#Review Walkers Hoops and Crosses

Walkers Hoops and Crosses Review

Product Details:

Whole grain goodness

Source of fibre and whole grain

85 calories per bag

No MSG

No artificial colours or preservatives

Suitable for vegetarians

Roast beef flavour baked corn snack

30% Less Fat than everyday potato crisps on average.

These new Walkers Hoops & Crosses are really delicious hooped & crosses shaped snacks. They're a fun new range of tasty snacks that you can feel good about giving to your family without any worries. You can visit them at www.walkershoopsandcrosses.co.uk

A few weeks ago we were sent a sweet little package from Walkers themselves so that we could try out their new snacks for ourselves. Not only did we get a packet of yummy Beef flavoured Hoops and Crosses but we also got this cute cuddly monkey too. He's very sweet! 

He arrived cuddling our review sample which sadly we had to prise out of his fingers or paws as I should say.

My little man Ryan loves monkeys so he was happily welcomed into our family. His name is still monkey but that's ok as Ryan is only 2 after all. I'm sure his name will change once he's had a chance to think about it. Maybe he just likes the name monkey, we'll never know.

I really liked the packaging, it's simple yet bright and clearly marked with everything you need to know. The Beef flavour comes in a bright yellow packet containing lots of yummy goodness. I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size, there was plenty in there to satisfy a little persons hunger or cravings. We shared our packet out four ways so we each had a few to taste. The flavour is nice, not too strong or overpowering but just enough to get that meaty beefy taste. We all really enjoyed them, so much so that we were a little sad when they were all gone. It's ok though as we have purchased a few more bags since that day. Our family happiness has been restored, a little melodramatic I know but it's true. They really are yummy!

Walkers have done a good job creating these new Hoops and Crosses, they're fun and tasty. What more could we want for our kids. A snack that isn't bad for them, tastes good and appeals to their eye has got to be a good thing. Well, I think so anyway. Hoops and Crosses got a fab thumbs up from all of us here at Mummy Of 3 Diaries. A well deserved 5/5.

This is a sponsored post. I received a small payment as well as our review sample and toy monkey.

New Cuddledry ‘coffee and cream’ range designed exclusively for Mothercare

New Cuddledry ‘coffee and cream’ range designed exclusively for Mothercare

Cuddledry ‘hands-­‐free’ apron towels are a regular on a new parents’ list of must-­‐haves for their baby. This Spring, Cuddledry will launch a brand new range designed exclusively for Mothercare, in gorgeous ‘coffee and cream’ colours. Made with supersoft bamboo towelling, the range includes the award winning apron towel, a cute little bear poncho and a handy hair towel. The new range will be available in leading Mothercare stores across the UK. The super softness and absorbency stays after washing – unlike normal cotton only towels -­‐ thanks to Cuddledry’s signature blend of pure cotton and bamboo. The bamboo is amazing stuff – antibacterial, 60% more absorbent than cotton, and with an incredible lasting silky softness – perfect for tender young skin. 

‘Mothercare have thought of everyone with the exclusive new ‘coffee and cream’ range of products from Cuddledry. To make life simple for new mums and dads there is our stress-­‐ busting apron towel, as seen on TV. For toddlers there is the gorgeous ‘little bear’ poncho towel made with Cuddledry’s signature stay soft bamboo towelling. And finally there is the bamboo Cuddle twist for drying your little one’s hair, or to pinch and use for yourself!’ 
Helen Wooldridge – Cuddledry.

Coffee and cream apron towel £29.99 Little Bear poncho towel £27.99 Coffee and cream hair towel £8.99 The coffee and cream range will be available in stores and on the Mothercare website www.mothercare.com from the beginning of May.

Time for a change..

Time for a change.

I started blogging back in 2010 as a simple diary log for my children. Something that I could look back on to remember all those special moments that so easily get lost in the busyness of general day to day life. Over the years our posts have changed a lot  as we've started to do more product reviews and become more interactive with more and more brands. 

