Silent Sunday

Matalan September Style Project

 

I was very excited when Matalan approached me recently and asked me to take part in their Matalan Style Project. Each month it sets four UK fashion bloggers out on a mission to create an entire outfit with Matalan clothes, focused on a specific theme.

The theme for this month was ‘English Heritage’, which fits perfectly with the onset of these cold autumn months. 

I had great fun choosing an outfit which summed up the theme. It has caused great comments from friends, "To the Manor Born" new nickname from my friend Nicola, is Jo Holmes, as in Sherlock  quite cheeky but I love her, so she gets away with it. 

I am not what one expects in the fashion blogger world, having just moved house and caring for Granny meant I could not get out to find a nice autumnal backdrop. Also having to unpack boxes, chop a tree, feed a family and make Granny comfy, meant I dashed into the garden with my chosen outfit for a quick photo shoot, hair designed by me, its more Jo Buffoon than Vidal Sassoon.

Now what you need to know in all good styling projects are the clothes I chose in more detail.

I went for the wine skinny jeans, a snip at £16 a stone cami vest £3, I intend to pick up a few of these, it washes well,fits really nicely.

These wear really well as an outfit, but for these decidedly crisp autumn mornings, I topped my ensemble off
with a Grey Checked Toggle Wrap, £10, this will be a key piece to my wardrobe this year, I love the shape and softness, though named as grey this is more brown shades so suited my look well.

Some lovely on trend Lace Up Brogues these are really comfy, have a lovely ribbon detail for the laces and are £14.

I added a chunky cable knit scarf  £8 in wine to coordinate the whole look, what do you think?

Now if you like my look ,good, I would love a vote on the Matalan September Style Project

You never know, I may go on to win the the coveted title of Matalan Style Project Winner this month!

Vote for me here with a comment such as Jo from Given To Distracting Others

Update: I won, thanks for all the likes

http://blog.matalan.co.uk/september-style-project-english-heritage-winner/

Win £20 to spend at Wilkinsons. Ends 25th October

I am a regular shopper at Wilkinsons,  its a great shop for a mooch, there is so much choice for furnishing and decorating home and garden. I buy my bird food and toiletries from them regularly.

With moving home I also am looking to freshen up some of the rooms, so have popped in a few times to see what they have to offer.

 My kitchen is always busy, with feeding a family, food blogging and now caring for my lovely Granny, plusI love new ideas and accessories.  So when Wilkinson asked to me to try one of the new items from their own Wilko brand range, I was keen to see what they had. 

The new classic bistro chic range appeals to me its consists  of condiment sets, serveware and kitchenware that are made from ceramic and sustainably sourced bamboo. very up to date but I believe also timeless the white and wood go so well together.

I was sent the Trio Sauce Set  its a really neat idea, space saving as its a tier effect, mine has been taken over by Chris and his love for hot chilli sauce, a mustard for Granny and him. 

The top bowl is being used for mayo. I think they would be great for lovers of preserves. The ceramic means they are easy to clean and dishwasher friendly.  This set costs £10 and for the size and design, I like the price, its not a great deal to pay for three largish bowls.

I have my eye on the heart shaped chopping board at a brilliant £4. I think just as a kitchen decoration its adorable.

Also in the range is this rather attractive condiment set, 

The Oil, Vinegar, Salt and Pepper Set is on a handy tray would look good on my kitchen side and save some space in my now poor cupboard space. I wanted to purchase this but sadly it seems others have found it attractive to, so I have left my email on the site so I can be informed when its back in stock. 

There are four ways to shop at Wilkinsons; in store, from the catalogue, online at www.wilkinsonplus.com or over the phone by calling 08456 08 08 07.

To locate the nearest store call 08444 77 88 77 or visit www.wilkinsonplus.com.

Wilkinson have offered Given To Distracting Others a £20 voucher to spend online.

As is usual entry is via the easy Rafflecopter, don't forget to leave a comment at the end of this post as well. I'm pretty keen to know what you would choose to spend. Maybe something from the bamboo and ceramic range,or perhaps something else.

Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Disclosure I was given a free product. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

COULD YOUR CHILD BE THE NEXT ROALD DAHL?

Parenting website Yano.co.uk launches nationwide search for the

next ‘big’ young creative writing talent

A panel of award-winning children’s authors and writers will judge a new national creative writing competition.  Children across the UK and Ireland are encouraged to submit original writing entitled ‘My Most Amazing Adventure Ever.’ The initiative, launched by parenting site Yano.co.uk, aims to encourage more parent child interaction via playful fun and learning.

