Okay, first thing first: the Urbanista Seattle Wireless Headphones are not only gorgeous, but damn sexy. They have a luxurious, polished feel to them. They feel solid, like they are well-made, which- of course- they are. You can buy them wired or wireless. We reviewed the wireless ones.
Swedish brand Urbanista have launched headphones with a crisp sound and impressive base for an extraordinary listening experience. The audio quality is amazing. The wireless aspect is easy to set up, you charge the headphones and then they connect via bluetooth. The headphones also come with a wire incase you cannot be bothered charging them. They have a practical folding function which saves on space and makes the headphones very portable. The headband is seamless and adjustable. The cushions are memory foam and comfortable.
The Seattle also has a built-in microphone for mobile calls and a sharing sound plug so you can share your favourite tunes with your friends. We have tried many headphones at Frost over the years and these are our favourite. The Urbanista Seattle is available in four different stylish colours; rose gold, white, black and blue petroleum. We reviewed the blue petroleum.
Highly recommend not just for style, but also for sound quality. Practical with great design: the Seattle has it all.
39% of mums wish for girls compared to just 18% for boys – but dads are three times more likely to want sons
Four in five mums say a gender preference is normal – but still taboo to talk about
A quarter admit to feeling very disappointed if child is wrong sex, with three per cent bravely admitting it affected their ability to bond with their child
One boy / one girl is seen as the nation’s ideal family – but 18% of families have suffered negative comments about their family’s gender mix
Over a third of modern mums plan ‘Gender Reveal’ parties – but modern trend for instant family ‘Pink & Blue’ twins putting parents under pressure
IT MAY BE a man’s world – but modern mums are twice as likely to want daughters over sons, a new study from parenting site ChannelMum.com shows.
Two in five mothers (39%) said they wished for a girl while pregnant, compared to just 18 per cent who hoped for a son. But for fathers the reverse is true, with men a whopping three times more likely to want boys. A huge 31 per cent of men expressed the preference to have sons, while only one in ten wanted a daughter.
While four in five mums (80%) said they believe it’s normal to have a preference on the gender of your child, the report revealed the subject is still strictly taboo with few families willing to admit it.
Of the 2,189 mums polled, over a third (36%) didn’t tell anyone they had a gender preference, and under half (48%) confided in their partner. Only a third (33%) admitted their feelings to their own family. However, the desire for a certain sex is so strong that only 18 per cent of mums claimed to feel ‘guilty’ for wanting their favoured gender.
The study also showed parents are now so desperate to discover their child’s gender that almost two thirds of parents (62%) find out at a scan, while only 38 per cent remain on ‘Team Yellow’ – the modern code for not finding out your baby’s gender until birth. And over a third (35%) of pregnant mums now plan ‘gender reveal’ events or parties complete with pink or blue-hued balloons and cakes.
However, a quarter of mums quizzed admitted to feeling ‘very disappointed’ if their child was the ‘wrong’ gender. (24%). Bravely, a further three per cent even admitted this affected their ability to bond with their child long-term.
This disappointment means two in five mums (41%) say they tried for second child to get ‘right’ sex, while 26 per cent opted for a third and 10 per cent kept going for four or more children. A further six per cent would even fly abroad for gender selection IVF which is currently illegal in the UK.
Worryingly, 18 per cent of families have had negative comments on the gender mix of their children, with close family and mother-in-laws most likely to make rude jibes, followed by strangers and then friends.
The study also unveiled the nation’s ideal family as one girl / one boy, voted for by 54% of mums quizzed. But 15 per cent of mums claim the growing celebrity trend to have ‘pink and blue twins’ – like Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez – is putting pressure on normal mums.
Two in five mums polled said the ‘PBT’ phenomenon is being used to make working mums to have an ‘instant family’ and take less time away from the workplace, and 15 per cent had even felt pressured to try for mixed-sex twins themselves.
But despite so many parents favouring one gender over another, surprisingly just three per cent of parents polled tried to ‘sway’ the sex of the child. The most popular method was timing sex, followed by eating a special diet and even calculating dates to conceive using astrology.
The study also revealed the most common reasons for wanting a certain sex.
