Category Archives: Life & Style

An at Home Sanitizing Solution: Coral UV’s New LED Sanitizer

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Coral UV Expands on Best-in-Class At-Home Sanization with the Coral UV 2

The 2021 Red Dot Awarded Design ensures safe, user-friendly UV-C sanitation

This is a brilliant invention and just what we need in these Covid 19 pandemic times. It offers great piece of mind that your items are thoroughly sanitised. We can highly recommend this. A must buy.

Coral UV, the leader in at-home UV-C sanitation solutions, is proud to launch the Coral UV LED Sanitizer and Dryer. Representing the next generation of the brand’s original 3-in-1 UV-C sanitizer, the Coral UV LED Sanitizer and Dryer builds upon best-in-class safety features to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on the surface of any appropriately sized item.

sanitiser, sanitising, UV,

For the next generation of Coral UV’s Sanitizer and Dryer, designers went back to the drawing board to provide customers with expanded user experience, modern aesthetic, and increased safety features. For instance, mercury bulbs have been replaced within the sanitizing chamber with six, energy efficient LED lights. This eliminates the possibility of users becoming accidentally exposed to mercury and helps keep mercury out of the environment. “Coral UV 2 represents how we provide for consumer requests without sacrificing quality,” mentioned Titus Tse, Co-founder of Coral UV. Tse continues, “Our change to LED ensures this product is completely mercury free and odor free, two of the core requests our customers have made in the past.” In addition, Coral UV has kept its commitment to rigorous, third-party verification. The Coral UV LED Sanitizer and Dryer has been proven to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on the surfaces of household products.

It has:

  • Eco Friendly LED Bulbs – Coral UV uses 12 mW LED, eco-friendly bulbs (as opposed to harmful mercury bulbs). This is six times more sanitizing power than LED competitors.

  • Aesthetic, minimalist design – Coral UV is a minimalist, top-open sanitizer that naturally fits in with the rest of your kitchen, vanity, or bedroom.

  • Roomy Stainless Steel Chamber – A roomy reflective stainless steel chamber allows you to sanitize multiple items at once while ensuring the sanitizing UV-C light reaches every corner inside the device.

  • Drying function – A built in drying function is convenient for items you might rinse off beforehand, such as water bottles. Coral UV is one of the only sanitizers that has this option.

In acknowledgement of its enhanced design, the Coral UV LED Sanitizer and Dryer was recently bestowed a 2021 Red Dot Award in Design–an internationally recognized award that honors the very best in product design. “We are humbled and excited to win such a prestigious award.This makes us proud that our core values of quality without compromise are being recognized,” commented Tse.

 

The Coral UV LED Sanitizer and Dryer will be available for presale on Kickstarter.  Following the launch on Kickstarter, the unit will be available for purchase online at CoralUV.com and Amazon.co.uk in June. For more product information, please visit: https://bit.ly/3dnTT4a

3 of The Best Self-Tans For SS21: New In From St. Moriz

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St. Moriz 1 Hour Fast Tan Mist.

It develops fast and has aloe vera and vitamin E. It has a wash off guide colour so you can personalise your tan, and it soothes and moisturises skin. It is a great product.

Available from Boots, £4.99.

St. Moriz 1 Hour Fast Tan Lotion.

It does the same job as the mist but comes in a lotion instead. It is just as handy and good.

£4.99.

St. Moriz Advanced Colour Correct Tanning Mousse.

This has olive undertones to neutralise red tones. It provides an instant colour and a long-lasting tan. It has hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 so it cares for skin and leaves it super-glowing. Great stuff.

£9.99.

Happy summer everyone!

 

The Wild Girls by Phoebe Morgan | Book Review

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Is there anything better than a good thriller? Well yes, a good thriller where the characters are female. In my opinion anyway. The Wild Girls is about four wildly (sorry) different women who all go on holiday to Botswana to celebrate their friend Felicity’s birthday. They have not seen each other in years and the last time they did see each other it did not go well. All of the women have secrets, and they want to keep them to themselves.

the wild girls, book, phoebe morgan, book, book review.
Hannah is a new mother, finally after years of infertility. Grace has been a hermit after suffering trauma. She lives with a flatmate who has a boyfriend who is rude to her. She needs to make changes and she knows it. Alison lives with her terrible boyfriend in a flat she can barely afford the mortgage for. All of the women are struggling in their lives. They all need something, so they accept the invitation from Felicity. No one has seen Felicity for years, she immigrated to New York with her boyfriend Nathaniel. It is an all-expenses trip to a luxury lodge in Botswana. Who could possibly say no?

