family Archives - Page 27 of 30

I don’t have a fancy car,

I don’t have a mansion,

No jewels

No 60″ TV’s…..

I do have two very precious belongings – One is called Kieran, one is called Taylor, and I would do anything to protect them. I am one of six siblings and Milton really was a household name when it came to protecting us in our younger and more vulnerable years, and in turn Milton is now firmly placed in my house – and doing the same job for my boys as it has for countless families.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — My most precious things

Milton were kind enough to send me some of their products to try, some of which I hadn’t used before.

Antibacterial Fabric solution.

This is a new one on me! 1l does 50 washes which is pretty economical. The information provided states that germs (etc) can still be alive and well after a 45 degree wash, which is somewhat disturbing! We spend a fair amount in our beds so I like the idea that it is as fresh and clean as possible. You simply add a capful of the solution into the conditioner compartment of your washing machine drawer and wash as normal. Very easy and priceless peace of mind. I haven’t found any difference to my washing other than knowing (as Milton is a brand I trust) that even in sleep, my family are protected / better off, which is just what I wanted – my “normal” wash, at low temperatures, with the added bonus of antibacterial protection.

Sterilising Fluid &Sterilising Tablets

Firm favourites in many households! Milton Sterilising Fluid can be used to sterilise breast feeding equipment and all babies feeding utensils, including bottles, soothers, teething rings, small plastic toys and weaning items, as can the tablets – sterilising in just 15 minutes. There is no taste/taint left behind so no need to rinse

Antibacterial Surface Wipes

Very handy! These wipes are 100% biodegradable and be used in so many ways, for highchairs, pushchairs, when out & about – you name it. In a handy sized pack these are great for handbags and changing bags. I remember using them regularly at my local supermarket when Kieran got to that stage where every trolley was something to be sucked on (nice son!). Please note – these are not suitable on skin ie as an antibacterial hand / as bum wipes!

Antibacterial Hand Gel

Again, VERY economical. We use this regularly both at home and whilst out. You only need a tiny drop to cover both hands and it gives around the clock protection. The plus with this product (for me) is that it has moisturising properties so doesn’t dry my hands (I have Mummy hands, always wiping / washing something which does naturally dry the skin out!). Again, it’s handy size is perfect for when out and about with your little ones.

I like to think I have a clean house. I’m not obsessive about germs, but used properly these products do provide an extra layer of cover so that I know I am doing my best to protect my boys from nasties.

Besides, if it was good enough for Mum, it’s most definitely good enough for me!

To read more about these products, their ingredients and more visit the Milton website and keep up to date with them on Facebook.

“Dear Nicki, Would you like to test & review a sodastream..”

“My address is……!”

Would I? Hell yes! I always wanted one of these, it’s one of those things that you long for as a kid, alongside things like Mr Frosty’s IcePop Maker (ok, as a parent I now see how that particular toy would be a pain in the butt!).

I received the SodaStream Fizz (black) which can be found here. I think we can all agree that it looks fabulous!

What is a Sodastream? Basically Sodastream turns normal tap water into carbonated (fizzy) drinks using CO2 (in the form of a replaceable gas canister (more on this later) ) which can be flavoured with a huge range of flavoured “syrups” from Sodastream or in fact anything you like (Kieran sometimes like normal Apple & Blackcurrant juice, I occasionally just add a dash of lime or lemon to the water).

Design: When it arrived I was more than a little surprised – I had a mental image of a plasticky white thing, not this gleaming retro looking article. Design-wise, it get a huge thumbs up from me.

Ease of Set up: Ridiculously easy, assuming it would be a pain I fobbed it off to Roy and watched as he quickly set it up (show off!). Looking at the instructions for myself it does look pretty painless.

Features: These new Sodastream drinks makers have “Fizz Chip” technology which means you can choose your carbonation level, from sparkling to nose-tingling fizz. This is extremely handy for us as Kieran likes a mild fizz and I love a really clear your throat level of fizziness!

This model (Fizz) also comes with a Gas indicator level so that you can see the amount of gas in the canister.

The big sell: For me, the best feature is that this machine, as well as being fun and encouraging us to drink more (I usually don’t drink enough) is much better for the environment than buying plastic bottles!! The drinks container, which comes with a screw lid so you can store any left over drink made up in the fridge, has a lifespan of approximately 3yrs and the information I’ve been given states that by switching from traditional soft drinks to SodaStream, the average UK household would use just 45 plastic bottles per year as opposed to 433 traditional soft drinks bottles! That is a hell of difference! We’ve been using the SodaStream just shy of a month now and can already see the difference in our waste.

The Flavours: There is a huge range of concentrates, from diet/ sugar free, colas, clear drinks, fruity drinks, iced teas, sport drinks and more to choose from which can be purchased direct from Sodastream, at Argos, Lakeland and Robert Dyas stores. The “normal” size bottles each make up approx 12litres of drink and at full cost have a RRP of £3.29 I have my eye on the diet sample pack, 7 flavours, suitable for me on WeightWatchers, for £4.99. The website regularly runs offers on concentrates which can make purchasing even more economical.

The bugbear. When empty, you have to get a new gas cylinder. These are not free, however you can get a new one online or instore and if you return your empty you get money discounted back to you. There is more information on this here. Despite the gas cost I still believe this will work out cheaper for us longterm as a family, rather than buying bottled drinks, which is nowhere near as fun! We have used the Sodastream regularly since it arrived (very regularly in truth, trying new flavours, strengths and mixes) and still have 60% of the canister left.

Will we use it as a family or is the novelty wearing off? Well as a Mum I love it! We are all more hydrated, there is less waste and cost and it looks brilliant – what isn’t to love? This may be an “old” concept but these new designs and flavours have really brought making drinks storming into modern times!

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Protecting My Most Important Things with Milton #review

It doesn’t get any more retro than this! Sodastream #review