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Creative Outlier Free Pro Headphones

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Sport, Tech

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

Dobble Scouts

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Learning, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

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,

Ages 6+ | 2-8 Players | RRP £14.99

FFØR All:In Oil

beauty, Birthday Gifts, cruelty-free, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Women

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.

RRP £28 available here

Read our other FFØR haircare reviews – Re:Vamp Spray, Show Off Leave In Conditioner and Super Shine Gloss Mist and Re:Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner and Re:Plenish Hair Mask

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow – book by Zoulfa Katouh

Birthday Gifts, Books, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Learning, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Valentine's Day Gifts

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.

Available from £8.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/As-Long-Lemon-Trees-Grow/dp/1526648547/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3S6JBT0GHUHXM&keywords=as+long+as+the+lemon+trees+grow&qid=1689759690&sprefix=as+long+as+the+l%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1

Montezuma’s Chocolate

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for teachers, Stocking Fillers

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!!

Naturally European Milk Travel Collection

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

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

Re: Nourish Gazpacho and Soups

Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gluten Free, health, Lunchbox Fillers, Summer

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!

Contigo

Birthday Gifts, camping, Days Out, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Plastic free, Sustainable

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.

RRP £25

Available from Amazon

Italian Crisps and Snacks from Fox Nut & Snacks

Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Lunchbox Fillers, Summer, Vegan, Vegetarian

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:

Premium snacks

Warrior Crunch Protein Bars – Peanut Butter and Jelly

Family Life, Fitness, Food & Drink

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!

Available as boxes of 12 for £16.99 at online retail outlets as well as: https://teamwarrior.com/products/warrior-crunch-12-bars-1?variant=43789094060280

Don’t forget, Warrior also have the Mini Warrior bars available too, for when you need a less hearty snack: https://teamwarrior.com/products/crunch-mini-bars?variant=43910850216184&currency=GBP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=20341571902&utm_content=&utm_term=&gadid=&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5MOlBhBTEiwAAJ8e1skPJhJ3VV9mXUOqszDitQ9ffIsPkkk2xrAZjKuscMQZ0fK7adZ9ehoCl9EQAvD_BwE

Groovy Food Company Hot Agave Nectar and Chipotle Agave Nectar

Family Life, Food & Drink, Vegan, Vegetarian

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.

Available from Ocado for £3 at:

https://www.ocado.com/search?entry=groovy%20food%20company

Edifier NeoBuds Pro Headphones

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Tech

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!

https://www.edifier.com/global/p/true-wireless-earbuds/neobuds-pro

Available on Amazon for £119.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-NeoBuds-Wireless-Cancellation-Universal-Black/dp/B0B12BGZPT/ref=sr_1_4?crid=31RSN41FGB2OE&keywords=edifier+neobuds+pro&qid=1688822928&sprefix=neobuds+pro%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-4

Joe & Seph’s Chocolate Lover’s Gourmet Popcorn Selection

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Summer

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.

Available from £6.00 from: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/chocolate-lovers-gourmet-popcorn-selection

Pabobo by Angelcare Night Lights

Baby, Children, Family Life, Gifts for children

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.

Becoming Flawesome book by Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani

Birthday Gifts, Books, Gifts for Her, Learning, Mental Health Awareness, Women

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

As a co-founder of Mindvalley, the meditation and self improvement app, Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani’s first book highlights one of the most sought-after questions for self development – who are we and how do we improve ourselves?

Using her life history and experience of Mindvalley and the world of work, Kristina takes the reader on a journey with short chapters and daily exercises to question your thinking and hopefully, take you to a new place personally and without the pain that self growth often brings.

Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani book ‘Becoming Flawesome’ starts by explaining her background, then going into detail about how we lose ourselves over time, and how self-inflicted parameters such as being perfect can affect us and the way we connect to ourselves. The same idea of perfection/imperfection comes again later in the book when Kristina looks at why being imperfect is healthy for you, but not before delving into how to find yourself again. She talks, in her customary short chapters with exercises to do daily, about vulnerability and being authentic. The last section before ‘recovery’ is about honesty, particularly being honest with yourself.

Part 6 onwards changes route and talks about kindness for healing, especially self-kindness and self-love. Lots of us struggle with what self-love really is and how we practice it, so these chapters were particularly useful for me. Courage is the next part, talking about fear and overcoming it, and the types of fear which hold us back and we don’t even know about them yet. Finally, the last section is about Living Flawesomely – how happiness is a skill that needs to be learned for most people and isn’t always natural to attain.

