Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Pukka Herbs Peppermint and LicoriceTea | Drink Review

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Peppermint and Licorice is one of those things that you don’t really expect to go together, but in the land of tea, they do. Made with peppermint & FairWild licorice 20p from every pack of this goes towards supporting WWF conservation projects. Tasty and good for the environment: Frost approves.

The blend of the two flavours really works. It tastes fresh and refreshing. The peppermint soothes the digestion and naturally sweet, soothing licorice calms and nourish. I don’t put sugar in herbal teas but this tea is great for people with a sweet tooth. It definitely doesn’t taste bland. If you love licorice you will love it. It is a good, delicious, healthy tea. Get someone to try it if they think herbal tea is boring, it will prove them wrong.

It is caffeine-free and ethically sourced with 100% organically grown ingredients.

A really great tea.


Pukka Herbs celebrates 10 years in business

This year marks the tenth birthday of herbal innovators, Pukka Herbs.

Founded in 2002 by Sebastian Pole and Tim Westwell based on their mutual passion for natural health and wellbeing and the principals of Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), Pukka has grown into an international success story, employing 45 people in the UK and is sold in around 40 countries across the globe including the United States and throughout Europe.

Over the last decade, Pukka Herbs has used the finest organic herbs to optimise health and wellbeing. One of only a handful of totally organic businesses (certified by the Soil Association) Pukka inspires and educates people to live healthier, more sustainable lives. Their portfolio includes 23 premium herbal teas, a collection of skincare (11 products) and over 75 food supplements.

Everything that Pukka produces is inspired by Ayurveda – ‘the art of living wisely’. This ancient Indian wisdom empowers us to look after our health in harmony with nature and, as a result, all products have a functional benefit that is drawn from the high quality herbs used in each blend. Everything Pukka is free from synthetic flavour and colour.

As an ethical business, Pukka strives to be responsible for its actions. Their commitment to the environment ensures that they plant over 20 million plants and trees every year and invest in renewable and sustainable energy projects as well as reforestation programmes with Climate Care. Pukka works with farmers on long term regeneration projects and uses FSC certified and recyclable materials for marketing literature and product packaging.

NEW for 2012 – Revamped Original Ayurvedic blends

Pukka has rebranded their original teas – Relax, Refresh and Revitalise – that were launched when Pukka started in 2002. Retaining the vibrancy and iconic recognition of these incredible teas, we have updated the design and copy to reflect the importance of our heritage in Ayurveda and to educate consumers on the authenticity of the blends.

NEW selection pack

In response to consumer demand, Pukka launches a selection pack of award-winning teas as part of its 10th birthday celebrations.

Containing four sachets of five bestselling blends Three Mint, Three Ginger, Three Tulsi, Three Green and Three Fennel, Pukka’s selection pack offers first-time consumers an exciting introduction to Pukka’s tea portfolio.

This selection pack will be launched at a time in which the herbal and green tea categories have seen a lift in consumer spend (up 2% and 5% respectively in 2011 to £74m*). *Source: Mintel Feb 2012

Pukka Herbs and WWF UK ‘Create a beautiful World’ together in 2012

Throughout 2012, as part of their 10th Birthday celebrations, Pukka Herbs is working with world famous conservation charity WWF UK to help ‘Create a Beautiful World’ – one that is vibrant, integrated and healthy.

Every year Pukka creates hundreds of acres of organic land for growing herbs that creates jobs for farmers and collectors, but also brings beauty into our everyday lives. Every pack of Pukka tea makes the world – whether on the shelf in your kitchen, or farmland in rural India – a more beautiful place.

In supporting the work of WWF UK, Pukka aims to raise in excess of £50,000 for conservation projects across the world – initially through a 20p donation from each sale of their special Peppermint and Licorice tea, and then through a year-long fund raising campaign and viral public film competition to be premiered in November 2012.

Throughout the summer, Pukka will be inviting the public to upload photos and clips to their Facebook page of their own personal ‘beautiful world’ – anything from their children laughing, to a sunset, to a merry-go-round, to their pukka tea shelf – whatever they believe brings beauty into their world. Combined with footage from Pukka and WWF, the clips will be created into 5 minute short films by students and filmmakers. The most popular films as voted for by the public will be screened at an environmentally friendly premier in November.

