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News
Just as we tend to seasonally adjust our bedrooms for the winter by adding fluffy blankets and rough knitted throws, then so too should we create our ‘look’ this summer. And TV’s interior design duo Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister have a few tips to get you started: Colours for the bedroom Make sure you tie any changes into this season’s hottest colour - pink! But, if required, tone it all down a wee bit with smart grey masculine fabrics. Darlings, it’s all in the balance! Think Ying and Yang to create perfect results every time. Benjamin Moore, one of the world’s largest paint manufacturers, has broken down this season’s ‘direction’ into three main categories: Modern Tranquillity (think whispery, beach inspired shades with a splash of watery turquoise), Organic Comforts (take your cue from Mother Nature and employ earthy delights such as fern and olive), and finally Pure Opulence (be inspired by indulgent shades like French Violet and Teal). We love each of these options, but there’s no reason why you can’t marry different categories together - French Violet from Pure Opulence would look great combined with Fern from Organic Comforts. Our best advice is to buy sample pots and paint large sections of card to find a look you love. Discrete Technology If you can, try to hide away TVs and computers so as not to detract from the feeling of ‘domestic haven’. Big bulky TVs are a definite no-no, although cooler, wall mounted, wireless media screens (that look more like art) are good as far as we’re concerned. If you want to elicit a more traditional feel then most department stores have a selection of TV cabinets. Traditional Values Traditional crafting, summer quilting and delicate lace work will all be big news this summer because, these days, they’ve all become veritable art forms. Although quilts look particularly at home in bedrooms, they’re now moving into all areas of home décor so, with this in mind, try quilted panels as wall hangings, or add quilted throws and pillows to enliven a plain sofa. More sophisticated looks are also emerging, with today’s styles being sassier, more urban and more unique to the creator. The new ‘direction’ doesn't follow a set or standard pattern, which means there’s room for self-expression and creativity on the part of the designer. Hotel Style Don’t we just love that ‘hotel at home’ feel? All about luxury and indulgence, and not simply décor. We predict that, as the summer months roll forward, we’ll be maxing up the thread count of sheets, adding comfy seating and really going to town with designer detailing. Yup, bring on the fluffy dressing gowns and pour that glass of bubbly! And where once there were ‘after thought’ ensuites, we predict that Britain will soon be adding eye popping bathing facilities to really evoke the feeling of ‘spa at home’. Come on, why pay for Champneys when you can do it all yourself!? Wallpaper Wallpaper will continue to grow in popularity with the emphasis being on big, bold and confident patterns. Personally speaking, we’re using less ‘accent’ walls and, instead, letting our decorating confidence run wild by covering every wall! Our top tip is - if you’re opting for a seriously dramatic colour scheme then perhaps opt for a less in your face pattern, and vice versa. Understated ‘soft’ luxury More is more! But… be careful;
ensure your design is seriously elegant though not too ‘showy’.
Luxury is a summer holiday byword but, to properly indulge, opt for
less in your face glitz and instead select quality fabrics and simple,
beautiful items that ‘whisper‘ high spend, rather than shout
it from the roof tops like some crazed Joan Collins! High-count cotton
sheets, cashmere throws and smart, tailored glamour are the way forward!
Scandinavian Style Pine plank chairs, organically shaped stools, timber framed light shades, elegant hall stands and cute little treasure boxes are all characteristically blonde and beautiful and a great way to indulge your home! Try framing your rooms by using simple tongue and groove (T&G) panelling on the bottom third of the wall, and top it all off with a cute shelf to display treasures and ornaments. Create a lived in look by keeping furniture ‘time washed’ white and consider a soft duck egg shade for your T&G woodwork. Remember our motto; KISS - Keep It Seriously Simple. Clean and Fresh Summertime in the bedroom is all about floaty fabrics, fresh laundry and sunshine! So, with this in mind, paint walls in softest green and add natural timber elements to elicit a cool, casual feel. But please take our advice; avoid a ‘deliberately co-ordinated’ shop bought look - we tend to advocate mixing furniture to create surprising designer juxtaposition. Try a timber bed but, rather than opting for timber bedside tables, jazz it all up by selecting mirrored nightstands. Select lightweight satin throws and cushions and keep the atmosphere perfect with Ambi Pur perfume plug-in Innocence, just £3.99 (RRSP) for a primary unit. A pure and light fragrance inspired by fresh linen, Innocence is designed to lift and invigorate.
