Tag Archives: Life & Style

Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask | Beauty Review

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My mother got me started on face masks. The ritual of using a weekly face mask and relaxing was something we did before I grew up and moved out. It is something I really miss and is one of the reasons I think I get compliments about my skin.

I still use face masks, but finding the time has become a bit harder. Recently I have been making sure I fit it in and have been using Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask. Bee Venom? Yes, it is one of the the hot new ingredients now. Kate Middleton and Millie Mackintosh are fans. Did I like it? Read on….

I like the texture of the mask, it is quite thick and goes on well. It is like a thick moisturiser. Then when it comes off it flakes a little. It is also white so you don’t have a bright green face.

It really gives a boost to the skin. After I had used it only once I was asked by a friend if I had had a facial. She said I looked ‘rested’ and that my skin was glowing. Manuka claim it reduce wrinkles and scarring and it is not just a modest boost. It really, really works. It may cost £49.99 for 50ml, but it is completely worth it. One of the best face masks I have ever used, and I have been using them for years now.

Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask is definitely something to but on your Christmas wish list.

Natasha Hamilton has been very busy of late with an extreme juice detox, training for a charity cycle through India for cancer and the greatly anticipated ‘big reunion’ with Atomic Kitten in 2013 so it is no surprise she needs some time to relax beforehand. We can reveal that Natasha likes to unwind with Manuka Doctor’s ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask, in fact she took to twitter to let us all know… “just chilling at home with my Manuka Doctor Face Mask”

Manuka Doctor’s ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask (£49.99 50ml), harnesses the power of Purified Bee Venom to help stimulate collagen growth, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and renew damaged skin cells, leaving skin looking visibly younger.

Suitable for all skin types, apply the mask to thoroughly cleansed skin and leave on for between 15 and 30 minutes depending on your skin type. Remove any excess with water to reveal a glowing and youthful complexion.

Purified Bee Venom is a potent combination of minerals, peptides and amino acids that help to encourage cell regeneration and boost collagen formation. This, combined with moisturising UMF™18+ Manuka Honey, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E, deeply nourishes the skin and helps to reduce the appearance of scars and renew damaged skin cells.

Dr Sang Mi Han, who is the world’s most eminent bee venom expert, has been researching the subject for over 12 years, proving that this potent combination of minerals, peptides and amino acids works on all levels of the skin, to encourage naturally occurring cell regeneration and boost collagen formation.

Manuka Doctor Bee Venom Rejuvenating Mask is available from Holland & Barrett or Superdrug.

Dana Wilkey – The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Exclusive Interview

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Frost Magazine have got an exclusive interview with the gorgeous Dana Wilkey, star of hit American TV show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Dana has recently bought a home in London’s Chelsea and is filming her own reality TV show, Rich and Ditched. The show is about Dana and her Irish millionaire businessman boyfriend, Philip Marley, setting up home in Central London and being ‘fish out of water’.

 

Dana has a huge profile in America and when she isn’t starring in  TV shows, she is a party planner for the Hollywood A List.  Her clients include Pierce Brosnan, Anthony Hopkins and  Bruce Willis.

 

What made you move to London?

I moved to London because I was looking for a fresh start from my Beverly Hills, CA saga.  It’s been a rough 6 months.  I have always loved London, have businesses there  and my new boyfriend and have good friends live there so it seemed like a natural progression of things.

 

What is your favourite thing about London?

My favourite thing about London is the currency!  To make money in the pound is the best possible situation to be in for the current global economy… oh! And I love the shopping and the level of your private clubs like Arts Club.
Why Chelsea?

Currently Chelsea seems like the hot spot to be in so I would of course want to live there and join the fun! Also I love the convenience of Kings Road and the fact that most of the brownstones have been redone with lots of modern touches that you don’t find in other more posh areas.


What is the premise of the show, Rich and Ditched?

