Children – Page 5 – The Review Studio

Happi Oat Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Gifts for children, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

The team at Happi are made up of parents who when looking for plant based treats, realised that there wasn’t a place for fun and healthy chocolate on the supermarket shelves – so they created Happi Chocolate for just that reason! In 2020, they came up with the idea of oat milk chocolate that was not only plant based, but lower in sugar than other plant based chocolate manufacturers and sustainably sourced and packaged. Their Happi Advent Calendar is right on track with the same principles and we were sent a lovely 24 day calendar to try out!

The Happi 3 flavour Oat Milk Advent Calendar is made entirely of recyclable products, mainly cardboard and paper, and contains an individually wrapped oak milk chocolate behind each window. There are 3 flavours; plain, orange and salted caramel. The plain chocolate (and don’t worry, I’ve sampled enough of them for you!) is like any other chocolate but the aftertaste is more of the bitter chocolate rather than the sweetness you get with commercial chocolates. The orange chocolates taste of orange from the first bite and have only a slight orange after taste. The salted caramel flavours were my favourite because they had the slightly grainy texture from the salt but the caramel wasn’t too sweet and the lasting taste was that of the salt mixed with the chocolate. You wouldn’t know that they were made from oat milk and not cow’s milk.

The calendar is only fairly sturdy. It arrived at my house a bit wider than an A4 page and although the calendar and chocolate easily withstood the postal system, the cover and the printing did not. I found it a bit difficult to open the windows myself, and that’s with my long nails because there are layers of cardboard which keep the shape of the calendar overall but also protect the chocolate. Children will probably need some help but the good news is that the cardboard is easily cut if you need it to be. Behind each window is one chocolate and that’s the same for day 24.

A genuine vegan, plant based chocolate is hard to find without it losing some of its flavour but Happi have a lovely product here and it’s not just for children!

Available from £15.00

TokyoTreat and Sakuraco Subscription Boxes

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Halloween, snacks, Stocking Fillers, Subscription Boxes, Winter

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

Try these different gift ideas for Christmas with the TokyoTreat and Sakuraco subscription boxes delivered straight to the door!

If you’re stuck what to buy someone for Christmas, try a subscription box… they’re not what you think! Becoming even more popular during lockdown, subscription boxes cover a whole range of products now including these Japanese snack subscription boxes, direct from Japan. Each box contains a months’ worth of treats from top Japanese brands but the boxes have different qualities for different loved one. We were sent some samples (which we’re still munching our way through now!) to see what was in them and honestly, it’s a whole new world and adds a different dimension to gifting…

The TokyoTreat box is probably aimed more at children, or at least the big kids. Absolutely stuffed full of Japanese treats including brands such as Kit Kat but mostly brands you’ve never heard of, there’s chocolate, biscuits, sweets and even a whole Danish pastry! Some of the sweets are similar to what we would find in the UK or US but some of them are completely different. Part of the fun is working out what’s inside the packaging but most of the packets are small enough that you can take a risk on opening it… I say most, there are some big packets of Japanese biscuits but luckily you can work out what’s in them before you open them! The TokyoTreat we received this month was a Halloween special but each month they have a different theme. Great for the family to fight over but also more exciting than a usual box of biscuits for the neighbours next door.

From the same parent company, we also received the Sakuraco subscription box. This one is more based on Japanese culture as it has other items in it such as this beautiful Japanese finger bowl. There are lots of snacks in there too including a cat shaped biscuit, a bag of sharing biscuits, sweets and some green tea bags. The box is beautifully presented with products that support Japanese small businesses and promote Japanese culture, so you’re learning a lot too, and the enclosed leaflet gives a background to each product. Like the TokyoTreat, the content changes with each months’ delivery so you won’t get bored and the whole family will learn something new each month!

Sakuraco and TokyoTreat subscriptions from US$32.50 per box subscription: https://sakura.co/subscribe

https://tokyotreat.com/subscribe

It’s Halal Chilli Pattern Chopping Board

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home

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

For the chef in your life, a chopping board is essential as part of the kitchen during meal preparation, and is always a great option as a gift at Christmas. It’s Halal produce a range of meal subscription boxes, all of which are Halal focused but they also produce a range of other kitchen products including this Chilli Chopping Board.

Measuring approximately 40 centimetres by 30 Centimetres, this clear board is adorned with red chillies but is mostly clear, so it can be cleaned easily but being clear, it means you can hide a recipe underneath to protect it, and still be able to read through the board as you prepare the meal. It’s made of lightweight Perspex and can be put in the dishwasher, perfect for children to use or for anyone who doesn’t like carrying a heavy wooden chopping board or is frightened of it breaking if dropped.

This month, It’s Halal are having a sale on their chopping boards but whilst you’re over there, have a look at the Halal subscription boxes. Meal prep for every day of the week and a changing menu you’ll want to try again and again!

Currently on sale for £10.99 at: https://itshalal.co.uk/product/chilli-pattern-chopping-board/

TokyoTreat Halloween Sweets

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Gifts for children, Halloween, Home, Lunchbox Fillers, snacks, Subscription Boxes

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

With Halloween round the corner, TokyoTreat have the perfect ‘Halloween in a box’ for you! The snack box subscription company have their Halloween sweet selection for the month of October if you sign up now, and you’ll find Japan’s favourite snacks all in one box.

For anyone who loves Japanese chocolates and sweets, or if you want to snack on something novel for a Halloween horror movie, we found the TokyoTreat box perfect. Inside there are loads of snacks, most of which are nothing like what you’d find in the UK. The exception being the Kit Kat selection – but in Apple Pie flavour! There’s snacks in the box from all of Japan’s top brands including Hi-Chew, Pocky and Calbee. Yes, they’re all in Japanese and mostly difficult to read but… that’s the fun of working out what the snacks are! I must say, it’s a delicious way to spend movie night or if you’re feeling adventurous, then Halloween Trick or Treaters will have a blast with these snacks, especially when they try to work out what they are!

TokyoTreat subscriptions start at US$32.50 per month for a 12 month subscription. See their website for more: https://tokyotreat.com/subscribe

Malibu Sun Lotion and High Protection Sun Care

beauty, Children, Christmas, Days Out, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Stocking Fillers, Summer

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

It may be that the cooler months of the year are upon us, but many are still going to sunnier places and everyone, regardless of the season, needs to look after their skin with SPF. Malibu Sun has a range of products, not just sun lotion, which can protect your skin from harmful rays. We were sent the Malibu Kids 50 SPF Lotion, Malibu 50 SPF lotion, Malibu SPF 30 Clear Hair and Scalp Protector, Malibu 50 SPF Roll-On Lotion and Malibu 30 SPF Lipcare Vanilla flavour.

