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.
Stabilo have some smashing gifts for Dad this Father’s Day, including this set of Stabilo Pointball Pens in 6 colours, and the Stabilo Flow Fountain Pen. Dad doesn’t have to be a teacher to be able to use them either!
The Stabilo Flow Fountain Pen reminds Dad of days gone by when everyone (including me!) had to have a fountain pen for school. This often meant that you’d see people using fountain pens at home or in the office, especially when it came to signing documents. The Flow Fountain Pen has an ink cartridge with the easily found and this blue ink is erasable with the right ink eraser. The nib is stainless steel and handle is ergonomically designed for an easier grip.
The Set of Pointball pens which contains the colours dark blue, black, red, green, purple and teal are retractable ball point pens. These are great for teachers as it contains the stable blue and black which are needed for teaching and even the red ballpoint pen for marking and green for adjudicating. They’re 0.5mm in diameter too and although they come in this handy pocket pack, I would be inclined to keep them on my home desk so that I have a colour to hand at any time.
Not just Dads and not just teachers can find a fun use for almost anything in the Stabilo range this summer.
If you have watched the Traitors on TV then you know this game. Play as a Faithful or Traitor over 4 rounds to gain gold for your personal fund, survive the game and have the most gold by the end to then compete with another player to split the money or betray them and take it all!
Faithful and Traitors will play through 4 rounds of tasks that are set out in 1 of about 4 or 5 scenarios. The faithful are trying to help the task be done to gain gold (points) and stay alive. Traitors have secret objectives they must complete to gain extra points and the ability to remove a faithful at night.
This game is rather complicated for an adaptation of the tv show to play at home. For a family or casual group of players it will take a while to understand the rules and set up and longer to play. But if you like the Traitors it can be worth it as it is reasonably faithful to the tv shows feeling.
The problem with this game is it is needlessly complicated for a social deduction game. As a huge fan of Social deduction games, they are meant to have a low bar for entry, simple rules, and straight forward win conditions…so why is the Traitors so complicated? The Traitors Board Game adds extra steps, mechanics, and criteria which muddies the water and dilutes the real point of social deduction.
The thrill of not knowing who is good or bad, who you should trust and who is working against you is all part of much better games like Coup, Werewolf, and even the grandfather of these games Mafia! These games are simple, you have a number of good players, a handful of bad players and after a death in the night, you start to talk and, wait for it, socially deduce who might be bad and who is good. The best part is when the evil player gets the good players on side to destroy their own and comes out on top through true deception.
The Traitors board game is a fine introduction to these games and if you like the show, it would be a fun time. But if you like the show and like the idea of social deduction, find one of the games I mentioned above as these will give you much more than this game.
Do you think you know a lot of footballers? Musicians? Countries with coastlines? Do you want to put that knowledge to the test? Then pick up this game.
5 Second Rule is as simple as the name suggests, you have 5 seconds… to do what you ask? Well to say the name of 6 rappers, or name 7 kitchen appliances. What makes this game chaotic is the timing tower, a tall spiral tower with a ball bearing that will noisily whirl down in, you guessed it, 5 seconds!
As it stands that sounds easy but the difficulty comes from the group dynamic. A players turn starts with someone drawing them a card and reading the prompt and then flipping the tower to start the noisy timer. But, pay attention as if the first player can’t do it they flip the tower and the person to their left must try and meet the prompt. The difficulty, fun, and chaos ensues… Because you cannot use any of the previous players’ guesses.
Play continues around the group until someone gets it or it reaches the starting play in that case the tower has won! When we played we tracked the tower’s points as well as our own for fun – it did annoyingly well!
This is a fast paced party game that is suitable for most ages and is a fun exploration of what random trivia you can pull from the deep parts of your memory. Your mum might surprise you with her knowledge of Spanish kings, or your grandma might weirdly know the films list in the top grossing films list.
If you are a fan of party games at family gatherings or with friends I highly recommend grabbing this game as it is quick and a wild time – it can really get everyone up on their feet screaming and shouting or saying something random that gets the whole group laughing.
Murdle is an interesting blend of Mastermind and Cluedo, you and your fellow players compete to figure out which of the 4 suspects is the guilty party. The twist, you all learn certain starting information and then must carefully reveal information to learn more but try to not give too much away to the other detectives!
You take turns to do one of two things, tell every something that is not true or something that is. Each has their own rules but they all lead to taking one of the suspect files and looking at a new piece of information. While you do this, your opponents can try to deduce what this information means to them.
