Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
You can’t beat a good board game to keep the family entertained at Christmas – if you haven’t played the popular Ticket to Ride game yet then it’s definitely one to get this Christmas. The original game was published in 2004 and played on a board depicting a railway map of the United States and southern Canada but the game proved so popular there are now many different versions featuring different countries and areas. The newest launch by Days of Wonder is Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West which takes players back to 19th century North America – the time when cities were growing at a fantastic rate and a boom time for the railways.
In this version of the game players are 19th century pioneers and embark on twelve journeys across North America. Beginning on the East Coast, players work their way across to the West, meeting challenges along the way. Like the original Ticket to Ride game you need to complete your tickets but managing your own North American railway company comes with many challenges and you’ll need to think strategically to beat your opponents. As the game progresses you open frontier boxes that unlock new rules, content and many more surprises. Ordinarily I would tell you more about the game but as this is a legacy game I really can’t reveal anymore as it would spoil the game, but what I can say is you won’t be disappointed!
What I can say is the game is fairly easy to play – when you read the rules for the first time it does sound complicated but don’t let this put you off as once you start playing it does start to make sense and you’ll find you’ll quickly get the hang of the game. My family love a good strategy game so Ticket to Ride Legends of the West is a great choice for us as the game requires planning, thinking ahead and strategic blocking and it’s certainly brought out the competitive streak in my family! We’re part way through the game and we’re enjoying playing it together each evening, it’s also been a great way to get everyone together and off the electronic gadgets!!
With an RRP of £99.99 it’s not a cheap game but it will give you hours of entertainment and if you shop around you may be able to find an offer.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
These days advent calendars have lots of different goodies hiding behind the windows, including beauty products, alcohol and toys, but I much prefer the traditional ones that contain chocolate – after all what other time of the year can you get away with chocolate for breakfast!!
Whilst Thorntons have closed all their high street shops, you can still get their delicious chocolates in supermarkets and online and I was delighted to receive The Best of Thorntons Advent calendar which contains 24 yummy chocolates from the Continental and Classic range as well as a couple of the new Thorntons Pearls.
This really is a sophisticated advent calendar for grown up kids – the snow scene design is very festive and there is a delicious chocolate to enjoy each day. As the selection of chocolates are from 3 different ranges there is a great mix of mouth-watering flavours in milk, dark and white chocolate and with 12 different chocolates in the calendar you can look forward to a second one appearing again later on in the month.
So on to the chocolates – my favourite has to be the Triple Chocolate, bite into it and your mouth is filled with the taste of smooth, quality chocolate. The Orange Velvet Pearl is a real taste sensation, a decadent orange chocolate ganache coated in smooth milk chocolate.
Though more expensive than the average supermarket calendar you simply can’t go wrong with this Thorntons advent calendar, weighing in at 258g, you’re getting plenty of chocolate for your money.
If you have a chocoholic in your household, I would recommend you treat them to this advent calendar, or just treat yourself – it is Christmas after all!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Ava May of Mayfair have just released the first ever Fairtrade wax melts to the UK market, made from products cultivated in Sri Lanka and the result of 2 years’ work to produce some beautiful home fragrances. Wax melts vary from candles because although they are made of ‘wax’ like candles, they don’t have a wick and are instead melted over a flame in a special wax burner. The aroma from the wax melts fills the room and slowly melts away but has the advantage of lasting longer than a candle.
We were sent a box of 7 of Ava May’s most popular wax melts to try:
Lavender, Geranium & Chamomile
Bergamot, Coconut & Tonka
Rose Water & White Musk
Saffron, Pepper & Oud
Damask Rose, Cedar & Oud
Pear, Patchouli & Orange Blossom
Neroli, Eucalyptus & Musk
Each of the waxes lasts for about 8 hours and can be re-melted in that time so if you don’t get a continuous run of 8 hours, the wax solidifies and can be melted later. There’s no cleaning up after a candle either, but it is recommended that you clean out the wax burner after each fragrance so that you don’t get cross-contamination.
All of the ingredients of the Ava May wax melts are 100% natural, and certified Fairtrade meaning there is a fair deal for all the producers who supply from around the world. The Ava May products are cruelty-free and vegan too with one of the main ingredients being coconut oil with added pure essential oils to create the different scents.
The fragrances are all designed to help relax you and take you to another place at the end of the day, especially in winter when we all need a bit of help. The sensory impact of scents such as Damask Rose and Lavender & Chamomile help with relaxation when the evenings are long. My favourite (and I haven’t had a chance to sample them all yet) is the Rose Water & White Musk scent for its fresh melodies and reminder of clean laundry. The wax melts take just a few seconds to start releasing the fragrances and filling the room and they linger on for longer than the 8 hours melt time.
Ava May of Mayfair Wax Melts are an elegant way of adding comfort to your home, or being able to gift to someone the ability to relax at home.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There are some gifts which are perfect to give to anyone. Hive & Keeper produce the most exquisite gifts suitable for everyone this Christmas and we were sent a special sample of their famous giftbox of honey to try out. You’ll soon see why honey is the perfect gift for anyone, especially anyone who is difficult to buy for!
Hive & Keeper was started by Emily soon after she discovered bee keeping. It wasn’t until Emily owned bees of her own that she found out that the honey we buy in shops does not stand up to any of the honey produced naturally by beekeepers by a long way. In fact, Emily thinks that honey in shops tastes nothing like what she and her colleagues were producing in the natural world. Working with other crafts people with natural, British products (leather, wool, wood, antler and other natural materials) that Emily discovered a whole new world of sustainability and natural beauty in craft.
Hive & Honey’s website sells a range of natural product gifts but the main focus for Emily is the honey. She sources different honey from many suppliers around the country, giving the honey different tastes. Did you know the taste comes from the different flowers and plants bees pollinate? So the heathers on the Scottish borders produce a very different honey than somewhere else in the UK such as farmland in Surrey. Each of the keepers are featured on the Hive & Keeper website so you can see exactly where the honey is from. The jars are each labelled with the name of the keeper and given a reference such as, “good on toast” so that you know best how to enjoy each variety!
Gift wise, Hive & Honey have individual jars, gift boxes and subscriptions where households can order 1 or 2 jars to be delivered every 3, 6 or 12 months. We were sent the Big Breakfast Honey Gift Set which contains 3 different honeys, all suitable for breakfast (toast, porridge and tea). The gift arrives in a lovely cardboard (recyclable!) giftbox with straw as packaging and the three jars nestled inside. There are cards for each of the honeys giving information about the keepers. My jars came from Matthew in Staffordshire, Eduard in Berkshire/Buckinghamshire and Howard in the Forest of Dean.
