Pink Ginger Cordial from Thorncroft

I like ginger anyway, but I know that it's not everybody's cup of tea.  Even so I really want to share this delicious drink with everybody.  Before tasting Thorncroft's pink ginger cordial, throw out all of your preconceptions of what ginger is like.  This drink is subtle, textured, delicate and delicious.  Just writing about it makes me want a glass.

For my full product review of Thorncroft's Pink Ginger Cordial, click here.

Graze

Awhile ago I signed up for a free trial box of snacks from Graze.  My expectations weren't particularly high, but as it was a free sample, I was willing to give it a chance. 

It turned out that Graze is actually pretty fantastic.  They deliver snack boxes (they come through the mail and can be delivered to your home or office or whatever) full of healthy and delicious snacks.  I've been really surprised by the quality of the food.  The standard is really high whether it's on honeycomb flapjacks, olives, or dried fruit.  It feels like a treat even though it's healthy food, and a lot of the snacks are designed to help fill you up for longer or give you something guilt-free to munch on. 

Their website is also surprisingly fun to use as you can rate each item you receive, request to have (or not have) certain snacks in your boxes, etc.  There's a good balance of control and surprise.

To visit the Graze website and find out more, click here.

If you'd like to try your own free Graze box, just use the voucher code ZGHC2RCD.  That's right.  You can use that code to get your own sample box absolutely free. 

Trick or Treat Halloween Coupon for Etsy

Have I mentioned that I have an Etsy shop?  Usually I try to keep this blog about my shopping experiences with other companies, but today I've got a little gift for you.

Because I appreciate everyone who visits my blog and networks with me, I'd like to give you a special Halloween treat.  Also I just really love Halloween.

So here it is.  You can use the code HAPPYHALLOWEEN2011 at the Hidden Domestic Etsy Shop.  It will give you 20% off any order through the 1st of November.  So here's your treat.  The only trick is that there's only one of each item in the shop as they're all handmade, so you need to be the first to order if there's something you want.

Happy Halloween everybody!





One of the heart mobiles in my Etsy shop.

Putting Dishwasher Tablets to the Test

I have a busy family with kids.  The last thing that I want to be spending a lot of time on is the dishes.  I love my dishwasher, but I've realized that which tablets we use can make a big difference on how well it works.  I've tried out a lot of different types of dishwasher tablets.  My resounding favorite is Fairy (especially their platinum tablets).  Dishes get cleaner; the dishwasher seems cleaner; my glasses get that commercial clean sparkle.  I've tried lots of tablets, but I always seem to come back to Fairy.

For my more in-depth comparison of Asda smart price dishwasher tablets, Finish quantum powerball dishwasher tablets, and Fairy Platinum tablets, click here.

The Romsey Show



Romsey Show 2011
(photo of steam locomotive on the left taken by Jared Withington; I took the tractor pictures on the right. Everyone loved the shiny red Porsche tractor, but I really liked seeing the steam-punk looking machinery on the antique farm vehicles.)

It's not exactly shopping, but the Romsey Show was a great day out.  There was just so much to see and do for all age groups and interests.  Just a few of the attractions we enjoyed were:

• the livestock.  Farmers were there with sheep, cows, goats, all types of birds, etc.  There was also a bat hospital and falconry group, as well as equestrian displays (including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs performed on horseback.)
• the local food.  You could sample and buy everything from local watercress burgers to wild boar sausages.
• the arts and crafts.  The Romsey Art Group had an exhibition there, and many other craftspeople had beautiful products on show (and sale) ranging from hand-woven clothes to ceramics to handmade beeswax candles.
• the antique and farm vehicles.  My kids especially loved seeing the diggers, tractors, and old fire engines.

If you're in the Hampshire area, I think the Romsey Show is a family day out worth the money.

For more pictures from our visit to the Romsey Show, click here.

Huggies Newborn Nappies

As I have three kids (currently aged 5, 3, and 4 months), I've changed a lot of nappies in the past half decade.  I've learned something from being a parent.  Not all nappies are created equal.  (If you're confused at this point: in the UK it's a nappy; in the US it's a diaper.)  You would think that once you found the right size it wouldn't matter, but actually there's a whole range of companies, and each company has different styles (baby dry, active fit, etc.).

As a member of a parenting club, we were given vouchers for Huggies newborn nappies.  Normally I buy Pampers, but I figured it was worth using the vouchers and trying them out.  Bad choice.  I honestly can't believe how useless these nappies are.

