11 October 2011

Jo Pratt - In the Mood for Entertaining Book GIVEAWAY

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Jo Pratt's latest book 'In the Mood for Entertaining' is a must for every sociable household! Packed with quick and easy but utterly delicious recipes for every occasion, I have 3 copies of this gorgeous cookery book to giveaway. You can check out Jo's indulgent home-made ice cream recipes above. Jo shows how making ice cream is easy as pie with Gaggia's Gelatiera ice cream machine.


To be in with a chance of winning one of these lovely books all you have to do is leave a comment including a way of contacting you if you win.

For extra enteries you can do the following:

1. Follow this blog (or tell me you already are).
2. Follow @BreatestNews on Twitter (or tell me you already are) and tweet ' I want to win Jo Pratts Cook Book with @BreastestNews '
3. Follow The Breastest News Blog on Facebook (or tell me you already are) '


Remember to leave a seperate comment for each entry.

This is a UK only giveaway, closing date is 29th October 2011 at 12 noon.

Winner will be chosen using Random.org

Good Luck everyone!!



10 October 2011

Review: Morrck Splasha Towel

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When Logan was a baby getting him out of the bath and dried off was easy. I would wrap him up in his little baby towel and snuggle him in to keep him warm. Now that he's a toddler his baby towels are getting too small and he's not being kept warm enough anymore, so it was time to invest in something better.

Luckily for Logan the lovely people at Morrck kindly asked if we would like to test and review their very nice Splasha towel. I jumped at the chance and eagerly awaited its delivery.


Morrck describe their Splasha towel as: " a super soft double sided towelling hooded wrap, perfect for the beach, swimming pool or after the bath." I couldn't agree more, infact it's magnificent! This towel is so easy and practical to use that the description on the website doesn't really do it justice. It's basically like a big jacket that you put on your child, very simple but ever so effective. This super fluffy soft towel has two poppers on the shoulder to help keep the towel in place whilst you dry your little one but there are a further three poppers down the side of the towel which are excellent to secure the towel whilst your little one runs around after a swim or after the bath. It's brilliant because it helps keep them warm but also helps to dry them off at the same time.

When we went away on holiday last month we used this towel almost every day for Logan. It came into it's own when we took him to the water park as when it was time to leave we stripped him off and wrapped him in the Splasha before putting him in his buggy. It dried him off and kept him warm whilst we walked back to the hotel. He must have found it comfortable as he fell asleep! It was also good to see that it was really easy to use in the buggy and kept Logan covered even though he was sitting down.


The Splasha is very easy to wash, I put it in with the colours at 40c and it's been totally fine, no colour staining or shrinkage. It retains it's super fluffiness without the annoyance of those pesky little stray fluff balls that stick to wet skin and I found that it dried quickly on my clothes horse so could be used the next day if needed. One feature which your child is sure to love is the little pouch at the front of the Splasha which can be used to keep all those little bits in they like to carry around. This too is closed with a popper.

The Morrck Splasha is made from 90% cotton and 10% polyester and there are two different colours to choose from. There is a Pink Spot or Blue Stripe which comes in three different sizes: XS (1-3 years), S (3-5 years) and M (5-7 years). You can purchase your very own Splasha from Morrck's online shop RRP £19.95.


Overall these are fantastic towels which are very practical and easy to use. They aren't cheap however they are brilliant quality and I use Logan's at bath time as well as when we go swimming so you'll get masses of use out of it. Perfect for a gift or to treat your child to when they grow out of their baby towel, I would highly recommend these to all parents with toddlers. You won't regret it!

Mummies rating - 10/10
Logan's rating - 10/10

Please visit www.morrck.co.uk for more products and information. You can also see what Morrck get up to on Facebook and Twitter so why not pop over and say hello! Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you!

8 October 2011

Halloween Trick or Treats?

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Halloween is coming! No sooner have the dark nights started to creep in than the kids will be knocking on your door demanding money or sweeties in return for a little sing song. I love Halloween and enjoyed trick or treating as a youngster but what are the alternative products and services on the market at the moment for halloween? Well let me tell you...

