Mini Wardrobe

MiniWardrobe.com is a brand new children’s wear website with a difference. Aside from the beautiful, unique, quality designed clothing and toys, sourced from all over Europe, some of the many features that them them stand out from the others are:

• They aim to make the site as accessible to the most internet-phobic of customers as it is to the most savvy of technological whizzes, using interactive and easy-to-use features and a great gift-buying service.

• All of the clothes are available to buy as individual items but are displayed as part of an outfit. You can also view them depending on styles to suit all tastes, from traditional to urban chic.

• All of the garments are modelled on real children to give an idea of how the look comes together and what other items would go nicely with them. You can also zoom in to see the beautiful materials and textures in a more in-depth manner than would be possible even in a physical shop

• They want the doors of their wardrobe to be open to everyone, so they have even included a special Kids Area in our site, where children can engage in activities and challenges and can even contribute to the site.

• They have a loyalty scheme. Their shoppers are the best so they want to reward them not only for their loyal custom, but also for any feedback they give or even for simply recommending us to a friend. Visitors are also rewarded with points just for signing up for an account.  These points can be used to buy more wonderful MiniWardrobe.com products or can be donated to charity. Kids also have their own points system and can earn them through completing their challenges or contributing ideas to the website.

• Charity is extremely important to MiniWardrobe.com and they believe that it is only fitting that the charities they support are based around children.  People can donate their points on the site and there is also the facility to make an extra contribution as well. They hope that in making donating easy and by making their younger customers aware of other little people who are not so fortunate as themselves, we might help some of these wonderful organisations carry on with the invaluable work they do.

MiniWardrobe.com is constantly evolving and they have more great features and innovations to come that will make the site more functional and a pleasurable shopping experience for everyone.

They have also just launched a line of J Brand Houlihan-style cargo pants for girls which are exclusive online in the UK to MiniWardrobe.com. They are proving to be incredibly popular as an appropriate way for girls to mimic the fashions that their mothers seek out. 

Please "like" their Facebook page where MiniWardrobe will be hosting prize draws and other exciting offers. http://www.facebook.com/miniwardrobe 

Zoobles

Zoobles! 

A new toy from 

Spin Master

Zoobles are new magical creatures that pop to life when you put them on their 'Happitat'.

Basically aimed at young girls age 4+ these are collectable toys that interact without the need for batteries.

The Zoobles are curled up into a pocketsized ball until you put them on their Happitat - to which they spring to life!  As you touch them they interact with you by blinking their eyes, wagging their tails and wiggling their ears.

There are 150 different Zoobles to collect and come in different sized packs: £5.99 for a single, £9.99 for a pair 'twoble' pack and £19.99 for the Blossoming Garden play set (which comes with its own exclusive character).

Start saving now for Christmas ;) as this will be the stocking filler for 2011.

JML Turbo Snake

JML Turbo Snake

Another handy product from JML, very simple to use and actually really effective.
My bath was taking ages for the water to go down, you could actually soak your feet while you had a shower the plug was that clogged up ... so I decided to give the Turbo Snake a try.

Basically its 2 different sized plastic coated wires with Velcro-like ends.  All you have to do is poke it down the plughole, wiggle it around and pull it out!


I decided to give my bathroom sink a clean first and inserted the Turbo Snake - OMG tons and tons of matted smelly soap scummed hair came out!!  Then I realised that my bath and sink use the same pipe, so it was this that had been blocking the bathwater.  The Turbo Snake was easy to clean and the mess put into the bin ... so I gave the bath plughole a try - again quite a bit of muck came out (but the majority came out of the sink).


So .. it really does work!  There are different ends for different types of plug - even those ones that go up and down with a lever (and sit flush to your sink).  Easy to store as you also get a little stick-on hook to hang it up under your sink.


Available from http://www.jmldirect.com/Turbo-Snake-PT1010/ where there is a good video too.
RRP £10.20

Gadget Glamour

Gadget Glamour iPhone and iPad Skins

Basically a 'Skin' is a hard wearing tough sticker to customise your iPhone or iPad, you stick the sticker onto the shell of the product, then download a wallpaper for the screen so that it all matches.


