Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
If the Tour de France has inspired you to take up cycling, then a pair of decent cycling glasses are a must. Whilst you might only think they shield your eyes from the sun, the best cycling glasses and sunglasses will do much more than that, protecting your eyes from not only the elements but insects and grit too.
Like all cycling equipment, glasses need to be durable and comfortable to wear all day and let’s face it I want them to look cool too! I recently spent 10 days cycling in Somerset and Panda Optics Conquer Pink cycling glasses certainly ticked all these boxes for me.
Unisex and versatile, the glasses are a trendy wraparound style which offer maximum protection from sun and wind, whilst maintaining a more fashionable look than traditional wraparound sunglasses. With a semi-rimless frame and cylindrical lenses, the style is based on Panda’s bestselling “Cobalt” ski goggles.
The glasses arrived packaged in a sturdy purple box with three different lenses – Mirrored blue category 3, Amber category 2 and Clear category 0, along with a microfibre cleaning cloth and microfibre pouch.
When I put them on, they fitted nicely and the arms didn’t dig into my head or ears. The rubber nose grip is comfortable and they didn’t slide down my nose, even when I was sweating a lot on the hill climbs.
I did initially struggle to get the lenses out as I didn’t want to use too much pressure. The YouTube video on their website was really helpful and showed me where to hold them to get the lenses out. Just make sure you carry the microfibre cloth with you, as you do need to hold the lenses to remove them which results in lots of fingerprints!!
Whilst my husband wasn’t a fan of the pink frame, they did fit him nicely too and if like him you’re not a fan of pink the glasses are also available with blue, grey and green frames.
At £79 they’re excellent value for money and a great addition to my cycling gear. They are available from the Panda Optics website here. with free delivery with orders over £50
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Joe & Seph’s are a gourmet popcorn company with a range of over 80 different flavours of popcorn. With both sweet and savoury options, they have something to suit every taste and occasion and with National Prosecco Day just 2 weeks away we have been sampling some of their Prosecco treats.
Some sweet popcorns are coated in such thick caramel to the point that you lose the popcorn flavour, Joe & Seph’s popcorn isn’t like this, their popcorn is hand made in small batches, using the finest natural ingredients and their light, fluffy popcorn is packed full of flavour.
The Prosecco popcorn is available in either a 75g re-sealable pouch or a 30g gift box. The gift box is pyramid shaped with a gold ribbon on the top and makes a lovely gift for friends and family.
The popcorn is more sophisticated than standard popcorn and just the thing for a girls night in – with or without Prosecco!
Pouch RRP £4
Gift box RRP £5
We also tried the Prosecco Caramel Sauce, which we drizzled over vanilla ice cream and also bowls of strawberries. The sauce is lovely and rich and the caramel flavour is heavenly, the prosecco flavour isn’t especially strong but it is there and it made a simple pudding feel incredibly indulgent! It is best to heat the sauce a little in the microwave make it easier to pour – or you can just eat it straight out of the jar!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I’m a huge lover of sushi and even make it at home for my family so when we were offered these Clearspring Seaveg Crispies, there was no hesitation, especially when we heard that Clearspring won a BOOM Award from The Soil Association!
If you’ve never tried seaweed on its own before, it’s an incredibly light, thin snack with a taste of heavy greens. It’s a lot like a lighter version of kale that’s been roasted and dried, but the Clearspring Seaveg Crispies are more than just flattened ocean vegetation – they’re organic and flavoured with either Chilli, Turmeric or ginger as well as the original flavour. Seaweed is packed with all sorts of nutrients including iron, and as an added bonus, it’s better for the environment because it’s grown in the sea and doesn’t take up landmass needed for other essential food groups. Seaveg Crispies are also Soil Association certified, meaning it’s certified to be of a high standard of organic food production.
Each pack is only 23 calories, which isn’t surprising when you realise there’s only 4 grams in each pack. However, each pack of Seaveg is gluten free, high in fibre, vegan and has no additives or preservatives. There’s only some sunflower oil, sea salt and whichever added flavouring you choose. I started with the Chilli which is actually pretty hot, so not one for children! I really enjoyed them though and the handy packs and how light they are mean they can be taken to work or out on picnics with you. They may be thin and light but they are big in both taste and personality!
The other flavours are just as strong and variety is a good thing when you need a different kind of snack. Organic and healthy snacks are so often full of additives and over processed that they’re not as healthy as you would think. Clearspring Organic Seaveg Crispies have so little processing and additional ingredients that there isn’t any danger of you feeling frustrated with them and the iron content is great when you need a pick-me-up. Talk about a varied diet – I bet you can’t say you’ve eaten anything like it this week, can you?
The Original Seaveg Crispies flavour is great for children to take to school in lunchboxes or if you need to get some fibre or iron into babies too, as it’s easily mashable into something like avocado or even an evening meal. I wouldn’t be surprised if the leaves of Seaveg would fit into a child’s size portion of lasagne too, replacing the pasta to make a healthy alternative.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Coffee lovers everywhere are aware of GRIND, the Shoreditch based independent coffee company who have gone astronomical in the last few years. If you’re not aware of them, then where have you been?
GRIND pride themselves on being, “The planet’s favourite coffee” after opening a Shoreditch coffee shop, then having fresh roasted coffee delivered to your door. No doubt the pandemic helped with the popularity of home delivered coffee but since then, GRIND have launched a Nespresso compatible pod which biodegrade in a matter of weeks, launched a charity (The Better Coffee Foundation) and now have a collaboration with artists, including Henry Holland.
We were sent a lovely sample of their House Blend straight from their Shoreditch office, and along with it, one of the Henry Holland special edition coffee tin. There are other homeware items available too, and there will be more in the future which compliment your coffee tastes and kitchen together.
The Home Roast flavour of coffee is what Cheddar is to cheese – if you’re a lover of the stuff, you’ll go for the best available out there and ignore the cheap imitations whilst at the same time you can’t not like it. The Home Roast is a rich flavour without any of the bells and whistles often added (or claimed to have) from other roaster. It’s just good, honest coffee anyone can enjoy with the versatility to be used in any type of latte, cappuccino or anything else you want to try. Actually, this would be a good coffee for an awesome tiramisu wouldn’t it?
