Passionate Blog

Royal interest causes a buzz for Deborah's bee venom

2010-07-28T11:10:20+01:00

We were thrilled to see Deborah Mitchell and her wonderful Bee Venom treatment back in the headlines after The Sun revealed a royal fan of the product.

The paper started a real buzz about what has been dubbed the 'natural alternative to Botox' when it told how Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, has been having the unique beauty treatment, and has had people commenting on how great her skin is looking.

It detailed how Camilla has been having Deborah's non-surgical facelifts, which involve lymph drainage massage and accupressure, and using the Bee Venom Mask to help lift facial contours.

There has also been interest from a number of other publications, including the Daily Mail, who carried a great piece, which included lots of detail about the healing qualities of the Bee Venom Mask.

The product caused a stir last year when we helped publicise the fact that Dannii Minogue had ditched Botox in favour of the natural organic treatment, and was looking fantastic in the last series of the X Factor as a result.

The mask is made from the venom taken from bees, and also includes a host of natural, organic ingredients, including Manuka honey, shea butter and essential oils.

Deborah, who owns Heaven beauty salon in Shropshire, and has developed her own range of Heaven Skincare beauty products and therapies, already boasts a celebrity client list including Victoria Beckham, Michelle Pfeiffer and Emilia Fox.

The expert beauty therapist claims the innovative product gives an instant anti-aging effect, as it helps to control the facial muscles.

She has been treating Dannii for more than five years, after being introduced to Heaven products and therapy treatments by her big sister, Kylie, who is also a big fan of the range.

Most recently, Dannii has been receiving pregnancy treatments,and is now planning on using Deborah's help to get back into shape, following the birth of her son, Ethan.

Blooming Dannii Minogue reveals 'Heavenly' way to lose baby pounds

2010-07-27T16:16:10+01:00

Beauty therapist Deborah Mitchell is helping X Factor judge Dannii Minogue get back into shape following the birth of her baby.

Dannii and partner Kris Smith were delighted at the arrival of Ethan Edward earlier this month. But the popular Aussie star has revealed her radiance is not just down to her adorable new son, but thanks also to Deborah, who owns Heaven beauty salon in Shifnal, Shropshire.

Whilst expecting, Dannii was a huge fan of Deborah’s pregnancy massage – a treatment using aromatherapy oils – and as the massage is also a great way to help new mums relax and re-energise, she is hoping to use them as part of her post-pregnancy beauty regime when she is back in the UK.

Deborah explained Dannii is also looking forward to helping get back to her sumptuous pre-pregnancy shape with Deborah’s lymphatic drainage massages.

This is a therapeutic treatment, using light pressure and long gentle strokes to increase the lymphatic flow and get rid of the body’s toxins, helping improve general health.

Deborah said: “Dannii is just thrilled to be a new mum, and like all new mums, as well as being elated, will also have her hands full, coping with a new baby, the sleepless nights and everything a new-born entails.

“Dannii loved my pregnancy massages, which will be equally beneficial for her in the first few weeks and months of motherhood, as a great way of relaxing, but in the past, she has also adored my lymph drainage massages, which will be an ideal way of helping her get back to the great figure she had before pregnancy.”

Deborah, who has developed her own range of Heaven Skincare beauty products and therapies, with an A-list clientele also including Victoria Beckham, Emilia Fox and Michelle Pfeiffer, said: “The massage increases your lympathic flow, and decreases the build up of toxins and water retention.

“This is a great aid to weight loss, and can help you to lose up to 4lb per treatment, as well as bringing all the benefits of feeling totally relaxed and de-stressed.

“Dannii has been coming to me for massages for a few years now, and loves how they help her to relax and get her body in harmony – so she fully appreciated the benefits they bring you while expecting, and immediately afterwards.

“Like all women, she looked great whilst expecting, and you can be sure she will look equally as stunning as a mum too.”

Dannii has been using Deborah’s treatments for more than five years, turning to her organic Bees Venom Mask to help keep her youthful looks after ditching Botox.

