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Tumbledown Gin

alcoholic drinks, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Tumbledown Gin is one for the gin connoisseurs, the lovers of a particular stature of gin and gin making which can only be found in smaller, independent distilleries. Tumbledown Gin is probably made in the most remote distillery on Earth – the Falkland Islands.

Ex-soldier Taff stayed in the Falklands way longer than any of his colleagues and began building a distillery despite the Falklands Government saying ‘no’. Along with fellow islanders John and Saul, they built up a business and a following thanks to the cruise ships that passed and spread the word, finally shipping 8,000miles to the Isle of Man via Royal Navy Fleet Auxiliary. This is where the gin was finally bottled and where it was launched from.

We sampled some of the purest gin ever as a straight gin and then with a tonic. The gin itself has a slightly citrus flavour to it, and you can taste the purity of the stream-fed water from Tumbledown Mountain on the Falkland Island. The botanicals, including seasonal scurvy grass, can also be traced. The pureness of the water allows the flavours to come through and at 46% proof, it’s very strong! I would recommend pairing Tumbledown with a tonic unless you are a real gin fan. Adding it to a cocktail seems sacrilege though, as it’s far too good in quality.

Although pricy at £95, it does have to travel a long way, and as a gift for a gin lover, it’s almost guaranteed to be something which your loved one has not even encountered before, let alone tried!

Available from £95: https://www.falklandislandsspirits.com/product/small-batch-gin-tumbledown-gin-50-cl/

Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns

Children, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Does a hash brown belong on the Christmas dinner plate? Well we think so, and after trying Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns you probably will too!

Made mostly with cauliflower (42%) and with potato (13%) and onion, these delicious hash browns retain the hash brown flavour, but are lighter thanks to the cauliflower being the main ingredient. The structure is very similar to a hash brown so you can still use it for your fry-up or at dinner time. It’s just as tasty as your potato hash brown, and I preferred it thanks to the seasoning and added flavour of the cauliflower as well as potato and onions. They’re also low in sugar and low in saturated fat, and vegan friendly.

Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns aren’t just breakfast or as a side dish. You can substitute them for break in beans on toast, east them with soup or simply with poached egg on top as a meal or as a snack. They don’t go soggy like some hash browns do, and we found that they cooked brilliantly in the air fryer, which is an added bonus when you don’t have much time.

As for Christmas, why not try them as a side dish? They’re vegan too, so you can have them as a starter with cranberry sauce or for vegetarians you can melt some Brie on top with some cranberries to make them extra Christmassy!

Available from £6 at Ocado, Sainsburys, Morrisons and other outlets: https://www.ocado.com/products/strong-roots-cauliflower-hash-browns/657936011?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21042674809&utm_content=non-brand&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21032609502&gbraid=0AAAAADi6iHkPhWiZzLIoqmBKPVJYctUk5&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9JLHBhC-ARIsAK4PhcqlutvZ_zPVk4NezrS5E73-X5JuNIXsGkLe3I1kubbFCGCbrFQvrDUaAoA-EALw_wcB

Boux Avenue Bow Check Cotton Pyjamas in a bag – Red mix

Christmas, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Stocking Fillers, Winter, Women

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

Boux Avenue recently sent me a pair of their Christmas pyjamas, the Boux Avenue Bow Check Cotton Pyjamas in a bag – Red mix which have quickly become a bedtime favourite.

Let’s start with the fabric, made from brushed cotton (99% cotton and 1% metallised fibre) they feel wonderfully soft and cosy when you put them on. The fabric is also very durable, making them perfect for both lounging about and sleeping in.

Now, onto the design – the red bow check pattern is the perfect blend of classic and chic with a distinctly Christmassy twist. The little white bows scattered across the red check background add just the right amount of festive charm but not so much that you couldn’t wear them all year round. This limited edition print for 2025 feels nice and Christmassy without being over the top and the style will suit everyone – from teenagers to Grandma – you could even get matching pairs for fun Christmas photographs!

Fit-wise, I’m a size 16, and I’d say they’re true to size. Available in sizes 6 to 18, they strike the perfect balance, not too loose, not too snug, just right for curling up in comfort. The relaxed long-sleeved top has a neat pocket and is trimmed with white piping around the collar, cuffs, and front while the matching bottoms feature an adjustable paper bag waistband that stays comfortably in place without digging in, letting you drift off in comfort.

They arrive packaged in a matching bag, making them a lovely treat for yourself or a nice gift for someone special. Boux Avenue also offer free gift wrapping – so that’s one less thing for me to think about on Christmas Eve!

Speaking of Christmas Eve, we have a family tradition of new pyjamas, a festive film, and plenty of Christmas treats before bed – and these pyjamas fit the bill perfectly. Cosy, festive, and practical, they’re everything I want for that special night of the year.

Boux Avenue has a fantastic range of nightwear, lingerie, loungewear, and swimwear, with something to suit every taste. You can shop in one of their 30 UK stores or online, with delivery from £3.99, free delivery on orders over £50, and free returns. Plus if you join their community by signing up with your email, you’ll get 15% off your next purchase – a lovely little bonus.

RRP £40 available here

If you prefer shortie pyjamas do take a look at our review of the Candy Pink Stripe Christmas Shortie in a bag pair.

Christmas Beauty Gifts -Curlsmith Hair Products, Rubis Tweezers and Wonderbalm Lips

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

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

I know it’s only October, but it’s the perfect time to get started on your Christmas shopping. The shops are beginning to fill with festive gifts, and by picking up a few now, you won’t be rushing around at the last minute. We’ve been trying out some brilliant beauty treats this week that are perfect as stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts – little luxuries that are bound to be well received on Christmas morning.

