thereviewstudiouk

MGA’s Mini Verse Make It Sets

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Easter, Gifts for children, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

If you are looking for a non-chocolate Easter gift for an older child or even an adult that enjoys making dolls house accessories, then these MGA’s Mini Verse sets are a great choice.

The range of pocket-sized miniatures are packaged in plastic balls that are cracked open just like an Easter egg. Once opened you discover a selection of miniature ingredients and accessories along with a step by step guide of how to make them. The sets use a resin which makes the items look more realistic and this needs to be set under UV light – if you have a nail lamp you can use this otherwise just leave it in a sunny spot until the resin has hardened. Once finished you can display the items on a shelf or Iike us, you can put them in a dolls house.

Whilst the contents are mini the attention to detail is amazing, from the working appliances to the detailing on the food and even mini wicks to add to the candles.

Whilst we’ve enjoyed making the food and lifestyle items the Mini Appliances range is our favourite as you actually use the plastic appliances to make the mini drinks. Each machine has working features enabling you to dispense coffee from the coffee machine into the mini cups or dispense mini ice cubes from the Soda and Juice mini machines prior to setting the resin under UV light.

Each package is a surprise, so you won’t know which set you have until you open it but with 60+ Make It Mini Lifestyle sets, 70+ Make It Mini Food Sets and 8 Make It Mini Appliances available it’s unlikely you’re going to end up with duplicates any time soon but if you do you can always swap with friends.

The recommended age is 8+ which is about right as some of the sets can be a little fiddly.

Mini Food RRP £7.99

Mini Lifestyle £9.99

Mini Appliances £12.99

Available from Smyths

Baileys Easter Eggs

Easter, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Women

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

Easter Eggs aren’t just for children and when I’m choosing eggs for adults, I like to buy something more luxurious like these Baileys Easter eggs which not only look stunning but are scrumptious too.

The Baileys Salted Caramel Easter Egg is a hollow creamy milk chocolate egg that is flavoured with Baileys and crunchy caramel pieces. The chocolate is nice and thick and the salted caramel pieces go really well with the chocolate. The egg comes with 5 salted caramel truffles which are absolutely delicious, the thick chocolate and the Baileys caramel filling are a winning combination – it’s just a shame there’s only 5!

RRP £8 available from Ocado and selected retailers.

The Baileys Strawberries and Cream Easter Egg is made of white chocolate with strawberry pieces and has a lovely speckled appearance. The chocolate is lovely and creamy and the hints of strawberry prevent it from being too sweet and sickly. There are 5 Strawberries and Cream Truffles which have a milk chocolate shell and a soft strawberries and cream centre with a hint of Baileys.

RRP £8 available from Ocado and selected retailers

The Baileys Easter eggs make a great gift or why not treat yourself – I won’t tell!!

Love Raw Easter Box

Children, chocolate, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

These days there is so much choice when it comes to Easter Eggs and no matter what your taste there is an egg for you. Some of my friends and family are vegan and there’s also a couple with dairy intolerances so it’s fantastic to see such a good selection of plant based chocolate this year, meaning they don’t need to miss out on this chocolately tradition.

Love Raw make the most delicious plant based chocolate and they have just launched a limited edition Easter box, although you’ll need to be quick as it’s only available from the 22^nd to 24^th March!

Inside the box are the following products

1 x Nutty Choc Ball Box containing 9 individually wrapped balls.

Nutty Choc Balls are a crunchy hazelnut coated in a delicious vegan cream and then covered in a crisp wafer shell and finished with Low Raw’s iconic m:lk choc and hazelnut pieces. They are absolutely scrummy and it’s probably a good job there’s only 9 in the box!!

3 x White Choc Cream Wafer Bar
Each bar contains a deliciously crispy wafer, oozing with Love Raw’s signature cre&m® filling and generously smothered with vegan white chocolate. Whether you’re vegan or not you need to try these!

3 x Milk & 3 x White Choc Peanut Buttercups
Each cup oozes smooth, creamy peanut butter and is covered in Love Raw’s iconic m:lk® and white choc. In my opinion peanuts and chocolate are a winning combination and Love Raw are definitely on to a winner with these.

RRP £29.99 available here

Puma and Modibodi Period and Leak-Proof Underwear

Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Fashion, Fitness, Gifts for Her, REUSABLE, Sport, Sustainable, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Things have changed a lot with period underwear recently. Have you seen the huge range of products at Modibodi and especially their range with Puma sportwear?

The new Puma X Modibodi Seam-free range is designed to eliminate the need for tampons and sanitary towels. The extra-absorbent lining is the equivalent to 3 tampons in this size (the one featured is moderate-heavy absorbency)

The Puma Active Seam-free collection is now VAT-free in the UK. With the combination of not having to pay for tampons and sanitary towels and the ability to wash the Puma X Modibodi underwear, the collection saves you a lot of money every month. It might seem like a novel idea to have the whole garment as leak-proof but it’s more practical than you think. These period pants are made of a recycled fabric with re-enforced areas that are super absorbent and don’t require a sanitary towel, or if you prefer, you can use a tampon and be completely sure that there will be no leakage. To help the environment, all the material used is recycled too!

I was sent a black pair to try, which is ideal for in the gym or running. The Puma X Modibodi collection was created out of a need to not have bulky underwear for doing sport, going to the gym or for athletics so it makes sense that they are designed with heavy use in mind. This pair of Active Bikini Briefs are a size Large (roughly size 14-16) and made of very stretchy material so you can wear them for sports easily. They’re also seam-free, which makes them so inconspicuous under Lycra or shorts! The seams are re-enforced as well so that there is a lot of movement.

I particularly like that in this seam-free edition, the absorbent material at the front comes up really high so that you can be sure there is no leakage and the material is really soft too. There’s actually loads of movement in the stretchiness of the material so you can move about easily, or as I lift weights, this is great for not riding up, or down when you’re bending. They create a nice shape under sportswear too.

I don’t know why this idea hasn’t been used a lot in the past because it’s really handy having this underwear spare in your gym bag, or being able to wear them at the gym and not have to worry about leaking. It takes a bit of getting used to not having a towel or tampon there but it’s really just the same as any other underwear, and you can wear it as a non-VPL pair of knickers at any time, not just on your period!

The Puma Active Seam-free collection is available in bright pink or light pink too, so you can match them to whatever outfit you’re wearing whether that’s at work or in the gym.

Usual price £21, on sale now at £18.90: https://www.modibodi.co.uk/products/puma-x-modibodi-seamfree-active-bikini-moderate-heavy-onyx-grey

Tower Aquajetplus Carpet Washer

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

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

With spring here, most of us are thinking about the Spring Cleaning jobs we have to do, especially as its warm enough to open the windows and get some air into the house! This year I really need to concentrate on getting a proper clean done before the really hot weather when it’s so humid so I was delighted to be able to review the Tower Aquajetplus Carpet Washer.