To enter, children are asked to write a poem or story on the given theme, no longer than 1,500 words, about anything and anybody they wish, incorporating their own enchanting worlds full of mystical characters, places, planets, animals and colours. 

Winners will be selected by a renowned panel of award-winning children’s authors and writers, including Helen Cooper, (Pumpkin Soup); Kristina Stephenson (Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and The Really Big Adventure); Nii Parkes (Tail of a Bluebird); Claire Steele (Creative Writer and Former Judge of The Guardian’s First Book Prize) and Melanie Goose, editor of Yano.co.uk.  The competition is open to three age brackets; four to five year olds; six to seven year olds and eight to nine year olds. 

The renowned judging panel will select a winner from each age group and an overall winner, picked from the three winners.  Each winner will receive a selection of books from Parragon (including some signed copies) and a gift voucher worth £100 from Blackwell Booksellers.   The overall winner will receive a £500 voucher from LateRooms.com, to use towards a family break. 

Yano.co.uk, which launched earlier this year, encourages fresh thinking on parenting, incorporating enlightening food for thought; informative discussions; regular news stories; a digest of interesting parenting stories from across the globe; Q and A discussion panels and advice and comment from leading experts in their chosen fields.

To enter, visit www.yano.co.uk for further information.

Colgate Oral Health Month Free Poster for Readers

Well I am flabbergasted, a few of the myths I have believed. Some though do seem far fetched, like strawberries whitening teeth. Glad Myth Four is unfounded, I did not think this one was true as my Aunty had 12 children, she would have been very upset to lose that many teeth.

Have a read through and tell me what you think, plus Colgate have produced “The Healthy Mouth Manual” poster, something for the whole family to enjoy. I have 1000 to give a way to the readers of my blog just email colgate@robertguy.co.uk with your name and address and you will receive their own copy (first come first served)

The UK’s Top Oral Health Myths – Demystified

This Oral Health Month, Colgate asked a panel of 250 independent dentists which were the most common oral health myths that they heard from their patients. Working with Dr Simon N Khoury BDS of Northway Dental Practice, Colgate wants to dispel the myths and help people have a better understanding of how to improve their oral health.

Top Ten Oral Health Myths

Myth One: When gums bleed it’s a sign that I’m brushing too hard

On the contrary, bleeding gums are a warning sign indicating that you need to pay more attention to your gums rather than avoid brushing them. Bleeding gums are one of the first symptoms of gum disease and should not be ignored.

Gum disease is inflammation of the gums, caused by bacteria in plaque (a sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth). Contrary to common misconception, even the smallest amount of bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth could mean you have gum disease. In fact, gum bleeding is the most common sign of gum disease, together with other typical warning signs including gum swelling, inflammation, redness and recession. The good news is that milder forms of gum disease are reversible if you visit your dentist and follow a good oral health routine - flossing once a day, brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and using an anti-bacterial mouthwash, at a different time to brushing, to help protect your gums. The more serious forms of gum disease require professional treatment by your dentist and/or dental hygienist.

Myth Two: Brushing too much can wear away the enamel

There is some truth in this, although only if you’re brushing incorrectly. Brushing too much, too hard or with a hard-bristle brush can, over time, erode your enamel. It’s also important to use an effective brushing technique to help ensure you are cleaning your teeth properly.

To brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth, and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:

• Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
• Clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
• Clean the chewing surfaces
• Be sure to brush your tongue, too, as the soft tissues in your mouth also harbour bacteria

Proper brushing takes at least two minutes although most people do not come close to brushing that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a stopwatch. Finally, to protect enamel it’s important

not to brush directly after eating acidic foods such as citrus fruits and fizzy drinks as that can also weaken the enamel; consider using fluoride mouthwash after acidic foods/drinks then wait at least 45 minutes before brushing.

Myth Three: Good teeth are inherited so there’s not much I can do

While that is a nice excuse to get away with not taking good care of your teeth it’s just not true. While the shape, position and, to some small degree, strength of your teeth may be influenced by your genes, the effectiveness of your personal oral care routine is the biggest factor by far when it comes to having healthy teeth and gums.

Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing, using mouthrinse at a different time to brushing and regular dental check-ups will help ensure you have healthy teeth and gums irrespective of the state of your parents’ teeth. Diet also has an impact. Eating lots of calcium rich foods such as cheese and milk and avoiding snacking on sugary foods between meals can help to keep teeth strong.

Myth Four: For every child you have you lose a tooth

A lot of dentists hear this from their patients who believe that during pregnancy the baby depletes the mother’s mineral supplies and makes the mother more susceptible to weakened and damaged teeth. This is a myth and is simply not the case. If the mother practices good brushing and flossing habits, they are no more likely to get cavities during pregnancy than at any other time.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to gum disease, however, and to minimise the effects of pregnancy gingivitis they should practice good oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time, flossing every day and using an anti bacterial mouth rinse also may help to control any gum infection. Ask your dentist to check the health of your gums during pregnancy. Dental check-ups are free for pregnant women on the NHS. Should you develop gum disease whilst pregnant it can be treated, and that may involve a professional cleaning by your hygienist as part of a course of gum treatment.

Myth Five: Rubbing teeth with strawberries whitens them

It would be nice to think that this is the case. There is some truth in this due to the fact that strawberries contain a natural fruit acid called muric acid, which can remove some surface stains, but it’s a very temporary effect. For longer term solutions, use a daily whitening toothpaste. If you’re looking to whiten your teeth permanently, then always visit a professional, however, be warned that whitened teeth can be subject to higher sensitivity as the enamel becomes temporarily more porous in the process.

 Myth Six: Flossing is bad for your teeth because it makes your gums bleed

If your gums bleed when you floss, this is a warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored. Bleeding gums are not normal and are one of the first signs of gum disease. Rather than causing the problem, if your gums bleed when you floss, it merely alerts us to the existing problem. In fact regular flossing helps prevent the problem by allowing the removal of plaque and food particles in the spaces between the teeth and gums in places where a toothbrush can’t easily reach, helping to prevent gum problems. As plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, daily flossing is highly recommended.

To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following technique:

• Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with
• Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently past the tight contact point between the teeth
• Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss. Instead, use gentle deliberate movements to work the floss around your teeth and gums
• Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth
• To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth. Releasing one end and gently pulling the floss through can help to get floss out of tight spaces.
  
  

Myth Seven: Brushing directly after an acidic meal will reduce damage from enamel erosion

On the contrary, it’s best to wait a while after eating acidic foods because the acid weakens your enamel and if you brush straight afterwards you may be further weakening the enamel.

It’s best to wait 30 to 60 minutes after each meal before brushing to allow enough time for acidity to neutralise. Consider using fluoride mouthwash after acidic foods/drinks then brushing 45 minutes later.

Myth Eight: Rubbing your teeth with salt is better than toothpaste

No is the simple answer. The Department of Health guidelines recommend we brush our teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is a key ingredient to help strengthen and protect the teeth from decay. While salt does contain natural antiseptic properties, it is no substitute for using fluoride.

Myth Nine: Receding gums is all part of getting older, there’s nothing you can do about it

Receding gums are caused by gum disease and occurs when the gum tissue surrounding the teeth reduces exposing the root of the tooth. It can also be caused by overbrushing. While it is more common in those over the age of 40, it may start as early as in the late teens.

Gum recession is not something that happens overnight. In most cases, receding gums a process that happens gradually from day to day over the years. That explains the fact that it is common over the age of 40. As the changes in the condition of the gums from one day to another are minimal, we get used to the gums' appearance and tend not to notice the changes over longer periods of time.

It’s best to talk to your dentist about how to prevent gums from receding. If the cause is overbrushing then using a softer toothbrush and adapting a more gentle technique will help. Improving oral hygiene habits by flossing daily, using a mouth rinse, at a different time to brushing, and brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste will help prevent gum problems. A professional clean by your hygienist will also help by removing any tartar build-up which is preventing the proper cleaning of the gums.

Myth Ten: Eating parsley neutralises bad breath

While eating parsley can be effective if you’ve just eaten a strong smelling food, the most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. Bacteria that coat your teeth, tongue and gums can cause plaque build-up (the soft, sticky deposit that forms on the surface of the teeth), gum disease and dental decay. These bacteria combine with saliva and food in the mouth, breaking down food particles and proteins, which releases an unpleasant-smelling gas. 