The Henry Holland Coffee tin is not only handy but beautiful. Before today, in our house we only kept the opened coffee in their resealable packets, leaving them open to the moisture in the air. Now, we have the perfect sealed tin to keep coffee fresh and it’s got all the feels of a trendy kitchen too! Able to store the GRIND bag of coffee (225 grams worth) it fits nicely in the mug cupboard or behind the kettle for daily use.
Henry Holland also produces a limited edition coffee mug, which is currently out of stock. I’m sure there will be more products and more collaborations in the future though!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If you’re looking for a healthier drink this summer, or something that’s just that bit different compared to what you normally summer on, then have a look at the Lo Bros Kombucha Cola and drinks. Kombucha is fermented tea (green tea and black tea fermented with sugar) to produce a drink with live cultures. Lo Bros have taken this a step further and produced a canned drink with a cola taste and just as much fizz and bubble as you would assume. Oh, and they’ve produced two other versions that they’ve sent us to try too! Meet Ginger & Lemon and Passion Fruit too!
Each of the drinks are made with natural ingredients and are naturally low in sugar. The 250ml cans replace plastic bottles too, so you’re doing your bit for the environment as well as using the most efficient way of keeping the fizz in with the carbonated drinks. It’s low in calories too – just 6 calories per can.
What do they taste like though? I was surprised that the Lo Bros Kombucha Cola tasted like cola. It has that slightly sweet taste but isn’t too effervescent nor overly sticky in taste. The can was just the right amount for a glass to have with lunch and certainly doesn’t feel like a ‘health drink’ because it’s not heavy nor is it really synthetic.
The Ginger & Lemon was very refreshing! It’s like a fizzy cordial without the sugary taste, just the energising citrus and spicy ginger taste. It works well with ice and is probably best when straight out of the fridge. I also liked the Passion Fruit flavour, which like the other flavours is low in sugar, natural and has live cultures. It’s more of a fruity taste, with a slight sweetness to it. I think it would appeal to children more than the other drinks and can be drunk either cold from the fridge or slightly warmer and in a lunchbox.
Over time, the effects of the kombucha are more beneficial than the sugary shop-bought cans we are used to seeing advertised everywhere so I hope that these Lo Bros Kombucha drinks become more popular and appeal to a wide variety of people who prefer these flavours and reach for the kombucha rather than the brands!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
by Amazon has launched it’s first collection of wines from the finest vineyards across the world including South Africa, Argentina, Chile, France and Australia. The selection of 10 wines are very reasonably priced, costing between £6-£10, have been selected, tried, and approved by a master of wine. Available from Amazon they are available in 75cl, 3L or a case of 6 bottles.
They sent me a bottle of the Australian Chardonnay to try and as it was National Cheese & Wine Day it seemed the perfect opportunity to open it and try it.
The white wine is lovely and crisp and alive with a myriad of fruity flavours, with citrus and white peach as the dominant flavours combined with a zesty fresh acidity. We drank it with roast pork and it went down a treat!
This Chardonnay presses all the right buttons for taste, value for money and food friendliness and is available to buy from Amazon so you don’t even need to leave the house to purchase it! I really enjoyed this wine and will certainly be purchasing some more as it will be perfect for summer barbeques.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
National Cheese and Wine Day occurs annually on the 25th of July so we couldn’t let the occasion pass without sampling some delicious cheese and wine.
Graffigna Reserve Malbec is a red wine from the Uco Valley of Mendoza in Argentina. When you pour the wine into a glass it is a gorgeous deep red colour and the wine is smooth and easy to drink. You can taste a hint of black cherry and plum and it leaves a wonderful tannic aftertaste without being overpowered by the tannins.
I thoroughly enjoyed drinking the Graffigna Reserve Malbec wine, the taste was smooth, the colour delightful and it looked great in the glass. Highly recommended!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Barbie the Movie is everywhere at the moment, and so is pink! There’s pink outfits, pink houses and cars and pink cocktails across social media and no wonder when the movie has been such a hit this past weekend.
Clean G’s rhubarb gin is actually not what it seems… it’s alcohol free with no sugar but has the rhubarb taste that’s all the fashion in cocktails nowadays. It still has the dryness of gin, just without the aftershock of some alcohol-free spirits which have the chemical taste to it that screams ‘synthetic’. It works really well as a cocktail though, tempered with all the usual mixers like tonic water, or with a lemon or lime to make it a bit sharper. There’s a peppermint taste to it too which is not what you expect at first but if you’re mixing it as a cocktail you can work with it and bring out the flavour. The rhubarb flavour is there but it’s not that strong so don’t expect to be able to drink it on its own and have the rhubarb flavour hit you first of all.
Although it has less than 0.5% ABV, it counts and non-alcoholic so there’s no guilt involved here! It’s got no sugar or additional sweetener, is lactose free, gluten free and vegan too. There’s only 12 calories per 50ml serving too!
Still not sure about an alcohol-free pink gin? Clean G Rhubarb is an International Wines and Spirits award winner (2021) and is made in the same way as conventional gin – in copper stills with added botanicals to give it the flavour. Many people can’t tell the difference between real gin and alcohol-free Clean G and I couldn’t either. It’s a great idea for anyone who likes gin, and especially to have this pink gin version in the house in case anyone is not drinking this summer. Even better as a Christmas present when friends and family are doing Dry January in the New Year!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
“Play, pause and crank up the volume…”
I was so excited to be receiving a Marshall Bluetooth speak to review, but until it arrived, I had no idea that Marshall speakers were as legendary as their amps, nor did I know why.
Impressive isn’t the word. This isn’t just a speaker but a whole solution for anyone who loves music. Let’s start with what it can do as a speaker first.
