Review: Nurture Fruity Water+ - A Healthier Children's Drink

There has been much publicity lately about the proposed sugar tax on kids' sugary drinks as a way of trying to halt the escalating levels of child obesity here in the UK.

You have probably heard chef Jamie Oliver talking about why this could make such a difference to our children's health.

My view?  It's really not as simple as that, however, anything we can do to reduce our kids' sugar intake is to be welcomed - by parents, doctors and dentists.

We are all guilty of turning a little too quickly sometimes to bottled fruit drinks and squashes and equally we know that it can be quite difficult to get children to consume plain old water - no matter how many themed cups, bottles and novelty straws you throw at the problem.

I was interested to read about a new children's drink which claims to be healthier because it contains lower naturally occuring sugars.

NURTURE Fruity Water+ which is targeted specifically at young children (from 1 year) also claims to support children's immunity through its added nutrients, being the "first functional drink of its kind".

These added nutrients are Vitamin B6, Folate (B9), B12, C, D and Zinc, as well as Calcium.  There is also 25mg of "Wellmune® Beta 1.3/1.6 Glucans 100% Natural Brewers Yeast".

The drinks are lactose and gluten free and are vegan friendly.

There are 2 flavours: Cherry & Strawberry and Orange & Pineapple and Nurture Fruity Water+ is made with 45% natural juice and 55% water.

Nurture Fruity Water+ contains no added sugar and less than 1 teaspoon of naturally occurring sugar per 100ml, making it exempt from the upcoming UK sugar tax relating to unhealthy sugary drinks.

It's also school approved, and comes in a mess-free pouch for on-the-go convenience.

Caitlin & Ieuan taking a break after running around our local woods

Nurture was developed by parents Lucie and Derek Sanders who, with three children of their own, wanted to find a way to reduce children's sugar consumption from an early age in order to halt the development of a sweet tooth and to encourage them to make healthier choices later on.

“Children’s immune systems are least developed and most at risk to germs and infection the younger their age”, says founder Derek Sanders.

“Nothing nurtures better than breast milk and all baby formula producers strive to replicate it. However, there is a gap in the market after children stop breast-feeding and formula, as there are currently no functional juice drinks with added nutrients available for children from 1 to 5 years. Nurture Fruity Water+ has been formulated to support children’s immunity and be part of a solution to help busy, on-the-go families stay healthy.”

We tried both flavours on a walk around our local woods and, whilst the quantity per pouch is a little small for older children (or at least children who have been running around a lot), both flavours are pleasant without having an obvious sugary taste.  I found Nurture Fruity Water+ to taste much more natural than some of its competitor products and there's no artificial after-taste.

I liked the mess-free spout which helps avoid those moments when no matter how many times you tell your kids not to squeeze the juice box because the drink will slop out, you can guarantee it will happen anyway. You have to squeeze the Nurture pouch with a bit more force than usual to get the drink to rise to the spout.

I think Nurture FruityWater+ is an interesting alternative to the usual juice and squash brands but it is not the cheapest option on the market.  For those parents who are concerned about developing their kids' immune systems and who are prepared to take a longer view in terms of developing good nutritional habits in their younger children, then the drinks are certainly worth a try.

NURTURE Fruity Water+ is available in 200ml pouches with a RRP of 99p to £1.49. Retailers include: Ocado, Whole Foods Market, and Holland & Barrett.

You can find more information at www.nurtureimmunity.com.

*PR samples were received for the purposes of this post

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On Trend Menswear For Autumn & A Fab Giveaway From Mainline Menswear

The approach of autumn usually signals that it's time to update our wardrobes and whilst there are some stylish men who will already have worked out which of the upcoming trends they want to adopt, I suspect the average bloke is still muttering about how his range of Motorhead, Black Sabbath and tropical patterned tee-shirts will be quite enough to last throughout the winter.

The answer is some sensible negotiation and a spruce up of the Husband's wardrobe with some stylish shirts, tees and hoodies.

We recently discovered Mainline Menswear, a leading retailer specialising in men's designer clothing, footwear, and accessories.

