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 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.
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 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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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:
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!
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.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We’ve been munching our way through a lot of chocolate this week in preparation for World Chocolate Day on the 7th July. As well as traditional chocolate we have been sampling some plant based brands as being Vegan or following a dairy free or gluten free diet no longer means you need to miss out on delicious chocolate treats.
Happi Choc was founded by Gavin, Lee & Rosie who spotted a gap in the market for top quality, healthier and FUN plant based treats that they were happy to share with their children and enjoy themselves. Lower in sugar than other chocolate brands the chocolate is sustainably sourced with the cacao bought directly from a Columbian family owned business and co-operative called Luker. The company are 100% ethically driven and work closely with a network of farmers, alliances and communities to improve social welfare, biodiversity and farming practices. (We recently tried FATSO chocolate which is sourced from the same Columbian business)
The Happi chocolate is made using single origin 47% Colombian cacao and oat milk and comes in a range of delicious flavours – Plain Milk, White Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Orange, Cacao Nibs Crunch & White Raspberry.
Happi chocolate is the very first oat milk chocolate I have tried and I have to say I’m really impressed, the chocolate is smooth and creamy and there is definitely no compromise on taste and with less sugar it’s better for my waistline too!
My favourite was the Cacao Nib Crunch, the rich flavour combined with the crunchy cacao nibs is simply irresistible and a chocolate lovers dream. For white chocolate lovers the White Raspberry bar is one to try, with plenty of freeze dried raspberries giving it a fruity boost this one is incredibly moreish!
The packaging is also recyclable with a cardboard box and a home compostable plastic inner. They also give 1% of their annual net sales revenue to good causes and mental health organisations so another good reason to try it.
Happi is available in 40g and 80g bars from Selfridges, Ocado, Amazon and local independent retailers.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Treat yourself this summer to a new Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack, made with waterproof material and a laptop compartment, is it for urban, or rural?
Available in various colours including dark blue, black and the green which we were sent to try, the Stockholm Backpack holds 28 litres and has a front pocket for valuables, closing with a zip. The back pocket is padded for a laptop whilst the straps, no matter what you’re using the backpack for, are more comfortable for long wears because they’re padded.
The top of the Stockholm Backpack is a roll top and buckle – no zip here, so you can stuff it full of clothes or gadgets and the roll top is waterproof, like the rest of the polyester material which makes up the whole bag. The straps also have a cross-strap to hold them in place and distribute the weight across your shoulders, and the whole bag is wider than a normal backpack to add more volume and to even the load. The length of the bag is bigger than usual too so if you’re taking a lot with you camping, or travelling with more than usual this is for you. Anyone who is that big taller might find this a useful bag too as the dimensions mean it holds a lot more but is also more comfortable for wider shoulders and frame.
The base of the bag is re-enforced with a waterproof material which looks and feels like leather (but isn’t) to make it more hard wearing especially if it’s put down on the ground or used for travelling. Empty, it flattens down to almost nothing thanks to its square design, and the material is incredibly durable so is bound to last a long time. It’s easy to clean as well as there aren’t many components and it’s made of only a few materials which can all be machine washed.
Although pricy at £65, it is Helly Hansen so you know it’s well made, will last and is designed and made for the outdoor life. It works just as well for commuting though as it’s the size of a laptop (or bigger) and hold a computer safely with the added compartment. It’s a great bag for cyclists who are going into work with laptop, change of clothes and lunch all thrown in, and the slightly bigger size makes it easier to carry more. Thankfully the waterproof material and buckle roll top will save your work clothes for the British weather too!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We all love a candle, and to receive a British made candle is an extra special gift when there is such choice out there.
Màzo Candles London is a London based company founded by two sisters, Màz and Zö as a luxury candle brand made with natural essential oils and all natural, vegan wax and pure cotton wicks. Like a fine wine, the candles were designed to have a range of aromas layered to create a unique fragrance unlike other candles on the market and to evoke a sense of well-being in your home.
The sisters, who founded the company in 2022, have created a range of luxury candles all of which are available on their website. The range includes Mystic (citrus notes Bergamot and Jasmine with myrrh and tobacco for a cosy atmosphere), Pink (fresh grapefruit and pink peppercorn), Chaparral (guava and eucalyptus to refresh the spirit) and Q, which was the candle which was sent to us.