Pretty much every time my baby wears one of these nappies, it leaks.  If he does a poo (just one--we're not talking about prolonged wear here), it leaks out the legs, up the back, or up his tummy (or sometimes, very impressively, all three).  If he does a big enough pee, the whole nappy just leaks.  The wetness just kind of oozes through the nappy itself and he ends up soaked.  If it sounds gross, that's because it is.

My advice?  Even if you're given money off vouchers, it's worth the extra 50P to buy Pampers.

Flash Cleaners

With three young kids, I have a lot of cleaning to do.  I've learned that not all cleaners are created equal.  Some cleaners don't seem to be any more effective than a bottle of water, while others make cleaning a lot easier.  The best all-around cleaner that I've found are Flash sprays.  They really do work.

For more about why I love Flash cleaners, click here.
To visit the official Flash website, click here.

The Portrait Company in Alresford, Hants, UK

I remember having family portraits done when I was about twelve.  The whole family got dressed up and went in to a portrait studio.  There we were forced to stand in rigid poses in front of very fake backdrops as a few group shots were taken.  The results looked really stilted and, needless to say, I look awful in them.

Luckily family portraits have come a long way since then.  Now that I'm a mother, we've gone in several times to The Portrait Company in Alresford, Hants (about 20 minutes from Winchester).  Located in a beautiful old building, the Portrait Company specializes in modern portraits.  All of their pictures are taken with a white background and are less formal.  They let families play together and snap pictures from a variety of angles.  This works really well with kids as they're much happier being allowed to play.

We had a great time having portraits there, and really loved the results.  You come back to see your pictures and they give you a showing with the pictures up on a big screen.  They're also happy to come up with custom designs and groupings if you talk to them.  The whole experience and the finished portraits are really great.  The only down side is that they are quite pricey, so be sure to set yourself a budget in advance.  Also, they do not offer any pictures on CD, only printed and framed.

For more about my experiences with The Portrait Company, click here.
To visit the Portrait Company's official website, click here.

Britax Evolva 1-2-3 Carseat

I'll be brief.
I love this carseat.

We have a Britax Evolva for our daughter.  It's a grow-with-you style so it will last them for a long time.  It's super safe, comfortable, and practical.

To find out more about the Britax Evolva 1-2-3 carseat, click here or here.http://www.britax.co.uk/
(The Britax Evolva is similar to the Britax carseat shown.)

My AA Nightmare

I have heard it said that one mistake can ruin a hundred rights.

If AA had only made one mistake, I would have forgiven them.  Unfortunately there were way more mistakes than that.  I'll explain.

Having a car with a lot of miles and young children, we decided to get breakdown coverage.  We went with AA--even though they weren't the cheapest--because they were the most widely known and respected company.

We had a few small events where we called them out (car in the driveway wouldn't start, etc.) and they were fine.  Then came the event where we really needed them.  We had car problems and were forced to pull over on the motorway (interstate).  We were in a dangerous position and forced to wait by the side of the road with our baby and toddler.

We called AA and were assured that we were a high priority and help was on its way.  Unfortunately, we waited for hours for help to come.  AA blatantly lied to us every time that we spoke with them and never followed through with the actions they promised.  When a tow truck finally came, the operator was very rude and abusive to us.  After being stranded out for hours and hours, AA finally told us to get a taxi and that they would reimburse us for the cost.  They never reimbursed us.  They never really apologized to us.  The whole experience was awful, and it lost AA my business.

To read my full experience, click here.

The Knoxville Museum of Art

These are three pieces of artwork photographed on display in the Knoxville Museum of Art.

The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) is a fairly small art museum.  However, it has a nice modern building in a great downtown location.  With free admission it's a great Knoxville attraction that should be especially enjoyed by locals.  I really enjoy the KMA because it showcases a variety of artwork (usually including Southern artists, including artists from the Knoxville area) and is a really friendly museum that encourages you to think of it as your art museum.

To find out more about why I love the Knoxville Museum of Art, click here.
If you're interested in visiting the KMA, click here for their official website.

The Sixty One: A Music Adventure Website Review

The music world has changed and become digital.  I can remember having records and a record player as a kid.  Then I progressed through tapes and CDs.  Now everything's digital, and most of my music comes from ITunes straight to my computer.  With this transformation, there are a lot of music websites.

My absolute favorite music website has got to be The Sixty One.  It's a great site.  You can listen to music on it (the whole songs, for free, with no ads).  You can join and create your own playlists.  You also have the option of buying and downloading the songs.  I really like that there are a lot of smaller, undiscovered musicians on there and so you can always discover someone new to enjoy.

For more of why I love The Sixty One, click here.
To visit The Sixty One and get hooked on this site yourself, click here.

Ganger Farm



We picked these gooseberries at Ganger Farm and used them to make gooseberry jam.

