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Charles Worthington Scalp Restore Range

beauty, Gifts for Her, haircare, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Women

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

When it comes to holiday beauty prep, most of us have our skincare routine down to a fine art. Vitamin C? Packed. SPF? Non-negotiable. Hydrating sheet masks? Already in the suitcase. But while we’re diligent about looking after our skin it’s surprising at just how often our hair gets overlooked.

From chlorine-filled pools and salty sea swims to long days in the sun, holidays can put a surprising amount of stress on our hair and scalp. The result? Hair that feels greasy more quickly, product build-up, visible flakes and an overall lack of freshness, just when you’re trying to look your best

A healthy scalp is the secret behind great-looking hair, think of it as the haircare equivalent of a good primer or facial serum, so if you want to have glossy, healthy-looking hair this summer, then it’s time to start looking after your scalp. In preparation for my holidays I’ve started using the new Scalp Restore range from Charles Worthington. The three-step routine is now available in Boots and includes Shampoo (£9.99), Conditioner (£9.99) and a Reviving Scalp Scrub (£14.99). All three products contain niacinamide and a sustainable biotech microalgae active and are designed to gently cleanse, refresh and rebalance the scalp while helping hair stay fresher for longer between washes.

The Reviving Scalp Scrub is particularly satisfying after a day spent in the sun, it gently removes excess oil, flakes and product build-up, leaving your scalp feeling refreshed and cared for. The shampoo lathers very easily, lifting away all the dirt, oil and product build up and the conditioner is rich and hydrating and my curls loved it.

Whether you’re jetting off on a city break, lounging on the beach or embarking on a far flung adventure these are the haircare essentials you need to have in your suitcase.

Glowing skin may get all the attention, but great holiday hair starts at the root.

Narcissus Lip Scrub and Lip Mask Duo

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Summer, Women

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.

Prep. Polish. Perfect.

That’s what the Narcissus website says when it comes to creating the perfect lips for summer. The Narcissus Duo is a lip scrub and lip mask which work in combination to leave lips soft and ready for make-up, or just bare lips for the summer. We were sent both (they live in these cute little clam boxes!) to try, just in time for the good weather. How did we get on?

The Narcissus Lip Scrub, which is this vibrant pink, has grains which are similar in size and texture to sugar but it’s not! I found that I had to mix a bit of water with the scrub to make it pliable, and then I used too much on my lips so I had bright pink, grainy lips for a while! To use it, you just massage on the mask for 30 seconds to both top and bottom lips and then wash or wipe away. The mask exfoliates and rejuvenates the lips, taking away dead skin and also massages the lips to give them a glow.

Following the Narcissus Lip Scrub, the Lip Mask, which is also pink but not so vibrant in colour, adds depth and acts as a barrier to the lips. The rich mask seals in the moisture and conditions the skin so that they feel plumper. You can either go with the mask as a slight tint of pink colour or as it conditions over time and wears away, add a lipstick or lip gloss on top as you usually would.

The combination of the Narcissus Lip Scrub and Lip Mask create hydration and healing. The Lip Mask also leaves a shine to the lips and if you get dry lips over summer, or are stuck in air conditioning when it’s really hot, then the lip mask really helps with preventing dry lips, and with recovery. They’re a great combination and a lovely self treat!

Narcissus Lip Scrub £24:

https://www.narcissuslondon.com/product-page/self-devotion-lip-scrub

Narcissus Lip Mask £20:

https://www.narcissuslondon.com/product-page/love-reflected-lip-mask

MINISO Clear Nail Polish

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, secret santa, Summer, Women

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.

Looking for some summer pick-me-ups? MINISO have a raft of different beauty options on their website which act as brilliant one-time gifts for yourself, or others, to make you smile this summer. The best part is that they don’t cost the Earth either! MINISO sent us their Golden Cap Clear Nail Varnish to try out for summer and I’ve been testing it nearly every day this week…

The Golden Cap Clear Nail Varnish can be used as either a top coat, or a clear varnish on bare nails. I opted to use it as a top coat, to seal in the colour I was applying plus giving my nails a shiny finish. You can see in the photo the difference the Golden Cap Clear Nail Varnish gives when applied over an existing varnished nail. As the varnish is oil-based, it’s hard wearing and dries fairly quickly. It leaves an even coat over each nail and isn’t too thick that it is slow to dry, or creates and uncomfortable layer on the top that seeps into the surrounding nail bed and eventually peels off.

The Golden Cap Clear Nail Varnish is a steal at just £1.49, and as you look through the other items online you’ll see even more bargains. It’s a great stocking filler gift, or if you start collecting items now for the Christmas Calendar, no one is not going to want a clear nail varnish at Christmas!

Available online from £1.49 at: https://minisoshop.co.uk/health-and-beauty

Yankee Candle Serenity Stone and Spa Inspired Gift Set

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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.

Yankee Candles have long been the standard for candles at home, or as gifts especially with their beautifully presented Signature range. If you’ve ever been into a Yankee Candle shop, then you’ll know that there are not only a huge range of scents available, but different sizes as well. Yankee Candle sent us this Signature edition of their scent Serenity Stone and a gift box of three tealight candles. Who wouldn’t want to give, or receive candles like these?

The Serenity Stone Yankee Candle is seen here in the large jar version, but other sizes are available. Large Jar means it’s a glass jar with lid, which is not only better for transporting but the glass lid allows you to extinguish the flame easily by just placing the lid on top and removing the source or oxygen. There are two wicks to light too; meaning it burns more evenly with a 65-80 hour, soy wax burn life. It’s quite heavy too at over half a kilo (567 grams to be precise) so I wouldn’t recommend sending this in the post!

The second set sent to us was the spa-inspired tealight set of candles with the scents Slow Bloom, Lavender Bliss and Serenity Stone. Each of the candles have their own distinct fragrance and undertone; the Lavender Bliss for instance is a Floral fragrance whereas Slow Bloom is a Woody fragrance. You don’t burn all three of these fragranced candles at once, more like one after the other to create a long term ambience. The Gift set is called Spa-Inspired for a reason, and these candles would be perfect for a relaxing bath or in a room where you want some more peace. With the burn time on each of these candles being around 7-10 hours, that’s a lot of baths, or a full day of candle time!