First up, the Rubis Tweezers – in my opinion these are the holy grail of tweezers and perfect for anyone who likes to keep their brows neat and tidy in between salon visits. Lightweight but surprisingly sturdy, they’re well made with an ergonomic design that makes them very comfortable to hold. Each pair is hand-finished in Switzerland from surgical stainless steel and they pluck even the finest hairs easily, with no pinching or snapping. They come in a neat zip-lock pouch (no more rummaging through your make-up bag) and even have a protective cap to keep the tips in perfect condition. At £27.98, they’re an investment, yes – but one that will last for years. Available from Amazon.

If you’re shopping for someone with curls then you really need to look at Curlsmith products. The Shake & Shine Curls Refreshing Mist (£24) is my go to product for refreshing my curls – a few spritzes of the lightweight mist and a quick scrunch and tired curls spring back to life looking bouncy and defined again. It locks in moisture (up to 41% more, according to Curlsmith’s tests) without weighing hair down.

The In-Shower Style Fixer (£24) is an anti-frizz styling gel designed to be used on soaking wet hair. Like the name suggests the best place to apply it is in the shower and I just smooth it down my hair using the “praying hands” method before scrunching it and drying with my diffuser.

Curlsmith products are vegan, cruelty-free, and packed with natural ingredients. I’m really impressed with these products – my curls are shinier, smoother, and, on most days, even cooperative. Every so often they do their own thing, but that’s curls for you!

Both products are available from Boots along with other products in the range and there’s currently 20% off – so another reason to start shopping early!!

And finally, for those who can’t be without a lip balm (and let’s face it that’s probably most of us in winter?), Wonderbalm Lip Balm is a handbag essential. Made with shea butter and infused with a blend of botanical oils, butters, and waxes, it glides on smoothly and doesn’t leave your lips feeling sticky or greasy. Whether you’re out walking, sat in an office or battling a cold December wind your lips will be lovely and soft and hydrated all day long. At £8 it’s a lovely treat for lips and the perfect size to fit in a Christmas stocking.

So, while the Christmas countdown may feel far away, now’s the time to start gathering those small and special gifts. Pop a few of these in your basket now, and by December, you’ll be feeling calm, smug, and ever so slightly festive.

Mr White’s Gin

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Even the bottle, with it’s white and read marketing and the name ‘Mr White’s Gin’ will scream Christmas at you. The Mr White which is referred to is Marco Pierre White, Michelin-starred chef and London restaurant entrepreneur who has produced this new 70cl and 40% gin and is bringing it to Christmas via some festive cocktails.

Mr White’s Gin is a dry London gin, with a tangy juniper taste to it. It’s perfect for Christmas with its slight aromatic scents and enhanced floral tones. You can tell that it’s a good quality gin because it’s so smooth to taste, but this Christmas, it works wonderfully in some festive cocktails.

We particularly like the Rosemary & Red Yuletide Blush(below) which uses Mr White’s Gin as well as cranberry juice and orange liqueur. Enjoy!

Rosemary & Red – Yuletide Blush

A merry twist on a modern classic. This festive Cosmo blends the crisp botanicals of MR. WHITE’S GIN with tart cranberry juice, fresh lime, and a splash of orange liqueur—evoking the brightness of winter berries and citrus under twinkling lights.

Ingredients

40ml MR. WHITE’S GIN

20ml Cointreau or triple sec

10ml fresh lime juice

30ml cranberry juice drink

Fresh rosemary and glacé cherry to garnish

Method

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a tall-stemmed glass, and garnish with a glacé cherry pierced with a sprig of rosemary.

Available from £30 at: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/mr-whites-london-dry-gin-70cl

Salomé by Oscar Wilde – Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

Days Out, Theatre, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Wow. Oscar Wilde’s Salomé is probably one of his least known plays (Lady Windermere’s Fan, An Ideal Husband) but was actually one of his biggest grossing and most controversial. The Gesher Theatre Repertoire take this production stratospheric with their portrayal of the Biblical story in an amazing, West End production.

The story of Salomé is easy to follow despite the dialogue being over 100 years old. Salomé (Neta Roth) is the stepdaughter of King Herod (Doron Tavori), who is married to her mother (Lena Fraifeld). Jon the Baptist (Shir Sayag) is referred to as Jokanaan in the play, and is imprisoned by Herod for Jokanaan’s comments about Herod’s wife, Herodias. Herodias. Thinks nothing of Jokanaan, but her daughter Salomé is obsessed by his voice and wants to meet him. Her obsession grows, and she wants to touch him and kiss his mouth but Jokanaan, believing she is the “daughter of Sodam” tells her to stay away from him and that she will never kiss him.

Herod becomes infatuated with Salomé and begs her to dance for him, exclaiming that she can have anything in his kingdom if she does so. Herodias begs her daughter not to dance for her husband, but eventually, Salomé dances the dance of the seven veils for her stepfather. In return, she tells him only after he has sworn on oath to give her anything, that she wants, “The head of Jokanaan on a silver platter.” The discussion goes on for some time as Herod offers her anything but the death of John the Baptist, as Herod is fearful of what may happen if he kills a prophet. He eventually relents though, and Salomé gets her wish.

I won’t give away the ending but let’s say it’s fitting, and very dramatic.

