Tag Archives: best

Fattoria La Vialla Christmas Advent Calendar

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It will be hard for any of the Christmas presents we get this year to top this wonderful advent calendar from Fattoria La Vialla. It is certainly the biggest advent calendar we have ever seen, and behind every window is a delicious product from the organic family-run Fattoria La Vialla. Organic wine, pasta, sauce, olives, biscotti…every day is so exciting you will feel like a child again. A book is included and we were also delighted to have a beautiful Christmas card.

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A selection of some of the products in the advent calendar (below), does not include them all as we went day-by-day. All of the products are delicious and healthy, the salami was also amazing. Nothing like it tastes in supermarkets. You just cannot compare. In fact every product is of the highest quality. For a more detailed review of their food click here.

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What do you think? Will you be buying a Fattoria La Vialla Advent Calendar for someone?

Frost’s Top 10 Brands to Trust for a Stress Free Christmas

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Christmas is a stressful time of year. We’ve all had a Christmas where it ended in tears because the food wasn’t right or a present broke right out of the box. Unfortunately most companies can’t be relied upon. Revenues and profits are the main consideration. After the sale has been made most brands will consider the relationship with the customer over. But there is a small minority of companies who buck this trend and put the customer experience above all else. Brands which can be relied upon at this important time of year. So here is Frosts independent guide to the brands we believe can be trusted for a stress free Christmas

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Top Electronic Brand – Apple

No one was ever disappointed to get any Apple product for a present. You can also almost guarantee it will work right out of the box with minimal stress and frustration and provide an amazing Christmas experience. If on the off chance something does go wrong, Apple is excellent at sorting out any problems you have. The company prides itself on the ‘user experience’ and this definitely comes across. The company’s products are always a joy to use. Of course the downside is the cost which can be exorbitant. However this year you can get an iPad mini for £219 from John Lewis (another one of our top ten brands) http://www.johnlewis.com/electricals/ipad-tablet-pcs/apple-ipad-mini/ipad-mini/c8000030510

It’s an incredible product and experience but the mini is still by no means cheap. For a cheaper alternative why not try these amazing Bluetooth headphones we reviewed earlier this year. https://www.frostmagazine.com/2013/10/groovez-bths800-bluetooth-headphones-by-stk/

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Available from Amazon for £36.71

Top Online Shopping Brand – Amazon

The online shopping giant has always been reliable and easy to use. Although its not as relatively cheap to the highstreet and other online competitors as it was a few years ago, it’s still unbeaten for choice and reliability.Amazon has always prided its users and has always put there experience before profits. In fact the company still barely makes a profit despite turning over hundreds of billions of dollars every year. If you buy from Amazon you can be fairly sure your items will arrive quickly and as described. And if by any chance anything does go wrong in our experience Amazon has always issued a refund. This is definitely a company which takes some of the stress out of Christmas. In second place is notonthehighstreet.com which offers products from small boutique companies. There’s a really nice feel to the website and it can be a great place to find a personal gift at a reasonable price.

Also check out shuffle hub a great new way to shop online. Shuffle Hub scans major websites and randomly shows you a small selection of products. If you don’t like what you see you can just hit the shuffle button. You can filter it by gender, cost, item type etc Definitely worth a look. We love it.

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Top Supermarket – Sainsbury’s

Of the major supermarkets Sainsbury’s is the one we are trusting with our Christmas this year. The supermarket has been getting better and better recently. The produce and suppliers can be trusted and the food in our experience is of better quality than most peers.