The Malibu Kids 50 SPF Lotion comes in a handy spray with 300ml net and is UVA and UVB protective. The spray makes it super easy to ‘zap’ kids who don’t want to be covered in lotion and it’s a lighter spray than what you find in the bigger bottles. It’s water resistant too so great for the beach or pool and contains Vitamin E and Aloe Vera to be kinder to skin. The Malibu Kids 50 SPF Roll-On Lotion is just as light and has as high a protection factor as the spray but for when it’s windy or you have a smaller child or baby and you want to ensure coverage, the roll-on lotion might help. It’s also UVA and UVB protective, and water resistant. I love the spray for the whole family for when we go out but the roll-on is great for keeping in your beach bag and topping up the lotion or for days when you think you don’t need it, but it turns out you do!

There’s the classic family Malibu 50 SPF Lotion too, which is what I would take on an adult only holiday. I don’t need a fancy spray as an adult, and I find it quite reassuring having the old-fashioned 100ml bottle with me when I go on holiday! That size doesn’t last long by the way, so it’s enough for a week for two people if you’re out by the pool daily. It has a light fragrance to it too, which again is reassuring and like the others is UVA/UVB protective. I love having the SPF 50 factor on so that I know I’m getting a proper coverage and won’t burn easily too.

Lastly, there are some ‘treats’ from Malibu too. For the times when you sit by the pool or on the beach and, “I wish I had thought of that…” here are two products you won’t want to forget next holiday. The Malibu SPF 30 Hair and Scalp Protector and the Malibu SPF 30 Lipcare. When your scalp starts to burn and you don’t want to make your hair greasy from the sun lotion, Malibu have the solution. Same goes with your highlights that you don’t want to get bleached; the Hair and Scalp Protector maintains a barrier with the sun so that you don’t have to worry about your hair drying out, scalp burning and peeling or your colour dissipating. I was really grateful for the Malibu Lipcare as well because on the days when we were out but not by the beach, my lips were getting dry from the sun but with eating and drinking, lotion wasn’t doing it. The vanilla flavour helped remind me when I needed to reapply the Lipcare too! Malibu Lipcare and the Hair and Scalp Protector are both UVA and UVB protective and water resistant.

Did they work as sun protection products though? Well no one got burned! We had nice tans but more importantly there was no long term damage, the lotions stayed on and everyone was happy in the sun. The Malibu Sun Protection range would be a fabulous gift for a family at Christmas, or a stocking filler for that trip of a lifetime next year. Who’s coming with me?

(Some products aren’t available online)

Malibu SPF 50 Lotion £4.99:

https://www.malibusun.com/spf50-lotion-protection-49-p.asp

Malibu SPF 30 Lipcare £1.99:

https://www.malibusun.com/spf30-vanilla-lip-care-241-p.asp

Bumbles and Boo New Mum Hamper

Baby, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Toys, Women

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

Choosing gifts for a new baby is always a delight, but it’s just as important to spoil mum too and that’s where Bumbles & Boo come in – they create the most incredible mother and baby hampers which are the perfect gift for any new or expectant mum.

I recently had the pleasure of receiving one of their New Mum Hampers – “Most Beautiful Baby,” and I can honestly say that it’s one of the most thoughtful and beautifully presented gifts I’ve ever come across. The grey wicker basket, elegantly tied with a grey ribbon, looks incredibly stylish and I couldn’t wait to discover what was inside.

Every little detail, from the elegant packaging to the thoughtfully selected items, makes this hamper stand out, and the unboxing was a delightful experience. The hamper has a beautifully hand tied silver grey ribbon around it and once you’ve untied it and lifted the lid you discover a layer of crisp white tissue paper, which adds to the anticipation. The gifts, carefully nestled in shredded paper, are accompanied by a couple of white artificial roses, adding a luxurious feel to the hamper. A handwritten note from the Bumbles & Boo team completes the experience, adding a personal touch to an already special gift.

For any new mum, small moments of indulgence and relaxation are invaluable, especially during those sleepless nights and the hamper contains a couple of treats for mum to enjoy. The luxury chocolates, in a ribbon tied box not only looked incredible but tasted delicious too and the three Neal’s Yard Remedies Rose & Lime Flower Tea Quiet Time tea bags are perfect for those much-needed moments of relaxation and self-care.

The hamper also contains some delightful baby items. The 100% cotton baby bandana bib is soft and absorbent, and ideal for feeding time, while the grey knitted booties (sized 0-6 months) are utterly adorable, soft, cozy, and stylish and will be perfect for keeping little toes warm this winter. The hamper also included a sweet muslin cloth adorned with grey hearts and stars, a practical yet cute addition to the baby essentials. There was also a bottle of Childs Farm baby wash, a well-known brand trusted for its gentle, baby-friendly formula and a cute elephant baby rattle, its soft, friendly design making it the perfect toy for little ones.

There are also a couple of keepsakes in the hamper, the beautifully illustrated baby milestone cards are perfect for capturing those precious firsts, and the “Most Beautiful Baby” plaque has space to record details like the baby’s name, date of birth, weight, and place of birth. With its pastel beads and wooden rainbow design, it will look lovely on the nursery wall. The reusable wicker basket is also great for storing treasured mementos too.

This Mum-to-Be Hamper is the perfect gift for a baby shower or to welcome a new baby. It offers the perfect mix of pampering treats for mum and adorable, practical essentials for the baby. Whether you’re spoiling a friend or even treating yourself, this hamper is bound to delight any new mum this Christmas.

Bumbles & Boo have a fantastic selection of hampers available on their website to suit all budgets and don’t worry if you can’t find the perfect one, as there’s also the option to create your own hamper.

RRP £89.95

The Biskery 12Days of Christmas Biscuit Tin

advent calendar, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, snacks, Stocking Fillers

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

Biscuits for grown-ups, especially at Christmas become more of a special gift than just a snack. The Biskery have brought out a perfect Advent Calendar for the 12 Days of Christmas with their handmade biscuits as affirmations in a reusable biscuit tin. They’ve sent us a sample to try before Christmas gets started and we couldn’t wait to try them!

The delicious tin contains 11 biscuits with affirmations on them, separated by rice paper with the 12 Days of Christmas written on them, and a 12^th biscuit with “Merry Xmas.” The biscuits are jam filled with a cut-out on each of them, much like Jammie Dodgers but with handmade vanilla biscuits. The crisp biscuits are fragrant, crunchy and filling like a biscuit should be but as they are freshly made at the Biskery HQ, they’re that special kind of crumbly that you only get with bakery biscuits that haven’t got any additives or preservatives in them.

With free postage within the UK, you can send them as a gift at short notice. Although children will love the biscuits, adults appreciate the affirmations too and the home-baked quality of the jam filled cookies. There’s a free gift note included as well and the tin will live on long after the biscuits are gone. I think these could be used as excellent after dinner treats at Christmas time, as a treat for teachers or even as the cookie left for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve…

Freshly baked for £29.95: https://www.thebiskery.com/products/12-days-of-christmas-biscuit-tin

Swan Retro DAB Radio

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home

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

For those who are difficult to buy for, function and style are two aspects which are really appreciated and the Swan Retro SRA43010 DAB radio has both.

