Vitality? They can’t be talking about the batteries….

Do you remember the good old days when your battery-operated device used to last for only a couple of minutes before you had to recharge?

Well Oral-B have gone retro with their latest toothbrush, the Oral-B Vitality.

Ok, so it’s by no means an expensive electric toothbrush. At just under $30, it is only about 4 times the cost of a manual toothbrush.

My disappointment came when I first opened the packaging and decided to glance over the instructions. Looking at recharging details, I read to my disappointment that this miraculous toothbrush needs to be charged for 6 hours for just 20 minutes of brushing time!

Yes, you read it right, 6 hours of charge for 20 minutes of brushing. Surely that can’t be very environmentally friendly Oral-B.

The disappointment didn’t stop there. About a week later, I was away on business and took my new electric toothbrush away for the ride. As I was only going for the night, I thought that I wouldn’t need the charger.

That’s when I found the other Oral-B Vitality flaw.

The On button on the toothbrush is a soft button and easy to push, while the Off button is flat and harder to activate. Imagine my embarrassment when my bag came vibrating along on the airport’s luggage carousel. This had the end result of draining the battery, meaning that I had to go out and buy a manual toothbrush for the rest of my trip.

Despite its flaws Oral-B Vitality does give you a good clean but I might have to keep you updated on the increase to my power bill.

A good brand just doesn’t make up for bad design…….

Industrie… how could you have gotten it so wrong?

This clothing label has always been a favourite of mine. Their casual wear, has provided me with stylish yet affordable additions to my wardrobe for many seasons. In recent times, since I have had the need to dress not-so-casual for my day job, I have come to like their line of dress shirts.

But recently I came to realise that even good and trusted brands can just make really really stupid mistakes.

My most recent addition to my wardrobe was a white collared, long-sleeve shirt. A perfect fit and great cut – perfect except for one flaw. A red label that Industrie, in the product of their flawed design, have sown into the back of the shirt.

Now even a man knows that whites and colours should not be mixed and one would think that a company that makes clothing would know this. One would even think that if company were to sow red labels into the back of its shirts, that they would use a dye that wouldn’t run the first time its washed!

Not so with this ingenious design. The first time I washed my new Industrie shirt, it came out stained red.

So a word of warning to all single men out there, and those women who are nice enough to wash their men’s shirts – its no longer mixing colours that you need to be wary of, its the colours designers put into their own clothes.

Anyone want to give me a free flight to Italy?

 Those that know me are well aware that travel is one of my passions. My constant breaks, which range from weekend breaks to sometimes yearly work/travel adventures always manage to wreak some tinge of jealousy in even the closest of my family and friends.

In Europe, Mediterranean countries have always held a soft spot for me, partly due to my family tree which populates most of the Maltese islands - okay so that’s a slight exaggeration, but those that come from Mediterranean families know what I mean.

Apart from the familial pull of Malta, I have always been drawn to the beauty and diversity of Italy – both in the country itself and the Italian way of life. That is why this month, while scouring the magazine rack at my local newsagent (as any good PR person should be doing) I was drawn to the latest edition of Italy magazine.

Calling Italy another ex-pat magazine would be a grave error, as would referring to it as just another travel magazine. Italy magazine calls itself the number 1 magazine for “lovers of all things Italian” and it does not fail to deliver on this promise.

Superbly written features are complemented with a great magazine design, and photography that both brings back memories of trips long gone and makes you eager for your next trip to visit missed treasures. This month, Italy magazine’s Lucia Cappelli takes the reader through a tour of “the mystic charm of Abruzzo”, and former US Ambassador Frederick Vreeland puts a unique spin on historical Rome.

I will kick myself if I forget to give note to Julia M. Chiarella’s look into the use of plus-sized female models and women’s wear on the world renowned catwalks of Milan. This feature nearly made me miss my underground stop.

Expats and those who have more than just a vacational interest in Italy will also find a good mixture of local news, information about buying Italian property, and legal and business advice.

At £3.85, Italy magazine is a well recommended read for anyone who is interested in anything Italian. The magazine also has a website, where you can check out a sample issue, check out some more great stories and even learn some Italian - go to www.italymag.co.uk

Someone actually managed to make this taste good?

So I think one of this year’s Nobel Peace prizes has to go to the genius that has finally made Ryvita taste good on its own.

Ryvita is an old favourite for most people but my only memories of this healthy snack are seeing my mother snack on these and always being less than pleased when I decided to sneak one out of the pack. Yes, they are always a lot better when mixed with toppings such as cheese and tomato but lets be honest here – when you’re opening up the pantry for a quick snack the last thing you want to do is delay your cravings any longer by going through the process of cutting things up!