The experience in the stores is warm and even the infernal self scanners are better than in most competitors. The staff are all friendly and seem to be enjoying their jobs. By contrast I think Tesco has really taken its eye off the ball recently. Both price and quality are not as good as they once were and shopping in the store is stressful. A close second in the top supermarket department is Morrisons who offer some great Christmas produce. https://www.frostmagazine.com/2012/11/morrisons-christmas-showcase-event-what-food-to-buy-for-christmas/

Top Highstreet Retailer – John Lewis

John Lewis is as reliable as they come. The company has always put a tremendous focus on looking after customers. Shopping in the stores has always been easy and there are loads of good ideas for Christmas presents. On some items you will pay more but if your clever you can often avoid this. Remember John Lewis has a policy of never knowingly being undersold. It’s worth using for the same items you might have bought from another store anyway (like the iPad mini above) because of the great customer after care.

pandora2Top Jeweler – Pandora

We’ve visited Pandora’s new flag ship store on Oxford Street and it was a great experience. The company is best known for its charm bracelets. You buy a bracelet and then add to it throughout the year on memorable occasions. It’s a great present to give wives and girlfriends. It’s personal, its jewelry and its fun. Better still it takes the stress out of buying presents in the future since you can just keep adding more charms. The company has a great range of products which it is constantly updating and prices vary. The products are well made and in our experience can be trusted.

Top Chocolate – Divine

Chocolate is an important indulgence at Christmas. Ditch the multi national brands and go for Divine chocolate. In our opinion there chocolate is more intense and simply better than the majority of their rivals. They offer a big range of products from hot chocolate to mini thins. All tastes great.

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Top Drink – Disaronno

We at Frost can’t get enough of this delicious Amaretto. We love it and in our experience there aren’t many who don’t. Definitely worth having some around for Christmas. Here’s our Disaronno cocktail guide.

https://www.frostmagazine.com/2013/04/disaronno-cocktail-recipes-and-drink-review/

Top Whiskey – Chivas Regal

We have been given our fair share of Chivas over the years, their 21 Year Old Royal Salute being a particular favourite.

Top Clothing Brand – Burberry

They are as far way from the tarnishing of their image when their unique and patented (though possibly not for long) plaid became synonymous with chavs  and every market stall was selling a knocked-off version than it is possible to be. In the past few years they have had the best of Britain fronting their ad campaigns and their clothes have left all negative stereotypes behind. Like a phoenix from the ashes, Burberry rises again and become our top clothing brand of the year, Sienna Miller fronts their ‘kisses’ marketing activity for Autumn/Winter with fiancee/baby daddy Tom Sturridge.

Top TV Shopping – QVC

QVC has to win for this. They have grown enormously in the past few years and now everyone has got in on the act. They even have top designers and personalities designing for them. Giles Deacon recently did a jewelery range for them and they sell the most beautiful Lulu Guinness bags. You can also buy everything you want from QVC on their excellent website. From beauty products, home decor and fashion: QVC has it all.

 

Atomic Floyd AirJax In Ear Acoustics Review

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Atomic-Floyd-Airjax-reviewAirJax are made especially for iPhone, iPad and iPod. They can also be used on non-Apple products Skype and Blackberry. They offer amazing audio quality and style. Unbelievable style, they are the Naomi Campbell of in-ear acoustics. Just beautiful.

Just to up the style quote they come with a black leather case which is red suede inside and opens when you apply pressure. They are ‘hand-crafted in metal’, this metal includes acoustic steel, an ultra thin metal, titanium and 24k gold. They are high quality as you would expect, well made and just sigh-worthy.

They come with a microphone and have a button for answering calls. The earphones have removable metal hooks which turns them into fitness earphones, very handy and you do not even notice them as they are so comfortable. The earhooks also come with black sleeves, a flight adapter and mini jack.

Now to the audio: it is just perfect. Everything works in harmony and every genre of music sounds magnificent. The rich, creamy bass is first class. These gorgeous and pretty much perfect earphones, their only negative for some people is that they are not compatible on a PC or ordinary MP3 player, are a must if you have the extra cash for beautiful, high-quality earphones with impeccable sound. Amazing.

