ustwofriends.com product reviews august 2014

9/16/2014 Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions - 25 Year Anniversary of Wool Overs - Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions

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ustwofriends.com http://ustwofriends.com/25-year-anniversary-wool-overs

I think the best time to buy your winter clothes if you’re more concerned aboutbudget over style is most definitely the Summer. I’ve done this for a good few yearsnow and always uncovered some tremendous deals and today is no exception.

Going over at Wool Overs at the moment because they are celebrating their 25year anniversary, you can grab yourself an extra 10% off if you spend over £70 withthe code ANNIV25. But don’t think that because they are called Wool Overs theyjust produce woollen items of clothing. The range (even in the sale going on rightnow) range from British Wool, through silk and cotton to cashmere. So there’sfabric for all tastes and pockets.

If you’re out an about on a Summer evenings, you’ll no doubt have a few nights thatget a little nippy. Just grab yourself one of their short sleeved cardigans and popthat on. Lightweight, 30% silk and 70% cotton. Enough to keep the chill away andstill look stylish. For £25 in the sale or £45 for 2, it’s a must have bargain. Or try acable knit jumper if it’s a little colder and you need something a little moresubstantial.

25 years is a long time in retail.Wool Overs now supply 957,026customers worldwide. OriginallyMark and Clare Shentondeveloped their cushinessthrough UK Equestrian andCountry Shows. The range sinceit’s humble beginnings in 1989,has grown to produce over 160styles in over 180 differentcolours and combinations.

The sizes unfortunately don’t goup much further than a size 20which is a shame. I haven’t beena size 20 for many years but nowI’m losing weight, I hope to bethere in the next year or so, thenat least I can take advantage oftheir amazing sales. But it hasmade me think about clearing my wardrobe out with the many, many years of largerclothes, and donating them to more worthy causes in the anticipation I can fit into

http://ustwofriends.com/

http://ustwofriends.com/25-year-anniversary-wool-overs



standard sizes once again. But only time will tell.

Happy Anniversary Wool Overs – here’s to thenext 25!

Jacqui

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9/16/2014 Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions - Rock My Holiday Amadeus.Net! - Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions

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ustwofriends.com http://ustwofriends.com/rock-holiday-amadeusnet

I was discussing with Andy over the weekend if he wanted to go on holiday in acouple of years when I’ve lost my excess weight. We haven’t been on holidayabroad for the last 14 years so I think that losing the huge amount of weight that Iintend to do should result in a well deserved holiday in the sun. Sometimes Andyhas found somewhere that he likes that’s pretty cheap to stay but going on theholiday via regular flights turns the holiday from a cheap break to a luxuriouslypriced one without the luxuries, so inevitably we don’t go, or we book a package tothe same area. But what happens when you really want to book to stay in the area(perhaps you’ve already been and know exactly where you want to stay) but wantto find the cheapest flights there?

Amadeus.net has reimagined the way planning for a trip should be.The interface has changed to enable natural language searches aswell as saving searches. There is a tool once you have started yoursearch to enable you to see when it’s cheapest to fly and on whichspecific days, helping flexible people plan more efficiently.Businesses can also reduce costs by using the tool to plan meetingsaround lower fare times. Soon hotels will be added and over timeother functionality will be added.

So I thought I’d give the site a go to see what they had available for Zakynthos.Zakynthos (or Zante) is where I took my very first holiday abroad, it’s also whereAndy and I got engaged so it holds some very special memories for me. Ideally I’dlove to go back there in the next couple of years with Andy so it was the first place Ichecked out on Amadeus.net

There are always places to stay in Zakynthos via independently run hotels butlooking for the flight can be a bit hit and miss because you don’t know who chartersflights to the area.

When using the plan creation tool, I tried searching via both the main homepagebar and the traditional search but it was a little awkward as it only allowed me tosearch for a 1 person price when I really needed the price for 2 adult flights sobeing able to input how many people are going with you would be very welcomed. It did show me though, that there were some airlines that charter flights to Zantethat I’d never even heard at sensational prices. One of the very best deals I foundwas for a return flight from London Gatwick to Zakynthos with EasyJet for just £227


http://ustwofriends.com/rock-holiday-amadeusnet



per person. When you go through to book, the price it can vary so you have to becareful. The flight I had chosen had risen in price by around £5 and going throughto the EasyJet site was a disappointment as I couldn’t find another seat to add thatwas available for the original flight, therefore couldn’t book it then make my wholeinitial search fruitless. It’s great for one person booking but not so great for acouple.

