Children – The Review Studio

GNAW Handcrafted Chocolate

Birthday Gifts, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers

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

Chocolate has always been a popular treat, and gift, but nowadays it’s taken on a life of it’s own with the new phenomenon of handcrafted chocolate. Combine that with the new novelty flavours and higher quality ingredients which are available, and you have a completely new genre of food connoisseur, similar to wine or coffee experts. GNAW Handcrafted Chocolate sent us a box of chocolates to review, and by box, I don’t mean your supermarket box for Granny on a Sunday, but a box that can be delivered through your door and contains 6 slabs of chocolates, each of them weighing 80 grams and of all different flavours, we couldn’t resist!

The GNAW chocolates arrived in a letterbox sized box and contained 6 bars; Dark Chocolate 70%, Dark Chocolate with Raspberry, Milk Chocolate New York Cheesecake, Milk Chocolate Honeycomb & Caramel, Milk Chocolate Popcorn & Peanuts and Milk Chocolate Lemon Drizzle. The bars are wrapped in paper labels with a ‘foil’ inside cover in an old-fashioned style, but all the packaging is actually recyclable. The chocolates don’t contain any palm oil and the packaging tells you if they are single origin ingredients too, which in the case of the Lemon Drizzle, the single origin is Colombia.

You might be thinking that these are unusual flavours for a chocolate? Well, they are! They represent a small selection of all the flavours that are available online in their shop; https://www.gnawchocolate.co.uk/collections/milk-chocolate-bars which has a lot more dessert-inspired flavours as well as everyday milk chocolate and dark chocolate bars. They are especially good if you like something slightly different to just chocolate, or if like me, you skip dessert and instead have a piece of chocolate instead.

How do they taste? Well, of course, I had to taste a piece of every chocolate bar we were sent, purely for research purposes… the dark chocolates are 70% so they are darker in colour and taste but still sweet enough to eat as a snack. The added raspberry is a treat because it sweetens the dark chocolate a little bit. The milk chocolate bars are a little less traditional but all have a theme of being slightly sweeter than the chocolate itself. The Lemon Drizzle has a hint of lemon but the added texture of tiny biscuit pieces. New York Cheesecake also has subtle biscuit pieces but you can taste the cheesecake filling as the flavour develops. Honeycomb & Caramel reminds me of a famous triangular brand of chocolate, so it’s a more familiar taste but I love having the chewy texture in a chocolate bar. Finally, the Popcorn & Peanut is a strange combination which is more about the consistency than the taste, until it evolves after a few moments.

I think my favourite chocolate was the Dark Chocolate Raspberry because of the juxtaposition of sweet raspberry and the dark chocolate. I don’t think there are any that I wouldn’t buy again, but I am very tempted by the other flavours on their website too!

Available online at: https://www.gnawchocolate.co.uk/collections/chocolate-bars

JLab JBuds Mini Wireless Ear Buds

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Tech

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

“The smallest fit ever” is what the packaging on the JLab Mini JBuds claims and we’d have to agree! Even the casing is smaller on these diddy earbuds, which are perfect for children or those with smaller ears. The ear buds are 30% smaller but the case is 50% smaller than other ear buds, which also makes them easier to carry, especially in pockets. They’re so small in fact, that at just 3.3 grams each and a total of 18.5 grams for the case, they make an ideal keyring or can be worn as a charm on your phone.

The JBud ear buds pack a punch though with a 6mm dynamic driver speaker for audio and an output of 103 ± 3dB. The battery life is around 20 hours when fully charged, which is impressive amount of play time with such small headphones. It takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to charge depending on how you charge the case, which is a USB-C port and comes with the C to C cable. The ear buds connect to Bluetooth 5.3 (the most recent version) and have approximately 30 foot range.

These are especially great for children because of their size and they also connect really easily to devices when in ‘find’ mode. There’s not very many settings on them either, and the 4.5cm length case is easy to handle and keep on children in their pockets, rather than having to hand them to someone else or carry a bag with them. They’re a great price too, either as a gift or as a stocking filler and they’re currently on sale at £29.99 on the JLab website below!

JLab JBuds Mini Wireless Ear Buds for £39.99 at: https://www.jlab.com/en-gb/products/jbuds-mini-true-wireless-earbuds-teal

JLab Pop Party Ultra-Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Summer, Tech

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

Here’s a great gift for the teenagers or when you’re travelling – a portable Bluetooth speaker that lights up and connect to other JLab speakers to create a wall of sound!

Imagine being out on a picnic, or camping, and having a team of these JLab Pop Party Bluetooth speakers all playing the same music at the same time from the same device. Each of the speakers lights up so that not only can you find them easily amongst all your stuff, but as night falls, you can see each other in the glow or red, green and blue lights. They each have 8 hours of power in them; enough for a whole day outside or a night time party. The JLab Pop Party Ultra-Portable Bluetooth speakers are only £24.99, and make excellent birthday gifts, stocking fillers or gifts for children and teenagers.

With 5 watts power and a 2 year warranty, the speaker is only 7.55 inches tall and has a 2 inch driver and 2 inch woofer. It has various mounting options and a detachable magnetic loop, which you can hold in one hand or mount on a bicycle handle or in the backseat of a car. It has IP55 waterproofing so you can take it outside (it’s rain protective, not water protective so you can’t submerge it!) It’s lightweight so you can carry it in hand luggage or just over your wrist.

Charging is with a C to C cable in the USB-C port and takes around 3 hours to fully charge. Syncing is with Bluetooth 5.3. There’s approximately 30 foot range of connectivity. You get the most out of t he RGB lights if you use the JLab App to control the frequency, pattern and create the light show from it.

This is the first time I’ve seen these ‘Pop Party’ speakers and ever got to use them. They’re really useful for just taking out for the day and for children to play with in the garden or for teenagers to take out with them. The sound quality is excellent and connection to my phone was super easy one I turned on the speaker and it was ‘findable’. The JLab Pop Part Ultra-Portable Bluetooth speaker is ultra-easy to get along with and use, making it a perfect gift for anyone!

JLab Pop Party UltraPortable Bluetooth Speaker for £24.99 at: https://www.jlab.com/en-gb/products/pop-party-ultra-portable-bluetooth-speaker-black?srsltid=AfmBOoqK6kuF00xfCjWpXLHOKF0Unr3Tr9WJdnI1K9qK1ksBeALP11zW

Pip Organic Fizz

Children, Drinks and Mixers, Family Life, Food & Drink, Lunchbox Fillers, Summer

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

Pip Organic are a London based, organic drink and snack company who have just brought out the Pip Organic Fizz range of drinks for children. Well, not only children as adults will love these drinks to! We were sent some of each of the two flavours; Apple Fizz and Apple Cherry Fizz.

