Looking to get that fuller lip look without adding anything but makeup? Check out our top tips and best products to help do the job below.
Exfoliate
You wouldn’t apply your foundation without prepping the skin in advance (we’d hope!) so try not to do this with your lips either. Use a lip scrub to exfoliate the skin (experts suggest using a hi-tech tool like a toothbrush but we’re happy to use a finger) and then rinse off with warm water. Coat your lips with a balm after this to re-hydrate them.
We recommend: Plump It! Volumising Lip Scrub (RRP: £12.99)
Line it right
We’re not talking ombre lips here, we’re talking strong outlines. Choose a liner that’s one shade darker than the lip colour you’ll be applying and apply a thick, heavy line around your lip, emphasing on the cupids bow and the parallel area of the bottom lip. Think that you’re creating a shadow and if you’re a liner novice, apply lightly in several layers to avoid disasters.
We recommend: Buxom Plump Line (RRP: £15)
Glow, glow, glow
Highlighter isn’t just for the brows / cheeks – it’s for your cupid’s bow too! Adding a sheen of highlight across the bow will bring attention to the curves in the lip and give the impression of more shape.
We recommend: Mac Prep and Prime Highlighter (RRP: £21)
Lip Plumping gloss
Remember the days of Soap and Glory’s Mother Plucker? Plump It! is a much more effective version and you see BIG results straight away! Once you’re used to the product, apply several layers of the gloss but a word of warning for first timers, the tingle is INTENSE so start of cautiously. Leave the lips for one minute whilst the plumping takes place.
We recommend: Plump It! Volumising Lip Plumper (£19.99)
And there you have it, a plumper pout with no procedures!
*PlumpIt! kindly sent us their range for review purposes
I’m the first to admit I’m not the greatest reader. It’s not that I don’t want to be – I love reading – but in recent years time has been my enemy. In 2019 that is set to change as I kick my other business commitments into touch to become a full time writer. Surely there will be time for reading as well?
Many of the books I read at the moment are either for research purposes or to help out other authors, mainly so I can give reviews. I used to laugh at my father for reading only books by people he knew, but now I understand.
First off the blocks was Sapere author Gail Lindenberg’s He Wrote Her Every Day. It’s the story of her GI father’s Second World War, told mainly through his letters, and I chose it partly for research, partly so I could review it and partly because I knew I would enjoy it.
It was a fascinating insight into the life of an American soldier, both training before traveling to Europe and in the final push across Belgium and Germany. Because it was based on Jim’s letters home there are no gory details, but it’s an accurate historical account of one soldier’s war as well as the love story of the early days of his marriage.
With broadening my horizons in mind I’ve joined a book club at my local pub. At my first meeting we spent most of the time chatting about life and books in general, rather than about Wolf Hall, which had been their book for November/December. Very few people had managed to finish it, not because of its quality, but because of its length. I think we were all rather relieved that January’s book was a slim volume, My Uncle Silas, by HE Bates. Although beautifully written I found it rather dated for modern tastes and I’ll be interested to hear what the others make of it.
Kitty:
I always have a huge pile of books on the go at the same time, so my flittergibbet butterfly mind always has something to keep it hooked. At the start of this month I promised myself that as well as reading copious amounts of romantic comedies, which are always a pleasure but also help me keep apace of the market, I would begin to revisit some of the books I loved as an adolescent and revel in the stories that helped shape my notions of romance.
I’m pleased I’m doing it and I’m loving it, although some of those epic sagas I used to devour very much reflect the time and attitudes of when they were published. I raced through Hardacre by C S Skelton and adored it as much as I ever did and am currently half way through Penmarric by Susan Howatch which is being remade for television as I type and is chock full of dark brooding Cornish heroes that probably deserve to be locked up!
I’ve just finished Margaret James’ new thriller, The Final Reckoning which had a twist I didn’t see coming at all and The Wedding Shop on Wexley Street which was my first by Rachel Dove but won’t be my last, made me roar with laughter and was exactly my kind of humour. I’ve also just finished Sophie Duffy’s Betsy and Lilibet which is a perfect example of her feelgood women’s fiction which always leave me warm and smooshy on the inside. And on a more serious note, I’ve started reading Empire of Cotton – A global history by Sven Beckert which is a non-fiction book all about, obviously, the cotton trade and appeals to my inner history geek. It’s been a busy old month.