Since the start I've always used the same header which I made myself from a simple collage of our family pics. That was until today when I've finally plucked up the courage to make a new one and change it.

This was my old header:

This is my new one:

Not only have I changed my blog header but I've changed my whole theme and background too, yes I was feeling very brave today. I was aiming for simple, clean and fresh looking? Do you think I've succeeded? I've also personalised our new background to add that personal touch.

Now that the changes are done I'm a little scared, have I made it better or worse? I would love to hear what you think as I'm always trying to better my blog for you my readers as it is you that will be reading it. For now, I think I am happy with it but I'm not sure how long for. Be warned, it could all change again real soon.

Christine x

#SilentSunday Sleepy Head x

Silent Sunday - 12/05/2013

I've summed up my day with a poem! #BlogSummit @tots100

Birmingham Blog Summit - 11/05/2013

I went to Blog Summit Birmingham today

A place for bloggers to learn and play.

100 bloggers and some speakers too

We spend our lives blogging just through.

Sessions galore with so much choice

From SEO tips to Finding your voice.

Photography classes with Do's and Don'ts

Old and new bloggers, learning the ropes.

Meeting brands and chatting lots

Positive speaking and feeling hot.

Smiles aplenty and convos flowing

Helpful ladies who knew where they're going.

Mummy bloggers and Foodie fun

Travel experts who chase the sun.

Daddy blogs and Animators too

A wonderful mixture of all dreams come true.

All sorts thrown into one

One passion in common under this sun.

We all love to blog, we all came to see

We all came together to be the best we can be.

A wonderful day, enjoyed by so many

Delicious lunch which was shared a plenty.

Yummy cakes and hot drinks galore

I left today, wanting more more more.

Thank you Tots100 for my lovely day

For giving me this chance to come out and play.

Old friends and new, I chatted with all.

I've learnt so much and really had a ball.

Written by Christine Taylor - Mummy Of 3 Diaries 

The '1stFone' designed for children launches today!

The '1stFone' designed for children launches today!

The 'dumbphone for smart parents' designed specifically for kids.

With children at greater risk than ever from the dangers of mobile technology, OwnFone has launched a mobile phone designed specifically for kids  - the 1stFone.

The credit-card sized handset, aimed at children between four and nine, has taken the mobile phone to a whole new level of simplicity with no screen, just the names of the people that you want to call on the front of the phone. The device is completely customisable with different colours and patterns and only makes and receives calls allowing parents to stay connected with their children without the problems associated with normal mobile phones.

1stFone, dubbed the 'the dumbphone for smart parents', comes programmed with up to 12 pre-assigned numbers so children can have Mum, Dad, Nan and Grandpa as well as their home phone number at their fingertips. Parents with older children can also choose to have a 999 button programmed which has to be pressed three times to activate. With such basic functionality the risks of text or cyber bulling, stumbling across inappropriate material on the internet, 'sexting' or being mugged, all common concerns with young children who have mobile phones, are completely eliminated. The limited functionality of the 1stFone also means usage is greatly reduced, minimising the monthly cost to parents.  

With a compact, lightweight design, the 1stFone is easy for small hands to use and tough enough to survive bumps and scrapes. It’s colourful, customisable design appeals to children and the handset is particularly suitable for any child that plays outside out of ear shot, travels or walks to school on their own or sleeps over with friends. It’s suitable for day-to-day use or can be fully charged and stored away as an emergency phone and will still make a call after a year.

The sister phone to the product, 2ndFone, is due to be released in the next few weeks, aimed towards twenty something's that don’t want to take their expensive smartphones to parties, festivals or on nights out. The long battery life and compact lightweight design of the phone sets it apart from other dumphones. The 2ndFone features a numerical keypad as well as pre-assigned contacts, which are printed on the back allowing the user to easily call friends or any number. The device is still fully customisable with a range of on-trend colours and patterns making the 2ndFone the must have accessory this festival season.