The Tower Aquajetplus Carpet Washer is a mid-range cleaner which means it isn’t the heavy duty, really expensive carpet cleaner you typically hire for a weekend. Instead, this is a cleaner which can clean a whole carpet or just spot clean heavy use areas and then be put away until you need to use it again 6 months later. This is reflected in the cost, which is usually £119.99 but is on offer at the moment for £79.99.

The carpet washer comes mostly assembled with just the handle to put together with the 3 screws included. You’ll need to read the instructions and have a screwdriver handy to attach it but it literally takes a minute to assemble. The rest of the carpet washer comprises of the body (mostly assembled) and a detachable water tank and dirty water reservoir. They fit together with a click so again, it doesn’t take long. There’s a 5 metre cable to the washer which makes it easier to move around a room and probably fits most UK room sizes.

Using the detergent provided, I filled up the clean water tank with warm tap water. The tank clips back into the midsection and once you make sure the dirty water reservoir is properly attached (I didn’t and water went everywhere!) then you’re good to go. Make sure you dry vacuum the whole area first with your usual vacuum cleaner to get rid of large particles. You can decide whether you want to do a whole room or just the busy areas as it does leave the carpet wet for at least a day. If you have small children around or pets it might be best to do a few rooms and then go away for a weekend without people walking on it and let it dry. Alternatively, you can do smaller areas in the summer when everyone is at work and the heat of the day will dry it quicker.

There is definitely a knack to how you use the washer, and it took me a while and a bit of YouTube to find out how to do it. The Tower Aquajetplus Carpet Washer washes as you push it away from you and then vacuums up the water as you pull it towards you. You have to compress the trigger on the handle as you push it away to deploy the water and detergent otherwise it doesn’t work. It is the backward motion of the washer that vacuums up the dirty water otherwise the water sits in the carpet and takes ages to dry. It takes a few tries on each stretch of carpet to clean and then vacuum the water for the washing to be really effective. Think of it like mowing a lawn – long straight lines at a slow, even speed but instead of just going over the line once, you have to drag the washer backwards over the same line several times.

It took a while for me to get used to the noise too. It is incredibly loud so I would suggest doing the cleaning when the neighbours aren’t home and especially when no one else in the house is on a call or asleep! Ear defenders or noise cancelling headphones were a must for me. The washer isn’t particularly heavy so you don’t need to be super fit or have a lot of strength to use it. The clean water tank isn’t that big (maybe 1 litre?) so that brings the weight down but I found that I had to fill it up several times just for my small landing carpet. As you clean, you can see the dirty water being sucked up into the reservoir so you know it’s working, and it becomes a challenge to see the state of the water at the end! To remove the reservoir, just unclip using the blue bar and remove the plug at the back. Be warned though, if you pick it up at the wrong angle, the water runs out through the inlet and not through the plug!

How did it work? Well after I went over the carpet a few times with an empty water tank and just vacuumed up most of the water, I found that it had cleaned the carpet plus it wasn’t soaked as I imagined. It took about 36 hours to dry, so not the next day but the day after it was dry enough to see that there was a difference in the colour of the carpet as well as the stains.

Tower Aquajetplus Carpet Washer

Pros:

Much cheaper than the hire carpet cleaners and lighter to lift
Easy to store as it’s the same size as a vacuum cleaner
Gives a very good clean of carpets and doesn’t take long to dry afterwards
Great for spot cleaning or heavy use areas and whole rooms if you have time

Cons:

Very noisy!
It takes a while to work out the knack of how to clean in one direction and vacuum in the other
Works better on smaller areas
Fiddly to get the clean water tank and dirty water reservoir lined up without water going everywhere.

Available from £79.99 at:

https://www.towerhousewares.co.uk/carpet-washers/tcw5-aquajetplus-carpet-washer

Thorntons Easter Eggs

Children, chocolate, Easter, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him

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

Whatever type of chocolate you love – be it dark, milk or white you can always rely on Thorntons to have an egg with your name on it! This year they have a fantastic selection of eggs to choose from which are bound to delight both young and old this Easter.

The white chocolate Bunny Easter Egg and Milk Chocolate Unicorn Easter Eggs will go down a treat with the little (and not so little) this year. The hollow 151g eggs are beautifully decorated with a moulded chocolate image, the white chocolate has a super cute bunny on the front whilst the milk chocolate egg has a fantastic pink and white chocolate unicorn. The chocolate tastes delicious, it’s lovely and thick and creamy and simply melts in your mouth.

RRP £4.25 at selected supermarkets and Thorntons.com.

The Happy Bunny (90g) is a great choice for smaller children and is available in both a white chocolate and milk chocolate version. The cute little bunny with white and green chocolate decorations was a big hit with our mini reviewers who despite loving the sweet faces soon demolished them!

RRP £2.74 at selected supermarkets and Thorntons.com.

Adults may prefer the Thorntons Classic Easter Egg (150g) which comes with 5 chocolates from the Classic collection – Gooey Caramel, Triple Chocolate, Strawberries & Cream, Crunchy Praline and Fudge Brownie. There’s a nice assortment of chocolates so everyone should get their favourite. The chocolate is smooth and creamy and this egg was a real winner with the Review Studio team.

RRP £5.48 at selected supermarkets.

If your budget stretches to double figures, then the premium Continental Easter Egg (257g) is the one to go for. Decorated with swirling loops of white and dark chocolate this large egg comes with 8 Continental chocolates – there are two of the Seville Caramel and Viennese Deluxe chocolates (to share or not is the question???) and one each of the Sicilian Mousse, Alpini Praline and Salted Caramel. The egg not only looks impressive, it tastes lovely too and with a mix of white, milk and dark chocolates they have all tastes covered.

RRP £11.77 at selected supermarkets.

Thorntons Easter Egg are a lovely indulgent treat for chocolate lovers young and old and with an egg to suit all budgets they are the perfect choice this Easter – and whilst you’re buying them as gifts treat yourself too – it is Easter after all!

TOZO Tonal Dots T12 Wireless Earbuds

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Summer, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

The TOZO Tonal Dots T12 Wireless Earbuds are some nifty headphones which for the price, do everything you expect them to do and more. We were sent a pair to review this week, which are perfect for the summer and those sports activities that are starting again soon.

The TOZO Tonal Dots T12 are wireless stereo earbuds which come in their own carry case which acts as a charger case too. The charge case has a digital display to show you how much charge the headphones have, so that you know to charge them or that you have up to 15 hours of full charge left- which is pretty much a whole plane journey or 2 weeks plus of running, gym or walking. I haven’t needed to recharge them yet, but judging by other TOZO earbuds, it shouldn’t take long with a USB cable fast connection.

The Tonal Dots are easy to connect with Bluetooth 5.3. Yes, you need a phone or appliance with Bluetooth 5.3 but most of us do nowadays, then connecting is easy because my phone (and laptop) could ‘see’ the TOZO headphones when they were in the charge case and kept the connection. There’s a great range to them too; I could walk all over the house and still be connected and the connection didn’t drop at all. Even going outside was no problem. These TOZO Tonal Dots T12 are great for sports because of the distance they connect over, but also because they are waterproof and sweatproof! You can wear these swimming, although I haven’t tested them yet, but with a long connection range it means you can be at the gym and still connected to your phone nearby, or at the pool and your phone be on a lounger somewhere.