I have been ditched by my friends in Beverly Hills and my ex fiancé.  I am moving to London to start over and hopefully FINALLY fine my prince charming.  I have 5 people that are both married and single that are all living in London but pretty much all came from some other country that I hang out with and well let’s say the sparks fly on a bunch of fronts…cultural conflict, relationship issues, American fish out of water in London syndrome and the usual cattiness you see on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!

 

How much has The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills changed your life?

It has changed my life for the positive and I continue to support the show and fans whenever possible.   If you try to shoot and be honest without a filter it can be a fun experience even if you look like an idiot in the final edit.  You must get over all your fears to be on a reality show so it can be an experience that can help you grow as a person also you meet so many amazing people through the opportunities it can provide.
Why did you leave?

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills shot some of this so I don’t want to disclose this until I know for sure what will air, but let’s just say my life over the last 6 months has been like the worst movie of the week you can imagine and now I want to have a chance at the Disney ending.

 

How do you feel London will differ from Beverly Hills?

On the down side, the differences are the weather obviously, the systems are more cumbersome and SOME of the people can be really judgemental and reserved compared to what I’m used to.  On the upside, London at the wealthiest levels make Beverly Hills look like the poo so that should make for some good parties, shopping is similar and the average person is so much more global which is so important!

 

What party planning tips can you give us?

I need more info on this question…for what type of party and what budget?

 

What is the best party you have been to?

Monaco Grand Prix ball with Wycliffe and U2.
What is the best party you have planned?

I rented the RM Elegant, which at the time, was the 17th largest yacht in the world during the Cannes Film festival. I then outfitted the yacht rooms with different vibes of décor and lighting.  You had to have a credit card to get on the yacht even if you were invited to the events so it was super exclusive and the talk of Cannes that year. I had Bruce Willis, Bret Ratnor and Petra Nemcova, etc on the yacht that year.

 

What are your plans for Christmas?

I am doing a winter wonderland theme with complete lighting and build out at my house.  I am famous for my Christmas decorations and lights in America. I will host a dinner for about 14 people in my movie theatre in London that will be especially decorated for the Holiday.

 

 

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge unveils Natural History Museum Treasures

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Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was guest of honour at the grand opening of the Natural History Museum’s new Treasures gallery this evening. Treasures displays 22 of the most extraordinary specimens that have ever been on show at the Museum, and opens 30 November to the public.

The Duchess, who wore a green Mulberry dress for the evening, commented:

‘The Natural History Museum has a very special place in the heart of this nation. William and I are just two of millions of people who have passed through these doors, and marvelled at the spectacular wonders of the natural world, housed in this beautiful gallery. I care passionately about what this museum stands for.  Being here tonight, seeing some of nature’s finest treasures, reminds me just how precious and awe inspiring the natural world is. That is why the opening of Treasures is so incredibly exciting.  If it were ever needed, there is now even more reason to visit this wonderful museum.’

The Duchess met curators and viewed four star specimens in detail:

  • Archaeopteryx fossil – the most valuable fossil in the Museum’s collection, this 47-million-year-old rock slab contains the remains of the earliest known bird. With its combination of bird and dinosaur characteristics, it is a famous snapshot of evolution in action.
  • Audubon’s The Birds of America – the world’s most expensive book and one of the best-known natural history books ever produced. It was first published in double elephant folio size between 1827 and 1838 and is famous for its stunning life-size illustrations of birds.exquisite glass models of marine life
  • Charles Darwin’s pigeons – Darwin’s pigeons provided him with the crucial evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection. He bred them in his garden as an experiment and donated these fancy breeds of rock dove to the Museum in 1867
  • Wold Cottage meteorite – earliest surviving meteorite seen to land in the UK. The rock formed during the birth of the solar system, 4.6 billion years ago, and was seen to fall near Wold Cottage, Yorkshire, in 1795, confirming the extra-terrestrial origins of meteorites.

Each of the 22 objects have been hand-picked by Museum scientists for the fascinating story it has to tell and all objects represent an important part of the Museum’s scientific, historical, social and cultural worth.

