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

Christmas Gift List For Your Brother

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Frostie

Kingston Technology 8GB Micro SD

Because you can never have enough storage.

Kingston 8GB Micro SD is available here.

Cross Star Wars Pen

A great lifetime gift. We love this Star Wars click pen.

Cross Star Wars Click Pen is available here.

Framed by Ronnie O’Sullivan

A great debut crime novel from the sporting genius.

Framed is available here.

Mio MiVue 618 Dash Cam

Has extreme HD recording, GPS tracking, wide angle viewing and safety camera warning. A great present that will keep your loved one safe.

Mio MiVue 618 Car Dash Cam is available here.

Stocking Filler Ideas For Christmas

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Frostie

Let’s be honest, Christmas is just not the same without a stocking. Here are our picks.

Pure Reship Oil from Nelsons

Pure Rosehip Oil is a must have. Made from 100% pure Rosehip Oil, cold pressed to create the highest grade product, the richness of the Rosehip makes it wonderful for dry skin. Rosehip Oil was also reportedly favoured by Kate Middleton during her second pregnancy making her look radiant throughout, so it’s the perfect stocking filler for those who love to take care of their skin.

You can even keep a cool head over the busy festive period with Rescue Plus Lozenge. Whether you’redoing final checks on the turkey or flitting between family members, ensuring their Christmas spirit is still going strong, Rescue PlusLozenge has a soothing orange and elderflower liquid centre and contains pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) which helps support normal mental performance.

Christmas can be a hectic time, so help friends and family take a moment to unwind and enjoy the festivities, by putting Rescue Plus Spearmint Chewing Gum in their stockings. With the act of chewing suggested to help calm and relax the mind, RESCUE Spearmint Chewing Gum, with its liquid flower essences centre, is both a handbag and desk essential.

The winter months can often be harsh on hands and skin, so treat your friends and family to Nelsons Calendula Cream in their stockings this Christmas. Containing natural extract of calendula and known for its skin conditioning properties, it will leave their hands and skin in tip top condition, ensuring they look and feel their best throughout the festive period.

RESCUE, Nelsons arnicare and Nelsons Calendula are all available from Sainsbury’s, independent pharmacies and health food stores, grocery stores nationwide and online at www.amazon.co.uk.

We are fans of all.

Lord & Berry Crayon Lipstick

Lord & Berry 20100 Lipstick Crayon’s are streamlined lipstick pencils, the perfect size to fit in your travel makeup bag. They’re small in size but pack a punch with colour. Perfect stocking gifts.

by Sainsbury’s Small Hot Water Bottle with Socks

We really loves these. So comfy and fluffy. from sainsburys.co.uk

By Sainsbury’s sweet shop
Great retro sweets in great jars and a caddy. A good gift from sainsburys.co.uk

by Sainsbury’s Copper Coated Measuring Cups

Take the guess work out of cooking with these beautiful, yet functional measuring cups. From sainsburys.co.uk

Paw Paw Papaya

A great moisturising balm from Australia. Enriched with Bio Active Manuka Honey 20+, this is a topical balm that soothes, relieves and moisturises dry, sensitive skin. Great for chapped lips. It has no parabens and no sulphates. It can even be used on children and those with eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

Jojoba 100% Natural Jojoba + Rosehip Oil

Wonderful stuff that makes a difference to skin. 100% natural. Great for dry skin, strechmarks, scars and hair. Can be used on all skin types.

PMB Moustache Wax

One for the well groomed men. Pall Mall Barbers Sandalwood & Clove Moustache Wax

A must-have product for men with facial hair, the moustache wax is designed with only the finest ingredients in mind. Naturally found in essential oils, our firm hold wax helps keep your moustache fixed in place all day long, as well as helping to moisturise and neaten the facial hair. Developed with their classic signature London barber fragrance of sandalwood and clove, skin is left with a subtle scent lasting all day long. Available from Pall Mall Barbers stores and http://www.pallmallbarbers.co.uk

No Stocking would be complete without some sweet stuff. We recommend…

Mr Stanley’s Salted Almond Brittle

A bit different and very yummy.

Mr Stanley’s White Chocolate Matches With Popping Candy

Unique and delicious. The popping candy is very subtle.

