Lilys Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits

Lily's Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits

Ruby likes biscuits! Ruby being a Labrador would quite happily eat a whole box of biscuits in one sitting ... so we have to hide them :)

Lily's Kitchen is a range of proper pet food full of natural organic ingredients, the company put a lot of thought and care into their products, so much so that you could probably eat them yourself (but I wouldn't recommend it!).

The Bedtime Biscuits are traditionally baked using the finest organic ingredients, they aim to provide a good nights sleep for your dog as they are full of ingredients that are renowned for their relaxing properties.

Bedtime Biscuits are full to the brim with organic Oats and organic Rye Flour. Organic Chamomile and Passion Flowers for their therapeutic and nutritious qualities. Also included is organic pro-biotic yogurt to help digestion and other bodily functions.


The oval-shaped biscuits do not contain any chemicals or anything artificial. No pesticides are used in their production. These treats are low in fat which is a great benefit especially to Ruby who is a bit on the tubby side.

I have to say that the Nutritional Analysis sounds a bit odd?? but at least the company are honest in what's in them:
Crude Protein 12%
Crude Oils and Fats 7%
Crude Fibres 6.5%
Crude Ash 3.5%

The treats are available in 150g packs for £3.95 and can be purchased from Lily's Kitchen stockists as well as from the website http://www.lilyskitchen.co.uk/
These treats have a shelf life of 14 months which is excellent if you would like to bulk buy or buy as a gift.


Certified Organic - Organic Farmers and Growers
Certified Holistic - British Association of Holistic Nutrition and Medicine

Melvita Skincare

Melvita Young Skincare Range

Emma (9) has child acne, at times it dies down but sometimes her skin is really really red and sore. Around her nose it looks like her skin is burnt and enflamed, luckily the kids at school don't seem to notice her skin or say anything to her and so it doesn't seem to bother Emma either.

We have been using Melvita products from their Young Skincare Range.

Because adolescence is often a difficult time, Melvita has developed a complete range of targeted skincare treatments specially suited to young skin. Melvita offers 7 skincare products formulated with a minimum of 30% organic ingredients and with effective natural active extracts to provide a solution to acne prone skin. All Melvita Young Skin products contain a key ingredient: BIRCH SAP.

I was a little apprehensive about 'Birch Sap' as it sounds a little hocus pocus'y "eye of newt, tongue of a dragon, sap from a young silver birch' etc.... but when the products arrived they looked very posh!

We followed Melvita's 123 Plan and first cleansed with their Cleansing Foaming Gel. I purposely haven't followed the plan using ALL the products as Emma is very young and I didn't want to 'over wash' her skin. So we have only used 3 of the range on the website.

The Cleansing Gel which is great as it foams up, this is good as it means Emma can spread it on to her face herself. The Cleansing Gel contains: Birch sap, Lavender and Zinc.

This foaming gel combines:
√ regenerating, purifying properties of Zinc lactate and Lavender

√ powerful purifying qualities of Tea Tree

√ moisturising and softening Birch sap and Witch Hazel

Its a nice cleaning product, gentle on young skin and cleans well, you only need one pump of gel to wash your whole face, the product lasts ages. After use Emma's skin was quite matt ready for the next product.

We next used the Sebum Balancing Fluid. This is a very light moisturiser which helps to control the production of sebum. With Emma being young she gets a lot of nasty white spots which then turn to blackheads, this moisturiser can control this and also give her skin the nourishment it needs to heal itself. The fluid contains: Moisturising Birch sap, Yogurt, Willow and Boswellia.

√ is light, non-greasy

√ moisturises

√ helps balance oil production

√ is non-comedogenic

√ is designed specifically for skin that suffers from temporary blemishes

Emma's skin doctor advised her to use products that are non-comedogenic so its great that this moisturiser is ... if you look in your local supermarket it is very hard to find branded products that are non-comedogenic.

We liked this fluid, it has an easy 1 pump bottle where one squirt is enough to cover Emma's face. It is also very hygienic as you don't have to scoop the lotion out of a jar or bottle .. it is self contained and sealed.

The Anti-blemish Roll-on for Targeted Action, is actually my favourite. Containing Rosewood, Tea Tree, Schizandra and Tepescohuite it smells very very strong and rolls straight onto problem areas.

IF you put this onto broken skin you will know it!! Also any sore spots (where you have picked them!) will sting like crazy if you roll this product onto them.

