Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
It’s World Chocolate Day today – our favourite day of the year and we have been celebrating with some of our favourite chocolate treats from Joe & Seph’s
Joe & Seph’s are a family business and began making popcorn back in 2010 in their family kitchen. After taking the popcorn to a food show they sold out in 2 days and the rest is history. They use the finest, natural ingredients and now have a range of over 40 exciting flavours which include both sweet and savoury flavours.
The White Chocolate & Raspberry Popcorn Slab costs £8 and believe me is worth every penny. Combining Caramel and Raspberry popcorn and smothering them in delicious white chocolate, Joe & Seph’s have come up with the most amazing indulgent treat. I would like to say that we ate this over a couple of nights but that would be a complete lie! It was so good we demolished the whole slab in one sitting!!
The Caramel & White Chocolate Gourmet Popcorn costs £4 and is a real treat for the tastebuds, especially if you have a sweet tooth. The air popped popcorn is coated in smooth caramel and white chocolate and has a satisfying crunch when you bite into it. Once you’ve tasted this I guarantee you won’t go back to cinema popcorn again!
The Milk Chocolate Popcorn Bites are pieces of salted caramel popcorn in a creamy milk chocolate cup. The creaminess of the chocolate and the crunch of the popcorn go so well together and are a real decadent treat. They say each bag contains 4 servings – I think their servings are much smaller than mine!! RRP £3.50
We’ve really enjoyed celebrating World Chocolate Day with Joe & Seph’s and I can’t wait to find out what their next popcorn flavours are going to be.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
It’s holiday time and we’re off exploring the beautiful countryside in Somerset. We’ve got everything packed, including all our tech – it’s surprising just how many items need charging. A quick look shows two phones, two smart watches, earbuds, a camera, the GPS for my bike and a couple of rechargeable bike lights. That’s a lot of charging cables and there are only two USB sockets in the motorhome.
To make things easier, I’m trying out a USB power bank from iWALK. The PowerSquid has a capacity of 9000mAh and offers quick charging to compatible devices. Its name comes from the fact that it has three built-in charging cables that are permanently attached, looking like the legs of a squid. With micro USB, USB-C and Lightning, many devices are covered but for complete coverage there is of course a standard USB socket too. Charging is via USB-C and a USB-C cable is included.
Mine is white but black and pink models are also available, it weighs 200g and feels really well made. A small LED display gives the percentage charge and also shows if fast charging is being used.
With multiple outputs the PowerSquid is able to charge a number of devices at the same time and it can also take on a charge at the same time, this was perfect in the motorhome where USB sockets are limited. It is also capable of offering fast charge to compatible devices with 5v, 9v or 12v offered on the USB-C and USB-A connector. It can charge a Samsung S22 up to 50% in 30 minutes and was able to charge my phone around one and a half times on a full charge so it will be great for weekends away. The cables all clip neatly into the casing so no more tangled cables in your bag.
It is compatible with iPhone 14/14 Pro Max/iPhone 13 Pro Max/13 Pro/13, Samsung Google Pixel & Apple HomePod devices.
I am really happy with this power bank, it is going to be indispensable when travelling both in the UK and abroad. My teenage sons have already been eying it up so that’s their birthday presents sorted too!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I do enjoy a refreshing G&T on a sunny afternoon, but I don’t always want the hangover that one too many glasses brings. Fortunately, there are now some excellent non alcoholic gins available, enabling me to enjoy all the deliciousness of a sophisticated G&T but without the headache.
Herbarium 29 is the brainchild of friends Andrew Stacey & Steve Brown who struggled to find an alcohol free alternative to gin. After deciding that the best option was to simply take the alcohol out of gin they focussed on this idea and after a lot of experimentation Herbarium was born.
It is delicious served with ice and tonic for a refreshing drink, or if you are feeling a little more adventurous why not try making mocktails?
Distilled in copper pot stills they hand distil small batches of the highest quality, hand selected botanicals to create a well-balanced, complex spirit that has the beautiful mouthfeel and fresh dryness that you expect from a premium gin. I tried it initially with an unflavoured light tonic to get the full flavour, garnishing with a slice of lime. The botanical flavours really stood out and it made a really refreshing drink.
I also tried a Herblet Cocktail which can be made with these ingredients
Ice
50ml Herbarium
50ml Lime cordial
50ml water
2tsp sugar syrup
Lime to garnish
With strong notes of juniper and citrus and the classic bitterness that you expect from gin but without any of the alcohol, Herbarium is the perfect drink this summer. You still get the party taste without the hangover – what’s not to like!
A 70cl bottle costs £24.80 and is available from the Herbarium website (there is currently a 20% discount if you use the code SUMMER20), Master of Malt and Amazon.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I am a real chocoholic and don’t need much of an excuse to eat chocolate, so I am really enjoying the lead up to World Chocolate Day on the 7th July.
I love discovering new chocolate brands and one I hadn’t come across before is FATSO who use a Columbian family owned business and co-operative called Luker as their sole chocolate supplier. The company are 100% ethically driven and they grow delicious, sustainable cocoa that has been awarded the highest chocolate classification, FINO DE AROMA. They also work closely with a network of farmers, alliances and communities to improve social welfare, biodiversity and farming practices.
So with such great credentials the big question is, what does the chocolate actually taste like? Well, that’s very easy to answer. Absolutely delicious!!
We tried two different bars – the King’s Ransom (Mint Pistachio & Cocoa Nibs) and Home Run (Salted Pretzel, Whole Almond & Honeycomb).