The actual products are of good quality and will be hard wearing, each skin is made from durable vinyl which protects the iPhone or iPad and provides an anti-scratch coating.   Do not fear though as its not forever - if you decide to change the skin it can be easily peeled away and there is no sticky mess left behind.


One worry I had was if it went wonky when putting it onto my iPhone ... each skin comes with full instructions and the adhesive is made by 3M, it contains micro fine glass beads which allow you to position the skin - and only fully stick down when you rub the surface with your thumb.

The Gadget Glamour website is easy to navigate, you can order online most skins start at £10 for an iPhone skin or £15 for an iPad skin.  Downloadable matching wallpaper is from the same site - all details come with your chosen skin.
Gadget Glamour offer next day free delivery (including the channel islands) so brilliant for a last minute gift or a treat for yourself.


For more information please visit: www.gadgetglamour.co.uk

AnyLock Sealing Rods

AnyLock Sealing Rods

This is a product that you normally see at the Ideal Home type shows and you think "Oooh thats good!" and buy one. 
In the pack I have there are 2 different sized rods and 2 freshness bags ... to start with I got it all wrong - I thought the rods could only be used with the bags provided and I was worried about re-using the bags etc....   BUT its NOT the bags that I should be reviewing its the actual RODS.


The AnyLock Sealing Rods are actually brilliant!  You can use them on any kind of bag or wrapper.  
All you have to do is fold over the bag or wrapper and slip the rod onto it, this then makes a closure which is airtight and watertight.  The rods can be used over and over again, if they get dirty they can be put into the dishwasher or hand washed in the washing up bowl.

Made from very sturdy plastic they are pretty tough, I have been waving one round like a wand and it has not broken or fallen apart.  Each AnyLock Sealing Rod has a 12 month guarantee so you know its a product that is going to last.


So when/where do you use them?
How many times have you had veg or chips rolling around the bottom of your freezer? Well the AnyLock Sealing Rod can be used in the freezer and as it never touches the actual food you can use it to secure many different food types (chicken portions in freezer bags, large bags of veg, etc..) you just fold over the end of the packaging and secure it with a rod (no clips or clothes pegs in sight!).


Great for lunchboxes and picnics.  Keep one in your handbag if you have a toddler as they never ever finish all their crisps/sweets/sticky things, now you can seal the packet instead of throwing the leftovers away.  Use it to pre-prepare toddler snacks for trips out.


There are loads of uses for AnyLock Sealing Rods - what could you use them for?


For more information please visit www.anylock.co.uk - this is the official site for AnyLock however customers can also purchase AnyLock from www.protectandstore.co.uk 

Tetley Tea-Shirts

Tetley Tea-Shirts







Tetley have brought out a range of retro t-shirts or tea-shirts :)
Each shirt is of excellent soft 80% Cotton and 20% Polyester, the fabric is soft on the skin and  very well made.

There are 3 designs to choose from for men and 1 for ladies, although I think that all are pretty much uni-sex styles.

 

I know nothing about stitching terms or sewing, but I am very impressed with the finish of the t-shirts.  The shoulder stiches have been stitched 3 times so that there are no raw edges and its comforatble against your skin on the shoulder line.  There are no loose threads on any of the seams which are all straight.
The printing is of a high quality too - it doesn't feel sticky or rubbery as the print is sort of in the fabric instead of on the fabric.  They almost have a 'washed' feel to them like you have worn them a few times and so are very comfortable and natural to wear.

Available from www.truffleshuffle.co.uk
They are available in all sizes from Small to XXL  (except the pink ladies which only goes up to XL).
RRP: £20 plus p&p.

Giant Milkybar Buttons

New Milkybar Giant Buttons - in share size packs.

When Emma was a baby we used to feed her Milkybar as she loved it - actually 'Daddy' used to eat most of it and give poor baby Emma a tiny bit to suck on then spit down her chin. 
At that time we thought that as a sweet treat Milkybar was the best brand for baby but since 2008, Milkybar has been made using only natural ingredients. The chocolate is naturally free from colours and preservatives and free from artificial flavours ... so it means its even better for you!