If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, any food that is trapped between your teeth will be broken down by the bacteria, causing bad breath. These bacteria can also live in the rough surface of the tongue. Therefore, as well as brushing your teeth, cleaning your tongue can help control bad breath. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can be warning sign of gum disease or tooth decay.

Throughout the month of September, during Colgate’s Oral Health Month, Colgate will be touring the country offering free oral health advice. Access to their dental team will also be provided online where oral health questions can be submitted and answered. Visit www.facebook.com/ColgateUK to have your questions answered and to find your local roadshow.

Tesco Mobile Package of Perks

As you all know I'm a busy mum with teenage twins, as a blogger lots of features are  are geared toward the tinies. But my big kids like a few perks too. They have outgrown the Lego and Barbies and their playtime is mainly console and mobile led.

So they were mightily pleased when Tesco Mobile sent them a package of perks.

The first thing spotted was the chocolate mini fingers, children young and old,  all dive in for the sweets first. Whilst nibbling, they continued to search and next out was a Costa Card, squabbling not permitted my twin daughter and son agreed to share a mocha chocca  frappe oojamaflip ( I'm fast losing track of the ubercool terms for a coffee) and continue rooting through the package. 

Out came a Tesco Giftcard, handy for lunchtimes at college as a local Tesco Metro is just down the road. 

The mobile phone charger was claimed by Conor, his phone apparently has a worse life than Paige's!!!

Paige settled for the 500 Free Days out book, settling back with her chocolate and planning her days out with her boyfriend.

The aim of the package is to highlight that Tesco have a new mobile phone package to help busy families by offering a single mobile phone bill for up to five handsets.

Whats good about this is you only have to have two handsets on the same contract to qualify, with each member of the family then able to choose one of the perks:

500 extra minutes to Tesco Mobile phones

150 extra minutes to any network

250MB of extra data.

This is appealing as it s gives parents the ability to treat the teens to extra minutes, data etc for free and I know many teens use more time on their phones than most adults.

The 500 extra minutes would be ideal for Conor who is fixed to his phone as soon as its topped up. Paige who is constantly online as she has her blog and  with Ricky off to uni next week, will be facebooking him lots on their private page.

The perks can also be changed at any time.

I had a look at the deals on the Family Builder page http://shop.tescomobile.com/family/builder and have seen monthly deals for £15 a month for a Blackberry curve as both my teens have these phones already and pay that amount, sometimes more, I will be delving in  more closely.

http://shop.tescomobile.com/family#

 Disclosure I was given  free products ( £10 Costa and Tesco gift cards, Cadbury Mini Fingers an emergency mobile charger and a 500 Free Days Out Book. I was under no obligation to receive the pack or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

LUSH USE WORLD'S FIRST FAIRTRADE VANILLA ABSOLUTE!

Did you know…

LUSH USE THE WORLD'S FIRST FAIRTRADE 

VANILLA ABSOLUTE IN VANILLARY FRAGRANCE!

VANILLARY

ATOMISER 30ml  £26.00 SPRITZER  10ml  £12.50

As purveyors of fresh handmade cosmetics we always strive to use the best quality ingredients that we can get our hands on. Vanilla is no different. Agnes, our top notch Creative Buyer, has found high quality gourmet FAIRTRADE Vanilla beans nestled on the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains, Uganda.

Favoured by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-­ Fairtrade beans to be brought to the UK by Ndali. Our next step was to transform these delicious beans into an absolute, something that has never been done before. Through a lot of hard work Agnes brought the beans to France where they were skillfully transformed into Vanilla absolute, to be used exclusively in our Vanillary fragrance.

To tell us more about the project Agnes talked with Lulu who manages the Ndali estate.

Vanilla has been grown at the Ndali estate since the end of the 90’s.It was the perfect crop to re-­invigorate the ailing estate and, more importantly, to provide a valuable income to local farmers. In 2005 the beans farmers formed a co-­op that now sells 20-­ 25% of their crop at a Fairtrade premium.

In a region with low literacy and treacherous terrain the challenges of establishing just such an organization have obviously been great;; with a pharmacy built, a school roofed, maize milling machinery bought and bee-­keeping projects funded, vanilla beans can be clearly seen.

It’s a testament to the farmers and the Ndali estate that they have been able to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and produce some of the best vanilla we can get our hands on. We are delighted to be using this exclusively in the Vanillary atomiser and spritzer fragrance, which has made that creamy vanilla goodness just that one step yummier!