Mr Stanley’s Salted Chocolate Truffle Fudge

These were wolfed down quickly at Frost HQ. The best fudge we have ever tasted.

Mr Stanley’s Gummy Gingerbread Men

Original and they taste great.

All from mrstanleys.co.uk

Carluccio’s Fichi Al Rhum

Chocolate coated fig, rum and walnut bar. Wonderfully boozy. Perfect for Christmas. A winner.

Swizzles Drumsticks

A classic.

Swizzles Drumstick Squashies

Another classic but with a (relatively) new twist. We LOVE these.

The Best Books For Children This Christmas

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Beatrix Potter Fashion Designer Collection

Five of Beatrix Potter’s best-loved tales with new covers, notes and endpapers from influential fashion designers including Henry Holland, Preen and Orla Kiely. The perfect stocking-filler.

The Tales of: Squirrel Nutkin, Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck
£6.99 each

We particularly loved The Tale of Tom Kitten, designed by The Rodnik Band and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, designed by Preen. Gorgeous covers and classic stories.

The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin and the other Beatrix Potter Designer Editions are available here.)

#beatrix150

My Encyclopaedia of Very Important Things. For little learners who want to know everything.

A really wonderful book that entertains and educates in equal measure. Perfect for inquisitive children, it has great photography and illustrations. It also supports the KS1 National Curriculum. Divided into six sections: my planet, places, animals, people, me and other very important things. A great book.

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things is available here.

Lego Star Wars Build Your Own Adventure

A real treat for the over-8s. Lego Star Wars Build Your Own Adventure includes a rebel pilot mini figure and exclusive Y-wing Star Fighter. It also has tips and ideas on how to build other LEGO Star Wars models. It has over 50 building ideas. Will make your child’s eyes light up on Christmas day.

LEGO Star Wars Build Your Own Adventure is available here.

How to be a Cat by Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar

Children can be a lot like cats. They love milk, always sit in boxes and love playing with string. This a fun and happy book. Great illustrations and observations. From the super successful husband and wife team Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar.

How to be a Cat: The Definitive Guide is available here.

Christmas Gift List For Mum

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Frostie

Christmas gifts for mums. Because they are AWESOME.

Fluffy dog slippers

We love these cute and comfortable slippers. They keep your feet warm. Babies love them too. Batting away at them with glee.

Slip your feet into the ultimate in warm, fluffy comfort with these super-cute dog slipper socks. One size fits most feet up to women’s size 7. PVC sole with multi grip for slip resistance.

Total Price: £14.99

Woodland Bear Candle Tin

Cute and smells great. We really loved this.

Long lasting and highly concentrated woodland spice scented candle with aromas of cedar, ginger, clove and cinnamon. 100% soy wax infused with pure beeswax, a natural ioniser. Lead free, double wick that leaves a clean even burn. Burn time 70+ hours. Presented in a gift tin with a bear illustration. Size: 92 x 92 x 50mm. Total Price: £14.99.

Sparkling Jewellery To The Moon And Back Necklace

Perfect for telling mum just how much you love her. From www.sparklingjewellery.co.uk

Cashmere Me Warm Hug Comforting Candle

A beautiful and comforting candle. Smells great.

Fake Bake Cashmere MeWarm Hug Comforting Candle, £20.00

This comfortingcandle with its double wick, creates more than just a scent, it creates an inviting ambience that envelops the senses, giving that warm hug feeling that’s like being wrapped in cashmere. Relax, unwind and take some time out.

SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit

Because mum is too tired and too busy for manicures and this lasts for up to 2 weeks.

Sensationail gel polish starter kit is available here.

Michael Bublé By Invitation

Stunning and elegant. A crisp floral oriental fragrance. Has top notes of red fruits and bergamot followed by notes of lily of the valley, elegant rose, wild jasmine and spicy peony. Base noted are sandalwood musks mixed with vanilla praline.

Michael Bublé By Invitation is available here.

Toni & Guy Style Fix Straighteners

A brilliant little straightener that is perfect for travel. Fits in a handbag. A great space saver. The style fix collection also has a waver and a curler.

