QVC Home - Faux Fur Striped Throw and Cushions

When I think of QVC I think of my parents house, they've had loads of products from there but to be honest it's never really occurred to me to take a look and see what they are selling. To be honest I always just think of gadgets, jewellery and skincare when someone says QVC but there's so much more to it than that.

I was recently sent a Faux Fur Striped Design Throw and 2 Matching Pillows from QVC to review. Now I'm not a girl who's into fluffiness and normally I wouldn't take a second look at anything fur-related, but this is really gorgeous. 

The faux fur is really soft and doesn't feel "plasticy" or create static as so many synthetic materials do. In fact it has a lovely feel to it, perfect for cuddling into.

The cushions have a striped design on both sides, whereas the throw has one faux fur striped side and one fleecy side to it. The throw is a 150cm by 200cm so it's a great size for a bed or a sofa. I've had it on our bed and have also used it as a blanket while lying on the sofa, it's so comfy I just don't want to take it off! The cushions themselves are 40cm by 40cm and not too soft, they really finish off the look in the bedroom and are really comfortable too, not just purely decorative.

I only wish I had this set in the middle of winter so I could snuggle in and turn down the heating a bit. Having said that I've sat with it over me every day since it arrived....dosing off in it too. At £36.50, with a choice of cream, plum or silver, I think it's great value for something that looks great quality, is decorative and comfortable as well. 

QVC actually have a huge range of items in their For The Home section on their website, with some great deals to be found. From kitchen electricals to bedding and cleaning solutions to luggage it's worth a visit.

The Faux Fur Striped Throw and 2 Matching Cushions is available directly from the QVC website in plum, silver or cream for £36.50. You can also become a fan of QVC on Facebook to keep up to date with all their news and offers.

A sample was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

New York Bakery Bagels

I have been a huge fan of bagels for quite some time now, for me they are the ultimate breakfast, lunch and snack. I therefore ripped open the box of bagels from the New York Bakery Co. with huge excitement eager to get my hands on the goodies inside.

I was lucky enough to be sent two samples from the New York Bakery Co. Cinnamon and Raisin and their newest addition, Wholemeal.

The New York Bakery Co. pride themselves on creating bagels with a real New York taste. So naturally I had to put them to the test! For me, one of the first things I noticed about these bagels was their perfect combination of a chewy exterior with a soft interior. I always like my bagels toasted and they taste fantastic this way, slightly crispy yet really soft inside with a fantastic chewiness to them too.

I didn't know until recently that bagels are actually lower in fat than white bread. The new Wholemeal bagels also offer a high fibre snack. I initially tried the Wholemeal bagel with butter and while it was tasty I felt it was a little dull and lacking something, so I tried another with low fat cream cheese and it was gorgeous! I'd imagine it would be even more tasty with some smoked salmon on top too.........

Even just opening the bag for the Cinnamon and Raisin bagels set my mouth watering! I served the bagel hot with plenty of butter and it was a huge hit. The raisins add another texture to the bagels, and their combination with cinnamon works so well. If I'm honest I actually prefer these over the Wholemeal, but then I've always had a slightly sweeter tooth.

These bagels really are fantastic and are perfect for breakfast, lunch or even a mid-afternoon snack. There are a variety of flavours available - Plain, Cinnamon & Raisin, Sesame, Onion, Multi-Seeded and Wholemeal - there's something for everyone.

The New York Bakery Co. Facebook page has some recipes to make the most of their bagels, as well as an offers page (which currently has 50p off a pack) so it's well worth a visit. They also have their own website.

I've loved testing these delicious bagels, and the great news is that they are widely available from all leading supermarkets and at around £1.29 for a pack they won't break the bank either. Love them!

Samples were received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

RENU Flash Relax Mask Review & *Giveaway* - CLOSED

My skin might not be particularly mature, but it's really starting to show some fine lines.....particularly from my involuntary scowl! I do plaster cream on at night now and take more care of my skin, but is it a bit like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted? 

I was recently sent a sample of the new product from RENU Professional Skincare, the Flash Relax Mask to try. The Flash Relax Mask smooths fine lines and helps to contour the face, giving an instant face-lift effect.

I found the face mask to be really easy to apply and very simple to use. You just apply the mask and leave it for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with warm water using damp cotton wool or a facecloth.

While the mask was on I felt my skin tighten, and as I removed the mask it started to tingle. Apparently this is normal though so I just felt like the mask was actually doing something. Sure enough when I looked in the mirror my skin looked really fresh, almost glowing. It's hard to say what difference there was to my fine lines, but my skin did look really smooth afterwards! The idea is that the mask helps to relax fine lines and I do think it achieved that. My pores also appeared smaller and less obvious afterwards....I've tried various products designed to achieve this and none have been particularly great, this is by far the best I have used.

The mask is free from parabens and contains a number of active ingredients including grape seed, vitamin C, aloe vera and essential oils.  It is designed to be used once or twice a week by mature skin. If you have trouble with fine lines and dull skin I think you'll like this product, I certainly did.

I have a special treat for the readers of Rhoda Reviews....I have been given TWO Flash Relax Masks worth £29.50 to give away to two lucky winners!

To be in with a chance of winning just become a fan of the Monushop Facebook page by clicking "like" then leave me a comment below saying you've done so along with your Facebook name - easy!!