Established in 2004 the Mainline Menswear website carries a huge range from top men's fashion brands such as Armani Jeans, Armani, Hugo Boss, Diesel Jeans, G-Star, Adidas Originals, Fila Vintage, Franklin and Marshall, Ralph Lauren, Original Penguin Clothing, Superdry, Lyle and Scott, Pretty Green, Levis Jeans, Replay Jeans, Stone Island, CP Company, Paul Smith, Henri Lloyd, Ted Baker, Belstaff Jackets, Lacoste Trainers, J Lindeberg, Fred Perry, Mens Timberland Boots, Luke 1977, Edwin Jeans, Cruyff Trainers, Nike and more!

You can find Designer Jeans, Designer Jackets, Designer T-Shirts, Designer Jumpers, Designer Long Sleeved Shirts, Designer Shirts, Designer Shoes, Footwear and Trainers, Designer Socks, Watches, Designer Flip Flops, Designer Boxers and Designer Swimwear.

All orders are dispatched using their premium UK next day delivery service.

We were offered a Hugo Boss Polo Tee Shirt to try and the husband chose the one pictured above. The quality is excellent and the sizing 'true', with no pulling under the arms and with a sensible length in the body.

And Mainline Menswear have kindly given me a £100 gift voucher for one lucky winner so that they can update their autumn wardrobe.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget below and the usual terms and conditions apply (on my competitions page). The giveaway is open to UK entrants only and ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 18th September.

For more information visit Mainline Menswear online or you can find them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Our Holiday Home Rental From Toad Hall Cottages, Kingsbridge, Devon

We have just returned from a week's holiday in Devon where we rented a lovely house in the small town of Kingsbridge from Toad Hall Cottages.

This is our third time using Toad Hall Cottages and we remain quietly impressed.  The company specialises in holiday property hire in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall and many of its properties are situated in lovely, picturesque locations.

Bralo, Kingsbridge courtesy of Toad Hall Cottages

Our first two hires were of a property called Blue Skies in one of my favourite locations, Noss Mayo, which is about 10 miles from Plymouth.

Devon has a special place in my heart as my parents were both born there and our childhood holidays always involved a stay with our grandparents who lived in Cattedown and Peverell.   The Husband has become resigned to the fact that the area is always my first choice of holiday location.  

Booking is easy, as you would expect.  You simply select the property which interests you and check online availability and pricing.  You do have to be quick because the properties are booked well in advance of school holidays and a deposit of one third is payable on booking, plus a security deposit which is refunded 3-4 days on return, provided you have not damaged the property or left it in a mess.  The security deposit for Bralo was £175.  The balance of your holiday is payable 6 weeks before the start of your booking.

A UK staycation has the reputation of costing more than a comparable holiday abroad but, to us, the benefits of a home-spun holiday far outweigh anything the Costas have to offer - although I am sure we will venture abroad at some point in the near future.

Once you ignore the galling fact that the price of all the holiday rental properties rockets in August (we paid around £1400 for a week) and then sink like a stone again in September (a comparable week would cost £570), the price is actually bearable if you are in a location where much of the entertainment is free and you are not being stung in excess of £50 entrance fees every time you enter a theme park or other similar attraction.

In terms of budget, it is possible to have a cost-effective holiday if you are happy with the simple pleasures of a bucket and spade and an ice cream, provided that the weather holds.  

The other thing to remember is that the M5 can resemble a car park at peak periods so if you are travelling to Devon in August you may want to be flexible with the times you travel.  It took us over 6 hours to return to Cardiff and on our next trip we may well travel home on the last night (the journey usually takes half that) to avoid numb bottoms and the suspicion that getting out of your car and walking might actually be quicker.

We stayed in "Bralo", a 4 bedroomed detached property in Kingsbridge which is just a few miles from many great beaches - Thurlestone, Hope Cove, Salcombe, Slapton, Blackpool Sands, Torcross and Bigbury - and that's without taking into account all the sights of Plymouth and the beauty of Dartmoor which are also practically on your doorstep.

