Top tips for coping with babies and children with cold's #Competition

Autumn isn't quite upon us but, the horrible weather is and lets face it all those nasty bugs/viral infections are flying around like its party season. With that its inevitable that the colds are doing the rounds its horrible when you are suddenly struck down with a cold - you know the symptoms bungy nose, headaches, sore throats and aching bones, not to mention usually a cough and high temperature which lets face it can make you feel pretty unwell, so what do we do take to our beds? grab a bit of sympathy, take some paracetamol/Ibruprofen, walk the house at 4am cause your having a coughing fit you cant control, or grab a pint of water because your mouth is that dry you feel like you could drink the entire contents of the ocean and more alright so a slight exaggeration but you are probably thinking you know the feeling.

however for babies and children that cant talk, a cold can feel like the end of the world, they don't know that you have to blow your nose to clear it, or that in a few days they will probably start to feel better - a day for a young child is a lifetime an for an adult looking after a child with a cold 24 hours can seem like a lifetime and leave you looking around for those sticks to prop your eyelids open.

Im hoping this list will help you, although there is no cure for the common cold just having ways to manage them makes life so much easier so you can try and get at least get a few hours sleep and be able to function the next day.

• Drink Plenty - dont worry too much if your baby is off there dinners as long as they are drinking plenty for babies that are weaned offer you baby and extra bottle of milk or an extra feed on the breast if you are breast feeding, try and keep a cup with water, or diluted juice near by breathing through there mouths drys it out and will make them have a sore throat. with smaller babies you could try giving them a couple of ounces of water inbetween feeds to keep them.
• Rest - make sure if you little one needs to sleep, let them, as long as they are getting plenty of fluids inbetween.
• Raise the mattress - if your child has blocked nose, you can make their breathing easier by raising the pillow end of your child's bed or cot by putting books or bricks under the legs, or placing a pillow under the mattress (you shouldn't put anything under the mattress of a baby younger than one year old).
• Medicine - Liquid paracetamol and ibruprofen will keep temperatures at bay and will also ease there time when they are sleeping, make sure you follow all directions on the bottle

• Atmosphere - warm moist air can help with breathing and a blocked nose so you could take your child into the bathroom and run the tap or shower.
• Temperature - make sure the room they are sleeping in isn't too hot or stuffy keep clothing normal and use a thin sheet - also invest in a good thermometer this way you will have an accurate reading and if you notice there temperature is to high you can act. 
• Medical attention - Always seek advice from a doctor or medical professional if your child has any other worrying symptoms other than the cold it self also if you are unsure or worried better to get them checked than to leave it until they are worse.  

      Have you got any tips for treating a cold or anything you would like to share?

below there is a competition to win a £25 boots voucher so you can stock up on your, winter medication or save it for Christmas gifts the choice is yours enter via the rafflecopter below good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Please note that all entries will be checked against comments for validation).

The first entry on the rafflecopter form to leave a comment on the post is mandatory

All other steps on the rafflecopter form are optional. 

Only one entry form per person is allowed (however, you can tweet with the bonus click entry daily or use the free entry to increase your chances).

This giveaway is for UK residents only.

Once the Rafflecopter picks a winner, I will check if the winner has done what was requested and I will contact them, if they do not reply within 28 days, the prize will be allocated to another person.

The giveaway will begin on the 29/09/15 and will close on 19/10/15 at midnight.

Egg Muffins Slimming World style #Recipe

One of my new favorite recipes and only takes around 30 minutes to make egg muffins and I promise they are delicious.

What I made them with...

Ingredients

- 50ml skimmed milk (if you are doing slimming world don't forget to deduct the milk from your allowance)

- 4 Eggs

- 5 rashers of bacon with the fat removed

- 1 Red Pepper

- 4 medium button mushrooms

- Fry light

- Salt and pepper

- Preheated oven 160

Recipe

1. pour your milk into a measuring jug, then break the eggs into it and whisk thoroughly then set to one side.
2. chop up the bacon, mushrooms and peppers into small pieces
3. spray a frying pan with fry light, and lightly fry the peppers, mushrooms, and bacon
4. using a spoon distrabute the mixture evenly between six cake cases or the tin I used silicon cases.
5. pour the egg and milk mixture over each of the cases so that there is around the same amount in each, add salt and pepper if you wish. 
6. cook for around 20 minutes or until the top is browned 

This recipe is so easily adapted you could add different vegetables onions or more meat, gammon or sausage meat been as daring as you like and the recipe is really quick and easy these are great to add to a dinner or just for snacks throughout the day.

A guide to surviving teething

When you child starts to teeth, I think as a parent its just another thing to make them look cute, no more gummy smiles turning them from a toothless, potentially bald bundle of joy to a grinning single toothed adorable baby , so so cute, but in reality, Teething... is not so cute. Teething can be a hard time in a babies life and in yours as a parent.

Children cannot communicate how they feel, all they know is that they have constant toothache even though they actually have no idea what teeth are. Jack seems to be having lots of pain whilst cutting his first few teeth, while my other two boys seemed to breeze through the teething stage without a care in the world, all children cope with this stage differently, If your baby and you are feeling the pain, here are some strategies for helping them through the teething months and some tips on different ways to soothe their pain so you don't have to resort to drinking some sort of alcohol through the day or tearing your hair out! 