Opening the parcel which arrived at my door, I could smell the tones of bergamot coming through the packaging. The scent also contains fig, Egyptian Jasmine, Oud and pure Frankincense. I think it was the frankincense which reminded me of the posh spas and boutiques that sell the higher end gifts in London’s West End.
The 220gram net candle is set in a gorgeous square glass frame, adorned with metal work on the outside which is unaffected by the flame. Once the candles starts to burn though, the light from the double wicks casts patters through the metalwork onto the floor, creating a shadow effect. Màz and Zö have thought of everything with these candles because there’s even little protectors provided to stick on the bottom of the metal feet so that you don’t mark the furniture as the candle burns! The double wicks, which are made of pure cotton, create a tandem glow but also means that the candle burns more evenly.
The scent is heavenly, as you’d imagine and you can tell that this isn’t synthetic wax with an added fragrance made with additives. The natural wax burns more slowly and is much smoother, plus the scents linger longer and you can detect the different layers of Jasmine and Frankincense especially. The candle has a burning time of around 40 hours, so for the size of candle it lasts much longer than High Street brands.
New candles are always exciting, and we love trying new brands at The Review Studio, so to find a local candle company who specialise in natural ingredients and also produce such high quality candles is a real treat!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I am a real chocoholic and don’t need much of an excuse to eat chocolate, so I am really enjoying the lead up to World Chocolate Day on the 7th July.
I love discovering new chocolate brands and one I hadn’t come across before is FATSO who use a Columbian family owned business and co-operative called Luker as their sole chocolate supplier. The company are 100% ethically driven and they grow delicious, sustainable cocoa that has been awarded the highest chocolate classification, FINO DE AROMA. They also work closely with a network of farmers, alliances and communities to improve social welfare, biodiversity and farming practices.
So with such great credentials the big question is, what does the chocolate actually taste like? Well, that’s very easy to answer. Absolutely delicious!!
We tried two different bars – the King’s Ransom (Mint Pistachio & Cocoa Nibs) and Home Run (Salted Pretzel, Whole Almond & Honeycomb).
One of the things that really surprised me about the King’s Ransom bar (and I really know it shouldn’t) is that it had such a wonderful minty flavour rather than the strong synthetic representation of mint we have become accustomed to in cheaper brands. The minty flavour together with the crunchy texture of the pistachio and cocoa nibs made this a delight to eat.
The Home Run bar is a 60% cacao bar with generous chunks of salted pretzel, whole almonds and honeycomb. This winning combination of flavours complement each other and it is easy to pick out all the flavours, the saltiness of the pretzel takes away some of the bitterness of the dark chocolate and sweetness comes from the honeycomb. Nuts add a satisfying crunch to this bar.
The quality of FATSO chocolate is exceptional and it’s definitely the best I’ve tasted in a quite a while. One taste and you will see that their chocolate is a world apart from something you might pick up from the supermarket. At £6.50 for a 150g bar it is on the expensive side but you are paying for a quality product here – just keep it out of the way of the children and savour every piece!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We’re on the last few weeks of the summer term and on the countdown to summer holidays. Travelling with children can be incredibly stressful so if you can keep then entertained it makes the journey a lot more pleasant for everyone! In the run up to the summer holidays I am always on the lookout for compact games that I can pop in my bag to keep the children entertained, whether they are on a plane, car, hotel room or caravan.
We were recently sent The Genius Star from The Happy Puzzle Company which can be played solo or as a 2 player game. The game is great fun and will not only keep them occupied whilst travelling it is also fun to team up to play together as a family in the evenings.
Inside the box are two plastic star shaped grids, two sets of 11 multi-coloured wooden shapes, two sets of seven blocker pieces (triangles) and seven dice (a mixture of six and eight sided). The game is very easy to play, simply roll all the dice and place a blocker piece into the triangle matching the seven numbers that appear on the dice, then race your opponent to fill every other space on the grid using the 11 shapes. There is also an added twist with the ‘Golden Star’ which allows you to score a double win by solving the puzzle with the ‘Golden Star’ Apparently only 57.4% of the puzzles have a solution that includes the ‘Golden Star’ so this adds to the challenge!
The game is good for STEM learning using skills including problem solving, critical thinking and logic skills to complete the puzzle.
Each game is reasonably quick but with 165,888 possible combinations you do sometimes play a round that takes a little longer to complete, especially if you try to use the ‘Golden Star’ but that just adds to the fun. With so many different combinations this is a game that will keep children (and adults) entertained these holidays.
