My feet do an awful lot of work and like most people I’m guilty of not showing them the care they should receive. Walking across hills, tucked into sturdy boots, squashed into heels over the Christmas period and constantly swaddled in socks and wooly tights they had become quite dry and a bit rough around the edges. So when a couple of footcare treats arrived from Footsie, a new footcare brand with a range of six new products designed to properly pamper hardworking feet, it felt like a gentle nudge to finally give mine the TLC they were desperately in need of.
First I needed to get rid of the dry skin so the Smooth Operator 2 in 1 Glass Foot File, (RRP £7) was quickly put to use. The dual-action file made light work of the hard skin on my feet, smoothing my heels and soles quickly and effectively. Made from 100% toughened glass, it feels nice and robust and being made of glass it is hygienic and will last a long time. The file can be used on both wet and dry skin and has two different textured surfaces, the coarse edge is designed to remove hard, thick skin and the finer side is used for gentle exfoliation.
Once filed and exfoliated it was time for a taste of the tropics with the Tropical Toes Coco Luscious Foot Butter (RRP £7). This rich, indulgent cream melted beautifully into my skin leaving my feet nice and hydrated and refreshed. It is also great as an overnight treatment, a generous application before bed then I pop a pair of cotton socks on and by morning my feet feel lovely and soft and ready for action. I’ve been using it every evening for the last couple of weeks and my feet are looking so much better. The dry skin on my heels has completely gone and my feet look and feel cared for again.
Now that my feet have been well and truly pampered, they’re ready to carry me across hill, dale and anywhere else I choose to wander.
I have curly hair which is currently very dry and frizzy and at the minute I am certainly having more bad hair days than good! I was therefore really pleased when a box of Cut By Fred landed on my doorstep and couldn’t wait to see what they would do to my dry mop of hair.
Cut By Fred is a cult haircare brand created by hairstylist Fred Birault and it officially launched in the UK in 2025. Fred’s whole ethos is making haircare feel like it does backstage or in the salon and he wanted his products to be effective, intuitive and a bit joyful and not to include harsh ingredients or overcomplicated formulas. The result is natural, vegan haircare that respects your hair, the planet and those little everyday rituals we all secretly love.
I’ve been using the Vegan Hydration Shampoo, the iconic Vegan Hydration Mask and the Vegan Serum for a couple of weeks now and I have to say I’m really pleased with all the products. The shampoo (RRP £29) is nice and gentle and lathers beautifully, cleansing my hair and scalp and most importantly giving my curls some much needed hydration.
Now let’s talk about the Vegan Hydration Mask (RRP £41) because this is where the magic really happens. My curls are naturally dry, frizzy and a bit dull, so a hydrating mask is non negotiable in my routine. This one is rich, creamy and packed with jojoba oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and aloe leaf juice. I applied it to my hair, combed it through and then left it on for the full 15 minutes before scrunching it into my hair to really lock in the moisture. It rinsed out easily leaving my hair tangle free and my curls noticeably softer, shinier and more defined.
Once my hair is dry a drop or two of the Vegan Serum (RRP £32) is all I need to smooth the frizz and add a touch of shine to my curls.
Most of the time I let my hair dry naturally and I have noticed that my hair is less frizzy and I have much better curl definition. When I take the time to dry it with a diffuser, I’ve found that my hair has more bounce and the curls are staying defined for much longer. Thanks to Cut By Fred in just a couple of washes my dry, frizzy locks have been transformed into glossy, defined curls and I am absolutely delighted.
The packaging is simple but stylish, with an elegant glass shampoo bottle and a generously sized mask jar with a wide opening that makes scooping out product easy and mess free. The serum has a pippette dispenser which makes it easy to dispense just the right amount and ther’s no wastage.
If you are looking to up your haircare game and give your curls some proper love, I really recommend giving Cut By Fred a try. I’m looking forward to trying out more of their products as they release more into the UK.
The products are currently available from Oh My Cream
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Going on holiday this year? Chances are you’ll be using some kind of big transport – aeroplane, ferry, train and even the car. Most children get motion sickness on new transport and especially on long journeys in the car so some kind of remedy is needed. I know when I’m on a ferry, or a cruise, the sea sickness is atrocious and even with medication it takes a long time to fade.
Sea-Band Nausea Relief Bands are not medication but a great alternative to preventing any kind of sickness. Based on acupressure points, similar to acupuncture, the bands wrap around your inner wrist and exert pressure on a particular point to relieve sickness. It sounds wacky, but the acupressure point seems to lessen the effect of sickness regardless of whether it is sea sickness, morning sickness, as a result of drug treatment, post-op recovery or even VR/gaming sickness. The bands don’t only prevent sickness from starting but they can eliminate it within 5 minutes of being put on.
There are no side effects either. You can still take anti-sickness medication whilst wearing the bands if you wish, but they are very discreet and can fit under a sleeve if you want to hide them and prevent questions!
There’s no reason not to give them a try, no matter what reason for the sickness. There’s no down side, and they might prevent that horrible feeling of moving around constantly, which is what I had on a recent cruise. The bands ramp-up your defence against any kind of nausea and anything that can help me have a good time on a cruise, or even just let me tolerate a long journey, is a friend for life!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
NecessaryGood is a portmanteau of the ideal skin cream. What does your skin need? And what is good for your skin? With thousands of skincare products on the market, NecessaryGood realised that there was no way of knowing what your skin needed, and what was available, so they decided to create a range which was just about good ingredients, mixed right, high quality and therefore the most effective. They pride themselves on not being in the top price range either. We were sent their Bright & Hydrated Moisturiser and their Protected & Hydrated SPF 50 day creams to try out.
