Escape the ‘Blue Monday’ Blues and Head to the Sunshine State

After the festive holiday celebrations end, looking forward to starting a New Year in January can seem a dim prospect. In fact, Monday, 21 January is scientifically proven to be the unhappiest day of the year for the majority of Brits and has been aptly dubbed ‘Blue Monday’.

But as the festive cheer wanes, sunny prospects await. With year-round sunshine, all new attractions and abundant deals throughout the destination, there’s no better time to plan a holiday to Orlando, the World Capital of Smiles. In addition, Visit Orlando has launched a brand new Orlando Holiday Planning Tool, helping Blue Monday daydreams turn from a fantasy to reality.

The website, orlandoholidayplanning.com, offers a wealth of ‘need to know before you go’ planning tips for visitors.

Win a Copy of Hysteria on DVD

Frost Magazine has teamed up with  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in the UK and are giving away copies of Hysteria on DVD.

The film is a fun romantic comedy starring the lovely Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rupert Everett and Sheridan Smith, set in Victorian England and telling the story of the accidental invention of the electro-mechanical vibrator. This film would be a great addition to your DVD collection and if you have any old DVDs that you never watch anymore, trade them in by visiting musicmagpie.com

To win just follow @Frostmag on Twitter, or Frost’s editor, @Balavage and Tweet: “I want to win Hysteria DVD with @Frostmag”. Or sign up for our newsletter.

This competition is open to UK residents only.

HYSTERIA is out on DVD January 14th, courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Copyright: © 2011 Hysteria Films Limited, Arte France Cinema and By Alternative Pictures S.A.R.L. All Rights Reserved.

New Year, New You, New House! – Part 4:

So, it seems that I’m still loving this whole “New Year, New You” series of mine – I keep thinking of more things to write about! Well, in this series (which I think is part 4 – however, I have lost count a little bit…), I’ve decided to write a little chapter for those who are deciding to build their own houses in 2013. After all, taking the decision to build your own home can be an exceptionally daunting prospect for most, so it’s always nice to have a little helping hand along the way.

Part of the problem of building your own home is actually knowing where to start; how do you know what design to choose? How do you go about choosing the best sub-contractors? How do you source the right materials for the right price? With all of these questions, it’s easy to get lost in the self-build-construction-jungle.

Well, in order to help you along a little bit, a good place to start is with the actual structure of your future home; from the bricks, to the walls, to the roof. Surely it’s just as simple as a few bricks and tiles, right? Wrong. Because, the key to a well built home lies with a strong and sturdy well built frame.

You’ve been looking at the range of options available to start with this all-important structure, but with so many choices available, you feel like you’re back at square one with all the confusing questions and decisions. However, in your desperate hunt to find one, you have come across one that sounds quite interesting; timber frames.

But, how do you know if timber frames are the right option to exactly meet the requirements the planned structure you hope to build? Well, this run-down of these benefits may just help you decide:

1. Highly Adaptable

Timber frames are the perfect option for all kinds of building design needs; whether you’re looking to self-build communal buildings, flats or housing, as they can be altered and adapted to fit any structure. As well as providing the highest quality supports for your build, they also boast high environmental performance, energy efficiency and the ability to meet top sustainability targets.

2. Reduce Building Times and Costs

Timber frames also dramatically reduce building times – in fact, timber frame construction requires 20% fewer on-site labor days than traditional methods. So, that means 20% fewer days your sub-constructors have to be on-site, and therefore, 20% less time that you have to pay them for! Sounds like a good option, right? And what’s more; timber frames also save up to 5% in building costs compared to traditional brick and block construction – so you can save your money for other aspects of your home build process.

3. Environmentally-Friendly

Another key advantage of using a timber frame, such as those available from http://www.eco-dam.com/, in a self-build project, is it’s ability to help cut onside waste into the environment. So if you’re looking to help the environment and are particularly conscious about being ec-ofriendly throughout the entirety of the construction process, then a timber frame structure will be the perfect option for you!

The Wright Wing

Disclaimer: While this man has an A-Level in Government & Politics (and a degree but it’s in Film so no one really cares) his opinions should essentially be ignored. By everyone. Always. His views are his own and not the opinion of Frost Magazine who like to use logic and reason to form their conclusions. Richard has a natural logic and reason avoidance technique he’s cultivated over the years and now his opinions are largely not worth the air they use to come out of his mouth. Enjoy.

 

Hello. My name is Richard Wright and let’s take a walk with the news.

 

I was talking to a very middle class girl the other day who got a bit upset talking about the colour of the new paint on her bedroom walls….yeah it was totes emulsh!

