Category Archives: Featured

Gtech HyLite Review

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I have children so I hoover a lot. Or my husband does at least. With the hoovers we have at the moment this is a huge amount of hassle. They are bulky and heavy. Getting them out of the cupboard is an effort in itself. We had a handheld but it gave up. I also hate clutter and in London space is a premium. So being sent the new Gtech HyLite felt like Christmas had come early. I do not even care how old this makes me sound. I need small and convenient things in my life. 

When the box arrived with the GTech I found it hard to believe there was a hoover in there, and yet there was. Gtech have launched a brand new vacuum that is super small and super lightweight.

GTech , hoover, review, tech

It is easy to assemble. Even for someone as undomestic as me. It is light and even has some charge in it. Regardless I plug it on before giving it a go. It would be easy to believe that its convenience and size would mean a compromise on performance but not so: it is an excellent hoover. You can retract and extend the handle easily. The handle also reclines easily. It is also a literal handheld. You just take the handle off! When you are done it is so small it fits into a drawer. It has 20 minutes of running time and takes 2 hours to charge fully. 

I love the Gtech HyLite. It is so convenient it is life-changing. It is a great piece of technology and for that it get the Frost Gold Standard accolade. 

The Gtech HyLite is ideal for modern homes and is packed with design and technology features that make usage and storage simple and environmentally friendly.  It weighs just 1.5kg, has 20 minutes running time* and the handle extends and retracts instantly, transforming the HyLite from an upright to a handheld vacuum in seconds.

The HyLite uses bags for a more hygienic cleaning solution.  Breathable bags are more environmentally friendly.  There is no dust cloud when you empty and no need to use a plastic bag each time.  Also, with the HyLite the bag is the filter – each time you change the bag you get a new filter. The triple layered bags can hold up to three times their volume of dirt due to cleverly designed compression levels, so that each 0.3L bag can hold 1L of dirt resulting in less frequent disposal.

The HyLite uses just 90 watts of power, but packs a punch when it comes to its cleaning capacity, making its power and resource consumption extremely low.  It’s also been designed and made to last … its modular construction means that if you break a bit it’s easily replaceable (new parts can be delivered to your home the next day) and, as it has no tubes or inner workings, there is less likelihood of debris accumulating and blocking up the path the dirt takes from floor to bag.

 

The HyLite adapts effortlessly to all floor surfaces, upholstery and stairs and the cordless technology means no plugs or sockets either, so cleaning your home couldn’t be simpler, especially as the reclining handle allows you to reach under sofas and beds without having to move heavy furniture.

 

Storage is easy … the HyLite is so compact it can be kept in a kitchen drawer but is ready to use in seconds which makes it perfect for homes where space is limited.

 

The Gtech Hylite is available now at www.gtech.co.uk RRP £199.99

 

*run times may vary depending on surfaces being cleaned

 

Get Your Skin Ready For #festivalseason With Olay

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Ah, summer. Festivals, barbecues, picnics. The warm weather brings joy in abundance. Not so much for our skin sometimes. SPF can be heavy and make up tends to slide off the face. So get your skin ready now. I get sent some new Olay product to try. Here is how I got on.

THE REFRESHER

I love a facial mist. They are perfect for hydrating skin and making you feel refreshed. The Energizing Olay Mist Ultimate Hydration Essence has powerhouse antioxidant Vitamin C & Bergamot Extract. I do think it left my skin looking better, and feeling better too. 

For a much-needed make up / hydration boost, make sure the Energizing Olay Mist Ultimate Hydration Essence is to hand. This energising face mist with powerhouse antioxidant Vitamin C & Bergamot Extract will leave you with a more even skin tone, as well as feeling revitalised, refreshed and energised – perfect for day three party goers.

Olay Mists Ultimate Hydration Essences RRP £12.99 

THE SOOTHER

I really like this eye gel. It is deeply hydrating, just like the name says. A tiny amount goes a long way. My skin can feel really dry and this seems to last for a long time. I would continue to use this. 

We all know that festivals can give us puffy, tried eyes, but Olay has you covered. It’s NEW Deep Hydrating Eye Gel features heavyweight ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide / vitamin B3 and will give you a much-needed turbo boost of hydration, keeping you looking fresher for longer.

Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel RRP £24.99 

THE TIME SAVER

I love the Whip Moisturisers. They moisturiser like a heavy moisturiser but go on, and feel, like a light moisturiser. I always wear SPF 30 and nothing less. I can find it hard to find a moisturiser with SPF30, or at least a good one. These are now my go to. Just fab. 