One of the things that really surprised me about the King’s Ransom bar (and I really know it shouldn’t) is that it had such a wonderful minty flavour rather than the strong synthetic representation of mint we have become accustomed to in cheaper brands. The minty flavour together with the crunchy texture of the pistachio and cocoa nibs made this a delight to eat.
The Home Run bar is a 60% cacao bar with generous chunks of salted pretzel, whole almonds and honeycomb. This winning combination of flavours complement each other and it is easy to pick out all the flavours, the saltiness of the pretzel takes away some of the bitterness of the dark chocolate and sweetness comes from the honeycomb. Nuts add a satisfying crunch to this bar.
The quality of FATSO chocolate is exceptional and it’s definitely the best I’ve tasted in a quite a while. One taste and you will see that their chocolate is a world apart from something you might pick up from the supermarket. At £6.50 for a 150g bar it is on the expensive side but you are paying for a quality product here – just keep it out of the way of the children and savour every piece!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Father’s Day will soon be here, and you may (or may not!) have started thinking of a gift for your Dad. Beer and chocolate always go down well but sometimes it’s nice to find a gift that means a little more and photo gifts are great as anyone receiving one is bound to appreciate the thought that has gone into creating it.
myFUJIFILM have a fantastic selection of products on their website that would make a superb Father’s Day gift including #photobooks, mugs, water bottles and #prints. The website is simple to use with a page dedicated to Father’s Day gift ideas. Each gift has plenty of images so you can get an idea of what the finished product will look like, and prices and delivery times are clearly indicated. Once you have selected your gift it is easy to create your masterpiece, simply choose the photos you love and myFUJIFILM will transform them into a personalised gift that you and your family can enjoy for years to come.
I created a photobook which was very easy to do – there are plenty of different options on the size, shape and look of your book, you can choose rectangular or square, hard or soft cover, matt or gloss paper and there are different size options too. Everything about the book can be edited, there is the option to add backgrounds, change the layout and add text to personalise your photobook.
I found it very easy to add photos and once the photos are uploaded you can either use the “Auto Fill” option to add the photos to your book in one go or add them manually. The “Auto Fill” is much quicker and you can still alter the layout but it does make it harder if you wanted to group certain photos together on one page.
Once you are happy with your design it is time to place your order, the process is nice and easy and you can add multiple copies of the same gift which will be great at Christmas. Once the order had been placed I received a confirmation email and a second email once my products had been dispatched, which also including tracking information.
myFUJIFILM have gifts for all budgets so take a look at their website where you will be able create a gift of precious memories, use the code LOVEDAD40 to get 40% off all personalised gifts.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Father’s Day is just over a week away and we have some great last minute gift ideas for you. My husband likes practical gifts and will be thrilled with the Wahl Colour Trim Stubble and Beard Trimmer which will be a very useful for keeping his beard tidy.
The Colour Trim Stubble & Beard Trim is a small, re-chargeable trimmer that comes with eight different guides, a blade guard and the usual cleaning brush, comb and clipper oil. Also included is a zip up case to keep everything together.
Uniquely the guides are all colour coded and this isn’t just for show, it is a lot easier to find the right guide once you know the colour so there is no more rummaging around in the bag for the correct size – just remember your colour, snap it onto the blade and you’re off!
The guides come in half sizes from 1.5mm to 13mm (#½ to #4) giving you plenty of choice when grooming your beard. So, whether you want a close cut or something a little longer you can easily achieve it with this set.
Although much more compact than a standard hair trimmer with just a 2.5cm cutting width, the trimmer feels comfortable in the hand and whilst made of plastic the sides of the trimmer are ribbed and allow for a good grip. It has a good weight and a quality feel that I’d expect from Wahl and is backed by a 3 year warranty.
Wahl have chosen to not fit lithium batteries to this trimmer so it is best to fully charge it before use and then re-charge once the power starts to drop. You can’t overcharge it so leaving it plugged in overnight is fine. Wahl say to expect around 60 minutes of trimming from a full charge but if you do run out it can be used whilst plugged in.
A nice touch is that the instructions include directions on how to remove the battery for when it comes time to re-cycle the trimmer.
RRP £32.99 but currently on offer at £21.99 at Wahl here
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Some men are notoriously difficult to buy presents for, a lot of my family are farmers and with no time for hobbies and days out this tends to rule out a lot of traditional Father’s Day gifts. The one present I know will go down well is a tractor and whilst I can’t stretch to a real one, a Britains tractor from Tomy is definitely the next best thing. Britains 1:32 die-cast replica models are incredibly well made and I haven’t met a farmer yet who doesn’t have at least a couple on the shelf.
Farmers tend to prefer a particular brand of tractor and in my family it’s New Holland, the T7.300 LWB Blue Power tractor is a favourite, it is designed for high power yet is still compact sized. It has a power output of 280hp which can be boosted up to a maximum of 300hp so it certainly packs a powerful punch. The new flagship model from Britains captures every detail of this impressive machine, we have the removeable Horizon Ultra cab which allows you see the intricate details of the interior, big soft feel tread tyres along with a working steering wheel and detailed die cast body. The front wheels turn easily and pivot up and down so they can be driven over uneven ground and it has a front A frame hitch and rear tow hitch, which is compatible with other 1:32 scale models so you can attach whatever trailer or implement you need.
Currently priced at £34.45 on Amazon I know plenty of farmers who would love to receive one of these on Father’s Day!
For younger farmers the John Deere Kids 36 piece giant floor puzzle is a great activity to do with Dad on Father’s Day. Measuring 3’ x 2’ this jigsaw features a fantastic countryside scene and the large pieces are nice and sturdy and easy for little hands to pick up without bending or tearing. The pieces slot together nicely and the picture is bright and vibrant. Our mini reviewer loved this jigsaw completing it three times in a row before I dragged them away to have tea!
