1 July 2013

Win an iPad Mini with Sudocrem

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Sudocrem has launched their ground-breaking Facebook Treasure Hunt, where there are still 2 x iPad minis and loads of other top prizes to be won. The campaign has been so successful that Sudocrem are in fact going to run a second treasure hunt with a further 10 x iPad minis to give away from 8th July - 16th August.

It’s really fun and even easier to use! Firstly, users are encouraged to join the rapidly growing Sudocrem Facebook community, access the competition then select one of 40,000 areas to dig within one of four virtual environments – The Forest, The Beach, The Park & The Lake, in the hope of uncovering one of 8,000 prizes on offer. That’s a 1 in 5 chance of winning!  Entrants can gain up to an extra 6 ‘digs’ when they share the competition and invite their Facebook friends to play.

If you would like to take part all you have to do is click here (on a desktop, tablet or mobile) and you can begin digging for treasure. Who knows, you may win an iPad mini!



27 June 2013

Biting The Bullet

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Biting the bullet could mean so many things to so many different people and for us it's about becoming husband and wife. The other half and I have been engaged for almost 6 years now and we always said we didn’t want to be one of those couples who stayed engaged forever and never got married. Well it seems that's just what's happening to us at the moment!

It's not for want of trying though, when we first got engaged all those years ago we thought about all different types of weddings from a traditional Scottish wedding to running away to Las Vegas and getting married by Elvis - we just couldn't decide what to do. Then I fell pregnant with our son and the wedding plans were put aside, 1.) because I didn't want to be pregnant whilst getting married and 2.) because kids are expensive and so are weddings.


Roll on a few years and Logan is now 3 and half years old, we've got our house, the dogs etc and we're now thinking it might be time to approach the wedding subject again. It's not that we don't want to get married, we'd love to do it sooner rather than later. The only thing is I've become majorly fussy about where we actually get married. We've visited lots of venues across Edinburgh and Fife and nothing seems to tickle our fancy, well my fancy more like. The other half rolls his eyes every time I moan about the lack of a good wedding venue in our area. Of the venues we have visited some desperately need updating, some had very 'special' staff, some seemed too good to be true (and after reading reviews they were), and some were so strict a broken glass would probably get you kicked out! Maybe I'm just looking for flaws now, expecting to be disappointed or maybe I'm turning into a Bridzilla already and I haven't even properly started planning anything yet!


Last week however we decided to start a fresh and pick a few venues which we thought would meet our needs so off we trotted to Balbirnie House, my face tripping as usual expecting the worst, and you know what?? It was lovely. The staff were friendly, enthusiastic and polite, the venue is gorgeous with plenty of space in and outside the house and the prices weren't through the roof either. This of course gave us hope that there is a perfect wedding venue out there for us. We just hadn't looked hard enough the first time round.


So we haven't booked anything yet as there's still a few more venues we want to peruse but we both feel refreshed from our experience at Balbirnie and for that I'll be forever grateful.





26 June 2013

There is a God...

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Well a miracle has happened in my household today. By some freak chance of nature this morning as I was getting ready for work, I perused my usual work attire and whilst shuffling the drab trousers I own found a pair I'd bought circa 2008. Now these trousers haven't been worn since I became pregnant around April 2009 and I've been so lazy busy since having my son that I've never shifted that extra 2 stone I gained! But what the hey I thought this morning, I'm going to try these bad boys on and pray that they fit. And do you know, by some god almighty angelic act of nature they fit!!! Jupiter's cock I could have cried with joy, I smiled at myself in the mirror and had to stop myself from shaking the other half awake to tell him. I'm sure at 6am in the morning he wouldn't have been as happy for me as I was for myself about fitting into trousers that I've had since 2008. So I'll save this joyous miracle to relay for our chat over dinner. Can't wait!

The thing is though, I've been stuffing my face with meals out and McDonald's left right and centre recently so have no idea why I'm fitting into these trousers? Don't get me wrong I've tried to starve myself be healthy but I'm too lazy to stick it. I thought this morning I'd maybe possibly split the arse when I put them on so had to double and triple check before leaving the house. Or maybe I'd burst the zip without noticing? Or were these definitely my circa 2008 trousers!? Then it got me thinking, could there possible be a God out there after all? Even just a tiny little one who pities women like me who struggle to contain their love of junk food and general unhealthiness! Yes!! There must be, there has to be and for once I've been chosen to receive something good in life. A few pounds off to squeeze into some lovely forgotten clothes.

So hurray for once in my life, things might be looking up - especially if God looks like this…




25 June 2013

Fashion Friday #18

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T-Shirt: WeirdFish (Debenhams)
Car Seat: Britax 123 Plus Evolva (Mothercare)
Sunglasses: Radley


Michiko and Me Action Against Hunger

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Michiko and Me announces charity partnership with Action Against Hunger

A commitment to help end child hunger


British childrenswear brand Michiko and Me is pleased to announce its support of Action Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Michiko and Me will provide year round support by making a generous donation on each product sold to Action Against Hunger..  Donation amounts will range from £1 to £5 per product and to celebrate the launch of the partnership, Michiko and Me will apply this donation across their entire product range.

