Perfect For Christmas: The Orb Bike Light and Bottle

We love new ideas at Frost. Innovation excites us. So when we got sent The Orb we were pretty excited. It is a water bottle and bike light. It charges easily via USB and then keeps you safe on the road. This is a great Christmas gift for any cyclists enthusiasts.

The Orb is a bike light and bottle designed for 360° visibility – it helps prevent some of the 1/3 serious cycling accidents that occur from the side. It is also pretty cool and looks stunning.

Innovative bike-startup, Orb, are disrupting the way we think about lighting. Designed in London for the city-slicking cyclist, The Orb uses superbright USB-charged LEDs to illuminate the 700ml bottle, giving your ride 360° visibility and making you unmissable on the roads! Grab yourself one at www.orb.bike/

£29.99

5 Great Ideas For Christmas

Child's farm, gift , baby bath & bedtime case, organicChild’s Farm Baby Bath and Bedtime Case and Festive Hair & Body Wash.

We love Child’s Farm and their fantastic range of organic products for little ones. Their festive wash and new parenting gifting set are perfect presents.

Boots exclusive: Festive Hair & Body Wash

Baby it’s cold outside, but bath time couldn’t be cosier with Childs Farm’s new festive hair & body wash. Featuring packaging worthy of a winter wonderland with a snowball fight between a unicorn and a snowman, the festive edition of this favourite contains sweet orange oil and argan oil. This makes cleaning off dirt a fragrant and festive joy, while also leaving hair shiny and tangle-free and skin wonderfully soft. Suitable for newborns and upwards, it is dermatologist and paediatrician approved as suitable for sensitive skin, and safe for people who may be prone to eczema.

How much does it cost and where can I buy it?

Available exclusively at Boots here and from Childs Farm here – RRP £4.00

Childs Farm new parent gifting set

Not only is this an ideal Christmas gift for new parents, it’s also a great introduction to the baby range, where parents or parents-to-be can try everything that Childs Farm has to offer. The first gift is the baby bath and bedtime suitcase, which comes full of baby essentials, including the baby bedtime bubbles, baby wash, nappy cream, and the baby moisturiser, which has been dubbed by many as a ‘miracle cream’ for sensitive skin.

This beautiful set contains everything new parents need to welcome a little one into the world, knowing their skin will be lovingly cared for. Not only does the baby bath and bedtime suitcase contain these essentials, it also comes with a gift card for two further gift sets. The next set is for mum and baby, including the grapefruit and tea tree hand wash and matching moisturiser to keep hands lovely and soft, as well as the baby oil and baby shampoo, perfect for baby. The final set is a top up of all the products in the baby bath and bedtime suitcase, so parents don’t need to worry about running out, but more than that – your gift goes beyond Christmas!

Only available from Childs Farm website.

neos smart cam, security

Neos SmartCam.

Peace of mind can never be overestimated but that is only one of the reasons the Neos SmartCam makes such a good present. This award-winning camera is already on Amazon’s best sellers list. It has up to 12 hours of daily recording time.

The Neos SmartCam allows families to proactively protect their homes from wherever they are in the world – whether at work, out at Christmas and New Years’ party or away on holiday – users are able to detect any unusual activity and report it straight away.

The SmartCam is a pocket sized indoor camera that can be controlled from the Neos app. It is affordable (priced at only £19.99), easy to set-up and can be used by homeowners to keep an eye on their home, kids and pets – all from a Smartphone.

Available from www.neos.co.uk

chatty feet socks,. frida kahlo chatty feet socks, yahoo toesama

We love ChattyFeet. Conversation starter socks which are comfortable and stylish. 