One of my favourite places in Thirsk, and something of a rarity these days – is a thriving independent bookshop, one which works hard to achieve its award winning success. The White Rose BookCafe sells not only books, but gives you a chance to put your feet up, sip a coffee and sample good food, then you can go back to browsing. But let’s not stop there, the owners and staff have fingers in many bookish pies – arranging talks which attract fabulously popular authors who like to chat to their readers and a super-fast book dispatch service, and… Well, let’s just have a closer look:
Jan and Joanna Trollope
White Rose Book Cafe came into being 23 years ago when Sue Lake and her late father Steve Clements opened the door and welcomed in their first customers. It has thrived every since, partly because they have been forward looking, and have invested in the technology that gives the staff access to all British and American books, and which helps them to dispatch orders, often overnight. Roll over Amazon… But it’s more than that. A bookshop has to somehow be at the heart of the community and interact with it, and this one certainly does that, in spades.
Sue and Bob Champion
White Rose BookCafe draws customers from far and wide not just for the books, or food but also for the talks they arrange:
Just look at the 2018 line up of authors, poets & musicians – Joanna Trollope, Tommy Banks, Mary Jayne Baker, Gemma Hogg, Bob Champion, Carol Ann Duffy, Imtiaz Dharker, John Sampson, Jackie Kay, Gillian Clarke, Kate Fox, Em Lynas, Dan Smith, Chloe Daykin, Chris Callaghan, Peter Robinson, Jane Clack, Damon Young, Salley Vickers, Kate Atkinson, Julian Norton, Peter Wright, Jonathan Tulloch and Herd on the Hill, Nick Ahad, Vicky Foster, Alfie Crow & James Turner.
Add to this their support of authors at Ripon International Festival, the Deer Shed Festival, Countryside Live, Thirsk Christmas Weekend, & they also welcome visits from local primary schools.
Julian Norton launching his latest book: Horses Heifers and Hairy Pigs
What about Book Groups? Well, of course. Not one, but 3 thriving Book Groups regularly meet in the Story Room upstairs. The bookshop’s 40 seating café (winner of Tea Room of the Year 2018, voted for by Flavours of Herriot Country Awards), and mezzanine floor housing older children’s books, and nonfiction, story room and not forgetting the large garden terrace.
Peter Wright
Sue Lake of White Rose BookCafe, Thirsk says that “In 2016 our sales of the new book by Yorkshire Vet, Julian Norton had outstripped sales of Harry Potter books here” she added “ We were absolutely delighted when Julian asked us to hold a Party to launch his new book Horses, Heifers and Hairy Pigs: The Life of a Yorkshire Vet.” We launched Julian’s new books in 2017, 2018 & will be working with him in 2019, as well as our other famous vet and talented writer Peter Wright.’
They have over 800 Privilege Card Members who receive monthly offers and events information, helping to spread the word about their business and thriving local community.
So these are the facts, but let me tell you that White Rose BookCafe is more than this. It has heart, its staff are a joy; relaxed and friendly, its choice of books wide, and if they haven’t got it, they’ll get it – quickly, and their windows make even the youngest child want ‘That book, Mummy.’ In this day and age, this is priceless.
White Rose Books, 79-81 Market Place, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1ET 01845 524353
news@whiterosebooks.co.uk or sales@whiterosebooks.co.uk
At Frost we try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Nobody is perfect however. Here are the things Brits try to do but end up ignoring. Come on everyone, I think we can do a little bit better.