Milkybar buttons are now giant which means that each button is now around twice (possibly 3 times) the size of the regular buttons ... they are available in share size bags (which we all know that my my house the sharing part just isn't going to happen), a 14 button portion (which is whats recommended) contains 154 calories, 16.2g sugar, 8.9g fat and 5.3g saturates.   basically Milkybar is now for adults too and not just toddlers. 

At the moment on Facebook Milkybar are promoting the giant buttons by giving away free packs: http://apps.facebook.com/giantbuttons/

I like to make chocolate fairy cakes and use Giant Milkybar Buttons on the top, or bake a large chocolate cake and make a pattern on the top held on with melted milk chocolate - gorgeous !!

Each share size bag is 150g and is available from all major supermarkets in the confectionery aisle.

Nordic Naturals

Nordic Naturals

Nordic Naturals provide a wide range of supplements ans vitamins all containing purified fish oil.
Now when I think of fish oil I immediately thing that its going to smell and taste of rotten fish - well you'll be pleased to hear that due to it being purified Nordic Naturals have removed all the yukkyness, kept the goodness and added a pleasant flavour.

I have been reviewing a product from Nordic Naturals called Ultimate Omega D3.
They are quite large lemon flavoured soft gel capsules that provide exceptionally high levels of the omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, in addition to 1000 I.U. of vitamin D3, in one delicious serving.
Vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol) is the natural form of vitamin D produced by the body, and is better absorbed and utilized than other forms.

At first glance I thought the capsules to be very big, but as they are smooth they are very very easy to swallow (which is good as you have to take 2 daily with food).  To be honest I don't know why they worry about making them lemon flavour as you don't taste them at all!  It is nicer though if you smell the container to smell lemon rather than fish.


The purified fish oil is from anchovies and sardines, this along with the Vitamin D3 helps to support your cardiovascular system and bones. 

The products from Nordic Naturals are all well made, professional and for all the family - there are supplements for children and categorised into types of the body that you want to support so its easy to buy the type you want or need.

For more information please visit: http://www.nordicnaturals.com/uk/index.html

Available from many Health Food shops around the UK.

Decaf Detox

Well by now your New Year diet should be well and truly under control, you will have given up smoking, drinking, eating, snacking, laughing and can complete a fitness DVD without feeling as if you have died ....... ha! yeah right! 
If you are anything like me your good intentions lasted until Jan 3rd and you decided that you couldn't afford new clothes so best to chill out a bit.   


Of course well done to all of you however who have changed your lives for the better and have excellent will power - you are stronger people than me, so well done! Keep up the good work!


What is easy to change though is your caffeine intake.
Year ago asking for 'decaf' was frowned upon, you were treated like some kind of loony and told "Oh I can't drink that muck, I need my caffeine to survive!".  

Did you know though how bad caffeine actually is for your body?
According to: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Caffeine-Can-Affect-Your-Health&id=101557


On average In a regular cup of coffee there are about 170 mg of caffeine and in decaffeinated coffee there are about 30/40 mg of caffeine. 

These are a number of health conditions for which doctors advise their patients to eliminate coffee and all caffeine from their diet.

Acid indigestion
Anxiety, irritability and nervousness
Candida or yeast problems
Colitis, diverticulitis, diarrhea and other irritable bowel symptoms
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other auto-immune disorders
Diabetes or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Dizziness, Meniere's syndrome or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Gout (Elevated Uric Acid levels)
Heart disease or heart palpitations
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Insomnia and interrupted or poor quality sleep
Liver disease and gallbladder problems such as gallstones
Kidney or bladder problems including kidney stones
Migraines or other vascular headaches
Osteoporosis
Skin irritations, rashes and dryness
Ulcers, heartburn, and stomach problems such as hiatal hernias
Urinary tract irritation

 So anyway, that's some info I have resourced from the Internet .... now back to the taste test :)
I was sent 4 different dedecaffeinated coffee's to try, I had to score them out of 5 in different categories.


