Burt’s Bees For Christmas

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Frost loves these products, always have.

This Christmas they have a great range of these distinctive earth-friendly, natural health and beauty care products, which they’ve been making for 30 years. The 2015 Christmas gift collection can be seen on www.burtsbees.co.uk

Frost has had a look at some of their ranges:

100% natural Wild cherry and vanilla Bean lip Balms.

rrp £3.99 – tube (4.25g) rrp £4.99 – tin & squeezable (8.5g/9.92g)

These lip Balms are formulated to nourish and moisturise, protecting lips from winter’s cold winds. If you haven’t tried them, then it would be a good idea to discover the naturally moisturising benefits. Available in Beeswax, honey, pink grapefruit, ultra conditioning, mango, pomegranate, Blueberry & dark chocolate, açai Berry, coconut & pear, Wild cherry and vanilla Bean.

But don’t ignore:

Lip Crayons ∙ Creamy ∙ Full-Coverage ∙ Matte Colour rrp £8.99 each (3.11g)

Available in six shades, these crayons are lightweight moisture for everyday wear formula infused with shea Butter, Kendi oil and Jojoba oil.

Lip Shimmer ∙ Luminescent ∙ Antioxidant-Rich ∙ Moisturising Shea Butter and antioxidant-rich fruit oils moisturise, nourish and soften lips naturally and lovingly. available in 11 shades, including fresh and flattering colours apricot and grapefruit.

Tinted Lip Balm ∙ Sheer ∙ Moisturising ∙ Conditioning rrp £5.99 each (4.25g)

These tinted balms give you a hint of colour with a soft, sweet flavour and natural ingredients that moisturise and condition your lips. available in 9 shades, including new Zinnia.

Lip Gloss ∙ Rich ∙ Pearlised

rrp £8.99 each (6ml)

Combined with natural oils rich in nutrients to leave your lips soft, shiny and 100% naturally beautiful. available in 12 shades, including new harvest time and solar eclipse.

Burts Bees have all sorts of products available for Christmas this year.

And there are various scrummy gift packs. Try:

Burt’s Bees Naturally Beautiful Collection £19.99

And

Burt’s Bees Naturally Gifted- Online Exclusive £15.99

Have a look at www.burtsbees.co.uk

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara by Frances Colville

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Margaret Graham

A Little Life by American author Hanya Yanagihara is quite simply the best book I’ve read all year, and very well deserving of its Man Booker Prize short listing. It’s a book, I think, which will stand out for future generations in the way that Middlemarch or War and Peace or Birdsong stand out as epic studies of life in the time period in which they are set. It hooks you in on the first page and keeps you enthralled until the very last word. It’s one of those books which you almost can’t bear to read, and yet can’t not read. It’s harrowing, enlightening, disturbing, haunting, uplifting and absolutely compelling.

A Little Life is the tale of four college friends who meet at sixteen and remain linked throughout their lives. There isn’t much in the way of plot and if you want a strong storyline this isn’t for you. But that’s not the point of this book. Told from various viewpoints, but with one central character throughout, it’s about friendship, love, relationships, identity, memory, grief, pain, abuse and death. The characterisation is superb and the main characters will linger in your head long after you’ve finished reading the book. But above all it’s the beauty and intelligence of the language which grabs you and won’t let you go. I’m often guilty of skim reading, but I can honestly say I read every single word of this book just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Here’s just one example – ‘A small memory he could contain, but as the days go by and he waits for Willem, he recognizes that this is a long eel of a memory, slippery and uncatchable, and it whipsaws its way through him, its tail slapping against his organs so that he feels the memory as something alive and wounding, feels its meaty, powerful smack against his intestines, his heart, his lungs.’

Beware though – it’s a lengthy book and definitely not a quick read and you’ll need to allocate a chunk of your life to it because you won’t be able to set it aside.

A Little Life is published by Picador and is currently available as a hardback and eBook.

Dram & Smoke: A Winter Highland Hideaway Serving Scottish Beer From Harviestoun Brewery

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Following a sold out run in 2014, Scottish pop-up Dram & Smoke is returning to its former home in a leather tannery warehouse in London Bridge for four weeks this winter.

2-3 Black Swan Yard London Bridge, London, SE1 3XW

As usual with D&S, robust fare that’s all about celebrating the best of Scottish produce will be served from an open kitchen alongside whisky cocktails, great beer and banging tunes in a suitably unique venue in the shadows of The Shard. A private house party vibe is the order of the day from the moment guests enter the vast candlelit space through a clandestine doorway just off Bermondsey Street and are welcomed with a warming hot toddy.

This time around, as well as a brand new five course menu, a slew of other fresh twists are in the mix as part of the £40 ticket. Ping pong, foosball and a host of other games will be available for those with fidgety feet and a competitive spirit. At the bar, guests will find a whisky cocktail menu courtesy of The Naked Grouse that ranges from punchy classics for the seasoned drinker through to lighter options for the uninitiated. A short but well-formed wine list is accompanied by craft beer from Scottish brewers Harviestoun Brewery who will be launching exclusive brews at the event, and serving limited edition beers soon to become extinct.

