Review: Linicin Head Lice Treatment

Head Lice are always a bit of an embarrassing subject bringing up feelings of disgust in most people. The mere mention of them brings a tickly itch to anyone.

Having a 5 year old means that the little critters are an inevitable part of our lives now. Weekly (if not daily) combing to pry them off my daughter's hair, lotions and shampoos, old wives tales. It's a nightmare. The fact that Ashleigh has sensitive skin doesn't help either, and I'm not really a big fan of using harsh chemicals and pesticides on my child anyway. Luckily, I was recently sent some products from Linicin.

The first was their 15 Minute Lotion (£9.49 including comb) - it contains no insecticides and is kind enough to use from 6 months old (and also on pregnant and breast-feeding mums). It works by coating the hair and suffocating the lice whilst stopping the development of eggs. The lotion itself is an odourless oil which goes on really well. On Ashleigh's hair, which is a little past shoulder length, we used about half the bottle for the first treatment and the rest for the second 9 days later. I think for my very thick and very long hair we'd have needed at least a whole bottle though, so I stuck with the daily conditioning and combing. There are some great little games and activities on the Linicin website to keep Ashleigh occupied whilst she's waiting the required 15 minutes for the lotion to do its stuff. So, the lotion goes on, we wait, we wash and then we comb.

The second product I was sent wasLinicin Prevent Spray (£7.49). I simply spritz it onto Ashleigh's hair (once it's already in a nice, neat plait) and it keeps lice away all day at school. I don't know how, but it does. The bottle has lasted a good few weeks so far and is still half full.

The verdict? So far, so good. There were hardly any lice found in the second combing session and the prevent spray seems to have kept them at bay ever since. We're still doing weekly comb-throughs just to make sure but I'm really happy with both products.

You can buy all the products through the website and if you have kids I really recommend you do.

Fashion Focus: TLC Sport Clothing

Top £22 : Leggings £36

You may have seen over on Running Bunn that I recently got a lovely outfit from TLC Sport. Seeing as they're not a brand I'm familiar with I've spent a lot of time perusing their site. What I've found is that this is a family run, customer focused company catering for all shapes, sizes, fitness levels and activities. What more could you want?! Here's my selection of some of my favourite pieces from the site.

Review: Bude Surfing Experience

On my fantastic two-week camping holiday we stopped off in Bude for a bit of UK Surf action. The welcome from Scott and Mike was warm, friendly and energetic. Being a family of four was no problem, and they were even able to accommodate our little 5 year old. There were about 15 of us in the group and once everyone was suited up (little kids in wetsuits look so adorable!) we walked down to the beach, collecting boards on the way.

Scott from Bude Surfing Experience

Why I won't be reading Fifty Shades of Grey

I've tried to avoid writing about this for a while now and I can resist no longer. Fifty Shades of Grey (and the other titles in the series) has been hailed as a catalyst for improving attitudes and openness toward sex. Having read only a few excerpts from the series, I can't really comment on its aphrodisiac qualities but I sincerely doubt that a few hundred pages of housewife style BDSM fantasy can really improve anything other than the author's bank balance.


A recent BBC article (and many others) called it 'mummy porn' and I think that really is hammer, nail and head. The only person I can imagine reading this and enjoying it would be a bored housewife killing time in-between doing loads of washing and picking the kids up from school. Everything about these books puts me off, from the ridiculously 80's Mills & Boon style names (Anastasia Steele? Really?!) to the fact the author, EL James, admitted in an interview she has never even been to Seattle where the series is set. I can only imagine the atmosphere she has conveyed through her writing having experienced the locations solely through Google street view.

I don't even know where to begin on the whole feminist issue the series raises (something which makes me really angry about the Twilight series too). A young woman signing a contract which allows her to be fully dominated - aren't we supposed to be promoting and celebrating being in control of our own lives? Haven't women for centuries been fighting to oppose male domination? Don't get me wrong, if you're into a bit of submission/domination that's just fantastic for you, but I'm not sure we should be celebrating total life control. Of course I've probably missed the point by not reading the book and in reality it is in no way similar to enforced prostitution and sex slavery...

So, I won't be reading the Fifty Shades series. I'm off to my local independent book shop to buy Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Have you read any of the series? What are your thoughts? Please, leave a comment, I'd love to hear your views!

Review: Zombies, Run!

Coming to the end of a short, intense run I'm flagging. I'm thinking about slowing down, perhaps even walking for a bit. Then comes Sam's voice in my headphones. There's an unusually fast zombie right behind me, she's gaining on me, I've got to run!

When my husband got Zombies, Run! on his iPhone I was properly jealous. There wasn't a release date for Android at the time and I just couldn't picture living, or running, without its awesomeness. I struggled through the next few months safe in the knowledge that when the game finally got to Android I would be so much faster than him it wouldn't really matter anyway.

If you're not familiar with the game, I'll explain. Zombies, Run! is a game, a running game. You hit the start button when you begin your run and the story unfolds through your headphones, interspersed with music from your playlist. As you run you gather supplies, avoid zombies and begin to unravel a very gripping mystery. When you get hoe you allocate supplies and grow your base.

This game isn't about running stats, maps and times. It's fun, it keeps you moving and it gives your runs a purpose. It puts you right in the middle of a zombie film, you're the star, you can kick ass. I know it's pricey compared to most apps out there but trust me, it's worth EVERY penny.

Review: Karrimor Phone Arm Wallet

Since the weather got a bit warmer I've done away with my jacket and capris with their handy little bum pocket in favour of skimpier lycra. This has left me with a slight deficit in the phone storage department. I've seen loads of people with arm wallets so thought I'd try out a cheapie - the Karrimor wallet is currently just £3 on Amazon - a bargain not to be missed!