What makes the Pip Organic Fizz drinks different? Pip Organic pride themselves on making drinks and snacks that have minimal ingredients, and produce food which they themselves would give to their own children. Founders Patrick and Karen discovered organic juice bars whilst travelling together, not long after they met, and began juicing in Borough Market, London as they built their business. Nowadays, they are on a mission to make better food and drink accessible to everyone.

The 250ml cans come in packs of 4 and we put them straight in the fridge when they arrived so that we could enjoy them on those very hot heatwave days! The Apple Fizz is apple juice but carbonated to give the fizzy texture of a soft drink. It doesn’t have any added sugar is it has a slight sourness about it that’s akin to a home grown apple that comes straight off the tree. It’s also organic, so there’s the potential for the Apple Fizz drinks to be slightly different in taste from one can to another over time. It’s remarkably refreshing, and doesn’t leave a coating on your teeth (there’s no synthetic sweeteners either) and counts towards your 5-a-day.

The Apple Cherry Fizz is similarly refreshing and is slightly sweeter because of the addition of cherry juice. It’s also organic and counts as one in your 5-a-day quota. These drinks are aimed at children, but adults can enjoy them just as much, and over the summer they can be used in cocktails or as mixers as well, so the whole family can enjoy them and makes them easy to add to the shopping cart. Pip Organic Fizz is available in Marks and Spencer and now Waitrose too!

Pip Organic Apple Cherry Fizz 250ml

The Toll House Chelsea Delicatessen, London

ARTICLE, Children, chocolate, coffee, Days Out, Family Life, Food & Drink, snacks, Summer

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

Nestled on a corner of Cremorne Road in Chelsea, London, is The Toll House Chelsea Delicatessen. Previous incarnation of the original building include a dry cleaners, a garage and before it’s present incarnation, it was empty for many years. The present owners have taken the charge to create The Toll House Delicatessen under the moniker of the building’s original intention; an office which collected the toll for the properties on the private land of Chelsea.

The Toll House Delicatessen is based on a premise of serving the community everything from coffee and pastries in the mornings, home working using their free Wi-Fi and providing treats on the way home from work. The Toll House speciality is their Basque cheesecake. Although she is a doctor by day, Alimah makes the cheesecakes in her spare time. Alimah’s Basque cheesecake recipes include flavours such as Pistachio Luxe, Chocolate Decadence, Lotus Biscoff Crunch and Berry Compote. Of course, there’s also an original Basque cheesecake too! We visited on a very hot Saturday afternoon to find the air-conditioned building very welcoming and Tariq, Allah’s husband, was on hand to talk us through how they had transformed the building and show us the cakes.

It may be a tiny place to visit but it has a big heart! The very Instagramable building has a mural along the outside wall which features three frogs – one to represent each of the families’s young children. Following in the Chelsea tradition, there are flowers everywhere and the branding has a twist on the Chelsea blue colour. The original Toll House Clock still stands on the roof too. Inside the blue theme continues with marble worktops and a high bench for working. The shop is so petite, it needed bespoke marble worktops, chiller cabinets and cabinetry, which give it a certain Chelsea charm. There’s a very grand coffee machine too, which makes fresh specialty coffee.

As for the cakes and pastries, you’ll find not just Basque cheesecakes but other locally sourced pastries and sandwiches and salads which are made on site daily. Anyone visiting for lunch will be able to also purchase drinks, crisps and other snacks.

We were lucky to be able to try some of the cheesecakes. Sitting outside in the sunshine, we shared the ‘Chocolate Decadence’ cheesecake. If you’re not familiar with Basque cheesecakes, they don’t have a biscuit base, they’re just cheesecake filling and then baked. Each Toll House Basque cheesecake is 4 inches wide which is more than enough for two people to share. Eating even half a Basque cheesecake was quite some task!

At first bite, you realise it is incredibly light and not like the heavy cheesecakes you buy in High Street shops. It’s not so sweet either. I am used to Basque cheesecakes being both heavy and sweet with a richness of cream, but I didn’t feel this with the Toll House Basque cheesecake. It’s light and fluffy and has a texture like whipped cream but without the dairy taste. The flavour is more like a light custard with a slight vanilla taste. You can tell that they are not only home made, but they are made that day because the body of the cheesecake is so fresh. We also took home some of the other flavours; Pistachio Luxe, Lotus Biscoffi Crunch and Berry Compote. I think my favourite was the Berry Compote – the sweet berry flavour works really well with the creamy filling.

The Toll House make cakes and Basque cheesecakes to order and for special occasions. We think they’d be great at weddings or even a tiered Basque as a fabulous wedding cake! The property is so cute and so accessible for great photos that I’m surprised it’s not more well known on the London scene. The picturesque corner of Chelsea, with the Georgian houses and enormous London plane trees is an oasis for afternoon treats as well as working from home. Tariq and his staff are so welcoming too, that you could try a different cheesecake every day of the week and never feel like leaving!

https://www.tollhousedeli.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/tollhousedeliuk/

@tollHouseDeliUK

Aldi Back to School Uniforms

Autumn, Children, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for children, Home, Summer

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

I know it seems early to be thinking about it, but it’s never too early to get school uniform in! Aldi’s have a huge selection of school uniforms available now through the summer until the autumn term begins. We were sent some blue Polo shirts, a red sweatshirt and some grey boys’ trousers to try before the summer.

Starting with the grey trousers, these are aged 8 to 9 years and they are a tapered fit for boys with an adjustable waist, name label inside and a permanent crease down the front. Made of Teflon, they have reinforced knees and they’re also easy iron. They are for age 8 to 9 years old which is a height of 128 to 134 cm, a waist of 61 to 63 cm, and hips of 70 to 73 centimetres. They made mainly of polyester (65%) and viscose (35%). They look very good quality and even to touch they are very durable like. I can see that they’re very well stitched and held together with a YKK zip at the front. We haven’t had a chance to test them fully yet, but they look like they would last!

The red sweatshirt is a roundneck and for ages 4 to 5 years. It’s a relaxed fit and made of 80% cotton and 20% recycled polyester. For age 4 to 5 years it is aimed a height of 104 to 110 cm with a chest of 57 to 59 cm. This shirt should be washed at 40°C, tumble dried and can be ironed. It’s a vibrant red colour which will hopefully last, and long sleeved for the autumn and winter months. There is a 12 month satisfaction guarantee and inside there is a name label included. This would be a great sweatshirt for the last year at nursery or the first year at kindergarten.

Finally, the LD Aldi Back to School polo shirts in light blue are for age 9 to 10 years old. This packet contains two polo shirts which are both machine washable are made of cotton, and these are also 12 months satisfaction guaranteed. The shirts are short sleeved with a collar and three buttons down the front. They can be washed at 40°C and can be tumble dried. These shirts are 100% cotton and for the size 9 to 10 years old they are aimed at a height of 134 to 140 cm, a chest of 70 to 73 cm and a waist of 63 to 65 cms. These could be worn out of school as well as in school where I presume they’re either for the summer or as part of the PE kit. They are very tough wearing but you can see the texture is brilliant for summer because they’re very thin yet durable.