No. 1 Set Top box manufacturer Sagem Communications today announced the availability of its ITD58NG and ITD59NG Eco Set Top Boxes. So if you can’t bear the thought of missing out on this summer’s Big Brother live coverage, but want to help save the environment then one of these Freeview boxes is the gadget for you – and just look at the price! It’s a bargain that can’t be missed this season.
Recently awarded the EST recommendation, these set top boxes provide connection to over 30 Freeview channels while being energy and cost efficient. These units ave a power consumption of less than 5 watts while in operation and less than 2 watts in standby mode.
Sagem’s Set top boxes provide a high performance, enhanced TV experience. Quick and easy to install, you can be enjoying great quality, additional channels in no time. Connected to your TV via SCART leads, both units are ultra-slim (dimensions 150x135x40mm) and will sit on top of many TV sets, or into a unit leaving additional space for any other home entertainment units.
The ITD58NG ECO has the Now/ Next Programme Guide feature which enables you to view TV listings for the current day. If you want to plan a whole week ahead, then the ITD59NG ECO is the Set top box for you – with a 7 day Electronic Programme Guide for your added convenience.
Available from all good retail outlets and some major supermarkets, the ITD58NG ECO is priced at the amazing low price of £24.99 with the ITD59NG ECO being only £29.99
Everyday Luxury at Home with New Filippo Berio Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Italian family run olive oil specialists, Filippo Berio, is set to delight olive oil connoisseurs everywhere with the launch of its pure Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Containing the rich, natural fruity flavour of green olives with the scent of fresh herbs, Filippo Berio's new 100% natural Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the perfect addition to any avid foodie's store cupboard. Using decades of expertise selecting only the finest olives, Filippo Berio has created a unique unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Unlike Filippo Berio's signature olive oil range, the new Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil undergoes no filtration process and because of this, the unfiltered extra virgin olive oil contains tiny particles of fruit which gives the oil a lovely light green, slightly cloudy appearance. For those who love the taste and versatility of olive oil, Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the perfect choice. Its mild peppery finish enhances and enriches the taste of your dish, whether it is used as a condiment for salads and soups or drizzled over cooked meat, vegetables, pasta or used simply as a dip for fresh bread. Filippo Berio Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1L) is available in Sainsbury's from 7th April, priced £6.99 RRP. To view the entire Filippo Berio Olive Oil range, recipe ideas and cookery hints and tips go to the official website www.filippoberio.co.uk
Eco-over your home!
Lower your environmental impact around the home with Ecotopia.co.uk’s full range of DIY products
Using natural DIY materials in the home can lower your impact on the environment and at the same time, minimise your exposure to potentially hazardous substances. Green DIY can save you money, as well as adding value to your home. With all the bank holidays coming up, this is the ideal time to give your home a green makeover. Ecotopia.co.uk stock the whole range of AURO decorating products. These stand out among manufacturers of natural paints and wood finishes because they are totally committed and uncompromising in their environmental standards.
AURO make the most natural paints you can buy. They have good coverage, are water-based and microporous allowing your walls to breathe. The natural ingredients contribute to a fresh and comfortable interior environment, creating a healthier living space for you and your family. Prepping walls to be wallpapered? Then check out our great range of Auro wallpaper pastes, strippers , adhesives and glue. For painting, try our extensive range of interior wall paint, gloss paint, primer and undercoat.
Ecotopia.co.uk also stock a whole range of Cleaning and Wax Care. Products include care oil, all purpose thinner and mould stop – this is especially good for helping to stop mould growth in window recesses, bathrooms and high condensation areas with poor ventilation.