This quick-dry formulation combines:
√ purifying essential oils of Tea Tree, Cistus, Sage, Lavender, Lime, Rose wood, Peppermint
√ repairing properties of Schisandra berries, Tepescohuite bark and Propolis
√ comforting qualities of Ginger and Birch sap

I found that it almost dried out Emma's spots, however we found it quite hard to roll-on as you couldn't tell if any had actually come out as you rolled.
A good product, I even used it myself a couple of times. You can also use it underneath make-up.

We liked Melvita's Young Skincare Range. I cannot say that they cleared up Emma's spots as they didn't but they have lessened the troublesome areas and controlled her blackheads a little.

Well worth a look as the products are packaged in colourful packaging that will look good in any ones bathroom regardless of age.

Cleansing Foaming Gel: £12 for 200ml
Sebum Balancing Fluid: £16 for 50ml
Anti-blemish Roll-On: £10 for 5.5ml

All products plus more! Available from http://uk.melvita.com

Lovea Bio L'Argan

Lovea Bio l'Argan

This shampoo is from their Bio range, the type I am reviewing is dedicated to 'Shine'. The special Organic Moroccan Argan Oil formulation brings health and vitality to dull and lifeless hair.

It is a clear shampoo with a lovely fragrance, it is quite runny and so runs through your fingers while you are quickly trying to out it onto your wet hair, but a little does go a long way.

The foamyness is smooth and silky, lathers up well and washes out quickly. My hair felt very clean but I do not use products (gel, sprays, etc...) and so it is quite easy to wash, I would think though that it would cut through products and give a good deep clean for all hair types.

Shine wise I didn't see a difference until I had used it a few times, it was actually a colleague that commented when the sun caught my highlights, I couldn't personally see any difference myself.

It is a nice shampoo, not the sort that I would buy and use daily (as I am a supermarket type of girl) but nice as a a treat. Would be great in a set with shower gel and conditioner as a gift.

Available from
http://www.mypure.co.uk/lovea-b136?utm_source=Blogging&utm_medium=May2010&utm_campaign=LoveaShampoo

http://www.lovea.fr/

Rachel's

Rachel's Organic

Whenever I go to food shows , Rachel's always has a really busy stand... people can purchase yogurts, chilled desserts and children's products then collect them in little chilled bags later in the day. Now I will admit that I always thought that queueing to buy yogurt was a little odd but now that I have tasted Rachel's products I can understand why people queue.Have you seen the adverts where they eat a well known cereal with different toppings everyday? Well whenever they use products other than milk I used to cry out "Uurgghhh!".

Rachel's have produced a 'Pouring Yogurt', its like a regular yogurt except it is slightly thinner and runnier ... this helps it to soak into the cereal (or whatever you want to pour it onto) and give good cover.

Now don't think that they have just added a bit more milk to make it so it pours, they haven't ... it still has a yogurt consistency and smooth punchy flavour.

Pouring yogurt is available in 3 flavours: Natural, Hint of Strawberry and Hint of Honey. All 3 flavours are low-fat and totally organic. The pouring yogurt has a natural sweetness in the 'hint of' flavours and so extra sugar or sweetener is not needed.

Rachel's Pouring Yogurt is available from Tesco, look out for offers.

Rachel's Organic Low Fat yogurts are creamy, filling and very very moreish. My favourite from the 6 flavours available is the mango, pineapple and passion fruit (see image above), it is very creamy and thick which surprised me, being a 'low-fat' yogurt I expected it to be a bit wishy-washy when it is a very fruity thick yogurt.

One word of warning though, if you have no self control buy the smaller pots (single serving) and not the large 3 serving size ... yes they are 'low-fat' but eating a whole pot to yourself in one serving and then feeling quite sick (own fault!) kind of defeats the object.

Some people eat a lot of Organic Natural yogurt, I personally do not like it on its own as a yogurt but I do like to use it in recipes. Rachel's organic natural yogurt was particularly good to cook with. The natural yogurt spooned out of the container easily and mixed well to combine with other ingredients.