The site allows you to save all the flightsyou find to your own page and from thereadd any links concerning the area you aregoing to. If you find a fabulous review of ahotel, just copy the link and add it to theplan. There’s many a time where I havefound something online, forgotten tobookmark it and never found it again whenI’ve looked. Amadeus makes it simple.

I must say though, it is easy to share your possible plans with friends or loved ones.If I were showing Kelly the holiday and the flights (and hopefully soon the hotels ifit’s integrated into the site) then I would just place everything that I’d like her to lookat on the page and just send her the link, or send her to the Amadeus site to searchfor it.

I love the concept but right now there’s just notenough options to make it a full holiday packageplanner that I could use to arrange a completeholiday with. If hotels, car hire, and special offerswere included then you would find yourself using thetools each and every time to plan and book yourholiday but at present you can just search flights andadd links and travel notes. The addition of being ableto add photos would also be a nice touch with hoteland restaurant recommendations from visitors thathave booked through the site so they are validatedwould also be a brilliant addition and I’d book throughit tomorrow.

However it’s still a great tool for a few thingsincluding it’s currency converter and checking the time in your destination, and ifyou keep an eye on it, while it is being redesigned, then I’m more than certain it willbe your one stop holiday and travel shop to rival any good holiday company.



Looking for inspiration? Thencheck out my Holiday Plan toZakynthos for a taster of whatAmadeus can do for you.

Jacqui

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9/16/2014 Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions - Boxdelux Review and Discount Code - Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions

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ustwofriends.com http://ustwofriends.com/boxdelux-monthly-box-review

Jackie Allum

Boxdelux Review and Discount Code

The more subscription boxes I see the more excited I get when the postman

knocks at my door. There’s so many amazing, value for money boxes on the

market that choosing the best for one genre is becoming quite difficult. We have

food boxes, drink boxes, gift boxes, sweet boxes, and the full on favourite, the

beauty boxes. But when you get a company that can give you the best of these

combined in a surprise package each month, you jump at the chance.

Boxdelux can provide you with either a rolling monthly subscription at just £15.95

plus £3.95 delivery up to a 6 month subscription for £90 plus £3.95 delivery

(effectively giving you 5 months delivery free). But it’s not any ordinary subscription

box as you actually don’t know what you’re going to get. You could receive anything

from a host of items from home and lifestyle, to beauty, fragrance and gourmet

foods.

The box that I received was ultimately beauty lead and for the money seems

fantastic value (albeit a couple of the items looking a little worse for wear but that

could be the friction of things moving about in the package whilst being delivered).

In the box:

1 full size 100ml Anatomicals “help the paw” hand cream approx £5

I love the packaging of the Anatomicals range. Always colourful and quirky with

comical drawings and sayings. Although I’m not a big fan of the actual hand cream

since the fragrance puts me off.

1 x 25ml ultra sun high 20 spf anti ageing formula cream and asmaller 15ml family formula cream approx £10/£2.50

This is sensational stuff. Sunscreen and moisturiser in one, protects your skin from

the daily grime you pick up during the day. Quite thick when you dispense it onto

your hand but disappears in an instant when used on your face and neck. I find this

cream makes my skin a lot softer than my usual day cream so I might just have to

ditch it now for this one. As for it being anti ageing, I don’t have many lines (mainly

because I’m obese) but I’ll still use it since I’m in my early 40s and when I finish


http://ustwofriends.com/boxdelux-monthly-box-review



losing the bulk of my weight,

I’m sure to have more

wrinkles due to the loose skin.

Nothing a tuck and a nip won’t

cure. The fragrance on the

other hand is a little to be

desired since it smells a bit

like hay but don’t let that put

you off since it leaves your

skin beautifully soft so it’s

worth buying just for that.