I can't believe that it's already June.  Somehow spring has disappeared and it's summertime.  There are so many things to love about summertime.  One thing that seems to catch me by surprise every year, though, is how much better food tastes.  Fruits and vegetables taste best when they're fresh and in season, and so many delicious foods are ready to harvest over the summertime.

Foods are best if they're eaten soon after picking, so one of my family's favorite summer time activities is to go to a nearby farm, pick our own fruit and vegetables, and then come home and eat delicious food.  We normally go to Ganger Farm.  It's fairly local, has a good variety of fruit and vegetables, and is competitively priced.  It's also just a really pleasant place to be.  If you happen to live in Hampshire, England, then I recommend giving Ganger Farm a visit.  If you live somewhere else in the world, I hope you can find a pick your own farm near you to visit.

For my longer description of Ganger Farm, click here
To visit Ganger Farm's official website and get up-to-date information about what fruits and vegetables are available at their pick your own, click here.

Culpeper Aloe Vera Bath Foam

I was introduced to Culpeper bath products by the New Park Manor Hotel.  Their complimentary bath products were made by Culpeper, and I absolutely fell in love with the company's products during my stay.

The Culpeper Aloe Vera Bath Foam is one of my favorite shower/bath products.  It smells great (very aloe like and natural, but also smelling very fresh, clean and appealing).  It cleans well but gently, and is good for even the most sensitive skin.  I use it as a body wash as well.  I love it.

Sadly, though, I've just found out that the company Culpeper is under administration.  I'm really disappointed by this news as they created fabulous products.  If you can still get your hands on any of Culpeper's bath products (especially the aloe vera bath foam), snatch them up while you can.  Also, keep your fingers crossed that the company doesn't go completely under.

The Dixie Stampede

Picture taken by Jared Withington at Dollywood (another of Dolly Parton's attractions in Pigeon Forge) near the Dixie Stampede

I love the Dixie Stampede.  Yes, it's kind of cheesy and expensive.  It's also a lot of fun and guaranteed to bring out your Southern Pride (especially if--like me--you are actually from the South).  It's also great family entertainment.  My kids LOVED it and I'd definitely bring them back.

If you've never heard of the Dixie Stampede, it's basically a dinner/entertainment extravaganza with horse stunts, musical numbers, and more.

The Dixie Stampede is essentially a dinner theater, and serves southern country cooking.  For examples of the type of food served at the Dixie Stampede or to cook your own Dixie meal, check out one of Dolly's cook books, like this one: Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter and Lots of Good Food.

Click here to read my article about The Dixie Stampede (Pigeon Forge, TN location).
To book tickets or find out more, visit the official Dixie Stampede website.

Boarhunt Recovery

Having your car break down is a frustrating and sometimes dangerous experience anyway, but it's even worse when you have young children with you.  To make a long story short, my family was in a situation where our car broke down while we were driving on the motorway (freeway).  We were stuck on the small area by the side of the road with our young kids.  Having breakdown cover, we called and assumed that we would get rescued quickly.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be an absolute nightmare.  The people at Boarhunt Rescue & Recovery were mean and rude to the point of being abusive.  We were stuck waiting for hours before being dumped in a parking lot somewhere (still not knowing what was wrong with our car and still not having a way to get it to a garage/mechanic to get it checked out).  The experience was so bad that I still shudder and cringe every time that I pass a Boarhunt vehicle.  This was hands down the single worst experience that I have ever had as a customer.

In short: If you live in Southern England, and your car breaks down, do not call Boarhunt for help.  Just about anything else is a better alternative.  Be aware that they are an affiliate of the AA.  If the AA tries to send them out to help you, refuse and politely insist on an actual AA vehicle (their rescue vehicle drivers have--in my experience--always been friendly and helpful).

To find out more about my experience with Boarhunt Rescue & Recovery, click here.
To visit Boarhunt's company website and find out what they have to say for themselves, click here.

Schwarzkopf Live Colour XXL Mystic Violet Hair Dye

I have dyed my hair a lot over the years.  I was blessed with naturally thick and strong hair that can put up with a lot of abuse, and it's been through a lot of hair styles.  One of my favorite hair colors is purple (ranging from bright purple to more subtle darker hues).  Normally I love Schwarzkopf hair products, and I've used almost all of the colors in their Live range.  So I tried out the Schwarzkopf Live Color XXL Mystic Violet Hair Dye (permanent dye to use at home).

To make a long story short, the dye was terrible. (To read the long story about using this dye, click here.)  I was really disappointed in it.  Although I'll keep using Schwarzkopf products, I won't buy the mystic violet hair dye again.

