26 June 2014

Goodness Direct Goodie Bag Review

A few weeks ago, the doorbell rang and an unexpected parcel arrived for me from Goodness Direct.


They are my favourite on-line health food store and I've been ordering from them ever since my friend Lizzie pointed me in their direction.  "I can't find popcorn kernels anywhere!  Where can I get bulk nuts?  I need nooch!*  ASDA stopped stocking my favourite eco-deodorant, whatever shall I do?"
"Goodness Direct!" she said, and then told me to use her tell-a-friend reference number with my order so she could get free organic chocolates.

Speaking of organic chocolates...

They even taste expensive.

It was so nice to get this parcel.  I was in the middle of a chicken pox epidemic with my 3 sons, hadn't left the house in weeks because they were under quarantine, and even missed our summer holiday.  So an unexpected care package was very gratefully received.  It came with this cute hand-written note:

They are thanking me for sampling their goodies.

Of course, I am happy to review their treats.  Let's start with the Booja-Booja Truffles

The box is so nice, I'm using it to store my fountain pen nibs now.
These guys are dusted in cocoa powder, which is the first thing you taste.  It's unsweetened and hits you with its intense and almost bitter flavour.  This is a wonderful prelude to the dark chocolate encasing the velvety organic Fine de Champagne-infused truffle center.  When I had one, I laughed.  They even taste expensive!  At 70 calories a pop, these guys are organic and vegan-friendly; dairy, soya, GMO, and gluten free; and delicious.  (Yes, that is a correct way to use a semi-colon.)  There are even some raw truffles in their range. I come from a long line of dark chocolate lovers and I can say with certainty that these would be a big hit on my dad's side of the family.  But hey, even if we weren't all huge fans of dark chocolate, these would still be a hit!

And then there were the Eskal Fruit Cremes and Mint Collection.  Both of these are vegan and certified Kosher.  The Fruit Cremes came in 4 flavours:  lemon, orange, strawberry, and dark cherry, all covered in dark chocolate.  I'm pretty sure the dark cherry was my favourite, but they were all really good.  The Mint collection had some dark chocolate mints, these dark chocolate mints with crunchy bits in them, and mint cremes.  I think the mint cremes tie with the dark chocolate mints with crunchy bits as my favourites of the bunch.

I also got some Nutri Snax -- Cashew Supreme and Ginger Rocks.  This is where I tell you a funny anecdote.
As someone who has been breastfeeding and/or pregnant for the last 6 years, I always carry snacks in my bag, which I call "emergency rations."  I have to carry loads because if I pull one out to eat, my sons and husband start begging me to share.  Kind of like when you are walking around a sea sidey town and want to eat something and suddenly you find yourself surrounded by seagulls who are dive-bombing and pecking and trying to get in on your snack.  My middle son also likes to raid my handbag for emergency rations when we are at home.

So my middle son came in with one of the Nutri Snax and told me he had a butt-rash, so he needed to eat an emergency rashion.  (He did not actually have a butt-rash, our affectionate term for diaper rash, nor is he in diapers.)  Actually, I think what he first said was, "I have a rash on my buttocks..."  Am I the only one with a 4 year old who uses the term 'buttocks'?  He probably picked that up from watching me do P90X.  Tony Horton is always going on about buttocks.  But I digress...
Anyway, these Nutri Snax are wheat free and vegan.  They are your standard dried fruit and nut fare snack bars and they are very tasty.

Last, but not least, the Provamel Almond Drink.  This is probably the most almondy almond 'milk' I've ever had and it even had a bit of almond pulp at the bottom.  Again, my middle son claimed this was a necessity and that he needed to drink it because he had the chicken pox.  I caved, of course, and let him have most of it.

Thanks for the treats, Goodness Direct!

You can also check out Goodness Direct on facebook, where they currently have a generous money off voucher code for £10 off an order of £35 or more (orders over £35 get free shipping).  And if you place an order with them, will you please use my Tell-a-Friend Ref No G8085693?  :D



The goodies reviewed in this post were given to me for free in the hopes that I would review them, and everything I've written here is my honest-to-goodness real opinion.  Nobody twisted my arm and I didn't drink the kool-aid!  ;D

*  Nooch is the affectionate term for nutritional yeast.  Nooch is delicious.  My kids love it sprinkled on their pasta.  Some people make fake mac'n'cheese-style sauce with it.  Just don't take the advice on the box and stir it into juice because that is just silly.

I got 99 problems, but a stitch ain't one.

09 June 2014

Sheaffer VFM Handwritten Review and A Pox Upon My House!

My oldest son took this photo of my middle son!
Guys, I know I promised lots of posts, but my house has been hit with the chicken pox.  I've been in quarantine for the best part of the last month -- first they had colds, then, one by one, my children got the pox.  My oldest son and husband are on holiday while I am at home with the other two sickies, trying to keep them happy.  So now is probably a great time for my handwritten review of the Sheaffer VFM which I won from The Pen Company.  I am usually a fountain pen girl, but not all paper is cut out for fountain pens, and I like ballpoints, too.
I'll try to get some recipes out to you soon, but in the meantime...
The Sheaffer VFM.
Click the photo to zoom in!