Friday 30 August 2013

Amie Pure and Natural Beauty Skin Care

amie morning dew matte finish paraben free moisturiserI'm always looking out for new Paraben free SkinCare to try (read the problem with parabens) - especially affordable ones! 

I'm happy to share with you Amie pure and natural beauty products who sent me two items from their collection to review.

"Amie’s high-quality products are completely free from parabens, sulphates, mineral oils, petrochemicals, animal extracts and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans."

amie morning clear purifying face wash paraben freeSo what did I think? The Amie Morning Dew Matte Finish  Moisturiser is a smooth light lotion which soaks in quickly and smells fresh. I have a bot of combination skin going on! very dry and sensitive except for an oily T Zone - this moisturiser is fab, it took care of my shiny forehead and left my dry cheeks feeling soft. it's absolutely great value for money at  £4.95 rrp making it a winner  in affordable Paraben free SkinCare and clear to see why it's a multi award winning brand.

The Amie Morning Clear Purifying face wash is a lovely gentle face wash, it doesn't foam up and it isn't drying - I often find face washes to harsh and drying on sensitive skin but this one is more like a lotion and wipes away make-up traces easily. It has a lovely subtle clean smell and is a great £4.95 rrp

I'll be buying more from Amie in the future.


Emma in Bromley xx



Prizes for Parents 30.08.13

Hello Everyone, 

I know Prizes for Parents is normally published today (every friday) however, today and next friday there will be a short break due to a short hospital stay and surgery (sadly, not a tummy tuck and boob job) 

Please feel free to refer to last week's Prizes for parents as some of the competitions are still current :-)

http://emmainbromley.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/prizes-for-parents-competition-round-up_23.html

Emma in Bromley xx

Thursday 29 August 2013

Walkers Mighty Lights


lunchbox examples from my pinterest board (Beachpebble)
It's almost lunch box season again!

Now, for most kids a sandwich, piece of fruit and a snack is all that's needed but what if your little one is going through such an extreme fussy eater stage that he won't eat a sandwich, or fruit and actually only eats about 5 things in total because let's face it, don't we all have a fussy eater at some stage (please say yes, please say yes)

I started off doing sandwiches in cute little shapes such as dinosaurs and gingerbread men - I'd like to be really adventurous and prepare lunches that look like the ones on my pinterest boards but honestly? I don't have the time or skill-  especially with a 2 year old and 4 year old clinging to my leg.

Blake Clement eating Walkers Mighty LightsMaegan Clement eating Walkers Mighty LightsWalkers Mighty Lights

My dinosaur and man shaped sandwiches just kept coming back untouched *sigh* and mr fussy pants aka Blake, wouldn't eat any sandwich filling at all so now the "sandwich" is usually a bit of cold toast or crackers! (Poor kid!)

Having such an awkward eater means I'm very very picky about snacks, treats and extras in the lunch box so I was pleased to try these new Walkers Mighty Lights because they boast to have less fat and a source of fibre (the fibre bit is key at the moment) 

"With 30% less fat than standard crisps, Mighty Lights are perfect for kids' lunchboxes. They are tasty, ridged crisps that come in three flavours - roast chicken, cheese and onion and lightly salted. All the flavours are suitable for vegetarians, and are available in shops nationwide. They're made from real potatoes with no artificial colours of preservatives-  and they're a source of fibre."

The flavours are awesome - I really enjoyed the Lightly Salted! Blake went for Cheese and Onion "stripy crisps"  (which, by the way are veggie - as are all the flavours) and Daddy and Meg went for the Roast Chicken flavour! 

Blake  and Maegan picnicBlake Clement making a Crisp Sandwich Walkers Mighty LightsFred, Sparkles and Gruff the Gnomes


Daddy doesn't like to be photo'd so his place on the family picnic blanket has been taken by Fred, Sparkles and Gruff the Gnomes instead - who incidentally also like crisps!

I'm really impressed with Mighty Lights as I do like a crinkle cut ridge crisp - but these ones are super great because they  don't leave behind a greasy finger and thumb tip! 

I'd like to aspire to fanciful lunch box creations but for now, I'm more than happy to include a snack pot with some Walkers Mighty Lights in them - until I master the skills to make the crisps look like leaves falling from fairy tale trees! 

Ohhh and back to the sandwiches - there is just one filling Blake likes ... A crisp sandwich!


Emma in Bromley xx





*This is a sponsored post.



Tuesday 27 August 2013

Clarks Clear Runny Honey - British Honey

Clarks Runny Clear British Honey I do love to buy British or local honey but its always a set honey and my little people prefer runny honey so I was very pleased to hear and taste the new Clarks Clear Runny Honey with the highest percent of British honey currently available.

It's a careful blend of blossom, acacia and British honey making it a clear runny honey.

