Shoezone Bargains

Have you ever popped into Shoezone? If not why not? In these times of recession it's great to know that there is a shoe company out there that is designing and making quality shoes at great prices. They also keep up to date with fashion trends so you know you will find the latest designs in your local store.

At the moment they have some fab ballerina style pumps. What do you think of these? Cute or what!


If you are looking to revamp your wardrobe their pumps start at only £6.99


They also have lots of bold and bright court shoes, espadrille wedges and other shoes in store and online. There is lots of gorgeous footwear to choose from, you will be spoilt.


And if you are continuing with your New Year's resolutions to Keep Fit, they have a range of trainers at a super price. I was sent these ladies trainers to review in black and pink.

What I liked about the trainers was the design - you wouldn't know they cost only £9.99! I tried them on and they were comfortable. I think they would be great for low impact aerobics or walking although I would prefer more padding for high impact exercise.  As a fashion trainer they are great.
So have a look at the Shoezone website next time you want a pair of bargain shoes. I found some lovely wedges on there and I'm sure you will be surprised by the lovely shoes on offer too. 
Did you know they also have a fine selection of bags too, many reduced in price? Now I have to go, I'm off for a browse to see what bargains I can snag ...

Cotswold Gold Oil Review

Cotswold Gold is a company that make and produce lovely oils, bottled and produced in Britain. The extra virgin cold pressed rapeseed oil is produced in the Cotswolds and has been used by Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, James Martin and Raymond Blanc to name a few.


This lovely oil is made from homegrown Oilseed Rape that is grown on their farm  You can use this oil for many things including frying, roasting, marinades and dressings. 


Charlie Beldam owner of Cotswold Gold has been producing this superfood on his family farm for the last three years and says ‘The aim was to produce a  healthy alternative oil that can meet all culinary needs. Cotswold Gold is a natural Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil, extracted by traditional cold pressing. This preserves the unique natural health benefits and gives the oil its vibrant golden colour.’


As well as a cooking oil they produce flavoured drizzles for salads too – the raspberry vinegar variety has just been awarded best oil/dressing in the National Healthy Food Guide Awards.


So what about the health benefits?

The Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil has the following benefits.

It is a good source of Omega 3 and is high in Omega 6 and 9
It is low in cholesterol
It is high in Vitamin E
It has half the saturated fat of Olive Oil

Other Benefits

It's suitable for high repeat temperature cooking 
It is 100 per cent British
It has low food miles as it is grown and bottled on the farm


I was given some flavoured oils to try for the purpose of this review. I tried the garlic infusion for tomato and basil pasta. It had a subtle garlic flavour and was not too overpowering. I would think this versatile oil could be used for most cuisines including Italian, Indian, Chinese or even adding extra flavour to the gold old British roast. The Chili infused oil adds a kick to anything and the Basil infused oil adds an Italian twist to your food.



Tomato and Basil Pasta

You can buy Cotswold Gold online and in good stockists around the UK. If you are looking for a versatile oil with a range of health benefits why don't you check out their website now?  

Tropic Skin Care Review

Tropic Skin Care is a company that I had only heard about recently but I am now glad I did! At Tropic, they believe that skin is your best asset and deserves only the best treatment and care.





Their skin care range contains purely plant derived ingredients and is all natural. Each product is packed to bursting with active plant proteins, vitamins & antioxidants.
They pride themselves on using only quality ingredients and source natural ingredients to achieve the most effective results. 
They also hand make their products too!
The kind people at Tropic have given me a lovely natural Vitamin toner to test for the purpose of this review.

The Vitamin toner works like a spritz, you spray on your face or you can use it on cotton wool to tone. It has a light fresh fragrance which was lovely as I do not like highly perfumed products. It is packed full of natural ingredients including organic Aloe Vera Juice, white tea and vitamin C. I can highly recommend the toner as I feel it worked well and didn't upset my skin.

They have some lovely products on their website perfect for Mothers Day - the Organic Facial Elixir Oil looks great for a gift. This fab new oil looks beautiful in a gorgeous bottle and is a blend of Kiwi and Pomegranate seed, Rosehip and Golden Jojoba to improve skin elasticity and make a smoother more supple skin in 4 weeks.  
Its important to note that all products in the Tropic range are Vegan - we they don't believe in interfering with animals so they use no beeswax, lanolin, gelatin or any other animal derived products.
So if you are looking for an all natural skincare range why don't you check out Tropic Skin Care - You will be glad you did.

Guylian Chocolates a Perfect Gift for Mother's Day

I am a foodie! Yes I admit it. I love eating nice food, going to nice restaurants and drinking delicious wine. I also enjoy eating pies, pasties, crisps and chocolate. In fact I love eating anything tasty and particularly indulgent.