Looking for a natural wood stain – check out Auro’s water based natural oil timber treatment. Auro’s oil for garden furniture is a great product to protect exterior garden furniture against the effects of weathering.
Spring Cleaning? From Ecover to Clearspring we offer a comprehensive range of ecological cleaning products. From Ecover room fragrances to our Clear Spring multi-surface cleaner, we currently stock many products that are ecologically safe and which can easily replace your existing cleaning products. Each and every one of the cleaning products purchased here at ecotopia.co.uk contain no harmful chemicals and are completely eco friendly and natural. Every eco cleaning product is non-damaging to the planet as they use the amazing power of nature to provide natural degreasers and none of our products are made from petrochemical ingredients but from natural plant based materials.
Safe and
sound An innovative new combined ID and debit card is launched today with Government backing aimed at keeping young people safe either out on the street or surfing online. The UreLife card is a first. It's a prepay debit card which incorporates a colour photo of the cardholder, date of birth, alongside the Government approved PASS (proof-of-age standards scheme) hologram. It allows those over 18, or increasingly those over 21, to prove their age when they want to buy a drink and allows them to pay for that drink with the same card. Its unique identification number
also means it can also be used to provide proof of age when purchasing
age-restricted products online. As the cards are available in
different age categories, parents of younger children will also be reassured
that the same identification scheme can be used by chatrooms and social
networks to set an upper limit on those joining and There are even cards with older age limits so that pensioners entitled to discounts on purchases can prove they are entitled while paying at the same time. Mr Carl Horne, UreLife Spokesperson,
added: For more information visit
www.urelife.com
FAMILY HOLIDAYS LEAVE MUMS FEELING THE HEAT! - Planning a family getaway
is one of the most stressful events for mums- www.Holiday-Rentals.co.uk/MumsHolidayGuide
and has been created with advice and top tips from real mums, allowing
everyone to benefit from the nation’s collective experience! One disgruntled mum commented; "My worst holiday ever was when we arrived and discovered, having booked two interconnecting rooms, we hadn’t got them. My two and half year old daughter was put in a room on her own with double doors to fire escape which didn’t lock and the heating didn’t go above 17 degrees!" Another said, “Don’t
assume anything! We thought going to a well-known family holiday camp
would be fun. How wrong we were; the caravan stunk to high heaven, the
camp was tacky and the entertainment was awful! We won’t be doing
that again!”
With a wide range of accommodation
available, users of Holiday-Rentals.co.uk can choose the type and size
of property they want for any destination they’d like to visit.
The website is easy to navigate and all properties have at least four
colour photos and a detailed description of what guests can expect
Explore Beautiful Britain and Save a Packet Why stress about flying away when you can have fun exploring what’s on your doorstep. Walkers Brit Trips offers £millions of savings on over 10,000 fun day trip adventures and holidays throughout the Bank Holiday period and beyond. What’s more Walkers Brit
Trips has something for everyone in the family. Savings range from half
price tickets for fun days out at Alton Towers, Madame Tussauds and
Sea Life Centres to free family passes for National Trust visits; to
hearty half price pub lunches, 2 for 1 golf passes (800 courses), free
entry to RSPB centres and 2 for 1s on 1,000s of exciting local attractions.
Some of the local participating attractions include (Names of relevant
local partners to be inserted here e.g. for Manchester – Man United
Stadium Tour, The Lake District Coast Aquarium and Chester Zoo). Some of the great savings include: For 10 points, cost of just 5 standard bags (rrp £1.60 – 32p per pack) you can get: · 2 for 1 on kitesurfing, wakeboarding; canoeing, dry skiing (saving £10) · Other alternatives include
a 2 for 1 pub lunch or half price entry to The London Dungeons or Warwick
Castle · Half price tickets to Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe park, Alton Towers, Legoland (saving £20) · Free family day pass
at any one of 200 participating National Trust sites · 2 nights for the price
of 1 (saving over £100) at Ramada Jarvis, Best Western, Hastings
Hotels, Jury’s Inn hotels Each packet of Walkers crisps from March to June 2008 will feature Brit Trip points. Multipacks will carry one point on each packet (i.e. 6 points per 6 pack); while standard and big eat bags will feature two points. To redeem points on pack simply text (insert number) or register the pack code online at www.walkersbrittrips.co.uk where information about the number of points you have collected can be stored and redeemed against a range of offers (promotion redeemable until December 2008).
