Win a new igbloo; music’s latest innovation which has been picked up by BAFTA.

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THIS COMPETITION HAS CLOSED. Please click on the ‘competition’ tag for other competitions you can enter. Thank you.

 

Frost are bringing you the opportunity to be one of the first to receive an all NEW igbloo; music’s latest innovation which has been picked up by BAFTA.

BAFTA have backed the latest gadget to the market, igbloo, by inviting them to become an official gift partner to the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2014win a igbloo. Banishing tinny tunes and dodgy docks for good, igbloo from Stage One Technology – the innovators behind the all NEW Bluetooth music receiver – will bring music to the ears of Hollywood’s A-List, such as Kate Winslet, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.

 

Having only launched last week on kickstarter.com, the response from the public and media alike has been overwhelming, with people pre-ordering to secure their place at the front of the queue on igbloo’s launch day.

To have the chance to be the first of TEN lucky winners who will receive this latest gadget before anyone else , all you have to do is tweet the below to enter – the more you tweet the more chances you get!

“The BAFTAs are backing @igbloo, are you? http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stage1tec/igbloo-no-more-tinny-tunes-no-more-dodgy-docks”

Spanx Launch Denim Collection | Fashion News

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Spanx have some exciting news; they are expanding their slimming empire by unveiling skinny jeans complete with their secret shaping technology. These gorgeous denim jeans have combined the ease of a legging, the classic look of jeans and the shaping power of SPANX to create ‘revolutionary denim leggings that keep you slim and on trend.’

The jeans have a wide, slimming waistband and side sipper to ensure a flat fit, smooth silhouette and comfortable shaping. The faux front pockets make thighs appear slimmer while carefully-placed back pockets have been added to create a more pert rear.

spanx, spanx launch denim collection

nx launch denim collection, spanx,

nx launch denim collection, Spanx

At a cost of £63-£100 these gorgeous styles are available on spanx.co.uk and in Harrods, Selfridges and NEXT. Styles come in the following colourways: Wax Denim, Teal, Indigo Wash, Blue Lapis, Brick and Black.

Will you be buying some?

Investment Trusts by John Baron | Book Review

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investmenttrustsWhen I first saw the title of this book, ‘Investment Trusts’. I thought that it would be quite a dry read. I was very wrong. This is a well written and easy to read guide to investment trusts. A must read for investors and financial advisers.

John Baron presents an extremely compelling case for investing in investment trusts instead of the more common and traditional unit trusts/ mutual funds.

As a very basic overview.

Unit trusts are open ended (except  funds from new investors) and trade at their net asset value

Investment trusts trade like shares on an exchange. They are closed ended (don’t accept new investor funds) and can trade at a discount or premium to their actual net asset values.

The book does a much better job of explaining the differences and goes into a lot more detail. Baron examines the factors which explain why unit trusts/OEICs under perform investment trusts. He clearly presents the opportunities which many investors may be missing out on.

The book is well researched (Baron has worked in the industry for many years). It is clear easy to understand, jargon free and well structured. It is difficult to argue with any of the authors conclusions. The book also has extra tips for successful investing and information on how to construct and monitor a trust portfolio. This is a must read for any investor who currently only invests in mutual funds. I’m not surprised it has a flawless record of 5 star reviews on Amazon.

5/5

Financial Times Guide to Investment Trusts: Unlocking the City’s Best Kept Secret is available here.

 

 

‘Adventures In World Cinema’ Revealed As Theme of Cinecity, The 11th Brighton Film Festival

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 14 Nov – 1 Dec 2013
www.cine-city.co.uk
Adventures in World Cinema has been announced as the theme of CINECITY, The 11th Brighton Film Festival, which opens on Thursday 14 November with a special preview of Alexander Payne’s bittersweet and award-winning road movie Nebraska.

Alexander Payne's nebraska Brighton film festival

The festival runs until Sunday 1 December and features a packed programme of premieres, previews, treasures from the archive and free education screenings.

Opening night is always a highlight of CINECITY, which last year featured Colin Farrell in Seven Psychopaths; so there are high expectations for Nebraska, which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where leading man Bruce Dern was crowned Best Actor.

