Frost Loves Jurlique Skincare

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jurlique skincare,

Jurlique recognises that organic ingredients are just as important on your skin as in your body, going one step further than most with its approach to organic skincare.

Jurlique’s sustainable farm in South Australia, an area that WHO has declared to have some of the best air quality on Earth, uses methods of certified organic, Biodynamic Farming to harness the concentrated botanicals into its products.

Jurlique’s Biodynamic Farming method embodies a more holistic approach to agriculture, enhancing nature’s energy in order to produce the best quality ingredients, full of life and vitality. And with organic farms having around 50% more bees, butterflies and other pollinators, organic not only nourishes your skin but also the planet.
Jurlique’s Organic Hero Products:

Rosewater Balancing Mist
Rose Body Oil
Nutri-Define Range

I tried the activating water essence. You put it on after cleansing but before your serum, or moisturiser. It smells amazing. Jurlique says it continuously hydrates, softens and revitalises the skin.  It does leave skin more hydrated and looking fresher. Jurlique is a high-end skincare brand and I cannot fault their products.

Activating Water Essence+

A fab Christmas cornucopia of short stories all packaged up into Murder in Midwinter Reviewed by Annie Clarke

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I don’t usually enjoy anthologies. Daft really, as I write stories for for inclusion in anthologies and magazines, but have never enjoyed perusing them.

Murder in Midwinter however has been an absolute pleasure. I read one a night, and there’s nothing to keep me awake wondering what comes next. Because that’s it, a neat package of sublime classic writing, full of icy twists and turns.  The only thing to wonder about is – what the next winter murder is about.

So here within the book covers are perfect stories complied by Cecily Gayford:  Dorthy L Sayers, Cyril Hare, Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkely Arthur Conan Doyle, Ruth Rendell, Ellis Peters, Edmund Crispin, John Dickson Carr, Ngaio Marsh.  They are all delightful in their own way, none of them savage, all of them just excellent.

Perhaps my favourite was Cyril Hare’s Sister Bessie, but then what about Margery Allingham’s The Pro and Con with the old favourite, Campion. I  envisage Peter Davison in the role. But then there’s Arthur Conan Doyal. And what about Ruth Rendell? No, let me stop there, because there can be no favourites, they’re all the best of the best.

Do buy it for Christmas, for yourself at the very least, or read it carefully, package it up and send it on.

I absolutely loved it.  I know you will.

Murder in Midwinter: £8.99 paperback and ebook.

Available HERE at Amazon, and HERE for Bookshop.org:

Annie Clarke’s latest novel Christmas on the Home Front  is out now. at Amazon, supermarkets and bookstores.

Endless Skies By Jane Cable Book Review

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I have read all of Jane Cable’s books. I love them all but this one is my favourite. The character of Rachel is such a wonderful, complex, multi-dimensional character, written with such skill and grace that you have no choice but to love her. This is a modern love story set in sumptuous Lincoln. It has a clever historical twist that works beautifully.
Between the set and the characters; Endless Skies is an atmospheric novel with a story that draws you in and does not let go.

If you want to move forward, you have to deal with the past…

After yet another disastrous love affair – this time with her married boss – Rachel Ward has been forced to leave her long-term position in Southampton for a temporary role as an Archaeology Lecturer at Lincoln University.

Rachel has sworn off men and is determined to spend her time away clearing her head and sorting her life out.

But when one of her students begins flirting with her, it seems she could be about to make the same mistakes again…

She distracts herself by taking on some freelance work for local property developer, Jonathan Daubney.

He introduces her to an old Second World War RAF base. And from her very first visit something about it gives Rachel chills…

As Rachel makes new friends and delves into local history, she is also forced to confront her own troubled past.

Why is she unable to get into a healthy relationship? What’s stopping her from finding Mr Right?

And what are the echoes of the past trying to tell her…?

ENDLESS SKIES is thought-provoking contemporary women’s fiction novel with a heart-warming ending. It merges moving World War Two historical events with modern day drama to reveal a relatable love story.

SISTER SCRIBES: KIRSTEN HESKETH ON NANOWRIMO TAKE TWO

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I’m writing this on 30th October. It’s nearly a very important date … and one that has been eyeballing me from the calendar for weeks. No, not Halloween – with both children at uni (sob!), there seems little point in ‘celebrating’, (although we have been invited to Zoom into the wedding of the daughter of American friends in our finest Halloween regalia tomorrow!) Not even Firework Night which I do enjoy and which was An Important Social Occasion growing up (and I once got off with Paul Richardson from the swimming club at the Beaconsfield Firework Display in 1977) ….