To pick up Vanillary and many more ethical, cruelty free cosmetics visit Lush shops nationwide. For shop details and Lush online, please call 01202 668 545, or order at www.lush.co.uk

Olives from Spain and Omar Allibhoy Recipes

Spanish chef, Omar Allibhoy has worked with Olives from Spain to develop a range of delicious, juicy and effortlessly stylish olive marinades that can be mixed up in no time at all.

With minimal cooking time involved, the recipes are sure to impress friends and family whether they are served on their own, as a starter or to jazz up a main course. With endless flavour combinations, all you need are a few simple ingredients to create a truly special dish for all to enjoy.

Spanish olives marinated in oregano and chillies

Ingredients:
1 jar or tin of green Spanish olives
100ml of mild Spanish olive oil
6 sprigs of fresh oregano
6 dried cayenne peppers

Method:
Drain the Spanish olives from the brine and place them in a bowl.  Between your hands, rub the sprigs of oregano so they release their natural aromas, before sprinkling the sprigs over the olives in the bowl with the crushed chillies.  Drizzle over the olive oil and then turn everything together to mix.  Leave to stand for 20 minutes then enjoy the freshly marinated olives, or keep in the fridge for up to a month in a tightly sealed container.

Serves 4

Per serving: 222 kcals/ 0.3g protein / 25g fat/ 3.5g saturated fat / 0g carbs/ 0g sugar

Spanish olives, sesame seeds, lemon juice and mint

Ingredients
1 jar or tin of green Spanish olives
100ml of mild Spanish olive oil
1 tbsp of sesame seeds
1 lemon
3 sprigs of mint
3 sprigs of thyme

Method
Drain the Spanish olives from the brine and place them in a bowl with the Spanish olive oil. In a small pan, toast the sesame seeds over a high heat for one minute, stirring constantly. Add the hot seeds to the bowl. Rub the herbs between your hands and add them to the bowl. Dress with the juice of the lemon (you can even use the zest - the most aromatic part). Leave to stand for 20 minutes then enjoy the freshly marinated olives or keep in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for up to two weeks.

Serves 4

Per serving: 245 kcals/ 0.9g protein / 27g fat/ 4g saturated fat / 0g carbs/ 0g sugar 

 Disclosure I was not given a free product. I was under no obligation to  talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

WARBURTONS BAKED NAAN CHIPS REVIEW

Oh my, these new Warburtons Baked Naan chips are dangerous, I was sent some to review and made the mistake of opening the bag as soon as it arrived.

Getting a grip on my love of them, I hid them away to try (begrudgingly) with the family, a few dips, a dvd of Stand By Me and we were set.

The Fiery Madras was deemed, amongst crunches as fantastic, the whole family voted these the best.
I love the idea of a spicy hot chip, though for the weaklings in the family the sour cream cooled it down.

The Classic Tikka is a medium flavour so no need for the sour  cream, but is lovely with a tomato salsa nd the Creamy Korma does actually give a creamy taste.

Warburtons have achieved a great Indian snack with a difference 

When we think of India we picture the Taj Mahal, beautiful Bollywood dancing, and noisy bartering at lively bazaars – but now you can experience a taste of India in a delicious, crunchy bite with new Baked Naan Chips from Britain’s favourite baker, Warburtons.

Made from a unique naan bread recipe, the snacks are inspired by iconic British-Indian dishes and come in three great flavours -Creamy Korma (mild), Classic Tikka (medium) and Fiery Madras (hot), to suit the tastes of all your friends and family.

Available in big sharing bags (150g), not only do these Indian treats taste delicious, but they’re also guilt-free, as the whole range is baked not fried, with 33% less fat compared to standard potato crisps[2], and containing no artificial ingredients.

If you’re looking to spice things up, swap your poppadoms for a sharing bag of Baked Naan Chips which are the perfect accompaniment to a curry, or great just to dip and crunch your way through with your family and friends..Classic Tikka and Fiery Madras Baked Naan Chips are now available in Morrisons stores across the UK, and Classic Tikka is also available in all Booths stores - RSP £1.79.

Warburtons has also recently launched a range of Naan Breads; plain and garlic. The Naan Breads are available at Asda, Morrisons and Tesco with the Garlic variant also available at Sainsbury’s.  (Plain RSP £1.19, Garlic RSP £1.29)

For further information, visit:

www.warburtonssnacks.co.uk

 Disclosure I was given  free products (Three packets of Warburtons Baked Naan Chips). I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

Celebrate Share The Love month - with delicious. magazine

Introducing Share The Love month…from delicious. magazine.