Top Reasons for Wanting Girls
Girls stay closer to their parents when she grows up (41%)
Girls more fun to dress up (40%)
Girls are better behaved (7%)
Top Reasons for Wanting Boys
Boys are easier (14%)
Boys are more fun to play with (9%)
Cultural reasons (4%)
Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com said:“Boy or girl – every child is a blessing, but the issue of gender disappointment is something we need to talk about and bring into the open. With mums and dads often at odds about the gender they really want, one parent will usually end up disappointed, so we must ensure families have the support they need to bond with their baby. It’s worth remembering a child isn’t their gender – they are their own people with their own personality. So whatever the gender, let your child be who they are, not what you hoped them to be.”
Winky Lux make-up caught my eye thanks to its awesome packaging, bold colours and original ideas. It helps that all their make-up is gluten free, vegan and cruelty free. Taylor Swift is using their colour ‘Bond’ at the moment and looks fab. The range is full of inventive beauty products from Diamond Powders, PH Flower Balms to Lightbox highlighters. The brand has just launched their Matte Lip Pills. I got sent some of their products to review. Here is what I thought.
Kitten Powder Eyeshadow
Cute packaging, cute name and a great colour. Wins all-round. It has a great texture and is good for blending and creating definition.
Light Box Strobing Balm
A highlighter is always an essential addition to any make-up bag. Since having a child I always put some on before a special event. Or when I want to look like I am not dead. This is a brilliant balm with high impact. The cream is smooth and melts into the skin. It feels good applying it and leaves you glowing.
Lip Velvour in Mermaid
Now this is not usually a colour I would go for, but it looks stunning and dramatic. A strong, high-impact teal. I love the lipstick pills. It is hard to be original in the make-up industry and these are really striking and stand out. It is a great lipstick that goes the distance. Feels good on your lips too. It is also paraben free.
Flower Balm Pink
This is my favourite lip balm ever. I mean, just look at it. When I took it out of the box I almost gasped. It truly is a thing of beauty. I almost didn’t want to use it. The flower inside is just such a great detail. The lip balm itself is great of course but when you could just stare at it instead, who cares?
Glossy Boss Romeo And Juliet
This is a great long-lasting lip gloss. I love the colour, which is perfect for me. I usually hate lip gloss but this has none of the usual stickiness associated with other glosses and is lightweight. It gives sheer colour and shine. It is infused with vanilla for delectable application.
I really love Winky Lux. I have become quite jaded over the years but I really love this brand. Their packaging, originality and the actual make-up itself is such a winning combination. I feel this is the start of a long love affair. In Winky Lux news, the digital cosmetic has released its range of Matte Lip Velour in ‘Lip Pills’ in a range of unique shades from Blue Moon, Mermaid, Meow Winky Lux, the new luxury yet affordable digital cosmetic line is now available in the UK.
Ultra long-wearing matte lipstick delivers intense pigment with a delectably lightweight moussy texture. Infused with natural vanilla for the ultimate lip experience, this lipstick is packed with suspended pigments to give lips a cushiony, plush feel. All products are cruelty free, vegan and gluten free!
We love Hape at Frost. They make beautiful wooden toys which are fun and educational for little ones. It is no surprise that they have won multiple awards. There is far too much plastic in the world so brands like Hape are much needed.
My son loves anything with wheels and his little eyes light up the moment I open the envelope and let him see what was inside. He found the magnetic way the carriages join fascinating and started playing with the train set immediately. It has quickly become a favourite. The animals also come off the trains. All in all this is a cute train set that is lots of fun for the LO. It is inexpensive and is compact enough to fit into even a small bag. Perfect for taking with you when away from home. The train track is sold separately.
Make way for fun and friendships with Hape’s Jungle Journey Train, who knows what you might see. From the friendly lion, to the cheeky elephant, what better way to enjoy your jungle experience then with your new found furry jungle buddies.
Enjoy the adorable little animal illustrations with vibrant and wacky splashes of colour in an array of reds, blues and greens, to make play even more inviting. Start your journey today and watch piece by piece, as you decide what adventure this little train takes you on. With a collection of different tracks to choose from, these furry friends are about to take on some of the toughest adventures.
This six-piece set helps inspire children, so they can make the most out of there playtime. As they refine motor skills, develop physical skills and gives children the opportunity to gain key problem solving skills.
For those parents who worry about their child’s safety, there is no need to worry with Hape, a trust worthy and responsible brand that only creates the best for their customers. Hape use only the best natural materials and water based paints, meanwhile complying with their strict quality and safety standards.
