Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
As a perimenopausal woman, the hormonal changes that my body is currently experiencing are really playing havoc with my skin. My normal skincare products don’t seem to be as effective as they once were, and my skin has become incredibly dry and dull looking. Looking in the mirror I see fine lines and wrinkles appearing and with so much choice in the skincare market it can be difficult to know where to start. Luckily Environ were on hand and kindly sent me the Environ Focus Care Youth+ Malachite NP-Complex Seriénce™ Night Serum to try.
The serum has been developed to target the effects of stress-induced ageing so perfect for menopausal women like myself. It is also the top aestheticians choice and according to Environ focuses on the power of award-winning overnight skin science to counteract the negative effects of stress-induced ageing and inflammation.
I have been using the serum every evening for the last month and can honestly say that my skin feels transformed. I apply after I have cleansed and toned my skin and massage it in, concentrating on those areas where I have lines (and unfortunately there are plenty of those!). The lightweight gel formula seems to just melt into my skin and feels hydrating without being heavy on my skin. After a month my skin feels softer and has a radiance that wasn’t there before. I have also noticed that the fine lines around my eyes seem to be fading which I am really pleased about. I haven’t changed any other elements of my “beauty” regime, so do believe these benefits are from using the night serum.
It isn’t cheap ( £45 for 30ml), but then nor are many of the similar serums on the market. You only need a small amount so a bottle will last a long time and I would say it is worth every penny.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Now Spring has arrived I have been spending more time in the garden. I have been planning some new flower beds and I also want to try growing some vegetables so the Terracotta Seed Sprouter from Kikkerland is going to be very useful this spring as it is just what I need to help seeds to germinate before I plant them in the garden.
Consisting of three terracotta seed sprout plates they are really easy to use, you simply fill a glass with water and then sit the plate on top so the bottom of the plate is partly submerged in the water. You can then put your seed or seeds on the top of the plate and leave it to germinate.
The roots grow in the water and when they are ready you simply transfer the seedlings into soil.
The small hole sporter has multiple 2mm holes which is perfect for sprouting small seeds like vegetable seeds. I’ve been growing radish seeds which germinate in around 10 days, and I’m looking forward to some tasty salads in the next few weeks.
The medium hole sprouter has 11mm holes for larger seeds like hazelnuts, acorns, beans and citrus seeds and the large one can be used for succulents, avocado, cacti, sweet potato, tulip, hyacinth and mango.
Watching the seeds sprout and seeing the roots and green shoots appear is also a fun and educational experience for children. Growing seeds teaches them all about nature and it is fascinating seeing the seeds grow day by day.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
May is National Walking Month and is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and explore the countryside. I have set myself a challenge to do a walk every day in May as walking is not only a good form of exercise it is a great way to destress after a busy day at work. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country with plenty of good walks on our doorstep, so I am hoping that it won’t be too difficult a challenge!
When you are going hiking it’s amazing the difference a good pair of walking socks makes and this pair of Fusion Walk socks from 1000 Miles are going to be doing plenty of miles this month.
The socks are a double layered 3 /4 season sock with extra padding on the heel, toe and Achilles tendon areas. Combined with the high volume Merino wool, the socks offers warmth and volume, making the socks ideal for wearing from Autumn right through to Spring.
As soon as I put the socks on my feet I noticed how comfortable they are, and that’s before I even started walking! The Merino wool and Tactel mix gives a comfortable, breathable sock that wicks moisture away from the foot and elastane ensures a close fit that doesn’t slip or bunch in your boots The ribbed cuff is a comfortable fit and not too tight around my leg and the socks are a mid-calf length and they fit nicely in both my walking boots and trail shoes meaning I can wear them for both hiking and fell running.
I was especially pleased when I saw the sizing of the women’s socks, the medium size is for UK sizes 6 to 8.5 and it’s nice to find a company who recognises that women do have feet bigger than a size 7!
The socks come with 1000 Miles’s blister free guarantee and they will give you your money back or a replacement pair of socks if you experience either blisters or the socks wear out within 1,000 miles – provided that the socks have been cared for following their guidance and are returned with the receipt.
The socks are mid length and easily cover the bottom of my walking trousers, the heel padding comes up the back of the heel and finishes slightly higher than the back of my walking shoe, meaning the backs of my ankles are protected and comfortable. Available in Ladies (3 to 8.5) they cost £18.00 but don’t be put off by the price, given the excellent warranty they really are a worthwhile purchase
Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
I have reached the age when looking after my skin has become a lot more important. Since hitting the perimenopause my skin is drier and the fine lines and wrinkles are becoming more and more noticeable so I was really pleased to be given the opportunity to try a selection of serums from the new skincare range from Annabelle Minerals
Facial serums are an essential step in any skin care routine, they are lightweight and easily absorbed and offer concentrated key ingredients. Annabelle Minerals have three serums – Glow Juice (20% Vitamin C) Repair Juice (0.3% Retinol) and Clarity Juice (5% Niacinamide) and the serums are designed to work alongside moisturiser. Used twice a day they will make a noticeable difference to how the skin looks and feels.
It takes around 4-6 weeks to start seeing benefits from new skincare products so with three serums to try I decided the best way to test them was to use each serum on a different part of my face. It’s been 6 weeks since I started using them and I am amazed at the difference they have made to my skin.
The Glow Juice Serum is my favourite of the three, after a couple of weeks the fine lines around my eyes were noticeably softened and as the weeks went on they continued to fade. This was a very pleasing result and it was also good to see that my skin is looking brighter too.
The Clarity Juice provides nourishment to my skin and it has really helped with the visible pores on my forehead, it has minimised their appearance and I am hoping with continued use I will continue to see an improvement.