At Mother's Day I look forward to receiving tasty treats with a touch of class. Guylian’s iconic Sea Shells chocolates would be my perfect gift. These stunning Belgian chocolates are filled with a praline smooth interior and are meant to be savoured. Made using only the finest Mediterranean hazelnuts, which are roasted and caramelised to perfection then blended with premium Belgian chocolate; a box of these is certain to win you brownie points this Mother’s Day.





A fresh take on the Sea Shells, Guylian Belgian Chocolate Sea Horses are delectable praline filled Sea Horse shaped chocolates with the smooth Belgian praline filling they are a perfect chocolate treat.


Seashells are available in a 250g box for £3.99
and
Seahorses are available in a 374g box for £9.99




Guylian chocolates are available from all major supermarkets and selected independent stores nationwide.


Guylian’s commitment to conservation

It's also good to know that this company has ethics. Project Seahorse is dedicated to preserving seahorses and other marine life throughout the world. Guylian provides vital long term support for this crucial work and has been a major partner since 1999. 

Seahorses function as flagship species for a wide range of marine conservation projects. These magical but fragile creatures are a good indicator of healthy coastal ecosystems, meaning that saving the seahorses = saving the seas!

Project Seahorse and Guylian agree on the importance of seahorses as a sign of quality – whether it's for fine Belgian Chocolates or for healthy oceans, and each time you buy a box of Guylian Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells and Sea Horses, you are helping to save seahorses and the seas. 

See more at www.projectseahorse.org.   

Skyfall Competition

Have you seen the movie Skyfall? It is one of my favourite films - full of action and of course Daniel Craig!  If you would like the chance to win a copy of this great action film I have a fabulous competition for you.

Atlantic Energy, part of the SSE group are giving you a chance to win a copy by creating your own cocktail recipe with a James Bond theme. As they are
"SHAKING Up the Energy System", they want you to make and shake up a virtual cocktail! 




Head over to their Facebook page for a chance to win, they are giving away 20 copies. Ensure you like their page and enter the competition by entering your details on their app with your cocktail name, ingredients and instructions.

So what did I create? I designed a cocktail based on a Bond Girl theme, after all why do men have to have all the fun?  I included peach schnapps and a dash of cranberry and topped it all with Pinot Grigio. 

What would you create? I think this cocktail is glamorous and sounds delicious! Of course, it was shaken not stirred...

This competition is run by Atlantic and is their way of SHAKING up the energy industry.

They are creating a list of Positive Changes 

such as

Creating a new customer charter

Simplifying Bills

Annual Energy Reviews

Generating Energy from renewable resources

and a £20 customer service guarantee 

So if you are thinking of changing energy providers why don't you check out the website now, oh and don't forget to enter the competition all you Mixologists out there!

The competition will end at 10pm on Friday 22 February 2013 with the winner being informed on Monday 25 February 2013. 

This post  is sponsored by Atlantic ( part of the SSE Group)

Bionsen Review

Bionsen is a company that produces natural deodorants made with Japanese spa minerals. It allows your skin to breathe naturally and is great if you are worried about chemicals in your beauty products. The products are also paraben and aluminium free which is a great alternative for those worried about possible links with breast cancer. 

For centuries the Japanese have recognised the health-giving properties of these minerals and many still continue this tradition today using spa minerals to soothe and nourish.

Does it work you may ask? Well it uses natural minerals to neutralise the bacteria responsible for bad odours. I thought it was highly effective and I stayed fresh all day long. It is a deodorant and not an anti-perspirant so it doesn't stop you sweating and they say it is effective for sensitive skin. It has a very light fragrance  which will not clash with your perfume and is hypoallergenic.


Bionsen products are not tested on animals too which is great.

There are a range of Bionsen products based on your preference including
Deodorant Spray 150ml
Pump Spray 100ml
Roll on 50ml
Deodorant Stick 40ml
and 
Total body - an all over deodoriser 


You can buy Bionsen from Morrisons supermarkets and other high street stores. Morrisons will be selling the Bionsen Roll-on at a very reasonable £2.35 and the pump spray at £2.75 from February 2013. 


My Son's Hero

As long as I can remember my son has been a fantastic artist, and I am very proud of him. He has also been a great film buff and loves drama and stand up comedy. He is very creative!

He loves many actors including Heath Ledger, Michael Fassbinder and Johnny Depp.

I asked J what he loves about Johnny Depp. 

