Giorgio Armani Acqua For Life 10 litres A Day Challenge

Over 800 million people around the world live in water poverty – meaning they don’t have safe, reliable access to clean water. Often, women and children will have to walk for hours a day to access dirty, contaminated water, as that is their only choice.

I was recently asked if I would like to take part in the Giorgio Armani Acqua For Life Challenge - To try to live on just 10 litres a day. 

I am going to be honest and say that even though my household is on a water meter I never really give a thought to the amount of water I use or need. I take for granted the fact that I have access to clean water every day. When I read a bit more about what Acqua For Life is all about, I was curious to see how far I would get with 10 litres.... 

The answer was not far at all. By 10 am today I was all out of water and had managed to do just a few  of the things that I normally do...

10 litres of water provided me with the following -

2 cups of tea 

wash my face, 

brush my teeth 

no way enough to even have a shower... 

It made me really stop and think.. I hadn't even flushed the toilet, washed up my crockery or used the washing machine. The reality is that 10 litres is a tiny amount, water is a precious resource and yet where we have access to it we can quite easily each use 100 litres! 

Below is a breakdown of the amount of litres consumed in average water usage

2 – 5  Drinking 

2 – 5  Cooking

2 – 5  Hand washing 

5        House cleaning 

25      Bath 

2+      Dishwashing 

20+    Garden/crops 

20+    Toilet flush

Handy Tips To Cut Your Water Consumption - do you do any of these already?

1. Say no to soap Antibacterial hand gel is just as hygienic as soap – and doesn't use any water. 

2. Stay shallow You only need to just cover your vegetables to boil them. And choose the smallest pan you can. 

3. Put down that watering can Most house plants die from over-watering, not dehydration. Give them a break! 

4. Brush brighter There’s no need to keep your tap running while brushing your teeth, you know. 

5. Brick it up Putting something big and heavy in your cistern will reduce the amount of water used each time you flush. 

6. Washing machines use a lot of water, so it’s worth waiting until you have a full load.

Acqua for Life, the humanitarian project by Giorgio Armani. 

We hardly think about how much of a necessity water is in everyday life. It’s easy to forget that in some places only 10 liters a day is a luxury and clean water is hard to come by. Giorgio Armani believes that everyone deserves access to clean water. Since 2011, Acqua for Life has provided over 530 million liters of clean water to nearly 80 communities, in seven countries and on three continents. With your help, we can do even more and help improve lives. #helpgivewater : show your support by getting involved on acquaforlife.org

Bareminerals Survivor Lipgloss For Look Good Feel Better

To support Breast Cancer Awareness Month bareMinerals has teamed up with Look Good Feel Better to launch an exclusive pink lipgloss. This partnership aims to raise awareness and provide vital funds for the charity.

Survivior is a suit all Carnation pink shade - as with all Marvelous Moxie Lipglosses, it is infused with vitamins and minerals to smooth and hydrate lips, lips look fuller for a luscious pout. It features a delicious minty scent and is super glossy with sheer to medium opacity. 

For those who love a tingle, this gloss certainly has it!

For each sale of this £16 lipgloss a very generous £5 will go directly to the Look Good, Feel Better charity.

Look Good Feel Better is the only international cancer charity, providing free skincare and make-up workshops and self-help materials to help women and teenagers combat the visible side effects of cancer treatment.

Available now from bareMinerals boutiques and online at bareMinerals. 

*PR Sample

Shop Beauty & Raise Money For The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and you can help raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by purchasing some of your favourite beauty products and special limited edition versions.