Yellow Dot Nursery in Ampfield, Hants, UK

If you're a parent, then you know how difficult it can be to find good childcare and find the right educational match for your kids. 

Yellow Dot is a small group of nurseries and kindergartens in Hampshire, southern England.  They are known for their very high standards (excellent Ofsted ratings and government awards, and long waiting lists because of good word-of-mouth reviews by parents). 

In Ampfield, a small area nestled between Romsey and Hursley, there is a Yellow Dot Nursery.  They have a baby room, a toddler room, a transition room, and a kindergarten (for preschool aged children).  They have great facilities and a high standard of child care. 

I was impressed from my very first visit there.  To read more about my initial visit to Yellow Dot Nursery, click here.


Both of my children later regularly attended Yellow Dot in Ampfield.  They both loved it there.  My oldest daughter is now in school, but she still talks about how much she loved Yellow Dot.  I have nothing but praise for their work with children.  My only complaints that I've had with them are with the woman in charge of finances (she was unreliable and frequently made mistakes on our bills, etc.).

Click here to visit the official Yellow Dot website (for all Yellow Dot locations, including the nursery in Ampfield).

Nando's in Eastleigh, Hants, UK

My family first went to Nando's about two years ago for the "soft opening" of their Eastleigh location.  We were really impressed by them then, and have continued to enjoy going there since.  They have a good atmosphere, delicious affordable food, and a convenient location.  This is definitely my favorite place to stop for a quick meal in Eastleigh.

Click here to visit the official Nando's website.

Plum Fromage Frais

Plum is a company that makes high-end organic baby food.  Their foods are tasty (I like snacking on them along with my kids) and very nutritious. 

Their fromage frais pots come in great flavors full of natural ingredients that help to aid digestion.  They are delicious, healthy, and perfect for weaning kids.  They do cost about twice what I would normally pay for fromage frais, but they are a very good product.

Click here to find out more about Plum Fromage Frais, or visit the official Plum website.

Ecolibrium Paint

I'll be really straightforward.  I love Ecolibrium's paints.  I used their interior wall paints.  They have a great range of beautiful colors (think nature tones, but a wide variety), and were really easy to use (we did our own redecorating).  They are safer and greener than just about any other paint in the market.  Several months later, I still love the way the paint looks. 

If you're doing some painting inside your home or office, I highly recommend Ecolibrium paints.  I would definitely buy them again.

To find out more about why I like Ecolibrium paints, click here.
To visit the Ecolibrium website and view their full range of products, click here.

No 7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream

I should probably begin by saying that I do not normally use a night cream.  I don't consistently use any face cream.  However, as I'm  prone to dry skin, I was happy to try out No7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream from Boots.

The cream comes in a nice little plastic pot, is a generic white color and creamy texture, and has a cosmeticsy smell (slightly old lady-ish, but not strong).  I tried putting a little on my face at night.  Overall I have to say that I did not notice any significant difference from using it.  The Protect & Perfect Night Cream did not rub particularly well into my skin, and my skin was still dry after using it.  I don't think it absorbed very well.  It also didn't seem to help with wrinkles, bags, skin irritations, etc.  Basically it was the same as not using it, only my skin felt a bit greasier after applying it.

I would not buy this product.

Disclaimer: I was given a sample pot of No7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream with some other cosmetics from Boots.  I do not have any relationship with Boots and this post is based on my opinion. 

Asda Brand Laundry Products

Like most people these days, I've thought about ways to save money on my weekly shopping and household costs.  Having a family we create a lot of laundry, and so use a lot of laundry products.  I usually buy the name-brand products.  In an effort to save some money, I decided to try out Asda brand laundry products and compare.

First off, the Asda brand products were cheaper when both the Asda items and name brand items were at their normal prices.  However, the name brand products like Persil and Comfort often go on offer so that the price difference is not as great.

I tried out the cheap Asda brand stain spray, non-bio laundry detergent, and fabric softener.

The stain spray smelled bad and didn't remove stains.  The loads without any stain spray at all were cleaned equally with the ones using stain spray, so that was a total waste of money.

The non-bio laundry detergent did not get our clothes as clean as the name brand alternatives.  Also, my daughter has eczema and her skin was irritated by the clothes washed with the Asda laundry powder.

The fabric softener didn't soften our clothes nearly as much as name brand softener.  This means that our clothes/towels/etc. were left rough to the touch which, again, irritated my daughter's skin (and didn't feel nice for any of us).

So here's my prognosis: Asda's brand laundry products are not worth the small amount of money I saved using them.  I'll stick to Persil and Comfort in the future.

