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

Perfect Valentines Gifts

Perfect Valentines Gifts to suit all budgets

www.confetti.co.uk have a range of cute Valentines Gifts, I have reviewed the heart shaped egg mould and its fun and pretty funky!

http://shop.confetti.co.uk/product/hearty-breakfast-egg-shaper/101872/  £3.99


Now I don't think its the type of gift that you wrap up (as to be honest if I unwrapped an egg mould I would  be pretty disappointed!) you are supposed to actually use the product to declare your love to your partner.


Imagine Valentines Day morning taking your loved one heart shaped eggs on toast :) or heart shaped pancakes stacked high with syrup.  I am sure they will be chuffed to bits that you have put so much effort into breakfast.

http://shop.confetti.co.uk/product/50-ways-to-please-your-lover/100474/ £6.99

If you are not so much of a cook but like to be 'handy' in other ways, then this little book could give you both some hints and tips!  Obviously I am an amazing lover *ahem* so I didn't need to read the book but its a quirky fun gift to make you both smile.

http://shop.confetti.co.uk/product/love-heart-measuring-spoons-large-4/102344/ £3.99

 Ever the 'useful' one I think these measuring spoons are really cute.  Bit of an odd one to unwrap ?? but as part of a parcel of mini gifts I think they are really clever and use able.  So many gifts get unwrapped and left in the cupboard, at least this set are handy to have (and you would never lose them in your cutlery drawer) .... plus every time you see them they will remind you of your partner.  I am lucky that I can look at any 'spoon' and think of Andy LOL !!!  Oooh I am mean!

http://shop.confetti.co.uk/product/queen-of-hearts-frame-white-and-fuchsia-3x3/103019/ £9.99

Finally from www.confetti.co.uk we have a gorgeous little heart shaped photo frame.  Can be used to hold photos of each other, the kids or family pet - this would look lovely in any room but particularly the bedroom or bathroom (on a windowsill perhaps?).


All of the above gifts are available from www.confetti.co.uk - order now ready for Valentines Day!

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St Eval Candle Company

www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk

The St Eval Candle Company have a good range of Valentines inspired candles.  I have reviewed a lovely red coloured rose fragranced pillar candle, which is perfect for a classic valentines gift.


The rose fragrance is subtle and not sickly or over powering like some fragranced candles.  I also thought that the packaging (and packing from the postal order) were extremely professional and special to unwrap.

Visit their website to see the HUGE range of candles that are available, they have candles suitable for all ages, sexes and budgets.


The St Eval Candle Company are also on Facebook so check in 'like' their page for up-to-date info and offers. 

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Firefly Tonics - Love Potion

Well well well whats the best way to get hearts racing on Valentines Day? A special edition 'Love Potion'.  Now I haven't tried slipping any into random hunks drinks (or even Andy's.... yet!) as I am saving my bottle for Valentines night ooooh-errr :) as the makers claim it is an aphrodisiac .... I'll have to report back on the 15th Feb to let you know if it works or not.

However if you fancy giving it a 'test drive' then all the info you need it below ... happy Valentines 'night' :)

Firefly Tonics, the 100% natural energy drinks producer, is bringing back the Love Potion. Founder of Firefly Tonics Marcus Waley-Cohen admits “Love Potion is the single thing we are asked for more than any other edition”. This tasty little aphrodisiac has been kept hidden for the last five years because people just got too frisky!

Love Potion is a saucy blend of Passionfruit, Blueberry and Jasmine with sensory botanicals Angelica, Chocolate and Damiana, all known for their aphrodisiac qualities.

The very limited edition range will be available from Harvey Nichols, Whole Foods, online at Holland&Barratt and other independent retailers until stocks last.

£1.49 for a 330ml bottle.

http://www.fireflytonics.com/

Got To Dance Live London 2011

FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF STARS AT ‘GOT TO DANCE LIVE, LONDON 2011’

-TV show to be brought to life for the first time at ExCeL London-

Sky 1 HD’s hugely successful talent show ‘Got To Dance’ will be brought to life in London with the first ever ‘Got to Dance Live’ – a three day extravaganza which will form the biggest dance event in the UK, running from the 4^th – 6^th March 2011, at London’s ExCeL Centre.

Leader of Diversity and ‘Got to Dance’ judge, Ashley Banjo, will perform live on stage with his mind-blowing dance troupe at the UK’s biggest dance event, which also features the most talked about stars and contestants from the TV series. Ashley will be accompanied by the other TV show Judges at the event; tap sensation Adam Garcia and pop superstar Kimberly Wyatt.  All will be attending over the three days, and taking part in photo opportunities, signings and Q&A sessions for visitors. 

Got To Dance Live will be jam–packed full of dance entertainment, dance classes, and jaw dropping stage performances from star guests of the popular TV series Got to Dance.  The unforgettable Akai Osei, Martin Sierra and Matthew Koon from Series 1 will also be performing live on the Main Stage, as well as favourites and the winner from the current series.

The event is perfect for dancers of all ages, abilities and interests, and even for those who have never danced before.  Aspiring movers and shakers can take part in a series of amazing dance classes, suitable for beginner to advanced ability levels, which cover a variety of dance genres from Ballet and Bollywood to Breakdance and Ballroom.  All the classes will take place in one of the twelve stunning Dance Domes being brought to the event, recreating the feel of the TV show auditions.

Alternatively, if you already have the skills to be Britain’s next dance sensation then you’re in for a treat, as Got to Dance Live will be hosting a whole range of opportunities to get spotted as the next big thing, live at the event.  Every visitor is invited to get up on the Freestyle Stage and show off their moves, as talent scouts and secret spotters from TV shows, musicals, theatre productions and leading dance agencies look on to search for talented individuals for their upcoming productions.  You could also be spotted by the producers of Got To Dance, and given a Golden Ticket to perform in front of the TV show judges themselves on the Got To Dance Live main stage!