No. November 1st marks the beginning of #NaNoWriMo …. and I can’t wait!

For the uninitiated, #NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and the challenge is to try and writing 50,000 words (the best part of a novel – or, at least, the first draft) during the month of November. Bonkers, but fun!!!

I’ve attempted – and completed – NaNo once before in 2017. I loved it – and I think it suits me and my writing very well. I have a terrible habit of ignoring the old adage ‘don’t get it right, get it written’ and I can spend hours – days – polishing and repolishing the same old passages or chapter – passages or chapters that never actually make it into the final cut!! What a monumental waste of time and effort that is! So, for me, there’s something very liberating about ‘having’ to write 1,667 words a day, come hell or high water (and there’s been a lot of that, lately, hasn’t there?!) No time to angst over the perfect word, the perfect phrase, the perfect cadence. All that can come later. Now is just the time to get the bare bones of the story down, to ‘tell it to myself’, to commit it to paper. Onwards, always onwards – no looking back – after all, you ‘can’t edit an empty page’! And, for me, all that striving forward makes me a better (maybe) – certainly a braver – writer. With little time to ‘vet’ what I am writing, now is the time to take risks, to go with the flow and to see where it takes me. After all, I can sort it all out later …

NaNoWriMo Mark Two is a different beast for me, though. When I attempted it three years ago, getting an agent – let alone a publishing deal – was just a twinkle in my eye. Now I am lucky enough to have my debut novel ‘out there’ as a proper book, thanks to Canelo. I also have a deal with Hodder & Stoughton for a saga series set in London in World War One. The first book in the series is done and dusted (and out next April) and I am due to start work on the second. To begin with, I dithered. Should I bash out a first draft during NaNo or make a start on the ghostly rom-com I’m dying to write? In the end, I wrote a couple of pages of the second saga book, fell in love with it – and now I want to keep going. So I’m good to go!

Five-page plan agreed with my editor – tick!

Online group of writing buddies – tick! If last time is anything to go by, I will really need them from days 17 to 20 and I’m ready to support them in any way I can too.

Are you doing Nano?

If so, good luck – and see you on the other side!

 

 

 

 

Living with Alzheimers – Will Bob know me tomorrow? by Chris Suich

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I am anxious. Wondering what I will find at the home tomorrow. Will Bob know me again? My window visit is due at 2.10pm. It has changed from 11.10am because it was difficult as Bob was still sleepy. Sometimes, mostly on other days, he wasn’t out of bed. I was told this was person centred care if the patient chose or wanted to get up later they were able to. I tried to argue that he never stayed in bed till after 12 and he was up with me only 9 months ago at 6.30am and went to bed with me at 9pm without sleeping at all in the day. He slept all night at the home too so I was concerned about getting bed sores as that’s an awful lot of hours to spend laying down.

If he was brought to me in a wheelchair for a garden or cafe visit 2 m away (with a minder),  he was often falling asleep or in a kind of unfocused stupor where I couldn’t engage him. I asked if he was depressed or had given up the will to live. I had never seen him like this for so many visits week after week.

I was told by the nurse manager of the dementia unit it’s the onset of the disease, the way it progresses the way it is. But what if it wasn’t? What if it was the medication, the anti-psychotic drugs that he started in March. They are accumulative. Had he had the medication reviewed during covid? Had anyone outside the home seen him and this deterioration?

Two weeks ago he had a kind of spasm and his legs went rigid and he slid down the wheelchair. Luckily I was with my eldest son, a doctor. He was very concerned as he hadn’t seen his father in a while and was worried about his decline  and said he would be reviewed and observed if he was in hospital.

But he wasn’t, he was in a home and even the psychiatrist’s dementia nurse – who knew him since he was diagnosed – had tried to see him but was not allowed access.

So I rang the GP and asked her if anyone had actually seen him, not had a phone call or a Teams meeting but actually donned PPE and assessed him. No they hadn’t. I insisted there and then that a doctor visit him and advised them what I was most worried about. I said that I need to know if the medication was causing the sleeping and decline or the disease. I was really worried and concerned about the safeguarding aspect if medics were not getting access when the families requested it. The same day the duty nurse went in and later a GP – and a GP is scheduled in 2 weeks .

