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iWalk Portable Phone Charger for iPhone

Birthday Gifts, camping, Days Out, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Mobile Phone, Summer

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

Most people are off to some kind of outdoor event this summer whether it be a concert, festival, picnic or even camping so if you’re taking your phone, you’d be prudent to take some extra battery charge for your phone too. The iWalk Portable Phone Charger for iPhone (Android also available) holds 4800mAh of charge for your phone, and all in this tiny little charge bank you can take anywhere!

Available in white, pink or black, the iWalk Portable Phone Charger takes around 90 minutes to charge but gives more than 100% of charge to an iPhone. So if your phone is down to 0%, the iWalk Charger will charge it up to 100% with a little charge left over to charge again, or hand to another friend to charge instead! (This is from me testing the charger, not official statistics from the manufacturer.) This particular iWalk is USB-C so fits newer iPhones and nowadays there are multiple other devices which aren’t phones but still have USB-C connections which can also charge from the iWalk. It’s handy to have around so I keep it in my handbag so that I can charge my phone if it goes low.

As the iWalk Portable Charger is so small (it measures approximately 3 inches long or 7.5 centimetres) it is roughly the width of your phone so you can still either type or talk on our phone as it’s charging at the same time. The compact size also makes it easy to pack away or even put in your hand luggage so that you never run out of charge. It is charged with a USB-C cable which comes with the packaging and as it doesn’t take long to charge, you can add it to your laptop as you work or even use an adapter and plug it into the wall. The two items together are so compact you can take them anywhere and the extra charge they provide will be invaluable if you lose charge.

The iWalk Portable Phone Charger also differs to other chargers because there’s a handy display on the front. When you press the button on the side, the front display shows you how much charge the device holds as a percentage. As it charges, the number goes up until it’s 100%, which doesn’t take as long as you think. The charger is lightweight but also really robust so you can keep it charging whilst moving around, even if you’re doing sports or on bumpy transport.

I really like having the iWalk Portable Charger on hand and knowing that it will reliably keep charge and then transfer it to my phone whenever I need it, and it’s especially handy as it charges as you use your phone. Not all the portable chargers can do that. Makes a great gift for a teen or for someone going travelling too.

Available from £29.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/iWALK-Portable-Charger-Charging-Compatible/dp/B0CFL1Z99Y?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

Softly Mens Alpaca Scarf

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, camping, eco friendly, Fashion, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, National Walking Month, Winter

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

Ordinarily a scarf isn’t something I would consider as a Father’s Day gift as June is supposed to be lovely and warm and sunny! Not this year though, it’s still quite chilly so we’re having to wrap up on our evening walks so I know my husband would really appreciate a lovely warm scarf to keep him cosy when he’s out walking!

The Softly Softly Mens Alpaca Scarf is made from 100% premium alpaca fleece from Peru and is lovely and soft against your skin. Alpaca wool is stronger, softer, more eco-friendly, and offers 85% greater wicking capability than merino wool so it is a great choice for outdoor activities, especially hiking, as it’s also breathable and wind-resistant too.

The scarf is nice and long which makes it ideal for wearing different ways, it can be easily wrapped twice around your neck, tied overhand or worn in the Parisian knot style the choice is yours.

Available in a fantastic selection of colours – black, oatmeal, sapphire blue, scarlet, dark blue, dark green and mulberry this scarf is not only a stylish accessory but practical too and will keep Dad’s neck warm and cozy on colder days for years to come.

Size 150cm x 30cm

RRP £45 but currently on sale for £18

Read our Softly Softly Alpaca wool socks review here

Prezzee Gift Card

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts

Sometimes it can be hard to decide on a Father’s Day gift, do you get them a voucher and if so where for? Prezzee digital gift cards are a great idea as the recipient has the choice of over 190 retail outlets so there is bound to be one they will love.

The gift card comes via email and when you click the button to open your gift it takes you to the Prezzee website where a parcel opens revealing your gift. To redeem you simply enter the pin number from the email and you can then swap your Prezzee gift card one from the many retailers on the Prezzee website. There are so many different brands to choose from including high street stores, sports brands, restaurants, supermarkets, garden centre vouchers, theatre tokens and hotels so there is bound to be something they will love. The Prezzee card is available from as little as £5 and up to £500 so you can treat your Dad, no matter what your budget.

After swapping your gift card you instantly receive an email with your electronic gift card which can be saved in an electronic wallet to spend at a later date. I chose a National Gardens digital gift card for my Father in Law, which arrived in less than a minute, so I was really impressed with the speed of delivery.

I was really impressed with the whole process and will certainly be buying more Prezee cards as gifts as it means I no longer need to spend ages deciding what to buy and the recipient will enjoy choosing something special to treat themselves to!

Hoover HL4 Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap

Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Home & Garden

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

With 2 children, a collection of pets and farmer in our house it’s no wonder I seem to spend a lot of time vacuuming! Whether it’s crumbs, hair, or the ridiculous amount of straw that seems to find a way into the house, courtesy of the boy’s wellies, I find myself having to vacuum every day to try and keep my house looking presentable. I was therefore very pleased to be given the opportunity to try the Hoover HL4 Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap which was voted BEST UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER by Good Housekeeping in 2023.

The Hoover HL4 comes in a large box and I was really pleased to find there is no plastic packaging at all, well done Hoover! The vacuum does requires a small amount of assembly before use but it is really simple – even without reading the instructions! The vacuum comes with a crevice tool and mini turbo pets brush which optimise the cleaning performance of the vacuum. It weighs under 5kg and is very easy to manoeuvre, gliding easily over my floors, sucking up everything in its path. I was really impressed with how well it works, we have a mixture of carpet, tiles and vinyl flooring and it coped equally well on all surfaces.

There are three ways to use the vacuum – upright mode where you use the vacuum in the traditional way, upright accessory mode where you detach the handle from the unit and attach either of the tools to the wand, allowing you to reach into corners and along skirting boards and in this mode it is prefect for cleaning the car. The third option is my favourite of the three – it’s quite ingenious and certainly makes cleaning the stairs a lot easier. For this mode you remove the body of the vacuum from the brush head, detach the handle, and you then have a much lighter vacuum, giving you the freedom to manoeuvre around furniture and awkward spaces, either at floor level or higher up, and it made short work of the spiders webs that I can’t normally reach with my hoover, up the top corners of my rooms .