The Necessary Good Bright & Hydrated Moisturiser prides itself on being able to hydrate, brighten and support your skin barrier all at the same time. It’s a really rich cream, much like a serum, which blends in with some work to create a deep barrier. It softened my skin first, which probably suggests that I needed more hydration by the end of the day! You can use this skincare more than once a day too, which is ideal as we go into summer. There’s no fragrance to this day cream, it can be used day and night and is ideal as an all-over base before make-up or for when you’re working from home and need some daily skin hydration.
The NecessaryGood Protected & Hydrated SPF 50 day cream is less rich than the Bright & Hydrate and takes a little more working into the skin, which is probably due to its SPF ingredients. It’s lighter too and has a tad more fragrance to it, which I put down to the cotton seed extract. There’s added vitamins E and B5 and contains both UVA and UVB advanced filters. I can’t test this one in the sun until the weather warms up, but SPF 50 is pretty high for this country, so you could use this on your summer holidays. It still hydrates your skin, even though it has the sun protection with it. With all the benefits of both day creams being the “Necessary Good”, they’re both great for taking on holiday this summer!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Award-winning Dr PawPaw have sent us their SPF Day Cream and Lip Balm to test before the summer holidays start in earnest, and based on the lovely fruity scents when opening the products, we couldn’t wait to get started!
Dr PawPaw is a British based company started in 2013 with most of the products made here too. Originally, the products were for soothing owners Pauline and Johnny Paterson’s young daughter’s eczema, but their following soon grew and they branched out into other products. The company pride themselves on using eco-friendly materials, which are recycled and biodegradable when possible.
The Dr PawPaw SPF Lip Balm and Day Cream are both vegan and cruelty-free, like all their products. The Lip Balm, which has added SPF 30, is targeted at keeping lips soft but also has the Dr PawPaw healing properties. It’s a very light application which can be used in the sun, or every day especially if you’re not wearing make-up. I like to use it at night to condition my lips as a I sleep. As you don’t need very much, it absorbs easily and has a lovely pawpaw taste to it which lingers when you put it on. It lasts enough of the night too so that your lips are still conditioned when you wake up.
The Dr PawPaw SPF 50 Day Cream is equally as fruity scented and a rich day cream, but it actually blends in very easily. My skin wasn’t oily with this day cream, but there was some light refraction to leave my skin looking like it had a glow. It contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E for enriching the skin and the SPF 50 really helps when the sun comes out! This 45ml tube would be great for taking on holiday. I can’t wait for the day when the sun is out and I get to test out the SPF on both of these Dr PawPaw products!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If you’ve found this review then it’s probably because you’ve been searching for Thieves Oil, or Four Thieves Oils for holistic purposes. Four Thieves Oils is used for many ailments, cleaning and natural diffusing of the home. It’s a blend of essential oils which you can make yourself (but is quite expensive) or as in this case, you can buy Four Thieves already blended and ready to use. We were sent the Optima Natura Four Thieves Oils and the Four Thieves Fragrance Mist.
Each of the products, which is part of a bigger range by Optima Natura, are made of 100% natural essential oils comprising of cloves, lemon, cinnamon bark (and leaf), eucalyptus and rosemary. If you’ve never encountered the Four Thieves scent before, then I can only describe it as the freshness of eucalyptus with the warmth of cinnamon and rosemary. The cloves smell is very strong which is probably because it’s the oil with the largest concentration. I wouldn’t describe it as a scent you’d recognise from cooking or medicine, but it is similar to something you would find in a room diffuser or candles, but without being synthetic.
The concentrated Four Thieves Oils is great for adding to cleaning products to give the antibacterial properties as well as adding the pleasant fragrance. I use it as a mild antibacterial agent when I need a cut or graze dressed, or for mild skin infections like around my nails after a manicure. It has a whole range of uses, and the concentrated Four Thieves Oils from Optima Natura is the quickest, easiest way of getting all of the essential oils together rather than having to make it yourself! It’s very potent stuff though, so be careful when using it on some surfaces or around delicate clothes.
The Four Thieves Oils Fragrance Mist can be used as a perfume, direct to the skin, or for freshening up curtains, bedding, upholstery etc. If clothes are a bit musty, or don’t have the ‘just washed’ smell any longer, it’s a great way of giving them new life and also keeping the germs away. You can have this on hand for the car too when the dogs are wet during winter!
Save yourself the hassle of having to make up Four Thieves Oils for yourself, and indulge in the whole Optima Natura range for at home. You’ll be surprised how much you grow to need it!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Love is in the air, and whether you celebrate it or not there is no denying that the shops all think that you should!! Walk into almost any high street store at this time of year and you will be met with a riot of pink, red and heart-shaped persuasion. Whether you’re buying for a partner, or simply treating yourself (and why not?), this is the season for romance.
Valentine’s Day gifts have a tendency to fall into two camps. On the one hand, there is the novelty end of the spectrum, amusing but short-lived. On the other, there are things that are made to be enjoyed long after the 14th has been and gone. Lingerie, when done properly, firmly belongs in the latter category.
Boux Avenue has clearly taken this approach with its latest Valentine’s collection, rather grandly titled Tunnel of Love. Available in all 27 UK stores and online from Monday 12 January 2026, the collection leans unapologetically into romance and drama, without tipping into parody. This is lingerie designed to be worn, enjoyed and admired, rather than put in drawer never to see the light of day again.
The range is available in sizes 6 to 18, with selected bras available up to an H cup, which speaking as a larger chested lady is really good news! Prices run from £14 to £55, placing it firmly in the “treat yourself or someone else without requiring a second mortgage” category. Boux Avenue has also really nailed that all-important balance – the pieces feel glamorous, confident and a little bit daring, but they’re also comfortable too.
According to Zoe Price-Smith, Boux Avenue’s Chief Design and Product Officer, the inspiration for the range came from high-drama catwalks, burlesque shows and the glamour of the Moulin Rouge. The result is something theatrical without being over the top with delicate eyelash lace, spot mesh, intricate heart embroideries and sumptuous satins. The romantic colour palette of classic black, deep reds, pinks and rich berry sees the designs exude sensuality and confidence, and is designed to make the wearer stand a little taller and feel entirely at ease in her own skin.
