Armadeus Cow Cups

Amadeus Cow Cup
RRP Price : $17.99

Milk makes babies strong; building bones, teeth, hair and nails. The unmistakable bold colours of our Cow Cups teach baby that milk comes not just from a bottle, but those animals that say “moooooo!”.

– Age: 6+mths
– Volume: 300ml
– Valve: easy flow or free flow
– Spill-proof
– BPA-free
– Made in the UK
– Dishwasher & microwave safe

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10/10
Moosebaby cow cups are great!
They have a hard lip which baby or toddler puts in their mouth to drink so if they chew the lip it will not wear or break at all. The removable vent is fantastic as my daughter is a spitter. If she gets water too fast she will spit it out, so having the vent on at this stage works very well. If the cup is inverted with the vent in place the liquid will drip out fairly slowly so no big messes!
Very easy to wash and fits in my steriliser so can be sterilised very easily as well.

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8/10
My daughter Zoey has one of these cow cups (the black and white one) and she loves it. She gets a lot of use from it as when we moved her off the bottle for her milk at the beginning of the year she started using this for her milk. Unlike some other cups she has had they dont leak so this is definitely the preferred cup for whoever is lying or sitting down with her while she drinks. The only negative thing is that she has chewed some of the black off on the top part of the cup but that might just be as she’s a bit older (almost 2 and a half) with a mouth full of teeth.

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9/10my son has had his since he was 2 yeas old , almost 5 now , he still uses this when tired for milk , or when in bed and feeling unwell…..I am amazed at how long it has lasted , it has been threw him and his twin cousins, and still going strong

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10/10
LOVE this cup. My boy is 2 and a half and its perfect for him when hes tired. He doesnt have to worry about spilling it everywhere. An all round great product

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We have the black and white one and my kids all love it (18 months, nearly 3 and 5 1/2) although we use it without the non spill part in as my youngest found it hard to drink with that in.

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We like this cup too – when i was looking for a cup to buy I wanted one which you could use with OR without the lid. This was the only one i could find where it’s dual purpose – and you also have the option of using it with or without the non spill valve (ie you need to suck to get the liquid out if the nonspill valve is in). It’s a nice stable cup for learning to pick up and put down straight, has 2 handles for ease of use, and its a grippy rubber material, so it doesnt tip over easily and doesn’t get slippery with wet hands. It looks quite cool too (we have blue). It is dishwasher safe.
We use ours for water only.

Tommee Tippee Stay-put Bowl with Suction Base

Stay-put Bowl with Suction Base (6m+)•Seal-tight lid which can also be used as a separate feeding dish
•Super grip suction base stabilises the bowl for self feeding
•Loop spoon that is easy for baby to hold
•Dishwasher safe (top rack only)

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First impressions are of a funky little bowl to save all the cleaning! Well done TT!! The packaging is great, clear and with information explaining its contents. The bowl fitted snuggly – no over sized box. Instructions for care and safety are clearly displayed.
The bowl separates in to three parts, lid, bowl, and suction base with an easy grip spoon to boot. The bowl and spoon are brightly coloured and very apealling. For convienence, the bowl, lid, and spoon can be placed on the top rack in the dishwasher and can be sterilized – watchout for the suction base as it cannot.
I would say that the bowl size is great for children who are starting on the larger meals and the spoon is great for those first “I can feed myself!!” moments. Now for the ‘field testing’… Eva is 9 months now and within 5 minuites of siticking the bowl to the high chair tray, it was totally dismantled!!! To be fair, Daddy is an Engineer and enjoys taking things apart – she may have got this from him.
The lid went one direction off the high chair, the spoon and bowl with its contents the other, and even the suction base took just 5 seconds to be ripped from the highchair as she worked out what the tab did.
We did note that Tommee Tippe advised to mositened the suction base to gain the most vacum – which we did.
Tommie Tippee have a great concept to help start our little ones on feeding themselves, however need to re-think the bowl-suction based connection.
We gave the bowl to my parents when they looked after Eva to see how they got on and give a different perspective. Unfortuately again most of dinner ended up on the floor with the bowl. They agreed that if the suction was fixed to the bowl more effectively (or permenantly) then this would have worked better.
I would give this bowl a 7/10. (If TT solve the connection, 10/10)

