Author Archives: Abi

Yar, it be new Walkers Baked Hoops & Crosses…Yar!

Posted on by Abi

Ahoy me hearties, did ye know that Walkers Crisps have launched them a fine new flavoured range of snacks!? No… then let me enlighten ye :) for they be low in calories, high in wholegrains and taste fine with a bottle of grog!

I apologise for the above if you are not a fan of fictional pirate(ism) or if indeed you are a fictional pirate and you can see my obvious pirate lingo fails  :) The sillyness does make sense I assure you.

I was recently sent a packet of brand new Walkers Baked Hoops & Crosses in Roast Beef flavour to test out. It came nestled in the arms of a cuddly monkey, who was swiftly commandeered by my littlest Monkey who is currently somewhat pirate obsessed. So these yummy new snacks were eaten in the gardens of a Regency Townhouse by a Monkey cuddling Pirate :)

Walkers say they created these snacks because they understand that kids can be little monkeys when it comes to snacks in their lounchboxes. New Walkers Baked Hoops & Crosses are intended to be a great-tasting, low-fat and fun way for kids to boost their wholegrain intake.

My little pirate devoured these snacks so fast I didn’t get much of a chance to try them out myself, however I was informed (at the point of a foam sword!) that they were so delicious we had to buy some more. Here’s the all important info:

  • Each Bag contains just 85 calories, so they are a fairly guilt free treat. Plus they are baked not fried!
  • They are made from Wholegrains and have no artificial colours or preservatives.
  • They come in three flavours, all of which are suitable for vegetarians (Roast Beef, Prawn Cocktail and Salt & Vinegar).

Taste

We only tried out the Roast Beef flavour, but they were really quite yummy. They had a strong flavour but I wouldn’t call it overpowering. They were crispy and non greasy and enjoyed by all the family.

Would I buy them again?

As I have already that’s a resounding yes! I’m quite happy to give them to my kids as a slightly healthier alternative to traditional crisps as an afternoon snack. Also not to be forgotten, they are a fun shape!

Plus my children inform me that Land Lubbers and Pirates alike are actually allowed to eat them :)

 

 

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Win a Sterling Silver Handmade House Pendant from Angel Eden!!

Posted on by Abi

I am very happy to announce our brand new competition today. We are giving away one of our gorgeous handmade silver thatched cottage pendants!

The Thatched Cottage Pendant is worth £50 and is part of our Heritage range which has been featured in many magazines, websites and arts festivals.

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize all you have to do is ‘Like’ our Facebook page and then fill in your details on the competition page (so I know who you are :) )

Click here to be taken straight to competition page to Like us!

Rules:

One entry per person.

Open to entrants worldwide.

The winner will be chosen at random (using a random number generator) and contacted via email.

The competition will end at Midnight (GMT+1, UK time) on 31/05/2013.

 

Good Luck!!

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Homemade Dog Shampoo!

Posted on by Abi

Around the back end of last year I hit upon the idea of making my own soaps and handwash. I have naturally sensitive skin and this allowed me to use ingredients that I knew would benefit my skin and leave out those that didn’t, it was perfect!

It took me longer than it should of to realise that I could employ a similar rational when it came to my beloved pooch. He (like all dogs) tends to whiff a bit on occasion and I’m fairly intolerant of ‘dog smell’ in my own home. This led to semi frequent bathing with a store bought shampoo. It was heavy and took ages to wash out, then we had to endure wet dog smell for several hours until he was finally dry. It also seemed to strip the moisture from his skin despite being labelled ‘gentle’ and ‘sensitive’.

So with several choices available to me:

1. Bath him way less and come to terms with his dogginess.

2. Keep bathing him but his skin would become dry plus the hours of wet dog smell.

3. Make my own dog shampoo :)

I went with number three!

After reading much on the subject of a dog’s skin PH and scouring my cupboards for ingredients, this is the recipe I followed. It is an amalgamation of several I read, tailored to my little waggy chap.

Recipe

6-7 Sticks fresh Rosemary

Boiling Water

3 Tbsp Unscented Soap Grated

About 15 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Cocoa Butter or Almond Oil

Method

First place the fresh rosemary into a saucepan, cover with boiling water and simmer for about 15 minutes. Leave to cool before straining out the leaves. I actually left mine to cool overnight, you might see an oiling film on the water if you do this.

Add the grated soap to your Rosemary water, then the Apple Cider Vinegar. Finally add about a Tbsp of Cocoa Butter of a few drops of Almond oil. Heat gently until the soap has melted.

Pour into a clean bottle.

To Use

Shower your pup in warm water and then start squeezing your homemade shampoo onto his skin. Mine didn’t lather a huge deal. Rinse thoroughly.

The Results!

Amazing he didn’t even smell when wet!!! His fur felt a little dryer at first but only for an hour or two. He actually dried off really quickly which was a huge bonus.

The Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural deodorizer (is there anything Apple Cider Vinegar can’t do!). Apparently you can combine it with water in a spray bottle and use it as an in between bath deodorizer for your dog as well, although I’ve yet to try that one.

 

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