There are 16 preset EQs with the Tonal Dots so that you get the sound you need with whatever music or even audio files you listen to, but you can personalise it too. I liked the quality of the sound with these TOZO earbuds, and how easy it is to change the presets. The Smart Touch control is a must on earbuds, and they work perfectly on these headphones, plus are quickly responsive.

The carry case and compact design make them perfect for travelling and for sports. The wireless charging also makes them easy to charge on the go, so that hotels and planes can charge for you whilst you are travelling or getting unpacked. The waterproof quality makes them doubly useful and at such a low price (and currently on offer at some places) means you can keep them for work or children are going to love them for their ease and quality but without such a high price. Perfect birthday presents too!

Available from £39.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOZO-T12-Headphones-Cancelling-Waterproof-Black/dp/B0C8NNCWGL/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZiSbXPGeasQZix3NSt-dCoSV0TYrPr5_RFgDTIrue3r0xNMQ4v9cRQrcLO-dJa1G7BplSvG5Y8yzzcqzSeFDd66dWqNgjUA9NIs06yPPqkPzgp-tBG22WG46R2Ce3Nlidqpk6tZnDicuCEJF7KZo3Q.reyIJ45G6hWblS4_hEZaHAypzEL7pFgOVfszDcE42Ic&dib_tag=se&keywords=TOZO+tonal+dots&qid=1710172852&sr=8-3

HJ Hall Pro Trek Socks

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Days Out, Easter, Family Life, Fashion, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Winter, Women

Spring is in the air and with the Easter holidays fast approaching it’s the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and explore the countryside. There are many forms of outdoor exercise that you can do but my favourite is hiking, a great all-round exercise that is suitable for everyone and best of all doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment.

If you are planning on starting walking then my advice is to invest in some decent socks, it really is amazing the difference a good pair of walking socks makes, having cushioning in the right places and wicking materials to draw moisture away from your feet is really important, helping to keep feet nice and comfortable and also prevent blisters – every walkers nightmare! I’ve been trying out a couple of pairs of HJ Hall socks over the last month and I’m really impressed, they’ve kept my feet incredibly warm and comfortable (and blister free) and I’m looking forward to covering many miles in them this year.

The Mountain Climb socks are a heavyweight sock with extra padding on the heel, toe and Achilles tendon areas. Made with an ultra durable, moisture wicking, scientific wool blend, the socks offer warmth and long lasting comfort and are the perfect choice for colder days. The socks are lovely and thick and keep your feet nice and toasty when the temperature drops. They are comfortable to wear, the arch support and ankle bracing keep the socks from moving about on your feet and they are a good length, coming up higher than the back of my walking boots. The socks are also long enough to tuck into trousers if you wish. This sock is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a heavy duty hiking sock, especially if you walk a lot in cold weather as they will keep your feet warm in sub zero temperatures.

The Adventure Trek are a middleweight sock, they are thinner than the Mountain Climb socks and are suitable for both boots or shoes. The breathability is excellent thanks to the mesh zones that run across the top of the sock and along with the cushioning underfoot they are very comfortable to wear in both warm and cold weather. The socks hug my feet nicely and I have worn them on both long and short hikes with no discomfort. Whether I’ve been on the fells, the park or a recent trip to London, when we walked an average of 12 miles a day, they’ve never slipped, sagged, or bunched up and my feet have been comfortable all day long.

I would highly recommend the HJ Hall socks for anyone who enjoys walking and hiking, they are good value for money and your feet will certainly thank you for putting them in socks as warm and comfortable as these are. So whether you’re exploring the local fells, conquering mountains or walking the dog make sure you have a pair of HJ Hall socks on your feet. Happy hiking!

Mountain Climb Socks RRP £16.50 available in sizes 4-7, 6-11 and 11-13

Adventure Trek Socks RRP £15 available in sizes 4-7 and 6-11

The Ned Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Fleur de Lise Rose Wine

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Easter, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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

If you’re wondering what wines to buy for the Easter weekend then we have a couple of suggestions that are bound to go down a treat, either as gifts or enjoyed with a meal with friends and family.

Rosé fans will love the Fleur de Lise 2022 rosé from the Saint Mont region of France. In a distinctive tall bottle with attractive label the fruity dry rosé has notes of raspberry and redcurrant and is lovely and crisp on the palate. Best served chilled, the wine is great as with grilled meat, fish and salads. It also goes surprisingly well with chocolate – it is Easter after all!!.

ABV 12% RRP £9 available from Ocado

The Ned Marllborough is a Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Marisco Vineyards in the Southern Valleys region of New Zealand. We enjoyed a glass with our roast chicken dinner, but it will go just as well with seafood. The wine is lovely and crisp with hints of lime, herbs and gooseberry and we found it to be nice and refreshing to drink. I’m hoping the weather warms up a bit by Easter as it will be nice to enjoy a glass or two with friends in the garden whilst the children are doing their Easter Egg hunt!

ABV 13% RRP £11.99 available from Waitrose

Thumper Soft Plush Toy

Baby, Birthday Gifts, Children, Easter, Gifts for children, Toys

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

Easter is just around the corner and our mini reviewers are going to love going on Easter Egg Hunts with their own Easter Bunny – this adorable plush Thumper the rabbit, from the popular Disney film Bambi.

Measuring 25 cm tall, the soft toy looks just like the animated film character, with those huge eyes and floppy ears and is so soft and tactile that you can’t help but stroke and cuddle him. He is the perfect size for little hands to hold and will make a great companion for little ones this Easter.

The toy is suitable from birth and when I examined the stitching it’s faultless so there’s no need to worry about curious little fingers playing with this toy.

Easter is the perfect time to buy a cuddly bunny as bunnies and Easter go hand in hand and is a nice alternative to chocolate eggs.

RRP £14.99 available from John Lewis

Bare Addiction Daily Defence Moisturiser SPF30

beauty, Family Life, Gifts for Her, health, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Acne can be damaging to the self-esteem as well as the skin, even in the summer when UV damage can make skin worse, or when our lifestyles change and can play havoc with the condition of the skin. There’s no getting away from the acne though, it’s there for everyone to see. Bare Addictions specialises in acne skincare, from serums and cleaners to the Daily Defence Moisturiser which we were sent to test. It may not be summer yet but you can still be prepared!

Formulated for teens and twenties who have the most acne-prone skin, the Daily Defence Moisturiser both protects and moisturises in the sun. With an SPF30, that’s enough for daily life in the UK and may places in Europe (you’ll need something stronger in the summer and if you’re out in direct sunlight). The Bare Addictions Daily Defence Moisturiser protects against UV rays, shine and spots by targeting excess oil. There’s also the added advantage of protecting against blue light stress – blue light comes from appliances like laptops, tablets and phones which so many of us use daily for both work and home.

Daily Defence Moisturiser SPF30 contains several active ingredients including Indian Ginseng Root extract which is for the protection against blue light stress, and Vitamin B3 to combat hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. The specialised UV filters give a level of protection against both UVA and UVB rays too.