More details about Deborah’s Bee Venom Mask and her full range of products and treatments are available at www.heavenskincare.com

Dannii has been using: Heaven Slimming Lymph Drain Massage £45 (pre-payment for course of 3 £120.00)
A manual way to have lipo-suction, you can lose up to 4lb per treatment. It can also help relieve flu, allergies, fluid retention, digestional problems, arthritis, rheumatism and IBS. Lose weight as well as fluid and feel totally relaxed
Bee Venom Face Mask from £55
Bee Venom Mask is a natural alternative to Botox and the first product of its kind. It is a unique product has been specially created using natural and organic ingredients, combined to work in synergy.
It contains Manuka Honey, renowned for its soothing and healing properties, it also contains the magic Bee Venom ingredient that works to control the facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening and firming, whilst getting to work on frown lines and wrinkles.
No bees are harmed in the making of the product. Bee Venom Mask also contains ingredients of softening and calming Shea Butter, Rose and Lavender essential oils. The mask is applied daily and left on the face for 20 minutes.
Pregnancy massage £45
Before, during and after pregnancy. The whole body is treated with relaxing massage movements and double back massage. Throughout the pregnancy aromatherapy oils are used to keep mother and baby safe and well. 1st Trimester – use peppermint oil to help morning sickness. 2nd Trimester – a double back massage is used when mums-to-be don`t have to lie on their fronts when they are being massaged. 3rd Trimester – special attention is paid to feet and ankles to alleviate the build up of body toxins that can occur at this time
More treats for expectant and new mums:
Divine Firming and Stretchmark Cream:
This intensive firming and exfoliating treatment moisturizes and softens the skin. It evens skin tone and increases elasticity. It’s suitable for anyone to use and is especially effective after weight loss or during and after pregnancy. Healing properties help reduce scars and rosacea. Contains vitamins A, C and E, calendula, mandarin and orange. From £35.
Firming & Stretchmark Oil
Intensive firming treatment whilst moisturising and softening. Evens the skin tone. Increases elasticity. Especially good for slack skin after weight loss or during and after pregnancy. Healing properties help reduce scar formation and calm rosacea. Contains Vitamins A, C and E as well as Calendula, Mandarin and Orange.
Body Firming Moisturiser
Created for women who want to regain a firmer skin. It is ideal for those whose skin has slackened with time due to over exposure to the sun, excessive rapid weight, fluctuation and pregnancy. Indulge the skin and senses with this gorgeous body moisturiser. It will nourish, hydrate and plump the skin. Rose and Sandalwood will alleviate dry and parched skin as well as work to maintain elasticity. Your skin will be firm and silky soft to the touch.

Local and international flavour to new chefs at Park Inn Hotel in Telford

2010-07-07T15:25:48+01:00

TWO chefs who between them have cooked for royalty and world leaders are preparing to serve up something special for diners in Telford after taking charge of the kitchen at one of the town’s leading hotels.

The Park Inn hotel has appointed a new head chef, Marcus Swain, with the aim of making the dining room a destination restaurant, which will attract people from around the county, as well as hotel guests from further afield.

The 35-year-old, who lives in Lower Gornal in Dudley, has spent years honing his skills at hotels around the region, including the Mount Hotel in Wolverhampton, and Westmead Hotel in Longbridge, and wants to use his experience to help put the Park Inn on the culinary map.

The restaurant, RGB, which reflects the colourful red, green and blue of the hotel’s logo, was renamed in October, and introduced a new menu featuring a range of healthy and hearty dishes, from gourmet burgers to select cuts and local specialities.

Though offered all day, the menu also includes daily specials, designed and perfected by the team of chefs.

Marcus, who has cooked for Princess Diana, as well as a number of celebrities, says he wants to use the many positives Shropshire has to offer to make his menus a success.

“It is no secret to anyone living here that Shropshire has a great wealth of fantastic restaurants, though it may be to the rest of the country, and I want to help create a buzz about our dining room,” he said.

“Part of the success lies in the wonderful ingredients we have growing and grazing on our doorstep, all of which I want to make full use of,” he added.

With new sous chef, 42-year-old Marco Sack, from Berlin, the hotel is hoping to combine Marcus’s local knowledge with experience gained working in kitchens all over the world.

Marco has transferred from the Park Inn in Klosterneuburg in Austria, having worked in many different countries, including Japan, Germany, Egypt and the Czech Republic.

