As a break from the frenetic Christmas build up…

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Lives, Loves, and Losses

From 3^rd – 23^rd December, the National Trust’s Fenton House in Hampstead will be transformed by art collective Traces into an immersive, atmospheric experience that delves into the intriguing world of its eighteenth-century residents.

Fenton House adds to its existing treasure trove of collections with the work of 80 contemporary artists telling the story of the Gee family for this unique three-week installation. Wander through abandoned rooms and discover the lives, loves and losses of these former inhabitants and their relationships to each other, Georgian London, and the ‘New World’.

Award-winning artists and designers include pattern designer Camilla Meijer, product designer Haidee Drew, artist Maisie Broadhead, silversmith David Clarke, food and scent designer AVM Curiosities, and furniture and product designer Gareth Neal. All artworks will be available for sale.

Fenton House and Gardens, Hampstead Grove, London NW3 6SP

Saturday 3rd – Friday 23rd December 2016

All tickets must be booked in advance, including for National Trust members, from www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fenton-house-and-garden, 0344 249 1895

National Trust members – free Adult day – £10 Child day – £5 Adult evening (includes complimentary drink) – £15

Please note that the evening openings are not suitable for children under the age of 18. Ticket price applies to all, including National Trust members, for evening admission.

What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum + Trends in Green Beauty for 2017

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

I am a huge fan of green beauty. Anything natural or organic usually gets my approval. I have been using What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum for months now and I really love it. It has hydrating in the title, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Plenty of beauty products don’t back up their promises. This serum however left my skin feeling so hydrated that I rarely used a moisturiser afterwards. It is not too greasy and it really sinks into the skin. It left my skin looking amazing. I cannot sing its praises enough. It is light and non-greasy, always a win. It has jojoba oil which improves skin tone, and it also contains Plantolin which has anti-inflammatory properties. Great for scarring, pigmentation, skin cell renewal, skin balancing and hydrating & nourishing skin. Great stuff.

Now here are some Trends in Green Beauty for 2017

Having flawless skin is like effortlessly having great style – It’s always on trend!

One of the easiest ways to achieve flawless skin is to use natural and organic products as many have multiple properties which can clean, clear and protect your skin.

We’ve rounded up the top 5 organic beauty trends to look out for next year:

SEAWEED

We all lust after thick and voluminous hair, and just like mermaids, one of the best ingredients for thicker hair and a healthier scalp is from the sea.

Absorbing all the nutrients from the ocean, seaweed has high levels of calcium, and omega 3 and 6. These essential fatty acids are great for stimulating hair follicles, promoting growth and hydrating your scalp and hair.

Just like a green juice for your hair, the marine extracts help hair to rebuild itself and grow stronger.

Including seaweed in your diet is also a great way to keep your thyroid gland healthy, which in turn can effect the health of your hair, Dr Marilyn Glenville, author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar (Amazon, £7.17) explains:

“The Japanese also eat good quantities of seaweed which contain important trace minerals like selenium and iodine for healthy thyroid function. A wealth of immune boosting minerals, vitamins and amino acids can be found in seaweed, so try adding a little to your soups or mix with mashed potato.”

JOJOBA

There are hundreds of different oils in skincare ingredients but only a few have cult status.

This organic oil is known to be great for balancing oil production in the skin as it almost tricks the skin into believing it already has produced enough oil. Jojoba oil is a non-comedogenic, so it is perfect for all skin types including those with acne or sensitive skin.

Skincare expert at What Skin Needs, Sonja Dymalovski, recommends using a skincare that includes natural oils such as jojoba oil, as they reduce the chance of breakouts.

“Natural oils tend to be much gentler on the skin which is why so many people favour organic skincare. Jojoba oil is easily absorbed into the skin, which is wonderful for people who might have drier skin. I would recommend using a organic serum like What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum (£17.99, http://www.whatskinneeds.co.uk), as it also contains Plantolin which has anti-inflammatory properties.”

PROBIOTICS

Many celebrities use probiotics as an added extra in their beauty regime, Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr and Halle Berry has all stressed the impact of a healthy gut in their skincare.

Nutritionist, Cassandra Barns, explains:

“The skin is also closely connected to the gut and supporting gut function can help to reduce skin outbreaks. There are a number of studies linking the use of probiotics to positive outcomes for eczema, acne, rosacea and anti-aging.”

Probiotics can have a calming effect on the skin by balancing the bacteria in your digestive system.