1 x Marilou Boi PeachLip Balm approx £5 for5ml

Didn’t smell much of peach

when I opened the little jar,

but once you run your finger round the balm, it was like sitting in the middle of a

peach grove. Really beautifully scented, a little greasy on the lips but applies really

smoothly and not clumpy. Available in 4 different flavours, chocolate, peach, vanilla

and strawberry.

1 x Aden Lip and Cheek Tint in Raspberry (also available in Mangoand Cherry) approx £6

I’d never heard of Aden before and although the product looks gorgeous (a bit like

a high end wand lipstick) and applies beautifully, it’s an absolute nightmare to

remove. If you want a lip stain that stays all day long then it’s perfect, however it

stains immediately where it lands so applying it to your cheek is a pain. Apply it and

rub it in immediately or you’ll be left with a streak of colour that you have to remove

with a facial cleansing wipe and lots of elbow grease and still it left me with a light

colour stain where it had previously been put. Colour however is gorgeous and I’d

love to try the others yet would leave it well away from my cheeks, preferring to use

a cream based blush.

1 x Pritti NYC Polish in Tulip Tree Teal £10

Love the concept of Pritti NYC being vegan and non toxic and “supporting

organic farmers and to decrease the amount of chemicals poisoning the Earth- and



it’s inhabitants –

one manicure at a time”. All

the polishes are non-toxic,

and are free of toluene,

dibutyl phthalate,

formaldehyde, formaldehyde

resin, and camphor – all

known carcinogenic

ingredients. So from a health

and environmental point of

view they are amazing. The

colour I received though isn’t

really to my taste. Seems this

season has been about dull

blues leaning towards more

Teals and Heathers neglecting

the brighter tones more

associated with Summer so I

doubt I’d wear it. However the

smell from the polish is horrible. When the 2 chemicals Butyl Acetate and Ethyl

Acetate mix together the odour is vile so open all windows and doors if you use it to

get the smell out as quick as possible. It’s actually this reason (as well as the colour

not being my favourite) that I won’t be using it. Although if you don’t mind the smell,

the concept is a good one and price not too bad for a polish such as this.

So what do I think of the box in general. I love it. I think the idea of not knowing

what you’re going to get each month appeals to child in me and the anticipation of

waiting for Christmas to arrive.

Value is good since this box retailed at around £26 so for £18.95 (including p&p) it’s

a nice little bargain.

Packaging is really cute since you get the box delivered wrapped in pink tissue

making it more like a surprise gift with matching paper packing inside keeping all

the goodies cosy.

Perfect for the person that has everything as the items supplied are mid range to

luxury with not knowing what they are going to get each month they can only be

pleased and surprised.

So if you fancy trying the box for yourself, BoxDeluxe have kindly arranged for you

all the receive a box at just £5 plus p&p. When you order just pop in the



promotional code us2for5 to receive an exclusive 1 month taster box. Go on, grabit today and see what you think – might be just what you’re looking for.

Jacqui

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9/16/2014 Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions - I Didn't Know CarpetRight Sold Beds! - Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions

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It’s been nearly a year since we had building work done in the house to give us alarger kitchen and to remove the ugly double doors that we had opening out to theliving room. It’s about the same time that we decided on flooring instead of carpet inthe living room too, and I’m so glad that we didn’t settle for regular laminate flooringinstead opting for vinyl flooring. Initially I didn’t want to get vinyl flooring as I hadvisions of huge sheets on 1970s patterned lino being transported into the room,having to ban everyone with high heels from walking into the place, and regularlyhaving to push the bubbles that would have inevitably appeared overtime with theshoe shuffle into the corners. But after I ordered a sample of the flooring fromCarpetright I was bowled over. The vinyl tile is nothing like lino – Tegola is more likea plastic moulded version of laminate flooring and is amazing. With dogs in thehouse who now and then have toilet accidents, it’s pointless having carpet so thevinyl is perfect for us. It’s super easy to clean with a waterproof seal if it’s laidcorrectly (we opted for a Carpetright fitter who was superb).