If you’re not familiar with the Aldi school uniforms have a look online and you’ll see that there are tons available this year for all school uniform needs including in PE kits and after school.

Back to School products cane be found here:

https://www.aldi.co.uk/products

CUKTECH 15 Power Bank Air

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Tech, travel

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

I love a gadget, and this power bank is perfect for a Father’s Day gift!

The CUKTECH 15 Power Bank Air holds enough power to recharge your iPhone 17 by 1.6 times or a Samsung S25 Ultra about 2.2 times over. That’s only for phones, it can power laptops too with 65W Fast Charging, which is enough to power a Mac Book Air from zero to 48%.

The slim design is deceptively heavy though! It’s enough to carry all that power but is about the size of a phone just fatter. It does mean that it fits into a pocket or hand luggage, and it would comfortably fit into a handbag too but it comes with a cosy bag to keep it in, along with the USB-C cable. The front of the power bank has a display which tells you the percentage charge already on the power bank, plus how long it will take to charge fully or how much charge it has left through each of the ports. Speaking of which, you can charge to and from the CUKTECH 15 with a Type-C2, Type-C2 and USB-A1 ports. The screen goes dark when not in use but the button at the side lights it up again so you can see the stats as it charges. The three different ports mean you can power up to three appliances all at once too.

You can charge up the CUKTECH with the provided cable. To change the direction of charge, click the side button twice and the display changes. Keep clicking and it allows you to change the display and setting so that the screen stays on and it shows you which port is being used to charge in or out of the power bank, and how long it takes to charge and the percentage. You can even change the display to be upside down so that you use it on the go or if it’s in a pocket!

At around £50, it’s not a bad price for a power bank on the market, as there are a lot out there which aren’t as compact or as useful, and having the ability to charge 3 appliances at once is definitely a benefit. The cable is a bit short though, especially if you have the charger in your pocket and you’re trying to walk and text at the same time, and you would have to source other cables for the other ports if your appliance didn’t already come with one, but they can all be poppled in the supplied bag so that you can carry them with you. Although it’s heavy too, it’s not any heavier than other power banks, and that’s because of the nature of the battery it contains.

The CUKTECH 15 Power Bank is a really useful gift and a great surprise for Father’s Day as something that is actually helpful to everyday life.

Available from £49.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNQK3VHZ?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP

Stabilo Pens

Birthday Gifts, Children, eco friendly, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Stationery, Sustainable

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

We are heading into revision season and for many students (and parents) it can feel a bit overwhelming, so anything that brings a little spark of motivation is worth its weight in gold. When it comes to choosing stationery STABILIO is a name I trust and gravitate towards as they have such a fantastic selection of stationery in a rainbow of colours, which are perfect for making students feel in control of their revision.

A set of highlighters is essential when revising and the STABILO Boss Original highlighters, which are available in bright, vibrant colours, make key points easy to spot. Their special anti-drying technology gives you up to four hours cap-off time, which is ideal for those slightly chaotic study sessions. The wedge tip gives you flexibility for both neat underlining and broader highlighting, and the fact they’re refillable is a great bonus for reducing waste. With 30 shades available, from neon to pastel to nature tones, there’s plenty of scope to colour-code your notes in a way that works for you.

Writing in different colours can help highlight information and help students remember information and the STABILO Point 88 pens with a 4mm tip are great for note taking, report writing, and even a spot of doodling! With a metal-enclosed tip and excellent dry-out protection these pens are a particular favourite of mine. They can be purchased in a variety of different sized packs from individual pens right up to a fantastic set of 65! The pens are the distinctive orange hexagonal design and have caps the colour of the ink for easy identification. The colours are bright and vibrant the ink flows very smoothly, they also dry really quickly so you don’t get any smudges on your work.

When you’ve a lot of writing to do then the STABILO 4 Pointball pen is the one to choose. With a rubberised grip they’re designed to be used for longer periods of time without your hand complaining! The pens are smooth to write with and are also eco friendly with the pen body made from 87 % ISCC PLUS-certified bio-based plastic (mass balance), reducing CO₂ consumption compared with fossil-based plastic. Once the ink has run out it can be replaced with a STABILO Ballpoint Refill. There’s six different colours to choose from so you can make your notes stand out.

Whilst new stationery won’t do the revision for you, it will make the process feel more organised, more enjoyable, and a little less daunting. And with the right tools in hand, there’s every chance that all the hard work will have paid off when results day arrives!

Father’s Day Gifts at Popcorn Shed

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him, Lunchbox Fillers, secret santa, snacks, Stocking Fillers

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

Yes, Father’s Day is notoriously difficult to buy gifts for Dad! He has everything, but suddenly there are more items available in the shops but they are all either whiskey flavoured, or have some element remodelled in leather. Don’t get me started on the amount of beers on the shelves at this time too. Popcorn Shed has a massive range of popcorn all year round, so we were sent a selection of popcorn flavours which are available on the website and can be sent as a bundle. We had the Popcorn Shed flavours Pop ‘n’ Choc, Salted Caramel and Say Cheese! Sent to us to try. Before you ask, they didn’t last long…

Each ‘shed’ (ie packet of popcorn) is 80 grams of popcorn. The Salted Caramel and Say Cheese flavours are both bestsellers and winners of the Great Taste award. 80 grams doesn’t sound like a lot but if you remember that popcorn is very light, it makes sense to say that each shed is about big enough for 2 people to share for a movie night, or the equivalent of a small mixing bowl size.

My favourite of the flavours was Pop ‘n’ Choc, and not just because I love chocolate! You can taste the chocolate easily but it isn’t too sweet and the popcorn, although a bit sticky, isn’t too difficult to eat because it’s stuck together or gets stuck in your teeth. The Salted Caramel flavour was probably the easiest to eat out of all three because it had a strong flavour without being overpowering and was still sweet, as you would expect popcorn to be. Finally, the Say Cheese flavour was the last one I tried. I’m not used to savoury popcorn but this is the most popular of savoury flavours after the plain salted variety and I was surprised. It’s not a very strong flavour, thankfully, as although I love cheese I couldn’t imagine it on popcorn. However, as it’s a savoury taste, it goes better with wine or spirits rather than sugary cocktails. It’s a light, delicate cheese flavour rather than the processed type. I also noticed that all of the popcorn is ‘popped’ so there are no un-popped kernels in the bottom of the bag.

Popcorn Shed is a lovely gift for Dad, or Grandad, that they don’t have to pretend to like! With all the flavours available online you will surely be able to find something that’s delicious!

