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.