If you’re looking for a gift too, these are all perfect to send. The Serenity Stone Large Jar may be heavy, but it’s no lightweight in the gifting arena. The gift set is much smaller but great for posting or giving as an individual present or to add to a hamper of bigger treats.

Serenity Stone available in Large Jar size for £29.99 at:

https://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/yankee-candle/candles/shop-by-type/signature-large-jar-candles/serenity-stone-candle/SAP_2672619E.html

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Days Out, Theatre

Disclaimer: We received free tickets for the purpose of thhis review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is an award-winning novel by Christy Lefteri which has been adapted for the stage by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler. The book has been sitting on my pile of books to-read for a good while so an invitation to opening night at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool gave me the perfect opportunity to finally find out what the story is about.

At the heart of the story is beekeeper Nuri (Adam Sina) and his wife Afra (Farah Saffari) who live in the beautiful city of Aleppo and we discover how their world is turned upside down by the Syrian civil war. Forced to flee their home, the book tells the story of how two ordinary Syrians become refugees, making a traumatic journey through Turkey and Greece before finally reaching England, where they seek asylum from the war that has devastated their country.

The narrative is presented in quite a fragmented way, moving between their past lives in Syria and their new lives in the UK. This works brilliantly, underscoring just how broken the lives of Nuri and Afra have become through the effects of war and, in particular, their deep personal loss. Many of the horrors they encounter are only hinted at rather than fully explained and it is often what is left unsaid that paints the bigger picture.

The story puts a human face onto the often faceless “problem” of refugees. By seeing the story of just one couple we can begin to understand what the real human cost is of the refugee crisis. Whilst the play is quite emotional and moving, there are plenty of lighter moments too, especially when Joseph Long, who plays Nuri’s cousin Mustafa takes to the stage.

The symbolism of bees hums gently beneath the surface from beginning to end. The ability of bees to survive, how they work as a community and also hope. At the end of the story Nuri is able to finally be reunited with his cousin who has already made the journey and established a new apiary in his new home in Yorkshire.

Visually, the production achieves a remarkable amount with a deceptively simple set. The shifting landscape transforms effortlessly from the shores of dangerous crossings to the family home in Aleppo and later to their temporary accommodation in England. Clever use of projection, lighting and sound helps transport the audience between locations, with crashing waves and subtle atmospheric effects creating a powerful sense of place.

You cannot fail to be moved by this thought-provoking play, and the emotional performances from the cast and whether you’re familiar with the story or not it’s definitely a show worth seeing – after seeing it last night the book is now firmly at the top of my to-read pile!

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is at The Grand Theatre until Saturday 30th May with tickets starting at £18. For more information or to book tickets visit their website here

Luna by Khush Eyeshadow & Smudger Duo Stick

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Summer, Women

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 love trying new make-up at The Review Studio and as I happened to need a new eyeshadow colour, Khush at Luna was happy to send one of their new Eyeshadow & Smudger Duo Sticks in the colour Taupe. What is a Duo Stick? Well, instead of the flat palette of eyeshadow colours which require a brush for application, a Duo Stick is more like a make-up crayon which is applied directly to the skin and the opposite end (the Duo) is a smudge stick for blending in the colour.

There are more colours available on the website (18 colours in all) which range from daywear to nightwear colours and suit all types of skin colourings. The taupe colour Duo Stick colour has a slight shimmer to it, making it glow slightly when applied. The other sponge end, for smudging, can be used to create a more even coat of colour or to blend up into the eye socket.

I was really impressed by both the colour and the coverage of the Luna Eyeshadow Duo stick. The colour goes onto your eyelids really easily and you can opt to smudge it or not. I found that I didn’t actually need to smudge it, the pencil-like application means you can be quite detailed in how you apply it. I don’t normally apply eyeshadow under my eyes but the stick allowed me to do that with precision, and the smudger helps blend it in. The overall coverage on my eyes was great too as I find it difficult to get a brush to give an even finish. The stick allows you to layer up and applies an even amount all over because you’re not having to load up a brush each time and blend it in.

The price point is spot on too, as I suspect that the Duo Sticks last longer than eyeshadow palettes and they’re easier to travel with. They’re less likely to shatter if you drop them and their direct application to the skin means you can use them without having to take a set of brushes with you too. The colours and glimmer of the eyeshadow are really classy too, so you can buy several colours and layer them up or add some depths with darker colours.

Eyeshadow & Smudger Duo Stick available from £15.99 at: https://lunabykhush.com/products/eyeshadow-smudger-duo-stick?variant=57081971278208

Jolene Nipple Covers

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, REUSABLE, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Women

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.

I don’t know about you, but one of the few things that I don’t like about summer is having to wear a completely different wardrobe. That wardrobe invariably includes sheer fabrics, tight fitting tops and dresses and fewer layers. If you’re adverse to wearing a bra in the summer or want something less visible, then Jolene Nipple Covers might be your go-to.

I’ve never tried nipple covers before. I’m definitely in the “bra” camp when it comes to playing safe, but it also holds me back on the type of clothes I can wear. The Jolene Nipple Covers are suitable for all sizes, so you don’t need to worry about getting the sizing right to replace whatever your usual bra size is. Jolene’s were kind enough to send us both Nipple Covers in their range; with adhesive, and without adhesive.

Both sets come in presentation boxes as you can reuse them. The boxes themselves are really sturdy so they can go into luggage if you are taking them on holiday. Both products come in a choice of colours; ivory, almond, caramel and mocha. The Adhesive Nipple Covers come in the smaller box and are the smaller of the pair. They are already glued so all you have to do is take the backing off, but keep the backing in the presentation box as the covers can be reused!

The Non-Adhesive Nipple Covers are larger and don’t need to be stuck to your skin. This might be a better option whilst on holiday and it’s hot! They are backed in a plastic covering too to keep them clean. Both the sets of covers have an almost Latex, skin-like texture which is matte in finish and slightly cool to the touch. As there is no adhesive, the inside of the covers has a slightly grippy texture to keep it in place.