Popcorn Sheds available from £4.75 at: https://www.popcornshed.com/collections/gourmet-popcorn-sheds

Joe & Seph’s Shortbread Biscuits and Neapolitan Chocolate

Children, chocolate, Christmas, snacks

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

Joe & Seph, the famous gourmet popcorn makers, are branching out into new gift treats this year, bringing out more goodies for Christmas and beyond. Not just popcorn, but gifts including these shortbread biscuits and Neapolitan chocolates, suitable for a whole range of events, not just when Santa arrives!

Both the biscuits and chocolates arrive in large packets, set for the mass market of party bags, wedding favours and even offices where guests are greeted by the Joe & Seph favourites. Popcorn has been popular as a snack whilst watching TV for years, but it has now found itself in mainstream snacking with weddings using popcorn as favours at the end of the day. Well, the Joe & Seph chocolates work just as well with the gifting opportunities. I was sent some to try, and they reminded me of the chocolates you get in pillows of posh hotels! The shortbreads biscuits are reminiscent of afternoon meetings with clients where you bring out the cups and saucers at work and have a proper cup of tea!

The Neapolitan chocolates come in packets of 100 and are individually wrapped. They’re great for sharing at home or at parties and the milk chocolate is made with cocoa and premium ingredients to give a smooth, silky texture and chocolatey taste! The shortbread biscuits are very light – lighter than some of the biscuits on the market. They’re not gritty either, which some shortbread biscuits are and they break rather than crumble, making them easy to eat.

I’m looking forward to seeing whatever treats Joe & Seph come up with next in time for Christmas!

Shortbread Biscuits (40 packs of 2) £20 at: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/butter-biscuits-pack-20

Neapolitan chocolate (100 pieces) for £28 at: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/neapolitan-gift-pack

Devonia Plant Fertilizer Sticks

Birthday Gifts, Children, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Spring, Summer

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

This is a gardening hack for all gardeners, whether you’ve been gardening for years or if you’re a beginner! Devonia’s fertilizer spikes and sticks are nutrient dense sticks which feed plants at the roots over time, releasing food and providing magnesium and iron too. Easy to use, the sticks are just popped into the ground or pot next to the plant.

The nutrients are pre-measured so using the directions on the back of the packs, work out how many sticks are needed for the size of pot. There are a variety of sticks to choose from too, including the tomatoes & vegetables, Boarders & bedding plants and even for individual plants like olive trees, lavender and orchids. You have to push them below soil level and on the opposite side of the pot to the plant but after that, just water them and see the plant thrive. They last all season long from spring to autumn but I would recommend changing them out for the next spring to get the full benefit of them.

These are great gifts for gardeners too, or anyone who is growing plants indoors. I’ve used them for my indoor plants and a few seedlings which are just starting to grow now.

Available online from £6.49: https://devonialondon.co.uk/product/flower-bed-border-bedding-plant-food-sticks/

Casdon Dyson Cordless Vacuum and Ooni Pizza Oven

Children, Family Life, Gifts for children, Learning, Toys

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

We’re half way through the Easter holidays and the weather has been, well…..unpredicatable. Grey skies and rain have meant we’ve been spending more time indoors than I would like, so the arrival of a couple of new Casdon toys was a very welcome treat.

Casdon are a family run business and the number one manufacturer of role play toys in the UK and Dyson, Ooni, Morphy Richards, Kenwood and Joseph Joseph are just some of the many brands that they make miniature versions of. They kindly sent us two of their popular toys, the Dyson Cordless Vacuum and the Ooni Pizza Oven to try out with our mini reviewers and we’ve all been enjoying playing with them (me included!!)

The Dyson Cordless Vacuum (RRP £25) was extremely easy to set up, it was simply a matter of putting in 3 x AA batteries (not included) and then clicking the pieces together. It comes with a long orange extension tube and two cleaning heads that attach and detach with the push of a button and once clicked in stay firmly in place.

The toy vacuum cleaner is extremely lifelike with all the features that that a real Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner has. It even has working suction that picks up small bits from the floor. There’s an easy to empty dust box, quick release attachments and a fantastic “whizzing cyclone effect with colourful bits of plastic spinning around to replicate dust and dirt.

Our mini reviewers have had so much fun zooming around the house with it, it’s the perfect height for little ones (68cm) and light enough for them to carry about the house. The really enjoy using it when I am vacuuming and they have started to follow me about ‘helping’ with their toy Dyson.

Next it was time to cook up some fun with the Ooni Pizza Oven (RRP £20), this was just as easy to assemble by slotting the legs into the base. The legs are also easy to remove for storage which is good. The oven takes 3 x AAA batteries (not included) which power the flames in the oven that look very realistic and add to the authenticity of the toy.

The set includes six pizza slices that slot together to form a full pizza. We found that they don’t stay fixed together very well, so it was much easier to assemble them on the pizza paddle before sliding them into the oven. The pizza toppings clip easily onto the base, with a tomato base to start, followed by pepperoni slices, mozzarella and basil leaves.

Once prepared, the pizza goes into the oven to “cook.” When it’s ready, the little chefs can slice it up with the pizza cutter and serve their tasty creation. We did find that making the same pizzas can become a little predictable so the Pizza Topping Station available on the Casdon website would be a good addition to extend the interest of the toy.

These toys have been a very welcome addition to our playroom and whilst whizzing around with the vacuum and baking pretend pizzas, our mini reviewers have been busy learning, playing and having fun.

Plant With Willow Starter Pack

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Home & Garden, Spring, Summer, Tech

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

Put some technology into your plant care with the Plant With Willow Starter Pack. Using the Plant With Willow probe, hub and an app on your phone, you can be alerted whenever your plant is in need of care. We tested out the technology, which was totally new to me and I’m a gardener, to see if it worked!

The instructions are relatively easy and once the app is set up it looks after itself. There is a QR code on the front of the box which you scan with your phone and the app downloads. The app walks you through all the steps for setup, including identifying the plant which the probe is going to monitor. If you don’t know what the plant is, there’s provision to take photos of the leaves and flowers and the app will look it up for you. I have a peach tree that needs a lot of water so I was keen to use Plant With Willow to help look after it.

The app can also help with sick plants, teach you how to look after each identified plant, set up schedules including watering and fertilizing and monitor milestones. The setup screen go on to help you pair the probe with the hub and to use the wifi in your house, then sends you notifications on your phone to tell you when the plant needs watering, more light or moisture.

For when you are on holiday or not at home like being back in the office every day, this is really useful. It has a huge depth of information to draw on as well to tell you how to care for your plants. I think this is especially good for new plant owners or if you have a new plant which you don’t know how to identify or don’t know how to care for and could do with the prompts. I think it would be especially good for children so that they learn how to care for something that rewards them, such as a fruit tree or plants such as strawberries, and has a very low risk factor too. It’s also great fun watching your plants thrive!