All your information is collected on the central grid for the game that all players can see, this grid shows the suspects, potential weapons, and locations. Using large crosses and ticks in columns and rows the game highlights for the crime what, where, and by who. As the game progresses all players will start to see more information and be able to make a final deduction but be careful, get it wrong and you are out for the rest of the game!
We found this game to be a fun quick game with experienced players and would probably take longer for more casual players. The instructions are simple and clear. The only problem we found was if one player gets lucky early on and learns who the guilty person is, they can quickly win before anyone else has a chance to make a deduction. We felt as a group it should be harder to learn who the guilty party is or have more suspects – this would extend the game but could make for a fun series of Sherlock Holmes moments for the players.
Overall we enjoyed the game but for experienced board gamers who play a lot of social deduction games this is a nice and quick game to play between bigger and more complex games. It left, for us at least, a little bit of a lackluster feeling at the end.
For a family or casual group, this game is a great introduction to social dedication and information gathering games and I would recommend trying this out.
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.
Although this is meant to be a toy for children aged 8+ years, I found myself enjoying playing with this myself! Photo Creator’s Mini Digital Keyring Camera is only a few inches square, the perfect size for a keyring but is also a fully functioning digital camera. It comes with a keychain, USB cable and 1G memory card which is actually more than enough for a child to play around with it until it’s time to download the photos, and it’s amazing that it all fits into one little camera!
Surprisingly, it also takes video as well as photos. If you want to add a memory card with more than 1G then it’s possible, especially if your child wants to take movies. The viewing screen is 1 inch from corner to corner, but it does contain a flash as well as a microphone. I would have loved this as a child! Think of all the adventures you could have and the memories stored when you’re too young for a phone but old enough to know how work a camera?
There’s only a few buttons on it – Camera/film, on/off, and a scroll button on the side to be able to go through the photos before they’re uploaded. The SD card and the cable outlet are on the bottom. The photos upload really quickly too and they’re good enough quality!
The MiniCams come in different colours and styles. Our one is a Vintage style, which is purple and in the style of an old camera. There’s also Original (green), Retro (blue), Pro (light green), Compact (pink) and Instant (orange) which means children can collect them or they can have a set of them to share on adventures or school holidays.
This is brilliant as a gift for taking children on a plane or on holiday to keep them amused, plus it adds to their creativity as they look at the world through a photographic lens but without having to have a smart phone. It also introduces young children to how digital cameras and uploading photos works. At the price of less than £15, it’s a stocking filler too, or a gift in the post from Godparents. I love it!
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We all know how tough it can be to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays. You get a few weeks of lovely sunshine in the run-up, then as soon as school’s out -down comes the rain! And as much as I’d love to pack our days with trips to the cinema, bowling alley or soft play, let’s face it, it soon gets expensive so it’s not an option for most parents.
That’s why I’m such a big fan of keeping it simple. You really can’t beat a good old-fashioned colouring session to keep little hands (and minds!) busy. Felt tips and colouring pencils might not sound like much, but they’re absolute lifesavers in our house – and STABILO have a brilliant range that makes colouring and craft sessions a lot of fun.
The STABILO Cappi felt tip range have clever caps so you can thread them together and fasten the set to a bag or a carabiner which is perfect for keeping them all in one place, especially when you’re out and about. It also means no lost lids too! The triangular shape is comfy for small hands to grip, and they come in packs of 12 or 24 vibrant colours.
If you’ve got younger kids who tend to press a bit too hard, the STABILO Trio Scribbi is a game-changer. These pens are practically indestructible thanks to their spring-loaded tip. Press down too hard and the tip just bounces back – no more ruined pens! Plus, the water-based ink is washable (thank goodness), and they come in 14 bright colours.
Then there’s the STABILO Woody 3-in-1 – a chunky pencil that works as a colouring pencil, wax crayon, and even a watercolour for the more adventurous, simply add a splash of water and with a small paintbrush the little ones will soon be creating masterpieces for your walls. They’re also great for craft projects as they can be used on windows, lunchboxes, mirrors, and blackboards too. The colour wipes off easily with water, and the thick lead lasts for ages – eight times longer than a regular pencil! Available in 24 shades, these have been a big hit with our little ones.
As well as drawing we’ve been making homemade cards for birthdays and using colouring books too. There’s also loads of free printable sheets online too if you want something different.
So next time the kids say those dreaded words – “I’m bored!” – hand them a rainbow of STABILO colours and let their imagination do the rest. They’re affordable, portable and most importantly fun!!
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.
Calm your skin in this sunny weather with the Kalme Daily Defence, with the added bonus of SPF40.
