FromBumptoGrump:ParentsReviews

Successful internet shopping relys on you reading an honest write up as you can not physically 'see' or 'touch' the product you wish to buy. The internet has also become a valuable resource tool to research products before hitting the shops. Here on our Product Review page, you will get the same honesty so you know you are spending those hard earned pennies wisely! All our testers are from the appropriate age ranges with the parents opinion added for good measure where appropriate.

If you would like to suggest a product for review or are a manufacturer who would like us to consider your product for this page, don't hesitate to email us at: letstalk@frombumptogrump.co.uk

As someone with dexterity problems, anything that makes life easier is welcome news. And in an era of 'growing your own', along with increasing supermarket prices for ready prepared stuff, preparing from scratch is good. However, problems or not, it's not the easiest or quickest of jobs, so a peeler like this is a great investment. Whether soft fruit or hard veg, this battery operated peeler makes the job a breeze. We especially liked the feel of the peeler, an ergonomic triumph in our book.

Those ugly cardboard wine boxes are a thing of the past with this stunning piece of kit from Husky. The Kings of refrigeration have made parties a breeze with a contemporary looking unit. Simply place your bag of wine in, select your wine type to ensure the correct temperature, plug in and enjoy! The only think you need to do is enjoy, and possibly refill with a new bag when empty. Of course, you don't need a party to have a Winepod. Place this in your kitchen and make it part of the furniture.

After having this for review for only a couple of weeks now, this nifty item has been used for a multitude of purposes. Simply fill the double sided pillow shape with warm water, leave, release excess air and you’re off! Whether at room temperature or after a short spell in the fridge, this is cool in more ways than one. We have used it on swollen knees, in a pillowcase to cool down a warm night, to soothe a child’s temperature and we can see the benefit it would be for MS sufferers during the difficult summer months. Once filled, it’s done and yours to do with what you will. We are sure you can find at least three uses immediately.

If, like us, you are a bit stationery obsessed, you will be in pen heaven here! These polished chrome beauties look like the type of writing implement that goes well over the £100 pound mark, yet are nearer a tenner. We tested an ink pen and a roller pen in 'Platignum 4', and they write with a luxurious flow, aided by the grip which not only helps with the whole experience, but adds to the design also. As good for keeping as for giving, these are a superb item for the money.

The nightmare of multiple remote controls can be over with One For All universal remotes. Where they used to be a costly investment, now you can grab yourself a good looking version at a very reasonable price. The URC 6231 is as funky as a mobile phone, with flip top cover and bright red casing. Capable of controlling 3 devices, what it lacks in functionality, it makes up for in style. Stepping up in price to the URC 7525, this looks like a standard remote, albeit again stylish with a black gloss finish. A very useful piece of kit, this is a great choice when you want to combine your TV and satellite remote. Easy to set up, and simple to use, you will be grateful for the restoration of your sanity.

If you cook, you need soy sauce in constant supply, and so lighter, less salty versions are appreciated. Of course, Kikkoman haven’t compromised on flavour, and what we really liked here was the bottle size, that lasted more than a few uses. The Teriyaki marinade was a revelation to us – after eyeing up a recipe for Chicken Teriyaki skewers, we started to add numerous ingredients to our basket, before realising we had it ready made to hand! After a simple marinade, we had the same result, meaning a quick and exciting meal was easily achieved.

Wow!! This product has changed our lives and re invented our lunch times. Basically, grab a sandwich, stick it in a Toastabag (it fits easily!), and pop it in the toaster – wait for it to pop up and voila! – a scrummy toasted sandwich! And it doesn’t stop there – fish fingers, chips, pizza and more can be cooked in the Toastabag with a few more pops. Don’t think it won’t work, because trust us, it does.

Our job reviewing means we get to experience products that we are able t6o bring into our home lives, such as the range of products from Planit. Apart from the wonderful Toastabag, how about Quickachips tray? The means the heat circulates ensuring crisp cooking all over – we loved the fact it could used on a BBQ too! Cookamesh is the same idea with different sizes replacing the traditional baking tray which you scrape your food off. The cookasheet reduces the need for fats when cooking, so is a healthy choice for mealtimes. Easy cleaning, all these products are easy cooking and easy on the pocket too!