The Genius Star is suitable for ages 8 to adult and has an RRP of £19.99
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
This week is World Wellbeing Week and it is a great opportunity to think about what you can do to prioritise your wellbeing. Take a look at your work-life balance, stress levels, the amount of sleep you get, diet, exercise (or lack of it) and think about whether there is something you can change, it doesn’t have to be something huge, just the smallest of changes can make a difference and it is also incredibly important to fit in some “me time.”
The use of aromas to enhance mood and improve health and wellbeing dates back to 3500 years BC and you’ll know yourself that spraying your favourite perfume, lighting a scented candle or taking a long bath with your favourite bubble bath can really boost your mood.
Scented candles, diffuser and room mists are a great way to instantly fragrance your home and can create an instant calming and relaxing ambience. Athletia Beauty recently sent us their Switching Aroma Green Ray Room mist which with only a couple of sprays quickly enhances not only your surroundings but your mood too.
Made from natural botanical essential oils and inspired by travel and nature’s vistas – think forests, the ocean and mountains this crisp refreshing spray has the power to change your mood after only one spray! It contains frankincense oil which is a favourite of mine as the oil is well known for reducing anxiety and stress.
The thing I like about a room mist is you have more control over the intensity of the fragrance than you do with candles or diffusers as you can spritz as much or as little as you like – a quick spray to add ambience to a room or more to mask cooking smells or even wet dogs!
Once sprayed, the scent filled my lounge, creating a relaxing ambience and the beautiful fragrance lingered for hours. I wish I could send a spritz of this electronically as it is such a lovely relaxing fragrance but you’ll just have to take my word for it and try it yourself – I promise you won’t be disappointed!
£39 for 100ml – available from Athletia Beauty here and Selfridges
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We were very excited to learn that it’s World Chocolate Day on 7th July, which gives us a perfect excuse to test out some chocolate, and what better than Artisan Coffee Company’s Chocolate Flight and Coffee Selection Box. Chocolate AND coffee!
If you’re not familiar with Tasting Experiences, there is a leaflet enclosed which explains it all; testing the individual coffee bags with their corresponding chocolates, each flavour of chocolate and coffee designed to bring out the richness in each other. For example, testing the coffee called The Genius (no 161) with the chocolate called Wonderously Complex, you should be able to taste the rich cocoa flavour, some pecan notes and a touch of raisin and malt.
Artisan Coffee began in 2019 after conversations about coffee between a coffee research scientist, an entrepreneur and a sommelier of coffee, known as a Q Grader in the business. It’s no wonder the company was named ‘Artisan Coffee Co’ when the team decided to concentrate on bringing the flavour of coffee to the masses and after a year of doing so, brought in Ashley Palmer-Watts; chef and coffee fanatic. He designed a range of flavoursome chocolates which harmonised flavours between the coffee and the chocolates.
The coffee in most cases on the Artisan website is in coffee bags – an ingenious way of getting a characterful cup of coffee without having to brew up beans and filter. Now that we’re all working from home, coffee bags make more sense, or even bringing in a few to the office when we have to makes better sense, but this Tasting Experience box also has coffee pods. So whether you’re working from home or commuting, there’s an option on how to enjoy your roast. The chocolates are individually wrapped and remind me of after dinner luxuries.
The tasting experience card explains exactly how to set up the coffee and what the pairing of chocolates are to the tastes. This is a great after dinner exercise, or date night fun as you try each coffee with each chocolate. I’m not a great coffee lover, so trying the coffees over a few nights, you really get a taste for the pairings and start to taste the differences. The idea of combining the coffees with gorgeous chocolates is really appealing, and makes the experience more fun.
It may be World Chocolate Day and a chance to try some top class artisan chocolate, but you’ll be forgiven if you want to use it as an excuse to taste some of the best coffees on offer too!
The Ultimate Coffee Selection Box is available from £34.99 at:
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This retro style portable speaker from Edifier is probably the easiest I’ve ever set up a speaker. With crystal-clear sound, it’s a brilliant addition to your household or as a gift to someone you love.