For the majority my cleaning I usually use it in the standard upright position and as it has a 7.6m power cord I don’t need to keep unplugging it as I move around the house. The vacuum manoeuvres easily and cleans right up to the skirtings and it has a low profile head to duck under furniture getting all those stray pieces of straw that appear all over my house. There’s two settings, one for hard floors and another for carpets and it is easy to switch between them when in use. The Anti Hair Wrap brush bar stops hair accumulating around the brushes so is perfect for those with pets or with family members with long hair!!

As I generally vacuum every day, I thought we had relatively clean carpets until I switched to this vacuum – the amount of dust that was in the dust bin after cleaning the carpets for the first time was astounding – our old vacuum was obviously not doing a very good job!

Talking of the dust bin, once it is full it is simple to remove and empty and after a quick wash it looks as good as new again. For optimum performance Hoover recommend washing the filters every month, they are easy to get to and once you have removed the excess debris they can be cleaned under a lukewarm tap and left to dry for 24 hours before refitting.

Overall we have been very impressed with the Hoover HL4 vacuum, we like how you can remove the body of the vacuum from the brushes allowing you to clean the stairs and awkward places easily and it is fantastic at picking up both dirt, straw and pet hairs. The vacuum is easy to operate, the filters are easy to clean and it comes with 3years warranty.

RRP £219 but currently on offer at £168

Tozo – OpenReal Headphones

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 this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

When I’m out and about, commuting or working in the garden I really enjoy listening to music and audiobooks. I own a few different types or headphones and it depends on what activity I am doing as to which pair I decide to wear. When I’m walking or commuting on my bike, I use a pair of bone conducting headphones as they allow me to stay aware of my surroundings but the one downside is that the audio quality isn’t as good, so I tend to listen to spoken word rather than music when I am wearing them.

The Open Ear Design of the Tozo OpenReal headphones get round this problem by using a pair of high quality speakers positioned over your ear. The design allows me to hear what is going on around me without compromising on sound quality.

Talking of sound, it is generated from a pair of 16.2mm drivers and they give a great sound quality, reproducing a full range of frequencies with no distortion. The accompanying app allows access to a graphic equaliser to further tune the sound to your preference. With the speakers sitting over the ear there is very little contact with your skin and so none of the sweaty feeling that can come when wearing other headphones for longer periods.

I found the headphones easy to setup and operate and controlling the headphones is simple, there are two physical buttons on the right side and a single touchpad for quick music control or answering a phone call. Connection uses Bluetooth 5.3 for reduced power consumption and better sound quality. There is a brief user guide included in the box but I managed to get them up and running without reading it!

The battery life is good, the manufacturer claims 16 hours of listening from a 1.5 hour charge with a couple of hours from a quick 10 minute top-up, I haven’t timed this but they will certainly last me for a few days before they need charging.

I’m really impressed with these headphones, they are perfect for commuting and with Father’s Day coming up they would also make a great gift for active Dad’s.

RRP £59.99 available from Amazon

Lola’s Cupcakes Father’s Day Cupcakes

eco friendly, Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him

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

What Dad wouldn’t be happy with cake on Father’s Day – especially when they look as cool as these Father’s Day Cupcakes from Lola’s Cupcakes. Available in boxes of 12 or 24, each box contains a colourful mix of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes all decorated with stars, mini pearls and sprinkles and the vanilla cakes also have a snazzy ‘Dad’, ‘Super’ or ‘Hero’ decoration too.

Sometimes impressive looking cakes can be a little disappointing when you bite into them but not Lola’s Cupcakes – they are full of flavour and incredibly moreish – especially the chocolate ones! The sponge cakes have a lovely thick layer of vanilla or chocolate buttercream and when you bite into them you discover a light and fluffy sponge that is nice and moist. The brightly coloured cakes are incredibly eye catching and I guarantee they won’t last long on Father’s Day!!!

The cakes can be collected from one of Lola’s Cupcakes London stores or make it easy for yourself by having them delivered, either to your door or even your Dad’s, with Lola’s nationwide delivery service. The cakes are available to preorder from 29^th May and will be in stores and ready for delivery from 12^th June.

As we don’t live in London, we were able to test the delivery service and I was really impressed with both the service and packaging. The cakes were in a cardboard presentation box with each cake having a cardboard sleeve and lid to protect it in transit. The cakes were incredibly well packaged in a solid cardboard box with a cool block and thermal liner to ensure the cakes arrived in perfect condition. Once opened the cakes should be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container and they are best eaten within 48 hours. They didn’t last that long in our house, but it is good to know that they can be kept in the fridge for another 2 days.

I was also very pleased to discover that the thermal liner and ice pack can be returned to Lola’s Cupcakes using the prepaid label. They then clean them before reusing, what a great idea and much better for the environment too.

Lola’s Cupcakes make all their cakes fresh by hand each day from scratch, using only high quality ingredients so if you want to treat your Dad I would take a look now! As well as the cupcakes they also have Father’s Day brownies as well as larger cakes to choose from and there is also a vegan and gluten free option so no one needs to miss out on these delicious treats.

I would most definitely recommend Lola’s Cupcakes as a Father’s Day gift, especially if your Dad lives further away and you can’t deliver his gift in person this year.

To order the Father’s Day cupcakes (or any other kind cakes) head on over to their website here

RRP from £22 available until the 16^th June

Maxine Laceby Absolute Collagen

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fitness, Gifts for Her, health, Subscription Boxes, Summer, Women

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

Collagen is an absolute must for our body’s wellbeing and is used in so many ways. Most read about nowadays is how collagen is needed for hair and skin as a building block to repair and maintain.

Maxine Laceby created the Absolute Collagen to make collagen easy to integrate into your everyday life and improve the quality of your skin and hair and has been the number 1 selling collagen supplement since 2017. Absolute Collagen is made from marine collagen (basically fish!) and blended into a supplement which also contains Vitamin C as an antioxidant. The collagen is absorbed into the body and the dermal layers of skin to promote your own cells to create more collagen and enrich hair and nails.

The Absolute Collagen pack we were sent includes 14 sachets of collagen in a lovely presentation box which also has a day record included so that you can check off once you’ve had your sachet for the day! This proves invaluable if you have a busy life and I found it easy to keep it near the kettle and use it as a diary. Each sachet can be torn open and consumed straight away but I found that although the texture is easy (it looks and feels like honey) it’s actually a bit too fish-like to eat straight from the pack. Instead, I read the instructions and realised you can add it to boiling water and create a hot drink from it, which also dilutes the taste. If you are used to hot water and honey, this is no different just a slightly different taste! I used it as a substitute to a cup of tea (or coffee) in the afternoon and obviously it helps with hydration if you have a water-based drink too.