Most babies get their first set of two front teeth from 4 months to 7 months, but as with everything this varies from child to child. The first four teeth to come through are generally at the top and at the bottom - the incisors. however again this differs from baby to baby and tooth to tooth. 
Your child will get used to the pain so their first one may be an complete ordeal for them but once they recognise the pain with the second tooth they normally don't feel so bad! At around one year old the molars appear these located at the back of the mouth. these generally cause quite a bit of pain and your child may suffer quite badly, however again each child is different. The last set of teeth to come, are the fang type ones, the canines. Every child grows a set of twenty teeth. These will start to fall out around the age of six and another set will grow. 

The most pain your child will suffer when teething is actually before their teeth appear, This means they can be in a lot of pain for a little while, while you are trying to work out why your baby has become so upset and unsettled all of a sudden. Here are some of the signs that there teeth are maybe on the way, the tricky part of this stage in a child s life is there is no single set of teething symptoms.

Teething signs and symptoms

• You may notice that your baby is crying or moaning a bit more, they can't seem to settle, or seem a little poorly and irritable.
• They are dribbling more excessively. This can vary, just a little bit of extra saliva than normal, or a drastic flood of saliva, so much so they need a bib on 24/7 and their little chins are all red raw from being constantly wet.

• Their little cheeks might be a bit pinker than usual or in some cases bright red.

• They may be trying to bite, chew, and suck on everything they can get her hands on including there own hand

• They become ill - cold, runny nose, temperature. I know some of my friends children have been really poorly whilst teething, yet some just get a bit of a cold.
• Not sleeping. Waking through the night crying and being unable to settle back down to sleep.
• If you notice several of these symptoms together, it's more likely that teething is to blame, but there's always the chance that it could be something else.

How too soothe a teething baby,

There are a mass amount of products on the market for teething babies these are some that I have used for my children.

• Pain relief drugs: Paracetamol and/or Nurofen. As with all medication, make sure you check the dosage on the specific product and give the correct amount to the age of your child, if in doubt don't be afraid to get advice from a trained medical professional and if you exceed a dose seek medical attention immediately.

• Distraction: Try to distract a fussy, teething baby by playing

• sugar-free drinks: will help to soothe your baby's gums and may help if they are dribbling excessively. The best option is to give them cool water – just make sure it is not too cold you don't want to upset there little tummies.

• Keeping dry: If teething is making your baby dribble more than usual, make sure you frequently wipe their chin and the rest of their face. This will help to prevent them from developing a rash.

• Teething rings: give your baby something to chew on which is child safe, which may ease their discomfort and provide a distraction from any pain. Some teething rings can be cooled first in the fridge, which may help to soothe your baby's gums. Follow the instructions that come with the ring so you know how long to chill it for. You should Never put a teething ring in the freezer as it could damage your baby's gums.

• Teething gels: you can rub sugar-free teething gel on their gums. You can get teething gel from your local pharmacy. Teething gels often contain a mild local anaesthetic, which helps to numb any pain or discomfort caused by teething. The gels may also contain antiseptic ingredients, which help to prevent infection in any sore or broken skin in your baby's mouth. if in doubt Your local pharmacist or a health care profesional can advise you.

There are lot's of teething products on the market and most of them can only be give to babies from four months old, However if you find your child does start to teeth before four months old Anbesol provides a teething gel that is suitable to give to children from birth, its a sugar free gel which contains 1% Lidocaine alongside an antiseptic and anaesthetic for rapid relief of pain from recurrent mouth ulcers. The product is designed to numb your babies gums dulling their pain and also helps to prevent any nasty infections. Anbesol is available to buy at local chemists, Boots, Tesco, Asda pharmacy and Chemist direct.

Hopefully this will help you as a parent make it through the teething process and help your little one to to ease this horrible stage, Do you have any teething tips that I have missed? I would love to hear your thoughts? 

Slimming world my favourite food staple

This week I maintained my weight loss journey, I'm glad I did I was expecting a gain, I don't know if you feel the same, but this week has been an emotional one, what is the one thing you do when you are emotional whether it be happy or sad I always find myself turning to food, but not vegetables or fruit I don't want healthy I want takeaways especially dominoes pizza its actually my favourite, of course not forgetting my love for chocolate, so I basically sabotaged my own journey, this week one of the meals I have cooked is cottage pie from Slimming worlds Food glorious food book, this is one of my favourite meals and the boys enjoy it too not only that there is enough left over to save some for the rest of the week either freezing or placing it in the fridge for the next day - so here is the recipe.

Free On Extra easy -
It is easy to make, just make sure you prepare everything before you start to make it.

• 1kg potatoes, peeled and chopped 
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• low calorie cooking spray
• 1 red onion finely chopped 
• 2 garlic cloves crushed
• two celery stick's finely chopped
• two carrots peeled and chopped finely 
• 500g 5% fat lean minced beef 
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp vegetable stock
• 1 tsp sweetener
• 2 tsp dried oregano 

Cook the potatoes in a pan of lightly salted boiling water for 12-15 minutes - or until tender mash until smooth season well and set aside.

meanwhile spray a large frying pan with the low calorie cooking spray on a high heat add the onion, garlic, celery and carrots and stir fry for five minutes then add the mince and stir fry for a further five minutes until brown.

Then add the tomatoes, stock, sweetener, and oregano bring to the boil and and then turn the heat down low let it simmer for 12-15 minutes.