Becoming Flawesome is a great book for anyone, but I feel women will particularly learn a lot because of the content and the way it’s written by a woman. The short chapters make it easy to read daily or on a commute and the exercises are a mixture of 2 minutes whilst you eat your breakfast, or life-long exercises to change the way you think. At the end of the book, you will definitely learn something about how to take the path of self improvement, forgive yourself and most importantly, learn something about yourself too.

Get Becoming Flawesome FREE

Available from £19.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Becoming-Flawesome-Living-Imperfectly-Authentic/dp/1401974341/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34S61JLTEJ44B&keywords=Kristina+Mänd-Lakhiani&qid=1684264827&sprefix=kristina+mänd-lakhiani%2Caps%2C50&sr=8-1

Ritter Sport Nut Selection

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

Ritter Sport are a German chocolate brand who make distinctive square chocolate bars that come in a wide range of fillings and flavours. In celebration of World Chocolate Day they sent me a box of their delicious nutty chocolate bars to try, with instructions to keep them squirreled away as the nutty treats are just too tempting for the local squirrels!

With the trademark Ritter Sport logo in the middle, the 100g bars feature images of chocolate coated nuts along with the green 100% certified Sustainable Cocoa Sourcing logo. On the reverse is the ingredients and nutritional information.

Opening the packaging, I was presented with a chunky bar of chocolate with 16 segments, each imprinted with the Ritter Sport logo. When I turned over the bar, I was pleased to see plenty of whole nuts, each segment had a least 1 and some even had 3!

Naturally sweet and with a satisfying crunch, hazelnuts and chocolate are a winning combination. All three varieties – Whole Hazlenuts, Dark Whole Hazlenuts and White Whole Hazlenuts – were absolutely scrumptious. I enjoyed the creaminess of the milk chocolate with the hazelnuts but my favourite was the dark chocolate bar as the bitterness of the dark chocolate contrasted nicely with the nut creating an incredibly moreish treat.

The Honey Salted Almond bar offered a satisfying crunch and the sweetness and saltiness created a real explosion of flavour in my mouth.

Get yours quick before the squirrels find them!!

Belvoir Farm Summer Spritz

Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Summer, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

It’s summer, the sun is shining and I’m sat watching Wimbledon on TV with a refreshing glass of Belvoir Farm Summer Spritz – life doesn’t get much better than this!

The limited edition Summer Spritz is a very refreshing drink, especially on a hot day like today. Sparkling spring water is mixed with strawberry, apple, elderberry and lime juices and finished with a hint of mint and it really does taste fantastic.

It is lovely on its own with a few strawberries or it works well as a mixer for your favourite tipple.

As it’s Wimbledon season it would be rude not to have a glass of Pimms, so I tried Belvoir Farm’s recipe for Strawberry Pimms. This fruity cocktail was was a big hit with my friends today.

It is nice and easy to make and if you want to try it this is the recipe.

150ml Belvoir Farm Summer Spritz
50ml Pimms
15ml Belvoir Farm Raspberry & Lemon Cordial
Handful of strawberries
Handful of fresh mint leaves

Method – Add 3/4 of the strawberries and mint to a high ball glass and muddle. Add the Pimms and Raspberry & Lemon Cordial then fill the glass with crushed ice. Top with the Belvoir Farm Summer Spritz.

Like the rest of the Belvoir range, Summer Spritz is made from the finest ingredients with no artificial flavours or preservatives. It is also suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Available from Ocado and look out for it in Aldi next week

RRP 750ml £2.25

Darn Tough Socks

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Family Life, Fashion, Fitness, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Sport, Stocking Fillers

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

Walkers, hikers, runners, athletes and casual sock fans are discovering Darn Tough socks… but if you’re any of the above you probably know something about the Vermont, USA based company already.

Darn Tough socks are made from merino wool to be, well, darn tough. Their main selling point apart from being so hard wearing is that they are seam free so don’t rub and wear away over time, and if you’re a walker, that’s a big problem. They have additional features which make them so durable too. The shin areas typically have extra cushioning for wearing under boots (if they’re longer socks) thanks to the way the socks are woven. There’s added measures to prevent boot bite too. The extended toe box allows for wear and tear inside boots and shoes with a flex zone over the front of the foot so that you can rest assured that there isn’t the wear there from laced up shoes.

The heels are particularly well engineered to allow for lots of walking. Some of the snow socks (of which there are lot more new styles) have added weight to them for extra durability. There’s some new running socks this coming season which are shorter but allow for the same durability, but with the added bonus of being so pretty as well! If you look at the catalogue online, you’ll see that there’s a massive range of socks for men, women and children, but also a complete kaleidoscope of patterns. This hiking/trekking pair of women’s socks have a bear design on them! There’s plenty of other socks to choose from, not only for different activities but in different colours and even landscape designs on them. It makes them much easier to pair up after washing too!

