J'adore Chocadores - deluxe chocolate review

This post is an edited version of a previous post, amended to upload to Oui Chef's chocolate themed November.

I said that my next few posts were going to be food related, but I'm sure you'll forgive me for this one, especially as it involves chocolate. 

Sometimes blogging is such hard work.  I have been waiting for the right moment to be able to concentrate fully on this important review task, and finally the scene is set - I have the house to myself, all is quiet, I am sat at the dining table with a nice cup of tea and surrounded by gorgeous looking individual chocolate samples.  This feels a bit illicit, I'm thinking perhaps I should draw the curtains and take the phone off the hook.

So, a few weeks ago the lovely people at Chocadores sent me some of their wares.  I am not just saying they are lovely because they gave me free chocolate - they genuinely do seem very nice!  I've exchanged many lovely messages on twitter with Sarah and she is warm, friendly, generous and charitable.

Based in Derbyshire they bring together artisan chocolatiers producing high quality chocolate, with full traceability and adhering to strict ethical standards.  Bringing you names you will have heard of such as Artisan du Chocolate; Jean Galler and Amedei together with chocolate from companies I am less familiar with.  One thing you can be sure of, Chocadores is passionate about chocolate.

I am trying some of their Giant Chocolate Buttons, and I have been sent both dark and milk chocolate.  It feels incredibly decadent to eat something shaped like my daughter loves to scoff by the packet load, but don't be fooled - these are no ordinary chocolate buttons!  They are the sort of thing that the sultry Nigella would have by the kilner jar in her copious pantry, ready to whip up a ganache or chocolate souffle.  In fact I think I'm going to use mine to make some cupcakes. 



150g dark chocolate buttons £3.75


The Peruvian 64% Giant Dark Chocolate Buttons are dark and shiny (pops one in my mouth). The website describes the taste as:

An overall delicate smoky and fruity bouquet give this chocolate a very rich well rounded dark chocolate, with no bitterness. The best dark chocolate you’re ever likely to taste!

Mmmmm, I think I agree. I'll just try another to make sure.... yes, no arguments here.  Dark chocolate is my favourite, and often it can taste bitter, but not these buttons (tries another to make doubly sure).

Moving on the the Venezuela 43% Giant Milk Chocolate Buttons, again, I'm going to bake with these, so I'll just try the one (in the name of research).  Mmmm, smooth, creamy and very grown-up.  The taste notes for this one say:

This blend gives a fresh & lively milk chocolate, resulting in an exclusive creamy milk chocolate. A true gourmet milk button!



150g milk chocolate buttons £3.75

 
Let me just check again (pops another in mouth)... yes, truly a fantastically grown-up button.  I'm just going to check back with the dark ones to see which I prefer (pops one more of each in).

Next up is the Toscano Brown chocolate from Amedei of Tuscany.  Another milk chocolate this one tastes fudgey and buttery.  Delicious, but I still think I prefer the buttons (pops another in mouth).



Box of 6 individually wrapped squares - £2.50



If you want more chocolate titillation, just take a look at the website. Some of the individual pieces are pure works of art.  With a huge array of flavours, one of the best things about the site is you can custom-make a box of chocolates to suit your tastes- no more unwanted flavours!  There are also dairy-free options.




Box of 6 chocolates - £6.95



Now, I'm off to bake some chocolate cupcakes...Oi! Who ate all my buttons??!

Sample products were recieved in order to produce this review, however the views are entirely my own.

Win a funky shatterproof decorative mirror



Princess Castle Mirror - £23.95

 
I recently came across this great site on Twitter (spending far too much time on there as I do).  Those of us with young children will be aware of how easily accidents can happen around the home.  These shatterproof, durable mirrors in a range of cool designs are perfect for kids bedrooms, playrooms or around the house generally.

They have a great range of designs at affordable prices.  I'm really impressed with these mirrors - not only are they practical, but they really add a different dimension to a room.