What defines Hape as one of the leading sellers of wooden toys, is their ability to take their ideas one step further. Bringing train play to life in a way that has never been done before. Hape are now becoming renowned for picking up multiple awards for their innovative railway sets that children just can’t get enough of. Known for their interactive, musical and textured elements that takes your regular train sets to a whole new level!
The Jungle Journey Train is available from Debenhams.com for £8.00.
At Frost Magazine we get sent a lot of stuff. Not all of it floats our boat to be honest, but when two albums from the new Beatles Vinyl Collection, Abbey Road and Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart Club in 180g Vinyl came we were absolutely delighted. They are something to behold. Beautiful and unique. We are a huge fan and will be procuring the entire collection. We suggest you do too.
Global partwork publisher DeAgostini launched, in association with Apple Corps and Universal Music Group, The Beatles Vinyl Collection. Featuring 23 albums, it will be available to purchase online and in newsagents all across the UK.
Issue by issue, the #BeatlesVinylCollection of single, double and triple albums builds into a comprehensive library of the momentous music made by The Beatles. Presented in exact replicas of the original sleeves, the specially pressed 180-gram vinyl LPs ensure the music will be heard in the best quality sound. Remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, The Beatles’ reissued LPs have been universally acclaimed by sound experts and the group’s fans. Produced by George Martin in the 1960s, the albums contain some of the most celebrated recordings ever made.
The Beatles Vinyl Collection includes such groundbreaking albums as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,Abbey Road, Revolver and Rubber Soul, as well as intriguing compilations like the three volumes of The Beatles Anthology and two Live At The BBC collections.
Amanda Honeybun, Marketing Director at DeAgostini, said: “We are so excited to launch The Beatles Vinyl Collection, which will give people of all ages the opportunity to collect on vinyl the greatest albums in the history of music. Our Beatles Vinyl Collection makes it possible to buy these wonderful records from the comfort of your own home or at your local newsagent. Then all you have to do is put the needle on the record to enjoy the best recordings ever made by the best group of all-time!”
Each album also includes an illustrated magazine containing the stories behind the group’s renowned recordings. Written by Beatles historian and award-winning radio producer Kevin Howlett, each issue reveals details about the creation of an album and an assessment of its significance within not only The Beatles’ legacy, but also the history of music.
Kevin Howlett said: “It was such a privilege to write about this joyous music. The Beatles have inspired generation after generation of music fans, songwriters, artists and producers. I’m also delighted that there is a resurgence of interest in collecting records. For music lovers, nothing can beat the look of a stylish LP cover and the authentic experience of listening to a classic album on vinyl.”
The global vinyl market is booming. Sales of records in 2016 reached a 25-year high as music buyers embraced this attractive physical format. More than 3.2m LPs were sold in 2016, an annual rise of 53% and the ninth consecutive year of growth1.
The Beatles Vinyl Collection is DeAgostini’s fourth vinyl collection. The company’s previous collections of Jazz, Blues and Classical Music proved very popular. This new collection establishes DeAgostini Publishing as one of the leading vinyl album market producers and distributors.
The Beatles Vinyl Collection is a 23-part series. Issue one will be priced at £9.99 for a limited time only, with subsequent single album copies retailing at £16.99; double and triple albums will sell for £24.99. Issues are available fortnightly in shops, with subscribers receiving two issues in one delivery every four weeks. Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.deagostini.co.uk/beatlesvinyl
Divine Chocolate, the Fairtrade and farmer-owned chocolate company, has launched its 15th annual national Poetry Competition in partnership with Christian Aid. The poetry competition aims to take young people on a voyage of discovery about the world of chocolate, cocoa farmers and Fairtrade, firing their imaginations and encouraging their creativity.
The theme for 2017’s competition is ‘Sharing tastes Divine’, encouraging entrants to think about the joy of tasting and sharing chocolate with friends, and the fair price and a share of the profits farmers receive too.
Leading the judging panel is Laura Dockrill, author of the Darcy Burdock book series and a young and talented performance poet, author/ illustrator and short story writer.
Laura says; “I adore original writing. I look for poems that take brave risks, where an idea jumps off the page and is explored through beautiful language, description and form. Poems that come from the heart, that are full of feeling. I feel so privileged to be reading new work for the Divine Chocolate & Christian Aid Poetry Competition and can’t wait to read the submissions with a lovely cup of tea!”
Leading the judging for the Welsh language panel is Anni Llŷn, Children’s Poet Laureate for Wales.