The Edifier MP230 Portable Bluetooth Speaker has a battery charge of up to 10 hours with a wooden casing and grill cover to give it a retro 50s/60s portable look. The operating keys on the front are piano-style for on/off, Bluetooth, play/pause and two volume buttons. Speaking of Bluetooth, it was incredibly easy to set up. All I had to do was turn on the speak with the button on the front, use the Bluetooth settings on my laptop, which found it immediately and press Connect. As soon as I played a track on my laptop, it came through the Edifier speaker; no need for any instructions or clicking buttons, adding settings etc, it was easy as pie!
The quality of the sound through the speaker is excellent. There are two 48mm driver units, which create stereo sound and an output power of 20W RMS. Along with Bluetooth, the input modes are AUX, USB-C port and even a TF Card. The size of the speaker also lends itself to being taken on car trips, or even packed in luggage. Measuring 16.4cm × 8.43cm × 10.8cm it can even fit in hand luggage, and weighs just 0.85kilorams (that’s just 1.9lbs!)
The Edifier MP230 Speaker can be charged with the USB port and doesn’t take long for a full charge, so can be connected to a laptop or a wall charging point. As it’s so portable, it can be taken with you anywhere, or left on the shelf in a room. The size would suggest it could go outside easily, which would be great for picnics but I don’t think the wood casing nor the grill would survive getting even slightly damp, and definitely not one for the beach! Set up in a baby’s nursery to play white noise or as background whilst in the garden, the Edifier MP230 would be really useful.
I can’t help but think it would be a great present too. The stylish look to it appeals to anyone who likes design or for grandparents who want something that fits in with their pre-IKEA furniture and is small enough to be discreet on a book shelf. Teenagers will love this though, as it doesn’t take up much room and you don’t even need to be in the room for it to connect to Bluetooth. It’s a brilliant addition to any household as well as being a perfect stereo sound for you online music!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Disclaimer – The MoGo 2 Pro was sent as a review sample for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
What’s a great Father’s Day gift Dad isn’t expecting? Or what kind of gift could you get him that he doesn’t know he wants yet but when he tries it, will wonder why he hasn’t bought one for himself before!
The MoGo 2 Pro Portable Project from XGIMI has so many feature that I can hardly write them all, but for an overview of what it does, it’s a portable projector and speaker all in one!
With a 120 inch screen, the projector can be used for movies, online content (for example, You Tube) or gaming. It’s compatible with power banks too so you can even take it outside or use it whilst camping. I told you Dad didn’t know he needed it!
As for the technicals, the MoGo 2 Pro Portable Projector supports HDR 10 with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. With an auto focus of ISA 2.0 and an aspect of 1:2:1 it also has Intelligent Screen Alignment and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance.
The system contains 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM with a system of Android TV™ 11.0. There’s an impressive 3 different ports (USB type-C, USB type-A and HDMI 2.0) and an AU 3.5mm output port. Bluetooth 5.0 is also included and it works on a Wifi 5 Duel band of 2.4/5GHz.
The whole kit includes a power cable as well as a remote control. It only weighs 1.1kilograms (2.42lbs) which makes it even more portable and I liked the cube shape which also makes it easy to pack if you’re going away. The possibilities are endless with this projector so having never owned one before, I was excited to get it set up and see how it works!
There are instructions included with the projector, but as you take it out of the box you realise it’s actually pretty simple to set up and the screen takes you through it. Start by connecting the power with the power pack provided, then press the on button. The MoGo 2 Pro starts playing music as it asks you how you want to set up, starting with the wifi network and password, then going through the different type of screen adjustments. The pages take you through each option before you get to the Apps page. There’s even an explanation of how the screen adjustment works on the projector too.
The last page of set up already has a TEX app and you can download other Adroid (Google) apps. There’s no need to hook it up to a computer or network, it’s simply connected to the internet, you log into your Google account (which includes You Tube) and you can view any of your saved videos, or go and search for more.
The whole time I was setting up the projector, it was adjusting to the distance from the wall so that it stayed in focus, as well as the horizontal. It didn’t matter how far the projector was from the wall, it adjusted the size of the screen, knew when it was out of focus and kept adjusting so that it was completely clear. As I was thinking of all the movies and programmes I could now watch on the big screen thanks to this projector, it was really exciting to think how it could change how anyone watches TV, especially as I don’t have a projector already. It was like having my own personal cinema!