But we didn’t just have thevinyl flooring put down. Wethought it was about time toget a new stair carpet sincethe one we had down hadgone bald (it had been downfor 7 years though) so we hada chat to Carpetright at thesame time we bought theliving room flooring and theyrecommended a Scottsdalewith a 10 year warranty and15 year stain warranty. I’mover the moon that theyrecommended it too since it’snever moulted (lots of carpetswe’ve had before scuff uploose strands that generallyends up resulting in baldpatches within the year) but with the addition of underlay the Scottsdale still looksimmaculate. There’s a beautiful bounce underfoot when you walk on it and it’sreally lovely to walk on in bare feet. My morning trip to the bathroom is like walkingon a cloud. I’d definitely go back to Carpetright again if and when I need flooring butdid you know that they also have a tremendous range of beds?


http://ustwofriends.com/carpetright-sold-beds



I didn’t even notice when Isearched the site that theysold beds, but they do have alovely range. SleepeezeCashmere Beds, MilbrookBeds, Geltex Beds. Ranges tosuit all pockets too from £249for a small single divan rightup to £2,399 for a Super KingSize Divan.

When we bought our new bedI never thought of looking atCarpetright but I wish I had.The service we received fromthem has always beenexemplary so ordering a bedfrom the site, or indeed instore would have been just assimple. They always seem torecommend the very best foryou too. You don’t get manystores that know theirproducts inside out just asmuch as they seem to. Makes buying simple whenthere’s just so many beds tochoose from.

So next time you’re on the search for new beds, make sure you check outCarpetright as you might just find what you’ve been after and for a much betterprice than you imagined!

Jacqui

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9/16/2014 Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions - Dinner for Two with Ilumi - Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions

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ustwofriends.com http://ustwofriends.com/dinner-ilumi

While I’ve been on my diet – although more of change of lifestyle with addedexercise to prove a point that the morbidly obese don’t need surgical interventionI’ve realised that there are certain foods that just don’t help my digestion, franklymaking me feel unwell. Now whilst I was in the throws of horrendous weight gain,depression, stress and negativity I didn’t care. My weekly shopping list consisted ofcheesecakes, muffins, crumpets, crisps, pate, cheese and pasta. Looking back nowI realise that my diet was not only putting on the huge, disgusting amounts ofweight, it was making me feel very unwell. Abdominal pain, fatigue, terrible bloatingand really bad depression. The old me would think nothing of ordering a burger withall the trimmings but would wholly regret it the next day. The food was making mesick.

However, changing the diet to include less fatty, gluten and much more fruit andvegetables has turned me around so having the opportunity to have a delicious,healthy gluten free evening made my day thanks to Ilumi and their kind offer of agorgeous gluten free, dinner for 2.

Here’s what we were treatedto:

Starter (as shown below):

Spicy Butternut Squash

Soup

Tomato & Red Pepper Soup

Main:

Tender Pork with Cider and

Wholegrain Mustard

This dish is the classic combination of tender Pork, Cider and Mustard. The SuffolkCider along with the Mustard add the piquancy, whilst the Honey, Apple and Thymegently sweeten the dish.

Lamb in Gluten Free Ale with Haricot Beans

A classic warming Lamb Stew cooked in a deeply rich Gluten Free Ale with HaricotBeans, Rosemary and Thyme.

Then the next day as we were so full:


http://ustwofriends.com/dinner-ilumi



Main (as shown below):

Venison Casserole with

Pancetta and Sloe Gin

Tender Venison cooked instock with a splash of SloeGin and some fresh Thyme.With a hint of sweetness fromApricots and Orange Zest

Coq au Vin

Chicken cooked in Beaujolaiswine with Pancetta, thymeand bay. A time honouredclassic recipe with a slighttwist of Italian Pancetta.

Preparing these dishescouldn’t have been easier.They were all microwavedishes, and even though Iwas a little reluctant knowingthat (probably because thehorrendous microwave mealswe consumed when we werehaving our kitchen redoneover Christmas) I needn’thave concerned myself asthey were delicious. Nothinglike a bog standardmicrowave meal at all. Notbland, soggy or overly salty.They were beautiful meals,Just 2 mins in the microwavefor each pouch. We gavethem an extra minute thoughas we put 2 pouches in atonce as we wanted to eattogether.