The Ultimate Tea Treat
Indulge in as much chocolate as you like without adding pounds to your waistline! Yes, it’s true. Newby has a delicious blend of delicate Sri Lankan black tea leaves with real, creamy white chocolate chips that will transport you to chocolate heaven with every sip. Treat yourself or your friends to this guiltless treat. Available in 100g loose leaf caddies priced at £4.95, 100g loose leaf cartons priced at £3.60 and 25 tea bags in a carton, priced at £2.90 from selected delicatessens and mail order from Newby Teas (U.K.) Ltd (Tel 020 7251 8939) or for more information please visit www.newbyteas.com
Kick Start
the Spring Cleaning Season with Acdoco! For those pesky and troublesome stains left behind from hosting dinner parties and family dos, let Stain Slayer do its magic. Suitable for removing stains and spillages from carpets, upholstery and even clothes, Stain Slayer is a multi-purpose stain remover in an aerosol and is ideal for removing stains a plenty including red wine, chewing gum (!), grease, ballpoint pen, candle wax and tar – perfect for keeping your home and conscience clean! Glo Care Net Curtain Whitener will also help to brighten the appearance of your home – giving your shabby, faded white net curtains a much needed face lift! Simply pop your white lace and net curtains into the wash, add a sachet of Glo Care Net Curtain Whitener and your dear old drapes will instantly be transformed back to their former glory. Suitable for machine and hand wash. Now your carpets, upholstery and curtains are looking good, it’s time to tackle the dirty floors and all the multitude of sins they hide! The new Pro Glo range is ideal for giving your floors some much-needed TLC. Comprising three specialist floor cleaners, Pro Glo can be used to clean and revitalise Stone and Tile, protect Laminate flooring and nourish Hardwood and Parquet floors. Pro Glo’s unique formula helps to form a protective stain resistant layer on stone and tile flooring which, when dry, protects your beloved kitchen and garden patio floor against those annoying everyday food and drink spillages and stains caused by mischievous children and merry partygoers. Whilst Pro Glo Laminate and Hardwood and Parquet cleaners protect floor joints and edges against moisture penetration that can cause unsightly damage and lifting. For the ultimate wardrobe spring-clean, get your laundry looking tip top by removing those scary stains with new improved Stain Devils. Available in six stain removers - cooking oil & fat; curry & sauce; grease, lubricant & paint; tea, red wine, fruit & juice; ballpoint ink, felt-tip & mud and grass & make-up - each product has been designed to remove specific stains with ease within a three minute timeframe and is colour coded to make things that much easier when selecting the most suitable Stain Devil. Finally, with your spring-cleaning now covered, why not give your washing machine some care and attention? Regular use of your washing machine can lead to a build up of detergent residue, dirt, grime and limescale. Glo Care Service-it efficiently cleans, freshens and maintains your washing machine – helping you to save hours of precious time and money on expensive call out charges. Spring-cleaning has never been so quick or easy!