ChattyFeet: The perfect present for the best-dressed feet this Christmas

Every pair of feet deserves lovely socks this Christmas, and ChattyFeet offers the most humorous socks ever to come out of a stocking. ChattyFeet’s range of quirky characters with witty names inject a touch of humour into everyday life and make this longstanding classic a winner in the gift-giving stakes.
ChattyFeet currently ‘feet’-ures 40 designs for adults and children. The newest characters are Leonardo Toe Vinci, Prince Wills Heels and Prince Hurry Feet. You can purchase the Royals ChattyFeet characters in a new Royal Socks Gift Set, and if socks aren’t your thing, there’s also a new range of enamel pins and other novelty gifts to check out.
And just in time for this Christmas, ChattyFeet will be adding four new designs to the sock range: two characters from the world of music, one from literature and one from business, as well as three new enamel pins (Frida Callus, Feetasso and Prince Wills Heels).
With a huge range of creative characters, there will be a design that appeals to everyone. For creative types, there are ChattyFeet’s arty socks, with characters including Frida Callus, Yayoi Toesama, Sole-Adore Dali and Feetasso. Science geeks will love Albert Einstoe; fans of the Royal Family can’t fail to be wowed by Kate Middle-Toe and Meghan Ankle; and book lovers will fall head over heels for William Shakes-Feet.
Kids’ socks can be purchased alone or as part of a Family Set so that parents and their sidekicks can step out together in matching characters.
ChattyFeet’s expansive range of themed socks are manufactured in Europe from high quality cotton, giving a soft feel and long life. They are available to purchase online at www.chattyfeet.com all the way up to Christmas, with free UK delivery above £30 and delivery in 2-3 days.
ChattyFeet prices:
Adult socks: £8
Kids socks: £6
Boxes of 4 pairs: £30
Enamel pins: £7.50
Mugs: £11.90

Martin Miller Gin,

Martin Miller Gin. Fantastic gin in a stunning box. This is a perfect gift. 

MARTIN MILLER’S GIN LAUNCHES LIMITED-EDITION NORTHERN LIGHTS-INSPIRED GIFT BOX FOR CHRISTMAS 2019

This festive season, Martin Miller’s Gin has partnered with award-winning night sky photographer and the founder of The World at Night program, Babak Tafreshi, to produce a distinctive Northern Lights-inspired, limited-edition gift box.

 

New for 2019, the eye-catching design features a mesmerising image of the Aurora Borealis, taken by Tafreshi, as the infamous light show dances above the iconic Kirkjufell mountain and waterfalls on Iceland’s rugged western coastline, during the most intense display in more than a decade.

 

The gift box pays homage to one of the unique attributes of Martin Miller’s Gin – the 100% pure Icelandic spring water which blends perfectly with the highest quality botanicals to give the product its smooth taste, distinct clarity and trademark softness.,

 

Not only designed to look beautiful on display, the gift box also reflects the premium quality of Martin Miller’s Gin – the most-awarded quality gin on the market – making it the ideal gift for all gin lovers this Christmas.

 

Babak Tafreshi, photographer says, “I am delighted to have partnered with Martin Miller’s Gin to create this gift box, which celebrates the home of its pure spring water. The image we used captures the most colourful aurora I have ever seen, which coloured the Icelandic landscape in these stunning pastel hues, making this box truly unique.”

 

The limited-edition box will be available in selected Waitrose.com, Morrisons.com and Sainsbury’s stores from September to December 2019, with a recommended retail price of £28 for a 70cl bottle.

 

For more information, please visit: www.martinmillersgin.com

 

vegan, hamper, christmas

The Vegan Larder Gourmet Christmas Chocolate box.

I am a huge fan of vegan things and The Vegan Larder is pretty cool indeed. They create gift and subscription boxes that help make vegan cooking and eating easy and exciting, especially around Christmas. The Gourmet Christmas Box is delicious and decadent. Full thumbs up from me. 

They are 100% vegan and plant based, palm oil free, always have a gluten free option and use products from small businesses.

All monthly subscription boxes are available as one-off gifts, and they have some exclusive Christmas boxes that are perfect for your gift guide.
  • Deluxe Christmas Box (£29 as one off gift, £24.99 if subscribed):​ packed full of Festive cooking goodies, giving a truly tantalising festive food experience. Think artisan tapenade, spiced fudge, handmade chutney, organic gravy and other surprises! Our subscribers will receive this in December too!
  • Gourmet Christmas Chocolate box (£19.50): ​filled with gourmet artisan products for a selection box experience! Dairy free and suitable for anyone with a dairy allergy. Think handmade chocolate, chocolate spread, wagon wheel and other delights.
  • After dinner pate box (£14.50): ​this is fun and fabulous for entertaining. Three types of vegan pate, two incredible cracker flavours and a delectable spiced plum chutney.

https://theveganlarder.com/product-category/christmas-vegan-boxes/

And because it is Christmas I want to give you one more. Here is the bonus tip.

