Nayu's Craft Time #319 Random Online Grocery Info

Generic grocery bag

This is probably a random post, but then a lot of my posts are random so it doesn't matter! I want to talk about the online shopping. I have only used Sainsbury's, so my experience doesn't extend to other supermarkets/companies. I started using the service this summer when I was too ill to go shopping. It is super convenient, I love being able to pick a time that suits me and, on most occasions, pay less than £1.50 delivery charge, 50p if I am really lucky.

Photo source unknown

 Random observation #1

99% of the drivers are super friendly and helpful. I had one who was a bit odd, but I put it down to them having a bad day. The majority are more than happy to take my shopping to the kitchen which is a bit of a way from the front door. Some help unpack, some don't. I honestly don't mind either way. 

I have had all these Sainsbury's bags for life!

Random observation #2

If you don't like something you can send it back! This applies to any item, if it has too short a useby date, if it is bad, if it is damaged. Best part you then get an online coupon for money off your next shop! I used 2 coupons in my recent order because I had forgotten about them. I got some frozen strawberries for free because the bag had burst in transit. I still accepted it as they looked safe and I only had the one packet. Haven't got sick so it was the right decision! 

Every shop I pray my bread doesn't get substituted as I am very particular about it. Unless it is part-baked bread

Random observation #3

Having items switched to another of a similar type due to the original not being in stock doesn't happen that often. Once I had several items swapped, some I didn't keep as I had specifically wanted the original item. You will be notified of substitutions by email...although if like you me you don't always check your email you can then get a big surprise. Related to this is...

The yummy white stuff! All bottles are plastic though.

Random observation #4

Store brand milk allegedly isn't always in stock. This is a bit hard to believe, that Sainsbury's own milk is not available to order online. That was the case this week for the 1 pint organic whole milk. I ended up choosing a different brand that I had never had (but is delicious) and it was cheaper by volume too! I know which Sainsbury's my order gets chosen from, and I know they always have that milk. Maybe they have a set amount they have to keep in store, so say no to further online orders. 

Love!

Random observation #5

Favourites become your friend! Putting items you regularly buy into favourites is so useful, makes it rather quick to make a subsequent order with your usual yogurt/bread/frozen fruit already set aside so it doesn't have to be manually searched on. 

Those are all the observations I have for the moment! I am recovered from my 4 month summer illness, but I am still using Sainsbury's online shopping because it saves me going round a large store and carrying heavy items. While being ill all summer sucked, something positive came from it. I'd love to hear about your experience with online shopping!

No idea who the artist is but love this silhouette swing image!

Nayu's Craft Time #263 Tonic Experiment

My tonic is usually without lemon, but still nice and bitter!

It's been a mixed week of outings, including lunch with a friend and routine doctor's appointment, and resting in between. The other day I mentioned a tonic experiment I was doing. Basically Sainsbury's changed the ingredients in their diet tonic water, excluding sugar in exchange for what I think is a sweetener. 

Sorry it's blurry, it's the only one close to the label I get!

I understand why they do that, and that doesn't bother me (although some sweeteners can give me a headache, which is often why I drink tonic in the first place). Unfortunately when I tried the new version of the tonic I thought I'd accidentally picked up this. 

Yes, lemonade, not tonic water. The new recipe diet tonic water tastes like it is the Sainsbury's lemonade, only without the lemons, of course. I've nothing against lemonade (just not keen on it these days), but I specifically drink tonic water when I'm not feeling well, for a headache or on general bleh days which are more numerous in winter. I like the bitter taste which just isn't in Sainsbury's new diet tonic water. Thus the experiment began. 

This one is very good! Although I'd rather non-branded for cost purposes...

The experiment is still ongoing, but so far Schweppes diet tonic water tastes like tonic water should! Yay! I've got Sainsbury's non diet tonic water to try (although by the rate they are removing full sugar squashes I'm not sure how long this may be available if it tastes right for me. Obviously encouraging healthy drinking is good...but personally I feel that only giving customers once choice of drink (reduced sugar/diet) is policing consumers a bit too much), as well as Schweppes non diet tonic water. I tried Waitrose in the past but didn't like it at all, and I don't really shop anywhere else, so don't want to go out of my way for just one product. It may have to be Schweppes, but that's better than nothing.