The 50ml pump tube is easily carried in a handbag and won’t spill thanks to the pump design. It’s very light weight and absorbs into the skin easily with a very light fragrance that is neither perfume nor medicinal and doesn’t linger long. I felt that it was very hydrating whilst giving a matt finish when it dries. The directions say to put on 15 minutes before sun exposure, so either during the summer whilst you’re at home and moisturising for the day before you go out, or on holiday before a day in the sunshine, make sure you give your skin some time to absorb the Daily Defence Moisturiser.

It doesn’t matter if you have acne or not, this day moisturiser still works, but also has the added bonus of having UV protection, being easily absorbed and has SPF30. The richness of the cream makes it super hydrating too, which is never a bad thing and as summer approaches we all need a bit of help!

Available from £14.95: https://bareaddiction.com/products/daily-defence-moisturiser

Honey Bun Jamaican Easter Bun

Easter, Family Life, Food & Drink, Spring

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Widen your Easter horizons with the Jamaican Easter Bun from Honey Bun. Never heard of it? It’s a traditional bread from Jamaica, made of flour and enriched with spices and fruits such as raisins, papaya fruit, honeydew melon and pineapple. It’s very similar to a hot cross bun but a bit denser, plus it has different fruit is a bit sweeter. There’s a trace of rum too, but you can’t taste alcohol in the mixture. The Honey Bun Jamaican Spiced Bun is authentically Jamaican too, made in Jamaica to a traditional recipe.

Glazed with honey to give an extra sweetness, it can be eaten on its own, with butter or jam or even toasted. As a traditional Jamaican dish that is imported through Wanis, the UK’s largest world food wholesaler, the size of this bread is enormous as the photos show! It weighs in at 28 oz or 795 grams so it will feed the whole family on Easter Sunday morning or can keep you going for a week! I preferred this with some thick butter, but you can eat the slices on their own because of the flavours. Traditionally, it is eaten at Easter with cheese though. If it does start to go a bit stale, make a bread and butter pudding from it. The rich fruits will bring out the flavour of the dish and you can add cinnamon or spices to the batter to help marinate the flavours as it cooks.

The Honey Bun Jamaican Easter Bun makes a nice change from a hot cross bun, even though they’re related, and uses a mixture of Caribbean spices and candied fruit to give Easter a more tropical feel. It’s delicious too, with so many versatile ways of eating it. Will you try it with some cheese this year though?

Available from £4.65 at: https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/277551240

Easter Eggs and Treats from NOMO

Children, chocolate, Easter, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gluten Free, Lunchbox Fillers, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

NOMO want to ensure that Easter this year is available to everyone, so with their mantra, “No Missing Out” they are ready for anything! The NOMO range this year incudes chocolate which is dairy-free, gluten-free and egg-free plus plant based so there’s no excuses to buy something for everyone. We were sent a yummy selection to test before the big Easter Weekend… did we find something we all liked?

The NOMO Creamy Choc Egg and Mini Bars is a conventional Easter Egg with four mini bars of NOMO chocolates in flavours Choco Orange Crunch, Caramel, Mint and Caramel Sea Salt. All of them are usual flavours of NOMO chocolate and found in shops, but together they make a package of chocolate and eggs for Easter. The mini bars are just like the creamy chocolate (which is comparable to milk chocolate just without the dairy!) in that they all taste like you expect chocolate to taste, but without the dairy, gluten, nuts or egg and are plant-powered. They’re also all vegan too!

Next we tried the NOMO Choco Fudge Egg & Bunny. This is probably for older children or even dairy-free adults as the chocolate is much richer, more fudge filled and has tiny fudge pieces in it. The accompanying bunny is also a treat and filled of fudge too! Like the Creamy Choc egg, this too is dairy, gluten, nut and egg free with no palm oil and yes, it’s also vegan. Can you see where the theme, “No Missing Out” comes into play? No matter what you might be intolerable to or what you can’t eat, there’s a flavour of NOMO chocolate waiting for you.

Finally, the snack of grown-ups is the individually wrapped Choc Fudge Bunny. It’s part of the aforementioned Easter Egg combination but for 90 pence you can buy these on their own and enjoy a creamy chocolate hit. The outside chocolate is creamy choc with a filling of a rich fudge flavoured centre. At only 30 grams they are a sweet afternoon treat, or something to add to lunch to give you the chocolate hit but without the environmental guilt or having to think about what it might contain. Also great for friends if you want to get them something for Easter but not something they might be allergic to, or if you’re unsure if they are vegan or vegetarian!

The Choc Fudge Easter Egg and the Bunny are probably my favourite because I love richer chocolate and the fudge makes a nice change. You really can’t tell if they’re conventional chocolate or free-from chocolate because they’re so well made and have all the flavour and sweetness of High Street chocolate.

No matter who you’re buying Easter Eggs for, this year you have a lovely choice from NOMO and no matter what someone’s need, or taste in chocolate, there is no reason for anyone to miss out.

NOMO Creamy Choc Eggs and Mini Bars (154 grams) MRRP £6.50:

NOMO Choc Fudge Bunny (30 grams) MRRP 90p:

NOMO Choc Fudge Egg & Bunny (160 grams) MRRP £6.50:

Delph and LotilHigh Protection Sun Lotion

beauty, camping, Children, Family Life, health, Sport, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Get ready for summer! Yes, I know it’s raining today but spring is the time of year when you either have your holiday booked, or are booking in and getting essentials together for the big trip away. Judging by the rain out there today, I think most of us are planning on some sun overseas this year so Delph Sun Lotions are definitely going to be needed.

The range we were sent included two sun lotions, one at SPF30 and one at SPF50+ and an after sun lotion, all in handy 150ml tubes. Delph pride themselves on being of the highest quality, so much so that their products are available on prescription on the NHS for those with sensitive skin and other skin issues thanks to their 4-star rating from Diffy & Robson. Delph is also used by the Ministry of Defence, so you can imagine the types of scenarios Delph sun lotion comes in handy! Additionally, each of the sun lotions (SPF30 and SPF50) are “very water resistant” so you can swim in both the sea and swimming pools whilst still getting a high level of protection.

Each of the SPF30 and SPF50 sun lotions can be applied directly to the face, in generous amounts (approximately ½ a teaspoon amount just for the face alone) and then a teaspoon to each arm, more for each leg and 2 teaspoons amount to the back and chest. The lotion must dry before going into water and be reapplied every 1-2 hours especially after swimming or towelling. Remember, using the recommended dosage gives the highest possible protection from the sun.

The Delph After Sun is designed to provide deep moisturisation and contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for their anti-inflammatory properties. The Vitamin E helps prevent peeling and prolongs the life of your tan too.

We were also sent the Lotil Lip Care stick with SPF30. This is a great addition to the range to protect your lips along with your face. It also moisturises your face whilst you’re out in the sun, keeping them soft especially against beach weather.