Nicky Lumb, founder of Michiko and Me says, “Our Michiko and Me designs are based on a principle of growing as the child grows. This notion of our children growing happily and healthily is a privilege that we often take for granted. Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to feed our children but this is not the case for all families around the world. Knowing you cannot feed your child is so painful, which is why Michiko and Me wanted to back a charity that supports children and families in the struggle against hunger. Action Against Hunger’s work includes saving malnourished children’s lives and improving families access to food and clean water for the future, making them the perfect charity for us to partner with.” 


Caroline Chaplin, Senior Corporate Fundaising Officer at Action Against Hunger, says, “We’re delighted to be working with Michiko and Me in this innovative way. Not only will it help raise vital funds for our work, but the added exposure we gain through the partnership will help educate more people about the devastating impact of child hunger and the steps that we can all take to help defeat it.” 

Michiko and Me will start  making a donation to Action Against Hunger with every sale through their website www.michikoandme.com from the 1st of June . This will also apply to brand new products such as their Iroka dress. Action Against Hunger’s logo and website links are clearly featured on the Michiko and Me website and social media sites to help raise awareness and further promote this partnership. 

You can show your support by spreading the word and sharing our posts on Facebook www.facebook.com/MichikoandMe and Twitter @MichikoandMe


About Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger | ACF International is an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programmes in over 40 countries helping some 7 million people each year.


24 June 2013

Swimming with the Sharks

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I'm talking literally here! For my father-in-law's birthday back in February the other half and I treated him to some vouchers for a Shark Dive at Deep Sea World in North Queensferry, and Sunday there he finally got to try it out.

I must say I was incredibly grumpy to put it lightly that day as was feeling very under the weather (and still am today actually) and the world felt like it was getting on top of me. I was looking after Logan anyway so just tried to keep out of everyone's way and make sure Logan enjoyed the fish and got to see his Granda diving with the sharks.

Father-in-law and Logan seemed to have a lovely time and that's all that matters so here's some photo's to hopefully cheer up your Monday blues, they're making me feel a little better anyway.

On our way to Deep Sea World
Looking at the fishies & Buddha!
In the spider tunnel. Eek!!
SHARK!!!
Granda in his diving suit swimming with the sharks.
New fishing toy from Deep Sea World.
SHARK!!!



Review: Emjoi MICRO Pedi

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One of the few things I really like about myself is my feet. They're a good shape, easy on the eye and are average in size (size 6), well I think so anyway. So all in all I'm quite happy with them, that is until the skin starts to go dry and hard around the heel. They mostly go this way in the summer months when I wear flip flops a lot and it's always a dilemma for me as I don't want to wear flip flops if my feet look dry but I don't want my feet to sweat in shoes either. I hate using a pumice stone or a scrub stick 1.) I end up hurting myself and 2.) it just seems to take forever! I do treat myself to the odd beauty pedicure now and again but can't be doing it all the time so I was delighted when Emjoi offered me one of their MICRO Pedi's for review.

Here's what Emjoi have to say about their product: "Emjoi MICRO Pedi is a truly innovative device created to smooth dry, rough and cracked skin on the feet. The unique micro-mineral roller safely, gently and effectively buffs away hard, jagged skin on the soles and heels giving immediate, lasting results. Your skin will instantly be smoother, flatter, more comfortable and healthy." They also promise to "give your feet a salon quality make-over in the comfort of your home" so are they really all that and a bag of chips!?


Well yes, I quite like it and in fact I think most women would if they gave it a try. When I first received the product I had images of it taking the skin right of my feet and taking me ages to work out how to use the damn thing. I shouldn't have worried so much, it was all the complete opposite. The box is small and compact but very eye catching, you can see the product through the packaging so it gives you an idea of what to expect which I think is a brilliant idea. I hate looking at pictures on a box when I think about buying a product. I would rather see the thing in the flesh!

The MICRO Pedi is very lightweight which surprised me, it looks a lot heavier than it is but of course would need to be lightweight to easily move around the foot. It doesn't come with batteries which is a shame for the price of this product, so you'll need 2xAA's handy. It comes with two files though, the blue for more sensitive feet (like mine) or that aren't as dry or the red which is for super dry cracked skin. These files can be used several times but are only recommended to be used for one person for hygiene reasons of course. You can buy replacement rollers and keep a spare set for the other half or your mum if you want! Oh and for extreme dry and cracked feet Emjoi do the black files which you can purchase on their website.