To find out more about my experiences using Asda brand laundry products, click here.

Stain Spray Trial: Shout Vs. Wizz

I'm clumsy and I have little kids.  We have a lot of dirty laundry, including a wide range of stains from mud and grass to spilled food and smudged paint and craft supplies.  So I tried out two different brands of stain removal spray on my families laundry: Shout and Wizz.

Both the sprays cost about the same amount at supermarkets, and both are the same to use.  The results, though, were different.  I definitely preferred the Shout spray.  It got clothes cleaner without discoloring clothes, whereas the Wizz bleached some clothes and left stains in others.

To get more details about my comparative trials of Shout and Wizz stain sprays on my family's laundry, click here.

Danone Shape Yogurts

When I go grocery shopping, there's a whole huge aisle of yogurts and other diary products (and replacement dairy products, like soy yogurt) to choose from.  Finding the yogurt that is both what you want and tastes good can be difficult.

If you are looking for a fat free yogurt that is also low in carbs and sugars, I recommend Danone's Shape Yogurts.  They have a nice creamy consistency (I hate when low-fat yogurts seem all slimy or runny) and taste pretty good.  I don't like that they have aspartame in them, but otherwise they're pretty good.

To read more about Danone Shape Yogurts, click here, or you can click here to visit the Danone website.

HOTmilk Maternity & Nursing Bras

As a mother, I know first-hand that finding good maternity and nursing bras can be difficult.  Even companies that normally make good bras often have a really poor selection of maternity/nursing bras.

HOTmilk is a company that only makes maternity/nursing items, especially lingerie and nightwear.  Their bras are really attractive, supportive, and functional.  These are by far the best maternity and nursing bras that I've ever tried.

The only downside is that their range currently only goes up to an H cup.  However, they're a relatively new company and their range seems to get bigger each season.

To read my review of HOTmilk's Cherry Bomb Chic lingerie set, click here.
To visit HOTmilk's website and see their full current range, click here.

Wet Wipe Wars: Asda's Own Brand Vs. Name Brand

Having young kids, we get through a lot of wet wipes.  I've learned that they are ideal not only for changing diapers/nappies, but are also great for wiping dirty hands/faces, cleaning items around the house, etc.  I used them all the time.

I decided to compare the name brand wipes (specifically Huggies and Pampers) with Asda store brand wipes.

Overall I have to say that I was pretty impressed by how well the cheaper store brand wipes held up against the name brand competition.  I'll still buy the name brand wipes if they're on offer for the same price, but otherwise I'm happy to use the Asda brand wipes.

To read my longer comparison between Asda's brand and name brand wet wipes, click here.

Rennie Soft Chews Antacid

Finding a good heartburn medication can be difficult.  Most taste disgusting or have a gross texture, and/or they just don't provide effective relief.

Being about 8 months pregnant, I've been suffering from a lot of heartburn lately.  I've tried pretty much every over-the-counter heartburn medication that is suitable for use during pregnancy, as well as trying lots of homeopathic heartburn remedies.

So what's my verdict on Rennie Soft Chews?

Overall they are a good heartburn treatment.  They provide fast relief and eating them is like having a chewy mint.  The relief doesn't last forever, but it does last longer than the effects of Tums, for example.

There are only two downsides to Rennie Soft Chews.  The first is that they contain a small amount of tar.  Yes tar.  Disgusting, right?  The second problem is, I think, caused by the tar in them.  Rather than going stale, if you don't use them quickly the chews go a weird gooey consistency.

To read my longer evaluation of Rennie Soft Chews for Heartburn, click here.

Comparing Crayola Markers: Flip Top Vs. Super Washable

My kids, especially my now four-year-old, love to draw and do arts & crafts.  We go through a lot of art supplies in our house, especially markers.  I put two different varieties of Crayola markers to the testL Flip-Top and Super Washable.

The Flip-Top markers have an attached lid so that you can't lose the lid.  This means that they tend to last longer and be less messy because you always know where the lid is.  The attached lid bugged my kids at first, but they quickly got used to it.  The Flip-Top markers are washable, and really do wash out of clothes.

The Super Washable markers are, true to their name, super washable.  It's almost impossible to stain something with them.  However, they smear way more than other Crayola markers.  They ended up being actually messier because it just wiped off on everything (especially toddler hands/face/arms/clothes).

I definitely preferred the Flip Top markers to the Super Washable.

To find out more about my comparitive test of the two varieties of Crayola markers, click here.