As if that wasn’t enough, visitors at the event will also be able to shop until they drop from a selection of dance related exhibitors, pick up those essential dance accessories and talk to experts from various companies on the dozens of exhibitor stands at the event.

Come and experience the thrill of Dance at Got to Dance Live, the ultimate live dance show from the 4^th -6^th March 2011 at London’s ExCeL Centre.

WHAT: The UK’s biggest dance event ‘Got to Dance Live 2011’

WHERE:  ExCeL London

WHEN: 4^th – 6^th March 2011

WHO: Fans of the Sky 1 HD show will see the ‘Got to Dance’ judges plus favourite acts from Series One and Two

HOW.  Tickets are now on sale at www.gottodancelive.com priced £20 for adults and £15 for children. Children under 5 go free.  Book online or call 0844 873 7331.

Dance classes in one of the 12 Dance Dome studios can be booked in advance at www.gottodancelive.com and include something for everyone - from Ballet and Bollywood to Breakdance and Ballroom. Each visitor can take up to three classes a day with classes available at all experience and ability levels.*

The ‘Got to Dance’ TV show returned to Sky 1 HD on 2nd January 2011 for its second series, and features a huge variety of talented dancers competing for a  £250,000 prize..

*Dance classes cost £5 each and Master classes cost £10 each.

Spa Paradisa Lip Butter

Spa Paradisa Lip ­Butter

At the moment I have a bad cold, my lips are cracked and sore (and so is my nose).  Spa Paradisa Lip Butter contains shea butter and vitamin E which at present is just what my lips/skin needs.

Spa Paradisa Lip Butter comes in 2 flavours:  Juicy Passionfruit or Sweet Coconut.   I have Sweet Coconut and its pretty nice, its not too over powering but you can definitely taste/smell coconut in the balm.

Each tin is 10ml and is quite 'retro' with the packaging.  The balm is solid and you have to use your finger (clean) to apply the balm to your lips.  It is quite hard to start the balm off but once you have used it a few times you get a good coverage.  You can tell that the balm contains shea butter as it is so smooth and luxurious.  The balm is also paraben free which is fantastic.

The range comes in single tins or twin packs and are available in Debenhams, Urban Outfitters, Boots and online at http://www.next.co.uk/ and cost £3.50 each or £6 as a twin pack, visit http://www.spaparadisa.com/ for more information.

mohdoh

mohdoh - Mouldable Aromatherapy

mohdoh is a clever combination of aromatherapy, colour therapy and play therapy.  Suitable for both adults and children it is a great way to deal with everyday ailments without having to take endless medication or stimulants.

As the dough is manipulated (or played with) it releases essential oils which are absorbed into the body.  People say that stroking an animal can help against stress ... well playing and moulding moudoh has the same affect, you don't have to think about it, you just play with it.

Its not a dough that you have to be artistic to use, its not for making shapes or animals out of, its to mould and massage.  Whilst you are using the dough it can lower your stress levels as the squidgy feel has a calming soothing effect.

For each ailment there is a different moudoh:
Slim
Sleep
Travel
Unwind
Calm
Think
Quit
Breathe

How mohdoh works:



Aromatherapy


Aromatherapy treatments are effective in dealing with minor ailments, skin problems and in particular stress or emotional difficulties. It is a valuable preventative therapy which keeps us well balanced emotionally and physically, reducing the chances of a serious illness occurring.
All the essential oils used in mohdoh are blended by aromatherapy specialist Penny Price.

Play Therapy


Through the use of play and arts and crafts techniques, chronic, mild and moderate psychological and emotional conditions can be alleviated. These conditions can cause behavioural problems and/or prevent children from realising their full potential.
For more information about play therapy, please visit: www.playtherapy.org.uk


Colour Therapy



Colour therapy is a holistic and non-intrusive form of healing, which introduces the optimum balance of colour energies into the human organism in order to promote harmony between the body, mind and spirit.

Colour has a profound effect on us on all levels; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. If our energy centres (Chakras) become blocked or depleted, then our body cannot function properly and this, in turn, can lead to a variety of problems. Using the colours of the spectrum, colour therapy aims to balance and enhance our body's energy centres (Chakras) and also to help stimulate our body's own healing process.

The above sounds like a bit of hocus-pocus but it does actually work.  Colour can effect your mood, I looked into it when I was studying art.  Different smells can also effect your body and so experts use different blends to help cure or at least tone down different ailments.

The moudoh was quite tricky to get out of the pot from new, but once its out it easily moulds and you can roll it into a near on perfect ball!  Its quite a tough dough and can make your hands ache after a while, it has a rubbery consistency that makes you wonder if it would bounce if you threw if on the floor (I won't try this as I haven't hoovered yet and my carpet is covered in dog hair). 

The aromatherapy oils are only released as you play with the dough, its not overpowering nor do you end up with mucky or oily hands - I have been playing with the dough and then typed without having to wipe or wash my hands.

Care Instructions


Storage: Store the dough in its airtight container in a cool, dark place. Return dough to the container after every use to ensure it stays fresh.


Other info:
mohdoh complies with EN71 European Safety regulations and all our essential oils have the ECOCERT guarantee.
All oils are pure oils and no artificial fragrances are used.
Some people may have allergies to certain oils, so care should be taken.
Under 3's should be supervised.
The dough is NOT tested on animals.
mohdoh is 100% non-toxic.

Available from all larger branches of Boots.

For more information and stockists please visit: www.mohdoh.co.uk