Is it wrong to love the smell of a cleaning fluid? If like us, you like the scent of clean and fresh, you'll love this. Available in

Lavender, Pomegranate and Grapefruit and Ocean, the fragrance lingered afterwards too. But what we liked even more, was the fizz action . As the spray hits the surface it bubbles away, so you actually see it kinda eating the dirt! Suitable for kitchen and bathroom means less storage and packaging, and this will last a while too.

The Rooster Potato is now a familiar site on the supermarket shelf, so the time is right for them to introduce a range of chilled products that will save time in the kitchen. In the world of mash, we have Mashed Potato, Organic Mashed Potato, and Mashed Potato with either Isle of Bute Extra Mature Cheddar, Root Vegetables or Fresh Cabbage. More choice comes with Potato Hash, Baked Potatoes with Isle o f Bute Extra Mature Cheddar and Potato Rostis with Cheddar and Smoked Bacon. With such an incredibly wide choice available, we can only make it better by saying the recipes have been developed by Andrew Fairlie and Michel Roux! Just how good can a potato get?

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

After first reviewing Newby Teas a few months ago, we have now discovered a world of teas that we had forgotten existed, and now truly enjoy indulging. Darjeeling is a tea to be enjoyed black, and we were amazed at how light and refreshing it was, equal to a traditional brew but with a classy feel. Rosehip and Hibiscus left us feeling at one with nature – with flower petals adorning many top chef’s plates, this felt the equivalent contemporary drink. We love our green tea, and Jasmine Blossom left us feeling calm and relaxed. Of course, Newby Teas do lots more flavours, all of the highest quality, and we think tea may well be the new coffee.

Healthy snacking is very important, yet getting your five a day is not so easy ‘on the move’. Fruit is delicious, but sometimes fails to keep hunger at bay. Fruitus products have one portion of fruit in every pack, a huge plus point for us. The chewy bars come in Apricot, Mixed Berry, Apple and Pomegranate, and Blueberry. These are super soft and tasty, and we really appreciated an oat bar that didn’t leave a trail of crumbs. The chewy bites are the perfect picking snack, with each bag containing fruity bites that are a great alternative to sweets – with apricot, blackberry or raspberry, these are a great handbag filler for when you need a healthy pick me up.

Where would we be without 1001! If, like us, your carpet is taking a constant battering from muddy shoes, spilt food and similar, then you know you need a carpet cleaner to hand. There are many out there, and even 1001 give you a choice of mousse, spray and one we haven’t seen before, instant spot stain remover! However, we can confirm that they all worked for us! We also were able to test the pet variety, which cleans, deodorises and sterilises at the same time. However, our wow product here has to be the no vac carpet and upholstery freshener (there’s a pet version too!). Spray and watch the area cover with foam, then be amazed as it disappears before your very eyes, leaving nothing but the most gorgeous of smells behind. Wow!!!

With shopping online continuing to grow, buying food from other than the major supermarket is necessary to provide the consumer choice. We all would love convenience at some time but it is hard to balance against quality. Kitchenmonkey provide quality meals which are then frozen and delivered to your door. Simply heat, and serve. Our 4 reviewers, including a child, had a range of products to try, and couldn’t fault any. Where they came up trumps for us was taste – they were crammed with flavour and tasted freshly made – you could almost taste every single ingredient, something we’ve never experienced in a ready meal before. The generous portions were impressive, but then so was everything. Check out the website, as their range is enormous!

For further product information, advice and to find a store near you, call the customer Advice centre on 0870 444 1111

Cuprinol are synonymous for fence treatments, and a name that assures quality. What we find impressive are the constant additions to their range, including up to date colours, as well as catering for all your outdoor wood needs. We firstly reviewed the Cuprinol Power Sprayer and Sprayable Plus Fence Treatment, the ultimate in both ease of application and care for for your fence. Cuprinol estimate 4 minutes per panel, and we are pleased to vouch for this claim. Most impressive was the finished look, with no drying out we have known previously. We also tested out deck stain and anti slip treatment. The anti slip is a revolution we feel, as decking and damp can be a dangerous pairing, and, as always, the Cuprinol quality shines through.

We’ve never got excited about Olive Oil before, but that is obviously as haven’t realised how exquisite it can be. We have tried differing makes and never skimped on price, but once you try a real top quality one, it will be hard to go back! Quality literally dripped from the bottle, and the taste turned everything it touched to gold – yes, we know, an olive oil! As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and this would be worth every penny for us.

