Tag Archives: charity

Getting Into The Christmas Spirit | Alcohol Gift Guide

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Ah, Christmas. The time for overindulgence. Too much food, booze and time spent with people you have to people you love dearly. No having to go to work in the morning, just bad TV and lying comatose on the coach. It truly is magical. To help the magic along we have started our Christmas Alcohol Reviews. Here are our top picks to buy the people who have been very, very good this year. alcoholchristmasreviewwhattobuy

Snow Leopard Vodka

This vodka (made with spelt, the so-called ‘grandfather of grains’) was created by a passionate conservationist determined to save these critically endangered big cats. Which is why we should all buy one this Christmas.

Stephen Sparrow, an ex-drinks industry expert, heard about the snow leopard’s plight during a trip to the Himalayas. Shocked at learning there were less than 5,000 left in the wild, he came back and founded the Snow Leopard Trust UK – and then created this super-premium vodka to help fund its projects. Stephen has set a global goal to raise a million dollars annually for snow leopard conservation by 2025. That’s the the figure the President of the Snow Leopard Trust has advised could provide the ‘step change’ to remove the animal from the endangered list. This goal has been helped by the vodka recently gaining national distribution in Waitrose.com

With 15% of the vodka’s profit going direct to the Snow Leopard Trust, funds are provided to community-based conservation projects. These range from replacing farmers’ livestock that might be taken by snow leopards; through to helping educate herders’ children and training for adults in spinning wool and handicrafts for extra income. Supporting these projects helps educate the local communities and fosters a positive attitude towards the snow leopard.

£36.00 RRP for a 70cl bottle and available at Waitrose.com, Harvey Nichols and Ocado.com, as well as all good independent drinks retailers. Snowleopardtrustuk.org / snowleopardvodka.co.uk

 

Snow Leopard Vodka – The Conservation Martini

Glass: Martini

75ml Snow Leopard Vodka
5ml French Dry Vermouth
1 sprig of rosemary to be stirred in a mixing glass

Method: Add ingredients into an ice-filled mixing glass and briskly stir for 20 seconds.
Pour into a Martini glass.
Garnish: Rosemary sprig placed in the Martini or cocktail glass.

 

Whitley Neill Gin

This is top-class, truly wonderful gin. Perfect for gin lovers, winner of the World’s Best Gin Award at the International Wines and Spirits Festival, super-premium Whitley Neill Gin stands out from the crowd with its African botanicals cape gooseberry and super-fruit baobab, which has six times more vitamin C than an orange. Whitley Neill is slightly softer than more traditional gins and the taste is refreshingly citrusy and sweet. Whitley Neill Gin is available in sainsburys.co.uk priced £24.00.

 

Lamb’s Spiced

This is wonderful spiced rum with a lower alcohol content that other spiced rums. The sophisticated readers of Frost will know that is a good thing. New Lamb’s Spiced is a perfect gift for rum aficionados and cocktail lovers. It’s a gentle blend with a lower alcoholic content (30% abv) than other spiced rums, which makes this smooth golden liquid ideal for sipping. Natural spices and hints of cinnamon and caramel give Lamb’s Spiced a sweet, warming flavour. Lamb’s Spiced is available in Tesco.com priced £14.49 for a 70cl bottle.

 

Lamb’s Navy Rum

A true classic. This is high-end rum. Truly Iconic British rum, Lamb’s Navy, is the perfect tipple to have in the cupboard at Christmas – not only is it a great cake preservative and ideal ingredient for flambéing the Christmas pudding, but it’s a great winter cocktail ingredient too. Lamb’s Navy Rum is available from all major supermarkets priced around £14.50 for 70cl.

 

Bootlegger

This is something truly unique for whiskey lovers who want something different. It is actually unaged white whiskey. It is gorgeous, sophisticated and luxurious with just the right amount of vintage kitsch.

Bootlegger is an unaged white whiskey inspired by the raw liquor ‘Bootleggers’ moved around the US during Prohibition. It has a raw sophisticated taste with aromas of peat, oak and vanilla with a smooth finish and has been created for sipping neat over ice as well as in cocktails. Bootlegger is available from Harrods.com and other premium retailers priced around £37.50.