The bonus of all Darn Tough socks is that no matter how they wear out, there is a lifetime guarantee on each pair that means they will replace your socks, no questions asked, whenever a hole appears or they wear down. What better promise of quality is that?

Available in the UK at: https://www.cdalimited.com/darn-tough/

Hydro Flask 32oz Wide Mouth Flask

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Days Out, eco friendly, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Sport, Summer

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

Everyone has a water bottle nowadays and knows to stay away from plastic which typically isn’t easy to recycle, nor is it very good for your health, especially if left to heat up. Hydro Flask produce a whole range of flasks and food storage items which keep your drinks and food cold, or hot, for longer.

Using stainless steel and their TempShield double wall technology, flasks such as this 32oz (946ml) water flask can keep your drinks cooler, or hotter for longer. The inner workings of the flask include a vacuum insulation between the layers of the stainless steel, ensuring the drink doesn’t transfer heat to the outside of the bottle. Hydro Flask 32oz keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours.

Think of all the ways that this is practical – not just for camping or days out where there is no hot water, but keeping water at least warm to heat up a baby’s feed, or cold drinks when you’re on the go for long distance exercise. For taking in your daily water allowance, this flask only needs to be filled up once a day on average with nearly 1 litre capacity. It also looks good with the powder coating colour and black and steel lid.

The wide mouth of this flask allows you to drink as you walk or run, but Hydro Flask also have alternative lids which suit all sorts of needs. There’s the Flex Chug Cap – ideal for when running or walking because it narrows the mouth of the 32oz flask so that you don’t spill it as easily (no guarantees that you won’t though, especially if you’re running!) and comes with the same flex strap for easy carry. The Flex Chug Cap is also BPA and toxin free and can be put in the dishwasher like all the other flasks.

The second attachment for the Hydro Flask 32oz is the Wide Mouth Flex Straw Cap. It fits all Wide Mouth Hydro Flask bottles and comes with two straws which can be cut down to size. It’s also insulated and like all the flasks and their lids, it’s leakproof when closed. It’s not for hot liquids though, but I’m not sure there is any hot drink you use a straw for nowadays anyway? The Wide Mouth Flex Straw Cap is also BPA free.

The Hydro Flask 32oz comes in a range of colours, including this green, called Dew, but other colours include white, black, Gojo (red) and Lupine (lilac). There’s a 100% customer satisfaction warrantee on each flask meaning there’s a limited lifetime warrantee against manufacturer defects.

Hydro Flask are quite possibly the future in insulated flasks, especially in the wake of anti-plastic.

Available for £41.40 on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BG6HYFJG?maas=maas_adg_9FBBDF957F63467F00CA4C4BB590066C_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

ALTERNA Caviar Anti-Ageing Hair Products

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

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

Eureka moment!! You know when you find a product that transforms your hair and you can’t imagine using anything else – this is how I feel about the Caviar Anti-Aging range from Alterna. When the box of haircare products arrived, I had been struggling with my shoulder length curly hair, which in the last year has become incredibly dry and frizzy. Despite spending a small fortune on new hair products nothing seemed to be helping and I had almost given up hope on finding a product that could transform my frizzy mop back into smooth curls again.

Alterna isn’t a brand I had come across before despite being around since 1997. They wanted to create a range of luxury hair products based on the science of skincare and developed products for professionals using natural eco-certified ingredients with no sulfates or parabens in sight.

I received the Caviar Anti-Ageing range which is designed to nourish and protect hair and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that help to strengthen and hydrate your hair. The vibrant purple bottles looked stunning, and I couldn’t wait to see if they would help my frizzy locks.

The shampoo and conditioner are very easy to work through hair and rinsed out easily. The shampoo lathered nicely, creating a rich foam that cleansed my hair and smelt gorgeous. The conditioner left my hair feeling hydrated, soft and manageable and helped bring back my bouncy curls.

The Priming Leave in Conditioner was nice and light on my hair and didn’t weigh it down like thicker products tend to do. It removed the tangles effortlessly adding some much needed moisture to my hair.

The Shampoo/Conditioner cost £39.90 each for a 250ml bottle and the Priming Leave in Conditioner is £34.70 for 147ml.

The Caviar Replenishing Moisture Intensive Ceramide Shots (RRP £52.10) are a potent ceramide concentrate in individual capsules that hydrate, reduces breakage and strengthen hair. It is easy to twist the capsule open and then apply to damp hair. I used them after the leave in conditioner and before the CC cream.