The covers actually work! I think the Adhesive Nipple Covers are great for dresses and thinner materials, so work great for summer evenings when you might be wearing more revealing clothes. The Non-Adhesive Nipple Covers are larger, so fit well under T-shirts and even swimwear. There’s no seams, and they are both sweat proof and swim proof, which is a relief when you can’t wear a bra under a bikini anyway!

I’m really happy with the Jolene Nipple Covers. I wish I could show you photos that do it justice but for me, it’s more about the comfort of being able to wear covers and have peace of mind rather than the aesthetics. If a bra isn’t possible, you can bring these with you in your handbag and use them over and over, and they don’t need extra adhesive, if any at all, so there’s nothing fiddly to use when you go out. If you’re wondering too, they don’t hurt and aren’t difficult to remove at the end of the evening too!

Adhesive Silicone Nipple Covers £16.95: https://www.jolenebody.com/products/premium-silicone-nipple-covers

Jolene Silicone Nipple Covers Adhesive Free £24.95: https://www.jolenebody.com/products/premium-silicone-nipple-covers-adhesive-free

Opies BBQ Collection of Gherkins and Pickled Onions for Summer

Food & Drink, Home, 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.

Although this is BBQ season (finally!) this collection of gherkins and pickles from Opies also reminded me of that British tradition – fish and chips. Opies sent us some Mini Gherkins, Mini Silverskin Onions, Cornichons & Onions and a rather lovely jar or Stem Ginger too! If you’re wondering what cornichons are, they’re French gherkins, the same as the usual just smaller!

Each of the medium-sized jars are packed with gherkins and onions and can be decantated into BBQ dishes, or if like in our house, you fish them out with a fork or spoon! With my fish and chips, I like to sprinkle some of the vinegar onto my fish and chips to use up some of the flavour from the pickling. Some people save the vinegar entirely and use it to pickle other foods once the jar is empty but I never have enough vinegar left to do that!

Each of the onions, gherkins and cornichons are crisp, sharp and easy to eat in small mouthfuls between bites of fish and chips. They’re not so bitter though that children wouldn’t enjoy them, and the smaller size makes them easy to eat along with any BBQ item. You can also use the gherkins and cornichons in dressings and sauces too.

The Opies Stem Ginger is a sweet ginger in a syrup which is also great for adding to recipes. I diced up the stem ginger pieces and added them to biscuits, along with some of the syrup to give a sweeter flavour to them – and they turned out delicious!

The Opies BBQ Collection are great for the summer and like all vinegar pickled fruits, will last so much longer than you think if you refrigerate them too!

Available in most leading stores and online at:

Products

Shepherd Neame and Kent Crisps

camping, Family Life, Food & Drink, snacks, 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.

Brewers Shepherd Neame have come together with Kent Crisps to create a tasty flavour for summer; the Shepherd Neame Beef Brisket & Stout flavour crisps. Shepherd Neame’s Iron Wharf Stout was launched last year, taking its name from Faverham’s famous wharf. You can see the historical significance of the stout from Kent with HMS Cavalier on the packet, docked at Chatham Dockyard.

The new Beef Brisket & Stout flavour is the eighth flavour in the hand-cooked range of Kent Crisps. Other flavours include Sea Salt, Ham & Mustard, Smoked Chipotle Chili, Oyster & Vinegar and Ashmore Cheese & Onion. The range of flavours is testament to the quality that Kent Crisps aspires to and the extra flavour this year is no exception. We were sent samples of each of the flavours, and yes I’m sitting here eating the Smoked Chipotle Chilli flavour as I write!

Kent Crisps’ Beef Brisket & Stout flavour really tastes like beef. Not just beef, but beef brisket and the after taste of the crisps is that of the stout. I’ve not enjoyed a glass of Shepherd Neame’s Iron Wharf Stout yet, but this crisp flavour definitely has the stout flavouring as a chaser. My other favourite flavours were Ham & Mustard and the Smoked Chipotle Chilli. If you’re not familiar with chipotle, it’s a Mexican sauce which has become very popular in the last decade, and the chilli flavour is again an after taste on these crisps which leave a slightly ‘hot’ flavour as if you were eating a Mexican burrito.

As for the crisps, Kent Crisps are known for their quality and being hand cooked in Kent, they have a very short distance to go until they get to your favourite pub! All of the crisps are fresh, covered in flavour and easy to eat with the potatoes grown in Kent.

Kent Crisps and the Beef Brisket and Stout flavour from Shepherd Neame are available now in crisps or online at Kent Crisps.

Available from £19.50 for a box of 20 at: https://kentcrisps.com/shop/

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Finding the perfect Father’s Day gift isn’t always easy, especially with the cost of living still squeezing budgets. Aftershave is always a good present to buy and with so many different fragrances available it’s easy to find one that suits both your dad’s personality and your budget. Superdrug have some brilliant offers on at the moment, so whether your Dad likes something classic, fresh and clean or a little more sophisticated there’s plenty to choose from without spending a fortune. These two are a couple of my favourites and both are currently reduced – which is even better!

The Artiscent Male Gift Set (usually £10 and currently £5) contains three 20ml fragrances Cedar Blanc, Musk Dore and Vettiver Arome, all created in Paris, the home of prestige perfumery. They come in smart dark blue glass bottles and are surprisingly good dupes for Paco Rabanne Invictus, Paco Rabanne 1 Million and Bleu de Chanel. The fragrances are fresh, wearable and ideal for everyday use and while they don’t quite have the staying power of the designer versions, they’re a fraction of the price. The smaller bottles are also perfect for chucking into a washbag or gym bag, making them ideal for travelling too. Whether your dad prefers crisp and sporty scents or something slightly warmer and muskier, this set gives him a few different options to try without the designer price tag attached.

If you’d rather go for a recognisable designer fragrance, then Versace The Dreamer is a really good buy. Ordinarily the 100ml bottle retails at £78, but it is currently on offer at Superdrug for only £21.84, which is an absolute bargain. With fresh notes of juniper, tarragon and artemisia, balanced with softer floral hints of iris and lily and a warm amber and tobacco base, Versace The Dreamer is one of those really easy fragrances to wear because it feels fresh and masculine without being too heavy or overpowering. Whether Dad wears it for work, weekends or going out for dinner, it’s the kind of classic scent that never really goes out of style,

CUKTECH 15 Power Bank Air

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Tech, travel

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.