Brand New TONI&GUY style fix appliances are available here and from boots.com

True North Cosmetics

Scandinavian skincare brand. The True North Cosmetics philosophy is to offer high quality products for those who desire a straightforward skin care program that delivers impressive results regardless of age or gender. Prior to your bespoke skincare prescription, True North Cosmetics offer a detailed skin analysis using an innovative biometric measuring tool, which gives a valuable insights into your skins need, such as skin moisture level, oil production, skin sensitivity and number and depth of lines and wrinkles.

True North values results and common sense above hip ingredients as they truly believe this creates positive long-term results for everyone. We love their De-stressed Day Fluid 7.1 SPF 30, De-Stressed Mask 6.1 and their De-Stressed Day 2.1 all with `aloe vera balancing complex. Highly recommended.

Available at Harvey Nichols and at leading spas and salons nationwide www.harveynichols.com

The Career Code by Hilary Kerr & Katherine Power

A great career book for mum with a side of life advice. Great book to give mum inspiration for her next career move.

The Career Code is available here.

Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré

Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré is a celebrity staple, this wonder cream tackles dehydration with ease using its combination of ingredients of natural origin, it has been a favourite of dermatologists, beauty professionals and makeup artists for decades, famed for its multi-purpose properties.

A great multi-functional nourishing moisturiser. Makes a great make-up primer.

Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream is available here.

Frost Loves: The Cadbury Christmas Chocolate Range

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Frostie

At Frost it is known that we love chocolate, and you cannot beat Cadbury when it comes to chocolate. We reviewed the new range for our readers. Hard job, we know.

There are much-loved favourites and new and exciting products this Christmas. These novel and fun products are sure to be a winner with the family.

NEW FOR 2016

Cadbury Dairy Milk Snow Balls

As Christmas approaches, this brand new product is sure to get families across the country in the mood for the festive season. These Cadbury Dairy Milk Snow Balls are the ideal treat to share and come in a pack of four. Simply crack open the top of the Snow Ball and use the spoon provided to scoop out and enjoy the fluffy mousse centre. Yum! RRP £2.99

This is novel, tasty and fun. You eat the middle out with the spoon enclosed. Very festive.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Santa Gift Box

Another new product for 2016, this Santa gift box – filled with delicious chunks of Cadbury Dairy Milk – is the perfect stocking filler. To spread the excitement and magic this Christmas, why not treat a loved one to this cheeky chappy and tuck into the delicious delights from Santa’s sack. RRP £2.99.

Gorgeous Dairy Milk chunks in a fun santa.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar, the best way to count down to the most magical day of the year. If you can’t get enough of the delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, this advent calendar will keep the festive excitement growing this holiday season. Complete with a tantalising assortment of milk chocolates, and milk chocolates with vanilla flavour fillings, everyone will want a piece. 200g RRP £4.99

If you can’t get enough of the delicious CadburyDairy Milk chocolate, this advent calendar will really keep you wishing away the days to Christmas. Open a door to reveal a delicious piece of Cadbury Dairy Milk every day until the big day. RRP £2.19

A must for the Christmas season. A tasty chocolate for each day.

STOCKING FILLERS

If you are looking for a sweet stocking filler for the kids, the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hollow Santas are just the perfect reminder that Santa will be on his way soon. A quirky twist on the classic Christmas traditional icon, these Santa’s are made from delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk, a supremely scrumptious Santa if we ever saw one! 50g RRP £1.49, 100g RRP £2.99

These hollow Santas are perfect for Christmas.

For a jolly way to treat family and friends during the festive season, Cadbury Dairy Milk Jolly Santas are perfect as they come in packs containing five pocket sized Santas, each presented in fun wrapping. Santa has had a makeover and there are now seven cheerful looks to be discovered. Kids will surely love them! RRP £2.99

These are so jolly and awesome. We love them.

There is no better feeling than opening your stocking on Christmas morning. Here to put a smile on the faces of every chocolate lover, the Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo Faces Tube is bound to be the kids’ favourite. The festive tube is packed full of cheeky choccy pieces, with Freddo pulling a range of playful faces to entertain the little ones. RRP £1.42

These were a huge hit. Our new favourite. So tasty.

