Have you ever popped into Shoezone? If not why not? In these times of recession it's great to know that there is a shoe company out there that is designing and making quality shoes at great prices. They also keep up to date with fashion trends so you know you will find the latest designs in your local store.

At the moment they have some fab ballerina style pumps. What do you think of these? Cute or what!


They also have lots of bold and bright court shoes, espadrille wedges and other shoes in store and online. There is lots of gorgeous footwear to choose from, you will be spoilt.

And if you are continuing with your New Year's resolutions to Keep Fit, they have a range of trainers at a super price. I was sent these ladies trainers to review in black and pink.

Cotswold Gold is a company that make and produce lovely oils, bottled and produced in Britain. The extra virgin cold pressed rapeseed oil is produced in the Cotswolds and has been used by Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, James Martin and Raymond Blanc to name a few.

Tropic Skin Care is a company that I had only heard about recently but I am now glad I did! At Tropic, they believe that skin is your best asset and deserves only the best treatment and care.

I am a foodie! Yes I admit it. I love eating nice food, going to nice restaurants and drinking delicious wine. I also enjoy eating pies, pasties, crisps and chocolate. In fact I love eating anything tasty and particularly indulgent.

At Mother's Day I look forward to receiving tasty treats with a touch of class. Guylian’s iconic Sea Shells chocolates would be my perfect gift. These stunning Belgian chocolates are filled with a praline smooth interior and are meant to be savoured. Made using only the finest Mediterranean hazelnuts, which are roasted and caramelised to perfection then blended with premium Belgian chocolate; a box of these is certain to win you brownie points this Mother’s Day.

Have you seen the movie Skyfall? It is one of my favourite films - full of action and of course Daniel Craig!  If you would like the chance to win a copy of this great action film I have a fabulous competition for you.

Atlantic Energy, part of the SSE group are giving you a chance to win a copy by creating your own cocktail recipe with a James Bond theme. As they are
"SHAKING Up the Energy System", they want you to make and shake up a virtual cocktail! 

Bionsen is a company that produces natural deodorants made with Japanese spa minerals. It allows your skin to breathe naturally and is great if you are worried about chemicals in your beauty products. The products are also paraben and aluminium free which is a great alternative for those worried about possible links with breast cancer. 

For centuries the Japanese have recognised the health-giving properties of these minerals and many still continue this tradition today using spa minerals to soothe and nourish.

Does it work you may ask? Well it uses natural minerals to neutralise the bacteria responsible for bad odours. I thought it was highly effective and I stayed fresh all day long. It is a deodorant and not an anti-perspirant so it doesn't stop you sweating and they say it is effective for sensitive skin. It has a very light fragrance  which will not clash with your perfume and is hypoallergenic.

As long as I can remember my son has been a fantastic artist, and I am very proud of him. He has also been a great film buff and loves drama and stand up comedy. He is very creative!

He loves many actors including Heath Ledger, Michael Fassbinder and Johnny Depp.

I asked J what he loves about Johnny Depp. 

"Johnny always acts in such diverse films, Edwards Scissorshands, Pirates of The Caribbean, Ed Wood- he is a great comic actor, always likeable, and is in some really strange and different films" 

So my son's hero is Johnny Depp, you can always guarantee a great performance from him, I have to admit I like him too. 

He is studying art for GCSE - here is his drawing of Johnny.

New Look is one of those great fashion companies that sell affordable, on trend clothes that always seem exciting. You may think it's aimed at women in their teens and twenties but I always find gorgeous clothes and great bags in my local store and I'm a mum in my early 40's.

I have created a couple of looks for you to see it is aimed at all ages, see what you think?

They grow up so fast.

Fresh Start Wales is a Welsh Government campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking in cars with children. Cars are a particularly dangerous place to smoke as they are such a confined space so it is difficult for children to escape from the cigarette smoke.

Their aims are:-

To raise awareness of the harm second-hand smoke in cars causes to children in Wales.

To inform the Welsh population about the risks of smoking in cars carrying children.

To protect children from second-hand smoke in cars and encourage people not to smoke in cars.

Fresh Start Wales are reaching out to families across Wales to raise awareness of these dangers and is encouraging parents to make a fresh start and keep their car free from smoke. For those smokers who are ready to quit completely, Fresh Start Wales has launched smoke free packs which include a range of interactive support materials.

The Facts

Smoking in cars is dangerous for children.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke and exposure increases the risk of cot death, glue ear, asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Opening the window doesn’t help: the smoke and its toxins simply blow back into the car.
It doesn’t matter if you only smoke when children aren’t in the car: toxins can linger for up to two hours after you’ve put your cigarette out.

Children are more likely to become smokers if their parent or other family member smokes.

There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. A number of these invisible poisons can harm children’s health and some can even cause cancer in adults. More than 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible and doesn’t have a smell, so parents sometimes don’t realise they are exposing their children to its effects.

Free Information Pack

If you support the campaign to reduce smoking in cars - or if you’re a smoker and would like to stop smoking in cars - sign up to their online pledge at www.freshstartwales.co.uk.