The picture remained sharp the whole time my movie played, as well as the audio being pitch perfect throughout. If you have a really good internet connection too it helps, and there was no buffering or loss of sound throughout. I also like how you can play it against any wall, curtain or makeshift movie screen no matter where you are, and the sound of the fan is very quiet so doesn’t detract from the soundtrack. The remote control is super easy to use as well and makes life much easier rather than trying to fiddle with buttons on the machine.
The MoGo 2 Pro Projector changes the way you watch TV and videos, especially if you’ve never had a projector before, and is much easier to use than a TV! Perfect picture, perfect sound and so, so easy to set up that anyone can use it and the whole family can enjoy it. Even Dad…
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
A great choice for Father’s Day is a gift box or hamper, especially one that contains beer! This £10 gift set from Great Newsome Brewery contains two bottles of beer, a beer glass and a natty pair of socks in a presentation box which can be posted.
Great Newsome Brewery was started in Yorkshire in 2007 for the sole purpose of producing good quality British Beer. With their trusty dog Jem nearby (and Jem’s descendants still wagging around today) the team sought to grow the best malting barley and homegrown hops. With special strains of yeast they developed traditional craft beers. No mean feat when you’re so far north in the country. Although the barley is ready in the summer, they product many different beers throughout the year, including a bitter called ‘Yule Do’, available for Christmas!
Although their British craft beers are available in pubs and some shops, their gifts such as the Great Newsome Father’s Day Gift Box is available online. The box contains;
1x Sleck Dust beer (500ml and their best selling blond beer)
1x Old Fergie (500ml classic brown ale)
1x Great Newsome Brewery Beer Glass
1x Great Newsome Brewery Men’s socks, size 7-11 UK
All the items are packaged up in a recyclable cardboard presentation box and can be bought on their website (link below).
As a gift, this is particularly good for posting due to the size (it arrived with us in the post with no damage and was well packaged!) but makes Father’s Day much easier because it’s a whole gift in one. The addition of the beer glass and the socks is particularly useful as it shows a bit more thought has gone into the present, and it’s not just beer on its own. The socks show a fetching portrait of the lovely Jem, the brewery dog mentioned before.
At £10 for the whole giftset I was shocked at what good value it is and how versatile it is as a present. The box doesn’t mention that it’s only for Father’s Day, so it could also be used as a birthday gift or house warming present. It’s a brilliant idea that saves anyone having to put together a gift box for themselves, as well as having some interesting items which Dad, or Grandad will enjoy!
And if Jem looks familiar, she’s the dog featured on the labels and bar tags for all Great Newsome products.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
No one misses out this Father’s Day with the Sinzero range of low and no alcohol wine. The range includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay, a Rosé and a Sparkling Brut white wine which have only recently been launched in the UK. Whether you’re drinking alcohol or not, each of the Chilean bottles tastes of summer and you won’t notice the difference having low alcohol makes compared to what you find on the supermarket shelves. Each variety has a maximum of 0.5% alcohol.
Starting with the Sinzero Chardonnay, which is both vegan and alcohol free, the unmistakeable sharpness of Chardonnay is still there, with a slightly fresher, fruiter scent and after taste. This makes a great accompaniment to food especially white meat and fish and doesn’t have the acidic flavour you’re used to with some Chardonnays, probably because it’s from Chile. I’m reliably informed it only has 20 calories per glass too!
The Sinzero Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon tastes of vanilla but has a fragrance of strawberries, redcurrants and summer berries. I loved this one on its own, not with food but it goes particularly well with lighter meals like Italian pasta, it is a lovely lunchtime wine. The Sinzero Chliean Cabernet Sauvignon is also award winning, with 96 points and a gold medal in the IWSC.
Sinzero Chilean Rosé is a great wine for BBQs and works swimmingly with pasta, cheese and lighter dishes. I can also be drunk on its own and is also vegan and less than 25 calories per glass. It’s crisp, floral and fruity, just like a rosé should be!
Finally, there’s the Sinzero Chilean Sparkling Brut. We saved this for a family birthday as everyone could drink it, regardless of age or what medication they were on! The sparkling, crisp wine goes with anything or can be drunk on its own as the celebratory drink it is meant to be. Like all the other Chilean wines, it is light and fruity plus has less than 0.5% alcohol. Perhaps a good sparkling for family celebrations, especially as it’s got a slightly sweeter taste?
I didn’t know non-alcohol and low alcohol wines could be so tasty, let alone light and refreshing like the Sinzero line. I’m looking forward to seeing what other varieties they bring out in the future!
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