As a DAB Bluetooth radio, there are 20 pre-set stations available on this model with 10 available on DAB and 10 available for FM radio. It also connects by Bluetooth and has a headphone jack in the back and can be powered by a 5V electric cable (which is provided) or 4x AA batteries. The buttons on the top are easy to use and helpfully labelled so you can work out how to turn it on and use it without having to worry about reading the instructions! There’s a dial for volume and it doubles up for the select/snooze/play/pause too. Don’t forget that this has an aerial – it is retro after all!

When operating for the first time, you need to add AA batteries (not provided) or I prefer using the adaptor which is provided and makes it easier to use as you don’t need to change the batteries every so often. It does depend on where you want to use it though as taking it on a camping trip obviously means you have to use batteries but if this is at home, you can use either power method, which is a huge plus when it’s a gift too.

When you turn it on with the Power button, as this is a digital radio it will automatically find the signal and set the date and time for you. The radio scans for you to find all the available stations in your area and tells you how many stations it’s found. Unlike analogue radios, it will start playing the alphabetically first station on the list, so not necessarily the first one on the dial like other radios would. To find another station, click the +/- buttons to cycle through the available DAB stations then press the dial to fine tune to radio into the station shown on the display. There are options to do a full, detailed DAB scan which will erase all the stored stations but you can also manually tune to a station of your choice.

Some of the nifty features of the Swan DAB radio include DRC or Dynamic Range Compression. This is something that some DAB stations use which enables the audio to be amplified if they are lower or raising if they are quieter such as if the signal isn’t so strong or there is a variety of noise levels throughout. There’s also the FM function which allows you to change from DAB to FM radio to get the stations which aren’t yet digital. If you really need to, you can use the manual tuning into the FM station instead of the scan function, so there are choices there for you to be able to find whichever station you need. The Bluetooth mode automatically pairs to a device such as your phone when you’re out and about. Perfect for when you don’t want to listen to the radio and bring your own playlist instead!

There are other fun gadgets on the Swan DAB Retro Radio such as an alarm, a Time Out (to set the duration of play before it cuts out) various ways of dimming the display if you don’t want to see what it says or have less light pollution. There is a sound equaliser as well and different settings such as classic, jazz, pop and speech. The sound quality is excellent and really puts the old analogue radios to shame with how sharp they are and how good the signal is, which is invaluable when you live in an area that doesn’t get a great radio signal.

The Swan DAB Retro Radio is great for anyone who loves the radio, or just as a functioning digital radio at home or on the move. Children will love this as it has all the gadgets on it which allows them to reach any kind of station and they can even use it as an alarm to wake up to every morning. Older generations will enjoy the retro aspect, or if you’re design conscious and like the ‘old fashioned’ look at home, this fits right in! It’s the perfect gift for someone who has everything!

Swan DAB Retro Radio currently on sale for £55.99 at: https://shop.swan-brand.co.uk/products/swan-retro-dab-radio?variant=43512585978047

Orchard Toys Games

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, 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.

We absolutely love Orchard Toys jigsaws and games, the bright, chunky pieces and easy-to-play games are not just entertaining but educational too. They have been making games for over 50 years, earning a well-deserved reputation for quality and durability and their products are designed to withstand the wear and tear of little hands while also encouraging learning.

With this summer’s unpredictable weather, we’ve found ourselves playing a lot of board games, so I was really pleased to receive a selection of their games, especially as the children (and me!!) were becoming a little tired of playing the same games over and over again.

Dotty Dinosaurs (RRP £12) is a fun dinosaur themed game which promotes colour and shape recognition along with fine motor skills. The game features double-sided dinosaur boards – on one side, players match shapes, and on the other, they match coloured spots. With three different ways to play, children roll either the shape or coloured dice (or both in game three) and race to cover their dinosaur board with the correct pieces. The beautifully illustrated dinosaurs also encourage children to learn about different species, we talked about where they live, and what they eat and how scary they were!

Buzz Words (RRP £9.75) is ideal for children aged 5 and up. This fast-paced game helps with spelling and letter recognition in a fun, low-pressure environment. With four different games to play—Race to Spell, Grab the Word, Pick a Pair, and Make a Match, children are continuously learning valuable skills while having fun. Our favourite was Race to Spell, where players race against the clock to spell the word on their picture. The game offers three, four, and five-letter words, allowing you to tailor the difficulty to your child’s ability. Even young children who can’t yet spell aren’t at a disadvantage as they can simply match the letters to the pictures. Our little reviewer particularly enjoyed this game, happily matching letters and even practicing spelling on their own. The letters can also be used to spell out new words or to help children learn to spell their own names, which our reviewers loved as well.

Jigsaws are another fantastic way to develop hand-eye coordination. The Giant Alphabet Extra Long Jigsaw Puzzle (RRP £11.25) not only aids in learning the alphabet but also features large, chunky pieces for each letter. The puzzle includes cut-out letters to match with the jigsaw, making it an ideal tool for helping children recognize letters and develop a love for puzzles. Each letter features several illustrations beginning with that letter, and the accompanying learning guide is packed with discussion points to encourage learning. While completing the puzzle, the children talked about the different animals, where they live, and what they like to eat and it was quite interesting hearing some of the things that they thought dinosaurs ate and where the rocket was heading to next!

One of the greatest benefits of board games is the quality family time they create. We’re in an age when screens often dominate our lives and board games offer a tech-free experience for the whole family. For preschoolers and children in early primary years, play is one of the most effective learning tool and board games are especially valuable as they can teach a range of essential skills. Games that involve counting, colours, shapes, letters and numbers can help reinforce what children are learning or about to learn in school and are a fun way to learn these essential skills. Orchard Toys offer such a wide variety of games that there’s bound to be something to suit every child’s interest. From animal-themed games to word and number puzzles, we’ve never been disappointed by any of their games.

Sauce up your sandwich with new limited flavours from Walkers and Heinz

Children, Food & Drink, snacks, Vegetarian

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

Have you ever tried a crisp sandwich? The blend of texture, flavour, and nostalgia makes it a snack that connects with people on many levels. It’s a great example of how food can be fun, comforting, and delicious, even when it’s as simple as two slices of bread and a handful of crisps. And now, it’s even easier to enjoy thanks to Walkers, who recently teamed up with Heinz to create three sandwich-inspired limited edition crisps: Sausage Sarnie with Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Cheese Toastie with Heinz Beanz, and Roast Chicken with Heinz Mayonnaise.

Of the three, the Sausage Sarnie crisps are my favourite. The meaty sausage flavour shines through, perfectly complemented by the tangy tomato sauce, making it the best crisp sandwich I’ve had in a long time!

So, next time you’re craving a snack, consider reaching for a crisp sandwich. You might just discover that this humble creation satisfies your cravings in unexpected ways.

