Posts by jo

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20/02/201306/01/2015 by jo

Hello Baby – A Review

We had an opportunity to review something from Hello Baby – and chose a swimsuit for H. She’s been having swimming lessons since she was nine months and the obvious choice was the Zoggs Swim Free swimsuit as it’s a full body suit and is nice and warm too, handy when you have lessons and it’s cold, especially at this time of year. However, as we’re finding now, H being three and a half and tall means she doesn’t often fit into things which are suitable for three-year olds (they had a 2-3 suit left in stock) and we’re slowly outgrowing stores which supply things for babies and toddlers – so the suit was too small for us to properly try out.

Fortunately it wasn’t a problem – we were able to pass on the suit to another girl in our old swimming classes who is using the suit now and thinks it’s fab (and is nice and warm) – and anyone who uses swimming pools will know the Zoggs brand are a good brand!

As far as price goes, £14.99 is a good price and delivery was quick. They offer free shipping on orders over £50 and have a great selection of brands and ranges. I’d recommend taking a look if you’re looking for things for your baby or toddler as I liked their choice.

You can find Hello Baby on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter

15/02/201306/01/2015 by jo

Giveaway and review – Justin Fletcher – The Best Of Friends

So, we recently did a little preview of Justin Fletcher’s new album, and our copy arrived today. Obviously it went straight on the stereo, and immediately I had one of those moments. You know the ones – where you feel like you’ve heard a similar sounding song before? There’s a song by Maps who are signed to Mute, and the title track reminded me SO much of one of their songs, so it got a big indie thumbs up from me.

Here’s the trailer…

There’s twenty songs in total, and if your child loves ‘Hands Up’ then ‘The Best Of Friends’ will be a hit (actually, truth be told, if your child likes Justin then it’s a fairly safe bet) It follows a similar vein (up-tempo bounce around the room) and includes versions of ‘Reach’ (the S Club 7 song), ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ (hurrah!), ‘The Clapping Song’ gets a suitable update, and there’s plenty of classics like ‘Rockin’ Robin’, ‘Ugly Duckling’. ‘Ten Green Bottles’, ‘Pop Goes The Weasel’ and many more.

AND… ta daaaaa! We have a copy to give away. We’ve given away so many Justin related things, so I thought we could all try to be a bit more creative this time – if you were to suggest some songs for Justin to cover for his next album, what would you choose (I’m kind of thinking that Maps song might be interesting)? Please enter via Rafflecopter so I can keep track of entries, ‘The Best Of Friends’ is released on the 4th March 2013 so your prize will be sent out at this time. Closing date is the 1st March 2013. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

15/02/201306/01/2015 by jo

Personalised Wine

Okay, so my husband is possibly the worst person in the world (apart from me*) for shouting about achievements. For the past (gulp) five years he has been studying for his ACCA exams, and a week ago we found out he passed his final exam. There’s just a few bits of paperwork left and then he’ll be fully qualified!

Five years are a long time – and I had no idea what to get him other than it had to be something which he’d like and something which wouldn’t take up space (as he’s forever telling me we have too much stuff). Then the chance to have a bottle of personalised wine came along and obviously I jumped at the chance, and with him being Australian I chose a shiraz.

I was impressed with how quick it was turned around – I put in the request on the Sunday, and it had arrived on the Tuesday, using a courier with an approximate time when it would be delivered (which was correct) – I’m finding I’m so busy these days so having a facility which gives an idea of when it will arrive is VERY useful.

So here it is!

personalised wine

Obviously, the wine needed to be tasted, and that we did. I have to say, my initial taste I wasn’t impressed, but once it had a chance to air in the room a bit it was pretty good – so if you opt for the shiraz open the bottle a good 10 minutes before you intend to drink it!

The shiraz isn’t currently on the site so I can’t say how much it cost, however, I’d say if you were looking for a personalised gift then definitely head over to Gifts Online 4U as they’ve a huge selection of things available.

Follow GiftsOnline4U here –
Twitter
Facebook
Google+

We were sent the bottle of wine for the purpose of review, all opinions are our own

* nobody believes me when I tell them this.