Halloween Pumpkin Wreath


Look at this absolute beauty!! I never knew anyone did Halloween wreaths but there you go. I think this is smashing for Autumn time and will really make your door stand out. It's made from beautifully dried mini pumpkins, natural moss and foliage, you could hang it in the kitchen throughout the year as well. These are individually handmade to order and cost around £47. Last orders for delivery before Halloween need to be in by Saturday 22nd October.



Bluestone National Park Resort Wales


It's time for hocus pocus, creepy crawlies and revolting surprises, so make sure you enjoy these special activities running over the half term break. Join Bluestone at their terrifyingly wicked Halloween Spooktacular and experience the Adventure Centre after dark. Join the Free Rangers and visit the spooky salon for a monster makeover, test your skills at the spooky circus, play and climb inside the monster bubble, dance to the beastly beats and play a whole host of games with the Free Rangers.


Jumper Season


I love that it is fast becoming jumper season and this Halloween jumper has my name all over it. The hubby is always telling me I have a stroppy face, haha, and I'm dead proud of it. Really need to get my hands on this for Halloween. It goes from a size Small to XXL and retails at £24.99.


Pet Ghost


Such a cute little gift for the kids, these glow in the dark pet ghosts are to die for! These little ghosts are made of polymer clay that glows in the dark, they are attached to the cork in the glass vial and can be displayed almost anywhere, office / computer desk, car dashboard etc. The glass vials measure approx 6cm high x 2cm and they cost £5.25 each.


Review: Trunki SnooziHedz

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In the middle of September we packed our suitcase and headed out in the wee small hours of the morning to catch a plane to our much anticipated family holiday. As you can imagine I was packing like mad for what to take on the plane for Logan. Snacks, drinks, toys etc. One of the things I'm really glad we took was the Trunki SnooziHedz which was given to us to test and review by Trunki.

The SnooziHedz is basically a 3 in 1 handy travel pal, blanket and pillow! Trunki say: "SnooziHedz is the ultimate travel essential for the car, plane, train or even a space ship! The 3 in 1 travel pal. The cute character simply unzips to reveal an inflatable insert for the pillow and a plush fleece blanket, ensuring little ones are comfy and warm from head to toe. The blanket also features a pocket for teddy to take some shut-eye too."

We love this little travel companion. They're about the size of a normal soft toy, well medium ish, and they fit perfectly into a rucksack or your child's Trunki. It has a little face on the front which is soft and fleecy for when your child is feeling cold and on the back is a more breathable material for when your child gets too hot but still wants to get comfy. It even has little ears, very cute!


To use the SnooziHedz it has a little zip at the side which opens to reveal a soft blanket, which is actually massive by the way, and a plastic pillow which you can inflate and replace where the blanket was to create a soft pillow. Then you just zip the side back up and you have a comfy travel pillow and blanket. The blanket has a little pouch on the front so even Teddy can have a snooze in comfort!

One of the best features of the SnooziHedz is that it has a unique Trunki Grip system, one on the pillow and blanket, which allows you to attach the blanket to the pillow to keep it secure and for your peace of mind so you don't accidently leave one part behind. I also noticed that the way they have made the zip at the side means it is always covered by fabric so no nasty sore zip hurting your childs head if they happen to lay on it.

Logan really loved his SnooziHedz, he snuggled up with it on the plane when watching some of his waybuloo on the archos. It really did keep him warm as the plane was freezing with the recycled air! I found it really easy to use and then re-pack so no problems at all for us. As Logan is still young he didn't use the pillow much so we swapped it for his trunki neck support instead but I can see him using the pillow in  a few months or so.
The SnooziHedz is available in Pink or Blue and can be purchased from Trunki's very own online shop RRP £19.99.

Overall I love our SnooziHedz and will be using it at every opportunity. In the car, on the train, up in the air on a plane! We'll use it as much as possible and it's perfect for this winter weather coming in now. It's a bit pricey though which will probably put some people off but you'll get so much use out of this product it really is worth it.

Mummies rating - 9/10
Logan's rating - 8/10

Please visit www.trunki.co.uk for more products and information. You can also see what Trunki get up to on Facebook and Twitter so why not pop over and say hello! Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you.