As well as being great fun to do jigsaws are a great way to develop hand eye coordination and fine motor skills and conversation too, our mini reviewer talked nonstop about what each character was going to do on the farm!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I have been using a pair of headphones from Edifier for a few weeks now and I’m really happy with their performance.
The Edifier W820NB Plus headphones are a pair of lightweight (221g) bluetooth headphones with USB-C charging and connection. Made completely of plastic they are available in a range of 5 colours (Blue, Grey, Green, Ivory and Black) and are lightweight and very comfortable to wear. I have worn them for several hours at a time without any discomfort or sweaty ears! The headband and ear cups are soft and the headphones are adjustable so will fit pretty much any size head. The build quality is good and whilst lightweight, they have a quality feel to them.
Most of my listening is done whilst working in the garden so noise cancellation is important to me, I was mowing the grass the other evening and was really impressed with how well they coped, my podcasts were easy to listen to and whilst I could still hear the petrol mower it wasn’t a problem at all. If you want to know the figures, Edifier’s website claims “upgraded noise cancellation with ANC depth of up to -43dB”.
I’m no audiophile but I can tell you that the sound quality through the 40mm drivers was very good, I couldn’t fault it. The frequency range is listed as 20Hz – 40kHz which is way more than my ears would hear! If you choose to install the accompanying app then you can select some different equaliser settings, but it isn’t something I would make use of so just left the settings at default. The headphones are Hi-Res Audio & Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified for those who have a Hi-Res device and a special game mode can be selected with a couple of presses of a button which offers a latency as low as 0.08s.
Controlling the headphones is done with the usual combination of single and double taps of the various controls. I’m never good at remembering all the different options but the basic controls are easy to use although the buttons could be a little bigger and more spaced out for me.
Answering a phone call is a single tap of the main button as is ending the call and noise cancellation can be turned off with a single tap too.
So far I haven’t had to charge the headphones, Edifier suggest they have a battery life of between 33 and 49 hours depending on how much the noise cancellation is used and a 10 minute charge should give 7 hours of use. More than enough capacity for me.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
National Walking Month is coming to a close now and we have certainly covered some miles. We normally go out walking a couple of times a week but at the start of the month we challenged ourselves to go out for a walk every day in May and the miles have been quickly totting up. I have really enjoyed exploring our local area and walking along the public footpaths that cross the fields as well as doing a few higher level walks on the fells. We have seen plenty of wildlife too, my favourite was seeing a beautiful barn owl fly around the fields one evening and we have also spotted deer and hares.
Living in the North West we are used to wet weather and a walk in the rain is certainly a lot better with the right gear so I was pleased to receive the TOG24 Glasson Women’s Waterproof jacket – especially as my current waterproof coat has seen better days and tends to leak. It’s bad enough walking in the rain but it it’s a million times worse if the rain gets through your coat leaving you wet and cold.
Available in either navy or faded pink in sizes 8-18, the coat is made from a 100% waterproof, breathable fabric with a DWR coating to repel water. The coat is also windproof so will keep me warm and dry no matter what the weather throws at me.
I normally wear size 14 clothes, but I do like to go up a size for waterproof coats as I like to be able to move about easily and on colder days have room for a fleece or jumper. The size 16 coat fitted me perfectly – the elasticated waist toggles meant I could easily adjust the fit, pulling in the waist for a smooth fit when wearing thinner layers and loosening them when I am wearing more layers.
Designed with two-way zips and magnetic fasteners (which are a dream to fasten) the coat has two roomy angled pockets that fasten with the same magnetic fasteners. This is the first time I have come across a coat with this type of fastener, and I really love it, they are so easy to open, especially if you have cold and wet hands and they fasten easily with a satisfying snap. It also has a zipped internal pocket which is perfect for keeping my phone safe.
The coat is a very flattering shape and I love the longer length with the fishtail hem. I was really pleased with the length of the arms, I am 6’ tall with long arms and find sleeve lengths in women’s waterproofs do tend to be too short. I was therefore pleasantly surprised when I put the jacket on and found the sleeves were just the right length. Another feature of waterproof coats that I look at are the hood, it needs to fit nicely on my head and stay up when the weather is bad. The hood on the Glasson coat was an excellent fit and with the zip fully up stayed in place nicely. The peak helped prevent the hood from flopping in my face and is deep enough to keep rain off my face and glasses. There is also enough room to wear a woolly hat when it gets colder and still be able to put the hood up.
The lovely, longer-length Glasson coat performed brilliantly when we tested it with the hosepipe (it’s not rained here recently so we had to create our own weather conditions!) This was way more intense than any rain shower I’ve ever been in and although the coat was absolutely soaked, I stayed nice and dry. I am really pleased with this coat, it is comfortable to wear and looks great too. It’s also smart enough for work so whilst the coat is on sale I’m thinking of buying the faded pink version to keep me warm and dry on my daily commute.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Gin has become incredibly popular over the last few years with plenty of small distilleries starting up, each with their own unique gin flavours. Being a gin fan myself, I do enjoy sampling all the different types and when it comes from a city close to my heart it’s even better.
Manchester Gin was created back in 2016 by Jen Wiggins and Seb Heeley who met in a Manchester bar. They both shared a love of gin so decided to take the plunge and create their own starting distilling in their dining room. Fast forward to 2019, the couple opened a brand new distillery, bar and restaurant under railway arches in the centre of Manchester, where you can not only sample the gin but see it being made too.