Having never taken a collagen supplement before, it was interesting to see the difference. This was only 14 days’ worth of collagen but on the website it explains that some people see or feel a difference in just a few weeks whilst others see improvement over a longer period. I guess it depends on what your diet and lifestyle is like already. The website also details the changes expected after 12 weeks so 2 weeks isn’t long to test it but here goes…

I can’t say that I noticed anything different in my hair after just 2 weeks but my skin was different. The fine lines around my eyes (you know, only the ones you know about!) were reduced and plumper. It was like taking me back 3-4 years and slowing the aging process that had been catching up with me. I could feel that my skin was more hydrated and softer without too much of an effort on skincare or any change to my routine. I think over time this would be a greater change and perhaps hold back the drying out of my skin once winter arrives and the heating does its thing! I did notice that my nails had changed… I always paint my nails so I couldn’t see the condition underneath but I did realise that my nail varnish stayed on a lot longer than usual and didn’t chip. I’m presuming the nails underneath were in a better condition and more hydrated therefore kept a better hold on the varnish for longer?

Although 2 weeks isn’t long to test a beauty product, the start looks promising and my skin and nails especially are definitely not worse. The challenge will come when the 14^th sachet runs out and I see if my skin goes back to its old ways!

Available from £27.99 at: https://www.absolutecollagen.com/products/marine-liquid-collagen-drink-for-women

Thorntons Chocolate Pearls

Birthday Gifts, Children, chocolate, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Stocking Fillers

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

Chocolate isn’t just for Easter, or Christmas but all year round the family can enjoy these Thorntons Chocolate Pearls – or would you give them to Dad for Father’s Day?

These new offerings from Thorntons are boxes of delicious individually wrapped chocolates (in the shape of a pearl) in two distinct flavours –Brownie Deluxe and Salted Caramel Sensation. Each box contains 167 grams of chocolates, which is about 18 chocolates per box. The chocolate is the same world-famous Thorntons chocolate you’re used to, with a rich smoothness to the milk chocolate but with new fillings to keep you happy!

Starting with the Salted Caramel Sensation Pearls, this flavour is relatively new given the history of chocolate but it’s everywhere now. More of a flavour for grown-ups, children will actually appreciate this variety because it’s not overpowering nor too different. The shell is made of milk chocolate with the salted caramel soft centre easy to enjoy. There’s only a hint of the salt in there, but mostly the pleasure comes from the caramel which is very rich, but not so rich that you couldn’t eat just one pearl at a time. Thorntons have really got the balance right between the size of the bite and the richness of the chocolate and filling.

The second flavour we were sent was Thorntons Brownie Deluxe. These are the same pearls with a milk chocolate shell then the filling is rich chocolate with tiny biscuit bits to make it a Brownie. The filling is not the same chocolate as the shell; it’s softer and more like a chocolate cake piece, as the name suggests. There’s not too much biscuit in it, which is something I hate in chocolates, it is more of a rich chocolate fondant and a tiny amount of small bits of biscuit. It add texture but without taking away from the chocolate indulgence!

These Thorntons Pearls could be shared by the whole family, but if Dad is a chocolate fiend, he’ll love these sophisticated chocolate flavours and will be able to drown in as much or as little of the lovely chocolatey tastes Thorntons is famous for.

Available in supermarkets or online for £5.28:

Brownie Pearls: https://www.thorntons.com/uk/en/p/pearls-brownie-deluxe/77233281

Salted Caramel Pearls: https://www.thorntons.com/uk/en/p/thorntons-pearls-salted-caramel-sensation/77226875

Sauce Shop Hot Sauce Challenge

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Summer

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

Hot sauce challenges have been around for a while and bringing them home can be a great bit of family or party fun. The Sauce Shop’s Hot Sauce Challenge Set is a great way to have fun even for those who are new to heat! The 5 sauces are varied and tasty – with a few of them winning Great Taste awards in 2023.

Hot sauces can bring many flavour profiles to any meal, adding a great deal of depth and complexity to a variety of foods. From Sweet and fruity to Smoky and tangy – there is a hot sauce for everyone, even if you don’t call yourself a hot head!

This set is a fantastic gift for a group of spice adventurers (like the group we got together), spice lovers, or even those new to spicy food – but be warned that some of the bottles get HOT!

The presentation of this set is great as a gift – it is minimal but striking. It gives a clear view of all the bottles you get with a great symbol and colour scale showing you what you’re in for with the heat. There are great descriptions of each sauce on the back of the box with information about the sauce, its ingredients, and it gives you a recipe for “Ultimate Easy Wings” that you can use for the challenge!

For the Challenge itself, we gathered 4 relative spice adventurers, some fried chicken and chips, and the Sauce Shop Hot Sauce Challenge box! So, let’s talk about how we found each sauce:

Original Hot Sauce – Heat 1

A tangy and vinegary sauce that gave a slow and low lingering heat. This sauce is a jalapeno sauce which makes it a great starting point for the challenge.

Sriracha Chilli Sauce – Heat 2

A great balanced sauce with sweet notes, if you like sriracha normally this a great time and is a little more ketchupy in consistency – which we loved! This is also a jalapeno based sauce so non-spice heads can still take part.

Buffalo Hot Sauce – Heat 3

The classic “wing” sauce – it is sharp, tangy but a little creamy. This jalapeno based sauce is a great mid level sauce – a hit of spice with a nice low burn.

Habanero Hot Sauce – Heat 4

This was our groups favourite sauce – hot, sweet and tangy with a great burst of mid-heat that lingers in a great way. The mangos in this make it a fun and good entry into trying sweeter style hot sauces.

Habanero Ketchup – Heat 5

So you like ketchup? Well this is the same thing but replace tomatoes with habanero peppers! Rich and spicy! A good way to end the challenge and a real heat that will challenge those that dare try this!

We had a fantastic night with this challenge, discussing the sauces, giggling when one of us got hit a bit harder than they expected, and tasting these great sauces while doing it. I will add that the last two sauces can get hot for those not used to spice so, if that is you, challenge yourself to get the buffalo sauce and have a glass of milk nearby ready!

If you are looking for a good gift for those who like spice, a fun friend or family party night, or want to challenge that friend or family member that keeps saying they love spicy food – this is a perfect gift to grab! The sauces are tasty and there is plenty of it so you can keep using them after the challenge.