I love a gadget, and this power bank is perfect for a Father’s Day gift!

The CUKTECH 15 Power Bank Air holds enough power to recharge your iPhone 17 by 1.6 times or a Samsung S25 Ultra about 2.2 times over. That’s only for phones, it can power laptops too with 65W Fast Charging, which is enough to power a Mac Book Air from zero to 48%.

The slim design is deceptively heavy though! It’s enough to carry all that power but is about the size of a phone just fatter. It does mean that it fits into a pocket or hand luggage, and it would comfortably fit into a handbag too but it comes with a cosy bag to keep it in, along with the USB-C cable. The front of the power bank has a display which tells you the percentage charge already on the power bank, plus how long it will take to charge fully or how much charge it has left through each of the ports. Speaking of which, you can charge to and from the CUKTECH 15 with a Type-C2, Type-C2 and USB-A1 ports. The screen goes dark when not in use but the button at the side lights it up again so you can see the stats as it charges. The three different ports mean you can power up to three appliances all at once too.

You can charge up the CUKTECH with the provided cable. To change the direction of charge, click the side button twice and the display changes. Keep clicking and it allows you to change the display and setting so that the screen stays on and it shows you which port is being used to charge in or out of the power bank, and how long it takes to charge and the percentage. You can even change the display to be upside down so that you use it on the go or if it’s in a pocket!

At around £50, it’s not a bad price for a power bank on the market, as there are a lot out there which aren’t as compact or as useful, and having the ability to charge 3 appliances at once is definitely a benefit. The cable is a bit short though, especially if you have the charger in your pocket and you’re trying to walk and text at the same time, and you would have to source other cables for the other ports if your appliance didn’t already come with one, but they can all be poppled in the supplied bag so that you can carry them with you. Although it’s heavy too, it’s not any heavier than other power banks, and that’s because of the nature of the battery it contains.

The CUKTECH 15 Power Bank is a really useful gift and a great surprise for Father’s Day as something that is actually helpful to everyday life.

Available from £49.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNQK3VHZ?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP

Tessan PD20W Universal Power Adaptor

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Stocking Fillers, Tech

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.

For the Dads who travel for work, or just those Dads who are always prepared, the Tessan PD20W is a travel adapter for almost everywhere in the world, allowing him to plug in to a socket and use any appliance he’s taken with him.

The small, palm sized adaptor has 3 plugs to fix into a wall socket throughout the world; the sockets included are for the USA or Japan, Australia and the UK, meaning you can use it in Britain too if you have sockets or cables from elsewhere in the world. The front of the adaptor has 4 sockets in total. The first one is the AC socket which is commonly used in the US. Underneath, you have the USB-A, USB-C2 and USB-C1 sockets for cables. This is usually for charging phones and small appliances such as cameras and tablets. The three different sizes means it works on most modern appliances so there’s no need to bring anything else when you’re abroad.

The small, lightweight design has retractable plugs which pack away nicely, and can be turned out when ready to use. They are designed so that when one plug is being used, no others can be utilised so as not to interfere with the supply. They’re a bit clunky and all open in different ways but once you work out that one them slides, one of them flips and other one has to be prised out, you get the gist of it!

Charging is fairly quick on the Tessan PD20W Power adapter, given that it’s not a charger just an adapter. I could plug in my phone and it gives about 10% charge in 30 minutes, but that isn’t what the adapter is for. It’s mainly for being about use foreign sockets and plug in USB plugs but if you do need to charge a phone or appliance, you can charge overnight.

The Tessan PD20W is small enough that it can be packed away in your luggage or hand luggage and used anywhere abroad. For going on holiday or for the Dads in your life, it’s a nifty gadget that will be used again and again but will benefit everyone.

Currently available for £17.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0C1NRTR81/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=b0b68efcc7ecaa3dbd3e6bcea53d4618&hsa_cr_id=0&qid=1770721697&sr=1-2-e0fa1fdd-d857-4087-adda-5bd576b25987&aref=pJEjmdvY48&ref_=sbx_s_sparkle_sbtcd_asin_1_title&pd_rd_w=E5nIF&content-id=amzn1.sym.7d8787df-7d4c-460d-ab31-21b0ba272b2f%3Aamzn1.sym.7d8787df-7d4c-460d-ab31-21b0ba272b2f&pf_rd_p=7d8787df-7d4c-460d-ab31-21b0ba272b2f&pf_rd_r=MTEFXKDHG0PHPCRVZ25S&pd_rd_wg=TbzsW&pd_rd_r=9ab1dc17-2e36-4d8a-b08f-50f8737b3f5c&th=1

Cups Full Coffee Bags

camping, coffee, Food & Drink, hiking, National Walking Month, Sport, Summer, travel, Winter

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

It’s National Hiking Month and the perfect opportunity to share some great hiking gear with you. Now this one might surprise you, because it’s not the first thing people shout about when they’re planning a hike… but it’s something lots of us take anyway, usually sloshing around in a flask……….Coffee.

If you’re someone who actually enjoys a decent cup rather than just a caffeine fix, then carrying a pre-made flask can be a bit of a gamble. A few hours in and it starts to become a little tired and can taste bitter and isn’t really what you want when you stop for a well earned drink. Lately I’ve switched to taking a small stove so that I can make a fresh brew when I’m out on the fells, it only takes a few minutes and tastes a lot better and while I’m waiting for it to brew I can sit and enjoy the view. I’d usually pack tea bags, mainly because I’ve never been a fan of instant coffee, but discovering Cups Full coffee bags has definitly changed that. They’re very similar to a tea bag, but filled with ground coffee instead.

Once my water has boiled I can pop the coffee bag into my cup and just like tea, leave it to brew for three to four minutes, or a little longer if I want it stronger. I then give it a quick squeeze before taking it out and I’ve got a freshly brewed cup of coffee which can be enjoyed with very little effort. At home I’d always add milk, but when I’m out walking I just drink it black and once I’m finished, the used bag goes into a small plastic bag to take home, ready for the compost heap later.

I hadn’t heard of Cups Full before but they are a small startup company based in Hackney who offer three different types of coffee in individual 9 gram bags. They are proud that they know the journey from bean to cup and support communities all along their supply chain meaning each time you enjoy a cup of coffee from Cups Full you are supporting early education and local economies.