Aveda Hand Relief (ltd edit) with Rosemary Mint aroma £19 for 150ml 

*£2 from every purchase will go to the BCRF

Bobbi Brown French Pink Set Embossed French Pink Blush & Mini Face Blender Brush £35 (ltd edit)

*£5 from every purchase will go to the BCRF

Clinique Pink with a Purpose Almost Lipstick - Pink Ribbon Honey £16 (ltd edit)

*£2 from every purchase will go to the BCRF

Creme De La Mer The Hand Treatment 50ml £35

*£7 of every purchase will go to the BCRF

Darphin Silky Moisturising Lotion Essential Body Beauty 200ml £28

*£5 of every purchase will go to the BCRF

ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II 50ml with Pink Ribbon Bracelet £65

*£10 from every sale will go the BCRF

ESTÉE LAUDER Dream Collection

ESTÉE LAUDER Evelyn Lauder Dream Pin £10 (pin features two stones, one pink and the other blue to represent the 1% of US men diagnosed with Breast Cancer)

*The full £10 of every pin purchased will go the BCRF

ESTÉE LAUDER Evelyn Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley Dream Lip Collection £28
Features a full-size Pure Color Lipstick in Rubellite and limited-edition Pure Color Sheer RollerGloss in Hot Pink

*£5 from every sale will go to the BCRF

ESTÉE LAUDER Evelyn Lauder Dream Solid Perfume Compact containing Pleasures, one of Estee Lauder's most popular scents. £60 

*Estee Lauder will donate £60 (the full cost) of the Compact to the BCRF

Jo Malone London Red Roses Cologne 100ml £76

*£5 from every sale will raise money for the BCRF

Origins Drink Up™ Hydrating lip balm in Pink Guava 15ml £16

*£3 from every sale will go the BCRF

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 30ml £25

*£5 from every primer purchased will go to the BCRF

BCA Campaign 2013 - We're Stronger Together - Circle Of Strength

At the beginning of the month I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Estee Lauder's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign for 2013. By now we are all well aware (or should be!) of the significance of the Pink Ribbon that was co created with Evelyn H Lauder and founder of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation that has raised millions for and raised awareness of Breast Cancer. Evelyn Lauder's aim was to help prevent and cure breast cancer in our lifetime.

I listened as Elizabeth Hurley spoke about the great work that has already been done, I listened as leading Professors from the Royal Marsden spoke about how the money raised has directly benefited research at the Hospital in term helping sufferers. However, the underlying message was that although so much has been achieved so far there is so much more to be done.

Since 1994 The Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign has donated $38 million to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The BCRF has raised more than $450 million to date. I learned that an incredible 91 cents of every dollar goes directly to research and awareness. The BCRF does outstanding work in helping to save lines and improve the quality of care and survivorship for breast cancer patients through research worldwide.

2013's campaign goes that one step further - it is not just about raising money and awareness, now it is all about taking action. Strength in  Numbers encourages us to create a Circle of Strength - with friends and loved ones and spurring each other on to take action together or support each other to defeat breast cancer

Get annual mammograms at 40 or earlier if you are high risk.

Make healthy lifestyle changes

Raise funds for BCRF

Share inspiring, meaningful stories at BCAcampaign.com

Tweet or Instagram your support using #BCAStrength

8 Ways to Defeat Breast Cancer 

Early detection and simple lifestyle changes can help save lives

1. Examine your breasts regularly and report any changes to your physician/doctor.

2. See your doctor regularly for breast exams in your 20s and 30s.

3. Get annual mammograms at 40, or earlier if you are high risk.

4. Eat fibre and antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables.

5. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight means extra risk.

6. Limit your alcohol intake.

7. Do not smoke and quit if you do.

8. Get at least 45 minutes of physical activity daily.

So.. who will be in your circle of strength?

Royal Albert Afternoon Tea Tour 2013 At Spitalfields

On Friday I went along to the Royal Albert Afternoon Tea Tour at Spitalfields. It was a gorgeously sunny day, the famous tea tour van was there serving up delicious tea and moreish mini strawberry muffins. We were even treated to ice cream and strawberries, all served up in the delightful Royal Albert China. Although the event was entirely free there were donation boxes on the tables for Breast Cancer Care, so it was all for a good cause!

Afterwards we meandered around Spitalfields and came across amazing pop up art stalls. This sign caught my eye in one of the shops, it seemed really apt!