Nicky Hambleton-Jones fronts new issue of At Home magazine
Star of Channel 4’s hit TV series 10 Years Younger, Nicky Hambleton-Jones, will front the March issue of At Home magazine. This special issue will be dedicated to style and beauty. At Home Magazine introduces a top celebrity every month to give their expert views on different aspects of life. From finest foods with Antony Worrall Thompson and property with Sarah Beeny, At Home Magazine is packed with loads of ideas on how to cope with both the fun and more serious sides of life. Unlike numerous gossip titles At Home Magazine is dedicated to giving its readers the best possible practical tips and advice making it an essential read and everyone's 'lifestyle bible' At Home with Nicky Hambleton-Jones is out 27th February
There’s no doubt about it, it always seems to be your new, favourite or most expensive items of clothing that manage to attract the most stubborn of everyday stains. Remember that expensive dress with the make up stain that remains hidden in the depths of your wardrobe? What about your favourite shirt with the ink stain on that you couldn’t bring yourself to throw away? Well, fear not fashionistas – help is at hand in the form of OxiClean, the latest ‘must have’ stain remover range that can help rejuvenate your old wardrobe from an ugly betty back to super-model condition this spring. OxiClean gets to work straight away when in contact with water, releasing millions of tiny oxygen bubbles that powerfully but gently lift, dissolve and remove everyday dirt and grime, as well as the most stubborn of stains on household laundry. Scrub or soak, OxiClean is the perfect all round stain buster that can be used to revive your clothes and upholstery in a single wash. Perfect as an in-wash stain remover, simply add a scoop of OxiClean to your normal laundry and watch as stubborn stains disappear and your washing is brought back to life. It even works effectively in a 30-degree wash helping you to save electricity and give you a cleaner conscience! And, for those with sensitive skin why not add OxiClean Simple to your shopping list. With the all-powerful action of OxiClean, but 100% fragrance free and containing no dye or chlorine, OxiClean Simple is ideal for families with young children and for those with delicate skin. It’s simple – OxiClean Simple. Finally, for stain mishaps that occur when you are out and about with the kids or away on a long weekend with your other half, make sure you have new OxiClean Spray-A-Way to hand. Using the power of oxygen, OxiClean Spray-A-Way goes deep into clothing fibres to lift and eliminate stubborn stains such as coffee, tea, wine and chocolate in just 3 easy steps. Simply dab the fresh stain to remove excess moisture, and then spray OxiClean Spray-A-Way over the entire stain before finally blotting the stain to remove any leftover residue. Then watch as that unsightly stain disappears out of sight!
Pizza Perfecto With Filippo Berio
Whether folded in half and eaten with your hands or cut into slices and served with a knife and fork – everyone loves pizza! The deliciously moreish flavours of hot bread coupled with rich tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella and fruity olive oil are a hearty combination at anytime of the year. So, pizza aficionados everywhere will be delighted to hear the news that leading Italian olive oil specialists, Filippo Berio is set to make their pizza experience even more pleasurable with its Extra Virgin Olive Oil sachets that can only be found in chilled PizzaExpress pizzas during February and March. Crafted by Filippo Berio’s master olive oil blender, Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made using a carefully selected variety of olive oils that have been prepared from handpicked olives from across the Mediterranean. These are each tasted and judged by the master olive oil blender, who selects only 6% to make Filippo Berio’s signature olive oil varieties. The result is a deliciously rich, natural flavoured oil, which has been used by the chefs at PizzaExpress to help enhance and marinate the ingredients of their pizzas during the cooking process. Caramelised Onion Pizza with Courgette, Tomato and Blue Cheese For avid foodies who want to recreate their very own pizza parlour at home without any help, why not try the following appetising pizza recipe developed by Filippo Berio. Don’t forget to serve the pizza with a final drizzle of Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil to bring out the mouthwatering flavour of the onions and Dolcelatte cheese – perfecto! Serves 2. Base: Topping: Method: Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil sachets can be found in all large (12”) PizzaExpress pizzas, available from all major supermarkets from February to March 2008 or until stocks last.
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK….