The Repair Juice contains retinol which is a real wonder product. It stimulates skin renewal processes, improves elasticity, reduces the visibility of pores, evens out skin tone and texture, and reduces inflammation. Anyone new to using retinol should start by applying the serum twice a week to build tolerance, gradually increasing application to daily. I have been using this at night and my skin is clearer and the fine lines at the corner of my mouth are becoming less noticeable. I also noticed that my skin looks and feels smoother.
Annabelle Minerals products are 100% organic and it’s good to know that as well as doing a great job fighting the visible signs of aging these serums are good for your skin too. The silky serums are a very effective addition to my daily beauty regime and I was surprised to discover that they are only £27.90/bottle – a lot cheaper than other serums I have tried and much more effective.
If you want to read more about Annabelle Minerals products you can read our review of the lip and eye pencils here
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
I have curly hair and looking after it can be quite troublesome. At the moment it is dry and frizzy and I am certainly having more bad hair days than good so I was really pleased to receive a couple of Smooth & Groom products from Justice Haircare to see if they could transform my wild, frizzy locks.
Justice Haircare is an Australian brand which was founded on the sun-kissed beaches of Sydney Australia back in 1990. Inspired by nature their philosophy is to harness the very best elements of Australia – nature, authenticity and fun – and create haircare products that can be enjoyed by everyone no matter what type of hair you have. They have a fantastic range of products including, shampoos, conditioners, anti-dandruff and dry scalp products, leave-in treatments as well as styling products and hair colours.
I love their simple, yet stylish packaging, the vibrant pink looks stunning against the white bottle and definitely brightens up the bathroom.
The shampoo smells lovely, very sweet and floral and is a nice consistency, it lathers well leaving my hair feeling fresh and clean.
My curly hair tends to be dry, frizzy and dull so a hydrating conditioner is an important step in my haircare routine. The Smooth & Groom Deep Conditioner is rich and creamy and contains Pro-Keratin formula, plant stem cells and marine collagen which has really helped give my curls a healthy dose of hydration, nourishment, and protection and has left them noticeable shinier and softer. It was easy to apply to my hair and after combing through I left it on for the recommended 5 minutes before scrunching it into my hair to help add moisture to my curls. It rinsed out easily and left my hair tangle free.
These products leave my hair feeling super soft and nourished and my curls are shinier and more defined. I usually leave my hair to dry naturally, and I have noticed that my curls are a lot less frizzy now. I occasionally use a hairdryer with a diffuser and when I dry it this way my hair is easier to style and has a lot more bounce and volume.
My curls really adore this duo, the dry frizzy mop has been transformed into glossy, defined curls.
If you are looking for a product that smells lovely and gives quality results at a very reasonable price then I recommend that you give Justice Professional a try, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
The 300ml shampoo and conditioner bundle costs a very reasonable £20
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Available for Apple iPhones 12 and up, without a case.
Adding extra battery life to your iPhone is a must if you can’t be near a charging socket anywhere. Festival season in particular is a difficult time for charging phones, so any extra help for your iPhone battery is needed!
The iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is specifically designed for iPhones 12 and up, which have magnetic casings which allow wireless battery charging. The iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is designed to attach itself via its magnet to the back of your iPhone and add to the battery life. The front of the battery pack shows the percentage charge remaining, so you know how much you have available to charge your phone, and a finger ring at the back to make holding the phone easier and for the removal of the battery pack.
Each full charge of the iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank gives approximately 1 full charge of your iPhone, but this can vary depending on the health of your battery and which model iPhone you have. I found that it gave roughly 1 full charge for my iPhone 12, which in addition to the 24 hours+ charge I have when I plug the phone into the wall, it gave me an extra day that I wouldn’t normally have!
To use the iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank, you need to remove any extra cases on top of the iPhone then attach to the back by the built-in magnets. The battery pack with automatically start charging when you press the power button, which is located on the side. The LED display will show you the amount of charge on the battery pack and the front of the phone shows that it’s being charged. You can remove the battery pack easily and charge it up again using the provided USB cable, which doesn’t take long. You can use the LED display on the front again to see when it’s been fully charged.
It’s slimline, less than 1 inch thick and fits onto the back of your iPhone easily. The finger ring makes removing the battery easier but also works as a handle when using the phone, and as a rest for propping the phone up to read from it or to video hands-free.
As Apple iPhones move towards having magnetic cases, more chargers like the iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank will become available and be handy for charging all appliances, not just iPhones. I also love that it’s available in 5 different colours too (black, white, white, red and mint green) to match your phone casing! It also has an intelligent temperature control so that it doesn’t overheat whilst charging or whilst you’re using it, which is also a safety feature.
The iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is not just a handy charging gizmo for your iPhone, but an investment for all of your future Apple products which will need magnetic charging sooner than you think.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Any iPhone user will know that their phone battery doesn’t last long at the best of times, but the more you use it and the older the phone, the quicker the battery runs out. That’s not great if you’re on holiday, out at a festival or running around after the kids and you can’t put your phone on charge. iWALK have the solution in a very handy, small and portable battery pack which plugs into your phone and charges, even whilst you’re still using it!
The iWALK Portable Charger Power Bank comes in a range of colours (we were sent the colour pink to review) and is accompanied by a USB cable so that you can charge it from any computer or socket with a USB attachment. The Portable Charger is diminutive in size at approximately 3 inches long and just over 2 inches high, it can fit into pockets, handbags and purses or even be kept attached to your phone. The USB cable is approximately 1 metre long so you can attach to your other devices, or if in travel, to the nearest USB socket. The charging plug is protected with an attached cover, so you can just snap it back and charge straight away, then put the power bank away again without damaging the charger.