Treasures in the Cadogan gallery is free to visit, giving a snapshot of the vast collections in a short space of time. It is located in the upper mezzanine floor of the awe-inspiring Central Hall, overlooking the iconic Diplodocus.

Dr Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum said;

‘We are thrilled Her Royal Highness joined us to celebrate the opening of Treasures. We hope that she is the first of many visitors to discover everything the Museum represents in this special gallery.’

Encouraging Imaginative Play is the Best Gift you can give this Christmas

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When children play, it looks and sounds incredibly random. They seem to shift from one imaginary game to another with each game having no relation whatsoever to the previous. One minute they are quite happy creating mud pies with a delightful concoction of grass, worms and dirt while leaving horrifying holes in the grass, and the next minute they are hiding from dangerous jungle creatures in their exciting safari shelter / garden bush. No matter where they are, who they are with or what they’re supposed to be doing, children will find extraordinary ways to create some fun imaginary
playtime.

With Christmas on its way, mummies and daddies all over the land are trying to find the perfect gifts for their little ones, and with the latest flashy gadgets arising from the tech-toys market, it’s easy to become distracted by their bright lights and impressive noises, and we forget why traditional imaginative play is so important. With technological advances in children’s toys, playtime appears to become more and more complex with lots of working buzzers, buttons and mechanical devices;
however the very nature of these modern toys actually encourages play to become simpler. The
more complex the toy, quite often the play becomes less thoughtful and the style of play is already
decided by the gadget itself.

Whilst the recurring holes in the grass and injured garden foliage may become increasingly annoying,
it’s this sort of play that can be the most beneficial for our youngsters’ development. Don’t despair,
though, these benefits don’t just apply to garden antics; it’s the imaginative factor that’s so crucial.
Imaginative play is encouraged the most if children’s toys leave some things to the imagination.
Wooden dolls houses, for example, are one of the best sources of imaginative play; a wooden dolls
house creates a whole world of possibilities. Playing with dolls and furniture inside a dolls house
gives children chance to create any type of story they wish; the dolls can become lots of different
characters that talk and play with each other, and these conversations help to develop important
communication and language skills.

Although dolls house dolls and furniture have a gorgeous amount of detail and special features
these days, the style of play is still left to the imagination. Children’s dolls houses are designed to
encourage imaginative play, and it is this freedom that helps children to learn so many valuable
skills. The very nature of a children’s dolls house encourages children to share with each other and
enjoy making plans together; whether that’s making the dolls pop to the local shop for some milk,
or having fun making lunch in the kitchen. When children take part in role play with the characters,
they are involving their own feelings about the world around them, and making decisions about
how the characters behave and talk is a lovely opportunity for them to explore behaviours and conversations that they’ve seen and heard in the real world. This involves important decision making and helps to develop logical thought processes in preparation for real social experiences.

While wooden toys are perfect for imaginary play, they are also wonderfully eco-friendly and
economical; they don’t include any chemicals or harsh substances which makes them perfectly safe – particularly when little ones have a habit of putting anything they can find in their mouth! The durability of high quality wood means that the toys have a very long life and are perfect gifts to pass down to future generations, making them timeless and extra special for those loved ones.

Written by Hannah Davey, a consultant for The Play Experts at the Big Game Hunters Dolls Houses
team.

Leo Bancroft Party at The Ivy

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On the 22nd of November I went to The Ivy with the lovely Nadia Gilani for the launch of Leo Bancroft’s accessories range for Tesco. The evening was a lot of fun and Leo has made a brilliant range of accessories. The celebrity hairdresser was joined by Made in Chelsea star Kimberley Garner (who is very friendly and gave me the biggest smile) , Eastenders actress Tanya Franks, the lovely model and presenter Jules Wheeler, cast from The Valleys, entrepreneur Tom Gearing from The Apprentice, and business man Richard Caring.

Check out Leo Bancroft’s haircare at Tesco.

QVC Spring Summer 2013 | Frost’s Pick

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We popped along to the QVC SS13 press day to find out what you will be buying next season.