Atomic Floyd AirJax Stereo Headset with Remote can be bought here

Christmas Gift Guide For The Gadget Geek

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His & Hers J-Me Keyholders

 

We love these for their cool design and eye-catching originality. These will be constantly commented on and will save valuable time. J Me His and Hers Key Holders

Groovez BTHS800 Bluetooth headphones by STK

Groovez BTHS800 Bluetooth headphones by STK Review

Our writer James loves these headphones. In fact he has barely taken them off since they arrived. He even makes phone calls through them as they have bluetooth. They are also the perfect way to ignore someone as they are noise cancelling. Not that this is a plus or anything….
Lexon Safe Eco Friendly Torch

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This eco friendly torch winds up and is made from corn, not oil. It also can be charged with your computer. Add in the fact it is a gorgeous little thing and we are sold.

STK Black Laptop Case

 

Good-looking, dependable, safe, everything you want in a man laptop bag. Lots of little compartments so you won’t lose anything either. Or you will. One of those.

Atomic Floyd AirJax Stereo Headset with Remote

 

While James loves the headphones above, this in-ear headset has made all of my listening dreams come true. Made for iPod, iPad and the iPhone. They have adjustable earhooks so the earphones don’t fall out, deep full-bodied sound and a microphone which controls music, calls and volume. I love these beautiful and stylish earphones.  A full review will be up soon.

J-Me Bic Pen Holder

 

Stylish, fun and original. Pen Lid Pen Holder

J-Me Desk Tidy

 

Keeps you organised and looks great. Original and always starts conversations. Desk Tidy Retro Cassette Tape Dispenser Also available from John Lewis.

The Power Tap

 

The iTap charges up any USB compatible device by simply turning the tap. It’s beautifully and stylishly crafted in a slick and beautiful white durable plastic it comes complete with LED lights that turn red when off and blue when on!

The Power Tap from Prezzybox

What will you buy?

 

 

The Best London Restaurants To Watch Fireworks

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BONFIRE NIGHT 2013

On November 5th, the London skyline will dazzle with fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes night. Enjoy the show at one of these top London restaurants:

 

 

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Angler

Michelin starred British seafood restaurant Angler, located within South Place Hotel, offers guests a stunning terrace in which looks over the City of London from its location near Liverpool Street station. Enjoy some seafood winter warmer dishes such as the Angler and lobster pie, while watching the sky light up and sparkle in between the skyscrapers.  www.anglerrestaurant.com

 

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New Street Grill

After tucking into a delicious steak at meat house and grill restaurant New Street Grill, head outside to the terrace shared by adjacent venue The Old Bengal Bar. Sip on some warming colonial cocktails, such as the Royal Daiquiri, while snuggling up under blankets and enjoying the capital’s firework displays. www.oldbengalbar.co.uk

 

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Vivo

Newly opened in Islington, and inspired by the traditional gastronomia and pasticceria of Italy, Vivo is an all day casual dining affair serving authentic and regional cuisine. With a cozy terrace situated on the roof, diners can watch the crackling comets set the sky alight with prosecco in hand, served on tap, and a slice of authentic Romana pizza. www.vivotaste.com

 

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Anthony Demetre’s three month pop up restaurant, located on floor 24 of iconic high rise building Tower 42, is the perfect venue to gaze at the stunning fireworks across the capital. Indulge in Demetre’s contemporary European menu which showcases his signature style from his restaurants Arbutus, Wild Honey and Les Deux Salons. Dishes include crisp pigs head, potato purée, pickled turnip; and turbot, butternut squash, girolles, shrimps, salted butter. http://ad12.co.uk/

 

 Min Jiang

 

Min Jiang

Situated on the 10th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, Min Jiang offers views of Kensington Gardens and London beyond. As the skies light up on 5th November, guests can sample the firey Chilli Sensation menu and cocktail flight. Available throughout November and costing £65, three fiery cocktails will be paired with a set menu of spicy Chinese specialities. Starters include a choice of Bi Feng Tang Soft Shell Crab or Sichuan Chicken paired with a Sichuan Mary – a hot Bloody Mary. For the main course, a Chilli Caipirinha accompanies a choice of Gong Bao Prawn or MaPo Tofu, both with steamed rice. For a spicy but sweet dessert, a Sichuan Pancake is served with a Chilli Chocolatini. The chilli cocktails can also be sampled at the Min Jiang bar, priced individually or accompanied by Bi Feng Tang Soft Shell Crab for £22.

www.minjiang.co.uk

Where will you be going?

