Reviews / Sponsored Archives - Page 28 of 116

I don’t drink alcohol. No I’m not pregnant (just big boned), I haven’t previously had a problem with alcohol as some have hinted at for my reason to abstain (unless you call my late teenage years!) and no, I’m not allergic to alcohol. I just don’ Sparkling Tisane t like it to be honest.

Rolling the clock back a few years ago; back to the days of 20/20 White Lightning and other such potent yet cheap drinks I could knock ’em back like the best of them. I think that fact that a night on the town with Roy cost us jointly £40 back then (and included a visit to the pizza and kebab shop) and would cost us twice that now is one factor in my not drinking however the main one is that I don’t like the taste!

I sincerely believe that my earlier years of cheap and nasty alcohol has killed off my alcohol-apreciating taste buds as these day I’m just as happy with a cup of coffee. In short I don’t drink because I don’t want to.

Not drinking as a lifestyle choice is up to any individual however it can leave you a little limited at parties and festive occasions to say the least! Diet cola and similar drinks soon lose their novelty and to be honest it would be nice to enjoy something a little special during these special occasions.

This is where Echo Falls and their alcohol free sparkling infusion come into play. I was sent a bottle of this lovely stuff to try out and have to say it was lovely. Light, fruity and bubbly it wouldn’t look amiss amongst the fancy boozy bottles on a table and is a real treat. It also has only 26 calories in every 100ml glass (good news for me as I’m a long-term Slimming World member) and yet tastes really quite elegant if that makes sense?

Available from Tesco and Asda from around £3.49 (RRP) this is a fairly inexpensive way to have a drink so to speak when pregnant or abstaining for any reason without having to fall back on dull non-alcoholic favourites such as soda water and lime.

I would definite buy this to enjoy myself at home or at parties and to offer to guests.

*Please note that while I was sent a bottle of EchoFalls sparkling infusion to try and review the company has had no influence over my writing. My opinions are my own and have been formed from my own thoughts and experiences.

My hair woes over the years have been well documented, both through my distraught Facebook updates, texts, blogs and via some rather unfortunately timed photographs. I am that girl who gets her cheeks pinched (yes still) by older ladies who tell me they’d have loved natural curls. Thankfully I’m also a well-brought up girl who hasn’t yet told these dears that such hair can be a chuffing nightmare.

Anyone with curly hair will recognise the following woes I have to endure:

* Having to get up and wash my hair every single morning (I wake up looking like a puffball)

* Tears brushing my hair through to get the knots out (this may only be done in the shower with half a bottle of conditioner on

* Having spent hundreds if not thousands of pounds over the years on everything from VO5 Hot Oil to the latest magical frizz busting, curl defining cream, serum, mousse, gel, shampoo……

* Crispy Hair Syndrome – Having crunchy curls thanks to cement grade “extra firm” hold hair mousse in the hope that nothing on my head will move all day. The horror of being away from home, having Crispy Hair Syndrome and making the mistake of leaning back on a chair, breaking up the crisp curl at the back of my head only.

* Being away from home, getting caught in wind and looking like a misshapen microphone until I can get home and re-wash my hair.

Need I go on?

When you have hair like mine, and don’t get me wrong I couldn’t have straight hair now, it needs taking care of properly. I do my bit from home however to keep on top of the bulk it needs to be regularly seen to by a hairdresser.

I’ve been through more hairdressers than I’ve had special hair treatments, purely because (and to be honest), finding one who knows how to deal with my hair, will listen when I tell them that a hairdryer is a monumentally bad idea and who has the skill to thin without using heavy layers or similar has been hard to find. Through extensive trial and error I now use a local lady called Layla who owns a salon around the corner. She is fabulous and has the patience of a saint.

Believe me when I say that finding a hairdresser where you feel comfortable and confident isn’t as easy as it sounds which is why I’m not letting Layla out of my sight. Perhaps if I’d had access to a service such as the one Rock Pamper Scissors offers where searching for a local hairdresser, being able to see prices online and more, I’d have found it easier, quicker and cheaper to find the hairdressing gem I have.

While I might whinge and moan (maybe a little) about my hair woes it is good to know that there are ways to tame it and people to help me do it!

My question for you all today is this: What is the one top hair care product or tip that you just couldn’t manage without?

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Alcohol Free Echo Falls Sparkling Tisane #Review

The Importance of Finding a Top Hairdresser