Setting up on Bluetooth is so easy I didn’t need instructions. Just turn on the Marshall speaker with the brass button and after the introduction sound, press the Bluetooth button on the top of the unit to make it discoverable. My laptop Bluetooth found it immediately and connected. Easy as that, and I just played my music from my desktop straight onto the speaker. There’s a Bass and Treble control on the Marshall too, so you can adjust how you want to hear your favourite music. The main button allows you to skip, pause or rewind a tune as well and there’s an LED to tell you the battery level. On the back, it connects with AUX or a power cable which is included in the box and how you power it up, giving 20 hours overall.
“Middleton sound… built for the road.”
Marshall are one of those classic brands which last forever in folklore and until you own one, you don’t see the benefit. Much like how Apple users and Tesla drivers were mocked back in the day, once you start using the Marshall products you don’t ever want to switch back. Instead, you just find fault with all the other Bluetooth speakers out there and compare them to ‘your’ Marshall to anyone who is near you, whether they want to know about it or not!
The speaker boasts, two 3/5” tweeters, two 3” woofers and two passive radiators. In all, these are all speakers placed on each side of the Middleton speaker to create 360 degree sound. It’s not just the speaker surround sound which leads to its versatility, but other ‘nice to haves’ are in there too. For example, it can be used indoors and outdoors thanks to the water resistant casing and can last 30 minutes under water. It’s dust resident too, so it’s perfect for the beach, but if you have kids around in the summer, the odd splash, tipped over drink or falling in the dirt isn’t going to harm your Middleton. In fact, with the extra tough casing, not much is going to damage it at all. The casing is made of 55% post- consumer plastic, so it’s not all materials and it’s 100% PVC free.
Are you sold yet?
It’s perfect for festivals too. The battery holds 20 hours of charge but takes only 4.5 hours to fully charge. However, with only 20 minutes of charge you get 2 hours of solid music time – perfect if you need to charge in the car quickly before you go out. It can work as a battery pack as well, allowing you to charge up your phone or appliances using the USB-C cable. It has the most up-to-date Bluetooth 5.1 too, so you can play music from 10 metres (that’s 30 feet) with no problem. So charge your phone in the car, and you can still play your music on your Marshall. It weighs just 1.8 kilograms (that’s 4lbs) so you can carry it on as hand luggage too if you really want… but makes it great and compact for the car too.
Multi host functionality allows you to connect to two devices at once. I didn’t know what this meant, so playing around with the controls and reading the instructions I realised it meant you can connect the speaker to two different devices at once. This means it can be connected to another speaker, phone or Bluetooth device to be able to share the music. If you’re worried about plugging it in to get updates, then don’t fear as the speaker does this remotely over-the-air or you can use the Marshall app on your phone to control the music and updates.
It had never occurred to me to have more than one speaker, but for festivals, this is a great feature. You can literally play the same music across as many Marshall speakers as you like, using a multi-speaker Stack session. It’s like looking at a wall of Marshall amps across a festival stage but in miniature form!
I’m sure once you use it several times and find out how easy the controls are, there are lots of different uses for it. How about Bluetooth-ing the soundtrack to movies on your tablet? Or keeping the children playing in the other room whilst controlling the music from your office as you work? It may seem pricy for one speaker, but with everything it can do and it’s durability, it’s an investment, especially if you love your music.
As time goes on, the Middleton is built for longevity as the updates and app will include new ways of using the Marshall speaker and the craftmanship of the speaker means it will last for a very long time. The only reason you’ll need a new speaker is to stack one in every room!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Yes Bebe are a family run online retailer who specialise in babies and children’s products and accessories. Founded in 2016, following the birth of their daughter, husband-and-wife team Charlotte and Ken Kong initially began selling cloth nappies and organic clothing, but quickly expanded into sustainable, hand-crafted wooden toys.
They recently sent us a fantastic Wheelybug Ride on Cow for our mini reviewers to try – one of our mini reviewers is just taking a few tentative steps so it’s the perfect time to introduce a ride on toy, which is not only great fun to play with but offers plenty of exciting new learning opportunities including
Gross motor skills – balance and co-ordination skills are learnt when working out initially how to stay on the toy and then how to scoot about on it.
Spatial awareness – as they ride around and navigate obstacles – will they fit through that gap and can they avoid the bricks on the floor?
Problem solving skills – learning how to get on and off the toy.
Being in charge of a toy that moves is a massive confidence boost for children and offers plenty of fun and excitement. They can decide how fast to go and which way to scoot around the house and if you have the space, you can even have races – my house has a very long hallway which is frequently used for this purpose!
Ride on toys also stimulate your child’s imagination – one day they might be going to the shops, another working on the farm or perhaps driving to Grandma’s or the beach.
Made with a sturdy wooden base with 4x 360 degree rotating castors, the Wheelybug has a padded body, handle bar and comes in a variety of different animal designs. We picked a cow as we live on a farm but there is also a pig, tiger, mouse, ladybird, bee, hedgehog, panda, lion, dog or even a unicorn to choose from. It’s lightweight, nippy and incredibly easy to manoevure and is small enough to pop in the car when visiting friends or family. The castors enable the Wheelybug to go backwards, forwards, sideways and round in circles and the cute little bug is low enough to the ground for little legs to scoot around or push. It’s good on carpet but even better on tiled or wooden floors and our mini reviewers have been having lots of fun with it.
One great thing about the Wheelybug is it comes ready to ride – there is nothing worse than getting a toy and then having to fit parts to it before it can be played with – let’s face it we’ve all been there on Christmas Day!
The Cow Wheelybug is a fantastic toy and whilst it’s small enough to fit in a cupboard it’s one of those toys that you want to have on display!
RRP small £69.95 & £79.95 for the larger version
Yes Bebe have a fantastic selection of children’s toys and accessories on their website and I know this is one website that I will be visiting again and again for birthday and Christmas presents over the coming months.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We’re all going on a summer holiday…….and one of the most important things to pack in your suitcase is suncream. There’s such a lot of choice when it comes to sunscreen but the most important things to look at are the UVA star rating and SPF level, which indicate the level of protection the sunscreen offers. The higher the SPF the better the protection.
