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Sunday 29 March 2015

March Degustabox **REVIEW**

Its that time of the month again when we all eagerly await the knock on the door from our lovely delivery driver delivering our Degustabox!

In case you haven't heard of Degustabox before they are a company who send out surprise food and drink boxes on a monthly subscription basis. The boxes cost £12.99 and are delivered monthly, this price includes postage! Each month the box will contain between  and 14 products for you to try, many which are completely new to the market!

Here is what was inside our box this month -
Jordan's Granola
The new Jordans lighter granola only uses natural ingredients in a bid to make their granola lighter. The Jordans lighter granola naturally has 30% less fat than other standard granola's, not only that but it is high in fibre too! I thought the granola tasted delicious and the hint of berries you could taste make it really refreshing.

Bassets Jelly Babies
Jelly babies are a classis sweet that I am sure most people have tried, but now Bassetts have brought out a pack containing just the most popular flavours blackcurrant, strawberry and raspberry. The berry mis contains real fruit juice and natural colours and I can confirm they are delicious!

Kent's Kitchen Posh Noodles
Kent's kitchen is a brand we have seen before in the Degustabox but this months box brought us a completely different product from Kent's Kitchen, Posh noodles! These handy sized pots are perfect for lunch on the go or for a quick hot snack. Posh noodles are made from natural ingredients making posh noodles tasty, low fat and low calorie.

Natvia
Natvia is a 100% naturally sourced alternative to artificial sweeteners and sugar . Natvia has zero calories per serve, is non-genetically modified and low GI! I am yet to try this yet but it sounds like a much healthier way to sweeten things!

Crabbies Alcoholic fruit drinks
Crabbies have a new range of fruity flavoured alcoholic drinks that contain no ginger! There are 3 new flavours to choose from which are Black cherry, Zesty Lemon and Raspberry and Rhubarb. We received the Black cherry and Raspeberry and Rhubarb flavours to try both and although I was a little apprehensive at the raspberry and rhubarb they were both refreshing and tasty! These new flavours are made with up to 10% natural fruit juice and contain no artificial colours or flavouring and are 4% alcohol.

Sour Patch sweets
I have to admit im not a massive fan of sour sweets, they make my face go all funny and nothing seems to taste roght for hours after lol! However these sweets seem to have found the balance between sweet and sour with their soft jelly inside. They are available in 6 different flavours too!

BBQUE sauce
I am always on the look out for a decent bbq sauce that isn't to sweet but really gives off that lovely bbq taste and I think I may have found it with BBQUE sauce! The original Bavarian barbecue sauces are now available in 4 unique flavours and would be perfect for marinating meat, accompanying meat from the bbq or for meals such as New York chicken (which is what we used it for).

JuiceBurst drinks
These were my favourite new discovery in the box this months! I am always a little wary of juice drinks as although they may taste delicious some of them can contain just as much sugar as a lot of fizzy drinks! So when I discovered that Juice Burst drinks were not only delicious but they are low calorie too! They even have a "skinny range" which contains 1 of your 5 a day! These are most definitely a drink I will be continuing to purchase after the box.

Lindt Lindor Mini eggs
Lindor is my absolute favourite chocolate so I think I may have shrieked a little when I saw 2 packs of these in the box and swiftly hid a pack all for myself lol! Lindt Lindor is a delightfully smooth chocolate and this selection includes milk, white and dark lindor chocolate mini eggs assortment. These are perfect for a delicious Easter egg hunt and that it what I will be using our second pack for.

Brioche Pasquier bread bites
We have received other Brioche Pasquier products in past boxes bit its always great to find new products from a brand in the box. This month we received these bread bites which come in handy 20g packs, perfect for snacking on or for lunch boxes and picnics etc. The bread bites are made with real french bread and each pack is under 90 calories. They are also free from artificial colours, flavours  and preservatives!

I probably say this most months as the boxes are so fab, but this has definitely been my favourite box so far! It contained a mixture of food and drink, sweet and savoury and healthy and not so healthy foods to try.