Available from £34.99 at: https://plantwithwillow.co.uk

Tom Parker Creamery – Bedtime Milk and Unhomogenised Whole Milk

Children, cruelty-free, Family Life, Food & Drink

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

Most of us don’t have a milkman anymore, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have real milk in real glass bottles any longer, not does it mean milk has to be boring! Tom Parker Creamery has a new range of flavoured milks including the Bedtime Milk with chamomile and lavender. Along with some of the Unhomogenised Whole Milk, Tom Parker Creamery sent us some to try out at home.

If you’re not familiar with Tom Parker Creamery’s milk, which can be found in High Street supermarkets such as Tesco and Ocado, then try their Unhomogenised Free-Range Whole Milk, which is in 750ml bottles. This unhomogenised milk has not been through as many processes which break down the fat in the milk, giving it the creamy texture it’s famous for. If you’re interested in other dairy products, Tom Parker Creamery also does creams and iced coffees which can be found on their website. We used the Unhomogenised Whole Milk for both beverages and in cooking, where the fat content is highly useful.

The Tom Parker Creamery Bedtime Milk, which comes in 500ml glass bottles, is fresh whole milk, infused with lavender and chamomile for their sleep-inducing properties. Also added are magnolia extract and valerian root, both of which also help induce sleep and relaxation. This can be drunk at night before bedtime, or as an afternoon beverage such as to make hot chocolate. I found that it actually tastes quite good in tea at any time of the day, with only a slight lavender taste to it but didn’t detract from the taste of the tea. It also made scones more interesting, especially as I was making flavoured scones. The flavour of the chamomile and lavender was very subtle in the scones, but the rich whole milk really helped the scones to turn out well.

There’s more to discover of the Tom Parker Creamery range, all in the knowledge that you’re using free-range animal products from a Somerset based dairy.

Our Range

Sea-Band Nausea Relief Bands

Children, Days Out, Family Life, health, Summer, travel

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

Going on holiday this year? Chances are you’ll be using some kind of big transport – aeroplane, ferry, train and even the car. Most children get motion sickness on new transport and especially on long journeys in the car so some kind of remedy is needed. I know when I’m on a ferry, or a cruise, the sea sickness is atrocious and even with medication it takes a long time to fade.

Sea-Band Nausea Relief Bands are not medication but a great alternative to preventing any kind of sickness. Based on acupressure points, similar to acupuncture, the bands wrap around your inner wrist and exert pressure on a particular point to relieve sickness. It sounds wacky, but the acupressure point seems to lessen the effect of sickness regardless of whether it is sea sickness, morning sickness, as a result of drug treatment, post-op recovery or even VR/gaming sickness. The bands don’t only prevent sickness from starting but they can eliminate it within 5 minutes of being put on.

There are no side effects either. You can still take anti-sickness medication whilst wearing the bands if you wish, but they are very discreet and can fit under a sleeve if you want to hide them and prevent questions!

There’s no reason not to give them a try, no matter what reason for the sickness. There’s no down side, and they might prevent that horrible feeling of moving around constantly, which is what I had on a recent cruise. The bands ramp-up your defence against any kind of nausea and anything that can help me have a good time on a cruise, or even just let me tolerate a long journey, is a friend for life!

Available online from £6.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Band-Wristband-Anti-Nausea-Acupressure-Sickness/dp/B001F731N0/ref=sr_1_6?crid=23OC1LI97Z8IT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xG1fWVDLibx5j3zegpMmrad7IAwAH1e8ecShnu02ahISGpw02YikpHTCQIBSgtaIr1a2JGwYTRIGMapd5SJYw3ntwO_vHwr0nxE-j4CznzyVllb6Ru2W3lWy9pVGyIvaAaaJLqaVJ0BS7GyJSD–r6dhQ2Bfd8txbI_ix7LjYdjPPT6FYbAnJyiMZ1E1AMNoOJR5fBL0KwS9JvnKCIVUVSn7263OKgRbUSm6u_Ep-zqu7gvRCr20Iv_qj6WQQj5jbn2yzl7emot8xoNs7KMzwHATnsDKFKf1zyCVPZtuTPU.Rv2ZpwuN–Sivtng2C1yg5__3C6oBRElzGMbJR_r6ig&dib_tag=se&keywords=sea+band+nausea+relief&qid=1769621474&sprefix=Sea+band%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-6

Optima Natura Four Thieves Oils Products

beauty, Children, eco friendly, Family Life, health, Home, Home & Garden

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

If you’ve found this review then it’s probably because you’ve been searching for Thieves Oil, or Four Thieves Oils for holistic purposes. Four Thieves Oils is used for many ailments, cleaning and natural diffusing of the home. It’s a blend of essential oils which you can make yourself (but is quite expensive) or as in this case, you can buy Four Thieves already blended and ready to use. We were sent the Optima Natura Four Thieves Oils and the Four Thieves Fragrance Mist.

Each of the products, which is part of a bigger range by Optima Natura, are made of 100% natural essential oils comprising of cloves, lemon, cinnamon bark (and leaf), eucalyptus and rosemary. If you’ve never encountered the Four Thieves scent before, then I can only describe it as the freshness of eucalyptus with the warmth of cinnamon and rosemary. The cloves smell is very strong which is probably because it’s the oil with the largest concentration. I wouldn’t describe it as a scent you’d recognise from cooking or medicine, but it is similar to something you would find in a room diffuser or candles, but without being synthetic.

The concentrated Four Thieves Oils is great for adding to cleaning products to give the antibacterial properties as well as adding the pleasant fragrance. I use it as a mild antibacterial agent when I need a cut or graze dressed, or for mild skin infections like around my nails after a manicure. It has a whole range of uses, and the concentrated Four Thieves Oils from Optima Natura is the quickest, easiest way of getting all of the essential oils together rather than having to make it yourself! It’s very potent stuff though, so be careful when using it on some surfaces or around delicate clothes.

The Four Thieves Oils Fragrance Mist can be used as a perfume, direct to the skin, or for freshening up curtains, bedding, upholstery etc. If clothes are a bit musty, or don’t have the ‘just washed’ smell any longer, it’s a great way of giving them new life and also keeping the germs away. You can have this on hand for the car too when the dogs are wet during winter!

Save yourself the hassle of having to make up Four Thieves Oils for yourself, and indulge in the whole Optima Natura range for at home. You’ll be surprised how much you grow to need it!

Mist available from £8.49 at: https://www.boots.com/optima-natura-four-thieves-oils-fragrance-mist-50ml-10377817?srsltid=AfmBOopudvT-Ovtcdz3yOn3bxPL5F00dJF_qbZQsinPOZm4mEr16pGtS

Four Thieves Oils available from £16.99: https://www.boots.com/optima-natura-four-thieves-oils-aromatherapy-20ml-10377810

Suite Spaces Modular Dolls House Sets

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Learning, Toys

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

The moment December arrives, parents across the land descend into a familiar state of mild panic. There’s a list, it’s long and of course it’s non-negotiable. And somehow, you’re expected to source everything whilst juggling work, life and the madness of Christmas itself. So, if you’re currently hunting for a dolls house and furniture, allow me to save you some time by pointing you in the right direction.