Each of the Delph Sun Lotions are Dermatologically Tested, and have a very light fragrance to them. There are elements of the scent that remind me of ‘holiday’, presumably because of the sun protection ingredients and there is a very light citrus smell too. The lotions blended into my skin very easily though, so it’s easy to apply to wriggling children who don’t want to have to wait before they get into the pool or the sea! The After Sun is also almost fragrance free and very light, making it easy to absorb.

I can’t wait for the summer and the holidays to begin so that I can finally test the Delph range on some proper sun!

Delph Sun Lotion SPF50+ 150ml from £4.69:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/delph-sun-lotion-spf50-150ml

Delph Sun Lotion SPF30 150ml from £5.09:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/delph-sun-lotion-spf30-150ml

Delph After Sun Lotion 150ml from £1.49:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/delph-after-sun-lotion-150ml

Lotil Original Lip Care Balm from £1.49:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/lotil-original-lip-care-balm-4g

Lola’s Cupcakes Mother’s Day Cake

Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Home, Mother's Day, Vegetarian, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

You can never spoil your Mum enough on Mother’s Day, but you probably struggle to find enough in the way of presents. Lola’s Cupcakes have the perfect Mother’s Day Cake which Mum can enjoy, or you can enjoy with the whole family with their range of sponges, fillings and sizes. Lola’s Cupcakes sent us this special delivery today and we can’t get enough of it!

This cake, which is available for delivery nationwide, is the lemon and elderflower version in size medium. There is the option of three different cakes; lemon and elderflower, chocolate sponge with chocolate buttercream filling and vanilla sponge with buttercream and raspberry jam filling. The wording on the top is either “Happy Mother’s Day” or you can leave it blank to personalise yourself later. This lemon and elderflower version is lemon curd and buttercream filling with an all-over lemon buttercream icing and delicate, edible real flowers. It’s a pretty pink board and well fitted into a Lola’s Cupcakes box so it’s easily deliverable.

The lemon sponge is incredibly light and fresh, with the hint of lemon which only comes from using real lemons as a flavouring and not artificial flavourings. The lemon curd filling is evenly matched with the buttercream filling so that the lemon taste isn’t overpowering but it’s definitely there. The elderflower mascarpone makes a nice change to the usual flavours and overall, the combination make for a light, tangy taste. The flowers, including daisies, also add some flavour to the icing. Even better, this cake is vegetarian so more people can enjoy it!

Mothers Day gift, mothers day cake, cake delivery, gifts for mum, gifts for Gran, gift ideas, mothers day gift idea, last minute mothers day, mothering Sunday, perfect cake, cake ideas, lolas cupcakes, lolas cakes,

This medium sized cake, which is about 4 inches tall (10 centimetres) has 14 generous sized portions so could easily be used for a meal on Mother’s Day this Sunday. It’s available from today (6 March) to be delivered over the weekend and can be ordered online or over the phone – details are available on the Lola’s Cupcakes website: https://www.lolascupcakes.co.uk

I’ve never tried Lola’s Cupcakes before and certainly not a home delivery service for cake but I was overly impressed with this. This cake is beautiful, and huge, and is delivered in perfect condition. The taste is exquisite, with a stunning combination of flavours that really work together to create a memory for Mum on Mother’s Day. It looks straight out of an Instagram page as well, but rest assured, it didn’t stay looking like that for long once my family all had a piece!

Available from £27.50 (£40.00 for the medium size shown) at: https://www.lolascupcakes.co.uk/Web/Sites/Cupcakes/OrderingPage.aspx?ID=1529

RapidLash and RapidBrow Enhancing Serum

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

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I will confess now that I love these products. As a woman of a ‘certain age’ I realised that my eyebrows and eyelashes were starting to thin and not be as long as they used to be. Lashings of eyebrow pencil and mascara were my only option, or something really drastic like make-up tattoos were going to be needed but I didn’t want to go down that route. RapidBrow and RapidLash came to the rescue though.

If you haven’t guessed what RapidBrow and RapidLash are yet, they are both serums for enhancing eyebrows and eyelashes without the use of make-up but instead work overnight to build up strength and therefore thicken brows and lashes.

The statistics on the front of the packaging tell the story of how well loved RapidLash and RapidBrow really are. 93% of people experienced improvement in the appearance of brows and 88% experienced improvement in the appearance of lashes with each respective serum. 91% experienced thicker, fuller and healthier looking brows whilst 86% experienced thicker, stronger and longer looking lashes. This information was gathered after just 8 weeks, but the serums last a lot, lot longer so you can expect the treatment to carry on for several more months.

Each of the RapidBrow and RapidLash serums are applied once a day, preferably in the evening, to clean lashes and brows that have had all traces of make-up removed. RapidLash should be applied to the base of the eyelashes on the top lid, and RapidBrow is applied to the full length of the brow. That’s all you have to do. The serum works its magic overnight and in as little as a few weeks you start to see a difference.

This is why I love these products. Within a couple of weeks, my eye lashes were stronger plus they were able to hold more mascara whenever I did wear make-up. My brows, which are starting to thin with age, were stronger and didn’t come out as easily. It may be my imagination but the colour was deeper too, meaning I didn’t have to add pencil to them. Within 4 weeks, I did a double-take in the mirror where I swear my eyelashes looked longer BEFORE I put mascara on, and my eyebrows looked like they had already had the eye brow fixer on them, or at least a little pencil colour.

Over time, I hope that the serum keeps working and keeps strengthening my eyebrows and eyelashes so that I have more of a base to add make up to, but also to give a more natural look. The serums are much cheaper than having any cosmetics done, and don’t have the initial ‘look’ that tattooing or permanent make-up have when they’re first done. It looks so much more natural having the lashes built up over time and gets you to a level where you can keep the hair strength. These serums last forever too, so are very cost effective plus they make great gifts!

From £37.00 – £40.00 at: https://rapidlash.co.uk

Joe & Seph’s Easter Popcorn Treats

Children, Easter, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, snacks, Vegetarian

Hot Cross Bun Gourmet Popcorn, Chocolate Popcorn Mini Eggs and Hot Cross Bun Caramel Spread

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Joe & Seph’s are known for their gourmet popcorn, but as these Easter treats show, they are branching out into more yummy treats year round. We were sent some Joe &Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn in Hot Cross Bun flavour to try, and the team added the delicious Chocolate Popcorn Mini Eggs and Joe & Seph’s Hot Cross Bun Caramel Spread. Can you tell it was an arduous week of testing this bunch?!

Starting with the Chocolate Popcorn Mini Eggs, we broke into the pretty egg-shaped packaging to find the treats inside. The packaging is in the form of an Easter egg which can be used as a decoration with a ribbon look at the top. They would make great grand prizes for Easter egg hunts on Easter Sunday! Inside there’s a packet of popcorn bites weighing 42 grams. Each Bite is half an Easter egg of chocolate with two pieces of salted caramel popcorn sitting inside. They make great bite-sized treats especially as the popcorn is part of the Joe &Seph’s gourmet range and one of their most popular flavours. Each popcorn piece is air popped and coated in salted caramel sauce and then placed in the milk chocolate cup to set, giving these delicious treats.