So what did I think, well I liked it. The files are easy to pop in and out when needed. The switch is basically on and off no fuss. It rolls over your foot without any pain or discomfort and smoothes away the dry skin in seconds. It's fantastic if you're going out and want to put your flip flops on, have minimal time and are in a major rush. Just pull out this bad boy, sand down your feet, slap some cream on and away you go. Easy as pie and your feet look smooth and amazing in seconds. You can always take your time as well though, soak your feet first, dry them off, MICRO Pedi them then get the other half to rub some creams and oils into them!

Cleaning the MICRO Pedi couldn't be simpler either although one thing that bugged me was there isn't anything to catch your falling foot skin in so make sure you have some tissues down or something when you file your feet. Anyway yes it's easy to clean, you unclip the back remove the file and you get a little brush to sweep away your foot skin. Simple as that and you can give it a little rinse out if you wish as the heads water resistant.

The MICRO Pedi retails for £39.95 and comes with 2 files and a cleaning brush. It can be purchased directly from Emjoi themselves: www.micropedi.co.uk/micro-pedi and they also have replacement files at £12.95 for a two pack.

Overall a brilliant machine and one you'll definitely want to keep in your beauty box. I'd say the only downside is that it's very expensive and doesn't come with batteries but it does what is says and it makes everything so quick and easy you won't want to be without it.

Mummies rating - 7/10

Please visit www.micropedi.co.uk for more products and information. You can also see what MICRO Pedi get up to on Facebook so why not pop over and say hello.



21 June 2013

What's In My Handbag?

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When you have a child you tend to lose touch with your handbag, you steer more towards the large baby changing bag and the ample space it provides for nappies, creams, wipes, snacks, drinks, changes of clothes, toys etc. So when you get back to your handbag (when you're child is about 2, I think?) you can't wait to fill it full of stuff that belongs to you again. It's rather quite exciting and feels a bit naughty...

I do love a nice handbag like the next girl but I tend to purchase only 1 or 2 a year and keep them until they are completely dead i.e. worn, torn etc. I am a nightmare for destroying handbags and I'm really trying my hardest not to but it's very difficult. Take my current Radley handbag for example. It's starting to get a bit worn and torn from the mountains of stuff I keep in it so it's very much time for a change! And as if by magic the lovely people from MoneySupermarket.com have a fab competition where you can win a Mulberry Handbag *drool*.


So, what exactly do I have in my Radley handbag? Well;
  • Cute Frenchie Purse from Ted Baker which I got for my 25th Birthday - contains my bank cards, receipts, loyalty cards, family photos, £30 in cash, money off vouchers, driving licence, accumulated business cards, stamps etc.
  • House & Car Keys
  • Notebook & Diary - always essential for busy mums and the notebook doubles as a scribble pad when my son gets bored when we're out and about.
  • iPhone & Works Blackberry
  • Cath Kidston Make-up Bag full of perfume samples, green teabags, mascara, eye cream etc.
  • Cheap Umbrella which needs replacing urgently.
  • Hair Brush - also needs replacing.
  • Mountains of Pens but two lovely ones from Swarovski in there.
  • Spree Book - full of money saving vouchers, great book and I recommend getting one for your area.
  • Molton Brown Hand cream
  • Tissues
  • Ear phones
  • Mints
  • Wagamamas Menu - to tease myself with when I'm hungry.
  • Bus Timetable
  • Torch
  • Nail Files
  • Massive tub of Vaseline as my lips are a chapped mess at the moment!




After writing this all down and calculating the rough value of my bag and its contents I'm extremely surprised to say it's around £1370!! I'm shocked! Glad I'm insured anyway…

Disclaimer: This is my entry for the moneysupermarket.com What's in Your Handbag? competition.

19 June 2013

Review: Weetabix On The Go Biscuits

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Breakfast? What's that? And I'm sure I'm not alone when I say this but 90% of the time I completely skip breakfast because… I just don't have the time! Most mums and dads these days are too busy getting the kids ready or would rather have that extra 15 minutes in bed than have breakfast in the morning. I know for a fact I'm not the only one and I also know it's not really good for you either so when Weetabix asked if I'd like to try their new on the go biscuits I couldn't refuse.

"After 80 years fuelling the nation's breakfast, Weetabix has applied their expertise and launched new Weetabix on the go - the perfect portable solution for busy mornings. The delicious baked biscuits provide all the good stuff of Weetabix fuel and are great for eating on the run, but have less fat, sat-fat, sugar and salt than the average breakfast biscuit."

Are you a skipper or an on the go eater? From the research Weetabix have done it appears 8 million brits skip breakfast every day with 6 million of us grabbing something to eat on the go! That's a massive amount and 40% say they're not even happy with their on the go choices!