 

Speaking of bad jokes the Government has announced plans that Obese people on Benefits will have them cut if they refuse exercise. Define exercise please because one of the best ways to lose weight is to walk. And you walk all the time. So are we talking serious exercise? Which isn’t walking while listening to the 1983 Labour Party manifesto. No. That’s very dull exercise. Under the scheme it would be Doctors telling them how to exercise, which I suppose is better then someone who works for the DSS but it’s still not great. The reason this has me quite wound up is I am “technically” obese. I say “technically” I am also obese in reality. I have in the past been obese while claiming benefits. My life right now is changing because i have gallstones so I am on a diet, I am losing weight, at what point could I claim benefits? Is that going to be a dietary goal now? Turn up to weightwatchers and they’ll tell you that you can now claim heating allowance but you’re still a half stone off help with your council tax? I knew there was benefits to working out but this might be taking that idea a little too literally. But hey I’ll take this idea as seriously as Eric Pickles does. Yeah. We all know what I mean by that without having to lower this to the point of Eric Pickles is a tubby tubby man jokes.

 

In other news David Cameron’s attempt to successfully re-boot the Thatcherite franchise of Government seems to be coming into full effect as we are once again at odds with Argentina over the Falklands. Now The Sun, and you know anything can be helped by the addition of the carefully thought out and reasoned approach of The Sun, have weighed in with a rather helpful advertisement in an Argentinean newspaper telling Argentina in a diplomatic and well thought out way to get their “hands off” the Falklands. One of the things Argentina is bringing up in their renewed panties in a twist over the Falklands is a UN Resolution from 1965 saying that we should resolve the dispute. I’m not a diplomatic expert but you might have wanted to have brought that up a bit sooner really. It’s almost as if it’s not really about the UN resolution. It’s almost as if that doesn’t really play a factor and is something to help legitimise their claim. Again, I’m not a diplomatic expert.

 

Just in case it looks like I am only kicking The Conservative Party I am always amazed whenever Nick Clegg decides to “take a stand” on something. It’s like a tiny voiced child shouting from the back of a crowded bar fight that surely fighting isn’t the answer but yet not leaving the bar but handing the people having the bar fight chairs to hit each other with. Being admonished by Nick Clegg is a like when you get told off by a toddler. It’s cute and amusing but you know you can pretty much just ignore it. Nick Clegg has the moral authority of a custard cream. No that’s not quite right. Of a rich tea biscuit. I like custard creams.

 

As for Labour they have said they would offer the long term unemployed, whatever that means, a guaranteed 6 month job if they were in power. That sounds like a great vote winning policy. But wait, don’t go screaming Ed Miliband’s name in passion quite yet. They have also said they could not commit to the scheme if they won the 2015 general election. So this is basically the opposition’s  New Year’s resolution. No one should pay any real notice to it as it would clearly never happen. Just like that gym membership you say you’ll get just in case you loose your job. Apparently this is Labour setting out their idea for what should happen. This is the drunk uncle style of policy making. You know the Uncle who knows exactly how your life should be run. It’s very difficult to take anything Labour do or say seriously as you always get the impression that Ed Miliband is like a temp leader. Like he’s never sure when his contract will be terminated and so therefore isn’t taking the job as seriously as he might do. He also kind of comes across as a work experience leader. As soon as Harriet Harman signs his letter for school he’ll be out of there. Overall I would say the leader of the opposition isn’t really much of a leader but that’s he’s perfect for the current political climate because Labour aren’t really much of an opposition

 

 

That’s it. See you next week when I will be laying out my thoughts for how the story of John Major could be turned into a serious motion picture with Peter Capaldi as John Major, Helena Bonham Carter as Edwina Currie, Rowan Atkinson as John Redwood, Benedict Cumberbatch as Peter Lilley and Stephen Fry as Ken Clarke. More cast details next week. Sadly I wouldn’t be able to use my working title for the John Major film of “Where’s wally?”

 

Disclaimer: He’s rubbish at sticking with these things so you never know you might see him real soon and you might not. Let’s find out.

Suits Season Two Preview

Suits was a legal drama that lived up to the hype when it premiered last year. The tale of two lawyers, one experienced and one a drop out who blags his way into a firm that only takes Harvard graduates, was entertaining and smart. So there is no surprise that Suits is back for season two.

The Suits series 2 premiere (from Thursday 24th January, 9pm ) is a strong start into the new season.

Spoiler Alert.

Jessica finds out that Mike did not go to Harvard and lied to get into the firm. She tells Harvey to fire him but he can’t. Will his job be saved?

