Jelly Face Mask review by Natalie Jayne Peeke

Posted on November 13, 2019 by Margaret Graham

Brightening Ginseng and grapefruit jelly face mask. Ginseng helps to plump and firm skin which leads to a naturally radiant glow whilst Grapefruit helps to even the complexion delivering a natural luminosity

Kind Natured are thrilled to announce the launch of their new brightening jelly mask which costs £9 and is available from Boots and boots.com. treat your complexion to the ultimate brightening remedy that utilises a blend of nourishing ingredients to deliver effective exfoliation whilst energising the skin.

Make uneven skin tone a thing of the past as this radiance enhancing jelly mask harnesses the powers of natural ingredients to promote a visibly plumper, firmer and brighter complexion. Replenish dull and dehydrated skin with key ingredient Grapefruit which is a natural antioxidant that helps protect from free radicals which can make skin look dull and tired. Ginseng also works hard to revive the skin to ensure you always wake up to a glowing, revitalised complexion with restored luminosity.

Directions for use- apply one or twice weekly to clean skin, leave for 5 minutes then rinse.

My first impression of this face mask was that it smelt great, a lovely light fruity, citrusy scent. It felt lovely with the subtle exfoliating beads. When I applied it, I was surprised with how light it felt on my face, it didn’t set rock hard like other face masks tend to do. It wasn’t sticky at all; it was easy to clean off with some warm water. The following morning, I noticed that my redness had gone down slightly and my skin wasn’t looking as dull as it had been. I used it again a few days later and again the following morning I noticed a change in my skin, it was much more noticeable this time my redness had all but gone and my skin looked so fresh and radiant.

This gorgeous face mask is a must for this time of year when the cold weather creeps in leaving your skin looking dull and congested. For 5 minutes once or twice a week you can wave goodbye to it.

More information from https://www.kindnatured.com/shop/

The price is £9.

5 Great Ideas For Christmas

Posted on November 13, 2019 by Catherine Balavage

Child’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 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

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. 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

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.

Warm Winter Reads for Saga Lovers

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Tracy Baines

Here’s another selection of sagas that might find their way onto your bookcase this winter. Lovely stories with winter settings and a Christmas flavour in each of them.

A Precious Gift by Rosie Goodwin

Nuneaton 1911

The latest book in the Days of the Week series – Friday’s Child is Loving and Giving.

Holly Farthing has lived with her widowed mother and overbearing grandfather since she was a small child. When she reaches eighteen her Grandfather tries to marry her off to a widower twice her age. When she refuses he withdraws all support and she flees to London with her maid Ivy, her only friend.

Once there, Holly searches for the father she’s never met and begins nurse training in the local hospital. There she meets the dashing Doctor Parkin and falls in love. When he proposes, Holly finally feels she will at last find the happiness she craves -until she discovers some shocking news that means they can never be together.

Heartbroken, she throws herself into supporting the war effort and heads to France, volunteering on the front line.

Encompassing the turbulence of the suffragette movement and the Great War, Rosie Goodwin’s fans will not be disappointed.

Published by Zaffre Hardback £12.99

A Winter Hope by Sheila Newberry

Life is looking good for the Hope family as they move into Number Five Kitchener Avenue in 1932. Fred’s wife, Miriam is expecting their first child and Fred has a secure job as a civil servant. Her sister Doreen 14, has a job at Woolies and welcomes the move along with her new sense of independence. But war is on the horizon and these happy carefree days can’t last.

A window on the world of the Hope family as they and they neighbours adjust to turbulent times.

A warm, cosy read, perfect for the long winter nights.

Zaffre Paperback £7.99. Also available in eBook

A Woman’s War by S Block

Great Paxford, November 1940

If you’re a fan of the TV series Home Fires and wondered what happened after the last episode you’ll find out here.

All the familiar characters appear as life in Great Paxford moves on.

As enemy planes bombard the North West of England, the members of the WI fight harder than ever to do their bit.

Teresa Lucas her reshaped her life to become the perfect wife but the arrival of a new guest threatens all she holds dear.

Laura Campbell is grieving her father. Can she find the confidence to embrace a new future?

Pat Simms plans to escape her difficult life with Bob at the end of the war but when things change at home she begins to question everything she thought she knew.

And farmer, Steph Farrow wonders whether she can live with what she has done.

Zaffre Paperback £6.99. Also available in eBook

Michael Rowan gets all steamed up about two of Wing Yip’s Oriental cooking gadgets for food lovers, and at under £10.00 he believes that they will make ideal stocking fillers.