As for the honeys, they each have a different shade and aren’t clear like supermarket honeys. This is an indication that they aren’t over filtered and contain some of the (harmless) impurities in all natural honeys and haven’t been treated. Don’t be surprised if you open a jar and there’s a swirl of different colours in there, it’s just where the honey has settled. To reap the full benefit of each honey, open the jar and smell the aroma. Mix the honey and then taste a small amount, paying attention to the different notes like you would a wine. If you’re unsure about how you want to use it, and there are thousands of ways, then have a look at the jar and see if it’s good for cereal or porridge, in tea or on toast or even experiment yourself to find out how it goes in baking and as a glaze when cooking.
I am a huge honey lover anyway. Being able to try these British honeys without having to worry about air miles or sustainability is not only a weight off my shoulders but it’s a real treat to try authentic honey, straight from the hive. I think Hive & Keeper honey is a fabulous gift for any food lovers, families or anyone who you can’t buy gifts for easily. The Hive & Keeper honey opens up a whole new culinary world that you never thought was out there. Turns out, the bees are out there in the British countryside and they were making excellent gifts for us all along.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Christmas is the time for over indulging, and if you’ve been following us this year with our Joe & Seph’s Popcorn features, then you’ll love what they have sent us to try from their Festive range. This week we had turn up;
Small Star Salted Caramel Gift Box Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Truffles Yule Log Flavoured Popcorn Festive Popcorn Slab
Quite the Christmas Collection!
Joe & Seph’s are known for their popcorn snacks, and these Christmas additions are no exception. We tried out all of them, but started with the Festive Popcorn Slab. This could be a stocking filler or a Secret Santa but is ideal for sharing as you break off pieces to devour, probably in front of the TV! At 115 grams it’s a good size for a family and includes salted caramel flavoured popcorn covered in milk and white chocolate. You can see the salted caramel on the popcorn and the chocolate drizzles are indulgent and smooth, just like Joe & Seph’s other premium chocolate products!
The Joe & Seph’s Yule Log flavoured gourmet popcorn combines their famous, high quality chocolate with cream cheese frosting to give the yule log flavour we are all familiar with. The coating is rich and chocolatey with a lovely sweetness to it. It’s great for sharing in the grab bag and as ever, Joe & Seph’s popcorn has no kernels left at the bottom to throw away nor does it have any misshapen pieces which nobody can eat!
Onto the Salted Caramel Truffles. The tube contains 100 grams of sweets (roughly 10 in all) which are soft salted caramel in the middle with Joe & Seph’s award winning chocolate coating. They’re like lava cakes, with their melting inners which you only discover when you bite into the shell. Or do you melt them in your mouth until you can taste the caramel? I don’t have the patience for that, so I just crunch them until the sweet caramel taste oozes through my teeth. The milk chocolate outer is sprinkled with cocoa powder to give it more decadence and now you have another Christmas treat to share.
Finally, we have my favourite of the bunch. Joe & Seph’s Salted Caramel Popcorn in a star gift box. With 32 grams of fun here, the gift box is brilliant for Secret Santa in the office or for adding to a stocking. The popcorn is their classic, award winning salted caramel flavour. Smooth caramel meets a pinch of salt with each popcorn bite and the resulting taste is music to the taste buds! These won’t last long though, so if you know you are going to be looking for more, try the bigger 105 gram size!
Popcorn lovers will adore the Joe & Seph’s range this Christmas, but even if you’re not a popcorn-fiend, you’ll find something in their Christmas collection you’ll enjoy: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/christmas
All items available online at the link above and varying prices. Some items are currently available in the Black Friday sale.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Imagine it’s Christmas in the year 2000. The Millennium Bug is behind us, but the iPod still hasn’t been invented yet (that was in 2001) and the iPhone is just a pipe dream, not on the market until 2007. Most of us still have that stereo stack in our houses, you know the one with a turntable, double cassettes and a CD player with two big speakers attached which you probably designed the layout of your living room around when you furnished it. Somewhere on that massive stereo stack is a headphone jack. Headphones you had to plug in, which would have cost a lot extra on top of that stereo stack and then you had to buy a convertor jack as well so that they could play on any of your devices. Don’t get me started on using headphones on a Walkman!
Nowadays all our music is on our phone. You might want to hear music over your computer too, and the choice of music isn’t just what you have downloaded but there are streaming services like YouTube, replay TV apps and pretty much anything else you want to find on the internet. All that content, and now, you don’t need to plug in any headphones because like the Edifier W820NB Plus, they are all Bluetooth.
The Edifier W820NB Plus headphones connect seamlessly with any device which is Bluetooth enabled. There’s no need to download anything, especially no apps or programmes which need configuring and you don’t even need to plug them into your computer to pair them let alone connect them in any way. The Bluetooth search option on your computer (or phone or any device really) automatically ‘sees’ the headphones, asks you if you want to connect then you can listen straight away. The only time you need to plug in your Edifier headphones is when they need charging, and the total charge time for the Edifier W820NB Plus headphones is 49 hours, so you won’t need to do that very often!
Unlike in Y2K, the Edifier W820NB Plus headphones have added features. These are noise cancelling headphones, which if you’ve never tried them before means that you can’t hear much of the ‘outside world’ when you have them on. As the music is playing, other noises are drowned out so that all you can hear is the music. Even when there isn’t music playing, there is the noise cancelling effect so that other noises are voided. Traffic, for instance is lessened even without anything playing on the headphones which makes for more peaceful travel, whether you’re a passenger in a car or on a flight and want to block out the white noise. Perfect for sleeping!
You have the option too of Ambient Sound. This allows for some outside noises to be heard, usually voices, so that you’re not completely isolated. This is great for when you’re at work or working from home and have to be aware of people trying to communicate with you not through the PC or sound system. It prevents you being easily startled and keeps you slightly more in the world than if you had noise cancelling switched on.
The Edifier W820NB Plus also work great whilst travelling because of the Zero Pressure Patent Earcups. The ultra-comfy earpads are made of memory foam and create zero pressure on your ears to make them more comfortable. When travelling on a plane, this is super handy because the changes in pressure in the cabin don’t affect the fit of the headphones if you’re wearing them for long periods of time.
All of the controls for the headphones are on the right ear piece. There’s the on/off switch and a volume up and down. You can hold down the volume keys to switch back and forth between tracks too. The ‘M’ button you can see in the photo is for connecting to Bluetooth and turning on and off the ambient sound and noise cancelling features. With each change in feature, a woman’s voice tells you what’s happening (“ambient sound ON”) with the exception of skipping tracks that would only interrupt what you were listening to anyway.
The Edifier range is known for their quality and ease of use and the Edifier W820NB Plus is no exception. They’re great for work, travel or for the kids and the long battery life and 7 hours of play from 10 minutes of charge is the Christmas icing on the cake.
Available from £79.99 (but currently on sale at £55.99):
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
It’s officially winter, and that’s probably not the best time of year for me take up running but that’s what I’ve done. With some new (and very expensive) running shoes, I’ve gone on Park Run a couple of times. Each time it was pouring with rain, which isn’t helpful when you don’t know the course yet.