I was offered a product to sample and such is their range, I struggled to chose which of all the designs was my favourite.  I finally settled on the little set of butterflies.  These were just perfect as a finishing touch for Ruby's playhouse (she has a butterfly on the door and I've made her a butterfly chalkboard).

You'll have to excuse my not-very-artistic positioning of these - I was bent double with cramp with the silly low playhouse ceiling and frozen to the bone. For these reasons I found them a little bit fiddly to handle and remove the protective covering.  I am sure though, if you have one of the larger mirrors, or indeed you are a normal person and put your mirror up indoors, you won't have any such problems.

The lovely people at Mirrorin have sponsored a giveaway from my blog readers.  The prize will be your choice of mirror from their site (up to a maximum of £20).  Which will you choose?  I love the dinosaur mirrors - great for themed bedrooms.




Brontosaurus Mirror £19.15


Please read the entry requirements carefully!

1. First, you must visit the site and decide which mirror you would like (up to a value of £20).  Then return here and leave a comment with your choice and a link to the product.  Please make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you're picked as the winner!

To enter the competition, you must complete step 1.  You can gain additional entries by doing the following, but you must leave a separate comment for each additional entry (so I can keep track of who has done what.

2. Follow @kidsmirrors on twitter (1 additional entry)

3. Tweet the following "I'm entering @missielizzieb 's blog comp to win a #kidsmirror with @kidsmirrors http://bit.ly/gH7Z54" (1 additional entry)

4. 'Like' Mirrorin's Facebook page (1 additonal entry)

5. Write on your Facebook wall "I'm entering Missie Lizzie's blog competition to win a funky kids mirror from Mirrorin http://bit.ly/gH7Z54

The competition will end at midnight on 30th November.  Sorry, UK entries only. Winner picked at random. Good luck x

The sample product was recieved free of charge for the purpose of this review and the prize is sponsored by Mirrorin, however the views on the product are entirely my own.

Charity Shops - Top Tips for finding a bargain

I wrote in a recent post about ethical shopping for kids clothes, and highlighted a couple of retailers and suppliers with sound eco and ethical credentials.

This post is about my other favourite eco-shopping activity- charity shopping!

I love charity shops. Can't get enough of them.  Every time I go to a new town or visit a new place, I'll pop in to their charity shops to see what they have on offer.  To me you can't beat the satisfaction of finding a vintage gem, a bargain hand-knit or a budget price designer piece.

In the UK, approximately 1.5 – 2 million tonnes of textile waste is generated each year and of this, around 1.2 million tonnes enter the household waste stream and end up in to landfill. Textiles present particular problems at landfill as synthetic fibres don't decompose and although woollen garments do eventually rot down, they emit methane gases which contribute towards global warming.

Charity shopping is ethical, cheap and original. 

Before I had my daughter, my job for 4 years was in this sector and I managed two charity shops - one the traditional shop selling clothes, books and bric-a-brac, the other selling second-hand furniture.  I could tell you plenty of stories, but that's perhaps for another time.

Photo courtesy of The Children's Trust


I'm going to share my top tips for getting a bargain.  These are mainly aimed at purchasing kids clothes, but could equally apply to adult clothes or other bits and bobs.  For some reason there always seems to be a shortage of kids clothes for the 2-4 age group, and I've never figured out why.  You can get any number of sleepsuits for babies, or high-fashion outfits for 8 year old girls, but the toddler age group always seems to be thin on the ground.  I still however manage to buy quite a few bits for my daughter, and intend to make the most of it before she gets to the 'I wouldn't be seen dead in second-hand clothes' stage!  Here are my tips:

Visit regularly.

Most shops have a 'rotation' policy - typically around 2 weeks.  If an item hasn't sold within that time it is taken off the shop floor and sent off to another store, usually a 'sale' store.  You need to call in as often as you can or you'll miss out on items.  When I worked in charity retail, there were a hardcore of people who 'did the circuit' popping into every charity shop in town every day.  No matter how well we thought we'd integrated fresh stock into the rails, they would seize on it! These people can spot a 'new' jumper or jacket at 50 paces.  For this reason, the best items don't hang around long, and if you only go into a charity shop once in a blue moon you are unlikely to find many real gems.