New research from KitKat reveals that a staggering 72 per cent of people in the UK are likely to break their post Christmas healthier eating resolution before January is over, with almost half (43%) breaking their good intentions within the first two weeks of the New Year! Eighty one per cent of people want to get back to a healthier lifestyle post their Christmas indulgences, with over half (58%) hoping to lose the excess weight gained over the festive season. But following faddy diets and banning certain foods may mean they are unlikely to succeed for long. Dietician Jane Griffin explains: “When devising a healthier eating plan in the New Year people should set realistic goals and not starve themselves - this can cause people to feel extremely hungry and lead them to overindulge. One in 10 people never allow themselves a treat while they are trying to get back to eating healthily however, the most common reasons for people breaking their healthier eating resolution is boredom (29%) and hunger (19%)!” KitKat’s two finger bar is a great occasional snack for people who are following healthier eating plans because it contains only 107 calories. TV presenter Anna Ryder Richardson is one celebrity who doesn’t believe in faddy weight loss plans. “It’s great that people want to look after themselves and watch their diet in the New Year but people have to be realistic and not exclude the foods they actually enjoy eating. Anything can be included in a healthy eating plan in moderation and an occasional chocolate treat, like KitKat, is a great way to curb your hunger and subside those chocolate cravings without breaking your New Year’s resolution.”
Bertolli Puts The Life Back Into Bolognese
When it comes to family mealtimes, the word ‘chaos’ springs to mind before ‘cordon bleu’ - sometimes it’s enough just keeping your hungry mouths in one place, let alone feeding them all! It’s no wonder a popular secret weapon is spaghetti Bolognese, that simple Italian staple of fuss-free cooking. And now Bertolli is lending mums a helping hand in the kitchen, with the launch of five pasta sauces, ideal for Bolognese. Packed full of natural ingredients and containing no artificial colours or preservatives, the new range is available in five flavours – Original, Basil, Garlic, Spicy and Creamy Tomato – so there’s something to suit all tastes. Plus new Bertolli pasta sauces come in a foil pouch to seal in natural flavours. With recipes created by Italian chefs, Bertolli range blends tomatoes with fragrant herbs – so whether you’re catering for junior veg-a-phobes or spouses with more sophisticated tastes, Bertolli sauces are ideal for all the family to enjoy.
New Stain Devils are ‘Devilishly’
Good at Getting Rid of Stains
The new Stain Devils range comprises of six magic formulas – cooking oil & fat; curry & sauce; grease, lubricant & paint; tea, red wine, fruit & juice; ballpoint ink, felt-tip & mud and grass & make-up. Each product has been designed to remove specific stains with ease within a three minute timeframe and is colour coded to make things that much easier when selecting the most suitable Stain Devil to tackle a specific mark.
When scary stains pop up at the last minute - before that all important meeting or romantic dinner date, you can rely on Stain Devils to be your wingman in your time of need in just three easy steps. Firstly moisten the stain with the solution, then leave the solution to work its magic*. Finally, using a damp cloth, dab the treated area continuously until all traces of the stain and the solution are removed. Voila – stain removal in three minutes flat!
The Stain Devils range is available in convenient 50ml bottles from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Homebase and Wilkinson and online at www.acdomart.co.uk, priced £1.79 (RRP).
*(Leave the solution for up to 10 minutes for large or really stubborn stains). Stain Devils is not to be used on leather, suede, acetate/rayon, carpets and upholstery.
Secrets Of Office Snacking Habits Revealed
Where you sit in the office could have a drastic effect on your figure, according to new research by new Multigrain Hula Hoops. • A whopping 87 per cent
of UK employees blame their bad snacking habits on their colleagues. It’s not surprising that the poll revealed that despite everything, a massive three quarters of Brits say they do go to work on a Monday intending to eat healthily at work, but many give in before the week is over. A weak-willed 18 per cent even give up on the first day while another 22 per cent have thrown in the towel by Tuesday. The survey also revealed that construction and property workers are the worst when it comes to snacking at work, followed by those in IT. It’s not all bad news though as our workmates good eating habits can also rub off on us, with 22 per cent of folk saying they have gone on a diet to join in with a colleague. A spokesperson for Multigrain Hula Hoops said: “The survey results are really interesting and show just how easily peoples diet habits can be influenced in the office. It’s only natural to crave food when others around you are eating but there are ways to enjoy healthier snacking at work with Multigrain Hula Hoops.“ Multigrain Hula Hoops extends the brand’s on-going health and nutrition kick, with saturated fat levels reduced by 80 per cent since 2005 and even the sodium levels have been reduced. The new Multigrain Hula Hoops contain a total of 46 per cent cereals – made up of a combination of maize, rice flour and wheat bran. They contain no artificial flavours or colours and are free from MSG, so you can tuck into the snack knowing it’s better for you! And the good news is, they still have the great taste that you have come to expect from Hula Hoops.
