Knit Quit Kit Review: Can It Help You Quit Smoking?

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Frostie

Frost came across this unique and gorgeous knitting product that was launched to help smokers quit whilst learning a new and very popular skill.

Inventor, Vanessa Bracewell, says: “I am not an experienced knitter and only started the wonderful craft/obsession 8 months and 5 days ago when I stopped smoking – after 30 years of burning my money and probably damaging my health…From experience, when quitting smoking it is impossible to concentrate on anything, including counting rows.”

Included in the kit are three very easy projects using only cast on/off, knit stitch, increase, decrease and changing colour of yarn.

Everything needing to complete the three projects is supplied in the novelty cigarette style gift box. Includes extremely easy to follow patterns specially designed with tick boxes to keep track of your knitting.

The patterns include: Bill the Owl Keyring (to offer wisdom and support in moments of stress and weakness) BFT Bracelets (Best Friends Together) one to knit for yourself and one to knit for your quitting smoking helper to thank them for their support and a practical drawstring Purse/Bag – to save your well earned money in.

www.knitquitkits.co.uk

Our writer, Helen, tried it out.

Helen loves knitting so we sent her the kit. Helen is also trying to stop smoking. She liked the look of the kit but found some of the knitting hard because of her eyesight. Shouldn’t be a problem for people with good eyesight.

She thought it was easy to do and the owl, bracelets and drawstring bag were all cute and unique. The kit looks great and comes with easy patterns. The colours are also beautiful but Helen thought it was a little pricey at £17.99.

Whilst knitting and doing the kit Helen did find her mind occupied. She has not managed to quit smoking completely but has cut down considerably. Good stuff.

Third Contact Film Review

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Daniel McCarthy

A permanent sense of dread and the unknown hangs over this impressive low budget British psychological thriller from debut writer and director Si Horrocks. Filmed on location in London for a shoestring budget and on a single handheld camera, the film has benefited enormously from a successful Kickstarter campaign, pulling in independent funds to secure an international screening tour both at festivals and local venues. It’s another brilliant inspirational example of filmmakers marshalling their own resources and bringing their own unique vision to a broad audience.

Private psychiatrist David Wright (Tim Scott-Walker) is in utter despair; he is hounded by memories of his long lost love and the guilt over a patient’s recent and seemingly pointless suicide. At his nadir and contemplating his own suicide, David is contacted by the patient’s sister Erika (Jannica Olin) who is seeking answers to her brother’s death. United by their grief and loss, the pair investigate the suicide further and soon uncover a mysterious and sinister agenda that defies both their expectations.

Early in the drama of the film, one of David’s patients relates to him the theory behind ‘quantum suicide’, a concept that theorizes that the universe can be split open at the firing of a gun into two states: one of life and the other of death. It’s a lofty, ambitious concept to hit your audience with moments out of the start gate of your movie. Yet that’s all the more credit to Third Contact, a thriller that avoids the cliches and conventions of other projects made under similar circumstances. Writer and director Horrocks discards tired indie Brit cliches of gangsters and banal romance for cerebral science fiction, with a fine eye for minute detail and delivering in a fresh, fractured narrative style. Shot on a relatively inexpensive handheld camera, Horrocks has worked wonders with the films visual look. Filmed in a bleak and stark monochrome, the portrait of urban London comes to a vibrant and urgent life whilst remaining disconcertingly alien and hauntingly lonely. It reminded me somewhat of Christopher Nolan’s debut feature Following, also filmed for pennies and looking spectacular. This is matched by the eerie and otherworldly soundscape where sound and score seem to bleed into each other and become indistinguishable, not unlike the work of David Lynch.