"Johnny always acts in such diverse films, Edwards Scissorshands, Pirates of The Caribbean, Ed Wood- he is a great comic actor, always likeable, and is in some really strange and different films" 

So my son's hero is Johnny Depp, you can always guarantee a great performance from him, I have to admit I like him too. 

He is studying art for GCSE - here is his drawing of Johnny.



Johnny Depp

This post is an entry into the Tots 100  MoneySupermarket That's My Hero competition

Gorgeous Clothes from New Look - Review

New Look is one of those great fashion companies that sell affordable, on trend clothes that always seem exciting. You may think it's aimed at women in their teens and twenties but I always find gorgeous clothes and great bags in my local store and I'm a mum in my early 40's.

I have created a couple of looks for you to see it is aimed at all ages, see what you think?


My Yummy Mummy Fashion Wishlist

Firstly I have picked this Waterfall Blazer £24.99 to dress up or down. It is neutral in colour and a great design.

Day Look
Cream Hummingbird Print Top £16.99

Very on trend with a lovely bird print and peter pan collar.
Petite Bootleg Jeans £7.49

Bootleg jeans elongate the leg and are very flattering, a fashion classic.
Evening Look
Black belted chiffon dress £19.99

A beautiful dress that would skim lumps and bumps and the belt would give you a waist if like me you're an apple shape.
Black and off white Bow Platform Court Shoes £24.99

Lovely 50's style Bow courts, the platform would allow you to wear a higher heel than normal.

To accessorise these looks I would choose from their great selection of shoulder bags and clutches, and I must admit I do like a bit of sparkle so would probably pick a knock out purse or bag.
Black Stud Purse £8.99

So as you can see New Look is a great shop for ladies of all ages with super affordable fashion. Why don't you pop in when you are in town next or have a look online when you grab a moment with a cup of coffee?

* This is a sponsored post

Want Some Extra Cash? - Check Out Music Magpie

They grow up so fast.

It seems like only yesterday that your kids were little and getting underfoot, and their favourite toys and games were all over the house. Well, now they’re growing up – and those discarded and dusty old games have probably seen better days! The latest gadgets, must-see events and teenage fashions might be all the rage but the cost can soon mount up. Especially when they want the bank of mum and dad to help them out! So why not check out Music Magpie and sell those old games, CDS and tech items such as Nintendo Ds for cash, and put it towards something fun and exciting your kids will enjoy doing? 


So what would you do with that extra cash? Check out some of the great ways you could spend it whilst creating quality time together

Movie days out 

Give you and your family the real blockbuster experience by checking out some of the hi-tech movie experiences out there. Forget about the local multiplex and its stale popcorn-filled halls - think big instead. IMAX screens across the country give you an amazing high definition experience that will bring even the most fantastical movie to life - kids of all ages will be enthralled by the lifelike 3D views on show. You can even go beyond 3D – with a 4D experience instead! Select cinemas across the country now offer a truly vivid show that captures all your senses – with scents, shakes and sounds that transport you to another world.

Hit the high top

Circuses aren’t just for little kids anymore – they’ve gotten a lot more sophisticated than in the past. Check out some of the stunning theatre shows which combine magical drama, breath taking acrobatics, and stage sets to rival most pop stars’ gigs. And if you or your kids are feeling inspired by the great shenanigans on stage, you can even enrol in circus school (yes, really!) to try out the flying trapeze, high wire or unicycle.

Get arty

Indulge your kids’ creative sides by letting them discover art for themselves. Invest in a membership to some of the national and local art galleries around the country – and explore old masters and contemporary classics, as well as inspiring up and coming artists.  

At home younger kids will have all kinds of fun with a non-toxic paint kit that can happily show off their creative side, while older talents will treasure having a high quality set of traditional oils, charcoals or watercolours. 

If they are not into drawing and painting what about investing in a good digital camera for budding photographers, or a handy digital camcorder for wannabe film stars.

So why don't you check out Music Magpie now, they take a range of items including clothes, CDS, DVDS, games and Tech items and you could be enjoying a family day out or indulging your kids creative sides at no extra expense to you!

This is a sponsored post

Fresh Start Wales - Free Information Pack

Fresh Start Wales is a Welsh Government campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking in cars with children. Cars are a particularly dangerous place to smoke as they are such a confined space so it is difficult for children to escape from the cigarette smoke.

Their aims are:-

To raise awareness of the harm second-hand smoke in cars causes to children in Wales.

To inform the Welsh population about the risks of smoking in cars carrying children.

To protect children from second-hand smoke in cars and encourage people not to smoke in cars.

Fresh Start Wales are reaching out to families across Wales to raise awareness of these dangers and is encouraging parents to make a fresh start and keep their car free from smoke. For those smokers who are ready to quit completely, Fresh Start Wales has launched smoke free packs which include a range of interactive support materials.