The Best & Worst Date Movies

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Best & Worst Date MoviesOne third of the nation has admitted to having their first kiss with a new partner in front of a TV, during date night. Love Actually has been voted the nation’s favourite date night movie with 62 per cent agreeing that the classic British film is a winner to get partners in the romantic mood.

The lifestyle study of 2,000 daters, commissioned by TalkTalk TV, found that women wait until the 5th date to suggest a night in front of the TV with men being a little keener and offering it as a 3rd date activity. 1 in 6 people also admitted to feeling awkward and embarrassed if their partner suggests TV with lots of sex scenes or steamy romance.

Comedy was highlighted as being the winning genre with 2/3 of people agreeing a romantic comedy will lead to a successful date but unsurprisingly horror was voted the worst with 55% of people predicting The Exorcist would result in a disastrous date. Careful selection is critical with 1 in 10 people said that a lousy choice of film would be just cause to break up and over 20% of couples asked had argued over their partner’s TV choices.

The research also found that 15% of people have put on a specific film or genre to get a reaction from their partner e.g. rom coms are seen by 2/3 as a sure fire way to get partners feeling romantic.

 

Top 10 best films for a date Top 10 worst films for a date
1.    Love Actually 1. The Exorcist
2.    Notting Hill 2. Schindlers List
3.    Dirty Dancing 3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
4.    Pretty Woman 4. Nightmare on Elm Street
5.    Bridget Jones’ Diary 5. Star Wars triology
6.    Titanic 6. The Terminator
7.    Forest Gump 7. Die Hard
8.    When Harry Met Sally 8. Spice World
9.    Groundhog Day 9. Basic Instinct
10.  There’s something about Mary 10. American Pie

 

Foreign language films and documentaries were also voted as least likely to incite passion on date night.

Top Beauty Products

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There are millions of beauty products out there, so Frost did the hard work and sourced the top beauty products for September.

The Nail Polish and lipstick.

Gothic Glam from Collection. From the 25th of September the Gothic Glam Collection will be available in Superdrug. Perfect for vampy dark nails and statement lips. There are three new shades of lipstick and four darkly chic nail colours. At £2.99 for the lipstick and £3.19 for the nail polish, you can afford to experiment.

The Health Kick

We reviewed Krill Oil. Full of Omega-3 fatty acids. Harvested from Antarctic krill, a shrimp like crustacean that lives below the ocean. Full of DHA, EPA’s and astaxanthin. Our writer had less joint pain and an improvement in their back pain. They also think their memory improved. Sounds good. www.krilloil.com

The Calmer

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During these hot summer months  Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray has been a godsend. Cooling us off and improving our skin tone. This 50ml can is even small enough to take traveling. It is perfect for planes. Celebrity fans include Gwyneth Paltrow who says it is a ‘soothing water spray for irritated skin. It’s also good as a quick refresher on a hot day. I know lots of makeup artists who use it, as it helps set makeup.” and Sophie Dahl says it keeps her skin from getting dry. Angelina Jolie is also a fan. It is only £3.15 for the 50ml spray and £6.50 for 50ml. Bargain.

The Unsung Beauty Hero

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How many times a day do you think you touch your face? Research shows that we touch common objects 3.3 times per hour and our face 3.6 times. The germs transfer to the face and may lead to skin irritations, bacterial and viral infections. Step in Cuticura and its range of antibacterial skin care solutions.

I always carry their Cuticura Anti Bacterial Hand Serum in my bag. Especially as a women’s handbag is supposed to have as much bacteria as the average toilet. Ew. It protects hands from germs for up to 8 hours. It kills 99.99% of germs and only costs £3.49 for 200ml. Unlike other antibacterial hand gels, it also keeps hands soft and smells nice.