Fluffy Yogurt Scones Recipe

The scones rise up nice and fluffy due to the yogurt. The golden raisins lend a touch of sweetness. Try experimenting with other fruits instead of the raisins such as cherries and blueberries.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
•8 ounces (225g) white all-purpose flour or fine wholemeal (wheat) flour
•2 teaspoons baking powder
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1 ounce (25 g/2 tablespoons) golden granulated sugar
•2 ounces (50g) butter, cut into small pieces
•3 ounces (75g) sultanas (white raisins) (optional)
•4 to 5 fl ounces (125-150ml)Rachel's Natural Yogurt
•For the glaze:
•A little of the Rachel's Natural Yogurt
•Golden granulated sugar

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to Gas No. 7 (425 degrees F./220 degrees C.).

Line a baking sheet with silicone or parchment paper.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (This can be done using the pulse action in a food processor, or in a mixer.) Turn into a bowl, stir in the sultanas, make a well and add the yogurt, then mix with a knife to a soft non-sticky dough.

Turn it out on to a lightly floured board and knead gently for 30 seconds to smooth the underside. Roll out the dough 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick and cut it into 10-12 rounds with a pastry-cutter.

Place the scones on the baking sheet and brush with yogurt. Scatter with sugar and bake for 12-15 minutes, until they begin to brown on the top. Cool and then eat or freeze (up to three months).

Yield: 10 to 12 scones

Rachel's Greek Style yogurt is spot-on when it comes to smooth, flavoursome taste. They come in different sized serving pots (single and 3 servings 150g pots), there are also 4 different flavours to choose from: Honey, Coconut, Cherry and Natural.

Emma loved the coconut yogurt, it has tiny bits of coconut in it with a light coconut flavour. I'm personally not that keen on coconut so I had a little taste, then Emma finished off the rest of the pot.

I did however tuck into the honey Greek Style yogurt, it was quite sweet and I literally only could eat a proper sized portion (unlike the low-fat variety).

All in all I am very impressed with Rachel's Organic Yogurts. They are tasty, filling, fruit and adaptable to different tastes and needs. They have differentiated their products to suit diets, styles, trends and even make products especially for children.

Rachel's have their own facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachels-Official-Fan-Page/332480254815

For more information about products and the company please visit: http://www.rachelsorganic.co.uk/

Respect Organics Cakes

Respect Organics

Organic Cakes

Chocolate Cake

"Mmmmmm cakeeeee!" I drooled as I opened the box, inside the cake was wrapped in a plastic bag to retain freshness plus it had a cardboard ring to keep the cake in tip-top shape.



Made with the finest organic ingredients (supported by the Soil Association for Organic Standards) the cake was moist, chocolately, springy .. basically everything you would want from a chocolate cake.

The topping was like chocolate fudge cake topping, nice and thick, very gooey and suited the consistency of the cake. It wasn't too sweet either which was nice as sometimes the topping can spoil a good sponge cake.

Nutrition (typical values per 100g)
Energy 372kcal -1560kJ
Protein 4.4g
Carbohydrates 47.6gof which sugars 30.6g
Fat 18.9gof which saturates 4.2g
Fibre 0.6g
Sodium 0.2g

Carrot Cake

The packaging for the carrot cake was the same as the chocolate. The cake had survived transit and was very fresh.

Again the consistency was moist and full filling, you could taste the carrot which is brilliant as some carrot cakes grind up the carrot so much it is non-existent. Knowing also that the carrots were organic meant I could eat lots and lots of the cake without feeling guilty about my diet (OK I know that's wrong but I can kid myself). You can also taste spices like orange and cinnamon as an aftertaste which made the cake truly satisfying.

The topping was sweet yet sour like a proper carrot cake topping should be, I found it to be thicker on one side than the other .. but this could have happened in transit.

The carrot cake is also Dairy Free as the margarine contains non-hydrogenated vegetable oils {Sunflower Oil, Palm Oil, Palm Stearin, Palm Kernel Oil} all of which are organic.

Nutrition (typical values per 100g)
Energy 399kcal - 1676kJ
Protein 3.0g
Carbohydrates 47.8g of which sugars 32.7g
Fat 22.5gof which saturates 4.7g
Fibre 1.5g
Sodium 0.3g

Organic Banana Loaf Cake

With 20% banana's you can expect this cake to be bananary (is that a word?). As a loaf it hit the mark you can eat it like a cake or as a dessert with custard.

Again it is dairy free so people with dairy intolerance's can enjoy this cake without worries.