Cherry Blossom have the Ultimate Protection in the form of the Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield. This spray not only shields trainers from rain but from stains too, which is helpful when you find you’re running through muddy fields as well as a muddy woodland. I was sent some to try along with the Down Care Kit.
The 200ml Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield spray can be used on all materials including canvas, synthetic materials, leather, suede and nubuck. It’s best to spray your trainers before you wear them if they’re brand new, otherwise the Cherry Blossom Sneaker Cleaner Kit is ideal for cleaning up your shoes before applying the spray. After shaking the can, spray onto the trainers from roughly 10-15 centimetres away (4-5 inches) and allow to dry. You can apply another layer after an hour or so, depending on how worn your trainers are and how porous they have become. It’s best to leave the spray to dry on the trainers for at least a few hours, but I left them in a warm place overnight before I used them.
The spray left the shoes slightly shiny but well protected. Even the laces were waterproofed! With the two layers of protector spray on them it was time to test the shoes whilst out running. I think the two layers helped because I was running through some long, very wet and frosty grass at places and found that the trainers not only stayed dry but the dew collected on the uppers and didn’t affect my feet underneath. My socks stayed toasty dry! This has spurred me on to try the Cherry Blossom on other trainers and shoes like the garden shoes I use for pottering around, and my Sketchers.
The Grangers Down Care Kit is a powerful cleaning agent for your down insulated clothing, namely duvet coats and puffer jackets. I have a Regata jacket that I wear obsessively throughout the winter but I’m loathed to wash it because I hate how it loses its fluffiness. The Down Care Kit contains the Wash & Repel solution and 3 dryer balls to help dry your garments quicker, and to get more air into the down so that it doesn’t go flat after washing. To use, you just add 2 capfuls (100ml) of the Wash & Repel solution to the washing machine drawer where you normally put detergent. For each additional garment, add another capful but I washed just my coat on one load to give it room to spin properly. If you’re tumble drying, add the dryer balls on a low heat to get the air circulating more. You might need to redistribute the down as it dries so that you don’t end up with all sorts of lumps and bumps. I let my coat dry outside on a clear day so that it gets some natural air to it too and make sure that all the moisture is out.
Once dry and you’re able to wear it, your garment is not only clean but is protected against rain as well. It’s not completely waterproof (depending on the material of your garment and how it’s made) but it is water repellent. It doesn’t soak in the rain as much and it’s quicker to dry if you do get wet.
The Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield and Grangers Wash & Repel Kit are handy kits for anyone who is the outdoor type, or a stocking filler for anyone who takes part in outdoor sport. They also help make clothes and trainers last longer!
Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield available from £7.45 at:
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
If you’re looking for gift ideas this Christmas you should consider these headphones from Edifier. The WH500 on-ear headphones are a lightweight set of bluetooth headphones in a choice of three colours – light blue, black and white. They’re a compact design with earcups that sit on the ear rather than over, but are quite comfortable and can be worn for long periods. With a foldable design they’re great for travel and as they have a 40 hour battery life you don’t need to worry about running out of charge on a weekend away. When they do need charging (with the included USB-C cable) a 10 minute charge gives an impressive 6 hour boost!
Controls are mounted on the right ear and give access to the most common functions allowing track skip, play / pause, call controls and volume to be adjusted. An extra button allows switching between music mode and game mode – that’s not something I’m too bothered about but I’m told by my teenage son that it reduces the latency which is important for gaming.
Although it isn’t necessary to use the headphones, installing the Edifier Connect app allows other features to be accessed. The prompt volume can be adjusted, a sleep timer set and the headphones can also be reset. Also available is a graphic equaliser and a way to limit the maximum volume – perfect for concerned parents.
The most important feature of course is the sound quality and I was really impressed with the performance of the 30mm drivers, I did try different equaliser settings but preferred the standard setting. Whilst the headphones do not feature active noise cancellation, the cups are well insulated meaning that when I am wearing them I can’t hear background noise.
These are a great pair of lightweight headphones and would be a good buy at the RRP of £40 but I noticed these are currently on a Black Friday offer at Amazon for just £20, making them a real bargain.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I love decorating the Christmas tree with all the baubles and ornaments I have collected over the years. Each one has so many memories attached, and I love reminiscing with my family as we get them out of the boxes. This year I have a beautiful new decoration from Paguro to add to my collection, the Star Eco-Friendly Christmas decoration, which is hand made from bus and lorry inner tubes. The beautiful intricate black decoration is lightweight and looks stunning nestled amongst the branches of the Christmas tree.
The star is strung with a blue and white striped string and when hung on the branches of the tree gently moves when someone walks by.
Simple, chic and timeless, this beautiful decoration looks just as good amongst a sea of colourful baubles as it does with a single colour scheme.
Eco-friendly and cruelty free the decoration is made from 98% recycled rubber and 2% new materials and is suitable for vegans.
I also think it looks lovely as a gift tag on a special present – and the recipient can then add it to their Christmas decorations.
As well as making beautiful Christmas decorations Paguro also make bags, jewellery and accessories from repurposed and recycled materials, so if you care about sustainability then take a look at their website for Christmas gift ideas .
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review, but all words and opinions are our own.
If you are looking for reasonably priced Christmas Stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts then the Aoura Body Mist giftset is perfect, costing a very reasonable £13 it can either be given as one gift or split up for stocking fillers.
The set contains four fragrances, Paradise Bliss, Pretty Woman, Midnight Passion and Love Rush which are packaged in pretty jewel coloured 60ml octagonal bottles.
Love Rush in the deep pink bottle is a fruity and spicy scent which is perfect for day and night. It has hints of vanilla and aims to remind you of what falling in love feels like again! With notes of bergamot, blackcurrant and pear it is a fragrance designed to capture the excitement of life. It’s light and easy to wear and is a great everyday fragrance.
Pretty Woman comes in a light pink bottle and is a lighter fragrance scented with bergamot and pear. When you spray it, you initially smell the delicate rose fragrance which is followed by sweet vanilla notes with a hint of musk and patchouli. This is my favourite of the four and I receive lots of compliments when I wear it.
Midnight Passion in the purple bottle is a heavier fragrance and one I would wear in the evening when going out. The floral fragrance has top notes of bitter orange and anise, middle notes of rose and almond and base notes of tonka bean, creamy vanilla, and sandalwood.
Paradise Bliss comes in a beautiful turquoise bottle and reminds me of the sea and walks on the beach. The enticing mixture of heliotrope, orange blossom and mango combined with the closing notes of hazelnut, wood and creamy coconut milk is sweet and fresh and a lovely fragrance to wear during the day.