We tend to spend our holidays in this country and depending on the time of year I generally use sunscreen with SPF15 to SPF30. I’m not one for sunbathing but I do spend a lot of time walking and cycling so it is important to protect the parts of my body not covered with clothes – usually my face, arms and legs, from the powerful rays of the sun.
Malibu sent me a couple of bottles of their sunscreen to try, the SPF30 Lotion and the SPF15 Dry Oil Spray which both have a 4 star UV rating, are clinically proven to be kind to skin and are water resistant too. In addition, these products will protect you from UVA and UVB rays. The Lotion offers high protection and contains Vitamin E & Aloe Vera whereas the Dry Oil Spray only offers medium protection but is vitamin enriched, non-greasy and suitable for vegans.
I have used the SPF 15 Dry Oil Spray when overcast – just because the sun isn’t showing doesn’t mean you can’t get burnt! The oil is really easy to apply and doesn’t feel greasy on my skin. The handy 100ml bottle is small enough to fit in one of the pockets of my cycling jersey so I can reapply during the day. The thing I love about the oil is it doesn’t leave your hands feeling sticky after application. It also has a lovely coconut fragrance which always reminds me of summer holidays!
The lotion has a much more gentle fragrance and is a nice consistency. It rubs in very easily, absorbing very quickly and is non greasy.
Both products have protected my skin from the sun and I will happily use them on all my family. With its UVA, UVB and water resistant properties, Malibu sunscreens offer great all-round protection, whether you are on the beach, walking, cycling or just out and about.
Malibu products are available as lotions, sprays, SPF face creams, lip balms and hair & scalp protectors with SPF10 to SPF50, so there is something to protect everyone this summer.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I’m a great fan of the noise cancellation technology that you get with earbuds and headphones but there is one massive, and potentially dangerous, problem – you can’t hear what is going on around you. Whilst it isn’t a problem if you’re sitting in your living room or on public transport listening to music, wearing them out and about can be a problem.
I am a cyclist and a real issue on cycle paths is riding up behind pedestrians who are listening to music and completely unaware of your arrival, not even hearing your bell. Even worse is the cyclist who wears noise cancelling headphones – they’re just asking for trouble!
Bone conduction headphones are one option – they’re not new but this is the first time I have had the opportunity to try a pair and I was keen to see what they are like, especially when I discovered the Outlier Free Pro headphones from Creative Labs are waterproof and had the potential to make my twice weekly morning swim just that little bit more interesting.
The headphones have the following features
– Bluetooth 5.3
– IPX8 Waterproof
– 8GB Memory Storage
– Up to 10 hours playtime
– Multipoint Connectivity
Rather than sitting in or over your ear, these headphones sit on the bone at the front of your ear and the noise is transferred through the bone into your inner ear, leaving you able to hear other sounds at the same time.
Weighing in at just 32g and with adjustable transducers they sit comfortably on my head, I have worn them for several hours at a time and not had a problem with discomfort. A full charge takes 2 hours using a USB-A Magnetic Clip-on Charging Cable and should give 10 hours of playback. I haven’t managed to get quite that long, but I do tend to have the volume turned up which will affect battery performance. Sound quality is really good, not quite the same as a traditional pair of headphones but certainly good enough for my ears! When out and about I tend to listen to podcasts and the radio rather than music and for this they are perfect. It’s great to be able to listen to the radio whilst on my cycle commute and still hear the traffic!
These headphones are waterproof, and with an IP rating of IPX8, are suitable for swimming (as long as the microphone is sealed with the included plug) in freshwater up to a depth of 1.5m for up to 40 minutes. Unfortunately they’re not suitable for salt water, so no swimming in the sea when wearing them. Now you probably don’t want to take your phone with you whilst swimming, so they have 8GB storage for you to store MP3 files to listen to whilst in the pool. It seemed really odd keeping my headphones on when I got in the pool but after a couple of minutes I got used to them and it made my 30 minute swim a lot more stimulating as I kept pace with the music. It is worth noting that the headphones should only be used for 40 minutes at a time which is fine for me but perhaps not for more serious swimmers. The sound isn’t high quality when you are in the water but it’s certainly a lot better than not having any music to listen to.
Another advantage of them being waterproof is I can wear them when I’m out on my bike knowing it won’t damage the headphones.
I’m really impressed with these headphones, they have exceeded my expectations and whilst I’ll keep my standard headphones for music listening these open up a whole new way to listen whilst out and about.
RRP £159.99 but currently on offer at £89.99 on the Creative website here
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Dobble by Asmodee is one of our favourite travel games and travels everywhere with us. The handy tin is small enough to fit in my bag and has entertained our mini reviewers in many different locations over the years including trains, restaurants, hotel rooms, and campsites. When I heard that Dobble had launched a Scouts version I was quite excited as my whole family are involved in Scouting, so this version has a special significance for us.
Available directly from the Scout Store (where all profits are returned to the Scouts) this new version uses symbols associated with Scouting – you’ll find hiking boots, canoes, rucksacks, tents and many more outdoor adventure symbols on the game cards in Dobble Scouts.
With 5 different games to play this game will keep everyone entertained, both young as old as the good thing about this game is everyone is on a level. There’s always a matching symbol on any two cards but with 8 symbols on a card in different sizes and orientation it is more challenging than you would think and sometimes you will find yourself staring at your card for ages and still not see it!
A game doesn’t take long to play, around 5-10 minutes, but it is such good fun that you’ll find that everyone wants to play it over and over again. It’s a great game for 2 but equally as fun in a larger group.
In the words of the Scout motto – “Be Prepared” and put this in the pocket of your rucksack when you go off on an adventure – it’s great to play with friends old and new around a campfire in the evening once you’ve finished adventuring!
As well as the game the new Dobble Scouts collection will also include hoodies, badges and keyrings in the famous Scout colours and will make great gifts for Scouts young and oldCubs,
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Frizz can be one of the most frustrating problems to deal with when you have naturally curly hair so any product that can tame the dreaded frizz is a real winner for me. My curly hair has been a lot easier to manage since I discovered FFØR so when I heard they had launched a new weightless wonder oil called All:In Oil I couldn’t wait to try it.