Be friendly.

Most shops are staffed by volunteers who are giving their time freely (although many have a paid manager).  Take the time to say hello or good morning.  Not only is it nice to be nice, but if you build up a relationship with the staff, they will generally see you right.  If there's something specific you are looking for, then let them know.  I often used to keep bits aside for regulars who I knew were looking for a particular item.  We referred (privately of course!) to people whose name we didn't know as 'teapot lady'; 'linen lady'; 'gold lady' or 'toy car man' depending on what their purchasing habits where.  We also had a 'stockings and bra man' but I won't go into that.

Dropping donations in is also a great way to build up a good relationships, so have a clearout and take some stuff in to your local shop.  While we're on the subject of being nice, you'll find a packet of biscuits or a cake never goes amiss with volunteers!

Look outside of your size-range

Most charity shops now will have presentation standards which include size cubing on hangers.  These generally go by the label in the clothes, but if there is no size inside the garment, it will be a pure guess.  Go by eye - you know what size your child needs.  Just like adult clothing where one manufacturer's size 12 might be smaller than another's size 10, the same applies with kids clothes.  Also, you can often buy completely outside the usual size range.  For example my daughter is 2 and a half, but she can happily wear a top for a 5 year old as a dress over jeans or leggings.  I also recently found a beautiful needlecord floral print skirt that was for an 11 year old.  I cut it in two horizontally, re-elasticated it and got 2 skirts for the price of 1. Easy, a moron can (and did) do it.

Always handy to have 2 similar skirts, in case of accidents!

Don't dither

If you see something you like, buy it there and then if you can.  Don't assume it will still be there tomorrow.  Of course, unlike regular shops, these items are one-offs - they don't have an endless supply of similar items out the back!  Going back to my earlier point, if you've built a relationship with the staff, you may be able to ask them to hold the item for a few days if you don't have the money on you.  My advice would be, if you like it, buy it!  Check if the shop has a returns policy, so you can bring it back with a receipt if it's not right.

Look out for hand-knits

Hand made jumpers look great on kids, however I'm pretty useless with knitting needles.  Many shops have knitters who donate beautiful new jumpers, cardigans, hats and scarves etc.  I often think they'd be horrified if they saw they were being sold for a couple of quid.  Some shop managers have a personal dislike of hand-knitted items (goodness knows why!), so its worth asking if they have any 'out the back'.  And if you're as naughty as me, once you find a gorgeous hand made Aran jumper, you'll put in on your child and pass it off as all your own work.

  

Visit them all!

It is often said that charity shops in more affluent area have better quality of stock.  I don't necessarily agree with this, but they do generally have higher prices!  A lot of the national charities' shops are stocked centrally, with items coming from bag-drops (doorstep collections), and these are usually from outside the area.  Only a small percentage of the items on sale within a shop will have come via local people donating directly to the store.  Don't be put off visiting a shop because of the area it is in.

Don't be put off unduly by imperfections

You may think this controversial, but before an item reaches the shop floor, it will have been sorted and met certain standards.  Most shops don't have laundry facilities, so perfectly good quality clothes which are not clean will often end up being sold on to a rag merchant rather than being sold to customers (so if you're donating, please please wash the clothes first!).  For this reason, you will rarely find an item with a mark or stain on, or a missing button.  But if you do, they are well worth considering.  I have bought many items at knock down prices because they have pen marks or paint on.  Most will come out in the wash or with a bit of stain removal - but it is a gamble so think carefully.  Also, haggling in a charity shop is not de rigueur! The price on the ticket will probably already reflect any imperfection with the item.

Couldn't resist this charity-shop outfit photo - just for the pose!

Shop smart

There is no point getting an absolute bargain dress for a quid if you have to then go out and buy a new pair of woolly tights in the right colour for a fiver! Think about what you're buying and whether is will go with other items you already have.