For those who haven’t tried Walker’s Sensations, we would describe them as crisps to entertain with, be it with friends, or even just at home when having a night in. This latest flavour has been introduced with the Beijing Olympics in mind, and is a very welcome addition. We found them full of deep flavour, with spices leaving a lingering taste in your mouth after each one. These are crisps that make the ideal drinks party nibble, when you want to show that you have taste in more ways than one – impressive crisps that will impress others.

Stockists: www.fiskars.com or ring Fiskars on 01656-655595 for details of UK stockists. Replacement packs of Fiskars Bow Crimper Staples, ref: 298884, price £3.99 are also available.

Fiskars excel in crafting tools, but you don’t have to be a seasoned crafter to start using this and be inspired. That being said, for review purposes, we got someone who knows their stuff. The finished article is not only highly professional, but the equipment was easy to use and saved on time. There are numerous uses for the bows, from parcels to floral bouquets. Our reviewer was very pleased with the amount of ribbon you could layer, resulting in some very extravagant bows indeed!

Yes, we all love crisps, but in today’s health conscious society, we could do without the guilt that comes with them. Crips have nearly 4 times less fat than traditional crisps and have no artifical colours or preservatives. With Sea Salt, Sea Salt and Black Pepper, Thai Chilli, Mature Cheddar Cheese and Spring Onion and Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar flavours, today’s tastes are well catered for. We especially love the quirky packaging, very contemporary and eye catching and with a high quality vibe.

What an excellent resource! Mind maps by Tony Buzan is a revolutionary way of absorbing information and retaining what is learnt. A colourful and detailed book accompanies the 2 CDs, full of pictures, vocabulary and exercises. Everything is well laid out so beginners can follow it easily. The CDs themselves are 'fantastique', with well explained activities in both English and the foreigbn language. Our reviewer especially liked the the pace of the language spoken by the native speaker. One CD can be used 'on the move' without the book, meaning it can be used when travelling etc. Lots of seperate topics are covered, each with a gradual introduction to the various grammatical contexts. We think this is a must have for anyone wanting to learn a language naturally.

For those of you don’t know, port is a warming, rich drink that oozes flavour. For those that do know, did you know it is now available chilled, making it a tasty alternative to the usual array of wines. The depth of flavour will amaze and bring a whole new meaning to the food you eat it with. Once the domain of after dinner tipples and the middle aged, this chilled port brings with it a whole new lease of life.

If it’s wrong to get so excited about an iron, we don’t care! This iron glides effortlessly across clothes almost on auto pilot. Even with water at the fill level, this is no heavy weight, and the tank is easy to fill unlike many others. We especially loved the unique chrome tip – getting into those hard places like around buttons was just so easy! Yes, we think this iron is the business, and as it’s changed our lives, we believe it could change yours!

Sometimes you just don’t have the stain remover you’re looking for, so it’s good to have a multi purpose solution to hand. This removes a multitude of stains, like chewing gum, pollen, pen and wet paint, from a multitude of surfaces like clothing, cooker hoods, carpets and even windscreens! The spray makes it quick and easy to use and as it’s Glocare, you know it’s reliable too.

Wow!! Do we love these or what? The plastic bag environmental issue is huge news at the moment, and there is an easy, affordable solution to the problem that is stylish too. Envirosax are the bees knees in reusable bags. Not only do they have funky designs, they also fold up ultra small so they fit easily into a pocket or handbag. Not only are they amazingly roomy, they have a comfortably wide carrying handle that we haven’t seen in others. And they’re really affordable too! We think these are out of this world, and are keen to buy a shed load for our own use. Fantastic stuff!

At last! A pocket sized stain remover! Of course, we don’t just spill stuff down our clothes when we are at home, so what do we do when we are out? Spray-A-Way works instantly, giving you a far greater chance of keeping your clothes as they should be. It works on coffee, wine and chocolate – and other stuff too, but they were the main ones for us!

If you’ve never experienced English Provender, you are seriously missing out on seriously scrummy stuff. These sauces ooze luxury and have a multitude of sweet uses. How about with ice cream, sponge puddings or our favourite, just sticking your finger in and licking! You can have restaurant standard desserts at home easily!

How could we put these products to the perfect test? Get a nurse and a builder to use them! Even better? A nurse who loves to garden! Both products were worth the cover price and highly efficient at what they profess. The barrier cream was like wearing invisible gloves and the power scrub and moisturiser cleaned hard dirt without the usual drying effect. There are a multitude of tasks these can help with, and we’re sure you can think of at least one!