Tickets for all screenings go on sale on 25 October and events take place across the city of Brighton & Hove; but principal venues are the Duke of York’s Picturehouse and, for the first time, a new two-screen cinema at Dukes@Komedia.

As always the festival celebrates not only home-grown cinema, including films from Brighton-based directors, but looks further afield – and this year’s CINECITY features the most international selection to date, with films from Singapore, Laos, Kurdistan, China, Iran, India, Israel, Mexico, as well as Poland, Czech Republic, Scandinavia, France and the US.

Many of the films come garlanded with awards from major international film festivals including A Touch of Sin, winner of Best Screenplay at this year’s Cannes; and The Rocket, winner of Audience Awards at Sydney, Melbourne and Tribeca Film Festivals and Best First Feature at the Berlin Film Festival.

Continuing the international theme, a major celebration of the work of the legendary Czech surrealist Jan Švankmajer is at the heart of the festival – including an exhibition at the University of Brighton that features sets, puppets, costumes, and artwork from many of his acclaimed films including Alice, Punch and Judy and Little Otik that were a major influence on directors such Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam and the Quay Brothers.

To complement the exhibition, CINECITY presents a complete retrospective of Jan Švankmajer’s six feature films and 26 shorts alongside a programme of talks and discussions.

The festival concludes with a screening of The Double, a doppelganger comedy drama from director Richard Ayoade, at the Duke of York’s on Sunday 1 December.

The 2013 Festival sponsors include Carpenter Box LLP, Exhibit Print, Facilitate, Griffith Smith Farrington Webb LLP, La Cave a Fromage, Midnight Communications, Propellernet, Robinson Low Francis LLP, South Downs Solar and are supported by MyHotel, One Digital and The Brighton Film School.

Chor Bizarre Celebrates Indian Cinema With Launch of The Basement

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Chor Bizarre - Bollywood BasementChor Bizarre is a favourite restaurant of ours here at Frost. In fact it was one of the first restaurants we ever reviewed.

Inspired by the thieves market in India, Chor Bizarre, one of London’s iconic fine-dining restaurants serving authentic Indian cuisine is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a new Head Chef and a new menu. The restaurant has been refurbished and has now launched its new private dining area, the Bollywood Basement. To toast the centenary of the Indian Film Industry, Chor Bizarre has created this specially-designed decadent entertainment space. The room can accommodate up to 30 guests and can be booked for private parties and day-long conferences.

The Bollywood Basement is a ‘Bollywood-themed Party Room’ which oozes glamour in its Indian-cinema inspired decor. With jewel-like chandeliers and gold walls with opulent gilded frames and etched mirrors, this is the perfect Party Room to compliment Chor Bizarre’s eclectic menu. The Bollywood Basement is a passage into the world of Bollywood with walls dedicated to the greatest film icons. The much-loved faces of Hindi film heroes and heroines, villains, vamps and legendary romantic couples surround you. Along with the owner’s personal collection – most of the photographs of Indian Cinema icons are by legendary lensman, the late Gautam Rajadhyaksha.

The restaurant presents itself as an ideal location for fine-dining corporate events, full-day conferences, birthdays and other gatherings that require an extra glam quotient in a ‘Bollywood-bling’ surrounding. In addition to the Bollywood Basement, other spaces within Chor Bizarre can also be hired for exclusive and bespoke private dining, luncheon meetings, dinner parties and weekend events.

The iconic restaurant has teamed up with the award-winning Rhubarb Food Design to bring the very best cuisine, service and style to any special occasion. Chor Bizarre has partnered with Rhubarb for caterings at the V&A, Old Billingsgate and over 60 of Rhubarb’s other venues. The Chor Bizarre menu offers the entire pantheon of Indian cuisine, from Kashmir to Kerala. The restaurant can cater from small sit-down dinners to serving gourmet cuisine at large-events of up to 2000 guests. Chor Bizarre’s previous roll call of honour includes catering at the Cannes International Film Festival, The Ritz Paris and at the Conservative Friends event for UK Prime Minister David Cameron, amongst innumerable other events.