Available from £19.99 at: https://www.sauceshop.co/products/hot-sauce-challenge-set

Just Spices Gin Making Kit

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Summer

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

Let’s BeGin!

For an extra different novelty gift this Father’s Day, Just Spices have this fabulous Gin Making Kit available, complete with a set of their famous different spices. If you’ve never made gin from scratch before, then read on to hear how it’s done plus how Just Spices have created this exciting kit that can be used again and again.

To make gin, you need a base alcohol. Vodka is best to start with as it’s tasteless and colourless. There isn’t any vodka included in this kit so you’ll have to buy a bottle which is at least 350ml in size, to accommodate the size of the provided bottles and the amount of spices included. The kit does have 2 glass bottles with cork stoppers, a funnel and sieve for adding the vodka and the botanicals and then tons of spices, botanicals and lovely things to make the gin taste as you wish!

The process is easy – add vodka to a bottle then add a measured amount of juniper to your bottle using the funnel. Close with the cork and shake vigorously – this is what releases the flavour into the vodka and make it gin. Add the botanicals (it’s all in the instructions) Then the gin then has to rest for any period of time (days, weeks etc) and the longer it rests the more of the botanical flavour seeps into the alcohol, thus allowing you to control the type of gin flavouring you like, plus how strong you like it. Careful though! The gin will be nearly 95% proof and too potent to drink so you need to dilute it with water before drinking or adding to a cocktail!

All the detailed instructions are in the enclosed booklet. There’s also a history of gin (originating from Holland) and a history on the different types of gin plus a rundown of the botanicals. They’re all included in the kit and are some of the expected ones like juniper and rosemary but then there are some more interesting ones like lemongrass and rose petals. You can mix up the botanicals so that you use different ones at the same time or one after the other but it’s best to stay with simple ideas and build up your knowledge as well as your pallet. There’s lots of recipes for making different flavours of gin then there’s recipes for cocktails using your new gin too!

I’ve never tried to make gin before but this is a really simple, all in one way of making it. All you need to do is add a bottle of vodka and you have the perfect gift for Father’s Day plus a new hobby which he can try. The personalisation of the gin labels and a kit which can be used again and again makes it all the more enjoyable as each bottle of homemade gin will last ages – unless your Dad likes testing the cocktails just as much!

Available from £45.99 at:

https://www.justspices.co.uk/gin-making-kit.html

Softly Softly Alpaca Socks

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Fashion, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, National Walking Month, Stocking Fillers, Winter, Women

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

May is National Walking month and the perfect opportunity to try out some great new walking gear like these alpaca socks from Softly Softly.

Softly Softly Alpaca socks are made from luxurious and sustainable alpaca fibre which not only feels lovely and soft on your feet but keeps them toasty warm in winter and cool in summer. Alpaca wool is stronger, softer, more eco-friendly, and offers 85% greater wicking capability than merino wool and being hypoallergenic means alpaca socks are a great choice for outdoor activities, especially hiking.

We walk hundreds of miles each year and socks are a lot more important than you might think when you’re out hiking as they are crucial for keeping your feet comfortable and blister free. I have been trying out the Ultimate Alpaca socks and the Luxury Alpaca Boot Socks over the last couple of weeks and I have to say I am really impressed, they are lovely and soft and incredibly comfortable to wear. The socks are quite thick so perfect for wearing in boots and the cushioned sole helps protect your feet on longer walks, trail runs and tougher terrains.

The socks are an excellent fit, sitting nicely on my foot and they don’t slip down when walking, the ribbed cuff is comfortable and not too tight around my leg and they are plenty long enough to tuck leggings or trousers into.

When I wear them on long walks my feet don’t seem to get as hot and sweaty as they do in cheaper socks and they have kept my feet cool on the one hot day we’ve had so far this month and lovely and warm on the cooler days! They can be machine washed on a wool cycle and after washing several times they have kept their shape and feel just as comfortable and luxurious as the first time I wore them.

Available in extra small, small, medium and large they will fit feet between sizes 1 to 12.

Whilst they are not the cheapest socks around they really are worth splurging on as you can’t put a price on comfortable feet. Whether you’re exploring the local countryside, conquering mountains or simply walking the dog make sure you have a pair of Softly Softly alpaca socks on your feet this summer!

RRP £25

Omnilux Mini Skin Corrector

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, health, REUSABLE, Summer, Tech, Women

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

What I’m about to show you is a new gadget that is revolutionary in skincare. You might have heard of infrared LED light being used to correct flaws on facial skin, but the Omnilux Mini Skin Corrector takes it to a new level with the ease and versatility of this new product.

At first, I wondered where the actual Skin Corrector was. In this tiny box, a round, malleable disk with a tiny 2-pin charge point was in a box all on its own, with a USB 2-pin charger and a box of hydrocolloid Skin Corrector patches. I struggled to see where the actual appliance was but if you watch the video online (link below), you not only see how the device works but what it can do.

The Omnilux Mini Skin Corrector is a portable, very lightweight device which emits near infrared LED light onto your skin. It doesn’t need a lead, it charges from a USB port using the lead provided then once the charge light goes green, it’s ready to use. By placing one of the Skin Corrector patches over the 6 LED lights on the back, it attaches to your skin to emit healing light to work on the layers of your skin. You don’t plug it in, you don’t need to sit still with it. The light does its thing and all you have to do is sit with it on!

You only need between 3 and 5 treatments a week, with each treatment lasting 10 minutes. The lights work on the layers of your skin to boost collagen and reduce fine lines, inflammation, redness and pigmentation. The red wavelength (633nm) reduces inflammation, pigmentation, and redness and helps prompt cellular repair and circulation for a more vibrant complexion. The near-infrared wavelength works on the deeper layers of your skin to help produce new collagen and elastin products to help lump and firm the skin.

It’s completely painless and has no side-effects and gets to work straight away. I sat with it on in a targeted area under my eyes whilst I was typing or watching TV. It’s very slightly warm from the LED lights but that’s it, you don’t even notice it. The Omnilux Hydrocolloid Patches keep the device adhered to the skin so that you can move around easily (no one wants to sit there holding it!) but they also feed the skin with the infused Vitamin C and azelaic acid. Once the 10 minute session is up, it turns itself off so you don’t even have to worry about how long you’re using it for.

The Omnilux Mini Skin Corrector is 100% natural, using the power of light waves to generate collagen in the skin. Safe to use, it’s been cleared for use by the FDA (in the USA) and is brilliantly portable and able to be used by all skin types. I particularly like how small and lightweight it is so that it can even go on holiday with you or you can wear it without having to worry about the weight on your skin, which no doubt would damage the elasticity over time.