There is one bonus entry available too (you must complete the compulsory entry above first though). Just tweet "I've entered to win a Flash Relax Mask worth £29.50 in @rhodak09's blog giveaway http://goo.gl/Ifwd2." and leave a SEPARATE comment with your Twitter name below.

There are two Flash Relax Masks to give away, one each to two lucky winners. The winners will be selected from all eligible entries at random using random.org. Every effort will be made to contact the winner but if after a week we have had no response we reserve the right to select a new winner. The giveaway is open to the UK only and will close at midnight on Monday 11th April 2011.


The Flash Relax Mask is available to purchase from www.monushop.co.uk for £29.50.

A sample was received for the purposes of this review, as well as two competition prizes. No other reward, financial or otherwise was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Pampered Toes by JML

Most of you will know that I'm a big JML fan, they always seem to have something different but practical. I was sent their new product Pampered Toes (from the makers of the Ped Egg) the other day and have spent the weekend testing them out. 

Pampered Toes is a new way of pampering and relaxing sore toes and aching feet. They are essentially toe separators constructed from a cool flexible gel to help you relax while your toes realign themselves after a hard day's work.

Pampered Toes say that one size fits all, however when I first put them on I found it really difficult to fit my toes into them. I do have very small feet though so I got my sister (who has much bigger feet) to try them out but she also found them quite uncomfortable. The instructions, however, do say that at first you might find it quite uncomfortable so I persevered with my trial.

I did find that the discomfort alleviated after a short time and my toes were reasonably comfortably splayed in the separators. However, since the holes for the toes are designed to suit both men and women of all sizes, I found that my size 3.5 feet didn't quite fit into these very well. I had to keep pushing my big toe back in so that it was suitably supported.

The Pampered Toes are made from a cool gel material. At first they feel quite strange but the cool gel is really quite nice against your toes. The gel also means you can wear these in the bath while relaxing at the end of the day. Furthermore they are easy to clean, with just some soapy water.

If I'm honest though I didn't really feel the benefits of this product, nor did my sister. I suffer from pains in my toes and had hoped these would help but I've not found any real relief from them as yet. I'd imagine if you spend your days with your toes cramped in pointy high heeled shoes these could really help your poor wee toots at the end of the day, but for me they really didn't do much. I'd love to hear from you if you've tried these and found them beneficial though!

If you think your toes could do with some pampering you can purchase Pampered Toes through the JML website for £9.99. There are two colours to choose from, pink and blue. Why not follow JML on Twitter or "like" them on Facebook to keep up with all of their latest product news and offers?

A sample was received for the purposes of this review.  No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Higher Nature Devil's Claw Muscle & Joint Pain Relief

One of the things I have found most challenging recently about my M.E. is handling the pain. I can almost deal with the complete lack of energy and the brain fog (although writing this blog does help) but coping with the pain can be a struggle.

I sometimes wonder if my pain threshold has lowered as a result of the tiredness, but to be honest I think I generally cope quite well with it.

Unfortunately I have reached the point where only the strongest painkillers have any affect, but these of course have their side effects. I've never been one for taking medication and only take it if absolutely necessary. It's not that I don't recognise how lucky we are to have access to medication, but I just don't like the idea of adding lots of chemicals to my body.

Regular readers will know that I'm a great believer in herbal remedies and complementary therapies. I do not think they are a substitute for conventional medicine, but when conventional medicine knows of no cure, such is the case with M.E., why not give everything you can a chance? It's this mentality that has led me to try advanced reflexology, massage, kinesiology and to frequent the clinic of Jan de Vries. Likewise, it lead me to Higher Nature and their Devil's Claw extract.

RRP £11.15

The Devil's Claw herb is claimed to have natural anti-inflammatory properties.  It is said to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia and backache, targeting muscle and joint pain. As a traditional medicine I decided I might as well give it a go!

I have been taking it for 3 weeks now and I have noticed some small alleviation of pain. Whether this can be attributed directly to the Devil's Claw I'm not sure, but one thing's for sure any degree of pain relief can only be a good thing!

I was lucky enough to be sent this sample directly from Higher Nature. Higher Nature have a huge range of natural supplements and tinctures which all adhere to their strict quality assurance policy.  Their website is really easy to use with a great range of categories to choose from and a very efficient search engine.

They also have a membership scheme which costs just £9 a year. As a member you get free delivery within the E.U. (for non-members delivery in the UK is £1.50) and a percentage off each of your orders. Additionally you get a free gift every time you renew your membership. So if you are a regular supplement user it might just be worth your while joining.

All of the Higher Nature products are available to purchase on their website www.highernature.co.uk or by calling the Freephone sales line (0800 458 4747). You can also download their catalogue or request a copy by mail here.

If you suffer from similar aches and pains and decide to give Devil's Claw a go please do let me know how you get on!

A sample was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Fudges Biscuits

I've been enjoying myself recently munching some fantastic biscuits from Fudges. I make no apologies for my love of biscuits and sweet things....although my waistline is none too impressed. So naturally when I was approached to review some biscuits from Fudges I couldn't say no!

Fudges was founded in 1926 in the heart of Dorset. Three generations later the company is still in the family and is making a huge range of flatbreads and biscuits for cheese, wafers and straws and flapjacks and sweet biscuits.

I tried three from their range - Stem Ginger Biscuits, Lemon Zest Biscuits and Cheddar Wafers. So what can I say about these biscuits? Well first of all they come in gorgeous packaging, you definitely wouldn't be ashamed popping into visit your neighbour for a cuppa with a pack of these in your hand!