The creative production of this play is beyond amazing. Based on the troubles in the Middle East, there isn’t a corner spared which hasn’t been thought out carefully. You forget that this play is 125+ years old as the costumes, stage scenery and acting are exemplary. I cannot over emphasise how good the acting is in this production, especially Neta Roth and Doron Davori, who create the most amazing energy and Roth especially, who is in nearly every scene of the one-act play, has a talent you only see in the West End. I also need to pay respect to Shir Sayag who plays John the Baptist. The scenes where he is captive and then again when Salomé meets him face-to-face are astonishing.

I came away from the play with a new found respect for Wilde, but this production takes it to a whole new place. It’s a very thought provoking, modern take on an ancient story but an exceptionally well written Oscar Wilde play. I could go back several times and see this production, for the creative freshness it brings but the outstanding cast and their interpretation of the story, it left me in awe. Exceptional!

Salome runs at The Theatre Royal Haymarket until 11 October. Details and tickets: https://trh.co.uk/whatson/salome/

Boldilocks – book by Deborah Frenkel & Carla Hoffenberg

Birthday Gifts, Books, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Learning, Stocking Fillers

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Bellamy is a boy with A LOT of hair. BIG hair. It swooshes and shimmers all day, people stare and people point because his hair is spectacular!

Bellamy is the star of the book Boldilocks, aimed at 4-8 year olds who are learning to read or are being read a bedtime story. The book goes on to explain how being different can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you value differences. Bellamy’s family, and whole community, value his long hair, so much so that people he loves and the people around him all want to be like him and have his hair! Not everyone is as fortunate, but we can all be open minded, no matter what our differences are.

This hardback book has easy sentences for reading, and rich illustrations for each of the sentences on the pages. There’s a lot of detail in each drawing too, such as the labels on the door of the florist and hairdresser shops, and the accessories worn by people in the street scenes. There’s plenty to point out and look at here, and a cross-section of life for asking questions, (What are all the different type of hair products for? Did you notice the boy with the hearing aid? Why do some people have tattoos?)

This is a great stocking filler, or gift to give at a birthday party as it’s not Christmas based and one that a child can read along to from an early age.

Available for £10.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boldilocks-Deborah-Frenkel/dp/1921966378/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X3VGBR016EQ3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._jfxJ30byvXQLbNwX_4xgA.vwy80wPo0K5u1IjvNtrj1T8dSKumBW1Zjsa39CcOLoY&dib_tag=se&keywords=boldilocks&qid=1759080442&sprefix=bollocks%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1

Elemay Starry Nights Luxury Refillable Ceramic Candle

Autumn, Christmas, Fragrance, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, REUSABLE, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Winter, Women

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

When it comes to candles, I’ve found it’s worth paying a little more for a better quality candle. While cheaper ones will flicker away quite happily, many are made with paraffin wax, which can release soot and toxins into the air. Spend a bit more, however, and you get something altogether different. Natural wax candles burn more cleanly, with a steadier flame and the scent actually smells like what it says on the box.

Which brings me to Elemay candles – they’re made from 100% natural soy wax with lead-free cotton wicks, making them just as as kind to the air as they are beautiful to look at. The brand was dreamed up by Ellie while she was on maternity leave. And you can tell – this isn’t some faceless corporation churning out identical jars of wax. Every scent has been chosen with care to bring a sense of calm, joy and a little bit of luxury into your day. And I think we can all agree, we need more of that.

With notes of jasmine, zesty citrus, sweet musk and vanilla, the Starry Nights fragrance is inspired by Steephill Cove on the Isle of Wight with Ellie wanting the candle to capture the magic of a clear summer night under a starry sky.

In my opinion candles should look as good as they smell and Elemay certainly delivers on that front. The luxury refillable ceramic candles are in handcrafted ceramic pots, made exclusively for the brand by Sussex-based artist Beth. Each pot is uniquely glazed and the Starry Nights pot has midnight blues and dusky purples to reflect the starry sky above the coast. Mine even arrived with a photograph of the cove taken by Ellie’s dad, and it’s incredible how Beth has echoed the image in her design.

I was surprised to discover that in most areas of the UK, candle jars can’t be recycled, so Elemay’s refill option is such a great idea. It’s not only a more sustainable choice but also a more cost-effective way to enjoy their candles. Refills are priced at £15, while the Starry Nights candle itself is £35.

The 220g candle has a burn time of around 40 hours comes with a care card and refill guide, and is packaged in a reusable linen gift bag, making it a perfect treat for yourself or a lovely Christmas gift.

Bare Hands Rescue Kit

Autumn, beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, health, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

With autumn here and the cold of the winter around the corner, hand creams and lotions make excellent Christmas gifts. Bare Feet & Hands have a lovely array of products this year, including this Hand Rescue Kit which includes a Buff & Shine tool, Glass Nail File, Conditioning Nail & Cuticle Serum and Conditioning Cream. You can purchase them individually but this set is for Christmas and comes in cheaper than if you were to buy them piece by piece.

Starting with the Conditioning Nail & Cuticle Cream, this smells divine because it contains sweet almond oil, ginger extract and manuka honey. The honey is for hydrating as well as antibacterial and the ginger helps with fungus and bacteria too. The combination of the fragrances is lovely though! The serum helps condition nails and skin before you apply the cream. It can be applied alone, but I like to apply it before I’m sitting down at my desk to work, so that it works in all the goodness as I type.

