WRAP UP AGAINST POVERTY 2012

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EXCLUSIVE CELEBRITY AND DESIGNER CLOTHING AUCTIONED TO RAISE VITAL FUNDS

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012

With London Fashion Week falling at the end of February, showcasing trends for autumn and winter 2012, charity Elizabeth Finn Care is celebrating all things fashion by auctioning a selection of unique items, donated by top celebrities and designers.

At Elizabeth Finn Care, a national charity whose grants team offers financial support to those in need, we know people can struggle to afford the items of winter clothing they need to stay warm and healthy during the colder months. There are 13.5 million people living below the poverty line in the UK, among them 3.8 million children[i]. Through Wrap Up Against Poverty, money to help buy more people in financial need buy essential clothes.

The inaugural Wrap Up Against Poverty campaign was launched in 2011. Over half the people the charity helps had to go without new clothes before they made the approach. By bidding for the fabulous pieces available, the public can not only boost their style credentials but also enable people in financial need survive the winter months.

Each item available reflects both the style and personality of the individual or designer who has donated it. Bidders can go for the classic look of Sienna Miller’s Doma fleece coat, or follow in Dame Helen Mirren’s footsteps by opting for her beautiful Alberta Ferretti coat. Glamour puss Kimberley Walsh’s plush Louis Vuitton scarf will be up for grabs too, as will a beautiful Alexander McQueen suit from Fern Britton, and stylish winter coats from comedy heroes Mathew Horne and Ruth Jones. To add to a spectacular celebrity list, exclusive designer items including a golden Martina Spetlova shift dress have been donated alongside beautiful items from high street stores such as Ted Baker and Topshop.

Wrap Up Against Poverty was a huge hit in 2011, raising both funds and awareness of the fact that millions of people in the UK are living in financial need and many can’t afford to clothe themselves through winter. Wrap Up Against Poverty 2012 will be even greater and grander.

Malcolm Tyndall, Director at Elizabeth Finn Care, said: “We hope that, with the generous support of top celebrities and the fashion industry, not to mention an incredibly enthusiastic public, Wrap Up Against Poverty 2012 will enable us to help even more people find and access the help they desperately need.”

Following the move to the digital catwalk, Elizabeth Finn Care’s auction will be hosted on eBay from Thursday 26th January, and will close on Sunday 26th February. The list of donations is growing longer by the day. For more information please visit www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk/WrapUp

 

 

Oscars 2012: Full List of Nominations

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Frost always gets super-excited about the Oscars, and this year is no exception. Lots of deserving and talented people on the list. I also worked on Hugo so I want to congratulate all of the people who worked on it for their nomination. Not that I am biased….

 

Best Picture

War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Actress

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

 

Best Actor

Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Director

Michel Hazanivicus, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

 

Best Original Screenplay

Michel Hazanivicius, The Artist
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo, Bridesmaids
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation

Best Adapted Screenplay

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants
John Logan, Hugo
George Clooney, Beau Willimon and Grant Heslov, The Ides of March
Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, Moneyball
Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

 

Best Foreign Feature

Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsier Lazhar
A Separation

Best Animated Feature

A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Art Direction

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse

Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Costume Design

Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.

Documentary Feature

Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Documentary Short Subject

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Film Editing

Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Kevin Tent, The Descendants
Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Thelma Schoonmaker, Hugo
Christopher Tellefsen, Moneyball

Makeup

Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle, Albert Nobbs
Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, The Iron Lady

Music (Original Score)

John Williams, The Adventures of Tintin
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Howard Shore, Hugo
Alberto Iglesias, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
John Williams, War Horse

Music (Original Song)

“Man or Muppet” from The Muppets, Bret McKenzie
“Real in Rio” from Rio, Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown and Siedah Garrett

Sound Editing

Drive
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
War Horse

Sound Mixing

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Monyeball
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
War Horse

Visual Effects

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon

Short Film (Animated)

Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life

Short Film (Live Action)

Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic

 

 

Stowells Light Wine Review

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Light wines are big business, and one that is growing by 83% year on year, and in dark, cold January anything that has low calories and a reasonable price is a must to see you through the month.

Stowells light Wine is 60 calories per glass, 30 per cent less than a standard glass of wine. They also have less than one unit of alcohol per 125ml serving.

Stowells Light White .This wine is made from a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. It has tastes of melon, pear and apricot fruit flavours.