I’ve used CC Cream on my face but not on hair before so this was a new step for me. The cream feels like a conditioner and smells amazing and is applied to towel dried hair. This miracle leave in product and styling cream delivers 10 benefits in one easy step – Moisture, Shine, Smoothness, Softness, UV Protection, Manageability, Strength, Anti-Breakage, Heat Protection & Light Hold. It is suitable for all types of hair and once applied all you need to do leave it to work it’s magic. RRP £35.85

These products have really helped hydrate my curls and after only a couple of washes my hair was smoother and the dreaded frizz was gone. Thanks to this range I now love my curls again, my hair looks fantastic – shiny, smooth and nourished from the scalp to the ends – what more can a girl ask for?

Available from the Alterna website they also have smaller sizes which are perfect for travelling or if you are trying the products for the first time.

Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegetarian

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

It’s World Chocolate Day today – our favourite day of the year and we have been celebrating with some of our favourite chocolate treats from Joe & Seph’s

Joe & Seph’s are a family business and began making popcorn back in 2010 in their family kitchen. After taking the popcorn to a food show they sold out in 2 days and the rest is history. They use the finest, natural ingredients and now have a range of over 40 exciting flavours which include both sweet and savoury flavours.

The White Chocolate & Raspberry Popcorn Slab costs £8 and believe me is worth every penny. Combining Caramel and Raspberry popcorn and smothering them in delicious white chocolate, Joe & Seph’s have come up with the most amazing indulgent treat. I would like to say that we ate this over a couple of nights but that would be a complete lie! It was so good we demolished the whole slab in one sitting!!

The Caramel & White Chocolate Gourmet Popcorn costs £4 and is a real treat for the tastebuds, especially if you have a sweet tooth. The air popped popcorn is coated in smooth caramel and white chocolate and has a satisfying crunch when you bite into it. Once you’ve tasted this I guarantee you won’t go back to cinema popcorn again!

The Milk Chocolate Popcorn Bites are pieces of salted caramel popcorn in a creamy milk chocolate cup. The creaminess of the chocolate and the crunch of the popcorn go so well together and are a real decadent treat. They say each bag contains 4 servings – I think their servings are much smaller than mine!! RRP £3.50

We’ve really enjoyed celebrating World Chocolate Day with Joe & Seph’s and I can’t wait to find out what their next popcorn flavours are going to be.

Mavrik Non Alcoholic Espresso Martini & Passion Star Martini

Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Summer, Women

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

It’s summer and the weekend but if you’re not a big drinker, pregnant or driving you can still join the party with these new non alcoholic martinis from Mavrik.

With Espresso Martini and Passion Star Martini added to their already great selection of canned cocktails, these non alcoholic cocktails have less than 50 calories per serving so they are perfect if you are watching the calories too.

The cans are nitro infused so all you need to do is simply chill the can, turn it over a few times, open and pour gently into a glass and wait for the head to develop. They can also be mixed in a cocktail shaker and shaken with ice in true James Bond style!

I put mine in the fridge and after allowing them to chill to perfection, I decided to try the Passion Star Martini first. Inspired by the popular Pornstar Martini, the Passion Star Martini is nice and fruity and the nitrogen-infusion gives it a nice head. Passion fruit, pineapple and vanilla along with rum flavouring give the cocktail the distinctive Caribbean taste and if you close your eyes you can pretend you are sipping cocktails in an exotic location!

The Espresso Martini is also nitro-infused, producing a beautifully smooth coffee flavoured cocktail that tastes absolutely delicious. Coffee and chocolate flavours blend together nicely giving the flavour of an Espresso Martini, just minus the alcohol.

These martinis feel much more grown up than a fizzy drink and best of all I can drink them all night knowing I can safely drive myself home at the end of the party and won’t wake up with a hangover the following morning.

Mavrik drinks are available from their website and a box of 8 Martinis (4 of each) costs £23.60

Mayata Chocolate

Birthday Gifts, Food & Drink

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

To celebrate National Chocolate Day on 7 July, the team at Mayata sent us some of their delicious chocolate to try. We can’t promise that it made it past tea time, but we can tell you that we enjoyed testing it for you!

With each 70 gram bar priced at £4.99, they aren’t the off-the-shelf High Street brands but you can taste that in the quality of the chocolate. We were sent the Mayata Colombia 72% Dark Chocolate and Mayata Congo 44% Milk Chocolate bars to review.

The difference in quality between Mayata Chocolate and other brands is not just the cocoa beans but the fact that Mayata don’t blend the beans to make a hybrid chocolate. Using produce from Asia, Africa and the Americas, the beans are roasted low and slow to reduce bitterness before being crushed.