Buyagift.co.uk 

Buyagift.co.uk is a brilliant site with a lot of great experiences. They have days out, nights out, spa days, things for families.They are great for the environment because sometimes we have enough stuff, and you give someone the gift of memories. We have their Kew Gardens voucher. A family pass for two adults and two children and we are really looking forward to it.

Top Christmas Pick: SodaStream Spirit One Touch

SodaStream, sparkling water, christmas picks, Christmas, gift guides,

Christmas is a time for glamour and glitz. Decadence is in abundance and entertaining is what the season is about. So what better to add some fizz to the season and beyond than SodaStream? Fizz makes drinks fun and fun is what we need. We tested the new SodaStream Spirit One Touch and we were impressed. It is easy to set up and easy to use. It is also environmentally friendly, saving 1,282 bottles of fizzy water per reusable SodaStream bottle. This is the perfect gift for Christmas and beyond. Even if you are buying it for yourself. Frost Loves.

SodaStream, sparkling water, christmas picks, Christmas, gift guides, SodaStream Spirit One Touch

SodaStream’s newest electric sparkling water maker carbonates water at the touch of a button. Entertain your guests at ease with the convenience of sparkling water any time you like – no need to carry cases of sparkling water to your home. The Spirit One Touch offers three distinct levels of carbonation for perfectly customised drinks.

Available in Black.

Available here: https://sodastream.co.uk/products/spirit-one-touch

RRP:  £129.99

 

Frost’s Top Christmas Pick For The Home

eve sleep, linen set, high quality, sleep, Eve Sleep have these amazing linen sheets – prices start at £99 for UK double set

They are so luxurious you will not be able to go back to cheap bedding. They are so stylish too.
Stonewashed for superior softness and comfort, our pure linen bedding is the most luxurious, durable bed set you’ll find. Made in Portugal, it’s available in five colour combinations.

From evesleep.co.uk

Heroes On The Home Front By Annie Clarke Book Review

Annie Clarke, heroes on the home frontHeroes On The Home Front By Annie Clarke. 

I love Annie Clarke. Not many people can do what she does. She writes with real heart and soul, transporting you straight into 1941. She writes of a time that should never be forgotten and brings her characters to life so beautifully. Heroes on The Home Front is the second in the series by this stunning writer. This is the perfect book for Autumn, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, put your feet up and enjoy the next few hours. I hope this series makes its way onto TV. It would make the perfect Sunday television show.

Yes, Annie Clarke does write for Frost, but she is a master at her craft. her novels are researched within an inch of their lives and have real heart and soul. Just perfect. I cannot wait for the next instalment.

December 1941, North East England: It takes courage to risk your life every day.

Despite the recent loss of her father, Sarah is settling well into her new role at the munitions factory. Her blossoming romance with pitman Stan is a welcome distraction from the dangerous working conditions. But a shocking revelation is about to put everything on the line.

Meanwhile Fran is desperately missing her sweetheart Davey, who has been conscripted to work at Bletchley Park. Beth is longing for someone too – and it’s not her husband on the front line…

As the factory girls face hardship on the home front, they will discover that the heroes they need are already by their side.

Available here.

Perfect Books For The Christmas Season

The Runaway , Hollie Overton

The Runaway By Hollie Overton 

You can tell the writer put her heart and soul into this book. It is an outstanding thriller. It leaves you holding your breathe until the very last page.

Available here.

An introduction to poetry

Poetry. A Very Short Introduction By Bernard O’Donoghue.

Perfect for writers and poetry fans. Entertaining and educational: it gives a perfect overview of poetry. Bernard O’Donoghue also ask what poetry is and what is is for. Riveting.

Available here.

Milli Hill Give Birth like a feminist

Give Birth Like a Feminist By Milli Hill.