The portions were probably a little on the small side for the main if we hadn’t had



the soup as a starter, so for the next days meals we did have a side salad as anextra to bulk it out slightly. They total around 400g as a whole (with the rice) sopretty much ready meal standard and calories range from 200 for individualpouches to 500 a main meal with rice.

The soups were lovely and thick (my butternut squash soup was probably thickerthan Andy’s red pepper) and was warm and welcoming. Didn’t need any extraseasoning although I did pop a sprinkle of white pepper on top to enhance thesquash’s sweetness.

What I did adore about the meals, which were different to other ready meals wasthe huge amounts of meat and poultry in them. The Coq au Vin seemed to have awhole chicken breast in it which took me back a little. Ordinarily microwave mealshave the smallest amount of meat and poultry in them that they can legally getaway with bulked out with the cheapest onions or potatoes they can use but thiswasn’t the case at all with Ilumi. Masses of meat and poultry made these meals tobe proud of.

If I hadn’t known that they were pouches cooked in the microwave, then I wouldnever have known. They were full of flavour, totally delicious and utterly moorish.Ilumi produce some of the tastiest gluten free food I’ve had the pleasure of trying.

If gluten free was the only choice on the shelves then I wouldn’t hesitate eatingIlumi. They have surpassed all the expectations of gluten free food I had, and ifthey keep producing divine and delectable dishes like these then I will remain ahuge fan.

Ideal for a meal if you’ve been out all day and don’t have any time to cook, or if youfancy something a little different and don’t want to waste the time to prepare theinitial ingredients with Ilumi you really can’t go wrong. Healthy, simple and greattasting. Total winner.

Jacqui

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9/16/2014 Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions - The Worlds Most Expensive Jewellery - Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions

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ustwofriends.com http://ustwofriends.com/worlds-expensive-jewellery

I was doing some shopping yesterday on my favourite place online and got myself2 very pretty Swarovski Element necklaces. They came this morning in a little giftbox, very well presented but a fraction of the original cost. Now my budget islimited but I still love to have girlie, glittery and pretty bling but nothing, and I meannothing compares to these pieces. Have you seen this from Jewellery World?WOW!





– An infographic by the team at Jewellery World

I can’t believe how expensive some of those jewels are – but I know I’d love one ofthose heart shaped diamonds… wonder if the Mr will read this and take note… agirl can dream.

Jacqui

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9/16/2014 Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Honest Opinions - Degustabox August - Will You Be Mine Forever? - Us Two Friends: Product Reviews and Hon…

http://ustwofriends.com/degustabox-august 1/8

ustwofriends.com http://ustwofriends.com/degustabox-augustJackie Allum

Oh dear, I seemed to have embarrassed myself in front of my neighbours today.No, I didn’t get any body parts out on show, nor did I mention my childhood monthlong crush on Paul Daniels (don’t even go there). What I actually did was far worsethan any of those… I squealed like a school girl at Christmas receiving her favouritepop star calendar but this time right at the courier who was standing at myneighbours front door (as I didn’t get there quick enough) holding my delivery of thelatest Degustabox. I swear he thought I had wet myself when I saw what he had inhis hands. But ever since I’ve had the pleasure of receiving them, the excitement Ifeel when I see the box arrive is very much akin to the first time I met DariusCampbell back stage at a Pop Idol concert many, many years moons ago when hegave me his pen to keep. A bic it was not… only Parker pen for our Darius… but Idigress.

It’s my third delivery ofDegustabox and I’m 100%smitten. I nearly exploded withglee when I opened the boxup this month to reveal one ofmy ultimate favourite things inthe whole world. One thingthat I never can resist nomatter how hard I try. The onething that I’d give upchocolate to have each andevery day of the week…Brioche Pasquier Croissants. Iadore them so much thatAndy literally had to prize the bag out of my hands and had to put them on thehighest shelf in our kitchen for fear I would just peel open the yellow seal and scoffthe lot in one swift move. Croissants (and especially Brioche Pasquier who makebrioche buns and croissants to die for) are my downfall. The only thing better than awarm buttery croissant for me is a warm, buttery croissant being hand delivered bya naked (albeit for a strategically placed fig leaf) on a tanned and toned RobbieWilliams (and perhaps a box of Raffaello to top it off) but you get the picture… ILOVE CROISSANTS.