Located on Albemarle Street Mayfair, Chor Bizarre offers a distinctive ambience with imaginative flair. Inspired by the ‘Thieves Market’, a market unique to most ancient Indian cities, the whole restaurant is infused with distinctive and eye-catching décor. The gorgeous furnishings are a collector’s delight, sourced from the various bazaars of India and tastefully arranged to please the eye. Vintage furniture, antiques, innovative touches such as a canopied old-world four poster bed for seating, combined with old-world memorabilia and heritage fabrics, create an arresting landscape for an unforgettable meal.

It’s not surprising that Chor Bizarre, the London brand of New Delhi’s eternal favourite, has been adjudged ‘One of the 50 most romantic places in the world’ and included amongst ‘The Top 10 Restaurants in London for Fun and Atmosphere’ by The Independent, as well as ‘The Best North Indian Restaurant in the UK’ by The Cobra Good Curry Guide.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Winter Coat

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coat, shopping, winter coat. Finding the perfect winter coat is a time consuming and stressful business. So Frost has gotten ShopStyle to unearth the definitive trends for you, revealing the must-have items for the month

Each month ShopStyle, the web’s premier fashion search engine, will reveal a trend that has featured high up, or has made a surprise jump on the search term list. Gemma Cartwright POPSUGAR Fashion and Beauty Editor, will also offer a lesson in fashion terminology with a glossary of monthly ‘it’ words to help you hone in on that trend.

It may come as no surprise that the 90’s inspired parka, fur collar pea coat or pink wool coat fall in the top search terms this month. Whether it’s magenta mohair or pastel winter wool, the pink coat is the most coveted item for autumn/winter 2013.

Gemma says “When hunting online for your pink coat try not to see everything through rose-tinted glasses and ensure you consider the style, fabric and hue to ensure you don’t end up looking like a giant marshmallow. With so much variety on the market there is something to suit everyone, so if you’re not a girly girl, try a masculine tailored silhouette in a blush pink shade.”

In order to track down the right pink coat for you, Gemma Cartwright has developed a list of terms that will make your fashion shopping experience a whole lot simpler.

“Fashion vernacular is something of a minefield for most of us. Unless your name is Anna Wintour how can you be expected to know what an ‘ovoid mohair boyfriend coat’ is supposed to look like? When we analyse search terms we can see that entering a variety of terms can give fashion hunters the best results. Here are some words that will help you think pink and hone in on the trend of the month.”

Boyfriend coats have an androgynous fit that will glide over your waist and hips, and can be designed in any length. This classic style will take you from one season to next, and can look great with both work wear and skinny jeans and a blouse for a more casual feel.

Oversized styles are fairly obvious, enlarged and masculine; an ideal style to wear over chunky knitwear and extra layers. Try adding a belt for a waist-cinching effect.

Maxi coats are longer length, gender neutral and scantly fitted usually.


Wrap coats are universally flattering on all body types and sizes – think Diane von Furstenburg’s iconic wrap dress. They are unlikely to have buttons, just a wrap around with a belt perhaps.

Cocoon is a style ‘it word’ that’s been thrown around frequently of late, but the cocoon shape coat does exactly that; it envelops you in a cosy, comfortable clinch.

Ovoid meaning egg-shaped, is a new term to the fashion industry this year. Essentially ovoid encompasses all of the above, so if your search isn’t locating exactly what you want, try ovoid.

Coatigan is equally on-trend in fashion slang this season; part wrap, part boyfriend and part oversized. Give this a go and hopefully you’ll find ‘the one’.

Are you inspired? What do you think you will buy?