I love Lulu Guinness. Her quirky bags are beautiful and original.

Stationary from Anna Griffin. Very elegant. Stationary says a lot about a person. This says all the right things.

I love this Honora bracelet.

Jack Murphy Clara Quilted Jacket.

Kelly Hoppen Buddha.

These Marta Jonsson Peep Toe Court Shoes are divine. I love the red detail.

Nails Inc nail polish. Always a classic.

Nina Leonard Maxi Dress.

Perricone MD Necolletage. Pricey at £123 but it really works.

Tiana B Geometric Print Maxi Dress.

Strivectin Advanced Overnight Serum. Good stuff. Relatively easy on the wallet.

The sun won’t be out for a while, but when it is you will want Ultrasun Tinted Moisturiser.

I love these Lotus Catherine Sandals with a beautiful flower detail.

Brilliant detail on this beautiful cuff bracelet from Rush by Denis Charles.

9 Bar | Food Review

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I am on the go a lot so I like to have some snacks in my bag. Cereal bars are a particular favourite.
9bar have re-launched with a sleek new makeover and I tried their 5 varieties – Original, Nutty, Pumpkin, Flax and Organic. 9bars are gluten, dairy and wheat free. 9bars are handmade in Wales.


Original

The original bar is crunchy and delicious. It is also very filling. A brilliant snack. This bar is substantial and not too sweet.

Nutty

This bar is filled with nuts and seeds. Really good cereal bar, and with chocolate on top. Yum.

Pumpkin

I love pumpkin seeds. This bar also has a brilliant carob coating. You can see all of the seeds. It tastes sweet and is filling.

Flax

Flax seed is very popular with the health conscious. Flax seed is a super food, making these bars even more healthy. Tastes brilliant too.

Organic

This organic bar is tasty and pure organic heaven. Topped with chocolate and full of seeds. The perfect on the go bar.

The 9bar range is available from Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Morrison’s, Holland & Barrett and independent health food stores nationwide. All varieties are available in 4 x 40g multi packs, RRP £1.89, and in 50g singles, RRP 70p.

The Shakespeare Conspiracy | Theatre Review

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 The Shakespeare Conspiracy by Andrew Shepherd is not only a brilliant piece of theatre, but it will also keep you guessing all the way through. Full of twists and turns, the Shakespeare Conspiracy is original and incredibly intelligent. Triumphant theatre in two wonderful acts.

The play is superbly directed by Jack Bowman, Bowman has created a well oiled machine which never dips or loses its energy. Full of pop culture references and brilliant gags, The Shakespeare Conspiracy is riveting.

A special mention must be given for the impressive and realistic fight scenes. They really are something to behold.

The play focuses around Martin Shakespeare, the last remaining descendent of Shakespeare, who is working as a travel agent in Stratford. Martin gets caught up in a  400 year old conspiracy involving The Royal Shakespeare Company, which far from being a theatre company, is actually a branch of government like MI6, and a prison, The Globe Theatre. It turns out that Shakespeare’s characters are real.

The cast of twenty are all well cast and brilliant at their parts. A special notice should be given to Jack Baldwin and Libby Evans as Benedict and Beatrice. They have amazing chemistry and I could not watch them without thinking of the brilliant film, His Girl Friday. Richard Armah as Garfield Oberon and Lee White as Edmond also deserve a special mention.

Andrew Shepherd as Iago  was also brilliant. Andrew is eloquent with a wonderful stage presence. There is a funny part int he play when Iago blames his mother for making him a villain. ‘You never had a mother Iago, you are fictional’ he is reminded.

This play is intelligent and witty. You can easily follow it if you concentrate, and you should concentrate, so you do not miss even a second of this stunning play. A must see.

 

Twitter: @tsc61112
Venue: Chelsea Theatre (on the King’s Road – nearest tube Sloane Square Underground, or 11, 22 Bus to Edith Grove/World’s End)
Production Company: www.ascrandom.co.uk