This months box was crammed full of my favourites. Again there’s the choice of thealcoholic or non alcoholic boxes but let’s take a closer look at this food box ofdelights for August 2014.


http://ustwofriends.com/degustabox-august



First up and out of the boxwas a HUGE bag of LightlySalted Tortilla Chips fromMexican Dave’s.

Andy couldn’t resist openingthese immediately as he’s abig dipping addict but the firstthing you notice about thechips are the fact that theyhave the grilled pattern onone side and not the other.They also tasted amazing.Not greasy or gritty like someother chips we’ve had in thepast. It was nice to open apacket and see full sizedchips too, not broken bits thathave no hope in hell ofscraping up any dips of sauces. Be interested to try the Nacho Cheese variety if Ican find them. The ethics of the company also ring my bell. Just 482 calories per100g – the bag provides around 9 servings.

A believer in goodness, Nana Pat insists on using only the finestingredients and adds absolutely, positively nothing artificial.

Like cupcakes but fed up with peeling off the paper that always takes half the cakewith it? Not anymore more with Dr Oetkers new edible wafer cakes, you can haveALL your cake and eat the wrapping too – no mess. What a fantastic idea. Madewith what appears to be a rice paper concoction, these sturdy little cases look likethey can take quite a lot of cupcake mixture for a bodice ripping massive cupcake.A pack of 6 wafer cases (3 blue and 3 pink) are £2.50 but bring an extra specialdimension to your baking. They taste of nothing at all, so baking your cupcakes inthem won’t detract from the sponge flavour but will stop crumbs droppingeverywhere and your little ones losing half their cake. Shame there’s only 6 in thepacket as a lot of cake mixtures on the market are for more than 6 cakes but if youmake the mixture from scratch you can just adjust it for the cases you have – PLUSyou don’t need to put them in a special cake pan, just put them straight on a bakingtray and fill with gooey goodness.



Brioche Pasquier. £1.69-£1.79with 8 croissants/pain perpacket. My downfall item. Iwas spoilt in this months boxas there wasn’t just one packof amazingly light and fluffycroissants but one bag ofcroissants and one pack of 8pains au lait. Generally abreakfast bread or the basisof a sweet dessert, briochemade with eggs, butter,cream, water and brandy isone of the most fluffy, flakytreats out there. The creamy,buttery layers breakeffortlessly when you tearthem apart (especially whenthey’re warm) and dipped intomelted chocolate or warm fruit spread turn the most boring breakfast into aParisienne delight. Calorie wise they’re not good for dieting. 170 calories percroissant, I could only have them as an occasional treat but if you’re not dietingthen they’re dreamy. How I’m going to survive on my diet without diving down theopen packet we have in the kitchen now I don’t know but I’ll try my hardest… (wellmaybe).

Next up. Cariibbean Twist Strawberry Daiquri. £2.50 per bottle. I’ve tried a fewcocktail mixtures before and if I’m honest, I’ve not been that impressed. A couple Ihad tried initially which I bought from Asda were bitter and could easily have put meoff cocktails for life but this ready to drink Caribbean style alcoholic cocktail whichcontains 7.5% real fruit juice (bonus) was gorgeous. I tried it first without ice and itwas nice but boy, over ice it’s a winner! Not too bubbly (as that tends to play havocwith my tummy) with a perfect mixture of sweet and sour to tease and tantalise thetaste buds. Available already in Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Iceland, Bargain Boozeand Savers but coming to a Morrisons near you early this month.

If you didn’t go for the alcoholic version of Degustabox you would be greeted with 2bottles of mixer from Fever Tree. At £1.69 each, these 200ml bottles have noartificial sweeteners, flavourings or preservatives. The branding alone evokesclass. The Indian tonic water is a clean, crisp flavour and ginger beer is sweet, lightand rounded (albeit not my favourite) it’s no surprise that they are the top choice of



mixer in 7 out of the 10 toprestaurants in the world.

