BFree Multigrain Wraps

WRAP UP MEAL TIME

BFree Launch Tasty Wheat and Gluten Free Multigrain Wraps

For anyone on a gluten or wheat free diet, lunchtime can be especially problematic with the usual meal deal not offering a ‘free from’ alternative.  BFree, the ‘real bread’ brand has come to the rescue with the launch of its new wheat and gluten free Multigrain Wraps, which taste every bit as good as traditional wraps.

Dairy free, egg-free, high in fibre, low in fat and containing only 99 calories the BFree Multigrain Wraps are also ideal for those who lead a vegan diet or who simply want a healthier alternative to bread.  Delicious hot or cold, the BFree Multigrain Wraps are made using only natural ingredients to replace the wheat and gluten.

Taking the hassle out of mealtime with either a lunchtime wrap or a fajita dinner with friends, BFree makes it easy to lead a gluten and wheat free diet.  The Multigrain Wraps also taste so fresh and light that no one will ever know the difference!

So why do I like BFree Wraps?  They are only 99 calories!!  As a 'rather portly' lady I do need to loose a few pounds.  I have spent hours studying labels in the supermarket and have found that trying alternatives to my regular products has helped me to loose some weight.
Other main brand wraps are around 175 calories per wrap! To swap to BFree I significantly cut down on calories but do not loose flavour or texture.  The same goes for meat alternatives too - sometimes its good to try new products even if you can eat gluten and wheat without a problem.

Available on the ‘free from’ aisle in Asda stores nationwide, BFree Wraps have an RRP of £2.80 for a pack of 6.

Learn more about the BFree and the whole product range through the BFree website www.bfreefoods.com

For more ideas, competitions and giveaways please LIKE https://www.facebook.com/BFreefood 

Cabin Zero Bags

Have you ever travelled with budget airline companies such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet?

These airlines have very strict restrictions on luggage, they charge for putting suitcases in the hold of the plane, they weigh each item and charge you if you go over your limit ... and they also have very strict restrictions on the size and weight of your hand luggage.

The airlines are great to travel with if you travel light, some people who fly with budget airlines are traveling off for weekend breaks or on business, therefore they may only have light luggage which can be taken into the cabin of the plane with the passenger.  
Each piece of hand luggage must conform to set guidelines, for example Ryan Air state that you may only have one item of cabin baggage which can weigh up to 10kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.  Any item oversize or weight will be booked into the hold of the aeroplane at a charge of £60! 

This is where Cabin Zero backpacks have a unique advantage over other luggage brands, they have designed luggage that is airline approved by budget airlines so that you know your luggage will be accepted as hand luggage on your flight.

I have tested out the 'Classic' ultra light cabin bag.  The bag is fully lined and has the capacity to hold 44 litres of luggage, the dimensions exactly fit budget airlines guidelines and as you pack the bag it sticks to this size.

We tried to 'overpack' the case by shoving items down the edges to make it look bulky.  The bag sides are very sturdy and even when we packed it to capacity it still kept the structure of the size allowed.  We clipped the side straps together each time so help with strength but mainly because if you don't they swing loose and click when you walk.

The bag is lightweight, I was very impressed with the 750g weight of the bag when empty, I even made my inlaws pick it up to prove it was so light!  They were so impressed that they borrowed my bright purple classic bag to travel to Benidorm on Ryan Air.  From this flight is where I am basing our views of the bag.

Unless you pack the bag with bricks, the size of the bag restricts the weight which averages at around 9kg when fully packed.  The weight allowance for carry-on luggage is 10kg so this is brilliant.
 
We found that the backpack straps were sturdy and comfortable to wear, the luggage handles were in convenient places to save always having to hoist it up onto your back.
We did find that we ended up only using 1 strap for most of the time as it was easier to sling the bag over one shoulder than try to get both arms through the straps.

One worry with hand luggage is labeling, you have a large tag with your name and address in block capitals for the whole airport to read ... it only takes one dodgy person to hang around, read your details, know you will be away for at least a weekend .. then go round your house and burgle you!  

With Cabin Zero bags you do not need a tag, each bag has a built in Global Luggage Tracker tag which you register online at Okoban with all your details before you go.  All that is shown on the tag is a 12 digit code which if your luggage is lost can be typed into the Okoban website and your property can be identified as yours.  The code is quite small so it cannot be written down or remembered in passing.