The iWALK Portable Charger Power Bank delivers a full battery charge quickly (it depends on your phone battery and how much charge you already have as to how long it takes to fully charge) and can also be used on other Apple appliances which have Lightening plugs such as iPads and Apple Watch. I found that the iWALK Portable Charger Power Bank took a little over an hour to charge my phone fully, but that was when I already had about 18% charge to it. There’s a handy LED display on the front giving you an idea of how much charge the Power Bank has left.
The biggest plus of having the iWALK Portable Charger Power Bank to hand is that it’s so compact and easy to carry around, lightweight and fast too. I didn’t notice it when I went out for the day and knew I would use up all the battery on my phone, and with the charger plugged in, I was still able to use my iPhone as normal. The different colours available will match your phone case colour.
Please note, the iWALK Portable Charger Power Bank is only available for iPhones 6 – 14, including most X models.
I’m more than happy with this iWALK Portable Charger Power Bank which is a company I’d never seen before, but they have a range of products available for iphones, some of which we are reviewing later!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Being a bit behind with the times, I don’t own any Bluetooth headphones. I’m still on the wired earphones which came with my iPod, even though I know I could use wireless headphones on any of my gadgets! Edifier sent us the W820NB Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones from their extensive range for us to try this week, and so far, I’m impressed!
The first thing you notice about the headphones is the noise cancelling. I put them on around the house and the ambient noise from the road outside and the planes overhead was eliminated – they really are noise reducing, even without anything playing on them!
The controls on the headphone are on/off switch, volume up/down and a Bluetooth button. With such simple controls, it was very easy to set them up to sync with my laptop, so much so that I didn’t actually need to read the instructions. All I had to do was turn on the headphones and press the Bluetooth button until the light flashed. My laptop found the headphones within a few seconds of being set to ‘discoverable’ so it didn’t take much effort at all. I was able to play anything from my music online, streaming or YouTube onto them.
The sound quality is excellent. With the headphones also being noise reducing, it was a surprise to hear how good they were with stereo sound and I couldn’t fault them. I had to use a combination of the laptop sound as well as the headphone volume buttons to get the volume as high as I wanted it, but that’s only a matter of practice. The range was also excellent with there being no disconnection on the Bluetooth wherever I was in the house which made a difference. The headphones are nice and lightweight as well so can be taken on holiday (they’re perfect for flights or working out) and have a titanium diaphragm for longevity.
To skip to the next song or ahead in a podcast for instance, you hit the volume button up/down and hold, the Power button is for pausing. The headphones can also be used for taking calls by Bluetooth although I haven’t tested this yet. Using the Multi-function button (with the Bluetooth symbol next to it) you can change between noise cancelling, gaming mode and use it for Bluetooth pairing.
My only gripe with the headphones are that they don’t come with a bag or pouch of some kind so that you can transport them easily or put them in an overhead locker on a flight. There is a cable which comes with them for charging, but you won’t need to charge them very much as there’s a 49 hour playtime on each charge. The cable is a USB connection so will charge from most sockets if not your computer.
The more I play with these Edifier headphones the more I like them, and am surprised by how good they are. I have found several times when I can walk around the house with them connected via Bluetooth and still listen to my laptop, tune into a radio station or eventually be on a call and not lose any of the quality I’m used to with more expensive, wired headphones.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Chocolate Lovers listen up… there’s a new chocolate in town (the Welsh town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire) where the team at Wickedly Welsh have created a fabulous chocolate hamper for Father’s Day, which you wont’ be able to resist!
You can be the biggest chocolate lover in the world and still find some joy in this hamper. The starring role goes to the varied chocolate flavours which is what Wickedly Welsh are famous for. Boasting three large slabs of chocolate, two whisky bite sized chocolates and two love spoons, there’s plenty here to keep Dad happy, and saves you putting together a gift hamper of your own!
Starting with the chocolate slabs, the three flavours are Moreish Milk Chocolate, Coffee & Biscuit and Welsh Sea Salt & Caramel, each of about 90grams in weight. If your Dad is Welsh, then he’ll love the Milk Chocolate slab with the Welsh Dragon design, but all of the slabs are one piece, not squares. We suspect this is so that Dad doesn’t have to share them with anyone else! We loved all flavours, but the Sea Salt & Caramel was a particular favourite. The sea salt is actually Halen Mon Sea Salt, a locally sourced ingredient to make it a Welsh taste sensation.
Also in the hamper are two Milk & Dark Love Spoons. Welsh Love Spoons are a symbol of love, and these 40 gram bars are no exception. If you don’t want to tuck into a large slab of chocolate, or want to take a snack with you, these Love Spoons are a brilliant choice.
Lastly, the pack also contains two of Wickedly Welsh’s most popular individual chocolates in a cute presentation box. If you’re new to Welsh chocolate or the way Wickedly Welsh present their wares, you’ll do worse than try these first. They’re stunning, and so moreish I bet you, or Dad, won’t be able to stop at just these two. They’re great tasters for the rest of the range that’s available online, and not just on Father’s Day.
The quality of the chocolate is superb with the ingredients sourced locally and all are 100% natural. Whether or yourself or as a gift for someone else, Wickedly Welsh chocolate is an excellent gift choice.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This is an alcoholic drink and is not suitable for children.
You don’t often find the words ‘unicorn’, ‘marshmallow’ and ‘gin’ in the same sentence, so when they’re all combined to create the Manchester Drinks Co Mystical Unicorn Gin Liqueur, there has to be some kind of pink magic involved too!
You are not hallucinating, and it is not every day that I get to try gin with added glitter, but the Manchester Drinks Co have created a range of gins with flavours like Bubble Gum, Toffee Apple and this enchanting small batch gin which is infused with candy floss and marshmallow to create a sweet, fruitful liqueur. There really is glitter in this concoction, which you can see when you shake up the bottle.