Tesco Decaffeinated Original Roast   & Ground (227g)
Taylors Decaffeinated Ground Coffee   (227g)
Douwe Egberts Decaffeinated Medium Roast Coffee (250g)
Lavazza Caffe Decaffeinated Ground Coffee (250g)

Now my Dad likes his coffee, he also drinks decaf when he can ... so I asked him to conduct the test for me (talk about thrilled! off he skipped with his box of coffee vowing to 'give it his best shot').  Now some of these coffee's are 'ground roast' and others are 'medium roast' so they will taste different - so rather than compare the tastes he tried each one on a different day.

And the results are in *drum roll*

Good = 5 Poor = 1	Tesco Decaffeinated Original Roast & Ground (227g)	Taylors Decaffeinated Ground Coffee (227g)	Douwe Egberts Decaffeinated Medium Roast Coffee (250g)	Lavazza Caffe Decaffeinated Ground Coffee (250g)
Aroma	3	2	3	3
Strength intensity	3	2	3	3
Coffee taste	4	3	3	3
Sweet taste	3	2	2	2
Smooth taste	3	2	3	2
Artificial taste	2	3	2	2
Aesthetic appearance	3	2	2	2
Acidity	2	2	2	2
Body	3	2	3	3
Aftertaste	3	1	2	3
Total	29	21	25	25

My Dad was surprised, he thought that one of the more 'posher' brands would have came out on top - but for him it was Tesco's Decaffeinated Original Roast & Ground that topped the leader board.  Coming close (joint) second was Douwe Egberts and Lavazza Caffe, then third was Taylors.

All coffees were brewed in the same way using a cafetiere - and left for the same amount of time to brew (around 3-4 minutes).

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' or blogger's families own.

e-cloth washing up pad

e-cloth washing up pad

Please start to feel sorry for me as to properly test this product I had to do all the washing up!

The pad has one side that's a scourer for cleaning pots, pans and removing stubborn dirt from baking trays and cutlery; then the other side is for cleaning and general washing up tasks.
Compared to other scouring padded cloths this scourer does not scratch the surfaces of your non-stick pans and trays.

E-cloths have 480,000 fibres per cm2.  This means that with water alone they break up grease, dirt and bacteria which normal cloths leave behind.

I have used this washing up pad for the past week ... and to be truthful I am not overly impressed.  For general washing up I found the pad to be too big for comfortable use.  It is quite a bulky pad to use and even though is it shaped I found it very hard to handle properly (and I have quite big hands).
To wash glasses however it was quite good as it reached the bottom without having to put your hand inside the glass.

Yes the non-scratching scourer did scour without scratching! Yes it did clean well ... so the pad works well for washing up its just the non-ergonomic styling that I found tricky.

One brilliant use is to clean ceramic hobs - I have a ceramic cooker top and always seem to have burnt on spills, this pad easily cleaned away the burnt on bits ... without having to worry about scouring or scratching the surface.

It is a good pad, cleans well - just too big and bulky for general use or small hands.

For more information please visit: www.e-cloth.com
RRP: £3.99 - £4.99 depending on retailer.

Lubber Bags

Lubber Bags

Cool and Kooky, Lubber are the fashion accessory of the year!

Now I am not normally a bag person, I have a bag for work but apart from that I keep everything else in my pockets ... until now :)


I took this bag to a meeting at work the other day, my friend Sam "oooh'd" over it throughout the whole meeting, so I took it into work for the students to take photos of for pretend Valentines adverts, they too loved the Lubber Bag and spent all morning fighting over it.  My colleague Rachel described it as fab, versatile and different! which it totally is.

Made from material inspired by CROCS it is a really soft resin the same feel and style to the famous shoes. The bag is shaped like a shoe and even has the tread at the bottom - a great design idea and totally suited to the style of the Lubber Bag.


Large Lubber Bags are priced at around £16.99, the size of the large bag is 34.3cm (length) x 16.5cm (width) x 29.2cm (Height).
Small Lubber Bags are priced at around £12.99, the smaller bag is 27.3cm (length) x 13.3cm (width) x 16.5cm (height).


Just like the shoes you can decorate the bags with clip-on Lubb accessories, at present there isn't much choice but I am sure the makers will design more as the bags become the summer accessory to be seen with.


Lubber bags come in a variety of colours: Red, Yellow, Pink, Green, Purple, Orange, Blue and Black. 


Available from: http://www.lubberbag.co.uk/index.php