If you would like to try out Degustabox for yourself or find a little more about the boxes you can find them via one of the links below -

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website
http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook
http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter


What product do you most like the look of in this months box?

xXx

 * I was not paid for this review. All opinions given are my own.
* If you would like me to review your product or service, please email me on xJessLegresleyx@hotmail.com.

Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water **REVIEW**

As a mum on the go I am not going to deny my skincare regime is very lacking to say the least. 

I always look around at all the products on offer and promise myself to make more of an effort but then don't!


So when I was offered the opportunity to try out the Bee Good honey and wild water mint 3 in 1 cleansing water I was delighted. 




The product described as 3 in 1 sounded like something that was quick, easy and something I would easily fit in to my already hectic morning. 


This 3 in 1 cleansing water removes make up, cleanses and tones the skin with no need for any water or other products. It is also gentle enough to be used on the delicate eye area leaving your whole face feeling refreshed with just 1 product. 




I was a little worried the smell of the mint would be over powering but is isn't at all, the cleansing water has a very gentle and subtle aroma that simple leaves your skin feeling lovely and soft. I added a small amount to a cotton wool pad and gentle swept it over my face and neck first thing in the morning and just before bed. 

It really did leave my skin feeling lovely and soft and after a few weeks use I did see some of the redness around my eyes disappearing and overall my skin feeling softer.


The key natural ingredients inside this cleansing water include:
  • British Wild Flower Honey (Mel) 
  • British Propolis (Extract)
  • Water Mint (Mentha aquatica leaf extract)
  • Red Algae (Palmaria palmata extract)
I also really liked the fact this product used British honey and bee good work closely with their trusted beekeeping partners so they are helping to revitalise this key rural practice at the heart of the British countryside. 

The product is priced at just £10 for a 100ml pot which is great value and will last ages as you only need a small amount each time. 
You can check it out and purchase your own via the beegood website here - beegood.co.uk.

xXx


 * I was not paid for this review. All opinions given are my own.
* If you would like me to review your product or service, please email me on xJessLegresleyx@hotmail.com.

Saturday 28 March 2015

Easter Parades and Baby Bunnies!

Its almost Easter and James has now broken up from school for the Easter holidays!

Last week both James and Evelyn got up to some Easter style activities and here is what they have been up too.

James had his Easter bonnet parade at school (his very first one!) and he really enjoyed it! He wanted a long tall hat so I made him a "mad hatter" style hat from cardboard and paper mache and then he painted and decorated it with chicks, bunnies and hand drawn animals (which I then stuck on). It was so lovely seeing his beaming smile and he walked in too school showing off his hat to everyone, seeing how proud he was of it was lovely. 

Here are a few pictures of his hat....


Evelyn also got in to the swing of Easter during her weekly visit to Jolly Babies where the babies dressed up as rabbits and sang songs! Doesn't she look so very cute?


We have several Easter activities planned for next week with James being off school including Easter crafts, baking and we are even going to attempt to make our own mini Easter eggs. Make sure you keep checking back here to see all our activities. 

Do you have any Easter activities planned?

xXx

Monday 23 March 2015

Giddy Bowl **REVIEW**

If I said to you children, eating and no mess in the same sentence I am sure you wouldn't believe me, well that is until you see the Giddy Bowl!

The Giddy bowl is a non spill bowl which was originally intended for use on aeroplanes and boats. The Giddy Bowl works as the inner bowl rotates to always stay level, so no matter what position you hold it in, the food in the bowl stays upright – no spills, no mess. The outer shell can also be used as a handy colander/strainer by simply un-clipping the inner bowl.



As we have been mostly doing baby led weaning with Evelyn I often pop a few bits in a bowl for her to pick at for a snack and these mostly always end up on the floor with one swoop so I was really intrigued to see if the Giddy bowl would really work.... It DID it didn't matter how many times she bumped it to it crawling around or tipped it up the bowl always rotated around to keep the contents inside!