Nutrition (typical values per 100g) Energy 391kcal - 1641kJ
Protein 3.9g
Carbohydrate 48.6g of which sugars 28.5g
Fat 21g
of which saturates 2.7g
Fibre 1.5g
Sodium 0.3g

Organic Ginger Crush Loaf Cake

Just like the Banana cake you can eat this on its own or as part of a dessert. Packed with ginger it was tasty and filling, the consistency is moist but with a bit of a crumble (so its not chewy) ... great with a nice cup of tea.

Nutrition (typical values per 100g)Energy 1707kJ - 408kcal
Protein 4.5g
Carbohydrate 47.2g
Fat 23.6g
Fibre 1.0g
Sodium 0.1g

Dairy Free and very tasty, not like some other 'dairy free' ranges. My husband doesn't know that the cake is dairy free and he hasn't said a word ... so you can tell that there is no difference in taste quality.

Respect Organic Cakes are available from: Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons although please be aware that not all stores stock all variants.

Email: info@respectorganics.com for more information.

Green People Organic Children Products

Organic Children Bath & Shower Gel

Emma moans (a lot, she is 9 apparently they do that) she always has to use my shower gel and never gets to use anything that she wants to use! So I was kind and gave her some 'shower jelly' that I got for Christmas, this was fine until she used it on her face and her child acne flared up. In Tesco I said she could look for some 'big girl' shower gel, apparently they don't sell 'big girl' products in our small store .. only babies and adult brands.

Then I discovered Green Peoples Organic Children brand :) not too young and not too old, scented with lavender its not 'baby berry' or too adult. The gel is clear (no colourants) and foams up lovely, it makes her skin feel really really soft, it cleans well and doesn't leave any nasty scud around the bath/shower after use.

Emma likes the packaging as she finds the flip top very easy to use (even with wet hands).

We also used it on Emma's hair, it cleaned well but she found the fragrance a little overpowering to use as a daily shampoo. However for taking on holiday or to the swimming baths the product would be great as a 2in1 hair and body use.

The images on the tube are childlike but not babyish and she loves that way that 'lavender' is written in purple. So far so good her skin hasn't flared up sore and as it states on the packaging 'gentle for delicate skin' and 'certified organic ingredient's' I don't have to worry that she will be sensitive to the ingredient's.

As the product contains NO nasty chemicals like lanolin, parabens, colourants, synthetic fragrances, PEG's, petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol or SLS/SLES (I am sure most of the chemicals I have just listed are also contained in petrol! but don't quote me on that!).

The shower gel is safe for the whole family if you can prise it off of your young child. I would like to state that if you have a dog the shower gel brings the dogs coat up lovely, our Ruby smelt of lavender for days and it didn't sting her eyes.

Sold in a 200ml tube you may think that this is pretty small for the price of £7.50 in fact a little goes a long way, if you use a sponge or a puff to apply the shower gel is goes even further. You do not need a handful of Green People shower gel as a drop foams up and will cover your whole body whilst cleaning and locking in goodness as it cleans.

200ml £7.50 http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/childrens-bath-shower-gel-lavender-200ml.aspx

Organic Babies Foaming Baby Cleanser

If you are a parent or guardian of children under 5 I suspect that you will have a packet of wet wipes within reach 24hrs of the day. If you are in the house you use them to wipe faces, bums, hands and toys (different wipes each time!). When you are out you always pack a sneaky packet of wipes for a quick wash mid-trip.

Foaming Baby Cleanser can be used anywhere on the body. You can use it for personal hygiene areas to keep skin clean and cleansed, faces and hands to get rid of grubby dirt and germs ... and also toys, pram handles, etc....

Gently cleanses and moisturises baby's skin:
Effective antibacterial action
Beautifully sweet, soothing scent
A nappy bag essential!

This natural baby care product is made without SLS/SLES, Parabens, phthalates, alcohol and artificial fragrances to bring you the purest baby cleanser that nature can offer.

We take our children to indoor play areas, now each time one child will fall ill after the event and I am convinced that its because all the toys and areas are not kept totally clean. As all children use the toys, play balls, slides etc.. bacteria can be spread from child to child easily. Having a bottle of cleanser in your bag/pocket can at least try to keep your children germ free by giving their hands a quick foam-bath before snacks or occasionally just to keep them fresh.

Same with is you visit a farm or zoo, using the foam to clean hands after animal petting keeps the germs away from the kids and the kids germs away from the animals!