To support sales of the organic Peppermint and Licorice tea (certified FairWild licorice) in the health food trade and retail industry where the brand has grown, Pukka will be providing support in the form of promotional materials to help create theatre in store and build momentum and awareness of the charitable aims of the partnership.

Pukka will also be bringing out their first range of gorgeous, environmentally sensitive merchandise to showcase the campaign – once again helping people to ‘Create a Beautiful World’ in their every day lives. Profits from the sale of these exclusive items will go to WWF UK.

Sebastian Pole, co-founder and herbal director of Pukka Herbs, says: ‘When we started Pukka in 2002, we wanted to create a totally organic business that inspired people to live healthier, more sustainable lives. It seems only natural that as we celebrate ten years of bringing the power of plants into people’s lives, we also take the time to remember and celebrate the amazing planet that lets us do this.

Each year, we plant over 20 million plants and trees and invest in renewable energy, sustainable projects and reforestation programmes. We work with our growers, customers and consumers on a one to one basis to ensure that everyone profits from being involved with Pukka: sensually, healthily, ecologically and socially. Most importantly, we strive to leave nature in an ever richer, more glorious state than how we found her.

Partnering with WWF to promote our shared conservation values seemed the perfect next step. With a whole host of exciting activities going on over the next 12 months we hope to exceed our target of raising £50,000 to support their important international work.’

Commenting on the partnership, Rachel Bloodworth from WWF said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Pukka Herbs in their tenth birthday year – their dedication to supporting the natural environment and creating a beautiful world is perfectly aligned with our goals. Over the past 50 years, WWF has achieved countless successes from preserving existing species such as mountain gorillas, polar bears and giant pandas, to helping the development of international agreements for the protection of the planet – none of which would be possible without the continued support of dedicated individuals and companies like Pukka.’

“This is Pukka’s first ever consumer campaign and so they sought out the skills and expertise of communications agency Neo to help develop the campaign ideas. Neo only work with organisations that are changing the world for better and have worked with WWF UK on previous projects including their 2012 global ‘Earth Hour’ campaign. Account Director Nicole Bradfield comments on working with Pukka, “Creating an engaging platform for Pukka to bring their brand story to life and share their commitment to creating a beautiful world is a fantastic project. Their work to protect and enhance our natural world is a brilliant story and we’re delighted to be helping Pukka communicate it. We’re especially looking forward to seeing the public’s interpretation of their beautiful worlds weave together to become a stunning piece of filmmaking.”

You can find out more about these projects and how you can get involved at www.pukkaherbs.com/beautifulworld

Teangi Tea Tree | Beauty Review

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Teangi Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Cream
to effectively treat and relieve stings, cuts, minor burns, nappy rash and other minor skin conditions.

This cream has been getting a bit of a workout. I have been using it on insect bites, cuts, spots and sunburn. Luckily it has been doing it’s job. The cream has a great consistency and it smells divine, very fresh. It speeds up healing and is antiseptic so it treats cuts and grazes. The blend with witch hazel is a brilliant idea. The two powerful ingredients really work well together. It is also good at soothing skin. This creams many purposes make it a brilliant addition to any household.

Teangi Tea Tree Oil
100% pure pharmaceutical grade Tea Tree oil

This tea tree oil is 100% pure. Tea tree is known as ‘nature’s antiseptic’. Like the cream it has many purposes. You can add it to anything or dilute it and use it on spots or cuts. I used it on an insect bite and it reduced the swelling immensely. I was very impressed. I actually think this tea tree oil is the best you can get. Definitely worth a buy. Both products are well-priced. Bathroom essentials.

Teangi Tea Tree – Nature’s Healing Power for the Bathroom

Tea Tree has long been recognised as a major bathroom essential and the newly renamed Teangi range from LanesHealth is the perfect solution to many irritating conditions.

With the worries of itchy flaky scalps, lice, nappy rash, cuts, and insect bites affecting most parents with young children at some point, the Teangi Tea Tree range is an effective, soothing solution.