Weetabix sent me two packets of their biscuits to try: Apple with a hint of cinnamon and Milk & Cereal flavour. In true testing style I took both packets to my work to taste test them with a cup of tea. I first tried the Apple with a hint of cinnamon and it was actually quite nice. I'm not a major fan of cinnamon but mixed with the apple flavouring it was lovely. The biscuit itself was quite crumbly and had the same sort of texture as a weetabix which surprised me. It did leave my mouth a little dry but with a cup of tea this wasn't an issue, if you were eating them on their own though you might struggle. The Milk & Cereal biscuit was a lot harder and more biscuit like with a crunch. The flavour definitely taste milk and cereal like which is tasty and they don't dry your mouth out as much as the Apple with a hint of cinnamon biscuits. Both very tasty biscuits in their own ways and if they don't tickle your fancy Weetabix also have Fruit & Fibre flavour available.


Each Weetabix on the go biscuit serving contains 4 biscuits in a handy little protective tray wrapped in plastic which helps to keep the biscuits from becoming broken. The biscuits are sold in 250g boxes containing 5 packets of 4 biscuits but if you just want to try them out and not get a whole box them the Milk & Cereal and Apple with a hint of cinnamon biscuits are also available in 50g single packs of 4 biscuits. They're available from major supermarkets and convenience stores, RRP 55p/£2.19.

I asked the other half and my son, who's 3, to try these biscuits out as everyone loves a biccie in our house, and they both really liked each flavour. If my son doesn't like something it'll be spat back at you so the fact he wolfed these biscuits down definitely counts for something. A great quick snack on the go for him when we're running late or out and about doing things with no lunch or dinner till a bit later. They're so easy to pop into my handbag or Logan's back pack and they hardly take up any space at all. I'd even pop some in the car in case we get stuck in a traffic jam or we're out longer than expected.

All in all a good biscuit and a perfect portion for breakfast. All the family liked them but I do have to say they were a little bit dry. This is easily overcome with a cup of tea or a cup of milk in Logan's case. The pricing is fair and in line with products of a similar nature, packaging looks good it's not bulky and it has a wealth of information on it for those who like the facts.

Mummies rating - 6/10
Logan's rating - 7/10

Please visit www.weetabix.co.uk for more products and information.



18 June 2013

Bath Time Safety

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Baby and toddler bath times can be great fun but there's always that little niggle of safety in the back of your mind. I was completely paranoid that Logan would drown in the water when he was a baby and I remember secretly making my other half bath him for the first week when we came home from the maternity hospital as the thought of me doing it made my stomach knot with nerves. It's not that I didn't trust myself, I really felt I would slip or trip and he'd fall into the water! It was all new mum nerves though and I quickly got over it, thankfully. So what things can be done to keep your little one safe at bath time?


Bath Time when Logan was a baby

Be There!
Seems obvious but NEVER leave your little one unattended at bath time, not even for a second as that's when accidents happen. Be super prepared before you put your child in the bath and have their towel, shampoo, toys, face cloth etc all ready in advanced. If you have forgotten something shout on your other half to get it for you, if they don't hear you or no one else is in then tough! You'll just have to do without. Don't leave your little one, if it's that important take them with you and bring them back again. Please don't risk it.

Thermometer
Babies and young children have much thinner skin than adults, especially babies, so great care should be taken to have the bath at the correct temperature and the easiest way to do this is with a thermometer. There's lots of different kinds you can get and all are quite effective. You can have a fancy electronic one or do what we did and purchase the strip thermometers attached to plastic.




Bath Seat
Logan had a little baby bath seat and it was fantastic. It was given to us as a present from my auntie when Logan was born and we used it all the time. We only stopped using it when Logan got too big to fit in and by then he was finally sitting unaided and not as wobbly as before. By far the most popular bath seat (and the one we used) has to be the Safety 1st Swivel Bath Seat. It's reasonably priced at around £10 and if you can get it second hand then even better. The good thing about this bath seat is that it has suction cups on the bottom so sticks to the bath but beware it can be moved when your baby gets bigger and stronger. Stay close to your little one whilst they're in the bath seat just incase.

Bath Mat
I do think a bath mat is an essential bath time accessory for safety. Logan is 3 years old now but without his bath mat he slips and slides in the bath which is really dangerous, he could knock out his teeth if he fell the wrong way! Anyway, get yourself a good bath mat and use it every time your child goes in the bath. We have the Non-Slip Colour Change Bath Mat from Toys r Us which tells you when the water's too hot (the crabs leg shows the word hot and changes colour) and again it's reasonably priced at £12.99. Ours has been on the go for 3 years and it's still going strong.



Taps
Sounds a bit silly but don't allow your toddler to touch the taps on the bath at any point. They might not be strong enough yet but they will one day and might turn the wrong tap on i.e. the hot and really hurt themselves. It's best to just discourage any touching of the taps until they're much older and can understand exactly what the consequences are of turning on the hot tap. I always tell Logan that the taps are very hot and could burn which seems to keep him away from them at the moment, and the fact I'm there with him when he has a bath so he doesn't get the chance to fiddle with them.