Wow! And if you regularly read our reviews, you know that means these are the business. These look like the football scarves of yesteryear, untouched by advertising and one striped style fits all. Yet these have been brought slap bang up to date with a quality that we now expect. The softest, most luxurious cashmere will keep you warm on the coldest of terraces, and if God forbid your team should lose, people will see you purely as an ultra stylish onlooker.

Stains - they really are a massive pain! In our household, nosebleeds in the night, renovation work and an artistic 5 year old mean not a day goes by without something being marked. We were luckily enough to trial all the range, meaning all eventualities were covered. Blood is a nightmare to remove, so we were over the moon to find something that worked, and quickly and easily too! Paint on the carpet was another removal success, followed by felt tip on pyjamas. We suggest that you it would be good to keep the whole range at hand, so you can stop worrying when things inevitably go wrong.

Werther's are a seriously addictive sweet - once you've tasted one, it is virtually impossible not to scoff the lot. Realising this, Werther's have now come up with the ideal solution - a totally sugar free option but with all the taste you love! They remain totally addictive, but now you can scoff away without the guilt as each sweet is less than 10 calories. Thankyou Werthers - if ever there was a sweet we wanted a 'healthier' version of, this is it!

Once in a while you come across a product so great, it is hard to fit all the words into one review. Welcome to the Russell Hobbs Mini Oven, a product that would be of use in a multitude of situations. Our reviewer is “between kitchens” and struggling to feed a family with only a microwave. This has changed their life! The unit is a very attractive addition to any cooking space and the contemporary design is appreciated. We especially liked the fact you can see what you are cooking, meaning less opening of the door and loss of heat. Like its larger sized rivals, this little wonder can grill and yes, the oven’s fan assisted too. We all know ovens aren’t the easiest of items to clean, so a self cleaning interior is a huge bonus. Where it really worked for our reviewer, was the double hotplate – it is amazing how much you miss frying without the facility to do so!
This unit is ideal for smaller kitchens, solo living, students etc, but it doesn’t stop there – this mean machine catered for a family too!

Oh no! Is there a worse feeling than a whole load of washing potentially ruined by a dye disaster? At times like these, there is a solution. Rescue It will gently but effectively take away any colour run so you can heave a sigh of relief. Our advice is to always have one in stock as there’s nothing worse than a desperate dash to the supermarket to add to your bad day.

It’s a fact of life that whites go dull and start to grey. Get them bright again by simply popping a sachet in with your wash. Amazingly, results can even be achieved at 30 degrees! We recommend you treat your whites on a regular basis, so you’re never the one people are talking about.

Fizz and alcohol surely make any day complete, and this is the perfect solution to solve the 'red or white' dilemma. We are used to sparkling rosé leaning towards over sweet, but this was refreshingly different. Certainly we recommend the chilled route for this which makes it a very exciting tipple indeed. Even the bottle makes a statement, making it the perfect gift too!

Being eco friendly is getting easier and easier with now no need to compromise on style. A perfect example of this is Biome Lifestyle, a website selling goods you will really want and enabling yourself to have a conscience at the same time. We were extremely lucky to receive this year’s must have item, a simple but stylish reusable shopping bag, selling for an incredibly low price. However, take a look around the site for lots of items you’d be thrilled to receive, proud to own and excited to give.

Learning a language is something a lot of us want to do, either for work, travel or just for pleasure. There are loads of languages to choose from, but after years of wanting to learn Russian, we tried this out. Version 3 comes with CD roms, and very importantly a headset so you can get started straight away. We really liked the keyboard stickers which easily changed the keys to the language – how could you do it without? The course is very visual, but also very adaptable, meaning you choose your level, what you want to do first, and it makes it a very relaxing experience. It is even child friendly! Ok, I can’t speak Russian yet after 2 weeks, but this is definitely the best course I have tried out of many, and I am eager to find the time to continue.

You know when you go into a coffee shop and choose a cake so delicious it seems handmade even though it’s wrapped? Welcome to Kate’s Cakes, singly wrapped portions of simply delicious stuff. We tasted a variety of cakes, flapjacks and bars, and loved them all. The Chocolate Brownie was so soft it seemed like it was straight from the tin, and the flapjack combined loads of good things whilst remaining firmly flapjacky. Kate’s cakes seem eager to please and keen to progress with new variations always imminent. They also don’t take the mick with their pricing. Watch out for them in your coffee shops!

