Passionate Blog

Deborah's new treatment is bees' knees for Dannii

STACEY Solomon may not have won the X Factor but mentor Dannii Minogue is still smiling, thanks to a revolutionary new product made from bee venom.

The Aussie judge criticised for overusing Botox has now turned to the organic alternative produced by beautician to the stars, Deborah Mitchell.

Dannii, aged 38, who was criticised during the last series of X Factor for appearing too plastic due to her overuse of Botox injections, has even highlighted the Bee Venom Mask produced as part of the organic Heaven range on her blog, claiming it really is “an alternative to Botox”.

Deborah – who owns Heaven beauty salon in Shifnal, Shropshire, and has developed her own range of beauty products and therapies, with a celebrity client list including Victoria Beckham and Michelle Pfeiffer - claims the innovative product gives an instant anti-aging effect, as it helps to control the facial muscles.

But unlike Botox, the product contains a host of natural, organic ingredients, including bee venom, Manuka honey, shea butter and essential oils.

Retirement the focus for Aldridge optician after 25 years' service

CONGRATULATIONS to Jonathan Preston, the practice manager and dispensing optician at Colin Lee's Aldridge practice who is due to retire at the end of the month - one week short of 25 year's service with the company.

Jonathan, aged 62,from Oldbury,said he is looking forward to putting his feet up and enjoying more free time with his wife, Jackie, who retired 18 months ago.

He joined Colin Lee Opticians a quarter of a century ago, working at the Harborne practice, before moving to Aldridge in 1988.

Christmas tree planting parties launched

WHY not mark that key event in the run up to Christmas, putting up the tree, with a party for the kids and all the family?

Our clients Urban Allotments are offering just that with a seasonal version of their potting parties.

The parties are a very green idea when the kids have fun planting out their own miniature Alberta spruce tree as well as decorating the tree and their pots with special Christmas decorations.

Urban Allotments provide everything for the party including trees for each party-goer, soil, plants, decorations and even advice about how to look after the tree.

It's very environmentally friendly as the tree, which comes from renewable sources, can be reused year after year. In fact the foot high tree only grows about four inches a year and takes 25 years to grow to its full height of seven feet, so your Urban Allotments tree can grow up with your kids.

"These special Santa versions of our potting parties are great fun and a fantastic way to get the whole family into the Christmas spirit," said Urban Allotments director Kate Rigby.

"And it's a really green way of having a real Christmas tree," she added.

Musical Minis blog hits the right note*

WE'RE delighted that Karen Sherr, from nationwide pre-school fun music group Musical Minis, has caught the blogging bug.

We've been helping her set up Learning Made Fun and take her first tentative steps into the blogosphere.

As a former Great Ormond Street play specialist, and with a degree in psychology, Karen is already using the site to advise parents on child development issues.

She has also blogged about her family and business.

We can't wait to see how Learning Made Fun progresses and wish Karen a hugely successful blogging journey.

* Groan. We're sorry but we thought that old cliche couldn't be beaten. You can take the reporter out of an evening paper, but you can't take the evening paper training out of the reporter!

October special offer - promote yourselves for less with our help

A HUGE thank you to Libby Hill, of Small Talk for the following testimonial - we are thrilled with the results we helped achieve, and really pleased at what it has done for her business.

And with our October special offers, anyone hoping to repeat the success can now do so for less.

For October only, we are offering some great deals on podcasts and press releases.

Compton bereavement counsellor's major new book set to boost hospice

CONGRATULATIONS to Compton Hospice bereavement counsellor Dodie Gray, who has turned author to help others who regularly work with people who have lost loved ones, publishing a new book which will also raise money for the charity.

Mrs Graves has used her considerable experience in working with grieving relatives, having counselled for more than 15 years, to write Talking with Bereaved People – An Approach for Structured and Sensitive Communication.

As bereavement service co-ordinator for Compton, Mrs Graves recruits, trains and supervises a team of voluntary bereavement visitors, and has an excellent understanding of the approach and skills needed to deal with the delicate and often difficult subject of grief.

Double your giving in Compton Hospice Will Week

COMPTON Hospice is offering the chance to double the contribution you make during their Make a Will Week.

By taking part in the week, from Monday October 5 to Saturday October 10, you can get your Will written by a solicitor at a heavily discounted rate and provide funds to the Wolverhampton hospice at the same time.

During the week a dozen solicitors' branches across the Midlands will be offering to write a basic Will for just £60 and make a donation of £30 to the hospice for every Will completed.

"The Will week gives people the chance to make sure they are properly prepared for the future with a professionally drawn up Will at a bargain price and support a really good cause at the same time," said Karen Phillips, head of corporate funding at Compton Hospice.

For more details or a booking form see the Compton Hospice website.

Communities unite to help African children

Photo from Hands At Work on Flickr

SCHOOL, church and community groups from Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley are uniting to fund hands-on work by volunteers to help children affected by Aids in South Africa.

In July next year a group of volunteers including businessmen, mums, and churchgoers is set to visit South Africa to help two charities providing life-saving support for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Birmingham Post coverage brings boost for safety expert Leila

GOOD luck Leila!

Leila Kirk, right, from Workforce First who is holding the first of a series of new workshops about ventilation at work today.

Their profile got a great boost with an extensive, 'page lead' piece in the The Birmingham Post yesterday. This follows previous coverage in The Express & Star. So it's good to see our work paying off.

The day-long training sessions are aimed at giving advice about theory and practise to a range of staff in small or large businesses.

The first workshop is at the Metalforming Centre in West Bromwich and  further training is planned.

Leila also offers courses in safety policy which are designed to help managers from small businesses to write their own safety policy. 

 

Mamma Mia – spectacular Abba show set to boost Wolverhampton charities

A MUSICAL extravaganza dubbed ‘the world’s greatest live Abba show’ is set to bring in some Money, Money, Money for Wolverhampton charities.

The Mamma Mia Concert is at the city’s Civic Hall on Friday, September 11.

Abba dress is optional at the concert which starts at 7.45pm, with doors opening at 7pm. Dancing in the aisles is also optional – but expected!

Proceeds from the show will be divided between charities supported by The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, with Compton Hospice a major beneficiary.

The Stage newspaper called the show: ‘Simply the best Abba show…bar none.’

Tickets cost just £15 and £16.50, with concessions for group bookings and charities. More details: www.wolvesabbamania.com