Their coffee bags are sold in bags of 10 and I found a zip seal pouch with three bags fits perfectly into my stove bag and means I can have a couple of drinks whilst walking and save one for when I get back to the car.

Obviously the taste is what really matters and these coffees are quite smooth, not bitter and very easy to drink. At home I tend to use a filter machine or stove-top espresso maker but at work we’re limited to instant(!) so these are a much better option and I’ve been enjoying having a decent cup of coffee at work as well as when I’ve been out walking.

Cups Full make three different blends Pace is a blend of 100% arabica coffee and packs a generous 113mg+ of caffeine per bag, enough to get you moving without fuss or delay. This South American blend with origins in Peru and Honduras is ideal first thing in the morning when you need a caffeine boost to start the day.

Peace has a much lower caffeine level with under 44mgs per 9g bag. Sourced from Brazil and Vietnam it is a coffee for people who enjoy coffee and don’t need the caffeine boost.

Power is the coffee you need when you’re on a long walk to give you a boost. The clue is in the name and with 144mg+ of caffeine per bag this is the one to reach for on night hikes or at work if you’ve not had much sleep the night before.

I have to say that I enjoyed these three coffee blends more than any coffee I have had for a long time and they now have a permanent place in my rucksack (and desk)!

Cups Full coffee bags come in a resealable pouch with 10 bags for £11.95 or you can buy all three as a bundle saving 20%.

Stabilo Pens

Birthday Gifts, Children, eco friendly, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Stationery, Sustainable

Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We are heading into revision season and for many students (and parents) it can feel a bit overwhelming, so anything that brings a little spark of motivation is worth its weight in gold. When it comes to choosing stationery STABILIO is a name I trust and gravitate towards as they have such a fantastic selection of stationery in a rainbow of colours, which are perfect for making students feel in control of their revision.

A set of highlighters is essential when revising and the STABILO Boss Original highlighters, which are available in bright, vibrant colours, make key points easy to spot. Their special anti-drying technology gives you up to four hours cap-off time, which is ideal for those slightly chaotic study sessions. The wedge tip gives you flexibility for both neat underlining and broader highlighting, and the fact they’re refillable is a great bonus for reducing waste. With 30 shades available, from neon to pastel to nature tones, there’s plenty of scope to colour-code your notes in a way that works for you.

Writing in different colours can help highlight information and help students remember information and the STABILO Point 88 pens with a 4mm tip are great for note taking, report writing, and even a spot of doodling! With a metal-enclosed tip and excellent dry-out protection these pens are a particular favourite of mine. They can be purchased in a variety of different sized packs from individual pens right up to a fantastic set of 65! The pens are the distinctive orange hexagonal design and have caps the colour of the ink for easy identification. The colours are bright and vibrant the ink flows very smoothly, they also dry really quickly so you don’t get any smudges on your work.

When you’ve a lot of writing to do then the STABILO 4 Pointball pen is the one to choose. With a rubberised grip they’re designed to be used for longer periods of time without your hand complaining! The pens are smooth to write with and are also eco friendly with the pen body made from 87 % ISCC PLUS-certified bio-based plastic (mass balance), reducing CO₂ consumption compared with fossil-based plastic. Once the ink has run out it can be replaced with a STABILO Ballpoint Refill. There’s six different colours to choose from so you can make your notes stand out.

Whilst new stationery won’t do the revision for you, it will make the process feel more organised, more enjoyable, and a little less daunting. And with the right tools in hand, there’s every chance that all the hard work will have paid off when results day arrives!

JLab JBuds Open Sport Earbuds

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, National Walking Month, Tech

Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of the review and all thoughs and opinions are our own.

May is National Walking Month so I’m taking every opportunity I can to get outdoors and walk as much as I can. When I’m walking alone, I quite often catch up on podcasts or listen to music and wear a pair of open-ear headphones rather than standard ones so that I am still aware of my surroundings. I do prefer earbuds to earphones so was really pleased when I received the JLab JBuds Open Sport Earbuds which fit over the ear with a flexible earhook and I have to say I’m really impressed with them. They are very comfortable to wear and are surprisingly light and as they are sweat and dustproof they’re ideal for sporty people. As a glasses wearer, I wasn’t sure if the hook would interfere with my glasses but there was no problem, even when I wore them for a full day.

Setting up the earbuds was simple, my Android phone automatically offered to pair with them and the Bluetooth Multipoint feature allowed me to pair with my Laptop at the same time. The JLab app has all the usual options, I can setup different equaliser configurations or change the touch controls (or turn them off) and check for updates for the firmware. Once setup though there is little need for the app and they could be used without ever opening it.

Because they don’t block outside sounds, they are also perfect to wear at work. Ordinarily I wear a headset for Teams meetings and phone calls, but it can get uncomfortable after a few hours so wearing these is a lot better. I can hear what the callers are saying and still pick up the chat from the rest of the office. My only criticism is that the clarity of my voice isn’t quite as clear as with my normal headphones and a couple of colleagues have mentioned that my voice sounds a little tinny, but they are more comfortable to wear and hopefully this is something that can be addressed in a future firmware update.

The battery life on them is good, I’ve been wearing them all morning, putting them into the charging case over my lunch break and then wearing them all afternoon but they do have an impressive 26 hour battery life so if I’m out on a long walk I don’t need to worry about the battery running out.

The JLab JBuds Open Sport wireless earbuds are perfect for those with active lifestyles, offering a whole new way to tune into your favourite music whilst exercising.

RRP £79.99

Lee Stafford Hyaluronic Hydration Shampoo & Conditioner

beauty, Gifts for Her, haircare, Women

Disclaimer – We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I have curly hair which is currently very dry and frizzy and in desperate need of some TLC, so I was really pleased when a parcel containing the new Lee Stafford Hyaluronic Hydration shampoo and conditioner arrived on my doorstep.

In celebration of 25 years in the hair game, Lee Stafford London has recently launched this new ultra-hydrating range and they are just what my curls have been crying out for. There are four products in the range – shampoo, conditioner, hair mask and scalp water and they are all designed to be used on dry, hydrated hair, promising to boost hydration by a whopping 92%.