Most daily moisturisers are only SPF10 of SPF15 but the Kalme Daily Defence has the benefit of SPF40, which is higher than most sun creams. Giving 24 hours of moisturisation, Kalme lasts longer than most moisturisers and keeps moisturising through the night. When you apply it, you can see how nutrient dense it is from the way it sits on your skin before it’s absorbed.
Kalme’s non-comedogenic formula doesn’t clog pores nor does it make your eyes sting if you accidentally touch them, although you should always rinse your eyes with water if it does occur. Tint-free, it’s also suitable for all skin tones. Kalme also works as an anti-redness aid, helping sooth skin whether sun burnt, affected by allergies or redness from an irritation. I used Kalme as a night moisturiser as it’s so effective in the long term. It’s been dermatologically tested for sensitive skin, and the addition of antioxidants also helps repair skin at night.
Although a heavy cream at first, it absorbs quickly and keeps the moisture in. Use it at night or in the morning, it keeps on working a treat!
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.
Summer brings dry lips, and not just because of the weather but hay fever is a big cause too – I know because I have it! LipQ’s Liquorice Lip Balm is not like other balms though, thanks to the liquorice which helps prevent cold sores too. Liquorice extract weakens the virus before it can take hold, effectively lessening the impact that the cold sore can have on your lips.
LipQ Liquorice Balm also protects against UV. The 30 grams tub, which is small enough to take with you anywhere or pack into a handbag, is made with almond and beeswax with added avocado and sunflower oil to create a hydrating seal. It’s free from parabens and perfumes and in trials, 83% of users reported faster recovery.
Each pot lasts for ages, even if you use it every day. It seals in moisture and prevents sunburn but also helps with hay fever. If you rub a small amount on the tip of your nose, pollen sticks to it instead of being inhaled which helps prevent pollen allergies in the first place!
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.
As summer approaches, trips on boats, cars and planes often get dogged by travel sickness. Medication aside, there is a natural way of preventing it that doesn’t include drugs and is safe even for morning sickness. Sea-Bands use pressure points on the inside of the wrists to alleviate the symptoms and in some cases, the sickness goes altogether. We were sent a pair to try out and we discovered they’re not just for cruises!
There are two bands in the pack, and they come in their own plastic box to keep them clean, or to have on hand in a handbag or travel luggage as and when needed. To use, just place them over your wrists (you need to use both bands for them to be effective) and have the button in the inside of your wrist, over the Nei-Kuan point. This acupressure point can be found by placing your middle three fingers on the inside of your wrist, with the third finger just below the first wrist crease. The Nei-Kuan point is found under our first (index) finger. If you’re placing the Sea-Bands on children, use their fingers to find the same point.
You can place the bands on before a journey or as you start to feel sick, although it can take 2-5 minutes to start taking effect so it’s best to place them on before travelling. Extra pressure on the buttons gives more relief so sleeping with them on and your palms faced down has a greater effect. If you’re wearing them for morning sickness, you can put them on the night before and wear them all day too.
Sea-Bands have no side-effects and can be used all day to prevent relief, just be sure to adjust them if they come out of place. They’re re-usable too, so you can take them off and store them for another day and wash them gently under water. They’re also used for the symptoms of nausea resulting from anaesthesia and chemotherapy.
We go on cruises frequently, and if you’ve ever travelled through the Bay of Biscay or the North Atlantic, then you’ll know that anti-nausea relief is a MUST! The Sea-Bands really help with the nausea feeling. They don’t always prevent all of the sickness but they do relieve it, and depending on the cause and severity, can give complete instant relief.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
As a Scout leader, whenever I’m teaching the Scouts about hiking and how to pack a rucksack, there’s one piece of kit I always make sure we talk about – a whistle. It’s small, it weighs next to nothing, but it could genuinely save your life one day. Whether you’re up in the mountains or following a rocky coastal path, when things go wrong, having a simple way to signal for help is absolutely vital and a whistle is one of the easiest and most effective ways to alert people to your situation.
I always advise the Scouts to clip their whistle permanently onto their rucksack. that way, it’s always there when you need it and there’s no rummaging or risk of forgetting it. If you’re injured, lost, or stuck somewhere remote, shouting can quickly leave you exhausted, but a whistle will cut through the air sharp and clear. Six blasts followed by a one minute pause and then repeated is the universal distress signal and with luck, someone will soon be on their way to help.
We recently had the opportunity to try out a couple of whistles from ACME, who have been making them for over 150 years.