The Facts

Smoking in cars is dangerous for children.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke and exposure increases the risk of cot death, glue ear, asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Opening the window doesn’t help: the smoke and its toxins simply blow back into the car.
It doesn’t matter if you only smoke when children aren’t in the car: toxins can linger for up to two hours after you’ve put your cigarette out.

Children are more likely to become smokers if their parent or other family member smokes.

There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. A number of these invisible poisons can harm children’s health and some can even cause cancer in adults. More than 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible and doesn’t have a smell, so parents sometimes don’t realise they are exposing their children to its effects.

Free Information Pack

If you support the campaign to reduce smoking in cars - or if you’re a smoker and would like to stop smoking in cars - sign up to their online pledge at www.freshstartwales.co.uk.

You can also support them on social media at www.facebook.com/FreshStartWales and Twitter @FreshStartWales. They post tips and tricks for people giving up smoking, as well as updates on the Fresh Start Wales campaign and information for families all across Wales about family-friendly events and entertainment in their areas. 

Finally - if you’re a smoker, you can order one of their free Fresh Start Packs from their website. The packs contain information and resources on how smokers can protect their families from the harm second-hand smoke causes and practical tools for those choosing to make a complete fresh start by giving up smoking altogether.

Mito-Q Review

Recently I was given some new skin cream to try - MitoQ. MitoQ reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, scars, brown spots and skin discolouration as well as reducing the thinning of the skin that occurs with ageing. They claim with daily use the skin will become firmer, as new and increased collagen reformats and strengthens the skin's structure. It says its proven to be 1000 times more potent than any other COQ antioxidant.
Claims for MitoQ

After 1 day: your skin is radiant and hydrated.
After 3 days: your skin feels noticeably softer.
After 10-30 days: your skin will look younger with less fine wrinkles and scars.





It blocks infrared radiation damage but not UV so it needs to be used in conjunction with a good quality SPF.

What did I think of it? It is presented well in a gorgeous bottle. When I opened it and used the pump dispenser I was at first taken aback by the cream which was yellow in colour, but bear with me as when you massage the cream on the skin It absorbed easily and was non-greasy. It actually felt lovely on the skin. I do not know if I will see a difference in my skin tone in the next few weeks but I will eagerly look forward to seeing the results.

You can be one of the first to buy MitoQ here as it has only just gone on sale in the UK, if you try it let me know what you think!

JellyEgg Website Review

Jellyegg are a great little website that sell a wide variety of footwear, be it ladies, mens or childrens. With a top range of Brands you love and know there is something for everyone on their website.  



When I was browsing the Jellyegg website I noticed they have a great section for Havaianas flip flops and other well known brands like The Muck Boot Company and Crocs. 

Now I must admit I never used to be a fan of Crocs but did you know they do a lovely range of leather wedge sandals, as I didn't?!
Red leather Croc wedges

This Crocs-A-Leigh leather wedge has a Croslite footbed to gently massage your feet and an adjustable heel strap to fit you perfectly. The are also very stylish too.

For the purpose of this post JellyEgg sent me the Crocs Patricia sandals below to review. Now as soon as I tried these sandals on I thought they would be great sandals for a holiday where lots of walking is involved. They have a slight heel and a lovely and soft insole with tiny massaging nubs across the footbed to stimulate blood flow. I think they could be worn in the day or night so would be very versatile.
Crocs Patricia Navy Sandals

If you are looking for other types of shoes they also have a range including work shoes, slippers and boots.

I thought they had a lovely range of good quality Wellington boots. 

The pink Crocs Bubblegum boots were also in the sale at a good price, and the mens Wellingtons looked sturdy and hard wearing too.


Ladies pink Crocs Bubblegum boots

JellyEgg pride themselves on their friendly and helpful expert advice, so if you need to know anything about the items they sell you can always ring them on 01834 860797. They are also on Facebook and Twitter if you have any questions about their products.

So when you are looking for some new footwear, why don't you check out www.jellyegg.com and order from a wide range of products online in the comfort of your home. 
   

Win Slimming Food from My Food CD 28.02.13

I am always on the lookout for healthy ways to eat and I must admit it I could do with losing a few pounds. 

My Food is a delicious way of dieting that is packed full of healthy fresh food.






Turkey Rogan Josh

So how does it work?

1.  First you select your diet plan and delivery date

2. Then you will received a text message the morning of delivery with your hourly time slot. 

3. The food is delivered in a chilled hamper.

4. Then just enjoy!

There is a variety of diet plans to suit men and women including delicious gluten free and halal food.

