Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE UK’S FIRST WIE SYMPOSIUM

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TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE UK’S FIRST WIE SYMPOSIUM
THE EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER POWERFUL THOUGHT LEADERS TO INSPIRE
AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION

A host of prominent women from the worlds of business, politics, fashion and entertainment
will congregate at the Women Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) Symposium to lead a series of
panels and workshops designed to equip women with the tools and confidence to succeed. WIE
first launched in New York in 2010, and over the years has featured a stellar lineup of speakers
including Donna Karen, Nancy Pelosi, Queen Rania of Jordan and Christy Turlington. The
UK conference takes place on International Women’s Day, March 8th 2012 and will feature hi-
fliers such as Jo Malone, Jo Elvin, Kathy Lette, Lynn de Rothschild, Lynne Franks, Julie
Meyer, Stella Creasy, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, Celia Walden, Baroness Scotland and
former BT President Julie Woods Moss.

The WIE Symposium will offer a full day of thought-provoking panels, inspirational master
classes and powerful keynote speakers. Tickets are on sale from 23rd January, available at
www.wienetwork.org at £150.00 per person. The day commences with the inaugural WIE50
Power Breakfast – an annual event that will honour 50 of the top female business trailblazers at
the iconic London Stock Exchange.

Subjects to be addressed at the conference include Tools for the Entrepreneur, Women and
Leadership, Women in Media, The Luxury Industry and Financial Tools for Success.
Additionally the Symposium will launch the WIE Mentorship Scheme – a program designed to
provide long term support and advice from leading businesswomen to young women about to
embark on their careers.

The WIE Symposium is the brainchild of television presenter June Sarpong and former film
executive Dee Poku, who conquered New York with an initiative designed to create a platform
for this generation’s women leaders to inspire and empower the next.

June Sarpong and Dee Poku said; “We are incredibly excited about launching WIE in the UK.
The UK is filled with incredible female thought leaders who are already doing their bit to
empower the next generation. Our goal is to harness the legendary creativity and innovation of
London to empower women and girls across the country and help them reach their full potential.”

WILL YOUNG NEW SINGLE: ‘LOSING MYSELF’ RELEASED MARCH 19th

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WILL YOUNG

NEW SINGLE: ‘LOSING MYSELF’ RELEASED MARCH 19th

ALBUM ‘ECHOES’ GOES PLATINUM!

UK LIVE DATES SUMMER 2012

‘The most sophisticated man in pop’ NME

‘The ever evolving pop idol threw us a curve ball last year. Will’s latest offering unleashed his potential as an electro-pop artist. Leading with the insanely catchy Jealousy, Will’s new sound won us over’ Attitude January 2012

WILL YOUNG releases his brand new single ‘Losing Myself’ on March 19th 2011 through XIX Entertainment/RCA Label Group.

Another huge slice of sophisticated modern pop, ‘Losing Myself’ is the third single to be taken from Will’s phenomenally successful new album ‘Echoes’ which went straight in the album chart at Number One and has sold an incredible 400,000 copies so far.

2011 was a fantastic year for Will. Besides the success of ‘Echoes’, the first single from the album ‘Jealousy’ was a top five chart and airplay smash, his most successful single in recent years. Grazia called it ‘the best song of the year’. Will has also hosted his own ITV Saturday Night Special which drew over 5 million viewers, and he delivered a fantastic live performance on the Jonathan Ross Show.

‘Losing Myself’ comes with a radio edit of the album version by the Hacienda/Factory Records legend Mike Pickering and a remix by Bimbo Jones.

Firming cementing his reputation as one of the foremost video artists of his generation Will has produced stunning promos for ‘Jealousy’ and ‘Come On’, and the clip for ‘Losing Myself’ promises similar thrills, directed by Henry Scholfield (Professor Green and Example).

Coming on the 10th anniversary of Will’s first audition for Pop Idol in 2001, ‘Echoes’ is his fifth studio album in a career spawning over 8.5 million sales so far. March 2012 sees the 10th anniversary of his debut Number One Single ‘Evergreen’. Produced by Richard X (MIA, Kelis, Goldfrapp,) and with all tracks bar one written by Will, ‘Echoes’ has garnered great reactions from fans and media alike with Sunday Times saying ‘it’s an ace album’, The Guardian calling it ‘classy’ and Attitude pronouncing ‘his vocal delivery never fails to weaken knees’.

Following his hugely successful sell-out tour in 2011, and a very special one off Xmas show at the London Palladium, Will brings his live show back for a tour of nation’s forests in 2012 as part of Forestry Commission Live Music.

