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.