The Water
Your baby or toddler doesn't need a massive bubble bath only a few inches of water is fine for a baby and a few more on top for a toddler, it's not a swimming pool after all - although my son seems to think it is! The less water the better really especially for smaller children and there's no need to fill above waist height for toddlers. I always think they can play with their toys a bit better if there's less water as the can reach them easier.

So there you have it, some of my tips for Bath Time Safety for little ones. I'm sure there's tons more tips out there and I'd love to hear what other parents do to make sure their kids bath time is always fun but safe.

10 March 2013

Silent Sunday

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Silent Sunday

7 March 2013

Mother's Day Cards from Hallmark

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I do love a good card for any occasion and since I am now a mum, a Mother's Day card is very important! I'm lucky enough that the other half takes it seriously and never fails in his quest to seek out the perfect card for Logan to give me. Yes! I'm a lucky lady.

This year Hallmark have a brand new range of exciting Mother's Day cards not just for your kids to give you, but baby bump and your mum too. Check them out.


This "From the Bump" card is extremely cute. It says "one day soon you'll hold me in your arms and I know you'll be the best mummy in the world... because I already know how much you love me - and I hope you know how much I love you too!" Awwwww, how sweet is that. It's only £2.99 as well so all you Dads to be out there, get this cards for your expecting mrs.


I do like this card (above), if I had a little girl it would be perfect. It says "for you mummy from your little princess! Thanks for making my world so magical - one hug at a time!" Love it. This card only costs £2.99 too and it's just right for any little princesses out there to give to their mummy.

Now the next two cards are very grown up but just as fantastic. There's one which your mum can give to you on Mother's Day which I think is fab especially if you have an unreliable ex... It's the card on the left and it says "always knew you'd be a wonderful mother... you were a wonderful daughter first". Makes me want to cry, it's just beautiful. The card on the right is more for grown up daughters to give their mothers. It says "we're more than mother and daughter... we're friends who know each other by heart". Another awe inspiring card to be had this Mother's Day. Both these cards cost around £2.99 also.


Overall gorgeous cards that won't break the bank with some really heart warming writing that mums are sure to love.

Mummies rating - 10/10

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

6 March 2013

Review: Sakata Japanese Crackers

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I think it's fair to say that everyone loves a little snack now and again or in my case every day! So the healthier that snack is the better. I always feel that mums have it in their nature to be grazers, as we have to adapt our meal times around our kids and I often find myself going hungry without even realising it as I'm too busy for food! That's why a handy snack at the ready is always well received.

So it's with great pleasure that I introduce to you Japanese rice cracker brand Sakata. They have recently launched a range of mouth-watering new flavours, providing the perfect snack for the calorie conscious mum who doesn’t want to compromise on taste.

I'm right into my savoury treats; cheese, rice cakes, crackers, crisps! I love them all so I was doubly excited to try these goodies out. They're low in saturated fat, gluten free and made with no artificial flavours or colours. They’re baked too which makes them even healthier and they come in five different flavours; Lightly Salted, Sour Cream & Chive, Sizzling Barbecue, Roast Tomato & Balsamic and Seaweed & Soy Sauce. I was sent the lightly salted, sizzling barbecue and seaweed & soy sauce to try out and can I just say they're delicious!


The sizzling barbecue and seaweed & soy sauce are great as a snack on their own, very tasty. I'd say the lightly salted is a bit plain for my tastes, but still yummy, so it would be perfect with some dip/ houmous etc. I was only sent these the other day but since I had the house to myself last night I complete scoffed the whole pack of sizzling barbecue!! It's ok though since each cracker is only 8 calories or less each - happy days! My other half really liked the seaweed & soy sauce so I've left them for him and Logan to finish off. Oh and yes even Logan, who's 3 years old, loved these snacks. I make snack plates up for Logan all the time with things such as; grapes, strawberries, bread sticks, rice cakes, cheese etc so it's always good to have something different to add to it. Kids get bored so easily with the same thing.

Sakata say that the: "Sakata rice crackers were created by the Sato Brothers in the Japanese village of Sakata more than 50 years ago. Hugely popular in Australia, the brand first launched earlier in the UK this year and has been delighting Brits ever since."


Sakata rice crackers are available in 100g packs from Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, The Co-operative, Waitrose and Ocado (RRP £1.99). The Seaweed & Soy Sauce crackers are available exclusively from Sainsbury's stores and I highly recommend you try them.

Overall very tasty perfect little snacks to nibble on throughout the day, on the move, at a party with dips, for the kids lunch/ snack time etc. They're very versatile and at only 8 calories or less per cracker you can't go wrong. Pricing seems fair too for what you get considering these are quite healthy and you do get a lot per pack. The flavours are yummy the only one I wasn't too keen on was the Lightly Salted but this can be overcome with dip or houmous. The other half really didn't like the Lightly Salted though but he loved the seaweed ones.