Made in the heart of Manchester the aptly named Manchester Gin Signature is distilled in a copper still and is one of the most awarded gins in the country. It is a citrus-led gin with 12 botanicals including orange, lemon and dandelion and burdock. The gin is spicy and sweet and makes a very refreshing G&T.
I served the gin with a premium Indian tonic water and plenty of ice, adding lemon and lime slices to make the perfect G&T. This is a very refreshing crisp flavoured gin, having a real juniper punch and a delicate sweetness from the liquorice.
Once I had tried a traditional G&T it was time to hit the cocktails and I found it worked well in the classic Gin Fizz or add fresh lime juice, homemade lime syrup and mint for my favourite – the zingy Gimlet cocktail.
If you are heading up to Manchester any time soon you can book a distillery tour where you can see the process and taste their gin for yourself. For gin connoisseurs you can even create your own gin. If you can’t get up to Manchester then the 42% proof gin is available from The Whiskey Exchange at a very reasonable £34.95.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Whilst the Coronation is still fresh in our minds it’s the perfect time to introduce a new game from Drumond Park. Best of The Royals is part of the popular LOGO brand and the theme of this version of the game is the Royal family, who are probably the most well-known family in the world.
With 200+ Royal-themed questions it is not only a fun and entertaining game for all the family it is also a history lesson too!
Played with 2 teams (age 12+) rather than a traditional playing board, the players race to complete a royal themed jigsaw puzzle. Setting up the game is very simple, all you do is take the cards and jigsaw pieces out of the box, place the cards in the middle of the table and give each team their 22 jigsaw pieces.
Game play is nice and easy, the team with the youngest player starts first and the oldest player from the other team becomes Question Master. He takes the top card and asks the question or shows the picture to the other team (whilst hiding the answers from his own team as they might be able to win a bonus jigsaw piece if the other team answer incorrectly). If the team get the answer right, they select a corner piece and place it on the table, if they are wrong the other team have the opportunity to answer and win an extra piece. Play continues with the same team answering the remaining three questions on the card before play is passed to the other team. One jigsaw piece is awarded for every correct answer and the winner is the first team to finish the jigsaw with the large centre piece.
This is a great game to play at family parties, the questions are varied with the classic LOGO picture, theme and pot luck question cards. The questions cover the present day and life during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II and we learnt quite a lot when playing. I do wonder how many times we can play it without remembering the answers but with 200+ cards and different players I don’t think it will be too much of a problem just yet.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
May is National Walking Month and is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and explore the countryside. I have set myself a challenge to do a walk every day in May as walking is not only a good form of exercise it is a great way to destress after a busy day at work. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country with plenty of good walks on our doorstep, so I am hoping that it won’t be too difficult a challenge!
When you are going hiking it’s amazing the difference a good pair of walking socks makes and this pair of Fusion Walk socks from 1000 Miles are going to be doing plenty of miles this month.
The socks are a double layered 3 /4 season sock with extra padding on the heel, toe and Achilles tendon areas. Combined with the high volume Merino wool, the socks offers warmth and volume, making the socks ideal for wearing from Autumn right through to Spring.
As soon as I put the socks on my feet I noticed how comfortable they are, and that’s before I even started walking! The Merino wool and Tactel mix gives a comfortable, breathable sock that wicks moisture away from the foot and elastane ensures a close fit that doesn’t slip or bunch in your boots The ribbed cuff is a comfortable fit and not too tight around my leg and the socks are a mid-calf length and they fit nicely in both my walking boots and trail shoes meaning I can wear them for both hiking and fell running.
I was especially pleased when I saw the sizing of the women’s socks, the medium size is for UK sizes 6 to 8.5 and it’s nice to find a company who recognises that women do have feet bigger than a size 7!
The socks come with 1000 Miles’s blister free guarantee and they will give you your money back or a replacement pair of socks if you experience either blisters or the socks wear out within 1,000 miles – provided that the socks have been cared for following their guidance and are returned with the receipt.
The socks are mid length and easily cover the bottom of my walking trousers, the heel padding comes up the back of the heel and finishes slightly higher than the back of my walking shoe, meaning the backs of my ankles are protected and comfortable. Available in Ladies (3 to 8.5) they cost £18.00 but don’t be put off by the price, given the excellent warranty they really are a worthwhile purchase
Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
I have reached the age when looking after my skin has become a lot more important. Since hitting the perimenopause my skin is drier and the fine lines and wrinkles are becoming more and more noticeable so I was really pleased to be given the opportunity to try a selection of serums from the new skincare range from Annabelle Minerals
Facial serums are an essential step in any skin care routine, they are lightweight and easily absorbed and offer concentrated key ingredients. Annabelle Minerals have three serums – Glow Juice (20% Vitamin C) Repair Juice (0.3% Retinol) and Clarity Juice (5% Niacinamide) and the serums are designed to work alongside moisturiser. Used twice a day they will make a noticeable difference to how the skin looks and feels.
It takes around 4-6 weeks to start seeing benefits from new skincare products so with three serums to try I decided the best way to test them was to use each serum on a different part of my face. It’s been 6 weeks since I started using them and I am amazed at the difference they have made to my skin.
The Glow Juice Serum is my favourite of the three, after a couple of weeks the fine lines around my eyes were noticeably softened and as the weeks went on they continued to fade. This was a very pleasing result and it was also good to see that my skin is looking brighter too.
The Clarity Juice provides nourishment to my skin and it has really helped with the visible pores on my forehead, it has minimised their appearance and I am hoping with continued use I will continue to see an improvement.