The Conditioning Cream is the ‘top coat’ which is a rich, sweet almond and aloe vera combination, with added cucumber. You can really smell the aroma of the cucumber when you apply it, and as it absorbs in, it leaves a softness to your skin. In combination with the serum, the two work together so that you have long lasting nourishment to help your hands last winter.

Lastly, there’s the glass file and the Buff & Shine tool. The glass file lasts forever (literally, they never smooth) so this is a really good gift or life-long apparatus to keep by your side. The Buff & Shine tool is used on naked nails to take away any ridges or unevenness on your nails, and gives them a shine before you take the paint to them.

Bare Hands Rescue Kit isn’t just for a gift, although it is a nice gesture for Christmas and works brilliantly as a stocking filler. It’s a fab gift to yourself to have available when your hands are dry or if like me, you just like to have them ‘on hand’ whist you’re working!

Available for £25.00 at

Hand Rescue Kit

Boux Avenue PJs In A Bag For Christmas

Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Stocking Fillers, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Every year, I buy a new pair of pyjamas for myself for Christmas. Sometimes I’m on holiday with the family, and sometimes we stay at home, but it’s a lovely tradition to be able to choose what I want to wear for Christmas Eve and what will last me the rest of the year.

Boux Avenue sell lots of lingerie, nightwear and accessories and this year they’ve produced the PJs In A Bag Christmas Sets. They sent us this Christmas Candy Pink Stripe Christmas Shortie In A Bag set for us to try. If you’re wondering what a ‘shortie’ is, then it’s a pyjama set that has shorts for the bottoms instead of trousers. In this set, the top is a short sleeved, button-up top with a collar too. If you’re wondering about the bag issue, then look no further than the photos! As these are Christmas Gift Sets, they all come in a presentation bag which is easily posted or wrapped up as a gift and look fabulous when opened on Christmas Day!

This limited edition 2025 design is a matching set in candy pink, complete with pink Christmas trees, candy canes, soldiers, wreaths and a festive pink car with Christmas Tree on top! Don’t forget the bright pink stripes too, set off with pink buttons. It’s made of 100% polyester to give the slightly flannelled effect but it also contains 30% recycled fibres. It’s washable at 40 degrees centigrade. The shorts are elasticated waist but with a draw-string too for extra comfy, and the cut for both top and shorts is a comfort fit. The bag is also in the polyester material, which you can use to store the pyjamas or as part of the gift set which makes for a lovely stocking filler as well.

They’re a comfortable fit and useful for when the heating is on high at Christmas or even in the summer when it’s hotter (yes, I wear Christmas pyjamas all year round!) I like that they are shorts in this set, but there are other sets which are full pyjamas and in different designs. There’s a softness to them that makes them easy to sleep in. They come in sizes UK6 to UK18 and delivery is free when you spend over £60, but there is a sale on at the moment. Even better, they come in a beautiful presentation box too!

Available online from £35.00 at: https://www.bouxavenue.com/pyjamas/striped-christmas-pyjama-shorties-in-a-bag/211783_20PC.html

Teoxane Discovery Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Stocking Fillers, travel, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

The Teoxane Discovery Set is a travel sized version of Teoxane’s signature products. It. contains 5 items; Micellar Solution, RHA Serum, R(II) Eyes, Advances Filler (normal to combination skin) and UVA Shield SPF 50+. The Discovery Set is also a travel bag, which in clear plastic means it could go on a plane as well but works nicely as a make-up case for holidays.

TEOXANE RHA is a patented hyaluronic acid, for skin hydration and anti-aging. Teoxane RHA forms a mesh on the surface of the skin to maintain moisture in the epidermis and strengthens the skin by preventing moisture loss. This leaves the skin looking not just hydrated, but plump and smooth too.

The Discovery Set includes 5 products that are used in combination to create optimal skin conditions. The Micellar Solution cleanses the skin in preparation for the treatments. R (II) Eyes is for the delicate areas around the eyes whilst RHA Serum is for the rest of the face and neck. Advanced Filler Normal to Combination create the deep hydration for skin whilst the UVA Shield protects morning and night, and whenever skin is exposed to sun.

The Teoxane Discovery Set is pricy at £45 but it’s for older skin and with an emphasis on repairing and anti-aging. It makes a great kit for someone who is going away on holiday during the summer so that they have everything they need to protect from the sun and repair, all in a small travel size. It’s very luxurious too, with a slight fragrance but it screams luxury!

Available for £45.00 at: https://www.teoxane.co.uk/product/700177-00?srsltid=AfmBOoq4Y9OACGzshLCCdrV9iR0x_w-YotJoVwJQ0XGpxalNVYofsTIK

Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

If you’ve never used oil to remove dirt, make-up and clean pores before, then let me enlighten you… most make-up removers used to be 100% oil. This was a long time ago, when they weren’t fragranced though, and if you held onto them for too long, they would go rancid and smell. Think Petroleum Jelly but a bit softer! Oil does indeed remove dirt, but nowadays we have a more sophisticated approach and a much nicer selection to use.

Anua Heartleaf Pore Control is a cleansing oil which removed make-up, but also dirt, build up and generally anything that gets into the pores on your face. It’s lighter than most oils, and has a slight, fresh fragrance about it but nothing heavy. To use Anua Cleansing Oil, it takes just a small amount distributed over the dry skin of your face and massaged in for a minute or two. You can feel the softness of the oil as it works over your skin. To remove the cleanser, use warm water and I like to use the reusable make-up remover pads that you can put in the wash. They seem more robust than most cleansing pads, and yes, they help remove both the oil and the dirt that the oil removes!