Fri-15-June – Sherwood Pines Forest, Nr Edwinstone, Notts
Sat-16-June – Thetford Forest, Nr Brandon, Suffolk
Sat-23-June – Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, Nr Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Fri-29-June – Dalby Forest, Nr Pickering, N Yorks
Sat-30-June – Cannock Chase Forest, Nr Rugeley, Staffs
Fri-06-July – Delamere Forest, Delamere, Cheshire
Sun-22-July – Westonbirt Arboretum Nr Tetbury, Glos

Tickets £35.00 (subject to booking fee) from the Forestry Commission box office tel 03000 680400 or buy online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music

MADD Dessert on Rupert Street | Reviews.

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I love mango. I cook with it all the time and I put it in all of my sandwiches – don’t recoil, try it!- I also have the sweetest tooth in West London. So MADD was made for me. You can make your own desserts and the majority of them are all mango. Yum. I took Frost writer Mary Tynan and went to review the goodies. It’s a hard job….

Apart from the mango concept MADD has another niche: you can build your own dessert. It’s fun and fabulous. You can be as creative as you like.

I tried the Siam. Sweet coconut sticky rice with mango. Tastes amazing and very different. Also has a raspberry? sauce. Really good. All of the different consistencies and tastes work together amazingly.

The Mango creme brulee – one word: wow. It tastes amazing. It is cooked perfectly. And does that cracking thing.

Mango upside down cake, god, how did I live for so long without knowing this existed. Absolutely stunning. Tastes like heaven.

I also had the mango passion fruit fool – sweet and delicious.

I also had a mango smoothie, because it was only lunchtime and I had to go back to London Fashion Week after my sweet lunch I didn’t try any of their cocktails or shots. Maybe next time.

The wonderful owners Ralph and Jonathan are friendly, creative and enthusiastic. It is impossible not to like them and want them to do well. They even let me take a coca-cola cupcake. It may sound weird but it is one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted.

If you don’t like mango then MADD do non-mango desserts. They also do tea and coffee.

MADD are on Rupert Street. No.53. Go try them out.

MADD BOASTS DESSERT SOLUTION FOR THE HEALTH CONSCIOUS

MADD (a.k.a. mango addiction), the UK’s first dessert and drinks lounge dedicated to the “king of fruits,” opened its doors to Soho diners on December 5th. Aimed at changing the dining habits of London’s inhabitants, MADD offers a healthy and delicious alternative to the fast-food options littering London. Set in a location renowned for its fried fare, Rupert Street is the perfect setting to introduce this nourishing Eastern concept to the West.

Ralph Monthienvichienchai and Jon Sivak, the creators of MADD, hope to share the health benefits of the mango with their outpouring of customers. Every part of the mango is beneficial; of its many medicinal properties, the mango tree is purported to offer anti-viral, anti-septic, anti-parasitic, anti-tussive (cough), and anti-asthmatic effects. It can also be used as a cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, and a digestive aid. Mangoes are not only high in prebiotic dietary fibre and vitamin C, but they contain antioxidant vitamins A and E, as well as B6, K, potassium, and 17 amino acids. The mango may even help prevent prostate and skin cancers. A good MADD addict will not only be able to satisfy their sweet tooth craving, but they will also lower their cholesterol, cleanse their blood, decrease the effects of aging on their skin, and increase their general happiness and wellbeing.

In a bid to improve the city’s nutrition, MADD also offers a vast selection of replenishing drinks, coffees and teas, including the irresistible “MADD Smoothie”, a signature blend of mango, coconut, and greek yogurt, sweetened with a squeeze of organic honey.

MADD revels in bringing the freshest mangoes of the season to ensure that the nutrition and flavours will never disappoint. MADD enters the winter season with the beautiful sun-kissed mangoes from down under, introducing the Aussie Queensland Kensington Pride mangoes to Londoners everywhere.

Invest in a Spot of DIY

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With the stagnant housing market showing no signs of revival, 2012 is all about home improvement.

Installing shutters is a great way to invest in your property and they not only look great, they are great insulators so can help you save on those energy bills.

Sam Tamlyn, from the California Shutter Company, has these handy tips on choosing and installing shutters:

1. Choose a Style that Works for your Room
The most popular style is the plantation shutter, which have slats that rotate open and closed to control the light levels in the room. You can also buy solid shutters for a more traditional look. Tier-on-tier gives you greater flexibility with light control and for a Continental feel go for a solid lower half and moveable slats on top.

2. Choose the Right Material
Wood remains the most popular material for shutters, but you can now choose from a whole host of other options such as MDF and plastic.

3. Design – Keep it Simple!
Look at the window frame and try to get this to match the shutter. Less is definitely more in shutter design.