The women arrive at the lodge and Felicity is nowhere to be seen. Things go downhill from there as the women realise that things are not quite right and more strange things keep happening. I do not want to give any of the plot away and to give the review I really wanted- and to truly capture how amazing I think Grace is, a truly brilliant character- I would have to. So instead I will say this: all of the characters are so vivid and perfectly written. There are four different women and each of them is so different and given so much depth. The plot races along. It is hard to put this book down and I really tried not to. I finished it in record time. I reckon you will too. From the great plot to the brilliant characters this book is pretty much perfect. Whats more, you will not see the ending coming. I loved it. A must read.

In a luxury lodge on Botswana’s sun-soaked plains, four friends reunite for a birthday celebration…

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL
Has it all, but chose love over her friends…

THE TEACHER
Feels the walls of her flat and classroom closing in…

THE MOTHER
Loves her baby, but desperately needs a break…

THE INTROVERT
Yearns for adventure after suffering for too long…

Arriving at the safari lodge, a feeling of unease settles over them. There’s no sign of the party that was promised. There’s no phone signal. They’re alone, in the wild.

THE HUNT IS ON.

The Wild Girls is available here.

 

 

 

The great news continues to arrive for Joffe Books’ authors

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LONGLISTED AT THE CWA DAGGER AWARDS:  congratulations to both Margaret Murphy and Judi Daykin who’ve been longlisted for separate categories in the CWA Dagger Awards.

Joffe tells us, ‘This is such a huge achievement and we’re very proud of our authors for being nominated for these awards.’

Margaret Murphy for the CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY
The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by an established crime writer that has long been popular with borrowers from libraries. It also rewards authors who have supported libraries and their users.

Judi Daykin’s debut Under Violent Skies for THE JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) DAGGER
This award is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality first traditionally published in the UK in English during the judging period. ‘Best crime novel by a first-time author’ means that the author must not have had a novel of any sort traditionally published before under any name whatsoever. In the case of novels with more than one author, all the authors must meet this requirement.

And onto a new gripping crime thriller perfect for fans of Line of Duty! Caro Ramsay’s Absolution 99p/99c

There’s a serial killer stalking Glasgow . . .

DI Colin Anderson and DS Winifred Costello are on the case.

“Brilliant in twisting the tension tauter with each page.” The Guardian

“Ramsay handles her characters with aplomb, the dialogue crackles and the search for the killer has surprising twists and turns.” The Observer

Grab this utterly gripping crime thriller for only 99p / 99c! Half price for a limited time.

Keep an eye out too for these novel, out now…

            
99p/99c                     99p/99c                 1.99p / 1.99c            1.99p/1.99c             99p/99c

Find out more details at: Joffe Books

Working from home – workstation tips

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For many people, working from home has become a normal part of everyday life. Whereas the initial transition into home working typically meant sitting at the kitchen table or typing from the sofa, we’ve all been working from home for so long now that whole spare rooms or corners of bedrooms have necessarily become makeshift offices. 

If your workstation could use a little more thoughtful direction with regards to your setup, keep reading to find out how to turn your available space into a passable office environment.

Lighting is key

One of the first considerations that employers make over working environments is adequate lighting (buy E27 LED bulb – ideal for the home). Too much lighting has the same effect as too little. Your eyes will squint and the muscle will strain. It’s a one-way ticket to a headache and, as a result, a much slower output. 

Even if your home office is already up and running, and even if you think you have nailed the details, any concerns with regards to strained eyes, headaches, and noticeably poorer results in your work could be directly related to lighting. Take the time to ensure you research and implement adequate lighting levels for the space in which your work.  

Top tip: you will typically require around 20 lumens per sq ft for lower level bedroom lighting, and you will need around 80 lumens per sq ft for more clinical kitchen and bathroom lighting. Use those figures as a guide and find what works best for you.