All three flavours are available in supermarkets but you’ll have to be quick as they won’t be around for long.

RRP £1.65 (5 pack multipack), £1.25 (70g PMP) and £1.00 (45g grab pack)

Fearne & Rosie Jam

Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Lunchbox Fillers, snacks, Vegan

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

Jam is a timeless kitchen staple that adds a fruity burst to any meal. Whether spread on toast or crumpets, eaten on a scone (jam or cream first??) or used in baking, the right jam can truly elevate your food. Over the years, I’ve sampled many jams and noticed a significant difference in quality across brands. Supermarkets offer a range of options, from budget-friendly ‘essentials’ to premium ‘finest’ selections, alongside various branded jams and after sampling a selection of jams from newcomer Fearne & Rosie I can honestly say that their jams are now a firm favourite with my family. Their fruity jams not only taste delicious but with 40% less sugar than standard jams are much healthier choice too.

Launched in November 2019 by Rachel, a passionate advocate for healthier eating, Fearne & Rosie Jam comes from the scenic hills of Yorkshire. Named after her daughters, this brand reflects Rachel’s commitment to creating products that are both wholesome and packed full of flavour. The range includes classic flavours, raspberry, strawberry, and blackcurrant as well as cherry and strawberry super berry jam and what really distinguishes Fearne & Rosie jam from other brands is its high fruit content. With around 70% fruit, these jams offer a rich, authentic taste that outshines typical jams. The natural sweetness and vibrant fruit flavours take centre stage, providing a fresher, more intense experience with every bite. The texture is slightly different to standard jams, resembling crushed fruit rather than the more solid consistency common in other jams. This makes it perfect not only for spreading but also for enhancing a variety of dishes, from breakfast to desserts.

Fearne & Rosie Jam isn’t just about great flavour, with it’s low sugar content it’s also a healthier option for families looking to reduce their sugar intake without compromising on taste. With 40% less sugar than standard jams, it’s a smarter choice for those who want to enjoy the sweet things in life while maintaining a balanced diet.

With its high fruit content and reduced sugar, it offers a delightful way to savour the natural taste of fruit while supporting a brand that genuinely cares about family well-being. Once you try it, you’ll see why Fearne & Rosie is quickly becoming a favourite in homes everywhere.

RRP £3.20

Available from Booths, Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons, Asda and Amazon

Connetix Pastel Starter Pack (64-Piece)

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Toys

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

Connetix is an exceptional magnetic construction toy that perfectly blends education and fun, making it ideal for indoor play during the school holidays. The Pastel Starter Pack is a wonderful introduction to the Connetix range, featuring 64 pastel-coloured tiles crafted with safety and durability in mind. Each tile is made from food-grade, non-toxic materials and features strong magnets along every edge for effortless connection. The riveted corners enhance safety, making it suitable for younger children, while the bevel design adds extra strength to the tiles.

As well as being great fun to play with, Connetix tiles are a powerful tool for promoting STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). They help develop cognitive abilities, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and both fine and gross motor skills. As children (and adults!) explore different ways to build with the tiles, they naturally engage in problem-solving and gain a deeper understanding of geometric concepts. Suitable for ages 3 and up, this set has enough pieces to allow everyone in the family to get involved.

One of Connetix’s standout features is its versatility. By combining different sets, you can create even more complex and imaginative builds—the only limit being your imagination! Connetix is available in various sizes, from the 24-piece Mini Packs to the 202-piece Mega Packs, perfect for large, collaborative projects. Specialty packs like the Transport Pack, which adds wheels to your creations, the Geometry Pack for exploring shapes, and the popular Ball Run Pack for high-speed fun, add even more variety to playtime.

During the school holidays, the Connetix Pastel Starter Pack has become a favourite among our young reviewers, keeping them entertained day after day. Its open-ended design allows for endless possibilities, from building castles one day to constructing towers the next. Whether you’re collaborating on a grand project or each creating your own masterpiece, Connetix encourages creativity and teamwork, making it a fantastic way for children to learn through play.

I’m really impressed with Connetix, the combination of educational benefits and pure fun makes it the perfect toy for the whole family, fostering creativity, learning, and quality time together.

RRP £79 Available from Amazon

Pom Bear Crisps

Children, Food & Drink, snacks, Vegan, Winter

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

Pom-Bear crisps have always been a favourite in our house, so our mini reviewers were thrilled to try the two new flavours—Pom-Bear Cheese and Pom-Bear BBQ. The crunchy, flavourful crisps were an instant hit, especially with their adorable teddy bear shapes.

With just 65 calories per bag, these snacks are also vegan, gluten-free, and free from artificial colours and flavours, making them the perfect treat for children. With September approaching and lunchbox planning in full swing, Pom-Bear snacks are the ideal choice as they are a great lunchtime snack, offering just the right mix of taste and portion size.

Whether at home, at school, or on the go, Pom-Bear crisps are a convenient and tasty treat that kids will love.

The Cheese flavour will be available in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose and Co-op, and the BBQ flavour available from Asda

RRP £2.25 (pack of 6)

Fruit Snacks from Whitworths

Autumn, Children, Days Out, Family Life, health, Home, Lunchbox Fillers, snacks

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

It’s back to school in a few weeks and the dreaded lunchbox needs filling! Whitworths has some lovely snack ideas of dried fruits, perfect for the lunchbox, after school or for yourself at any time!

The Whitworths Sunny Raisins come in a pack of 6, each of 42.5 grams. One pack counts towards your child’s 5-a-day quota for fruit and vegetables so this is a brilliant way of getting nutrition into them especially as raisins are so tasty which is always the challenge with children’s food. These Whitworths raisins aren’t dried up at all, but have a very sweet taste and juicy too. One pack is enough for me to have with a sandwich at lunchtime and makes it feel like I’ve had something sweet instead of a chocolate bar or cake!

Whitworths also have the Sunny Snacks of Fruit Mix-Ups; Strawberries & Sultanas and Apricots & Mango. The packs are smaller at 18 grams each so don’t fill you up as much but they do give a hit of dried fruit. The Apricots & Mango have no added sugar, but both are very sweet without anything added. The tiny pieces make these good for cooking too if you’re adding dried fruit to a cake mix or for tiny hands to decorate cupcakes with you in the kitchen. These are great snacks for a lunchbox or taking on days out as they’re easily transported too and it doesn’t matter if they get hot.

The second sunny Fruit Mix-Ups flavour is Strawberries & Sultanas. These are no added sugar too and have loads of flavour. The dried strawberries are particularly tasty as you get the burst of strawberry flavour as you bite into them, then the texture of all the seeds! These are great for toddlers and smaller children who don’t like fruit as they’re super sweet but without the sugar.