7 October 2011

Fashion Friday #12

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Swim/ Sun Hat: Sainsburys
Swimsuit: Sainsburys

Review: WildSheep Baltic Amber Teething Necklace

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A little while ago the people at WildSheep asked if Logan would like to test out one of their baltic amber teething necklaces. We snapped up the chance as Logan is beginning to get his bigger back teeth in and anything that will help to soothe him we'll definitely give it a go.

Baltic amber teething necklaces are a traditional European remedy for baby teething. A natural analgesic, amber will help to reduce inflammation, relieve pain from sore gums and lessen drooling on teething babies without the use of over-the-counter drugs and remedies. Amber is a natural resin which oozed out of a tree and eventually fossilised between recent times and a few hundred million years ago. Amber is not a stone, therefore it is light and warm to touch. The warmth of the skin triggers the fossilised resin to release its natural oils which help infants stay calm and more relaxed during teething. Amber's natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties are perfect to soothe teething babies. Amber releases its therapeutic properties safely and naturally.

WildSheep Amber Necklaces are made of authentic Baltic amber beads and 50/50 cotton & silk thread. Each necklace is unique and knotted between each bead for safety. The clasp is made from plastic with a screw mechanism and the necklace arrives in a lovely little drawstring bag so you always have somewhere safe to keep it.


The necklace really is lovely and there are 5 different colours to choose from; Lemon, Honey, Dark Honey, Cognac and Cherry. You can also get a mix of colours if you wish so plenty of different styles to choose from. I choose the simple cognac for Logan because it has a lovely rich colour to it and after seeing it in the flesh I'm glad I got this one. It has a screw clasp which is easy to put on your baby when they're not wriggling but with a toddler who's being a bit grumpy and wriggly it was a challenge but after a minute or two we managed fine. The only thing that concerns me with the screw clasp is if it got caught on anything would it break safely to avoid hurting the child? I sometimes think maybe strong magnets would be better as these would come away easily if tugged but then you might have the problem of your child pulling them off all the time! The dilemma!!

There are a whole range of different sizes for these amber necklaces too ranging from 29cm to 47cm. We were advised by WildSheep to go for the 37cm size as Logan is a toddler now and it's a good length. It sits neatly just above his chest slightly and has plenty of room for when he gets bigger. He doesn't even notice the necklace is on sometimes which is fab but on the odd occasion he's felt it on his neck and tried to pull it off but it hasn't broken or become damaged in any way so quite sturdy.


So do we think the amber really works? Well I think it does. We had a different one for Logan when he was a baby and teething and it worked well, helping to stop the dribbles and he didn't cry as much when wearing it. With the WildSheep amber necklace it works just as well. He seems calmer when wearing it and not as agitated now that his big teeth are coming through which is great. I hate filling him full of calpol and try to avoid it if possible and since amber is a natural remedy it's the perfect natural solution to help with teething.

Prices for these gorgeous amber necklaces start from £12.99 and you can purchase them from WildSheep's online shop.

As well as necklaces for children WildSheep also have mother and baby amber necklace sets so this would really make an excellent gift for a new mum, christening, naming ceremony etc. They also sell knitted rattles, organic rattle and organic teethers and comforters. All of which are just fab. The hand knitted Radish rattle has to be my fav!
Overall brilliant natural product and one that will help your child without breaking the bank. This is an alternative remedy that can be used again and again and I honestly think it helps teething. My neighbour swears by these and she has three children, all of whom have wore and still wear amber necklaces. Like I said the only thing that concerns me is the screw clasp but apart from that these are excellent products.

Mummies rating - 8/10
Logan's rating - 9/10

Please visit www.wildsheep.co.uk for more products and information. You can also see what WildSheep are talking about on Facebook so why not pop over and say hello! Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you.

5 October 2011

Review: Bobux Footwear

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Having the right size and style of shoes for Logan is always something that has concerned me. His feet are always growing and I constantly worry if his shoes are getting too small, are they comfortable, easy to walk in etc and I'll never really know as Logan doesn't give much away but as long as he looks happy, his feet look good and he can walk quite the thing then I'm satisfied he has comfortable footwear.