Like a lot of curly haired people, I use a lot of styling products on my hair so need a good, deep cleansing shampoo to bring my curls back to life. This shampoo is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid, Pro-Vitamin B5 & Aloe Vera and lathers very easily, lifting away all the dirt, oil and product build up and and after only one use I could see an improvement in my curls. It also has a lovely fragrance which lingers nicely on my hair.

Conditioner is where things get serious for curly hair, and this one is fantastic. Like the shampoo it is enriched with is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid, Pro-Vitamin B5 & Aloe Vera and the rich, creamy conditioner is very easy to smooth through my hair and I found detangling was much less of a battle than normal.

After using these products for a couple of weeks I am hooked, my curls are shinier, feel nourished and look more defined. I’ve also found that when I blow-dry my hair my curls last longer and look far better on day 2 and 3 than usual.

I’m really impressed with these products which have taken my curls from dry and unruly to glossy and defined in only a couple of washes. If your hair is crying out for hydration but you still want something affordable and beautifully scented, this range is definitely worth trying.

RRP £12.99 but the range is currently on offer at half price at Boots

Vamoosh Laundry Cleaning for Pets

Family Life, Home, Home & Garden, kitchen appliances, Spring

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.

Spring time, and now’s the perfect time to do a proper deep clean, as well as start new habits. Vamoosh sent us some products from their range which help owners of pets as well as cleaning the appliances. I received the Vamoosh Washing Machine Cleaner in Pink Grapefruit fragrance, Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver and Vamoosh Hair Shield Fabric Conditioner.

I started with the Vamoosh Washing Machine Cleaner, not just so that I had a clean washing machine to compare the products with, but because my washer dryer wasn’t drying properly, I needed to clean it properly. To do a deep clean, you use a whole packet of the Washing Machine Cleaner on the hottest, longest wash and let Vamoosh do its magic. It dissolves hair (both human and pet!) but also anything else caught in the mechanics which is organic. This could be fluff, dirt and trapped fibres. After the washing machine clean, I took out the filter and it was almost 100% clean of fibres and hair, and my washing machine was back to doing what it does best!

The Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver works especially well on pet beds and clothing. Where fur hair gets entwined in the knit of fabrics, it can be difficult to remove and a build up over time compromises the quality of the material. Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver works by breaking down the pet hairs and releasing them from the fibres, and also helps with clothes that are covered in human hair, and as a human with long hair, I need this! The Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver worked on my jumpers that had pilling too, reducing the matting that happens naturally with wear over time.

Lastly, the Vamoosh Hair Shield Fabric Conditioner was the most surprising. I used it in conjunction with the Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver as a normal fabric conditioner. It did the job of conditioning clothes, by my jumper came out of the washing machine with visibly less pilling and no knots of hairs on the surface. I could see that the fluffy fabrics had been ‘tamed’ and looked neater than usual. I’ve only used the conditioner once on this jumper, but I’m looking forward to using it in the future to see if it can bring some life back to some of my old clothes!

Vamoosh products available in supermarkets and online at:

www.vamooshcleans.com

Vamoosh Hair Shield Fabric Conditioner £6.99: https://vamooshcleans.com/products/vamoosh-hair-shield-fabric-conditioner

Vamoosh Washing Machine Cleaner £9.99: https://vamooshcleans.com/products/washing-machine-cleaner-pink-grapefruit-for-deep-cleaning-washing-machines

Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver £14.99: https://vamooshcleans.com/products/vamoosh-6-sachets

Moderato Alcohol-Free French Wine

Christmas, Days Out, Drinks and Mixers, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, health, 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.

The French (wine) Revolution is here! Moderato wines are all alcohol-free but are still French beauties with Cuvee, Colombard white wine and the Gros Manseng Merlot. We were sent a bottle of each to try this summer and to sample how good alcohol free wine can be.

We started with the La Cuvée, a light sparkling wine with a slightly acidic taste from the Merlot grapes. It has less than 0.5% of alcohol (they have to give it a slight alcohol rating due to the way it’s fermented) but it doesn’t have the alcohol taste to it. Instead, it’s an effervescent glass which is excellent for summer. I would drink this with a main meal or on its own. It also has fewer calories than wine, so if you’re not drinking it for the low alcohol, it’s perfect for a low calorie diet!

The Colombard is a traditional-tasting white, with citrus flavours and the sharpness that can only be found with white wines. This is also <0.5% alcohol and 7x fewer calories than other white wines and has the white wine fragrance to it too. I would drink this on its own, after work or in the garden in the summer.

The Gros Manseng Merlot is rosé with a softer fruity flavour compared to its Merlot cousin. It’s definitely a summer drink with lots of energy and a beautiful red fruit uplift. This is great with food or on its own but lives in summer thanks to the fruity nature of the wine. It doesn’t taste alcohol free either which is a brilliant achievement, even if it is made by the French experts!

All three of the wines are part of a larger range by Moderato to have alcohol free (or sans alcool in French, as the bottles proclaim) that add to your summer without needing alcohol. Delicious!

Gros Manseng £14: https://le-moderato.com/en/products/alcohol-free-rose-revolutionary-cuvee-merlot-gros-manseng-1

Colombard £14: https://le-moderato.com/en/products/alcohol-free-white-wine-colombard-revolutionary-cuvee

La Cuvée £14.50: https://le-moderato.com/en/products/the-sparkling-revolutionary-cuvee-blanc-de-noir-without-alcohol

Cuvée Révolutionnaire

Father’s Day Gifts at Popcorn Shed

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him, Lunchbox Fillers, secret santa, snacks, Stocking Fillers

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.

Yes, Father’s Day is notoriously difficult to buy gifts for Dad! He has everything, but suddenly there are more items available in the shops but they are all either whiskey flavoured, or have some element remodelled in leather. Don’t get me started on the amount of beers on the shelves at this time too. Popcorn Shed has a massive range of popcorn all year round, so we were sent a selection of popcorn flavours which are available on the website and can be sent as a bundle. We had the Popcorn Shed flavours Pop ‘n’ Choc, Salted Caramel and Say Cheese! Sent to us to try. Before you ask, they didn’t last long…

Each ‘shed’ (ie packet of popcorn) is 80 grams of popcorn. The Salted Caramel and Say Cheese flavours are both bestsellers and winners of the Great Taste award. 80 grams doesn’t sound like a lot but if you remember that popcorn is very light, it makes sense to say that each shed is about big enough for 2 people to share for a movie night, or the equivalent of a small mixing bowl size.