Monica Vinader #JoyofGifting Campaign Launch Event

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WHAT:  Monica Vinader Launches the #JoyofGifting Winter ’13 Campaign

WHEN: Thursday 17th October 2013, 5-9pm

WHERE: 56 Wells Street, London, W1T 3PT

Luxury jewellery designer Monica Vinader and global fashion icon Caroline Issa hosted a party to celebrate the launch of Monica’s #JoyofGifting Winter ’13 campaign, featuring Jade Parfitt and Candice Lake

WHO:

Who: Monica Vinader, Caroline Issa, Candice Lake, Jo Whiley, Emilia Wickstead, Lisa Snowdon, Amber Atherton, Donna Air, Sarah-Ann Macklin, Jenni Falconer, Martha Ward and Melissa Odabash

WHAT THEY ATE:
– Beetroot macaroon with rosemary goats cheese
– Feta, black olive and sumac on watermelon
– Soy cured butternut carpaccio roll with smoked chicken and mango
– Mulled spiced salmon with caviar and vodka crème fraiche

WHAT THEY DRANK:

Hedgerow Sling
Apple and ginger Mojito
Pomegranate Crush
Kir Royale
Nyetimber English sparkling wine

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Above: Caroline Issa, Candice Lake and Monica Vinader; Donna Air; Lisa Snowdon; Amber Atherton; Sarah Ann Macklin

Jade Parfitt and Candice Lake Jade Parfitt and Candice Lake

Stop Worry In Its Tracks — Seven Ways To Keep Calm And Carry On

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cat pictureBritain is on the verge of a stress epidemic. One in five adults now worries for at least 60 minutes every day, and more than seven million Brits are believed to have a certifiable anxiety disorder. Even low-level worry can negatively impact work, home and quality of life and it’s a situation that costs the UK economy over £6.5billion each year.

But you don’t have to put up with your anxieties a day longer. Here, UK ‘Worry Tzars’ Professor Daniel Freeman and Jason Freeman — authors of new Pearson stress management guide How to Keep Calm and Carry On — provide seven simple but effective anxiety-fighting tips to help win the war against worry.

PUT YOUR FEARS TO THE TEST

Anxiety is the brain’s way of alerting us to potential dangers and equipping us to deal with them. Avoidance of dangers is perfectly reasonable, but not when the fears are unrealistic. Avoiding these fears means that you never put your anxiety to the test. When what you fear doesn’t occur, we assume it is because of the safety measures you’ve taken. You ignore the simplest explanation: the problem wasn’t very likely in the first place. So meet new people or confront your fear of water or dogs etc.

2.      THOUGHTS ARE NOT FACTS

It is important to remember that just because you think something, it doesn’t make it a reality. The brain makes its judgement extremely rapidly, and it’s not always correct. You may think your neighbour doesn’t like you, or worry that you’re less intelligent than your work colleagues, but it is entirely possibly – and usually more likely – that you are mistaken.

3.      CONSIDER ALL THE EVIDENCE

When thinking about your fears and anxieties make sure you give equal weight to each piece of evidence, rather than giving extra credence to those that support your fears. By acknowledging both sides of the argument you will see irrational worries for what they really are, and overcome them.

WRITE DOWN YOUR FEARS

Three or four times a week write down your fears. Do it in a way that a stranger could read and understand them. This stops irrational fear floating around in your mind. It is as if you physically get the worries out of your head and onto paper.

SCHEDULE YOUR WORRY

Some people can’t stop worrying – no matter what. Therefore set aside a period every day of about 15 minutes and dedicate that to worrying. Choose an uncomfortable spot, a hard chair, or a stool – to ensure you are not relaxing. Then, think through your worries. Don’t run over the 15 minutes and train your brain that this is the period for irrational worrying. If you worry about things during the day, try to put them out of your mind until your designated worry period.

 THINK OF A POSITIVE MEMORY

You cannot stop worries occurring, but you CAN develop techniques and coping strategies to stop them controlling your life. One very simple but powerful technique is to think of a positive memory. When you feel anxious, recall a similar situation involving the best outcome rather than the worst.

7.      REMEMBER TO RELAX

Many scientific studies have shown a strong link between exercise and stress reduction, so make some time in your daily routine to relax body and mind. Utilise proven relaxation techniques such as yoga, or light to moderate exercise . . . then Keep Calm and Carry On!

 

How to Keep Calm and Carry On: Inspiring Ways to Worry Less and Live a Happier Life by Daniel & Jason Freeman (Pearson) is out now, priced £10.99, from Amazon and all good book shops.