Next, we have their famous gourmet popcorn in Hot Cross Bun flavour. The popcorn is their usual air-popped (not fried) variety, which if you’ve ever tasted it before you’ll know it’s made in their London kitchens to the highest standard with no un-popped kernels or inedible pieces at the bottom! The flavouring on this variety is caramel with added sweet fruit and mixed spices flavours to replicate the hot cross bun which is so closely associated with Easter. The flavours really develop and give that tangy citrus aroma which you find in the best hot cross buns. It’s not too sweet though so you’ll find it easy to get carried away with this flavour! It’s also suitable for vegetarians, gluten free and has no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

Lastly, we tried the Hot Cross Bun Caramel Spread. This caramel spread is flavoured like a hot cross bun but it doesn’t mean that you have to spread it on one! This works perfectly on toast, or as part of a cake or even on scones if you’re not partial to the Easter treat. It’s made of natural ingredients but is very sweet, so probably something that you will want at weekends and not during the day. This would work perfectly on porridge though and the more you think about it, the more the possibilities of how you use it are endless. The sauce contains sultanas, zest peel and lots of spring spices to give a real Easter feel to it. It is very rich though, so I would test it out before giving it to small children!

Just when you think you have seen all the popcorn you possibly could from Joe & Seph’s, they bring out this delicious Easter range, complete with ingredients which will last long into the summer! We can’t wait to see what the coming months will bring…

Joe & Seph’s Hot Cross Bun Gourmet Popcorn (£4): https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/popcorn/hot-cross-bun-popcorn?product=167_std

Joe & Seph’s Hot Cross Bun Caramel Spread (jar 230g, £4.99)

Joe & Seph’s Chocolate Popcorn Mini Eggs (£5): https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/chocolate-popcorn-mini-eggs-gift

The Official Tower Single Basket Airfryer Cookbook

Birthday Gifts, Books, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Home & Garden, kitchen appliances, Mother's Day

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

I’ve had an air fryer for a couple of years now and whilst I hear of people creating amazing culinary delights in theirs, I must confess that up until now ours has only been used for cooking chips and fishfingers! When I received the Official Tower Single Basket Air fryer Cookbook from Tower Housewares it was just the push I needed to liven up mealtimes and I have been enjoying experimenting with some of the delicious recipes – it’s fair to say my family have been thrilled with the meals and our air fryer has had a new lease of life!

With over 100 years of experience in manufacturing everyday kitchen appliances the new Air Fryer recipe books have been carefully created by the Tower development team to make the most of Tower air fryers. There are recipe books for all three styles of air fryer so whether you have a Dual Basket, Single Basket & Oven there is a recipe book for you.

With 249 pages the book is organised into the following sections, Breakfast, Starters & Light Bites, Midweek Dinners, A Taste of Takeaway, Meat Free, Sharing Snacks & Sides, Pizza & Savoury Bakes and Puddings & Sweet Treats. It contains a really good selection of recipes and there is something to suit every taste. Many of the recipes include “Top Tips” which suggest alternative ingredients or serving suggestions and they all show the Prep time, Cooking Time, Number of servings and difficulty level.

Each recipe spans two pages, one for the ingredients and method and the second for a colour photograph which shows you what the finished dish should look like.

The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and as we’re trying to save money at the moment we decided to create our own Chinese meal rather than going to the takeaway. The dishes were surprisingly easy to make and the whole family were really impressed with the air fryer versions of our favourite dishes.

The Sesame Prawn Toast was simple to make and tasted amazing – so good that we all agreed that we won’t be buying it from the Chinese take away any more!

Another favourite is Crispy Chinese Style Chilli Beef, this was a really easy dish to create and cost a fraction of what we normally pay at the Chinese take away.

With the Chinese dishes going down a treat we tried a mix of Indian dishes next, Tandoori Style Chicken, Onion Bhajis and Crispy Bombay Potatoes. As our air fryer only has 1 basket, in order to have everything ready together I did prepare the Onion Bhajis and Crispy Bombay Potatoes earlier in the day and then reheated them at the last minute and this worked really well. The Tandoori Style Chicken was much easier to make than I expected, only taking 5 minutes to prepare and was a real winner with my family.

This book contains an excellent selection of recipes which are easy to follow and actually turn out exactly like the pictures. It’s been fun experimenting with the air fryer and I’m looking forward to working my way through the recipe book. I’m so pleased I’ve upped my air frying game and whilst I might still cook the odd basket of chips and fish fingers our air fryer is now fully occupied cooking much more exciting cuisine!

RRP £19.99 but you can save 25% off by using promo code RECIPEBOOK

Grace & Stella Mother’s Day Pamper Gifts

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Women

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

Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day as it is more commonly known, falls on the 4^th Sunday of Lent, meaning the date varies each year and if you’re not careful it creeps up on you without you realising! With the increasingly busy lives that we all seem to lead now, and with many people watching the pennies, it’s good to know that there are plenty of affordable and easily accessible gift ideas that mum will love this Mother’s Day. Amazon is my go-to place for last minute gift ideas and I know my Mum will love this selection of pampering treats from beauty brand Grace & Stella.

Rainbow Bath Bomb £19.99

The rainbow clouds are the ultimate bath time treat, scented with lavender extract and packed with nourishing oils to help you relax and unwind. The simple white clouds aren’t very exciting at first glance but when dropped in a bath full of warm water they quickly explode into a riot of vibrant colours, creating a swirling rainbow that is quite mesmerizing to watch. The beautiful lavender fragrance is lovely and relaxing and when you get out of the bath your skin feels lovely and soft.

Lavender Foot Peel Mask (2 pairs) £20

Winner of the “Best Footcare Product” in the 2023 Marie Claire Sin Awards these foot masks are the ultimate treat for tired feet. After soaking your feet in warm water for 10 minutes put the foot booties on, securing with the supplied tape and then put on a pair of socks, which helps speed up the peeling process. They need to be left on for an hour – so the perfect opportunity to grab yourself a cup of tea and a good book and relax whilst the magical ingredients do their stuff. After an hour you remove the bootie and then wash your feet with soap and water. My feet felt incredibly soft afterwards and I found the lavender scent was very relaxing. The peeling starts in 5-7 days and it is recommended that you soak your feet for 10 minutes everyday to help loosed the skin. I found it quite satisfying peeling the dead skin off and I was really impressed with how soft it has left my feet. While the peeling process might not be for everyone, I would say that the end result is definitely worth it.

Eye Mask (24 pairs) £17.50

Eye masks are a popular choice to help reduce under eye puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles. These eye masks are simple to use, adhere nicely to the skin and stay put for the 15-20 minutes recommended use. The unscented eye masks are ideal for a boost when you haven’t had enough sleep and need to look bright and alert or you can incorporate them into a pamper session and sit back whilst they do their magic. I found they have really reduced puffiness, especially after a late night and after using them I look a lot fresher.

Face Mask £20.95

The Dead Sea Mud Mask is infused with Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera Juice and draws impurities like dirt and oil out of your clogged pores to give a clearer complexion. Applying the mask was nice and simple as the mud spreads easily and then you then leave it to dry for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. It took a few minutes to remove but my skin felt lovely afterwards and I was I was really impressed with how fresh and clear my complexion looked.