Supportive chair

This one sort of speaks for itself. As grandma used to say, always make sure you have comfy sheets and comfy shoes, because if you’re not in one you’re in the other. Wise words. But grandma didn’t foresee the pandemic and endless months of working from home. What she should have said was, “… and in the event of a lockdown, invest in a chair with adequate back support”. But that’s nowhere near as catchy. But how do you choose a chair?

There’s a reason some chairs are taller than others. The higher the back, the more support the chair offers. For short stay seating, such as in a waiting room, a lower back is sufficient to support your lumbar. But for the nine to five grind, try to make sure you have access to seating that at least meets shoulder height when seated. 

How’s your internet connection?

If there’s one thing many people discovered as a result of the almost global lockdown, it’s that internet speeds are averages intended to reflect average use. Or to put it another way, the advertised internet speeds were brought down a peg or two when everyone was forced to work from home and servers began to buckle under the strain of the increased traffic.

If your internet speed regularly causes issues, look into an upgrade. Don’t fall into the trap of being lazy and sticking to what you know just because your direct debits are all set up. Make the change and reap the benefits of a smoother connection. 

 

What a Nutritionist Feeds Her Kids

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It is not uncommon for parents to worry about the nutritional value of the food they are serving their children and little ones. The food children and babies eat when they are younger can really make a difference on how they eat as they get older. However, it’s important for parents to keep the pressure off for everyone, including themselves. Think about what’s eaten over a week, not day to day and avoid coaxing little ones to eat or ensuring kids stay at the table until they’ve finished the meal. All of this can impose negative associations around foods which is ultimately what we want to avoid if we’re trying to create little foodies. According to research recently conducted by Stokke 53% of parents struggle to prepare a meal that the entire family will enjoy.

feeding children good food, food ideas, ideas, food, feeding, weaning.

Make choice part of your mealtime routine. Kids are more likely to eat something they feel they’ve had a say in, so instead of just plating up their food, ask them first “do you want X or Y with your dinner” or “Would you like spaghetti or rice for dinner today?” for example. You could also try offering multiple sides and giving them autonomy to choose what they want. You’ll probably be surprised how much more gets eaten when it’s them calling the shots. Younger babies don’t often have much choice in their meal options but try offering them a variety & following their lead. At mealtimes have conversations about the meals and foods on offer, allow honest opinions and maybe even make a game of rating the meals for the week. This can help children and toddlers to really think about their foods and their likes and dislikes a little more as well as being mindful about the foods they are eating.

Three fifths (60%) of families will always eat their families will always eat their family meals together at the dinner table. Sitting together and being present at mealtimes helps, but actually eating similar things can also help children to accept a wider variety. Some research shows that families eating together is a big factor in positively influencing the diets of their children, so as much as you can try to ROLEMODEL what a balanced diet looks like, and it’s likely your little ones will follow suit. Remember babies also learn the WHAT and the HOW of eating from copying their parents and those around them too, which is why I love the Stokke Tripp Trapp as a great way to bring baby right to the table with you at mealtimes. Research, conducted by premium children’s brand, Stokke, explored the importance of eating meals together as a family, found that 49% of participants believe eating together as a family creates a happier child and 34% believe it creates a more confident child.

With 82% of parents worrying about the nutritional value of the food they are serving their children and want to ensure they get the balance right – here is what I try to give my children for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner:
Breakfast 

Breakfast is often porridge, or pancakes – mainly because it’s SO easy to add extras to these – extra flavours such as cinnamon, or ginger, extra nutrients from peanut butter or milled seeds stirred in or extra portions of your 5 a day with some berries thrown into the batter/with the oats or even just sticks on the side.

 

Lunch 

I like a picky finger food lunch for those busy days. Trying to make this balanced is often easy too so things such as

Wraps with hummus and pepper

Cucumber fingers with yogurt dip and leftover curries

Tuna, yogurt and sweetcorn spread on toast

Omelettes with potato, mixed veg and cheese

 

Dinner  

Tends to be something hot, but it does vary.

I love potato tots for babies as they are just so simple and easy to vary.

Otherwise, it’s whatever we’re having for dinner

Pasta with chickpea and tomato sauce 

Chilli with potatoes and some grated cheese

I’m all about trying to make the most of meals and balance the food groups on offer where possible so that you know babies AND kids are getting all the nutrients they need. This means I’m always thinking about what I can sprinkle on top, what I can use as a dip or how I can add extras like lentils, fish or beans to pasta sauces.