Anathoth Tomato Relish

Tomato RelishReal tomatoes, not a paste! A refreshing return to grandma’s old recipe. Sun-ripened tomatoes, combined with the finest of spices to tantalise your taste buds. Contains malt vinegar.
No preservatives
No colourings

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Ok I was picked to do the review for Anathoth Tomato Relish. So excited. Package arrived safely, no spills or nasty surprises when I opened the bag *phew*
Just like this product…No nasty surprises there either. No preservatives and No colorings, just real tomatoes and tasty spices, and so much flavour!! Yum!!
A refreshing return to grandma’s old recipe. Sun-ripened tomatoes, combined with the finest of spices. Contains malt vinegar.
The packaging is simple and effective. No need for anything flashy and fancy here…the product speaks for itself perfection!
Fantastic on cold meat, and hot meat…Great with crackers and cheese..perfect as a dip.
Relish is so versatile and when it tastes this good you just want to use it for everything.
Divine with cold lamb, lettuce and cheese sandwhiches…yum yum yum! lol
A good sized container too, which means that with a large family there is still enough to go around on more than one occasion. Which is fantastic. Its also not to big, meaning no
nasty mould surprises hiding at the bottom.
Would def recommend it, it is now a reg on our shopping list…

 

Rhubarb and Red Berry (New Flavour!)

 

Rhubarb and Red Berry (New Flavour!)

Anathoth ran a competition asking NZ staff and customers to submit their ideas for a new jam flavour. Congratulations to Emily Fountain and Steve Ingle, who both suggested Rhubarb and Strawberry jam. We added a few raspberries for an extra berry burst. This jam will be your new favourite

New Zealand rhubarb
New Zealand raspberries
New Zealand strawberries

Gluten Free
No preservatives
No added pectin
No added colour
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This jam made my mouth water from the moment I saw it was up for review…so it had very high expectations to live up to!!!
Overall I found it a wee bit too sweet for my liking and rather sticky in comparison to the jams I make myself. But in saying that the jar is now very empty ……and yes I did eat most of it myself!
I think my expectations perhaps were a wee bit too high in the beginning ….I would have liked to have tasted more of the tartness of the rhubarb against the sweetness of the berries but both my girls Miss 3 and Miss almost 1 really enjoyed it on their toast and sandwiches…I think Amy had a picnic with half a loaf of bread the very first day the jam arrived!
Although a wee bit too sweet for my liking I would definitely buy this jam again over and above any others on the shelf…it made a pleasant change from my usual cereal for breakfast
If you love sweet rhubarb and berries…you will LOVE this jam…….and if you don’t, well you will probably love this jam anyway!!
Overall I would give this jam 8/10 (two points lost due to sweetness and thickness)

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I also got to review the Anathoth Rhubarb and Red Berry jam. I haven’t eaten alot of rhubarb. I grew up eating Rhubarb crumble but have never had Rhubarb on its own or in anything else. This jam really intrigued me as I have never tried (or seen) a Rhubarb jam on the market before!

I have always been a fan of jams with berries in them and this jam is no exception. I didn’t taste a huge amount of rhubarb but the jam seemed to have a little extra kick than normal jams. It is quite sweet which, having a really sweet tooth, I like! I had it on toast the morning it arrived. I also put a small amount on some toast for my 20 months old breakfast and lets just say he didn’t complain! He had a huge grin on his face and kept saying Mmmmm Mmmmm. I would agree with lilysmum – it is sticky! It took quite a bit of cleaning my little man before fluff would stop sticking to his hands. It was totally worth it to see that big grin though! I really like the texture of the jam – it has small amounts of stringy rhubarb in it.

I have found myself making excuses to eat toast since first trying it yesterday and would buy this jam again.
I give it a 9/10 Thank you for letting me review the jam!

Anathoth’s Zucchini Pickle

 

Zucchini Pickle
A full-bodied taste makes our Anathoth Zucchini Pickle a flavoursome accompaniment to any meal.

Thanks to Mums Review, our household has been trialling Anathoth’s Zucchini Pickle.