After a light brush of warm water, my skin is cleaner and Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil manages to remove traces of make-up and dirt, including stubborn mascara. The cleansing oil also kept my skin hydrated, which is what you’d expect from an oil but in these autumn and winter months, air conditioning and heating really don’t help your skin. If you are in need of some de-puffing during the Christmas season, then I can highly recommend Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil for some facial massage too. Oil is essential for facial massages and this lighter, more nutritious oil worked a treat!

Available online for £16.00 at:

https://www.boots.com/anua-heartleaf-pore-control-cleansing-oil-200ml-10352040?srsltid=AfmBOoozgX1_p6erbijBceUMPN0NbkopBIBKGxryD1Mqn_BwY1l8yxZU

Orchard Toys Advent Colouring and Activity Book

advent calendar, Children, Christmas, Winter

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

Judging by my inbox and Instagram feed, it seems September is the crucial time to start thinking about Advent calendars. If you’re on the lookout for an alternative to the traditional chocolate version for younger children, the Orchard Toys Advent Colouring and Activity Book is a lovely choice – and it has the added bonus of keeping little ones happily occupied in the run-up to Christmas.

From the 1st of December right through to Christmas Eve, children can enjoy a daily festive activity including a word search full of Christmas treats, pictures to colour, and even a recipe for no-bake Christmas puddings. The activities are varied and perfect for getting little ones into the mood for Christmas.

Little ones always love stickers and there’s plenty in this book, each completed page earns a number sticker and there’s also a pull-out Christmas scene at the back of the book, ready to be decorated with special stickers as the days tick by. By Christmas Eve, children will have created a festive picture which can be kept in the book or pinned on the wall.

Another nice touch is the letter to Santa, if a photo of it is sent to Orchard Toys by the 18th of December, Santa will reply!

The activities are designed to fit easily into busy December days. A puzzle or quick game is perfect in the morning before school, while the colouring pages make a lovely wind-down activity later in the day when there’s more time.

So, if you’d like an advent calendar that offers more than just a daily dose of sugar, this one is perfect and at £4 it’s cheap enough to buy one for each child making the countdown to Christmas just that little bit more magical.

#orchardtoys #countdowntochristmas #advent #stickers #Christmas #learningthroughplay #children #bookadvent #Christmasactivities #educational #learning #learningmadefun #homeschool

STYLPRO Red & Infrared Thermal Brush

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Stocking Fillers, Tech, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I had seen reviews for Infrared and Thermal brushes, which promise to make your hair straighter, more manageable and give a better finish than just tongs or straighteners, so I was eager to have a go at these and see if they make a decent Christmas present! Could it replace my usual basket of hair styling products?

The infrared brush plugs in like a hairdryer or straighteners but is used like a normal every day brush. It does heat up quickly too. You can air dry or hair dry your hair, but it is the 142 LED lights which work on your hair to give it a smooth, sleek look with the heat generated allowing you to style into curls like you would a curling tong.

The brush can be used daily, but I would not recommend using the brush to dry your hair as such – it works much better if your hair is already dry. The extra long cable means you can stand up to use it at the bathroom mirror or keep it out of the way of little hands as it does get very hot.

The ceramic barrel heats up very quickly to 200 degrees centigrade but the temperature button means you can adapt the heat from 160-200 degrees centigrade to depend on how you want to use it. The heat allows your hair to style as if it were a hairdryer but when your scalp is exposed to red light, it stimulates the hair follicles to grow. Using the brush daily might help replace lost hair and make your hair more healthy. An added bonus of the STYLPRO Red & Infrared Thermal Brush heating up and styling quickly is that it doesn’t have the noise of a hairdryer, so if you’re getting ready in the morning and don’t want to wake the whole house, this is the perfect way to style! The brush also makes it easier to style curls, which I absolutely cannot do with straighteners, so this is an easier option.

It might take you a little while to get used to a corded hairbrush, but I started by working on dry hair and in very small sections to get the curls right. You learn how long you need to hold the curls to get the right shape, and the brush does get very hot so be careful. You soon find out why there’s a thermal glove included!

The STYLPRO Red & Infrared Thermal Brush is not just a gift at Christmas, but it can replace the tongs and straighteners at the same time. The bouncy curls give more volume to your hair too, and minimal products are needed to keep the lovely curl shape.

Available for £54.99 at: https://stylpro.co.uk/products/stylpro-red-infrared-thermal-brush

The Shawshank Redemption – The Grand Theatre Blackpool

Days Out, Theatre

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

Based on a Stephen King short story, The Shawshank Redemption soon became a classic following the 1994 film which starred Tim Robbins as Andy and Morgan Freeman as Red. We went to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre last night to see the stage adaptation, cleverly adapted by Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns and directed by David Esbjornson and I’m pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint and was just as gripping and powerful as the original film was.

If you’re not familiar with the story it is about Andy Dufresne (Joe McFadden), a quiet banker convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Despite protesting his innocence, he is sentenced to two life term sentences and sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary. There, he befriends long-term inmate Ellis “Red” Redding (Ben Onwukwe), the prison fixer who can get hold of almost anything. Red guides Andy through the harsh reality of prison life – beatings, corruption and violence, brutally inflicted by both guards and inmates. When the corrupt Warden Stammas (Bill Ward) discovers Andy’s talent for numbers he exploits his accountancy skills for his own benefit.