The pump spray is nice and powerful giving a good spray from just one pump. Obviously, the mist isn’t as strong as perfume, so it does need topping up during the day which isn’t a problem as the 60ml bottles fits nicely in my handbag.
This is a lovely giftset and anyone receiving it on Christmas Day is going to be delighted with it.
Available at Boots ( included in the 3 for 2 Christmas offer) and Amazon
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Over the years, Mr Kipling has become not only a household name but synonymous with Christmas. Most of our Christmas favourite foods are now table staples including mince pies and this year is no exception. The Signature K Collection from Mr Kipling have these fabulous ‘Best Ever’ mince pies in shops now and we couldn’t wait to try them!
Unlike other mince pies, Mr Kipling’s Best Ever range have only 4 in a box. The Signature K Collection mince pies also vary in aesthetics and taste too which makes them stand out from the rest and dare I say it, look homemade! The pastry is deliciously crumbly, due to the amount of butter in the ingredients. Even before you can eat it and you’re taking it out of the foil, there’s a certain amount of ‘crumbing’, just to remind you how mince pies are meant to taste and how rich and indulgent this Mr Kipling variety is going to be! The pastry is light and delicious and holds together beautifully!
The filling is made of vine fruit mincemeat with added apple and spices. The mincemeat is infused with cider and brandy to give a richer taste, but you really can’t taste the alcohol at all, so these are suitable for children too. The pie is topped with a delicate pastry snowflake and lightly dusted for that festive look which will shine on the Christmas Lunch table. The mixture of the fruits, in combination with the powdery pastry and light icing sugar decoration make these Mr Kipling Mince Pies irresistible, and perfect for Christmas.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Bonne Maman are known for their exquisite jams and spreads and more recently for thoughtful gifts too. This limited edition advent calendar contains all you need for a festive December where all 24 windows have a delicious treat inside!
This year, Santa’s elves have created a calendar of Santa’s workshop, complete with Christmas trees surrounded by helpers who are making jams and spread and transporting them to households worldwide. Behind the windows you’ll find not just jams but savoury spreads and even 6 varieties of tea bags. The jams and spreads are more than just what you’d find on the Bonne Maman shelf in the supermarket as some of them aren’t available in the UK so don’t be surprised by what the elves have made! Some of the specialties include Apricot & Banana Spread, Fig with Cardamon, Mara des Bois Strawberry and even Quince With Chunks for the savoury lovers. The teabags are also specialities too including Morning Blend, Quiet Moment and Christmas Blend. Behind window 24 for Christmas Eve, there’s a special surprise too…
The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is available to ship to the UK only. It arrived in a massive box too, probably to accommodate the size of the two leaves that open out to make the whole Santa’s Workshop landscape. The windows hide a glass 30 gram jar of each of the jams and preserves, so you have the excellent quality of Bonne Maman which is kept fresh and safe from perishing. The glass adds to the weight of the calendar but is worth it for the mixture of jams and spreads inside. You’ll never get bored of the different flavours!
Speaking of flavours, I have never seen such a mix of fruits. There’s not just the usual strawberry and raspberry jams (although they are included!) but delicacies such as fig, nectarine and peach, all of which are mixed with different spices to give whole new flavours. If you only occasionally eat toast or scones but appreciate good jam and don’t want to open a whole jar each time, this is a brilliant gift. It’s also good for food connoisseurs who love trying new flavours or cooking with different jams. For example, the Apricot & Lavender spread would be scrumptious on a gammon joint to bring out the flavours. Chestnut and orange would also be perfect for Christmas Day lunch or a Sunday Roast to add to the stuffing or as a side to the Yorkshire Puddings.
Once you’ve indulged in all the spreads, don’t forget the teas. I think there’s a reason each of the herbal teas are based around calming, soothing flavours at Christmas time, so make sure you make full use of them!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
LoveRaw have produced their first ever vegan advent calendar for 2023 on the back of their meteoric rise to chocolate heaven since 2013. LoveRaw have sent us one of their new advent calendars to review and the back story of how the LoveRaw team came about.
Back in 2013, Rini and Manar had what they called a ‘crazy idea’ to create vegan chocolate, but for it to also not taste vegan at all. This included using unconventional products (for the time) and trying to get the attention of lots of buyers. Along the past 10+ years, they have rejected Dragon’s Den offers, developed tons more products and probably become sick of the sight of chocolate to come to this point where they are able to sell vegan chocolate to the masses.
LoveRaw’s chocolate is made with no palm oil and no artificial ingredients. All of the base ingredients are plant based (such as chickpea protein concentrate) and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. In fact, they say that it’s suitable for everyone, including ‘Unvegans’ who aren’t vegan at all but happy to eat something that has been produced in the vegan way. Their chocolate contains sugar, but beyond that there are no other ingredients which you might want to. Stay away from. There’s a whole list of ingredients on the back that you’ll recognise.
The LoveRaw Advent Calendar is. The usual 24 windows we are familiar with hide medallions of LoveRaw vegan chocolate behind a foil covering which keeps them fresh as well as increasing the anticipation as you open them! LoveRaw isn’t aimed specifically at children, but the chocolate pieces are decorated with Christmas themes, just like the ones we had as children. The pieces are only about the size of a 2 pence coin (3.3grams per piece) so there isn’t an indulgent amount that will spoil dinner but still gives you the chocolate hit.
What was the chocolate like? I took it upon myself to try several pieces and I can confidently say that it does indeed taste like chocolate! The advent calendar is milk chocolate flavoured (we know there is no actual milk in it though) but the flavour is slightly more of a darker chocolate flavour, but not at all bitter. I think because there is added sugar, the LoveRaw chocolate tastes sweeter. There is no bitter aftertaste with it though, like some vegan chocolates have.
Whether for an adult or children, the LoveRaw advent calendar ticks all the boxes and no one will notice the difference between vegan and ‘unvegan’!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
My family love playing board games and Santa always leaves a new one under the tree for us to play once we’ve eaten Christmas lunch. We’ve always enjoyed playing LOGO so I was really pleased to find out there is a 2nd edition of the popular board game from Drumond Park. The new version from is just like the original but comes with a set of 396 new question cards. The game is for 2-6 players and can also be played in teams, making it a great game to play at Christmas with all the family.
The game is simple to set up, each player or team chooses a coloured cone and places it on the Go! space on the board. When playing for the first time it is important to shuffle the cards and once you have placed them in the box you are ready to go. There are three types of question cards, each with four questions; Picture Cards that have pictures relating to questions on the cards, Theme Cards that have questions relating to a common theme and Pot Luck which have random/ general knowledge questions. Players move around the board by answering questions that are the same colour as the place you are on the board. A correct answer allows you to move to the next space of the same colour and you continue answering the questions on the card until you either get one wrong or have answered them all.
Players take it in turns to be the question master which helps keep everyone involved and the winner is the first player/team to reach the winning zone where you need to answer two questions correctly or a get a red question correct.