You can access your holiday property from 3 pm in the afternoon and are asked to leave by 10 am on the morning of your departure date.

Bralo has a garage large enough for one standard saloon which you can use but parking is a little difficult as the house is directly opposite a primary school.  It being school holidays, this was not a problem although the school was in constant use and I imagine that there would be lots more congestion during school run times.

The property was in immaculate condition and spotlessly clean.  The quality of the fixtures and fittings was high (can't go wrong with John Lewis, can you?!) and everything had been thought of, with the exception of pegs for the washing line and some bathroom cleaner.

Today though, everyone is so health and safety conscious I suspect that these items are deliberately not included.

There was plenty of space for up to 8 people to relax and spread out.  The wood burning fire must be lovely in winter.

There's a generously sized table to accommodate some great family meals when all you want to do is chill in your own space.  There are only so many restaurant and pub meals we can take in a week.

One of the things we love most about self-catering is that you have the freedom to choose when and where you eat.  Kingsbridge has a range of good local shops plus the ubiquitous Tesco and Morrisons so it's easy to stock up for at least a couple of meals.

The kitchen was well equipped with a large fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and double oven.

There were lovely little personal touches everywhere.

There were two twin rooms downstairs both with TVs.  My only gripe was that the blinds in the second twin room were too light to prevent the moonlight flooding through.  Caitlin and Ieuan managed to share one of the two rooms without killing each other.

There was also a separate toilet with vanity unit and walk-in shower downstairs. The light / air con unit for this was great but if switched on in the middle of the night was rather loud if you were a light sleeper.

Upstairs there were two beautiful bedrooms, one with an ensuite and the other next to a bathroom with a stand-alone bath.

This particular property would work really well for two families or for a family with members of a variety of ages.  There is, however, no disabled access and dogs are not welcome at Bralo, although many of Toad Hall Cottages' other properties do welcome them - you just have to check before you book.

One of Bralo's main strengths is its lovely garden which has clearly been landscaped and has a dining table to seat 8 in the back garden and a barbecue area in the front.

We loved Bralo and would highly recommend it as a holiday rental for a larger family.

Ieuan loved it so much he made his own mini guide with some charming selfies at the end of it.  Alastair Sawday watch out.

You can find more information about Toad Hall Cottages on their website www.toadhallcottages.co.uk and they will also send you a brochure if you prefer.  Just call 01503 272303.  You can also find Toad Hall Cottages on Twitter and Facebook.

They will certainly be our first choice for our next holiday booking.

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Keeping Kids Entertained On Holiday With Help From iCarhireinsurance.com

Entertaining kids on holiday can be just as challenging as it is at home.  There's nothing like trying to encourage a game of iSpy whilst driving lost down a single track road only to find the SatNav cable has dropped out again and someone needs a wee.

The Husband and I did earn some parenting brownie points while we were on holiday as we managed to get the kids to put their iPads down for a bit and to enjoy some 'non-i' activities.

A telling reminder of how easy it is to let technology completely take over and become a not-so-silent babysitter is that moment when you hear that chorus of "but we've got nothing to doooooo".

To help us and other bewildered parenting bloggers about to set off on their hols, icarhireinsurance.com, who provide insurance which protects you from having to pay your car hire insurance excess in the event of an accident abroad, (part of the Halo Insurance Group), sent us a rather natty cardboard suitcase specially for the kids which contained a number of exciting things to keep them entertained.

Caitlin explains the contents of the suitcase in her extremely informative and unintentionally hilarious video below.



And since insurance is all about taking care of your belongings, entrusting your kids with their own suitcase or bag is a great way of teaching them a little responsibility and the importance of looking after their own things.

We even got Ieuan to pack a few things himself.  Caitlin had already selected a range of outfits and accessories.  Ieuan wanted to take a light saber, Stretch Armstrong and his cuddly Yoda.  The idea that he might actually need some clothes hadn't dawned on him.

One particularly useful item in the iCarhireinsurance.com suitcase was a very handy book of games to play in the car, such as car badge bingo and even a version of consequences which I haven't played in eons.

