Toffee Dodgers - A review

It didn't take much persuading when we were offered the chance to review the latest offering from the Burton's Dodger family - the Toffee Dodgers.  Now I have to say, I have been a massive fan of Jammie Dodgers for a long, long, time and they are always the biscuits I home in on at kids parties.  So, would the toffee dodgers meet my exacting standards??  More importantly, what would the kids think??

When we first opened the packet, we were hit by a very strong caramel toffee smell - first bite and the lovely crumbly base that you get with the Jammie dodgers is there and then you hit the sticky toffee.   Now I have to be honest and say that for me they didn't quite hit the spot, it was a very strange sort of toffee taste although the texture was spot on.   I would almost describe it as a burnt toffee taste.

The kids on the other hand, LOVED them!!! 

Here is what Mandy Bobrowski the Marketing Manager at Burton’s Foods has to say ‘Dodgers are a well loved family treat and we wanted to offer families more choice. Toffee Dodgers brings a whole new flavour to the range and we hope that kids love it as much as we do. The new packaging will run across the range and there will be other additions in the future.’

What is fab is that the design has the cut away heart and you can cut the biscuits in half to lick the toffee filling out.  In fact, does anyone NOT eat dodgers in this way??

Packaging:                            8/10 (it's new, it's slick)

Value for Money:                  8/10

Taste:                                   5/10 me, 6/10 HAW, and 10/10 the Kids!

Peace and Love

S.A.M xx

Buggysnuggle

There are some products that should be handed out to all parents on the way out of the hospital.  The all new design Buggysnuggle is one of them!

The new design Buggysnuggle, a footmuff for pushchairs. Fits almost all pushchairs, comes in 40+ fabric designs, is very easy to fit, the top can be zipped off for use in warmer weather and the zips open at the bottom allowing muddy feet to stick out.

I have been a fan since I inherited one from my sister in law about seven years ago which has stood the test of time on all my buggies across the world.  It had been skiing in the alps, hot to trot in the Maldives (obviously unzipped) and on numerous trips out and about.  It was admittedly getting a bit grubby so when we were offered the chance to review the all new design Buggysnuggle, I jumped at the chance.

We were sent the funky cow design which suited my little moo very well!  It also went beautifully with my Mountain Buggy which any style conscious mother wants.   Pixie was so excited and couldn't wait to get into her buggy:

We have been road testing this now for around 3 weeks.  Everything about it is great from the lovely, soft fur (faux of course) but the biggest improvement from the original  is the fact that the zip opens at the bottom so muddy feet can stick out!  This was something that used to really grate me about the old style design, but even if it does get muddy it is washable and quick drying which is an absolute must if you are a heavy buggy user.

 I also LOVE the new addition of a hand warmer pocket at the front although Pixie has been using this to put her toy phone and dolly in.

The buggysnuggle comes in several different designs from hearts and flowers to stars and stripes and you can now accessorise with matching hats and blankets.  They are also nice and roomy and easy to fit on all sorts of buggies thanks to the elasticated back and one size fits all strap insertions.

I'll leave the final word to Pixie - when I asked her what she thought about her new buggysnuggle, this is waht she did :

*MWAH* and that gets my seal of approval!

Nip + Fab Shower Fix

I have fallen in love with the new Nip + Fab range, I have already reviewed the Tummy Fix which surely must be the closest you can get to a tummy tuck without the surgery.  Next up to be tested was the Nip+Fab Shower fix.

Here's what they say:

"A daily rich and indulgent shower oil which cleanses, nourishes and protects the skin’s natural moisture balance. It keeps skin soft and velvety smooth for longer with this rich and indulgent shower oil.  Enriched with gentle oils which cleanse, nourish and protect the skin’s natural moisture balance and toning, refreshing orange this delicious shower buddy also contains mandarin renowned for its ability to activate circulation and refine fine lines.  This original and unique texture is perfect for re-energising dry skin, leaving a satin-like softness all over the body"

So basically it cleans, protects, tones, refreshes, activates circulation and refines.  Phew, so did it do what it said on the tin? 

Firstly, expect the unexpected,  It's a totally different experience to any other shower gel I have used.  I think we are so conditioned to expecting a nice foamy lather that when you put this on (to dry skin is recommended) it is like using a body oil.  You then emulsify with water and it changes into a cream. It doesn't lather and it doesn't foam despite claiming that it does.

I really didn't like this as a shower gel as I love a good foamy lather up (the more bubbles the better) but HAW absolutely raved about it.  He loved the fact it hydrated his skin whilst cleansing.

However, there is one thing that I don't like that foams up - that is Shaving Foam.  I can't bear the mess, the texture, the scum in the bath, the fact you can't see where you are shaving but it's a necessity if you want to get a good clean shave in between seasons. (wax in Spring/Summer shave in Autumn/Winter, don't ask me why) 

I have suffered for years using shaving foam (ok, pinching HAW's) and if you use soap your end up with very scaly, dry legs.  In Nip + Fab Shower Fix I have found the perfect solution.  This is the PERFECT shaving oil for the legs and underarms.   It left my legs feeling silky, soft and the scent lingered for a fair few hours.   It also makes a lovely bath oil and as it emulsifies doesn't leave an oily film around the bath.

SAM Rating:

Branding/Packaging:  8/10 Great, clean, clinical with clear explanation

Smell: 8/10 Clean and fresh it lingered for a few hours

Consistency: 7/10 lovely oil that turns into a creme

Result: 3/10 as a shower gel 9/10 as a shaving oil or bath oil

 Likely to use again: Yes but not as a shower gel (HAW loves it though although I doubt he is the target market)
Would I recommend this product - as an alternative to shaving foam, absolutely.

Priced at £12.25 for 200ml you can buy this here Nip+Fab

Relax Kids - A Review....

The thing I love about twitter is that you quite literally tweet with people you don't know, have a quick 5 minute conversation and the foundation of a friendship is formed.  I have been tweeting with one such lovely lady, Marneta Viegas or @relaxkids for a while now and she asked me if I would like to review one of her CD's which aid relaxation and stress management techniques. 

Unfortunately for the boys, they both seem to have inherited my hot temper - HAW is so chilled out he is virtually horizontal, but I have always been a hot head and it seems as if the boys are set to follow.  As a grown up I have learnt to rein it in but asking a 7 and 4 year old to do the same is near on impossible.  

The CD introduces children to relaxation and stress management techniques by getting them to imagine that they are the characters in fairytales.  This CD has amongst others, Aladdin on his magical, flying carpet, Peter Pan and Jack and The beanstalk.    Each relaxation track is set to music and you absolutely must listen to Marneta's voice as it soothes the quickest of tempers.

Not only is it a good relaxation/calming down CD, it also has lots of positive affirmations which if you are listening at bedtime can't be a bad thing.  Where this CD has come into its own though for us, is on the school run.  We are always stressed and fraught in the mornings and to get into the car and put on the CD instantly calms everyone (but more so me!) and leads to us discussing how we are all feeling  and definitely helps the boys get into the right frame of mind for learning.

I have actually passed the CD onto a friend who is having dreadful problems with her son at bedtime.  He has been unable to "switch off" since starting school in September but after only 3 days of using the CD he is a different child and she is finding bedtimes relatively stress free.  Long may that continue.

Please have a look at Marenta's website here Relax Kids where you will find lots of free downloads and reviews.  She is also a fabulous, chatty tweeter and I am sure she would love to "tweet" you all.