For a timeless treat that will be well received by kids and grandparents alike, slip a tube of Cadbury Dairy Milk Button in the stockings. The classic bite-size button shapes of solid Cadbury Dairy Milk come packaged in an exciting festive tube that will bring joy to everyone. RRP £1.42

A classic chocolate in great packaging. We love the owl.

If you know someone who really cannot get enough of the delicious Cadbury Wispa we have the perfect gift for them, the Cadbury Endless Wispa. The classic and much loved Bitsa Wispa now comes in a giant Christmas stick, so why not impress your friends with the gift that keeps on giving. RRP £2.49

How much Wispa is enough Wispa? This almost gets there, but not quite. Perfect for Christmas.

DECK THE HALLS

Add a touch of Cadbury Christmas purple to your tree, or surprise your relatives by gifting them with the new Cadbury Dairy Milk Baubles. These spectacular supersized baubles are available in two different varieties. Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo Baubles are filled with Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates complete with a vanilla flavour filling and Oreo biscuit pieces. Cadbury Dairy Milk Snow Bites Baubles includes 4x34g bags of Snow Bites; Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate balls encased in crisp sugar shells and dusted with delicious icing sugar. RRP £4.99

These are just the most perfect thing ever. A great invention and so tasty.

Make your tree even sweeter with Cadbury Dairy Milk Tree Decorations. There are different designs and shapes for everyone in the family to leave their sparkly mark on this year’s decorations. Available in both 84g (RRP £2.13) and 144g (RRP £3.46) packs.

Yummy and look perfect on the tree. Just keep them away from the lights.

FAMILY FAVOURITES…

Everybody loves classics at Christmas and there is nothing more classic than Cadbury chocolate during the festive season…

Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Edition is made up of mini white and milk chocolate tree-shaped chunks, perfect for also decorating your Christmas cake. You can break them apart and share with the family for an instant taste of Christmas joy. RRP £1.42

So festive and is both white and milk chocolate. What more could you want?

The irresistible Cadbury Dairy Milk Snowman will bring you the joy of a snowy Christmas day regardless of the weather. Available with chocolate mousse or vanilla mousse, the Snowmen are encased in a Cadbury Dairy Milk shell, with a light and fluffy mousse centre that tantalises the taste buds. Whether you choose a vanilla or chocolate mousse is up to you! RRP £0.65

Very yummy. The mousse is great. We loved these.

PERFECT FOR SHARING

Everybody loves a selection box at Christmas time.Cadbury selection packs comes in two sizes, small and medium. The smaller selection pack enables chocolate fans to enjoy all their favourite Cadburyclassics as they count down the days until Santa arrives! There is a bar for each day with CadburyChomp, Cadbury Curly Wurly, Cadbury Fudge and Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo. The Cadbury Medium Selection box contains a mix of favourites, such as the Cadbury Double Decker, Cadbury Crunchie and Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons. 81g RRP £1.09, 180g RRP £2.99

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo selection box is a fun sharing box with a sweat treat for everyone in the family. For extra fun, each pack contains a voucher for free child entry to Cadbury World. Classics include Cadbury Crunchie, Cadbury Chomp, Cadbury Curly Wurly and Cadbury Fudge. RRP £2.99

Christmas is not Christmas without a selection box. This Fredo one is full of the classics.

Whisky – blended for Christmas

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Jack Shamash

Johnny walker Blue and Famous Grouse mellow gold

Johnny Walker Blue Label and Famous Grouse Mellow Gold – two great drinks for Christmas

When my children were small they used to have a Greek childminder. When we went to pick up our kids, her entire family – aunts, uncles, in-laws from Cyprus – would often be present. They treated me and my wife as if we were part of the extended family and often we’d end up staying for dinner.

On festive occasions – Christmas, Easter, birthdays – I would usually bring a bottle of whisky. And the one that the Greek men most enjoyed was Johnny Walker – particularly the more expensive black label. They didn’t want fancy single malts, with all those peaty smells. They wanted a very smooth, high quality blended whisky.