What I thought

I am incredibly fussy about white wine. I think some white wine tastes like battery acid, not this though. It doesn’t taste acidic, it tastes fruity, refreshing and clean. It doesn’t taste low-calorie or low-alcohol. Most importantly, it doesn’t taste cheap. This is a very good wine. I would buy this and even take it to dinner parties. It’s got an incredibly good blend of everything a white wine should be. It takes the edge of the day, and is a much healthier option.

These wines contain less calories than a packet of Malteasers.

Stowells Light Rose

A vibrant youthful pink, strawberry, raspberry and cherry fruit flavours.

What I thought

I love Rose. I have tried most of the ones on the market. When I am out I usually order Rose because I am very fussy about white wine (see above). I also have a sweet tooth and love fruity things. This Rose isn’t too sweet, a common complaint from people who are not as mad on Rose. It’s fruity and fresh. It doesn’t taste low calorie or low alcohol either. It also doesn’t taste like a dessert wine (something that a low alcohol rose is at risk from) It is a good rose for fans of rose and those who enjoy it occasionally.

Stowells Light is available from all ASDA stores nationwide for RRP £5.49.

 

Trust in Government Suffers a Severe Breakdown Across the Globe

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Credibility of Governmental Officials and CEOs Experience Biggest Drops Ever, 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer Finds Blame for the financial and political chaos of 2011 landed at the doorstep of government, as trust in that institution fell a record nine points to 43 percent globally, according to the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer.

In seventeen of the 25 countries surveyed, government is now trusted by less than half to do what is right. In twelve, it trails business, media, and non-governmental organizations as the least trusted institution. France, Spain, Brazil, China, Russia, and Japan, as well as six other countries, saw government trust drop by more than ten points. Government officials are now the least credible spokespeople, with only 29 percent considering them credible. Nearly half of the general population — the first time the Barometer looked at this broader group — say they do not trust government leaders to tell the truth.

“Business is now better placed than government to lead the way out of the trust crisis,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO, Edelman. “But the balance must change so that business is seen both as a force for good and an engine for profit.”

Although business experienced fewer and generally less severe declines in trust, it has its own hurdles to clear. Trust in business fell globally from 56 percent to 53 percent, with countries like France and Germany, in the heart of the Eurozone economic crisis, experiencing double-digit decreases. Lack of confidence in business spread to South Korea, where trust dropped 15 points. China was the only country to see a significant increase in trust in business, rising from 61 to 71 percent.

CEO credibility declined 12 points to 38 percent, its biggest drop in nine years. In South Korea and Japan, it dropped by 34 and 43 points, respectively.

In the midst of this systemic decline in trust, a “person like me” has re-emerged as one of the three most credible spokespeople, with the biggest increase in credibility since 2004, and now trails only academics and technical experts. Regular employees jumped from least credible spokesperson to tied for fourth on the list, with a 16-point record rise. Social-networking, micro-blogging, and content-sharing sites witnessed the most dramatic percentage increase as trusted sources of information about a company, rising by 88, 86, and 75 percent, respectively.

“This is further evidence of the dispersion of authority,” said Mr. Edelman. “Smart businesses will talk to employees first, because citizens now trust one another more than they do established institutions.”

The 2012 Trust Barometer reveals that the factors responsible for shaping current trust levels are less important than those that will build future trust.  Consistent financial returns, innovative products and highly regarded senior leadership are the primary factors on which current trust levels lie. However, listening to customer feedback and putting customers ahead of profits are far more vital to building future trust.

“Our analysis shows that the operational factors driving present trust in business aren’t enough to expand trust in the future,” said Neal Flieger, chair, Strategy One, Edelman’s research firm. “The path forward requires more of a focus on societal and employee-facing issues.”

Although business is substantially more trusted than government, 49 percent of global respondents believe government does not regulate business enough. Nearly one-third want government to protect them from irresponsible business practices and one-quarter want regulation that will ensure responsible corporate behavior. “The interventions people are asking government to take are changes business can step up and implement on its own,” said Mr. Edelman.

Once again, banks and financial services declined in trust, and were the two least trusted sectors with France, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea recording the most severe drops.  Technology remained the most trusted sector globally.

Media, the one institution to see an increase, saw its global trust level rise above 50 percent. It experienced significant regional upticks in India (20 points), the U.S. (18 points), the UK (15 points) and Italy (12 points).