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Margaret Graham

It can be tricky finding the perfect gift for foodie family members and friends. Well, have no

fear this year as Wing Yip, the UK’s leading Oriental supermarket, has the perfect solution to

your Christmas gifting woes.

As someone who loves cooking, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so anything that can produce great results and is inexpensive, is a winner in my eyes, which is why I couldn’t have been more thrilled to try out the Kitchen Craft 1.5 Litre Microwave Rice Cooker – £8.59 and the Hancock 10″ Bamboo Steamer and Lid – £2.46.

It’s not that I can’t cook rice and other grains, although I should confess that the results can be somewhat variable. The joy of the Microwave Steamer is that all I had to do was follow the simple instructions, pop it into the microwave and voila, perfect Jasmine Rice.

Wing Yip’s Hancock Bamboo Steamer is another kitchen staple used in Oriental cuisine and cooks perfectly steamed dumplings or a range of vegetables every time. Gently steaming vegetables preserves much of the vitamins that can be lost when boiling. Not only practical, the Bamboo Streamer has the kitchen aesthetic beloved of all Jamie Oliver wannabes.

In addition to us Kitchen addicts, I can think of another group of people who might welcome these as a Christmas gifts, not least because it is a lazy stereotype that all students live on a diet of Pot Noodles. Obviously, students have time constraints, their kitchens may not be well stocked and they certainly don’t need expensive kitchen equipment, all of which makes the Rice Cooker and Bamboo Steamer the perfect gift to pack them off back to University.

Both of these Oriental kitchen essentials are available to buy in the Wing Yip superstores and

online. Visit the online store at: www.wingyip.com

Top Christmas Pick: SodaStream Spirit One Touch

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Catherine Balavage

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 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

SISTER SCRIBES GUEST: CLARE FLYNN ON THE BENEFITS OF A CRITIQUE GROUP

Posted on November 11, 2019 by Jane Cable

I’m delighted to welcome Clare Flynn as my guest. Clare is the author of ten historical novels and a short story collection, and we met over dinner on the opening night of my first ever RNA conference a couple of years ago. Today, she sharing her thoughts on the benefits of critique groups for writers.

Soon after leaving London for the beautiful South Downs and Sussex coast, I had the good fortune to come across two fellow members of organisations I’m in – the Romantic Novelists Association and the Historical Novel Society. One is an author and the other an editor with authorial aspirations, both Eastbourne residents. We decided to set up a critique group and subsequently two more authors have joined our posse. We five now meet every Friday afternoon at a seafront hotel.

Our aim is to offer mutual support and encouragement, share tips on marketing and publishing, and most of all to give constructive criticism of our work. None of us wanted to do workshop style exercises, as apart from the editor we are all published – two of us hybrid, one indie and one trade. What we all have in common is the desire for a sounding board and some tough love during the writing process.

A few days before our weekly meeting, we email each other the extracts we want to review, usually a chapter of around 2,000 words so we get a chance to read them all at leisure. Everyone prints off a copy of each submission annotated with comments and brings it to the session.

We used to read the work aloud but it became too time-consuming and we have so much else to talk about. Instead, we take each submission in turn, with each person offering their comments. The criticism is always constructive and now we know each other well we don’t pull our punches. All of us share a desire to help each other produce the best work possible.

We have had short stories as well as extracts from works in progress. We use the approach of Adopt/ Adapt/ Reject, although most of the feedback makes eminent sense and is mostly acted upon.

Some examples of changes made as a result of feedback in these sessions:

Inconsistencies of character,
Lack of tempo and pace
Anachronisms and clichés etc
Details such as titles, uniforms and spotting costume gaffes
Metaphors that don’t work or take one out of the story
Making awkward sentences flow
Avoiding repetition
Spelling and grammar
Identifying a character going to sit down when they were already seated (it happens so easily!)

Not everyone submits an extract every time if they don’t happen to have a piece ready to review, but the weekly meetings act as a spur to getting the next chapter ready.

The group has been going now for nearly four years. Thirteen published novels have emerged so far from our sessions. This early input identifies any major issues before the final draft is released to the editor, agent and beta readers.

We meet in one of the public lounges and I often wonder what unsuspecting hotel guests think when passing by as we respectable looking women of a certain age hotly debate the choreography of a sex scene or the best way to kill someone off.

There’s always plenty to talk about as well as the work. We share publishing news, marketing ideas, gossip and plans for attending conferences and industry parties. It’s a very supportive and encouraging group.