True Story About A Moses Basket

When my daughter was born, we bought her a beautiful Moses basket from Babies R Us.  We bought it in a really cute style with pink coverings and blankets.  As the Moses Basket cover was removable, we bought the one that we liked and figured we could always get a different one later if needed.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years.  My husband and I are expecting our third kid, and this time we're having a little boy.  As my due date is rapidly approaching, we've been getting baby things ready.  Over the weekend we pulled out our Moses Basket and stand as they're still in great condition.  As we had gotten them at Babies R Us, we decided to go there first to get a new Moses Basket Mattress and Moses Basket covers. 

In Babies R Us, we browsed for quite a long time looking at baby things and especially looking for the Moses Basket item we needed.  We were never approached by an employee or offered help.  Even when we waited at the desk, no one ever came to help us.  Eventually we managed to hunt down an employee only to find out that their Moses Basket mattresses were out of stock, and they don't sell Moses Basket Covers.  She recommended that we just buy a new basket.

So we went across the street to Mothercare and bought a new Moses Basket mattress for £25.  They only sell one size mattress, so we assumed it was standard.  Unfortunately, as soon as we got home we discovered that the mattress did not fit into the bed that we have.  We returned it and--from the comments made by the saleslady--it seems this is a common occurence there.

Mothercare also does not sell Moses Basket covers seperately from the Moses Basket.  However, they point out that the covers are removable so that you can wash them.  What do all of these companies think you're going to put on your baby's bed while washing their bedding?  Doesn't it occur to them that you need an extra cover for when that one's been puked/peed/spilled on and needs washing?

Having failed at Mothercare, we looked at Babies R Us again.  When we looked closely at the labels on the Moses Baskets and Moses Basket Mattresses, we made a startling discovery.  Babies R Us sells a selection of Moses Baskets.  They also sell individual Moses Basket Mattresses in more than one style.  However, their mattresses do not fit their baskets.  That's right.  The mattresses that come inside their baskets are a completely different size from the individual mattresses they sell.  If you buy a Moses Basket from Babies R Us, you can not later buy an extra or new mattress from them.  They don't sell them in corresponding sizes!

We finally found a mattress the right size at Mamas and Papas (where--novel concept--their Moses Baskets and mattresses come in matching sizes).  It was the same style of mattress, only in the right size.  Although I had expected Mamas and Papas to be more expensive, the Moses Basket mattress was actually cheaper at just £16 (plus they were having a 10% off sale that day).  However, Mamas and Papas does not sell extra Moses Basket liners either.

I looked on the internet and went through page after page of search results trying to find Moses Basket covers without a basket.  I found a few companies that sold really lacy, old-fashioned type covers that really aren't to my taste.  Otherwise all I could find were a few E-Bay vendors who sell them (usually for £15-£35).  The other common theme that I found in my searching were lots of parenting websites, family blogs, etc. with parents complaining about how ridiculous it is that you can't get spare covers for your Moses Basket.

In the end we decided that he's either going to have to have pink sides in his bed, or we're going to have to make our own.  I refuse to replace a perfectly good bed just because companies try to rip off parents and force them to buy an entirely new basket package every time they have a kid.

Zizzi Restaurant in Port Solent, Hants, UK

When eating out at an Italian restaurant, I've often been disappointed by the food.  I've often been served dried pasta like I could have gotten at the supermarket or fresh pasta that is thick and stodgy.  At Zizzi Restaurant, though, I was served exquisite Italian food.  Everything was made from fresh, high quality ingredients and cooked beautifully.

At the Port Solent location the restaurant is located right by the waterfront.  Diners have great views of the Port within a romantic atmosphere.  This is a great place for a date.

To read more about my visit to Zizzi Restaurant in Port Solent, click here.
To visit Zizzi's official website, click here.

Bravissimo

For bigger busted women, finding a good bra can be difficult.  Most stores only stock up to a DD, or at the very most an F in select ranges.  If you're bigger than that you're likely to either get bad fittings where sales ladies try to sell you bras that don't fit, or just have difficulties finding anything at all. 

The only option often left to women is to order their bras online.  My favorite company for ordering bras online is Bravissimo.  They only stock bras for bustier women.  Their stock begins with a D cup and goes up to a KK.  They have a good selection of bras ranging from the everyday to the sexy, to supportive sports wear and occasion wear.  They also sell some lingerie, swimwear, and a range of clothes designed to fit over bigger busts.  I've had only good experiences shopping with Bravissimo.

To find out more about why I like Bravissimo, click here, or visit their official website here.

Yeo Valley Organic Fruity Favourites Probiotic Yogurt

Going grocery shopping can get a bit overwhelming.  Just look at the dairy aisle.  There's shelf after shelf of yogurts and other related products to choose from.  I've tried some fantastic yogurts and some truly terrible ones.  Luckily, Yeo Valley yogurts are some of the good ones.  I really liked their fruity favourites probiotic yogurt.