How did it work? Well, I’ve been trying it for a few weeks now and I can see plumper skin! There’s a luminosity to my skin that I wasn’t expecting and I really enjoyed being able to sit and have this painless, intervention free method to help me feel like I’m doing something productive with my skin care. Once I took the device off, there was a little redness from the adhesive, but I’m aware that it was also penetrating products into my skin. The area felt slightly warm, like I had been sleeping on that side of my face and turned over but underneath you could see the skin was plumper. Using it several times a week, you can see a slight difference after just 4 or 5 sessions and you feel a difference when you touch your face. It can be used under eyes, for pigmentation and for fine lines, so I have been moving it around and getting my mini-facials in whenever I’m sitting indoors. It’s genius!

More Hydrocolloid Patches can be bought on the Omnilux website as they’re one time use only, but the Omnilux Mini Skin Corrector works a treat, and feels like a real treat on the skin too. I can’t wait until the winter months when I can brighten my skin even without a holiday!

Available from £96.80: https://omniluxled.com/products/skin-corrector

REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic

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

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

Sun exposure, sand, and salty water tends to leave my skin very dehydrated, so toner is an essential stage in my skincare routine, especially when I am on holiday. I love REN skincare products so was really pleased to receive a bottle of their Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic which not only gives my skin a healthy glow but also gives it the hydration boost it craves.

Delivering multiple benefits in just one step, this refreshing toner not only helps to eliminate dead skin cells, but it exfoliates it too, leaving skin looking brighter. The toner is gentle enough to use every day and the energising formula helps to smooth skin, even out skin tone and visibly tighten pores as well as minimising the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation.

I have been sweeping it across my face with a bamboo pad after cleansing and as well as removing the last traces of make up from my skin it adds a layer of weightless moisture, giving my skin the hydration boost it craves. The toner not only smells divine but is gentle on my skin leaving it feeling refreshed and revitalised. It has really improved the condition of my skin; it now feels more hydrated and the pores on my forehead are definitely a lot less noticeable. The toner also helps prime my skin meaning my serum and moisturiser absorb better and I am finding I need less moisturiser as my skin is a lot more hydrated. After a couple of weeks used my skin not only looks more radiant but healthier too.

As well as using it as part of my skincare routine I think it will be perfect for freshening up my skin after a day at the beach and I will be packing it in my suitcase when I go on holiday this summer.

Highly recommended!

250ml RRP £30

Kingsmill Competition to win tickets to Peppa Pig World

Children, Days Out, Family Life

In an exclusive 2 for £2 promotion, running from 16 May – 5th June with the supermarket giant Asda, UK bread-makers Kingsmill are giving parents or guardians the chance to win one of three prizes of tickets for four people to Peppa Pig World plus 100s of other Peppa Pig prizes!

The lucky families will be able to meet their favourite Peppa Pig characters and spend a day at her popular theme park in the New Forest, Hampshire.

For a chance to win, Asda customers need to buy two Kingsmill products included in the promotion while the offer runs between May 16 and June 5.

Peppa Pig World, based at Paultons Park, brings the world-famous TV series to life. Families can visit Peppa’s home, ride Grandpa Pig’s little train, jump in muddy puddles, and much more.

Paultons Park opened in 1983 and is home to other themed worlds like Tornado Springs, Lost Kingdom and Critter Creeks and has live daily shows and a huge variety of animals to see, from birds to mammals and reptiles.

The prize draw will commence at the end of the promotional period with qualifying products being listed on the two for £2 promotion. Customers must have two listed products on their receipt to enter.

As well as the family tickets, Kingsmill has hundreds of premium collectable prizes that will be drawn weekly throughout the special eight-weeks promotional period. Prizes include 100 lunch bag sets, 100 cutlery sets, 100 lunchboxes and water bottles.

Kingsmill have been providing deliciously-made bread since 1935 with products like their 50/50 sliced bread which is a hit with parents for over 30 years containing 50% white flour and 50% wholemeal flour.

To enter, visit the website here and upload your receipt for your chance to win, good luck!

The following products are included in the promotion

Soft White Medium 800g

Soft White Thick 800g

50/50 Medium 800g

50/50 Thick 800g

50/50 Vitamin Boost Medium 750g

Tasty Wholemeal Medium 800g

Tasty Wholemeal Thick 800g

6pk Large Soft White Rolls

4 Mixed Berry Fruit Fingers

4 Apple and Raisin Fruit Fingers

4 Muffins

Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask 2-In-1

beauty, Birthday Gifts, cruelty-free, Gifts for Her, health, Home, Mother's Day, Summer, Women

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

As summer is here, there’s always a need for a more enhanced beauty regime and what better way to brighten up your skin than with a face mask. Face mask that also exfoliate, like the Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask have the added benefit of allowing your skin products to absorb into the skin better, which also helps with summer make-up. I tested the Kora Organics Face Mask this week, knowing that I haven’t used a face mask in the winter and my skin needed some serious brightening!

Kora Organics was started by Miranda Kerr in 2009 under the belief that healthy skin is beautiful skin. Miranda and her team wanted to make a brand which was organic, cruelty-free and natural to detoxify and nourish your skin. The Turmeric in Kora’s Brightening Mask has anti-inflammatory properties and also reduces pigmentation of the skin, which is often found in older women. There are other natural ingredients too, including aspen-barn and peppermint for their antibacterial properties, and papaya enzymes which clear pores. There’s finely crushed amethyst creates the glow and the positivity of this popular crystal.

To use, it’s a gentle cream which is spread over the face, avoiding the eye areas. It’s best to massage into damp skin, so I used this in the bath and let myself soak for 15 minutes, but you can let it work in just 5 minutes. To remove, you can wash away but I liked the idea of the extra exfoliation of massaging away with finger tips or a damp cloth.

The smell of the turmeric is very powerful so if you’re not a fan of spices, you are in for a shock! The turmeric left a slight tingling on my skin but it was nothing like the sensation of a hot curry or burning so it soon went away. I assumed it was the ingredients which were working to clear away the dullness of my skin. It’s very refreshing and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin while you let it sit and work. I rather enjoyed the feeling of the exfoliating taking away the winter and allowing the summer to hit my skin, and it wasn’t drying at all so my usual face products glided on and absorbed beautifully. I could feel that my skin was cleaner, clearer and it looked brighter and after just one application of 15 minutes, there were tiny improvements to some of the discolouration of my face through age. Added bonus!