The ACME Survival Whistle 649 is available in six colours. It’s made from shatterproof plastic, delivers a loud, sharp, discordant note that’s hard to ignore, and is incredibly easy to blow – giving you lots of sound for very little effort, which can be crucial in an emergency. It’s a real classic too, first developed back in 1949. (RRP £5.99)
The ACME Tornado Whistle is slightly different, offering an ultra-high pitch and is available in eight colours. It’s also extremely easy to blow and is a brilliant choice for walkers and hikers. (RRP £7.49)
Naturally, we handed the whistles out to the Scouts to test – and let’s just say, I probably should have packed some earplugs too! They had a lot of fun seeing who could blow theirs the loudest.
The skills we teach young people in Scouting really do stay with them for life. Simple habits like carrying a whistle are part of the basic, no-nonsense outdoor wisdom that could make all the difference one day.
So next time you’re packing your rucksack, whether for a short day walk or a full-on expedition, don’t overlook the little things. Pop a whistle on your kit list. It might just be the most important thing you pack.
These whistles and many more are available from ACME
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.
Give the kids something different this Easter instead of chocolate, but also get them off their screens! Gen X will remember the Rubik’s Cube from the 1980s and how many hours of fun we had trying to solve it. Most of us didn’t (my brother just removed the stickers and replaced them back in the right order!)
This full sized Rubik’s Cube, which is available at Smyth’s, is the original design at 55 millimetres square. The record for completing the Rubik is 3.47 seconds, but if you’re looking for tips on how to solve it, there are tons of videos on You Tube. For the same price as an Easter Egg, the Rubik, which comes already completed, can be set up so that children can solve it in as few moves as possible. Once solved, it can be reset again and again to provide more practice until children inevitably learn how to solve any configuration!
The Rubik Cube isn’t just for children. Teenagers and adults with the knack can enjoy this too, and it’s an excellent way of keeping adult minds occupied whilst still being social. No screens are needed, just problem solving and some lateral thinking which is never a bad thing in the days of video games and smart phones.
The Rubik Cube is very robust, yet even at the full size is small enough to be able to be added to a laptop bag or luggage, or even a picnic bag. It’s aimed at ages 8 plus and has a difficulty rating of 3 out of 5, but anyone who has ever tried to solve one, knows that it feels like it’s a lot harder! This edition of the Rubik’s Cube is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the game. The Rubik is a brilliant way of spending some downtime, and remembering your childhood at the same time!
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.
Easter doesn’t have to be about chocolate and the Airbrush Plush Hair’iffic Mini is not only a great gift, but will keep the children occupied during the Easter holidays!
This washable toy comes with fun accessories including 15 stencils so that your little ones can colour in the wild Plush hair and create their own look! The kit includes two coloured pens and a clever accessory that when added to the coloured pen, creates an ‘air brush’ effect to use over the stencil and create effects. You can mix the colours too, and use the accessories to comb and create styles, tie up the hair and add bows. When they get bored, you just have to wash it under the tap and they can start again!
A new hobby for Easter, this is great for outdoors when the sun is out. It’s only about 21 centimetres tall and can fit in luggage if you go on holiday. There are three of these Minis to collect too. For ages 6+.
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 beautiful silver charm makes an exquisite gift for your loved one at Easter.
Not only to mark Easter, but for anyone who loves wildlife, nature and pets or wants to have something slightly different to wear as jewellery, the Silver Bunny Charm from Jeremy Hoye is hand crafted to be worn on either a chain or a charm bracelet. With a slight Disney-look to his face, it would also be a perfect gift for Bambi and Thumper lovers, with his big eyes, full cheeks and cotton tail. You can’t see it in the photos very easily, but up close, his left ear is bent over to accommodate the hanging loop! The inner ears, tummy and face whiskers are also visible.
The photos don’t do this charm justice. In natural light, the polished surfaces reflect the sunlight and you can see all the rabbit features, glistening. It stands about 2 centimetres tall with the look included and is actually very heavy as it’s sterling silver. Teenagers will love this, but I think it’s a great gift for a wife or girlfriend who doesn’t want chocolate or flowers at Easter, but a memorable token of an Easter getaway or maybe a first Easter together. It lasts a lot longer than flowers or chocolates and is certainly a talking point whenever you wear it, Easter or otherwise!
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.
Kinetic sand is the perfect example of a toy that didn’t exist when my generation was young – but should have done. If you’re not familiar with it, kinetic sand is simply soft sand that’s been treated so that it sticks together easily, can be fragranced and dyed a colour (as in this toy) and can be mixed up to make different colours.
The Kinetic Sand Scents Ice Cream Treat Set is perfect as an Easter gift or to keep children happy over the Easter holidays. Aimed at age 3 years plus, it can be enjoyed by the whole family. The kit contains three different colours of sand which are also scented to smell like the ice cream! Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry sand make up the Neapolitan colours of an ice cream parlour. It also contains a fabulous waffle maker, sundae glass and cone and a toy ice cream scoop to remove the kinetic ice cream from the container. There’s some cute little accessories too, including a spoon and toppers, just as if you were making real ice creams!