To find out more about why I like Yeo Valley Organic Fruity Favourites Probiotic Yogurt, click here.
To visit the Yeo Valley Organic website, click here.

Quorn Ready Meal: Chicken Style Pieces in Black Bean Sauce

If you're not familiar with Quorn, basically they're a vegetarian food.  They're made of a protein rich fungus (sounds gross, but in reality it's not that dissimilar from mushrooms) and come in all type of meat-alternative styles. 

Quorn also makes some ready meals.  Normally liking Quorn products, I gave their ready meal of chicken style pieces in black bean sauce a try.  And I immediately regretted it.  The food just wasn't good.  This product definitely gets the thumbs down from me.

To read my longer review of Quorn Ready Meal: Chicken Style Pieces in Black Bean Sauce, click here.
To visit the official Quorn website, click here.

Respectful Eggs

Awareness has recently increased regarding the condition of chicken farms and what type of eggs people are using.  One company that has been at the forefront of changing and improving farming methods and animal welfare is Respectful Eggs.  As you can guess by the name, the idea is to respect the environment, the animals, and the customers.  The result of this philosophy is a carbon-neutral company with free range farms and happy customers.  Their eggs are way better than battery (or barn) eggs.

To read more about Respectful Eggs, click here.
To visit the official Respectful Eggs website, click here.

You can buy Respectful Eggs within the UK at ASDA and Budgen.

No. 7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make-up Remover

No. 7 is the high-end range of cosmetics and beauty products produced by Boots.  I have had good experiences with some of the products in the range, but I was unfortunately very disappointed by the Cleanse & Care Eye Make-Up Remover.  To put it simply, it doesn't remove eye make-up.  I tried it with several varieties of concealer, mascara, eye shadow and eye liner, and it did not effectively remove any of them.  It just left my with greasy skin and panda eyes.  I'll definitely be trying a different brand of make-up remover in the future.

To read my full review of No. 7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make-Up Remover from Boots, click here.
To view the description of No. 7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make-Up Remover on Boots' website, click here.

VO5 Extreme Style Rework Fiber Putty

What can I say about VO5's Extreme Style Rework Fiber Putty?

To put it simply, I love it.  For short hair styles it is by far my favorite hair styling product.  It works, it's easy to use, it's relatively affordable, and it doesn't make your hair disgusting.

To find out more about why I love VO5's Extreme Style Rework Fiber Putty, click here.

Soothing Lavender Baby Salve by Green People

I really like and respect the company Green People.  Their founding has a nice family story, and I believe that they really are committed to producing only organic and gentle products.  If you're worried about exposing your baby to unnecessary chemicals or irritating their skin with soaps, then you can know that Green People will be only gentle and natural.

The Soothing Lavender Baby Salve smells (surprise) lavendery, but not overwhelmingly so.  It does have a slightly greasy consistency, but will rub into the skin alright.  On general areas of dry or irritated skin (drooled on chins, dry elbows, etc.) I found it to be pretty effective.  Although it says it can be used for diaper rash as well, I did not have any success using it for diaper rash with my baby.

For more information about Green People's Soothing Lavender Baby Salve, click here.
To visit Green People's website and view this and other organic baby products, click here.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg, TN)

I love aquariums, and my favorite aquarium that I've visited is Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.  It's peaceful, interesting, full of fun family features, and generally offers a great day out.  This is one of the best attractions in Gatlinburg (other than the beautiful landscape).


To find out more about Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, click here to read an article (by me) about them, or click here to visit their official website.

T.G.I. Friday's (Gatlinburg, TN)

The Smoky Mountains are a beautiful area, and the National Park and surrounding towns are a popular tourist spot.  One of the main touristy towns near The Smokies is Gatlinburg.  One of the restaurants in Gatlinburg's is a branch of the restaurant chain T.G.I. Friday's.

In my experience, the restaurant is easily accessible and fairly family friendly.  The food is edible but not particularly good, and kind of pricey.  Also, although the service is better than I anticipated, the restaurant itself is in need of a good cleaning.

To visit the official T.G.I. Friday's website, click here.
To read more about my experience at the Gatlinburg, TN location of T.G.I. Friday's, click here.

Hammerite Rust Removal Gel

Rust can be awful.  It can ruin metal items and stain non-metal items, and it's difficult to get rid of and repair. 
There is, however, a product that really can help.  Hammerite Rust Removal Gel really does give great results.  Now, it's not magic, so it can't repair all of the damage already done by severe rust.  It can thoroughly remove the rust though, and gives far better results than I ever expected.