Being Certified Organic all ingredients are safe and the foam contains no nasty chemicals that could harm children's skin. It is suitable for eczema and psoriasis prone skin so will not cause flare ups or sore patches. Containing chamomile its kind and caring for skin.

100ml £9.25 http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/baby-foaming-cleanser-chamomile-100ml.aspx

Organic Mandarin Toothpaste

Its weird a toothpaste not being minty - then I have to remind myself that its for children and not adults. Some children do not like mint, its too strong for little taste buds and so off putting when trying to get them to clean teeth.

Formulated with organic essential oils, vitamin C and Myrrh it give protection against bacteria growth (which is one of the main causes of gum disease). This natural toothpaste is made without Fluoride, SLS, Triclosan, Sorbitol, Parabens, phthalates, artificial sweeteners, petrochemicals and colourants to bring you the purest children's toothpaste that nature can offer.

My favourite part of the toothpaste is that it contains Aloe Vera, this give a soothing effect on tender gums particularly for teething (and when bigger children's back teeth come through). Aloe Vera is known to reduce swelling and is a powerful antiseptic in gum pockets where normal cleaning is difficult.

The colour is grey like putty, I would prefer it to be more orange .. but then it contains no artificial colourants so my idea is a bit silly when you think about it. The texture is a lot like a normal toothpaste - sort of gritty and foamy when you brush.

I like it but don't like it - but then I have had over 30 years of minty fresh full of chemicals toothpaste so I am not going to be convinced overnight, Emma however decided that it was 'cool' and has cleaned her teeth 4 times in the past hour (usually I have to drag her screaming into the bathroom to clean her bacteria filled choppers!) so it must be good.

50ml tube £3.30 http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/childrens-mandarin-toothpaste-50ml.aspx

All products are available from http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/default.aspx via mail order.

Green People are delighted to be showcasing their Organic Babies range at this seasons Baby Show.

The Baby Show is the ultimate event dedicated to pregnancy, parenting, babies and toddlers and attracts thousands of pregnant women and hundreds of companies and experts.

Green People will be attending the baby show at Excel, London (stand H30) on the 19th-21st February 2010 alongside leading retailer Mums the Word and will be offering top class advice on their organic products. They will be making recommendations from the Organic Babies range for sensitive and delicate skin and for little ones prone to eczema, psoriasis and other skin irritations.

Readers of my blog that they can head along to the show will receive a whopping 20% special show discount, free samples and product demos. Sounds a good excuse for a day out to me !!!

jackson reece Natural Wipes

Jackson Reece Natural Wipes


Wet wipes - what do we use them for?
Cleaning babies bums, cleaning babies/children's mucky faces, cleaning hands, taking off make-up, sanitizing on the move, personal care, plus more....

I use wipes for most of the above, I use them on my children (daughter and nieces), my students for their personal care routines and also on myself. Over the years I have used many brands and I admit I do have my favourites.

So what makes a good wetwipe?
The size is important, no point having a measly little square that is dirty and dry after one swipe.
The dampness is a top priority, not too dripping but not too dry either.
How soft the wipe leaves your skin - Does it leave a sticky film? Is it full of chemicals that dry skin?
The fragrance, is it pleasant? Is it overpowering? Does it smell clinical or fresh?
How well does the wipe clean and sanitise the area? Does it make your skin/eyes sting?

All of the above have to be considered depending on use, but if I am to use a wet wipe on my child or face then I would like one that is the best that I can buy using the kindest of ingredients...... this is where jackson reece excel in the totally brilliant wipes category.

jackson reece have developed a totally natural, high purity water, no alcohol, parabens, SLS or SLES, bio-degradable wet wipe. Each sheet is the size of an A5 sheet of paper which I feel is not too big and not too small, they are also pretty thick and strong (so no putting your finger in poo moments).

When you wipe as you are actually infusing the skin with a balanced blend of organic tea tree oil, aloe vera and lavender oil .. all which hold soothing healing properties. Combined with natural purity water you can be safe knowing that there are no nasty chemicals added in.

I do find the fragrance a little overpowering, but it isn't a nasty fragrance it does smell fresh and not commercial or fake.

Each wipe is quite damp which I am very impressed with, I don't like a wipe to be too wet or dry. The fabric seems to soak up the liquid and even after 10 minutes out in the air the wipe is still damp enough to wipe over my hands.

A final top feature about jackson reece wipes is that they are bio-degradable, everything from the wipes to the packaging bio-degrade quicker than regular wipes which is great for the environment.