We love a nicely fragranced home, but as we all now from wearing scents ourselves, your nose quickly becomes accustomed to the smell and effectively disappears to the owner. The Ambi Pur 3volution plug-in alternates between three different fragrances, meaning you are always aware of new scents. It seems a simple theory, and it definitely worked for us! Of course, the Ambi Pur range contains far more products, including a heavenly scented candle that will take your mind elsewhere and relax. With different fragrances for the different seasons, a good fragrance creates a very homely feel.

If, like us, you remember when this was only really available in Europe, you also remember how exciting it was when it arrived here. Of course, everybody now knows the yummy chocolate hazelnut spread, but what we have just discovered, is just how versatile it is. Not only can you have it on bread, but how about a Nutella fondue or a Nutella cake? Now could well be the time to grab yourself another jar.

Everywhere we go, we seem to be encountering people using slow cookers as the ideal solution to a busy lifestyle, and they are making a big come back in the popularity stakes. The contemporary looking Crock Pot® Saute Slow Cooker would not only look fantastic in any style kitchen, but also feed a hungry family with minimum effort. Simply prepare in advance, switch on, have a life and then serve! Where we really like this one, is that the pot was easily removable to serve, could be used in the microwave, stored in the freezer and washed in the dishwasher. The Stoneware pot can also be used on the hob on direct heat, so it is ideal if you need to brown meat, sauté your vegetables or even caramelise some fruit! This is a great improvement and makes healthy, tasty cooking easily achievable.

Stockists: Planet Organic, Wholefoods, Fresh and Wild, Luscious Organic, The Organic Grocer and various cafés and restaurants nationwide

In today’s health conscious society, we love the fact that you can easily access things that are good for you. Kenzai’s organic teas are full of good stuff, ideal for a boost during the colder months. You can taste that these drinks are tea based, and for us it was an acquired taste, but serious tea drinkers will have no such problem. They can also be used as a cocktail mixer – what better way to get those anti-oxidants in?

Anyone fancy a pair of tights with a bit of added help where you need it most? Aristoc’s bodytoner oner range have a pair for every area. We tested both the Low Leg Toner and the Waist and Tummy Toner. These are not designed to cripple you putting them on, or indeed, on wearing, which is a great bonus. What they do is just firm the appropriate area, giving a smoother, shapelier body and helping your clothes to fit as intended. This, in turn, adds confidence and the majority need of us need more of that! Even more impressive is the cost! We are used to such items being well into double figures so these are extremely well priced.

Stockists: Majorsupermarkets and selected independent retailers. Call 0800 1218098

We are great believers in tasty, easy ways of getting essential vitamins and minerals into our diets, and as we all need to ensure we take in fluids, a drink combining everything is great in our book. AdeZ is available in four flavours and we tasted the pineapple and passionfruit. AdeZ contains soya and, as such, this isn’t your traditional fresh fruit juice drink. It’s full on flavour and far more a drink to be enjoyed at any time of the day in our opinion. The sweet mix of flavours makes it suitable for kids too, especially as there are no preservatives. AdeZ is a tasty way to feel good.

Sometimes we have no choice but to start a review with a “WOW” and this is certainly one of those. Lindemans Early Harvest wines have on average 30% less alcohol and calories than other wines, but still deliver on taste. We found the Sauvignon Blanc light, crisp and totally refreshing and just truly enjoyed the experience. Tops for us, however, was the Shiraz – a red wine without the sticky heaviness that turns some people away from red in general. If this is you, try this and you will be pleasantly surprised! And as if the wine isn’t good enough, the bottles themselves are contemporary and fresh looking, making them ideal as a gift, even if it is to yourself!

Stockists: Major supermarkets and selected independent retailers. Call 0800 1218098

We love washing liquid – in our opinion, it gets right to the heart of the washing. However, the one problem is the bottle size. Heavy to carry home, hard to store and an effort to lift to pour, it isn’t ideal. So we are chuffed to bits with Persil’s new small & mighty – it’s twice as concentrated meaning a little goes a long way. We tried it and it still had the same reliable performance you expect from Persil but the size was a great advantage, even down to disposing of the packaging. Small & mighty comes in all the same variations as previous, so it’s a winner in every way

With the ‘no carpet’ look as stylish as ever, there is now a range that not only cleans like a dream, but protects too! We tested the Laminate cleaner. As much as laminate is a great alternative to real wood, it does have a tendency to ‘lift’ as moisture can get in. To find a cleaner designed to help protect against this, is major in our books. And, of course, your laminate will look as new too!