Pre-heat the oven to 200C/ Fan 180C/Gas 6.

Transfer the beef mixture to a large casserole dish and spread the mashed potatoes on the top, smoothing the surface with the fork bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling - don't forget to fill up the other half of your plate with super free vegetables!

  

A Daily Dose of Sunshine Childrens Vitamin D Oral Spray #Reveiw

Although we are into June, just over halfway through the year the weather hasn't been great - we have had some sunshine but the rain seems still to be outweighing the good weather and with the lovely sunshine comes vitamin D.

Its really important that we all get enough vitamin D into our body, as Vitamin D promotes the development and maintenance of bones, teeth, it also helps to support a healthy Immune system and aids muscle development.

Your skin unprotected and its exposure to sunlight is the main source of vitamin D - when I say unprotected I mean with out sun lotion, however on hot days we all know how important it is to wear some sort of sun protective cream especially in children, but the sun is great in small amounts however sometimes with us all using sun protection children don't always get the right amount daily of vitamin D they need.

The months from October to march are the times when we are all less likely to be getting the right amount of vitamin D from our natural source, the sun, also cloudy days and clothing cover will prevent children getting their daily intake.

With the department of health highlighting that children under five are a group at high risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency - it is recommended that children should be given a daily supplement.

DLux Daily Vitamin D supplements have been designed to give children the correct Vitamin D intake without worrying too much if they are getting the right amount from our natural source the sun.

DLux Daily Vitamin D supplements in a unique format, its for oral use but its a single spray a day. there are two different sprays available, the first is for babies and children up to the age of five, it can be used in conjunction with formulation milk, so if you have a baby you can just pop it in the bottle. The Infant spray comes with a delicious natural orange flavour and provides your child with 300iu of Vitamin D

The second spray format is the Junior spray this is aimed at children five years and over, this comes with a delicious natural peppermint flavour and each single spray contains 400iu of vitamin D

I tried the spray with both my boys and Liam was not so keen on the spray idea and was quite funny about me spraying it in his mouth, however I did spray some on his finger and he tried it, he really liked the taste.
Adam loved the spray he wanted me to do it again as he found it funny the spray tickling his mouth.

I actually tried both of them myself and found that both flavours although are natural, they are quite sweet- too sweet for me, but they are designed for children and most children do love sweet things.
Over all I really liked this product and its made with children's health in mind. The Infant Spray (0-5) is priced at £5.95 and the Junior Spray (5+) is priced at £6.25.

You can find out more about both of these products and more about the importance of vitamin D at www.betteryou.uk.com

I have been sent both of these products for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own

Deep Heat to ease, muscle Aches and Pains #Review

The fabulous brand Deep heat was launched in 1951 - aimed at targeting muscle pains and strains it is now huge brand that most of us know and love.

I have been sent one of the newest products from their range its a deep heat odourless patch, unlike the other patches in there range this one has no scent and is colourless.

"Deep Heat has been handed down by generations as the go-to remedy to provide fast, effective relief for muscular aches and pains, joint stiffness, backache, strains and sprains. Deep Heat works on several levels. As a counter irritant it helps dilate blood vessels and relaxes muscles, while its warming action triggers sensory signals which damp down discomfort by flooding pain pathways with competing sensory messages. It's a trusted brand where it’s soothing warmth has become a staple in first aid kit bags to provide relief from muscular aches and pains". 

DEEP HEAT TOP TIPS

John Miles, head of medical and phsyio services at Cardiff Blues, offers his top tips on using heat therapy to prevent and treat muscular and ligament aches, sprains and pains.

• For muscle injury prevention – For those people who suffer with stiff hamstrings, calves or lower back pain when exercising, the application of Deep Heat over the muscle prior to exercise can be a great benefit in stimulating blood flow and therefore reducing muscle soreness and potential problems.

• Returning from injury – When returning from injury, particularly concerning muscle issues, the site of injury can often remain stiff for a while. Applying Deep Heat over the general area will immediately warm up the area bringing blood flow and oxygen back allowing normal movement to resume again. This speeds up the body’s ability to recover normal full function again.

• Cold weather activity – Whether you are preparing for a light run or a day in the garden, it’s important to get warm and remain warm while carrying out your activity to avoid and relieve muscular stiffness and cramps. A great tip for keeping hands warm when out in the cold is to apply Deep Heat to the back of the hands as this will stimulate blood flow to the area and in doing so keep the hands warm.

• Cramping – For those who suffer with cramp either when running or just in general day-to-day life may find benefits from applying Deep Heat over the main muscle area of the calves, or where cramp tends to appear for you personally. This will improve the circulation to the area and keep a fresh supply of blood in the muscle.

As you can see by the tips above deep heat can be used in a variety of different ways, and by using it in the correct way Deep heat is very effective for the relief of muscle aches pains, joint stiffness, backache, strains and sprains.

The Deep heat patch comes as a convenient size easy to pop into your bag so if you are suffering with pain, you know you always have one handy.

How to use,

• Before use make sure skin is clean and dry, free from broken skin, bruises or swelling.
• Tear open the packaging, remove the patch, on the patch there is a clear film remove the clear film and apply to the skin, if you have ageing skin, its delicate, apply the adhesive side of the patch to clothing
• Never bandage over the patch
• The patch will heat up five minutes after applying and will remain warm for up to eight hours.
• Only use the patches on the same area of skin for 24hrs
• The patches are single use only
• To remove slowly peal off the patch.