We are always looking for something different when it comes to shoes so when the lovely people from Bobux offered us a pair of their i-walk shoes to test and review for them we were thrilled. Here is what we thought.
Well first things first, I really think you should read about the Bobux story. It's a good one I promise! "The first ever soft-soled elasticated leather baby shoe was created in 1991 by Bobux founder Chris Bennett, a father determined to create a shoe for his daughter Chloe that would not only stay on her foot but that would also be comfortable, safe and most importantly aid the growing foots natural development.

"We were losing the battle of the lost booty until we realised that by simply replacing laces with elastic, Chloe's shoes would stay on...A major feature for any parent who has spent hours searching for booties under the couch." says Chris. But now this family project was on a roll, Chris and Colleen made many more observations, in particular about how Chloe's footwear was hindering her transition from crawling to walking.

"She didn't like wearing hard-soled shoes so we did a bit of investigation and found a Danish study about the potential health benefits of flexible soft-sole shoes for babies and toddlers. Little feet are little feet for a reason: they're still developing.  It's crucial that shoes mould to the shape and allow natural motion of a baby or toddler's foot, All our shoes use the highest-grade eco-leather that is butter-soft ensuring babies and toddlers, not their shoes, are in control of their development."
A strong belief in innovation and the environment also play a significant role in the Bobux philosophy. Since the company started, Chris and his wife Colleen have not sat still, whether it is finding new ways to aid in children's walking development, or building a set of environmentally friendly principles. "We constantly strive to produce top quality shoes from sustainable materials, using non corrosive dyes and processes that minimise harm to the environment." said Chris.

 Bobux know that babies put everything in their mouths - shoes included, but safety is a primary concern at Bobux, so parents can be confident that all products are free of any toxic materials or harmful elements. Each shipment of leather goes through rigorous testing to meet the highest of safety standards. 20 years on and Bobux now distributes in 32 countries across the world."
Logan has been testing these Bobux shoes out for me for quite a while and we've had no problem at all with them which is great! We got a pair of the i-walk black nubuck desert boots and they're fab. They support his feet very well and also since we got the boots they're good at supporting his ankles too. The sole on these shoes are excellent too, what a grip they have on them and it's made up from lots of the little bobux name which is quite cute.

These shoes are easy to put on your child too, they have elastic instead of laces and a velcro strap to keep the shoes in place which is strudy and fastens well.

Bobux sell 3 different types of baby shoes. They have the soft sole, pre-walk and i-walk.

Soft Sole (indoor wear): The original Bobux shoe, these are soft, breathable and flexible shoes for babies of 0 to 27 months.  Made with eco-leather and non-toxic stitching and dyes.With a unique elastic ankle support, these Bobux originals works with little feet as they grip the floor, flex muscles and spread toes, assisting in crawling and making those first steps as easy as possible. The fun, colourful soft sole designs also work to stimulate little minds just as they're starting to take in visual information. It's like having a mobile on the end of their legs!


Pre-walk (outdoor wear): Feature a revolutionary duo-flex sole (leather round the edges and rubber underneath) to support but not restrict natural movement during those first few steps. The pre-walk range consists of sandals, ballet shoes and sport shoes.

i-walk (outdoor wear): A soft, flexible rubber-sole shoe with extra grip that conforms to the natural walking motion of little feet allowing them to grow and explore without restriction, avoiding malformation and spinal issues later in life. The i-walk range consists of sneakers, loafers, casual shoes and sandals.

You can purchase your very own Bobux shoes from www.bobux.co.uk prices start from around £11.98 in the sale. Grab a bargain whilst you can!

Overall these are fantastic shoes and definitely one of the better companies who actually care about your child's feet. I would highly recommend these shoes to all. The only big bug bare is that these shoes are quite expensive, some as much as £30, however you normally find that the best childrens shoes on the market have a price tag to go with them. Lets be honest though we all want the best for our children's feet.

Mummies rating - 10/10
Logan's rating - 10/10

Please visit www.bobux.co.uk for more products and information. You can also see what Bobux get up to on Facebook and Twitter so why not pop over and say hello! Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you.
 

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