He is off all the dementia medication and he is a lot better. We went to see him 3 days ago and we cried with joy as he recognised us both and called our names out over and over . He was more alert and focused.

But it was a window visit as the home say he is not safe in a wheelchair, so we can’t see him face to face 2 m away . I think this rigidity has now subsided due to being taken off medications and the GP will confirm when she sees him next time.

This is such a blow because he cannot hear or see us very well at the window.  If it just a chair problem to overcome there must be one we can use just to get him out the door? It’s a good job I have a ‘ can do’ attitude as these problems seem insurmountable to some.

Nothing is insurmountable to me and whilst Bob is alive I will fight for him. It is an uphill battle.

What worries me more is how many others don’t have a ‘ me’ to ask questions and check well being and challenge accountability.

Scooting back to school, a new way of life in COVID-19. Scootasoot Review

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Every now and then someone comes along with a very clever parenting hack. Scootasoot is said clever parenting invention. An all-in-one reflective scooting suit for children. It is waterproof and looks fab. Cleverly, the hood fits over a helmet. It has ears though, so it still looks fun. I could not love, nor recommend these fab suits more. They keep kids safe and dry on their way home or to the park, what more could you want?
Scootasoot, scooting, safe scooting, back to school Scootasoot, scooting, safe scooting, back to schoolIt could be said that some parents may be in a panic about getting their kids to school safely without the use of public transport during the new school term, following the British government’s travel guidance. 

Ensuring children get to school on time with a bicycle, scooter or walking may place fear in parents who want to keep their children snug, visible and comfortable as they travel. An all-in-one Scootasoot for your child may aid in keeping them warm and safe this Autumn. 

 A colourfully reflective waterproof suit to make little ones more visible in the darker winter months to come. Scootasoot keeps kids dry when the rain season kicks in, don’t worry about them overheating due to its breathable material. 

Perfect for scootering or other forms of outdoor activities with a hood that works to fit a helmet, which is necessary due to the dangers of head injuries from slipping on wet roads. Ear and tail accessories in three animals are a better way for children to choose a fun option for their suit instead of just colours. 

This animal outdoor suit was made for children that like to explore and imagine. Due to travel restrictions, why don’t you make the most of exploring your environment with them? Let kids feel the fresh air and play to wake and excite them before they arrive at school. 

The fit is snug for teeny weeny hands and feet, so rest assured no uniform will be destroyed in the school run. The beauty of having a magnetic opening can calm anxieties on practicality. It’s on and off within seconds, chucked into your child’s bag at the school gates and weighs less than your purse and keys!

Getting a Scootasoot gives parents some peace of mind knowing their children will be warm and safe following The Department of Transport’s guidelines “Where travel is necessary, consider whether children could walk, scooter or cycle, accompanied by a responsible adult or carer.” 

 Whilst this can be a necessity, why not consider that it betters a child’s development by ensuring they get some exercise before the school day. Dr Danae Lund from Sanford Health says “Kids that spend more time outdoors are more likely to be inventive, explore and learn about the world around them. It improves their communication and reduces stress levels.” 

Not only are children becoming happier, they’re expanding their minds before they even get to the classroom. And to put it frankly “This is England, there is good reason why we are all obsessed with the weather- we never know what we are going to get!” Quoted from the creator of Scootasoot, Lotty reinforces the importance of being prepared this Autumn. If you’re travelling with your children, it’s better to be safe than sorry! 

To find out more visit https://www.scootasoot.co.uk/basket/ or check out their social media handles @Scootasoot 

Scootasoots are available online in the UK with Worldwide shipping, RRP £24.99 

 

Pura Baby Wipes Launched by Parents on a Mission to Democratise Eco-friendly Baby Care

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I am obsessed with Pura, a new brand who make baby wipes that are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable and are made from sustainable plant fibres.  Guy and Abi Fennell are making parenting green and we at Frost are fully behind them.