The writer’s life is by definition a solitary one for much of the time, so having a weekly gathering to share triumphs and setbacks is an absolute godsend.

Clare Flynn is the author of ten historical novels and a short story collection. Her latest novel, The Pearl of Penang, set in Malaya in 1939 through to the end of the war with Japan, is now available for pre-order.

Website http://www.clareflynn.co.uk

Twitter – https://twitter.com/clarefly

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorclareflynn

Festive Cocktail Guide Vol. 2 ft Three Spirit Social Elixir

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Kesh

This year the market and demand for non-alcoholic spirits and beverages have boomed and more and more bars and restaurants are offering a much more exciting and varied non-alcoholic alternative menu. Accessing non-alcoholic bets has becoming so much more easier and it seems we can now treat ourselves with something other than the boring juice and ‘mocktail’ options that appear as an add-on to every drinks menu.

This year we were treated to a host of tastings and samples of more and more innovative non alcoholic beverages and our favourite this far has to be;

Three Spirit

The World’s first non-alcoholic ’Social Elixir’.

Created in a lab this came about as an experiment to create a plant-based alternative to alcohol…’for the bold the curious and for the good times with those who matter the most.’ The bold and curiously flavoured drink contains 11 plants, herbs and mushrooms which have been used for centuries in ceremonies and potions. Don’t be discouraged by the mushroom element… we are talking the strictly non magic kind, however Three Spirit does make you feel good made with an expert blend of plants and active compounds intended for the purpose of taste and effect. This goes without saying Three Spirit is Vegan-Friendly and Gluten Free!!!!

Some of the ingredients included their Social Elixir blend are;

Lion’s Mane Mushroom which promotes cognitive function and mood,

Tulsi which fights stress and introduces balance

Damiana which is well…er an aphrodisiac

Coconut Vinegar which promotes gut health

to name a few…

The serving suggestions for this drink are just stunning…

We recommend;

Herbal Stimulant;

50ml Three Spirit Social Elixir

25ml Espresso

10ml Maple Syrup or Agave

Shake hard in an ice filled cocktail shaker

Strain into a chilled glass

Garnish with Raw Cacao Beans.

Light & Stormy

50ml Three Spirit Social Elixir

100ml Ginger Ale

Pour ingredients over ice and garnish with a wheel of lime.

Three Spirit comes in three different variations and RRP £24.99 per 50cl Bottle

https://threespiritdrinks.com

HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Sophia Mead

We all know the importance of keeping hydrated and the benefits extend to the whole body. Shop our targeted roundup below.

FOR THE BODY: THE ION8 LEAKPROOF 1 LITRE BOTTLE

One of the easiest way to keep hydrated – DRINK WATER! Drink the full bottle before lunch and you’re halfway to your daily target, simply refill once and drink the rest before the end of the day and you’re done. Just one pitstop at dinner to refill is all you need to keep you on track.

Buy for £13.89 from Amazon

FOR THE FACE: CLINIQUE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT HYDRATING JELLY

Hyaluronic acid is the hydrating elixir for the skin and its popularity has sky rocketed over the past few years. The Clinique Jelly is a super lightweight gel which is packed with Fortified with hyaluronic acid and innovative Clean Shield Technology™ (a blend of Sunflower Seed, Barley Extract and Cucumber. It offers 24hr hydration and the best part is that a little goes a long way – meaning you’re getting more for your money too!

Buy for £31 from Look Fantastic

FOR THE SKIN: EMBRYOLISSE LAIT-CRÈME FLUID

A top way to avoid dryness and redness across the body is to keep hydrated and moisturised and our favourite is from Europe’s number one, Embryolisse fluid is a brilliant way to achieve oft and supple skin. Once applied, you’re instantly treated to a velvety feel finish on the skin. This one though, has a number of benefits – everything from removing make up and soothing skin after skin exposure.

Buy for £16 from Cult Beauty

FOR THE HAIR: PHILIP KINGSLEY ELASTICIZER

It turns out that elasticzer was originally created over 40 years ago for Audrey Hepburn to keep her hair looking healthy so if it’s good enough for Audrey, it’s good enough for us! The Philip Kingsley elasticizer is enriched with castor oil and olive oil, which is high in Vitamin E and fatty acids. Generalyl, elasticizer delivers a rush of moisture to the hair’s cuticle, helping to lock in and retain moisture. Suppleness, elasticity and bounce appear instantly without weighing down or coating the hair. Dreamy

Buy for £33 from Philip Kingsley

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