I’m very happy to continue using the Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask throughout the summer and seeing the long lasting effects of the Kora organic products.

Available from £47.00 for 100ml at:

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/kora-organics-turmeric-brightening-and-exfoliating-mask-30ml/12701160.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw48-vBhBbEiwAzqrZVKTWjR4EKEAZUWw19OVmUJXpiAEJ-MU7pEZr39D21ibWX0WRyGIQAhoCukcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Cherry Blossom Ultra Cleaner, Shoe Protector and Regimental Gloss

Family Life, Fashion, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Home, Home & Garden

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

Cherry Blossom are synonymous with shoe cleaning and shoe maintenance. We all grew up with the Cherry Blossom polish being used on our school shoes on a Sunday night, but I wasn’t aware that the Cherry Blossom range now extends to a many more products including cleaners and protectors too. We were sent a 3-step shoe product gift box of the Cherry Blossom Platinum Eco Ultra Cleaner, Cherry Blossom Shoe Protector and the Cherry Blossom Shoe Protector.

The Platinum Eco Ultra Cleaner is a 200ml bottle of water based cleaning fluid, which dispenses as a foam which makes it really easy to apply either straight to the shoe or onto a cloth to clean. The Eco Cleaner is gentle to use on any type of footwear including leather and suede and is aimed at uppers, but you could easily use it on the soles of shoes especially trainers and durable boot soles. It’s non-abrasive so it won’t change the appearance of the shoes or leave any scratches but just gentle removes dirt, even ground in dirt. I tried it on my black leather boots which had some mud on but mostly scuffs and every day dirt. Along with the heel, the leather came up nice and clean! Which meant onto the next phase of shoe restoring…

The Cherry Blossom Platinum Regimental Gloss is 40 grams of high shine polish to be used on leather. I used the black colouring on my leather boots and was surprised at how soft the polish was compared to other brands which take a lot of work to get the polish out of the tin and onto the shoe! Using a rag, I applied the polish to all areas of black leather on my boots and left it overnight to see the full effect. The Carnauba wax in the polish leave an exceptional high gloss shine and nourishes the leather for longer. A quick buff the next day left my boots with a lovely new-looking shine. Along with Black, the other colours in the range include dark tan, mid tan, light tan and neutral.

Front boot has been polished with Regimental Gloss

Finally, the Cherry Blossom Shoe Protector is great for the extra protection which some shoes and boots need when worn all day. After I applied the Platinum Regimental Gloss Polish and removed the excess polish, I sprayed each boot with Cherry Blossom Shoe Protector. This protector is suitable for leather, suede, nubuck and fabric footwear as well as some accessories like handbags and wallets. It helps protect against rain to keep your feet dry, but also prevents stains and maintains the colour and look of shoes. This week has been great for testing the Cherry Blossom Shoe Protector with the amount of rain, and puddles there have been!

If you’re looking at this Cherry Blossom gift set for Father’s Day, then at less than £15 for all of them, they will prolong any pair of shoes at a fraction of the cost of a new pair. If you buy the set online at www.cherryblossom.co.uk and spend £20 in total, customers receive free shipping too.

Cherry Blossom Regimental Gloss £2.95: https://cherryblossom.co.uk/products/regimental-gloss

Cherry Blossom Shoe Protector £5.95: https://cherryblossom.co.uk/products/shoe-protector?variant=41808837378247

Cherry Blossom Platinum Ultra Eco Cleaner £5.95: https://cherryblossom.co.uk/products/eco-ultra-cleaner?variant=41817849757895

Grangers Footwear & Gear Cleaner Eco Refil Pack

camping, Children, eco friendly, Family Life, Home, Home & Garden, National Walking Month, Sustainable

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

We are all aware of the need nowadays to protect the environment and use less plastic and packaging, so when Grangers sent us the Footwear & Gear Cleaner Eco Refill pack, we were very happy to be able to use the refill pack for our existing Grangers bottle and help save resources. Refills are also cheaper too!

The Footwear & Gear Cleaner is brilliant at getting rid of absolutely anything from your shoes including mud, every day dirt and bad smells. Use on the uppers of shoes (although it doesn’t hurt the soles of some shoes such a walking boots and trainers) and you’ll start to see the dirt come away. I used it on some running shoes with the Eco Refil pack replenishing what was in the bottle and just following instructions – spray onto the shoe upper and work into the material, rinsing away with a damp cloth.

Shoes come up cleaner and noticeably remove odours if they’re present. It also restores a lot of the original waterproofing if it was originally there on the shoe upper. Cleaning with Grangers Footwear & Gear Cleaner also extends the life of shoes, so these refills are even more economical!

Available from £3.85: https://grangers.co.uk/products/footwear-gear-cleaner-eco-refill

Fabsil Universal Protector

camping, Family Life, Father's Day, Home, Home & Garden, National Walking Month, Sport, Summer

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

Fabsil are well known for their outdoor care products, and the Universal Protector is perfect for tents, marquees and gazebos. Did you know it can also be used on outdoor furniture too, such as parasols, and materials such as suede, leather and sheepskin. The possibilities are endless!

We tried the 400ml aerosol spray on furniture covers that are a couple of years old now. The 400ml size was easy to use liberally on the covers which extends to a large table, two sofas and several chairs. It’s important to get the covers clean first though, so after a wet winter, it takes some effort to clean the covers and then water proof them!

An alternative use for the Fabsil Universal Protector is on shoes and outerwear. For smarter shoes, Fabsil Universal Protector works wonders because it’s clear and doesn’t change the colour of suede or leather, it just dries naturally. If you have a new pair of shoes and don’t want them to get splash stains or to penetrate too much water, Universal Protector really helps. It doesn’t make shoes waterproof as such, but they are splash proof and prevent water seeping in and staining or changing the texture.

Fabsil Universal Protector is one of those products you buy for one use but then end up using it on everything. Best keep one spare in the shoe cupboard for your next pair of favourite boots!

Available from £9.25 at: https://www.fabsil.com/products/universal-protector

Ikago Smart Mug and Heat Coaster Pro

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, coffee, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Mother's Day, Plastic free, Sustainable, Tech

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

I had seen heated mug warmers on Instagram and wondered how good they were and whether the price (much more than a coffee mug!) was worth it so I was intrigued to find out when we were sent the Ikago Heat Coaster Pro. Perfect as a gift that you didn’t know you needed, this is brilliant for parents whose coffee always goes cold when there are small children around, or if you’re in a long meeting and want hot coffee throughout!