FFØR stands for Free From, Original, Real and they are an ethical company who believe in Clean Beauty, both for you and the planet. Their products are vegan, cruelty free and free from nasties and they only work with likeminded, ethical suppliers who can provide verified information about their sourcing, and who share their important values. They are also winners of the Marie Claire 2022 Hair Awards and the Global Green Beauty Awards.
The new hair oil is packed full deeply nourishing ingredients – vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which not only add shine but helps to define my curls, leaving them lovely and smooth and frizz free.
The oil is incredibly lightweight, with quite a thin texture that barely feels like oil. There’s a very fine line between glossy hair and greasy locks and I found I didn’t need much to coat my shoulder length hair. I recommend starting with just one drop and adding more gradually, otherwise you can easily end up using too much. I found the best way to apply it was by putting a drop in the palm of my hands and then rubbing them together before distributing the oil through my hair.
The formula creates maximum shine and hydration without feeling oily or greasy and like all the other FFØR products smells amazing. I have used it on damp and dry hair with equally good results. Used overnight it hydrates and nourishes my hair and used after styling it helps to banishe frizz, helping define my curls and leaves them looking in tip top condition.
If you are going away this summer, then you really must put one of these in your suitcase, put it on your hair overnight or before you go to the beach to give your hair the chance to soak up every bit of the goodness contained within the oil. It will help keep your hair smooth and frizz free in the heat and protect it too.
All:In Oil is a hair taming gem and the perfect addition to your holiday haircare routine.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Salama was born and raised in Syria with her brother, who was newly married to her best friend. The Syrian war breaks out and changes everything Salama knew about, including her job. Originally a pharmacist, we soon learn that her one year education suddenly propels her to becoming a surgeon in the local hospital. To us this sounds like a bizarre promotion, but during war, needs must.
The book is beautifully written by new author Zoulfa Katouh. Although she is Canadian, Zoulfa has Syrian roots, which really shows in the detail she goes to to describe life in Syria at the time of the war newly breaking out. The language is descriptive and gentle even if some of the scenes are not, and the story flows as the characters develop.
Part of the character of the book is how it so far removed from our own Western lives as you could imagine. Becoming an unqualified surgeon at age 18? Living without water and electricity whilst the only city you have ever known in the country you love is ripped apart by war? Losing all the members of your close family at such a young age and having to look after your pregnant sister in law? The cultural differences are an education but the emotional side of what the Syrians had to go through are heart breaking, touching and so thought provoking.
The book is a modern classic, with attention-grabbing plot twists and soothing language that rarely find in anything but best sellers, especially not in the storytelling of a first time novelist. I loved sitting down to read this book, delighting in the imagery and not able to guess what was going to happen next, and that wasn’t just because I was unfamiliar with the culture and enjoyed learning about it. For anyone who commutes, this is also a good book because the chapters are bite size and the text is easy to follow if you get disturbed. It’s a long book at 464 pages but it’s an easy read.
You’ll want to find out more about Syria when you read til the end. You’ll also learn a lot about the war and about what the Syrian people went through and in some cases, are still going through. It’s a book that will stay with you for a long time and one which you can read again and again.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There can never be too much chocolate in this house, and not only have I never tried Montezuma’s chocolate before, I don’t think I’ve ever tried this array of flavours either. Let me explain…
Montezuma’s sent us a box of chocolates containing a bag of Giant Dark Chocolate Buttons (74%) and a box of small bars of Montezuma’s chocolates, known as a Mini Chocolate Library, containing 12 bars of 25 grams each in five flavours; Milk Chocolate Butterscotch, Dark Chocolate Lime & Sea Salt, Milk Chocolate Peppermint, Organic Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate.
The bars are individually wrapped and presented in a handy (and very cute) little handbag-shaped box which boasts, “A perfect selection of our favourite chocolate bars, in the perfect size’ which it very much is. This box appeals to both children and adults, especially as adults are more likely to enjoy the different flavours of chocolates. However, with the peppermint, milk chocolate and dark chocolate bars too, it’s great for the whole family or for after dinner watching TV. I particularly like dark chocolate, so this was a great one for me, but the Lime & Sea Salt was a really interesting flavour. It reminded me of when Salted Caramel became popular and you had to get used to the taste of the salt and sweet caramel together, but once you do, the flavour stays with you and you start to enjoy it more. This is a Montezuma’s flavour which I’ll definitely be looking out for in the shops!
If you’re looking at Christmas gifts already, then this is a good one to keep for families, or to break up the whole library and use as part of an advent calendar. I think it would also make a fabulous present for a teacher at the end of the school year too, and it’s easy to wrap up or for you to give to a child to take into class on the last day of term.
The Montezuma’s Dark Chocolate Giant Button grab bag is 180 grams of organic chocolate, nicely pressed into easy-to-eat buttons for your convenience. This is great for picnics, sharing or taking somewhere like the theatre or cinema because of their size and ease of eating. The chocolate, like all Montezuma’s chocolate, is of high quality, using all the best cocoa which is ethically sourced from South America and beyond. Helen and Simon (founders and makers of Montezuma’s Chocolate from 2000 onwards) pride themselves on building ‘Britain’s Greatest Little Chocolate Company.’ We all know about the very biggest chocolate confectionary companies in the world, but if you’re looking for local, more ethically focused chocolate, Montezuma’s is for you. A lot of their products are organic too, plus there’s a massive range on their website of chocolates suitable for both adults and children, and all sorts of occasions.
I can’t speak highly enough for the quality of the chocolate too. It’s not over sweetened, there’s no gritty texture to it and no horrible bitterness to the dark chocolate that leaves you thirsty. Just good quality, old fashioned chocolate that leaves you with that cocoa ‘hit’ any chocoholic craves.
In the words of the Montezuma’s team, ‘A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands!’ and I agree!!
Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
The school holidays are almost here and whether you’re jetting off to far flung exotic places, camping or visiting friends and family the chances are you’ll want to keep your luggage as light as possible. One easy way to save both weight and space in your suitcase is to choose beauty products in travel friendly sizes like the Milk Travel Collection from Beauty Naturals. This suitcase friendly set contains all the essentials for a trip away – Shower Gel, Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Lotion and comes in a handy fabric gift bag which will be perfect for keeping bobbles and scrunchies in once the bottles are empty.
Fragranced with cedarwood and patchouli, these products will add a touch of luxury to any holiday and keep your hair and body lovely and fresh whilst you are away.
RRP £8.95 but currently on offer at £4.45 on the Beauty Naturals website
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Have you ever tried gazpacho before? No? Not sure what it is? Well gazpacho is a summer soup; cold soup drunk in the warmer months when hot soup would be unbearable but made with summer vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber etc) it is a favourite of BBQs and dinner parties.
Re:Nourish have a huge selection of soups and a gazpacho available in the shops in an array of flavours which would suit anyone. We were sent a selection including;
Pea, Basil & Lemon (for Energy)
Tomato, Red Pepper & Cucumber (to Refresh) – their gazpacho
Roasted Carrot & Ginger (to Digest)
Kale, Spinach & Turmeric (for Immunity)
Each of the qualities of the soups and gazpacho (Energy, Refresh, Digest and Immunity) are written on the bottle labels so that you can see what they’re great for, as well as the fact that they’re all delicious. The labels also tell you their nutritional content up front too, so the Pea, Basil & Lemon flavour is great for high protein, whilst the Tomato, Red Pepper & Cucumber flavour has vitamins C, A & E.
If you’re put off by the fact that a gazpacho is a summer soup then think of it asa vegetable smoothie. It has the texture of a soup, thin enough to be eaten with a spoon or if you prefer, they can be poured into a glass or drunk straight from the bottle. It’s not designed to be heated up, so there’s no temptation in making it look homemade, but they are very easy to eat as a snack or for lunch. I like to eat mine with a spoon and add some crème fresh or eat with crisps or tortillas for lunch.
The first flavour I tried was Roasted Carrot & Ginger soup. I particularly like carrot soup, so this with the addition of ginger seemed like a good place to start! You can really taste the ginger in this flavour, but not so much that it becomes too tart to eat. The Tomato, Red Pepper & Cucumber is the only gazpacho so far in the range, and is so refreshing with the addition of cucumber, working well with the fresh crème fresh. It’s very easy to eat because it’s essentially a tomato soup with some added extra veggies for flavour. These flavours would be great for children in order to get their vegetable quota in each day.
The Kale, Spinach & Turmeric and Pea, Basil & Lemon soups are different flavours as they’re more savoury and lend themselves towards a lunch rather than a snack. The added lemon and turmeric add a certain ‘kick’ to what you might think are bland green vegetables, but also add extra vitamins and minerals to make the drinks more exciting. I wouldn’t suggest introducing these ones to younger children as they’re a distinct taste and it will probably put them off Re:Nourish completely!
In addition to the mixture of vegetables and their vitamins, Re:Nourish gazpacho and soups have no additives, no preservatives, no added sugar and are high in fibre. They’re also gluten free, dairy free and low in fat, which is obvious if you think about how they’re just made from lots of vegetables!
Re:Nourish is available on their website: https://renourish.co.uk/collections/bundles or from retailers including Waitrose, Ocado, Planet Organic, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and Co-Op among others!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We are keen walkers and most weekends you will find us out on the local fells or on top of hill somewhere. It is so important to keep hydrated when walking so I was really pleased to receive a Contigo Jackson Chill AUTOPOP™ Vacuum-Insulated Water Bottle. It arrived just in time for our holiday and was a very welcome addition when we were climbing hills on a couple of particularly hot days.
When it comes to water bottles, I have very high standards – I need a bottle with a top that is easy to open and close and most importantly doesn’t leak. I look for bottles that are easy to clean, without too many nooks and crannies that can prove difficult to clean properly. I also need it to keep my water cold, so a bottle with an opening that is wide enough to get a few ice cubes in is a winner.
So how does the Jackson Chill AUTOPOP™ Vacuum-Insulated Water Bottle fare?
Well, incredibly well – not only does it look stylish this bottle is very practical too, the 590ml double walled vacuum bottle has a mouth wide enough for ice cubes and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. A great feature of this bottle is that you are able to open it one-handed so I don’t need to stop to have a drink and it has a decent sized spout that flows nicely. It is really comfortable to drink from and there was no metallic taste to the water.
Over the last couple of weeks the bottle has been stuffed into rucksacks, slid into pockets, slotted into my bike bottle holder and carried in a shopping bag and despite being flung around hasn’t leaked once. It has a very secure fitting lid which protects the spout from dirt and a button lock which, assuming you remember to click it in place, means it won’t open in your bag, thus avoiding accidental spills.
The feature I like most about this bottle is the secure fitting lid, I have had my fair share of leaky bottles over the years and believe me there is nothing worse than reaching into a rucksack and discovering your bottle has leaked!
I am really impressed with this bottle, not only does it look great, it’s easy to fill, nice to drink out of and is a good size. Reuseable bottles are so much better for the environment than single use plastic ones and if you buy a decent one like this Contigo one you will be using it for many years. This bottle is now an essential part of my walking gear and I have been recommending it to all my walking friends.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We are in full swing of summer now, and I’ve lost count of the amount of places I’m meant to be, want to be or end up finding myself thanks to the beautiful weather. With friends coming round too, there’s always a need for endless snacks to go with the wine, Prosecco or chats with the girls.
The Artisan Olive Oil Company sent us these crisps and vegetable chips to try, as part of their artisan Italian snack range, all of which are found on their website. This was one of those times when I opened a box and kept delving to find more and more yummy treats; my mind whirling with how I was going to try all of them in such a short space of time… but don’t worry, the girls with the wine, Prosecco and chatter helped me out!
