Cereal Wars: Asda Store Brand Vs Name Brand

Grocery shopping gets expensive.  If you're like me and trying to feed a family, then it can be worth it to try to save any money you can by buying the knock-off brands.  Sometimes the knock-off brands taste like cheap knock-off brands.  Sometimes they surprise me with their quality.

Asda (the UK extension of Wal-Mart) has a wide range of their own store brand cereals.  The packaging isn't always as fancy as the name brands, but I wondered how the product compared.  Asda has its own version of every major cereal (Cheerios, Rice Crispies, etc.).

I'm not going to say that every Asda cereal tastes as good as the real thing or that you won't be able to tell the difference.  However, at about half the price of name brand cereals, they actually hold up pretty well when you compare them.

To read my article  comparing Asda brand cereals and name brand cereals, click here.

PS-This is my 50th post!

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.