Boux Avenue kindly send me the Vivienne Lingerie Set with the soft blush pink set, intricate embroidery and raised red floral detailing striking the perfect balance between classic and chic, The red embroidered flowers edging the cups and knickers add just enough Valentine’s charm without shouting about it, making it a set I’ll happily wear when Valentine’s Day is nothing but a distant memory!
Unlike some other lingerie brands Boux Avenue haven’t forgotten those ladies with a fuller bust. All too often, brands either forget about us, stopping at at D or E cup or design bras with pure functionality in mind, leaving style firmly behind. Boux Avenue certainly don’t compromise on style with the bras feeling supportive and secure, yet still beautifully modern and flattering, proving that comfort and confidence can go hand in hand.
Foe ease of gifting the lingerie arrives in a gift box and free gift wrapping is available. Delivery costs £3.99 with free delivery over £50 and free returns. There is also 15 percent off for those who sign up by email.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We all struggle for Valentines gifts especially if we want something that’s not mushy! Airy Fragrances were born in Japan, based on the Japanese art of Kōdō where fragrance is not a function, but a feeling. The company was started by two Japanese women in 2024 who realised that the Japanese way of scenting the home was not the same as in Europe, and so the Airy home reeds were developed.
We were sent the Airy Elegant Harmony Home Reed Diffuser to try out in White Tea scent. A beautiful presentation box arrived with a bottle of scent, five reeds and the round, glass bulb. Setting up the diffuser is easy with the lid of the bulb vase easily detached and then replaced before the reeds are inserted. The circle of the round glass represents the concept of ensō, symbolising harmony, impermanence and quiet beauty. The Elegant Harmony scent is very soft, floral, and a touch musky. I can detect the slight vanilla scent as well which is what carries most in the home.
Although expensive, the Airy Home Reed Diffusers make a great gift and last 2-4 months each. The fragrances can be bought separately so you can replace them without having to replace the bulb vase as well. They’re also alcohol free. The website is set up to send the diffusers as gifts so you can send them straight onto the recipient.
Unlike other diffusers, the Airy Home Reed Diffuser is much lighter in fragrance and feels like there’s equally less heavy ingredients. They make great gifts because they’re so beautiful and have a range of different scents which can be purchased online, and no doubt more scents will follow. They’re a beautiful fragrance for the house and the scent carries really quickly, making it a gift which will last.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Tiramisu, with its layers of sponge laced with coffee and alcohol, is my absolute favourite pudding. Our local Italian does a mean version, but I’ve struggled to find an authentic version in the shops, so I didn’t need asking twice when Cake Box asked if we would like to try their Nutty Pistachio Tiramisu Cake.
This is not your average cake – when you cut into it you find a beautifully light, moist sponge, generously layered with a silky tiramisu spread. The sides are decorated with tiramisu rich chocolate shavings and tiramisu cream, giving it an indulgent allure. The cake can also be personalised with a special message when ordering, making it perfect as a birthday or celebration cake.
The top of the cake is piped with velvety pistachio cream topped with mini flakes, a glossy drizzle of pistachio sauce, nibbed pistachios and extra chocolate shavings. It’s decorative without being over the top and would make a nice centrepiece at a birthday party.
Flavour-wise, it more than delivers – the sponge is perfectly soaked, striking the perfect balance of coffee and booze. The sponge is light, airy and very tasty and it’s the sort of cake where one slice is never enough!!
Although it’s best enjoyed within 24 hours, we kept ours in the fridge for a couple of days and the sponge stayed beautifully soft and light, tasting just as good as it did when first sliced.
We loved the Nutty Pistachio Tiramisu Cake, the addition of pistachio is a clever, indulgent twist on a classic dessert. If you love tiramisu and pistachio as much as I do, this one is well worth a forkful.
With over 250 locations nationwide there’s bound to be one near you and for those who need a cake in a hurry their Click & Collect service lets you order and collect a cake within an hour. Ideal for last-minute birthdays, celebrations, or sudden cake cravings. All of their cakes are completely egg free, reflecting the founders’ strict lacto-vegetarian diet.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
The moment December arrives, parents across the land descend into a familiar state of mild panic. There’s a list, it’s long and of course it’s non-negotiable. And somehow, you’re expected to source everything whilst juggling work, life and the madness of Christmas itself. So, if you’re currently hunting for a dolls house and furniture, allow me to save you some time by pointing you in the right direction.
The Suite Spaces Modular Dolls House Sets are designed for 8 to 10cm dolls. There’s five different rooms available, a Deluxe Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom and Game Room set plus the Style Surprises Blind Boxes which contains five surprise décor pieces to help children style and personalise their Suite Spaces rooms.
The clever bit is the flexibility, each room can easily be joined to the others to form one large house but as each room is modular you’re not locked into a single layout. When boredom inevitably strikes, the whole thing can be pulled apart and rebuilt in a completely different configuration. It might be kitchen on top one day with the bathroom at the bottom and on the next day it’s been swapped around – the layout is entirely up to the child’s imagination. Even the wallpaper and flooring are reversible, allowing for yet more rearranging and redesigning.
The attention to detail is just brilliant and it’s easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into every room. In the bathroom there’s soap, sponges and candles and the game room has a very modern feel complete with selfie light! The living room comes with a vase of flowers and candles, and the kitchen even has its own little fried egg for the frying pan.
I was also very impressed by the quality, the oven opens, the computer chair swivels, and when the rooms are stacked together they feel sturdy and well made. These are definitely built to stand up to the kind of enthusiastic play a child aged six and over will give them. This is not a flimsy, fall-apart-by-New Year sort of toy.
The smaller sets include 20 accessories and the larger ones come with 30, so there’s no shortage of home accessories to ignite budding designers imaginations. The sets encourage storytelling, creativity and hours of happy play, with endless scenarios to act out.