The Blurb: The wallet is designed just to fit your mobile phone and is big enough for most models. The clear panel enables you to use the touch-screen without taking the phone out and it has an adjustable strap for a secure fit.It's available in Black with a choice of either yellow or pink trimmings.

The Trial: My phone (HTC WIldfire) fits snugly into the pocket from the top (no fear of it slipping out mid stride!) as does my husband's iPhone, so I think most phones would be OK unless they're a really bizarre shape. If you really needed to you could shove a key and emergency fiver in there too. The material is slightly stretchy which allows it to move with your arm without feeling too loose or too tight. If you've got really big or really small arms the strap could be a bit of a problem but for most it will be fine. It fits both my husband and I easily. There's a little opening at the top for your headphones to poke through and you can stuff any excess wires in there too which is handy. The wallet stayed put throughout the run and most importantly it was comfortable too.

The Verdict: Does exactly what it needs to! The Karrimor Arm Wallet might not be as stylish as some other makes, but it's cheap, unisex and functional. Thumbs up from Running Bunn!

10 of the Best Road Running Shoes

There's a whole world of running shoes out there and finding the best ones for you can be tricky. Here's my top 5 men's and women's running shoes to keep you moving on the these hot summer days.

5
The Nike Dart 9 Men's & Ladies running shoes are lightweight and well cushioned with extra stability around the heel - perfect for keeping you going on longer runs.

Nike Dart 9 Ladies Running Shoes
- £27.99

Nike Dart 9 Men's Running Shoes
- £27.99

 
4
3D cushioning to the heel helps to absorb the impact force of running on hard surfaces in these Adidas Galaxy Elite running shoes. They're great for faster runs and tempo sessions.

Adidas Galaxy Elite Ladies Running Shoe
- £40.00

Adidas Galaxy Elite 2 Men's Running Shoes
- £40.00

3
The Ikonis range from Puma are light enough for use as a gym shoe but have enough mid foot stability, cushioning and a hard-wearing sole to take you out on the road so they're great if you want an all round training shoe.

Puma Ikonis 2 Ladies Running Shoes
- £27.99

Puma Ikonis 2 Men's Running Shoes
- £27.99

 2
These New Balance 1080 running shoes have extra cushioning which makes them a great long distance shoe.  

New Balance 1080 Ladies Running Shoes
- £94.99

New Balance 1080 Men's Running Shoes
- £94.99

1
Lightweight, supportive and sexy. These are a real top-notch running shoe packed full of tech to give a really smooth run. Pricey, but fantastic and absolutely deserve the number one spot.

Asics Gel Kinsei 4 Ladies Running Shoes
- £159.99

Asiscs Gel Kinsei Men's Running Shoes
- £159.99

Review: New Balance 565 Ladies

You might remember last year when I first started running all I had was a pair of Converse High Tops... special edition (Product) RED ones though! Not the best for my feet or legs though. I hot footed it down to a running shop and picked up these bad boys - New Balance 565 Ladies running shoes.

The Blurb: the description for these shoes contains a bit of gobbledigoop jargon - N-Ergy technology, Abzorb® DTS Dynamic Transition System, N-Durance rubber. Basically, they're supposedly cushioned, breathable and have a long lasting sole. You can get them in pink (as I did) or blue.

The Trial: I've done just under 100 miles in these shoes so I think it's safe to say they've been worn in. I normally wear a size 5 or 6 in my everyday shoes but got these in a 7 to avoid getting runner's toe. I noticed from the very first run a marked improvement. I get a smooth running experience, my feet and joints feel cushioned against the force of running on pavements and in this hot weather the mesh upper allows my feet to breathe. There's still a good 300 miles left on these shoes but there's no visible wear on the sole and the rest of the shoe cleans up pretty well, when I can be bothered! They aren't particularly stylish but I'm not hugely bothered about how I look when I'm out running anyway.

The Verdict: These have been a perfect pair of beginner running shoes for me. They're really reasonably priced (just £31.99 on Amazon and at Sports Direct) comfortable and hard wearing. I'd definitely recommend these to anyone who wants to start jogging for weight loss, fitness or fun.

Review: Naked Bodycare

My first try of Naked Bodycare was after winning a giveaway over at Sugarpuffish. I was kindly sent a bottle of Orange Blossom bodywash - it is truly delicious.

Review: Jabra Rhythm

I've become a bit of an audio-book junkie recently - on the bus, out running, at work... when the boss isn't looking. Up until now i only had the headphones which came with my HTC and they're really uncomfortable.

Review: Timex Ironman Sleek

So, I've wanted a running watch for ages. As much as Map My Run is brilliant, it's also a bit rubbish. For some reason the GPS tends to cut out quite regularly so I'm never sure what sort of pace I'm doing. Now I have a few regular routes I know roughly where the mile markers are and having a watch with a lap timer is just awesome for that.

Review: Betty Buff Totally Oatly

I've been struggling for a while with my 5 year old's eczema. We were lucky enough to be sent a sample of Betty Buff's "Totally Oaty" gentle scrub (not to review, just 'cause they're lovely people!) and I have to say, I'm impressed.

Lush Henna

I'm not known for spending hours on my hair but, after a GORGEOUS haircut at Flint in Norwich I decided my hair also deserved some summery redness.

Review: Dr. Hauschka Mascara

You'll remember that not so long ago I decided to go cruelty & chemical free with my cosmetics. After discovering the fantastic Lily Lolo I was almost set, but still needed a mascara. I was introduced to the Dr. Hauschka range at a beauty event and thought I'd give their Black Volume Mascara a try.