It’s a brilliant set for children to be able to play with on their own, or use their imagination together. Either creating pretend ice creams for the family, setting up an ice cream shop as imagination play or experimenting with shapes and textures, it’s a fabulous learning tool as well. The sand sticks together so that you can create shapes that don’t fall apart. It doesn’t really dry out but if it does, just a touch of water makes it mailable again. You can mix the colours to create new flavours or you can buy extra bags of kinetic sand to add to the kit over time and make different creations.
Just a note, it’s obviously not edible sand! It is one of those compelling toys that adults can get involved with too and it’s a line of toys that can grow and grow with both age and ability. Completely wholesome and addictive at the same time!
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.
For an alternative to chocolate this Easter, Freddie’s Farm have some delicious snacks made of fruit and vegetables. We were sent some to try in flavours Apple, Raspberry and Blueberry.
The Freddie’s Farm snacks are dehydrated, 100% British fruit made which have no added sugar but all of the benefits of fruit. There’s no concentrate or puree and are made on Freddie’s Farm, packaged in paper packets. Each pack is part of your 1-A-Day quota, and is both Dairy Free and Gluten Free. They contain more than just their fruit flavours though, with added beetroot, carrot and spinach to not only make the shapes work, but to add extra nutrition. You can’t taste the flavour of the vegetables though!
I think my favourite was the Apple flavour. Each one tastes of the fruit though, with the raspberry being the sweetest, apple being the most recognisable and the blueberry had a fruity taste at first then the flavour of the berry came through after a few seconds. I like the idea of having these as snacks for little hands because it helps with motor skills as well to have them pick up the little shapes, which look (and taste) a lot like sweets, but are more wholesome, and of course, have no unnatural sugars.
Each pack weighs 20 grams and can fit into pockets, or are great for picnics or lunchboxes and they make great baking ingredients, especially if you’re looking for some ideas over the Easter holidays of nutritious snacks to cook with. How about using the snacks for an Easter Egg hunt instead of chocolate?
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.
Surprise your little ones this Easter with something other than chocolate! Mad Beauty’s Disney themed Bambi gifts include this Bambi Elasticated Headband and Thumber Lip Balm Duo; perfect for your Disney Princess!
The Beauty of Bambi Elasticated Headband gives your child the fun of dressing up as Bambi, complete with soft Bambi ears. This can be used as a headband to go out to an Easter party, for beauty pampering at home to hold back Princess’s hair, or for adorable photos at an Easter Egg Hunt! The ears are soft but remain high when the band is put on, with the whole headband being soft so that there are no tears when it’s taken off or whilst out to play. It’s hand wash only, but it actually looks really cute on and your child won’t even notice they’re wearing it.
The Disney Thumber Lip Balm Duo are two 12 gram lip balms of coconut and vanilla fragrance. Princesses will love this mock-lipstick pack where they can pretend they’re putting on grown up make up but also enjoy the flavours. They’re high quality balms as well, mostly petroleum oil (similar to Vaseline) but with the added scents. They will actually keep lips moisturised as well as looking like lip gloss!
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.
As the long Bank Holiday approaches for Easter, many of us are looking to spring clean and update our homes, and BHS (yes, the British Home Stores of old!) have some fantastic items available. Starting with this Hotel Collection 5 Starr Goose Down Pillow, available for only £40, you can add some luxury to your bedroom and take advantage of the natural goose feather feel.
The premium duvets and pillows are all made of goose down, that is 60% goose feather and 40% down, to give the ultimate soft feel. The white colour is made of 300 thread count 100% cotton to allow air to flow and also reduces the changes of allergies. The pillow is completely washable (but follow instructions!). If you’ve only ever had synthetic pillows then you are in for a treat! Unlike synthetic material pillows, the goose feathers keep the shape of your head as you sleep, allowing air to circulate but doesn’t get bunched up and lumpy. After you’ve vacated the bed, the pillow plumps up again to give the even shape, ready for when you next lie on it.
The quality of the goose down filling can be felt as soon as you squeeze it. The feather give a light resistance to pressure whilst remaining soft. When you lie on the pillow, it’s firm but you soon realise that the feathers are taking the weight of your contours and changing shape as they do so.
Once you try goose down, you won’t want to go back to anything else!