There are three floor cleaners in the Pro Glo range for specific floor types - laminate, hardwood and tile and stone.

How do you review Mr Kipling cakes? We say this as they are a nation’s favourite, and you know that when you pick them up off the shelf, satisfaction is guaranteed. The quality is high, the taste supreme and presentation flawless. Suffice to say we could have written the review without actually tasting the product, but we’d be insane to turn down French Fancies, Angel Slices, Manor House Cake and Bramley Apple Pies wouldn’t we?!

It is now well known that antioxidants may help rid the body of harmful ‘free radicals’, and there are many vitamin tablets made for this reason. However, why bother when you can have a yummy, refreshing drink instead? The subtle orange taste and classic iced tea taste make a drink we’d prefer to be reaching for than the majority of other soft drinks, and it’s lower in sugar content. With no artificial anything, nothing is lost on flavour and, hands up, we love it!

Dole

Website: www.dole.co.uk

RRP: £1.89-£1.99

Stockists: available in all major supermarkets

With the importance of eating fruit now part of everyday life, there are now lots of exciting ways to ensure you and your kids get your daily allowance. Dole have a variety of fruit pots that are bound to please and as they don’t need the fridge, great for your lunch box. We tested Pineapple Fruit Pots, fresh and ultra tasty, but our personal favourite was Peaches in Vanilla Crème Fruit Parfait – scrummy!!

The Serious Food Company - desserts

Apple and Caramel Flapjack Crumble/Pear and Damson Flapjack Crumble/Hot Chocolate Fondant

Website: www.seriouslymmm.co.uk

RRP: starting from £1.99

Stockists: Waitrose, Wholefoods and selected Sainsbury’s and Nisa stores

Oh this is pure pudding heaven and we are still floating on air following the taste test! All come in re usable ceramic dishes and are microwave proof. The flapjack crumbles were full of chunks of fruit and as tasty as it gets. However, if you love your chocolate, the ultimate indulgence is here. The pots look small but the contents are ample as it is just luxury defined – hot chocolate sauce with the softest brownie – we are in awe. A totally supreme pudding experience can be yours with the Serious Food Company.

Stony Yogurt on a Mission

Website: www.stony.co.uk

Stockists: Wholefoods, Tesco,
Sainsbury's, Asda, Ocado and Morrisons as well as local independents

Funky packaging, funky names and a funky taste you’ll never forget – that’s our experience of Stony, organic products you’ll love. We tasted multi pack yogurts in Strawberry and Blueberry, ultra smooth, creamy and full of flavour. Our favourites were the low fat yogurt deserts – never too chocolate and consciously caramel are far more than a yogurt, with a layer of the real deal at the bottom.

Multigrain Hula Hoops

In an age of heightened awareness about food content, it is always great news when one of the nation’s favourite snacks gets a healthier makeover. Hula Hoops, the most playful and fun snack to eat have created a category first, Multigrain Hula Hoops. Multigrain Hula Hoops are made from 46% cereals, ensuring a tasty source of fibre. We tested 3 different flavours, including our favourite, Pickled Onion. They still taste great but are now full of Multigrain goodness!

Candy Queen Designs

Website: www.candyqueendesigns.com

WOW!!! Have we found you a range of products you are gonna love or what! For those who like their home contemporary, funky and fun, Candy Queen Designs will transform your home into a statement about you. The ever growing range of dimmer switches includes something for everyone - from the kids rooms, to the office to the kitchen and beyond, every one is hand made by Karoline Mileham. They are just as great to give and receive and come packaged in a clear display box. There are also matching cupboard knobs that will revitalise the dullest of doors and drawers, made using clear resin with real sweets embedded inside they need to be seen to be believed!. Everything is also professionally packed and priced to please. What can we say - we are addicted!