“As the media landscape dimensionalizes and delivers a wider range of options, it is becoming more trusted,” said Alan VanderMolen, President and CEO, Global Practices and Diversified Insights Business, Edelman. “The media also did an exceptional job this past year of covering the financial problems throughout the EU.”

In Japan, site of last March’s earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster, trust fell severely in three of the four institutions including government (down 26 points), media (12 points), and NGOs (21 points). That loss of trust extended to five industry sectors, including energy (down 46 points), media (21 points), banks (20 points) and financial services (17 points).

“The fragility of trust was never more evident than this past year in Japan, where the government’s lack of leadership and the local utility’s poor transparency revealed huge shortcomings in the command-and-control approach to communications,” said Mr. Edelman.

 

Other key findings from the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer include:

  • The United States held steady across three major institutions, unlike last year when it posted significant declines in NGOs, media, business, and government.
  • Traditional media and online search engines are the most trusted sources of information for people searching for general news and information, new product information, news on an environmental crisis, and company announcements. Traditional media, TV, newspapers, and magazines are still the most trusted sources of information, according to the Barometer.
  • Among 18-29 year olds, digital media is the most popular source for general news and information.
  • With the exception of technology and automotive, South Korea experienced extraordinary drops in trust in every industry sector. Telecommunications, down 32 points to 39 percent, and financial services, down 25 points to 39 percent, endured the largest drops in trust.
  • Brazil saw the greatest drops in trust across all major institutions – government (53 points), NGOs (down 31 points), business (18 points), and media (12 points). At the time of last year’s Trust Barometer, Brazil had just been awarded the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics and President Dilma Rousseff had just been elected. This year’s declines represent a return to normalcy for businesses and the arrest of four government officials for corruption.

Five Steps to Losing Weight and Debt in the New Year.

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MMI offers practical advice for losing weight and debt in the New Year.

Every New Year, shedding weight and debt is at the top of the list for millions of people resolving to change for the better. According to a recent Times Report, these two are also among the most often broken resolutions.

While experts have offered numerous techniques and strategies for losing weight and paying down debt, the fundamental lifestyle change remains consistent for both – consume less.  Financial stability begins with spending less than you make, followed by paying more on what you owe.  Losing weight begins with consuming fewer calories, and becoming more active.

If you are among the millions vowing to finally achieve a healthy waistline and a healthy bottom-line, consider the following five steps:

  1. Make the commitment.  When considering any lifestyle adjustment, the first step is to decide – are you ready to make the commitment to do what it takes to improve your health and financial wellbeing?  Are you ready to accept responsibility for changing your situation?  Do you believe that you can and will change the way you make decisions about food and money? It isn’t until you can truthfully answer yes to these questions that you will be ready to face the challenges of creating a healthier physical and fiscal life.
  2. Create a plan.  Creating a budget and a meal plan starts with tracking – tracking expenses and tracking calories.  Consider carrying a pocket notebook for noting every penny spent and calorie consumed.  Review your results and look for areas where you should and can make cut backs.
  3. Develop SMART goals .  One of the most important pieces to being successful in these areas is to set clear goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, rewarding and trackable.  Remember to create short-term, or milestone, goals as well as a target accomplishment.  If your ultimate goal is to become debt free, celebrate when you pay off 25 percent.  The same goes with weight lost. If you aspire to lose 50lbs., acknowledge every 5 to 10lbs. as an accomplishment.
  4. Eliminate temptations.  Once you have a clear calorie and spending budget outlined, remove any obstacles that may hinder your success.  Don’t carry your credit cards in your wallet and don’t keep high calorie sweets in the house.  Leave your cards at home in a safe place and only take them out when you have a planned purchase and payoff strategy.  The same applied with food temptations.  If you know you’re going to be in an environment where you’ll be tempted to indulge, eat a light snack before you leave the house.
  5. Stay flexible. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see the pounds or debt melting away as quickly as you had hoped.  Change doesn’t happen overnight, and there are no quick fixes. The important thing is to remain flexible and committed. If you aren’t meeting your goals, revisit and adjust your plans as often as necessary.

Remember, you are human and set-backs are inevitable.  However, if you are truly committed to doing what it takes to meet your goals, you can accomplish anything.  To learn more about staying committed to your New Year’s resolutions, visit MoneyManagement.org and down New Beginnings , one of MMI’s free eBooks.