14/02/201326/03/2018 by jo

We Love Books – The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

runaway bunny

This book was first published in 1942 and is a classic picture book. HarperCollins have made it available as part of their Essential Picture Book Classics.

In a lot of ways, this reminds me of ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ – which of course came many years later – but the themes are similar and are full of love (and rabbits).

The Runaway Bunny thinks about running away, but his mother has other ideas – but in a positive way. Bunny will be a boat, mother will be the wind that blows him home, for example.

H loved looking at the illustrations and enjoyed reading it – and it has a good loving message too.

runaway bunny

Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (and pictures by Clement Hurd) is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books in paperback and eBook formats.

We were sent a copy to review, all opinions are our own.

13/02/201304/02/2014 by jo

We Love Books – Wagtail Town – Lulu and the Treasure Hunt by Emma Chichester Clark

We were sent a copy of ‘Lulu and the Treasure Hunt’ from the Wagtail Town series by Emma Chichester Clark to review, and it has gone down really well with H.

Her first impression was what won her over – the first page is a map of Wagtail Town and given H loves those parts of her Topsy and Tim books, we were given detailed information (by H) of what was in every building – like ‘Mount Fuji Sausage House’ (we’ve no idea either!).

I’m definitely more of a dog person than cats, and enjoyed reading the story – Lulu is taking part in the New Tricks School treasure hunt, and has promised to look after little Bonnie who can’t run very fast. What will Lulu choose to do when she’s faced with staying with Bonnie or finding a clue?

There’s a good lesson to be learnt here – and I’ve found this book to be perfect for H’s age (3.5 years). We’ve been collecting more of the author’s ‘Blue Kangaroo’ series and yet again there’s lovely illustrations.

Wagtail Town – Lulu and the Treasure Hunt by Emma Chichester Clark is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books in paperback, priced at £6.99. It is also available in eBook formats.

We were sent a copy of this book to review, all opinions are our own.

13/02/201304/02/2014 by jo

Dentyl Active Mouthwash – a Review

I’ve been using Dentyl Active Mouthwash for years now – since I first spotted it on the shelves in the supermarket however long ago that was. It has always appealed to me, mainly as I don’t have many teeth (small mouth!), and the ones I do have are packed together – so I have to regularly floss and make sure they’re looked after.

Dentyl Active has always appealed as you shake the bottle, pour a small cupful and swish it in your mouth – and voila! It does remove some of the yucky stuff in your mouth and around your teeth. I’ve always felt so clean in my mouth afterwards and for quite some time afterwards too.

Dentyl have recently brought out a new variant – Active Enamel Restore. Which does what it says – now whether it’s working is another matter as that kind of thing takes time, but the key things it does are important:

– helps to strengthen tooth enamel by replacing lost minerals
– helps protect enamel against acid erosion
– helps enamel become more resistant to acid attack

Now, back in my day we never used mouthwash, but statistics these days are shocking – young children being admitted to hospital for tooth decay is on the rise let alone adults. Enamel erosion is on the increase thanks to our eating and drinking habits these days, which is where this comes in – Dentyl Active is suitable for children aged 7 and up – as there’s no alcohol in the mouthwash (which generally can’t be used until age 12).

Dentyl Active Enamel Restore also has the ability to lift and absorb 99.9% of oral bacteria according to 2008 US independent laboratory trials, as well as debris like food particles, bacteria and plaque from the mouth.

What else do you need to know about Dentyl Active?

– It’s alcohol-free
– it contains double the fluoride of several other mouthwash brands
– helps fight plaque bacteria
– helps maintain healthy gums
– tastes great and doesn’t sting
– provides long lasting fresh breath
– lifts and absorbs 99.9% of oral bacteria and debris in the mouth

Also, I have sensitive teeth – and have found using Dentyl Active I don’t get a reaction – which is why we’ve used it for so long.

In summary, I’d buy it, it works for me, and I’d recommend it to you!

We were sent a bottle of Dentyl Active for the purpose of review, all opinions are ours.