The Repair Juice contains retinol which is a real wonder product. It stimulates skin renewal processes, improves elasticity, reduces the visibility of pores, evens out skin tone and texture, and reduces inflammation. Anyone new to using retinol should start by applying the serum twice a week to build tolerance, gradually increasing application to daily. I have been using this at night and my skin is clearer and the fine lines at the corner of my mouth are becoming less noticeable. I also noticed that my skin looks and feels smoother.
Annabelle Minerals products are 100% organic and it’s good to know that as well as doing a great job fighting the visible signs of aging these serums are good for your skin too. The silky serums are a very effective addition to my daily beauty regime and I was surprised to discover that they are only £27.90/bottle – a lot cheaper than other serums I have tried and much more effective.
If you want to read more about Annabelle Minerals products you can read our review of the lip and eye pencils here
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Whenever anyone asks me what I’d like for my birthday or Christmas I always struggle to come up with anything. I’m not one for trinkets or jewellery and unlike a lot of people I know I am actually quite happy with something practical like kitchenware. I really enjoy cooking so it is nice to be treated to better versions of the small kitchen appliances that I use regularly. Wahl recently sent me a selection of kitchen appliances from their James Martin range which look super cool in my kitchen and are a welcome upgrade to my existing kitchen gadgets. My food processer is at least 20 years old and well past its prime and my hand mixer is even older so it was really exciting to discover both of these products in the parcel from Wahl.
The 300W electric hand mixer is a substantial and reasonably heavy little mixer. It comes complete with stainless steel beaters, dough hooks and a whisk which all came in useful when I was making lunch on Easter Sunday. The beaters were used for the batter for Yorkshire puddings and for making chocolate brownies, the dough hooks for hot cross buns and the whisk for the whipped cream.
The mixer is a good weight, not too heavy to use, but just heavy enough that it feels solid in your hands. It has a rubberised handle which makes it comfortable to hold and is a huge improvement on my old mixer. The mixer has 5 speeds plus a turbo boost and is a fantastic little gadget. It has a button to press for the quick release of the beaters which saves you getting your hands covered in cake mix, you can just eject them into the washing up bowl or they can go in the dishwasher.
RRP £32.99
I wouldn’t be without a food processor, mine is a real work horse making light of chopping, grating, liquidising and making vast quantities of pastry. With a houseful at Easter the James Martin Compact Processor with Spiralizer Attachment really came into its own and I’ve spent the last few days slicing, mixing and juicing to create a range of culinary treats that went down a storm with my family. Delicious soups, buckets of coleslaw, healthy smoothies, even crushed ice for drinks, this little workhouse was the star of the show making mundane tasks like chopping vegetables and grating cheese a breeze. The spiralizer was an added bonus and any vegetable that went near it was spiralized by my son!! This was an innovative way to encourage him to eat more vegetables!!
The set includes a processor bowl with stainless steel blade, a disc for slicing and grating as well as a spiralizer attachment and a 1.5L blender with filler cap and easy to clean removable blades. The blender is a good size and perfect for making smoothies and liquidising home made soup. The parts are all dishwasher safe which is a huge plus.
The food processor is nice and sturdy and sits nicely on my worktop, it has suckers on the bottom which help it stay firmly in place when in use . I use mine a lot so I keep it on top of the worktop but it will easily fit in a cupboard.
It has a powerful 500 watt motor with two speeds and a pulse setting and the compact size means it is doesn’t get in the way when it is sat on the worktop not being used.
RRP £74.99
The James Martin by Wahl Grind and Chop is such a handy little gadget and I don’t know how I have managed to overlook this piece of kitchen equipment. It’s one of those products that once you start using one you don’t know how you managed without it – especially good with a houseful of guests!
Stylish and powerful it has a 70g capacity and is perfect for grinding coffee beans and making curry paste with a simple press of the lid. With a 200W motor it makes short work of smaller jobs – instead of throwing away bread that is past its best, I use this to make breadcrumbs which I can pop in the freezer for my next recipe.
Use the grinder for dry ingredients and the chopper for wet or oily ones, no need to worry about working out which cup is which as they are both marked up. It comes with a handy recipe book with spice mixes to grind and accompanying recipes. The Spicy Tandoori mix was a favourite with my family.
There is no fiddling with this gadget as the blades are fixed in the cups and all you need to do is sit it on the base, pop the top on and press it down to start chopping. I like how easy it is to use – it can be operated with just one hand. Once you’ve finished chopping you simply lift the top off and use your ingredients.
The Grind and Chop machine looks very smart on the worktop, the brushed stainless finish being very on trend right now. To carry out basic chopping and grinding with no fuss you really can’t beat this gadget.
RRP £36.99
Whan you have a houseful of guests extra cooking facilities are a big boost and the James Martin Healthy Table Top Grill has been invaluable to help feed all the hungry mouths. With a variable temperature control and ridged and flat cooking areas it sits nicely on the work surface and has been used most of all for bacon butties at various times of the day as well as grilling chicken and meats for sandwiches and buffets.
It has a good sized cooking area and can easily cook enough food for a family in one go. It has a drip tray for excess oil and non-stick removable grill plates and it makes cooking easy and healthy.
Cleaning up afterwards was effortless thanks to there being less burnt-on grease on the non stick plates and the fact that the grill plate can be removed so it can be washed in hot soapy water by hand.
I can see this being an incredibly useful gadget and it will be great to take away in the caravan this summer so we can cook healthy meals outdoors.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and whilst we all want to find the perfect gift there’s no need to spend a fortune to show you care and these fantastic gifts from Swizzels are a fantastic inexpensive way to treat Mum.