All-in-all I like jackson reece wipes, price wise they are pretty affordable at around £1.99 for 72 wipes.

Available from Sainsburys and Superdrug plus online stores, for more information please visit:
http://www.jacksonreece.com/

My rating: 9/10

Organic Meltdown - Chocolate

Mmmm chocolate - now I like chocolate, not all chocolate (I don't like those seashell ones that taste powdery), but most other chocolate gets eaten pretty quickly in our house.

This week I discovered Organic Meltdown chocolate, usually when you sit and scoff your face with a big bar of delicious and creamy chocolate you feel guilty (right?) but this chocolate is clever .... it saves trees!
Delicious chocolate + Good conscience = A winning combo from Organic Meltdown

Organic Meltdown chocolate, is the first product of its type to save a tree for every chocolate bar sold. You buy the Organic Fairtrade chocolate, type the code from the wrapper onto their website ... and hey presto! a tree is saved. Sounds easy, which for us it is ... but I am sure there is a lot of hard work tree saving somewhere in a rainforest on our behalf.

Organic Meltdowns website states "We want organic and Fair-trade chocolate to be more than just a product. Chocolate needs to reflect the rich natural diversity of the tropical forests in the foothills of the Andes Mountains where cocoa beans were first discovered many millennia ago. These forests, the ancestral home of cocoa, are threatened with extinction and Organic Meltdown chocolate is the only product of any type to save a living, breathing tropical forest tree for every bar of chocolate we sell." so to buy a bar from Organic Meltdown actually helps you do your bit of the environment - fancy that!

So whats the chocolate like? Its actually very nice. Every ones taste buds are different, not everyone likes dark chocolate ... but even their dark was quite creamy and not bitter like other brands.

Sweet Candied Orange: A zing of orange and a crunch of sweetness rounds off the 'not too bitter' edge to this 'not too dark' chocolate.

Hazelnuts & Currants: There's hazelnuts in hoards and currants galore heading this trio of textures. Once bitten, thrice smitten.

Milk: Starts with a velvety waft of cream and butter and ends with eye-closing sensuality. It's more than chocolate.

Dark: Marked by a profound depth of taste and a satin-smooth texture this truly dark chocolate is certainly not plain.

All bars are Gluten Free & Vegetarian Approved. All bars except the Milk variety is Vegan Approved. They are proud to wear the Vegetarian Logo on the packaging of all their Organic Meltdown chocolate bars, to shout about the fact they use absolutely no animal by-products in the production their recipes.

http://www.organicmeltdown.com/ is full to the brim with information about Organic produce, Fairtrade and how the company saves trees. Please take a look and support their cause - treat yourself to some chocolate :) you know you want too!!

My rating: 10/10

Rude Health

Rude Health

No Added Sugar and No Added Salt ... phrases we are seeing more and more in our supermarkets, usually though they manufacturers haven't added 'sugar' but they have added 'sweeteners' ... not with Rude Health! I have checked the ingredients list and there is nothing extra added except tons and tons of goodness.

Totally Organic, Wheat-Free, High in fibre, Wholegrain and Non-GM these breakfast cereals have halos! Recommended by the Soil Association they must be good ... so are they?

The answer is yes! Now I'm not a massive fan of porridge, but I tried the Top Banana porridge and its actually really nice. I followed the instructions and made it lovely and creamy, then tucked in :)
Emma didn't like it, she's not a massive fan of breakfast and with it being my first 'porridge making experience' I did make her a bowl big enough to feed all 3 bears!!

So Baby Bear wasn't impressed but Mummy Bear tucked in quite happily. I liked the way the oats were smooth and chewy, there were no husky bits or nasty chewy non-descript lumps. I ate it warm but as the oats are so soft and tender you can eat it cold if you wish (like muesli).

My one concern is the amount of information on the back of the box - I understand that they have a lot to tell me, but I found it all a bit cluttered ... it took me ages to find out the cooking instructions.

However, I was hooked - the Top Banana is lightly flavoured with urm.. banana and the Fruity Date is quite chewy with a nice aftertaste of warm cinnamon.

Available from Tesco Stores - well recommended for the cold mornings coming in now .... just watch out for Goldilocks!!

My rating: 8/10

Earth Baby Organics

Earth Baby - Organic Baby Products

EARTH BABY ORGANICS is not just another organic baby care line. It is as special as your baby’s needs. They use their own OleoSpheres™ technology. This amazing technology was awarded the Frost & Sullivan Technology of the Year Award in the personal care category.