Still got this one to try! & 1 more

I'd love to know if you have a preferred brand of tonic water! I love the sharpness and the bubbles when I don't feel well, and staying hydrated is super important. 

Random pictures of the day - Puffins are such cute birds!!

Nayu's Craft Time #120 Fangirling over yogurt + Waitrose, & combatting headaches

In the absence of a photo this is a pic I use a lot to represent myself online. I sadly don't have green slash blue hair...

Afternoon everyone! I honestly hadn't expected to blog today, as I had a headache yesterday (more on that in a mo) and just got back from grocery shopping so am tired. However, all I wanted to do was share my weekend so this is what I'm doing! 

This isn't a sponsored announcement, more a personal recommendation as I love the product but Waitrose are doing 2 pots of the flavoured Yeo Valley yogurts for £2: I'm trying the new (to me) limited edition Banana and Custard!

I'm fussy with bananas (the fruit) but love banana flavour dairy products (banana milk = much love! Rarely have it)

and also having a firm favourite of Black Cherry!

If you didn't already know from this post about fromage frais I love yogurt! It's so tasty, and is my snack with my bedtime meds. Oh I also found a low fat yogurt that I actually like. Low fat yogurts tend to have a particular taste which I don't like. I am trying various ones, decided I didn't like the Yeo Valley 0% fat Vanilla yogurt and it was a struggle to eat the rest of the remaining yogurt. However, yay to Waitrose for producing a fat free yogurt which doesn't have a funny taste!!! 

Seriously delicious, couldn't find the image online so took photos. Yes the tub is on a blanket in my room - it's empty & all washed out, being a very sturdy tub to keep things in. Highly recommend it! 

I also recommend signing up for a My Waitrose card, because you can save quite a bit by having up to 10 items at 20% off (you have to choose them online and terms & conditions apply. See Waitrose website for details), and from time to time you get sent specially offers. Today I got an entire bottle of Waitrose essential laundry conditioner for FREE!!!! & that's with me not always using my card and never spending much on each shop. Well worth the minimal effort of signing up ^o^ I also had half-price for other laundry products, which isn't to be sniffed at. There's also a free newspaper, a free tea or coffee (if had in the cafe you must buy a cake...which is why I get cake when my parents go shopping there! The slices are ginormous!)

The good white stuff!

 I realise I may sound like an ad for Waitrose, but I love how well they treat their staff and customers, and all the offers available. Sometimes the organic food is cheaper than the 'normal' food - I noticed this for kiwis. At the moment I rarely get organic food, just once a month with an organic box scheme, I  always have organic milk, and sometimes organic yogurt. The downside of today's shop was there was no frozen sweetcorn at all. I could have broken up corn on the cob, but not a single bag full of deliciously sweet nuggets of goodness. No store is 100% perfect ^o^ I hope Sainsbury's has some the next time I go in (& frozen fruit, as theirs is cheaper than Waitrose). 

Mine looked a bit like this, only in triangles

Yesterday I had lunch with a friend which was good fun, but I wasn't feeling great. I'd woken with a headache - thankfully not a  migraine, but enough of a headache I tried to nap before I left to go out. I survived lunch with yummy garlic bread & very thick layered smoked salmon sandwiches (mega yum), naturally taking the leftovers home with me. Possibly an odd combination, (bread + bread) but I really fancied garlic bread, so I went for it.  

This would be such a cool bedroom - all pink & girly!

I felt rather bleh when I returned so headed back to bed & tried to sleep again. I didn't, at least I don't think so, and I then didn't sleep well last night, so I honestly didn't expect to be up for writing a blog post today. Like I said at the start of the post I just really wanted to write a post, so here it is! I'm all for the 'if you feel like it, do it' when you don't feel great. Within reason, of course. 

Time for me to go, but I'd love to hear of your supermarket experiences, what your favourite items are, and anything else you'd like to talk about! I was going to chat about today's sewing progress, but this post ended up rather long so will chat about it tomorrow.