Coronation Chicken with Wild Rice Salad

With the help of BANT registered nutritionists, the menus are created to provide energy and promote lean muscle definition. Bringing an average weight loss of up to 7lbs in just 14 days they also have a range of celebrity clients and Gabby Logan has been quoted as saying, “The Active Body Plan is the perfect way to eat well.” 

I was given a weeks worth of food to try. I decided to choose the active body plan as I go to Zumba classes 2-3 times a week.

Healthy Snacks

The food in this plan is high protein based and was very tasty and consisted of
  • Three freshly prepared higher protein meals each day
  • Approximately 1200 calories per day, of which more than 20% of the calories come from protein
  • Perfect weight loss plan for meat lovers with a selection of poultry, fish & red meat
  • Partnered with exercise can encourage fat burning & promote toning
  • For the really active add snacks at checkout, an additional 400 calories per day
  • Provides high quality proteins from eggs, fish, meat & vegetables



Well I found the food very tasty! I was very surprised how much i enjoyed the Chili bean frittata with green salad. It was very tasty and a big portion, very filling too, and it tasted healthy without compromising on taste.  The green bean salad was very fresh.  The granola was very crunchy and satisfying and had a sweet nuttiness that was delicious. Another dish that I really rated was the Mediterranean Pizza with crunchy coleslaw. Yes you can have pizza on a diet and delicious it was too. 

Chili Bean Frittata

I have a weeks worth of food from the 7 day Active Body Plan worth £140 to give away with My Food

To enter complete the details on the rafflecopter form. By entering the competition you agree to me passing on your email address to My Food unless you specifically say OPT OUT in your blog comment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

Valentine's Gifts From Julie Slater

Julie Slater and Son is a mail order company specialising in unique quality accessories and gorgeous gifts. 




From travel accessories in gorgeous prints like this overnight bag to stylish passport covers in plain leather or with a fab print, the products are stylish, feminine and practical.




I was sent a pretty pink leather notebook to review. This notebook comes in a range of colours but the Hot Pink is beautiful, the photo doesn't really do it justice.
Pink Leather Notebook 

I don't know about you but I love organising and planning, be it shopping lists or my next holiday. Well, this notebook is a great size to keep in your bag and plan your hopes and dreams! The pink leather is soft and the stitching good quality and it is really well made. It can be refillable too and inserts can be purchased when you have filled it up. It comes with a chunky pencil but you can add your own pen.


Oyster Card Holder

The website has some nice ideas for Valentine's Day.  The oyster card holder with the heart design is lovely and I also like the heart purse in pink, or red. This would be an ideal gift for a teenager or as a coin purse to keep your change.



Heart Design Purse

You can order online at https://www.julieslaterandson.co.uk/ or order by telephone on 02083 666361 from this company based in St Albans. At the moment they have free delivery too so this is a great time to buy those Valentine's gifts.

I think it's important to support British businesses and this company is what we, as British people's should be proud of - great quality and style with great British design. Why don't you check out the website today?

*  I was given the notebook to review but the opinions are entirely my own

Sonicare toothbrush review from Lloyds Pharmacy

You may have used Lloyds Pharmacy stores as they have over 1650 dotted around the UK but have you ever seen their website? 




Lloyds Pharmacy has a comprehensive website, built for all your healthcare needs and you can even order your prescription online. Their motto is ‘healthcare for life’ and that is illustrated in their website, where you can order everything from baby equipment and accessories to mobility aids, sports and fitness to diabetes ca
re.

They have a range of medicines and treatments available including complementary medicines and a range of health and well-being section including pain management. They offer next day delivery too so it is worth checking out the site if you have any healthcare needs.

I was given a Sonicare toothbrush to try from Lloyds Pharmacy and enlisted the help of my son to try it out. 



The toothbrush was easy to use, with a built-in timer that help ensure you brush your teeth for the recommended 2 minutes. If you have used Sonicare toothbrushes before you will know they have a slightly different sensation to a normal electric toothbrush, almost like a slight tickling as my son described it. So how did his teeth feel after using the toothbrush? Sparkling clean and smooth he said!  Apparently, it has an easy start and gently increases power over first 12 uses, to ease into the Sonicare experience. My son thinks it is a great toothbrush and was very pleased with it.

It's not all about buying products though as I enjoyed looking through their Health Focus section for information on common illness and conditions. So if you are looking for a great health care site you should check out Lloyds Pharmacy - I'm off to check out their weight management section, now let me get a coffee and doughnut while I browse.... But seriously the health focus section is very interesting if you need any advice.




*I was given a toothbrush to review but the words are entirely my own