Stokke are hosting a FREE weaning webinar – How to raise a confident foodie and help your baby love their broccoli as much as their cake! Charlotte Stirling-Reed Nutritionist and Author will be on Zoom 28th April at 8pm. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-wean-your-baby-mini-masterclass-tickets-143331352935?aff=Media10 

 

Expert nutritional advice from Charlotte Stirling-Reed, author of new book “How to wean your baby”, that publishes on 29th April but available for pre-order. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785043242 @sr_nutrition

 

Stokke is a leading high end baby brand in Scandinavia whose ethos is to nurture family bonding, having your baby closer to you and the importance of eye contact. The iconic Tripp Trapp® highchair was launched in 1972 and has since sold more than 12 million worldwide. www.stokke.com @stokkebaby

 

The Therapist by B A Paris – reviewed by Natalie Jayne Peeke West Country Correspondent

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When Alice and Leo move into a newly renovated house in The Circle, a gated community of exclusive houses, it is everything they have dreamed of. But appearance can be deceptive….

As Alice is getting to know her neighbours, she discovers a devastating, grisly secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there.

Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbours are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…
I am not normally a fan of the thriller, suspense genre but I heard so many good things about The Therapist I thought that I would give it the benefit of the doubt. I was instantly hooked, it is a fast-paced novel and I really did struggle to put it down, the more I read, the more I was hooked. The characters were fantastic, so realistic and easy to relate to

As the secrets unravelled and lies were exposed, I was constantly on the edge of my seat and was not disappointed by the surprising ending, I would never have guessed it. The Therapist is full of intrigue and suspense.

I would recommend to fans of Cara Hunter, Louise Candlish and if you enjoyed Behind Closed Doors then you will love The Therapist.

The Therapist by B.A. Paris. £12.99 hardback and is also available in ebook and audio

Blackout by Simon Scarrow is a winner Review by Annie Clarke

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I confess my heart lifted when Blackout by Simon Scarrow squeezed through the letter box because I am a complete sucker for Bernie Gunther novels and this stood a good chance of filling the gap. Alas there will be no more of Gunther after the sad loss of the exceptional  Philip Kerr so… is Simon Scarrow’s Blackout the answer?

Consider … Berlin, December 1939,  the start of a war- another one? But Germany is still reeling from the first world war, indeed the world is – so no sane government would consider it… The Nazis, however, are in control, their grip ever tighter, ever darker, ever more forbidding, ever more determined to direct affairs as they wish.

Add to this  crushing situation the fact that winter is approaching, the daylight hours are fewer, and in Germany a blackout is ordered. a real darkness descends.

It is a darkness in which crime can flourish. And does.

Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke is already unpopular within the police force, an outsider because of his failure to adhere to the expectations that men such as he should be  Nazi Party members. It is he, moreover,  who has to solve the brutal murder of a young woman. It’s a tricky line to keep to, in order to discover ‘who dun it?’ What if it’s someone held in high party esteem, what if..?

But at least it is only one victim. Only it isn’t.

A second victim is discovered and this puts almost unbearable  pressure on  Schenke to solve the heinous crimes  before it happens again. He exists in a world where questions are not welcome, where walking on eggshells is the norm, where trust is non-existent – because who is in support of Schenke and justice, and who is only concerned with protecting themselves and others within their factions, all of whom are in positions of power?

And let us not pretend otherwise, this regime is darker than any blackout, it is without mercy, without conscience and soul. As Schenke’s investigation takes him closer to a solution he surely must see that his enemy is  not just the killer, but that that in fact it is the world in which he swims.

Scarrow has written an astonishngly taut atmospheric thriller with echoes of the wonderful Bernie Gunther. What’s more it’s a pretty loud echo, but even as I’m writing this, I feel I am wrong, for Schenke is his own man. It is the Nazi regime which is common to both authors.  both of whom summon up the unbearable tension of those times, layer upon layer. Add to that the hunt for the killer, and the reader has barely time to breathe, such is the impact of the meticulousl research, the believable characters, the pace, the depth of evil, and of course, Horst Schenke, a worthy successor to Bernie.

My final thought: I hope this is the start of a series.

Blackout by Simon Scarrow is available in HB, PB Audio and e-Book

Annie Clarke (one of Margaret Graham’s pen names) is the author of the   Home Front series.