 

Tequila Rose

Our editor loves tequila, just a shame she can’t drink it at the moment because she is pregnant! We did the hard work for her: This is a unique and delicious take on tequila. Tequila Rose is a luxurious blend of premium Mexican tequila and real strawberry flavoured cream liqueur. It’s an ideal alternative to traditional cream liqueurs at Christmastime and makes a fabulous gift for female foodies and cocktail lovers. Tequila Rose is priced £14.99 for 70cl from various supermarkets.

 

Grant’s Signature 

Grant’s whisky is always brilliant. Perfect for a wee dram. This Christmas Grant’s Whisky is putting a new twist on tradition this Christmas with the release of its Signature character and maltiness blend. With a smooth yet rich taste, with hints of caramel and biscuit which is delicious on its own, over ice or with a mixer. The product of five generations, Grant’s is Scotland’s oldest family owned blend.

The Grant’s Family Reserve is priced at RRP £17.49 (70cl) available supermarkets and off licences. The Grant’s Signature blend will be sold exclusively at Tesco.com, priced at RRP £18.49.

 

Koko Kanu Coconut Rum

Perfect for rum lovers: Koko Kanu is a subtle blend of crystal clear rum and coconut; the only full strength coconut rum available in the UK.

This beautifully rich tasting coconut flavoured rum from the Caribbean island of Jamaica, is so smooth and round that it’s delicious on its own over ice.

 

Koko Kanu Daiquiri

Ingredients:

50ml Koko Kanu
25ml freshly pressed lime juice
5ml Gomme (available at all good retail outlets)

Method:
Chill a martini glass
Add all ingredients to a boston shaker, shake and double strain
Pour into the chilled glass and garnish with a slice of lime or a mint leaf

 

Koko Kanu Grikoko
(Created By Chris Langhan)

Ingredients:
2 Shot Koko Kanu
½ shot lime juice
1 whole Mandarin (quartered)
Dash orange bitters

Method:
Muddle whole mandarin including flesh and zest (everything), add liquid ingredients
Shake hard and double strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with a twist of orange

 

Bowmore Black Rock Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This is a very unique no age statement whisky. It has a rich sherry and peat smoke which is then followed by blackcurrants, treacle toffee and cinnamon spice. Buy for someone you want to impress. It is unique and they probably would not have tried it before. This was released for the travel retail market in 2014.

 

Don Papa Rum

This is brilliant and new for rum lovers. New Don Papa is a premium aged small batch rum from the Philippines which was launched in the UK in February 2014. It is light and fruity on the nose, smooth and delicate on the palate with flavours of vanilla, honey and candied fruit. The Don Papa Rum Gift Pack is available from majestic.co.uk and Majestic stores for £30 and from Harvey Nichols stores and online at www.harveynichols.com

 

Glen Moray Single Malt

This is a top-class Scotch whisky, buy it for the whisky lover in your life. Glen Moray Single Malt is distilled at the Glen Moray Distillery, Speyside’s most northerly distillery which has been producing whisky since 1897. This 10 year old single malt has been uniquely aged in chardonnay casks. £25.00, available from sainsburys.co.uk and glenmoray.com.

 

Three Barrels Honey

Excellent French Brandy. Drink it and cook with it. Oh, and buy it for someone else if you can give it away. The UK’s favourite French grape brandy, Three Barrels, has been blended with the finest honey flavours to create Three Barrels Honey. The new spirit drink is so smooth and mellow, you won’t want to give up a drop for Saint Nick.

 

THREE BARRELS ON THE ROCKS WITH A TWIST

Glass: 10oz Rocks

Method: Pour over ice cubes and spray orange oils over the top of drink

Ice: Cubed

Ingredients:

50ml Three Barrels Honey

Garnish: Trimmed orange zest

THREE BARRELS HONEY AND GINGER

Glass: 12oz Hiball

Method: Fill glass with ice and pour in order listed

Ice: Cubed

Ingredients:

35ml Three Barrels Honey

Top ginger ale

Garnish: Lemon wedge squeezed and discarded, garnish with fresh wedge

 

THREE BARRELS HONEY COLLINS

Glass: 12oz Hiball

Method: Pour all ingredients in glass except soda, and then add ice

Fill with soda and gently stir, top with ice if required

Ice: Cubed

Ingredients:

50ml Three Barrels Honey

20ml Fresh lemon juice

5ml sugar syrup

Top with soda

Garnish: Lemon slice

 

THREE BARRELS HONEY FIZZ

Glass: Chilled flute

Method: Pour in order listed and stir

Ingredients:

25ml Three Barrels Honey

Top with Champagne or dry sparkling wine (Cava or Prosecco)

Garnish: Lemon oils sprayed and discard zest

 

What will be your tipple?