Top 20 things Brits do because it’s more convenient than being green
1. Buy new batteries instead of rechargeable ones
2. Use a plastic straw
3. Pay for a 5p plastic bag instead of remembering your re-usable shopping bags
4. Put fresh fruit and veg in a plastic bag at the supermarket
5. Leave lights turned on when you aren’t in the room
6. Buy a plastic bottle of water instead of carrying one you can reuse
7. Leave plug sockets switched on even when they aren’t in use
8. Drive when you could have walked
9. Throw out plastic food packaging instead of washing it out to recycle it
10. Use a tumble dryer instead of hanging clothes on the line
11. Put something recyclable into the bin instead of sorting it into the right recycling box
12. Throw food away which could have been eaten or reused
13. Boil a full kettle for one cup of tea
14. Buy paint in plastic pots instead of metal, which can be recycled
15. Use a new coffee cup with your takeaway coffee instead of taking a reusable one
16. Still ask for paper bills when you could go paperless
17. Leave a tap running for a long time/ when you aren’t using it
18. Have the heating on while also having windows open
19. Leave the shower turned on when you aren’t it
20. Wash laundry on a hot wash when it didn’t need it
Millions of Brits admit to ignoring environmental concerns to make their lives easier, a study has found.
A poll of 2,000 adults found despite 87 per cent agreeing on the importance of being green, more than half believe it’s often ‘inconvenient’.
Three in 10 admit binning plastic food containers rather than washing them out and recycling it.
And 23 per cent have requested a paper bill when they could have gone ‘paperless’ – and had the receipt emailed to them instead.
Almost half pay for plastic bags with their shopping to save them having to remember to carry a reusable bag around, and 27 per cent often use a tumble dryer instead of hanging washing out to dry.
Others admit buying paint in a plastic pot rather than a metal can that can be recycled at most household waste and recycling centres.
Environmental concerns also go out the window amid boiling a kettle filled with more water than we need and having the heating turned up high all the time.
A spokesman for Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association, which commissioned the research, said: “Our results found the vast majority of Brits are keen on the idea of being green.
“Unfortunately, it often only takes the slightest inconvenience to knock all of the wind out of our sails and we wind up doing things that are easy – but not great for the planet.
“But we do also look to retailers and manufacturers to make it clear how we can be more environmentally friendly when we use their products.
“Those on-pack recycling logos and instructions clearly matter.”
The study also found a quarter of Brits have thrown food away which could have been eaten or reused in some way, and a third are happy to jump in the car when they could easily walk the distance.
More than half pick up disposable batteries rather than ones they need to recharge and 37 per cent have bought a bottle of water when they could have used one from home.
It also emerged a fifth of respondents would go as far as to say they feel that being environmentally and ecologically friendly is a ‘burden’ on their lives.
A quarter think it’s too expensive, and one in five simply don’t believe their contribution will make a difference to the future.
Others say they are ‘too busy’ to be green – or find it confusing.
However, 65 per cent of respondents do worry about the impact of people not being environmentally friendly on future generations.
Brits also admit to being far less environmentally friendly at work than they would be at home.
The research, carried out via OnePoll, also found almost 70 per cent believe retailers aren’t doing enough to present the recycling attributes of the products they sell.
Another 83 per cent believe retailers should make it crystal clear whether a packet, pot or parcel can be recycled or not.
And when buying a product such as paint, the recyclability of the container is often the third most influential factor – after the cost and quality of the product.
A Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association spokesman added: “Consumers want to be given the information to make an informed choice and not be misled into believing a pack is infinitely recycled when in fact it isn’t, as is often the case.
“Take paint cans. Empty plastic paint cans have a comparatively limited recycling life, while metal paint cans which can be recycled over and over with no loss of quality.
It is an exciting start to the year for Sapere Books. We have decided to hire our first full-time staff member. Up until now Sapere Books had been solely run by its three co-founders – myself as Editorial Director, Caoimhe O’Brien as Marketing Director and Richard Simpson as Operations Director. We were also using freelancers last year to help with cover design and proofreading, but we have decided we are at a stage where we need a full-time extra pair of hands as well! So, in a couple of months I’ll have a new Editorial Assistant to introduce to everybody. It is our first time hiring so we are currently brainstorming what tests to set candidates and exactly what we want to ask them at the interview stage. More news on that in a few weeks!
We have also put a call out for ‘nautical fiction’, as that is a genre which is underrepresented in the market and which we know readers love, and we’ll be looking for other niche genres to sign up throughout the year. We are having a lot of success with our first ‘timeslip’ novel – The Catherine Howard Conspiracy by Alexandra Walsh, which alternates between the Tudor court and the modern day, so that may be an area we’ll expand into more in the coming months. Other than that, my inbox is full to bursting with submissions, which is fantastic, but I always find it slightly heartbreaking when I have to turn authors down. We are getting such a fantastic quality of submissions coming through that I am turning down lots of novels which are certainly good enough to be published, but we can’t say yes to all of them because we don’t want to flood our list, and end up not being able to give our books the attention they deserve.