That’s why when my usual supplier of bad-for-you snacks (crisps and my ultimate downfall- chocolate) began stocking Ryvita Minis I thought I would give these a go.

I was skeptical at first because my first impression was that the new Ryvita Minis would just be smaller versions of normal Ryvita crackers with a few spices thrown into the packet for extra flavour.

My first try at this new snack was with the Cream Cheese and Chive flavour and I tell you, I was very impressed. For such a low fat snack, the geniuses at Ryvita have managed to pack the flavour into the whole of the cracker so no need to add anything else to these.

As they are made with rye, hence the name Ryvita, they are a great snack for in-between meal periods. They help to do the trick for my one-hour train journey home, and with only 3% fat, (around 100kcals in a pack if i remember correctly) they fit right into my fitness routine.

Other flavours in the range that I have tried include Mature Cheddar & Onion, Garlic & Herb and Worcester Sauce, all of which pack the same great taste.

The nice people at Ryvita have also told me that they are about to release a Salt and Vinegar flavour, and that a new sweet variety (Apple and Caramel) is out on shelves but they are unfortunately yet to appear at my supplier.

If anyone can direct me as to where to try these new flavours, or has tried them – do let me know!

I want a mobile, but not for 18 months

I have recently come to realise that one of the biggest mistakes that anyone can make when buying a mobile is to go for an 18-month phone contract.

As the slowly buidling pile of unused, outdated and broken mobiles that i am sure are accummulating in the drawers of houses all across the mobile-connected world is testament to, no mobile is made to last more than a year – and if it is, then you probably don’t need one in the first place.

Even the mobile phone companies know this. My mobile company, who has been renamed as Crap-Mobile because i can never get service when i need it,  gave me my brand new Sony Ericsson K700i quite generously on an 18 month contract with loads of minutes and loads of text. Yet their special offer of free 750 texts actually expired 12 months into the contract.

They must have had some special fore-knowledge of my phone use however because as it turns out, after 12 months into my contract I no longer needed to use so many text messages. The buttons on my K700i became so worn out that it is a mission just setting my morning alarm on it, let alone doing something as intricate as sending a text – even with the predictive text.

But I don’t blame this on the making of the phone. Phones in my care get enough of a battering. From having beers spilt on them to being thrown about the room, strewn around my pockets in the company of keys, coins and god know what else, and travelling for days at the bottom of the car (without a seatbelt) while I frantically and methodically search everywhere else but.

It has become so worn out that it is actually a bit of an embarrasement. Try taking a call during lunch with clients who have spent their time flashing their latest phone while you’ve conveniently left yours nicely tucked away. The sight of my phone is a sure indication that they are not paying me enough in the first place.

We should start taking the same approach with mobiles as food regulations require labelling on food. “Discard 12-months from date of first use” . I know I won’t be getting sucked into a new 18-month contract again. Now i just have to survive another 3 months on the old one……..

Kills the lectures that make dentists so annoying – my new slogan for Listerine

I have always admired how dentists and hygienists, regardless of how old you are, always have the ability to make you feel like you are eight years old. Sitting in a chair with various utensils in your mouth on your six-monthly visit (if you’re one of the good kids), the dreaded drill is a relief from the lecture you’re inevitably going to receive about not brushing well and not flossing enough.

And I always thought dentists handed out lollipops.

With my recent visit to the dentist still in my head (some plaque but no cavities I was pleased to learn), I made my usual post-dental stop in Boots to restock on supplies that I had let lapse. Namely floss and mouthwash.

It was while looking through the endless number of dental products that I realised that mouthwash was one of the only products that never needs any picking out. With toothpaste, I’ll always try something new, a newer formula, brighter teeth, new fresh taste but when it comes to mouthwash, I always reach for the Listerine.

Listerine is one of those products that to me is unbeaten in its field. I made the mistake only once of trying another brand while it was on sale. I gagged at the first taste and had to brush my teeth all over again to get rid of it.

Using Listerine is also one of the easiest personal care routines that anyone can do everyday. Who wouldn’t want to “kill bacteria that cause dental plaque and bad breath” just by a couple of minutes of slooshing the stuff in your mouth and spitting it back out?  And since I tick all three boxes of foods that can discolour teeth- red wine, tea and coffee – the fact that it helps keep my teeth whiter is an added bonus.

For my latest purchase I tried their latest flavour, Arctic Mint (£3.99 for 500ml at Boots, but you can get it at most supermarkets and pharmacies), and I was not disappointed. The mouthwash is lighter than the traditional blue but the flavour leaves you comfortable in knowing that you’ve not just killed all those lurking nasties but lifted your breath well above social standards.