The Lemon Zest Biscuits had the perfect balance of lemon-ness (is that a word?) and sweetness. They are dipped in white chocolate which really compliments the flavours of this biscuit. The biscuits themselves are baked to perfection, exactly the right consistency and just how I like them! Needless to say these didn't last long in the house and everyone, young and old, loved them.

Now I love ginger biscuits and I particularly love the combination of chocolate and ginger so the Stem Ginger Biscuits definitely did not disappoint! These biscuits are dipped in Belgian dark chocolate and again possess the perfect balance of flavours. I couldn't fault this biscuit and have actually been hiding the packet from the rest of the household so they don't disappear too quickly (shhh don't tell them though!).

Both of the sweet biscuits are available on the Fudges website for £2.29 a box. If you are looking to impress guests then you definitely can't go wrong with these two!

Now onto the Cheddar Wafers.......I wish I could think of a negative to say so you don't think I'm biased but these were AMAZING. The perfect combination of crunch and melt in your mouth with a good strong cheese flavour.......I couldn't fault them. They would be delicious with a glass of wine and would impress any cheese loving house guest. At 515kcal per pack you really shouldn't eat them all yourself though it is so very tempting. The Cheddar Wafers are available directly from Fudges for £2.58.

These biscuits were all fantastic and you could really taste the quality in them. It therefore came as no surprise to me to learn that Fudges are an award-winning company. In fact their cheddar wafers earned a Food Quality Award in 2010, and as far as I'm concerned they were worthy winners.

All of Fudges biscuits are available to buy on their website, with free delivery on orders over £20. You can also buy them in some supermarkets and all good delis and farm shops. Why not follow @Fudgesbakery on twitter, Facebook and check out their blog?

P.S. You all know how much I enjoy a good competition - well Fudges have a monthly competition to win a hamper packed full of their goodies! They also have 3 fantastic competitions ending 31st March 2011. Pop over and check it out :-)

Samples were received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial  or otherwise was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Bumpband - Cover & Support Your Bump

My guest reviewer Liz is now nearly 8 months pregnant with her second child and since this is her second child she's finding that her bump is sitting low and needs some support. So she were delighted to be sent a Bumpband to review.

The Bumpband is a multi use soft fabric band which is used to cover and support your bump.  The fabric has an upward stretch built into it meaning that it lifts and supports your bump, while also covering it up so you can maintain your modesty.

Liz has been wearing it for about six weeks now, here's what she has to say...

"I am genuinely impressed with this product and only wish I had one during my first pregnancy. It looks like a piece of clothing so when your trousers are falling down or your top rides up it hides a multitude of sins and stretch marks! My biggest problem with finding affordable maternity clothes was that they didn't really cater for the second trimester increasing bump. So many of the tops especially have so much room around the baby that if your bump isn't huge yet you can often feel like a bit of a clown with over-size clothes that waft with any hint of wind (weather-wise I am talking - this is no time to get into a discussion about pregnancy problems!). 

Plus, there's the time when your bump has grown enough to sort of hang in mid-air which isn't particularly comfortable especially at night time, and you just want to support it and hold it in a bit more. The Bumpband really helps relieve this problem and provides comfort. 

I imagine that the Bumpband will prove extremely useful after the birth in holding in the baby-flab which does tend to wobble if left to it's own devices. Plus,keeping you slightly warmer and more discreet when breast-feeding will, I imagine, be fabulous reason to own a Bumpband (although I still have 7 weeks to go before I can honestly say if this is the case or not).

The fabric is gentle on the skin and doesn't feel like you're being held together by a massive elastic band, and fits so well you don't feel like you're wearing Bridget Jones' pants. Even when wearing it under a tight top it doesn't look bulky or have seams showing in the wrong places.

This really is a must for every pregnant woman's wardrobe. It must have been designed by someone who has been there, done that, and certainly bought a rather more well-fitting T-Shirt."

The Bumpband can be used from early pregnancy and as it grows with your bump you will get maximum use out of it. One of it's advantages is that you can still wear your "normal" clothes while wearing it, meaning you don't need to shell out lots of money on a whole maternity wardrobe. 

The Bumpband has 120% stretch meaning that it can fit up to a size 20/22. It is available to buy online for £16.99 in a choice of white or black. Why not keep up to date with all of the news from Bumpband by "liking" them on Facebook?

A Bumpband was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in return for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely our own.

Tights Please Spanx Giveaway Winner

Thank you all for your entries into the Spanx giveaway, and to the lovely people at Tights Please for offering such a great prize.

If you didn't get the chance to enter don't worry you can still read my review here and buy Spanx online with Tights Please.

I've loved reading all your comments about your shapewear experiences and have had a wee giggle at some of them too. So it's time to select the winner using random.org.

The winner is.................

Kim Mayhead (@kimmy2849)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Please email me (see top left) with your details so we can get your Spanx sent out to you!

If you didn't win why not visit their website and check out their whole range, with Mother's Day coming up you might just find the perfect present. You can also follow Tights Please on Twitter and become a fan of them on Facebook.

Thank you to Tights Please for providing the prize for this giveaway. 

Bio-Oil.....A Skincare Must Have?

I've been aware of Bio-Oil for quite some time now. Whenever you look in magazines it always seems to appear as one of the "must have" beauty items, but up until now I have never understood why.