The patch really has no scent to it what so ever, it is quite heavy in weight meaning you can really feel where it is positioned underneath your clothes but once it has been fixed in place a while you do forget that it is their. The patch does get quite warm but it wasn't uncomfortable, the warmth for me made it quite soothing, I found that when the patch was peeled off it did leave a slight redness but their was nothing untoward and I thought it really helped with my achy hip that I always seem to have if I have been doing a lot on my feet, or a lot of walking.

The patches are priced at £2.07 for a single patch and £6.25 for a box of four, also available are a larger size targeted at back pain these are priced at £4.47 for a box of two all of the options are available to buy from boots.com .   

* I was sent a Deep heat Patch for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own.

Gluco Tabs - fast acting Glucose for people on the go

As a mum most mornings I wake up and feel like I could do with and extra few hours in bed, maybe even an extra day but in reality I am never going to get that, there is no time to rest its all go until Liam goes to school for the afternoon and Adam usually flakes in the pushchair on the way home, However this is the time when I can really get things done the little jobs that are a struggle, the afternoons should be the time when I get lots done.

But I dont I come in from school put Adam in his bed have a drink and before I know it i am asleep or dozing on the settee.

Introducing to you Gluco Tabs and Gluco Juice.

Gluco tabs and juice are fast acting Glucose, They contain no artificial nastiness which is always great to know, they are free from caffeine , sodium and gluten and suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

The Gluco tabs and juice come in a variety of flavours , blueberry burst , tangy orange , juicy raspberry and zesty lemon and lime. Each tablet pack contains 4g glucose and the pack comes with 10 tabs inside. Each juice is a 60 ml bottle with a 15g measured dose of glucose in it, both items are the perfect size to fit in your handbag making them easy "pick me ups" when you are out and about.

The juice was actually not what I expected at all I was expecting it to be really sweet and a bit thick, but is anything but thick its like a normal drink of juice in consistency and the flavour is mildly fruity not to much I quite enjoyed it.

The tablets I thought looked chalky but they didnt dry your mouth out at all however I did find them to be a bit chalky in taste, but they reminded me of, you know the refresher sweets they taste a bit like that. I would definitely have them again.

When I felt I was getting tired in the afternoon I chewed a couple of tabs and my energy levels were definitely boosted. I managed to get up and find my go again, I felt quite refreshed actually.

I also had a couple early evening one night - as this is usually when I find my head ending up in a slump on the laptop cause I am so tired but have too much to do! I found the tablets along with the juice helped me to fight off the tiredness which makes a change from my normal evening struggle.

The juice is priced at £1.55 a bottle and  A pack of ten Gluco tabs costs a small 89p I think both items are a great price. both the products are available to buy online or at Morrisons, Boots,Asda, Superdrug and Sainsburys.

I would definitely recommend giving these a try if like me most days are a struggle to stay awake and find that extra energy.

I was sent these products for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own 

WIN A SELECTION OF GOODIES WORTH £50 WITH THE NEW ATKINS NUTRITIONAL APPROACH

 With the dangers of sugar currently a hot topic, the New Atkins Nutritional Approach team has created an animation to explain the science behind the eating plan, helping to make it easier than ever. The online videos, featuring friendly characters, show how to avoid diet fails and turn your body into a fat-burning machine.

With the New Atkins Nutritional Approach, you don’t have to count calories or grams of protein and fat. Instead, simply count carbohydrates, allowing 20g in Phase One, which will mostly come from vegetables, then gradually increase this amount throughout each phase to find your personal carb balance. This way, you won’t feel hungry and deprived because you can eat a variety of tasty foods that will keep you satisfied.

To celebrate the launch of the video animation, the low carb expert is offering Two Monsters & Me & Everything In Between readers the chance to win a selection of Atkins goodies worth £50. The lucky winner will be treated to a range of Atkins low sugar, low carb snack bars, pasta and the new book ‘New Atkins Made Easy’ – the perfect prize for a healthier you!

To enter, simply watch the New Atkins Nutritional Approach video animation below to find the answer to this multiple choice question:






Q: What happens to all the carbs that aren’t used by the body for energy?

• They make your hair shiny
• They help with weight loss
• They are converted into fat and stored in the body

You can enter via the rafflecopter below *Please Do not leave Answers in the comments leave your answer on the rafflecopter form.  good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The competition will close at 12am on 7th April 2014 and the winner will be announced within 48 hours.
UK entry only .

For healthy recipes, tips and products, and to view the four phases the New Atkins Nutritional Approach, visit www.atkins.com. The New Atkins Nutritional Approach products are available to buy at www.buyatkins.co.uk and major retailers including Boots, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Holland & Barratt and Superdrug.

The new book ‘New Atkins Made Easy’ is available now at www.amazon.co.uk and all good bookstores.

Find the New Atkins Nutritional Approach on Facebook www.facebook.com/MyAtkins and follow on Twitter @MyAtkins

Salonpas - Pain Relief Patch #Review

Being a mum aches, pains, strains and sprains seem to come as part of the package ever since I had Liam by emergency Cesarean section, I have suffered with hip pain and some lower back pain I am putting that down to having the epidural although it could just be wear and tear from the years working as a carer and then a nurse.