The Hotel Collection 5 Star Luxury Goose Down Pillow can be washed at 40 degrees centigrade and tumble dried, but not dry cleaned. Measures 74 centimetres length, 48 centimetres width. It is not bleach safe.
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 Mother’s Day, give a gift which is both thoughtful and useful with the Jartoo Heated Blanked.
Not just a blanket that heats up, the Jartoo Heated Blanked uses Carbon Nanotube Technology to convey heat via the blanked which is more efficient and doesn’t involve lots of wires. It also promotes blood circulation and muscle relaxation with far infrared heating, and uses 60% less energy than other heated blankets.
With the cost of heating being extortionately expensive now, the mantra in most households is ‘heat the person, not the room’ to save both money and energy. The Jartoo Heated Blanked buys into this ethos with the heated blanked that has 6 different heat settings from 35 degrees centigrade up to 55 degrees (95F to 131F) at the touch of a button.
The blanket measures 50” by 60” and has a clever mesh inside that you can’t feel through the soft fabric. To heat it, there’s a connector concealed in a corner which connects to a corded plug which goes into the wall socket. On the blanket is a Jartoo button in one corner which starts the heating process when you press it. You know which temperature you’re at because the button changes colour from blue (lowest temperature) to red (highest). Amazingly, there’s also a remote control also included which is already paired through wifi to you your blanket allowing you to turn up the heat from a distance!
The Jartoo Heated Blanket also has a timer, which can be adjusted with the remote control. Cleverly, the blanket will also turn itself off if there is no movement detected, so that it doesn’t become a hazard if you fall asleep. However, it only has an output of 24V so it is well below the safety threshold of 36V. Despite the wires, the cord can be detached and you can put the blanket in the washing machine and it’s safe for animals to use, even if they try and destroy it!
I found it very easy to set up, and the size of the blanket is well beyond what I would expect as it went from my neck right down to my feet. The material is incredibly soft and the colour, although boring, fits in with existing décor (it’s a dark grey colour) and you don’t see marks on it easily. When I fitted the plug, it started working straight away and I could feel it heating up. I timed it as taking 6 minutes before I was toasty, so I’m presuming that was including the time for it to get to its maximum temperature and warm me enough that I could feel a marked difference. Pressing the Jartoo temperature button was fun too as I cycled through the different temperatures to get to where I was comfortable.
I’m really impressed with the blanket so far and can’t find anything to improve! It’s really efficient, easy to use and safe too. You can warm yourself up with it and feel safe on a timer or simply leave it on knowing that it won’t overhead. Great for older people and children, I also thought that this would be good for pets who like to snuggle especially when it’s freezing out there!
It may be pricy (currently listed on US Amazon at $259.99 which is approximately £200) but the quality of the materials should last you a few years especially with the included warranty. Think about the amount of money you’ll be saving though when you don’t need the heating on so much!
I’m going back to snuggle down in the warm again now…
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.
Belvoir have some Mother’s Day gifts for Sunday Roast at Nan’s house or just to celebrate Mum as she opens her presents and gets pampered. Pink elderflower and raspberry lemonade drinks from Belvoir can be the perfect alcohol replacement, or used in cocktails all day without the worry of not being able to drive later! We were sent the Mother’s Day pink drinks selection of Sparkling Elderflower Rose, Elderflower & Rose Cordial and Raspberry Lemonade.
The Sparkling Elderflower Rose can be consumed on its own or with a white wine to make a spritzer, but I preferred this light, bubbly elderflower taste on its own. The rose flavour comes through later and as it’s sparkling, it makes it feel like you’re drinking something alcoholic and sweet but without the hangover! The Elderflower & Rose Cordial is similar in that the elderflower taste is there with the rose behind it, and the concentration means you can have as much or as little of the taste as you desire, plus you can mix it! The ratio stated is 1:10 but you might want to change this if you’re adding it to a cocktail, or if you prefer more of a fruity taste to a Prosecco.
Lastly, the Raspberry Lemonade is a particularly effervescent drink with the raspberry flavour making it taste more like a cocktail. It’s a grown-up version of a lemonade though which makes it even more enjoyable when you know the children won’t want it! Keep it in the fridge to drink on its own or as a mixer with a spirit and its great fun, especially for summer.
Belvoir have a range of drinks available, not just for Mother’s Day but for the summer too.
Available at Ocado, Waitrose, Booths, Sainsburys and Tesco from £3.25.
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.
Add some Scandi glamour to Mum’s bedroom with décor from Terry’s Fabrics. This Scandi Berber Black & White rug has a diamond style with thick pile and comes in 3 sizes. This is the 80 centimetre by 150 centimetre rug which also comes in Grey & Cream, Cream & Grey and White & Black (it makes sense when you see the photos!)