The Suite Spaces sets would make a wonderful Christmas present for any child who loves playing with dolls houses. We absolutely loved everything about them and I’ve no doubt they’ll be a big hit under the tree this year.
Standard rooms RRP £15 & Deluxe Bedroom set RRP £20
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
If you have young children you are bound to have heard of Squishmallows. These super cute stuffed egg-shaped cuddly toys are available in a wide selection of characters and have a habit of quietly taking over bedrooms and sofas. Fortunately, they’re nice and soft so when you accidently sit on them it doesn’t matter!
Micromallows are a smaller version of Squishmallows and have all the softness and charm of the originals, but are much smaller and a lot more portable, meaning they can be stuffed into pockets, bags, and glove boxes and taken on lots more adventures. Designed for collecting, displaying, and imaginative play, Micromallows allow children to construct entire plush-based worlds without needing an extension on the house!
The Micromallows plush 10-pack contains a selection of favourite characters including Hans the Hedgehog with his cute green bobble hat, Natnat the Alien who brings a touch of intergalactic fun to playtime while Puff the Penguin looks prepared for either a polar expedition or a well deserved nap. Malcolm the Mushroom, a Squishmallows celebrity is there too.
Compatible with all Micromallows Accessory and Storage Display sets, these tiny plush characters are easy to display, carry, or include in elaborate imaginary scenarios. They fit neatly into display cases, backpacks, or play scenes dreamed up by collectors of all ages.
The set makes a lovely gift, but you can also split it into stocking fillers or why not use them as a cute name place holders at the Christmas table?
Whilst officially aimed at children aged three to ten, they are also adored by older children and teenagers.
RRP £19.99 and available from Smyths Toys where they are currently available for £12.99
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.
With Christmas just around the corner, the shops are full of festive treats. While there will always be a place for a traditional Christmas cake or pudding, it’s rather lovely to discover something a little different – and this Red Velvet Dubai Chocolate Cake from Egg Free Cake Box is just that.
The cake is a beautifully light and moist red velvet sponge, generously layered with a silky pistachio cream and Egg Free Cake Box’s signature Dubai mix, which brings a gentle nuttiness and a pleasing sweetness. The sides are neatly finished with classic red velvet crumbs there’s also the option to personalise your cake; ours simply read “Enjoy”, but you can choose your own message when ordering.
On top of the cake is delicate creamy piping, adorned with a light sprinkle of suter pheni and crunchy pistachio pieces, while fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries add a cheerful splash of colour. It’s decorative without being fussy and my husband especially enjoyed the lighter topping as he finds cakes full of buttercream much too sweet.
I must confess I hadn’t come across Egg Free Cake Box before, so I was surprised to discover several shops within a short distance of home. With over 250 locations nationwide, their impressive Click & Collect service means you can order a cake and collect it within just an hour – perfect for last-minute get togethers. The company started back in 2008 with a single shop in East London and has grown steadily, always placing an emphasis on quality ingredients and careful craftsmanship.
All of their cakes are completely egg free, reflecting the founders’ strict lacto-vegetarian diet. When I was eating the cake I really couldn’t tell that it was egg free – there’s certainly no compromise when it comes to flavour or texture – which also makes these cakes a reassuring choice for parties where egg allergies may be a concern.
Our cake was delivered by a man in a car and it was well packaged in a large cake box. When I opened the box, it looked even more delicious than I’d hoped! The red velvet sponge had a lovely depth of flavour and wasn’t too sweet, while the pistachio and Dubai cream brought a luxurious nuttiness that worked incredibly well and make the cake incredibly moreish!
While it’s at its best within 24 hours, we popped it in the fridge for an extra day and the sponge stayed beautifully light and soft and was just as tasty as it was on the first day.
This is the sort of cake that would sit proudly on a Christmas Day table, perfect for sharing with family, and it makes a cracking alternative to the usual Christmas pudding – or a very good excuse to have both. We all thought it was absolutely delicious and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Egg Free Cake Box. With my birthday landing at the end of December, I can already tell you where my cake will be coming from this year.
It’s December and the panto season is in full swing and there’s nowhere better to soak up this Christmas tradition than in Blackpool. Nothing says festive fun quite like a good old-fashioned pantomime, and in Blackpool, where the humour is gloriously cheeky and the double entendres glide in quicker than a seagull after chips – it’s family entertainment at its finest.
Betty Legs Diamond, the original Funny Girl herself, strides on as Dame Polly La Plonk, resplendent, outrageous and armed with a wicked glint that suggests she could reduce a grown man to helpless giggles with nothing more than a raised eyebrow.
Belle, played by Kitty Harris is exactly how a fairytale princess should be. She’s beautiful and kind and you can easily see that she sees past the horns, fur and claws to spot the prince within.
Leading the all-star cast is Coronation Street baddie Marc Baylis as Hugo Pompidou. He strides across the stage with the perfect mix of danger, drama and irresistible charm, making it impossible not to boo the moment he appears.
But the real heart of a Grand Theatre panto is, as ever, Steve Royle. Having earned the title of the UK Pantomime Awards’ Best Comic, he bounds onto the stage like a child who’s had too many fizzy drinks. His energy, perfectly timed slapstick and razor-sharp adlibs had the audience in stitches from the moment he appeared on stage.
The costumes this year are an explosion of colour, big, bold and bursting with personality. The Beast’s costume is particularly impressive and with his swishing cloak he cuts quite the imposing figure. The transformations from prince to beast and back again are especially impressive, they are so quick that you half expect to find Doctor Who lurking in the wings with a malfunctioning time vortex! Maybe one to include next year!! Elsewhere, the French theme justifies a profusion of red, white and blue. The dancers seem to have a new outfit for every scene, while Dame Polly’s costumes… well, let’s just say they’re that little bit more daring. Would we expect anything less?