I remember when the kids were smaller, especially with Adam walking up and down the living room at night because he wouldn't settle to sleep, back and arms feeling like they were breaking - as little as babies are they still manage to break your arms when you have been holding them for a while.

Introducing to you - Salonpas, A Pain Relief patch

Salonpas Pain Relief Patch is a Medicated Plaster is used for the symptomatic relief of pain of muscles and joints associated with strains and sprains.

• Medicated plaster
• For pain relief of muscle and joints associated with strains, sprains, backache and bruises
• Apply for 8 to 12 hours
• Stretchable & flexible
• Minty scent
• Pain relief patch, medicated plaster
• Methyl salicylate 10% w/w, levomenthol 3% w/w

Ingridients 

Active ingredients: Each 1g Medicated Plaster Mass contains 10% w/w Methyl Salicylate and 3% w/w Levomenthol, Excipients: Alicyclic Saturated Hydrocarbon Resin, Liquid Paraffin, Polyisobutylene, Polyisobutylene 1200000, Styrene-Isoprene-Styrene Block Copolymer, Synthetic Aluminium Silicate, Backing Cloth and Plastic Film.

How to apply

Clean and dry the affected area before applying the plaster. Remove the plastic film and apply the adhesive part directly to the skin. Apply 1 plaster to the affected area and leave in place for up to 8 to 12 hours. If pain recurs 8 - 12 hours after applying the first plaster, a second plaster can be applied. Only use one plaster at a time. Do not use more than 2 plasters per day. Do not use for more than 3 days in a row.

This product is not for use in children under 18 years of age. This product should not be used if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any active or inactive components of the plaster. Some people may suffer from side effects when using this product, which may include contact dermatitis, eczema, or hypersensitivity reactions such as skin rash or flushing. If you do experience any other unusual side effects, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist. The plaster should not be used on open wounds, irritated skin, eyes or mucosa. Do not use this product after the expiry date which is stated on the carton or more than 3 months after first opening the pouch.

The last week or so I have been trying this product out - right on Que my hip has been giving me some pain, giving me the opportunity to try out these pain relief patches. I have been applying them to my outer hip where the pain seems to linger most, the patches are really easy to apply you simply remove the clear plastic backing which is serrated in the middle stick one half down and then remove the other side - meaning you have no need to touch the part where it has adhesive.

The pain relief patches say they have a minty scent - this I think is the only part of the product that lets it down, you can smell a minty scent slightly but I would say it much more of a medicated aroma about it, in fact the aroma was really that strong I got a few whiffs of it throughout the day from underneath my clothes.

However that being said the product does do what it says it is going to I was pain free up to around seven and a half hours after that I was getting slight twinges back in my hip although it wasn't nearly as bad as it would have been if I had not been wearing the patch at all. The corners also started to lift up off the skin after this amount of time, I think that this is because of where the patch was situated and my clothes were rubbing onto it.

Overall - apart from the quite strong scent I really liked this product it is a really simple idea that is quite effective - I liked that I didn't need to take oral painkillers given that the patch lasted longer.

The patches are available to buy from most pharmaceutical shops and major supermarkets. You can find out lots more information over on there website about this product, www.salonpas.co.uk.

I was sent a £5 boots voucher to buy this product for the purpose of this review, all opinions remain honest and my own.

Get Active with a New Pedometer #Review

As we are over halfway through February, how many of you are still trying to loose weight? still trying to keep active?
Staying active doesn't have to mean you are running five miles a day or lifting weights heavier than yourself, keeping active can be the simple things like, walking on the school run instead of taking the car, or bus taking the kids over to the park and running round with them even doing the cleaning counts as a great form of exercise, we all probably walk more than we think we do and whilst your on your weight loss journey or if you are just trying to get healthy - what better way to monitor your steps than with a Pedometer.

We were sent the 4x3motion Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer with Tri-Axis Technology, in Sport Yellow pedometer to review, It sounds complicated but really its not!
I have never had a pedometer before although I have had a lot of friends that have had them before and have said good things about them, I wasn't sure just how much I would use it or if it would fit in with my life to be honest, as you well know when your a mum  remembering everything that fits into a changing bag can when you have two children can be hard enough.

The Ozeri 4x3 pedometer but is a very sophisticated Pedometer that is very modern whether you are an all star athlete or a mummy that is trying to get healthy this is an all round perfect product.

I took the pedometer out of the box, I was surprised at how small it was it practically weighs nothing - now anyone that knows me knows that I am a bit of a technophobe, however the buttons are pretty clear there are four, Set, Mode and two arrows one pointing upwards and one that points down I pressed the set button instantly the pedometer starts to flash, you simply use the arrows to select the date, time and year it really is simple once you have set it up that's it your ready to go!

The advanced Tri-Axis Sensor technology means the pedometer can work from any angle, and this combined with the fact that you have the option to put into it your weight and stride distance makes it very accurate and I personally love that feature. It doesn't just count your steps either, it also records the distance you've walked, calories burned, speed and the length of time you've been walking for, the added features of a back light, clock and calendar are which of course are all really really useful.

I love how slim the pedometer is, as it can fit into your pocket it so light you forget its there! This is An all-round fantastic pedometer that does what you want it to, this little pocket counting certainly goes above and beyond its means.

The Pedometer is available to purchase from Amazon priced at £15.95 and I think this is a great price for a lovely little product.  

This pedometer was sent to me for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own.  