The Tea Tree shrub is native to a small region in northern New South Wales Australia and the oil is recognised as a powerful healing ingredient around the world. It has several well-established properties that provide the basis for its special soothing effects: natural antibacterial, natural antiseptic, anti-fungal and insect repellent.

Teangi is an ancient aboriginal name meaning ‘earth’. Aboriginals believed that the association of every living thing is not just an idea but a way of life. LanesHealth have chosen the name Teangi – pronounced Tea-angi – to accentuate the sacred, elemental source of Tea Tree’s healing power.

Today, the Teangi range offers nature’s power for the bathroom. With a range of essential products such as:

– Teangi Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Cream to effectively treat and relieve stings, cuts, minor burns, nappy rash and other minor skin conditions;
– Teangi Tea Tree Oil 100% pure pharmaceutical grade Tea Tree oil;
– Teangi Tea Tree Shampoo a medicated and PH balanced formula, with natural anti-tangling ingredients to make combing easier. Helps keep
the scalp clean and healthy and free from dandruff;
– Tea Tree Conditioner a nourishing leave-in treatment to keep hair perfectly hydrated moisturised and shiny.

So whatever your need, Teangi is a natural, essential collection for the whole family from head to toe.
Jon Groves, Spokesperson for LanesHealth says that, “The new design and brand name bring a contemporary feel to the range, whilst continuing to focus on the beneficial natural healing qualities that tea tree is known for, and which make it the perfect solution for all families.”

RRP:
Tea Tree Shampoo £3.69
Tea Tree Conditioner £3.15
Tea Tree Oil £4.03
Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Cream £3.25

Launching September 2012 at select supermarkets and chemists nationwide.

A Raincoat That Let’s You Get On Your Bike.

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If you were to treat yourself to the incomparable, stylish, cycling chic apparel
from The Cambridge Raincoat Company, then there would be no excuse not to
jump on your bike for the daily commute. Look stylish from door to door in this
perfectly practical raincoat.

Having experimented with all sorts of wet weather gear over the years including
waterproof cycling trousers and capes and struggling to overcome the negatives each
of them came with, Sally Guyer saw a niche for stylish yet effective cycle wear that is
appropriate for every stage of your journey and every aspect of daily life. This saw a
period of research, development and Savile Row tailoring to create the signature
raincoat of The Cambridge Raincoat Company.

The feeling that it must be possible to produce a coat long enough to keep the knees
dry, be brightly coloured enough to be noticeable yet still chic enough to be a pleasure
to wear was the motivation for Sally.

All raincoats produced by The Cambridge Raincoat Company are made using either
100% taslan, or 100% Cordura, depending on colour choice, both of which offer
considerable qualities in terms of protection from the elements. The fabrics are
highly water resistant and water will simply bead on the surface. With a soft,
polyester lining, the raincoats are very lightweight and incredibly comfortable to
wear, providing a breathable, windproof and stylish alternative to traditional cycle
wear. Best of all, they are washable.

Sally is a firm believer in Mikael Colville Andersen’s (founder of Copenhagen Cycle
Chic) opinion that ‘It’s about dressing for your destination, not the journey’. As much
as this is at the heart of The Cambridge Raincoat Company’s design, the key selling
point of these raincoats has got to be the practical protection and comfort they offer
for the journey itself.

Appealing to a broad age range and tapping into luxury for the astute commuter, The
Cambridge Raincoat Company are in a niche market all of their own. With Sally’s
dedication, there is no end to the potential of this company, Sally herself says, “I live;
sleep; eat; breathe my business all the time. I’m always thinking about what to do
next, and how to drive it forward.”

The new collection will initially feature one style each for both men and women, with
prices starting at £250.00.

Colour options available include red, yellow, mauve, green and navy.

http://www.cambridgeraincoats.co.uk

You Are Awesome | Book Review

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Craft has had a huge resurgence in recent years. The craft industry is big business. In fact the U.S. craft and hobby industry was worth $29 billion in 2011. But to talk about money takes away the beauty of it. As pay packets dwindle and the cost of living keeps spiraling, people are finding out how joyful it is to make your own things. Whether that be jewellery, clothes or furniture. Which brings me to the book in question: You Are Awesome.