Pot Noodle Team Extends Salt Reduction Programme
Pot Noodle,
the iconic snack brand from Unilever UK Foods, is taking another important
step in improving its formulations. The new improved Pot Noodle range
now contain 50 per cent less salt than in 2005 across the entire range.
The move comes as part of Unilever’s ongoing programme to reduce
salt levels in all its products and builds on salt reductions made by
the iconic snack brand last year.
Mum Matters Modern mums are unmarried, older and refuse to give up work to become traditional housewives, according to new research. In 2007, only 29 per cent of UK mothers gave up work when they had their first child. The poll, which has been conducted by Pot Noodle to compare mums today with mums in 1977 when the instant hot snack first reached our shores. It also revealed that 53 per cent of mums gave up work altogether to look after their children in 1977. But nowadays, a quarter of mums want to return to work and continue rising up the career ladder compared to only 12 per cent in the 70s. More than half of mums are also ditching the traditional image of having children after getting married, with 45 per cent having their first baby before walking down the aisle. But this is a stark contrast to 30 years ago when a staggering 82 per cent were married before giving birth. Almost half of mums today are single when they start a family compared to only 16 per cent in the 70s. Parents are also getting older as the poll of 2,000 women revealed that the average age for having their first child in 1977 was 23 while over a quarter of Brits are now waiting until hitting 30 plus before hearing the patter of tiny feet. The extra few years can make a difference though as 56 per cent of people today considered themselves to be financially stable when they started their family, but only 45 per cent of parents from 1977 could say the same thing. The poll also found that mums in the 70s spent seven hours a week doing the household chores – an extra three hours than women today. Pot Noodle commissioned the survey comparing mums in 1977 to mums today to learn more about our constantly changing attitudes to everyday events. Now, in its 30th year, the Pot Noodle brand has also made some changes, having further improved its product formulation, which now contains 50% less salt across the range than in 2005. Mums who had their children in the 1970s worried less with only 43 per cent saying they were concerned about the levels of salt in their child’s food compared to a staggering 76 per cent of parents nowadays.
Always tired? Pounds piling on as your body is hidden under snugly jumpers?
Take control of your health with a few easy steps. Keep hydrated and boost your anti-oxidant in-take (to fight ageing free radicals and build your immune system!) with the new, delicious Kenzai Organic Green Tea and Organic White Tea. Rich in added vitamin C, perfect to help protect against those winter colds, Kenzai is the perfect on-the-go, calorie free and low caffeine solution for those looking for a no-fuss, tasty and healthy drink.
Kenzai (meaning 'in good health') remains true to its Asian heritage by keeping things simple. The drinks contain absolutely no chemicals, additives or preservatives and are 100 times richer in antioxidants than vitamin C. They are the UK's first and only 100% organic ready-to-drink green and white teas and are brewed from organic tea leaves, rather than produced from extract. Just a tiny amount of organic agave syrup (from a Mexican cactus-like plant) has been added to the green tea for touch of sweetness. A great alternative to a glass of water! In Asia people use green tea for just about everything - from a warm or cold, refreshing everyday drink through to a cocktail mixer! It is known for its health benefits such as building the immune system and is known to help reduce high cholesterol levels and boost weight loss. Fans in the UK have known it as a hot drink for a while, but can now discover new ways of enjoying green and white tea with Kenzai's ready-to-drink soft drinks.