There are a good variety of questions and as it is all logos and brands it puts everyone on a pretty equal footing. It’s a great game for families to play together and will keep everyone entertained over the Christmas period.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The Australian company Modibodi have been changing how women deal with periods for 10 years now, but still not everyone knows about their revolutionary products!
Sometimes known as period pants, Modibodi produce underwear that doesn’t need tampons or sanitary towels because Modibodi design in a high absorbency layer to their clothing, giving you more protection. As these are reusable feminine products, they have added layers of materials which give much higher absorbency than disposable liners etc, therefore giving you longer wear.
The Modibodi Festive Gifting 3 Pack is a set of 3 differently sized and shaped knickers all in Fiesta Red colour. Including High Waist Bikini (light/moderate absorbency), Classic Bikini (moderate/heavy) and Full Brief (heavy/overnight), they are bundled up in an attractive draw string bag which can also be used for laundry. The packs are available in sizes 8-18.
The briefs are made of bamboo viscose for the body of the knickers and merino wool for the absorbency section, which is brilliant at absorbing moisturiser to keep you dry. They look and feel like everyday pants, which is always a bonus and the different sizes and shapes make them adaptable for any dress or trousers. The bright red colour makes a change from the usual dark blue or black period knickers which are usually on the market and I can guarantee you have something red and Christmassy you want to wear over the Christmas season!
I have been using Modibodi pants for a while now, and they’re really innovative. If you’re a bit nervous about using them, you can always use a sanitary towel or tampon as well, before you get used to how much more absorbent they are or how they fit. I find if I am going out for the day, I use a towel or tampon as security and then rely on the pants later on. It’s more comfortable that way. The knickers themselves fit really nicely and the bamboo viscose is cosy and fits well, especially as they’re in my dress size and not S/M/L like other period pants.
As for absorbency, you get used to not having any other products to rely on. I found that I forgot I was wearing Modibodi pants and it really helped that I wasn’t wearing a towel at the same time when I was in jeans or certain dresses where I was more self-conscience. The absorbency of the period pants was also much better than towels or tampons. The wool material used for the black lining is super absorbent and you can go a whole lot longer without having to need to change them, especially in the full briefs which are bigger. If you have the 3 pack bundle and use them in conjunction with other Modibodi pants (such as the PUMA Active Period Underwear we reviewed previously), you can go your whole period and not use and disposable products at all. Modibodi saves money on using feminine products but also saves the environment with having less to throw away each month.
Even if you’re not buying the Modibodi 3 Pack gift set for anyone else, treat yourself to a pack this Christmas!
Available online now at a discounted price of £39.00:
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Haier are well known for their large kitchen appliances and have just entered the small appliance market with a new range consisting of 7 small appliances – a kettle, air fryer, blender, hand blender, compact food processor, toaster and multi functional hot drink maker. We have been trying out a couple of them and I have to say I am really impressed!
Our previous toaster gave up the ghost recently after 25 years and I picked up a cheap one to tide us over, so I was really pleased to receive the Haier I-Master Series 5 Toaster 2 Slice toaster which with 21 different functions is definitely in my mind the “Rolls Royce” of toasters!
The stylish black toaster looks unassuming at first glance however this black box has the ability to transform the humble slice of bread into a toasty delight. My pet hate is toasters with thin slots that can’t take a fruit teacake or even worse ruins them when they get stuck to the side, meaning you have to prise them out so I was very pleased to discover that this toaster has extra wide slots to accommodate everything from chunky slices of bread, bagels, baguettes and the all important fruit teacake.
This high tech toaster also has a one-sided function, which as the name implies allows you to toast just one side which is ideal for bagels. When I tried it my sesame seed bagel was lovely and crispy on the cut side but still soft and chewy on the other side.
I’ve been using the toaster for a week or so now and it has already proved its worth. I’m able to toast fruit teacakes perfectly without setting off the smoke alarm and they pop up nicely with no need to prise them out. The most important point of all is they are toasted nice and evenly and I no longer get the burnt bits where it caught the element.
There’s no dials on this toaster, instead you press the plus or minus sign depending on how well you want your item to be toasted. There are additional buttons for small slices, one sided toast, cancel and a favourite button allowing you to customise your favourite toasting method. The toaster also has a high-lift function so you can lift your toast out of the slot to check its progress without having to cancel the process and start again.
Cleaning the crumbs out is easy too, thanks to the removable crumb tray which pops out nice and smoothly. Another excellent feature is the handy lid which stops dust falling into the toaster and makes it look nice and tidy on the worksurface – why has no one thought of this before???
Whilst it’s not the cheapest toaster around everything about this toaster has impressed me – it not only has toasted perfectly every time, it has fitted every type of bread, bun and crumpet that I have thrown into it and the controls are simple to use. It looks very stylish and another measure of how good it is, is that the smoke alarm no longer goes off every breakfast time!!
It really is worth spending that little bit more on a quality toaster and, based on my experiences so far, the Haier toaster is up there with the best!
Matching the kettle it makes a perfect gift for any occasion, especially at Christmas when we have the time to enjoy a more leisurely breakfast .
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Haier are well known for their large kitchen appliances and have just entered the small appliance market with a new range consisting of 7 small appliances – a kettle, air fryer, blender, hand blender, compact food processor, toaster and a multi functional hot drink maker. We have been trying out a couple of them and I have to say I am really impressed!
A kettle is one of those essential kitchen appliances that is used multiple times a day, whether for making hot drinks, food prep, sterilising or just heating water for other uses. Whilst their primary purpose is to boil water, many kettles have additional features, varying in size, speed as well as the type of lid.
This new Series 5 1.7 litre kettle from Haier is by the far the best kettle I have ever used, the stainless steel kettle not only looks incredibly stylish, it has a host of extra features too. With 7 temperature settings ranging from 40-100°C you can heat water to the perfect temperature, so whether you are making tea, coffee, fruit teas or warming baby bottles it is easy to have water at the correct temperature. With 3000W of power it boils quicky but if you only need a small amount of water it has a minimum boil capacity of 250 ml of water which saves up to 40% energy. There is also a “keep warm” function which will keep the water at the same temperature for up to 30 minutes which is perfect for topping up the teapot or when cooking.
The kettle is filled by removing the lid, making it very easy to fill directly from a tap and the maximum fill level is clearly marked on the inside of the kettle.
Despite having lots of extra features, the kettle is simple to use, simply press the power button on the wipe clean base followed by the plus button to set the required temperature. It beeps to let you know it has started and then beeps three times when the water is at the correct temperature, the temperature lights illuminate as the water heats up so you can easily see how long is left before you reach the required temperature.
The kettle sits comfortably on the 360° base and most importantly pours nicely with no dribbles.