He has cooked for French president, Francois Mitterrand and Mikhail Gorbachev, the last President of the Soviet Union, and is looking forward to the challenge of an English audience.

“Although I have travelled extensively, cooking in the UK is a new experience for me, and I am really excited about what we can achieve at the hotel,” he said.

Adrian Pickard, general manager of the Park Inn Telford, who himself only joined the team in May, said he is looking forward to making the restaurant a real talking point for foodies.

“Marcus and Marco bring lots of fresh ideas and enthusiasm with them, and I am really looking forward to seeing what they can do for the restaurant,” he said.

“We have a great location, not far from the M54 and major links, and I want to make RGB the kind of restaurant people are quite happy to travel to.”

Recession virtually handled thanks to Wolverhampton firm

2010-06-09T15:54:01+01:00

A WOLVERHAMPTON firm offering virtual PA services has seen demand for its help soar during the economic downturn – with client numbers almost doubling in recent months.

I’m Your PA, based in Westcroft, specialises in offering an extensive range of personal assistant services, from call-handling to diary management, e-shots, invoicing and conference organising.

Managing director, Michele Green, said the need for businesses to tighten their belts, at the same time as needing to compete for and win as much work as possible, has led more bosses to her door.

Clients come from a variety of industries, including accountants, printers, IT consultants, business coaches and fencing firms.

“The cost of employing a full-time member of staff to answer phones and arrange a diary might be beyond some companies, but these are the very services they need to stay afloat,” explained Michele, a former nurse who ran a steel processing company prior to setting up I’m your PA in 2007.

“They need to be answering the phone, and setting up meetings to bring more work in, and there often don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything.

“Which is where we come in. Our service is particularly popular with sole traders, and small companies, who need to focus on their core business without the distractions that come with running a firm.

“The past few months have been very hectic for us – the recession has certainly meant people have had to keep wage bills low, whilst bringing in as much work as they can, and we have seen our client list rise from 48 to 79, this year alone.”

Gavin Jones, who runs Shire Conservatories Ltd in Shrewsbury, is one of Michele’s clients, who says he has seen his business rise since taking on her help.

“Michele’s spot on with her belief that you should never miss a phone call – but that can be really hard when you are running your own business, working hard meeting new clients and trying to secure more work,” said Gavin.

“I was having to return calls in an evening, and missing work where people didn’t bother to leave a message – but now every call is answered promptly, and professionally, letting me get on with running the business.

“I can even have time off for things like school concerts now, knowing that Michele’s team are taking care of the calls, which has been just brilliant.”

Business has been so brisk that Michele is now exploring plans to expand her business.

Walsall hotel offers ultimate World Cup gift for Father's Day

2010-05-20T11:35:20+01:00

The winner of the Village Hotel Walsall’s Father’s Day competition will get the best seats to watch England World Cup games in the TV, to hopefully watch a repeat of the 1966 triumph

Football mad dads will have the chance to win one of the best seats to watch the World Cup outside of South Africa and all the armchair treats at a Walsall hotel, as part of Father’s Day.

The Village Hotel in Walsall is offering deserving dads the best seat in the house with their own sofa in front of new 63 inch TV screen, installed as part of a £30,000 refurbishment of the hotel’s bar, for all of England’s group C games around Father’s Day.

The grandstand view of the massive screen will be golden goal prize for any footie fan and dads will be able to fill up their sofa with two friends, with all three getting special World Cup snacks and drinks thrown in.

The refurbishment of the hotel’s bar has just been completed especially for the tournament. Renamed Victory 66 the bar area includes a new zinc topped bar, offering a wider selection of beers, along with new seating, lighting and decor, with customers surrounded by memorabilia and photographs of England’s 1966 World Cup win.

“This must be the ultimate Father’s Day prize, having the best view of the footie on one of the best TVs,” said hotel manager Damian Goom.

“It’ll be like being in your own lounge on the sofa with your relatives or mates but at the best party you’ve ever been too with all the fun of a bar packed full of England fans,” he said.

The hotel is asking people to nominate dads for a seat on the sofa explaining why their relative, partner or friend deserves to lift the World Cup prize.