It’s never been easier to get more healthy options into children’s diets with snacks like Whitworths’ Sunny Fruit Mix-Ups and Sunny Raisins, but always a good idea to test them yourself before they go back to school…

Fruit Mix-Ups £1.25 for 4: https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/308099031

Raisins £2.40 for 6: https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/258141777

Dole Kids Jellies

Children, Food & Drink, snacks

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

When I’m packing my children’s lunchboxes it’s a fine line between what the children want to eat and what they need to eat! Whilst it’s nice to include a sweet treat, it is important that they eat healthy and nutritious food too. When preparing lunchboxes, it is important to strike the right food balance, to ensure that they will eat enough to receive all the nutrients they need to help them stay energised and focused through the day. Snacks are an important part of lunchboxes and choosing the right ones can make a huge difference in overall nutrition.

One of the newest additions to my children’s lunchboxes is the Dole Kids Jellies, the fruity jellies are an excellent way to add a healthy, fun snack to my children’s lunches. Available in two different flavours, Orange Jelly with Mixed Fruit and Strawberry Jelly with Mixed Fruit they are made with 100% real fruit juice, making them a healthier alternative to the many sugar laden snacks that are currently available. Not only does the jelly taste fruity, it also contains real fruit pieces, adding a burst of natural flavour and texture. The fruit pieces contribute to the jelly’s overall nutritional value providing fibre and natural vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C.

The Dole Kids Jellies come in handy sized pots with a fun characters on the packaging which our min reviewers loved. The pots are the perfect size for a lunchbox and make a great lunchtime treat.

At £1.79 for a pack of 4, Dole Kids Jelly is not only a healthy choice but an affordable one too.

Available from Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsburys

A Scaretastic Time at The London Dungeon

Birthday Gifts, Children, Days Out, Family Life, Halloween, Summer, Theatre

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

Housed on the South Bank in the shadow of the London Eye, The London Dungeon is a walk-through attraction of some of London’s darker historical moments. Very easy to get to – a tube ride to Westminster and walk across the bridge, taking photos of the London Eye and the Big Ben on the way.

At the entrance you are greeted by ‘decorated’ staff who guide you in, depending on your ticket. There is an opportunity for a nice selfie here, on a throne with a portrait of the King. A few security checks, a bag search then into three staged photo selling areas. The staff here weren’t part of the attraction and are very matter of fact – stand her, hold this etc, so don’t let this put you off the rest of the attraction.

However, then the ‘fun’ began. A jester gave us a few rules – don’t touch, we won’t touch you and it’s dark with light effects. Then we met a Royalist in the intro to the ‘Rotten Royals’, where we learnt about King Charles I and how we were to help rescue him from execution! This part of the Dungeon was quite historical and involved an executioner and a torturer and some wanted (or not!) interaction from the attendees. Then we went into Plague London, Mrs Lovett’s Pie shop, met a helper of Sweeny Todd and finished with Whitechapel and Jack the Ripper. Our final visit was to a judge who sentenced us all to death. Unfortunately, we weren’t hanged as the finale of a ‘death drop’ was closed due to maintenance. Slightly disappointing as it felt the tour had led to this scary ending. Instead we just got herded into the photo room.

Was it truly scary? I think this depends on whether you have experienced these tours with actors before and possibly your age. And whether you like ‘taking part’? We overheard one young girl gleefully talk about her dad being chosen as a prisoner and torture victim. Most of it is in the dark with well-timed light effects and ‘bits’ that move and water that sprayed you in lieu of blood. Very young children wouldn’t like it at all, but teens and family groups would enjoy the interactive nature of it. Rather than read or listen to information, you are addressed by actors who play the parts – an executioner, Mrs Lovett, a Jack the Ripper victim. This is good and entertaining and they try to get you involved and certainly ham it up for all it’s worth. We particularly liked the witch in Newgate prison – very creepy and in the dark with strobe lighting. I was impressed how they could move around in pitch black and jump out in front of the unexpected (me!).

You walk through in about an hour so have to be prepared to be on your feet although there were three rooms where you sat for a while. The tour is in groups so you move from area to area – no time for looking at the set dressing along the way, which would have been nice. And if English isn’t your first language you may have difficulty following all that is said – there were some ripe Cockney accents flying about.

At the very end there is a tavern, with a self playing piano and skeleton. The prices for drinks weren’t at all bad, so this could be a quiet stop for refreshments before exiting.

Tickets are £35 per adult, £29 for children, which although a little steep they do multi-attraction tickets which includes the London Eye, for example, and these work out at much better value, especially for anyone in London for a couple of days. If you are visiting London’s sites I would buy the multi ticket and do the London Dungeon as part of this.

https://www.thedungeons.com/london/

Tile Bluetooth Trackers for Back to School

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Home, Home & Garden, Tech

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

As September approaches and many children will be starting a new school and indeed, many teenagers will be going off to university for the first time, there is a lot to remember. There is also responsibilities to take care of that weren’t there before. Tile have a range of fancy trackers that can help aid that responsibility and we were sent the Tile Pro and Tile Mate to try out – before school start again!

The Tile products work as trackers linked to an app on your phone (or website or device) whereby you can locate the Tile tracker and hence anything that it’s attached to. This could be a set of keys, car keys, purse or wallet, rucksack, sports equipment or even a car or wandering pet! Once you have the app and sign up one Tile tracker then the possibilities become endless especially for someone who is always losing something…

The Tile Mate (£19.99) has a range of 250 ft (or 76 metres) which makes it ideal for finding anything in the house, but also for finding something left in the car whilst you’re still in the house, or if you’re at the office and wondering if your house keys are in the car outside. The battery lasts up to 3 years although it isn’t replaceable but the use of the app is free. You can activate the ring on it from the app so that you can find it in a hurry and it’s water resistant too (which means it can be on the outside of a school bag and still endure the rain). This is great for kids going to school when they can’t find their PE kit or are always losing their house keys before they get home!

The next product up in the Tile range is the Tile Pro (£29.99). This tracker has a range of up to 400 ft or 120 metres, so much further and has more uses. All of the trackers can be used multiple ways thanks to the keyring design where they can be clipped to keys or kept in a pocket. The Tile Pro is especially good for car keys but as it has a larger range, I would use this at the airport to keep tabs on the luggage when it’s in the airport. The Tile Pro is also great for keeping on toddlers and small children in busy places so that you can track them on your app if you need to. Think about a summer festival or busy park and 120 metres is a large area to be scouring to find a missing small person! There’s a really loud ring on this Tile Pro too so you can hear it from much further away and it has a reciprocal button on it so if you, or your child press the button, it alerts the app on the phone it’s attached to. If you have a Year 6 child at primary school this year, the Tile Pro is often enough range to track your child to and from school if you live close enough, and ensures you know where they are at all times.