The Mystical Unicorn Gin Liqueur has a 20% alcohol volume and can be drunk on its own or with lemonade and ice. You can try it with other mixers or as a substitute in cocktails, which the bright pink colour and sparkly glitter texture lends itself to very well. When drinking this on its own though, it’s strong! The sugary taste really goes to your head quick so I would suggest drinking it with a mixer, or having just one before you go out one night! It looks particularly good on the table after dinner, and girls will love this for Hen Nights or Girls’ Nights Out.
Have a look at the range of other gin liqueurs from Manchester Gin Co available online, and I can guarantee you’ll be adding them to your cocktails soon.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Whenever anyone asks me what I’d like for my birthday or Christmas I always struggle to come up with anything. I’m not one for trinkets or jewellery and unlike a lot of people I know I am actually quite happy with something practical like kitchenware. I really enjoy cooking so it is nice to be treated to better versions of the small kitchen appliances that I use regularly. Wahl recently sent me a selection of kitchen appliances from their James Martin range which look super cool in my kitchen and are a welcome upgrade to my existing kitchen gadgets. My food processer is at least 20 years old and well past its prime and my hand mixer is even older so it was really exciting to discover both of these products in the parcel from Wahl.
The 300W electric hand mixer is a substantial and reasonably heavy little mixer. It comes complete with stainless steel beaters, dough hooks and a whisk which all came in useful when I was making lunch on Easter Sunday. The beaters were used for the batter for Yorkshire puddings and for making chocolate brownies, the dough hooks for hot cross buns and the whisk for the whipped cream.
The mixer is a good weight, not too heavy to use, but just heavy enough that it feels solid in your hands. It has a rubberised handle which makes it comfortable to hold and is a huge improvement on my old mixer. The mixer has 5 speeds plus a turbo boost and is a fantastic little gadget. It has a button to press for the quick release of the beaters which saves you getting your hands covered in cake mix, you can just eject them into the washing up bowl or they can go in the dishwasher.
RRP £32.99
I wouldn’t be without a food processor, mine is a real work horse making light of chopping, grating, liquidising and making vast quantities of pastry. With a houseful at Easter the James Martin Compact Processor with Spiralizer Attachment really came into its own and I’ve spent the last few days slicing, mixing and juicing to create a range of culinary treats that went down a storm with my family. Delicious soups, buckets of coleslaw, healthy smoothies, even crushed ice for drinks, this little workhouse was the star of the show making mundane tasks like chopping vegetables and grating cheese a breeze. The spiralizer was an added bonus and any vegetable that went near it was spiralized by my son!! This was an innovative way to encourage him to eat more vegetables!!
The set includes a processor bowl with stainless steel blade, a disc for slicing and grating as well as a spiralizer attachment and a 1.5L blender with filler cap and easy to clean removable blades. The blender is a good size and perfect for making smoothies and liquidising home made soup. The parts are all dishwasher safe which is a huge plus.
The food processor is nice and sturdy and sits nicely on my worktop, it has suckers on the bottom which help it stay firmly in place when in use . I use mine a lot so I keep it on top of the worktop but it will easily fit in a cupboard.
It has a powerful 500 watt motor with two speeds and a pulse setting and the compact size means it is doesn’t get in the way when it is sat on the worktop not being used.
RRP £74.99
The James Martin by Wahl Grind and Chop is such a handy little gadget and I don’t know how I have managed to overlook this piece of kitchen equipment. It’s one of those products that once you start using one you don’t know how you managed without it – especially good with a houseful of guests!
Stylish and powerful it has a 70g capacity and is perfect for grinding coffee beans and making curry paste with a simple press of the lid. With a 200W motor it makes short work of smaller jobs – instead of throwing away bread that is past its best, I use this to make breadcrumbs which I can pop in the freezer for my next recipe.
Use the grinder for dry ingredients and the chopper for wet or oily ones, no need to worry about working out which cup is which as they are both marked up. It comes with a handy recipe book with spice mixes to grind and accompanying recipes. The Spicy Tandoori mix was a favourite with my family.
There is no fiddling with this gadget as the blades are fixed in the cups and all you need to do is sit it on the base, pop the top on and press it down to start chopping. I like how easy it is to use – it can be operated with just one hand. Once you’ve finished chopping you simply lift the top off and use your ingredients.
The Grind and Chop machine looks very smart on the worktop, the brushed stainless finish being very on trend right now. To carry out basic chopping and grinding with no fuss you really can’t beat this gadget.
RRP £36.99
Whan you have a houseful of guests extra cooking facilities are a big boost and the James Martin Healthy Table Top Grill has been invaluable to help feed all the hungry mouths. With a variable temperature control and ridged and flat cooking areas it sits nicely on the work surface and has been used most of all for bacon butties at various times of the day as well as grilling chicken and meats for sandwiches and buffets.
It has a good sized cooking area and can easily cook enough food for a family in one go. It has a drip tray for excess oil and non-stick removable grill plates and it makes cooking easy and healthy.
Cleaning up afterwards was effortless thanks to there being less burnt-on grease on the non stick plates and the fact that the grill plate can be removed so it can be washed in hot soapy water by hand.
I can see this being an incredibly useful gadget and it will be great to take away in the caravan this summer so we can cook healthy meals outdoors.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Whenever I buy Joe & Seph’s Popcorn, my friend Lisa always asks me, “Have you got any more of that posh popcorn?” so when we were offered the Joe & Seph’s Ultimate Night In Gift Box, I knew we had to review it!