My favourite of the flavours was Pop ‘n’ Choc, and not just because I love chocolate! You can taste the chocolate easily but it isn’t too sweet and the popcorn, although a bit sticky, isn’t too difficult to eat because it’s stuck together or gets stuck in your teeth. The Salted Caramel flavour was probably the easiest to eat out of all three because it had a strong flavour without being overpowering and was still sweet, as you would expect popcorn to be. Finally, the Say Cheese flavour was the last one I tried. I’m not used to savoury popcorn but this is the most popular of savoury flavours after the plain salted variety and I was surprised. It’s not a very strong flavour, thankfully, as although I love cheese I couldn’t imagine it on popcorn. However, as it’s a savoury taste, it goes better with wine or spirits rather than sugary cocktails. It’s a light, delicate cheese flavour rather than the processed type. I also noticed that all of the popcorn is ‘popped’ so there are no un-popped kernels in the bottom of the bag.

Popcorn Shed is a lovely gift for Dad, or Grandad, that they don’t have to pretend to like! With all the flavours available online you will surely be able to find something that’s delicious!

Popcorn Sheds available from £4.75 at: https://www.popcornshed.com/collections/gourmet-popcorn-sheds

Sponge Cake Cards & The Legends Brownie Box from Sponge

beauty, camping, eco friendly, Fashion, Fitness, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Gluten Free, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Vegetarian

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.

Cakes for all occasions! Sponge send cakes that are, “Brilliant cake. Bold flavour. A little bit cheeky” and we couldn’t agree more. Why send just a card when a piece of cake and a card will make them feel more special? If you’re anything like me, Father’s Day is an especially difficult day to buy for so Sponge make it easier!

Sponge.co.uk have a selection of cake pieces, whole cakes, brownies and cupcakes that can be delivered to your recipient’s door. All cakes come with a card which in some cases, are a little bit cheeky! You can customize each card to suit the receiver. We were sent The Legends Brownies box and a Sponge Cake Card which are both brilliant for Father’s Day. If you order before 2pm, it can be delivered the next day.

The Sponge Cake Cards are literally cards with pockets that house 2 slices of cake which you can choose from a range including chocolate, carrot, white chocolate & raspberry, Red Velvet and several of the same cakes but in vegan or gluten free versions. You also get to choose the design of the card and if you want to, you can upload a video too which can be viewed online. The card can be personalised with any greeting and then you can choose up to 2 extras, including items like tea bags, face mask, balloons or even a candle.

Once you’ve made your choices, you can choose to have the Sponge Cake Card delivered or you can even pick up from their warehouse in Holt, Norfolk. The same process works whether you’re sending a Cake Card or any of the other cakes and items which the company stocks.

As for the cakes…. The Sponge Cake Card came with a chocolate and a Victoria slice, both of which were obviously freshly made and not processed or frozen. They were light and fluffy with ample amounts of buttercream filling and a light topping, but not enough to make a sticky mess in the cellophane! The brownies were obviously very densely made, with 8 pieces in total and all of them delicious. I haven’t worked my way through all of them yet, but there are 4 flavours in all and again, they were freshly made.

An interesting idea of having cake delivered as well as a card, Sponge.co.uk execute it very well and make it easy to send any type of celebration to a loved one.

Sponge Cake Cards from £9.99: https://www.sponge.co.uk/cake-card

The Legends Brownie Box from £18.99: https://www.sponge.co.uk/cakes/brownies/the-legends-brownie-box

Turtle Wax Renew & Restore Wipes and 1 & Done Detailer

Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home

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.

You could take your car to the car wash every weekend. Expensive? Yes, especially if you have to wait in queue for ages like you do at my car wash! Instead, keep a bottle of 1 & Done Detailer in your car, or even the Renew & Restore Wipes for both inside the car and outside. Turtle Wax have both new products available and sent them to us to try out.

Turtle Wax Renew & Restore Wipes (8 pack) are individual wipes with a slight abrasion to them which can be uses for stubborn stains inside the car (such as upholstery and the dashboard) or for cleaning the body of the car on the outside. With a little light work, the wipes can remove bird poo, mud, tree sap and every day dirt. They’re great for when you have to clean the rest of the windscreen that the wipers don’t reach, or headlights that are foggy after a long drive. For inside the car, they are also brilliant for hand marks (I had a dirty hand mark on the inside pillar which the wipes got rid of) and on seats that have spills and stains, even dried in stains. In combination with a cleaner, they can even help lift more inground stains on the carpet and seats.

The 1 & Done Detailer is a 500ml spray for the outside bodywork of the car. It instantly cleans and shines bodywork and glass such as where green is starting to grow on this roof. The spray lifted the lichen quickly and the Turtle Wax Clean & Shine cloths remove all traces of dirt, leaving the paintwork sparkling. I also used 1 & Done Detailer on these light scratches on the door handle. It’s not removed them, but along with cleaning up the dirt, it does lessen the scratches altogether.

This is a great combination of cleaning and detailing products from Turtle Wax, and I’ve already left them in my car so that I can bring them out whenever I have the urgent need!

Renew & Restore Wipes (8 pack) available for £10 at: https://www.turtlewax.co.uk/products/renew-restore-wipes-8-pack

1 & Done Detailer (500ml) available for £8.00: https://www.turtlewax.co.uk/products/1-done-detailer-500ml

Joe & Seph’s Shortbread Biscuits and Neapolitan Chocolate

Children, chocolate, Christmas, snacks

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.

Joe & Seph, the famous gourmet popcorn makers, are branching out into new gift treats this year, bringing out more goodies for Christmas and beyond. Not just popcorn, but gifts including these shortbread biscuits and Neapolitan chocolates, suitable for a whole range of events, not just when Santa arrives!