The publication schedule for this month focussed largely on historical fiction. At the start of the year I published the fourth book in Elizabeth Bailey’s brilliant Regency mystery series and M J Logue’s first romantic thriller featuring Major Thankful Russell and his wife Thomazine, set during the Restoration. They were followed by a Medieval novel; the first part of a saga trilogy set at the time of the American Civil War; a crime novel featuring Charles Dickens as the investigator; and the final book in the eight-part Victorian mystery series we launched last year, featuring a husband and wife detective partnership. Next month will be more crime and thriller focussed – with a bit of romance thrown in in time for Valentine’s Day!
We have just had a catch up meeting at Amazon HQ to let them know what we will be publishing this year. The Amazon team have given us lots of ‘Kindle Daily Deal’ and ‘Kindle Monthly Deal’ slots over the past few months in the UK, US, Australia, Canada and even India, which can really give books a boost, so we are keen to keep the team over there up-to-date with our plans and the books we are publishing. I am also sorting out the diary for London Book Fair, which promises to be a crazily intense three days as always, but a brilliant time to catch up with literary agents, meet with authors – and indulge in a drink or two!
Finally, I have some exciting news to share to do with the Romantic Novelists’ Association but I have to wait until the official press release goes out next month so you’ll have to wait until then to hear more!
So, Catastrophe is back for a fourth series. When we left, Rob had just had a car accident while over the limit, so there are a few issues to get hold of in the new series, aren’t there?
Yes! We have set ourselves up with a bit of a puzzle to work out. When we started writing it we were like “Oh shit, why did we do that?” Because it was a massive thing to end on, and it exposed them a bit. It was a secret he’d been keeping for an entire series, and we’d just gotten to a point where she’s saying to him “We don’t work on our own – this is it. I don’t really work as a single unit anymore.” So a declaration of being together forever, and then the car crash, and so we were thinking: “We can’t have them break up, because where’s the show? We can’t have him in prison, because that would be ridiculous.” But obviously it had to impact on them. But they have a good relationship, despite all the bickering and fighting, so we just felt like they’d get through it. But it would have to have ramifications for the rest of the series. And Rob is looking for answers, looking to be a better person and fix himself. He’s on a different journey to her. And he’s also in a neck brace!
Yeah, whose idea was that?
[Laughs] I can’t remember. I think it was mine. But these things come out of conversations, and a lot of it comes out of our weird hive-brain. We wanted to have it on for a few episodes, so there is a physical reminder of the bad thing he’d done. But also, you could have some fun with it, and it’s hard to take someone seriously when they’re wearing a contraption like that.
Does it get easier to write, because you know the characters so well now, or is it more difficult, because you’ve got to find new stories, and you’ve got to stay true to their back stories?
It gets more difficult, if I’m honest. You definitely know the characters better, so you’re definitely drawing less on your own life, and more on what has gone before for those characters. There’s more texture there, there’s loads of things that make it feel like they’re fully drawn characters – not just Rob and Sharon but those characters around them. In a lot of ways it’s more satisfying, because you know them so well, and you’ve got all those back stories you’ve drawn and the history of all the characters, but at the same time thinking up new stories, even for the other characters that surround us, like keeping Fran and Chris fresh, and wanting to introduce new characters but knowing they really have to count, they can’t be using up screen time and not justifying it – it was really hard. It was the hardest one yet. And also we’re aware that people really like the show, and it means a lot to us to keep it so that people continue to give a shit about it. We want to talk about stuff that might have an impact, and then we want to make it funny on top of that. It’s a slog.
You said you use less stuff from your own life now, but do you mine the experiences of your friends for material? When someone’s telling a story from their own life, does part of you wonder if you can fit it in?
Yeah. It’s actually more what I observe than people telling me stories. Occasionally, yeah. Everyone’s got their own shit going on, so here and there that happens. And I think people are aware that I do that as well, so if they are going through something, or they’re telling me something that is quite a vibrant story, they’ll assume that I might have a little bit of it on the show.