Bringing such a tough story to the stage is no easy task – the story includes violence, a gang rape and murder but whilst alluded to on stage it is very much played down in this production and the notorious attack by “the Sisters,” is sensitively done but still carries a powerful punch.

We were really impressed with the set, shabby prison walls and clever lighting create a strong sense of claustrophobia, drawing the audience into Shawshank’s oppressive world. Scene changes are seamless, and music is used to mark the passage of nearly twenty years.

Performances across the twelve-strong, all-male cast are excellent with Joe McFadden capturing Andy’s quiet resilience whilst portraying a man who refuses to give up hope despite impossible odds. Ward slips with ease into the skin of the vile Warden Stammas but it is Onwukwe who really stands out – also acting as narrator, pulling the story together with warmth and humour, despite the tough storyline.

We really enjoyed the show and judging by the standing ovation at the end of the performance, the rest of the audience did too! The Shawshank Redemption runs at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool until Saturday 27 September, and it’s a production I’d highly recommend – whether you know the story already or are new to it.

Tickets are available from £15 with concessions for 1894 Club members and Friends of The Grand. Group rates are also available.

Please call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information.

Tor’s Story Rainbow Balls, Puppets & Sorting Cups

Baby, Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Learning, Plastic free, Stocking Fillers, Toys

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

This was a real treat for a toy gift to review! Tor’s Story is an online shop that sells wooden toys specifically for toddlers and babies, with an eye for imagination play and Montessori. The labour of love for Sam, Mum to Tor, she loved wooden toys growing up but found that there weren’t so many around when she was a Mum, especially affordable wooden toys. With her son Tor to test them, Sam went about creating toys that use imagination and develop skills of babies and toddlers who used them. Sam sent us the Rainbow Balls and Puppets Sorting Cups to try out.

The kit comes with 7 puppets (people) and their colour co-ordinated cups plus 7 balls with corresponding colours. There’s also a sorting bowl, wooden spoon, wooden tongs and they all live in a wooden tray box. The versatility of the pieces means that children can play with them for months on end, using the pieces in different ways as their development increases. All of the paints used are non-toxic and the shapes are designed for little hands, with no sharp edges or small parts.

There is the sorting aspect of putting the balls and the puppets into the same coloured cups, or exploring the different shapes with their mouths. The ability to throw or roll the balls comes first, then being able to pick them up with the spoon or tongs and eventually place them in the bowl with the tongs. Building towers with the cups or hiding the balls within the cups or under the bowl also increases their imagination play, and older children can use the puppets to make up stories.

As an adult, there is something very exciting about unpacking a toy that has so much imagination potential. The very basic shapes and colours but multiple combinations that can be used with the set means that children can play endlessly with them and be safe, but also expand what they learn from them. This is an amazing toy around children because they find ways of using the toy that you wouldn’t imagine, even making the wooden box into a house where the ‘family’ of puppets can live with the cups serving as beds, or the tongs and spoon to be used as cooking utensils where the puppets and balls are food and placed into the wooden tray.

An excellent adventure in toys with lots of imagination play and the ability for several children to play at the same time, including across different ages. Even adults will find it fun!

Available from £27.50 at: https://torsstory.com/products/rainbow-balls-puppets-sorting-cups

Yankee Candle 24 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Home, Winter, Women

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

Now that September has arrived my Instagram feed and inbox is quickly filling up with one thing – advent calendars! And not the chocolate kind we loved as children, but fabulous grown-up versions bursting with goodies. Some of them are absolutely gorgeous, but they also come with hefty price tags (many are £100+) so I was very excited to discover the Yankee Candle 24 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar with a much more purse friendly price of £28.99.

Hidden behind each of the 24 windows is a 9.8g tealight candle and in the lead up to Christmas you’ll discover eight different Christmassy scents, from sweet and comforting Christmas Cookie to warming Cinnamon Stick, the freshness of Silver Sage & Pine, and the cosy magic of Christmas Eve. There are also more luxurious scents like Amber & Sandalwood, Black Cherry, Wild Orchid, and the dreamy Winter Night Stars. On day one, there’s also a little glass tealight holder to pop the candles in which can also be used long after the Christmas scents have faded.

Each tealight burns for around 4 to 6 hours, which means plenty of cosy evenings filled with Christmassy fragrances. I love the idea of lighting one each night as you count down the days or you could save up a few of the same scent and dot them around the room to really fill your home with the festive fragrances. After a busy day, there’s nothing lovelier than relaxing by the glow of twinkling fairy lights, a crackling fire, and the comforting scent of cinnamon drifting through the air – the perfect way to unwind in the lead up to Christmas.

A treat for yourself or the perfect gift for someone special, the Yankee Candle Advent Calendar is the perfect way to make December nights warmer, cosier, and so much more Christmassy.

Winnie The Pooh Bath & Beauty Advent Calendar

advent calendar, beauty, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Mad Beauty’s Winnie The Pooh Bath & Beauty Advent Calendar is not for children, but for adults who love the book characters but want the grown-up luxury of a beauty advent calendar this year!

With 24 days (unlike some beauty calendars that only have 12 days) this calendar contains a selection of different beauty gifts such as clay face masks, body lotion, bath milk and lip balms. There’s also some beauty tools in there too including Hydrogel under eye masks (great for putting on whilst sitting in the bath), lip mask, body puff and nail files.

Most of the pieces have the Winnie The Pooh characters on them, like this nail file and hand cream, with some pieces able to last well into 2026 and be used again and again. There’s bath bombs and bath salts that can only be used once, but when you add up the value of all the 24 gifts, they last much longer than just advent. The smaller pieces are great for handbags or going on holiday too.