“To support your skin include fermented foods in your diet, such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and miso soup. You can also take a supplement, such as Pro-Ven 25 Billion (Boots, £13.95)”

POMEGRANATE

We know we love eating them but what about in skincare.

A powerhouse antioxidant, anything with pomegranate listed in their ingredients is sure to have amazing anti aging properties, boost collagen levels, and can help to protect the skin from further damage.

New studies have proven the anti-aging powers of pomegranates, so try and get as much of them in you and on your face as possible.[1]

Shona Wilkinson, from Superfood UK, explains:

“Pomegranates are native to Iran and India, in Ayurveda they are a symbol of fertility and prosperity! They are packed full of nutrients and contain high levels of vitamin C. Try tossing the pomegranate seeds on a salad for a brilliantly colourful, crunchy, and nutritious addition and add them to your smoothies for a great taste.”

GREEN TEA

Just another reason to go green; not only is green tea packed full of antioxidants and nutrients, great for brain function and a natural boost to your metabolic rate, it also has a wonderful effect on the skin.

The high concentration of catechins gives Green Tea its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-aging effect on the skin. Studies have shown it can also reduce the risk of sunburn![2]

Nutritionist and weight-loss expert, Lily Soutter, explains how green tea can also curb your hunger cravings:

“The catechins found in green tea also help balance blood sugar levels. An added bonus is that green tea can help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, as the polyphenols can help the body both eliminate cholesterol and stop its absorption. Try having 2 to 3 cups daily, in between meals.”

A Day in the Life of Della Parker (AKA Della Galton)

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Tracy Baines

Writing is my day job and has been for 16 years now. So when people ask me if I’m disciplined the answer is yes. No muse = no money = no mortgage payment. It never gets any less scary than that.

However, I also have two hounds. Little Hound – she’s a German Shepherd and Big Hound – he’s an Irish Wolfhound. Big hound likes to start the day with a song. His day starts around six thirty, which means so does mine as I have to run down and shut him up before he wakes the whole street up.

So I start my day with a walk. Then it’s breakfast for all of us, and I retire to my office, which is a summerhouse in the garden. I live halfway up a hill and I have a panoramic view of the surrounding fields and countryside. I never get tired of my “commute” to work!

If I’m working on a novel I write 2000 words and I don’t leave my desk until it’s done. Sometimes it takes two hours. Sometimes it takes seven. If it only takes two, I’ll either write some more or I’ll switch to another “morning job”. I’m at my best and most alert in the mornings.

I stop for lunch some time between 1 and 2.30 depending on how it’s going. In the afternoon I’ll do something easier than writing. This could be editing, invoicing, answering emails, publicity stuff, phone calls, a swift foray on to Facebook or Twitter. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t resist it. I also can’t resist doing things like checking to see if I have any new reviews and eating chocolate. Activities that are usually carried out simultaneously.

Quite often I get “persuaded” AKA hassled by the hounds to go for another walk in the afternoon. Then it’s tea time. I have a handful of very close friends and I try to see them in the evenings – and for the occasional lunch. If I didn’t I wouldn’t see anyone except my fellow dog walkers.

Saturdays and Sundays are not a great deal different. Recently I’ve been trying to have Sundays off. Which is not going particularly well – I’m writing this piece at six pm on a Sunday.

Hmm! Living the Dream.

I wouldn’t swap it for anything.

The Reading Group by Della Parker is a series of six novellas.

They are published by Quercus, part of The Hachette group, and are 99p each.

December, the short story that introduces them can be downloaded FREE.

www.dellagalton.co.uk

DISNEY LAUNCHES BRAND NEW FORMAT FOR MOVIE RELEASES by author Milly Adams

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Disney classics get a supersized update in ‘Big Sleeve Editions’ – stunning 12” vinyl style sleeves to be launched for selected DVD and Blu-ray releases which include Finding Dory, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Aladdin

The Walt Disney Studios continues to lead the way in collectables, as six of the nation’s best loved movies release on a new, never before seen format. The brand’s latest offering, ‘Big Sleeve Edition’, will feature collectable packaging, the movie on both DVD and Blu-ray plus a set of beautiful bespoke artworks.

A mix of classics and new releases, Disney’s Big Sleeve Edition will launch with six titles including Cinderella, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Beauty and the Beast, Guardians of the Galaxy, Aladdin and Finding Dory with further releases planned next year.

Viewers will have the chance to see behind the scenes footage, deleted and alternative scenes and gain an insight into each story through jam packed audio commentary from directors and stars.