Don't panic - this is the version where you draw a man / woman / creature's head then everyone adds their own bit and folds the paper over.  When all the paper is used up, a strange and mysterious creature is revealed. When I first read it I had horrible visions of some sort of 'truth or dare' game but that's what watching too much Channel 5 does for you.

And obviously Caitlin had to personalise the suitcase - along with the odd desultory squiggle from Ieuan.

We took our own car but if you are hiring a car and want to protect your car hire insurance excess then you can find out more at icarhireinsurance.com.

It's easy to think that you won't be involved in any accidents but having just had to cough up £350 for a non-fault prang to my beloved Skoda thanks to a dodgy driver here in Cardiff, it's certainly something we'd consider the next time we hire a car.

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My Tinnitus on Holiday (or Spike Goes To Devon)

We Tinnitus sufferers walk a daily knife edge upon which one slip can often start the old familiar hissing, ringing, crickets chirping - whichever sound drives you incessantly nuts.

Those who live with a Tinnitus sufferer are subjected to their loved one's fear of any ramped up or unexpected noise.  That is, if the sufferer is lucky enough to live with someone who understands how draining, annoying and depressing having Tinnitus can be.

For the uninitiated to the joys of Tinnitus (and I hope you stay that way), Tinnitus is defined as "the sensation of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, or other sounds".

"The noise can be intermittent or continuous, and can vary in loudness. It is often worse when background noise is low, so you may be most aware of it at night when you're trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. In rare cases, the sound beats in sync with your heart (pulsatile tinnitus)." (WebMD.com)

Generally I find I can put up with my Tinnitus (a high pitched hissing in both ears) but if I am subjected to a sudden, loud or unusual noise, I have what is known as a 'spike' - a period of time in which the noise of my Tinnitus increases dramatically and I panic about whether it will go down again or if this is my 'new normal'.

To someone who does not have Tinnitus (or 'T' as it is reduced to, although sadly not the noises it produces), it is extremely hard to be sympathetic or to get a sense of what it is to feel like you are a radio antennae constantly picking up static.

You only have to read some of the posts from sufferers in the Facebook Tinnitus Forums.

Well, I am hear to say you are not mad, you do deserve to be listened to and the Medical Profession seriously needs to, how shall I put this, get its 'arse into gear' to find a way to help relieve the untold misery many sufferers endure daily.

At best we have a whole army of pseudo medics offering oils, potions, meditations, white noise, vitamin supplements - you name it, it would probably have appeared in the market scene in Monty Python's "Life of Brian".  Believe me, if a gourd would help, we'd all have one.

Let me share the sounds that have given me a Tinnitus spike this week.

* church bells
* seagulls
* someone leaving the volume of our phone handset on full
* the car (travelling long distances always sets my ears off)
* car doors slamming
* bubblewrap
* a hairdryer
* hand-dryers in public toilets (I really hate those)
* kids screaming in the back of the car
* a steam train whistle

If you have hearing loss-related tinnitus which I may have (although I also have mild TMJD too), the brain is constantly on alert and seems to like to fill in the sounds you miss.  It also acts like a fire alarm when you get stressed and ramps up the sound of your Tinnitus to warn you.

Half the time I think it is the fear of your Tinnitus getting louder and more persistent that, well, gives you Tinnitus.  It's a vicious circle.  You hear a sound.  You worry about the effect and, ooh, listen - there's your Tinnitus.

It is so important to have a supportive partner who can tell you that you need to be calm because your spike will go down.

Actually it's quite useful to keep a diary of your spikes so you can prove to yourself that yes they do go down, except I suspect that it's of more use to change your focus.

That, in the absence of a medical cure for most of us, is the key to surviving with this blight.

I've read a fair few posts lately in the Tinnitus Groups from sufferers who say they don't like to admit to having it - or fear the reaction of others when the admission is made.

I have no compunction whatsoever about being honest about my medical failings and, really, keeping the problem to yourself does not help, nor does it help those who may also be suffering from Tinnitus but who are too shy to admit it.