The Okoban Global Luggage Tracker is FREE! Please see www.okoban.com for further information about this brilliant service :)

So ... what didn't we like about the bag?  Not a lot actually :) we were very happy with the size, weight, travel security tracker, ease of packing and how much you could fit into it.
The bag comes in a variety of colours and we found that the bright purple bag drew quite a bit of attention in the check-in queue as it looked so neat, tidy and useful.

However .... we did miss having a pull-along handle.  Yes the straps are comfortable and the handles accessible, but sometimes with 9-10kg on your back you sometimes don't want to have to hoist it on and wear both straps (as I said above we ended up using one of the straps instead of two). This can get a bit heavy after a while and we missed being able to drag it behind us.    
I do understand the reason for not having wheels and a handle - these would affect the weight of the bag, the handle would take up storage space and the wheels will affect the overall size of the capacity.  

The Cabin Zero Classic Bag is very very useful, it met our demands and complied with all the restrictions applied by the travel company. We didn't have to worry about being charged and we could keep it with us.

We will use this bag again and again, my daughter Emma has just gone to Switzerland with The Girl Guides, she was going to use the bag but as they have gone by coach she took a suitcase instead.  When she goes on a camping pack holiday this bag will be brilliant to pack all her gear into.  It is light enough for her to carry, bright purple (she is a teenager) and I know the straps if worn correctly will not hurt her back as she carries it.

Cabin Zero bags are guaranteed for 10 years BUT if you LIKE their Facebook page within 30 days of purchase they will up the guarantee to 25 years!!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/CabinZero

Your Cabin Zero Bag could be the best luggage purchase you ever make :) I am impressed, I think you will be too.

RRP £35 each

CabinZero products are available from airports and Fenwick’s nationwide or online at Next.co.uk and www.cabinzero.com

 

Lida Plus Size Tights

I have been lucky enough to be able to review a variety of tights and stockings from the company Lida in Poland. As a larger lady I find it difficult to find tights and other underwear that fit comfortably in the right areas. Some of the plus size clothing catalogues and ranges available in the UK do stock larger sizes, however I still find that they are tight around my thighs or are not long enough in the leg. 

Lida are different. When you order tights and other garments they have designed them especially for women with full-figures, they offer custom sizes and ask for your measurements so that they can send out the correct size and shape for your body. Lida offer a wide range of colours in pantyhose including thin, half-hidden, hidden, knee-length leggings and seamless. 

To meet the needs of larger ladies Lida have created unique sizes, to fit different shapes and sizes. They understand that we are all different and are not all shaped from the same mould. This is a lovely service that they offer as it is hard for us larger ladies to find good fitting, well made clothing at a reasonable price. 

I have tested the Bamboo tights in 180 denier. As they are so thick/dark they also make excellent leggings and you can order them as full leg or footless (I ordered full leg). They are lovely a soft and the colour doesn't lighten even when stretched. 
The gusset stretches really easily at the back but also is strong enough to keep your body shaped (and not saggy).

The Bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial, breathable and moisture absorbent. They are warm yet as they are breathable they do not make you sweat, I found that they cling to my skin in the right places without rolling down or twisting. After wearing and washing, they have not bobbled or laddered. 

The Plus Size 50 denier 3D tights are lovely.  They are made without a gusset like you find in regular tights.  The fabric yarn is like a second skin and has a very high stretch ability.  It is made from a very soft microfibre which moves with your body.  The tights are designed to be worn all year round as the yarn adapts with your body to control heat and moisture balances.

I found them very easy to put on, there was no fumbling around trying to get the other leg in, even when my back was hurting they stretched enough for me to move and easily pull them on.  The 50 denier is thick and dark, but they suit summer dresses as well as winter clothing due to their slight sheen and how well they fit your body.

My final test product were Lida's 20 denier Knee Socks. The quality of the socks were much like other brands but I found with Lida's that the tops did not cut into my calves.  The stayed up fine and were a good length so not over stretching when pulling them up.

I was very impressed with the sewing/seam around the toe area, it is neat and comfortable although I personally would not wear them with peep-toe shoes.

You get 2 pairs in the pack and hand wash really well.

As the site and products are from Poland you do need to check the size charts next to each product.  Lida will reply and ask you to send them various personal measurements, this is to make sure that the items you order will fit your body shape as everyone is different.