Tom Sunderland, founder of OwnFone, commented: "In a world dominated by Smartphones parents face a difficult choice when it comes to finding a first phone for their child. We wanted to design a fun product that appeals to children but puts parents in complete control and minimizes usage while still providing a vital connection between parent and child.

"We're now looking to expand our product range across ages and feel that at every stage of life we need simple phones to compliment smartphones. This is about providing a much needed balance to smartphones and recognising that in certain situations or times in life you need light, simple and small rather than large, heavy and complicated"

The 1stFone costs from £55 and is available through the OwnFone website (myownfone.com) on a 30 day rolling contract, pay as you go and paid in advance bundles for 6 and 12 months.

The OwnFone website guides you through personalising the phone and choosing which price plan is best suited to you. The numbers that you input are then saved in the cloud and can be instantly changed at any time. The handset comes with a 28-day money back guarantee and a 12-month handset warranty.

OwnFone is exhibiting at Mums Show Live at Alexandra Palace from 16-19 May. You can visit stand G20 in the Panorama Room to see the phone in action as well as place as an order for your personalised OwnFone.

What do you think? Good idea or not? 

Say Cheers This Fathers Day With The Best Of British Beers

Step Away from the Hankies and Ties and let Dad try a New Beer.

Best of British Beer (BoB) urges desperate offspring to try something new this 

Father’s Day on 16th June. In a little over 8 weeks Father’s Day will be upon us. For most of the UK’s sons and daughters (and wives) this day means a mad scramble around the high street – scanning department stores or garden centres in an ever-increasing state of panic looking for a perfect last-minute gift for dear old Dad. Often in the safe and certain knowledge that, once again, they will end up buying for the sake of it and the gift will join last year’s unwanted gift in a drawer or wardrobe for the next 12 months.

Fathers can often be tricky people to buy for. What should be a day of celebration turns into a hapless guessing game or even a day of dread.  Help is now at hand however, thanks to specialist online retailer, Best of British Beer. BoB has made life a whole lot easier for everyone with its range of fantastic beers, where buyers can mix and match to their heart’s content and create that perfect present.  

Visitors to the B0B website will find a huge choice of hard to find, award-winning beers that are not available in the supermarket.  Hand picked cases start from just £21.99, with a top end case containing 12 x 330ml bottles of some very on trend Black IPA and craft lagers priced at £44.95.

For £21.99 you can get this Six Pack of Beer gift pack. The Best of British Beer gift pack includes 6 x 500ml bottles of quality British beer. 

For £15.00 you can get this 3 Beer Gift Set. Each 3 pack is boxed in a Best of British Beer branded Gift Pack and contains beers from 3 different breweries in the style you have chosen. They will even include a Best of British Beer glass to complete the gift set.

If your Dad is anything like mine, then he would love a Fathers Day gift from The Best Of British Beer site. My Dad was overjoyed last week when he received an early present from them, a wonderful Six Pack Of Beer all for himself. He was given the job of being my beer tester for the day, not that he minded. With the help of my brother as I wouldn't want to encourage my Dad to drink all those beers on his own at once, together they tasted all 6 bottle of beer and sampled their goodness and flavours one by one. I think they had a very enjoyable afternoon and loved their new role. Each bottle was very different, there was a fabulous selection of beers for them to try. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it. Here's their 6 bottles:

Each bottle has a good description of the beer it holds inside, where it's from and what it's like. I was very impressed with the labeling and the delivery packaging was very good. Nothing got damaged or broken and all arrived safely and quickly. Both my Dad and my brother really liked the wide variety and good mix of blends and strengths  I think they're both hoping for some more come Fathers Day. I might be nice but it depends how they behave until then. 

Mummy Of 3 Diaries gave the Best Of British Beers a 4/5. Best of British Beer can provide cases of beers you can't buy in the supermarket and even personalise the labels! They sell a good choice of gifts to suit all budgets, so why not pop over and check out their site for yourself.