The grandstand view will be available for each of England’s group C games on 12, 18 and 23 June to mark the week of Father’s Day, which is on Sunday 20 June.

The football fanatic father and guests will also be able to choose from a range of seven special sandwich subs for the tournament which include the ham special the Beck-ham and bacon delight, the Bacon-bauer. They can keep their thirst quenched with a special ‘Victory’ jug of beer which has its own ice compartment keeping the drink cool throughout the game.

The boys’ better halves are not forgotten with a World Cup WAGS nights every evening of the competition at the hotel’s Verve grill, with a special menu for football widows.

“With the update to the bar, invoking England’s 1966 triumph, and all the other special food and arrangements we’ve got at Walsall Village Hotel there is sure to be a great atmosphere here for the entire World Cup,” said Mr Goom.

To put forward a dad for the Father’s Day treat email Neil Aitchison at Passionate Media at neil@passionatemedia.co.uk or call 01543 468621 explaining why the dad you are putting forward deserves the special World Cup seat at the Village Walsall.

For more information contact Damian Goom on 01922 633 661.

West Bromwich hotel hopes to make a splash with free swimming sessions

2010-05-19T16:29:41+01:00

A WEST Bromwich hotel is hoping to make up for the town’s sad lack of pool facilities by offering children a free swim during the school holidays.

InnAction, the leisure centre at the Park Inn Hotel, Birmingham West, in Birmingham Road, is inviting parents to take their youngsters along during half-term, and in line with the Government’s free swimming initiative – there will be no charge for under-16s.

The town has been without a public swimming pool since 2000, when the Gala Baths were demolished because of structural problems, which has left youngsters having to travel much further afield for a swim.

Damien Hunter, manager of the InnAction leisure club, which has its own heated, indoor pool, said he hopes the offer of free swimming sessions will give parents a welcome chance to let their youngsters have some fun in the water.

“As well as being great fun, swimming is fantastic all-round exercise for people of all ages, and it is essential for children to get confidence in the water from a young age,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the chances for youngsters in this area to go swimming are severely limited, which is why we have decided to offer our facilities, which are normally only available to leisure club members.

“The Government initiative is aimed at local authorities, running public swimming pools, but given the lack of facilities in West Bromwich, we have chosen to bear the expense ourselves,” he said.

Mr Hunter added that a member of the poolside team is currently preparing to train as a swimming instructor.

“Once he has completed the course, he will be fully qualified to teach swimming lessons, and we hope this will be something else we can offer local residents in West Bromwich, which is not currently available.”

Adrian Pickard, general manager at the Park Inn Hotel Birmingham West, said the sessions will be run from 1pm to 3pm from Monday, May 31 to Friday, June 4, during the half-term holiday, and are free to under-16s, with a £3 charge for the adults accompanying them.

Each child will be able to swim up to an hour, to make sure everyone gets a chance, as there will be a limit on how many people can go in the pool at any one time.

“The pool is well-monitored, with two qualified pool attendants on duty during these hours, and CCTV coverage to ensure safety, but we ask that an adult accompanies all under-16s into the pool, in order to supervise them – though they will be able to bring up to two children each,” he added.

The hotel has extensive free car-parking available. For more details, visit the website www.westbromwich.parkinn.co.uk or to book a swim, please ring the leisure club on 0121 609 9901.

MADs blog awards: Please vote for us! We made the finals...

2010-05-07T22:03:58+01:00

THANK you so much to everyone who has voted for You've Got Your Hands Full and Have a Lovely Time in this high-profile blog awards scheme, backed by Butlins.

After 20,000 nominations for around 2,500 blogs, You've Got Your Hands Full is included in a list of five finalists in the Most Inspirational MAD Blog, sponsored by Plum Baby.

Anything this blog wins will be donated if appropriate/used to help to a relevant mental health project through Mind.

Have A Lovely Time is shortlisted in the Best Family Fun category.

Any prize heading our way will be donated to the children's cancer charity NACCPO, who we've been raising money for and are set to support this summer in a Great British Days Out Campaign. I hope it's not too churlish to mention this. They are a small charity and appreciate all the profile they can get. Their fundraiser Rachel Olley is a Have a Lovely Time contributor. Please donate at www.justgiving.com/havealovelytime

Here's a press release that tells you more about The MAD awards:

More than 20,000 nominations were submitted in the first stage of the MAD awards, but just 50 blogs will battle it out to win one of 10 MAD Blog Awards.