We really enjoyed it drizzled on pancakes! Large pancakes for me and the hubby and mini pancakes for Blake and Maegan - yum yum! Clarks Clear Honey has a lovely natural taste and has earned its place on my shopping list.

We've used it on top of vanilla ice cream, in lemon tea and on toast!

I've also used it in some tasty recipes, I oven bake a pork chop (and veggie sausages! ) coated in Clarks clear honey, with a handful of fennel seeds and some crushed garlic! 

Clarks clear honey comes in a glass jar.

Clarks are a family firm who also produce maple syrup, Check out the Clarks Honey website at http://www.clarkshoney.co.uk/ it has a great page all about honey cures and facial treatment recipes!

Emma in Bromley xx

Friday 23 August 2013

Prizes for Parents competition round up 23.08.13

Originally started by the lovely Emma at Mellow Mummy, I'd like to bring to you Prizes for Parents.
This is a weekly roundup of some of the best competitions available on the web, I'll keep my eyes peeled for the best prizes or freebies on offer for UK families, mums, parents and health and beauty fans.
I'll post a selection here of the ones I spot or if you have a competition you'd like me to include, just tweet me the link @beachpebble, email me or leave a comment below with the details and closing date.
#prizesforparents
Prize must be open to UK winners.
Published every Friday.

• Win two tickets to Opera Alfresco at Kenwood house.
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13

• Win a Nova Harley Changing Bag
Entry via twitter follow and RT

• Win a pair of girls Vivienne Westwood shoes 
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13 

• Win a Dr Browns Newborn Feeding Gift Set
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 24.08.13

• Win a Party Pickles Party Box
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 26.08.13

• Win 1 of 5 Woolly and Tig Dvd's 
Entry by rafflecopter closes 01.09.13

• Win 1 of 3 Skylanders amazing prize bundles
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 30.09.13

• Win an Eames style children's rocking chair
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 09.09.13

• Win a family ticket to the London Dungeons 
Entry by rafflecopter Closes 31.08.13

• Win a £100 Zulily voucher, kidcraft retro kitchen and a juicy couture  bag!
Entry by Instagram, closes 31.08.13

• Win 1 of 5 packs of finding nemo aqua ears
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 06.09.13

• Win a Cath Kidston changing bag and Nelsons Teetha bundle 
Entry by blog comment, closes 03.09.13

• Win a 1st fone with a months credit
Entry by rafflecopter closes 25.08.13

• Win 1 of 15 back to school prizes!
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13

• Win 4 new children's DVDs 
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 30.08.13

• Win a £100 Go Ape voucher
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13

• Win a dino bite game
Entry by rafflecopter closes 30.08.13

• Win Ice cream moulds 
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 05.09.13

• Win Oxo Good Grips Gadgets
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13

• Win a Spam BBQ hamper
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 24.08.13

• Win a Parcelgenie gift of your choice
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 28.08.13

• Win a year supply of startrite shoes
Entry by newsletter sign up, monthly draw

• Win an Abra ca Debora pancake hamper
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 20.09.13

• Win a Dobble Game
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 29.08.13




Warburtons Krazy Kitchen

Liven up your lunch time with Warburtons Krazy Kitchen
Bored of the same lunch over and over again?
Warburtons has created the entertaining Krazy Kitchen gameshow to liven up your lunchtime. The hilarious 30 second videos – perhaps the first gameshow on Facebook – pits two families against each to create a delicious and inspiring lunch in the Warburtons Krazy Kitchen. Then the two families – the McDermotts and the Griffiths – battle it out, mum versus mum, dad versus dad and child versus child in three hilarious videos to make the best sandwich whilst being a distracted by unexpected ‘kraziness’. The first three videos can found at www.facebook.com/warburtons.



This Friday (23rd August) sees the release of the final installment in the Krazy Kitchen drama. 
Feeling inspired, I've recreated a Krazy Kitchen Style Recipe using the Warburtons Sandwhich thins with great fillings! 



I had my two helpers - Blake (age 4) and Meg (age 2) in true Krazy Kitchen fashion, we laid out various fillings and had a free for all to make our own sandwiches!
Meg just copied me with a veggie lunch- we lightly toasted the sandwich thins and added crispy salad leaves, cucumber circles, avocado, cheese and a twist of lime! Blake being ... "The worlds most fussiest and random eater" ... filled his sandwich thins with crisps! 