Those are my 'insider' tips, hope you find some of them useful. If you have any of your own, please do share via the comments box, and I'd love to hear about your fab finds.

CBeebies Song Time Album

Clearly my 2 and a half year old daughter - though a genius in my eyes - can't actually read yet.  But she sure as hell knew what the cover of this album said as she ripped the cellophane off in an adrenalin fuelled high.

"Put the DVD on mummy, put it on put it on!!!"  This was a bit of a problem because of course it's not a DVD its a CD. Of music. No pictures. No, just music. Yes I know it says CBeebies....

Anyhow, once we got her little head around that fact, she was bopping around to her favourite songs like a loon.  She raced off into the hall, returning with one of my umbrellas and stood in the middle of the living room belting out the words into the umbrella handle - I was actually quite impressed with her microphone technique, she may make XFactor yet!   I really must try and get a video of this spectacle.

The double CD is rammed full of CBeebies favourites, and has a whopping 50 song track list.  There are a few I didn't know (desperately clinging on to the hope that this makes me a better mummy!) but I have to say, out of the 50, there were only 3 I'd never heard of (this probably does make me a bad mummy, let's be honest!)

The album is released on 22nd November, just in time for Christmas. I think it would make a perfect present for pre-schoolers, and great for parties or car journeys.

You can purchase the CD for only £8.95 from Play.com and get bopping along to Show me, Show Me; Charlie & Lola; Waybuloo; In the Night Garden; Timmy Time; Chuggington; Alphablocks and many many more.




The CD was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of this review. However, the views are entirely my own. 

The big announcement - the Chocadores chocolate winner...

Can I first say how thrilled I am to be showcasing such a wonderful company and delicious products.

The giveaway has attracted a huge amount of interest - and rightly so!  This prize is going to be a real treat for the lucky winner.  Thank you to each and every one of you who entered.

So, after trawling through all the entries, checking you'd all done what I asked, you were all churned around at Random.org, and he finally spat out.....



@green_day87


Huge congratulations - please get in touch either by DM (@missielizzieb) or email me missielizzieandmyshadow@ymail.com with your address and I'll get your chocs posted out.

So, so sorry to all those that missed out this time.  You might need to cheer yourself up with a bit of retail therapy with Chocadores.

Keep your eyes peeled for my next comp. x

Dressing kids ethically

Some things are important to me.  I care about how things I buy have been produced, about who has made them, about how the product affects the environment and about its carbon footprint.

Granted, having such principles doesn't come cheap, and I appreciate that when money's tight its too easy to be lured by bargain basement shops and supermarket clothing.  Although, don't assume that just because something is expensive it won't have been made in a sweat shop - high end designers and labels also fall foul.  As someone recently said to me "is it ok for your child to wear clothes that have been made by another child?"

It is important for me to research a company before I part with my pennies, and these days it is so much easier to do - most companies and retailers will display their policies on their website.

There are two online stores I've recently purchased from and I wanted to share my experiences.

Daisy Chain Baby have been trading for 2 years, and they sell organic and ethically sourced clothing, accessories and skincare for babies and toddlers.  You can read more about their ethical and eco policies here.   The business is passionate about what they do, and rightly deserve to be proud of what they've achieved.

In addition, the company will be donating 10% of sales to The Children's Trust charity, so every item you purchase from them between now and 31st December will be helping others.

I've purchased the following items from Daisy Chain Baby as Christmas presents, and am very happy with the design, quality and value for money - I can't wait to give these gifts.




Hoodie Wrap by Little Shrimp £24

 

Black Pacman Playsuit by Green Eyed Monster - £17




Long sleeved top by Little Green Radicals £12

 
If you'd like to find out more about Daisy Chain Baby, you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

The second company I'd like to tell you about are a new business worth looking out for. 

I stumbled across Small and Cool on twitter, had a look at their site and loved their items.  They stock brands with good ethical credentials such as Stardust Kids and Bamboo Baby.  Here's what I couldn't resist for my daughter:



Stardust Kids Drama Queen Hoodie £18


Take a look at their website, they have lots of cool kids clothes. Delivery is fast and service very friendly, and if you shop between now and Sunday 21st November you can get 10% discount using code cool10 at the checkout - there's also free delivery if you spend over £50, so a great excuse for a bit of online Christmas shopping!