Included in the bundle was;
Vintage Truffle Potato Chips (120g)
Vintage Potatoes with Sweet Chilli (120g)
Vegan [vegetable] Crisps (150g)
Lightly Salted Tortilla (125g)
Blue Corn Tortilla (125g)
For anyone looking for summer snacks, this is only a small selection of what the Artisan Olive Oil Company offer, and you can see that there’s more than just your run of the mill crisps just in this selection. The flavours are varied as well, which helps when you don’t know what everyone will be drinking.
It is surprisingly fast how quickly so many packets of crisps disappear when you open them! We did study them first though, noting how each of the crisps were of high quality. The potato crisps were sharp, fresh and there were no burnt edges or green crisps in the packet, and none of those monster crisps you used to find as a child! All of the vegetables were of high quality and were cooked in high quality oil. The Vintage Potatoes with Sweet Chilli are not as hot (in taste) as some of the other brands on the market, but have more of a sweeter taste to them. The crisps are still precise though, and make for a lovely texture.
The same goes for the Vintage Truffle Potato Chips, which have a subtle taste but are great with the flavour of the oil coming through and the quality of the potatoes. I really liked the Vegan Crisps which were vegetable chips of carrot, beetroot and parsnip. Not only are they some of my favourite vegetables but they have a taste all of their own once they’re cooked, and the added seasoning makes them irresistible.
Finally, the Lightly Salted Tortilla and Blue Corn Tortilla are more gritty, but flavoursome corn chips, with a tiny bit of flavouring to them but just as delicious. These went really well with white wine and their slightly sour tastes of Pinot Grigio and I think would be even better eaten with a dip or salsa, all of which are found on the Artisan Olive Oil Company’s website where you’ll find even more summer treats!
Crisps and snacks available online from £4.25 per 120g bag at:
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If, like me, you are trying to stick to a low carbohydrate, high protein diet but still love the sweet stuff and crave chocolate, then you’ll know that there are lots of products on the market but most of them are unpalatable! They’re often made of substitute products which are bland and tasteless which ultimately puts me off them.
Warrior have been making high protein bars as part of their range of protein products for a long time now, so the new Peanut Butter and Jelly flavour is a nice treat in a long line of bars. Each bar is 64 grams with 20 grams of protein and 2.3 grams of sugar with 22 grams of carbohydrates in all. Eaten at any time of day as a snack or pick-me-up, they add some variety to the usual keto diet which many of us find difficult to keep up when we’re out and about, so these bars make life much easier!
The flavour is not something you usually find in shops either. We’re not used to peanut butter and jelly (PBJ) in this country but if you’ve ever tried it in a sandwich, then you’ll know that this set up is going to be delicious, not least because of the chocolate involved! The bars are filled with the peanut butter filling and coated with jelly (it tastes like raspberry jelly to me) then have a final coating of thick chocolate. The sweetness of the jelly really comes through to give you a ‘sweetness hit’ but you really can’t tell the different between this and a confectionary bar you buy off the shelf. There’s no hint of it being a fitness bar and frankly, it’s much bigger than the kiosk sized chocolate bars you buy these days, so it’s a double winner!
I had this after lunch as a ‘dessert’ but you can eat it at any time. It works well within a low carb diet, and the nutritional values are on each bar packaging so that you can fit them into your diet and regime. You could actually only eat half at a time and still feel the benefit, but if you’re like me, you enjoy a proper bar of chocolate but don’t want to hit the top of the dial with the high carbohydrate options, the Peanut Butter and Jelly Warrior bar does the trick!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Groovy Food Company have launched 2 new Agave flavours to their range of sauces, honeys and oils. The Hot Agave Nectar and Chipotle Agave Nectar sound like they could be fire hot additions to the BBQ this year with their chilli flavours an chipotle, but are they just another sauce to keep in the fridge for the next 6 months?
Both of the sauces are actually fat free and have no artificial colours. The Hot Agave Nectar has no artificial flavourings either and both are suitable for vegans and Kosher – KLBD. They’re not just for the BBQ thought. They’re great on salads, pizza, any kinds of meat or fish, as an accompaniment to cheeses or even on lasagne or pasta to give it more of a zing!
The Hot Agave sauce is chilli hot, but not so hot that your mouth burns. It would be suitable for older children as an addition to their pizza or salad or to use it as a dip for chicken nuggets. It’s got a lovely texture to it, making it very easy to pour and eat when drizzled over your meals. It certainly makes vegetables more exciting and with the addition of the Chipotle Agave Nectar, you can alternate flavours or add both to the same meal.
The Chipotle Agave Nectar has a smokey flavour to it but again is not too hot that children couldn’t enjoy it. The Agaves make for great sauces to dip the crusts of pizzas into, but I haven’t tried it as an addition to making a sauce yet – maybe a homemade pasta sauce with added Chipotle Agave Nectar would give it that extra kick?
Once opened, they both need to be stored in the fridge and shaken every time used, but there are approximately 75 servings from each bottle.
If you’re a fan of chilli and chipotle then these Groovy Foods agaves are worth trying, and trying on all sorts of different dishes to see how they can change anything from vegetables to your favourite homemade dishes.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
During the summer, when we are more likely to be working out or going for a run, or perhaps you’re on the beach and need to carry very little with you in hand luggage, ear phones can be a life saver. Nowadays, earphones are state-of-the art and not only come in this ‘ear bud’ form, but are Bluetooth. Connecting to your phone or laptop wirelessly, they don’t have wires so you can hide your phone in a pocket and carry on with your day.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro come in a charging case so you don’t lose them easily. Their full charge time is 24 hours, so enough for a holiday or long journey but just 10 minutes of charge gives you an hour listening time. The ear-tips are also anti bacterial, so you can share them if you wish, or even if you drop them on the car floor, they’ll still be safe to put back in. The box contains the NeoBuds and case, spare sets of ear tips, charging cable and case and written instructions.