Bethnal Green Tube Disaster 70th Anniversary Memorial Service

On Sunday 3rd March, I along with family members attended the 70th Anniversary Memorial Service of the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster of 1943.

After a very packed and emotional Church service at the Church of St John on Bethnal Green (many tears shed during the reading out of the victim's names), we ventured outside into the Sunshine to view the Stairway to Heaven Memorial and lay flowers and tributes. On the memorial the victims are listed and stories   from survivors and family members appear. So very, very sad.

Although it was hoped that the memorial would be completed in time for the 70th Anniversary unfortunately the stairs are still to be built. Please, please if you can help in any way to raise money or awareness the trust would be extremely grateful.

Bettina x

Liz Earle Prince's Trust Limited Edition Rose and Lavender Cleanse & Polish

What a bit of luck, I was just about to run out of a bottle of my all time favourite cleanser, the original Cleanse & Polish, when this version popped through the letterbox.

This year Liz Earle have been working with Rebecca Taylor - a young entrepreneur supported by The Prince’s Trust - who is being mentored by Liz for the Tomorrow Campaign. The Tomorrow Campaign was created to inspire the next generation and paired six Trust-supported young people with iconic mentors to create a product that will be retailed nationwide to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust. Together, Liz and Rebecca have given the original Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser a new twist. Their award-winning formula has been updated to include rose and lavender essential oils and a fresh white pump bottle with an attractive design.

This special edition had a lot to live up to, I absolutely lovely the original Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and in particular the almost medicinal scent of eucalyptus. I have to say though that this has not disappointed.

Although the eucalyptus has been removed to be replaced with rose and lavender essential oils, it has a pleasant scent. I am not overly keen on lavender but the smell only becomes apparent when you start applying it onto your face, before that the scent when pumped out of the bottle is a faint rose fragrance which I do like!

It still has the same ingredients that has made the formula so popular including skin softening cocoa butter and rosemary and chamomile to tone and smooth.

This is a lovely rich and creamy cleanser that is to be used in the same way as the original cleanse & polish - 2 steps -

Step one - massage 1 or 2 pumps ( I find one plenty) onto dry skin in circular movements
Step two - rinse muslin cloth in hand hot water and wring out before gently polishing off the cream. Finish by splashing face with cool water.

This is an effective cleanser that leaves my skin feeling clean, soft to the touch and bright looking. Another winner from Liz Earle.

Liz Earle recommends using the original Cleanse & Polish for mornings and using this version at night because of its calming and relaxing properties and although I have used this both morning and evening, I have certainly felt the effects of a better night's sleep!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Rose and Lavender is priced at £19.75 with £2 from every sale going to The Prince's Trust. 

Available in store, online at lizearle.com, at John Lewis and on QVC.

This is a limited edition product so once it's gone, it's gone!

*PR Sample

Pantene Pro V In Charity Partnership With Cancer Hair Care

 

Leading UK hair brand, Pantene Pro-V, is partnering up with Cancer Hair Care, a UK charity dedicated to helping women living with hair loss through cancer treatment.  In addition to an initial charity donation, Pantene Pro-V is creating a limited edition pack across its Classic Care range to raise much needed funds.

Cancer Hair Care is dedicated to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of women experiencing hair loss through cancer treatments. It provides support, education and practical advice for women, while also working to educating the public in all areas related to hair loss associated with cancer treatment. In addition, the charity works to provide education and training programs for hair professionals and healthcare workers.

I was staggered to learn that over 100,000+  women in the UK deal with hair loss issues following cancer treatment each year and with most people having been touched with cancer in some way, being directly or indirectly through having family or friends with it, I believe that this is a worthwhile service to support or bring awareness about to those who need it.

The Pantene Pro-V Classic Care range will feature the Cancer Hair Care logo - Classic Care Shampoo, RRP £2.69, Classic Care Conditioner, RRP £2.69 available nationwide from August 2012. 5p from every sale will be donated to Cancer Hair Care.