Horrocks has taken on a one man band approach with the project but has still surrounded himself great talent to round out the project. Tim Scott-Walker is pretty terrific in central role, successfully convincing David’s fraying mental state and anguish and his increasingly fraught encounters with those he meets. It’s a world where no one can be fully trusted and supporting players are very effective at portraying characters whose allegiances are uncertain. That this team have managed to come up with such a well constructed project with minimal resources is nothing short of remarkable as is the films unique and dogged release strategy. On the basis of this, the concept of the writer/director with a larger budget is very enticing indeed.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier Review

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

There was an air of excitement at the Odean, Leicester Square in London as we waited to watch the new Captain America Film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

After the excellent trailers for Guardians of The Universe and Maleficent the film started and we all put on our 3D glasses. The film starts well, set after the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and adjusting to a modern world. He is treated like a hero but remains modest and decent, despite being able to jump out of a plane without a parachute.

At the beginning of the film Captain America, along with the Black Widow, rescue some S.H.I.E.L.D colleagues from a hostage situation, but it is the start of something bigger. Captain America is forced to join forces with the Black Widow and new character, The Falcon, as a terrible conspiracy comes to light. Something Nick Fury (a brilliant character and as excellent as ever) has had suspicions about. To top it all off they have a hardcore assassin on their tail: the Winter Soldier. He has had thousands of kills and always finishes his mission. Will the Captain and his team break his winning streak?

This film is my favourite Marvel film. Quite a recommendation considering I love a good Hollywood blockbuster. The action scenes- and in particular a car chase that I don’t want to give anything away about- are just stunning and imaginative. This film really brings something new to the game, and ups the stakes while it’s at it. The script is amazing, the actions scenes are great. In fact, the film just fires on all cylinders.

The characters are equally brilliant and I love the decency and genuineness of Captain America. He is a superhero and a good person to boot.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a brilliant movie. I really enjoyed it and want to see it again. Can’t wait for the next installment either. I would give this film a full five stars. Great entertainment.

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Running time: 136 minutes

In cinemas March 26

Kerry Wilkinson Thicker Than Water & Behind Closed Doors Book Review

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Frostie

Kerry Wilkinson is the author famous for writing and self-publishing his first novel as a challenge and then having it go straight to No 1 in the Kindle bestseller chart. He became Amazon UK’s top-selling author for the first quarter of 2011. The first three books in the Jessica Daniels series sold 250,000 copies in six months. Very impressive. We reviewed the sixth and seventh books in the series below.

Thicker Than Water

Another brilliant, pacey novel. A good read from start to finish. Keeps you engaged and entertained.

When Cameron and Eleanor Sexton arrive home to find their teenage babysitter missing, their immediate concern is for their young daughter. Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel is dispatched to find out what’s going on, but with all apparently well, she thinks she’s been sent on a fool’s errand.

Soon, the teenager’s body is discovered in an apparently random house on the other side of Manchester. The puzzle deepens when a journalist points out that someone placed an obituary for him just days before his disappearance.

A string of clues point to a club whose owner has an unhealthy interest in Jessica, but then something happens which makes her question the very core of her beliefs.

She is left to turn to the one person she knows she can rely on . . . but is that trust misplaced?

Behind Closed Doors

With great twists and turns and a brilliant flawed heroine: we reckon it is only a matter of time before these novels get snapped up and made into a TV series. Behind Closed Doors is yet another brilliant crime novel from Kerry Wilkinson. Entertaining and well-written.

Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel has barely left her house in months, isolated away from friends and colleagues. She may have given up on herself but one man is sure she still has something to offer.

DCI Jack Cole gives her a chance at redemption: An opportunity to help a neighbouring force by discovering what is going on with a reclusive community living in a stately home in the middle of nowhere.

People are going missing, turning up dead with only a vague link back to the house. But can Jessica beat her own demons in time to find out exactly what’s going on behind closed doors?

Thicker Than Water

Behind Closed Doors: A DS Jessica Daniel Novel, Book 7

Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc Aconcagua Costa 2013

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Frostie

Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc Aconcagua Costa 2013 has great typicity and a refreshing mineral profile. It has complex intensity and touches of cherimoya, passion fruit, and lychee, along with a hint of green chili pepper.