Launched from lockdown, Pura is a new, UK based, family-run company that is taking on the environmental challenges of traditional wipes, with the launch of 100% plastic free baby wipes. A massive 90% of the wipes currently sold in the UK contain plastic and they can last over 100 years in landfill, yet the vast majority of consumers don’t realise they are using wipes that contain plastic.

pura founders

For maximum affordability, Pura is “cutting out the middleman” and selling direct-to-consumer with free next day delivery 7 days a week, at a price point that’s comparable to traditional disposable wipes and lower than leading eco-friendly brands. In the first month since launch, Pura received more than 250,000 visits to the website, with 45,000 customer orders.

About Pura wipes:

  • Pura baby wipes are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable, made from sustainable plant fibres
  • Each Pura wipe contains 99% water and organic aloe vera and no perfume, alcohol or chlorine
  • Pura baby wipes  are available in flushable, with the Fine to Flush accreditation, and non-flushable options.
  • The baby wipes are suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, certified vegan and are accredited by the British Skin Foundation, Allergy UK, the FSC and the Soil Association
  • Launch film with a powerful message has already received 6.6 million views on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZaIcRX6Jxv8
  • Pura is the most accredited baby care brand on the market, with a unique, simple labelling system listing the product’s eco-credentials for parents
  • The first baby wipes in the UK with a Fine to Flush stamp of approval, and an ambition to be the first Carbon Neutral baby care brand
  • The only baby brand to be teaming up with the Woodland Trust to help support the sustainability of the UK’s natural environment
  • Pura’s baby wipes are approved by midwives and are dermatologically and clinically tested

Pura has reduced all its subscription prices by 20%:

  • 100% Plastic Free Flushable Baby Wipes, 70 wipes per pack, 10 packs per case, 700 wipes in total. Subscription price: £19.84 (£1.98 per pack/2.8p per wipe); one time purchase £24.80.
  • 100% Plastic Free Non Flushable Baby Wipes, 70 wipes per pack, 10 packs per case, 700 wipes in total. Subscription price: £18.24 (£1.82 per pack/2.6p per wipe), one time purchase £22.80.
  • For all wipes: free next delivery. Certain postcodes restrictions apply.

 

About Pura

Pura is on a mission to provide high quality eco-friendly yet affordable baby products for all, with plans to launch an eco-friendly nappy range later this year and to launch into Europe.

Pura wasn’t born in a boardroom, but in a home in Cheshire in the North West of England, where founders, and new parents, Guy and Abi Fennell created their vision to disrupt the current baby care market, and make being ‘eco’ affordable for all. Co-founder Guy Fennell, explains; “It’s all about driving change and leaving the right legacy for our children. We’d love to see everyone make the switch to plastic free wipes and we’re working hard to make that happen. Parents too often have to compromise on quality or price for environmental friendliness. We want to empower all families to care for their family, their environment and their budget without compromise.”

Simple, transparent labelling

Founders and new parents Guy and Abi want to empower parents to make informed, eco-friendly decisions so they developed a unique labelling system, breaking down complex accreditations into simple visuals that help parents understand at a glance whether the products are plastic-free, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, flushable.   They are calling on all brands to start using a system similar to the colour labelling on food, to bring greater transparency.

 Website: https://www.mypura.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypura/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mypura
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyPura/

Pura is the exclusive partner of Nappicycle, the only UK nappy recycling company, working to maximise the number of disposable nappies that are recycled for use as affordable housing materials and notice boards for nurseries, schools and businesses.

  • The brand is also working in partnership with The Hygiene Bank, a grassroots community initiative that provides personal care products to those who need them across the UK, as well as making both financial and product donations to the NSPCC to help families in need. The brand is also offering a 10% discount to NHS staff on all Pura products, available through the NHS Benefits website.

 

Frost Loves All Tee, All Shade Online Retail Brand.

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Winter is approaching and that means it’s time to break out the sweaters! You could reach for that boring sweater or sweatshirt that you’ve been rocking for years now; or, you could mix things up with a little bit of stylish humor.

These sweatshirts are so warm and cosy. They also fit well. Comfort and a dose of humour? What is there not to love? 

sweatshirts, 1984, warm, online clothing retailer,

All Tee, All Shade, a newly launched online retail brand, just released their new line of sweatshirts, guaranteed to be a conversation starter.

Each cotton, polyester blend sweatshirt is crafted for comfort with lighter weight fabric, making it so unbelievably snuggly that you’ll never want to take it off. Just pick your favourite saying and get cozy with humour.