4. Go Complementary
Look at the colour scheme in your room (floor, skirting board, furniture and doors). Choosing a colour that complements and accentuates these existing elements is important.
Generally lighter coloured shutters pull in more light, while darker coloured ones absorb more. So, if your room is filled with heavy furniture or a dark wood floor, a lighter coloured shutter would be more suitable for your room.

5. But Don’t Shy Away From Colour!
White shutters are extremely popular, but don’t be afraid to add a dash of colour to your room if white isn’t your thing. Neutral colours such as greys, blacks or browns also work well and have a timeless appeal. However, introducing bold and bright colours is very now, so if you’re a fashion fiend then go for a custom colour and get the WOW factor for your room.

6. Maximising Light
Shutters are a great way to control the light levels in the room, and the larger the slat, the more light will be drawn in. The contemporary 89mm slat is very popular at the moment for this very reason.

7. Opening your Shutters
When designing your shutters, think about how often you will open and close them, and how often you will tilt the slats. Generally fewer panels are more effective if you’re planning on leaving the shutters closed during the day with the slats tilted open.

8. Size
One of the best things about shutters is their flexibility, not just in terms of the design but in their size too. Shutters can be fitted to very tall windows (up to about three metres) and generally there is no maximum width. The largest shutters we have ever supplied at The California Company were a massive eight metres in width.

9. Awkward Spaces

Shutters can be made to fit any awkward spaces; from ovals to triangles to hexagons, so you can really get creative and make a feature out of that unusual window.

10. Installing your Shutters
Installing your shutters is a very simple process; you’ll only need a screwdriver and a drill. For a neat finish, we recommend applying decorators caulk.

www.thecaliforniashuttercompany.co.uk

Amoena: A Sexy Mastectomy Lingerie Company.

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If you are one of the many women who has had cancer it will have affected everything from your bank account to your social life. Frost has discovered Amoena, a sexy lingerie line for women who have had a mastectomy.

Perfect for those romantic encounters, leading mastectomy-wear specialist Amoena has unveiled a gorgeous new Parisian-inspired collection – French Touch.

Available in two ranges, Juliette and Violette, the French Touch collection is designed for women who like to wear the very best lingerie and won’t let breast surgery stand in their way.

The range combines the finest fabrics with delicate decorative touches and provocative styling, for a subtle but sexy look. It includes four mastectomy bras and a choice of briefs, thongs and lace or tummy-control shorts.

Amoena questioned 1000 breast operated women who revealed that wearing glamorous lingerie makes them feel more attractive. Over 80% confirmed that wearing glamorous lingerie is still important to them following a mastectomy.

“Following breast surgery, women still want to look good, and it’s important for them to be able to find clothes that restore their body confidence,” says Amoena marketing manager, Rhoda White.

“We’re really excited about this lovely new collection. It will appeal to all those women who love to wear luxe lingerie and it is the perfect option for some Valentine’s romance.”

French Touch can be purchased online at www.amoena-online.co.uk, by mail order on 0845 072 4027, or from the company’s showroom in Hampshire.

Cat Footwear AW 12 Martine Rose, James Long collections debut at London Fashion Week

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Cat Footwear AW 12 Martine Rose and James Long collections debut at London Fashion Week

Cat Footwear will be showcasing two highly anticipated designer collaboration collections during London Fashion Week AW 12, with emerging menswear designers Martine Rose and James Long. Both collections will be exclusively previewed during the designers NEWGEN MEN Salon and Fashion Forward shows and will draw inspiration from Cat Footwear’s workwear heritage.

This season Martine Rose will be hosting her first solo catwalk show at one of the British Fashion Councils most reputable shows NEWGEN MEN, having successfully moved up from her previous MAN show allocation. Cat Footwear are in their third season of collaborating with Martine Rose and are delighted to be supporting Martine during her debut Somerset House show, whilst collaborating with a designer who’s been described by Fantastic Man as “one of the most exciting designers working in London right now”. The AW 12 Cat x Martine capsule collection will be unveiled during her Salon show on Wednesday 22nd February.

Recently awarded the Fashion Forward prize, James Long is the first menswear designer ever to receive the accolade. Recipients of the Fashion Forward award are selected for their highly credible and innovative collections, with past winners including Christopher Kane and Giles Deacon. Cat Footwear are therefore proud to announce their support of James Long during his debut at the British Fashion Councils Fashion Forward show, whereby the highly anticipated Cat x James Long capsule footwear collection will be showcased for the first time, alongside his highly acclaimed menswear line.

Free Styling Session With Top Celebrity Stylist

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London Fashion Week may be over but what comes after? London Fashion Weekend. Which is just as much fun. Frost is popping down there.