Don’t want to waste precious dancing time? NEW Olay Whips Moisturisers SPF30 has a lightweight, zero grease feel that will help protect your face against harmful UVA/UVB rays AND fight the shine that would have built up pre-main-stage act. Made with Active Rush Technology to transform from cream to liquid for instant absorption, you can wave goodbye to setting times!

NEW Olay Whips Moisturisers SPF 30 RRP £34.99 

THE EXPRESS FACIAL

These facials are so convenient. They clean very well and leave skin feeling exfoliated. 

Daily Facials Micellar Clean will change your festival experience when it comes to cleaning your face. These water activated dry cloths come in two formulas for dry and sensitive skin. By removing makeup, cleansing, exfoliating, improving the look of skin and preserving moisture, you’ll still have that gorgeous glow come day five. 

Daily Facials Micellar Clean RRP £6.90 

All products available from superdrug.com or boots.com

Play Up, Malory Towers!

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As the first ever stage production of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers embarks on a national tour, Director Emma Rice tells Vicky Edwards why these classic stories are an enduring delight…

I’ve always thought optimism a lovely trait. Not only do the ‘glass half full’ brigade seem better equipped to withstand life’s slings and arrows, but their sanguinity is also marvellously contagious; even die-hard Eeyores struggle to maintain despondency when in the company of a fully-buoyant bright-sider. In literature, Malory Towers is the epitome of optimism. Nobody better, therefore, to adapt the original work and direct it than Wise Children’s super-sunny Emma Rice.

Co-produced with York Theatre Royal in association with Bristol Old Vic, and officially licensed by Enid Blyton Entertainment, a division of Hachette Children’s Group (HCG), Malory Towers is the original post war ‘Girl Power’ story. The high jinks of pupils at the Cornish boarding school have thrilled readers ever since the first story was published in 1946 – didn’t we all yearn to join in the midnight feasts and yell ‘Play Up, Malory Towers!’ at nail-biting lacrosse matches? The books remain hugely popular, with new generations devouring them and dreaming of being sent away to boarding school with an overflowing tuck box.

 

Emma Rice credit Steve Tanner

“But there is plenty for boys too,” urges Emma, in exuberant form after a productive week of rehearsals. “The only thing that would disappoint me would be if people didn’t bring their boys,” she added, promising a show that delivers plenty of thrills and spills.

“The animation is fantastic – we see the train arriving at the Cornish coast – and then there is a real cliff hanger just before the interval. We have just been rehearsing that bit today and it’s like Ben Hur!”

Described as ‘nostalgic, naughty and perfect for now,’ what initially appealed to Emma about the project?

“The Malory Towers books are great stories filled with great characters who don’t seem to age at all. It is very hopeful and I think that is right for now. I call it my happy Lord of the Flies: when left to their own devices, a group of girls decide to be the best version of themselves they possibly can be. They want to change the world and be women the world can lean on; they want to resolve conflict. They never talk about boys and they aren’t boring!”

Interestingly, Emma is a relatively new convert to Blyton’s best-loved school stories.

“I’ve worked with David [producer David Pugh] many times. He has great taste and he knows me so well, damn him!”
Laughing, she recalled how David piqued her interest by wooing her with a vintage set of the books, beautifully wrapped in brown paper.

“As soon as I read the first one I just knew they would make a great piece of theatre. They’re such page turners, the characters are so well observed and the powerful feminine voice comes through with such positivity.”

Anyone familiar with Emma’s work will know that music is an integral part of her productions.

“There is always lots of music with me,” she agreed cheerfully, “but I wanted the music in Malory Towers to be virtuosic; simple, but showing how rich the world is. There are some new compositions by Ian Ross and it’s a real musical feast,” she teased; “and it has got fantastic dancing, too. The choreography is incredible. I wanted my Malory Towers to be like Busby Berkeley, but in an earthy, feminist way!”

If the music is a feast then the actors Emma has assembled are a veritable banquet (‘simply top hole,’ as Darrell and her chums might say), and, refreshingly, it was achieved through a ‘character-over-looks’ approach to casting.

“For me, casting is always about getting the right personalities and the people who absolutely capture the spirit of the characters.” As proud as a Head Teacher with an intake of straight ‘A’ students, she adds: “My company comprises a range of actors with different backgrounds.

Gymslip clad, Emma’s performers will transport audiences to 1950s Cornwall where Darrell Rivers is embarking on her Malory Towers adventure. Bright, loyal and big-hearted, her fast and fiery temper is something she must learn to master. And, while she’s about it, can she save the school play and rescue terrified Mary Lou from the grip of a raging storm? Crikey!

But amid all the drama and japes runs Emma’s affection and regard for the generation of women who taught in schools in the wake of warfare.