This book is perfect for any expecting parent. It is even a good read for those who are not. Give Birth Like a Feminist is an important read from a pioneer in pregnancy and birth. Milli Hill founded The Positive Birth Movement and her work in the field has progressed women’s right by years. She also allowed me to publish one of her birth stories in my book, Women on Childbirth. She is the best kind of woman: a woman who support other women and fights for them too. A must buy.

Available here.

Andy Martin With Child

With Child By Andy Martin

Andy Martin spent a year with Lee Child. With Child is the diary of these adventures. I found this fascinating as a writer myself. Perfect for fans of Lee Child and Jack Reacher. A great book.

Available here.

Designer babies

Designing Babies By Robert L. Klitzman, MD.

This book is absolutely fascinating. In-depth research mixed with personal stories creates a perfect book on the subject of designing babies. Fertility, infertility, genetics…. This book covers the medical science of making babies. it does so with a human heart. What is right and what is wrong? Robert Klitzman is a brilliant and eloquent writer.

Available here.

The Children's forest

The Children’s Forest.

The Children’s Forest is the perfect book for children and parents. This book has a lot of fun activities to get your child in touch with nature. This book is a celebration of nature and, in my opinion, is essential for children to get them outdoors and learning more about nature. For ages 3-12, it has games, songs, recipes and animal, tree and plant lore. This excellent book offers hours of fun for children and parents.

Available here.

what snowflakes get right

What Snowflakes Get Right By Ulrich Baer.

This brilliant book is thought-provoking and brilliantly written. Snowflakes get a bad wrap but this in-depth and passionate analysis should be read by everyone. Great stuff.

Available here.

the writer's creative workbook

The Writer’s Creative Workbook By Joy Kenward. Illustrated By Ruth Allen. 

This is a brilliant book for the writer in your life. Even the most advanced writers will find this helps get things flowing again.

Available here.

One more lie Amy lloyd

One More Lie by Amy Lloyd. 

This is a stunning thriller. Full of suspense and atmosphere: you will not want to put it down. It also has a quote from Frost Magazine writer Annie Clarke who is a fan.

Available here.

Abbey Clancey I'll be home for Christmas

I’ll Be Home For Christmas By Abbey Clancy.

I do not know how she manages it: as well as being gorgeous, working as a model and TV Presenter and raising four children Abbey Clancy has written this amazing book. I loved it from the first page. The characters are so vivid and the story is a glam, glitzy read that entertains right to the end. I LOVE this book.

Available here.

a mrs miracle christmas debbie macomber

A Mrs Miracle Christmas By Debbie Macomber. 

This is the perfect Christmas book. It is a warm book that is a perfect example of romantic fiction. Perfect for an evening snuggling with some hot cocoa.

Available here.

rebel dogs heroic tales of trusty hounds

Rebel Dogs By Kimberlie Hamilton. 

This book is perfect for dog lovers. Fun and well-written, it makes you happy.

Available here.

Annie Clarke, heroes on the home front

Heroes On The Home Front By Annie Clarke. 

The second in the series by this stunning writer. Yes, she does write for Frost, but she is a master at her craft. her novels are researched within an inch of their lives and have real heart and soul. Just perfect.

Available here.

a quaint and curious volume

A Quaint and Curious Volume. Introduction By Sarah Perry.

An interesting and original volume. Perfect for fans of the gothic. You can read all the way through or dip in and out. A really great book.

Available here.

the oceans between us

The Oceans Between Us By Gill Thompson.

This is a truly beautiful story of triumph, loss and a mother’s love. It will touch your heart and soul. Wonderful.

Available here.

nightingale wedding bells

Nightingale Wedding Bells By Donna Douglas. 

The eleventh book in the series. Another heart-warming story that is perfect for Christmas.

Available here.

Simon's cat it's a dog's life

Simon’s Cat It’s a Dog’s Life By Simon Tofield. 

Hard to believe it is the 10th anniversary. The much-loved cat is back in this hilarious book. Love it.

Available here.

something to tell you David Edwards

Something To Tell You By David Edwards. 