The Suite Spaces Modular Dolls House Sets are designed for 8 to 10cm dolls. There’s five different rooms available, a Deluxe Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom and Game Room set plus the Style Surprises Blind Boxes which contains five surprise décor pieces to help children style and personalise their Suite Spaces rooms.

The clever bit is the flexibility, each room can easily be joined to the others to form one large house but as each room is modular you’re not locked into a single layout. When boredom inevitably strikes, the whole thing can be pulled apart and rebuilt in a completely different configuration. It might be kitchen on top one day with the bathroom at the bottom and on the next day it’s been swapped around – the layout is entirely up to the child’s imagination. Even the wallpaper and flooring are reversible, allowing for yet more rearranging and redesigning.

The attention to detail is just brilliant and it’s easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into every room. In the bathroom there’s soap, sponges and candles and the game room has a very modern feel complete with selfie light! The living room comes with a vase of flowers and candles, and the kitchen even has its own little fried egg for the frying pan.

I was also very impressed by the quality, the oven opens, the computer chair swivels, and when the rooms are stacked together they feel sturdy and well made. These are definitely built to stand up to the kind of enthusiastic play a child aged six and over will give them. This is not a flimsy, fall-apart-by-New Year sort of toy.

The smaller sets include 20 accessories and the larger ones come with 30, so there’s no shortage of home accessories to ignite budding designers imaginations. The sets encourage storytelling, creativity and hours of happy play, with endless scenarios to act out.

The Suite Spaces sets would make a wonderful Christmas present for any child who loves playing with dolls houses. We absolutely loved everything about them and I’ve no doubt they’ll be a big hit under the tree this year.

Standard rooms RRP £15 & Deluxe Bedroom set RRP £20

Blind box RRP £6 Avaiable from The Entertainer

Original Squishmallows Micromallows Plush 10 Pack

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

If you have young children you are bound to have heard of Squishmallows. These super cute stuffed egg-shaped cuddly toys are available in a wide selection of characters and have a habit of quietly taking over bedrooms and sofas. Fortunately, they’re nice and soft so when you accidently sit on them it doesn’t matter!

Micromallows are a smaller version of Squishmallows and have all the softness and charm of the originals, but are much smaller and a lot more portable, meaning they can be stuffed into pockets, bags, and glove boxes and taken on lots more adventures. Designed for collecting, displaying, and imaginative play, Micromallows allow children to construct entire plush-based worlds without needing an extension on the house!

The Micromallows plush 10-pack contains a selection of favourite characters including Hans the Hedgehog with his cute green bobble hat, Natnat the Alien who brings a touch of intergalactic fun to playtime while Puff the Penguin looks prepared for either a polar expedition or a well deserved nap. Malcolm the Mushroom, a Squishmallows celebrity is there too.

Compatible with all Micromallows Accessory and Storage Display sets, these tiny plush characters are easy to display, carry, or include in elaborate imaginary scenarios. They fit neatly into display cases, backpacks, or play scenes dreamed up by collectors of all ages.

The set makes a lovely gift, but you can also split it into stocking fillers or why not use them as a cute name place holders at the Christmas table?

Whilst officially aimed at children aged three to ten, they are also adored by older children and teenagers.

RRP £19.99 and available from Smyths Toys where they are currently available for £12.99

Beauty & the Beast – The Grand Theatre Blackpool

Children, Christmas, Days Out, Family Life, Gifts for children, Theatre

It’s December and the panto season is in full swing and there’s nowhere better to soak up this Christmas tradition than in Blackpool. Nothing says festive fun quite like a good old-fashioned pantomime, and in Blackpool, where the humour is gloriously cheeky and the double entendres glide in quicker than a seagull after chips – it’s family entertainment at its finest.

Betty Legs Diamond, the original Funny Girl herself, strides on as Dame Polly La Plonk, resplendent, outrageous and armed with a wicked glint that suggests she could reduce a grown man to helpless giggles with nothing more than a raised eyebrow.

Belle, played by Kitty Harris is exactly how a fairytale princess should be. She’s beautiful and kind and you can easily see that she sees past the horns, fur and claws to spot the prince within.

Leading the all-star cast is Coronation Street baddie Marc Baylis as Hugo Pompidou. He strides across the stage with the perfect mix of danger, drama and irresistible charm, making it impossible not to boo the moment he appears.

Photo credit © Blackpool Grand Theatre | Photography Martin Bostock

But the real heart of a Grand Theatre panto is, as ever, Steve Royle. Having earned the title of the UK Pantomime Awards’ Best Comic, he bounds onto the stage like a child who’s had too many fizzy drinks. His energy, perfectly timed slapstick and razor-sharp adlibs had the audience in stitches from the moment he appeared on stage.

The costumes this year are an explosion of colour, big, bold and bursting with personality. The Beast’s costume is particularly impressive and with his swishing cloak he cuts quite the imposing figure. The transformations from prince to beast and back again are especially impressive, they are so quick that you half expect to find Doctor Who lurking in the wings with a malfunctioning time vortex! Maybe one to include next year!! Elsewhere, the French theme justifies a profusion of red, white and blue. The dancers seem to have a new outfit for every scene, while Dame Polly’s costumes… well, let’s just say they’re that little bit more daring. Would we expect anything less?

The show is peppered with brilliant scenes, from classics like the Ghostbusters routine to wonderfully funny adlibs when the balloon scene went deliciously off-script.

Choreographed by Katie Hill, the talented dancers from The Barbara Jackson’s Theatre Arts Centre were excellent, wowing the audience with a variety of different dance styles. We especially enjoyed the Can Can which added a typical French flourish to the show.

Beauty and the Beast runs until Sunday 4th January, giving you plenty of time to catch this magical, laugh-out-loud production. If you love pantomime – and honestly, who doesn’t at Christmas? – this is one you absolutely won’t want to miss.

Tickets start from £15 and are available from The Grand Theatre here

Brick Like This! LEGO Card Game from Asmodee

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for teachers, Learning, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

This Christmas, Lego have a genius card game for after dinner or Boxing Day, or as a great gift for families who love constructing with LEGO.

The game is usually played in pairs where one person is the builder and the other a communicator. The communicator takes a card with a diagram of an abstract Lego design and has to describe it to their partner. The game is timed, so the team who build the LEGO model quickest gains the most points!

There are 92 models to build and 20 challenge cards to make the game more interesting, like having to communicate without speaking or building with just one hand!

The game includes 48 LEGO pieces which pertain to the designs on the cards, and the pieces are full sized LEGO pieces. It can be played with 4-8 players and is aged from 7 years upwards but you do need a stopwatch or time keeper of some kind. The small parts are not suitable for younger children either.