13/02/201301/01/2019 by jo

Bio Oil – A Review

If you’re pregnant and you’ve a group of friends who’ve had babies, chances are you will have had Bio Oil recommended to you – this happened to me while pregnant, and indeed afterwards for any skin ailments you might have. BUT don’t assume Bio Oil is just for mummies, Bio Oil is for everyone – you too blokes (don’t worry it doesn’t smell of flowers and girly things) you can use it as well.

It’s really light and easy to apply, and I’ve found I never get too much when I’m using it. I have a really bad eczema/dry skin rash on my legs which never seems to clear, though Bio Oil does stop it feeling itchy, and definitely helps it feel much better.

Bio-Oil has been clinically proven to help with:

Scars: Improves appearance of new and old scars whether from surgery, accidents, burns, insect bites, scratches and chickenpox

Stretch Marks: Helps prevent formation of stretch marks during pregnancy and periods of rapid weight gain or loss and helps to improve the appearance of existing stretch marks

Uneven Skin Tone: Helps improve appearance of uneven skin tone caused by hormonal fluctuations, skin lighteners or excessive sun exposure

Ageing Skin: Helps smooth and tone ageing, sagging and wrinkled skin on both the face and body

Dehydrated Skin: Helps replenish the skin’s natural oils, stripped away by factors such as extreme weather, water with high chemical content, frequent bathing and the drying effects of central heating and air-con. Try massaging into dry patches such as nail cuticles, dry elbows and heels for targeted relief.

You can even apply Bio Oil to the face!

Alongside exclusive ingredient PurCellin Oil™ (which dramatically lowers the viscosity (stickiness and density) of the formulation to create a “dry” oil which is non-greasy), Bio-Oil’s Key ingredients include:

Vitamin A – helps improve the skin’s elasticity, texture and tone
Vitamin E – The most widely used antioxidant in skincare products today, Vitamin E increases the moisture content of the epidermis, thereby making the skin softer, smoother and more supple. Vitamin E also assists in the maintenance of healthy-looking skin
Calendula Oil – Calendula Officinalis, more commonly referred to as marigold, has been used for centuries as a natural antioxidant and has the ability to clarify and stimulates the growth of new skin cells
Lavender Oil – Lavender oil is widely known for calming and soothing benefits
Rosemary Oil – Rosemary oil helps to invigorate and it has a mild antiseptic capabilities and thus eases congestion, puffiness and swelling of the skin
Chamomile Oil – Chamomile has a calming and soothing effect and is particularly beneficial for sensitive skin

Bio-Oil is preservative-free and is not tested on animals and is available from all good supermarkets priced 60ml rsp £8.95, 125ml rsp £14.95, 200ml rsp £19.95

Follow Bio Oil on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/biooiluk

We were sent some Bio Oil for the purpose of review, all opinions are our own.

10/02/201326/01/2014 by jo

Bramley Apple and Parsnip Soup

Well, there are many things I miss, but we got in just in time for Bramley Apple Week which ended yesterday. I know, there’s so many weeks, days, months for everything, someone somewhere has a ridiculously full calendar which is ready to explode. Lucky for us it was our local Farmer’s Market in Wallington, and the people behind it, Eco Local had a recipe to hand.

The recipe in question is a Hairy Bikers one. I’ve never watched the programme, but am seeing a lot of people talking about them at the moment. As we’re following Weight Watchers parts of the recipe had to be omitted (and partly too because we started cooking at 6pm and that bit takes about fifteen minutes in their version and we don’t have the time), and of course it was in the trusty soup maker anyway.

The original recipe serves six, there’s only three of us and one is a mere quarter of me so we halved the total amount and left out some bits (like gently frying at the start)

2 medium red onions (these are best in the soup maker for flavour)
300g parsnips
2 garlic cloves (we did the full amount there)
300g Bramley Apples
Stock
Milk

The onions need chopping, the parsnips cubing, as do the bramley apples. Everything was put into the soup maker with the water added, and bouillon on top (to make the stock while it’s in there). Shaun added the milk then as well (though the recipe says to do that at the very end).