Checked with hubby and he agrees with me, that the Anathoth’s Zucchini Pickle is tasty and versatile in terms of how you can have it. We primarily have been having it with salad rolls but it would go well with crackers and cheese etc.

This household would definitely purchase this product in the future

I love homemade pickles and with no desire to make my own or look around market days, this is the closest I can get!
I have tried both the zucchini pickle and the farmstyle pickle and while the zucchini one is nice, the farmstyle one is divine! I love it on toast, on crackers and on sandwiches. I can’t describe the flavour apart from YUM! The chunks are the perfect size to be enjoyable without being overpowering.
It’s a favourite in this household and when we buy it, a jar never lasts long.5/5 for the farmstyle and 4/5 for the zucchini!

This is my daughters favourite pickle and I buy one tub a forntnight! Its great on crackers or as an accompaniment with cold meats. Its also dairy free so good for those on a vegan diet.

Anathoth Spicy Green Tomato Chutney

 

Spicy Green Tomato Chutney
Green tomatoes and selected spices combine to make the unforgettable Anathoth Spicy Green Tomato Chutney.
This chutney has a delightful “tangy” flavour and isn’t “hot” spicy

We buy the Anathoth Spicy Green Tomato Chutney its the closest to my grandma’s pickle that she used to make that I can find. We love it. We have also had the Zucchini Pickle and love it too but always come back to the Spicy Green Tomato Chutney. I usually have it with cheese on a sandwich but love it with crackers, corned beef on the side for dinner and have had it with bacon and eggs too on the side

Anathoth Apricot Chutney

Apricot ChutneyA culinary delight for lovers of rich fruit chutneys. With its tempting mix of sweet and sour flavours, this chutney can be used as a delicious accompaniment to your meal or to enhance many of your favourite recipesNew Zealand apricots
Gluten Free
No preservatives
No colourings

I was the lucky reviewer of the Anathoth Apricot Chutney and boy is it good!!! I usually steer clear of chutneys because I am a naughty mummy who isn’t a very big fan of vegetables. Chutneys have always freaked me out because I think of them as a kind of vegetable jam! I know I am so silly hehe The apricot chutney really intrigued me, especially because it is a fruit chutney. It arrived the morning of yesterdays earthquakes here in Christchurch. We had no power or water last night so my partner (who is usually the cook) didn’t know what to make. He whipped up a pizza dough and cooked us all homemade pizzas on a gas cooker. With a fortnightly shop coming up our pantry was starting to look a bit bare. He decided to use the chutney for the base with a bit of chicken breast and cheese. They were so yummy! It didn’t matter that we didn’t have many ingredients because the chutney has so much flavour. My partner, who isn’t usually a sweet fan, really enjoyed it. As did my 20 month old. He normally chucks Pizza on the ground but he happily gobbled it all up and came to me to steal some of mine!

It has a sweet apricot flavour but also has a bit of sour and spice in there too. It isn’t too chunky, which I like. It comes in a decent size (430g) pottle. While I am typing I am having it on some crackers with a bit of cheese for my lunch. The Anathoth Apricot Chutney has definitely converted me to chutneys. I will definitely buy it again. I think I am going to try their Fruit Chutney next and then who knows maybe even a vegetable one dun dun dun.

10/10 for me – I really can’t fault it!!

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later Author – Francine Pascal
ISBN 13: 9780732292898
ISBN 10: 0732292891
Pub Date: 8 April 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Young Adults
Reading Age – Young Adults
RRP (paperback) – $38.99
Link to Harper Collins HERE 

Millions of Sweet Valley High addicts around the world are eagerly awaiting an unexpected gift – their favourite twins are back, and they’re all grown up…

Ten years after graduating from Sweet Valley High, beloved twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield have had a falling out of epic proportions. Elizabeth can’t forget her twin’s duplicity. Always the ‘good’ twin, the one getting her headstrong sister out of trouble, Elizabeth is now about to turn the tables . . .
As the creator of the Sweet Valley series which has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide, Francine Pascal is one of the world’s most popular fiction writers for teenagers. Translated into 30 languages, Sweet Valley topped international bestseller lists, spawned spin-offs series like Sweet Valley University, a popular television series which ran for 10 years in syndication, and millions of dollars in merchandise

Review

The memories that came to me while reading this book, in all reality i was taken back to my younger teenage years.