This is a really fun and easy to understand game for everyone. There’s nothing complicated about it and you don’t have lots of rules to memorize before you can play. The scoring is easy, but the actual building of the models is more difficult than you think so it’s really eye-opening to see how people cope with having to describe an abstract shape. The timing element of the game makes it more urgent and therefore more fun, especially at Christmas time when everyone is more jovial anyway! I loved this game and the whole concept of building with LEGO and can see us playing this as a family throughout the year.

Available from £18 at: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7716074?deeplink=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&&_$ja=tsid:11675|acid:169-582-1252|cid:10199914028|agid:102806174795|tid:dsa-44200048968|crid:763987808626|nw:g|rnd:5883392337404542790|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:9045872&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=10199914028&utm_term=&utm_content=text&utm_custom1=102806174795&utm_custom2=169-582-1252&cmpid=GG05X&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10199914028&gbraid=0AAAAAD9II9kL59fDoEw9wHarGCcZoHXlj&gclid=CjwKCAiAraXJBhBJEiwAjz7MZb-m_opPTTM2pjGuiQLV7uW6JAwZmTizGM7ZYBHPIeqkEaf3t-U8lxoCkYsQAvD_BwE

Tower Slushie Fusion – 5-in-1 Frozen Drinks Maker

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Home, kitchen appliances

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

Getting ready for a cocktail this evening? Planning a drinks party this Christmas? Then Tower’s newest frozen drinks maker may be for you, especially if you are a fan of a frozen margherita or daiquiri. Or do you have children who are always bothering you for a slushie when you’re out?

How does it work? Is it easy to use? Yes – add your mix, select what you want from the digital control panel, put a glass or container underneath the spout, press a button and your water mix magically turns into an iced rink before your eyes.

This appliance comes in a very large box and is heavy. This is because it’s effectively an ice machine and crusher in one. No putting cartons of water in the freezer and hammering away with an ice pick to get that perfect snowy crushed ice. You just add flavoured water, press the buttons and fluffy magical crushed ice is deposited into a glass. This machine does it all for you and more.

Unboxed it is also very large and if you are thinking of buying one you may need to check where you’ll put it. It didn’t fit under any cupboards in the kitchen and even at the front of the worktop you couldn’t fit the drip tray underneath. It would have to take up a large space on an open worktop or one a table. But once installed it’s very easy to use and comes with a comprehensive instructions booklet that also has QR links on cleaning and a QR code on the machine for recipes.

The drinks ‘drum’ has a minimum of 0.5l and a maximum of 1.9l fill, so a large capacity to make plenty of slushie mix or iced cocktails at once. However, where I think the machine does fall down slightly, you have to put sugared water in the drum to make the crushed ice mix. It specifically says that low calorie or sugar free slushies can’t be made. To use these mixes you would need to add lemon juice, salt and a low calorie sweetener called erythritol! Probably no low calorie for children then. However, as alcohol does contain sugar, frozen cocktails and other alcoholic drinks would be fine and very enjoyable in the summer. The Tower Slushie Fusion Maker doesn’t just do children’s drinks and cocktails, it can also make frappes and milkshakes. These too would have to contain some kind of sweet sauce or sweetener.e appliance doesn’t come with any recipes but going online to Tower’s website there’s a very detailed recipes book. Browsing through it becomes clear that many of your favourite drinks can have the Slushie Fusion treatment – Espresso Martini, Boozy Cherry Cola or Creamy Pina Colada Slushie! And the other sections were equally exciting – the Vegan Mocha or Matcha Latte Frappe compete with an Apple and Cinnamon Kombucha Slushie.

Worried about the cleaning if you use sugary syrups and milk? Not a bother at all – most parts that get dirty can be dish washed. There’s even a video, via that QR code, to help you out.

Would I buy the Tower Slushie Fusion? For a lover of cocktails or children and friends who love sugary drinks and smoothies then yes. If you were having a large get together or celebration party, it would be worth the investment. There’s a certain novelty to freezing your drinks and it would certainly cause a buzz amongst guests.

Currently available for £179.99 at: https://www.towerhousewares.co.uk/kitchen/26-litre-5-in-1-frozen-drinks-maker-black-t19058

A Fairytale for Christmas at the Dominion Theatre, London

Children, Christmas, Days Out, Family Life, Gifts for children, Theatre, Winter

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

Kick start Christmas with an Irish-themed song and dance spectacular in London’s West End! We were lucky enough to see the show live and experience the entertainment of Irish dancing, Christmas classics, live music and a few Christmas jokes in between!

Starting the show with an Irish band of banjo, violin and guitar, we are introduced to the 6 Irish dancers who accompany the 130 minute long show. Shane is our main compere and brings us to the show, starting in New York with a lean towards an Irish Christmas tale. We meet the six Irish dancers early on and are treated to a Riverdance-style performance with songs such as Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town, Step Into Christmas and some traditional songs such as Oh Danny Boy, O Holy Night and old-fashioned Irish songs like The Galway Girl, The Irish Rover and Dirty Old Town.

The band are phenomenal and take on the title of ‘house band’ with pride as we’re treated to great live music thanks to Shane Morgan (vocals), Oliver Cave (vocals and guitar), Peet Jackson (banjo), Molly Farmer (vocals) and Caitlin Forbes (Violin). The show finishes with some chart hits of yesterday such as the famous Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. The show ends with an Irish St Patrick’s Day party where everyone is on their feet, singing and dancing to the songs of A Fairytale for Christmas. A fabulous show for the whole family.

Mighty Wheels

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

It’s time to get MIGHTY!

Mighty Wheels is based on the cartoon series of the same name and contains a world of all sorts of trucks as toys as part of their range. Not just any trucks though, an assortment of dump trucks, tow trucks, cranes, tractors and even fire engines. The best part is that they’re made of steel and hardy plastic so they’re super hard wearing and can take about as much tough love as the real things! We were sent the “Super” Dump Truck and the Mighty Man Deluxe Figure as part of the extensive range available this Christmas.

The ”Super” Dump Truck is definitely super. It’s 16” in length and certainly lives up to its name of being “Super” thanks to the massive size of it. The yellow tipper is made of steel whereas the wheels and body are made of tough plastic. The tipper literally tips up and the wheels rotate making it easier to manoeuvre. This is a beast of a dump truck and it has to be seen to be believed so make sure you have enough room for it at home! It’s great for playing with scenarios where you can actually carry something worthwhile like if you’re on the beach or in the garden.

In addition to the “Super” Dump Truck, the Mighty Man figure is also from the cartoon show. It doesn’t fit the truck though, so don’t think you can use it as part of the role play. Instead, this is a toy in itself with batteries and accessories. Press the button on the belt and it has three phrases, “It’s time to get Mighty!” and “What do you think team? Can we do it?” as well as, “I got my Mighty Tools, my Mighty Hat and my team of Mighty Wheels!” He wears his famous hat, plus has a toolbelt with a detachable hammer. This is actually a really cool toy that I enjoyed playing with the phrases!