THE ERA OF iPARENTING

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New mums turn to the internet for parenting advice

 

New mums are more likely to log on than go to their own mums for parenting advice, according to a new report released today.

 

A resounding eight in 10 mums (80%) turn to Google, parenting forums or Facebook before asking their own mums for advice (44%), according to the research commissioned by Growingupmilkinfo.com, a new website for parents providing information about toddler growth and development.

 

Psychologist Doctor Richard Woolfson comments: “The internet continues to be a growing influence with popular forums likes Mumsnet and Netmums being a key advice resource for new mums, whilst a third of mums (33%) head to Google for parenting advice. This is good because it means parents have immediate access to valuable advice, exactly when they need it.

 

“Unfortunately, that also means the traditional source of parenting support – from grandma and grandpa – is less popular. This is partly due to the younger generations moving further away from where they grew up so parents and grandparents are less likely to live around the corner than they used to.”

 

The Online Generation

Mothers over the age of 35 were most likely (71%) to rely on the internet for support and advice. However, the social network savvy under 25s were the biggest Facebook users for parenting queries (15% versus 9% national average).

 

Dr Woolfson continues: “Thirty years ago your family probably would have lived in the next street but now they might live on the other side of the country or even the other side of the world. Yet I still tell new parents to ask granny and grandpa for their advice. You don’t have to take it but there’s no harm in listening.”

 

Our Regional Differences

  • Southampton mums are the most reliant on friends and family for advice with three in four (75%) relying on their expertise, compared to less than half in Newcastle (44%)
  • Welsh mums are the least dependent on forums, with less than a third (29% versus 38% national average) relying on this source, compared to almost half (47%) the mums in Plymouth
  • Mums in the capital are twice as likely to tap video sharing site YouTube for tips and advice (10% versus 5% national average) while the opposite could be said of mums in the Scottish capital with one in five Edinburgh mums going it alone, asking advice from no one
  • Facebook is heavily used by mums in Brighton with more than a fifth (21%) seeking advice from Facebook friends, higher than any other city in the UK

 

Nutritionist Amanda Ursell comments: “With nearly eight out of 10 parents unaware that toddlers have different nutritional needs to adults, it is clear more needs to be done to help parents understand what nutrition they need to fuel their toddlers’ amazing growth and development. The toddler years are often overlooked but, thanks to the internet, a greater level of information is more widely available from a variety of sources including other mums, a wider network of friends, experts, brands, Governments and researchers.”

 

‘New’ Wives Tales

But new mums shouldn’t be too hasty to dismiss the wise adages of past generations, as experts confirm some of the ‘old wives’ tales’ are grounded in real facts. Nutritionist Amanda Ursell explains the truth behind some popular old sayings:

 

  • An apple a day keeps the doctor away. According to Amanda Ursell, “apples are great because they give us both soluble and insoluble fibre, as well as some vitamin C and a host of super nutrients. Obviously though, toddlers need to get a balanced diet that combines all major food groups. Between the ages of one to three, toddlers undergo an extraordinary period of growth and development and their nutrition needs are at least double an adult’s, relative to their size.”

 

  • Grow big and strong, like Popeye, by eating your spinach. “Spinach is a rich source of iron but it also includes a substance which makes it hard for the body to absorb this essential nutrient. Toddlers need a lot of iron – four times the amount of an adult for their size – but this can be from a range of sources. Good sources of iron include red meat, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs and hummus. One easy way to give toddlers some of the key nutrients they need is to use fortified foods and drinks, such as Growing Up Milk.”

 

  • Carrots help you see in the dark. “This was really a piece of World War II propaganda and it isn’t actually true but it’s certainly true that carrots can be part of a healthy balanced diet. They provide one of your 5-a-day and are a good source of beta-carotene, which is converted in your body to vitamin A – an essential vitamin.”

 

  • Take cod liver oil for your joints. “Cod liver oil is rich in vitamin D, which is needed for the growth and development of bones. However, it isn’t recommended for children these days. Other sources of vitamin D that children can eat include fortified foods like breakfast cereals or Growing Up Milk, as well as foods like egg yolks or oily fish.”