The bowl features a handle around the whole bowl which is large and chunky and easily gripped by little hands and therefore can carried around easily. It also comes with a lid making it easy to take along with you perhaps in the car or to pop into your bag for a snack later on. 

The bowl is currently available in 2 colours pink and yellow or blue and green, both are bright and funky. The Giddy bowl is also dishwasher safe making it easy and quick to clean after each use. 


Of course the bowl isn't magic and if thrown or spun around by an adult very quickly then some food may escape. These bowls are designed for children who wobble about as they walk around or may accidentally trip or skip around with there food in hand.

I can see this bowl being really handy in the summer when Evelyn is toddling around outside and wants to carry around a snack. Im sure this will save us from many tears when food usually falls in the mud and can't be eaten! It would be perfect for picnics too! 


Do you think this is a product you would find useful? 

xXx

 * I was not paid for this review. All opinions given are my own.
* If you would like me to review your product or service, please email me on xJessLegresleyx@hotmail.com.

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Chill factor squeeze cup **REVIEW**

I don't know about your children but mine love anything with a novelty factor, so when we were given the opportunity to try out a ChillFactor squeeze cup slushy maker I knew it would be something James would love (and me!).

The ChillFactor squeeze cup is a unique hand held slushy maker which allows you to make delicious slushies in seconds! It requires no ice or blenders and leaves no mess. They are so easy to use too which means even the children can have a go. 



To use the ChillFactor squeeze cup you simply place the cup into the freezer for around 4-6 hours (we left ours over night). You then pour in your choice of chilled drink, wait a few seconds and then squeeze! You can literally see your drink turn from liquid to slush before your eyes. 
James (as I thought he would be) was amazed by the cup. He of course wanted to try out any drink he could get his hands on and we were suprised to see this cup works with a whole range of drinks including squash and cordials, fruit juice and even milk (although this turned really thick rather than slushy). 



I did find as the outside of the cup isn't made of a hard plastic it seemed a little unsteady to hold for smaller hands, however once it had frozen this didn't seem to be an issue. The cup came with a handy booklet which shows you how to use it and how to clean it after use although it is all very straight forward anyway. 


The cup also comes with a handy reusable sturdy plastic straw with a spoon attachment at the bottom, perfect for scooping out the slush! 





Overall James loved the ChillFactor squeeze cup slushy maker and I can see us using it lots in the summer, It wasn't just a hit with James either the adults loved it too! You could even make some slushie alcoholic cocktails in it if you wanted too. The cup is priced at £12.99 which although may seem a little pricey at first when you consider the price of a normal slushy drink (usually between £1 - £2) its actually quite a good price as this cup can be used time and time again. 



 

xXx



* I was not paid for this review. All opinions given are my own.
* If you would like me to review your product or service, please email me on xJessLegresleyx@hotmail.com.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Degustabox **REVIEW**

Its that time of the month again when I eagerly await my Degustabox

I am always so excited to see what goodies will be inside and there are always products inside that are totally new to me which is always intriguing!

Heres what was inside this months Degustabox

Melba Thins




Melba thins are a versatile crisp toast that can be topped with a huge variety of toppings sweet or savoury. I found these to be a great size for a mid morning or afternoon snack or for a quick lunch on the go. I really enjoyed the crispy texture and it certainly made a change from the usual bread. 



American Muffin Company brownies 



Not only are these brownies delicious but they are also gluten and wheat free! Each pack contains 6 individually wrapped brownies making them perfect from lunch boxes or picnics. The brownies are made using the finest ingredients and contain a high cocoa content. These were a big hit in our house, everyone loved the chocolatey taste. 



Laimon Fresh




When I saw this is the box I was a little thrown off by the mention of mint in it. However the drink it lovely and refreshing and there is just a hint of mint which actually makes it quite refreshing. This lemon, lime and mint flavoured soft is lightly sparkling and made using only 100% natural ingredients, A great addition to your picnic basket this summer!



Peanut Hottie




Meet the worlds first peanut flavour hot drink! I was thoroughly intrigued by this. Its not something I had heard of or tried. The drink is made by combining american peanuts and a special flavouring to create instant peanut flavour hot drink. As soon as you add hot water to the powder you are hit with the smell of peanut butter. The taste was a little to rich for me but if you love peanut butter this is definitely something you should try.  


