Tag Archives: time

Entertainment For Your Lunch Hour

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sandwichMany people say you should use your lunch hour productively, but the most happy workers spend an hour chilling out or having fun. Overworking will affect your health and happiness, making you less able to do your job. Gordon Gekko may think lunch is for wimps but here at Frost Magazine we know the truth: it should be spent having fun. Switching off for an hour will make the rest of the day go better as you will be happier and more relaxed. Whether you want to have a sandwich at your desk, or spend an hour in Pret on your phone, here are some suggestions.

Reading a Book

Getting lost in a book is one of life’s great pleasures. No matter what your interests are, you will find a book that you will love. We review lots of books at Frost Magazine. Books don’t need to be expensive, you can even get books from the library for free.

YouTube

Two words: cat videos. There are few things that are more worthy of your time than a cat video. If you are more of a dog person, there are videos for you too. There are also plenty of vloggers making great videos on a wide variety of subjects.

Online Games

There are many fun games online. A Frost favourite is online bingo. Many of us have played bingo with family members and it is a relaxing and fun way to spend an hour. It is very satisfying when you win a game.

A Catch Up With a Close Friend

Either meet up for lunch or a walk in the park. Alternatively, phone your most fun friend and have a good gossip. A good catch up with a friend will leave you feeling more energised and happier. Just make sure you choose a good, fun friend. You don’t want a negative person putting you on a downer for the rest of the day.

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Magazines

Yes, we know we are online but we still love print. There is great satisfaction in reading a magazine from cover to cover and there are hundreds of magazines to choose from on any subject you can think of. Relaxing and fun, pop into a newsagent for some escapism. There is a magazine on everything from trains to cycling. We can generally be found in the women’s lifestyle section.

Or Read Some Amazing Articles For Free.

We love The Huffington Post, The Pool and glamour.com. Plenty of amazing writing from talented writers on each of these sites. A fun hour can easily be spent browsing high-quality content. Another great way to spend your lunch hour is to browse Frost Magazine and read our amazing articles. Yes, we know, but we had to get that in there.

So there are our ideas on spending some time out from thinking about work in your lunch hour. From reading to gaming and catching up with friends. Add your own suggestions and comments below. How do you spend your lunch hour? Let us know.

 

 

Time to Make a Choice By Mary Cooper

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Time; the hardest of all dimensions to come to terms with. It is limitless, yet defines our limits. It is invisible, yet we see it’s visible effects. We all know what it is, yet if asked to define it, we can’t. Even if we stand still, time continues to move forwards; it is relentless and when it has passed it is gone forever.

Time to Make a Choice. By Mary Cooper

There is a theory that at the moment of the Big Bang, 14 billion years ago when our universe was blasted into existence, time was born and has been moving relentlessly forward ever since, but go back just one second before the Big Bang and bang goes that theory.

Time to Make a Choice. By Mary Cooper 2

At the instant of our conception we are allotted our quota of time – of which we are ignorant. We let it slip away, till one day we have to face the fact that we have been constantly moving away from our beginning towards our end, and that time, as it always has, will continue without us.

Time to Make a Choice. By Mary Cooper 3

I now have less time before me than I have behind me. My past is gone, seemingly, in the blink of an eye and even though there is plenty of time, it isn’t mine and I cannot access it.

I wonder, how should I spend the last of my time; this priceless commodity? At least in that I have some control – the choices are limitless …

Time to Make a Choice. By Mary Cooper 4

 

 

Cuddledry Review | Parenting

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The Cuddledry is something that immediately caught my eye. Reason? Because it is so damn cute. It would take a hard person indeed to look at the pictures of the cute baby wrapped in this towel and not go ‘aw’. But we can’t be worn over on cuteness alone (mostly). Does it work? Is it convenient? Read on…

cuddle dry cuddledryreview cuddledry

First of all, it looks good. It is obviously high quality. It is very soft and feels great. Perfect for baby’s skin. If you don’t already know what the Cuddledry is; it is an apron style towel that lets you dry your baby hands free. This is not to be underestimated. Anything that stops you dropping your baby is a good thing. The baby bath towel also keeps you dry and it has a hood which makes baby look adorable and keeps the water away from baby’s skin and hair. We love this apron towel. It makes life with a newborn significantly easier. A brilliant, yet simple invention.

Made with natural bamboo fibre and pure cotton, the Cuddledry is much softer than a normal towel, and stays that way after washing – ideal for snuggling and drying your little one’s soft skin.