The box is priced at £12.50 with three different flavours of popcorn; Salted Caramel, Caramel & Belgian Chocolate Popcorn and the slightly different Milk Chocolate Popcorn Bites. The Bites are different because they are cups of chocolate with a piece of popcorn set in them. These were particularly nice because the chocolate and popcorn worked together well, and we had them in the fridge as little snacks to eat throughout the day! The chocolate was particularly good quality too which made them more of a treat.
The Salted Caramel and Caramel & Belgium Chocolate Popcorn were for us to enjoy after dinner on a Friday. Both of the flavours are favourites of mine so I was keen to try them. The Salted Caramel is not as ‘salted’ as you might think, but more caramel. I love Joe & Seph’s popcorn because it’s not sticky at all, and the Salted Caramel flavour is no exception. You can pick it up and hold the popcorn without it melting in your hand or feeling sticky which makes it much easier to handle as well as easier to share. The quality of the popcorn itself is much better than your cinema popcorn because there are minimal kernels and unbaked pieces of corn. In fact, there’s no un-popped corn pieces at the bottom of the bag, so all you get is proper, fluffy popcorn!
The Caramel & Belgium Chocolate Popcorn was my favourite of all the flavours. Layered in a light coat of chocolate, you can taste the Belgium chocolate straight away, and the second flavour is the delicate caramel. The see-through grab bags are easy to share, but just as easily pour into a bowl due to the shape of the bag.
The Joe & Seph’s Popcorn Ultimate Night In Gift Box arrives in a presentation box to your doorstep, after being handmade and packed in London, but the boxes can be sent to anywhere in the country. Ordering on the website, you can also add a 60 character message, which makes it a great gift for anyone who loves popcorn, chocolate or snacks in general. I think this Ultimate Night In Gift Box works as either a Girls’ night in with some Prosecco, a movie and a bit of gossip, or as a gift for a teenager’s birthday, along with the Amazon gift card they all crave!
Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Our mini reviewers had an early Easter treat this week when we received the Easter Celebration Set from Sylvanian Families. Presented in a beautiful Easter themed pastel coloured box the set includes two bunnies called Serena & Romeo Marguerite who are both dressed in beautiful Easter outfits complete with matching marguerite brooches and Easter bonnets. The set also includes a selection of Easter accessories, eggs and sweets so the bunnies can have a festive Easter egg hunt.
Serena is wearing a beautiful yellow and green dress and pink hat and Romeo is wearing a purple suit with a matching hat. The clothes are well made and can easily be removed and our mini reviewers, who already have a collection of Sylvanian family figures, loved swapping the outfits around with their other figures. They also enjoyed having an Easter egg hunt with the bunnies, one would go out of the room whilst the other put the sweets in the three mini Easter eggs and then come back in and look for them.
As a parent, the thing I love about Sylvanian Families is that the toys encourage children to use their imagination and it is lovely watching and hearing the escapades the figures get up to!! I used to love collecting and playing with my Sylvanian Family figures (which I still have ) and it is lovely to see my children enjoying them too.
Our mini reviewers loved this set and gave it a huge thumbs up! It is a great addition to their ever growing Sylvanian families collection and will provide hours of entertainment for them over the Easter holidays.
Aimed at children aged 3 and above this set would make a lovely Easter gift. It is available from the Sylvanian Familes website here
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Anyone looking for chocolate gifts will love the PLAYin CHOC organic chocolate range. Made from Peruvian Cacao it has no dairy, no gluten, no nuts and is totally vegan. The business was started by Maya back in 2016 when she wanted to create dairy-free chocolate using the simplest ingredients; cacao, coconut and vanilla. Maya also wanted to promote awareness about the planet’s biodiversity and offer an ethical alternative, so all of the PLAYin CHOC products are plastic free.
Beyond how award winning this chocolate is (It has won the Great Taste Award in 2022 for both their dark and milk chocolates, among other accolades), the range is something to behold in terms of fun. Just a quick look at their website and you can see the chocolate gift boxes available, all of which include their winning chocolate, but also have models which children can build based on the theme of the gift box. There’s Endangered Animals, Woodland Animals, Dinosaurs, Rabbits and a Christmas box. There’s some lovely 12 and 24 day advent calendars available at Christmas time too!
For the adults, PLAYin CHOC also have 60gram tablets of 6 pieces of chocolate. We were sent the Peruvian Cacao Milk Chocolate and Peruvian Cacao Dark Chocolate to try. Each chocolate is wrapped in compostable material (it looks like plastic but it’s not) so you can store them easily or even add them to a lunchbox for a quick chocolate treat.
My favourite was the Dark Chocolates. You can really taste the cacao in them, and there’s a strong flavour from the coconut as well. I really enjoyed the fact that there were no added extras to the chocolate, it’s a chocolate lover’s worse nightmare to be deterred from the real chocolate by additives, preservatives and unnecessary flavourings. The dark chocolate has a stronger chocolate flavour,, but the milk chocolate is milder if you’re not a big fan of dark.
If you’ve never tried PLAYin CHOC, have a look at their website for chocolate for both chocolate for the kids, as well as yourself!
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and whilst we all want to find the perfect gift there’s no need to spend a fortune to show you care and these fantastic gifts from Swizzels are a fantastic inexpensive way to treat Mum.
What’s better to say I love you than a huge chocolate Love Heart? This giant Love Heart looks just like the traditional love heart sweet, just a lot bigger and made of 100% milk chocolate. With ‘FOR YOU’ surrounded by the iconic heart we all know and love it makes a lovely gift for Mum.