The MADs, sponsored by Butlins, was created to celebrate the best and brightest parent bloggers in the UK. Over the next month, blog readers will be able to vote for their favourite blogs, while an independent judging panel will decide the winner of the prestigious Butlins MAD Blogger of the Year Award.

The winners of the MADs will be announced at an awards ceremony in September 2010, to be hosted by Butlinsat their flagship resort in Bognor Regis. A full list of categories and finalists is below, and case studies will be available.

Sally Whittle, founder of The MADs and blogger at Who's the Mummy? said: “The MADs are a brilliant opportunity to show just how far parent blogging has come in Britain. Our finalists include brilliant writers and photographers who are sometimes at the forefront of blogging technologies, but what makes them great is they never forget the power of simply sharing stories of modern family life,”

David Moscardini, social media manager at Butlins, said: “We applaud the introduction of these new awards and are proud to be associated with a scheme which will recognise those bloggers that are leading the way. Family is at the heart of everything we do at Butlins and we are delighted to be able to support and interact with parents everywhere.”

A fabulous night! Hollywood ball takes centre stage with more than £6,000 raised

2010-05-06T13:51:53+01:00

Rev Richard Westwood with Faye Bray and Jane Dayus-Hinch. All photos by Jim Mayer, Gingersnaps

WE have so many people to thank for their support for the Hollywood Ball held last weekend. It was a brilliant night, with more than £6,000 raised to help villagers from Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley support some of Africa's most vulnerable people.

The money raised - an “astounding amount” according to organisers -- will help fund hands-on work by volunteers to help children affected by Aids.

Party-goers enjoyed a performance by X Factor star Faye Bray and an auction from Wedding SOS presenter Jane Dayus-Hinch at the bash at Cannock’s Ramada Hotel on behalf of the Link4Life project.

The event was sponsored by EDS Couriers of Cannock, Shifnal’s Heaven Skincare, Cannock agency Passionate Media (hey, that's us), West Midlands designer Aqueous Graphics, as well as Cannock accountants Accountancy 4 Growth and IT specialists Logicomm 2000.

Organised by fundraiser Julie Tomkinson and our very own Carol Garrington, the event smashed through a target of £5,000 thanks to the generosity of guests.

Special thanks were also given to students from Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay High Schools for all their help on the night and to Cheslyn Hay High School music teacher Pat Collins who played the piano during a VIP reception. Burntwood photographer Sara Moseley raised cash through portraits of party-goers and Wolverhampton photographer Jim Mayer of Gingersnaps donated his time to supply publicity pictures.

In July this 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. The visit to the White River region (Mpmumalanga) will be the culmination of a community-wide fundraising collaboration uniting the two villages, known as the Link4Life project.

This includes eight pupils from both Great Wyrley High School and Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School, as well as two teachers from each school.

Eleven people from Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay are also going, plus two youth workers. In the years to come The Link 4 Life Project aims to help young people from local communities visit the work of these charities and then encourage them to raise awareness and more funds for the people in real need in southern Africa.

Charities being helped are Hands at Work – A Christian charity working to help those orphaned by or otherwise affected by HIV/Aids and Mercy Air.

Rev Westwood said: “We’d like to thank everyone who attended the Hollywood Ball for their generosity, as well as for the interest shown in the our project. We made some brilliant contacts and look forward to making sure we can put the money raised to the best possible use.”

He said: “There has been a wonderful response. All who have pledged their support were enthusiastic about the project. We really want to have plenty of people involved and there are roles in the coming months for everyone who want to play a part, even if they don't plan to come on the visit itself.”

For more information, please contact Rev Westwood on: 01922 419161

Beacon Radio hosts prepare marathon effort for Compton Hospice

2010-04-28T16:12:35+01:00

BEST of luck to Beacon Radio’s breakfast hosts Fresh and Jo who have thrown their backing behind Compton Hospice's Raise the Roof appeal by taking on a 55 mile walk across the Black Country.