 

I am linking up this post with tried and tested a lovely linky  hosted by Kate and Collette why not click the badge and see what else has been tried and tested this week.

Simple Cottage pie #Recipe

Serves 4 

• 1lb/445g extra lean minced beef
• 2 onions finely chopped 
• 4 carrots peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
• 2tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 levels tbsp tomato puree
• 426ml beef stock
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2lb/908g swede cut into bite sized chunks
• 1lb/445g celeriac peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
• A handful of fresh parsley finely chopped, plus extra to garnish

Method

Preheat your oven to 200'C/400F/Gas mark 6. prepare all the ingredients first, boil the Swede and celeriac for 12-15 minutes or until soft both vegetables are really hard to mash if there not soft.

Dry Fry the beef over a high heat for 3-4 minutes to brown it, stirring occasionally, add the carrots and cook for 5-6 minutes until they start to soften.

Add the Worcestershire sauce, tomato puree and stock then season, bring to the boil, then reduce heat to the medium - low and simmer for 25minutes stirring occasionally until the stock has reduced.

Drain the water from the swede and celeriac then return to the pan add the parsley season and then mash.

Spoon the beef mixture into the a deep ovenproof dish and pile on top the mash. Bake for 30 minutes.

Garnish the pie with the remaining chopped parsley and serve with extra vegetables.

This recipe is really simple but preparation is the key.  

Healthy lunch ideas from Ryvita #Ryvita31ways

As I mentioned in my previous post, Goals for 2014, one of my goals is to loose some more weight and I am determined I am going to do it! I am always looking for different food ideas breakfast and dinner I do seem to have a lot of variation in, but as for lunch this is something I do struggle with, I seem to have sandwiches as its quick and easy but it gets very monotonous which sometimes leads me to miss lunch - we are always rushing because in the week when Liam is at school lunch is served at 11.30 am because of getting him to school for just after 12.

This is where Ryvita come in I have always liked Ryvita but struggle with ideas of what to have on the crispbread, I didn't realise there is so many different choices of flavors available. Ryvita have sent me a lovely selection of there crispbreads to help kick start my weight loss and healthy eating for 2014 alongside a guide of 31 different and delicious ways to eat Ryvita.


So far I have been having these everyday for my lunch not always following what is on the list, as some of the foods on there are not my favourite's, but It has give me a huge inspiration of different ideas which is helping to keep me interested in what I am eating, not only that the ideas are all really quick and easy, so when you are in a hurry, on the go, or you are a busy mum with children, Ryvita is really easy to put together and eat making sure you don't slip into that grabbing something unhealthy for quickness routine which we all know is so easy to do.

This is the list of 31 delicious ways to eat Ryvita for lunch throughout January:

Week One


• 1st – New Year’s Day treat: Ryvita Mediterranean Herb Crispbread with Sardine Escabeche

• 2nd – Back to work reward: Ryvita Dark Rye Crispbread with Stilton cheese and sliced apple OR brie and cranberry jelly

•3rd – Fish Friday: Cream Cheese and Smoked Salmon on Ryvita Dark Rye Crispbread

• 4th – Crunchy Saturday: Peanut Butter & Banana on Ryvita Original Crispbread

• 5th – Sunday treat day: Butternut Squash & Sage Soup with Ryvita Dark Rye Crispbread Croutons


Week Two


• 6th – Give soup some love: Tomato Soup with Ryvita Pumpkin Seeds and Oats Cripsbread Croutons

• 7th – Healthy Tuesday: Ryvita Sunflower Seed & Oat Crispbread with Hummous & Slices of Red Pepper

• 8th – Mid week warmth: Pumpkin Soup with Ryvita Dark Rye Croutons

• 9th – Fresh and crisp: Mini Caesar Salads with Parmesan, Anchovies and Ryvita Sweet Onion Crispbread

• 10th – Friday feeling: Ryvita Fruit Crunch with Sliced Banana, Cool Yoghurt, Basil, Passion fruit and Honey

• 11th – Weekend treat: New York Delhi with Ryvita Dark Rye Crispbread

• 12th – Fresh snacking: Ryvita Mediterranean Herb Crispbread with Parma Ham and Melon


Week Three


• 13th – Taste experience: Goats Cheese, Pear, Honey and Walnut on Ryvita Fruit Crunch

• 14th – French classic Tuesday: Tuna Nicoise on Ryvita Original Crispbread

• 15th – Indulge your taste buds: Prawn, Mango and Avacado with Ryvita Sesame Crispbread

• 16th – Delicious and Nutritious: Tuna Mayo with Cucumber on Ryvita Sunflower Seed & Oat Cripsbread

• 17th – Friday twist: Ryvita Sunflower Seeds & Oats Cripsbread with Waldorf Salad

• 18th – Sensual Saturday snacking: Ryvita Fruit Crunch with Greek Yoghurt, Berries and Honey

• 19th – Sunday morning warmth: Ryvita Pumpkin Seeds & Oats Crispbread soliders with a soft boiled egg OR topped with fresh berries and yoghurt


Week Four


• 20th: Blue Monday: Ryvita Chocolate Bombs

• 21st – Fruity snacking: Ryvita Fruit Crunch with Mashed Banana and Sliced Strawberry

• 22nd – Mid Week Hump: Tuna Pate with Ryvita Cracked Black Pepper Crispbread

• 23rd – Treat Thursday: Ryvita Fruit Crunch Crispbread with Chocolate Spread and Strawberries