The show is peppered with brilliant scenes, from classics like the Ghostbusters routine to wonderfully funny adlibs when the balloon scene went deliciously off-script.
Choreographed by Katie Hill, the talented dancers from The Barbara Jackson’s Theatre Arts Centre were excellent, wowing the audience with a variety of different dance styles. We especially enjoyed the Can Can which added a typical French flourish to the show.
Beauty and the Beastruns until Sunday 4th January, giving you plenty of time to catch this magical, laugh-out-loud production. If you love pantomime – and honestly, who doesn’t at Christmas? – this is one you absolutely won’t want to miss.
Tickets start from £15 and are available from The Grand Theatre here
Tucked away in North Oxfordshire, Neve’s Bees is a charming family run business, named after founder Julie’s daughter, Neve. Following a spot of experimentation with “lotions and potions,” – blending beeswax with pure, natural plant oils and butters, they soon realised they could create an entire range of skincare products using only genuinely natural ingredients – ones that felt far better on the skin than anything they’d bought before. And so, Neve’s Bees was born. Today, they offer a wonderful selection of natural products, including ten different lip balms, available individually for £6.50 or as a trio for £18. Whether you prefer something floral, zingy, minty or simply plain and gentle, there’s a balm to suit every taste. Each one is blended with 100% natural ingredients -organic wherever possible – bringing together nature and a touch of science to create a beautifully rich, premium product. All of the balms are made with natural beeswax from Neve’s Bees own bees along with organic apricot kernel, organic jojoba and coconut oils, plus natural vitamin E for extra nourishment. The lip balms are in little slide tins which are small enough to slip into a coat pocket or handbag to keep lips moisturised when out and about.
I always seem to get chapped lips in winter and much prefer natural lip balms as they seem to soothe my lips much better. Using them both morning and night has become second nature, so I was quite excited when the parcel of Neve’s Bees lip balms arrived and I could tell from the minute I opened the first tin that these lip balms are much better quality than an off the shelf lip balm. They smell lovely and have a silky smooth texture which glides easily onto lips, The balm is quite solid in the tin but quickly warms up with the warmth of a finger and once on your lips it doesn’t feel greasy or sticky and it leaves my dry lips feeling soft and hydrated.
I’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors this week, so I’ve been able to really put these lip balms to the test. My ideal lip balm is one that pampers and nourishes lips, keeping them soft and hydrated no matter what the conditions are and these lip balms definitely ticked all these boxes. Whether I’ve been out walking, cycling or when I was battling Storm Claudia, a quick application of this lip balm has helped to keep my lips protected and prevent them from drying out and I’m confident they’ll continue to keep my lips hydrated as the cold weather settles in.
The three balms I have been trying out are –
Honey Vanilla – this is Neve’s Bees least fragranced lip balm and has just a hint of vanilla to soothe lips and allows the natural honey take centre stage.
Rosey is my favourite of the three balms, it is made from thousands of crushed rose petals and scented with Rose Otto and Rose Geranium. It is rich in vitamins A and E and it’s really helped soothe my dry lips.
Buttermint is inspired by the classic sweets and contains a blend of vanilla and peppermint. This lip balm is great for the men in your life who need to protect their lips but don’t want a flowery or feminine fragrance. This nourishing lip balm is full of goodness and is ideal for restoring softness and moisture.
These Neve’s Bees lip balms make brilliant little gifts and are just the thing for popping into a Christmas stocking, adding to a Secret Santa bundle, or slipping into a card along with a money gift.
Neve’s Bees also donate 10% of their profits to wildlife causes, helping to restore precious wildflower meadows and providing vital habitat for bees and other pollinators so when you buy their products you’re also making a difference to the natural world.
The lip balms are available from the Neve’s Bees website here
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Tucked behind the Hays Galleria in London Bridge, Vivat Bacchus is a traditional steakhouse which serves South African dishes, cooked in the traditional South African style. This branch of Vivat Bacchus also contains an extensive wine cellar, which of course stocks South African wine, but there’s also something called a Cheese Room – yes, a room full of just cheese! We visited on a miserable evening before Christmas to sample the best South Africa has to offer.
The menu is not just African food, but contains well known dishes such as burgers, sea bream and steaks but some of the ingredients, like Springbok, aren’t what you would usually find elsewhere! Some of the spices are different too, and the cooking methods aren’t what we’re used to in the UK. However, this was a pleasant surprise as it’s nicely removed from the usual pizza places and fast food joints that are everywhere now, and the price of a pizza isn’t far off the price of the main meals at Vivat Baccus, plus you get more for your money here as the portion sizes are pretty huge!
We started with the Smoked Snoek and Pap Fishcake and 3 Sosaties – a dish of three mini kebabs of chicken, lamb and Boerewors served with baked apricots, pepper and onions. These were delicious little treats, with an oil sauce that brought out the flavour and made a nice change to the usual starters. The Smoked Snoek and Pap Fishcakes are obviously made with fish found in South Africa and not our usual British waters, so the flavour of these was a gorgeous surprise. We were also given a baked corn bread as a starter, which came in a piping hot skillet as an accompaniment.
For mains, we ordered the Pork Belly (my favourite!) and a side of creamed spinach, and Vivat Bacchus’ famous beef burger with fries. The beef burger was enormous; with a salad and the chunkiest chips I’ve ever seen! There was so much there, we could hardly touch the side salad. The Pork Belly comes with a delicious Rainbow Coleslaw which has a slightly tangy dressing to counter the pork belly savoury taste. The Pork Belly was divine… a descent slab of meat, cooked until tender and soft enough to be pulled apart, with a seasoned crackling on top which was very easy to cut through, unlike some arrangements. This was perhaps the best Pork Belly dish I’ve ever had, thanks to the seasoning and the tenderness of the meat through the cooking process.