“With lives shaped by the savagery of two wars, they devoted themselves to the education and nurture of other women. My Malory Towers is for them, and also for the two generations of men that died in those same wars, leaving us with the freedom to lead meaningful, safe and empowered lives. And it is for Clement Attlee and his Labour government of 1945 who looked into the face of evil and chose to do what was right. These people changed the political landscape in their focus on care, compassion and the common good. Malory Towers was written at the heart of this political revolution, and embodies a kindness, hope and love of life that knocks my socks off.”

Something else Emma is passionate about is the work of her company, Wise Children.

“We want to make fantastic world class ensemble theatre based on storytelling techniques that I have developed over my career, and at the same time teach the next generation of creative theatre makers. And we want to create access for people who might not be able to access theatre training,” she told me, explaining that there are free places given to those for whom such aspirations would otherwise be impossible.

Vowing to raid my daughter’s bookshelf and get reacquainted with Blyton’s finest work, on my way home I imagined what Miss Grayling’s comment on Emma’s end of term report might have been:

‘A splendid Head Girl who can surely be depended upon to lead Malory Towers to victory. Jolly good show, Emma!’

©Vicky Edwards

My Writing Process – Helen J. Christmas

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Helen J Christmas, authorI am a website designer and an author and have written a five-book mystery thriller series. 

When I was out and about one day, walking our dog along the beach, my imagination ran wild and I remember getting my first ideas for a story. It started with the characters but grew into a suspenseful saga that spanned four decades; this was my inspiration for ‘Same Face Different Place,’ a series I completed in 2017.

Writing is something I’ve always loved, but working full time, it was difficult to find enough hours to write a novel. Once I started however, I found myself waking up earlier (5-6am). So why was I lying there, restless, thinking about my book, when I could be up writing it? This became my prime time for getting the bulk of my story written.

I spent seven years writing my series and it wasn’t just the writing I loved but the planning, the research, the development of new characters and the way the storylines fused together. I always started out with an outline plot but the best ideas flowed when I was creating the scenes. At the time I wasn’t bothered about word count. I tended to include a lot of description and dialogue but this can be whittled down in the editing process to give a tighter novel. 

I derive a huge amount of pleasure from writing but the biggest reward is getting good reviews. No-one can describe the euphoria an author feels when they see a glowing testimonial from a reader. Just the thought that someone has enjoyed your book is a wonderful boost, something that really makes it worthwhile.

I confess to feeling an anti-climax when I reached the end of my series but fortunately, had an idea for a new book. After writing such a huge saga, I wanted to try writing smaller stories. Such was the thinking behind Rosebrook Chronicles, The Hidden Stories. This novel follows the lives of three lesser known characters, all of whom are abused as teenagers. It is the interlocking stories of these characters that drive the plot, a blend of social history and psychological suspense, told from the heart and quite different from my thriller series. It also provides a background.

Writing this, I also experimented with different writing styles, one being present tense, the other first person, which I really took to. So with all this experience under my belt, what would I advise other writers?

This year I started a standalone psychological thriller set in modern day Sussex. I found it a little difficult to get into though, with a whole new cast of characters. It helps to have an outline plot to base your story on, but the one thing that works is getting to know your characters. Try to imagine how they think. Plot their back story, consider their family and friends network, where they work, maybe even what music they like. I’m sure this why my series became so easy to write in the end, because the characters to me felt like real people.

I occasionally end up writing extracts based on one character or scene; something to focus on if the writing process becomes cumbersome. So don’t give up. 

Reading helps too. I like to lose myself in a good book as much as I like writing and with so many good psychological thrillers around, it is inspiration for the soul.

BIO: Helen lives in Sussex with her husband where they work from home in their idyllic 17th C cottage. They began their web design business in 1998 (still running) and other than writing, Helen loves walking, cooking and photography.

Books by Helen J Christmas: 

Beginnings

Visions

Pleasures

Retribution: Phase One

Retribution: End Game (series: Same Face Different Place)

Due to be published in July

Rosebrook Chronicles, The Hidden Stories.