Earth Baby kindly sent me some products to review including Tiny Bubble Baby Shampoo, Cuddle Soft Baby Lotion, Soothe 'N Comfort Diaper Rash Cream and a gorgeous Cosmetic Bag.

I'll start with the cosmetic bag, first impression was 'wow its huge!' ... but it isn't huge ?? Priced at $13.50 this is a well made double skinned padded bag.

Suitable for carrying baby bits around or for your own cosmetics it is spacious and sturdy. I have zipped the zip back and forth and not once has the fabric got caught in it (which is what normally happens to me).

The cosmetic bag isn't waterproof but it is made from a very tight weave cotton, I am presuming that you could wash this bag in your washing machine (low heat - gentle wash) as it seems very hardy.

I am impressed as all 3 full size products fit inside and it is still small enough to put into your hand luggage.

The Soothe 'N Comfort Diaper Rash Cream is a really good handbag sized tube. Good quality packaging and closure means no worries about leakage in your bag.

The Diaper Rash Cream has a soothing sensation. The all-natural zinc-based cream heals, protects and prevents diaper rash. Soothing oat protein, comforts irritated skin and leaves a protective barrier that is bacteria-free. A touch of rosemary has little bottoms smelling fresh and clean.

What I like about it is the texture of the cream, it is thick but rubs in easily - you could even use this as hand cream if you have very sore dry hands (although I would suggest it to be an overnight treatment). Being light it is quite oily and leaves a slight shimmer on the skin.

Soothe 'N Comfort Diaper Rash Cream doesn't smell like typical 'bum creams', it doesn't smell clinical as the fragrance contains Chamomile Oil, Lavender Oil and Vanilla. However it does smell 'oily' which is hard to describe.

Priced at $13.00 for 2oz/57 grammes it is a good priced for a quality product that is hypoallergenic and phthalate free.

Tiny Bubble Baby Shampoo reminds me of holidays! Why? I don't actually know ?? I think the fragrance reminds me of a posh suntan lotion that I once used (you know one of those pricey brands). Again the fragrance contains Chamomile Oil, Lavender Oil and Vanilla, but this smells delicious and not oily like the diaper cream.

Anyhow ... the shampoo runs easily out of the bottle which has its good and bad points: Good because if you are washing babies hair it is easier to dispense onto babies hair without having to squeeze. Bad if you are heavy handed (like me) as you end up with far too much shampoo, plus also if the bottle falls over it runs everywhere.

You only need a small amount of Tiny Bubbles Baby Shampoo, it foams nicely forming lovely smooth white bubbles and washes out just as easily. Hair felt clean and conditioned and my hands felt very soft and silky.

Being tear free is great as if you accidentally get the suds into babies eyes then they are easily washed with clean cool water without much screaming involved. Psssttt.... you can also use the shampoo to wash your dog, doggy comes out clean and shiny with a lovely coat and doesn't have sore eyes!

Priced at $15.00 for 6 fl oz / 177ml it is a fair price for a good well balanced product.

Cuddle Soft Baby Lotion is again very light, a little goes a long way and your skin smells divine.

Again the fragrance is familiar and matches the shampoo and diaper cream. The lotion soaks into the skin easily and doesn't leave baby feeling slimy or filmy. Skin feels cool to the touch and refreshed. Good for mum too as my hands feel lovely and silky, again without that sticky slimy feeling.

Containing a moisture-rich blend of cocoa butter, essential oils of chamomile, vanilla, and honey the lotion takes the joy of snuggling to a whole new level.

Priced at $16.50 for 6 fl oz / 177ml it is quite pricey but a little does go a long way and so one bottle will last quite a while.

You can find more Earth Baby Organic products and information on their website: http://www.earthbaby-organics.com/

I like their range, you know that all products are organic and there are no 'added nastys' being put onto your babies skin. Suitable for all babies even your newborn.

My rating: 9/10

Earth Baby Organics is a USA company based in Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Tara Smith Natural Organic Haircare Range

Tara Smith Natural Organic Haircare Range

Tara Smith Big Baby Gentle Shampoo

They say that first impressions count and my first impression of Tara Smith Big Baby Shampoo is very good!! Why? Well read on ......