The list includes new brew Raspy Engine (Harviestoun’s Old Engine Oil infused with Scottish raspberries and crafted with a twist) and the very limited edition Ola Dubh 30 (Old Engine Oil aged in 30 year old Highland Park whiskey casks; this is an exceptional rare run with the last bottle due to be served at Dram & Smoke).

When it comes to the scran, things kick off in a typically tongue-in-cheek Highland style – Duck Donuts served with Irn Bru Chilli Jam. A turn of elegance brings proceedings to Potted Smoked Mushrooms, Dunsyre Blue Cheese & Homemade Pickles as well as shooters of intense Lobster Broth. Epic carve-at-the-table Roast Rack of Pork gets the Scottish treatment with a hit of Stornoway Black Pudding and is joined by chargrilled plums and buckets of crisp crackling (but veggies needn’t fear – an alternative menu will be on hand by request). Finally, sharing trays of Whisky Bread & Butter Pudding with jugs of Malted Milk Custard bring things to a comforting close.

With food served up at large round 10-12 person tables (plus a banquet table for 20) D&S is all about getting stuck in and hanging out with your neighbours. However, for those searching for their very own slice of highland hospitality, Dram & Smoke is also available for private-hire throughout the festive season – that’ll be Christmas soirées minus the floppy hats, stale ambiance and boring food then.

Either way, this is the highland hideaway for great scran, free-flowing bevvy and a healthy dose of general flumgummerie this winter.

Tickets are available online via DesignMyNight:
https://www.designmynight.com/london/whats-on/pop-up/dram-smoke-scottish-winter-pop-up

PRICE
£40 per ticket includes:
Welcome cocktail upon arrival
5 course tasting menu (vegetarian options available)

CHRISTMAS PAST & PRESENT by Jenny Falcon

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Margaret Graham

The lights garnishing the tree twinkle

Peeping out from amongst the shiny baubles

Dotted between the dark green pine branches

The sparkling ornaments, the foil wrapped chocolates

The olive trees stand still, silent, protective

Lit by the myriad stars, one shining extra brightly

The leaves gently flutter, quietly applauding

Sensing their privileged position by the stable

The street is full of noise and colour

Crowds bustling in and out of bulging shops

Carols playing, children squeaking with excitement

Preparations reaching a festive crescendo

Inside the stable, it is peaceful

The donkey, a little restless, hooves muffled by the straw

Knows this day he’s carried a special load

His big brown eyes watch in awe

Supermarket tills are working to exhaustion

Trolleys groan under the weight of Christmas fare

Pyramids of goods, demolished in seasonal frenzy

Unbelievable quantities, gratuitous excess

The inn keeper offers some bread and gruel

He has little to spare, the inn is full

He promises a lad will milk the cow

To give to the young mother, cradling the infant

The smell of roasting turkey, goose or beef

Mixes with the rich wafts of Christmas pudding

Mince pies, crouching in their crisp pastry coats

And spicy cinnamon immersed in the mulled wine.

The hay spread thickly on the earthen floor

Smells sweet, though slightly damp

Wood smoke blows through, just gently

As the door to the inn opens and closes

Guests arrive, parcels are placed under the tree

Fascinating shapes, brightly wrapped and ribboned

Soon to reveal the secrets within

Leaving forlorn piles of discarded, crumpled paper

Shepherds shuffle in, sheep trot behind

The Wise Men, majestic, mysterious offer their gifts

The new parents, happy but bewildered, smile their thanks

The baby, focus of all attention, sleeps on

Have a White Christmas with White Glo By Margaret Graham

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Get ready for party season with White Glo to ensure your teeth twinkle this Christmas. The toothpastes are clinically proven to give you a brighter, smile in just 2 weeks.

Need a quick fix? The White Glo Diamond White Series gives whiter teeth within 7 days and with no nasties it is the safest teeth whitening kit yet. The advanced formula lifts and repels every day stains from coffee, tea and even smoking. Every pack of White Glo includes a unique flosser, toothbrush which removes debris from the teeth, gums and tongue… ensuring you have a white Christmas all season long.

Professional Choice, £3.99
Coffee & Tea, £3.99
Smokers Formula, £3.99
2 in 1 With Mouthwash,  £3.99
Sensitive Forte, £4.99
Diamond White Series –  £14.99

White Glo is available at Asda.com, Superdrug.com and Boots.com nationwide

ManCave Natural Grooming – Ideal Christmas Gifts

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Here at Frost, the team really like ManCave, the supreme-performance, natural men’s grooming range with a premium fragrance. The four sets are: Supreme Skincare Set – RRP £12.99, Supreme Shavecare Set – RRP £15.99, The Wash Bag Set – RRP £22.9 and The Survival Set – RRP £29.99

These gift sets are launched on boots.com (now with click and collect) perfect for Christmas gifting.

The Wash Bag Set – RRP £22.99

http://www.boots.com/en/ManCave-Wash-Bag-Set_1765219/

For men on the go, this set includes a ManCave flannel.