The soup maker was set to blend, and when it was finished it was really sweet – we were advised to cut back on the apples a bit, and I think slightly more parsnip and less apples would work better. Shaun felt like it was a bit like a thick apple juice whereas I liked it and it was our first time trying a soup with fruit in it.

I spotted this recipe for spiced carrot, cardamom and orange soup earlier this year so may well try it out next weekend…

09/02/201326/03/2018 by jo

Weight Watchers Updates and Challenges

I’ve fallen behind a bit on updating, we’ve had a sickly child and not much sleep, but let’s cut to the good news – I am now no longer overweight! I’ve finally after I-have-no-idea-how-long (possibly since being a teenager) hit the point of being a normal healthy weight again. Given my health issues I’m giving myself a HUGE pat on the back, as this helps considerably lower my chances of getting diabetes again, as well as issues with cholesterol. BUT. The journey doesn’t stop here – this is an entire lifestyle change, I’m not about to relax and think I know what I’m doing, as I don’t. I’ve still got 6lb left to lose as I want to be comfortably in the ‘healthy weight’ zone. To help me celebrate this, WW have given me one less propoint, sob! So now I’m down to 27 a day.

To celebrate I’ve spent a bit of money at H&M and Uniqlo getting some clothes that fit me – including for the first time in years, ladies jeans! It’s all really good and quite weird. I still feel quite self-conscious, but I also have more confidence overall, and I’m hiding a little bit less.

So, we’ve some occasions coming up in the next week. I’d firstly like to say we don’t celebrate Valentines Day as I find it a terrible waste of money and a silly pressure to come up with something on a day which means nothing to me – I’d rather celebrate a birthday or anniversary (like my brother-in-law’s). BUT! Pancake day is coming, and I do like to celebrate that. I’ve found a WeightWatchers recipe (which looks the same as a regular pancake recipe, though less fat) and each pancake comes in at 1 point. Tuesday is also the day I do pilates, so I’ll earn a few activity points in the process, so may well treat myself to a chocolate filling.

I guess that’s what I’ve worked out since last September with Weight Watchers – you CAN eat your regular foods (unless you eat a Domino’s Pizza every day, of course), you just do it all in appropriate portion sizes. If you want to eat more, or foods with higher points, increase your activity. If you have a few days like we have where you’re stuck at home and not doing a lot activity-wise then keep to low point foods (we’ve had soups and stews). I was chatting with someone who did Weight Watchers before the Pro Points came in, who talked about having ‘Sin’ foods – and that (to me) is a bad way of putting it – yes, there are foods that aren’t great to eat, but with the Pro Points system you choose and if you happen to want to work things in, then there is a way. (Not every day, mind) Saying food is a ‘sin’ would probably make me want to eat it more.

So, this weeks challenge is about keeping track when you’re out and about. I’ve found that dining in restaurants that have free Wifi is my best option (I don’t have an iPhone, just an iPad and iPod) and I can work out what to eat that way – but not everywhere has that. I’m a creature of habit so tend to eat at Pizza Express, though I’m finding more restaurants are listing how many calories a dish has – so I then attempt to calculate it and ask Shaun (he’s the numbers man) – just divide your calories by 40 and there’s your Pro Points. You know what though? If I go slightly over my daily allowance I don’t stress about it – I just get off the bus to work a stop earlier and make sure I walk at lunchtime and it balances out (I’ve set up my points preferences to take my activity points first and use the 49 points everyone gets every week as a last resort – last week I used two of them).

The previous week’s challenge was about moving around more. I am the world’s worst at this. I start work at 8.30 and can quite often get to 12.30 and realise I’ve not moved for four hours. I do try to walk as much as possible when I can, and the new year has brought me meetings out of the office so I’ve done a bit of extra walking which has helped. I have no advice to make this better – don’t be like me! Or if you are, go for long walks at the weekend!!

I’ve been provided with six months of Weight Watchers Membership as a Blogger Ambassador, my opinions are just that, and are honest.

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the things we do, the things we like

Author / jo