The iconic Sweet Shop Favourites Gift Box includes a selection of some of the UK’s most well-loved sweets: Refreshers, Drumstick, Love Hearts, Parma Violets, Double Lollies and Fizzers. As soon as you open the box the familiar scent of ‘childhood’ brings back so many happy memories and the hardest part is choosing which one to have first! My favourite is the Refreshers bar – what is yours?
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
If you are looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift then the Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Gift set needs to be top of your list, it is beautifully wrapped (always a bonus when you have left your gift buying to the last minute!) and contains a lovely selection of products for your mum to pamper herself with.
From the moment I unwrapped the origami designed packaging and discovered the sturdy floral designed cardboard box I could tell that this was going to be a special gift set. On lifting the lid of the gift box, I discovered four travel sized products – foaming shower gel 50ml, rich body oil 30ml, body cream 70ml and hair & body mist 20ml – everything you need to bring a little luxury into your bathroom.
The Ritual of Ayurveda products are designed to help you achieve inner harmony and are based on the aromas of Indian rose and sweet almond oil. These products all smell amazing and are a real sensual treat.
The foaming shower gel lathers nicely and when used alongside the body cream helps carry the delicious scent around with you all day. The body oil is wonderful to apply, it glides on like silk and supercharges my skin with moisture. The oil is light and absorbs quickly, leaving behind the most gorgeous scent and leaving my skin smooth, soft and with a healthy sheen. The hair and body mist has the same beautiful fragrance and the handy sized bottle is perfect to keep in your handbag.
The Ritual Of Ayurveda giftset makes a lovely Mother’s Day gift – pure luxury & the ultimate indulgence for that special person in your life.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Mother’s Day is soon upon us and treating Mum is always high on our priority list. There may be plenty of items available out there but finding the right one, which is good quality and timeless, can take time.
Gatwards of Hitchin have a range of jewellery items available for Mother’s Day, and beyond, which are perfect choices. On offer are necklaces, pendants, rings, bracelets, earrings, silver photo frames and keyrings. Don’t worry about jewellery being too expensive as there’s a variety of prices from the £25 Silver Crossover Ring to the beautiful £49 Ti Sento CZ Stud Claw Set Earrings. If you really want to push the boat out though, there are several high-ticket items such as the 18ct Yellow Gold Memoire Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Bridal Eternity Ring for £1050.00 or Platinum Skye Round Cut Diamond Eternity Ring for a cool £3935.00!
Gatwards have sent us this gorgeous Silver Sterling Heart Locket Pendant to review for Mother’s Day. At £28 it’s very affordable but the design makes it versatile and easy to wear. Lockets have long been a way of mourning a loss, or keeping someone close to you with the position of the locket always being close to the heart.
The Gatwards Silver Sterling Locket is a plain heart locket, made in Sterling Sliver with a hinged mechanism that allows you to open the locket and add not just a photo but anything from a lock of hair or even put in a special note to Mum. The locket is smooth on both sides with minimal decoration so you could also have it engraved or embellished. It’s very delicate without being breakable and I actually found it easy to open and close again. Small children will love giving this to Mummy with its tactile face and the hinge that opens to reveal the surprise inside!
The locket arrives in a beautiful presentation box and with a gift wrap bag from Gatwards and gold wrapping paper. There isn’t a chain included, but this can be bought separately.
The Silver Sterling Heart Locket is such an all-round piece of jewellery which can be worn with almost any style and will last forever, and at £28.00 it makes the perfect gift for Mother’s Day from anyone in the family.
Small Silver Sterling Heart Necklace available for £28.00:
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Edifier are known for their high quality speakers, I already own a couple of their products and like them so was pleased to be asked to try the MP100 bluetooth speaker which Edifier suggests is a “great outdoor companion”.
With a rugged waterproof construction the MP100 is ideal for use outside. It is covered in a dust proof fabric and has an IPX7 rating which means the speaker can be 1 metre underwater for 30 minutes without getting damaged – so there isn’t the same urgency to put it somewhere dry when it starts raining – as often happens in this country!
It is available in a choice of three colours, Forest Green, Lake Green and Black and has a single button to control calls. There is a large loop which can be used to hang the speaker up and I found it to be quite easy to hold whilst wearing gloves. It isn’t a small device, it has a 95mm diameter and is 50mm thick, and with a weight of 185g it weighs around the same as a mobile phone. On the bottom of the speaker is a circular rubber base which helps keep the speaker from sliding around on whatever surface it is put on. The USB-C charging port, which is covered with a small rubber flap, is on the bottom half of the speaker along with the control buttons.
Setting up the speaker is easy, turn it on by pressing the power button for a few seconds, until the blue light comes on, then search for Edifier MP100 Plus in the Bluetooth settings of your device. The speaker makes an audible sound when connected and then you can use it to listen to music/audio from your device.
Built around a 5W 43mm full-range speaker the sound is great and with a claimed battery life of 9 hours is good for a whole day in the great outdoors. Now, I have to say that I’m no fan of people who play music whilst out hiking – I much prefer the peace and quiet – but for other outdoor activities, like camping or a day at the beach, it would be great. I spend a lot of time in the garden and enjoy listening to music or podcasts whilst I’m working and in the past have worried about damaging my speaker – with the Edifier MP100 Plus I no longer need to worry, I just hang it up, relax and enjoy!
Should you wish to use it for calls it has a built-in microphone and I found the sound was very clear, with noise suppression to remove unwanted background noise.
So whether you are camping, caravanning, relaxing in the garden or hitting the beach this summer make sure you have the Edifier MP100 Plus in your bag.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I love sushi, but I have never made it at home before. I’ve eaten it as take-away lunch at work, at a restaurant for dinner and I’m a fan of the raw fish too but I’ve never thought of making it for myself.