The idea of Share The Love is simple. Make two or three pies, cakes or puddings, keep one, then give away the others. The idea is to foster community, get to know your neighbours. You could even host an office bake-off.

The baking special in the October issue of delicious. has a number of fantastic things to bake for Share The Love, with recipes from Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry and more.

Show us your love!

Once you’ve baked and shared, send us photos of your creations, telling us who the recipient was and why. Email pictures to readers@deliciousmagazine.co.uk or upload them to our Facebook page.

One to try…

Salted caramel tarte tatin

SERVES 6-8. TAKES 10 MINUTES TO MAKE, 40 MINUTES TO COOK, PLUS COOLING

8 braeburn apples

200g golden caster sugar

50g unsalted butter

½ tsp flaky sea salt

375g block all-butter puff pastry

Plain flour for dusting

1. Peel, core and halve the apples. Don’t worry if they turn brown – you won’t notice in the finished tart. Put the

sugar in a 20cm ovenproof frying pan (measured across the base) with 50ml water, then melt the sugar slowly

over a low heat, stirring. Once the sugar has melted, turn up the heat and bubble for 5 minutes or so to give a

golden caramel (don’t let it get too dark).

2. Take the caramel off the heat immediately and stir in the butter – it will foam quite vigorously. Sprinkle the

caramel with the sea salt (it will melt into it), then arrange the apple halves on top, cut-side up, so they fill the pan –

slice any leftover apple into wedges to fill in the gaps (the apples will shrink as they cook). Put the pan back over a

gentle heat, then cook for 5 more minutes. Turn the heat off and let the apples cool completely.

3. Heat the oven to 220°C/fan200°C/gas 7. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to the thickness of a pound

coin, then lay over the cooled apples in the pan. Trim the pastry using the edge of the pan as a guide, then

carefully tuck it inside the edge around the apples, making sure they don’t move. Bake for 30 minutes until dark

golden and puffed. Remove from the oven, stand for 5 minutes, then carefully invert the tart onto a serving plate.

PER SERVING (BASED ON 8) 386kcals, 16.1g fat (8.4g saturated), 3.3g protein, 56.8g carbs (42.6g sugars),

0.6g salt, 4.3g fibre

 Disclosure I was not given any products or payment, I was under no obligation to  or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

Mrs Crimble’s Boosts Breast Cancer Campaign

Mrs Crimble’s Boosts Breast Cancer Campaign
The much loved bakery brand is now set to raise £37,000 for the charity

I love this feature as I had already posted about this marvellous campaign back in February
http://given-to-distracting-others.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/mrs-crimbles-has-linked-up-with-breast.html



I am really happy to see theMrs Crimble's thermometer rising for the Breast Cancer Campaign and its not  a hard task to help them achieve this goal.
They have added a bigger pledge and another great macaroon, the lush Choc Macaroon to help achieve the goal.

Both varieties are wheat and gluten free, but as I have said before, these are the best tasting gluten free products I've eaten, soft moist very flavourful, a person would be hard pushed to notice they are a treat for allergy sufferers. In fact I used to name gluten free products taste free, but have rapidly changed my mind since trying these. The cranberry Macaroons were revamped last year and our whole family loved them, full of plump fruit, soft chewy macaroons all make for a real treat.

The Choc Macaroons are exceptional, I wrote about them a while back.

http://given-to-distracting-others.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/mrs-crimbles-choc-macaroons.html

So all this goodness and Mrs Crimble's go that bit further to help out a good cause. Next time you are shopping, take a look and pick up a pack, it will do you good too!

Mrs Crimble’s, the much loved bakery brand, who were already set to raise at least £25,000 for Breast Cancer Campaign by donating 10p from every sale of its Cranberry Macaroons to the charity, have now pledged to raise an extra £12,000 by adding their much-loved Choc Macaroons to the cause.  A donation of 5p from the sale of the Choc Macaroons will be given to the charity for the duration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.Everyone from Mrs Crimble’s head honcho, Jeremy Woods, to their designer have been busy organising several other fundraising ventures after the team discovered that their colleague Clare Collins had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  To give their fundraising an extra boost they have done everything from an epic 40-mile bike ride to taking their vintage Morris Minor around London handing out macaroons in exchange for donations.

