Four-Piece Beautiful Complexion Set by Margaret Graham

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Frost really likes this this fantastic cruelty free brush set, being animal lovers. It includes all four brushes in the EcoTools Complexion Collection® – a makeup-skincare hybrid line designed to improve skin’s health and maximize natural beauty. This self-wrapping set includes a gift tag, ribbon and gift box, making it the perfect present for every beauty lover on your list. I know just the person to get this for, but that’s my secret.

Mattifying Finish Brush: This duo-fiber head creates a flawless finish with either pressed or loose powder. The short bristles pick up the perfect amount of product while the long bristles distribute it smoothly to keep oil and shine at bay all day.

Skin Perfecting Brush: Specifically designed to smoothly and evenly apply BB/CC creams and tinted moisturizer. Use the rounded edge of the brush for precise coverage around the eyes and nose.

Eye Perfecting Brush: Features a uniquely cut, rounded tip head that mimics the shape of your finger around the eyes to reduce tugging or transferring oils. Designed with straight, firm and dense bristles for optimal blending and coverage.

Correcting Concealer Brush: A duo-fiber blend of bristles pick up and distribute concealer for full coverage of dark circles, redness or other imperfections.

The ecoTOOLS® Complexion Collection® features beautiful cruelty-free bristles, a beautifully designed unique recycled ferrule combining the elements of beauty and science, and sleek bamboo handles. The packaging is made from recyclable PET and post- consumer recycled paper.

£19.99  Available at Boots.com and Superdrug.com

Gigaset G-Tag Review By Tracy Baines

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Tracy Baines

Keep track of your valuables this Christmas with the new Gigaset G-tag. Using Bluetooth technology, this clever device can track down important items such as keys, handbags or even your car, by electronically syncing to a simple smartphone app.

The G-tag also alerts users if they’ve left somewhere without their ‘tagged’ items. If the device moves more than a pre-set distance, they receive a notification on their phone to help find missing possessions within 10m.

The app was easy to install and ready to go.

I think it’s fabulous if you’re like me and can’t remember where you parked your car – especially this time of the year.

We were burgled recently and the thieves took my handbag and purse – and I loved that handbag. I’m thinking of sewing one of these into the lining so that if, heaven forbid, the same thing happens again I at least might get my handbag back.

If my children were still small I think I’d be slipping them on rucksacks, lunch boxes and PE bags. How many hours would that have saved?

It comes in different colours – great for putting on a key ring and makes it easy to find in the bottom of your bag.

Available in black, white, orange, red and green.

Amazon.co.uk, £17.50

Month 11 of my Reading Challenge By Frances Colville

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Margaret Graham

I found it hard to decide what to go for first this month and spent a happy hour browsing my bookshelves. In the end I chose The Devil in the Marshalsea by Antonia Hodgson (Hodder & Stoughton paperback 2014). Set in a debtor’s prison in 18^th C London, this is in places a grim read and the plot fell short of being 100% convincing, but the author is good on atmosphere, the main character is engaging and the book is a good choice for anyone who likes historical crime fiction.

I had no idea what to expect when I began my next book A Little Life by American writer Hanya Yanagihara, knowing nothing at all about it other than it had been shortlisted for this year’s Man Booker. But it hooked me in right from the first page. What’s it about? Friendship, identity, working out who you are and what your life is all about, pain, abuse, relationships, death, grief and love. It’s challenging, harrowing and absolutely compelling. And of all the books I’ve read so far this year, this is the one I would recommend most. Currently available in hardback – published Picador – or on Kindle.

What do you choose when you’ve just finished a brilliant book; one which has taken you a long time to read and which you can’t get out of your head? For me, the solution is to turn to something familiar and reliable and completely different. And as followers of this year of book reviews will know, that means in my case an Agatha Christie. This time I picked up The Moving Finger – one of a batch I was given last Christmas. I don’t think I’ve read it before though it’s hard to be sure. Either way, I couldn’t remember the ending. And of course neither the book itself nor the ending disappointed. Vintage Christie – and very enjoyable at that. My copy is a Fontana paperback, reprinted 1971.

This Little World edited by Sue Ashby is the sort of book you can dip in and out of whenever you have ten minutes to spare It’s a collection of short stories from people who live in Dorset – some as young as 11 – and each story is located in Dorset. Lots of variety and lots to interest anyone who knows anything about Dorset. My personal favourite is A Smuggler’s Life by 12 year old Sam. Available now on Amazon and will soon be published as an e-anthology.