I love everything about the book. From the design, the craft projects, the weight, the author, the concept.

You Are Awesome is a collection of 21 simple craft projects for adults and children with a fresh, contemporary edge. It was written by Abbey Hendrickson who writes the excellent blog, Aesthetic Outburst. This book is hours of entertainment. The concept is that you are awesome (yes, you are) and that you should make the things in the book and give them to someone else who is just as awesome. The step-by-step craft projects are easy and range from a cross-stitched screendoor to a laptop toy made from a cardboard box.

This beautiful book makes a great present, for yourself or anyone else.

Following on from the well received State of Craft, published by Cicada in 2011, You Are Awesome is a beautifully packaged little book that will appeal to advanced hobbyists and curious craftnovices alike.

Buy You Are Awesome: 21 Crafts to Make You Happy

Abbey Hendrickson writes a blog called Aesthetic Outburst documenting her life in an old farmhouse in rural New York. In between DIY disasters, childcare catastrophes and cultural consumption, Abbey makes some fantastic and funky craft projects, which she sells through her Etsy shop. You Are Awesome is a collection of 21 clearly explained step-by-step craft ideas by Abbey Hendrickson. The projects are deceptively simple to make, but have a contemporary freshness that will appeal to seasoned crafters and novices alike. Each one captures the warmth and humour that Abbey herself radiates and which makes her blog so popular. There is nothing more rewarding than making things yourself. Things to live with and things to give to people you love. Let’s revel in the joy of handmade. Crafting is awesome!

SASSY – The Go-for-It Girl’s Guide to Becoming Mistress of your Destiny | Book Review

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SASSY -The Go-for-It Girl’s Guide to Becoming Mistress of Your Destiny has a good concept to it. It also has some great gems in it like, ‘The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it’. I don’t really read self-help books so I can’t really compare this one to others. It is unashamedly girlie and also really easy to read. Although Lisa has come up with her own style of writing, I think it’s great, but people who are obsessed with grammar might not like it.

Lisa Clark has even interviewed go-getting, cool women like Sam Roddick and Immodesty Blaize. Lisa has come up with the concept of SASSY herself: SASSY stands for Spiritual, Authentic, Sensual, Sensational You.

Lisa says “It’s everything you need to be the mistress o’ your own destiny and start living your very own charmed life, right now!”

Lisa’s SASSY book covers all aspects of being a women and living in the world. If you are spiritual, into crafts, or needing a self-esteem boost then I reckon you will love this book.

For those who can’t wait to read the book, here’s some of Lisa’s quick-fix tips to getting SASSY…

· Don’t diss on fellow members o’ lady-kind.

· Take responsibility for your own happiness and joy quota.

· Be a tigress, seek pleasure.

· Embrace your contradictions, don’t apologise for them.

· Go where there are no paths and make your own killer-heeled shaped footprints!

SASSY – The Go-for-It Girl’s Guide to Becoming Mistress of your Destiny is available from September 2012 at £12.99. Pre-orders are available right now on Amazon at £8.99.

Lisa Clark is the creatrix of SASSYology.com – the magick that occurs when women discover, align and combine their sassy super-powers – yee-hah! She’s a tattoo-splashed, burlesque-lovin’, belly-dancin’, 1940s stylin’ rockabilly princess who writes make-life-better words. She’s crazy-passionate about cheerleading lady-kind to become badass, embrace their awesomeness and become mistress of their destiny, and their wardrobe too, obv.

She’s also –

* Author of the Lola Love series of self-esteem books for teen girls
* Author of over 15 write-to-brief books and annuals
* Agony Aunt for Mizz magazine
* A freelance journ-o girl for girls’ and women titles in the UK and US
* A book-writing and badass-ery coach
* A copywriter – for publishers and businesses in the UK and Europe
* Editor – of both magazines and books specifically teen and self-development titles
* A youth brand consultant for businesses and charities

Visit SASSYology.com for more Goddess Goodness!