A light greenish-yellow, this wine is complex and elegant. It is refreshing and has an aromatic blend of herbal, tropical and citrus notes along with a touch of green chilli pepper, tomato leaf, fresh-cut grass, white citrus flowers, guayaba and passion fruit. You can tell why sauvignon is so popular, it is full of the kind of flavour that has made the wine so popular. A good, complex wine. Good for summer too.

Available from winesdirect.co.uk, Sainsbury’s and Tesco

MyLash by Sarah Bacchus

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

Hello everyone I’m one of the new writers for frost magazine and I wanted to share with all of you the most amazing product ever. Its literally changed my life and it could change yours. It will boost your confidence and make you feel truly beautiful.

Now I had the shortest lashes on the planet and trying to find a mascara that actually works in aiding my pain has been a life long ambition, Every singe new mascara or lash fibre product that comes out I rush out and purchase in the hope that this one will give me lashes I have always wanted. Sadly all this has done has made my wallet lighter and a little more disappointed every time. Until now… MyLash is a prescription only product that is a miracle in a little bottle. I called the company and they kindly sent me a bottle to review! So this is kind of a sponsored post that’s turned into the love of my life product I can’t live without!

I am going to share with you my lash journey from day one right though to the 12 week period that they suggest you use daily at night time for the best results and after that use every 2 days to have lasting effects. This product is not cheap and I was kindly sent a sample to try. I can tell you Im so impressed already and I think this has to be one of the best beauty products ever developed. So ladies here are the pictures of my lashes from week 1 to week 12.

The active Ingredients of this product is bimatoprost which is a prostamide agonist. This means that it activates receptors of hair growth cycle. Using this product you increase the positive signals to the hair cycle and in turn increasing the rate of growth.

Here you see my original lashes…totally dreadful. you can see they are short and stumpy. I have never had long luscious lashes like I longed for. I never thought I would until a little product came into my life called MyLash

This was week 4 above and Im seeing great results

Week 7

Can you imagine my excitement and happiness at week 7!! They are amazing…. Outstanding visible results. Pictured here with just one coat of mascara.

MyLash week 12 with one coat of mascara

AMAZING!!!!!! I am so happy. This product works. Hands down. Proof is in my pictures. No other product has ever helped me.

Here is how to apply your MyLash

Choose a time of day to apply your treatment. Most people apply Mylash at night before they go to bed. This allows them to integrate Mylash into their daily routine. Try to apply Mylash at the same time every day. Remove all of your makeup by cleaning the area. If you use any makeup remover then wait until this has dried before proceeding.
Take an applicator and apply the smallest amount of fluid possible to the tip. The product is very potent and a small amount is all that is needed. Applying a large amount each time or applying it more than once a day will not give you better results – it will just make you run out quicker!
The best way to transfer a small amount from the bottle to the applicator is to hold the bottle upside down or at a downwards angle. This will cause a droplet to appear at the nozzle without having to squeeze the bottle. Take an applicator and touch the tip onto the droplet. This will cause a small amount of fluid to transfer to the applicator. This will be enough to do one complete lash line.
Apply the liquid to the skin at the base of the eyelashes, moving from one end of the lash line to the other.
Most people apply the treatment to the top and bottom lash line, giving a total of 4 transfers of fluid from the bottle to the applicator.
Many people find that the bottom lash line doesn’t need as much fluid to cover the complete line and use the excess on any points on their eyebrow that they wish to thicken

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pD9I3oJYDM?feature=oembed]

Don’t apply the product more often than once a day. You will not achieve better results and the growth will not be faster.

Have patience – the growth cycle for an eyelash hair is between 12 to 16 weeks so the best results can take months. The first results will be visible within 4 to 6 weeks but persistence is the key to the best results.

Most people find that one bottle will last 3 to 4 months. After 4 months, when the eyelash hair cycle is complete, you can drop down to applying the product every second day. This will maintain your eyelashes at their peak length and make all subsequent bottles last longer.