Tile Mate and Tile Pro available from the Tile online shop at: https://www.tile.com/en-gb

Immature Garden – Home Grown Microgreens

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, health, Home, Subscription Boxes, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

What a great gift! The team at Immature Garden sent us one of their Large Microgreen Growing Kits to show us how indoor planting of microgreens is not only easy, but a great present for anyone. We had no idea what was in the kit when it arrived, so what you’re seeing is a succession of photos as we unpacked what was inside. Read on to see how it works…

Anita and Arnold founded Immature Garden in 2019 when they couldn’t find a sustainable, easy way to grow microgreens at home. Fast forward to today and they do indeed have a lovely business growing microgreens, selling the kit and everything that goes with it. What are microgreens though? Vegetables which you would normally go and buy in the shops at maturity are just as nutritious, if not more, when they are seedlings and before the vegetables or fruits start to grow. You see microgreens on lots of restaurant dishes and if you are serious about increasing your ‘5 a day’ to increase your nutrition intake, microgreens are the way to go. They’re also excellent for growing indoors and during the colder months where you can just cut them down and use them as you need them.

We were sent the Large Microgreen Grow Kit which has more than enough of everything for you to be able to grow microgreens for yourself. Within the box, there are 3 coconut shell and 6 packets of coco soil. Hidden within the box (and this is great for kids as you have to pull the box apart to find what’s hidden at the bottom!) contains three different types of microgreen seeds; radish, kale and clover. The box comes with instructions or there is a video online but if you’re a gardener or have grown microgreens before, you’ll know how easy it is to put together.

The soil provided is just the right amount for each of the coconut bowls. Empty one packet into a bowl, keeping the plastic bag to one side. Fish out one of the packets of seeds – a whole packet covers the soil of one bowl as long as you spread the seeds out evenly and this is important to stop them from becoming mouldy. Water them sparingly just so that the soil and seeds are wet. Using the plastic bag the soil came in, enclose the bowls and seal up the bag so that there is enough heat generated for the seeds to germinate. Once they have started to sprout, you can take them out of the bag and keep them indoors until they grow to a reasonable height. The seeds will keep growing unless you cut them and use them, but with the multiple packs you can keep the Immature Garden going for several months – and order more seeds from the website too.

This is a fabulous gift for anyone who is interested in either cooking or gardening, and families with children will love it too as they learn about growing seeds as well as being hands-on. I recommend starting the kit outdoors so that the soil doesn’t go everywhere, which is what I did, then you can move the bowls in the bags indoors. The kit can be started any time of year not just in summer so as a gift it would be great for Christmas, and in the winter is when we need more nutritious food that can’t be found in shops as easily. It’s also great fun watching them grow and make beautiful centre pieces for dining tables and decoration on shelves!

Check back to see my photos as the kale, clover and radishes sprout and grow – I can’t wait!

Large kit £33.80: https://www.immaturegarden.co.uk/product-page/Large-Microgreen-Grow-Kit

Starter kit: £17.75: https://www.immaturegarden.co.uk/product-page/Starter-Microgreen-Grow-Kit

UPDATE: We have some germinated seeds already! Don’t they look fab!

New Edifier W830NB headphones Over-ear Headphones

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

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

Edifier are increasingly a big name in speaker and headphones and the new Edifier W830NB .are no exception. This over-ear, over-head headphones are an improvement to the already fantastic value for money Edifier models headphones out there. We were sent a pair to try out this week, and of course report back to you!

These Edifier W830NB come in three colours; gray, sandwhite and these black ones. The headphones are noise-cancelling which means you can’t hear much outside of what you are listening to, but you can turn on ambient sound. There’s also a nifty ability to turn on High Noise Cancellation too using the buttons on the earpiece. This feature is great for children as the button is annotated with a voice so they know which setting they’re on without having to take the headphones off and look for a light. Makes life much easier if you’re snuggled up with the headphones set just right and you don’t want to move!

There are lots of technical terms with these Edifier W830NB headphones so I’ll try and keep them easy to understand. The ear pieces are high quality speakers for better sound, there’s an 18% increase in the noise cancellation on these headphones compared to previous models and the focus of the sound is different to give a more all-round cinema like quality to the audio. In addition, there’s also technology on the ambient sound which allows human voices to be heard where other outside noises are filtered out. The headphones are also easily foldable for travel or even carrying in a handbag or on the commute thanks to the swivel ear pieces.

It’s super easy to connect the headphones through Bluetooth. I connected to my laptop by just pressing the Bluetooth button on the headset until the blue light came on, then opening my laptop Bluetooth settings and the headphones were immediately found. This added the Edifier W830NB to my library of Bluetooth products so that whenever I turn the headphones on again, the laptop finds them and connects. Not all laptops or devices work the same way though, and if they can’t connect to your headphones, check that your device is Bluetooth V5.4 compatible, which is the latest technology and what these Edifier W830NB are built with.

The Edifier W830NB headphones use a USB-C port on the earpiece to charge. There’s a staggering 94 hours play time on a full charge but we haven’t had a chance to test them for that long yet! 94 hours is the play time with ambient noise cancellation off; with ANC on it’s still a massive 54 hours. Charging time isn’t long either, with a part charge of 15 minutes giving you 10 hours listening time. The USB-C cable acts as a wired cable so that if you do run out of charge, you can switch to wired if necessary.

The usual high-quality, easy functioning of Edifier makes these Edifier W830NB headphones suitable for the whole family without being over priced and over complicated. Excellent sound quality and lightweight enough to carry anywhere too!

Usually £79.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-W830NB-Headphones-Cancelling-Multipoint-Black/dp/B0D2VH915C?th=1

Higgidy Snacks for Summer

camping, Children, Days Out, Family Life, health, Home, Lunchbox Fillers, snacks, Summer, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

Snacking is not just for picnics anymore, the working from home culture means that more of us are not only eating from home but treating ourselves when we grab a bite between meetings or for the school run. Higgidy have an increasing range of snacking foods which appeal to all tastes and ages thanks to their variety of vegetarian baked goods, as well as sausage rolls, quiches and muffins. We were gifted a lovely range (available in all big stores) to sample whilst watching the tennis, football and of course, sheltering from the rain this summer.

Starting with the Higgidy Beechwood Smoked Bacon & Mature Cheddar Quiche, this is a great lunch, snack or even dinner for the family thanks to the protein from the bacon and cheese! The combination of the thick-cut bacon with the rich, mature cheddar lends it perfectly to a more substantial snack or as part of a bigger meal. It’s great for picnics, or for taking as a gift to a summer gathering where you can choose your portion size. The quiche is yummy too with béchamel sauce in the mixture.

If a large quiche is too much to handle then the Higgidy Smoked Salmon & Spinach Quiche (also with béchamel sauce) might hit the spot. At 155 grams it’s more of a single serving for either lunch or a snack and can be warmed up or eaten cold. I had this for lunch one day with some deli favourites, which work beautifully with the poppy seeds in the pastry of the quiche crust. There are other quiches in the Higgidy range but I think the Smoked Salmon & Spinach Quiche is probably my favourite.