Bio-Oil is a specialist skincare product that has been formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. Bio-Oil combines vitamins A and E with Calendula, Lavendar, Rosemary and Chamomile oils. It is also unique in containing PurCellin oil, an ingredient which lowers the viscosity of the product to create a non-greasy oil.

About a month ago I was sent a sample to review and I've been using it once or twice a day since it arrived. I have been specifically targeting a scar on my leg to see if it would have any effect.

The oil is easy to apply and is not gloopy or sticky. In fact it is quite runny, but rubs in very easily to the skin so you aren't left with greasy hands. It has a pleasant fragrance too which isn't too overpowering. One thing I personally can't stand about some products is when you end up smelling of them all day (unless of course you are paying for the fragrance).

Over the past few weeks I have been noticing a gradual fading of my scar. It's still noticeable but it has definitely faded slightly since I started using Bio-Oil. Their documentation states that for best results you should use Bio-Oil twice a day for three months, so seeing some kind of result after a month is pretty good!

Bio-Oil is said to be particularly useful if you are pregnant. By applying the oil twice daily from the first trimester until after birth it is possible to help prevent the formation of stretch marks. It can also help improve the appearance of existing stretch marks.

Bio-Oil can be used all over the body, including the face. As well as tackling imperfections on the skin it can also be used on ageing and dehydrated skin. It helps to replenish the skin's natural oils, alleviating dryness and helping to smooth wrinkled skin.

Having used the product I can see why it is a "must have". It tackles so many issues and is simultaneously gentle on the skin. My only negative about the product is that it is quite expensive, at £8.95 for 60ml I have always been put off by the price. However I do have to say that I've not used a huge amount of the product despite applying it frequently for a month, though I am only applying it to a relatively small scar. I'd imagine if you are using it on your pregnancy bump or all over the body daily you could go through 60ml quite quickly.

Despite the cost it's a great, no hassle product that is easy to incorporate into your daily routine. I love it...I'm definitely a Bio-Oil convert.

Bio-Oil is available from supermarkets, Boots, Superdrug and pharmacies nationwide. It has a RSP of £8.95 for 60ml, £14.95 for 125ml and £19.95 for 200ml. For further information about its uses visit their website.

A sample was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Relax with Kalms Lozenges

I'm really useless when it comes to dealing with stress. I worry about the tiniest thing. Looking back I think I got bad when I started university, and although I am much better than I used to be I do let things get to me and consequently make myself more ill.

I've tried quite a few "remedies" in my time to help me relax, and some have proved to be quite helpful. So when I was asked to try the new Kalms Lozenges I decided I might as well give them a go. 

Kalms have a range of products to help with stress relief and sleeping issues. I was sent their new lozenges with lemon balm to try. The lozenges come in a small box of 18 and are housed in blister packs so you can pop them in your handbag. 

Lemon balm is widely used in the Mediterranean and is a renowned soothing herb. So whenever I've felt myself getting overly stressed or worry-filled in the past few weeks I've tried one of these lozenges.

The first thing I have to say about them is that they just taste like a lemony sweet. They aren't sour or sharp, just a nice flavour. I wasn't really sure what to expect from them and whether they'd actually help me relax. Would I suddenly become uber chilled? Would they remove all my worries? Well, let's be realistic, they aren't magical lozenges! However each time I have taken them they have taken the edge of my anxiety, surely that's the best I could hope for? If you suffer as I do, they are worth a go. You might find they suit you, and with most of these more natural remedies I'm always willing to give them a go.

Kalms Lozenges contain no artificial colours or flavours. They have an RRP of £2.99 and are available in pharmacies across the UK. You can also buy online here. 

If you have trouble sleeping, Kalms have just launched a new product, Kalms Night One-A-Night. It's only suitable for persons over the age of 18, and is available in packs of 21 tablets for £4.99.

A sample of Kalms Lozenges was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Prizes for Japan

Following on from my Authors For Japan post earlier today, I'd like to let you know about another way you can help raise money for those affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

As a lot of you know, I love a good competition and giveaway. I've been very fortunate to win lots of lovely items the four years I have been comping. Inevitably some items have been put into my "present drawer" to give as gifts. Di from the Superlucky blog has come up with a great idea as to how we compers can help raise funds for Japan - by selling unwanted (and unused) prizes on eBay....Prizes for Japan.

http://super-lucky.blogspot.com

It's really easy to get involved! You just need to post your unwanted prizes on eBay (or contact Di who will do this for you if you aren't up on eBay) as a charity auction in aid of the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Make sure you put the phrase "PrizesforJapan" in the item description so that they can be found easily. For more information visit Di's blog.

Of course you can also help by bidding on the items! At the moment there are some great items on there including a Creative VADO HD Camcorder. To view items and get bidding just click here.

Please have a look and see if you have anything you can sell to help a country who have lost so much.

Thanks.

Other blogposts you might be interested in............

Authors For Japan

Authors For Japan

Like many people I've been sitting watching the news of the devastation in Japan in complete shock. The scale of the damage and number of deaths and people unaccounted for is unfathomable. Since Friday my thoughts have barely deviated from the people who have lost everything - their lives, their loved ones, their homes, their friends....I've wanted to do something to help, but being virtually housebound in Scotland my options were limited.

authorsforjapan.wordpress.com

So when I read about Authors For Japan, an idea thought up by the fantastic author Keris Stainton, I was instantly captivated. Like me, Keris had been sitting at home wondering what she could do to help. She came up with the brilliant idea of setting up an auction with unique items including signed books, book dedications, character names, advertising, coaching, manuscript assessment .....to name but a few of the categories.