The 72% Dark Chocolate from Colombia is made with fermented Trinitario cocoa. Trinitario has been grown in the Antioquia region of Colombia for centuries and is produced by farmers who use sustainable practices. The 72% dark chocolate is a much richer, deeper flavour which will be loved by anyone who likes dark chocolate, just without such a bitter after taste compared to other dark chocolates. I think this would work really well in a recipe that needs dark chocolate, like a Rocky Road or rich ganache cake.

The 44% Congo Milk Chocolate bar is smoother than smooth and very creamy with a hint of fruit flavour in it, making it quite different to commercial chocolates. It’s not bitter at all, and you can eat it easily without feeling like it’s too rich as there’s not too much sugar in it. It melts in the mouth, feeling like it’s more of a creamy dessert rather than a chocolate bar. I could eat this one all day long and not get fed up with it!

Mayata say that they make chocolate like no other, and I can believe it from the history of how they create their single location cocoa, their ethics of making chocolate and the taste of their wonderfully rich and delicious chocolate bars. How many ways can we find to fit Mayata chocolate into our day?

Mayata Chocolate is available on Sous Chef from £4.99 at:

Mayata Chocolate

iWALK PowerSquid Portable Charger

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Mobile Phone, Stocking Fillers, Tech

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

It’s holiday time and we’re off exploring the beautiful countryside in Somerset. We’ve got everything packed, including all our tech – it’s surprising just how many items need charging. A quick look shows two phones, two smart watches, earbuds, a camera, the GPS for my bike and a couple of rechargeable bike lights. That’s a lot of charging cables and there are only two USB sockets in the motorhome.

To make things easier, I’m trying out a USB power bank from iWALK. The PowerSquid has a capacity of 9000mAh and offers quick charging to compatible devices. Its name comes from the fact that it has three built-in charging cables that are permanently attached, looking like the legs of a squid. With micro USB, USB-C and Lightning, many devices are covered but for complete coverage there is of course a standard USB socket too. Charging is via USB-C and a USB-C cable is included.

Mine is white but black and pink models are also available, it weighs 200g and feels really well made. A small LED display gives the percentage charge and also shows if fast charging is being used.

With multiple outputs the PowerSquid is able to charge a number of devices at the same time and it can also take on a charge at the same time, this was perfect in the motorhome where USB sockets are limited. It is also capable of offering fast charge to compatible devices with 5v, 9v or 12v offered on the USB-C and USB-A connector. It can charge a Samsung S22 up to 50% in 30 minutes and was able to charge my phone around one and a half times on a full charge so it will be great for weekends away. The cables all clip neatly into the casing so no more tangled cables in your bag.

It is compatible with iPhone 14/14 Pro Max/iPhone 13 Pro Max/13 Pro/13, Samsung Google Pixel & Apple HomePod devices.

I am really happy with this power bank, it is going to be indispensable when travelling both in the UK and abroad. My teenage sons have already been eying it up so that’s their birthday presents sorted too!

RRP £34.99 available from Amazon here

Herbarium Distillation 29

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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

I do enjoy a refreshing G&T on a sunny afternoon, but I don’t always want the hangover that one too many glasses brings. Fortunately, there are now some excellent non alcoholic gins available, enabling me to enjoy all the deliciousness of a sophisticated G&T but without the headache.

Herbarium 29 is the brainchild of friends Andrew Stacey & Steve Brown who struggled to find an alcohol free alternative to gin. After deciding that the best option was to simply take the alcohol out of gin they focussed on this idea and after a lot of experimentation Herbarium was born.

It is delicious served with ice and tonic for a refreshing drink, or if you are feeling a little more adventurous why not try making mocktails?

Distilled in copper pot stills they hand distil small batches of the highest quality, hand selected botanicals to create a well-balanced, complex spirit that has the beautiful mouthfeel and fresh dryness that you expect from a premium gin. I tried it initially with an unflavoured light tonic to get the full flavour, garnishing with a slice of lime. The botanical flavours really stood out and it made a really refreshing drink.

I also tried a Herblet Cocktail which can be made with these ingredients

Ice

50ml Herbarium

50ml Lime cordial

50ml water

2tsp sugar syrup

Lime to garnish

With strong notes of juniper and citrus and the classic bitterness that you expect from gin but without any of the alcohol, Herbarium is the perfect drink this summer. You still get the party taste without the hangover – what’s not to like!

A 70cl bottle costs £24.80 and is available from the Herbarium website (there is currently a 20% discount if you use the code SUMMER20), Master of Malt and Amazon.