Onto the sharing snacks, and Higgidy do a lovely range of mini muffins, like these Mature Cheddar & Spinach with a pinch of cayenne. These muffins are slightly lighter than quiches but have the same dough-like consistency of muffins, just more protein heavy. The Mature Cheddar & Spinach Mini Muffins are bite-sized and can be heated or eaten straight from the sharing box but with the spinach included, and the cayenne for extra taste, these are healthier than their flour-made sweeter counterparts. They’re great to add to lunchboxes or to have as a sharing snack when watching a movie too!

The Higgidy range of rolls includes these Great British Pork Sausage Rolls and vegetarian Porcini Mushroom & Spinach Rolls. These packs of 6 mini rolls each have tasty fillings fit for any picnic and add something different that you can’t normally buy in the shops. The Great British Pork Rolls have the meaty centres where the Porcini Mushroom & Spinach have the mixture of mushroom and greens to give a slightly different edge to a British classic and which everyone can enjoy as they’re plant based.

Speaking of plant based, Higgidy also have a range of other vegan snacks which are widely available. These are the Higgidy Cheddar Cheese & Caramelized Onion Rolls and Higgidy Sweet Potato Katsu Curry Little Lattices. If you haven’t tried the Little Lattice sharing range, these are filled pastry treats especially for sharing and have a pretty lattice pastry design on top so your picnics will look great too. I like these as after school savoury treats or to add to a salad or soup at lunchtime. The katsu curry taste is very different to other snacks on the market and the sweet potato makes a change as it’s not as dry as other fillings and has that sweeter taste too. The Cheddar Cheese & Caramelized Onion Rolls are similar to their counterparts but the cheese is on top too, giving a crunch coating to add a little texture. The sweet onion filling makes a great accompaniment to any meal or picnic.

There are more items in the extensive range at Higgidy but I think you get the idea of what yummy things they have out there for you to try. It doesn’t matter that the weather isn’t great, you can still enjoy good company and snack on the go with Higgidy’s fabulous range!

Available in most big supermarkets, smaller supermarkets may have a limited range. See online for details of ingredients: https://www.higgidy.co.uk/our-food/

Altruist Sunscreen

beauty, camping, Children, cruelty-free, Days Out, eco friendly, Family Life, health, Summer, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

It is finally time to start summer and to do it right, Altruist have a range of sunscreens for the whole family. We were sent some to sample and in true British Summer spirit, it was a few weeks before we could go out and try it!

Altruist sunscreen were developed by Dermatologist Dr Andrew Birnie to be a high quality sunscreen but at an affordable price. The reduction of marketing costs and a slim profit margin were the key to Altruist being not just effective but safe and affordable to everyone.

The range includes sunscreens at SPF 30 and SPF 50 in different bottles (with an increasing amount of bottles being produced with recycled materials) and SPF 30 and SPF 50 Face Fluids, all of which we were sent to try. We were also gifted the Altruist 50 SPF Face Primer to accompany the Face Fluids.

Starting with the Altruist Sunscreens, we tried the SPF 30 and SPF 50 varieties, each graded as 5-star UVA protection. That’s not all, as all of the varieties are vegan, coral friendly and cruelty free. That means the chemicals used in the Altruist Sunscreens won’t affect sea coral if they get into the ocean and they’re not tested on animals either. It’s telling that the Altruist Sunscreens start at SPF 30 and nothing less, as SPF 30 is a good starting point for sun protection no matter which climate you’re wearing it in. SPF 50 is what is sold in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere to give the maximum protection against the sun. The Altruist SPF 30 and SPF 50 are easy to absorb and go a long way. I can’t say we’ve been able to test their sun blocking ability in this British Summer so far though!

The Altruist Face Fluids at SPF 30 and SPF 50 work in a similar way to the sunscreens but are lighter for the face. They are also 5-star UVA and UVB blockers which exceed EU standards, but are moisturising antioxidants too, which are beneficial for the face. Both Face Fluids also contain Vitamin E to prevent cellular damage and are designed for sensitive skin. Additionally, they are all fragrance free, paraben free, hypoallergenic and water resistant!

Finally, the Altruist Primer SPF 50 is worn under make up (foundation, moisture tint etc) to give extra SPF protection. Just as light as the Face Fluids, it can also be worn under the sunscreens if you need extra heavy sun protection or your skin needs moisturising. If you’re not just sunbathing but going out socially in the sun, Altruist Primer SPF 50 is much lighter than sunscreen and allows you to wear whatever make up you prefer, with no residue or stickiness. It’s also water resistant so you can be around the pool or at the beach and not have to re-apply too often. It’s lovely and light too, so if you’re in the garden it can also be used for short periods of time.

Lots of lovely options for everyone this summer at the Altruist website, and even better, they start at £5.25!

Altruist Sunscreen and Sun Products are available online at: https://altruistsun.com/shop/

Cocoba Chocolates

Birthday Gifts, Children, chocolate, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Stocking Fillers

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

Chocolate aficionados will know that supermarket chocolate is not what it used to be. Thankfully, there are lots of new chocolate companies out there who are killing it in the market with those who appreciate good chocolate. Cocoba Chocolate is one of those companies, starting as a pop-up hot chocolate drinking shop in Brent Cross, London. Founder Darren comes from Australia and arrived in Blighty to find that he couldn’t find the same quality hot chocolate he was used to growing up. So he made his own. From hot chocolate, the business grew and now includes bars, boxes of chocolates, truffles and a whole range of gifts. We were sent some bars of Cocoba Intense 70% Dark Chocolate, Cocoba Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Buttons and Cocoba Cocoa Dusted Salted Toffee Truffles.

I started with the Salted Caramel Chocolate Buttons (you’ve got to start somewhere, right?) as they’re so easy to open and pop into your mouth. It only takes one button to give you that chocolate hit and they’re relatively small so I had these as mini-snacks after lunch or with a cup of coffee. They’re very smooth milk chocolate but with a hint of the salted caramel to them which makes them extra sweet and a bit crunchy. To add a different dimension, keep them in the fridge and then let them melt in your mouth after a hot drink to feel the texture as well as savour the flavour.

The mini bars of chocolate (33 grams) are 70% dark chocolate, hence they’re called Intense 70% Dark, and they are certainly intense! There’s no flavour to them other than the dark chocolate and very few ingredients either, just cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter and natural vanilla flavouring. I love dark chocolate anyway and these are perfect because the size means they’re a light snack, fit into a lunch box or are beautiful after dinner, but 70% dark chocolate isn’t so rich that it’s difficult to eat.

Finally, the Cocoba Cocoa Dusted Salted Toffee Truffles were my favourite! Truffles are a big hit with me anyway but I didn’t know that these were going to be such dark, smooth chocolate and have the extra texture of the salted toffee. You can taste both the salt in them and the small pieces of toffee that get into your teeth – but don’t worry, they’re not toffee enough to take out your fillings! You can really taste the soft cream in these and the cocoa coating is left on your hands when you pick them up. They’re great for after dinner or for sharing and make magical gifts as well.