The auction went live at 8am this morning and will continue until 8pm on Sunday (20th). The idea is that you pop along to the website, have a browse and if you want to bid then just leave a comment with the amount (in GBP) that you'd like to bid! The winner will be the person with the highest bid at the end of the auction. If you're a winner you will be contacted by email to make your donation to the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.

Here's a taster of the types of items you could bid for.......make sure you visit the official site for the full list of items (there are more to be added tonight too).

Signed copies of Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Signed Pre-release Copy of Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Signed Copy of Black Boxes by Caroline Smailes AND Character Name

So please please please pop over to Authors For Japan, sit back with a cuppa and have a look at the brilliant items you can bid for. Everything that we can give will help make a difference, no matter how small... it all adds up.

I will leave you with this video. It's incredible, but awful, footage of when the tsunami hit. The streets went from being dry to houses being carried away by the waters in just 6 minutes...

Other blogposts you might be interested in....

Prizes for Japan

Kiwi Kids Shoe Kit Review and *Giveaway* - CLOSED

Back in January I reviewed Kiwi's Aquastop. It has been fantastic over the past few months what with all the snow and rain, I'm a huge fan. So when I was asked to review the Kiwi Kids Kit I couldn't wait!

We all know of the importance of buying good quality, well fitting shoes for your child's growing feet, but there is always the trade off with how well they will be looked after and how long they will last. It's inevitable that kids' shoes will end up scuffed, marked and muddy and the last thing you want to do is be shelling out money for new shoes before you need to.

The Kids kit is a set of 3 Kiwi products designed to meet all your child's shoes cleaning needs, to help protect their footwear. It comes in a zipped bag which houses 1 x Kiwi Kids quick shine sponge (for instant shine), 1 x Kiwi Kids trainer cleaner (removes dirt and stains) and 1 x Kiwi Kids easy scuff cover (waterproof wax-rich to protect and restore shoes) .

At first I did wonder if perhaps a "kids" set was just another way of saying, "smaller than normal" products, but I'm pleased to say that this isn't the case. All of the products are full size and despite the kids label, could be used on adult shoes too.

We put the Kiwi Kids kit through its paces and were impressed by how effective the products were. They were all easy to apply and gave shoes a quick, effective revival.

My particular favourite is the Kiwi Kids quick shine sponge, largely because of its ease of use. You just need to rub it over kids shoes and it gives them an instant shine, fantastic if you are just on your way out the door and notice the state of their shoes.

The Kiwi Kids kits have an RRP of £6, which I think is fair considering you are getting three good products.  It's a very handy kit to have to hand and is great for protecting shoes and prolonging their life.

Kiwi have very kindly offered FIVE Kiwi Kids Kits to give away to five Rhoda Reviews readers. To be in with a chance of winning simply leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win....easy! Please remember to leave some form of contact details (twitter ID etc.).

There are two bonus entries available for this giveaway, please leave a SEPARATE comment for each telling me you have completed the step.

1. Tweet "I'm entering @rhodak09's blog giveaway to win 1 of 5 Kiwi Kids Shoe Care Kits. You can too at http://goo.gl/GctwV"
2. Become a fan of Rhoda Reviews on Facebook and post on your wall "I'm entering the @Rhoda Reviews giveaway to win 1 of 5 Kiwi Kids Shoe Care Kits". Please make sure that you tag the Rhoda Reviews Facebook page so I can see your entry.

There are five Kiwi Kids Kits to give away, one  each to 5 lucky winners. The winners will be selected using random.org. Every effort will be made to contact the winner but if after a week we have had no response we reserve the right to select a new winner. The giveaway is open to the UK only and will close at midnight on Thursday 31st March 2011.

The Kiwi Kids Kit has an RRP of £6 and is available from Tesco and Sainsburys nationwide. For more information on Kiwi and their products visit their website. 

A sample kit was received for the purposes of this review. Thank you to Kiwi for providing the prizes for this giveaway. No other reward, financial or otherwise was received in exchange for this post. All views expressed are entirely our own.

Dry Like Me Toilet Training Pads

Liz has started toilet training Jonny. Since baby number two is due in just 9 weeks (!) she wanted to get it done before things get even more hectic! I got a text from her the other morning saying Jonny had already been through 3 pairs of trousers that day and I was really feeling for her. No sooner had I read the message than I came across Dry Like Me on twitter.  They produce Toilet Training Pads for toilet training and beyond. It was one of those coincidences that was just too weird!  I was delighted when they agreed to allow Liz to review for them, a) because it might save her some washing and b) because I was genuinely interested in the product.

Dry Like Me created their disposable toilet training pads to try and help remove some of the stress from toilet training.  The pad simply sits in your child's pants and is designed so that it can be worn in various ways, depending upon your needs. You can sit it at the front on the pants for wee, the back for poo, or layer up to help with both.

The top sheet of the pad has been designed to collect solid matter, while the pad itself can absorb up to 60ml of liquid. The idea is that, unlike nappies, the child feels wet for a short time and then the pad gets heavy to make them aware of what they have done. It helps to protect your child's clothes too and makes cleaning up after an "accident" much easier.

