Category Archives: Featured

4 Substances That Can Promote Healthy Hair

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As one of the most visible and noticeable physical attributes, hair is hugely significant to women. Not only is it a statement that defines our personal image, but it can also affect the way we feel, and often determine the course of our day. This is so much the case that the annual spend on maintaining our hair and appearance, according to a report from Fashion Network, reaches an eye-watering £10 billion.

That £10 billion goes largely into products that we can use to maximise volume, change colour, increase shine, and so on. And of course, we can also look to do things like avoiding overexposure to the sun, and drying our hair gently to maintain health and quality. Ultimately though, what goes into our diets and supplement routines also plays a massive role in promoting and marinating hair health over time. It’s with that in mind that we want to take a look at some basic substances that can contribute to healthy, well-conditioned hair.

1. Vitamin C

Proven to have substantial benefits to our skin and overall health, Vitamin C also plays a vital role in haircare. It contains a necessary property that creates protein –– or as it’s more commonly known, collagen –– which encourages growth, reduces hair loss and supports healthy hair. It can also aid in combatting dandruff, delay premature greying and prevent hair from growing weak, brittle and fine. A deficiency in Vitamin C, by contrast, can result in dry hair and split ends –– so taking a supplement is highly recommended.

2. Biotin

Biotin is part of the B-complex group of vitamins, and is a key component in maintaining many of the body’s major systems. Over recent years it’s been claimed that biotin can improve the health and growth rate of nails and hair. Health and wellness platform SymptomFind took an in-depth look into the potential benefits of the substance a short while ago and pointed out that although there’s no specific data to prove the benefits, many supplement manufacturers and social media platform users highly recommend including biotin in your health and beauty regimen. It’s true that a biotin deficiency can cause hair loss and weakened nails, so it’s certainly a possibility that it can be advantageous to take a consistent and regulated supplement. Furthermore, while we lack scientific proof, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that biotin has a positive effect.

3. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has long been used as a natural remedy, and is believed to be advantageous in boosting general health and treating numerous ailments. Examining the latest scientific evidence, BBC Good Food scrutinised coconut oil and delved deeper into the potential health benefits it offers. Alongside several other benefits, the examination concluded that coconut oil may help to protect hair from damage. The lauric acid within the substance is likely to boost protein in hair, reducing the negative effects of natural protein loss. As a readily available, safe and inexpensive natural product, coconut oil is definitely worth trying in your beauty routine!

4. Honey

Now widely recognised as a “superfood,” honey boasts an impressive list of positive contributions to our health. It is rich in health-promoting plant compounds, and also has high antioxidant content, which helps it to fight free radicals that cause damage in the body. Thus, we know that honey in moderation can be good for us. As to hair specifically though, the aforementioned free radical damage does apply to our hair as well –– which indicates that the consumption of honey can help to reverse and/or stave off damage. Furthermore, due to its humectant properties, honey is also great for hydration, helping the hair to maintain moisture and reducing brittleness and breakages.

For those looking for a haircare boost, these are just a few of many “on-the-shelf” natural supplements that can be used to promote hair health. We hope this has been a helpful read, and please visit Frost Magazine again soon for more lifestyle tips and advice!

Collaborative post from Olive J. Begley.

The Patient by Jane Shemilt Book Review

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I tend to judge the success of a book on how long I remember it after I have finished reading it. I could not stop thinking about The Patient after I read it. I sometimes still do, months later.

Jane Shemilt brings her characters to life so vividly it is hard to believe they are not real. You become so engaged with them they feel like friends, or people you know and do not like. Ha. The Patient is a superb psychological thriller but it is also a beautiful love story. Complex and multi-layered, it will keep you gripped all the way to the end with a twist you won’t see coming. One of my favourite books of the year. A must-read.

When Rachel meets Luc, the attraction is instant.
But she is a doctor, and he is her patient.
She gives him the drugs he needs – but in doing so, risks everything.
And when a secret is exposed, they’re both in the firing line.
Not all patients are telling the truth.

Playmobil’s New Hero Product

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Duck on call? You heard correctly! For the first time, a duck is the main character in a brand new PLAYMOBIL theme world and animated series. Ducklas, a cheeky boy in a duck’s body, leads exciting missions together with his three young friends – a firefighter, policewoman, and emergency doctor. The new PLAYMOBIL sets are full of innovation and tons of fun for kids ages 3-5 years.

Welcome to Playmoville!