Elsewhere in the episode a women who has had her book idea stolen goes up against Mike, who decided to help her.

Their is a great relationship between Harvey and his secretary, Donna.

Rachel drunk dialed Mike after they kissed but he did not get the message because it was deleted. As Rachel tells Donna, it was a ‘kiss good enough to drunk dial’. Will they get together?

Some top quotes from the episode:

Are you mad at me? Good. If you are mad it means you are not panicking.

We are at a funeral and you are quoting Highlander? Yeah, a lot of people die in it. It seemed appropriate.

Brilliant college drop-out, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) continues to live a lie in the highly-anticipated second series of the excellent legal drama. Guided by his cocky and confident boss, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), Mike continues to fool those around him that he is a fully-qualified lawyer.

Suits is still on form. Great entertainment.

Jessica knows about Mike. She lets Harvey know that she knows too and puts pressure on Harvey to get rid of him before he hurts the company. While Harvey must decide whether or not to keep Mike on staff, the firm’s co-founder, Daniel Hardman (recurring guest star, David Costabile) returns after a prolonged absence following the death of his wife. Despite claiming to be a changed man, it is clear there is no love lost between Daniel and Jessica and Harvey must choose sides.

Argan 5 + Softening Body Polish Review

I love exfoliating. Nothing else really makes your skin as super soft. Apparently Elle MacPherson exfoliates every single day, morning and night. Mostly with a soft exfoliator but also with a harder one for a few days. If anyone has seen how amazing the 49-year-old supermodel looks in a bikini they will see that exfoliating is an important part of any beauty regime. Elle says, “It’s the only way to keep skin soft, smooth and glowing,”

So what did I think of Argan 5 + Softening Body Polish? Well, it is possibly my favourite exfoliator ever. It has the perfect ‘grit’. It is hard enough to do the job but does not damage or tear the skin. It has one of the biggest beauty ingredients of the moment: argan oil. It leaves my skin so soft I can forgo moisturiser. A little amount goes a long way so the tube lasts. It also smells great and leaves skin glowing. What more could you ask for?

Would I buy it? Yes, in bulk.

What they say: crushed olive stones and pumice combined with the unique Argan+ Synergy help remove dead skin cells to restore healthy skin radiance and softness. Skin is left refreshed, reinvigorated and glowing with radiance.

Argan oil, sometimes known as ‘liquid gold’ due to its’ amazing transformational properties, is a prized ingredient in skincare. It has been used for centuries by the Berber tribe in Morocco and is highly valued by skin specialists. Rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants, Argan oil helps to protect the skin’s oil barrier, shield against free radicals, improve elasticity and protect against skin ageing.

Argan + Synergy

Argan + Synergy is an all-natural 100% blend of precious Moroccan Argan oil with 4 other amazing oils: Baobab, Kukui, Moringa and Sacha Inci, all selected for their restorative, regenerating and nourishing properties.

Argan Oil – with Vitamin E, Carotene (antioxidants) and Omega 6 and 9

Baobab Oil – with Vitamins A, D, E and F as well as Omega 3, 6, and 9

Kukui Seed Oil – Rich in Linoleic and Linolenic acid (essential fatty acids)

Moringa Oil – Rich in antioxidants plus Vitamins A and C

Sacha Inci Oil – Contains extremely high levels of Omega 3 and 6 plus Vitamin A

300ml costs £12.99

Do Elephants Pray? | Film Review

Do Elephants Pray? is a film that anyone on the 9-5 rat race will be able to relate to, and to their credit, the filmmakers capture the dull greyness of adulthood, jobs and responsibility perfectly.

Advertising executive Callum Cutter’s (Jonnie Hurn) life completely changes after he meets a French free spirit (hippie) Malika (Julie Dray) and their worlds of commerce and nature collide. Malika promises to change Callum’s life forever, as long as he keeps her identity secret.

Callum is the head of his own failing advertising company and is trying to find meaning in his own soulless life, he is played with subtlety by Hurn who is very good in his role and is also the screenwriter and producer of the film. Callum faces the dilemma of selling the unsellable product.

Marc Warren (of Hustle fame) is also in this film, playing a cad after Callum’s job to perfection. This film was five years in the making and is based on real events on the life of writer/actor Jonnie Hurn, which gives the movie substance. Filmed in London and in the magical forest of Broceliande in Brittany, the film stays true to itself. Do Elephants Pray? is an enjoyable film about self awareness and the meaning of life. With talented and passionate people behind the story it is definitely one to watch. Director and producer Paul Hills has directed well, capturing the essence of the film.

Length: 105 minutes.