What is it? The Ikago Heat Coaster Pro is an electric heating pad which plugs into a normal electrical socket. The ceramic mug which is part of the set is placed on top of the coaster and is kept at a constant temperature using the infrared emitter. This means that as long as the coaster is plugged in and your mug is sitting on it, the temperature of your coffee (or other beverage!) is kept constant until you either drink it… or top it up!

To use, unpack all the equipment. As well as the heated coaster the ceramic mug is included, along with a lid and a spoon. The mug is actually quite attractive and 100% handmade and I was surprised it was a slightly bigger size than I expected. The lid is needed to keep the heat in so that the temperature can be kept constant and the spoon works with the infrared emitter.

Plug the coaster into the wall and the lights come on, but you need to press the power button at the side. The coaster will only heat up with the mug on the plate so make sure you have your coffee made and in the mug before you put it on. To change the temperature, use the display – and + signs to reach temperature sup to 65 Centigrade (150 Fahrenheit). You probably don’t know the exact temperature you like your coffee to be at, so this may take some trial and error before you get the right temperature! Don’t worry about remembering the exact number though, the Ikago Heat Coaster Pro will remember the last temperature and make sure your coffee is heated to that.

This is actually a really fun gift to receive because it’s not just a novelty item, it’s really useful and has longevity, it’s easy to use and the fun of getting it set up and discovering ‘your temperature’ and getting it right is all part of the process. It took me just 2 attempts to get the temperature right and actually allowed me to have a hot drink and not be distracted by filling up the mug when it got cold. I think it’s a brilliant idea for anyone working from home or who needs to concentrate as in time, I will get used to having the Ikago Smart Mug Warmer by my side and can rely on it.

It’s not ideal for warming a cup from cold, so it’s always best to have the drink hot first and either warm it slightly or keep it at the same temperature. NEVER use anything other than the ceramic mug as infrared and the radio waves can affect plastic, glass and quartz so best to stay away for safety reasons.

I think I’ll be using the Ikago Smart Mug and Heat Coaster Pro for a long time to come, and you can expect this gift from me in the future!

Available from £54 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ikago-Smart-Mug-Warmer-Thermometry/dp/B0BML12VKN?th=1

Ginsters Butter Chicken Bake

Food & Drink, Lunchbox Fillers

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

We love curry in our house so when we heard Ginsters, had created a Butter Chicken Bake we couldn’t wait to try it. With a recipe crafted by expert chefs, the Butter Chicken Bake is made with 100% British chicken cooked in a rich butter sauce with a blend of spices, coconut and lemon, encased in a light puff pastry.

It can be served hot or cold although we prefer it hot as the pastry crisps up nicely when warm. It’s not too spicy and is the perfect lunchtime treat.

With 1 in 5 people in the UK tucking into a tasty curry on a weekly basis I can see these bakes being very popular, curry isn’t an easy food to eat on the go and these bakes bridge the gap perfectly.

Pop one in your lunchbox for a tasty lunch or serve with salad and naan bread for a delicious evening meal.

RRP £1.50 available from Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons

Fieldtrip 10oz Field Cup Set

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Days Out, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, National Walking Month, Summer, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

May is National Walking month and we’re trying to go for a walk every day, some days it’s just a quick walk after work but at the weekends we are heading further afield and enjoying longer walks in the beautiful countryside.

On our longer walks we always carry a flask of tea or coffee, in winter it’s just what you need to warm you up and there’s nothing better than sitting in the middle of nowhere enjoying a breathtaking view with a brew in your hand.

In the past we’ve just taken a couple of plastic mugs but the arrival of the Field Trip 10oz Field Cup set has certainly upped our game. The double walled stainless steel cups are available in stacks of 4 or 5 and come in a very practical 6oz waxed cotton bag which is hand finished with a stainless steel cord slider.

The insulation is just right for a quick hot drink or even a more leisurely coffee and most importantly they are really comfortable to hold, unlike the old fashioned metal cups that burnt your hands and lips – most hikers have had at least one bad experience with that style of cup! At 10oz the cup is a good size and is the equivalent to a normal mug that you use at home.

The metal doesn’t hold onto flavours so it can be used for any drink without the flavours being tainted and can also be used as a handy bowl for soup or porridge when camping. The cups are solid, durable, well-made, and a pleasure to drink out of and as they can be stacked in the purpose made bag, they don’t take up much space making them easy to throw in the rucksack or car so we can enjoy a nice brew when we’re out on our adventures.

We generally only take 2 cups with us so we have found the waxed cotton bag is a great place to store biscuits to enjoy with our brew!

At £59.95 for the 4 cup stack and £67.95 for the 5 cup stack they’re certainly not the cheapest set of cups around but they are made to last and I guarantee you’ll be using these cups for many years to come.

Love Corn

camping, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gluten Free, snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

We love going on picnics as they’re a great way to spend quality time with friends and family away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. When the sun is shining, we’ll pack up a bag with treats and head off to find a picturesque spot to sit and relax and whether we’re on the beach, by a stream or up a hill the food always seems to taste a lot nicer outdoors!

LOVE CORN recently sent us a selection of their tasty snacks to try which went down a treat on our last picnic. Made by roasting corn kernels and by adding a little oil and spices LOVE CORN is incredibly crunchy and full of flavour and very moreish! With no synthetic flavouring the plant based snack is vegan, gluten free, Kosher and Non GMO and with 50% less fat than crisps is a much healthier choice.

Sea Salt is probably my favourite, it is a great alternative to popcorn or crisps and the saltiness works really well with the corn. My sons both love something with a bit more of a kick to it so the habsnero chilli really hit the spot for them.

Eating outdoors has a certain charm, so whether it’s a family day out, catch up with friends or a romantic picnic you won’t go wrong if you include a selection of Love Corn snacks in your picnic basket. Available in 7 different flavours – Sea Salt, Salt & Vinegar, Smoked bbq, Habanero Chilli, Cheese & Onion, Sour Cream & Chive and Milk Chocolate & Sea Salt which one will you try first?

LOVE CORN is also a great addition to salads and grazing boards. Try serving some of the habanero chilli LOVE CORN on a charcuterie board or sprinkle some sea salt LOVE CORN on a green salad to liven it up a little.