On the very first page you learn that Elizabeth now lives in New York, not in Sweet Valley and her twin Jessica is still in Sweet Valley, within the first chapter you are whisked back in time to their teenage years. the book carries on like this in many chapters going back in time with memories and how the situation of the story of the book came along, the background plays out for you to understand more.
The book is very easy to read, and if anything even though the twins are older they are still the same, the arguments that were in every book are in this one too, with a slightly more adult spin at times.
I loved the end of the book, well the epilogue at the end of the book, it goes through so many of the popular characters you remember from the SVH books and a brief run through of what they have been doing since highschool, where they are now.
I enjoyed the book in many ways, loved the memories it brought back to me, however it reminded me that these teens lived in and still live in upperclass fantasy land, and while its always nice to dream, its always nice to have a reality check now and again too, but in saying that; trials of the heart effect all, no matter how rich and wonderful they are.

7/10

Sacrifice

 

Sacrifice
By Joanna Orwin
ScienceFiction/Young Adult Fiction
ISBN13: 9781869509125
Price (NZ RRP): $ 26.99

Exhilarated by the moment, Taka couldn’t help himself. He danced on, weaving all the moves into a seamless performance that mimicked the free-wheeling flight of the flocks of kua. He swooped and soared, arms spread like wings. His mind free of all thought, he danced in homage to Tanga.

Several generations after volcanic eruptions and tsunamis caused the onset of the Dark, the descendants of the few survivors are struggling to maintain their tenuous communities in swamplands at the far northern end of New Zealand. Now food and resources are dwindling, and the real hope for the future rests with the youths selected every five years as Travellers, their goal being to venture into the devastated mainland in search of other people and any remaining food sources. This time however, as the Choosing approaches, the heavens themselves change, revealing dramatic portents that no one can ignore.

Taka, a gifted dancer, yearns to be a hero, to be one of the Travellers. But what daunting, new challenges will be required of him and his companions if they are to have any chance of becoming saviours of their people? What sacrifices might they need to make and does Taka himself have a special role to play?

Review to come

Sanctus

Sanctus – Revelation or Devastation
Simon Toyne
ISBN 13: 9780007391585
ISBN 10: 0007391587
Pub Date: 24 November 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading Age – All Ages
RRP (paperback) – $19.99

Link to Harper Collins HERE  

REVELATION OR DEVASTATION?
The certainties of the modern world are about to be blown apart by a secret kept from the world’s gaze for thousands of years. High above the sprawling dustbowl that cradled the earliest human civilization stands the citadel of Ruin. A holy mountain, a holiday hotspot, and home to the Sanctus – the ancient order who guard the Sacrament.
For the first time in human history, a monk privy to the secret escapes the fortress stronghold. He claws his way up to the summit and waits as a media circus gathers below. With the world watching, he dives off the peak into the depths of the surrounding city. A martyr is born.
The monk’s body carries a vital message – it was his life’s work. A life his sister thought was over when he disappeared nearly a decade ago. Now, her love for him is all that drives her to find out the truth behind his unthinkable fate. The Sanctii will make an example of her, to stop anyone pursuing the Sacrament. And then they will eradicate any trace of the truth – because knowledge is power, and we must all be kept in the dark

Review
I give this book an 8/10. At first I must admit I was quite lost, the first few chapters don’t seem to really be going anywhere, and it keeps introducing more and more characters with their own separate stories, but you can’t really tell where its going with them. But soon enough they start to knit together and a picture starts to form. Wonderful style of writing, very easy to read, and very fast moving.
Each character is so different and so deep that you once you get used to them you are able to build such a vivid impression of what they are like. And the descriptions of the buildings and area where this is set in ‘Ruin’ is amazing – you can really picture yourself there
I love the short and sweet chapters, and then each new chapter jumps to a different character and then back again, filling you in on snippets along the way – makes you want to read more and more so you can find out about what was happening with someone else.The story is great, you never quite know if its meant to be a thriller, a bit supernatural, some religion thrown in there, and all sorts. Bit of everything for everyone