Ben Loades Head of Commercial Development at Disney comments; “We’re thrilled to be launching Big Sleeve Editions this Autumn. We think it’s a great way for collectors, film lovers and families to treasure the movies they love and bring both Disney’s beautiful artistic cinematography and children’s imaginations to life at home.“

Disney’s unique Big Sleeve Editions can be pre-ordered online from the 7th of October at £19.99 and will hit the shelves on 28^th November 2016 at £29.99.

www.amazon.co.uk/b?node=11420887031

This is all about getting in the mood… by Milly Adams

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Margaret Graham

HALF HITCH is inspiring gin-lovers to get into the Christmas spirit by inviting them to their Camden micro-distillery on 1 Dec at 6:30pm to create a bespoke Christmas gin. The event is held in collaboration with The Gin Foundary and marks the opening of the first door in this year’s Ginvent Calendar, an advent calendar celebrating the diversity of gin from all over the world.

Guests are invited to the home of HALF HITCH to create their own festive gin to take home, while discovering the unique choice of botanicals and innovative production techniques behind HALF HITCH, an experience as distinctive as the gin itself, and delving into Camden’s rich background at the heart of London’s gin history.

Celebrating not only it’s first year as part of the Ginvent Calendar, but also the coveted top spot of door number one, be one of a handful of lucky guests to join HALF HITCH on Thursday 1 Dec at 6:30pm to create a Christmas spirit of your own.

Tickets are available for £15 http://www.ginfoundry.com

Address: HALF HITCH Gin Micro-Distillery, West Yard, 53 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1

The best place for us to eat in Oxford – the Old Parsonage

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Jack Shamash

A good place for posh grub

We wanted to go to Oxford to see my daughter, who has just started a course there. And my mother wanted to come with us and buy us a nice lunch. So I started to look for somewhere nice to eat.

I did look online, but the internet was pretty useless: it provided us with a huge number of recommendations among which were a branch of Subway the sandwich bar and some suburban Indian restaurants with names like ‘Star of India’.

So I emailed my friend Andrew. Andrew is a professor who has worked at the university and still lives in the town. He emailed me back. ‘I’d suggest the Old Parsonage – I haven’t been for years but it’s always been good, traditional, on the pricey side and the sort of restaurant you’d imagine from all those films they set in early 20th century Oxford’. So I booked.

Anyway, we went along for a meal. The restaurant itself is about two minutes walk from my daughter’s college, which is very handy.

My children after a good meal

It is a lovely building, and is part of a hotel. It is made of old stone, and looks very rustic and historic. The dining room is hung with oil paintings – most of which appear to be from the first half of the twentieth century.

Now the menu isn’t cheap. Most of the starters are seven or eight pounds, while the mains range from £15 to £50. For starters my son and I had a wonderful French fish soup with aioli (garlic mayonnaise) and croutons. This was done really well done, very authentic – lots of great flavours of fish. My wife and daughter each had beautifully fresh smoked salmon.

The main courses were similarly good. My wife had some very good fish cakes, which were a relative bargain at £15. My mum and son had fillet steak – £32. I went absolutely mad and had a veal chop and kidney cooked in garlic and rosemary for £49.50. My chop was extremely expensive, but immensely tasty. It was cooked beautifully – and it was a big chunk of meat. OK, it wasn’t cheap, but it was a real treat. Oh, and because it was lunchtime, we didn’t drink very much. My daughter and I each had a very acceptable glass of Languedoc rose.

The portions were big, so we weren’t really in the mood for pudding. My son had a very nice pear and apple crumble. Anyone can knock out a reasonable crumble, but what was particularly nice was the delicious custard, which was made of real eggs and was flavoured with fresh vanilla. Add a couple of coffee and the bill for the five of us came to £250.

It was a lovely meal. Not just because of the food – which was very good. It was just a nice place to sit, the staff was helpful and it was pleasantly busy – but not packed.

And in the front there is a sort of bar, which had a stone floor. As we were leaving we got talking to a very nice academic, who had brought his dog and was having a drink with a friend. We were just remarking what a lovely dog he had, when the animal produced a great spray of yellow diarrhoea. My daughter and I fell about laughing. I’m not sure that this is a regular part of the entertainment offered at the Old Parsonage, but it meant that we left with a smile.

Personalised Haynes Explains Manuals – fun gifts for Christmas from Oh My Gift

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Tracy Baines

Are your parts wearing out? Do you need an MOT? These fun guides recreate the appearance and technical style of Haynes vehicle maintenance books but with the vehicle being the human body in various stages of life.