What’s better to say I love you than a huge chocolate Love Heart? This giant Love Heart looks just like the traditional love heart sweet, just a lot bigger and made of 100% milk chocolate. With ‘FOR YOU’ surrounded by the iconic heart we all know and love it makes a lovely gift for Mum.
The iconic Sweet Shop Favourites Gift Box includes a selection of some of the UK’s most well-loved sweets: Refreshers, Drumstick, Love Hearts, Parma Violets, Double Lollies and Fizzers. As soon as you open the box the familiar scent of ‘childhood’ brings back so many happy memories and the hardest part is choosing which one to have first! My favourite is the Refreshers bar – what is yours?
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
If you are looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift then the Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Gift set needs to be top of your list, it is beautifully wrapped (always a bonus when you have left your gift buying to the last minute!) and contains a lovely selection of products for your mum to pamper herself with.
From the moment I unwrapped the origami designed packaging and discovered the sturdy floral designed cardboard box I could tell that this was going to be a special gift set. On lifting the lid of the gift box, I discovered four travel sized products – foaming shower gel 50ml, rich body oil 30ml, body cream 70ml and hair & body mist 20ml – everything you need to bring a little luxury into your bathroom.
The Ritual of Ayurveda products are designed to help you achieve inner harmony and are based on the aromas of Indian rose and sweet almond oil. These products all smell amazing and are a real sensual treat.
The foaming shower gel lathers nicely and when used alongside the body cream helps carry the delicious scent around with you all day. The body oil is wonderful to apply, it glides on like silk and supercharges my skin with moisture. The oil is light and absorbs quickly, leaving behind the most gorgeous scent and leaving my skin smooth, soft and with a healthy sheen. The hair and body mist has the same beautiful fragrance and the handy sized bottle is perfect to keep in your handbag.
The Ritual Of Ayurveda giftset makes a lovely Mother’s Day gift – pure luxury & the ultimate indulgence for that special person in your life.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Sleeping on silk has many benefits and lots of my curly haired friends have switched to silk pillowcases since discovering they help to reduce frizz. Sleeping on silk is also good for your skin as silk absorbs less moisture and dirt than cotton meaning your night cream will stay on your face and keep your skin hydrated, rather than ending up all over your pillowcase.
Although silk bedding sounds incredibly luxurious I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at the Jasmine Silk website and discovered that silk bedding doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. With pillowcases starting at £16 it is definitely worth considering, as not only is it lovely to sleep on, the added health benefits add to the attraction.
They kindly sent me one of their Ultimate Silk Pillowcases to try and as soon as I took it out of the packaging I could feel how luxurious this product was. Made from 100% Mulberry silk I love the feel and softness of the pillowcase and when I went to bed it was a delight to sleep on. It was also lovely and cool which is a huge benefit as now I am perimenopausal I am suffering from the dreaded hot flushes which are invariably worse at night, and I don’t sleep very well anymore. After a few good nights sleep I am considering getting the matching sheets too as I am so impressed with the pillowcase. When I woke up my curls were still nice and bouncy and noticeably less frizzy so not only do I sleep better my hair looked better too.
The pillowcase was a good fit on my pillow, well-fitting but loose enough to easily take on and off. With an envelope closure it looks neat on my bed. The pillowcase was easy to wash, it can be washed in a machine at 30 degrees and tumbled dried at a low temperature. I dried mine outdoors which helped reduce the creases and a cool iron quickly removed the rest.
Jasmine Silk have silk pillowcases in a variety of styles and a choice of 11 different colours and they also have silk bedding so you can sleep in luxury every night. With Mother’s Day fast approaching why not treat your Mum and give the gift of sleep this year?
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
I love walking into a Rituals shop, from the moment you step inside a calming aura encircles you and the hustle and bustle of the high street instantly become a distant memory. Once inside this tranquil haven, soothing music and beautiful fragrances add to the experience and with incredibly knowledgeable staff on hand to share the delightful products with you it soon becomes apparent that this is more than just a store selling beauty products. I always leave the shop with not only a bag of goodies but an over-whelming feeling of relaxation and being pampered. Taking time for yourself is very important and Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself or a loved one to some lovely pampering products and Rituals have some lovely gifts for just that purpose.
They kindly sent me one of their fantastic gifts – the Ritual of Sakura Renewing Routine gift set. Now I love receiving a gift set, it’s so exciting opening it to discover a special collection of items and when they are as beautifully packaged as this it becomes even more of a treat. Initially I thought this box was just too pretty to open however, the alluring scents of the products proved too much and after carefully opening the origami designed packaging I discovered a sturdy cardboard box with a beautiful floral design that just shouts out to be reused.
Inside the box are;
Zensational foaming shower gel 200ml
Renewing body scrub 125g
Magic Touch body cream 100ml
Relaxing Scented Candle
I was looking forward to the rice milk and cherry blossom scented products bringing on a feeling of relaxation and enabling me to switch off from daily life, even just for a short period of time.
After using them I wasn’t disappointed – the shower gel lathers nicely with a creamy foam and used in conjunction with the body cream helps carry the delicious scent around with you all day. Using the body scrub is truly a sensual experience and real treat, it provides just enough exfoliation and I love how it leaves my skin feeling invigorated yet pampered, adding a moment of luxury to my daily shower.