I mention this because they would have loved Johnny Walker’s new Blue Label. It’s not cheap and it’s not something for the more serious lover of single malts, but it’s probably the smoothest and best blended whisky on the market. With lovely tastes of pepper and honey and a slight smokiness, it’s something to savour. Please don’t pollute it with ginger ale or ice. Just sip it gently, enjoying the roundness on your tongue. Perhaps wash it down with a glass of cold water, just to cleanse the palate. It’s a superb drink and worth taking time to appreciate. Incidentally it’s only available at a few selected dealers, and it costs £135 a bottle, but for that price you do get your name engraved on the bottle.

Around Christmas many of the distillers are producing slightly more distinctive types of whisky. Famous Grouse is offering something called Mellow Gold (£20 per 75cl at Tesco). It’s similar to the normal Famous Grouse – another fine blended whisky – but this one has been left in sherry and bourbon casks. As a result, it has a fuller oaky flavour and the sweetness of raisins and a touch of dried fruit. It’s a good one for Christmas, not because it’s better or worse than the regular whisky, but because Christmas is remarkable time of year and should be marked with something which is just a bit out of the ordinary.

Christmas Gift List For The Beauty Junkie

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Frostie

Nicky Clarke Supershine Ionic Steam Conditioning Straighteners

This is a brilliant straightener from Nicky Clarke’s supershine range. It rehydrates and nourishes hair through the ionic steam conditioning technology. It leaves hair softer and shinier.

Nicky Clarke Super Shine Straightener is available here.

label.m Dusty Diamond collection

This new luxury diamond dust range from label.m. It features exclusive micro-diamond complex. A unique blend of hair perfect ingredients and real diamonds. Leaves hair sumptuous, silky and radiant. An exclusive blend of finest rare ingredients: black and white diamond dust particles, champagne, white rose petal oil and pearls. Removes toxins and build-up from your scalp and hair. We love the shampoo, conditioner and body lotion, but we also love the limited edition candle that you get free when you buy two or more products.

www.labelm.com

Scholl Velvet Smooth Party Pedi Collection

This glitzy, christmasy box contains a velvet smooth electronic foot file, gelactiv extreme heels insoles, nail care oil and nail polish. A great present in a beautiful box, perfect to get in the Christmas spirit.

From boots.com

Braun Silk-epil 9

This 4-in1 epilator can be used wet or dry and also has an exfoliation system. It helps to prevent ingrown hairs. Has pulsating active vibrations which actively stimulates your skin for an extra gentle epilation. Has both deep and gentle exfoliation. A perfect present.

Silk Epil 9 Skin Spa Women’s Wet and Dry Cordless Epilator is available here.

Veet Senstitive Precision Beauty Styler

This is a great time-saving device. A sensitive precision beauty styler that comes with seven accessories and a high definition V-Tec brown eyebrow pencil. Can be used on face, underarms or bikini line. It really works.

From boots.com

Monsoon Rose Gold

A beautiful and unique fragrance. It has top notes of lemon and fruit These notes are layered with rose, tuberose, neroli and cyclamen. The base notes are eastern wood, vanilla, mosses, musk and balsamic amber. It has a mature scent, with the rose, fruit and lemon leading. Christian Provenzano created this fragrance for Monsoon and it is a winner.

From boot.com and superdrug.com

Pure Gold Collagen

This is a great gift for any beauty junkie. This is a liquid food supplement that promotes younger looking skin, while improving skin hydration and elasticity. We are fans of collagen supplements at Frost, noticing a difference when we take them.

Available from; Boots.com stores nationwide and online, Harrods, Selfridges, Superdrug, Holland and Barret, www.lookfantastic.com and www.gold-collagen.com.

Rubis Rose Gold Tweezers

Beautiful tweezers with great precision. Stick them in a stocking.

Rubis hair tweezers are available here.

Crush by Rihanna

We love Riri at Frost.

Rihanna’s eighth fragrance. Crush is a sexy and provocative scent. Rihanna designed the bottle herself. Notes of bergamot, mandarin and pink pepper lead to the fruity heart. Pink rose blends with ylang-ylang and red berries. Woody notes of patchouli, musk and cedar are on the base note. A sexy fragrance and a great present.

Rihanna RiRi Crush is available here.

Voya Skincare

This is an organic seaweed beauty brand. We love their Awakening Eye Mask with palmarosa and vanilla, and the Soothing Moisturiser with palmarosa and vanilla.

https://voya.ie

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