Playmoville is a unique place where kids are in charge and fabulous things happen. This is where the young rescue heroes Freddy Fire, Polly Police, and Mikey Medic embark on exciting missions as they help the townspeople with their problems. But the team would not be complete without Ducklas, who was transformed into a duck by the mysterious Mr. Hans as a result of all his shenanigans! To become a boy again, he must complete a heartfelt act of kindness. The four friends work around the clock to help the people of Playmoville and Queen Mayor in all kinds of emergencies. If only Ducklas would stop accidentally messing things up…!

Freddy Fire, Polly Police, and Mikey Medic are ready for action with their cool emergency vehicles whenever help is needed. The emergency vehicle play sets feature a new modular design that makes it easy to mix and match, creating new variations depending on the accessories and gadgets used – so they will suit any mission. Whether an unlucky racecar driver needs help, a cat needs rescuing or a thief is on the loose, the team (together with Ducklas) is always prepared. In their compact Mobile Operations Center, the young heroes are one call and ready to respond! The engaging DUCK ON CALL theme world will expand further with additional play sets launching this summer for more exciting, complex missions. In the large Headquarters with a freefall slide and elevator, Ducklas and his friends are ready to receive incoming emergency calls from all over Playmoville. The powerful fire, police and ambulance trucks, as well as two mini cars, ensure that the team is equipped for any mission.

An animated CGI series takes Ducklas’ fans on adventures throughout Playmoville, including lots of action and humour. The pilot episode will premiere in March, introducing Ducklas and the young rescue team to the world. Further episodes will be launched in June.

Child-friendly fun with the fire, police, and rescue services

Even when unpacking and assembling the sets, children’s ergonomics were taken into account so that younger children can start playing optimally. During the development of all DUCK ON CALL playsets, special focus was placed on children’s ergonomics and motor skills, so that also younger children (ages 3-5 years) will enjoy the experience. For example, the weight-shifting steering in the three emergency vehicles allows children to steer them using only one hand. Additionally, easy-to-use features such as the water cannon, rotating ladder, and slides, as well as interactive light and sound effects, provide tons of fun. Even young rescuers can master changing the modules of the emergency vehicles, too.

Built to the standard PLAYMOBIL quality, the playsets include only high-quality materials. Individual parts are packaged together in bags made of environmentally-friendly, recycled PCR film (post-consumer recycled material). With younger children in mind, the inclusion of small accessories was reduced or avoided entirely. Of course, all DUCK ON CALL sets can be combined and expanded with the figures and accessories of classic PLAYMOBIL toy sets.

With DUCK ON CALL, all kids can become real heroes. By following the adventures in Playmoville, they will learn about the meaning of friendship, helping others, team spirit, and self-confidence. After following the series’ stories, children can join the adventures first-hand with the extensive toy range.  These role-play experiences will stimulate social, cognitive, and motor skills, while also offering limitless fun. And in time for the holidays, kids can count down the days to Christmas with the DUCK ON CALL advent calendar, available beginning of September.

The DUCK ON CALL play theme from PLAYMOBIL at a glance:

Roleplay within the popular worlds of fire, police, and rescue services | great stories with four young rescue heroes | for the first time, a PLAYMOBIL theme world is centered around an animal, as well as kid characters  | headquarters with freefall slide, elevator, and helipad (L 58.5 x D 50 x H 18.5 cm) | modular emergency vehicles allow for mixing and matching | cool trucks and other playsets with age-appropriate play functions | adapted to children’s ergonomics | simple assembly experience | animated CGI series available |

recommended for ages 3-5 years.

Duck on Call is available at Playmobil.co.uk prices from £14.99

 

How to Protect Your Business

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As a business owner, your main focus is probably succeeding. However, as important as making a profit, there are other factors that are equally important, including safeguarding your investment. Whether someone is injured on your property or someone wants to back out of a contract, lawsuits can happen. Lawsuits not only tarnish your reputation, but can also put you out of business. Thankfully, there are ways to protect both your reputation and business. Read on to learn some of the best ways to safeguard your business.

Learn the Legal Requirements

One of the easiest ways to protect your business is by setting up the right legal entity. How you register your company is crucial to your longevity. You can choose to register as sole provider, LLC, or corporation. As a sole proprietor, you aren’t protected from legal liability claims. Your personal assets will not be protected if you’re sued. If you register as a corporation, you can separate your business and personal finances, which safeguards your personal property and finances. As an LLC, you can protect your personal assets and investments. Most new startups usually choose this entity and if the time arises, then go on to become a corporation or partnership.