Haynes iconic car maintenance guides have been modified to cover the challenges of being a pensioner, teenager, baby or married couple. How many times have we heard that babies etc don’t come with an instruction manual – well now they do. Follow at your peril. Every manual based on a strip down and rebuild – so now you know.

The Pensioner

Are you parts wearing out? Do you need some advice on rust prevention? I particularly liked the Advantages of being a pensioner section. The Good News: You can live without sex. The Bad News: You can’t live without glasses. There is so much more to keep you reading and much to laugh at.

The Teenager

Not sure whether this is funnier for the teenager or for those who own one – probably both – but full of wise advice on what to say and what not to say to a teenager. Here’s how to understand and handle your teenager until the magic age of twenty and still be laughing at the end of it.

The Baby

For new parents or the perfect present for a baby shower to enlighten prospective owners of the latest model.

Subjects covered include Production and Delivery and Identifying Leaks. Surely something to calm the nerves when it’s most needed. Laughter can get you through most things – even sleepless nights.

The Married Couple

A great gift for weddings and anniversaries taking a wry look at maintaining your relationship and getting the best from your ‘vehicle’.

All written with tongue firmly in cheek these manuals are a humorous and quirky gift and certainly made me giggle in recognition.

They can be personalised with the name of your choice which appears on the cover and the top of each page. You can also include a personal dedication on the inside front page.

It’s a fun gift for Christmas but also for other milestone occasions.

Oh My Gift have a fabulous range of personalised products that are suitable for all the family and all occasions. Put your order in soon to beat the Christmas stampede.

www.ohmygift.co.uk

Games for Christmas from Gibsons – a family-owned British Company

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Tracy Baines

Snakes & Ladders and Ludo

Looking for some stocking fillers that the whole family can share? Look no further than Gibsons Games, a family owned company that produces high-quality puzzles and board games. There’s nothing quite like clearing the Christmas table and settling down for some quieter pursuits and Gibsons have plenty on offer.

Gibsons have been making puzzles and games for almost 100 years and the company is still owned by the Gibson family.

A particular favourite here at Frost was good, old Snakes and Ladders – perfect for little ones and still good fun for older family members. It’s always lovely to have a game that all generations can enjoy and this fits the bill perfectly. The board is illustrated with woodland companions, plump bees, and cheerful toadstools and in place of ladders the counters climb up trees and wiggle down the worms.

Our young testers really loved the fox, frog, rabbit and owl on the ludo board. The wooden counters were easy for little fingers to hold and move.

The double-sided board is made from high-quality cardboard with wooden counters and dice – and the all important instructions in case you’ve forgotten how to play. It’s nice to have well-loved game updated and presented in sturdy packaging that will last. One to treasure.

Gibson Games’ Snakes & Ladders and Ludo was the winner of the Right Start Best Toy Awards 2016 and has been awarded a Silver Practical Preschool 2016 Award.

2-4 players
Aged 5+

RRP £12

Vintage Kellog’s Puzzle

The Gibsons puzzle range has grown to over 250 titles, running from 2 to 2000 pieces, with over 50 new jigsaw puzzle images added every year.

One of the new designs is this Vintage Kellogg’s jigsaw puzzle.

When complete the 250 pieces re-create a nostalgic image of an inviting bowl of corn flakes

The high-quality jigsaw puzzle is made from 100% recycled durable puzzle board and the bowl-shaped puzzle measures 49x34cm when complete.

The puzzle is presented in a beautifully illustrated, sturdy tin, which is perfect for keeping knick knacks in once you have finished the puzzle. Or you could always keep your cornflakes in it. Tin measures 20x14x6cm

RRP £9.99

Pass the Pud

Great entertainment for the whole family, Pass the Pud is a team game for four or more players and everyone’s nerves will be tested to the limits as they answer questions in a race against time to beat the burp. There’s nothing like time pressure to set everyone giggling and when the pudding burps it becomes almost impossible to keep a clear head to answer the questions. This is our kind of pudding – and not a calorie in sight.

Players take it in turns to draw a card from four categories. They must come up with an answer before quickly passing the pud on to the next player who must also come up with a suitable answer – and so it goes on until the dreaded ‘burp!’

The player who is holding the Pud when it burps is the loser and the rival team receives a sixpence. Once all of the cards have been used, the team with the most sixpences are the winners.

Requires 2 x AAA batteries.

4+ players.
Age 8+

RRP £17.99

All products tested were well made with clear instructions and ease of use.

There are many more games and puzzles available at www.gibsongames.co.uk

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