For more information visit www.cancerhaircare.com. 

The Benefit & Refuge Mascarathon 15th – 29th June

This year Benefit has teamed up with Refuge (the domestic violence charity for women and children) to raise money and awareness by organizing a charity run..The run started in Edinburgh on the 15th of June  with Caroline Flack who is fronting the campaign kicking off the proceedings by running the first 2 miles.

The run has already visited major cities across England and Wales including Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff with celebs including Donna Air doing their leg of the run. The team have yet to get to Oxford and the run culminates with Lauren Laverne crossing the finish line in London Spitalfields Market this Friday 29th June at 4pm.

Every two miles a giant mascara will be handed as a baton to run with and there are areas for runners and their friends to have makeovers plus Benefit giveaways. 

Of course this is raising awareness and funds for a very serious subject - domestic violence. Every two miles that each of the mascarathon runners complete will mark the two women a week whose lives are lost because of domestic violence.  The funds raised will enable Refuge to reach out and help many more women who need vital support.

For more details and to find out how you can help please click here.

Limited Edition Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

It is the 10th Anniversary of one of my favourite products - the rather fabulous, award winning Papaya Ezyme Peel from Elemis. To celebrate Elemis have teamed up with British designer Laura Oakes to create this gorgeous limited edition packaging for the Peel in aid of the SOCO charity.

For every product sold Elemis will provide a 5-in-1 Pentavalent vaccine to immunise a child in Africa against 5 leading diseases and they hope with your help to donate 50,000 vaccines.

Limited Edition Papaya Enzyme Peel launches June 1st 2012 RRP £28.60 


*PR Sample

Kiss It Better With Clinique

Clinique is for the fifth year running partnering Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity for the KISS IT BETTER appeal which raises money to fund research into the causes and treatment of childhood cancer.

This year, Clinique has created a special NEW Limited Edition Kissable Lip Set featuring the following fabulous lip products -

Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Woppin’ Watermelon

Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour in Pink Me Up

Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Raspberry

Long Last Glosswear SPF15 in Mystic. 

The Kissable Lip Set comes in a chic silver purse with specially designed KISS IT BETTER heart key ring.

The set costing £25 will be sold exclusively in House of Fraser stores nationwide and online at House of Fraser and Clinique during the month of February. A rather generous 50% of the RRP will be going to the appeal - £12.50 - (£6.50 from Clinique and £6 from House of Fraser).

That is not all... 

A £2 donation will also apply to all Clinique lipstick or lipgloss sold at House of Fraser stores nationwide, throughout February 2012. (£1 will be donated by Clinique and £1 will be donated by House of Fraser). 

There has never been a better time to pucker up for a good cause!

The Friday Column: Bethnal Green Tube Disaster 1943

The worst civilian disaster of the 2nd World War.


You may not have heard of this story before, at the time it was hushed up for fear of it being used as propaganda for the enemy and loss of morale for the country.

On 3rd March 1943 300 people were crushed into the stairwell at Bethnal Green Tube Station, within a few seconds, 173 of them had died and over 90 were injured.

It happened as a crowd of people entered Bethnal Green tube station which at the time was being used as an air-raid shelter. A woman carrying a baby tripped and fell as she went down the steps to the platform. A man tripped over her and a domino effect started. At the top of the stairs came shouted warning of bombs falling and when a different deafening sound was heard they thought it was a new kind of bomb (it turned out to be a new, secret, anti-aircraft gun being tested in Victoria Park nearby). People pushed more quickly into the shelter in a panic. The way was blocked but still people poured down. There were no handrails in the middle, no white edgings on the steps and no police on duty. It was dark and the steps were slippery from the rain. Around 300 people were wedged into the stairway – an area measuring approximately 15 x 11 feet. By the time they were pulled out 27 men, 84 women and 62 children had been crushed to death. Over 60 of the survivors needed hospital treatment. 