I know that there are always staples that I need for myself throughout the year, and I hate having to buy things like body lotion and bath bombs for myself when I know I’m going to get them in a gift set at Christmas! You don’t have to be a lover of Winnie The Pooh to be able to use and enjoy this advent calendar either, the gifts have been selected thoughtfully so that anyone can use them.

The full list of items can be found on the link below (with photos). In the meantime, I’m going to wait until Advent to find out what lies behind each of the windows!

Available for £24.99 at: https://www.madbeauty.com/disney-c157/winnie-the-pooh-c166/disney-winnie-the-pooh-advent-calendar-p3073

Bedsure Wearable Blanket Hoodie

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Home, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Cosy up this Christmas in Bedsure’s wearable blanket hoodie – a perfectly snug cross between a hoodie and an oversized dressing gown, it makes a brilliant Christmas present for anyone.

We were sent this lovely light blue blanket hoodie to test out, which turned out just in time for the weather to turn! The oversized jumper fits over your head easily and has two giant pockets and a fluffy hood. If you’re looking to save a bit on the heating this winter, this is a great alternative. The shorter hoodie-style means you can wear it around the house without it getting in the way, and especially good for driving in. The sleeves have elasticated cuffs for typing or cooking and I like how the hood comes up round your ears even when it’s not up, so it acts as a scarf.

The Bedsure Wearable Blanket Hoodie is easily transportable because it’s vacuum packed and boxed for arrival. I not only loved this garment for the fluffiness of the material and how warm it keeps you, but for anyone who struggles with being cold all the time, or for the elderly who need to keep a constant temperature, it’s really wearable and an adorable colour. It’s available in other colours including pink, grey, red and black, but because it’s shorter, it’s easier to move around in and doesn’t weigh too much for every day wear.

It’s a great gift at Christmas, even as a stocking filler or Secret Santa!

Available from 26.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C1NQ7GT4?th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=masca0d-21&linkId=677774e6d39e553b3cc200292e969239&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_t

Enertor Running Insoles

Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, hiking, National Walking Month, Sport

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Attention all runners! If you run more than a few kilometres a week or have been plagued by injuries, you might find that the cushioning of your shoes is not enough, even for top quality shoes. I have recently been afflicted with plantar fasciitis thanks to cross-country running over the summer on parched ground and tough roads. Extra cushioning sounded like a possibility but when I saw that Usain Bolt uses them, I was in!

Enertor Running Insoles are shock absorbers which absorb up to 89% of the impact on your feet, and by association, your knees too. They work by transmitting the impact horizontally through the insoles and to your shoes, rather than through the muscle and bones of your legs. They’re 2x thinner than competitor’s so they fit into most shoes.

I found that they were easy to fit straight into my running shoes (it helps if you’ve got the right size insoles as well!) and they don’t need adhesive. As soon as you walk in them you can feel the cushioning. I tried them out on the running machine first and there were no problems. I could feel that they were ‘spongier’ than just my shoes, and my running shoes are cross-country and built for impact. I can’t say that they will cure my plantar fasciitis but in the 2 runs I’ve undertaken with them, it doesn’t feel like my joints and calves have got any worse. I’m looking forward to using them long term to see if they take enough impact for my calves and feet to be able to recover enough for me to be painless, but in the meantime, they’re a great addition to my kit and make difficult runs more enjoyable.

Available from £40.00 at: https://enertor.com/products/px1-running-insoles?srsltid=AfmBOoo2H5kuFt9voXg51OALk7K6IRw7iszTmiy5n2-8CtgvppgQESpI

Squashies Flavoured Cheesecake Slices

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

The English Cheesecake Company have once again come up with a brilliant idea for a flavour of cheesecake. The Squashies Flavoured Cheesecake slices are based on the Swizzels brand of sweets. The popular English Cheesecake Company crumbly cheesecake base is topped with two layers, like the original Swizzels sweet, with a zesty top layer much like the sweet. There’s a drizzle of white chocolate on top too, which adds to the fruity layer of cheesecake underneath.

I was pleasantly surprised when I tucked into the Squashies Flavoured Cheesecake slice this afternoon. There’s the explosive sweetness of the Swizzels Drumstick but also the creaminess of the cheesecake underneath. It is unmistakably the work of The English Cheesecake Company, and if you’ve tried their other flavours, including the Biscoff Cheesecake, then you’ll love this flavour too. I ate it as a mid-afternoon snack with clotted cream, but it makes a great dessert. You could have it as an alternative to the traditional Christmas offerings?

Squashies Flavoured Cheesecake Slices are exclusive to Sainsburys and available now for £3.75: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/english-cheesecake-company-swizzels-original-raspberry-milk-flavour-squashies-drumstick-180g

The Popcorn Shed Vegan Advent Calendar 2025

advent calendar, Children, Christmas, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Buying advent calendars for vegans is a tough gig but The Popcorn Shed have come up with a gourmet popcorn gift that everyone will love! With 24 windows and 6 flavours, the Popcorn Shed Vegan Advent Calendar is great for children, teenagers or popcorn-living adults as well!

The flavours included are: Butterscotch, Choc ‘n’ Roll (cocoa infused caramel popcorn), Cherry Pie, Gingerbread, Christmas Pudding and Chocolate Orange. Behind each of the windows there’s a joke as well, which children will love to use at school in the run-up to Christmas. I liked the seasonal Chocolate Orange flavour and the Gingerbread, which were enough to give me a ‘sweet hit’ rather than full on packets which I would have to eat within a day or else it goes soft. You can tell that this is gourmet popcorn though from the way that it has been popped, with no sharp kernels or uncooked pieces. It’s delicious!