Made of Polypropylene, it is soft under foot thanks to the heat set yarn construction. The black and white colouring is great for babies when they do ‘tummy time’ thanks to their monochrome visibility, so you can set them up on this Scandi rug and let them loose with the newborn toys! As an added bonus, the rug is stain resistant and just needs a shake to release the dust and a freshen up with water.
Scandi Berber is available in 2 other sizes; 120cm by 170cm and 160cm by 220cm. There are plenty of other styles and sizes available online, including trendy outdoor rugs, which make the garden more enjoyable and easier on the bare feet in summer. Mum can style any way she chooses with even more choice of items from Terrys – check out the website at www.terrysfabrics.co.uk
Available online in this size (80cm by 150cm) at £51.99:
We sat down to play Patchwork expecting a simple tile placement game but found a fun and engaging puzzle of creation. This game has you softly competing with another player to build a quilt with random sized tiles on your own grid. The satisfaction of placing just the right piece to fill a gap… amazing!
In Patchwork, you take turns but not in the conventional manner. The player behind on the time board plays, so if you stay behind your opponent you can take multiple turns in a row. On your turn you will pick from 3 different shaped quilt tiles, all with beautiful patterns. Then move a sweet little sewing machine token to replace the taken token and now your choice of tokens changes, giving each turn a new challenge to get just the right tile, or work with what the fate of the game gives you.
So what’s the catch for placing tiles? Each one costs a certain amount to play and takes you time to add to your quilt, which will have you and your opponent leapfrogging across the time board, staring down the other player as their hand hovers over the piece you want, and looking at that all too expensive piece that would fit perfectly but you don’t have the buttons for!
This game is quick, engaging, and has a cozy feeling as you build your quilt alongside your opponent. Patchwork really nails the pace, simplicity of its rules but gives so much replay value – my wife immediately wanted to play this with her mum when she finished. It is a game for any level of boardgamer.
The one part we found a little dissatisfying was the scoring at the end but this may have been due to our gung ho way of playing! We found the -2 points for blank spaces harsh and it led to one of us getting negative points. I would have it only remove 1 point or -2 per a certain amount of blank spaces to give a bit more of a good feeling at scoring. But we enjoyed the journey of the game and look forward to playing again.
Patchwork is a great game to pick up for a couple or to play while catching up with a friend. It requires just enough attention that you can play, chat, and enjoy! The satisfaction of the quilt you can build and fitting that perfect piece will have you wanting to play again and again to see what form of Patchwork you make next time!
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.
As hair and beauty products seem to be advancing at an exponential rate recently, there are new gadgets on the market all the time. The OneBrush takes the humble hairbrush and upgrades it to something tailored to what you need it for that day. It’s the world’s only adjustable hairbrush.
If like me, you have several hairbrushes (and combs!) for different reasons, then the OneBrush replaces all of them. With a dial on the back of the brush face, you can change the firmness of the brush in 7 iterations and anything in between. From ‘Soft’ to ‘Firm’, the dial changes the direction of the bristles on the face so that they have different effects. The brush bristles are plastic (the whole brush is recyclable and already made from recycled plastic) and shaped like aeroplane wings. They’re wider at the base than at the top and they taper towards the end. This gives the advantage of changing the firmness of the brush stroke when the dial is changed, thanks to the direction of the fin. The pattern of the bristles also causes the brush to be firmer or softer as it pulls in different directions.
Yes it sounds technical! However, when you play with the brush and try it against your scalp and hair it feels different so you start to get an idea. As it’s easy to change the dial each time you use it, you can start with the firmness in one direction for the scalp, then change again as you brush towards the ends. Likewise, you can change it when you are in the shower and might need a softer brush to run conditioner through your hair, or need a firmer brush for when you have shorter, fly away hair.
It takes a while to get used to the different settings, which is understandable as it’s a whole new concept. I’m not a fan of plastic but it does mean that this brush is more versatile and can be used in the shower, taken on holiday (it’s probably indestructible!) and kept in a handbag if you need to. I found that the firmer end of the dial was very good at massaging my scalp as well as brushing, which made me wonder if using OneBrush helps with stimulating better hair growth. It’s not just great for getting the right stroke in your hair brushing, but for massaging your pressure points after a long day too. Mum will love it!
This Mother’s Day, OneBrush have a special pink version on their website, along with the original version.
As a special deal for Review Studio readers, you can use discount code MD20 for 10% off for Mother’s Day!