Small and Cool are also on Twitter and Facebook. Give them a follow!

Goodness Direct - Wholesome and eco-friendly products to your door

I realise that those who follow me on Twitter, will probably be snorting with laughter at me writing a post about wholefoods - given that I am generally stuffing myself with chocolate or pizza as I tweet.

But, did you know its perfectly possible to by organic, ethically sourced pizza and chocolate - and a whole lot more besides from Goodness Direct?

GoodnessDirect is the home for all things Healthy, Fresh, Eco and Organic, where healthy shopping is made easy. Shop here and we deliver it to your door.
At GoodnessDirect it's healthy shopping made easy.

Yes, it's true, I love good food (and sometimes food which is not so good for me), but I do try to be careful about what I eat when at home, and of course what I feed my daughter.  It is so easy when your stuck at home all the time, to reach for the biscuits or crisps every time you potter into the kitchen.

I have tried to discipline myself not to snack on unhealthy food during the day.  I've hidden the biscuit tin at the back of the cupboard, and actually even that simple change has made me less likely to nibble on them because it's they're not so accessible.  Instead, I always make sure there's fresh fruit in the fruit bowl, and I have lots of dried fruit, nuts and seeds out on the side in glass jars. If I go to the kitchen for a cuppa and I'm feeling peckish, now I'm much more likely to have a handful of nuts or raisins.

Goodness Direct kindly sent me some products to sample, and these included some dried figs, and apricots.  They were moist and gooey, and perfect to nibble on to satisfy a craving for something sweet.  My daughter Ruby seems to have some kind of fruit-phobia, and we're lucky if she'll eat a banana once a week, or half-heartedly nibble on a slice of peeled apple.  But she'll happily scoff a bowlful of dried cranberries, sunflower seeds (she calls these 'sunshine' seeds), and her absolute favourite at the moment, brazil nuts.

I was also sent a Tropical Wholefoods Mango and Brazil nut bar. It looked like a much healthier option than some of the 'cereal snack bars' you can buy, but unfortunately it was sweetened with honey (I don't do honey), so I had to pass that one over to the Old Man to test.  Overall he liked it, saying  it was chewy and moist, but he couldn't taste the brazil nuts.



I love the fact that they offer a wide range of products - things that I'd normally have to make a special trip to town to a wholefood shop to purchase.  They sell lots of types of sprouting seeds, and this is another activity I like to do - especially during the winter when there is no salad and little greenery coming from my veg patch. Anyone can do sprouting at home - you don't need a garden to have fresh, healthy sprouts.

By the way, you know I can't resist a pizza. Well Goodness Direct stock freshly frozen pizzas from What on Earth, and I can personally vouch for their tastiness!  I can thoroughly recommend the Pizza Mia, topped with goat's cheese, courgette, onion and mozzarella.

The website has a huge variety of both food and non-food products on offer, and the website layout means you can shop by aisle just like with regular online supermarket shopping.  Food product pages are full of useful information including loads of recipe suggestions.  There is a wide range of eco-friendly household cleaning products, a substantial baby range selling everything from homeopathic remedies for teething pain to gel-free disposable nappies, and a toiletries section featuring brands such as Weleda; Toms Nature; Ecover and Green People. 

If you care about the ethics of what you purchase, please take a look at the website. As they say themselves:

The health and well being haven; we gather together everything that is good for you. Healthy foods and tasty foods.

Delicious foods to help you eat healthily, fitness foods, organic foods, vitamins and herbal remedies, fresh foods, cruelty free toiletries and eco-friendly stuff.

If you are on a restricted diet don't feel left out, we have 1000's of foods for you, gluten free, wheat free, dairy free and other special diets foods.

Sample products were received in order to produce this review, however the views are entirely my own.