Acceptance helps a little, as does having realistic expectations.  On holiday in a strange place it is quite likely that you will come across a range of sounds outside your usual experience. Carrying musicians earplugs helps so that you can whip out a pair and plug your ears if the noise is too loud.

A holiday is a time to make sure that you are diligent with your self care.  If you know your 'T' gets worse with lack of sleep then make sure you get enough kip.  Similarly, if you find caffeine or too much salt can affect you, don't go overboard on the espresso or take-aways.

Sadly, you don't really get a holiday from your Tinnitus but just remember this - spike may come on holiday with you - but I'll bet you can leave him behind when you come home.

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Do You Take Your Mum Guilt On Holiday?

We had a lovely time in Devon.  Yes we really did.  We drove around the bright, beautiful lanes in the kind of sunshine that is usually provided by a Sunday night ITV drama and watched the light sparkle on the sea - apart from one day when the sky became its usual familiar grey.

North Sands, Salcombe, Devon

We ate Cornish Pasties and much ice-cream.  There was even, I have to confess, the odd constitutional glass of wine at lunchtime.

I'll share where we stayed courtesy of Toad Hall Cottages in a separate post but suffice it to say that, like many parents, I spent lots of time thinking "I really must spend more time with the kids".  Or, to be more accurate, more 'quality' time - a term that makes me wince but is hard to replace with any other cliche.

It's not that we don't spend a lot of time together but sometimes when I listen to Caitlin and Ieuan talking I can hear the adults they're going to be and, weird though this may sound, there are fleeting moments when I don't recognise them.

How did I miss that?  I wonder.  Have I been not listening (probably, although being slightly deaf doesn't help).

Cue the rearing of the ugly head of "mum guilt".  You'll have your own definition of course but mine is always "not being anything like Mary Poppins" and "being a grumpy mare particularly before 10:30 am".

It's that feeling of being unable to give sufficient quantities of anything - love, attention, understanding, wisdom, fun, freshly baked cakes, pocket money (no wait, that's the kids' definition)....

Holidays are the kind of times when mothers get to step outside of their mothering role and interact with their kids almost on a peer-to-peer basis but, equally, when you're out of your usual environment, the torch is shone very brightly on the effectiveness of your mothering skills.

The forms of discipline, for example, that seem to work at home seem completely useless on holiday.  Our main resource at  present is to threaten removal of pocket money for ever if there is much misbehaving.  But then one or other of them will make me laugh and the threat is forgotten.

Besides, holidays are for relaxing boundaries a bit, aren't they?  Late nights, too much sugar, postponing baths and all sorts of indulgence.

Except.  Except.  As mothers we need to remember it is our holiday too.  The Husband is a diamond when it comes to helping out with cooking and tidying but I'll bet many of us find that our routine is exactly the same no matter where we are - and whether we are on holiday or not.

This may be because we are rubbish at giving ourselves permission to relax.

This may also be because some of us get so wrapped up in the role of 'mother' that we forget we can indulge our adult selves a little - take the foot off the gas, chill.

We will not go to hell in a handcart if we loosen up for a bit.

And if we do manage to relax, everyone will have a happier holiday, including us.

My readers remind me regularly that we only have our kids for a short time and every day is precious.  So true, so painful, so important to remember.

And, as my own mother has often said to me "nobody likes a martyr".

If you're about to go on holiday, do yourself a favour and leave the mum guilt at home.

Trust me, it will still be there when you get back.

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up 19 August 2016

How are you all this week?  We're back from the beautiful beaches of Devon just in time for a Daily Mail weather warning - of course!

I've a shed load of washing and there's sand everywhere but we had fun. I hope you had a great week too and found a little time to indulge in a spot of reading.

As ever, there are some great books to choose from on this week's linky.

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures 
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | Mother Distracted | Colorimetry | The Ultimate Fan Blog
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Create Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | Deal Sharing Aunt | Rambling Reviews 

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click here for this weeks awesome selection!

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