 

The battle against breast cancer is being won but there is still more work to do.  While treatment and survival rates are improving, each year in the UK 12,000 women still die from the disease.  Every year, more than 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed – that’s 130 a day.

Research is vital in finding a cure for breast cancer, which is why Mrs Crimble’s is doing all it can to help Breast Cancer Campaign fund vital research into the disease.

We have been using Mrs Crimble’s oven thermometer to show exactly how much we have raised for Breast Cancer Campaign on our Facebook page.  All you need to do to show your support is treat yourself to a pack of scrumptious Mrs Crimble’s Cranberry or Choc Macaroons and pop the kettle on!

 

http://www.mrscrimbles.com/

The Body Collector Giveaway. Ends Oct 2nd

As you know I review all that comes into my home, but for those who have not read my recent posts I am on the move and unable to find time to feature books as I usually would.

Please accept my apologies, normality (well my slight normality) will be resuming in a few weeks.

However a few of the items I receive deserve a place on the blog, so please have a read of the info below on a fab book, just flicking through, I was laughing lots! Its a real giggle for cheeky children!

Plus I have six books to giveaway please see below!

Watch out, watch out: The Body Collector’s about!

1 September 2012 Charlie Stench the Body Collector collects bodies: the heads he turns into floating skulls with all the powers of evil (except that in the case of Boris the skull something went wrong and he did not turn out evil at all). Boris loves the wicked witch Griselda (who treats him mean and keeps him keen) but as fans of Frank Hinks’ ‘Ramion Collection’ will know Boris longs to have his body back. After saving Griselda from the mini-skulls Boris persuades her to visit the Body Collector, but when Griselda finds the boys (Julius, Alexander and Benjamin) amongst the dead nothing works out as they expect.

Can the warrior cat Snuggle protect the boys from THE BODY COLLECTOR who wants their bodies for his collection and Griselda who as always wants to eat them?!

This is the 15^th story in the Ramion collection and arguably the most controversial.

A mix of dry humour and adventure  ‘The Body Collector’ delivers boyish delight of muddy hands and ghostly globs, but adults will find a deeper message within its pages, a reminder of parental love, making ‘The Body Collector a unique bedtime story for adults and children alike.

Robin Stuart-Clark Readers’ Forum Book Club says of ‘THE BODY COLLECTOR’,

“The irrepressible Frank Hinks strikes again in his latest book, The Body Collector.

Number 15 in the Ramion Series Collection, The Body Collector is as fresh and funny and exciting as Book 1, The Land of Lost Hair.

Here Boris the Skull is allowed his own flight of fancy: to find his body. Told in simple, no-nonsense, take-it-or-leave it language, Boris’ quest is a story demanding giggles and guffaws.

I wonder if I should have a duvet day and read the whole series from start to finish?”

Robin Stuart-Clark 

The illustrations are better and brighter and funnier than ever – whether as vignettes or as full page images which break the boundaries of spine and integrate with the text without losing readability. Boys and fathers who remember being boys will love the latest Ramon story by Frank Hinks ‘The Body Collector’

‘THE BODY COLLECTOR’ stands alone. Love it or hate it you will not forget it.

Ramion rises again in October 2012 - hooray!!

*SPECIAL OFFER!

2 for 1 price deal on THE BLIZZARD WIZARD and THE BODY COLLECTOR.

MRP for each book £12.99. Special offer price, buy THE BLIZZARD WIZARD and THE BODY COLLECTOR together for £12.98.

Free delivery

Offer & buying information only available from http://www.perronetpress.com/special-offer

This is a one month exclusive offer only available through Gazelle-book services.

The special offer will be available from 15 October to 15 November. Offer ends 15^th November*

www.gazellebookservices.co.uk

Ramion children’s book collection titles below:-

Paperback

Ramion

The Land of Lost Hair

The Vicar’s Chickens

The Crystal Key

Creatures of the Forest

Realm of Ramion

The Dim, Daft Dwarves

The Bands of Evil

The Magic Magpie

The Cruel Count

Swords of Ramion

The Seven Stones of Iliana

The Black Marchesa

Gary the Frog Prince

The Embodiment of Evil

Hardback

The Kingdom of the Deep

The Blizzard Wizard

The Body Collector

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Disclosure I was given a free product (A copy of the Body Collector). I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.