Cuddledry designers, Helen Wooldridge and Polly Marsh, were inspired to create the Cuddledry after they and their husbands struggled at bath time with slippery babies, and realising this was a challenge every new parent faces:

“We asked hundreds of parents and found that mums and dads everywhere battle with baby towels held awkwardly under their chin, or in their teeth, or put crying babies onto towels on cold bathroom floors, to get over the need for an extra hand to hold the towel at bath time,” explains Polly Marsh, one of Cuddledry’s creators. “It is of course impossible to safely lift a baby without two hands, but you also somehow have to hold a towel and wrap them in it!”

“Cuddledry have thought of everything, it clips around the neck to free up your arms for picking up your bubba and drying them in a flash, before you know it baby is all snuggled up in the cuddly side. Fantastic invention, why didn’t I think of it first” – Zoe Ball

“I’m so glad my mum bought a Cuddledry for me, it’s the best thing anyone can buy for a new parent.” Denise Van Outen

Helen and Polly were asked by the BBC to take the Cuddledry apron towel onto Dragons Den. They amazed the dragons by turning down three offers of investment. Since the show, the entrepreneurial duo has secured private investment and the business has expanded beyond all expectations. The Cuddledry is now used by tens of thousands of parents, endorsed by celebrities and recommended by midwives and maternity nurses worldwide. It has won over 40 prestigious awards and is recommended again and again as the number 1 baby bath-time essential.

The Cuddledry apron is available to buy for £29.99 here or from Boots.com, John Lewis.com, JoJoMamanBebe.com and Mothercare.com as well as the Cuddledry website www.cuddledry.com

 

 

 

Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Child

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Ah, your precious one. The apple of your eye. What isn’t too good for them? These picks all really caught our eye: perfect for your little one.christmasgiftlistforchildren

 

Blade & Rose Christmas Pudding Leggings and Cute Socks

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blade&rose socks

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These are adorable. I mean so unbelievably adorable. One of the best things about babies is that you can dress them however you want, and who wouldn’t melt at the sight of your baby in its festive clothes.

 

Carib Glass Wall Clock from Room To Grow

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Not only beautiful and stylish, it also has big numbers so your little one will be able to see clearly. Is fun and vibrant and will look stylish in any bedroom or playroom. Coloured glass with contrasting coloured numbers and chrome hands.

 

Peppa Pig 4-in-1 Shaped Bath Time Puzzle

peppapigpuzzle

This is a great bath game, the pieces also stick to the bath. Fun and educational at the same time. From Jumbo Games. Available from Boots.com and argos.co.uk

Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders

Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders

You can also buy this amazing giant Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders game. A brilliant 80x80cm floor game for children over three.

Available from argos.co.uk and Amazon.

 

Gus & Me Book By Keith Richards

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Yes, THAT Keith Richards. Let’s be honest, it is never too early to get your kid hooked on the Rolling Stones. This is a wonderful children’s book which comes with a CD and has artwork from daughter Theodora Richards, so it is a family affair. Especially cool if your child is musical, or you want them to be. Available here and from foyles.co.uk, thebookpeople.co.uk, waterstones.com

 

Penguin Junior Wellies

penguinwellies

These are super cool and super cute at the same time. We love them and so do little ones. The Penguin Junior Wellies are a fully waterproof, durable and fun product for keeping children’s feet clean and dry. From mountainwarehouse.com

 

Horrid Henry’s Christmas Lunch

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Perfect and fun for early readers. Horrid Henry would much rather have pizza and chips for his Christmas lunch, and this year, he might just get his way…This is the 100th book in the phenomenally popular Early Reader format, published during Henry’s 20th anniversary year. Available here and foyles.co.uk, thebookpeople.co.uk, waterstones.com

 

What will you get your little one?

 

Split Second – Quick Divorces

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Split second – quick divorces

image credit: apdk

image credit: apdk

As the old saying goes, you marry in haste and repent at leisure. It is a piece of old wisdom, though, that many celebrities, in particular, appear to ignore. TIME magazine has even compiled a Top 10 list of short-lived celebrity marriages, with the clever intro: Forget “till death do us part” – these celebrities couldn’t even make it a year. Their headline heartbreak story is Kim Kardashian and NBA-player husband Kris Humphries, who headed for the divorce courts after just 72 days of nuptial nightmare.

Given that celebrities are constantly in the public eye – for good and bad reasons, it is inevitable that any romantic shortcomings are going to be highlighted more than your average Joe and Josephine. How else would gossip magazines survive without having any high-profile splits to fill their column inches?