We were then treated to dessert. Much like the rest of the menu, the desserts are a South African twist on the usual staples but there are also so completely unique items. I tried the Crisp Peppermint Tart, which sounded like nothing else I’d heard of before. A huge dish of cake was brought out to me and I was asked how much I wanted, which was a really nice touch when you’re completely full! Of course, I was given far more than I expected which I took to be part of the African hospitality.
The Crisp Peppermint Tart is a layered dessert with sponge, a mascarpone-type filling and peppermint on top. There’s crisp biscuits lining the top of the pudding too, giving it a juxtaposition of textures. This was divine! I really loved the peppermint flavouring after such a heavy meal, and the mascarpone filling was bubbly and light, making it easier to digest. The sponge was also firm enough to call a proper dessert in itself – think Tiramisu but with peppermint on top and sprinklings of chocolate and biscuit. This is one that I want to make for myself at home!
We didn’t venture too far into after dinner dessert wines or the extensive wines they have on site, but we did have the South African version of Champagne – a sparkling white wine with bubbles and a touch of acidity.
There’s a great atmosphere in the restaurant with wooden floor, chairs and tables, which I don’t think is particularly South African but the wine cellars and bottle presentation boxes are. It can get quite noise in there with the low ceilings and I noticed that there were a lot of couples at tables rather than bigger gatherings but that might just be because it was a Monday night. Incidentally, they do 2-for-1 on burgers on a Monday night too, which might explain how busy they are!
Having never been to any of the Vivat Bacchus restaurants before (there is another one in Farringdon) I was more than pleasantly surprised by the choice on offer, and with how removed it is from the usual chain restaurants on the market. The food was excellent, the wine was equally as good and the staff looked after us. In answer to your question, no, I did not manage to finish the Crisp Peppermint Tart in the end – maybe next time!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
A little treat for yourself before the spring sunshine sets in or some nice cosy nights early to bed, the Silk Eye Mask from The Silk Club is useful to everyone. Made with 100% Mulberry Silk, it’s available in 5 colours and two sizes; Small- Medium and Medium-Large. As it’s made of pure silk, it’s also environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Does it work though?
The softness of the silk means it fits most faces with just the elastic band in place and covers the whole eye area. It’s not uncomfortable to lay on the mask to sleep either, and as the elastic band is covered in silk too, it’s very delicate on the skin. Silk means it’s kind to your skin microbiome and helps prevent pillow face. I know a lot of women who swear by silk pillowcases to help prevent wrinkles and the Silk Eye Mask is similar.
To block out light, the mask is padded to give maximum blackout. Once you get used to having something over your face all night, it becomes comforting especially in the spring and summer when the sun comes up. It’s particularly good for travelling too, when you need to sleep on planes or in a car. Sadly, it doesn’t do anything for noise but it does help you concentrate on sleeping! The combination of noise cancelling headphones and the Silk Eye Mask is an absolute winner. They look very stylish too, with the plain block colours in pale pinks and blues.
A lovely gift for a friend who travels or for those who have trouble sleeping – but like their bed wear stylish too!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Ultimate confidence is something which is learned, not given. You aren’t born with confidence in the way that you’re not born to be able to project your voice when public speaking or to be able to handle stress, but it is something you can actively teach yourself.
Confidence comes from knowing yourself though, not from being brave and standing in front of a room of people and giving a PowerPoint presentation. That’s the first lesson that Ant Austen is teaching you in his book, “Instant Confidence.”
Starting with a heart-wrenching back story, the book sets the scene for what confidence is. Going through some simple exercises, Ant helps you to identify your limiting beliefs and where they come from using a series of questions. There’s a long section on being truthful with yourself, which is ultimately how those questions are answered and then worked on to be able to eliminate your limiting beliefs and grow.
Following these truths, the book goes on to deal with any guilt you hold, the fear of changing these limited beliefs, and the freedom that comes when you break through. Only after reading through the book and the exercises can you find out what that freedom means to you or how you want to achieve it to get instant confidence.
The book is a self-help, short read that you can pick up and put down easily and has just 61 pages. Great for commuting, you can come back to it and do the exercises all over again and pick up a different limiting belief before you work on yourself and move on to even greater levels of confidence.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Hailed as the 21st Century’s answer to Riverdance, the Emerald Storm production by Adam Garcia returns to the West End again, and this time at the Emerald Theatre.
A fusion of Irish dancing, tap dance and urban street dance, the story is brought to audiences by The Boss, played by Tom Ball. A singer in a cabaret show, The Boss punctuates the story as Irish dancers take the stage, The Boss sings, and the immersive theatre happens around you. Watch out for the Mop Boy at this point… then the dancers blend away as tap dancers take the stage and finally singers take on the harmonies as they all take it in turn to bring the dance experience to you.
Every song in this musical extravaganza is accompanied by dance. The theatre is a cabaret-style, two tier theatre with cocktail tables, several bars and sofa seating to sit back and relax. There are actors walking around before and after the show, who then appear on stage as part of the story. Not only does Tom Ball need a shout-out for his talent, but principal dancers Olivia Graydon (Irish dancing) Bayley. Graham (tap) and Matt Walker (Mop Boy) also feature heavily in the dancing as well as the interactivity. There’s lots of stomping, clapping, audience echoing and the main show is book-ended with a house band to open, and audience tap dancing on stage afterwards.
There’s a fabulous energy to the show and lots of smiles – genuine smiles between the performers who all hail from performing schools across the country. The mix of different dance styles is really engaging and is heightened by some fabulous singers and cheeky to-and-fro between the cast and the floor.
It’s an energetic night out with lots of uplifting dance and music, close up and in a cocktail evening style that you don’t get in many places across London nowadays. Magnificent!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The super-sized SoleCup is a travel mug with no compromise. The cup is built from a toughened glass so it not only resists breaking but it keeps the taste of hot drinks fresh without the plastic sensation. If you know anything about saving the planet, then glass cups are much better all-round. The glass doesn’t leach plastic into any hot drinks either, which can be a problem with cheaper plastics and can cause health issues long term.