In trials the Dry Like Me toilet training pad reduced the number of accidents children had by up to 43% within one week. So I sent them Liz's way to give them a go........they went via her husband who was concerned that I was sending "pantyliners" his son's way, but I think he's over that now!

Here's what Liz had to say...

"Oh goodness, the time for toilet training has arrived and, I have to say, of all the stages of being a mother this is my least favourite. There are so many different manuals and people offering advice and in the end you've just got to go for it! This is of course fine when you're in the house 24/7 but there comes a time when you have to venture out whilst he's wearing pants, armed with countless changes of clothes and disposable change mats for the car seat and buggy. It's not that you mind the mess - after all, having a child is all about cleaning up spillages - but if the car seat ends up soaking you're a bit stuffed for the journey home.

This is where Dry Like Me comes into its own. They aren't designed to capture soakings or big poos but they do help to tide you over for little mishaps or until you can dive out the car or get to a toilet. This provides the answer to two problems - one is creating less mess when you really don't need it, and the other is to still let the child feel wet and uncomfortable when they have an accident. They are easy to use and I have found them invaluable recently! You don't want to use them indefinitely but for a period of time when you're brave enough to take them out the house without a nappy they provide that little extra help!"

Dry Like Me toilet training pads are a great aid for when you are toilet training or if you're child is just having wee accidents (pardon the pun). Each box comes with a handy waterproof pouch for carrying them in handbags, schoolbags or for storing a soiled one when there's no bin to be seen. 

Dry Like Me is available nationwide from all good stockists, including Morrisons, Asda and Wilkinson, with an RRP of £3.49. If you're quick you might even be able to request a sample on their website.

Why not follow @Dry_Like_Me on Twitter or keep up to date with their news on their blog?

Samples of Dry Like Me toilet training pads were received for the purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are entirely our own.  

Get Your Birds Chirping With Allinson's Promotion

As a young child I used to love going bird watching with my Dad. My love for birds has continued into adulthood and I like nothing more than watching the birds feed in our garden. I find there's something very soothing about watching wildlife in the garden, as well as a rewarding feeling knowing you are helping them out.

It saddens me to think that the number of birds in the UK is dwindling. Surely it's up to us to do something to help protect birds and ensure that our children and grandchildren have the chance to enjoy them and their songs too?

I was therefore very interested when contacted by Allinson, the breadmakers. They have launched a new promotion (to mark their new partnership with Conservation Grade) until the end of April 2011 to encourage everyone to get involved with conserving British wildlife.  Allinson will be giving away 8500 bird feeders to help bring birds back to Britain's gardens. To get your hands on a bird feeder you just need buy four loaves of Allinson bread and send away the on-pack coupons.

I was sent one of their bird feeders for my garden. It arrived this morning and is fantastic! I wasn't sure what to expect from a free bird feeder, if I'm honest I thought it might turn out to be a bit flimsy. However it's gorgeous and great quality! The lid lifts off so you can fill up the plastic food holder and it gradually releases the food into the wooden tray at the bottom, ensuring you aren't overfeeding the birds.

I am really impressed with the bird feeder and think it's a fantastic idea to get everyone involved. It would make a great wee challenge for children. They could be in charge of stocking the bird feeder and counting how many different varieties of birds are visiting your garden.

Allinson also have some top tips on how to attract birds into you garden and how to take care of them...

"What to feed birds

Just like us, different species of birds have different tastes, so you can be extremely imaginative with the food that you put into your bird feeder. As well as traditional birdseed mixtures of maize, sunflower seeds and peanut granules, many household foods provide a source of sustenance for birds, including soft fruit, uncooked porridge oats and cake crumbs. Always make sure that you buy seed from a reputable source and any additional food you put out is chopped into small pieces, as large foods can sometimes lodge in a bird’s throat. Providing a good supply of water will also help birds maintain their plumage and keep them hydrated.

The importance of hygiene

Ensure your bird feeder is cleaned out at least once a week. Use a simple washing up liquid based cleaner and allow the feeders to dry thoroughly before adding further food for the birds. Clean all garden bird equipment outdoors, wear rubber or similar gloves and wash your hands thoroughly in hot soapy water afterwards.

Portion sizes

Like most creatures, birds can be greedy when it comes to eating, so you should only put out enough food to last a couple of days. You should also regularly clear away food so that it doesn’t build up in the bird feeder."

To get your hands on one of these well crafted bird feeders simply collect 4 tokens from Allinson packs and send with a £1.50 contribution to postage and packaging. Alternatively, simply collect 2 on pack tokens and send with a £5 contribution to receive a feeder.

Allinson bread is available from all good supermarkets with an RRP of £1.35. For more information visit www.allinsonbread.com. Only one bird feeder per household.

A sample bird feeder was received for the purposes of this post. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Kenco Millicano Wholebean Instant Coffee

You will all be familiar by now with my love for coffee! Anything coffee flavoured and I'm right in there. So today I have another coffee review for you, this time it's Kenco's new Millicano Wholebean Instant coffee.

Millicano is Kenco's first wholebean instant coffee. It is made from high quality Arabica beans and combines instant coffee with finely-milled beans to create an instant coffee with flavours reminiscent of roast and ground coffee.