The NeoBuds uses LDAC technology which is an auditory technology which allows high quality streaming over Bluetooth. Before purchasing these Edifier NeoBuds, make sure your phone or laptop supports this technology. LDAC is considered to be the premier audio coding available at the moment, so the NeoBuds are making use of the best technology available, and it shows in the quality of the audio! There’s Ambient Sound technology too, so you can still hear certain sounds around you when the music is playing – great for when you’re in town and weaving in and out of traffic.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro also have crossover technology for balanced sound thanks to the Knowles Balanced Armature drive. No matter what audio you’re listening to, the NeoBuds balance out the sound making it a better listening experience all round. You can also use the NeoBuds for phone calls, thanks to the three microphone noise cancellation technology. It also has low latency with game mode, so you can hear exactly what’s happening on screen as it happens and without a time delay.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro contain all the technology, and more that you need for everyday use of headphones. There’s no problem with how they perform and the sound quality is excellent. It took me a while to figure out how they fit into my ears and get used to the sensation as I don’t normally have ear buds but it doesn’t take long. I was impressed with how high quality the sound is because it automatically balances out the levels with each song. Audio books are richer too; you can hear the bass of the reader’s voice much easier and phone calls are as clear as you’d expect them to be and I didn’t experience any drop-off in calls with Bluetooth.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro are practical, easy to use and easy to store. They’re so versatile across all the different sound appliances that you don’t need another pair, and they store away in their case so you don’t have to worry about carrying heavy overhead headphones that might break. Not just for summer, the NeoBuds Pro are for all year and all uses!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Popcorn has become the most fashionable snack nowadays, probably since lockdown and we’re all spending time at home watching on demand TV with better quality food!
Joe & Seph’s Popcorn has also gained in popularity not just for the convenience but for the quality of the kernels and the different flavours available. Not just content with the usual sweet flavours like Toffee or Sweet & Salty, but there’s the summer limited editions such as Eton Mess and White Chocolate & Raspberry. Don’t get me started on the savoury flavours too like Mojito or Goat’s Cheese & Black Pepper.
We were sent one of Joe & Seph’s specialty Chocolate Lover’s Gourmet Popcorn Selection boxes. Unlike the other bags, this 105 gram box is a mixture of four different chocolate flavours; Caramel & White Chocolate, Caramel & Belgian Chocolate and Double Chocolate Popcorn and our luxurious, rich Dark Chocolate Popcorn Bites. If you’re not familiar with the flavours already, then the first 3 are varieties of chocolate coating on the famous Joe & Seph’s popcorn, whilst popcorn bites are piece of popcorn set in chocolate cups. Not just ordinary chocolate cups, but cups of delicious dark chocolate where you can really taste the richness of cacao.
The box makes it the perfect shape for sharing, or for giving as a gift. If you have a friend or loved one who loves chocolate, popcorn or both, this is perfect because of the mix of flavours, all of which work together nicely to create a type of ‘dessert’ in the form of a box of snacks, thanks to the mix of sweet flavours.
The quality of the popcorn really is as gourmet as you would hope, with no unpopped kernels at the bottom of the box, no strange shaped, odd pieces that missed the delicious chocolate coating, just a box packed full of quality popcorn.
If you’re not keen on chocolate flavoured popcorn, have a look at the website for lots of other flavours, and different sizes of bags.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Getting children into a good bedtime routine can take a good while, so anything that helps achieve this is very welcome. A night light can be a big help, they are great when babies are small, as the gentle light is enough for night feeds and it eliminates the need to turn on the main light when checking on your child. They are also good for children who are afraid of the dark. There are lots of different night lights available now, making it easy to find one that will suit the decoration of your child’s nursery.
We have a couple of mini reviewers who aren’t the best at going to bed, so in the quest for a good nights sleep, we have been putting a couple of Pabobo Angelcare nightlights to the test, in the hope that they will help them get to sleep a little bit quicker!
The Pabobo Lumicolour Bear Night Light is a cute bear shaped night light that can also change colour. The night light has 3 different modes to choose from
Colour detection – in this mode it scans and matches the colour of the touched object.
White light – 2 different intensities enabling you to reassure or read a story.
Rainbow – the bear changes colour every 10 seconds with the option to freeze it on your favourite colour.
I was quite intrigued to see how the colour detection mode worked and found it quite fascinating watching it change colour as it is placed on different objects! This is quite a quirky product and was a big hit with our mini reviewer who loved putting him on different coloured stacking cups to get him to change colour. The light is a soothing glow rather than a bright light and is just what you need at bedtime. It can be left on all night or there is a handy timer which will turn the light off after 45 minutes by which time your child will hopefully be asleep!
The nightlight is rechargeable and comes with a micro USB port which is really handy as it means it can be taken away with you on holiday or trips to grandparents, enabling your child’s bedtime routine is kept the same when they are away from home.
Once fully charged the battery can power the light for up to 1 month if used on the 45 minute timer or for 24 hours continuous use.
The bear doesn’t come with a USB power adapter but most families have plenty of these around the house so this isn’t really a problem.
RRP £35
The Angelcare Pabobo Underwater Effects Projector projects waves and fish onto the wall and ceiling whilst playing soft lullaby music or white noise to help lull your baby into a deep sleep. It does require 3AA batteries which aren’t included.
It has three light intensities to choose from and will automatically turn off after 25 minutes or 15 minutes if the sound is on.
The light display is calming to watch and certainly captured our mini reviewers attention. There are also couple of lullabies to play as well as the sound of waves, white noise and a heart beat to help relax your child ready for bed. The projections and sounds don’t have to be played together, you can choose just projections, just sound or both together, so choose which variation suits your child the best.
As well as being a calming influence at bedtime, the projector is a great sensory toy, the lights and sounds create those all important links in your baby’s brain helping support their development and learning. I do feel that it has helped achieve a much better level of calmness at bedtime and provides our mini reviewer with something enjoyable and comforting every night.
It’s compact enough to take on holiday or when staying with friends and family so you can keep the same routine when away from home. Another useful feature is the fabric part of the projector can be removed for washing – I’ve not needed to wash it yet but it’s good to know that when it gets grubby I can easily remove and wash it.
RRP £45
If you are stuggling to get your children to settle at night then I would definitely recommend trying a night light, these have been a welcome addition to our mini reviewers bedtime routine and definitely help them to settle better every night.
The Review Studio 