 

Five Ways To Get Great Hair

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tricho complex, supplements, how to great hair, kingsleyFive ways to achieve the most out of your hair by Anabel Kingsley, Trichologist and Hair Care Expert at Philip Kingsley, the leading authority in hair and scalp health. ‎

 

  1. Use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment once to twice a week. This will help to restore elasticity to brittle hair, making it more resilient and less likely to break and split at the ends. It will also make the hair shinier and more manageable. As you won’t have to spend as much time styling, this in turn can strengthen the hair.
  2. Increase your protein intake. Hair is made of protein, so it’s important to eat protein-rich foods to keep your strands looking their best – and growing at their optimal rate. In order to ensure that your hair is getting the protein it needs, include at least 120g of a first class protein (one that contains all essential amino acids) with breakfast and lunch. Good choices are eggs, fish, lean meats, poultry, low-fat cottage cheese and quinoa.
  3. Have a snack. Energy available to hair cells drops four hours after eating. If more than this is left between meals, you should have a snack to sustain energy levels to hair follicles. We recommend choosing a healthy carbohydrate, such as fresh fruit, no-added-sugar granola or whole-meal crackers.
  4. Look after your scalp. If your scalp is dirty or flaky, chances are your hair isn’t as healthy or glossy as it could be. Keep your scalp environment in great shape by shampooing frequently with a shampoo suitable for your texture. For an extra boost, use a daily anti-microbial scalp toner and an exfoliating scalp mask once a week.
  5. Improve your ferritin levels. Ferritin is an iron that helps produce hair cell protein. If these levels are depleted, hair often becomes weaker and unable to grow as long. The best way to improve low ferritin levels is to take a daily supplement containing iron and vitamin C. Red meats, such as steak and liver, are also great dietary sources.

 

 

I have been trying the Tricho Complex which is making my hair look shiny. It seems to be growing faster too.

Diet is crucial for hair health. As Anabel Kingsley notes “The most essential nutrients for hair are protein (what your hair is made of), complex carbohydrates (which provide energy to rapidly growing hair cells) and iron.” It can be hard to get the nutritional requirements during a busy day at the office, so it can be useful to take a nutritional supplement. Tricho Complex contains an exceptional mix of vitamins and minerals which contribute to the maintenance of normal, healthy hair.

Tricho Complex

£45, philipkingsley.co.uk

 

Where is the Wellness Trend Headed?

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Health and wellness trends change over time as new ideas surface and gain traction with the health-conscious public. It’s always sensible to look out for new thinking on the subject of wellness because, as medical research confirms how alternative ideas about medicine have greater validity, products are released to provide new relief or a boost to health backed by the research.

Here are some of the wellness trends in 2019. 

Personal Massage Treatment for Sore Muscles

The Theragun first got noticed at tennis tournaments when players began using it to relieve muscle tension by encouraging the muscles to relax again. The device eases muscles which relieves nerve tension and stops the pain. Nerve pain is one of the worst types of pain to deal with because it cuts right through you and painkillers don’t help much.

The HyperVolt hand massager is another percussive tool that works similarly and has been seen being used in chiropractors across the U.S. before making spinal adjustments to patients.

Be sure to visit sites like UpgradedReviews.com to find great deals on wellness products that you’re interested in purchasing. 

CBD and Hemp Products Go More Mainstream

As the legislation clears the way, consumers are using hemp-based and CBD products to relieve fatigue and anxiety to feel better. 

There are now many of these products that offer wellness benefits and are sold in spray, oil or edible form. The natural anti-inflammatory properties are the main driver here. It also helps consumers stop taking traditional medicine like aspirin or ibuprofen which is a popular change.  

It’s not for everyone but nevertheless, the market and number of providers is expanding rapidly. 

Oat Milk

Oat milk is the new almond milk. For milk lovers who look for the latest thing, oat milk delivers all the goodness they expect and a rich full-bodied taste that satisfies their taste buds too. 

Oatly is the biggest brand to watch in this space. They’ve had to move to a larger factory and increased production by over 1,000% since oat milk began to rival almond milk in popularity. 

Brain Health Becomes More Relevant

With the ongoing research into Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s, the understanding of the human brain is getting better. This is leading to new products to help you get more from your brain matter. 

According to Lisa Mosconi, who previously wrote Brain Food, it all comes down to what we feed our brain. When we take in rich nourishment, our brains function better. However, when we eat poorly with low nutritional meals, our cognition and long-term brain health is at risk.

Eating more plant-based foods and avoiding additives is leading the charge. Plant-based burgers are becoming a hot space for some food companies. They’re even perfecting the look and smell of a beef burger without the animal fats. Even non-Vegans are interested in this healthier, lower fat option to fast food. 

Fruit Juices on the Way Out?

We’ve seen the earlier trend towards drinking a glass of fruit juice in the morning at breakfast. However, it’s now been indicated that we should be careful about that. Researchers have indicated that the sugar in fruit juice isn’t as great for our health when consuming more than a glass a day. Therefore, while consumers have moved increasingly away from soda, switching to fruit juice isn’t much better for the teeth, gums or overall health either. 