Lavender Body Lotion £14.95

Containing a whopping 470ml this body lotion contains Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera and Rosehip Oil that moisturizes, nourishes and soothes skin. This body lotion smells amazing, the lavender fragrance is calming and relaxing, yet not overpowering and it lingers nicely on your skin, creating a relaxing spa-like atmosphere long after it has been applied. The lotion is smooth and creamy and absorbs easily without leaving a greasy residue. My skin felt instantly hydrated and is a great choice for everyday use.

I’m really impressed with the Grace & Stella products and I am sure lots of mums would be delighted to receive a selection of pampering products this Mothers Day.

Available from Amazon

Generation Hope – Book

Birthday Gifts, Books, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

By Arunjay Katakam

Following Generation X and Millennials, the post-pandemic generation are starting to make their mark in terms of economics and we see in Generation Hope, but Arunjay Katakam how we have got to this point and where it is likely to go.

During the 1980s, the mantra was ‘greed is good’. No way would this saying be accepted in business any longer however the sentiment is still there with an uber-capitalist market out there except now there are 40 plus years of capitalist decisions, recessions and now a pandemic which have changed the face of finance across the world for good. What are the newest generation’s challenges now, and what area they likely to be?

Author Katakam takes us on a little journey through the history of the last century to the point now where as a world, we are under paid and over worked to a degree which we’ve never seen before. Things are looking to change though, as the new workforce, mostly working from home, seek more of a work/life balance but also appreciate working for a business or industry that believes in community and people, and not about just profits. However, undoing all those decades of greed is going to take some time and the book explores how old-school economists are being replaced by Inclusive Economics and how everyone can benefit from it.

Arunjay Katakam’s book is sliced into three parts; 1. The Scale of the Problem, 2. The Shape of Change and 3. The Scope of Impact. Each section has easy to understand chapters, complete with footnotes for anyone who isn’t an economist, and the odd quote or diagram to help explain along the way. Katakam takes the time to look at what the problems are and how they came about and then directs the reader to how things could look in the future, if change might happen.

The book is a modern day look at how we operate finance and economy nowadays, and essentially where it is going wrong. The speed of change which has been instigated by the internet and social media over the last 20 years means that the models that used to be applied are now no longer relevant and change is needed. For anyone interested in economics or studying the subject, Generation Hope adds seasoning to the commentary on wealth today and brings the reader up to date with how those Billionaire made it… and where they are likely to end up.

Further details:

Arunjay Katakam

Insta – @arunjay.katakam

X – @arunjay

#Genhope

From £14.99 at: https://www.waterstones.com/book/generation-hope/arunjay-katakam/9781955671347

Rugby Icons Max Brown and Greg O’Shea unite to champion the excellence of Organic Irish Beef

Family Life, Food & Drink, Mother's Day

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

Renowned Irish rugby player Max Brown and TV presenter and Rugby Pro, Greg O’Shea, have joined forces with Bord Bia in an exciting campaign celebrating the unparalleled quality of organic Irish beef.

Known for its delicious flavour, organic Irish beef comes from cattle that have grazed on the nutrient-packed clover and yarrow grasslands of Ireland. The beef that comes from these cows is not only incredibly tasty but has the following benefits too:

1. Premium Protein: Naturally rich in protein and vitamin B12, organic Irish beef is a great choice for those seeking to increase their protein intake. Max Brown, drawing on his experience as an athlete says “As an athlete, I’ve always been mindful of the crucial role nutrition plays in peak performance. Organic Irish beef not only offers an exceptional taste but also the protein and nutrients essential for athletic excellence.”

2. Energy Elevation: Packed with protein and essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12, organic Irish beef contributes to energy production. Greg O’Shea, recognising the importance of a balanced and vibrant lifestyle, emphasises how incorporating organic Irish beef into one’s diet can be a key element in achieving optimal energy levels.

3. Natural & Organic: The delicious flavour of organic Irish beef is a testament to the natural and organic practices followed in its production. Cattle grazing on Ireland’s lush grasslands result in beef that is not only delicious but also aligns with the values of conscious and healthy food choices.

In order to taste the quality of the steak ourselves we were sent a couple of sirloin steaks to try. The steaks are expertly butchered and naturally matured for a minimum of 21 days to enhance their full flavour potential. Sirloin steaks can be cooked in a variety of ways and I decided to cook them in a griddle pan as this gives the meat those all-important char marks and gives a smoky flavour to steak, which my family loves.

Before I cooked the steaks, I oiled them before seasoning with salt and pepper and then left them to stand for 10 minutes whilst the griddle pan was being heated in the oven. Once the pan was REALLY hot and smoking, I placed the steaks in the pan, I like my steak to be medium rare, so cooked it for 2 minutes on each side.

Once cooked it was served with all the trimmings, chips, corn on the cob, broccoli, mushrooms and onion rings. The verdict – this was a fantastic sirloin steak, it was perhaps a little on the medium side than medium rare but it was perfectly cooked and a juicy, delicious steak. The combination of the crispy flavoursome layer of fat and the succulent meat is heavenly and if I was served this steak at a restaurant I’d be more than pleased.

There is currently a giveaway over on the Irish Beef Instagram page to win two tickets to the Ireland vs England clash in the 2024 Six Nations Championships at Twickenham Stadium. The competition closes on the 28^th February so get your entries in quickly before the competition ends!

If you want to try some Organic Irish Sirloin Steaks for yourself then Bord Bia has partnered with Ocado who are offering a saving of 15% until the 19^th March, with Mother’s Day coming up they would make a lovely treat for your Mum or Mother figure this year.

Just Spices Discovery Spice Box for Mother’s Day

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, health, Mother's Day, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

If you’ve never heard of Just Spices (and if you ever go to the supermarket and look at the spice and herbs section, they’re everywhere!) then let me tell you a little secret. You no longer have to blend a whole heap of expensive spices together to make savoury meals or even desserts because Just Spices has an enormous range ready-to-use which does all the work for you.

This Just Spices Discover Spice Box contains 8 ready spices including; Sandwich Seasoning, Potato Allrounder, Pizza Topping, Chicken Seasoning, Pasta Allrounder, Vegetable Allrounder, Avocado Topping and Egg Topping. Each of the sachets contain a mix of herbs, dried vegetables and spices which can be added to food especially the ones recommended on the packet.

For example, the Sandwich Seasoning contains salt, onion, leek, black pepper, cumin and lemon myrtle among other ingredients. It doesn’t matter what sandwich filling you’re using, you can add the Just Spices Sandwich Seasoning sachet to it and enhance the flavours. Alternatively, you could make the same sandwich every day and use different sachets to create different flavours. Your cheese sandwich will taste completely different with the Pasta Allrounder seasoning with the added paprika, chilli and rosemary.