The team at Kelly Loves asked if we’d like to sample their Sushi Atelier kit for our Mother’s Day Gift Guide and even added some extra treats for me to be able to start my sushi journey. Well, when the kit arrived, I was in for a treat! The box contains a double bento box (for keeping the sushi fresh when out and about), sushi rice, wasabi, picked ginger, a bamboo sushi mat, spicy mayonnaise, a packet of 7 nori seaweed sheets, sushi vinegar and fried onions. There wasn’t much missing from the kit apart from the fresh ingredients of course!
The kit includes a postcard with a QR code to access lots of recipes of Japanese and Korean food, including different sushi rolls you can make. Using the code and a bit of knowledge of sushi, I started with the rice which thankfully has instructions on the side. It isn’t as simple as just boiling up the rice; you also have to add the sushi vinegar to flavour once the rice has been cooked and cooled. I also used the spicy mayonnaise to affix the fried onion but you can fix the onion by wetting the seaweed first too. The mayonnaise added more flavour but was very messy to use.
The instructions tell you how to cut the nori seaweed sheets in half and fill them with the rice and fillings (I chose smoked salmon, cucumber and avocado) and then roll them using the roll mat. You will need a sharp pair of scissors to cut the seaweed and a very sharp knife to cut the sushi once it’s rolled, which meant I had to sharpen my knives several times otherwise it tears through the seaweed and leave the roll in a heap!
Once the sushi is cut, you can arrange it any way you like and add the pickled ginger, wasabi and we were also sent soy sauce to dress the sushi with. When it came to serving, if you’ve never had wasabi before, it would be worth trying the tiniest (and I mean tiniest!) amount as it’s extremely hot. If you’re used to sushi with wasabi though, it’s great added with the pickled ginger, which is a generous amount in the jar provided with the pack.
Nothing beats freshly made sushi which is completely different to most shop bought varieties. I made up only half of the rice in the pack, which is just as well because as you can see from the photos, this was only half of what was available, and with the other ingredients only half being used, there is plenty left for another meal. I think this amount could feed 4 people, depending on what fillings you use.
The sushi tasted AMAZING and now that I know how to make it and how easy it is, I will be making it more often, topping up the items in the box with what I need and perfecting my rolling technique! Everything from the rice to the fried onion is of high quality and has the authentic sushi taste, all of which adds to the overall effect.
As a gift, this is a super great idea for anyone and especially any foodies, and as for Mother’s Day, it will make a fabulous present for Mum, especially if you make it for her!
Kelly Loves also has some other sushi products online including a ramune carbonated drink, which is much like lemonade. They also have spare ingredients online like the fried onion, pickled ginger and sushi vinegar. There’s also roasted sesame seeds, cabbage kimchi (delicious!) and a variety of different soy sauces online if you want to add to the gift to Mum on Mothering Sunday.
I loved this kit, not just for the quality of the ingredients but because it was all there and so easy to use but resulted in a delicious meal which my Mum really enjoyed. Despite it being the first time I made the sushi and it being a bit of a mess (see photos!) I loved making it and Mum actually commented that it was like the sushi you eat in a restaurant, which was a nice compliment. I can highly recommend Kelly Loves sushi kits for Mother’s Day gifts, and to start a love of homemade sushi for all the family!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Sleeping on silk has many benefits and lots of my curly haired friends have switched to silk pillowcases since discovering they help to reduce frizz. Sleeping on silk is also good for your skin as silk absorbs less moisture and dirt than cotton meaning your night cream will stay on your face and keep your skin hydrated, rather than ending up all over your pillowcase.
Although silk bedding sounds incredibly luxurious I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at the Jasmine Silk website and discovered that silk bedding doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. With pillowcases starting at £16 it is definitely worth considering, as not only is it lovely to sleep on, the added health benefits add to the attraction.
They kindly sent me one of their Ultimate Silk Pillowcases to try and as soon as I took it out of the packaging I could feel how luxurious this product was. Made from 100% Mulberry silk I love the feel and softness of the pillowcase and when I went to bed it was a delight to sleep on. It was also lovely and cool which is a huge benefit as now I am perimenopausal I am suffering from the dreaded hot flushes which are invariably worse at night, and I don’t sleep very well anymore. After a few good nights sleep I am considering getting the matching sheets too as I am so impressed with the pillowcase. When I woke up my curls were still nice and bouncy and noticeably less frizzy so not only do I sleep better my hair looked better too.
The pillowcase was a good fit on my pillow, well-fitting but loose enough to easily take on and off. With an envelope closure it looks neat on my bed. The pillowcase was easy to wash, it can be washed in a machine at 30 degrees and tumbled dried at a low temperature. I dried mine outdoors which helped reduce the creases and a cool iron quickly removed the rest.
Jasmine Silk have silk pillowcases in a variety of styles and a choice of 11 different colours and they also have silk bedding so you can sleep in luxury every night. With Mother’s Day fast approaching why not treat your Mum and give the gift of sleep this year?
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
I love walking into a Rituals shop, from the moment you step inside a calming aura encircles you and the hustle and bustle of the high street instantly become a distant memory. Once inside this tranquil haven, soothing music and beautiful fragrances add to the experience and with incredibly knowledgeable staff on hand to share the delightful products with you it soon becomes apparent that this is more than just a store selling beauty products. I always leave the shop with not only a bag of goodies but an over-whelming feeling of relaxation and being pampered. Taking time for yourself is very important and Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself or a loved one to some lovely pampering products and Rituals have some lovely gifts for just that purpose.
They kindly sent me one of their fantastic gifts – the Ritual of Sakura Renewing Routine gift set. Now I love receiving a gift set, it’s so exciting opening it to discover a special collection of items and when they are as beautifully packaged as this it becomes even more of a treat. Initially I thought this box was just too pretty to open however, the alluring scents of the products proved too much and after carefully opening the origami designed packaging I discovered a sturdy cardboard box with a beautiful floral design that just shouts out to be reused.