Mummies rating - 8/10
Other Half's rating - 6.5/10
Logan's rating - 7/10

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

5 March 2013

Review: Fairtrade Boys&Girls Top

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Celebrate Fairtrade fortnight (25th February - 10th March) with Boys&Girls and their amazing fairtrade cotton t-shirts. Logan was lucky enough to receive one of these fab tops and we're kindly reviewing in return. 

Boys&Girls says they are: "Designed for Urban Living and Created with Care, Boys&Girls is a bright and brilliant combination of stylish, practical and affordable kids clothes made from fairly traded and organic cotton and designed with playing in mind. More parks and playgrounds than paddocks and ponies, Boys&Girls clothing is cool yet practical and perfect for today’s vibrant urban lifestyle."


The top Logan received is called the Blue Star Raglan Sleeve Top. It's very soft and obviously made from 100% organic fairtrade cotton. It has a beautiful and bright blue, green and yellow star pattern on the body and block blue for the sleeves. The other half and I agree that you can feel the quality from this top as soon as you touch it and you can even see the quality just by looking at it. Logan really liked it himself and thought it was very "comfy".

I'm a bit mad crazy mum when it comes to stitching on clothing and I'm glad to say the stitching on this top is excellent, no loose ends, wonky stitches or missing stitches in site. My mind can now rest easy. I received a size 3-4 years for Logan and it's a perfect fit with length for room to grow, I can see this top lasting him a good while.

Logan posing in his nice new top

Boys&Girls cater for kids from 1-10 years, the collection includes refreshingly easy styles for boys and girls with an emphasis on great unisex pieces that are perfect for all types of play. The top that Logan received could definitely be worn by a girl, in fact I'm sure my good friend Emma would happily put it on her daughter without question.

"Each garment is created with care and the company strives to reduce the impact of their manufacturing on the environment. Made using the highest quality GOTS certified organic cotton and featuring items which are fully Fairtrade certified and carrying the Fairtrade Cotton Mark, the garments are soft yet strong and have extra feel-good factor."

This top costs £15.00 and can be ordered directly from the Boys&Girls website. They have lots more designs and styles to choose from in their fairtrade range so please do check it out.


Overall a brilliant top, very soft and comfy for Logan to wear. It held it's shape even after being pulled left right and centre from Logan himself. The colours are bright and cheerful and the fact it's fairtrade cotton makes it all that much better. The price is more on the expensive side but you pay for what you get and because it's fairtrade the people who grow the cotton benefit from it so big thumbs up from us. Quality in this product is definitely there and I'll be purchasing fairtrade tops from Boys&Girls in future.

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

Please visit www.boysandgirlsshop.com for more products and information. You can also see what Boys&Girls get up to on Facebook and Twitter so why not pop over and say hello. Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you.

Review: Fox's Gift Box

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Mother's Day is almost upon us ladies and gents so for those of you who need a quick last minute gift idea check these babies out. Fox's Chocolate Rounds Gift Box! Twelve delicious shortcake biscuits nestled inside a thick wrap of gorgeous milk chocolate, mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

I literally received these a few hours ago and by gum, almost half the packet has been eaten already *shock* The things I do to provide honest reviews...

We all know mum's have a sweet tooth so what better way to treat them than by purchasing your much loved mum some of these tasty biscuits. They're 100% yummy, my toddler said so and that's the law now!

What better way to show off these yum-tastic biscuits than by providing a few home snaps.

The yummy box of delights

Inside the box of delights

Logan enjoying said delights

The Fox's gift box is available from your local Sainsbury's for a limited time only and for just £2.00 you can't go wrong, you could pick yourself up a box too and enjoy with a cup of tea.

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

Please visit www.foxs-biscuits.co.uk for more products and information. You can also see what Fox's get up to on Facebook and Twitter. Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you!

3 March 2013

Silent Sunday

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Silent Sunday

Review: Rocky Double Choc Orange Biscuit

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I'm always willing to review a bit of chocolate, as I'm sure you all would, so I was delighted to receive a packet of the new Rocky Double Choc Orange Biscuits to try out. They arrived just in time for the weekend where I tend to splurge a bit on goodies so I was one happy bunny (I've already eaten 4 out of 9!). Rocky are part of the Fox's Biscuit Group so I was very positive these would be heavenly.

Rocky promise that their Double Choc Orange Biscuit is a limited edition Rocky experience like no other, that's sure to tantalise the taste buds of biscuit fans everywhere and I quite agree. I'm really not a fan of orange chocolate but this biscuit is lovely, just enough orange flavour to make it tasty but not enough to make it sickly sweet. My other half is a massive fan of chocolate orange and he thought these biscuits were amazing. I think I'll have to hide the rest from him or he'll scoff the lot!