I like to wash my hair in a mid temperature power shower, my hair is very thick and can get greasy quite quickly, I wash my hair every morning without fail (or else I get that 'not quite clean' feeling all day).

Anyhow .. my bottle of Tara Smith shampoo is 100ml (£2.35) and to be honest looks tiny compared to the other brands in my bathroom, I wondered how many washes I would get out of this small bottle .. the answer 'a little goes a long way'. You don't need to use much shampoo for a very good deep root cleaning wash, you also only need to wash your hair once each time you shower to get a good clean (if you wash for a second time your hair is so clean from the first wash that you have trouble getting the suds out .. stop laughing!).

Made with natural and organic earth friendly ingredients, this is a very gentle shampoo that contains both Aloe Vera leaf juice, to provide the hair with moisture, plus the active ingredient from Camomile to soothe and calm sensitive scalps. The company do not test on animals and the shampoo is made in the UK.

The lavender fragrance hits you on opening the bottle, it has a very pleasant fresh fragrance, not overpowering, but enough to linger on your hair. I could smell lavender while my hair was wet, being dried and also for at least 3 hours later which I think is excellent. This however only happened the first few times I used it as I am now 'used' to the fragrance and I cannot smell it at all on application.

Very smooth to use, lathers well and doesn't sting if you accidentally get some in your eyes (as with all shampoo brands if this happens rinse your eyes with clean fresh water until all traces have been removed).

This product is suitable for babies and small children, plus Mum & Dad (see ingredient list below). My daughter thought the shampoo was really nice as the comb went straight through her hair after with no tangles.

Key ingredients are:
Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice for its proven moisturising ability.
Hydrolised Soy protein, The Chinese consider the soybean, along with rice/wheat/barley/millet, to be one of the five holy plants.
Due to its particular amino acid content, soybean contains 85% of the essential amino acids our bodies require. This ingredient acts as a energiser for the hair's natural protective layer by forming an effective protein film on the surface of the hair protecting it against detrimental environment influences.
Bisabolol the active ingredient of Camomile, is used extensively in sensitive and baby products and is both moisturising and soothing.
Organic Fragrance Lavender & Camomile 100% organic essential oil blend with Lavender, Camomile, Mand.

Apparently Anna Friel uses it on her little girl!

Tara Smith Big Baby Gentle Shampoo is stocked at Asda and Tesco, and online at http://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/ and www.bodycare2000.com/s/c/c/tara_smith_organic_hair_care.asp

http://www.bodycare2000.com/s/c/p/tara_smith_big_baby_shampoo.asp

Priced at approx: £2.35 for 100ml, £4.99 250ml

Tara Smith Big Baby Gentle Conditioner

I only condition my hair once a week, my daughters twice a week (and hubby doesn't bother at all!), therefore my 100ml bottle (£2.35) of conditioner is going to last us ages.

As above the conditioner has the same strength of lavender fragrance as the shampoo which is brilliant as you don't get overpowered with fragrance while showering if using both products.

This is a very light conditioner, non greasy and very easy to rinse out of your hair. Your hands do not feel slimy after using the conditioner and we didn't need to leave it on our hair for long either (but obviously this may not be the case for everyone).

Made with natural and organic ingredients this conditioner combines the active ingredient of Camomile with Aloe Vera leaf juice to soothe and moisturise, while Marine Algae softens hair to make it easy to manage. The conditioner is not tested on animals.

Key ingredients are:
Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice for its proven moisturising ability.
Marine Algae is extracted from two algae plants Enteromorpha compressa and Himantalia elongata. It contains large quantities of amino acids which can repair damaged hair and has a moisturising effect from its moisture binding and film forming qualities.
Bisabolol the active ingredient of Camomile, is used extensively in sensitive and baby products and is both moisturising and soothing.
Organic Fragrance. Lavender & Camomile 100% organic essential oil blend with Lavender, Camomile, Mandarin and Orange.

http://www.bodycare2000.com/s/c/p/tara_smith_big_baby_conditioner.asp

I am very excited by the Tara Smith Haircare Range and I will look out for other products, when you look at the size of the bottle for the price you feel that they are expensive, but you do only need a small amount each time you wash your hair.

Both products are approximately £2.35 for 100ml and £4.99 for 250ml and available online www.cultbeauty.co.uk and http://www.bodycare2000.com/s/c/c/tara_smith_organic_hair_care.asp and also in Tesco and Asda.