I also love their Cuticura Hand Hygiene Anti-Bacterial Wipes Which I use to clean my makeup bag, brushes and my handbag. I also use their Anti Bacterial Hand wash. It is good for my dry skin and also protects for up to 3 hours. They cost £2.49 from Sainsbury’s, Superdrug and independent pharmacies.

The Toxin Free Nail Polish

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Toxin Free Nail Polish is huge now. People are taking much more care about what they put on their face and nails. Dielle Nail polish is made in France and free from toluene, formaldehyde, DBP, camphor and pthalic acid. Great quality and the polish will dry in seconds. www.dielle.co.uk

The Tough Love

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The Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter Tough Stuff Body Scrub may have a very long name but just call it CB Tough Stuff. These great sachets from tanning brand Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter tackles rough areas for a smooth silhouette. It also removes stubborn old tan and prepares skin for the next application. This scrub from the best-selling Irish brand is perfect for knees, elbows, feet, ankles and hands. £4.50 for 50ml X 2 at feelunique.com

The Vegan Multi-tasker.

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I saw Steamcream being made recently. It was pretty cool. They use the finest 100% vegan, fresh ingredients. This amazing moisturiser is made with steam, this unique method creates a super moisturising cream with added essential oils. Available in over 25 countries and suitable for sensitive skin. The beauty elite love it. Available from Selfridges and John Lewis.

The Exfoliating Body Cream

Top Beauty Products

Docteur Renaud Peach Exfoliating Body Cream. Brilliant stuff that leaves you silky smooth. Helps with lumps and bumps. Just really good stuff that works. Available from Marks & Spencers.

The Organic Balm

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Niki’s Organic Balm’s are a blend of organic oils, essential oils and beeswax. Niki trained as a homeopath and a reflexologist. She was surprised how many balms were petroleum or mineral based oil. She bought beeswax, oils, essential oils and started making her own foot balms. Her balms are antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. They smell fantastic and she now has a few different varieties. Her original balm is good for everything from cold sores, insect bites and cracked heels. I talked to Niki’s son about her balms and the family passion really came through. Great balms that work. http://www.nikisbalms.co.uk

The Water

Volvic Tropical-Fruits-50cl review

Keeping hydrated is very important for good skin and health. Volvic Touch of Fruit’s newest edition, Tropical Fruits Flavour tastes great. Combining Volvic Natural Mineral Water and a tasty blend of pineapple, mango, and passion fruit flavours, it made us feel like we were on holiday. Great when you want something more than water, watch out for the sugar content though. 

Volvic Touch of Tropical Fruits is available in 50cl and 1.5l bottles from Tesco and independent stores (RRP 80p for 50cl, and 99p for 1.5l.

 

What is your top beauty product?

Moroccan Oil Review

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In the three years since I started Frost Magazine I have been sent a lot of stuff, and Moroccan Oil is one of my favourites.

Moroccan Oil has only been going for six years and in that time it has become a cult product. All of my friends raved about it and I just never got around to buying it. The main reason was I just didn’t get the whole oil + hair thing. Wouldn’t it leave it greasy? Or limp?

Well, no. I have fine hair and I am careful to not use products that will drag it down, but Moroccan Oil does not do that. In fact it leaves my hair super shiny, conditioned and de-tangled. My hair goes through a lot. I act and spend my life getting my hair curled, blow dried, backcombed and cornrowed so they can then attach a wig. If it was a person, it would have been in hospital. Before trying the moroccan_oil_light_treatment_25mlMoroccan Oil it was really tangled. It would take me ages to get a brush through it. I used the Moroccan Oil products and ran a brush straight through my hair, no problem at all.

I use Moroccan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo, Moroccan Oil Moisture Repair Conditioner and Moroccan Oil Treatment Light. The Moroccan Oil smells amazing. Even my boyfriend comments on it, and in one single use my hair looks the best I can remember it looking. Bouncy, healthy, shiny and with volume. I can’t stop stroking my hair.

When I mentioned to a few friends that I had been sent the Moroccan Oil to review they said they were jealous and that I would never use anything again, they may be right. I give the product top marks.