 

 

Charity Auction For Rare Bremont ‘Chivalry’ Watch

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To be in with the chance to own a rare watch crafted by Bremont Watch Company look no further! Simply visit http://www.chivas.com/en/int/chivas/auction/ and bid in auction.

Only 12 rare pieces of this design will ever exist and the proceeds of those sold will be donated to philanthropic causes. The first auction of one of these watches will benefit The Prince’s Trust and  will go live tonight (22nd October) at 20:00 and will close on 9th of November!Watch

The oak contained in the back of this limited edition collectors item was used in the maturation of Chivas Regal Scotch whisky, so if you were to open the back you would experience it’s fine fragrance!

A fine piece for a great charitable cause, so head to the link above and make sure you place a bid!

All 12 watches are beautifully hand crafted by Bremont Chivalry. They represent the pinnacle of an ongoing collaboration between The Bremont Watch Company and Chivas Regal, at the heart of which is craftsmanship, style and generosity. So make sure you don’t miss out on this rare opportunity, as none of these watches will ever be sold in retail.

Shop For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Every year, almost 50,000 women in the UK receive the devastating news that they have breast cancer. That’s around one woman every 10 minutes. It’s time to put an end to this disease and that’s why Breakthrough is asking UK shoppers to help us stop breast cancer for good.

 

We’ve joined forces with high street favourites such as Debenhams, Laura Ashley and River Island, alongside beauty heavyweights Avon and ghd, to launch exclusive products to raise vital funds during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Shop For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

Each item carries a minimum 10% donation to Breakthrough’s life-saving work and, with prices starting from as little as £3.15, the collection carries something for everyone; Avon and ghd have your beauty needs covered, delicious berry shades are showcased in fashion pieces from designers at Debenhams and Damsel in a dress and a statement t-shirt from River Island, with bright kitchen accessories and tea-time staples available from Laura Ashley and Debenhams.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
As an extra treat, bottlegreen has become bottlepink with a limited edition Pomegranate & Elderflower Cordial, complete with scrumptious cake recipe for 2014’s Breakthrough Bake Off, and M&S has created the beautiful ‘In the Pink’ bouquet.

There are a handful of items not yet on the lookbook that I have also copied in below. Jewellery brand Stella & Dot’s Strength and Inspire bracelets are priced at £35.00 each whilst the delicate Hope necklace is priced at £32.00. Made in Chelsea’s Riley Uggla has also designed an exclusive Live Your Life heart sweater with How Do I Save the World, which will retail at £20.00.

1. ghd Coral Bird of Paradise Styler, £129.00 – £10 donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available at exclusive premier salons and www.ghdhair.com

2. Avon’s Ultra Glazewear lip gloss in Pink Watermelon, reduced price of £3.50 (R.R.P £6.50) for Breast Cancer Awareness Month -£1 donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available at www.avon.uk.com or through local representative

3. Bottlepink Pomegranate & Elderflower Cordial (500ml), RRP £3.15 – 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available in all major supermarkets

4. Debenhams Floozie by Frost French Flower Statement Necklace, RRP £22.00 – Part of Debenhams’ Think Pink range with a 25% charity donation, which will be split 45% to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, 45% to Breast Cancer Campaign and 10% to Pink Ribbon Foundation. Available in-store and online at www.debenhams.com

5. Debenhams Think Pink Hangers, RRP £12.00 – Part of Debenhams’ Think Pink range with a 25% charity donation, which will be split 45% to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, 45% to Breast Cancer Campaign and 10% to Pink Ribbon Foundation. Available in sizes 8 to 20, in-store and online at www.debenhams.com

6. Laura Ashley Darcey Spot China Cup and Saucer, RRP £12.00 – 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available in most stores and at www.lauraashley.com

7. River Island Fashion Is T-shirt, RRP £18.00 – 30% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available in stores and online at www.riverisland.com