Borage Moisturiser is an innovative natural moisturiser enriched with bioactives and UV absorbers (rrp £9.50) Willow FaceWash combines natural extracts to refresh, waken and purify skin without drying. (rrp £5.95)FaceScrub with Olive Stone to exfoliate skin and reduce blocked pores, blackheads and ingrown hairs (rrp £6.99)

Supreme Skincare Set – RRP £12.99

http://www.boots.com/en/ManCave-Supreme-Skincare-Set_1765215/

Good skin starts here – this simple two-step grooming regime has all you need. Borage Moisturiser is an innovative natural hydrating facial moisturiser enriched with bioactives and UV absorbers to create a soothing, easily absorbed formula. (rrp £9.50) Willow FaceWash combines natural extracts to refresh, waken and purify skin without drying. (rrp £5.95)

Supreme Shavecare Set – RRP £15.99

http://www.boots.com/en/ManCave-Supreme-Shavecare-Set_1765217/

Get the best out of your shave with this Supreme Shavecare Set. Natural ShaveGel featuring a built-in Pre- Shave performance with Meadowfoam Seed & Tea Tree oil for a premium shaving experience (rrp £5.99)

FaceScrub with Olive Stone to exfoliate skin and reduce blocked pores, blackheads and ingrown hairs (rrp £6.99) Post ShaveBalm with Aloe Vera to soothe, plus Vitamin E and Copper PCA to repair skin after shaving. (rrp £6.50)

The Survival Set – RRP £29.99

http://www.boots.com/en/ManCave-Survival-Kit_1765221/

For every situation, this Survival Set has got you covered. Lemon & Oak Shower Gel combines Lemon oil, Vetiver and Bergamot to uplift and stimulate for an aromatherapeutic showering experience. (rep £3.99) Borage Moisturiser is an innovative natural hydrating facial moisturiser enriched with bioactives and UV absorbers to create a soothing, easily absorbed formula. (rrp £9.50)

Willow FaceWash combines natural extracts to refresh, waken and purify skin without drying. (rep £5.95) FaceScrub with Olive Stone to exfoliate skin and reduce blocked pores, blackheads and ingrown hairs (rep £6.99) Natural ShaveGel featuring a unique built-in Pre-Shave performance with Meadowfoam Seed & Tea Tree oil for a premium shaving experience (rrp £5.99) Post ShaveBalm soothes with Aloe Vera, plus Vitamin E and Copper PCA to repair skin after shaving. (rrp £6.50)

www.mancaveinc.co.uk

Twitter – @ManCave Instagram – @ManCaveInc

Tactus iPhone Cases for Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Margaret Graham

My lovely son-in-law has just broken his phone. I doubt he would have it he’d had the Omniwallet. So guess what he’s getting for Christmas?

Tactus iphone cases are really interesting. FrostMagazine likes the Omniwallet folio case in particular, because we like things that ‘earn their keep’. This not only protects your iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6 but brings together all your daily essentials and puts them in one secure place. Cash, cards and the phone are all in one package so no more wasted time while you search for one or the other.

The case has a protective detachable inner shell which is secured magnetically making the case usable without the wallet attached. Made of genuine leather, it has a front flap to protect the screen with stud clasp. There are card slots and cash pocket. There is a detachable inner protective phone case that can be used without the wallet feature.

So, what a great present for someone, and it’s under £20 too.

Tactus has a variety of iPhone cases, all interesting and innovative.

What about the jazzy and innovative LumiNova which glows in the dark and is available in 6 snazzy colours.

Or the extra protective, bright bumper case NeoGuard which uses clever technology to dual protect your phone, while looking funky in bright colourways.

For further information: www.tactus.com

Four-Piece Beautiful Complexion Set by Margaret Graham

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Frost really likes this this fantastic cruelty free brush set, being animal lovers. It includes all four brushes in the EcoTools Complexion Collection® – a makeup-skincare hybrid line designed to improve skin’s health and maximize natural beauty. This self-wrapping set includes a gift tag, ribbon and gift box, making it the perfect present for every beauty lover on your list. I know just the person to get this for, but that’s my secret.

Mattifying Finish Brush: This duo-fiber head creates a flawless finish with either pressed or loose powder. The short bristles pick up the perfect amount of product while the long bristles distribute it smoothly to keep oil and shine at bay all day.

Skin Perfecting Brush: Specifically designed to smoothly and evenly apply BB/CC creams and tinted moisturizer. Use the rounded edge of the brush for precise coverage around the eyes and nose.

Eye Perfecting Brush: Features a uniquely cut, rounded tip head that mimics the shape of your finger around the eyes to reduce tugging or transferring oils. Designed with straight, firm and dense bristles for optimal blending and coverage.

Correcting Concealer Brush: A duo-fiber blend of bristles pick up and distribute concealer for full coverage of dark circles, redness or other imperfections.

The ecoTOOLS® Complexion Collection® features beautiful cruelty-free bristles, a beautifully designed unique recycled ferrule combining the elements of beauty and science, and sleek bamboo handles. The packaging is made from recyclable PET and post- consumer recycled paper.

£19.99  Available at Boots.com and Superdrug.com

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Author Archives: Margaret Graham