If you are looking for a gift set that boasts something a little more special that your standard bath and body Sets, you must try Rituals, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!! The Rituals of Sakura gift set is a wonderful starting place to begin your Rituals journey.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
There’s still time to pick up a Valentine’s gift for a loved one and we have some lovely fragrances to share with you. Lasting longer than roses (and cheaper too!) Agence de Parfumerie’s Cabotine Rose EDT is a delightfully fresh perfume that looks and smells like a luxury perfume but without the hefty price tag. With top notes of cherry blossom, mandarin and pear, heart nots of mimosa, peony and pikake flower and base notes of vetiver, sandalwood and plumeria petals this floral perfume is light and feminine and perfect for every day wear. I found that I only needed to apply this perfume once during the day as the perfume is quite long lasting. I received many comments from my friends and colleagues who said how nice it is and wanted to know what the fragrance was.
The box is very pretty with a raised floral design which is also picked up on the lid of the perfume bottle which is a lovely pink floral design and looks stunning on my dressing table.
This is a lovely perfume and is suitable for all ages, at £14.95 for 100ml it is very reasonably priced for such a lovely, long lasting fragrance. It is perfect as a gift or why not treat yourself!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own
This giant Swizzels milk chocolate Love Heart will be a favourite with both young and old this Valentine’s Day. It is styled as a traditional love heart sweet, just bigger and made of 100% milk chocolate. With ‘FOR YOU’ surrounded by the iconic heart we all know and love it makes a lovely gift for a friend or loved one.
Created with the aim of encouraging people to share the love this Valentine’s Day it costs only £2.49 from Home Bargains and the Swizells website so why not share the love and treat a few friends and loved ones this year?
To coincide with Valentine’s Day, Swizzels have also launched a #BeYourOwnValentine competition giving people the chance to win the Valentine’s Day of their dreams- why not take a look and enter here .
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Are you looking for something a little different as a Valentine’s treat or simply to show someone special you are thinking of them? If they have a sweet tooth and love flapjacks then Flapjackery is the place to go!
Founded in 2015 by Carol Myott and Sally Jenkin, the pair who share a passion for home cooking met selling cakes at a Devon farmers’ market. They started baking in their own kitchens but as the company grew, they needed to move to bigger premises to keep up with the demand for their flapjacks. Like all businesses they were badly affected by covid as their normal outlets, farmers markets and events stopped so they decided to start selling their delicious flapjacks online.
We’re big fans of Flapjackery so were really pleased to be asked to sample one of their Valentine’s gift boxes containing five flavours of flapjack – Chocolate Orange, Millionaire’s, Raspberry & White Chocolate, Rocky Road and Clotted Cream.
Nicely packaged in a carboard box, which fits easily through a letterbox, each flapjack is individually wrapped to keep it fresh. They also have long “eat by” dates, my box was dated the 5th April but they are so yummy they only lasted a couple of days! As my box had a Valentine’s theme the Millionaire’s flapjack was decorated with a white chocolate heart which is a lovely touch. They all looked delicious and the hardest part was deciding which one to try first!
Each flapjack was fresh, flavoursome and incredibly moreish and after sampling them all the raspberry and white chocolate was my favourite, sandwiched with juicy raspberries the flapjack is nice and moist and fruity. The white chocolate complements the sharper raspberry taste and mixed with the buttery flapjack makes a delicious treat.
They currently have a selection of Valentine’s gift boxes available and there is also an option to create your own. Choose from either a box of 8 or 12 flapjacks or a message plaque box containing a giant millionaire’s flapjack with 4 of 8 flapjacks. The boxes can be gift wrapped and a free personalised message added to make your gift a little more special.
You really are spoilt for choice when selecting a giftbox, there are 24 flavours to choose from ranging from a traditional flapjack to more unusual flavours like rocky road, honeycomb or florentine. Have a look at the full range here.
With a box of three flapjacks costing £12 they really are the perfect Valentine’s treat!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
The Royal British Legion are the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with 180,000 members, 110,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities. In 2021 they celebrated their 100th birthday and to mark the occasion they partnered with Eminent Wines and launched a trio of champagnes, the RBL100 range, which includes these three champagnes.
Reveille (Brut) – A name inspired by the music which follows The Last Post and Two Minute Silence at Remembrance services. £45.00
Champs de Fleurs (Rosé) – translates from French to ‘fields of flowers’, in reference to the fields of poppies that flourished on the Western Front following the First World War, which lead to the red poppy becoming a symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.
Centurion (Blanc de Blanc) – A name, quite simply, in reference to 100 years of the Royal British Legion.
They kindly sent us a bottle of the Champs de Fleurs (Rosé) champagne to try which has a lovely illustration of poppies on the label and I think it would make a lovely Valentine’s gift. The champagne is pink in colour and fizzed up nicely in my tall flute and there were plenty of bubbles which popped satisfyingly on my tongue. When I tasted the champagne it has a crisp, clean flavour and the lively delicate bubbles leave your tongue tingling.
This February The Royal British Legion are suggesting you celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Poppy instead of a Rose which I think is a lovely idea, not only do you get a lovely bottle of champagne you are helping to support The Royal British Legion with 10% of the bottle price going to the charity.
I am sure your Valentine would be thrilled to receive a bottle on Valentine’s Day and if you are lucky they might even share it with you!
Valentine’s Day is on the horizon and whilst there are plenty of gifts available for women it can prove a little more difficult finding the perfect gift for the special man in your life. In my experience alcohol and food always go down a treat and if your husband/boyfriend loves snacking – especially on pork crackling, nuts and cider then Roberts Dorset is the place to go!
With products suitable for those following a Keto or Vegan lifestyle they have a fantastic selection of gift boxes that can be customised to suit the recipient.