8. Damsel in a dress Obsession dress, £189.00 – 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available from www.damselinadress.co.uk and in select John Lewis and House of Fraser stores UK-wide (also have lifestyle shot)

9. Stella & Dot Inspire Bracelet, RRP £35.00 – 20% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available via www.stellaanddot.com or local stylists

10. Stella & Dot Strength Bracelet, RRP £35.00 – 20% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available via www.stellaanddot.com or local stylists

11. Stella & Dot Hope Necklace, RRP £32.00 – net proceeds go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available via www.stellaanddot.com or local stylists

12. Riley Uggla’s Live Your Life Heart Sweater, RRP £20.00 – 20% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available at www.howdoisavetheworld.com

 

 

My Million To One: Achieve Your Goals & Help Homeless Children

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“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball

Richard E Grant | Flickr - Photo Sharing! Alana Hurd MMTO (Picture by Matobo)

You deserve to live your full potential, so check out  My Million To One, a brand new ‘Dream Swap’ to help you achieve your goals & give 8 homeless children in Southern Africa a home-for-life in the process, all for just £1 ONCE. You’ve only got 4 months left to attend all of the FREE MMTO events & enter for their free prizes, to give the kids a home by Christmas.

MMTO Signature Strip Jason F

We think it’s amazing. What do you think?”

Frost loves My Million To One and is one of their supporters. We would love for you to get onboard too. Please leave any comments below.

 

Friendship Bracelets Are Easy To Make: By Josie And Megan

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Our grandma, Margaret Graham, is an author and wanted to help wounded troops to recover. She started Words for the Wounded, which raises money with writing competitions, donations and events.

 

She has two other grannies who help, author Penny Deacon, and reader Janet Speedie. Another grannie, writer Tracy Baines helps sometimes, and our Uncle Matt does extreme sports to raise money for them, and Uncle Kris and his friend Lee did a Triathlon.

 

The grannies have just done a skydive with Auntie Annie. Next year they are white water rafting. Meg might too, if her back is strong enough after her operation. Auntie Kate does WforW social media and grandpa does the website.

 

Grandma sometimes says when she is tired and very busy doing her books for Random House, or teaching writing,  ‘Why did I start this?’ We know why she did. We all want to help these very wounded young troops.

 

So we thought we’d make friendship bracelets that the grannies can sell at their events.

 

A. This is how we do it, using loom bands. These are available from The Works, Claire’s, and online. You need bands, a hook, a clasp, and a loom if you wish.

friendship

B. Josie is making a chain bracelet which you can make using your fingers. It has a loose link.

friendshipbracelet

C. Start with two fingers and place the first band over them in a figure of 8. This is the only time you use an 8.

howtomakeafriendshipbracelet

D. Place a 2nd band on top.

howtomakeabracelet

E. Use the hook to drag the bottom over top of left finger and release. Repeat with the right. Keep doing this until you have the length you want.

efriendshipbracelet

F. Take the left band from the finger and switch it to the right.

craft

G. Loop the clasp through both ends of the band.

crafting

Megan is making a fishtail loom bracelet using a loom, not fingers. It has a tighter link. Grandpa made her look out of grandma’s wooden knitting needles. Grandma made a bit of a face, but only a bit.

 

1. Start by twisting a band in a figure of 8 round the two pegs. Add 2 more bands, using alternate colours.

craftingjewelery

2. Use the hook to drag the left side of the band over the right hand peg. Repeat the same step with the right side band until it is the right length. You can make a template by measuring a child’s wrist, or an adult.Repeat the same step with the right side band until it is the right length. Measure it round a child’s wrist, or an adult. To  complete: Stop adding bands but continue to use the hook to drag the bands over until you have one left.

howtomakejewellery

3. Once there is only one band on the hook, lift the left side up but keep it on your hook. Then lift up the right and keep it on your hook. I use Josie to pull down the bracelet, then I feed a band through one side of remaining loop and then through the other side.

stitching

4. Then add a clasp like Josie did.

bracelet clasp

5.  Here is the finished bracelet, stretched to show the clasp.

beautifulbracelet

6. There are all sorts of colours you can use. There mood bands that change colour with your mood. We use blue and yellow for Words for the Wounded. If you want to know more about grandma’s charity, go to www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk None of the grannies take any money, so all the money they raise goes to the cause. Grandma does a blog: www.wordsforthewounded.blogspot.co.uk

grands Josie and Megan

 