The Rocky Double Choc Orange boasts a chocolately biscuit base with the flavour of orange cream lovingly lavished on top before being covered in more chocolate to make the perfect treat to accompany your afternoon cup of tea. Each biscuit contains only 112 calories so not too bad for the waist line either.

These biscuits are available in a pack of nine individually wrapped bars so easy to put into lunch boxes (the husband's or the kid's) or take on trips out for a little boost. Offering double the fun with a twist, Rocky Double Choc Orange is available for a limited time only in all major supermarkets, RRP £1.59, so pick up a pack today and enjoy!

"Tell them Vinnie sent ya!"

Overall a very tasty biscuit and one which I could quite happily eat and enjoy any time. I feel pricing is in line with other biscuits of a similar quality and the fact that they will be in all major supermarkets makes them very accessible.

Mummies rating - 9/10
Other Half's rating - 10/10

Please visit www.foxs-biscuits.co.uk for more products and information. You can also see what Fox's get up to on Facebook and Twitter. Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you!

27 February 2013

Earth Hour 2013

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Three well known ambassadors for WWF have come together to record special edition audiobooks for children, and grownups alike, to enjoy during this year’s Earth Hour. The exclusive audiobooks have been recorded for families to listen to during the world's biggest switch off.

As the lights go out for Earth Hour, actress Miranda Richardson, ‘Grand Designs’ TV presenter Kevin McCloud and comedian Alistair McGowan will bring to life Rudyard Kipling’s famous ‘Just So’ stories.  Eight of the classic childhood stories will be voiced, including favourites such as ‘How the Camel Got His Hump’ and ‘How the Leopard Got His Spots’.

WWF’s Earth Hour - which takes place on Saturday 23rd March 2013 this year - is a popular date in the diary for friends and families to show their support for the planet by switching off the lights for one hour.

Those taking part in this global event can gather round in candle-light to enjoy enchanting stories that have captured the imaginations of young and old for more than a century.     

WWF ambassador Miranda Richardson said: "Earth Hour is a time for families to come together and show their support for the planet and it’s also a fantastic opportunity to enjoy quality family time.


“Story telling is one of the oldest forms of family entertainment and these recordings are a novel and entertaining way to spend Earth Hour together and introduce a new generation to these classic captivating tales.”

Last year’s Earth Hour was the biggest yet and saw a staggering 6,950 towns and cities in more than 152 countries take part. An estimated eight million Brits will be joining in for the world’s biggest switch-off this year.

From a single domestic light bulb to giant iconic illuminations such as Big Ben, the Taj Mahal and the Sydney Opera House, Earth Hour demonstrates a determination to help protect the planet.

Rachel Bloodworth, spokesperson for WWF said “The aim of Earth Hour is for people to show their support for our amazing planet and raise awareness of the world’s energy consumption.

“It’s a great excuse to take a step back from the hectic pace of modern life and those taking part can embrace a simpler and more rewarding way to spend time together such a good old fashion story telling session. ”

WWF ambassador Alistair McGowan said: “These captivating childhood tales conjure up all sorts of strange and wondrous animals in people’s imaginations, bringing the stories to life. But amazing creatures don’t just live in books. Our planet is home to so many incredible species and unique places - but they need protecting. WWF's Earth Hour is your chance to show you care about the state of our planet and the natural world.  Even small steps can help like keeping your energy use to a minimum throughout the year to save precious resources and stop our planet warming unnecessarily - which threatens the survival of every species on Earth, including Man. Together we can make Earth Hour into a way of life not just a gesture.”

WWF ambassador Kevin McCloud said: “Surely every parent in the land enjoys reading a great bedtime story just as much as the kids enjoy listening to it and these unique tales are such a fun way to spend Earth Hour.  So it doesn’t matter if you're five or 50, just make sure you sign up, switch off and relax with the family for one hour, to show you care about the future of our planet.”

In the week leading up to WWF’s Earth Hour: Miranda, Kevin and Alistair’s audio recordings will be available to download for people who sign up to Earth Hour from Saturday 16th March: http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/.

However, sneak preview material will be available from Monday 4th March 2013 at: http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/.

For more information and other ideas on how you can show your support for the planet on Saturday 23rd March please visit http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/.

Review: Brabantia Drying Rack

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Having a family always seems to increase your household washing load. Extra clothes from the kids to your clothes some how being even dirtier thanks to the kids, it never stops! I know in my house there's always something extra to be washed from teddies, blankets and bedding to housecoats, jackets, jeans and an endless supply of socks! You can imagine my delight then when Brabantia got in touch to offer me the chance of reviewing their Drying Rack which they state is suitable for a complete family wash.

Living in Scotland the weather is always unpredictable so a good drying rack is an essential household item I think, not just for families but for couples and single people as well. It also means you can wash clothes late at night and still get them hung out and dried for the next day.