"Some soft drinks are appearing on the market containing green tea, but with several other ingredients added such as flavourings and heaps of sugar in many of them! Kenzai wanted to keep it simple by offering green and white tea fans these Asian treasures in their purest form and in an easy, no-fuss format. White tea especially is such a delicate, light tea which is just starting to catch on here in the UK, so why go and spoil it with lots of fruit flavouring?" says Malinee Woeste, Kenzai managing director.
Look out for the new Kenzai Organic Green Tea and Kenzai Organic White Tea in its 330ml glass bottles at Planet Organic, Wholefoods, Fresh and Wild, Luscious Organic, The Organic Grocer and various cafés and restaurants nationwide. The teas are priced at £1.75 in retail outlets.
Discover the Tantalising Tastes of Thailand in Your Kitchen with Sharwood’s
A delicate balance of hot and sour, sweet and salty, lightness and richness – Sharwood’s NEW Thai range invites you to explore the diverse flavours of Thailand Thai food has never been more popular and now, thanks to a new range of delicious and easy-to-use Thai food from Sharwood’s, everyone can cook up restaurant quality Thai meals at home using ingredients readily available from their local supermarkets. Sharwood’s has explored the many regions of Thailand in order to create a collection of flavoursome, authentic recipes containing typical Thai ingredients such as fragrant kaffir lime leaves, creamy coconut, spicy chillies and aromatic Thai herbs. Using its years of expertise in blending Asia’s finest ingredients, Sharwood’s has created a truly mouth-watering range including curry pastes, stir-fry sauces, delicious curry sauces, dipping sauces and Thai crackers – ideal for creating an easy and delicious meal for all occasions, whether that’s a light lunch, a weekday dinner or a special meal. Influenced by the traditional cooking methods and the bountiful variety of ingredients found in Southern Thailand, Sharwood’s has launched a range of authentic curry pastes to which you add fresh ingredients to create your own Thai curry. These pastes contain a blend of fragrant herbs, spices and garlic. They have no artificial colours or flavours and each sachet contains the perfect amount to make a mouth-watering meal for two – so there’s no waste! The expertly blended and aromatic Red Curry Paste makes an appetising dish when cooked with beef, duck or chicken. Sharwood’s has infused this light and fresh curry paste with the flavours of lemongrass, garlic and fruity red chillies. Ideal with chicken, prawns or a firm fish such as monkfish, Green Curry Paste balances a delicate combination of kaffir lime, galangal, lemongrass and hot green chillies. For those wanting to indulge in these two popular dishes, but want a short-cut to a delicious Thai meal, a more convenient option is to create the dish using Sharwood’s new Thai curry sauce range which comprises four sauces – Red Curry Sauce, Green Curry Sauce, Yellow Curry Sauce, and especially popular with those who have visited Thailand, Mussaman Curry Sauce. Sharwood’s has also created an exotic collection of stir-fry sauces which have been made in Thailand using fresh ingredients. Enjoy the sweet, spicy flavours of Sharwood’s Sweet Chilli and Lemongrass Stir-fry Sauce, the fragrant Kaffir Lime and Coriander Stir-fry Sauce and the rich savoury taste of Oyster and Thai Basil Stir-fry Sauce. Try using the sauces with stir-fried vegetables, seafood or meat - the perfect complement to Sharwood’s Pad Thai Ready To Wok Ribbon Noodles or Rice Noodles. To round off their mouth-watering selection of Thai flavours and tastes, Sharwood’s has developed a deliciously fruity Thai Chilli Dipping Sauce. Traditionally served as a starter or as an accompaniment to a main meal, Sharwood’s new dipping sauce can be served alongside Sharwood’s Thai Spiced Crackers as a delicious starter. To give an extra dimension to side dishes use the sauce to accompany spring rolls, crispy vegetables or fish cakes. Alternatively you can add the dipping sauce to fried rice for extra flavour. All of Sharwood’s new Thai products are free from artificial colours and flavours and offer the perfect way for people to discover the true, authentic flavours of Thailand in their own home.
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