The Popcorn Shed, so called because founder Laura was banished to the outside kitchen house to experiment with flavours, was born in 2016 with her cousin Sam. They now have over 30 flavours, with gifts sold online, on Amazon and different specialty retailers.

A Christmas twist to a different snack that’s a great alternative to chocolate or treats, and one that adults will love as much as children!

Retails online at www.popcornshed.com for £25.00.

Mylee Gel Nail Polish

beauty, Christmas, Gifts for Her, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

With Christmas, nail preferences change and suddenly you can wear bright red, gold and glittery nail colours to work and no one will bat an eyelid! Mylee have a range of nail gels and for Christmas 2025, we were sent the Gel Nail Polish Quality Treats set – two gel nail polishes in red and gold, and both glittery too.

Named Quality Treats as a set of two gels, presumably because they make a great gift, they come in a gingerbread house box set. The colours are called Honeycomb Glow and Candy Cane Crush and glide on easily with just one coating, as is normal with gel polish. If you’ve never used gel polish before, then it’s worth knowing that these polishes will need a UV lamp for 120 seconds or a Mylee LED lamp for 60 seconds. No top coat is needed, but if you don’t set them under either the LED or the UV lights, they won’t set at all and you’ll find you have damaged nails for hours and remnants of polish everywhere for days!

The colours are stunning and would look great at Christmas, or even for a New Year bash and because they’re gel, they will last much longer than varnish, up to 2 weeks.

Available soon on www.mylee.co.uk for £16.99.

The Popcorn Shed Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar 2025

advent calendar, Children, Christmas, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Popcorn never used to be associated with Christmas, but since lockdown, the whole gourmet popcorn industry seems to have exploded. The Popcorn Shed have several advent calendars this year, including this gourmet popcorn with 12 different flavours across 24 windows.

Flavours include classics like Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter and White Chocolate but also some quirky flavours like Birthday Cake (vanilla cake caramel popcorn with sprinkles) and Cinnamon Roll. There’s a few seasonal flavours like Pop ‘n’ Choc (Chocolate Caramel flavour) and Pumpkin Spice too. All of the popcorn flavours in this advent calendar are vegetarian.

This is probably a gift more for teenagers and adults but there’s no reason why children who like popcorn couldn’t try this for advent. The flavours might be a bit unusual for children but they’re only small packets, so one a day won’t hurt after dinner or before school. The fact that this is gourmet popcorn should tell you that this is the more refined popcorn that you won’t find in the cinema! My favourite flavour? The Red Velvet – red cocoa caramel popcorn with white chocolate flavour.

The Popcorn Shed advent calendars are available soon on their website www.popcornshed.com priced at £25.00.

Manifest Your Everything – book by Nicci Roscoe

Birthday Gifts, Books, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Learning, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

You either know about manifesting or you don’t. Manifesting is the art of being able to attract into your life whatever you want, and I realise that I have probably lost half the audience there. You might not believe that you can ‘manifest’ anything you want, or maybe you’ve tried and it hasn’t worked for you, but for the other half of the population, manifesting is an essential way of life. And yes, it does work.

Author Nicci Roscoe has written Manifest Your Everything as a step-by-step guide to using the manifesting principles to be able to guide you to your dreams. Starting with a chapter on Letting Go, it assumes you know what manifesting is and that you are immersed into the theory already. The Letting Go chapter is akin to the advanced level of a qualification, after you’ve learned all the boring stuff about how it works. The chapter gives you exercise as case studies, meditations and pages of explanation, all within beautiful illustrations.

The book, which has 5 chapters in all, then goes onto chapter 2 about giving yourself love. This is mainly the investment work into being grateful for who you are and where you are already before chapter 3, which is Let’s Start Manifesting. Chapter 4 is Your Messages to the Universe, which is still part of the manifesting climb before chapter 5 is Remembering What You Can Do Now. I always think that self-help books are only good to a point, because they are missing the final chapter on how you live with your new found talent or knowledge, and where to go next. Roscoe has created the final chapter, in quite some detail, to give you some confidence in using the skills, and to finding out if the manifesting has actually worked.

This is a great book for anyone who understands what manifesting is, or has only just heard about it but doesn’t know where to start. It’s great for youngers too, who might be starting out in life, or going to university and need a bit of light reading that will open their minds. Fabulous stocking filler too!

Available online for £10.51 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Manifest-Your-Everything-yourself-create/dp/1800651929/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GRW96CXNFRMQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FT2Q-xPhDF3EyK-Wcbq7WQuKgfZ11B1e1C3KgXZd8c0yMmbsCxpG-1tOSk60bzuga3KGGFMhdZuc2gANk8axyNh_4n_bNVpvjUf_0SJbCO8jcmW9dOjui3PrmCapMSRTjuGSHl4cbml8l5BRSUnEDxSWjtil9BM_yLRvRtr55z1_xV71TevTEMli9TljeS9uEFzFNvr2LcpYj8hCkiuGmeUMy3kP8PNctE-zpuNdqyM.T4rPVpgT0GgM9Ezi67epeprOVRAPrFpOwYMeifzEcLo&dib_tag=se&keywords=manifest+your+everything&qid=1757760429&sprefix=manifest+your+everything%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1