Robert’s Dorset began back in 2011 in the family kitchen, initially selling their products at their local Dorset markets. They quickly discovered that their snacks were incredibly popular and worked hard to create new flavours, now supplying their tasty snacks all over the country.
I have always liked pork crackling but never realised there was a choice of flavour beyond “pork”. I was therefore intrigued to discover that Roberts Dorset produce a variety of flavours – Sea Salt, Salt & Vinegar, Extreme Naga Chilli, BBQ, Salt & Pepper, Sage & Onion and Garlic and have enjoyed sampling them all.
These delicious savoury bites are incredibly moreish and I haven’t been able to stop myself dipping into the pots for my crackling fix. The crackling is crunchy and crisp with the slightly pork fat taste, that I remember so well from Friday nights at the local pub!
As well as the crackling the Scrumptious Combination gift box also included a couple of tubs of peanuts (sea salt and sweet chilli) along with a couple of cans of St Austell Brewery “Proper Job” IPA.
I enjoyed all the flavours but be warned the Naga Chilli flavour is incredibly hot and not for the faint hearted. I would say that all the flavours are suitable snacks to have alongside drinks as a change to the more traditional crisps and peanuts. The tubs are recyclable but have a good fitting lid which makes them very useful if kept. Eaten in conjunction with the excellent St Austell Brewery “Proper Job” IPA’s they make a perfect Valentine’s treat.
So soon after the indulgence of Christmas some might wonder about the healthiness of pork crackling but as they are gluten free, high in protein and MSG free, surely they can count as a health food!?
The many different options that Roberts Dorset offer mean that there is something for everyone. They make a superb gift idea – something that little bit different and a nice change from the standard box of chocolate or smellies.
Take a look at the fantastic selection of Gift boxes here, prices start at £17.50
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.
It can feel quite daunting choosing a new shampoo, there are so many different ones available for every hair type, so whether your hair is short, long, curly, coloured, oily, dry or anything in between there is a product for you. Whilst we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the haircare market it can start to get expensive trying new products, and it’s quite frustrating spending hard earned money on new products only to find they don’t suit your hair. We’re all feeling the pinch at the minute, so The Review Studio have been trying out a selection of hair products and sharing our favourites with you.
FFØR stands for Free From, Original, Real and as you’ve probably guessed from the name are an ethical company who believe in Clean Beauty, both for you and the planet. Their products are vegan, cruelty free and free from nasties and they only work with likeminded, ethical suppliers who can provide verified information about their sourcing, and who share their important values. They are also winners of the Marie Claire 2022 Hair Awards and the Global Green Beauty Awards so with such impressive credentials I was keen to see how the products performed on my dry frizzy hair.
The Re:Nourish shampoo lathers up nicely into a rich foam and rinses out very easily. My hair felt very clean and well hydrated after use. The shampoo is perfect for dry and damaged hair and is infused with organic orange and cinnamon giving it a lovely fragrance which is subtle but very pleasant.
The Re:Nourish conditioner is rich and creamy and easy to apply to my hair, before rinsing I scrunched it into my hair which helps add moisture to my curls. It rinsed out easily leaving my hair tangle free.
I use a hair mask weekly so was pleased to find a Re:Plenish hair mask in the gift set. It is thicker than the conditioner and once applied I combed it through from root to tip to ensure that it was applied evenly. The instructions say to leave it on your hair for 3-5 minutes before rinsing so as my hair needs lots of moisture, I left it on for the full 5 minutes so that it could penetrate my hair properly. Afterwards my hair was soft, smooth, nourished, frizz free and smelt lovely too.
After using these products for 2 weeks I can see a huge improvement in my hair, it feels nourished and moisturised, and the frizz has gone, it also looks a lot shinier than it was before. My curls look great, even without extra styling products and they are defined and bouncy.
The Re:Nourish gift set costs £39 so why not give the gift of great hair this Galentine’s Day with FFØR.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
Love is in the air at The Review Studio this week and we are currently surrounded by a fantastic selection of Valentine’s products and looking forward to sharing our favourites over the next few days.
One present that always goes down is alcohol and this delicious Cranberry and Blood Orange Liqueur from Cranes will make a lovely gift for the special person in your life.
This striking red liqueur has been created by the founders of Cranes – twin brothers Ben & Dan along with one of the UK’s top mixologists. Made from Wisconsin cranberries and infused with blood orange juice and orange rind, this double award-winning liqueur is sweet with underlying, but not overpowering, sourness – imagine a ‘sour’ candy sweets but add a 17% alcoholic kick!
The bottle comes with minimal cardboard packaging and the distinctive square glass bottle is nice and chunky and is the type that look good on a drinks trolley.
The liqueur can be drunk neat, on the rocks or why not add some Prosecco to make a delicious Cranbellini cocktail.
Talking of cocktails there are a couple of ideas on the box to try
Cosmopolitan (Cranes Liqueur, Cranberry juice, Vodka and lime)
Lemon Berry (Cranes liqueur, Limoncello and Sicilian lemonade)
Shaddock’s G&T (Cranes liqueur, Gin, Tonic water and Pink Grapefruit Juice)
Cranes Spritz (Cranes liqueur, Soda water, Prosecco)
It a sweet, fruity liqueur but there is a hint of sharpness, and like any liqueur is best drunk slowly so you can savour every sip. It also goes well in cocktails and having tried all the ones above (well someone has to!!) we decided that the Cranes Spritz was our favourite, it’s a light and refreshing cocktail and the accompaniment toa Valentine’s Afternoon Tea.
It makes an ideal Valentine’s Day gift or why not buy a bottle and make some delicious cocktails to accompany a romantic night in.
The Review Studio 