Brabantia began back in 1919 with just fifteen people and a small factory in the Dutch town of Aalst. A traditional, family owned business, run by engineers and craftsmen and right from the start, good, professional workmanship has been the driving force behind their success. Today, the skills and expertise that built the company are supplemented by specialists. Specialists in the latest materials and in computer aided design and manufacturing. Specialists who secure their position as one of Europe's leading suppliers of innovative household products.


Brabantia's mission: "Everything today is increasingly 'disposable'. Buy something, it breaks. Replace it, use it, throw it away. Short lived, dispensable, consumed in an instant, quickly replaced. There's no end to the cycle of having it now and new, over and over again. We challenge this. We put all our expertise into developing solid, reliable products that are made to last. A longer life, and a continuity of use. We design products for the present, but with an eye to the future - products that will contribute to your home, and the way you live your life - for many years to come. Our ambition is simple: to develop solid household products that retain their beauty and performance for up to 20 years."
I completely applaud Barbantia's mission and totally agree with it as too many products these days are basically crap! Easily broken and disposable with no quality in mind. Fear not though, Brabantia brand themselves as the "Solid Company" and by jings they're not half wrong.

When I received the Drying Rack in the post it had minimal packaging but not a wire was out of place or a scratch in sight. It looked promising already. I quickly cut away the packaging and set it up to bask in it's full glory. This Drying Rack meant business and I honestly couldn't wait to put a load of washing on to try it out (sad but true).

The Drying Rack is a triangle shape with wings (best way I could describe it)! It's very sturdy and solid and had been made from corrosion resistant materials. The "wings" are held up by metal clips which help lock them into place and keep your washing secure for drying and if you ever have to move from one room to another. It has robust protective caps on the feet as well so there's less chance of damaging your floor when using. I'd say it's quite a big Drying Rack measuring at 104cm in height, 61.5cm wide and 5cm deep. It took up at least half of our small spare room but the good thing about this Drying Rack is the "wings" are adjustable so you can have them at all angles to squeeze into any space.


Full Load of Washing & More!!

So was it any good? Well yes! It's sturdy so didn't fall over when I loaded one side of the Drying Rack to the other. Most drying racks I've used normally need some balancing act but this one stood strong and proud. It did indeed take a full load of washing so no complaints there. It's big but easy to maneuver and although it costs £63.00 it has a massive 5 year guarantee from Brabantia so you can be assured it's been built to last a while. You'll definitely get your monies worth anyway.

Overall a great piece of household equipment which is essential for any family and the great thing is you can purchase direct from Brabantia themselves. The only issue I may have is although it's easy to maneuver it can be heavy when loaded with washing so you have to be careful not to bash yourself or your walls with it.

Mummies rating - 8.5/10

Please visit www.brabantia.com/uk/ for more products and information. You can also see what Brabantia get up to on Facebook and Twitter. Remember to tell them The Breastest News sent you!


26 February 2013

The World's Mini-Est Milk Float

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- Ella’s Kitchen unveils the world’s smallest milk float to deliver the big tastes of their new dairy range to little ones –


The world’s smallest milk float, standing at just 133cm tall and 88 cm wide, has been revealed today to help bring the big tastes of Ella’s Kitchen new yoghurts, fromage frais and rice pudding to tiny tots. Having taken specialists over three months to develop and construct, the mini milk float has bespoke features including a steering wheel measuring just 22.5cm and a 45cm windscreen, making it a perfectly miniaturised version of the real thing.

The world’s tiniest milk float has been created by baby and toddler food expert Ella’s Kitchen and goes on tour from today to welcome its new range of 100% organic fromage frais, yoghurts and desserts to the dairy aisle.

The battery operated tiny milk float is 60 per cent smaller than the average float and designed to be just big enough to be driven by Paul Lindley, Ella’s Dad and Founder of Ella’s Kitchen. He was spotted out and about on the streets of London, delivering yoghurts to little ones across the capital.


Paul Lindley comments: “We created the first - and the world’s smallest – tiny milk float, to celebrate the BIG tastes of our new dairylicious yoghurt, fromage frais and rice pudding – as you can see I can barely fit inside it! It was tricky to make the smallest milk float in the world and it was a real test for the designers, but we felt it was the best way to capture exactly how our new range is perfectly sized for little ones, but still contains big tastes for tiny taste buds with up to 20% real fruit and no added refined sugar. We’re excited about tiny tots experiencing our new range for themselves”.

Ella’s Kitchen’s new dairy range contains no added refined sugar and provides a natural source of calcium, so they are a great way to introduce dairy to tiny tots for the first time.

The new yogurts, rice puddings and fromage frais are available to purchase in the dairy aisle at Asda, Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado. Please visit www.ellaskitchen.com for more products and information.

 

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