If you usually cook pasta once a week, or have avocado on toast anytime, then the seasoning sachets make a pleasant departure from your usual cuisine. Without Just Spices, you’d have a cupboard full of tons of opened spices and herbs, all past their sell by date and all in different quantities that you’re never going to use anyway! I’m not sure I’d even think of adding a different herb to my egg on toast let along a whole host of the Just Spices ones…

The Just Spices Discovery Spice Box is not only for popping in the post to your Mum or Grandma, but it could introduce your household to the range of Just Spices available in the supermarket without the cost of having to buy a whole jar. The Discovery Box is also easy to post to a student who is just starting out cooking or doesn’t have a lot of room to store anything in a kitchen. It’s the perfect gift for a teenager learning to cook as well as something homely for Mother’s Day.

Available from £9.99

Get Waisted With Biddy Shapewear

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Summer, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

New to this type of apparel I was excited to be sent some Get Waisted With Biddy (GWB) body shaping garments to help me get into shape for summer! Make no mistake, these clothes won’t change my shape permanently or make me lose weight, but I was hoping they could make me look and feel different.

The first piece was the body suit. I am a size 16 so this suit was in XL size. Made of 85% Polyamide and 15% Elastane, it’s incredibly stretchy but also very strong. There are no fastenings on this suit (except underneath) so you have to manoeuvre yourself into it by stretching it over your head. This took some time the first time I wore it! There’s some shaping there for the bust too but the lack of fastenings to the side or back give it the shape you’re looking for. Once the bodysuit is on, it gives fluid, tighter lines of sight under clothes and doesn’t give any lumps or bumps. I would suggest trying this on and wearing it round the house before you wear it somewhere special like a wedding, so that the elastane shapes to your own curves. There’s no rigid boning so nothing sticks into you as you try and move or sit down. Garment 1 gets a big smile!

The second shapewear were the Snatch Me Shorts. These are pretty, high waisted shorts which fasten at the front with hook and eye fastenings. These are impossible to get into without undoing the fastenings (trust me I’ve tried!) so you might need some help getting them on, especially the first time you wear them. The same advice applies – get used to wearing them before the big day otherwise they might not shape to you as you would like, plus it can take a long time to get them on.

The seams are constructed so that again, there are no lumps and no creases in unsightly or uncomfortable places. There’s 3 settings on the hook and eye fastenings (like a bra would have) and you can start on the loosest setting and work your way up to something more appropriate. I tried on a size XL which just about went over my thighs but I do have footballer’s legs! The shaping around the tummy holds you in so that dresses especially have that clean look and the fastening at the front makes it easy to adjust and get in and out of. There’s also some engineering to make it easier to go to the toilet but I found it easier to just take it off. With time, the elastane may become more flexible for me to be able to wear it that way. I like how high waisted it is too so it can be worn under a dress or even under trousers or jeans.

I probably wouldn’t wear both garments in combination as they do the same thing and would probably be too tight together. They are both incredibly well made, which is good to know when it comes to shapewear as you don’t want it tearing at the seams after time, or the lace fraying. The shorts are hand wash only and I would suggest both of them are kept as hand wash to preserve the elastane and the shape of them.

Not only are these great for creating the perfect shape but they make lovely gifts, or can be taken on holiday for the summer to give you that effortless, cool silhouette in all those vacation photos! With Get Waisted With Biddy, you’re Insta ready in no time!

Bodysuit from £37.99: https://getwaistedwithbiddy.com/products/new-gwb-skxn-luxe-2-0-shaping-bodysuit

GWB Snatch Me Shorts from £51.99: https://getwaistedwithbiddy.com/products/gwb-snatch-me-short

Olay Protect Gift Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Mother’s Day is a great excuse to buy Mum some luxury skincare and with the Olay Protect Gift Set, it’s not just the day cream, but a night cream and Vitamin C eye cream that’s included! This gorgeous box set contains Olay Retinol24 Night (50ml), Olay Niacinamide SPF30 Day (50ml) and Olay Vitamin C Eye Cream for Day (15ml), all in a pretty gift box.

Starting with the Olay Niacinamide SPF30 Day Cream, the hydrating, renewing, age defying cream works perfectly as day cream either under make up or just on its own, especially as it is SPF30. For British weather, it’s a must to both moisturise and have some sun protection as we’re not used to the high temperatures in the summer and like now, the biting cold and wind that the winter can bring. Your skin will love you for looking after it with a rich day moisturiser! Couple this with the Olay Vitamin B3 24 Eye Cream. Packed with lots of vitamins to work for as long as possible, this eye cream hydrates the delicate area around the eyes and acts as a barrier too, to prevent free radical damage.

The final piece to the Olay puzzle is the Olay Retinol 24. This cream moisturises and smooths skin overnight using the powers of Retinol and helps give your skin that healthy glow. It’s fragrance free too so you still wear a scent with it. This is a lovely indulgence to put on at night as part of your bedtime routine because it feels so soft against the skin and gives you a luminous glow before bed and when your skin regenerates as you sleep.

Each of the creams are lightweight and don’t feel greasy at all. They’re fabulous on their own, but in combination and over time they work together to give your skin a continuous glow and make it feel hydrated and smooth. They’re so light in fact that you can wear them under make up and it won’t matter but the vitamins help protect your skin when you’re out and about.

If Mum (or Nan!) love Olay, then this is the perfect gift for her. You know she’ll use it, love it and appreciate having it all together in one box set is a thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day.

And if you don’t give it? You could just keep it for yourself!

Available from £111.00 at: https://www.boots.com/olay-project-protect-day-and-night-moisturiser-and-eye-cream-christmas-giftset-10335161

Lacura Collagen Lip Oil from Aldi

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

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

A few weeks ago, some girlfriends and I went for a makeover in a posh London department store. After buying a ton of new products, I was hesitant about buying the lip oil they had used on me. I had never heard of lip oil before and my usual lip covering is lipstick or sometimes a matt lipstick applied with a wand, so the lip oil was a new product to me.

Well, Aldi had other ideas! They sent me this Lacura Collagen Lip Oil (8ml) with Shea butter and Vitamin E to try, so after last weekend I was very happy to oblige! The lip oil is a tube with roller glass ball for ease of application and is only about 7 centimetres tall so can fit into a handbag or purse easily when you go out. The added shea butter and vitamin E are to protect and moisturise the skin and you can really feel the softness of both ingredients and taste the shea butter too!

Lacura Collagen Lip Oil applies easily and doesn’t leave your lips feeling sticky like a lip gloss. It’s more like a light oil, as the name suggest and leaves a shine on the lips. It’s colourless on application but seems to enhance your natural colour, or if you apply with a lipstick underneath, brings out the lipstick colour and protects a little from the make-up transferring onto glasses etc. It’s easy to wear on its own during the day or to mix it up at night with a lipstick as well and create a different look, especially if you’re really good with lip liner and can create a blend with the oil too.

I’m loving experimenting with the Lacura Lip Oil and being able to make a new look with it for both day and night. It’s so easy to use too and doesn’t need to be precise at all. A new staple for the make-up bag!

Available from £2.99 at: https://www.aldi.co.uk/collagen-lip-oil/p/722836778210501