As well as cherishing chocolate, the competition encourages young people to develop a greater understanding of where their food comes from, the people behind it and the potential challenges facing our food industry. Educational resources are available from Trading Visions, the sister charity of Divine Chocolate including lesson plans, videos and more, including a day in the life of Raphael, the son of a cocoa farmer in Ghana.
The judge’s pick of the best poems in each category will win a selection of gifts including book tokens and tasty treats from Divine. For more information on the competition and Divine’s story visit www.divinechocolate.com/uk/poetry
The Divine Poetry Competition is open to UK&I residents aged 7+ years. Closing date 30.04.17. Terms and conditions apply.
Entry forms and poems must be returned by 30th April 2017 to:
Welsh poems by post: Cystadleuaeth Barddoni Divine, Cymorth Cristnogol, Llys Porth yr Eglwys, 3 Heol yr Eglwys, Yr Eglwys Newydd, Caerdydd CF14 2DX
The winners of the competition will be announced and read by Laura on Divine Chocolate’s YouTube channel after the closing date of the competition.
Laura Dockrill was named as one of the top ten literary talents by The Times and one of the top twenty hot faces to watch by Elle magazine. Her sassy and unique way with words has captivated audiences everywhere from gigs and festivals including Glastonbury and Latitude, to radio and TV programs such as Woman’s Hour, Newsnight and BBC breakfast. As well as performing, Laura now as an impressive eight books under her belt, including the Waterstones shortlisted Darcy Burdock series which has been translated into 12 languages. Currently she is working on a script for a film, writing a new YA novel, and has even taken her hand to songwriting. In the words of Vogue magazine, ‘Everyone’s falling for Laura Dockrill.’
It is always good to be a little bit different and these two original and fun chocolate gifts make excellent Easter gifts. Either for yourself, or someone else. The chocolate doughnuts are 100% chocolate and are cute and interesting, They even have yummy hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top. They also look like real doughnuts. Have fun this Easter by fooling someone. They won’t mind after they eat it.
Go nuts for Doughnuts that are totally chocolate. These round rings are just this thing to treat yourself this Easter, and are perfect for sharing or dunking.
Dive into these tasty treatsthe Chocolate Doughnuts are made from 100% solid white and milk Belgian chocolate and crafted carefully to look like an iced doughnut, the decoration adds an extra delight with hundreds and thousands.
Irresistibly edible, crave the crunch of chocolate bliss, for this fun food is great for Easter… just £13.95 from www.prezzybox.com.
This super cute bunny rabbit burrowing for carrots is adorable and original. It is also a great gluten free Easter inspired chocolate set. The chocolate is handmade and made from delicious milk and white Belgian chocolate. It will have people talking and is an awesome alternative to the Easter egg.
Make a veggie laugh with this veggie patch, they are even gluten free. Just £9.95 from www.prezzybox.com now.
We were bowled over by Gifts Hub’s Personalised Books for little ones. They come in a gorgeous presentation box, and the books are stunning. The book is personalised on the front and throughout. You can also include a personal message in the opening page.
Journey into the World with “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” Book
Personalised gifting group, Gifts Hub, make these books. We really loved the children’s classic, Journey with The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book. The children’s book is available to purchase on the group’s UK websites, I Just Love It and Historic Newspapers
This new edition stars international-bestselling and award-winning author Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, bringing the iconic caterpillar into the 21st Century for a new generation to enjoy.
Once the book has been personalised, The Very Hungry Caterpillar takes on the chosen name, resulting in the recipient becoming the star of the book. This creates a unique and personalised story for any child, as they embark on a special journey into the world.
Each page has been illustrated and written in homage to author Eric Carle, and his unique drawing and writing style can be seen on every page. Colourful, bold illustrations are teamed with large text to engage and entertain any reader.
The new book can be personalised with a child’s name, which features on the front cover and throughout the copy, and a message, which features on the title page of the book.
A bespoke, embossed pastel gift box has also been produced as a luxury presentation option which is included in the price with any purchase of the new book. The presentation box really takes the gift to another level.
Thomas The Tank Engine. A personalised edition of a classic railway series story.
Another beautiful book. Personalised on the front and throughout. This is a great story with wonderful illustrations by C. Reginald Dalby.
We can highly recommend these gorgeous books which are published by Signature Books. They are classic books with beautiful illustrations, all personalised to your child. Frost loves.