I’m never one to refuse chocolate but when it’s good quality chocolate like this? What is there not to like?

Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Bag £4.95: https://www.cocobachocolate.com/products/salted-caramel-milk-chocolate-buttons?_pos=3&_sid=954c85107&_ss=r

Cocoa Dusted Salted Toffee Truffles £7.95: https://www.cocobachocolate.com/products/cocoba-cocoa-dusted-salted-toffee-truffles?_pos=1&_sid=94397d296&_ss=r

Intense Dark Chocolate Mini Bar 70% £2.50: https://www.cocobachocolate.com/products/intense-71-dark-chocolate-mini-bar?_pos=1&_psq=intense-dark&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Organii SPF Sun Cream

Baby, beauty, camping, Children, cruelty-free, health, Summer, Vegan

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

Whilst we haven’t seen much sunshine in the UK in recent weeks, it is still important to use sunscreen. Even on a cloudy day you are still exposed to damaging UVA & UVB rays, so it is very important to use SPF all year round.

My family spend a lot of time outdoors, usually walking and cycling, so I always make sure they apply suncream before they leave the house, to protect their skin from the powerful rays of the sun. As my son has eczema, I always look for suncream products that are suitable for sensitive skin, so I was really pleased to receive a selection of Organii sun care products which are organic, natural, vegan and cruelty free and suitable for the whole family

Given the atrocious weather we’ve all been having this year I feared that testing this sunscreen may prove a little difficult. However, I popped them in my bag on a recent trip to Dorset and I’m really glad I did as the weather was much better than forecasted and we enjoyed a couple of glorious days of sunshine which gave us the opportunity to really put them to the test.

The SPF15 Face Everyday Anti-Ageing Face Cream is an anti-ageing moisturiser designed for year round daily use. It is suitable for all skin types and ideal for sensitive skin. When I squeezed it out of the tube, it was quite thick and white and I was expecting my face to resemble a ghost after the first application! I was therefore amazed when I realised just how easily it absorbs, the trick is to not use too much though! The sun cream has a gentle fragrance which is quite pleasant and it leaves my skin feeling lovely and soft as well as protecting it from the sun.

RRP £16.95

The SPF30 Medium Protection Sun Lotion is enriched with organic aloe vera, green tea leaf extract and coconut oil and offers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection to help prevent sunburn. I did find the cream a little heavy – more like a SPF50 cream and even when I had rubbed it in it left my skin looking white, but this does mean that you know where you have applied it! I applied it in the morning before a full day hiking, reapplied it on my neck and shoulders (which are prone to burning) mid-way through the day and despite the heat my skin didn’t burn or turn red at all.

RRP £19.95

The organic SPF50, fragrance free, mineral Sun Milk protects against UVA and UVB rays, and is uniquely formulated to protect and care for your skin. The lotion is slightly sticky when you first put it on and like the SPF30 lotion it does make your skin look white. My husband tried this cream as his skin is quite fair and prone to burning and he spent a whole day in the sun without going red so he was really pleased with the protection it gives. With this SPF50 cream you can feel confident that skin is well protected and it is perfect for keeping little ones safe in the sun.

RRP £27.95

With its UVA, UVB, and water resistant properties, Organii sun creams offer great all-round protection, whether you are playing on the beach, walking, sailing or just out and about in the sun.

Wickedly Welsh Chocolate Great Taste Trio

Birthday Gifts, Children, chocolate, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Stocking Fillers, Summer

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

As if you need a reason to celebrate chocolate, there is an important day in the calendar – 7 July, which is World Chocolate Day! To mark the occasion, Wickedly Welsh, the British chocolate makers, have sent us the Great Taste Trio of three different flavoured chocolates to try. We’ve never said no to chocolate in this office and today wasn’t the day we were going to start!

The trio are three flavours; Orange Marmalade, Dark Chocolate & Welsh Sea Salt and Mint Crunch. Two of the flavours has won the Great Taste awards (Mint Crunch in 2017 and Welsh Sea Salt in 2021) with Orange Marmalade being inspired by an award winning recipe. Each bar is handmade in Wales, and handmade is not something we associate with chocolate in this country so this is a rare treat.

The Orange Marmalade flavour is set in dark chocolate with a half and half mixture of tangy and sweet, much like the jar of marmalade you remember growing up. It also has a little Cointreau but you can hardly taste it, it’s just the aftertaste on your tongue that you might notice the slightly orange flavour. The dark chocolate is smooth and rich and brings out the orange flavour. With the Dark Chocolate &Welsh Chocolate Sea Salt, the minerals of the sea salt are apparent as soon as the dark chocolate starts melting and you can feel the crystals dissolve. The juxtaposition of the salt and dark chocolate work really well together, reminding me of the sea at night when you can hear and smell it but you can’t see it. If you like dark chocolate, then this flavour is a great addition to your taste buds!

Finally, my favourite is the Wickedly Welsh Mint Crunch. Again, this is dark chocolate, swirled with peppermint and meant as an after-dinner chocolate or to cleanse the palate. It reminds me of an Aero bar but with more peppermint and a richer flavour because the chocolate has a higher cocoa content and less sugar. It’s particularly good when added to cooking. Have you tried making your own croissants at home from the ready-made packets and adding some chocolate before you roll them? Instant chocolate croissant, and the Mint Crunch chocolate bar adds not just the novel flavour to the chocolate filled pastry, but extra texture too. I think Mint Crunch is my favourite!

Wickedly Welsh have a whole host of different flavours of chocolate on their website and are adding new products all the time, but the Great Taste Trio is a fabulous place to start.

Available online for £14.97 at: https://www.wickedlywelsh.co.uk/collections/best-selling-products/products/your-great-taste-trio

Ginsters BBQ Pulled Pork Slice

camping, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Lunchbox Fillers, snacks, Summer

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

The 3^rd week of June is National Picnic week so if you are looking for some tasty treats to pop in your picnic basket this weekend then the new BBQ Pulled Pork Slices from Ginsters really need to be on your shopping list!

With a recipe crafted by expert chefs, the BBQ Pulled Pork Slice is made from 100% British Pork, cooked in a smoky BBQ sauce and encased in golden puff pastry which has a delicious crunchy applewood smoked crumb topping.

The BBQ Pulled Pork slices are incredibly tasty, the meat is lovely and moist, and the flavours work really well together, bringing the delicious taste of a BBQ to summer picnics.

As well as being a great picnic food they are also delicious warm, they can be warmed in the oven or pop them in an air fryer for really crispy pastry and then serve with a tasty salad for a lovely summer lunch.

With a RRP of £1.95 the Limited-Edition BBQ Pulled Pork Slice is available at Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose and ASDA whilst stocks last.