So for my post-checkup resolution I have decided that if there is one routine I will make sure I do twice a day, regardless of how drunk, tired, lazy, hung over or busy I am is to keep slooshing with my Listerine and avoid yet another lecture from the dreaded dentist.

Nothing bland about Blanc

When you’re working in London, finding something new for lunch is actually a bit more of a mission than one would expect. Yes, there’s the easy options, the Marks and Spencers, the Pret-a-Mangers (is it just me or are they taking over London? I have three within a two minute walk of the office).

There’s always the restaurants and the cafes, but unless you live on Downing Street, you’re probably not going to want to spend all your spare cash on something you’re going to inhale in a few mintues before you rush back to the office for round two with the desk.

That’s why I was refreshed when I tried the new Maison Blanc Vite on Piccadilly,  a new retail / take away concept for the french bread makers and patisserie Maison Blanc. Another flagship store is located in Fenchurch St with the brand planning further rollouts.

I must admit that the first few times I walked past the store I dubbed is a over-priced – yes I know, one should never judge a book by its cover.

After being given a menu in a tactful outside store promotion I came to the realisation that it is relatively well priced for the day-to-day office worker and decided to take a bite – so to speak.

Following my first lunch at Maison Blanc Vite, a pain rustique priced at under £3, I was hooked. Exquisitely made and made using quality and fresh ingredients, my first lunch and subsequently frequent visits have never failed to deliver. Price wise they fare well. You can a baguette and a drink for around £5.

Maison Blanc Vite’s sandwiches also have great health benefits. Those calorie counters will be pleased to know that each of their packaged sandwiches have nutritional information. Their sandwiches are made using olive oil rather than butter, meaning that sandwiches are not only lower in fat, they have more of the good stuff – the unsaturates.

If you’re feeling a bit more naughty, Maison Blanc Vite does a great range of patisseries. Yesterday I tried a slice of their Tarte Au Citron and I have to say it was one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. With the hot weather coming, they also do a number of picnic packs, great if you want to grab a romantic lunch in the park.

To top it all off the all-French staff at Maison Blanc Vite seem to be intent on breaking classic French tradition – by being extremely helpful and nice.

Never thought I’d use a body cream, but I did

This product has changed my views on body creams forever. I used to stay away from them, mainly because I hate any sort of greasy feeling on my skin. In fact, I had been given a bottle of REN Grapefruit and Jojoba Hand and Body Cream nearly 9 months ago, but sat in my cabinet with misuse.

An impending move brought to light the fact that I needed to start using some of my accumulated products or get rid of them, so I decided to give this a go.

From the first time I used it, I was hooked. As its infused with oil, the cream absorbs into the skin quite easily so you don’t get any build up on the surface of the skin. It also has a light grapefruit smell so for the most part you don’t have to use any other deodorants, except for the underarms, which in this hot weather always need some extra help.

All the products are 100% natural, so for any of you guys or girls with sensitive skin, this is a great product to use.

After using it for three weeks, I have also found that this is a great way of getting rid of the dry elbow skin that most of us males seem to chronically suffer from (I’ve been taking a poll on the train).

Check out http://www.renskincare.com/  for more information and to buy.

Coca Cola Zero – Great taste, but what’s with all the acid?!?!

        

So the long awaited Coke with no sugar is here!

I have to say, that having been on a health kick for the past two months, getting a new take on Coca Cola has been great. But after trying it, I have to say that it does not live up to the hype that has surrounded it.

Yes, it is miles better than Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max, but to say that it is “Great Coca Cola taste without the sugar” is probably taking it too far. When are the softdrink companies going to realise that the only thing that can give a sugar taste – is sugar!

So the Zero is an improvement but the one downfall is that it seems to be a lot more acidic than regular coke and diet coke. If anyone out there is willing to do an acid test for me, go for it.

I have to say that the Coca Cola Zero in a can, tastes a lot better than the one in 500ml PET bottles – don’t know if that’s a consequence of the packaging or just because you get less of it in the can. However, I have had a consensus on the taste factor from others around the office.

So the final verdict is – great taste but there’s still improvement to be made……

About The Brand Blog

Don’t fall for the advertising hype!!

While marketers spend millions selling their brands to people, we all know that the best way to know if a product or service is right for you, is to try it, or have it recommended.

The Brand Blog is like sneaking a look into someone’s medicine cabinet when you go to use their bathroom.

It is a review not just on the new and best things that have come on to the market, it is a review of everyday products and services covering personal care and skin products, food and drink, and even professional services such as banking.

Why trust a reviewer who uses a product once, writes about it, then returns to their old and trusted branded, when you can get the inside scoop on what someone uses in their day to day life?