They’ll see it played out in technicolour in the next series…
Well, they’ll see it playing across my face first, as I’m listening!
Apparently this is the last series. Do you get emotionally involved with the material, and is it quite difficult to say goodbye to the characters at the end of it?
Yeah, it really is and was. And not just Rob and that relationship. We spent the best past of five years sitting in a room together, writing this stuff – forget about the filming aspects. So yes, it’s really hard. It’s hard to say goodbye to all of them. I love Fergal and Chris and Fran and Dave, and that they won’t exist anymore is a bit of a weird thing. But guessthey will exist, because the show’s still there. And I think I’d be sadder, if we did keep going and ran out of ideas for those characters. I’d feel worse seeing them onscreen not being at their tip-top best. But it was emotional filming the last scene, and all of those characters, when they had their last scene, as it was being ticked off I found myself getting a bit maudlin. But at the same time, I don’t think it’s going to hit me until I’m half as year down the road and I suddenly realise there’s a really big thing missing from my life that made me really happy.
So you’ll suddenly be found weeping in the frozen food aisle at Tesco.
I think I’ll be lying down, I’ll collapse between feminine hygiene and dairy.
There’s a tendency for TV shows to either paint life as glorious and sexy and wonderful or hellish and agonising – is Catastrophe self-consciously trying to find the reality?
Yeah. That was a big part of it. I would say one of the very first conversations with Rob was about showing a real marriage. The real truth of a marriage, and how it effects the romance of it, and when kids come along, and when family interferes, and when your own hang-ups and addictions and illnesses intrude –just the shit that everybody has to deal with. It was a big manifesto that we had for the series. Also I think that’s just how we write. I find it harder to write something that is a bit more heightened, that wouldn’t be my natural skill area. Not that I don’t like watching comedy like that, I just find it harder to do.
Both Catastrophe and Motherland show that being a parent isn’t all baking cakes and tucking in sleeping children. Do you think it’s important that people understand it’s okay to be frazzled by it all, and not love every moment?
Oh completely. If I get stopped, or if someone wants to say they like the show, that’s a huge big part of it. People say “That show came into my life when this particular thing had happened” or “I’d just had my second baby, and I wasn’t coping.” Stuff like that. I think when people see that kind of thing onscreen they feel less isolated, and less like they’re a shitty parent. That’s a big part of it for me. When we’re writing it, it’s something that we have in our mind a lot, both for Catastrophe and Motherland. I love showing Julia or Sharon at their wits’ end, not being able to cope, but I also like showing them coming out the other side, getting through it. I think that’s also important – people watching need to see that. It can’t be nihilistic. I don’t want people to dread watching it, I want them to feel that everything will be okay.
However bad things get, Rob and Sharon have the capacity to make each other laugh. Do you think that’s one of the keys to navigating life’s more problematic moments?
Yeah, oh my God, completely. So many terrible moments and awful arguments or real tragic events are cut through with two people just laughing together. I think it’s everything.
Ultimately, do you think that Rob and Sharon are happy?
Yeah, I do. I think they’re different characters than they were at the start. They’ve both been boxed about by life a bit, and there’s less idealism there from Rob, and more resignation from Sharon. And certainly over the course of this series, shit does happen to them. But I really hope that by the time people get to episode six – which is one of the worst ones in terms of what we do to them – I really hope that when we see them at the end, that’s the big take away – that they love each other, that they came through it all and still love each other
Excellent interview with the amazing Sharon Horgan thanks to Channel 4. Pictures courtesy of Channel 4.
Picking your wedding dress is nothing short of an experience. A Wedding dress is perhaps the most iconic thing of your big day. Yes, finding a wedding dress that ticks all the boxes within your budget isn’t easy. When opting for a wedding dress (especially, if you are going to marry on the beach), there are a few things you need to consider.
These guidelines help to assure your wedding dress is comfortable, practical and won’t drag on the sand. Sure you are not going pick the same dress you would if you were going to marry in a church. With that said, following we are going to share some tips that will help you pick the ideal dress for the beach setting.
Show Your Style Sense
Beach Wedding Dresses don’t have a lot of restrictions. Yes, there are some style rules you have to follow. Not everything is ideal for a beach setting. Sure you don’t have to restrict yourself to short flocky dress category found in most bridal stores.