Cawston Press have made awelcome return toDegustabox this month too.We’ve had their amazingcanned apple juice now it’stime for the Kids Blend, appleand pear. In beautifullypacked cartons (3 pack forjust £1.89) they blend theirinfamous pressed juice andmix it with 40% water for alighter juice drink for tiny tastebuds. No added sugar oranything artificial – it’s ahealthy, vitamin filledbeverage for your little oneslunch. Not made from concentrate, made directly from their pure juice, just mixedfor a smooth, lighter blend.

We’re spoilt for choice with drinks this month! Berry White Peach & Goji Berry withEchinacea and White Tea Extract is the final beverage in the box. Made withpremium ingredients with no added sugar, fruit sugar and no artificial preservativesthis little bottle of goodness was a little weak for my taste as I love a drink with a bitmore punch (probably due to my love of matcha green tea) but ice cold, straightfrom the fridge it’s bound to quench your thirst quickly and efficiently. Perfect forafter the gym! 10% of all the profits from Berry White goes to charity, so it’s not onlybeneficial for your health it’s beneficial for others too. Available in what sounds likea gorgeous collection of flavours too: Cranberry & Guava with Elderberry, Guarana& White Tea Extra, Lemon & Ginger with Acai Berry, Yerba Mate & White TeaExtract and finally, Pomegranate & Blueberry with White Tea Extract.

Then 2 little things that I have been desperate to try. I don’t know how Degustaboxknow but nearly every time I get a box it’s got something in it that I’ve been talkingabout in the last week and this is no exception. Schwartz flavour shots have beenon my mind since being released. I adore trying different recipes and having new,exciting flavours thrust upon me. Being on a diet for that last 6 months, to keep itinteresting we’ve been using different mixes of herbs and spices to take everydaychicken to different extremes. Flavour shots are recipe bases containing a unique



mix of herbs, spices and seasonings infused with sunflower oil to give yououtstanding meals. Spoon into the pan, add meat and/veg with a few extras,simmer and serve. It’s a foodies favourite turning the bland into bold! The 2 flavourswe have to try are Spanish Smoked Paprika Chicken and Mexican Fajitas. Can’twait! £1.39 per shot. Calories are perhaps a little high due to the sunflower oilinfusion but if you know you are going to try them, just don’t eat as much for lunchand save it for your gut busting flavour shot meal. Yum, yum!

I spied in the corner of thebox, nestled away behind theflavour shots, a striking blackand pink heart shaped tinfrom none other than Lindtchocolate. £3.49 for 45g.Perfect for thank you’s, I loveyou’s or “just because it’s you”days. Pretty on the outsidewith it’s black lid, sentimentsand pink raised hearts, gentlenestled on top of the eyepopping pink base. Pull apartto reveal it’s bright pink “Hello,nice to sweet you” Just forYou inlay hiding beneath thesmall but perfectly formedpink foiled heart buttons ofchocolate calling out to besavoured and devoured under the covers alone or with a loved one. I couldn’t waitto try these little nuggets of creamy Lindt chocolate and they didn’t disappoint.Sheer Bliss. If you love the bunny or the bars, then treat your loved ones to one ofthese little tins – they’ll love you forever!

Finally, a new thing for the box this month. The Degustabox Fridge. An eyecatching little ice box patterned envelope. When you want to try something newwhich is too fresh to pack in a box, what’s better than providing a voucher for it! Weall pop to the shops or know someone that will pop to the shops for us, and so youdon’t miss out on something special we have a full priced voucher for a freemultipack of Moma! Bircher muesli a blend of wholegrain oats, fruit and yogurt. Afew years ago, I was lucky enough to trial a very similar product that unfortunatelydidn’t make it to market so I was over the moon to see this in the box this month.Another product I’ve wanted to try that ticks every one of my boxes – love



wholegrain, always have yogurt (pretty much every day) and I’m a big fruit fan.Haven’t managed to get hold of this product as yet, since we have to travel 30minutes to our nearest Sainsbury but be rest assured I will be shouting about itonce I do try it as I’ve been looking for a decent grain yogurt for ages and not foundone I liked… until now (I hope).