To read more about my experience using Hammerite Rust Removal Gel, click here.
To buy Hammerite Rust Removal Gel from Halfords, click here.

The Waterfront Restaurant (Perranporth, Cornwall, UK)

Cornwall is a beautiful part of the country, and Perranporth has a beautiful sandy beach and cute town.  If you're in Perranporth, it's worth visiting The Waterfront Restaurant.  We walked in because of it's location (right by the beach), but I would go back because the food was really good.

To find out more about the Waterfront Restaurant, click here or here.

Review of Frankie & Benny's Restaurant (Southampton, Hants, UK location)

Frankie & Benny's is a chain of restaurants in England that describe themselves as "a New York Italian Restaurant & Bar".  Obviously they are influenced by American and Italian flavors and dishes, but the restaurant is obviously influenced by its English location as well.  The restaurant itself is OK.  The food is nothing memorable or spectacular, but it's edible.  They often run family deals (kids eat free, etc.), so it's a convenient place to stop if you're having a family day out.  This is not somewhere that I'd plan to go to again though.

To read more about my dining experience at Frankie & Benny's, click here.
To visit Frankie & Benny's official website, click here.

Pampers vs. Huggies

The great diaper debate:
Every parent knows that babies get through a LOT of diapers before they potty train, and every parent knows that not all diapers are created equal.  Everyone has their own opinion over which type is best: reusable or disposable, name versus store brand, standard versus "eco", etc.  I'm not going to discuss all of these different options.

I will tell you, though, about my experience trying out the two major brands of diapers on my kids.  If you put Pampers and Huggies in a boxing rink together, Pampers would be the one pumping his fists in victory and Huggies would be the bloody heap on the mat.  In pretty much every way possible, I've had better experiences with Pampers diapers than with Huggies.

To read a longer review (by me) about why Pampers are better than Huggies, click here.

Abuelo's Food Embassy

In my last post, I mentioned a fantastic Knoxville restaurant that offers great food for vegetarians.  Today's post has the flip side of that coin.  Abuelo's Food Embassy is a Mexican Restaurant located in Farragut (a West Knox suburb).  If you're a vegetarian, this is a restaurant to avoid.  Pretty much the only vegetarian item they serve is the salsa!

To read more about my visit to Abuelo's, click here.
To visit the Abuelo's website, click here.

Tomato Head Restaurant in Knoxville, TN

the Sunsphere in downtown Knoxville (near Tomato Head)

Being vegetarian, I've had my fair share of going to restaurants that expect me to just eat side orders or have a salad (specially ordered since all of their salads come with meat in them).  Some restaurants, though, serve fantastic vegetarian food that appeals to everyone--vegetarians and meat eaters alike.  One of these restaurants is The Tomato Head in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Tomato Head is located in central Knoxville in vibrant Market Square.  The restaurant is small but inviting with a patio area out front.  Their food is inventive and addictively delicious.  Just thinking about it makes me wish that I had one of Tomato Head's fantastic vegetarian sandwiches right now.  If you're in the Knoxville area, I highly recommend stopping for a meal at Tomato Head.

To visit Tomato Head's official webpage, click here.
To read my longer review of Tomato Head's Knoxville location, click here.

Kroger Ice Cream

I admit that my biggest junk-food vice is ice cream.  I love ice cream: always have, always will.  As an ice cream lover, I've sampled dozens (probably hundreds) of variations of ice cream.  There are a lot of good ice creams available out there.  If you're looking for a good store-brand ice cream, though, one brand stands out.  Kroger makes by far the best store brand ice cream that I've ever had.  It's cheaper than name brand ice creams, but just as good.  They have a lot of different flavors and varieties available as well.

This is a product that I definitely recommend.  I know I'll buy Kroger ice cream again. (and again and again.)

For a more in-depth review of Kroger brand ice cream, click here.
To visit the official Kroger website, click here.

Welcome

Welcome to the Honest Shopper!

Hi.  My name is Keri.  I'm an ordinary person.  I work from home as a freelance journalist.  My husband and I have two (soon to be three) kids.  Being a parent, I've realized that people--and especially families--need a lot of stuff.  When I'm going to buy something for the first time (especially a big purchase), I often Google it first or look at product reviews online.  I find it frustrating when I can't find any reviews of something that I'm considering buying.  I find it even more frustrating when the reviews that I find are obviously planted by the companies and aren't legitimate or honest.

So welcome to my Honest Shopper site.  This website's only purpose is to have product reviews and other product/shopping information.  I will only write reviews of products that my family has actually tried.  I promise to be honest about both good and bad products. 

I hope this site will be helpful to all of you.