I was really keen to give this coffee a go. I love fresh ground coffee but sometimes it's just too much hassle to faff about with a cafetiere....not to mention how annoying spilt coffee grounds can be! To test out this coffee I served it up to friends the other day and waited for their reaction. Everyone really enjoyed the coffee and agreed that it did taste a lot more like fresh coffee than most instant coffees, but some insisted they could still tell it was instant. 

For me, this coffee is a perfect compromise on fresh ground coffee. It has a lovely flavour which is close to "the real thing" but without the hassle of making it. It's a well rounded coffee with a fantastic aroma and I really enjoy drinking it (she says with a cup sitting beside her).

Kenco has teamed up with Master Patissier Eric Lanlard and designer Patrick Cox to create the ultimate coffee accessory, the Kenco Millicano 'Cake Pop'. I haven't had the chance to give this recipe a go yet but I thought I'd share it with you for you all to try.

Ingredients (recipe makes x20 cake pops)

Kenco Millicano ’Cake Pop’

425g tin of pitted cherries (sweet) in juice

100g dark chocolate - coarsely chopped

165g unsalted butter - coarsely chopped

295g caster sugar

60ml cherry brandy

150g plain flour

2 tbsp self-raising flour

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 egg

Coating and decoration

75g of icing sugar

100g of unsalted butter

50g of cocoa powder

250g of melted white chocolate

100g of biscotti crumbs (or whatever takes your fancy!)

Edible silver glitter (optional)

Method

Kenco Millicano ‘Cake Pop’

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C

2. Line a square 8" tray with butter and baking paper

3. Drain the cherries and set the juice to one side

4. Take 100g of cherries and 120ml of juice and liquify in a food processor, until smooth

5. Cut the remaining cherries in half and set to one side. Discard the remaining juice

6. Place the chocolate, butter, sugar, brandy and cherry puree into a saucepan. Over a low heat, stir until the  chocolate has melted

7. Pour into a large bowl and allow to cool for 15 minutes

8. Whisk in sifted flours and cocoa powder, then whisk in the egg. It will be runny - but don’t worry. That’s how it’s meant to look!

9. Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until firm to touch

10. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack

Coating and decoration

1. In a large bowl, whisk the butter, cocoa and icing sugar into a nice, smooth frosting

2. In a separate bowl crumble the sponge into very fine crumbs

3. Rub in the chocolate frosting until you get the consistency of a paste

4. Using the palms of your hands, roll into little perfect balls and place on a tray

5. Leave to set in the fridge for 30mins

6. Dip the end of the stick in the melted white chocolate and push halfway through the chilled balls

7. Now dip the entire ball into the white chocolate. Leave to drip before rolling in the biscotti crumbs

8. Before the chocolate sets completely, drizzle a bit of edible silver glitter onto the ball and enjoy with a mug of Kenco Millicano!

I can't wait to try them! Let me know if you give them a go, I'd love to hear what you think.

Kenco Millicano is available from all good supermarkets with an RRP of £3.99 for the 100g tin, or £2.99 for the 85g eco refill pack. Why not check out their Facebook page?

A sample of Kenco Millicano was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in return for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely our own.

Pancake Day Recipe

Since it's pancake day tomorrow I thought I would share this recipe with you. I haven't had the chance to try it myself yet but it looks great and I'll be giving it a go as soon as I can.........I think there will be a belated pancake  day in our house this year.

Crepes with Vanilla Chantilly Cream 

Ingredients 

Crepes mix 
2 cups self raising flour
pinch salt
1/4 tsp bi-carb soda
2 eggs 
2 cups milk 
2 tbs melted butter 
Strawberries & icing sugar 


Vanilla Chantilly Cream 
250ml whipping cream 
2 tbs icing sugar 
1 tsp Queen Vanilla Bean Paste

Method 

• Place flour, salt, bi-carb and eggs in a mixing bowl and mix on low speed 
• Gradually add milk and then mix on high speed until smooth 
• Melt butter. Dip a piece of paper towel in melted butter and use to brush base of a 16cm non-stick crepe pan or frypan over medium heat 
• When hot, pour in just enough batter to cover the base. Tilt pan so batter covers base in a thin film
• Cook crepe for about 1 minute until underside is golden, then use a spatula to flip. Cook other side for just under a minute until golden
• Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat for remaining crepe mixture, stacking crepes on the plate as you go 
• Whip cream, icing sugar and vanilla bean paste until thick and smooth 
• Fill crepe with cream and roll crepe 
• Top with sliced strawberries and dust with icing sugar 

Taylor and Colledge Vanilla Bean Paste was featured on Jamie's 30 Minute Meals and is blended to include concentrated pure vanilla extract and vanilla beans. One teaspoon equals one whole cured vanilla bean pod. It is available from Waitrose, Ocado and good independent stores for £3.99. 

No reward, financial or otherwise, was received in return for this blogpost.

Hotter Shake Extra Wide Shoes

A guest review of Hotter Shoes from my Mum...

Lucky me, being asked to review a pair of Hotter shoes!

I already buy only Hotter Shoes – nothing else. Since I have MS, it is vital that I wear shoes which provide not only comfort, but even more importantly ease of putting them on and, most importantly, safety. Hotter produce shoes that meet all of these requirements. I always buy a style with a touch Velcro fastening. I have special inserts which go inside my shoe and attach to my leg in order to help lift my feet off the ground, so I buy a size bigger than I used to wear and an extra wide model. If I need a little extra space, the Hotter insoles are so easy to remove completely or to reposition on top of my special inserts.