Example of  International size chart for women's clothing:
POL. 46 - 68
EUR. 48 - 70
UK. 20 - 42
RUS. 54 - 76

For more information and to see the range of products on offer please visit :  http://en.lida.com.pl/

Diono Solar Eclipse Sun Shade

Diono have children's safety as their number one concern.  With Summer 'hopefully' fast approaching people will be travelling for days out and holidays.

Diono have produced a perfect sunshade to help protect passengers from harmful UPF rays.  The sunshade has 2 layers, one layer is a full blackout layer which is UPF 50+ and the other is a mesh style screen which does not provide UPF protection but does take the glare away from the sun.

What I like is that you can keep the rear of the car cooler by using the mesh screen, it stops direct sunlight from hitting the occupants in the rear of the car - but you can still see through it.  This is good when checking blind spots etc... as it is see-through and passengers who are travel sick can still see where they are going.

However if the sun gets too hot, you are in a traffic jam or the passenger by the window falls asleep, you can easily pull down the full blind and block out the sun and UPF rays.

The screen is easy to use, it is held in place by suction cups or window hooks.  This means that you can also use the screen on the train (suction cups) or transfer from car to car as you travel.

The screen is 35cm wide and is rewound by pressing one button.  You do need to remove the screen if you plan on opening the window as obviously if it is stuck to the window it will travel down with it!

I use ours with our Labrador Ruby if we are popping into the supermarket and she is with us.  I open the windows a few inches then put the blind onto the side of the car where the sun is streaming in.  The full-screen not only stops Ruby from getting too hot and her nose burnt, but also stops her from barking at other people.

Available from:
http://www.diono.com/
Amazon, Halfords and Jojomamanbebe   Prices vary.

Scratch Fresh Meal Kits

Scratch Fresh Meal Kits are a NEW and BRILLIANT idea!

I would aim Scratch meals at a target market are young professional people, but I am not young or particularly professional ;) and I love them!

The idea is that people do not have time to cook from scratch any more, with the prices of fresh goods rising by the day people tend to buy pre-prepared meals and just zap them in the microwave.



This is fine, microwave meals contain some good ingredients and some companies are trying to make them more healthy, they are convenient but .... still not necessarily good for you!






This is where Phil Pinnell (@Phil_Pinnell ) and top chef Michel Roux OBE combined their knowledge and love of good food to launch Scratch!






Scratch Kits contain all the fresh ingredients to cook a meal for 2 people.  The range of kits consist of:
Green Thai Chicken Curry
Singaporean Crayfish Noodle Laksa 
King Prawn and Chorizo Paella
Makhani Chicken Tikka Massala
Tagiatelle Pistachio Pesto


Each meal takes on average 8 minutes to make, from start to finish ... which for 2 people is quicker than zapping to pre-packed meals.  You can see, feel, taste and smell each ingredient as you physically have to put it into the pan - so there are no hidden extras or surprises either.




The meals are simple to make ... and if you are a complete numpty Scratch have even provided video tutorials to help you along :)

Each meal has their own page on the website http://mealsfromscratch.co.uk/ to assist you with choice and preparation.   You can check ingredients  cooking times and what equipment you may need (saucepan, wok, etc...).

We tried out the Makhani Chicken Tikka Massala, I bought 2 packs as there are 3 of us and this was plenty.
I would say for 'big eaters' one pack may be a little too small for 2 people and you may wish to top it up with some nan breads or other bits.

I combined both packs into one pan and it cooked through lovely.  The instructions were clear and the fragrance while cooking was divine.  From opening the packets to serving was around 10 minutes, there was no preparation involved as all ingredients were ready to throw in the pan.

We liked them - I am not sure if we would purchase them regularly, but I would definitely invest in them if I was having friends over for dinner after work.  They were tasty but quick to make.

For more information please visit: http://mealsfromscratch.co.uk/
Available to purchase from Waitrose.

https://www.facebook.com/mealsfromscratch
https://twitter.com/Phil_Pinnell
https://twitter.com/scratchmeals

DermaSalve

DermaSalve

DermaSalve is the first ever moisturising cream with NO known irritants.
The range contain NO Alcohol, Parabens, Butylated Hydroxyanisole, Lanolin or Derivatives, Fragrance, Beeswax, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate or Propylene Glycol like many other skincare, baby and moisturising companies use in their products.