The lid of the SoleCup seal (which is in black in this sample) is a non-splash design which makes it easier to keep in the car. It’s a screw lid with a seal over the drinking lid so that you can keep it safe. There’s a cuff to protect your hands from the heat of the drink too, and all of it can go in the dishwasher. On the website, you can buy tea infusers and smoothy filters as additions, which is a nice alteration to the original purpose.
This is a solid travel mug and a chunky 18oz or 510ml size to be able to carry it around and make a meal of it. In fact, the size makes it perfect for a smoothie as a replacement meal, or if you’re on a long car journey and need a hot drink to keep you going. I love the glass design that’s sleek as well as practical and you can tell whose drink is whose – no more having to taste them to find out if you’ve picked up your partner’s one by mistake!
I love this as a gift idea too. Everyone needs another travel mug and most people love a hot drink most days. This is great for anyone going to work on public transport, and I would even say it’s great for long walks, running or exercise thanks to the non-spill design.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This Christmas, Lego have a genius card game for after dinner or Boxing Day, or as a great gift for families who love constructing with LEGO.
The game is usually played in pairs where one person is the builder and the other a communicator. The communicator takes a card with a diagram of an abstract Lego design and has to describe it to their partner. The game is timed, so the team who build the LEGO model quickest gains the most points!
There are 92 models to build and 20 challenge cards to make the game more interesting, like having to communicate without speaking or building with just one hand!
The game includes 48 LEGO pieces which pertain to the designs on the cards, and the pieces are full sized LEGO pieces. It can be played with 4-8 players and is aged from 7 years upwards but you do need a stopwatch or time keeper of some kind. The small parts are not suitable for younger children either.
This is a really fun and easy to understand game for everyone. There’s nothing complicated about it and you don’t have lots of rules to memorize before you can play. The scoring is easy, but the actual building of the models is more difficult than you think so it’s really eye-opening to see how people cope with having to describe an abstract shape. The timing element of the game makes it more urgent and therefore more fun, especially at Christmas time when everyone is more jovial anyway! I loved this game and the whole concept of building with LEGO and can see us playing this as a family throughout the year.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Getting ready for a cocktail this evening? Planning a drinks party this Christmas? Then Tower’s newest frozen drinks maker may be for you, especially if you are a fan of a frozen margherita or daiquiri. Or do you have children who are always bothering you for a slushie when you’re out?
How does it work? Is it easy to use? Yes – add your mix, select what you want from the digital control panel, put a glass or container underneath the spout, press a button and your water mix magically turns into an iced rink before your eyes.
This appliance comes in a very large box and is heavy. This is because it’s effectively an ice machine and crusher in one. No putting cartons of water in the freezer and hammering away with an ice pick to get that perfect snowy crushed ice. You just add flavoured water, press the buttons and fluffy magical crushed ice is deposited into a glass. This machine does it all for you and more.
Unboxed it is also very large and if you are thinking of buying one you may need to check where you’ll put it. It didn’t fit under any cupboards in the kitchen and even at the front of the worktop you couldn’t fit the drip tray underneath. It would have to take up a large space on an open worktop or one a table. But once installed it’s very easy to use and comes with a comprehensive instructions booklet that also has QR links on cleaning and a QR code on the machine for recipes.
The drinks ‘drum’ has a minimum of 0.5l and a maximum of 1.9l fill, so a large capacity to make plenty of slushie mix or iced cocktails at once. However, where I think the machine does fall down slightly, you have to put sugared water in the drum to make the crushed ice mix. It specifically says that low calorie or sugar free slushies can’t be made. To use these mixes you would need to add lemon juice, salt and a low calorie sweetener called erythritol! Probably no low calorie for children then. However, as alcohol does contain sugar, frozen cocktails and other alcoholic drinks would be fine and very enjoyable in the summer. The Tower Slushie Fusion Maker doesn’t just do children’s drinks and cocktails, it can also make frappes and milkshakes. These too would have to contain some kind of sweet sauce or sweetener.e appliance doesn’t come with any recipes but going online to Tower’s website there’s a very detailed recipes book. Browsing through it becomes clear that many of your favourite drinks can have the Slushie Fusion treatment – Espresso Martini, Boozy Cherry Cola or Creamy Pina Colada Slushie! And the other sections were equally exciting – the Vegan Mocha or Matcha Latte Frappe compete with an Apple and Cinnamon Kombucha Slushie.
Worried about the cleaning if you use sugary syrups and milk? Not a bother at all – most parts that get dirty can be dish washed. There’s even a video, via that QR code, to help you out.
Would I buy the Tower Slushie Fusion? For a lover of cocktails or children and friends who love sugary drinks and smoothies then yes. If you were having a large get together or celebration party, it would be worth the investment. There’s a certain novelty to freezing your drinks and it would certainly cause a buzz amongst guests.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
British designer Tower have a range of appliances and cooking aids available this Christmas, including the 1.7 litre Digital Kettle in their Cavaletto range. We were sent this stylish conical-shaped, Italian influenced kettle with a digital display and all-round, 360-degree base which means the kettle can be heated up on the electrical element from any angle. If you’re left-handed, then you know how annoying it is to keep having to switch hands when using the kettle!
The Cavaletto 1.7 litre digital kettle’s most distinctive feature is the temperature control. Conventional kettles only have on/off buttons but the Cavaletto digital kettle has a touch control button which gives you temperatures up to 100 degrees. Starting at 40 degrees for delicate drinks and heating cups, the temperatures increase by 10 degrees with each touch and displays them on the kettle tab. The temperatures are useful because you can not only use them for making the perfect coffee (80-90C) but you’ll find other uses like warming plates before dinner, heating up a baby’s bottle or using the lower temperatures for cleaning.