But that’s not to say lightning-quick divorces don’t happen in the real world, too. In the UK you can get a divorce if you have been married at least a year and your relationship has permanently broken down. Once a petition for divorce has been filed the process can take only a matters of weeks or drag on for over a year, depending on the complexities of each case. If custody of children is a consideration or if financial settlements or the reason for the divorce in the first place is being disputed, then the process will obviously not be over in a split second. Routinely, the timescale will be affected by how crowded the Court’s calendar is as well as how cooperative both parties are.

Having a pre-nuptial agreement may also help smooth things long quite considerably. A recent divorce lawyers’ article on “quickie divorces” reported that these arrangements, often glibly referenced in conversations about the rich and famous, may soon become legally binding documents for all.  You can read more here: http://www.blasermills.co.uk/news-and-articles/news/a-quickie-divorce/

As things stand, it is still a widely held belief that should either party require the reassurance of a pre-nuptial agreement then there are clearly trust issues that need to be addressed before either party walks down the aisle.

But, without a shadow of doubt, they are becoming more popular. Clearly, you don’t have to have a Bentley or a luxurious retreat in the Maldives nowadays to warrant one. As the average age of first-time marriages continues to increase, couples tend to have more personal assets of their own which they are becoming increasingly keen to protect against if there are any hitches upon getting hitched. According to a new survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 63 percent of divorce attorneys say they’ve seen an increase in prenuptial agreements during the past three years.

Clearly, there are obvious pros and cons and arguments for and against pre-nuptials, but it really does come down to the needs of the individuals involved, and whether you’re a couple where the heart rules the head or vice-versa.

Limited Edition BAFTA Timepiece | Fashion

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Swiss watchmaker 88 RUE DU RHONE has launched its first limited edition BAFTA timepiece collection at retail in partnership with WatchShop.com, who will sell a limited number of pieces to celebrate the brand’s partnership with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) where it holds the title of Official Watch & Timing Partner.

The limited edition BAFTA timepieces will be sold with two complimentary tickets to a private viewing of Andy Gotts MBE ‘BEHIND THE MASK’ exhibition at BAFTA’s headquarters 195 Piccadilly, London. Photographer Andy Gotts MBE will personally meet proud owners of the 88 RUE DU RHONE limited edition BAFTA timepieces at the exhibition. ‘BEHIND THE MASK’ is a stunning collection of more than 100 photographs of actors and actresses from around the globe that have been nominated for a BAFTA Film Award in the last 60 years.

The 88 RUE DU RHONE Limited Edition BAFTA timepiece features a unique engraving of the EE British Academy of Film and Television Awards logo on the watch’s case back. The limited edition BAFTA timepiece collection will be presented to winners, citation readers and attendees over the BAFTA weekend.

watch

The gent’s timepiece features a sleek, stylish 45mm black PVD case, with black dial, date display and chronograph functions framed by silver sub dials. This watch is based upon a classic style that incorporates contemporary signatures such as silver trim indexes and a unique 88 RUE DU RHONE engraving on the side of the watchcase. The timepiece is finished with a black padded calf-leather alligator grain strap with ardillon buckle. The price of the gent’s BAFTA Limited Edition is £495.

bafta watch

The ladies chronograph has been designed using a 35mm black PVD case that houses a black patterned dial featuring 6 diamonds integrated within the rose gold Roman numerals. The hands, crown and buttons are finished with rose gold that provides an elegant contrast to the black PVD case and gloss black padded calf leather strap with alligator grain. The price of the ladies’ BAFTA Limited Edition is £550. Both available from WatchShop.com,

“We are delighted to be partnering with the Watchshop to launch the BAFTA limited editions at retail. This will be the first time that we have retailed a limited edition collection for 88 RUE DU RHONE and we are looking forward to seeing the results.“ – Says Craig Leach, UK Brand Director – 88 RUE DU RHONE.

The EE British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 16 February 2014 at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and will be hosted by Stephen Fry. The ceremony will broadcast live on BBC One.

Top tips to make kid’s bath time FUN without breaking the bank

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As research from Megaflo, the hot water expert has shown, more than 93% of parents believe that bath-time is one of the most important parts of a child’s day to help them relax, learn and have fun.  With the cold weather now upon us, bath time will be more important than ever.  We all remember there being nothing better than splashing about in the bath tub when we were little; so from bubbles to shampoo mohawks and bath crayons – here are a few top tips to bring the old favourites back and make your child’s bath time as fun and memorable as yours, without breaking the bank.