Healthier flavored waters and vitamin water solutions are encouraging consumers to stick with water and avoid sugar-loaded beverages altogether. Beverage companies are responding well to this new trend with many bringing out healthier drinking options, including Coca Cola and Pepsi too. 

Many of the wellness trends are good ones this year. Pick your favorite one and try it out to see how you like it. You might be surprised. 

 

Sponsored Post. 

SpaceView Baby Monitor Review

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I have tried many baby monitors in my life and the eufy Spaceview HD Wireless Baby Monitor is by far the best. The portable 5″ monitor has excellent HD video quality and two way audio. It has the things you would expect like night vision, the ability to pan, tilt and zoom, but it also has a bonus wide-angle lens so you can see the entire nursery. It has a secure wireless connection and the transmission is delay-free. Very important. It has a long battery life.

It is also stylish. It looks good. It has a built in thermostat which is very handy. There is zero set up and a wall mount is included. You can also attach the included lens and get a 110° full view of the nursery. SpaceView can also detect the ambient noise to be louder than what you set and it alerts you when your attention is needed. The coverage is large: 460ft.

In my opinion the Spaceview Baby Monitor is the best baby monitor on the market and it gets the Frost Gold Standard.

Spaceview Baby Monitor costs £159.99 from Amazon.co.uk

 

My Writing Process – Morton S. Gray

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I am a published writer living in Worcestershire, UK with my husband, two sons and tiny white dog, Lily. I wrote my first novel when I was fourteen. It was a swashbuckling seafaring adventure, complete with galleons, cannons and a dashing hero. The story was heavily influenced by the Errol Flynn films I used to watch with my grandmother on Sunday afternoons. I got swallowed up after that by the education and work system and didn’t write much more than reports and meeting agendas for many years.

Starting to write more seriously when I was taking a break from work due to ill health, I took lots of writing courses and began to shortlist in writing competitions. Then in 2016, I got my publishing break, I won Choc Lit Publishing’s Search for a Star competition!

I have had three books published by Choc Lit so far – The Girl on the Beach, The Truth Lies Buried and Christmas at Borteen Bay, these are all romances with a mystery to solve and set in my fictional seaside town of Borteen. I am promoting the three Borteen Bay series while I finish my next books.

I write almost everywhere I go the old-fashioned way with notebook and pen – cafés, appointments, waiting for trains. I have piles of notebooks filled with stories. I generally prefer to write away from home, as I get too distracted by things that need doing in the house and, of course, by the dog. At least writing longhand in this way, the first time I put the words onto my computer it acts like a first edit of the manuscript.

My genre is romantic suspense, but I usually get so carried away with the mystery part of the book that I have to catch up with the romance when I’m editing. I don’t plan, I just write, that way the novel writing process is enjoyable for me as I don’t know what is coming next. My novels appear to naturally evolve. I read a book called Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (the same person who wrote Eat, Pray, Love) and in it she talks about ideas and stories floating in the ether waiting to download to a receptive person and this is truly how it feels when I’m working.

I love writing, but with a teenager doing exams, a dependent mother, a husband who works abroad and a demanding dog, I often struggle to find time to myself (hence the haunting of coffee shops!). Nothing can compare to the feeling I get when the words are flowing and I get very twitchy if I haven’t had space to write.

For aspiring writers I think the most important thing is to write a story that sings to you, because that will allow you to write a story that sings to your readers too.

 

Biography for Morton S. Gray

Morton lives with her husband, two sons and Lily, the tiny white dog, in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember, penning her first attempt at a novel aged fourteen. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

Her debut novel The Girl on the Beach was published after she won the Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Star competition. This story follows a woman with a troubled past as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her son’s new headteacher, Harry Dixon. The book is available as a paperback and e-book.

Morton’s second book for Choc Lit The Truth Lies Buried is another romantic suspense novel, The book tells the story of Jenny Simpson and Carver Rodgers as they uncover secrets from their past. This book is available as an e-book, paperback and audiobook.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is Morton’s first Christmas novella. It is set in her fictional seaside town of Borteen and follows the story of Pippa Freeman, who runs the Rose Court Guesthouse with her mother, and local policeman Ethan Gibson, as they unravel a family secret as Christmas approaches.

You can catch up with Morton on her website www.mortonsgray.com, on

Twitter – @MortonSGray, her Facebook page – Morton S. Gray Author – https://www.facebook.com/mortonsgray/ and 

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/morton_s_gray/

Purchasing links for The Girl on the Beach at http://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/the-girl-on-the-beach/

Purchasing links for The Truth Lies Buried at http://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/the-truth-lies-buried/

Purchasing links for Christmas in Borteen Bay at https://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/christmas-at-borteen-bay/