If you attend then make sure you get your Free Styling Session With Top Celebrity Stylist at LONDON FASHION WEEKEND WHERE

YOU CAN HAVE A FREE PERSONALISED STYLING SESSION WITH UK’S TOP CELEBRITY STYLISTS

ShopStyle.co.uk, the UK’s leading online fashion shopping site is bringing style expertise to the London Fashion Weekend 23rd to 26th February 2012 with a pop-up styling booth hosted by leading UK stylists Rebekah Roy and Fiona Doran (aka Mrs. Jones), two of the biggest British names in celebrity styling.

London fashion stylist, Rebekah Roy is known for her work with celebrities and musicians including Kate Moss, Eliza Doolittle, Billy Idol and The Feeling. She also writes regularly for Drapers online as well as penning the influential ‘Stylist Stuff’ blog.

Fiona Doran, AKA Mrs. Jones, is the stylist that designers and celebrities turn to for outré fashion and hip styling. She has collaborated with Giles Deacon, styled looks for Rihanna, Paloma Faith, Goldfrapp and designed the now legendary hooded cat suit worn by Kylie Minogue.

Rebekah and Fiona will be on hand to offer customised style tips at the ShopStyle booth. From clothes that best suit women’s body shapes and sizes to colours that complement individual skin tone, the styling team can help you understand what garments you should be purchasing when hitting the saleroom floor.

Located in the courtyard next to the catwalk entrance, visitors can come by anytime and simply schedule in an appointment or visit the LFWE concierge booth and book your private session with these leading British stylists.

· Vodafone London Fashion Weekend 23rd – 26th February 2012 at Somerset House, London

o Friday 24th February 2012: 12pm- 9pm

o Saturday 25th February 2012: 10am-7pm

o Sunday 26th February 2012: 10am-6pm

· Consumers can purchase tickets to the weekend events online www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk

· Styling sessions with Rebekah Roy and Mrs Jones are free to consumers attending LFWE and making an appointment at the ShopStyle.co.uk Pop-Up Styling Booth or at LFWE concierge desk.

Women Become The Breadwinners.

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In this wintry economical climate some things have changed. More women than men lost their jobs, but it also changed people’s attitudes. Women have become entrepreneurial.

Avon, the company for women has proven some of the top female Sales Leaders are not only comfortable with running their own businesses, but also with having their husbands help look after the children and even work for them.

Some of these entrepreneurial women have become the main breadwinners in their families. What’s more, they have been able to take their success to the next level, even employing members of their own family to work within their team – including their husbands. Working closely together, and sharing their private lives and careers, these unconventional ‘power couple’ partnerships appear to be a prosperous success, with men that agree to the arrangement perfectly comfortable working for their wife.

Avon Sales Leader Rebekah Testar, who is responsible for training and recruiting her own team of Representatives comments:

“I love having the opportunity to work with my husband, Tony, taking time off together when we want to, and supporting each other on a daily basis. It’s not for everyone, but like other Avon couples I know we make these unconventional partnerships work by carefully delineating the respective roles and playing to each other’s strengths.”

“From my personal experience the most successful, full-time working relationships will find ways to work together at home by creating a separate balance of power in their business relationship, resting on how much each person wants to put in.”

Avon Sales Leader, Tony Testar says:

“I don’t feel intimidated that I technically work for my wife, I’m proud to be a part of such an enterprise that we can run together. When she started working for Avon, the money opportunities, and flexible hours allowing us to holiday and spend time with the kids was certainly appealing. When Rebekah first recruited me I did have a few male friends that took the micky, now some are thinking about setting up their own Avon business.”

Grace Dawodu, 41 from Essex is an NHS community nurse but decided to become an Avon lady due to our current economic climate as a lot of people in the health sector are at risk of losing their job. Grace viewed her Avon role as more job security for her.

Grace is a Sales Leader in training. She lives with her husband who works in admin. With her job as a nurse and an Avon lady, she is now the main breadwinner. Grace used to buy from her local Avon lady but was inclined to become one with the cuts the NHS were making. Grace enjoys working for Avon for several reasons; as a community nurse , she sees her Avon role as an extension of helping others. Secondly, Grace also trained as a therapist at a domestic violence so has a personal connection with Avon’s causes.

Nadine Rowlands and Wayne Rowlands, Manchester

Nadine started her Avon business five years ago, and two years ago, she recruited her husband Wayne as part of her team. They initially started the business because they had just moved house and had a big mortgage to pay, but as time went by, it became more and more of a passion for the couple and nowadays they very much run their business as an Avon partnership. At the last count, they had 1,200 Representatives and Sales Leaders in their team, and an annual turnover of £2.5 million! This year they are on track to earn an impressive £95k.