Overall, this is a very high quality kettle in a classy design and is perfect for all styles of kitchens. It makes a perfect gift for any occasion, but even more so at Christmas when we all need a peaceful moment with a nice cup of tea or coffee.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Traditionally falling on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in America with huge discounts available on a wide range of goods. It’s now a big thing in the UK and pretty much all the emails pinging into my inbox at the minute have some sort of Black Friday deal. I love a bargain so I’m making a list of the best offers so that I will be able to make a good start on my Christmas shopping.
Tower Housewares have a number of small appliances in their Black Friday deals, which are running from the 13th to 27th November. The British company was founded in 1912 and has been producing kitchenware for over 100 years. Cordless vacuums are now very popular and one of their Black Friday deals is 20% off the VL35 Cordless 3-in-1 Pole Vacuum.
The vacuum is very easy to assemble and comes partly charged so you can use it straight from the box. It weighs 2.5kg and is very easy to manoeuvre, pivoting at the bottom of the pole which helps it to glide easily over the floor, sucking up everything in its path. I was really impressed with how well it cleaned my floors; we have a mixture of carpet, tiles and vinyl flooring and it coped equally well on all surfaces. I was also really impressed with the handle which goes flat to the floor allowing me to clean under drawers and beds with the LED lights illuminating the way to ensure all the bits have been picked up. I love the versatility of the vacuum as it can also be used without the pole and operated hand held, which is brilliant for the stairs and cleaning the car. Whether I am using it in stick or handheld mode it is very powerful, pulling up dirt and crumbs from the floors with ease. In stick mode, it glides across the floor and is extremely easy to manoeuvre around furniture. The ultra-efficient motorised anti-tangle floor head has an all-floor brush bar & extra thick bristles, which continuously comb the brush, thereby preventing hair build-up.
It is easy to charge the battery, it can be done by removing it and charging it on its own, or keeping the battery in the vacuum and charging it that way. It has a battery indicator so you know when it needs recharging and a full charge, which gives up to 35 minutes run time, takes four hours.
The vacuum is bagless with a transparent tank to collect the dirt, this is very easy to remove and empty.
The two speed cyclonic suction provides consistent airflow which sucks up dirt and it also has an anti-allergy HEPA filter removing 99.95% of fine particles from 0.3 microns, making it ideal for allergy sufferers.
Smartly designed, this cordless vacuum not only cleans incredibly well but as it can made into a handheld cleaner it is incredibly versatile. It comes with a crevice nozzle and 2 in 1 brush so you can get into the corners as well as cleaning upholstery.
There are loads of things I love about this vacuum, the main one being how easy it is to store, small enough to tuck away in the hall cupboard or if you are lacking in storage space just un-click the handle and it will fit under the sink.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Christmas is the time of year when most people treat themselves to luxurious food & festive drinks. You may have heard of the Italian brand Sacla’ before as they make the most amazing pesto, but did you know that they also stock an amazing selection of Italian food & drink gifts, including sweet treats, hampers and drinks.
The company was founded in 1939 by Secondo and Piera Ercole in Piedmont, Italy. The area is known as ‘Italy’s garden’ and they wanted to share their delicious produce so started preparing fruit and vegetables and selling them. The company has gone from strength to strength and is now a very successful business, bringing the real flavours of Italy to the world.
We’ve been sampling a couple of products that will make fantastic Christmas gifts for any foodie. The Villa Domiziano Prosecco DOC is nice and fresh with plenty of bubbles that jump and fizz enticingly. With subtle flavours of citrus and apple it is everything you could want in a fizz, and more. Light, delicate and fruity it is an excellent accompaniment to Christmas lunch or Christmas drinks with friends. With an RRP of £15 it also makes a great Secret Santa gift too.
Chocolate as a Christmas present is hardly an original idea, but once you taste this magnificent Chocolate & Rum Torrone D. Barbero boozy Italian nougat you will see that chocolate from an artisan producer is a world apart from something from a supermarket or high street store. This torrone, made by family chocolatiers Barbero, is based on a family recipe that’s been passed down through the generations, each tweaking the recipe slightly. This variation is hand crafted and encased in dark chocolate with dark rum, Piedmont hazelnuts, Madagascar vanilla, honey and raisins. With plenty of filling encased in the chocolate, the bar is nice and moist and incredibly moreish. Whether you’re buying it a Christmas gift or as a treat for family over the Christmas period it is bound to be very well received.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We’re half way through November and I have started to think about all the food and drink required for the Christmas period as well all the Christmas presents I need to buy. With a big family this is quite a task, so I was really pleased to receive a wine tasting kit from Perfect Cellar as this not only offers me the opportunity to try some new wines it will also makes a fantastic gift for all the wine lovers in my family.
Perfect Cellar were founded in 2020 by Moez Seraly and are the UK’s fastest growing, home delivery wine retailer. Working with Master Sommelier Christopher Delalone they aim to introduce their customers to great quality wine in the comfort of their homes, at an affordable price – what’s not to like!!
Whilst I am not a wine expert, I do love a glass of wine and like most people tend to stick to a couple of favourites. The TastingBOX really appeals to me as it offers the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and not only try some new wines but also find out a little more about the flavours, the wine and the food it should be paired with.
Available in two different sizes – three or six servings – each box contains three different Michelin Star level wines from bottles retailing between £20 and £35. You can enjoy each of the three alone or if you want to share, the box of six has two of each wine. To make the boxes letterbox friendly the wine is packaged in strong foil pouches inside small carboard boxes – very much like the packaging of the wine boxes you can buy in a supermarket. There is also a card showing pictures of the bottles of wine along with a little more information about each wine. The card has a QR code linking to detailed tasting notes and background on the wines. There is also an invitation to join Perfect Cellar’s live tasting experiences with a Master Sommelier using an Amazon Alexa, allowing you to learn more about the wine from the comfort of your armchair. The tastings are held in the last week of the each month and if you are not able to attend you will be able to access a recording. There is an email invitation each month so you won’t forget to join!
Of course if you do enjoy the wines you can of course purchase them directly from the Perfect Cellar website.
With a 1 month, 3 month or 6 month option this is a gift that keeps giving and will be enjoyed long after the Christmas decorations have been put back in the attic.
RRP from £26 (3 servings) & £42 (6 servings) available here
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Who would have thought that socks could save wildlife? Critically Endangered Socks have made it their mission to do just that, and your tootsies could be the reason that an elephant survives in the future; but how?
The profit from the Critically Endangered Socks is donated to charities such as WWF who benefit from 10% of direct sales. The socks are embroidered with some of the animals the charities save including pandas, cheetahs, orangutans and tigers plus these stylish elephant socks in gorgeous pink. All of the socks on sale are 85% GOTS certified organic cotton and include 5% Spandex (to make them last longer!) plus 10% Polyester for hard wearing. The little elephant on this pair aren’t over the top, just giving you a glimpse of the animals at the ankle.