You can go for something a little exotic if you want. Just make sure can walk in the sand wearing it. Why don’t you try something traditional? Just make sure you have a short dress because a long dress will drag in the sand and get ruined.
Floaty and Flimsy
Floaty and whimsical dresses are ideal for beaches. They are romantic and stylish. Moreover, they complement the movement of the ocean and bohemian vibe surrounding beach weddings. Not to forget, they are practical. These dresses will help you get through the heat and move easily on the beach. Just avoid long sleeves because you don’t want to be sweating when hugging the guests.
Short wedding dresses are popular among young brides. These dresses also make an excellent choice for beach weddings as they don’t restrict you in any way. They help you to keep cool, are fun and a bit flirty.
Veil
It’s better if you forget the veil because of the breeze. Yes, the wind can snatch away your veil before you get to the aisle. If you have your heart set on having a veil, then go for a short one. It won’t restrict your vision to prove to be too heavy. The closer you get to the ocean, the windier it will be. Some wedding dresses do come with a veil, but they are not meant for the beach.
Footwear
Another important thing that needs a lot of consideration is wedding footwear. Stilettos won’t fare well in sand. If you are wearing stilettos, make sure you set a boardwalk. It’s better if you wear flats or sandals for the big day. If you want to wear heels, you can save it for the reception.
The key is, pick something which won’t get too much sand in them. When you are picking something for your big day, just be true to yourself. The wedding is a celebration for you and your significant other. So don’t get carried away because of these petty things.
Sister Scribe number three is Kitty Wilson. You know with every group of friends there’s always one who’s outrageously funny. Well that’s Kitty. Funny and clever and warm. It’s little wonder she writes romcoms – and that they’re hilarious.
Hello! It’s so exciting to be able to collaborate with some of my best writing friends as Sister Scribes and keep you updated with all our news and views, so a big thank you to Frost Magazine for hosting us.
I’m Kitty Wilson and I write contemporary romantic comedies; my current series is set in the fictional village of Penmenna and is based around the school there. I used to be a primary school teacher myself and absolutely loved being part of such a strong community.
Having been both parent and teacher, I know what goes on both sides of the school door and really wanted to use a school as a setting and then fill it with some larger-than-life characters. I feel very lucky to be able to do this and often find myself giggling away as I invent some of the more outlandish antics of Penmenna’s PTA.
When my parents first suggested moving to Cornwall I was furious, and vowed I would never set foot in the place. I failed to win that battle so would wander around the lanes, sulky look on my face and a book tucked in my pocket, desperately waiting for a romantic hero to come and rescue me. These days I’m glad I wasn’t bundled into a car by a passer-by but it felt as if my heart would break with disappointment back then.
I lived there for twenty-five years, only moving away a few months ago to have a taste of life in the city. However, the sea is in my soul and I do head back to Cornwall regularly to get some beach time. Cornwall provided me with so much inspiration it made sense to set my books in the county and writing about it now makes me feel as if I’m still there.
Nine years ago, I was devastated when prolonged ill-health meant I had to give it teaching. After a couple of years, I decided that I would chase my dreams instead until I could return to the classroom. I started to write.
When I had finished the first novel, I began the second, having heard you needed to write a fair few to learn all the things that make a book work. When I put that through the NWS which is a scheme run by the Romantic Novelists Association (the most supportive professional association in the world and one that actively encourages new writers and helps them build a career. It’s also responsible for me meeting my Sister Scribes) I was encouraged to submit the book to agents and publishers. I did this and couldn’t believe it when I had an offer. When I ran to tell one of my closest friends, laptop in hand and tears streaming down my face unable to get any words out, he made me hot sweet tea and sat me down, assuming all the emotion meant a close family member had died!
I used that publication offer to secure myself an agent who then immediately found me an alternative deal to consider. I never had dreamt I would be in the position of choosing a publisher, to this day I can’t quite believe that happened. I am loving writing them and there will be five Cornish School books in total, I have just finished the third and will be starting number four next week.
I am so looking forward to keeping everyone up to date with its progress through Frost magazine and introducing you to some of the women within the writing industry whom I admire. We’re going to have a blast!