And I’ve also been dipping in and out this month of my copy of the works of poet George Herbert edited by W H Auden. I studied Herbert for A level and there are certain lines from certain of his poems which still stick in my mind. Writing in the first half of the 17^th C his poems are all about religion, his understanding of it and his struggle to be worthy, but it isn’t the content of the poems which speaks to me but the beauty of the language and the strength of his belief. Not I think a well-known or in any way fashionable poet but one who in my opinion deserves to be read more. My edition is a Penguin paperback published 1973.

Only one month left to go. And so many books to choose from………………..

Sparkle through the festive season with the Mavala Christmas Range by Margaret Graham

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Make Christmas even more beautiful with these festive gifts from MAVALA.

From beautiful baubles to cute crackers and kits, MAVALA’s Christmas offering has something for everyone, no matter your budget.

MAVALA Snowblossom Kits (RRP £12.50)

Shower your loved ones with a trio of Mavala colours. These snowflake-covered sets are available in 6 sumptuous shade collections from festive reds and pretty nudes to sultry shades perfect for dark winter nights.

MAVALA Cracking Duo (RRP £9.00)

Have a cracking Christmas with these duos. Available in six complementary colour ways so there is something to suit all tastes. No need to pull this cracker, simply untwist the top to reveal two nail treats.

MAVALA Christmas Baubles (RRP £5.00)

Have a ball this Christmas with the  MAVALA Christmas Baubles in eight sparkling festive hues, including favourites Rouge Rubis, Magic Sapphire & Magic Snow.

Take care this Christmas with the Mavala Nail Care Collection
Give the gift of beautiful nails this Christmas with the MAVALA care range. Whatever your nail concern, MAVALA have it covered with a collection of gifts for gorgeous natural nails.

MAVALA Vanity Case (RRP £26.50)

Packed full of Mavala’s best-selling nail care products, this vanity case is perfect for a complete at-home manicure. The case includes: Scientifique, 002 Basecoat, ColorFix Topcoat, Nail Polish Remover

MAVALA Colour Stay Coffret (RRP £17.50)

Love your nail colour but hate that it never lasts long enough? The Colour Stay coffret from Mavala has everything you need to make your colour last whilst caring for your nails and cuticles. The set includes: 002 Basecoat, ColorFix, Oil Seal Dryer & Mini Emery Boards.

MAVALA Discovery Coffret (RRP £29.95)

This nail care & beauty coffret is perfect for those who are new to the world of nail care. Packed full of a range of treatment products and a step-by-step manicure programme, it’s the perfect solution to your nail problems. The set includes: Cuticle Remover, Scientifique, 002 Basecoat, ColorFix, Oil Seal Dryer & Hand Cream.

The Mavala Christmas Collection is available at JohnLewis.com, Boots.com and selected independent retailers nationwide.

30,000 Years of Art: The Story of Human Creativity Across Time & Space

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Frostie

This book has the wow factor and then some. A huge sigh-worthy hard backed tome of 30,000 years of art. Imagine having a museum in your living room: there you go. It is accessible and not densely text heavy, a brilliant introduction to the whole history of art. This stunning book is indispensable for the library of any art lover. Perfect for Christmas too. Frost loves.

30,000 Years of Art is an accessible, chronological introduction to art history from 28,000 BC to the present day.

Providing a truly global and comprehensive perspective, 30,000 Years of Art charts a course through art history that tracks seminal and lesser known works in all of the fields of both the fine and decorative arts. Featuring over 600 works across all media, from painting and sculpture to textile, metalwork, and ceramic, and updated to include new works from the 20th and 21st centuries, 30,000 Years of Art presents the defining moments, both big and small, of art history. Each entry is accompanied with informative texts written by 35 of the world’s leading museum curators, academics and archaeologists providing insights into each work that clearly explain their importance. An illustrated timeline, full index and extensive glossary of schools and movements make 30,000 Years of Art, an indispensable addition to any art library.

Features:
– Updated to include over 25 new entries that expand the scope of the book further into the 21st century.
– Includes 600 of the world’s greatest works of art across all media (painting, sculpture, textiles, metalwork, ceramics), ranging from seminal masterworks to lesser known pieces in both the fine and decorative arts.
– Written by 35 of the world’s leading museum curators, academics and archaeologists and the easy-to-use chronological format featuring illustrated timelines, and a glossary of terms, schools and movements.