Harry Styles, Russell Brand Pay Tribute To Gay Equality Charity Stonewalls 25th

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Sam Smith, Harry Styles, Russell Brand and friends pay tribute to gay equality charity Stonewalls 25th anniversary

harrystyles russellbrand samsmith alancarr ritaora

Celebrities have contributed to a #FirstSNOG Insta-Exhibition using an app created by SNOG frozen yogurt to pay tribute to gay equality charity Stonewall’s 25th anniversary

 

Celebrities from the worlds of fashion, film, music and art provided their image in support of the charity’s international work and decorated them with graphics by Cassette Playa inspired by peace and love.

From top to bottom: Harry Styles, Russell Brand, Sam Smith, Alan Carr and Rita Ora.

 

Raindance Filmmakers’ Charity Ball | Events

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Host of film talent attend inaugural filmmakers’ ball

– Sadie Frost, Helen George and Tamer Hassan attended Raindance Film Festival’s charity party –

 

 A host of celebrities and film industry talent attended Raindance Film Festival’s inaugural Independent Filmmakers’ Ball last night to raise funds for The Independent Film Trust (IFT), the UK charity whose activities include the provision of film-making courses for disadvantaged adults and children. Guests included Sadie Frost, Helen George, Tamer Hassan, Nick Broomfield, Alan Parker, Matt Kernard and Kitty Brucknell.

alanparker elliotgrove geraldmccarthy helengeorge nickbroomfield sadiefrost

Entertainment on the night came from soul band ‘The Indies’ as well as a ‘filmmaker’s dream raffle’, with prizes including a Canon EOS C100 camera and screening-room hire from Motion Picture Solutions handed out to lucky winners.

 

Raindance and British Independent Film Award founder Elliot Grove comments: “It was a pleasure to see the crème de la crème of British indie filmmaking come together under one roof for such a great cause and to celebrate their work. Away from the glamour of tinsel town, these guys work incredibly hard to deliver thought-provoking, disruptive and consistently entertaining material for our viewing pleasure and I can’t wait for the chance to showcase their work when the 22nd annual Raindance Film Festival returns this autumn.”

 

 

Streets of London Launch New Charity Auction

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GET YOUR HANDS ON MERCHANDISE SIGNED BY SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC

 FROM 9pm THURSDAY 20TH – SUNDAY 30TH MARCH

Homelessness charity Streets of London will be holding a special online auction to raise money and awareness for homeless people in the capital. Bidding on eBay kicks off at 9pm on Thursday 20th March and runs until Sunday 30th March. Items include Artwork, CDs, T-Shirts and Vinyl. Taking part in this amazingcause and supporting the charity are an incredible array of world-class names including The Rolling Stones, The Killers, Biffy Clyro, Emeli Sande, The Vaccines and many more! For more information and to get involved, visit www.streetsoflondon.org.uk

streetsoflondon

Justin Young from The Vaccines said: “After the bad weather of the last few months, more than ever is it easy for me to appreciate just how tough and awful living on the streets without structure and support is. And I think whatever people can do to contribute to making the lives of those people easier goes an incredibly long way.”

 

Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones said: “We’re delighted to support Streets of London and their wonderful work helping London’s homeless.”

 

Ian Steuart Fothringham, director of Streets of London said: “We’re excited to have the support of so many major artists – including some of the biggest names in music – for this important cause. We fund specialist support for people who are homeless in London, ensuring that they have the advice and support they need to be able to move on and make lasting changes in their lives. Every penny raised at this auction will help. 2014 is shaping up to be an exciting year for us. We’re finalising the line-up for our next Concert for Homelessness, and we’ll be announcing the details in the coming few weeks!”

 

Streets of London puts on exciting live events, including annual charity concerts, giving music fans the opportunity to see big-name acts performing in intimate venues. It uses the proceeds to fund support for homeless people in the capital, ensuring they receive the advice and supportive guidance needed to move forward with their lives. The charity also works to increase general understanding about homelessness, challenging preconceptions and stereotyping.

 

To join in supporting this amazing worthycause, head to www.streetsoflondon.org.uk for more information – the eBay auction starts at 9pm on Thursday 20th March.

 

@StreetsofL