Turtle Mat - classic

Website: www.turtlemat.co.uk

RRP: Starting from £19.95 for a 50cm x 75cm mat

It may seem a bit unusual to get excited over a door mat, but when you find something that works and can make a difference to your day to day life, it is worth enthusing over! The classic range comes in a whole range of contemporary colours, each with a flecked design that helps disguise dirt. And it does trap dirt (dry or wet!), making it ideal for families and dog owners as well as…everybody! The best bit is though, they are machine washable, coming out as new. Check them out!

Glo-Care Service-It

Website: www.acdomart.co.uk

Stockists: Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons

With cleaners for nearly all white goods now, Service-It is a much needed product for your washing machine. Ours is on pretty much every day and grime and yacky residue soon builds up. This can transfer to clothing and affect your machine’s performance. Service-It cleans every part of your machine in 3 easy steps as well as freshening as it goes. And as you only need to use it once every 3 months, a £1 a month is a lot cheaper than a call out charge!

RRP: £2.99 500ml

Sharwoods Thai range

Website: www.sharwoods.com

Stockists: All good supermarkets

Fresh tasting, easy making Thai food can be yours in a flash with Sharwood's new Thai range. We were lucky enough to test a whole range of diffent items, from Stir Fry Sauces to Curry Pastes to Spiced Crackers, Noodles and more. The Thai taste for us depends on quality and that crisp, fresh taste and that came through for us every time. We especially enjoyed the Mussaman curry - serve with Noodles for instant Thai gratification.

Heinz Mean Beanz

Website: www.heinz.co.uk

Stockists: All good supermarkets

As a vegetarian, we use beans at home in a multitude of recipes as we are sure others do. By creating this range of 4 differing flavours, not only are they catering for those like us, but also introducing the nation to the options others, vegetarian or not, need to know about. With Mexican, Smokey BBQ, Sweet Chilli and Italian in the mix, all tastes are well and truly catered for. Recipe suggestions are on the tin too – free of charge – and you may just discover a new fave meal!

Delvaux-Acticoa chocolate

Stockists:www.delvaux-acticoa.com

Hmmm…chocolate that’s good for you and tastes good?? We simply had to try!! The idea behind Delvaux-ACTICOA™ is that the manufacturing process manages to retain a lot more of the natural antioxidants found in cocoa beans. These antioxidants can help prevent heart problems, diabetes, certain cancers and many more health risks and just 2 small pieces of the dark chocolate variety provide all you need for your daily allowance. So it’s good for you, but how does it taste? We decided to get the opinion of adults and children, as their chocolate experience can greatly differ. The adults loved the smoothness, were very much swayed by the health benefits, and felt it was a taste that was equal to any other chocolate, so taste hadn’t been compromised. The trickier consumers, a 4 year old and 13 year old, loved it too, wanting more and more! Both can’t be wrong, can they?!

The Serious Food Company - Serious Smoothies

RRP: 250ml £1.79 330ml £1.29

Stockists: Wholefoods, Eat and selected independent NISA stores- Mango and Lime smoothie is also available in 23 London Waitrose stores

Our reviewer is speechless – smoothie heaven has truly arrived! This is as fresh as it gets and the fruit blend tastes supreme. It goes without saying that drinking smoothies is good for you – many smoothie makers grace the back of kitchen cupboards over the country - but when it tastes like this straight from the bottle, why bother? Of course, The Serious Food Company have many other products in their range (which we’d love to try ;) other than the Mango and Lime we tasted, and we will not hesitate to make a beeline for them in the supermarket.

Oxiclean

RRP: £3.49 for 500g

Stockists: Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons, Somerfield and Wilkinsons

Stains are hard to shift so anything that helps rid nasty marks, is welcome. Our tester likes her washing clean and has been using OxiClean with every wash to help keep her family’s clothes in good shape. It can also be used to soak off the stains that just won’t shift in an ordinary wash. Our tester managed to shift a ketchup stain off her daughters favourite top so is eternally grateful to have peace restored! In line with today’s lower temperatures to help the environment, Oxiclean cleans even at 30 degrees too. What most people won’t know (well we didn’t!) is you can use it for other things other than laundry, like removing tea stains from cups, cleaning upholstery, outdoor furniture, bins…the list is pretty endless making it not only versatile, but mega value for money!

Heinz Baked Beans - Limited Edition

Website: www.heinz.co.uk

Stockists: All good supermarkets

Heinz obviously know what we want – we love baked beans on their own, but hands up who sometimes adds either HP Sauce or Lea & Perrins? Now you can have that taste straight from the tin. We’ll hold our hands up to loving both in equal measures – we had the HP version with poached egg on toast and the Lea & Perrins for a take on cheese on toast for lunch and it kept us topped up all afternoon. These are limited editions but if we like them that much, who knows?!