30,000 Years of Art (Revised and Updated Edition): The Story of Human Creativity Across Time & Space

Top 3 Gadgets For Christmas

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Frostie

For the adventurer…Griffin Survivor iPhone Cases

Griffin Technology Survivor Summit and Survivor Journey. Designed and tested to meet military standards, both Summit and Journey offer ‘ready for anything’ protection for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Key features:

Survives 10-foot (3-metre) drops onto concrete
Sealed, weather-proof design to withstand rain, dirt, dust, mud, snow and splash damage
Impact Dispersion System makes Summit rugged enough to withstand extreme drops, yet slim enough to easily slide into pockets
New system suspends and cushions the phone within the rigid case and absorbs impact forces to prevent drop damage
Screen shield which slides on to keep the phone’s touchscreen, home button and Touch ID safe from damage and dirt
Rotating holster-style clip that keeps the phone safe and secure and functions as a stand.
Survivor Summit is available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
Colours: Black/Blue, Black/Clear, Black, and Pink/Grey
Price: £34.99-£44.99.

Griffin Survivor Summit Case for iPhone 6/6S is available here.

Survivor Journey’s patent pending, ultra-thin, ultra-tough, design offers drop protection with style for city slickers.

Key features:

Built to withstand 6.6 foot (2-metre) drops onto concrete
One piece, snap-on shell design
Features Griffin’s Impact Dispersion System that deflects and absorbs impacts wherever it is
Multiple layers for one tough case which cushions and cradles the phone inside a rigid, shatterproof shell
Outer layer that’s easy to grip and slides effortlessly into pockets.
Survivor Journey is available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
Colours: Black/Blue, Black/White, Black/Gray, and Pink/Gray
Price: £24.99-£34.99.

These are brilliant iPhone cases which keep iPhones safe. A perfect gift for any adventurer. They just work.

Griffin Survivor Journey Case for iPhone 6/6S -is available here.

For the cyclist…Mio Cyclo 200 – £149.99

Easy and user friendly navigation – large control buttons and simple menu structure
OpenStreetMaps pre-installed – ready to go right out of the box
Surprise Me™ feature – just choose time or distance and the Mio Cyclo™ will offer three surprise routes to choose from
Turn-by-turn instructions – clear guidance with a sound alert to indicate every instruction
Where am I – displays the user’s exact location. In case of emergency, this function shows current address, along with longitude and latitude
Desktop application – one tool to easily manage the device, download new routes and share experiences
Long-life rechargeable batteries – up to 10 hours performance
Water resistant (IPX5) – find your way in every weather

This is an amazing gadget for any cyclists. We tested it and it really works. Never get lost cycling again. A perfect gift for any cyclists in your life. It will keep them safe and happy.

MIO Cyclo 200 GPS is available here.

For the driver…Mio MiVue 618

MiVue 618 – £99,99

Extreme HD recording – 2304 x 1296 at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high quality videos at a smaller file size
Safety camera warnings – free safety camera data with monthly updates for the lifetime of your device
GPS tracking – automatically records your driving information, including speed, altitude, longitude, latitude and heading
Wide viewing angle – 140° wide-angle lens
F1.8 lens – this results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low light conditions
3-Axis G-Sensor – records direction and force, including impact, turns and acceleration
Rotating mount design – mount is easily rotated to any desired angle
Parking mode – motion detection activates and records from a parked car with no driver present.

A really great gift for motorists. The HD recording is really high quality, it keeps you safer, has GPS tracking and even has a parking mode. A truly awesome gift. Perfect for Christmas.

Mio MiVue 618 is available here.

Anyone for Pinot Noir? By Margaret Graham

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Frost has had the great pleasure of tasting three bottles of Errazuriz’s Pinot Noir (Chile) recently, and it made us very relaxed and cheerful, let me tell you.

Pinot Noir Estate Series

The grapes for the Estate Series Pino Noir have been rigorously selected from the Errazuriz vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley and the Mediterranean climate in this area of Chile which features warm days and fresh evening breezes. This temperature oscillation in the weeks leading up to the harvest triggers an intensification of the colour of the wines.

The Estate Pinot Noir 2014’s aroma promised all that was to come, the wine felt fresh on the palate, but wholesome, and full of the flavour of red fruits. It suited the chicken dish we had, but would work as well with pasta, grilled fish, and any sort of seafood.