Inside the box are;
Zensational foaming shower gel 200ml
Renewing body scrub 125g
Magic Touch body cream 100ml
Relaxing Scented Candle
I was looking forward to the rice milk and cherry blossom scented products bringing on a feeling of relaxation and enabling me to switch off from daily life, even just for a short period of time.
After using them I wasn’t disappointed – the shower gel lathers nicely with a creamy foam and used in conjunction with the body cream helps carry the delicious scent around with you all day. Using the body scrub is truly a sensual experience and real treat, it provides just enough exfoliation and I love how it leaves my skin feeling invigorated yet pampered, adding a moment of luxury to my daily shower.
If you are looking for a gift set that boasts something a little more special that your standard bath and body Sets, you must try Rituals, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!! The Rituals of Sakura gift set is a wonderful starting place to begin your Rituals journey.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Whilst an Alfa Romeo car may be way out of your price range you can buy your loved one a taste of Alfa Romeo style with a bottle of Alfa Romeo fragrance from Agence de Parfumerie
This fragrance is packaged in a bright red box emblazoned with the Alfa Romeo logo. The deep red bottle is chunky and modern and with the chrome lid is a stylish addition to any bathroom or bedroom.
When my husband tried the fragrance the first thing I noticed was the freshness, with top notes of pink pepper, pineapple and citrus they sharpen the senses without being overpowering. With fruity middle notes and base notes of amber and tonka bean the fragrance settles down to be a more earthy scent which is very pleasant and appeals to all ages – my 21 year old son liked it just as much as my husband does.
It doesn’t have a heavy scent so is perfect both as a day or evening fragrance and it lasts well – a couple of spays will last all day.
With a RRP of £19.95 for the 100ml bottle it’s also very reasonably priced and the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
There’s still time to pick up a Valentine’s gift for a loved one and we have some lovely fragrances to share with you. Lasting longer than roses (and cheaper too!) Agence de Parfumerie’s Cabotine Rose EDT is a delightfully fresh perfume that looks and smells like a luxury perfume but without the hefty price tag. With top notes of cherry blossom, mandarin and pear, heart nots of mimosa, peony and pikake flower and base notes of vetiver, sandalwood and plumeria petals this floral perfume is light and feminine and perfect for every day wear. I found that I only needed to apply this perfume once during the day as the perfume is quite long lasting. I received many comments from my friends and colleagues who said how nice it is and wanted to know what the fragrance was.
The box is very pretty with a raised floral design which is also picked up on the lid of the perfume bottle which is a lovely pink floral design and looks stunning on my dressing table.
This is a lovely perfume and is suitable for all ages, at £14.95 for 100ml it is very reasonably priced for such a lovely, long lasting fragrance. It is perfect as a gift or why not treat yourself!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own
This giant Swizzels milk chocolate Love Heart will be a favourite with both young and old this Valentine’s Day. It is styled as a traditional love heart sweet, just bigger and made of 100% milk chocolate. With ‘FOR YOU’ surrounded by the iconic heart we all know and love it makes a lovely gift for a friend or loved one.
Created with the aim of encouraging people to share the love this Valentine’s Day it costs only £2.49 from Home Bargains and the Swizells website so why not share the love and treat a few friends and loved ones this year?
To coincide with Valentine’s Day, Swizzels have also launched a #BeYourOwnValentine competition giving people the chance to win the Valentine’s Day of their dreams- why not take a look and enter here .
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Are you looking for something a little different as a Valentine’s treat or simply to show someone special you are thinking of them? If they have a sweet tooth and love flapjacks then Flapjackery is the place to go!
Founded in 2015 by Carol Myott and Sally Jenkin, the pair who share a passion for home cooking met selling cakes at a Devon farmers’ market. They started baking in their own kitchens but as the company grew, they needed to move to bigger premises to keep up with the demand for their flapjacks. Like all businesses they were badly affected by covid as their normal outlets, farmers markets and events stopped so they decided to start selling their delicious flapjacks online.
We’re big fans of Flapjackery so were really pleased to be asked to sample one of their Valentine’s gift boxes containing five flavours of flapjack – Chocolate Orange, Millionaire’s, Raspberry & White Chocolate, Rocky Road and Clotted Cream.
Nicely packaged in a carboard box, which fits easily through a letterbox, each flapjack is individually wrapped to keep it fresh. They also have long “eat by” dates, my box was dated the 5th April but they are so yummy they only lasted a couple of days! As my box had a Valentine’s theme the Millionaire’s flapjack was decorated with a white chocolate heart which is a lovely touch. They all looked delicious and the hardest part was deciding which one to try first!
Each flapjack was fresh, flavoursome and incredibly moreish and after sampling them all the raspberry and white chocolate was my favourite, sandwiched with juicy raspberries the flapjack is nice and moist and fruity. The white chocolate complements the sharper raspberry taste and mixed with the buttery flapjack makes a delicious treat.
They currently have a selection of Valentine’s gift boxes available and there is also an option to create your own. Choose from either a box of 8 or 12 flapjacks or a message plaque box containing a giant millionaire’s flapjack with 4 of 8 flapjacks. The boxes can be gift wrapped and a free personalised message added to make your gift a little more special.
You really are spoilt for choice when selecting a giftbox, there are 24 flavours to choose from ranging from a traditional flapjack to more unusual flavours like rocky road, honeycomb or florentine. Have a look at the full range here.
With a box of three flapjacks costing £12 they really are the perfect Valentine’s treat!
The Review Studio 