Protect Your Equipment

If your company involves heavy equipment or a fleet, you need to ensure you protect those as well. You can install AI video dash cams in all of your trucks for an extra layer of protection. AI dash cameras monitor drivers’ behavior in real time. If they’re involved in an accident, you’ll be able to see the exact actions they took prior to the incident.

Get it in Writing

Whether it’s between you and a customer or you and your vendors, all business matters should be in writing. Although some verbal agreements can stand up in court, not all do. Oftentimes, it becomes a battle of what you said and what the other party claims you said. Save yourself the stress and put everything in writing. Especially in business where there is constant evolution and you are striving to make positive changes, it is best to have everything written down to minimize confusion and maximize protection.

Understand Your Rights

As a business owner, you need to understand your rights. Each legal entity has its own set of rights, so it’s important to research what they are in your specific state.

Pay Your Taxes

Always pay taxes on time and in full. If you owe money and can’t pay it all at one time, you still need to file and request a payment arrangement. The worst thing you can do is avoid filing and then end up owing money. At least with a payment arrangement, you can create a budget to pay it off in monthly increments. If you can’t file on your own, hire an experienced tax accountant to do them for you.

Hire a Lawyer

Regardless of niche, you should have a lawyer on retainer. Even if you never need their help, you’ll feel better knowing you have one on board, just in case something happens. Even having one to answer questions about your business can help protect your investments.

collaborative post with our brand partner.

PARADIGM-SHIFTING NEW FILM ON MOTHERHOOD, CHILDFREE WOMEN AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, ‘MY SO-CALLED SELFISH LIFE’, TO BE STREAMED WORLDWIDE THIS MAY

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Trixie Films is delighted to announce that its paradigm-shifting new documentary feature film about childfree women, My So-Called Selfish Life, will be released worldwide for the first time and streamed from 6 – 16May.

 Child free,

Directed by the award-winning feminist writer/directorTherese Shechter, the film is a journey through one of our society’s greatest social taboos: choosing not to become a mother, and is the third in a trilogy of documentaries by Shechter dismantling our most sacred ideas about womanhood: from power and 21st century feminism, to sex and virginity, and now motherhood. The film premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2021 to critical acclaim.

 

My So-Called Selfish Life is unique in the childfree conversation for its intersectional approach to its subject matter, as well as the ways it ties women’s personal stories of choosing not to have children to the deeper cultural and political forces that tell us that a woman’s greatest value lies in her ability to reproduce. It also incorporates a lot of humour – weaving together everything from Grey’s Anatomy clips to speeches from Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

 

Film Threat said: “My So-Called Selfish Life is a timely documentary on an issue as pressing as ever. Women’s bodies and fertility are continuing areas of concern for those in power — again, usually men,” andMs Magazine described it as a “striking and imaginative documentary, which addresses [an] oft-overlooked facet of reproductive justice.”

 

Director Therese Shechter said: “Humour is a huge part of my work, creating an engaging documentary style that makes room for some very thorny conversations. I’m excited to take on my most controversial subject yet: the assumption that motherhood is a biological imperative and the defining measure of womanhood. There’s no one right way to be a woman, and a woman’s value in society should never lie in her ability to reproduce.”

 

My So-Called Selfish Life, will stream worldwide for the first time from 6 – 16 May

via the Show & Tell platform:

https://watch.showandtell.film/watch/my-so-called-selfish-life

 

For more info visit:

myselfishlife.com

trixiefilms.com

Deadly Cure by Mari Cheshire Book Review

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Deadly Cure is Grey’s Anatomy gone very wrong, and that is why this bumper of a book is to be devoured. Who doesn’t love a good friends turn frenemies story? Using her medical knowledge, Dr Mari Cheshire has written a book which takes medicine and rivalry, added in a dollop of a love story, and turned it all into a brilliant book that is impossible to put down. I loved this book and I read it as quickly as I could. I loved the characters. This thriller is pacy and fun. A dazzling and unique debut.

Deadly Cure Mahi Cheshire

THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH: FIRST, DO NO HARM…

Dr Rea Dharmasena is devastated when she loses out on her dream research job to her med-school rival and best friend, Dr Julia Stone.

To add insult to injury, Julia used Rea’s own cutting-edge research to get it.

But just as Rea finds it in her to forgive the betrayal, Julia, after a life-changing medical discovery, is found dead.

Despite finding herself caught up in a murder investigation and a complicated new romance, Rea is finally happy; she has the dream job she’s always wanted.

But at what cost?

