Shake with ice and strain into a shot glass. Taste: Sweet | Strength: Strong

 

RASPBERRY DISARITA

DISARONNO, tequila blanco, raspberry juice and margarita mix.

¾ part DISARONNO
1¼ parts Tequila blanco
1½ parts Raspberry juice
1½ parts Margarita mix

Method
Mix all ingredients in a blender with ice and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime slice. Taste: Sour | Strength: Strong

 

DISARONNO & TEA

Combine piping hot tea with the smooth sweetness of DISARONNO, for a treat that’s bound to ward off the winter blues. Top with whipped cream.

1½ parts DISARONNO
6 parts Hot tea
Whipped cream

Method
Pour all ingredients into a mazagran glass, top with whipped cream. Taste: Sour | Strength: Mild

 

DISARONNO MACBETH

 

Serve up a fearsome fusion of Tennessee whisky, DISARONNO, blue curacao and sweet & sour.

½ part DISARONNO
1 part Tennessee whiskey
½ part Blue curaçao
1 part Sweet & Sour mix

Method
Shake with ice and strain into a martini cocktail glass. Garnish with lime slice.
Taste: Sweet | Strength: Strong Top Tip:
Make your own ‘Sweet & Sour’ mix by mixing 2 parts spirit to 1 part sour (e.g. lemons) and 1 part sweet (e.g. triple sec, fruit juice).

Do you have a cocktail recipe? Let us know or comment below.

You can buy Disaronno here or at Tesco.com

 

Manuka Doctor ApiClear Blemish Cream Review

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Mille Mackintosh

Everyone has the occasional break out no matter how good their skin is. I am no exception. The last spot cream I used seemed to take the occasional spot I got and multiply it so my usually clear skin had a bit of a freak out. Enter Manuka Doctor ApiClear Blemish Cream. I had high hopes for this as I have previously reviewed their face mask. It also has Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh as a fan.

Millie Says, I won’t be going to anywhere this year without Manuka Doctor’s ApiClear Blemish Cream. Breakouts often occur during festivals and holidays and so having this to instantly soothe my skin is a lifesaver! It is so easy to use – I just pop it in my bag and know that my skin will stay blemish free.

The cream has UMF 18+ Manuka Honey, witch hazel, vitamin E and Propolis. It is calm and cooling and non greasy. It doesn’t have any nasty parabens or SLS.

I use it on the occasional pimple and it does speed up the healing process. My skin looks a lot better. Considering how inexpensive it is (£5.99 from Holland & Barrett) I will be buying this when it runs out. A great little cream that helps clear up spots quickly.

Top marks.

Calvin Klein Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick Review

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Calvin Klein Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick in Cosmopolitan.

IMG_3470I must confess that the colour of this lipstick was a bit challenging. I see women wearing bright lipstick all the time and feel a tug of envy. It just looks so fabulous on them. I usually wear nude lipstick. My problem with bright lipstick is that I have a big mouth – no jokes please. At school I was made fun of because of my big lips. Of course now I see them as a plus. I get compliments on them a lot. But I always thought that wearing bright lipstick made them look too big and was just too much of a hassle. Which just goes to show how much I don’t know.

The lipstick looks amazing on. Although my boyfriend has reservations, ‘Jeez, that’s bright. It really doesn’t suit you.” he says. Thanks for that! I persevere anyway.

IMG_3453

I like how the lipstick brightens up my face. I like the colour, it is beautiful. The lipstick is good quality, as you would expect from Calvin Klein. It stays on my face all day and it does not dry my lips out. I get a lot of compliments and even my boyfriend comes around to it.

So am I converted? Completely. I will be brightening up my make up look, and as for the Calvin Klein lipstick, it is a piece of luxury at a completely reasonable price, and an excellent lipstick to boot.

Available from Fragrance Direct and Debenhams.

 

 

 

 

May I Kill U? Film Review

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kevin bishop may i kill uI had no idea what to expect from May I Kill U? I thought it was a horror but googled it to learn that it was also a comedy and had noted British comedian Kevin Bishop in it. In fact this black comedy is sharp, dark and incredibly funny.

The film is also a modern take on society. It has a young police officer (Kevin Bishop) who becomes a social media literate vigilante serial killer. Quite a mouthful. He announces his kills on Twitter and asks his ‘fans’ advice on killing methods and who he should kill. It is a witty and smart take on modern society and crime.