When hubby got home, he was treated to a Warburtons wrap (these square wraps are so easy to use!) filled with warmed sliced chicken breast, mayo and crispy salad leaves.
I'm also going to create a veggie tex mex mayhem style wrap using some chicken style pieces - yum!
I'm loving the inspiration for packed lunches and products such as Warburtons wraps and thins as alternatives to sliced bread, I'm always trying to find new things for my fussy eater to try and there's so much lunch choices and ideas around! 
I'm relieved I wasn't one of those poor mums in the Krazy kitchen trying to prepare food for my family with all that wobbling surfaces and chicken running! Phew! The families did a great job and it must have been so much fun to have taken part!
For even more lunch entertainment and inspiration, Warburtons have also provided exclusive footage of Masterchef winner, Lisa Faulkner, creating one of the recipes – in the Sixty Second Sandwich Challenge. Check out the Warburton's facebook page for the Krazy Kitchen videos and other lunch recipe ideas www.facebook.com/warburtons.

page1image7504
Liven up your lunch today!

Emma in Bromley xx
(@beachpebble)


Thursday 22 August 2013

Lost children of Syria, Chemical Attack Massacred Children

This post is upsetting. There are deeply disturbing photos at the bottom of this post.

In June 2012 I posted as part of britmums day of protest http://emmainbromley.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/stop-killing-syria.html as a way to raise awareness of the atrocities happening in Syria, I'm sad to say this is still on my mind, very worrying that nothing has happened to stop it and very much still in the news.

There's a photo circulating twitter - it shows lots of children laying on the floor and the caption is What are we looking at? survivors? Followed by caution, very upsetting picture.

Whether these children are just playing , sleeping or never going to wake up or even if the photo is from Syria, can't be determined by the photo but paired with the limited media stories and what Syria is capable of, I fear the worst. 

This first photo comes from Roddy Mansfield a sky investigative and undercover journalist.

My heart wants to say this is a photo of children playing sleeping bunnies and I really hope my heart is right but my mind is telling me these are children who will never play again given the news reports suspecting chemical attacks in Syria. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23795088

There are more photos which have come from twitter and Instagram today - all claim to be from Syria and chemical attacks and all have brought me to tears and prayers. 

There are cruel people and awful crimes against children and innocent people everyday, everywhere but Syria, this should not be happening. 

UNICEF syria's children's appeal
http://www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Emergencies/syrian-arab-republic-syria/

Save the Children Petition to encourage Nick Clegg to take action when he meets with the UN next month 

http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/syria


Come on UN stop it from happening now please.

I'd also like to request consideration from Britmums and my fellow bloggers for another "Day of protest" (unless its already been done and I just missed it!)

The photos below are very upsetting...

#stopthekilling

Britmums Day of Protest 2 






massacred children from a chemical attack in Syria, 22.08.13





Emma in Bromley xx
(@beachpebble)

Win Carrot Cake Cupcakes from the Yummy Cake Company

the yummy cake company logoI have a lovely quick giveaway for one of my readers!

... This one is only open to the Bromley and Beckenham area.

The lovely Joanna from http://www.yummycakecompany.co.uk/ has accidentally made too many of her delicious carrot cake cupcakes and would like to share them with one of my readers.

White Chocolate Wedding Cake decorated with Sunflowers - The Yummy Cake CompanyThe yummy cake company based in Bromley, who make amazing wedding (the one in the picture is amazing isn't it!), birthday and event cakes, will be delivering them to the winner tomorrow (Friday) so it really is a quick comp!

To enter, please take a look at the yummy cake company http://www.yummycakecompany.co.ukwebsite and name your favourite cake flavour in the comments box bellow!

Please remember to include a way to contact you such as email or twitter ID.

The competition closes at 6pm today (22.08.13) and there will be one winner chosen using random.org. The winner will need to respond with their Beckenham/ Bromley delivery address by 9pm today so that delivery can be arranged for tomorrow (Friday).


Emma in Bromley xx


Wednesday 21 August 2013

Plan Toys Fun Sorter Review

I'm always on the look out for good wooden toys that my children can share and play with together.


Plan Toys are a brand I know I can trust when it comes to quality and value for money.

I absolutely loved this Plan Toys Fun Sorter stacking toy.

It comes with a rod on a base and four coloured rings to stack on.

But what's super special about it is that there are nodules and notches to navigate around, so lots of turning and problem solving!

And what makes it even more special is that the central rod can be twisted so that it also has a bend to negotiate making the puzzle harder to complete.

This toy is recommended for ages 3+, my daughter, Maegan is two and can solve the puzzle when the rod is straight with a little supervision from me. My son, Blake is four and can solve this alone when the rod is straight but needs a bit of guidance patience to complete it with the central rod bent - this pleases me as I know the toy will still be challenging for some time.

The colours and puzzle element engage both my children and it's currently available on amazon at a reasonable £13.99 

I'd recommend it to a friend and I also think it makes a lovely gift.

Emma in Bromley xx

* I received the Plan Toys Fun Sorter toy for the sole purpose of being able to carry out the review. All thoughts and words are my own.