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 may look like it’s a set for children with the Disney theme, but adults can use this hair curling kit too! All over Instagram, there’s demonstrations of how to get curly, yet frizz-free hair from different styling methods. These heatless hair curlers are probably the easiest, and least damaging of all the methods and you’ve probably seen how some of the influencers have used similar methods to get luscious curls.
The idea is to wrap your hair around each of the bendy curlers and fix them in place either whilst you sleep or whilst your hair is still wet and let it dry. There’s no heat involved (although in time you could blast your hair with a diffuser hair dryer to get a different effect) but as there’s no heat and there’s no small parts, this is great for children to either sleep in or use themselves. The ribbon secures around the head and then you just undo it and let your hair fall out into curls the next morning.
These heatless hair curlers are also lightweight so can be taken on holiday or camping to give you an easy way of styling your hair with minimal effort.
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 don’t know what a USB Flash Drive, Portable SSD or indeed what Fortnite is, read on. It might save you a drawn-out heartache when it comes to finding gifts for the young people around you!
Fortnite is an online video game and probably one of the most successful and well known games on the market at the moment. Fortnite have teamed up with the hardware company SanDisk to product these two Peely themed items. Peely is one of the characters in Fortnite and if you haven’t guessed already, Peely is based on a banana!
The limited edition Fortnite Peely USB Flash Drive is a clever little device which allows you to put files on it, in this case up to 1Gig of files, and transport it around. It’s only about 5 centimetres long so it fits in a pocket or can be carried on a keychain. Moving files physically can sometimes be essential for backing up what you have on your own computer, or for security when using public computers. Some software is needed to be able to use it properly but the instructions are included on the Flash Drive, which as the name suggests, is connected to a computer or device via USB.
The second apparatus is the equally clever and limited edition Fortnite Peely Portable SSD. This comes with some perks which can be used in the Fortnight game, but this is another drive whereby you can store files. This is a much bigger drive, with the ability to store 1 Terabyte which is 1000 gigabytes. That’s the equivalent to 1000 of the Peely USB Flash Drives! This is great for backing up a complete computer or big files like music or high resolution artwork, graphics and movies. Remarkably, it’s less than 10 centimetres tall and very light, with a rubber loop which can attach to a keyring. It’s got a great 2 metre bounce drop protection and no moving parts, so you can imagine how durable this is with children. The USB cable which comes with it is compatible with most computers and like the Flash Drive, it can be used with both PC and Macs.
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.
Easter is big business now, or for the children expecting chocolate it is at least! PLAYin CHOC accommodate all children with their Great Taste Award Winning (2019) chocolate toy boxes which are all dairy, nut, gluten and plastic free.
There’s a whole range of PLAYin CHOC toys. Most of them are boxes of self-assembly, cardboard toys that are part of a range of animals, dinosaurs or a seasonal range which children can collect and put together themselves. With no small moving parts (unlike other toys) they are great for travelling or sitting quietly to play with. There’s the whole box of PLAYin CHOC Organic Chocolate and Surprise Toys which comprises of 6 box toys, in this case, rabbits for Easter! Perfect as part of an Easter Egg Hunt or to give as gifts at an Easter party or birthday favours around Easter.
We also had one each of the Dinosaur and Endangered Animals toy boxes. Inside there’s the toys, set in parts in a cardboard pop-out, an information card and two PLAYin CHOC chocolate nuggets, individual wrapped. The boxes themselves make great building boxes to collect and play with!
Grown-ups aren’t left out with the dairy, nut and gluten free chocolates. We were also sent some boxes of organic dark and ‘milk’ chocolate, all which are made with the same high quality ingredients as the toys. The chocolates are individually wrapped inside the boxes so can be eaten as one big snack or as tiny mid-afternoon treats as a pick-me-up. Can you tell I’m enjoying both types of chocolate on a rainy afternoon?
The dark chocolate is made with Peruvian Cacao and has that dark, intense taste but unusually, isn’t bitter like other chocolates. It doesn’t have any added refined sugar, just the 70% cocoa solids, coconut sugar, creamed coconut and vanilla pods. I think it’s the vanilla pods that make it feel like it’s sweeter and the creamed coconut which gives it the creamy texture. The ‘milk’ chocolates (and the word milk is highlighted here because it doesn’t contain any milk as it’s dairy-free) is a softer chocolate flavour but sweeter than the dark chocolate. The coconut sugar really comes through in this flavour, with both the sweetness and the coconut taste. It’s also nut free and gluten free plus soy free too but has the added vanilla pods and creamed coconut to add the familiar texture and taste of chocolate.
The PLAYin CHOC range is not only great for every day treats, but the more adult selections are fabulous for those of us who like a treat as a grown-up, and even better for those with allergies.
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