Instead Dermasalve products contain natural oils such as Jojoba, Aloe Vera and Wheatgerm to moisturise and soothe skin then add in Antioxidents to improve skin condition.

My favourite product so far is their HAND CREAM.  The cream comes in a very large 200ml pump tube, where one pump of cream is more than enough to moisturise and soothe tired cracked hands.

The cream is brilliant white which looks clean and fresh.  The cream can be smoothed over delicate areas of your hands quickly and is very easy to apply.

This is where my description becomes difficult.... the cream almost has a waxy feel, your hands get very moist but not sticky and you can feel a slight waxy surface. I applied the cream, massaged it in, then wiped my hands on a paper towel as my hands felt very wet.  My hands felt very smooth, slightly waxy but comfortable, almost like a good quality barrier cream.

So far I am most impressed with the skin around my fingernails, this usually cracks and is quite sore - I have applied the cream once a day for the past 3 days and the skin is less inflamed and sore - so I am very happy.  The rest of my hands are obviously smoother too, but its my nail area I am really happy with.

Last Sunday I got sunburnt (because I am silly and didn't apply sunscreen!). My arms even nearly a week later are still a little red even though I have been applying body butters and aftersun all week. 

I decided to try DermaSalves BODY CREAM on one arm to see if it improved my skin and red complexion.
The cream is a little thinner compared to the hand cream, it is also a more creamy colour.  The body cream soaks in almost instantly and again isn't sticky.  It does leave the waxy feel but its more of a moistening feel rather than a barrier cream.
After 3 days the skin on my right arm is less red than my left.  I have still applied creams to my left but the DermaSalve seems to have soothed the redness and made it turn brown quicker.

It states that a little goes a long way, however I found that it soaks in quite quickly and so I did need to apply quite a big blob to cover the whole area that I wanted to cover.   If you apply this after a bath or shower then I think the water on your skin will help spread it out more evenly....on sore sunburnt skin my skin just sucked it up!

Finally I was sent the BABY & INFANT CREAM to try.  I thought initially it was a nappy salve, but its more of an all-over body cream.  It is bright white and the same consistency as the body cream, but when you apply it it goes very wet as you smooth it round.
My immediate impression was not good, but then I realised that on a wiggly babies skin you will need it to feel wet in order to spread it all over without catching or pulling at their delicate skin, so I can understand why it goes wet until it soaks in.  The cream does disappear quite quickly into the skin and for this product a little blob does go along way.  Again it is a pump dispenser so easy to select how much you want to use.



All creams smell of nothing!  Well there is a 'cream' smell but I couldn't pick it out or give it a name.  My skin is moisturised, I have had no irritations or unpleasantness from any of the 3 different styles that I have tested.

For people with skin complaints I would suggest DermaSalve as a brand to try, they are light and non-greasy and contain nothing that can aggravate your condition.  Each application can last up to 12 hours and you can feel and see improved skin condition.




For more information please visit: www.dermasalve.net

Badge It!

Badge It! returns by popular demand after calls from the craft loving public to reintroduce this much loved toy. Released in the UK in 2003, over 1/2 million makers were sold in the first year and Badge It! picked up the ‘Creative Toy of the Year’ award. Now with craft making experiencing a surge in popularity Badge It! returns.

The Badge It! maker has got quick, simple, no-mess badge making all buttoned up!  Make unique, high quality metal badges in seconds of your favourite pop star, footballer or pet. The award winning design makes creativity simple as there’s no glue and no mess. You can use photos, pictures from magazines or your own drawings to make the badges you want. 

So get creative, and wear your badge with pride!

This week Emma (age 12) has created badges using the colourful badge templates supplied, then using these as inspiration has created her own on the computer, printed them and made them into her own unique badges using the machine and badge blanks.  

She has created badges by cutting out small parts of her teen magazines, overlapping them slightly (they can't be too thick) and then pressed them into blank badges.  They actually looked quite snazzy!!

You can easily buy refil kits for the Badge-It machine from leadning toy shops, argos, amazon and some supermarkets.  So the design skills and processes are endless.

For more information or to purchase Bandai toys please visit:
www.bandai.co.uk
www.facebook.com/bandaiuk
www.youtube.com/bandaiuk
www.twitter.com/bandaitoysuk