 

Growing Up Milk is made from cows’ milk enriched with key nutrients that toddlers need like vitamins A, C and D, iron and calcium. Giving your Little One-der two 150ml beakers of Growing Up Milk each day is an easy way to help provide them with the extra nutrients they need, as part of a healthy balanced diet.

What Dress Size Are You?

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One of Frost’s favourite things this week was being told about this site, that lets you know what dress size you are, by our writer Alexa Brown. It is a great site where you just move the tab around and it tells you what dress size you are in all of the different stores. From Top Shop to Jigsaw. Have fun!

You can also follow the creator on Twitter

Pizza Express New Leggera Launch Event

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I have always been a huge fan of Pizza Express. Ever since I was a small child I have admired the skill of the chefs as they created their pizzas and I confess I have always wanted to try making one.

You can therefore imagine my excitement when Frost was invited to a demonstration event of Pizza Expresses new Leggera range. Frequent Pizza Express visitors will already be familiar with the Leggera pizzas. A Leggera pizza has the same quantity of toppings as a normal pizza but cuts out a lot of the dough from the centre and replaces it with a scrumptious salad. The result is, a much healthier pizza, more delicious and guilt free pizza with under 500 calories. Following its initial success Pizza Express has now expanded its Leggera range to include five more pizzas.

We arrived at the Pizza Express in Islington to a very warm welcome. After a few drinks we were treated to a demonstration on how to make a Leggera by the extremely skilful and very friendly Leo. The pizza Leo made was the Padana (Tomato Sauce, Spinach, Onions, Goats Cheese, Garlic Oil, Oregano and Black Pepper).

The finished pizza is a work of art 

Next it’s our turn. We get to choose which Pizza we want to make from one of the new Leggera options.

Pomodoro Pesto – Light mozzerella and marinated santos tomatoes with fresh basil, pesto and garlic oil

Padana – Spinach, goats cheese and caramelised onions

Pollo Ad Astra – Chicken, sweet peppadew peppers, cajun spices, red onions and garlic oil

American/American Hot – Pepperoni, Mozzarella and Fresh Tomato

Gustosa – Prosciutto cotto ham, light mozzarella and Portobello mushrooms with red peppers

We both go for the Pollo Ad Astra. This is already one of my favourite pizzas and now I have the chance to try it as a Leggera. We arrive at our table greeted by Luigi a friendly young Italian chef who is there to watch over us. First we have to cut and roll the dough into a pizza base. This is much harder than you might imagine. Sure enough, rather than a perfect circle, my base sticks out horribly on one side. Luigi politely offers suggestions. I ask him how long it takes for him to make one and he says the whole pizza is usually finished in five minutes!

With my base roughly the right shape, I’m told to take my dough and fling it between my hands to remove excess flour. Despite our mistakes the whole process is the most fun I’ve had in ages.

15 minutes later our dough is in the pizza tins. We use a cutter to remove a large amount of dough from the centre of our pizzas and it’s on to the ingredients. I greedily add extra bits of everything, particularly the garlic oil which I love. Our pizzas are then whisked off to the oven where it only takes four minutes to cook them. Some rocket, beautiful ricotta salata cheese and balsamic dressing and our pizza is finished.

And wow it tasted amazing. There is something about Pizza Express pizzas (and I’m sure it’s the quality of ingredients) which has always put them far ahead of their rivals. Other pizzas never come close in taste.

My Pollo Ad Astra is delicious. The base is beautifully thin and crispy and provides the perfect platform for the wonderful combination of the succulent chicken mozzarella, tomato sauce, sweet peppers and red onions. The cajun spice gives the dish a delicious extra kick. The addition of the Leggera element provides a wonderful contrast. The rocket and dressing gives the dish a better balance. All in all the PERFECT PIZZA!

As we happily tuck in we are joined by the wonderful Juliet  who is a nutritionist. She tells us all the pizzas have under 500 calories despite having the same amount of ingredients as the classic pizzas. This is because of less dough and a scrumptious new lower fat mozzarella they are now using. She also introduces us to the delightful Leggera wines. All with lower calories and slightly less alcohol content. The red being 9.5% and the white 9%. They are delicious and we have soon finished our glasses.

The whole evening was a wonderful experience. It was incredibly well organised and everyone was extremely warm and friendly as I have always found Pizza Express to be.

This is a great British company with real authentic Italian cooking. It offers great value for money. Pizza Express never feels like a chain. Why settle for a shoddy alternative with poor quality ingredients.