Lily O'Briens



Before degustabox this is not a brand I had heard of but since receiving degustabox I have had the opportunity to try a range of the Lily O'Briens chocolate and not once have we been disappointed. The cocoa cookie crunch were no exception they were AMAZING! They are made up of pieces of crunchy cookie pieces smoothered in smooth creamy milk chocolate. They also come in a handy resealable bag (if you manage to not eat them all at once!). 



Schwartz flavour shots 


We have received these in previous boxes but we have always been sent different flavours so it has been great to try a variety of flavours from the range. The indian mild masala curry was a hit with the whole family and the tiny pot packed a real punch of flavour that wasn't overly spicy but was certainly delicious. If you are looking for something to help make a tasty meal with little fuss these are a must try. 


Jack Link's




Jack Link's is the worlds best selling meat snacks company. The idea behind the bars is a delicious, convinient and easy to eat bar for people on the go who are looking for a healthier snack. Only the best quality beef is used which is seasoned and then oven roasted. My husband tried this at work and said it was certainly tasty and seemed more filling and satisfying than some other snacks he had tried. 



Beet It




Beet it sports betroot shots and bars contain c400mg of dietary nitrate and are used by over 150 universities for reasearch in to the benefits of lowering blood preasure and improving sport performance. I have to admit I thought these were a little strange to be included in a general food/ drinks box as they seem quite specialist. I was however pleasently suprised by the flavour as often you find with sports type bars they taste rubbery but these did not. 



Whole Earth peanut butter




Now this is peanut butter with a twist! Whole earth peanut butter is packed with three types of seeds sunflower, pumpkin and flaxseed which not only makes it delicious but means it is packed with protein. I found it offered the same as peanut butter but seems much creamier and more luxuries with a nice crunchy texture. 


As well as all the products mentioned above each month inside your box will also contain a leaflet letting you know everything inside your box plus a recipe card which gives you some fab ideas for products to make using the items inside your box. There are often money off vouchers too! 

We really enjoyed this box. There was a great mixture of products inside including healthier products and sweet treats. As always there were products in there we had not seen or tried before and I just love the fact Degustabox gives you the opportunity to try these product for just £12.99 a month!

If you want to check out Degystabox for yourself or order your own box you can find them via their website or social media pages via the links below.


Pkus if you are thinking of trying out Degustabox for yourself you can receive £3 off your box using the code  LW47A at the checkout. 

xXx

 * I was not paid for this review. All opinions given are my own.
* If you would like me to review your product or service, please email me on xJessLegresleyx@hotmail.com.

James Update!

Its been a while since I shared an update on my little boy James and so today I thought I would share a little with you.

James is growing, so quickly! He is very tall and taller than most of the children in his class at school. Coupled with this and his ever growing feet (size 13 already!) I think he may be tall when he grows up. Here is James dressed as Batman for a themed day at school. 


James is absolutely loving school. I must admit before he started school I was so nervous but seeing how happy he is there just made me so much happier. He has grown to be a very confident and often independent little man, waving me off in the school playground and taking himself in to school. His teachers say he is doing really well and is always happy. The last month or so he seems to have learnt so much and each day comes home filling us in with all the information he has learnt that day, yesterday he came home reciting vowels that he had learnt! James recently received a certificate in assembly for writing great sentences!



James also attends weekly swimming lessons as well as a once a month one to one swimming lesson at our local leisure centre. He loves swimming and you would never have guessed that just over a year ago he hated even splashing water on his face. Nowadays you can't get him above the water and I am pretty sure he's half fish! He recently received his alpha 3 badge and his 10m badge which he is so proud of as are we.



I am so proud of how well James has settled in to school and how well he is doing in his swimming lessons, he seems to just take it all in his stride. He is also a fantastic big brother and this can be seen every time he is with Evelyn. My heart just melts seeing them together!

xXx


Monday 9 March 2015

Evelyn 9 Month update!