Berlin Offers Best Value For Fashionistas On A Budget

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Berlin is Best Value

German capital is most affordable whilst New York’s cut-price clothing couldn’t offset its pricey hotels

 

Berlin was the most affordable shopping destination of the top ten fashion cities in the world, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®). The iconic style capital, New York was ranked as the most expensive despite its popularity amongst retail tourists for securing brands on a budget.

 

The Index, now in itseighth year, chronicles the actual prices paid by travellers in 2011 in more than 142,000 hotels around the world.

 

As the pound continued to strengthen against the Euro, the German capital provided the best value forboth the cost of its hotels and its fashion. The average cost of a hotel room was only £73, allowing British shoppers to make the most of their budget in the popular Berlin style scene.

 

Tokyo (£102) and Barcelona (£104) were the second and third lowest priced cities providing spendthrift style alternatives for savvy shopping tourists. The retail tourist’s staple destination, New York, was undeniably the most expensive at an average of £173 per night, despite providing some of the most affordable shopping.

 

City Country

Average room rate in 2011

Average room rate in 2010

 % Rise or fall
New York United States of America

£173

£166

4%
Singapore Singapore

£136

£123

11%
Paris France

£125

£122

3%
Hong Kong China

£119

£101

18%
Rome Italy

£116

£114

2%
London United Kingdom

£115

£114

1%
Los Angeles United States of America

£111

£104

7%
Barcelona Spain & Canary Islands

£104

£96

8%
Tokyo Japan

£102

£103

-2%
Berlin Germany

£73

£75

-3%

 

Payday lender Fined

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A payday lender has had to pay a fine of more than half a million pounds and has had it’s licence revoked. The Lender fell victim to fraudsters impersonating thousands of people to take out loans.

MCO Capital, under the name Help Loan and Balance Loan, had failed to carry out adequate identity checks, found the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

The OFT said that Its failures made it vulnerable to fraudsters, who used the personal details of more than 7,000 people to successfully apply for loans worth millions of pounds.

And that MCO Capital then caused “unnecessary distress and inconvenience” by writing to people to collect the debts, even though it knew they might not have actually borrowed the money.

The OFT has imposed a £544,505 financial penalty on MCO Capital and revoked its consumer credit licence, which it needs in order to trade.

The lender said in a statement: “MCO Capital is disappointed at the decision of the Office of Fair Trading and is studying the adjudication that it takes very seriously.

“When we have had time to fully consider the decision of the OFT will we be in a position to decide our next steps, which could include lodging an appeal. MCO continues to trade as it is fully entitled to do so whilst a decision regarding a possible appeal is being made.”

Lenders must carry out appropriate identity checks under the Money Laundering Regulations, to make sure they don’t accidentally help money laundering and terrorist financing.

Plump & Shine Lip Gloss | Beauty Review

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I am very fussy about lip gloss. I don’t like it to be too sticky. I like it to stay in place. So did Plump & Shine Lip Gloss live up to my exacting standards. Let’s find out….

I tried the nude colour. It is a good colour with a really nice tone. Plump & Shine also plumps your lips up (the clue is in the name) so if you want some more volume on your pout this is the lip gloss to try. It won’t make you look like Jackie Stallone (thank god!) but it gives a nice little boost.

This is before the lip gloss.

After I put it on it stays put. It is long lasting, not too sticky (my bug bear with other lip glosses) and it looks great on. It did seem to plump my lips up too. I felt a tingly sensation.

And this is after:

This is after.

Wearing the lip gloss.

I really like this lip gloss. It is not drying and it makes the most of your lips. A little goes a long way and it stays put for quite a while. It is subtle and makes your lips look gorgeous.

‘Candy’ Plump & Shine is a very light pink similar to the shades seen on the catwalk at Louis Vuitton, whilst ‘Seduce’, a hot pink gloss but not too dark, is similar to the colours we saw at DKNY.

Plump & Shine does not contain alcohol so is non-drying

Cost: £19.95

Shades: Candy (light pink) / Seduce (hot pink)

www.beautyproductsdirect.com