You can also support them on social media at www.facebook.com/FreshStartWales and Twitter @FreshStartWales. They post tips and tricks for people giving up smoking, as well as updates on the Fresh Start Wales campaign and information for families all across Wales about family-friendly events and entertainment in their areas. 

Recently I was given some new skin cream to try - MitoQ. MitoQ reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, scars, brown spots and skin discolouration as well as reducing the thinning of the skin that occurs with ageing. They claim with daily use the skin will become firmer, as new and increased collagen reformats and strengthens the skin's structure. It says its proven to be 1000 times more potent than any other COQ antioxidant.
Claims for MitoQ






It blocks infrared radiation damage but not UV so it needs to be used in conjunction with a good quality SPF.

What did I think of it? It is presented well in a gorgeous bottle. When I opened it and used the pump dispenser I was at first taken aback by the cream which was yellow in colour, but bear with me as when you massage the cream on the skin It absorbed easily and was non-greasy. It actually felt lovely on the skin. I do not know if I will see a difference in my skin tone in the next few weeks but I will eagerly look forward to seeing the results.

You can be one of the first to buy MitoQ here as it has only just gone on sale in the UK, if you try it let me know what you think!

Jellyegg are a great little website that sell a wide variety of footwear, be it ladies, mens or childrens. With a top range of Brands you love and know there is something for everyone on their website.  



When I was browsing the Jellyegg website I noticed they have a great section for Havaianas flip flops and other well known brands like The Muck Boot Company and Crocs. 

Now I must admit I never used to be a fan of Crocs but did you know they do a lovely range of leather wedge sandals, as I didn't?!

I am always on the lookout for healthy ways to eat and I must admit it I could do with losing a few pounds. 

My Food is a delicious way of dieting that is packed full of healthy fresh food.





With the help of BANT registered nutritionists, the menus are created to provide energy and promote lean muscle definition. Bringing an average weight loss of up to 7lbs in just 14 days they also have a range of celebrity clients and Gabby Logan has been quoted as saying, “The Active Body Plan is the perfect way to eat well.” 

• Three freshly prepared higher protein meals each day
• Approximately 1200 calories per day, of which more than 20% of the calories come from protein
• Perfect weight loss plan for meat lovers with a selection of poultry, fish & red meat
• Partnered with exercise can encourage fat burning & promote toning
• For the really active add snacks at checkout, an additional 400 calories per day
• Provides high quality proteins from eggs, fish, meat & vegetables

a Rafflecopter giveaway ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

Julie Slater and Son is a mail order company specialising in unique quality accessories and gorgeous gifts. 




From travel accessories in gorgeous prints like this overnight bag to stylish passport covers in plain leather or with a fab print, the products are stylish, feminine and practical.




I was sent a pretty pink leather notebook to review. This notebook comes in a range of colours but the Hot Pink is beautiful, the photo doesn't really do it justice.
I don't know about you but I love organising and planning, be it shopping lists or my next holiday. Well, this notebook is a great size to keep in your bag and plan your hopes and dreams! The pink leather is soft and the stitching good quality and it is really well made. It can be refillable too and inserts can be purchased when you have filled it up. It comes with a chunky pencil but you can add your own pen.



The website has some nice ideas for Valentine's Day.  The oyster card holder with the heart design is lovely and I also like the heart purse in pink, or red. This would be an ideal gift for a teenager or as a coin purse to keep your change.



You can order online at https://www.julieslaterandson.co.uk/ or order by telephone on 02083 666361 from this company based in St Albans. At the moment they have free delivery too so this is a great time to buy those Valentine's gifts.

I think it's important to support British businesses and this company is what we, as British people's should be proud of - great quality and style with great British design. Why don't you check out the website today?

*  I was given the notebook to review but the opinions are entirely my own

You may have used Lloyds Pharmacy stores as they have over 1650 dotted around the UK but have you ever seen their website? 




Lloyds Pharmacy has a comprehensive website, built for all your healthcare needs and you can even order your prescription online. Their motto is ‘healthcare for life’ and that is illustrated in their website, where you can order everything from baby equipment and accessories to mobility aids, sports and fitness to diabetes care.

They have a range of medicines and treatments available including complementary medicines and a range of health and well-being section including pain management. They offer next day delivery too so it is worth checking out the site if you have any healthcare needs.

I was given a Sonicare toothbrush to try from Lloyds Pharmacy and enlisted the help of my son to try it out. 



The toothbrush was easy to use, with a built-in timer that help ensure you brush your teeth for the recommended 2 minutes. If you have used Sonicare toothbrushes before you will know they have a slightly different sensation to a normal electric toothbrush, almost like a slight tickling as my son described it. So how did his teeth feel after using the toothbrush? Sparkling clean and smooth he said!  Apparently, it has an easy start and gently increases power over first 12 uses, to ease into the Sonicare experience. My son thinks it is a great toothbrush and was very pleased with it.

It's not all about buying products though as I enjoyed looking through their Health Focus section for information on common illness and conditions. So if you are looking for a great health care site you should check out Lloyds Pharmacy - I'm off to check out their weight management section, now let me get a coffee and doughnut while I browse.... But seriously the health focus section is very interesting if you need any advice.