9 Months seemed like forever whilst I was pregnant but it seems like the 9 months Evelyn has been here has flown by!

My baby girl turned 9 months old today and if I am honest it doesn't seem real! How did this happen I can still remember the night I brought her home yet it seems like all her milestones have gone by in the blink of an eye. 


Evelyn is now a confident, smiley, happy little lady who is most definitely a mummy's girl. She loves cuddles and especially loves her weekly classes at Jolly Babies. She is a little lazy though and still doesn't crawl or pull her self to standing. She has mastered some sort of backwards worm/ army crawl and can move at speed backwards, although this does result in her getting frustrated when the object she is trying to reach gets further away! 



James and Evelyn are still just as close which is lovely to watch. James will quite happily sit on the floor and play and sing to her whilst she relishes in sitting and watching him and giggling away. I really cannot wait until Evelyn is toddling along and they can enjoy some adventures outside together. 



As far as eating is concerned Evelyn is the equivalent to the human hoover she will eat anything and everything as we are now just down to 2 bottles (1 morning, 1 bedtime). She has her 3 meals during the day plus snacks and is getting on really well with eating what we eat. Her favourite snacks at the moment are the Organix crisps and the Kiddilicious wafers and of course the occasional rusk! She also now has 5 teeth so chomping has been made much easier by the addition of these! 




Oh and Evelyn's latest cheeky games involve her ripping of her sock and shimmying around with it in her mouth if you attempt to remove the sock she results to full diva tantrum mode....


and impersonating a Koala when in her door bouncer (yes she even tries to shimmy up the door frame lol!)


Everyday I appreciate how lucky I am to have 2 happy (well when there aren't throwing a tantrum lol) and healthy babies even if they are cheeky. I consider myself one very lucky mummy!

xXx


Tuesday 3 March 2015

Mothers Day gifts from Getting Personal.

I am sure you are all aware that Mothers day is only a few weeks away (15th March!). For me personally its the small, inexpensive and personalised gifts that mean the most to me. I love things that are personal to me and my family and show that real thought has gone in to it. 

But just because gifts are personalised it doesn't mean they have to cost the earth! I recently came across the website GettingPersonal.co.uk and they offer some fantastic gift ideas for all occasions, including Mothers Day. 


Getting Personal are one the leading online gift shops specialising in personalised gifts and cards. Getting Personal understand how tricky it can be to find a unique present for a loved one, so they pride themselves in offering original gift ideas, many of which are designed and produced exclusively in-house by the fantastic Getting Personal team. 


Check out some of these lovely Mothers day gifts I discovered on their website. 


If your mum is a big tea/ coffee drinker then she may well enjoy this personalised mug. You can add a name of your choice and even choose an option for the mug to only reveal the text beneath when hot water is poured in to it. A fun inexpensive gift priced at just £9.99 or £12.99 for the heat changing mug.




These personalised engraved slate signs are sturdy and made from natural slate. The sign features the words "Best Ever Mum" and can also be personalised with a short message beneath. The slate sign also features a cute engraved heart design. These are priced at £12. and that includes personalisation. 




Who doesn't like a good biscuit!? especially with a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate. So what better gift than this lovely floral biscuit tin complete with a personalised message. This beautiful tin is also filled with 100g of shortbread and 100g of cookies. I can vouch for the biscuits tasting delicious and even after the biscuits inside are all gone you can reuse the tin time and time again. Priced at £14.99 this included a name + short message. 




You can't go wrong with chocolate so adding a personalised message just for your mum makes this sweet treat even sweeter. The funky union jack design to the front is made up of lovely bright colours and you can add 2 messages, 1 to the front perhaps a name and 1 to the back. These are priced at £8.99 which included all of the personalisation. 




Do you like personalised gifts? Why not check out the full range on offer on the Getting Personal website here - www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.


xXx


* I was not paid for this review. All opinions given are my own.
* If you would like me to review your product or service, please email me on xJessLegresleyx@hotmail.com.