Both the biscuits and chocolates arrive in large packets, set for the mass market of party bags, wedding favours and even offices where guests are greeted by the Joe & Seph favourites. Popcorn has been popular as a snack whilst watching TV for years, but it has now found itself in mainstream snacking with weddings using popcorn as favours at the end of the day. Well, the Joe & Seph chocolates work just as well with the gifting opportunities. I was sent some to try, and they reminded me of the chocolates you get in pillows of posh hotels! The shortbreads biscuits are reminiscent of afternoon meetings with clients where you bring out the cups and saucers at work and have a proper cup of tea!

The Neapolitan chocolates come in packets of 100 and are individually wrapped. They’re great for sharing at home or at parties and the milk chocolate is made with cocoa and premium ingredients to give a smooth, silky texture and chocolatey taste! The shortbread biscuits are very light – lighter than some of the biscuits on the market. They’re not gritty either, which some shortbread biscuits are and they break rather than crumble, making them easy to eat.

I’m looking forward to seeing whatever treats Joe & Seph come up with next in time for Christmas!

Shortbread Biscuits (40 packs of 2) £20 at: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/butter-biscuits-pack-20

Neapolitan chocolate (100 pieces) for £28 at: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/neapolitan-gift-pack

Lee Stafford Hyaluronic Hydration Hair Mask

beauty, haircare, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Women

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 Hyaluronic Hydration Hair Mask from Lee Stafford is part of a larger range of Lee Stafford products for moisturizing hair. The hair mask uses hyaluronic acid to enrich your hair and prevent it from breaking, plus giving a sleeker look, and in turn, making it more manageable.

The instructions recommend that you cover your hair from root to tip and work in the formular using a comb to ensure overall coverage, leaving it for 5-10 minutes. I prefer to leave in for a bit longer and massage the mask into the ends, especially if it’s been a while since your last haircut (like mine is now!) and in need of TLC. You add the mask after shampoo (Lee Stafford also have Hydrating shampoo and conditioners at Boots) and then rinse off, using the Lee Stafford conditioner too.

It smells wonderful – like a summer fruit fragrance that reminds me of the 1990s Body Shop products! It left my hair softer and with the fruity scent too. Over time, the repair should build up so that hair is stronger and longer. I found that on hair with dry ends, it made all of the length of hair softer after just one treatment, then when I got my hair cut, it was great at hydrating my hair enough to get the soft curls back in. It’s perfect for summer too, with the light fragrance giving your hair an additional impact!

Available from £7.49 at: https://www.boots.com/lee-stafford-hyaluronic-hydration-treatment-mask-250ml-10377507

Devonia Plant Fertilizer Sticks

Birthday Gifts, Children, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Spring, 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.

This is a gardening hack for all gardeners, whether you’ve been gardening for years or if you’re a beginner! Devonia’s fertilizer spikes and sticks are nutrient dense sticks which feed plants at the roots over time, releasing food and providing magnesium and iron too. Easy to use, the sticks are just popped into the ground or pot next to the plant.

The nutrients are pre-measured so using the directions on the back of the packs, work out how many sticks are needed for the size of pot. There are a variety of sticks to choose from too, including the tomatoes & vegetables, Boarders & bedding plants and even for individual plants like olive trees, lavender and orchids. You have to push them below soil level and on the opposite side of the pot to the plant but after that, just water them and see the plant thrive. They last all season long from spring to autumn but I would recommend changing them out for the next spring to get the full benefit of them.

These are great gifts for gardeners too, or anyone who is growing plants indoors. I’ve used them for my indoor plants and a few seedlings which are just starting to grow now.

Available online from £6.49: https://devonialondon.co.uk/product/flower-bed-border-bedding-plant-food-sticks/

Berkeley Health Self-Testing Kits

health, Women

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.

Given how difficult it is to see a doctor or even book a blood test nowadays, many people are turning to internet searches and other way to get a head-start on their medical appointments. Berkeley Health Self-Testing kits are available in Waitrose and can test for Vitamin D, FSH levels (menopause), Thyroid TSH and other common deficiencies. We were sent some self-testing packs to try out.

Starting with the Berkeley Health Menopause FSH test, there are 2 tests in the packet. The urine test detects FSH through gold-conjugated monoclonal antibodies. It looks similar to a pregnancy test and is used in the same way. It takes 5 minutes for the results to show on the test device and gives a positive/negative/non valid result. A positive test shows that FSH in the urine is equal to or higher than 25mIU/mL, indicating that menopause, or perimenopause, has already started. At this point, the instructions suggest you see your doctor. In a negative result, the results are below 25 mIU/mL but it is strongly suggested to carry out another test a few days later using the second test device in the kit, as FSH can alter during the course of a few weeks.

The Berkeley Health Thyroid TSH Rapid Test Cassette is a blood test which provides 2 lancets as well as a testing cartridge. With washed hands, follow the instruction to draw a drop of blood and using the capillary dropper, migrate blood into the dropper. Put the blood from the dropper onto the cassette and it will give a positive/negative result within 10 minutes. A positive result means the TSH level is higher than normal (5 µIU mL) and you need to see a doctor. Why is the level of TSH important? A high level might indicate that that your body isn’t metabolising properly and you could be putting on or losing weight or have a problem with your thyroid. The TSH test is one that is not done in isolation by a doctor, but they can look at a range of test results and make a diagnosis.

Finally, the Berkeley Health Vitamin D test ins one single test in the packet and has the most amount of apparatus out of all of the kits we were sent! Vitamin D is important in the body for the absorption in the gut of calcium, iron, magnesium phosphate and zinc. All of these elements are needed in the body for a huge range of functions and growth so it’s important to make sure Vitamin D levels are as good as possible. This test includes the lancet again for self-drawing blood, a pipette for collecting the blood, a vial with a dropper tip containing the vitamin D test and the Vitamin D test cassette. As with the TSH test, use the lancet to draw blood, use the pipette to migrate a sufficient amount of blood and then deposit a drop on the cassette. The results after 10 minutes are deficient/insufficient/sufficient/excess or invalid.

All of the tests are easy to use and the results being positive/negative make it easy to read the outcomes without confusing data and having to find someone to interpret them for you. They’re also a really good way of cheaply eliminating a health problem or finding a pathway. Trying lots of different Berkeley Health tests when you don’t know what’s going on could give you a direction to start exploring with your doctor too.

Available from Waitrose from £8-£10.