This is a great, if terrifying, book. Perfect for fans of science-fiction, fantasy or thrillers. A perfect combination of fiction and out-there science. A clever book and a great read.

Available here.

raw spirit in search of the perfect dram

Raw Spirit By Iain Banks.

Perfect for fans of a wee dram. Banks explores the rich history of Scottish Whisky. It has a new introduction from Ian Rankin.

Available here.

Criss Cross by James Patterson

This top secret book arrived. What was it? Oh just the new Alex Cross book, Criss Cross By James Patterson. It is brilliant, of course. But then it always is. Out on the 14th November.

And now for some shameless self-promotion. I have books on acting, blogging, poetry, childbirth and wedding planning. They are all great for Christmas presents obviously. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

 

What books would you recommend?

The Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Guide.

plastic freedom Bambaw reusable makeup remover padsplastic freedom, handmade soap, bamboo, beauty kubes, eco-friendly, sanitary protection , bean and boy bean and boy handmade gin and tonic soapPlastic Freedom is a great website which has a huge selection plastic free products. They also do gift boxes. They have an array of eco-friendly stuff like Bean & Boy natural handmade soap, Bambaw reusable makeup remover pads, Beauty Kubes Shampoo and Helen Round’s reusable bamboo face wash set.

Plastic Freedom, the online store striving to eliminate the world’s plastic-footprint recommended these products to us and we were very impressed.

Founded by 28-year-old Beth Noy in 2018, @plasticfreedom_was started single-handedly from her spare bedroom. She now sells over 900 products that come from a number of sustainable suppliers, including vegan cosmetics, mother and baby products, plastic-free lunch boxes, kitchenware, travel accessories and everything in between.

Beth Noy lives entirely single-use plastic free herself, and some of her favourite products are: Beauty Kubes, PF x Sol Cup and Beeswax wraps.

plasticfreedom.co.uk

CLEAN TEETH, CLEAN CONSCIENCE

  • A new toothpaste that is 100% recyclable, with no single use plastic tube.

  • Unlike other toothpastes on the market, it contains no harsh soaps, antibacterials, petrochemicals or artificial colouring.

  • 100% natural flavouring, with papaya extract for natural whitening and essential minerals to strengthen tooth enamel.

C:\Users\Owner\Downloads\IMG_0040.jpg

A new toothpaste that is not only good for you but good for the planet is now available in the UK. Happier Toothpaste, from sustainable beauty brand Happier Beauty, has packaging made from traditional aluminium, that is easy and energy efficient to recycle. With 1.5 billion single-use plastic toothpaste tubes thrown away every year, Happier toothpaste is a great swap to reduce your carbon footprint.¹ There’s no unnecessary cardboard box either. Even the postal packaging for the toothpaste is 100% recyclable, wrapped in 100% recycled tissue paper and posted in a reusable bubble envelope.

The toothpaste itself is also refreshingly different, containing only natural flavourings and no nasty chemicals. Each ingredient in Happier toothpaste has been specially selected to have as minimal impact to the environment as possible. Other market-leading toothpastes contain many artificial ingredients that are unnecessary and, in some cases, harmful. Happier toothpaste contains no soap and instead has a low foam formula treated with coconut oil to create light refreshing bubbles without drying your mouth. Happier toothpaste also avoids Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) which is commonly found in other toothpastes has been linked with causing mouth sores and ulcers, and is often used in shampoos and body wash.

Happier toothpaste also contains natural ingredients with great benefits. Papaya fruit extract is infused into the toothpaste which aids with whitening and prevents new stains from sticking to your teeth.

The toothpaste is 100% cruelty free and vegan friendly. It has also been specially formulated for sensitive teeth.

Faye Wilson, founder of Happier Beauty said: “Toothpaste is something we put in our mouths twice a day, yet nearly all of us are guilty of being unaware of what is actually in it. I created Happier toothpaste after I started seriously looking at what is in market-leading toothpastes and saw you need a chemistry degree to understand half the ingredients!

“We are completely transparent with our ingredients; explaining what each ingredient does and why we’ve included it in our toothpaste. We never use SLS, triclosan, parabens, petrochemicals, colours, artificial flavours or sweeteners.