The tragedy was that there was no air raid or bombs dropped that night in the East End, it was just the sound of the new gun that had been secretly placed nearby and tested for the first time that night that caused the panic.

This subject is close to my heart because my Great Grandparents died in the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster. Their children were left orphans. My Grandmother was away at the time, she was being trained to be a Land Girl, on the day she was given the sad news that her parents had died she was in a field learning to drive a tractor.

Last night I read the full story of what happened. I read the individual stories from eye witness accounts and the survivors and was literally shaking, in tears. I don't think anyone can read it and not be moved. The youngest victim was just 5 months old and one family lost six members in this awful tragedy.

Stairway To Heaven Memorial Trust

The reason I am raising awareness is that a trust has been set up with the aim of building a fitting and lasting memorial for the victims of this disaster. The plans have been approved by Tower Hamlets Council all that is stopping it being made are the funds required. They currently need to raise £40,000 by the end of this year. 

Behind the design  

Two young architects regularly used the underground station to go to work and noticed the small commemorative plaque above the stairs where the tragedy occurred and decided to find out more. Harry Paticas and Jens Borstlemann wanted to create a fitting memorial to the 173 people who died that evening. They have therefore designed a massive bronze cast of the staircase, which will appear to float alongside the stairs where the people actually died, with 173 small beams of light which will represent those who lost their lives. The memorial will vividly describe the historical facts of the Bethnal Green tragedy and will provide shelter form the rain as well as illumination for people entering or exiting the station. It will create a landmark at an important junction on an Olympic Route.

I would love to see this memorial erected and wondered...Can you help?

A plea

I would be so grateful if you could spread the word by linking to this post, through twitter, facebook, even emails to your colleagues  and help the trust members to gain more coverage and raise the funds that are so desperately needed.

To read the full story please click here 

If you wish to donate to the memorial fund or get involved in raising funds please click here.

Charity Event - The Big Chocolate Tea Party!

This dropped into my mailbox and it is such a worthy cause that I felt I had to share this with you all - plus it features chocolate and tea - what could be better!

Forgo the calories and host a Big Chocolate Tea Party any time in April 2011 and raise some money for charity.

The Sick Children’s Trust’s second annual Big Chocolate Tea Party is back! 

The Big Chocolate Tea Party is about getting together with friends, family or work colleagues, over a cuppa and your favourite chocolate treat to help raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust, enabling them to help sick children and their families at their time of need.

Michael Crawford OBE , president of The Sick Children’s Trust said: “Many of the families we have helped have explained how swapping stories and sharing worries over a comforting cup of tea has enabled them to draw strength from each other; helping to ease the burden of having a seriously ill child in hospital.  So I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to raise much needed funds for our charity.”

Emma Thompson stayed at The Sick Children’s Trust Rainbow House whilst her son, George, aged one years, was being treated at Great Ormond Street.

She said: “We do not know what we would have done without the help of The Sick Children’s Trust. We had to come to London at short notice and our planned short admission turned into a long term situation that has turned our lives upside down. Because of the help of the charity we are able to have accommodation near to the hospital and it means we can still have a family life and all be together at this difficult time.

“We will definitely try to raise money for this wonderful charity in the future, not only would the money go to such a good cause but it would be fun to organise an event like a Big Chocolate Tea Party that the children could be involved with as well.”

Last year the charity raised £14,000 and have high fundraising hopes of trebling that this year.

As well as various tea parties being hosted around the country by the public, this year the charity has teamed up with The Chocolate Festival at the Southbank Centre as its official charity.  It will be hosting a Big Chocolate Tea Party filled with fun chocolaty arts and crafts from 12-2pm on Sunday April 10 2011 and everyone is encouraged to come down and visit.

To receive a Big Chocolate Tea Party pack please visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org or email thebigchocolateteaparty@sickchildrenstrust.org. There are also lots of downloadable recipe cards created by famous chefs Heston Blumenthal, Ainsley Harriott, Gino D’Acampo, Phil Vickery and Gary Rhodes for chocolate inspiration!