The Cavaletto kettle has a capacity to boil up to 7 cups of water at a time and also has a 3 year guarantee to give assurance that it will last. The attention to detail on the silver trim sets off the Italian look nicely with the perfect pour spout. There’s also a filter inside for those of us who live in a hard water area but the workings don’t matter as it looks, and feels so stylish to use. It’s a great looking bit of kit for the kitchen too!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Kick start Christmas with an Irish-themed song and dance spectacular in London’s West End! We were lucky enough to see the show live and experience the entertainment of Irish dancing, Christmas classics, live music and a few Christmas jokes in between!
Starting the show with an Irish band of banjo, violin and guitar, we are introduced to the 6 Irish dancers who accompany the 130 minute long show. Shane is our main compere and brings us to the show, starting in New York with a lean towards an Irish Christmas tale. We meet the six Irish dancers early on and are treated to a Riverdance-style performance with songs such as Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town, Step Into Christmas and some traditional songs such as Oh Danny Boy, O Holy Night and old-fashioned Irish songs like The Galway Girl, The Irish Rover and Dirty Old Town.
The band are phenomenal and take on the title of ‘house band’ with pride as we’re treated to great live music thanks to Shane Morgan (vocals), Oliver Cave (vocals and guitar), Peet Jackson (banjo), Molly Farmer (vocals) and Caitlin Forbes (Violin). The show finishes with some chart hits of yesterday such as the famous Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. The show ends with an Irish St Patrick’s Day party where everyone is on their feet, singing and dancing to the songs of A Fairytale for Christmas. A fabulous show for the whole family.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Higgidy snacks are starting to play more of a role in the Christmas feasts and this year they have a limited edition selection for the festive period. So, if you’re pecking before dinner, or picking something up at work that’s different compared to your normal sandwich, Higgidy have something for you. Don’t worry if you’re vegetarian too, there’s some lovely veggie options that anyone can enjoy.
Starting with the rolls, there’s the twin pack Pigs In Blankets Inspired Sausage Rolls with bacon jam. These are sausage rolls with a hint of bacon flavour from the bacon jam. They’re topped with extra mature cheddar, a touch of parsley and delicious beetroot crumbs. This is the pigs in blanket hit you didn’t know you needed as it requires no cooking, but like all of the Higgidy range, you can heat them if you prefer.
There’s also the Beechwood Smoked Ham Hock & Mature Cheddar Sausage Rolls with Dijon Mustard. This pack of 6 rolls can also be heated for 6-8 minutes or eaten cold, which is what I preferred to do as part of a weekday lunch. The puff pastry is especially puff and reminds me of Christmas with the fresh mince pies of a similar texture. There’s also poppy seeds on top and a light sprinkling of sea salt to compliment the ham hock.
For the vegetarians, there’s the two pack of French Brie and Cranberry Rolls. These are also puff pastry and topped with extra mature Cheddar and Emmenthal cheese, millet seeds and dried beetroot crumb. I really liked the flavour of these, and they’re just as filling as the sausage rolls where you can taste the Brie and cranberry side-by-side.
If you know the Higgidy range then you’ll know they also do mini muffins. This Christmas season’s mini muffins are the Extra Mature Cheddar & Spinach Mini Muffins which are a cross between a baked muffin and a crustless quiche. They contain wheat, but they’re big on cheese and eggs too. You can really taste the turmeric and chilli powder which makes them great party bites as well as snacks. They can also be heated for 3-6 minutes or left open in the fridge for the family to help themselves at Christmas time!
Lastly, my favourite; the Beechwood Smoked Bacon & Extra Mature Cheddar Quiche with Bechamel. Bechamel always feels like a luxurious treat to me so when it’s part of this delicious Higgidy quiche it brings me back to Christmas and works particularly well with the smoked bacon. There’s a lot of mixture in this quiche which provides the flavour and the Extra Mature Cheddar is a great bed-mate of the Beechwood Smoked Bacon. I loved this to eat straight out of the box and with some olives, coleslaw or as a piece on its own. It has a beautiful texture too and the pastry is thin and quite light, so you don’t get full up on the stodgy edges.
Lovely snacks, lovely lunches and a great shortcut this Christmas to not having to cook but to be able to bring a few more festive flavours to the table.
All items available at Tesco and Sainsbury’s with the two packs also available at Boots on the Food To Go counters.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
It’s time to get MIGHTY!
Mighty Wheels is based on the cartoon series of the same name and contains a world of all sorts of trucks as toys as part of their range. Not just any trucks though, an assortment of dump trucks, tow trucks, cranes, tractors and even fire engines. The best part is that they’re made of steel and hardy plastic so they’re super hard wearing and can take about as much tough love as the real things! We were sent the “Super” Dump Truck and the Mighty Man Deluxe Figure as part of the extensive range available this Christmas.
The ”Super” Dump Truck is definitely super. It’s 16” in length and certainly lives up to its name of being “Super” thanks to the massive size of it. The yellow tipper is made of steel whereas the wheels and body are made of tough plastic. The tipper literally tips up and the wheels rotate making it easier to manoeuvre. This is a beast of a dump truck and it has to be seen to be believed so make sure you have enough room for it at home! It’s great for playing with scenarios where you can actually carry something worthwhile like if you’re on the beach or in the garden.
In addition to the “Super” Dump Truck, the Mighty Man figure is also from the cartoon show. It doesn’t fit the truck though, so don’t think you can use it as part of the role play. Instead, this is a toy in itself with batteries and accessories. Press the button on the belt and it has three phrases, “It’s time to get Mighty!” and “What do you think team? Can we do it?” as well as, “I got my Mighty Tools, my Mighty Hat and my team of Mighty Wheels!” He wears his famous hat, plus has a toolbelt with a detachable hammer. This is actually a really cool toy that I enjoyed playing with the phrases!
Just a word to watch out though – these toys have small parts that aren’t suitable for children under 3 so be careful with babies. They’re fabulous toys as part of a range of equally collectable and useable toys that children will love and can interact with in different ways depending on their age.
The Review Studio 