• 24th – Indulgent Friday feeling: Ryvita Fruit Crunch topped with Goat’s Cheese, Pear, Honey & Walnuts

• 25th – Weekend lunchtime: Ryvita Sweet Onion Crispbread topped with Mango Chutney and Coronation Chicken

• 26th – Back to basics: Egg Mayo with Cress on Ryvita Dark Rye Crispbread


Week Five


• 27th – Victory Monday: Ryvita Dark Rye Cripbread with Salt Beef, Watercress and Dill Pickle

• 28th – Mini pizza time: Grilled Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes and Basil on Ryvita Multigrain Crispbread

• 29th – Mid week treat: Ryvita Hint of Chilli Crispbread with Spiced Potted Crayfish Tails and Watercress

• 30th – Scrumptious Thursday: Ryvita Cracked Black Pepper Crispbread with Parma Ham and Chutney

• 31st: End of the month with a bang: Chargrilled Chicken, Guacamole and Peppers on Ryvita Hint of Chilli


I hope you have enjoyed having a read through Ryvita's 31 days of lunch ideas and I hope they have given you as much inspiration as they did me I am intending on following this on throughout January and hopefully beyond, I would love to hear about your Ryvita thoughts? You can also keep up with what everyone else is doing by using and following the #Ryvita31ways hashtag on Twitter. You could also visit there website for more information on Ryvita 31 ways.

GOOD HEMP #Christmas gift box #Competition

Good oil is made from Hemp seeds grown on a farm in Devon it is also produced there too, meaning the product is natural and British as well, I was sent a sample of the oil and the seeds to try and I have to say it tastes extremely, deliciously nutty both of the products are packed with flavor, GOOD HEMP oil is very healthy and can be used as an alternative to olive oil, you can use it for cooking or as a salad dressing the oil is naturally rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 but has higher health benefits plus it contains half the amount of saturated fats that olive oil does.

The lovely People over at GOOD HEMP Have given me one of there limited edition Christmas gift boxes to give away to one of my lucky readers. The gift box contains a large bottle of the original GOOD oil. The beautifully packed box also contains a selection of three flavours of there GOOD SEED which are super-healthy shelled hemp seeds along with all of these fabulous products there is also a recipe card and tag - A perfect Gift

To get your hands on one of these fantastic extremely limited edition gift boxes simply enter via the rafflecopter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

UK entries only

Incomplete entries will be forfeited.

Must be following on the blog, twitter or facebook so I am able to contact you if you win.

Braun ThermoScan 5 Ear Themometer

With Liam being at school now mixing with lots of other children it was only going to be a matter of time before he brings coughs, colds and sickness bugs home, We all know as parents that children playing and mixing in groups is a mass breeding ground for those horrible germs that us as parents come to dread at this time of year!

One of the best bits of equipment I would recommend any person or parent to have in the home is a thermometer, now being a nurse I have come across a lots of different types of thermometers, their are, Digital thermometers, Digital thermometer's can be used to take someones temperature from either their armpit or their mouth. However, for children under five, take their temperature from their armpit, because they may bite the thermometer, Strip-type thermometers, which you hold on your child’s forehead, are not an accurate way of taking their temperature. They show the temperature of the skin, not the body and Ear thermometers, Ear thermometers are quick and easy to use, but they are expensive. Read the manufacturer’s instructions to find out how to place the thermometer in the ear and how long the reading will take.The reading may not be accurate if the thermometer is not correctly placed in the ear.

By far I have found the best thermometer out of all the ones I have tried and tested is the ear thermometer, Of course It has to be used in the correct way to get an accurate result this Is easy as long as the manufacturer instructions are followed.

I was recently asked If I would like to review the Braun Thermoscan 5 ear thermometer.

The Thermometer is really quick easy and simple to use, gives you an accurate reading in seconds using a unique pre-warmed tip. I mentioned about positioning earlier, well Braun have obviously done their research, realising that incorrect positioning can lead to inaccurate results and have created a warning within this thermometer so If you haven’t displayed the probe correctly inside the ear, you will hear some warning beeps and POS will show on the display.

The ThermoScan 5 is designed to measure the heat that is generated by the eardrum and surrounding tissue, the eardrum shares blood supply with the temperature control centre in the brain.
The ThermoScan 5 has a new innovative technology, called ExacTemp. Which is why this makes the thermometer different from other thermometers on sale. ExacTemp means it has a pre-warmed tip. This improves the accuracy of the reading and what is more because it has a soft, flexible speculum and tip it ensure the thermometer is gentle and comfortable on a child’s ear. The ear accurately reflects the body’s core temperature making it ideal for measuring a child’s temperature.
Basically you insert the pre-warmed tip, you press the I/O button on the front of the Braun ThermoScan 5, wait for the ready signal and beep, fit the probe snugly into the ear canal, then push the start button. If the probe has been positioned correctly you will hear a long beep and the temperature will be displayed.

It is so easy to use it makes the process of monitoring a temperature much easier for both parent and child. If you have a child that doesn't like things in their ears or they are sleeping you can still take their temperature with ease and without disturbing them. It has a memory function that stores the last eight temperature readings. A fantastic idea if  you forget numbers or are in a hurry/panic. This means you can track your child's temperature accurately and if needed you can read them back to a doctor - can be very handy in emergency situations. 