The killer is very polite. Asking his victims if he can kill them and only doing so if they give him their permission. He announces certain areas crime free zones and warns there is a death penalty if this is broken. He bumps off drug dealers, people traffickers, wife abusers and thieves.

Director Stuart Urban previously directed a brilliant feature-length documentary, I Am Not Dead, about his father, a Polish Jewish doctor, who escaped the Nazis and the Soviet Union.

Frances Barber is excellent as the bitter mother who Bishop still lives with and Hayley-Marie Axe puts in a great performance as Bishop’s partner in the police force. The script is very well written, making the film a funny and modern comedy. Go see.

Runtime: 90 mins
Directors: Stuart Urban
Cast: Ali Craig, Frances Barber, Hayley-Marie Axe, Jack Doolan, Kasia Koleczek, Kevin Bishop, Rosemary Leach

Superdry + Timothy Everest Womens Sebiro Collection AW13

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Superdry founder James Holder and contemporary British tailor Timothy Everest have designed an exclusive new women’s collection. It is a tailored collection with a very classic British feel. This follows on from their men’s collection. I went along to the launch and grabbed a cocktail. The show was part fashion show and part theatre. Lots of fun and I liked the clothes.

The women’s collection has a shooting and fishing crowd feel with a mix of rock’n’roll rebel. The material and cut is superb and the clothes can take you everywhere from work to an evening out. Take a look and let us know what you think.

IMG_1705 IMG_1709 IMG_1711 IMG_1717 IMG_1702IMG_1716

 

From £75 to £250, available at Superdry International.

Cointreau Cocktail Recipes And Drink Review

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221635_10151288432442093_217936919_nI have had many cocktails with Cointreau as an ingredient. In fact Cointreau is at the heart of many famous cocktails including the Cosmopolitan and the Margarita. I knew it tasted good but was not quite sure what it was. Turns out it is an orange Liqueur. It smells great, it tastes great and everyone should have a bottle handy.

To top of the glamour factor gorgeous burlesque star Dita Von Teese is their spokeswomen. Here are some excellent cocktail recipes. We have been testing them all at Frost Mag central. The Sidecar was a particular favourite. Let us know your favourite.

COINTREAUPOLITAN:

Pour into a shaker with ice:

1.5 fl oz Cointreau

1 fl oz Cranberry juice

3/4 oz. Lemon juice

Shake and strain into a martini glass. Enjoy! The bartender’s tip: add the orange zest to your drink.

Cointreau Fizz

Cointreau Fizz Classic cucumber

Recipe: 50ml Cointreau, 100ml soda water and ½ fresh lime

Method: Squeeze wedges of lime into glass, fill glass with ice. Add the Cointreau and top up with soda water

Cucumber garnish is optional.

 

COINTREAU MARGADITA:

1 oz Cointreau

1 oz Silver Tequila

1 oz Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 oz Monin Rose Syrup

1 pinch Chipotle Spice

Mix all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled coup glass. Garnish with floating rose petals. For an added kick, add a chipotle and salt rim.

Margarita

 

20 ml (1 oz) Cointreau
20 ml (¾ oz) lime juice
40 ml (2 oz) tequila 100% agave

Pour into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, shake well, then pour into a chilled margarita or martini glass.

 

Don’t forget to rim the glass with salt. Garnish with a piece of lime.

Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

1 1/2 ounces bourbon

1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 ounce Bénédictine D.O.M.

1/4 ounce Cointreau

Ice

Angostura bitters

Lemon twist, for garnish

 

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Place a cocktail glass in the freezer to chill.
  2. Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, Bénédictine, and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted. Strain into the chilled cocktail glass, top with a dash of bitters, and garnish with the lemon twist.

 

Fluffy Dog recipe

 

1 oz Cointreau orange liqueur
1 oz Bailey’s Irish cream

Mix both ingredients and serve over ice.

Fluffy Duck

1 part/shot (30ml) advocaat 1 part/shot (30ml) cointreau 1 part/shot (30ml) cream 10 parts/shots (10x30ml) lemonade

Build and stir.

Jumping Jack Flash

25 ml Jack Daniels 25 ml cointreau 25 ml grand marnier 1 Can red bull

Shake the Jack Daniels, Cointreau and Grand Marnier with ice. Pour into a long glass and then add Red Bull.

 

What is your favourite cocktail? Share any recipes below.