Take a picture of your eyelashes before you start and after your third month – you will be delighted with the results.

* If you ever run low on applicators then they will send you more free of charge.

Here is the link to the consultation page

Totally worth the money at around £100, its not the cheapest way to get amazing lashes but its by far the best! Im hooked. One bottle should last the 3/4 months initial growth period and then you would only need to purchase 2 bottles a year thereafter. I bet I have spent much more on silly expensive branded mascaras that don’t do a thing!

For more articles form myself you can visit my website SLB Style.com and you can follow me here on Twitter @sarahbacchus

The Financial Times Guide to Management Book Review

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Frostie

For those in business, or hoping to be, management is very important. Or to be more precise, being good at management and doing it properly is important. This guide to management comes from The Financial Times and is written by Ann Francke, CEO of the Chartered Management Institute. So far so impressive.

Also impressive is that it has an entire chapter on managing yourself. I think this is a genius idea that not many books would think of. Getting yourself sorted out first obviously makes perfect sense: lead by example. Each chapter starts with what you will learn in that chapter and then ends with top tips, pitfalls and takeaways.

For all of the wealth of information in this book it is surprisingly easy to read. Add in the graphs, anecdotes and exercises then you have one hell of a book on management. Part 7 even has view from the front line: top tips, pitfalls and takeaways from top managers, along with views from the FT’s Finest.

FT Guide to Management: How to be a Manager Who Makes a Difference and Gets Results is an essential business book for managers. Don’t be without it.

What they say:

“Ann Francke, CEO of the Chartered Management Institute, writes a much needed straight talking guide to management.

According to a 2012 survey by CMI and Penna*, 43% of individuals rated their managers as ineffective or highly ineffective. This statistic will be no surprise to most – many surveys and research papers have revealed similarly gloomy results in recent years.

So why do we struggle to ‘get management right’? Probably because so many people have become ‘accidental managers’; they have been promoted into management positions due to specialist skills. Many are given little or no training when they are promoted and are left to work it out for themselves. The mind boggling array of management books on the market does little to simplify the ‘management message’ as approaches are many and varied.

In response, Ann Francke, CEO of the CMI, has written The Financial Times Guide to Management. Backed by the wealth of CMI research, her extensive global management experience, and advice from over 40 frontline managers, Ann has created a straight talking and balanced guide to management.

It covers the full spectrum of management skills, including managing others, managing change, managing stakeholders, managing budgets and resources, creating business strategy and executing plans. A chapter offering Views from the Front Line, grounds the book in practical advice, with over 40 senior executives sharing their top tips, pitfalls and takeaways. Contributors include Paul Polman (CEO, Unilever), Steve Marshall (Chairman, Balfour Beatty) and Cilla Snowball (Chairman and CEO, AMV BBDO). In a similarly neat framework, a 20 page Guide to the Gurus takes readers through a pithy summary of the bestselling and most admired management gurus.

From motivating a team and developing star talent to controlling budgets and fostering innovation, The Financial Times Guide to Management is the authoritative guide to becoming an effective manager.”

The Financial Times Guide to Management, is published by Pearson.

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Review

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Frostie

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is a sophisticated wine. Probably why they served it at the BAFTAs. Don’t let that stop you enjoying it regularly. This wine is perfect for every occasion. This wine is a brilliant, easy-to-drink sauvignon blanc. Perfect for every occasion. It is vibrant and has nuances of gooseberry, passion-fruit, fresh lime and melon.

This wine is polished and pure with a good, long finish and with no horrible aftertaste. A good way to describe this wine is yummy. A good fail-safe for dinner parties too.

Enjoy with fish/shellfish, salads & picnics, mild creamy cheeses and grilled seasonal vegetables and seafood

Drink from now up to two years. ABV: 13%

Available from Tesco and Sainsbury’s

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