“It is also very important to us that our products have little to zero impact on the environment. We’ve taken special care to source ingredients that are kinder to your mouth and 100% recyclable materials for our products right down to the tissue paper the tubes are delivered in.”

Happier toothpaste is available online for £12.00 per 75ml tube, with free UK shipping. It is available in Fresh Mint flavour.

For more information, visit happierbeauty.com.

My Writing Process – Karen King

writing, my writing process, I’ve always been a bit of a planner, mainly because when I started my writing career over thirty years ago I wrote for teen magazines and children’s comics and had to send a synopsis of the story first, for approval. Now I’m living in Spain I write mainly romance novels but I still send a synopsis of the story I’m planning to my editor. She will make comments and we’ll flesh out the plot between us before I start writing it up.

I really like to know my characters before I write the story, and often trail Pinterest boards for photos of people that look like my characters, print them out and put them in my WIP folder so I have an image of them while I write. I also create a Pinterest board for every book I’m working on, looking for images that are connected to the story and repining them to my WIP board. I find that really helps me to brainstorm. Once I feel I know my characters well enough I start to write, freewriting the story as it comes and not stopping to edit or correct until I’ve finished.  Then I leave it for a couple of weeks (unless I’m on a tight deadline) then go back and edit it. 

I usually do four different edits, first I read all the way through to get the feel of the characters and story. I make comments in the margin or underline anything I want to change but don’t alter them at this stage. For the next set of edits I work on anything that I’ve marked up and pay particular attention to the story structure and timeline. For the third set of edits I pay attention to characters, dialogue and setting and for the final set of edits I look out for typos and grammatical errors. I’m now lucky enough to work for Bookouture, and we’re usually on a tight deadline so they ask for the first draft, then get back to me with their comments, which works really well. I always find it helpful to get their advice and guidance into making my story stronger.

I find I work best in the morning so ideally like to get up, grab some breakfast and start work for a few hours. I write most days and don’t usually have a word count I’m aiming at unless I’m on a tight deadline, then I’ll work as and when I can during the day, and late into the evening too until I meet that wordcount (it can be anything from 2-5,000 words).  I mainly write in my upstairs office which is in the studio apartment on the terrace but can also be found writing by the pool with my laptop in a box to keep the sun off my screen, or at the dining room table. I can write anywhere really, as long as I have my laptop, or a notebook and pen. 

If I get Writer’s Block I simply carrying on writing until the story flows again, then delete any rubbish I’ve written to get me there. Which is why my advice to new writers is – stop faffing about and just write! You can edit afterwards, the main thing is to get your story down.

Contact Links

Website: http://www.karenking.net/

Twitter: @karen_king

Karen King Romance Author Facebook Page

Karen King Young Adult Books Facebook Page

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/karenkingauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkingauthor/?hl=en

Single All The Way

Blurb

Snow is falling, bells are ringing… and my heart is broken. I pick up the phone to tell my mother about Oliver and me. But before I can, she says, ‘I don’t exactly know how to tell you this… But I’m leaving your dad.’
Single together for the first time, 34-year-old Meg and her warm-hearted, long-suffering mother Sally are cancelling Christmas, and running away to a tiny cottage on the Cornish coast. For Meg, it is the perfect place to heal, away from all the mistletoe, while for her mother it has a special, and secret, place in her heart – from a love story that seems a lifetime ago…

Meg and Sally find they’re getting to know themselves, and each other, better than ever before. But as they are unable to resist getting involved in the village Christmas celebrations, they encounter two handsome local strangers.

Sometimes, it’s being away from home that helps you realise where your heart is. What neither woman knows is that, by the time the new year rolls around, one woman will have fallen in love with her husband all over again, and one marriage will be over for good…

An escapist, romantic and heart-warming novel for fans of One Day in December and No One Cancels Christmas.

Buy links

AMZ: https://geni.us/B07XDYL7GHCover
Apple Books: https://tinyurl.com/y4dkhrvl
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/y6apzqe2
Googleplay: https://tinyurl.com/y5hc6nfn