Perfect for fans of The Silent Patient and The Holiday, this is a heart-stopping thriller of betrayal, secrets and ruthless ambition that will leave you breathless.

The Wonder of Play Brought to Life Through Geomagworld

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Geomag’s popular Magicube Full Color line has added to their range. Magicube building blocks are made from 100% recycled materials and provide hours of endless magnetic fun.

We love Geomag at Frost. They are brilliantly made toys with endless possibilities. They are perfect for children of all ages.  A must buy.
Swiss toy brand Geomagworld has provided educational and fun toys since1998. Their award-winning and STEM-enriched toys help children’s playtime become full of educational elements. Geomag’s range of Magicube toys is the perfect addition to children’s playtime. Magicube is a unique building block systemmade up of magnetic cubes that attach on all six sides and is made entirely from 100% recycled plastics, ensuring the construction toy world is even more respectful of our planet.

100% Compatible, 100% Fun

The Magicube system quickly evolved into a whole new world of magnetic building blocks and Full-Color lines have proved popular with children, parents, teachers, and retailers.  All Magicube lines have been made from 100% recycled plastic since 2021.  Importantly all are fully compatible with all other cubes within the Magicube platform. The newest addition, fresh for 2022 is the Geomag Magicube Full Color Recycled Try 8 Piece Set (062), is a low-cost starter pack and a perfect introduction into the world of Geomag. The set allows children to explore the world of construction made with easy-to-use magnetic cubes. The new 8-piece set is fully compatible with all other Magicube sets. The Geomag Magicube Full Color Try Me 8-piece set joins the current Full. Color range, which includes 16-, 24- & 64-Piece Sets.


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T. Orr Munro: My Writing Process

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My Writing Routine

I write Mondays to Wednesdays from 9am until around 4 or 5pm. Occasionally I’ll write at other times but I find the distance of just a few days useful for honing ideas.

 

A bit about you.

I live in North Devon where I also grew up. I’m a freelance journalist, specializing in writing about policing, but, a long time ago, I was a CSI or Scenes of Crime Officer as they are also called.

 

What you have written, past and present.

I’ve a rather eclectic back catalogue! I’ve written a YA novel, ghostwritten the memoirs of a Battle of Britain pilot and a children’s history of Devon. I also have around five unpublished novels in my bottom drawer! I’m currently writing my second crime novel.

 

What you are promoting now.

Breakneck Point is my debut crime novel out in April about CSI Ally Dymond who is redeployed to a Devon backwater after blowing the whistle on police corruption, but the sleepy coastal town of Bidecombe doesn’t turn out to be quite as quiet as she anticipated.

 

A bit about your process of writing.

I’m quite disciplined about writing. I think it comes from being a journalist and having to sit down and write even when I don’t always feel like it. I’m a ‘reviser’ rather than someone who aims to get it right first time which means that it is sometimes hard to know when to stop.

 

Do you plan or just write?

I’m a planner. I try to plot the entire book out before I start although it invariably changes. However, it means that I tend to know what I’m going to write before I switch my laptop on. I don’t write linearly either. I’ll often write a scene in a different part of the book because I’ve had a particular idea or I’m in the mood to do it. My head has to be in the right place to write difficult scenes, usually 3.00am in the morning when I can’t sleep.

 

What about word count?

I don’t set myself daily word counts. It’s too much pressure! I’m also one of those writers who underwrites and struggles to get enough words down on the page rather than one that writes too many and has to cut back. I dream of writing too many words! It’s a constant challenge for me. I blame starting out as a print journalist where I would constantly look to strip out words so the story would fit the page. Old habits die hard.

 

How do you do your structure?

My books often just start with an image which I then work into a story. For instance, I’m writing book two in the CSI Ally Dymond series and that began life as a single scene which happens towards the end of the book. I do use various reference books. I’m a bit of a magpie, taking the bits that work for me, but I find them helpful for getting me over a plotting blip. I regularly dip into Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland. Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody is good for checking that I’m on the right track and I quite like the approach taken in Book Architecture by Stuart Horwitz.

 

What do you find hard about writing?

Finding myself hurtling down a blind alley! It’s that horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know something isn’t working, but you can’t work out what and you’ve already written thousands of words that you also know are probably going to wind up in the trash. It’s when I come closest to giving up altogether.

 

What do you love about writing?

As soon as I learnt to read I was utterly enthralled by words and how they could be used to transport me to other worlds. When I learnt to write, I realized I too could use words, but to create my own worlds. I get to play god, basically!