The popular pair hope to cover 11 miles a day on behalf of the hospice which needs to raise £1 million as part of its major refurbishment works.

And the challenge got even steeper at the launch of the appeal, as Jo had an announcement of her own – she is expecting a baby.

The pair will be given help by a crack team of fitness experts, including a physiotherapist and a personal trainer, to help them walk around the Black Country across an entire week – and broadcast live - to support the launch of the fundraising campaign as well as making a number of “pit stops” where they can take a breather and help boost the fund’s coffers.

Jo still intends to complete the 55 miles, but because of her pregnancy, will now look to take the load off a little more, and plans to use a mobility scooter for some of the challenge.

The Walk of the Black Country will see them broadcasting from Bloxwich, West Bromwich, Stourbridge and Dudley. Fresh and Jo will be joined by fellow Beacon presenters as well as Compton Hospice staff.

They are also appealing for businesses to welcome them in for tea and biscuits along the way.

Jo said: “It’s thrilling to be taking part. This fantastic local charity touches so many hearts for people around the Black Country so it’s great to be giving something back. The hospice is a stone’s throw from Beacon’s offices.

“Everyone knows someone who has benefited from the marvellous care provided by Compton’s dedicated team. Many of our listeners will have been touched by Compton’s services so I hope they will pull out all the stops and dig deep for the Raise the Roof appeal.

“Obviously, my news has meant that the challenge has taken on a slightly different form for me now, but I am still determined to complete it.”

Compton’s head of PR and fundraising Sue Chance said: “We can’t wait for this fantastic event to kick off, we are so grateful to Fresh and Jo for all their support, along with the rest of the team at Beacon. We hope they are taking good care of their feet in the run-up.

“We’d also like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported our £1 million Raise the Roof appeal so far and to all those who will back Fresh and Jo’s marathon effort.”

“Our facilities will be completely renovated and redeveloped, starting in June 2010 and finishing in March 2011.”

Money raised during Walk the Black Country will go towards the following improvements in a £3.5 million scheme to update services and patient care: • Single en-suite rooms will replace the multi-bedded wards adding greater dignity and privacy for patients.

• Patients will have their own toilet facilities and will be able to set up their room as they prefer for heating, lighting, ventilation or music, and they will be able to talk with relatives or carers in complete privacy.

• There will also be new communal areas for patients to socialize and chat.

• Day care services, which are currently provided in one large room, will be improved with the provision of a number of rooms for clinical and support services.

• Four consulting rooms will be created within a new outpatient area and therapy services will be properly integrated with both inpatient and day care services.

• A new chapel will be created

• Overall, the hospice will be far better equipped to meet the physical and psychological needs of its patients and the care they receive will be more effective.

• The hospice will be able to admit more patients as it will not be restricted by single-sex wards.

Brave children talk of hospice's help through bereavement

2010-04-28T14:38:57+01:00

Children who received bereavement support from Wolverhampton's Compton Hospice have bravely spoken of their experiences to help highlight the importance of the specialist service.

Chelsea Rickerby, aged 16, and Emily Woollam, aged eight, attended a special event at the hospice to emphasise the positive impact the family bereavement service can have.

Chelsea gave a short presentation to the group about her experiences at the hospice after losing her mum, Lisa, to bowel and liver cancer in August 2009.

Emily’s mum, Val, also talked to the group about the difference the service has made to herself and her family after her husband, David, died following a brain tumor in May 2008.

A DVD was then shown of a special children’s Remembrance Service, held on February 20, to give attendees an insight into some of the work undertaken.

Family bereavement support worker, Ann Scanlon, arranged the event to highlight the importance of acknowledging the needs of young people when a family member is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.

Ann said: “People can find it very difficult to communicate with children about what’s happening when someone close to them is terminally ill.

“We offer advice to adults in these situations and are there to support youngsters of all ages in dealing with their emotions before and after the death of someone close.

“I have worked closely with Chelsea and Emily and I’m very proud of them for agreeing to help raise awareness of what we do.

“They really helped to convey how the bereavement service can have a positive impact in these situations.”

Emily also presented the hospice with a cheque for £250, donated by her father’s former employer, Homeserve.