CanvasRus

RRP from £20 plus p&p

www.CanvasRus.co.uk

Wow!! We are just thrilled with everything about this company and product! We were lucky enough to review a personalised ‘Opie Cartoon’ canvas. We went through the whole ordering process incommunicado and found the level of attention superb. Emails were prompt and helpful, service from start to finish speedy and the final product left us speechless. Suffice to say, we recommend this site and it’s canvasses very highly indeed and are looking to re order in the very near future. Check them out and enhance your living space in spectacular style!

Cafédirect
Teadirect Fairtrade Tea/Cocodirect Drinking Chocolate/Machu Picchu Organic Fresh Ground Coffee
RRP: various

www.cafedirect.co.uk

In an age of demand for high quality products and a desire to support Fairtrade initiatives, Cafédirect has skilfully struck the perfect balance. We LOVE coffee and the stronger the better - this is the freshest, most vibrant coffee we have had, with no bitterness or after taste – just pure heaven in a cup. Children love drinking chocolate so it seemed right they just do the taste test. ‘Scrummy’, ‘Dreamy’ and ‘Smooth’ were just a few superlatives. And for tea, we went to a lady who has years of tea drinking experience – she was struck by the fresh, clean taste that left her thoroughly refreshed. The biggest test is will we change our shopping habits – well we already have. Goodness going in and feeling good within by purchasing Fairtrade is a winning combination.
Cafédirect’s range of teas, coffees and drinking chocolate is 100% Fairtrade and is available from most major supermarkets, Oxfam stores, Traidcraft and independent wholefood retailers. To learn more about Cafédirect’s work and products visit www.cafedirect.co.uk

Criterion Ices
Banana and Butterscotch/Strawberry
£4.00 for 500ml tub

www.criterion-ices.co.uk

Ice cream HEAVEN! When it tastes this good, you don’t have to be an ice cream lover to enjoy, as happened with our taste test. Whilst the kids just went crazy for both flavours (the crispy butterscotch bits in the banana version were especially scrummy!), our reluctant adult tester was converted from the first bite of strawberry. Of course, there are more yummy flavours available and for those of us not content with giving our kids the average supermarket fare, this is the perfect alternative. We certainly would change our shopping list!

Bionaire Air Purifier BAP412S

RRP £69.99

Manufacturer: 'Bionaire'

Stockists: 0800 052 3615

Make your room a nice place to be with a unit so contemporary in design, you will be proud to have it in your room. The chrome finish, HEPA filter and directional control are just a few of the features that make this an essential household item. Our tester has a long history of allergy which results in major nasal irritation. Our tester is also very anti-medication so has simply endured the symptoms for many years. Whilst the unit has only been tested for a period of three weeks, there has been a definite decrease in symptoms and has been given a huge thumbs up. With continued use, further improvement is expected. However, allergy or not, we all deserve cleaner, fresher air, making the cost a small price to pay.

Available from Argos, Tesco Direct and John Lewis.

Bionaire Compact Air Purifier BAP242S

RRP £49.99

Manufacturer: 'Bionaire'

Stockists: 0800 052 3615

We all know we are surrounded by millions of particles that can cause allergies, asthma. This compact air purifier is smaller in design, but not in results as it can remove these from your room, meaning your allergies can be reduced. Our tester kept it on a higher setting in the day and was impressed by the sleep mode for night for reduced noise, although this is not a loud unit in the slightest. After checking the HEPA filter, our tester was amazed at the dirt it had already trapped, leading us to conclude that every home needs at least one!

Available from Argos, Tesco Direct and John Lewis.

Silver Popcorn Popper

RRP £19.99

Manufacturer: 'Rival'

Stockists: 0800 0523615

Now we have tried unsuccessfully to make popcorn before - in a pan with bits exploding over walls and in a microwave which then pebbledashed the sides and burnt fingers. But hoorah! We have a solution! Yummy, healthy popcorn in one easy to clean, attractive container courtesy of Rival. This is one kitchen gadget that will be used again and again and again!

Disclaimer: Views expressed are solely those of FromBumptoGrump and their testers and we hold no responsibility for any product malfunction or disappointment!