Hotter have a fantastic range of shoes in Extra Wide fit that meet my needs. I was asked to review Shake from their spring/summer collection.

Hotter Shake £59.99

The strap is long and easy to fasten. I could easily fit my special inserts in and still have plenty of room for my feet to fit in comfortably. They are easy to walk in and comfortable to wear all day long. The little outcuts near the back make them look more summery than the other styles I have, so I am very much looking forward to wearing them this spring and summer. I was given Indigo to try, but look at the other pretty colours which are available. Not only do Hotter do a great range of Extra Wide styles but each one comes in a good selection of colours.

What’s more, the quality of Hotter shoes is excellent. I have never had any problem with any shoes I have bought from them. Service is also superb. I always order online and the shoes arrive quickly. Returns are not a problem – P&P is free if you wish to exchange for another pair and you can send for an exchange or refund within 90 days – plenty of time to decide!

Hotter also provide lots of useful advice on their website: about fitting, including a foot shape you can print out to check you are ordering the correct size; and about care of your feet. It’s all easy to use and understand.

I know lots of people who always buy Hotter shoes – some just because they like them and others because they suit their particular footcare needs – and don’t think they are only for people who want shoes with a touch strap or a flat sole! They do all sorts of styles – dressy, casual, high heels, low heels, etc. and some super cosy but smart-looking boots for the colder weather. Of course not forgetting their men's range as well. I've tried other makes of shoes and nothing compares to Hotter for my needs. I definitely won’t be changing to any other make of shoe.

Shake is available in black, indigo, mimosa yellow, rose pink and white. They can be purchased directly from the Hotter website for £59.99. Hotter also have a range of handbags and gifts available on their website. Why not keep up to date with all of Hotter's new products by "liking" their Facebook page?

A pair of Shake shoes was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely our own.

How I Became A Famous Novelist

I love reading. I love picking up a book and being transported to another world, another time or another person's life. I don't really have a favourite genre as such but I do enjoy the odd light-hearted book.

I was recently sent a proof copy of How I Became A Famous Novelist by Steve Hely. Hely was a writer for The Late Show with David Letterman and the acclaimed animated comedy American Dad, before writing this book which won the 2010 Thurber prize for American Humor. Naturally I was very intrigued as to what its covers would hold.

Pete Tarslaw works as a writer for a controversial company who "polish" essays for students. He lives a rather dull existence, until one day he finds out his childhood sweetheart is getting married and he's invited to the wedding.  Pete decides he's going to show her what she's missing and is going to become a famous novelist. He therefore sets about writing a best-seller to earn himself fame, fortune and an ocean view. This is the story of how he goes about achieving his goals and what it costs him in the end.

This book has a slightly different style from others I have read in that there are frequent quotes from other publications as Pete analyses what it takes to create a best-seller. While this was an interesting idea I found it distracted from the story itself. In truth I just ended up skipping them so as not to interrupt the flow of the narrative.

The quote from the New York Times on the cover describes the book as "A gag-packed assault on fictitious best-selling fiction...very funny". While the book does analyse and attack fictitious fiction, I didn't really find it all that funny. I'm sure it's just my own sense of humour but I only really laughed once throughout this read. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy the novel and wanted to know how it would all pan out, but I wouldn't rush to read it again or force it  into the hands of my best friend.

You can read this book for yourself as of 24th March 2011 when the book is published in paperback. If you are interested in writing or an aspiring author yourself you would probably find this a fascinating read.

How I Became A Famous Novelist is published by Constable & Robinson Ltd. It's available to purchase in paperback from 24th March 2011 for £7.99.

A proof copy of the novel was received for the purposes of this review. No other reward, financial or otherwise, was received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Douwe Egberts Aromettes

Anyone who has seen me recently has probably noticed how "alert" I've been. Well this is because I've temporarily ditched my decaff coffee in favour of the Douwe Egberts Aromettes that were sent to me recently!

Aromettes are the latest product from Douwe Egberts and were launched just last month. They are individually pressed ground coffee servings that are compressed into the shape of a coffee bean, locking in the flavours and aroma. Each bean is equivalent to one serving so making fresh coffee couldn't be easier, you just pop a bean into a cafetiere or filter machine and add hot water. The bean disperses when the water hits it and releases its flavour and aroma.

Aromettes

The Aromettes come in a resealable foil tin meaning that the coffee maintains its freshness and every cup tastes as good as the first.

I was really impressed by this product. One thing that really puts me off making ground coffee is faffing about with spoons, resealing packages and mopping up spillages, but there's no such problems with Aromettes. It's so easy to make a fresh flavour-filled coffee that I've been drinking it frequently for the past week. I was sent two flavours, smooth aroma and intense aroma, both of which were absolutely fantastic! I do enjoy a nice strong coffee now and then and I find the intense aroma meets those needs, whereas the smooth is more like my day-to-day type of coffee and has such a smooth flavour it's a pleasure to drink.

Aromettes is a really unique idea that takes any hassle out of coffee making. They are available to purchase in Tesco for £3.69. Each Aromettes tin contains 30 individually pressed ground coffee servings.

For more information visit http://www.douwe-egberts.co.uk/Pages/Aromettes.aspx. Why not follow Douwe Egberts on Twitter http://twitter.com/DouweEgbertsUK or like them on Facebook to keep up with their news?

Samples and tasting kit were received for the purposes of this review. No other rewards, financial or otherwise, were received in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.