Sunday 18 August 2013

Prizes for Parents Competition Round Up 16.08.13

Originally started by the lovely Emma at Mellow Mummy, I'd like to bring to you Prizes for Parents.
This is a weekly roundup of some of the best competitions available on the web, I'll keep my eyes peeled for the best prizes or freebies on offer for UK families, mums, parents and health and beauty fans.

I'll post a selection here of the ones I spot or if you have a competition you'd like me to include, just tweet me the link @beachpebble, email me or leave a comment below with the details and closing date.

#prizesforparents
Prize must be open to UK winners.
Published every most Friday.

• Win a Dr Browns Newborn Feeding Gift Set
http://www.mrsshilts.co.uk/2013/08/review-and-giveaway-dr-browns-deluxe-newborn-feeding-gift-set/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 24.08.13

• Win an Eames style children's rocking chair
http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2013/08/09/eames-style-childrens-rocking-chair-review-and-giveaway/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 09.09.13

• Win 50 read it yourself Ladybird Books
entry by online form, closes 29.08.13

• Win a family ticket to the London Dungeons
http://www.familyfourfun.co.uk/2013/08/win-a-family-ticket-for-the-london-dungeons.html
Entry by rafflecopter Closes 31.08.13

• Win a £100 Zulily voucher, kidcraft retro kitchen and a juicy couture bag!
http://zulilyuk.tumblr.com/post/57414080593/zulily-cuties-august-instagram-competition
Entry by Instagram, closes 31.08.13

• Win 1 of 5 packs of finding nemo aqua ears
http://www.mummytothemax.co.uk/2013/08/aqua-ears-competition.html
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 06.09.13

• Win a Cath Kidston changing bag and Nelsons Teetha bundle
http://www.mellowmummy.co.uk/2013/08/win-cath-kidston-changing-bag-with.html
Entry by blog comment, closes 03.09.13

• Win a Plus Plus building set
http://over40andamumtoone.com/2013/08/05/plus-plus-mini-basic-250-competition/
Entry by Rafflecopter, closes 19.08.13

• Win a hamper of Astonish products
http://thediaryofajewellerylover.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/review-competition-how-clean-im.html
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 23.08.13

• Win a 1st fone with a months credit
http://www.familyfourfun.co.uk/2013/08/win-a-1stfone-and-1st-months-credit.html
Entry by rafflecopter closes 25.08.13

• Win a family ticket to the dungeon at Blackpool Tower
http://mumofthreeboys.com/win-tickets-to-blackpool-tower-dungeon/
Entry by twitter, fb and blog comment closes 19.08.13

• Win a Baby Annabell doll
http://www.purplemum.com/2013/08/07/win-a-baby-annabell-doll/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 19.08.13

• Win 1 of 15 back to school prizes!
http://www.angelathisislife.com/2013/08/back-to-school-guide-2013-and-giveaway.html
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13

• Win 1 of 3 Barbie goodies!
http://www.themumblog.com/win-barbie-goodies-including-her-cruise-ship.html
Entry by blog comment, closes 21.08.13

• Win 4 new children's DVDs
http://onedad3girls.com/win-4-brand-new-dvds/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 30.08.13

• Win a £100 Go Ape voucher
http://twoadultstwochildren.com/ape-solutely-thrilling-tree-top-adventure/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13

• Win a No-Ad holiday bundle
http://mymillsbaby.co.uk/2013/08/review-giveaway-win-an-holiday-bundle-of-suncream-and-more-from-no-ad-cd-23082013/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 23.08.13

• Win a dino bite game
http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2013/08/01/dino-bite-review-and-giveaway/
Entry by rafflecopter closes 30.08.13
• Win Ice cream moulds
http://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/squires-kitchen-silicone-ice-cream-moulds-bundle-giveaway/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 05.09.13

• Win Oxo Good Grips Gadgets
http://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/oxo-good-grips-summer-gadget-giveaway/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 25.08.13

• Win a Spam BBQ hamper
http://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/two-spamtastic-bbq-hampers/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 24.08.13
• Win a Parcelgenie gift of your choice
http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2013/07/09/parcelgenie-review-and-competition/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 28.08.13

• Win a year supply of startrite shoes
http://www.startriteshoes.com/
Entry by newsletter sign up, monthly draw

• Win an Abra ca Debora pancake hamper
http://www.recipesfromanormalmum.com/2013/06/27/giveaway-15-abra-ca-debora-pancakes-hamper/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 20.09.13

• Win a Dobble Game
http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2013/07/27/dobble-review-and-giveaway/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 29.08.13

• Win A Whittard Royal Baby Celebration Bundle
http://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/whittard-royal-baby-celebration-giveaway-worth-47/
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 15.09.13

Good Luck!

Emma in Bromley xx