The socks themselves are super soft! The elephant pink tie-die are very unique and go well with snazzy trainers. They’re certainly a statement piece and I was able to wear these with my trainers to the gym because of how stretchy they are and the high content of cotton makes them fabulous for working out.
For Christmas this year, there are also baby socks, pyjamas, jumpers, baby rompers and muslins available online. Critically Endangered Socks make excellent presents for the person who has everything as well as animal lovers who want to know they are doing something for the greater good, and who doesn’t always need socks?
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Dog lovers, this one is for you!
The Kikkerland dog keychain is exactly what it says it is – a keyring that’s in the shape of a dog! No more losing your keys on the long dog walks across the fields or into the woods, this sturdy keychain can hold all of your keys and more.
Made of zinc alloy, it’s durable, doesn’t rust and won’t bend out of shape and is lightweight too. The screw closure ensures that all your keys are safe and the hollow outline of the dog face means you’ll be able to add more keyrings or keys to the chain. The unique shape also means you’ll be able to put your hand in your pocket and find your dog keyring easily. At just £9 it’s great for Secret Santa or as a gift which can be posted as it’s flat and so light.
This is a great Secret Santa for dog lovers or collectors of keyrings, looks stylish and like all Kikkerland products, will last for ages!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This would have been my 5-year-old me dream toy! We had something similar in school that wasn’t magnetic but had creative pieces of coloured Perspex that fitted together and you can build endless imagination items. Connetix is aimed at children, but like all good toys, has taken on a life of its own and managed to infiltrate adult lifestyle. If you’re a fan of Lego, then you’ll love reading about Connetix, the 21st Century version of the building blocks.
Connetix is aimed at children aged 3 and up. We were sent a 120 piece pastel pack that includes 7 different shapes, with at least 2 shapes of each colour. The food grade, non toxic pieces have strong magnets along each edge which allow the pieces to ‘stick’ to each other and build structures or shapes. The riveted corners make them extra safe for toddlers and children and the bevel design gives extra strength. That’s all great information for budding engineers, but what is it like to play with?
The enormous box arrived at my house by courier as it’s so heavy! Inside, the pieces are stacked carefully and kept together by their magnets. Thankfully there’s an Inspiration Book included in the pack so that you can make a start on what to build. Beyond the Inspiration Book, no other instructions are needed as it’s self-explanatory even for little hands and minds. Working out how the pieces snap together with the magnets, finding the matching colours and working out the lengths of the triangle edges adds to the cognitive fun. In fact, there are so many ways in which children can learn from this game that depending on their age, they can glean a lot of learning.
The packaging boasts of encouraging hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills spatial awareness as well as cognitive development. Along with personal development, children of different ages can work together to make creations which encourages teamwork, cooperation, language and lateral thinking. The versatility of this game, which is also considered a craft or art supply item, lends itself to developing a lot of skills as well as bridging ages. Much like Lego or any of the other free-play games and toys, you don’t’ stop playing with Connetix just because you’re past a certain age.
For example, I found myself flicking through the Inspiration Book, trying to find something which I could build as an example. Eventually, I found this turtle which is in the book and looked simple enough. Well, even as an adult, this had its challenges! The pieces snap together but trying to decide which triangle and which edge to use to make the pieces stand up properly was difficult enough. You definitely need more than one pair of hands to keep things steady as you build and rummage for another piece, so as I was on my own at home, I had to find ingenious ways of propping up the pieces whilst I balanced the next piece to make it stable. Using my initiative to build a 3-D structure which looked like the photo as well as colours that matched was also quite the task. Looking through the Inspiration Book, I realised that there is a whole Connetix community out there who use the pieces to inspire, build art, teach and keep children and adults of all ages occupied!
The Connetix family of magnetic pieces isn’t confined to just children nor to building 3-D models although it is ideally suited to both. The Inspiration Book opened my eyes to how the pieces can create patterns, pictures, types of transport (wheels etc can be bought separately) and clever structures. What about a table cloth made out entirely of Connetix pieces? Or a light shade to put in front of a bright light and shine through all the colours? Making a bridge or a house for other toys to use and decorations such as Halloween lanterns, or a centre piece for Christmas?
My favourite idea though was the ball run inspirations. If you’ve never seen it before, the ball runs (sometimes they’re marble runs) are structures built so that a ball can run down a course which is typically fraught with little trials that the ball has to overcome. Bridges, drops, tunnels and balances provide endless sources of amusement for children especially as they build it themselves and create their own experiments. Endless fun, and full of satisfaction too. The ball run packs are available online.
Connetix is a toy which the whole family can play with and have endless imagination fun but also challenges everyone on different levels. The Inspiration Book gives you examples of what you build next, or combine packs to create mega structures. Look online at the different social media accounts to see what else everyone around the world is creating too!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Christmas is a time to ask for that gift you would never buy for yourself, or to surprise someone with a present that they weren’t expecting but similarly love! For me, the Donnerberg Back Massager falls into both categories as I’d seen them around but not ever thought of buying one. Likewise, it is something which I wouldn’t think of giving as a gift.
Read on to see why the Donnesberg Back Massager is perfect for both categories…
The Donnesberg Back Massager sits on the back of a chair so that the user sits with the massager behind them. It’s mains powers so there’s no need to charge it or change batteries and there are four settings; Shiatsu Massage, Massage Intensity (3 levels), Infrared head (2 levels) and Tapping/Percussion. That might sound like a lot of functions but playing with the different functions is part of the fun!
I started by plugging in the massager, which is easy with the UK plug that’s included. That’s all you need to do to get it working! Starting with the Shiatsu Massage, the plates on the machine work extremely hard, giving a deep massage into the different areas of your lower back. There are 10 massage heads in all which work in different directions and patterns to give you a deeper, firmer massage in certain places as well as the infrared heat which helps you relax, but also aids healing. The intensity can be increased with the function buttons, and the infrared heat can be increased too.
The second setting to try out is the Tapping/Percussion. This is a lighter, rainfall-like rhythm which helps relieve tension in the back muscles but with a different pattern. The Tapping/Percussion setting can be used with the infrared heat too, to give a deeper healing. Try using a combination of the tapping/percussion and Shiatsu massage settings to help with your specific ailments and eventually, you’ll work out a session that’s most beneficial to you! There’s a timer on each of the settings too so you don’t spend too long in one place.
The first time I tried out the Donnerberg Percussion Massager I did all the settings and all the intensities going on for more than 20 minutes. This turned out to be a mistake because the next day my muscles were sore and I had bruises! Instead, it’s better to find a medium intensity for your back and work up to the higher intensities over time. You don’t notice how strong the massager is at the time of working it, and it’s usual to find that it’s a bit of a weird sensation at first, until you get used to how deep it can be.