 

1.         Sail away!

Bath time just isn’t the same without a boat to play with.  Keep all of your clean, empty cartons and bottles as these make great play time accomplices for all of those budding pirates!  You can even create some pre-bath fun, by using use crayons and felt pens to help them make their dream vessel a masterpiece!  Remember – no holes… otherwise the boat will become a submarine! (Follow these instructions to make your creation. http://www.ehow.com/how_8161908_make-boats-out-plastic-bottles.html)

 

2.         Paint by bubbles!

A new era of children’s toys is upon us with bath crayons and bath paint pallets galore!  For the same effect and to save a few pounds, why not get a plastic egg carton and mix some shaving foam with food colouring… you have your very own clean-easy bath colour palette fit for any little artist.  Just be on hand to check that inquisitive little fingers don’t decide to try to swallow their creations..!

 

3.         Bath time Punk-Rockers!

One of the best ways to avoid the hair-washing tears is to get your little ones to design their own shampoo mohawk.  Create different soapy styles and faces – no doubt you’ll be creating one for yourself too!  Everyone’s a winner.  Remember to try and find a mild but soapy shampoo, for extra volume but minimal tears…

 

4.         Deep sea aquarium!

All children love aquariums and creatures of the deep sea.  Why not create your own right at home in your bath tub?  It will also make some good pre-bath entertainment.  Simply draw and decorate your fish, mermaids, crabs and other sea-side goodies, laminate them with sticky-back plastic and throw them in.  The kids will have hours of fun searching for them in amongst all the bubbles.  Why not create some treasure to go with your pirate ship as well?

 

5.         Trusty Rubber Duck never fails!

We all remember using a lovely rubber duck to play with in the tub and with the latest trend for bright and colourful Hippie, Pirate, Union Jack, Princess and Alien ducks, there is sure to be one to please every child!  What’s more – these ducks last a lifetime and look great as an ornament in your bathroom.  Why not build up a family of ducks and let their imaginations run wild!

 

Megaflo has teamed up with Pump Aid, the charity dedicated to providing clean water and good sanitation to sub-Saharan Africa, to support a phenomenal Malawi Schools project.  The £62k project, co-funded by Megaflo, will provide pupils and staff across 21 schools in the Mchinji District, Central Region of Malawi, with access to clean water and basic sanitation through the installation of 80 toilets and 10 pumps.

 

For more information, please visit www.megaflo.com.

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

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Time of Our Lives Music Theatre in association with All Star Productions presents When Movies Were Movies at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow.

The opening song set the tone for this mesmerising evening’s entertainment, as we were taken through the history of cinema from silent movies up to 1969 via the mediums of song, dance and comedy. Flo (Dympna Messenger), an usherette in the fictional Trocadero, is interviewed by Charlie (Raymond-Kym Suttle) about the cinema’s history as it faces its imminent demise (conversion to a bingo hall).

Dympna Messenger gave a very strong performance as Flo, and was a very effective anchor for the show. She also sang very well and had some great comedic moments: her imitation of Carmen Miranda springs to mind as combining both. The vocal standard throughout the show was extremely high, with some of the high points for me being Lullaby of Broadway (full cast), You Ought to Be in Pictures (Nerine Skinner and Robert Wilkes), Secret Love (Jessica Poole) and the Beatles medley delivered by the whole cast.

The musical numbers were interspersed with highly amusing comedy sketches, covering themes as varied as Frankenstein and James Bond, with my personal favourite being the “terribly” sketch (you’ll have to see the show to find out what I mean by that!) Other comedy highlights included the show’s take on silent movies – with Flo speaking the words while the rest of the cast mimed the actions, “My Brother Makes the Noises for the Talkies,” with Raymond-Kym Suttle and Robert Wilkes as the two brothers, and the scene with Flo and the cleaner, played by Nerine Skinner.

Raymond-Kym Suttle’s choreography was inspired, and his own dancing was marvellous – particularly during the Top Hat sequence – I would like to have seen more of his tapping! The musical direction (and playing) by Aaron Clingham was flawless, adding to the overall power of the performance. The costumes were fabulous, with very many quick changes which I’m sure must have required their own choreography!

I could go on, but I don’t want to spoil too many of the surprises. Suffice it to say that this is old-fashioned variety at its best with something for all the family to enjoy. Ably directed (and written) by Keith Myers, this captivating show is robust enough for a much larger space. Give yourself a night of nostalgia and catch it at Ye Olde Rose and Crown before it closes on 4 May.

When Movies were Movies is playing at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, 53 Hoe Street, Walthamstow Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm until 4 May, with matinees at 3.30 on Saturday and Sunday. For more information visit http://www.roseandcrowntheatrepub.webeden.co.uk/