Sea Salt Multipacks are available from Sainsburys and Ocado for £3.25 and the Grab & Go Boxes containing 24 x 20g bags are available from Amazon at the current price of £18.99

Edifier Comfo Run Bluetooth Headphones

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Sport, Summer

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

Another brilliant gift idea for Father’s Day is the Edifier Comfo Run Bluetooth headset. Wireless so that they just connect to your phone, these sports headphones are great for running or cardio work because of the design of the earbuds and how they attach. They’re open ear so they don’t have to sit inside your ear but because of their special sports design, they don’t fall off when running either!

Just 15 minute of charge (using the cable provided) gives 5 hours of listening time, and as they’re sports headphones, they also double up as a pedometer too. The can be used for gaming or work with the in-built double microphone and are dust and splash proof – perfect for taking on holiday and working out, being by the pool or listening to a podcast.

Unlike headphones for music and some gaming machines, the Edifer Comfo Run headphones are very lightweight. They’re great for running, but a they’re not inside your ear canal, they also work for cycling because they allow you to hear what’s going on around you too. The sound quality is really good and the controls (+,- and on/off) are easy to use when you’re trying to run, cycle or keep up with another sport. Like all Edifier headphones, they connect really easily to the Bluetooth on your phone using the ‘Search’ on your phone or device.

The design makes them slightly different to get used to because the ring goes behind your head, then each ear piece is over your ear with the headphone speaker sitting outside your ear canal. If you’re not used to this and instead have over the head or earbuds but they’re designed that way so that they don’t fall off! Anyone who doesn’t like something in their ear especially for prolonged amounts of time will prefer these because they sit outside the ear. However, the charging point is on the headpiece which doesn’t always stay in place if you move the headphones around, so charging them on moving transport can be tricky.

You don’t want too many bells and whistles with sports headphones, just easy to use, don’t slide off and they quality is really good. There’s not much to adjust on these, either technically or physically so not much can go wrong, and hopefully thanks to the design, they won’t fall off easily so you won’t lost them either!

Available from £79.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-Comfo-Run-Conduction-Headphones-Black/dp/B0CRYF3Y5K

Swizzels Sweet Shop Favourites for Father’s Day

Birthday Gifts, Children, Days Out, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Halloween, Lunchbox Fillers, secret santa, snacks, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Vegan

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

Think back to the sweets you had when you were young. Were Refreshers among them? What about Drumsticks and Love Hearts? Swizzels Sweets have a treat for Dads this Father’s Day with a bumper selection perfect for Dad; or Grandad to keep him occupied during the weekend. We were sent a huge assortment of Swizzels sweets to test before the big Father’s Day onslaught of chocolate, sweets and treats so we hope you get some inspiration from these for your Dad!

First up is the big box of Swizzels Sweet Shop Favourites. At 650 grams net it’s a pot pourri of favourites including Parma Violets, Refreshers, Double Lollies, Fizzers, Fruity Pops and Love Hearts. There’s also Drumsticks and Drumstick Squashies which are the same flavour but the Squashies are obviously softer on the teeth! Each of the sweets are as you remember them as a child and in this enormous round box, you can share them out within the family too. They’re great for dipping into when you need to get a sugar rush or to give out after dinner. Dad will love them for the memories too.

Also in the review package were variety packs with a packet of another favourite – Swizzels Luscious Lollies. There’s 16 lollies in this 176 gram pack which include Drumsticks, Fruity Pops and Double Lollies. Yes, there are some repeats here from the box of Sweet Shop Favourites but they are delicious and you probably don’t want to be taking a whole box out with you when you picnic or go on days out so 16 in a pack is ideal. All the lollies featured in this pack are also vegan and free from artificial colours.

There’s two more similar packs of sweets with the Swizzels Curious Chews at 171 grams and Swizzels Scrumptious Sweets at 173 grams. The Curious Chews contain Drumsticks (again), Refreshers, and then Sour Refreshers, Puds (sticky toffee pudding flavour) and Fudg-eee Fudge Chews. None of those are recognisable to me so I’m guessing they’re new in the last few decades. They are indeed very chewy! I would stick to one at a time for these if you have anywhere near loose fillings but they are very addictive and the Fudg-eee and Puds really do taste as they’re supposed to. The Scrumptious Sweets are some of our familiar Swizzels favourites including Drumsticks, Refreshers and Fizzers which again, are universally liked.

Finally, we have the Love Hearts! Everyone knew these sweets growing up so it’s only right that Dad gets them on Father’s Day too. The messages are slightly changed from the less-politically correct ones we might have had but the sentiments are the same. Love Hearts are vegan and free from Artificial Colours and this pack weighing 127 grams has approximately 12 little packs of sweets included, each with love messages on each sweet.

If you’re looking for a fun treat for Dad for Father’s Day, Swizzels Sweets are definitely going to be a favourite for any sweet tooth Dad!

Available from Ocado and other supermarkets: https://www.ocado.com/products/swizzels-sweet-shop-favourites-tub-456465011?ds_rl=1291426&ds_rl=1290929&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw0YGyBhByEiwAQmBEWjC2y6gjspdSz9BGgxRlILm2GTFhSTK2j7tZBBr6UK68eS0CDAGBNhoCUosQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Just Spice BBQ Seasoning

Food & Drink, Home, Summer

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

It is finally BBQ. Well, for the fire lovers amongst us who love to fire up the BBQ but even if you can’t BBQ this weekend, Just Spice have a new BBQ flavouring which can be used on any foods, not just those outdoors!

The New BBQ Allrounder is a smoky barbeque seasoning which can be used on almost anything including meat, fish or vegetables. You don’t have to BBQ the food for the flavour to come out. Instead, spread it liberally on meats and fish to cook them in the oven or grill, and the same with vegetables such as peppers and onions. Why not try adding BBQ Allrounder to mashed potatoes? You could add them to boiled potatoes too or jackets with lashings of cheese if you’re cooking indoors and for outdoor BBQing, adding butter and BBQ Allrounder to sweetcorn will have it popping with taste with the mix of flavours.

You could also try it in the air fryer. The dry BBQ Allrounder seasoning works really well with vegetables that might have some moisture to them already like tomatoes or squash. I tried it on avocado though, with seasoning on top of the avocado on toast to give it more of a deep, smoky flavour.

As another seasoning in the Just Spice flavour rack, there are endless items of food you can add BBQ Allrounder to, and you don’t have to get the BBQ out in order to do it! BBQ Allrounder is found on the herbs and spices section of the supermarkets, or you can buy from the Just Spice extensive range online.

Available at Waitrose from £4.00 https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/just-spices-bbq-seasoning/624786-824829-824830