Well that’s August’s Degustabox and I don’t mind shouting from the rooftops “ILOVE YOU DEGUSTABOX” and for just £12.99 a month (massive bargain for whatyou receive each time) this is the go to box of choice for new and lesser knownshopping gems. Would I recommend that you subscribe? Yes, yes, yes and yes asit’s so good you will never ever want to miss your delivery of tasty surprises. It’sone that I look forward every single month! If you haven’t tried it yet but want to tryDegustabox (please don’t miss out, I urge you to try it, even if for just one month)then we have a very special discount code for you. Just add the code V2WEP andgrab yourself a £3 discount making it £9.99! I can’t say fairer than that.

Want to check out Degustabox on social media too, then drop by their links andsay hello – they’ll be only to pleased to hear from you.

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage – websitehttp://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook – Facebookhttp://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter – twitter

Jacqui

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ustwofriends.com http://ustwofriends.com/top-10-car-life-hacks-vehicle

Jackie Allum

Top 10 Car Life Hacks – Get The Best From

Your Vehicle

64% of people in the UK take their journeys by car according to the DfT in theNational Travel Survey 2013. So it makes sense that if nearly 3/4 of the journeysyou make are by that mode of transport, you want to make the best out of it withtips and tricks. These will inevitably make your journey a comfortable, stress freeone.

We’ve teamed up withClearway Car Finance, CarWow and Motor Paper tobring you:

1. Can’t remember which sidethe petrol tank is on? Themajority of cars have a smallarrow located on the petrolgauge that points to the sideof the car that your petrol tankis on.

2. De-ice an icy car door lockusing hand sanitiser (always keep one in the car too for emergencies).

3. Put a plastic bag from a cereal container in the car to use as a bin as they areeasy to get hold of and they’re even easier to throw away.

4. Protect your car doors against scratches and damage in your garage by gluinghalf of a pool noodle to the wall.

5. Turn on the heating in your car or use a car seat heater to keep your takeawaywarm on the way home.

6. If you are worried that you won’t remember where you parked, take a selfie ofthe location of your parking spot.

7. Hook a mesh bungee net to the roof handles in your car for extra storage room.





8. If you have cloudy headlights, apply toothpaste with a cloth and clean the lens.Then rinse the lens with clean water and dry it.

9. Cool down a warm or hot car by rolling down the windows on one side as well asopening and closing the door on the other side, five to six times.

10. Put your iPad into a clean plastic wallet and use elastic bands to strap the iPadto a front seat for an easy hands-free movie experience in your car and stops stickyfingers all over the screen.

But there’s many more things that you can do to make your car journey pleasant,especially in the Summer holidays.

How about games to keep the kids quiet? Anything that doesn’t involve tiny parts(like you get in travel games) are ideal as are games that don’t involve readingsince reading in a car can bring on motion sickness which is a result of the bodysensing a discrepancy between what you see and what you feel. This then triggersthe production of a neurotransmitter which is mistaken by your body as a signal ofhallucinogenic poisoning so brings on the sick feeling.

Stop Car Sickness

Listen to music on headphones. Watching things going on in the car can bring onthe sickness, however listening to music or even audio books has the oppositeeffect.

Open the window a little. Smelling fresh and cool air can make you feel tonnesbetter. If it’s not possible to open a window, smell orange peel. This can have thesame effect. If you’re on a journey where you think your little one is going to be ill,pack a lunchbox and add an orange into it. Even then if they don’t need it to smell,they have something healthy to snack on.

Sit on a newspaper. I have no idea why this works but it’s one of the easiest to doand always seemed to work when I was little. Same happens with brown paper.

Sit in the front seat. If you’re sitting in the back seat of a car, your view is skewedand makes sickness worse. Sitting in the front seat makes you look forward andto the horizon therefore keeps your senses in line with what you are seeing.

Funky Smelling Car?

No where to put an air freshener? How about putting it under your passenger seat?



Only do this if you do not have under seat heating though. Attach a small piece ofdouble sided tape to the freshener (such as a California Scents tin) and stick it tothe underside of the seat. After 3 months or when the fragrance disappears,replace it.

So, there’s a few things to keep you going over the Summer months and tips thatno doubt you (or your OH) will put to work to save time and energy in the future.

Happy Motoring.

Jacqui

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ustwofriends.com product reviews august 2014

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