Over a week, the massage became more relaxing as your muscles get used to the sensation and start to relax over time. I haven’t needed to increase the intensity to the maximum level yet but as times goes on there is that option. Interestingly, there are other areas you can use the Donnerberg Massager on. Whilst watching TV, I put it on the floor and rested my feet on it. It’s a very weird feeling at first but once your feet start to relax, and your calf muscles start to melt away, it’s very nice having the vibrations trace through your feet and legs! After a run, this was especially useful as it distracted from the pain but then as the day went on, all the blood rushed to my calves and feet to bring the oxygen.
The Donnerberg Massager can be used on other areas of the body too. Placing your thighs or calves directly onto the massager face and putting it on a low intensity also helps with relaxing muscles and getting rid of aches and pains. The massager has a low noise output too, so you can still watch TV with it running in the background.
The only downside I can see is from having the cable to the mains adaptor. The lead is a few metres long so you can move it around whichever room you’re in but it means you can’t use it outside in the summer easily, and might not be able to use it in every room in the house. Still, it’s great to use whilst sitting up and you can probably use it whilst lying in bed too.
The Donnerberg Percussion Massager is a fabulous toy for anyone who has everything, or if your loved one needs to relax! It’s perfect however for anyone who runs, works out with weights or has a busy life where they need muscle relaxation but probably don’t have the time for a massage. Sit with the Donnerberg massager whilst watching TV and soon the aches and pains will melt away, no matter how active you’ve been!
Disclaimer: We were loaned this bike for the purpose of the review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I’ve been considering buying an electric bike for a while, my husband is a keen cyclist and when we go out on our bikes I tend to lag behind, so an electric bike sounded the best option as it will enable me to keep up with him on the hills and go that little bit further. I was therefore really pleased when RooDog offered me the chance to try their new Avatar Step through mountain bike.
The first thing I have to say is it is fantastic having a step through bike – being 6‘ tall means up until now I have always had men’s cycles with a crossbar and whilst it has never really bothered me it is so much easier not having to lift my leg over a crossbar when I get on and off!
With burly tyres and suspension, it’s designed for on and off-road riding and is incredibly smooth to ride. It also has a twist grip throttle which is really useful, especially when at junctions, giving a quick boost to get me going when I need a bit more power. Despite having an electric motor it is incredibly quiet which is definitely a positive for me, a constant roar would drive me mad when out in the countryside. The gears on my existing bike are quite clunky so I was really impressed with the Shimano 7 speed Megarange gears which give incredibly slick gear changes and are very easy to use. Although there are only 7 gears, with the motor driving me on, this was more than enough to get me up the hills!
The geometry of the Avatar gives a more upright riding position and the frame allows for plenty of adjustment, ample for my 6’ height. I’m at the very top of the height recommendation and it was perfect for me, the seat was high enough and the reach to the handlebars is comfortable for my long arms. I liked the level of adjustment available and after a few tweaks found it very comfortable to ride, the position is well balanced and didn’t put too much weight on either my rear end or wrists. The bike comes with a standard saddle, but RooDog helpfully provided a larger ladies gel saddle, which is an option with all their bikes. This was really easy to swap and I find it much more comfortable to sit on.
On the road, the most impressive trait of the Avatar is the way it powers up hills – we live in a very hilly area – so much so that many pro cyclists train around here – and it really comes into its own when faced with a hill. Hills that I generally walk up are no longer a problem, I can now ride up easily on power level 3 speed and now it’s my husband who is lagging behind me! I found I could get up some of the steepest hills at 10mph whereas before I would puff and pant my way up at around 4mph and invariably need to get off at some point and walk the rest of the way up.
The Avatar has a decent range – up to 30 miles per full charge (on the highest speed setting of which there are 5). I haven’t been using it on full power but to give an idea of range I dipped down to two bars of battery (out of five) after 32 miles of using mainly speed 2 and 3 on hilly terrains.
My first outing was a fairly flat ride so I could get used to the bike and we did 23.42 miles, with 679ft of ascent. Further rides saw 31.82 miles with 1,860 ft and 18.69 miles with 979ft and I’m confident that I can do longer rides and still have enough power left to get me home.
The suspension gives a really smooth ride both on the road and on tracks, on rough surfaces it cushions the lumps and bumps and the bike feels stable and balanced and I feel in control both on fast descents and tight, twisty corners. It is here that the disc brakes come into their own giving really powerful braking that does not fade in wet conditions.
The digital control is smart, sitting nicely on the left handlebar, the LCD-PAS System has a clear digital display with battery indicator, lights, tripometer and the all important speed indicator.
For me, the point of an electric bike is to get assistance when out cycling as I do still want to get some exercise! Whilst you can just turn up the power and ride without any effort I generally have it set on a low power to flatten the hills and give me a “push” away from the junctions. Obviously the less you rely on the motor, the longer the battery will last.
With a 250W rear wheel hub motor, suspension forks and a 10Ah battery, the Avatar isn’t a lightweight bike weighing 22.5kg. Without using the motor, it would be quite a heavy bike but as long as the power is turned on, the extra weight isn’t an issue. We own a motorhome and have a rear mounted bike rack, the weight of the bike is well within the specification but it is always worth checking beforehand. The battery is removable which is really helpful as it makes the bike much lighter when I am lifting it up onto the bike carrier.
Charging is pretty simple, after a ride I just plug in the charger and it takes around 4 to 6 hours to charge from flat. I charge it in the garage but since the battery is removable it can be charged in the house and when we’re away I can easily charge it in the motorhome.
As with all electric assist bikes, the motor cuts out at 15.5mph and the throttle at 4mph so the Avatar isn’t going to turn me into a fast rider but it certainly gives me an edge when we head off into the hills and that’s what I’m looking for in an electric bike. For £1,750 you’re getting a pretty good deal, it has a good motor and fairly sizeable battery so if you want an e-bike that looks decent, and will help you some of the way, this is the bike for you.
All parts are covered by a 2 year warranty, including the battery (provided cared for in conjunction with battery care instructions), motor casing & hub motor and bike frame.
RooDog are a small family business and have been trading for 10 years, like all small businesses they are passionate about what they do and whenever I have spoken or emailed Scott and Tina I have found them incredibly knowledgeable and very easy to deal with. They recently celebrated their 10th anniversary and you can find out more about it by reading their blog post 2023 – Celebrating Our 10th Year in Business – Roodog Electric Bikes
After using the Avatar for the last couple of weeks I am now convinced that an e-bike is a very worthwhile investment, it gives me the extra boost I need to get up the hills and I can still enjoy the scenery without lagging behind. I’m really happy with the Avatar electric mountain bike but if you don’t fancy that style of bike then RooDog have 9 other electric bikes to choose from, so whether you want a folding bike, city bike or even a polka dot one you will find a RooDog to suit.
The Review Studio 