The Braun ThermoScan 5 will automatically turn off after 60 seconds of non-use.When you’ve finished you can store the thermometer away neatly in the protective cover.

The ThermoScan 5 is safe to use on the whole family even newborns, the thermometer can be easily cleaned and switched between users because it uses disposable lens filter, The thermometer comes with 20 lens filters to start you off - these need to be changed after every reading as they are single use only for hygiene reasons, you can buy more separately It costs £7.99 for a box of 40 lens. It’s RRP is around £43.90 and is available from Boots, Mothercare, John Lewis and Mamas & Papas.

It really isn't the cheapest thermometer on the shelf, However in terms of accuracy it is very accurate, I would be quite happy, and recommend paying that bit extra for that peace of mind, When some one is Ill in the home accurate equipment like this is very important.

For more information on Braun products and in particular their ThermoScan 5 you can visit there website HERE

This Product was sent to me for the purpose of this review all opinions expressed remain honest and my own.   

Kiddylicious #Review and #competition

I was contacted by Kiddylicious Snacks and asked If myself and the boys would like to review there healthy children's snacks. I of course love anything with the word healthy, so we jumped at the chance.

Liam has always been such a fussy eater I did wonder after I had said yes, would he even taste them? as sometimes with new products Liam wont even let them anywhere near himself let alone his mouth.

The products we were sent to review were the Smoothie melts, Fruit wriggles and the fruit and vegetable crisps,

The smoothie melts; when you think of smoothie you often think of milk these little snacks do not contain any milk at all, they are completely lactose and milk free. Each individual melt pack contains one of your recommended five a day fruit or veg portions they are 100% fruit either banana, strawberry or blackcurrant and the packs have naturally occurring sugars.

They do not contain any nastiness,

• No added preservatives 
• No added sugar or salt
• No milk or lactose
• No seeds or nuts
• No wheat or gluten

Which is fantastic from a parents point of view, I love to give the boys snacks and it makes me feel better as a parent when I know what they're eating is healthy.

The taste. The melts do actually melt in your mouth and the flavor is quite strong and in all genuine honesty I thought they were quite sharp in flavor and a bit sour. I was quite apprehensive about giving them to the boys as I had had the first taste, well what do I know? I am just a parent, I gave them to the boys and they both munched down the packet, I heard Liam say mummy I want some more of them sweeties (if only he knew the truth!) so they were a massive hit! I struggle to get a fruit or vegetables down Liam so I am very impressed with these little wonders.

Fruit and Vegetable snacks; The fruit and vegetable crisps are not just flavoured they are actually, fruit and vegetable pieces, they come in five flavors three fruit, Pineapple, Banana and Apple and two vegetable carrot and sweet potato. Each individual packet is part of you one a day recommended fruit or vegetable portion. (Pineapple) Each individual packet contains real fruit the pineapple has 77%  Pineapple slices, vegetable oil, a sprinkle of maltose, naturally occurring sugars and they are suitable for vegetarians.

They do not contain any hidden nastiness

• No Preservatives 
• No added salt 
• No milk or lactose
• No nuts or seeds
• No Wheat or Gluten  

These snacks are really tasty, when you open the packet you can smell the fruitiness the snacks are shaped a bit like crisps but they're sweet, when you put them in your mouth they are very crunchy, the fruitiness aroma is replicated in taste they are very sweet and they are quite delightful, again these were a big hit with the boys so another big thumbs to kiddylicious.

The last snack in the range are the Wiggles; These are lace like snack pieces, like the previous two snacks in the range each bag contains at least one of your recommended five a day pieces of fruit and vegetables, there are three flavors in this range Apple, Strawberry and Tropical fruits the bags are all quite similar with the ingredients but different flavours. The tropical fruits contain, tropical fruit (mango, papaya, pineapple and apple) 79%, Concentrated apple juice 17%, rice flour 3% to stop them from sticking together and citrus pectin a gelling agent found in fruit to help them to hold there shape they also contain naturally occurring sugars,

They do not contain any hidden nastiness;

• No Preservatives 
• No added salt 
• No milk or lactose
• No nuts or seeds
• No Wheat or Gluten 

I love that these snacks are shaped like laces it makes them quite fun and easy for little fingers to hold. I have to admit again I found these snacks quite bitter and I didn't really like them, but again these snacks are not made for adult taste buds, the boys loved them they both ate the whole bag and Adam was hissing his round like they were little snakes so who am I to argue with there taste buds!

Overall I love these snacks they are great for fussy eaters or children with allergies, my boys felt like they were getting a treat when actually its a healthy extra.
The snacks are ideal as lunch box treats, something to keep in the changing bag when they get hungry, when your out and about or perfect for day trips as a little something extra that is actually quite fun for them, you could also use them on cakes as decoration.
As a parent your mind will be put at rest knowing your little one is having at least one of there recommended five a day fruit or vegetable portions with these healthy little snacks.

To find out more about these healthy snacks and where you can purchase them from visit   www.kiddylicious.co.uk you can also visit there Facebook page and Twitter.

These healthy snacks were sent to me for the purpose of this review all opinions expressed are honest and remain my own.

Kiddylicious have been kind enough to offer one of my readers the chance to win a selection of there healthy snacks so you can enter via the rafflecopter below and good luck,

a Rafflecopter giveaway