Just a word to watch out though – these toys have small parts that aren’t suitable for children under 3 so be careful with babies. They’re fabulous toys as part of a range of equally collectable and useable toys that children will love and can interact with in different ways depending on their age.

RRP £14.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-wheels-Man-Action-Figure/dp/B0CD2X7P85/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MLUQZDPMLNUZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AcmO13USZGfmDnJ8yarwmW7ipqvRmafkRRrDZXYfBqZCwK0Wu5wrcxl6YtMB900x81odkIPfHYc-W5Yl5wul5DxQvsWb2rDrfaTYPufzu2QBMvPfOSlPMpuHcNQ_eKdHWAZ_WTeaeK3aOoOLFynptqrJ9mo9CcKBq834ivLA_C5PBkOcoTtxPlyILKJGvzdlNID5PyJCa5EUei_iiuZX1eRB7naMEuUdJMvqBN8Qgsg.MxC1YZdwFbUTS24z3XXimeBaIji5BDb6xz8BtUH1GTU&dib_tag=se&keywords=mighty%2Bman&qid=1763402210&sprefix=mighty%2Bman%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1&th=1

Super Dump Truck £21.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-Wheels-Construction-Movable-Free-Wheeling/dp/B07YMBMFB1/ref=sr_1_2?crid=BZ5T5UM08W7D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I-SB0Jw8B7mzg_Ro4YXHCLZGs425oQAFiu59UV8W939DuPYp-mtii3hCTK25LUxBIGAGE2OxsOMi4YeC6FeMBDJAA996DZWr7m-JJRZllsUwp5YMGu2oPQhTQoXgEpumIjFdtwtujYH-tBPY8Hn9d7sb_uR-SpM_YQjN6tbcNezD08C3HPC8vbSxu3nzy4nu0-uZyDnrKCWfXdZM-vAM56tmA0JMqNOW0w9TOqyZFDFdKqSg0n7I81NQ8QJX_pTEPdxRjPlaqQAv57vdjDSCG-E5uZ2__DUvC_8f_alqAHk.9GEJtBit0MDDFNUJC3vKYGpR-AZcak8X_5aeBi87YbI&dib_tag=se&keywords=mighty%2Btruck%2Bsuper&qid=1763402249&sprefix=mighty%2Btruck%2Bsuper%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-2&th=1

Baker Ross Christmas Crafts and Gifts

Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Learning, Stocking Fillers, Toys, Winter

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

December can be such a busy month so it’s nice to slow down every now and again, enjoy some quiet crafting time and make a few special decorations or gifts for family members. Having used Baker Ross kits before with my Cub pack, I know how good they are so I was really pleased to try out a selection of their Christmas craft kits with our mini reviewers. Their ready-made kits take all the stress out of crafting with everything you need included in the sets. This week we tried three of the sets – the Reindeer “Christmas Lights” Bead Threading Kits, the Christmas Tree Kits and the Santa Chocolate Holder Decorations.

Our little ones love rolling up their sleeves and creating something magical, and these kits kept them entertained for a good couple of hours. The Santa Chocolate Holder Decorations (£5.95) were definitely the favourite – although the excitement may have had something to do with the chocolate “nose”! Each kit includes a Santa template, foam decorations, ribbon and simple instructions and as there’s no glue required, it’s completely mess-free. Available in packs of 8 or 32, these Santas are brilliant as gift tags, party treats or table gifts. Just assemble, decorate with the self-adhesive pieces and pop in a chocolate (Lindt truffles fit perfectly).

The Reindeer “Christmas Lights” Bead Threading Kits (£5.95) took a little longer to do, but they all enjoyed making them. With five assorted designs, the children enjoyed choosing their beads, threading them onto the black cord and wrapping them around the reindeer antlers to create the look of twinkling lights. Each one has a ribbon hanger so they can be used as a gift tag or Christmas tree decoration.

Finally, the 3D Christmas Tree Kit (£6.95) which contains foam pieces which slot together to form an 18cm tree, ready to be decorated with self-adhesive baubles, candy canes, snowflakes and stars. There’s four trees in the set and it kept our little ones busy for a good while.

As well as their brilliant craft kits, Baker Ross also offer a wonderful range of stocking fillers and party bag treats. Once our little ones had finished their decorations, they were more than ready to dive into a few extra festive goodies.

The Penguin Touchable Bubbles (currently £4.95 for a pack of 10 were an instant hit. These colourful little tubes create magical bubbles that you can actually touch without them popping. The children loved blowing the bubbles and trying to catch them as they floated down. They’re ideal for stockings, party bags or simply adding a bit of fun to a cold, winter afternoon.

The Snowman Pull-Back Racers (currently £4.50 for a pack of 6) were great fun to play with. Each snowman wears a brightly coloured scarf making it easy to spot the winner if you race them. They are ideal for Christmas Day races and are just as entertaining for the adults as they are for children.

It isn’t Christmas in our house without some building blocks and it’s nice to include some festive ones like the Penguin & Snowman Building Bricks in the Christmas stockings (£3.95). Each kit is individually bagged and includes easy-to-follow instructions and once assembled, the figures stand around 6.5cm tall and are perfect for festive play.

We’ll definitely be heading back to the Baker Ross website to stock up on more crafting treats for the Christmas holidays, and I’d happily recommend them to any family looking for easy, creative festive fun.

Customisable Advent Calendars from Vistaprint

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Toys

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

Choose your own design for a Vistaprint Advent Calendar this year or use one of their themes to send a surprise to someone you love.

Vistaprint are known for being able to print anything, with a website that allows you to upload your photos and print posters, tote bags, promo products and this year you can create your very own advent calendars, and that includes chocolate advent calendars!

With a range available from Lindt LINDOR Truffles to Toblerone, Mars Miniatures, Milka® Favourites, Kinder® Chocolate Minis or a non-branded chocolate, you can create a personalised advent calendar and have it sent directly to someone. We chose a photo of our beloved cat Sophia, but you can upload photos, artwork or even promotional images. Vistaprint then create the advent calendar from the photo and fill it with whichever chocolate you choose and send it off for you!

The Vistaprint Customisable Advent Calendars are great for family who are overseas, especially for sending to (or from!) grandparents. If you’re looking for something to send out as corporate gifts, then Vistaprint have you covered. You can use the Personalised Advent Calendar service to upload product photos or a logo. The chocolate is authentic to the brands claimed and the variety available makes it all the more fun to be able to choose! If you’re worried about waste this Christmas too, then the inside of the box is cardboard with the outer packaging being paper.

The cost isn’t too bad either given that it’s personalised and can replace another gift at Christmas. There’s not many gifts which are truly personable and last as long as advent like the Vistaprint Customisable Advent Calendar can, so you can be certain that it will be well received!

Available from £31.99 (plus postage and packaging) at: https://www.vistaprint.co.uk/photo-gifts/calendars/advent-calendars