Errazuriz Estate Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £10.25, Majestic

Aconcagua Costa Pino Noir

There’s something special about living within easy reach of the sea, and the grapes for Aconcagua Costa Pino Noir endorse this, coming as they do from the Manzanar vineyard.

It is located barely 7.5. miles from the Pacific Ocean. The 2013-2014 weather was moderately warm, followed by a dry spring. Budbreak was delayed due to a cold spell but the cool growing conditions had the effect of a slow ripening of the grapes, leading to an intense aroma, and taste.

The grapes were hand picked, double sorted, and the final blend was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Gorgeous. It reminded me of the best of the Margaret River wines (Western Australia). We enjoyed this wine, very much.

Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £16.15, Stone Vine & Sun, Cheers Wine Merchant, Hoults, Eagle wines, Noel Young, R Campbell and Sons

Wild Ferment Pinot Noir

The grapes for this Pino Noir come from the La Escultura vineyard, located in the Casablanca Valley 32 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. Warm summer days, morning fog and fresh evening breezes that blow in from the coast allow for a gradual ripening process. This helps to preserve the grapes aroma, flavour and acidity.

This wine was my husband’s favourite. Aromas of wild strawberries, cranberries, savory dried herbs, rosemary made it pretty sublime.

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £14.35, Majestic, Booths and Grape Sense

Christmas Gift Guide For The Stylish

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Frostie

Christopher Ward Watches

Humble Rose & Frankincense Hand Wash & Hand Lotion

Natural beauty from writer and broadcaster Kate Humble’s new eco-friendly beauty brand. Rose and Frankincense is very festive and the hand wash and intense hand cream make fab stocking fillers for mums, mother in laws, those in search of the Good Life etc.! please let me know if you’d like any further info/samples etc.

Contains natural biodegradable ingredients. No paragons or SLS. Recyclable packaging and made with recycled material.

From waitrose.com

Some amazing wine from Brancott Estate.

Cover-Up Woodback iPhone Covers

Each one if crafted from real wood in a beautiful blend of technology and nature. They look amazing and are well made. They even feel great. Each one is unique because of its natural grain pattern. Stylish and high-end: what more could you want? www.cover-up.com

A Trill Seasons Box. Trill Seasons Boxes are an organic quarterly lifestyle subscription scheme that has been developed by Romy Fraser, founder of Neal’s Yard Remedies. We tried some handmade organic soap from the farm and it was divine.

For the little one…we absolutely love new London based Children’s fashion brand Mini Street Style.

Mini Street Style is a brand new (London Based) Children’s Fashion brand. http://ministreetstyle.com/

The brand says: “Based on Street Style we reach out to our on-line community to curate next season’s collections. By voting on-line we produce the items with the most votes. It’s a new approach to using the social collective.”

Żubrówka Enchanted Forest Limited Edition Sleeve

A delicious and unique vodka. Brilliant stuff.

MRRP £20.00

Available from October, while stocks last at Tesco.com, Waitrose.com and Sainsburys.co.uk

Żubrówka Vodka, the Original Bison Grass Vodka, has over 500 years of tradition and history. Żubrówka’s exceptional character is emphasized by a single bison grass blade placed in every bottle. Each blade of bison grass is hand-picked and dried under natural conditions, making each bottle of Żubrówka an exceptional gift this Christmas.

For the perfect Christmas cocktail our brand ambassador, Przemyslaw Matuszewski, suggests our legendary Apple Zu, an extraordinarily smooth and aromatic cocktail, with a festive twist.

Glass
Highball

Ingredients
50ml Żubrówka
100ml traditional pressed cloudy apple juice
Squeeze of lime

Method
Fill a highball with ice, add all the ingredients and stir
Garnish with a few slices of apple and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon to tickle your festive tastebuds.

Lastly: the wrapping paper.

WHSmith Launch Charity Gift Wraps for 2015

As part of their Christmas gift wrap this year and as a first UK retail offering, WHSmith is launching three gift wrap bundles that support charity. Each bundle has two rolls at 3M each. On the reverse side of each roll is the WHSmith cutting grid to help those wrapping cut in straight lines and measurements.

The three charity gift wrap bundles will support Marie Curie, RSPCA and Save The Children.

WHSmith Marie Curie Nordic Knit Christmas Gift Wrap

Two Rolls Per Package / Each Roll is 3M / Two designs in the package

Price per package: £3.49

Merry Christmas, from all of us at Frost.

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle