eco friendly – Page 2 – The Review Studio

Sonic Spa Pro from Sonic Dental

beauty, Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Home, Jewellery, Sport, Sustainable, Tech

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

Not many of us have dentures anymore but plenty of people, including myself have retainers after orthodontic work or mouth guards to prevent teeth grinding at night. Don’t forget the sports mouth guards too and each of them cost a bomb as they have to be specially made. All of these dental appliances need cleaning and despite best efforts, an electric toothbrush doesn’t always get them clean.

I wear a mouth guard at night to protect my teeth from grinding. The appliance, shown in these photos, is made of a type of tough plastic and has to be custom made. It costs over £140 so you want to make them last as long as possible. The Sonic Spa Pro is designed for dentures and dental appliances to be able to get them clean where brushing alone can’t. I was sent a Sonic Spa Pro to test and as my mouth guard hasn’t been sonically cleaned before, I was so keen to get the stubborn limescale marks off of it without using harmful products.

The Sonic Spa Pro is not a very big appliance and certainly not complicated to use. The white ‘dome’ actually looks a bit like a big tooth! The box comes with the power cord and some cleaning tablets which dissolve in the water. There’s nothing else needed. Inside the sonic machine, there is a tank which you fill with water, drop in the cleaning tablet and then the dental appliance and then close the lid. The handy instructions on the top give you a quick reference of how to use it as you’re unlikely to keep instruction manuals for something you don’t usually use very often. The button on the top is held down for 2 seconds to give a 3 minute sonic clean, or hold it down a second time for a 5 minute clean. It’s that simple!

You can walk away from the Sonic Spa Pro and leave it working. There’s a tiny ringing sounds that emits from it, presumably the sonic waves doing their magic, then once it’s finished you can open and see what kind of clean you’ve attained! The Sonic Spa Pro also cleans jewellery and some stationery items like brass nail nibs (great if you’re an artist or calligrapher) and small metal items. The Sonic Spa Pro uses UV as well as sonic to clean so there are actually lots of items which could be cleaned. The included tablets are for dental appliances only though, and they are designed to leave a minty taste to your appliances whilst also killing 99.9% of odours and bacteria.

Once the appliance has been cleaned, fish it out of the water and either dry it or let it dry. In my case, once I had dried the mouth guard I could see it needed another clean so this time I did a deep clean. We live in an extremely hard water area so the calcium build up is enormous and because the appliance is custom made, the nooks and crannies of teeth make it impossible to get clean with just an electric toothbrush.

When I removed it for the second time and dried off the mouth guard, I could see that a lot of the calcium deposits were less caked on. There were still traces there, like little grains of sand in some of the deeper pockets but it was a lot less. This was the first time I had properly sonic cleaned it though so I thought it might take a few tries. You can see in the before and after photos that there is an improvement though!

Next time I clean using the Sonic Spa Pro I’ll make sure to use warmer water and let the appliance soak a bit longer after the deep clean to allow for the cleaning tablet to work deeper. I haven’t had a chance to try the Sonic Spa Pro on any other jewellery or household items, but now that I’ve seen an improvement, I’m seriously looking at what I have around the house that needs some sonic treatment…

Currently available for £69.95 at: https://uk.sonicdental.co/products/the-sonic-spa?shpxid=80ecc2ff-7d1e-4e8d-a4e5-4e69c2a06f3c

Softly Mens Alpaca Scarf

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, camping, eco friendly, Fashion, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, National Walking Month, Winter

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

Ordinarily a scarf isn’t something I would consider as a Father’s Day gift as June is supposed to be lovely and warm and sunny! Not this year though, it’s still quite chilly so we’re having to wrap up on our evening walks so I know my husband would really appreciate a lovely warm scarf to keep him cosy when he’s out walking!

The Softly Softly Mens Alpaca Scarf is made from 100% premium alpaca fleece from Peru and is lovely and soft against your skin. Alpaca wool is stronger, softer, more eco-friendly, and offers 85% greater wicking capability than merino wool so it is a great choice for outdoor activities, especially hiking, as it’s also breathable and wind-resistant too.

The scarf is nice and long which makes it ideal for wearing different ways, it can be easily wrapped twice around your neck, tied overhand or worn in the Parisian knot style the choice is yours.

Available in a fantastic selection of colours – black, oatmeal, sapphire blue, scarlet, dark blue, dark green and mulberry this scarf is not only a stylish accessory but practical too and will keep Dad’s neck warm and cozy on colder days for years to come.

Size 150cm x 30cm

RRP £45 but currently on sale for £18

Read our Softly Softly Alpaca wool socks review here

Lola’s Cupcakes Father’s Day Cupcakes

eco friendly, Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him

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

What Dad wouldn’t be happy with cake on Father’s Day – especially when they look as cool as these Father’s Day Cupcakes from Lola’s Cupcakes. Available in boxes of 12 or 24, each box contains a colourful mix of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes all decorated with stars, mini pearls and sprinkles and the vanilla cakes also have a snazzy ‘Dad’, ‘Super’ or ‘Hero’ decoration too.

Sometimes impressive looking cakes can be a little disappointing when you bite into them but not Lola’s Cupcakes – they are full of flavour and incredibly moreish – especially the chocolate ones! The sponge cakes have a lovely thick layer of vanilla or chocolate buttercream and when you bite into them you discover a light and fluffy sponge that is nice and moist. The brightly coloured cakes are incredibly eye catching and I guarantee they won’t last long on Father’s Day!!!

The cakes can be collected from one of Lola’s Cupcakes London stores or make it easy for yourself by having them delivered, either to your door or even your Dad’s, with Lola’s nationwide delivery service. The cakes are available to preorder from 29^th May and will be in stores and ready for delivery from 12^th June.

As we don’t live in London, we were able to test the delivery service and I was really impressed with both the service and packaging. The cakes were in a cardboard presentation box with each cake having a cardboard sleeve and lid to protect it in transit. The cakes were incredibly well packaged in a solid cardboard box with a cool block and thermal liner to ensure the cakes arrived in perfect condition. Once opened the cakes should be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container and they are best eaten within 48 hours. They didn’t last that long in our house, but it is good to know that they can be kept in the fridge for another 2 days.

I was also very pleased to discover that the thermal liner and ice pack can be returned to Lola’s Cupcakes using the prepaid label. They then clean them before reusing, what a great idea and much better for the environment too.

Lola’s Cupcakes make all their cakes fresh by hand each day from scratch, using only high quality ingredients so if you want to treat your Dad I would take a look now! As well as the cupcakes they also have Father’s Day brownies as well as larger cakes to choose from and there is also a vegan and gluten free option so no one needs to miss out on these delicious treats.

I would most definitely recommend Lola’s Cupcakes as a Father’s Day gift, especially if your Dad lives further away and you can’t deliver his gift in person this year.

To order the Father’s Day cupcakes (or any other kind cakes) head on over to their website here

RRP from £22 available until the 16^th June

Softly Softly Alpaca Socks

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Fashion, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, National Walking Month, Stocking Fillers, Winter, Women

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

May is National Walking month and the perfect opportunity to try out some great new walking gear like these alpaca socks from Softly Softly.

Softly Softly Alpaca socks are made from luxurious and sustainable alpaca fibre which not only feels lovely and soft on your feet but keeps them toasty warm in winter and cool in summer. Alpaca wool is stronger, softer, more eco-friendly, and offers 85% greater wicking capability than merino wool and being hypoallergenic means alpaca socks are a great choice for outdoor activities, especially hiking.

We walk hundreds of miles each year and socks are a lot more important than you might think when you’re out hiking as they are crucial for keeping your feet comfortable and blister free. I have been trying out the Ultimate Alpaca socks and the Luxury Alpaca Boot Socks over the last couple of weeks and I have to say I am really impressed, they are lovely and soft and incredibly comfortable to wear. The socks are quite thick so perfect for wearing in boots and the cushioned sole helps protect your feet on longer walks, trail runs and tougher terrains.

The socks are an excellent fit, sitting nicely on my foot and they don’t slip down when walking, the ribbed cuff is comfortable and not too tight around my leg and they are plenty long enough to tuck leggings or trousers into.

When I wear them on long walks my feet don’t seem to get as hot and sweaty as they do in cheaper socks and they have kept my feet cool on the one hot day we’ve had so far this month and lovely and warm on the cooler days! They can be machine washed on a wool cycle and after washing several times they have kept their shape and feel just as comfortable and luxurious as the first time I wore them.

Available in extra small, small, medium and large they will fit feet between sizes 1 to 12.

Whilst they are not the cheapest socks around they really are worth splurging on as you can’t put a price on comfortable feet. Whether you’re exploring the local countryside, conquering mountains or simply walking the dog make sure you have a pair of Softly Softly alpaca socks on your feet this summer!

RRP £25

Grangers Footwear & Gear Cleaner Eco Refil Pack

camping, Children, eco friendly, Family Life, Home, Home & Garden, National Walking Month, Sustainable

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

We are all aware of the need nowadays to protect the environment and use less plastic and packaging, so when Grangers sent us the Footwear & Gear Cleaner Eco Refill pack, we were very happy to be able to use the refill pack for our existing Grangers bottle and help save resources. Refills are also cheaper too!

The Footwear & Gear Cleaner is brilliant at getting rid of absolutely anything from your shoes including mud, every day dirt and bad smells. Use on the uppers of shoes (although it doesn’t hurt the soles of some shoes such a walking boots and trainers) and you’ll start to see the dirt come away. I used it on some running shoes with the Eco Refil pack replenishing what was in the bottle and just following instructions – spray onto the shoe upper and work into the material, rinsing away with a damp cloth.

Shoes come up cleaner and noticeably remove odours if they’re present. It also restores a lot of the original waterproofing if it was originally there on the shoe upper. Cleaning with Grangers Footwear & Gear Cleaner also extends the life of shoes, so these refills are even more economical!

Available from £3.85: https://grangers.co.uk/products/footwear-gear-cleaner-eco-refill

Chantic Home Lip Balms

Autumn, beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, cruelty-free, eco friendly, Gifts for Her, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Winter, Women

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

Founded in 2020 the mission of Chantic Home is “to create impactful and premium handcrafted gifts whist upholding the highest sustainable and ethical values.” Based in Harrow they offer luxury fragrance and skincare products that are both eco friendly and reasonably priced too.

I’ve been trying out their 100% natural lip balms this week, which are handmade and available in in four fruity fragrances – Wild Cherry, Watermelon, Sweet Orange and Passionfruit. Packaged in handy screw top tins they are the perfect size to pop a handbag or pocket, to keep lips moisturised when out and about.

I could tell from the minute I opened the tin that these lip balms are much better quality than an off the shelf lip balm. They smell lovely and fruity and have a silky smooth texture which glides easily onto lips, The balm is quite solid in the tin but quickly warms up with the warmth of a finger and once on your lips it doesn’t feel greasy or sticky and it leaves my dry lips feeling soft and hydrated.

My ideal lip balm is one that pampers and nourishes my lips, keeping them soft and hydrated no matter what the conditions are and these lip balms tick all these boxes. Whether I’m out walking, on the beach or on the top of a windy mountain a quick application of this lip balm is all I need to keep my lips in tip top condition.

Chantic Home have a lovely selection of gifts on their website and they are all very reasonably priced. If you need a gift for a loved one or just want to treat yourself then it’s definitely worth taking a look – there’s even free shipping to the UK so even more of a reason to shop with them!

RRP £4

Clean Living Biological Multipurpose Cleaner

eco friendly, Family Life, Home & Garden, Vegan

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

Whilst it may not seem like it when you look out of the window, we are now officially in Spring! It’s been too wet to do much outdoors, so I’ve been busy Spring cleaning and was very pleased to receive the Biological Multipurpose Cleaner Starter Pack from Clean Living which has been well and truly put to the test with a wide variety of cleaning jobs in my house.

I like my house to be clean and smell fresh, but I don’t really like using products that contain harmful chemicals, so I am really pleased that Clean Living use plant based biological formulas instead of harsh chemicals in their products. The products are built using live, friendly microbes which break down dirt, remove nasty odours and also stop mould, bacteria and viruses taking hold. I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of single use plastic and Clean Living offer the perfect solution as they are actively reducing plastic waste by using refillable aluminium bottles instead of the standard plastic trigger spray bottles.

If you are new to Clean Living products ideally you need to purchase one of the starter kits, There are 10 different sets to choose from for cleaning everything from bathrooms, to sports equipment. I have been trying the Biological Multipurpose Cleaner set which contains a 300ml reusable aluminium container, a yellow microfibre cloth and a 30ml Biological Multi-purpose Cleaner concentrate sachet.

To start you simply pour the contents of the sachet into the bottle, top it up with tap water, give it a good shake and you’re ready to go.

The spray bottle is easy to use, giving a good even spray which is easily wiped away with the microfibre cloth. I first used it to clean my bathroom and I was really impressed how easily it removed the build of soap and grime, leaving everything fresh and sparkly clean. The microfibre cloth is lovely and soft and gives a streak free finish on mirrors and my glass shower doors.

The real test of how good it is was when I used it on the cooker after one of my sons had been frying chicken – and like all teenagers didn’t think to wipe it clean straight away! A couple of sprays and a quick wipe and the greasy marks were gone, leaving my cooker looking lovely and clean again.

I am really impressed with the Clean Living starter pack, it’s a great multipurpose cleaner that effectively removes dirt from bathroom taps, kitchen worksurfaces, hobs and more. While slightly more expensive than the everyday supermarket cleaning products they are much better for the environment and kinder to your skin too.

RRP £12.40 and refills are £2.07

Annabelle Minerals Pressed Powders

beauty, Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Home, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Women

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

Spring is here! Which is another excuse to start looking at your make up collection and trying out some new pieces from Annabelle Minerals. We were sent some pressed powders (which I’ve never tried before) to see how we like their summer shades and award winning foundation.

Annabelle Minerals work to the theory of natural make up to bring out your own natural beauty. The ingredients nourish the skin and help prevent clogged pores, inflammation and excess sebum.

The Annabelle Minerals Pressed Powder Foundation comes in a beautiful metal compact with mirror and a separate sponge applicator. The Pressed Powder Foundation is a concentrated powder which has a slightly different colour to their loose counterparts so it’s worth trying it out first – I put too much on the sponge and found that I had applied the foundation too thickly so I had to reverse the coverage. With a bit of time though, you can soon get the coverage as well as the colour. This is why it’s won the Global Green Beauty Awards in 2023!

The photos show my face without any make-up and then half my face with the Pressed Powder Foundation. As my skin is very light and it’s the beginning of spring, I have the shade Natural Light but with refills online and 20 shades available at Annabelle Minerals’ shop, you can change your shade throughout the year. You can see the coverage that just one application of the Pressed Powder gives, and with some blending and a proper base (I didn’t use any primer or foundation this time) you can see that the age spots and some of the blemishes are evened out. The make-up itself feels really light especially as you don’t need much of it to make a difference. Having the second colour (I was sent a refill of Natural Fair) you can blend both colours together to match your skin tone or the tone of the contour look you’re trying to achieve.

The Pressed Powder is a really good idea because of how concentrated it is and how easy it is to apply. It’s not a liquid foundation so you can take it on a plane with you but it’s so light that you don’t need much and can apply it quickly, in the knowledge that it gives great coverage. It allowed my skin to breath as well, giving a lovely glow as all Annabelle Minerals products too. A lovely new product to add to the handbag this year!

Pressed Powder Foundation (in Natural Light colour) £23.90 at:

https://www.annabelleminerals.com/en_gb/face/1387-1923077-pressed-powder-foundation.html#/486-options-metal_compact/501-foundation_shade-natural_light

Hey Doodle Toot Toot Honk Colouring Mat

Children, Christmas, Easter, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for children, REUSABLE, Stocking Fillers, Sustainable, Toys

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

We’re half way through the school holidays and it’s never stopped raining! Luckily our mini reviewers love colouring so have spent a good half hour or so each day quietly colouring in the vehicles on the Toot Toot Honk Hey Doodle MiniMat.

The reuseable silicone mat comes with three coloured pens and unlike paper it doesn’t move about when you’re colouring it. The pens are lovely to use, they glide smoothly on the silicone and don’t bleed into one another when the colours are used next to each other. All the colours are nice and bright and when the mat is coloured in it looks quite impressive. If they do make a mistake it doesn’t matter as they are easily erased by wiping them away with a damp cloth.

There are 5 different Minimats available – Toot Toot Honk, Dinoroar, Aussie Animals, Sugar & Spice and Into the Wild and each one is printed with illustrations that fit the theme along with either letters from the alphabet or numbers that can be traced over.

Once the mat has been coloured in the ink is easily removed with a damp cloth and you’re ready to start again. I did find you do need to apply a little pressure when removing the ink, especially if it has been left for a couple of days, so you may need to help younger children do this.

As well as being great fun, Hey Doodle colouring mats are better for the environment as they remove the need for endless sheets of paper that get thrown away afterwards.

Aimed at children aged 2- 7 these are a great way to keep the children (and adults) entertained during the school holidays. They also make great birthday gifts too!

RRP £14.99 available here

Puma and Modibodi Period and Leak-Proof Underwear

Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Fashion, Fitness, Gifts for Her, REUSABLE, Sport, Sustainable, Women

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

Things have changed a lot with period underwear recently. Have you seen the huge range of products at Modibodi and especially their range with Puma sportwear?

The new Puma X Modibodi Seam-free range is designed to eliminate the need for tampons and sanitary towels. The extra-absorbent lining is the equivalent to 3 tampons in this size (the one featured is moderate-heavy absorbency)

The Puma Active Seam-free collection is now VAT-free in the UK. With the combination of not having to pay for tampons and sanitary towels and the ability to wash the Puma X Modibodi underwear, the collection saves you a lot of money every month. It might seem like a novel idea to have the whole garment as leak-proof but it’s more practical than you think. These period pants are made of a recycled fabric with re-enforced areas that are super absorbent and don’t require a sanitary towel, or if you prefer, you can use a tampon and be completely sure that there will be no leakage. To help the environment, all the material used is recycled too!

I was sent a black pair to try, which is ideal for in the gym or running. The Puma X Modibodi collection was created out of a need to not have bulky underwear for doing sport, going to the gym or for athletics so it makes sense that they are designed with heavy use in mind. This pair of Active Bikini Briefs are a size Large (roughly size 14-16) and made of very stretchy material so you can wear them for sports easily. They’re also seam-free, which makes them so inconspicuous under Lycra or shorts! The seams are re-enforced as well so that there is a lot of movement.

I particularly like that in this seam-free edition, the absorbent material at the front comes up really high so that you can be sure there is no leakage and the material is really soft too. There’s actually loads of movement in the stretchiness of the material so you can move about easily, or as I lift weights, this is great for not riding up, or down when you’re bending. They create a nice shape under sportswear too.

I don’t know why this idea hasn’t been used a lot in the past because it’s really handy having this underwear spare in your gym bag, or being able to wear them at the gym and not have to worry about leaking. It takes a bit of getting used to not having a towel or tampon there but it’s really just the same as any other underwear, and you can wear it as a non-VPL pair of knickers at any time, not just on your period!

The Puma Active Seam-free collection is available in bright pink or light pink too, so you can match them to whatever outfit you’re wearing whether that’s at work or in the gym.

Usual price £21, on sale now at £18.90: https://www.modibodi.co.uk/products/puma-x-modibodi-seamfree-active-bikini-moderate-heavy-onyx-grey

Freshwipes for Summer

Baby, beauty, camping, Children, Days Out, eco friendly, Family Life, Home, Plastic free, Summer

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

As spring is here, I was thinking about what I might need to stock up on now for the summer. Face wipes and antibacterial wipes are essential for my office which has no air conditioning and at our busiest times during the months of May, June and July, we need to keep cool somehow.

Freshwipes are 100% biodegradable wipes and completely plastic free. I abhor plastic in anything so I have always stayed away from any kind of wipes but Freshwipes are in a different league. As a small company, they are s till able to produce disposable wipes that don’t live forever and block up drains and damage wildlife which is why they are still in production even after a ban on all wipes comes into effect.

Freshwipes actually produce a whole range of wipes that are available on the market now. We were sent some of them to test; Antibacterial Mini Wipes, pH Balanced Intimate Wipes and Antibacterial Body Wipes in Coconut, Grapefruit and Unscented versions. All of the wipes are made of viscose, a biodegradable plant-based fabric and are made antibacterial with Chlorohexidine. This means you can have the power of washing with soap (and therefore being antibacterial) but without having to rinse afterwards.

Starting with the Antibacterial Wipes and Intimate Wipes, they measure 20 x 15 centimetres per wipe and come in tamper proof sealed packets of 10. These are great handbag sized packets which can be taken with you anywhere. The packets seal up again after you use one for either cleaning your hands, cleaning children or even cleaning surfaces if needed. The Intimate Wipes are scent free whilst the Antibacterial Wipes have a slight coconut fragrance to them which in itself is very refreshing.

The Body Wipes are bigger at 20 x 30 centimetres each but also come in tamper proof sealed packets which are resealable. These body wipes are for when you might not be able to get to a shower or bath, like whilst camping, at a festival or if like me you work long hours during the summer. They also refresh your hands and face whilst on a long flight or car journey and the soft texture of the viscose fibre isn’t harsh like a flannel so can be used for taking off suncream after a day at the beach, or excess make up.

Freshwipes are available in Superdrug, Montain Warehouse and online at Amazon among other places but also have their own store online which includes a starter pack for Freshwipes.

Available for various prices depending on type at: https://www.freshwipes.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3CMQ3lZkRxxj9QdPMX9XKp6RZSDxgWUdUavGax9fCTlNNXF7Q9gMoaAoFIEALw_wcB

Annabelle Minerals Lipstick, Jumbo Lip Pencil and Refill

beauty, Birthday Gifts, cruelty-free, eco friendly, Fashion, Gifts for Her, health, Home, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

What beautiful Mother’s Day gifts! Annabelle Minerals have been around since 2012 and founded in the UK to provide handpicked ingredients that are both minimalist and natural. The idea is that the ingredients pamper your skin so that you don’t have to suffer unnecessary layers of heavy chemicals just to look your best. The theme of the ingredients being natural also carries across into the style of make up – natural and understated but still with a flare for style.

We were sent some lovely lip make up for Mother’s Day. Annabelle Minerals have both lipsticks (with refills available online) and jumbo lip pencils which can be used as both lip liners and as a lipstick. There’s several colours online too, including these shades; Apricot for the lipstick you can see and Brown Fig for the refill.

The Shear Lipsticks are presented in these gorgeous gold swizzle sticks and come in Apricot, Brown Fig, Coconut, Dragon Fruit and Strawberry. The names of the colours give away the type of natural ingredients Annabelle Minerals strives for! The Apricot colour I received is a slightly darker shade of my lips, so it’s very natural and glides on superbly. The colour stays all day too, as I discovered when I went out one Friday night wearing it. Only a small amount of the middle of the lips was missing at the end of the night, and probably as a result of drinking.

Once you’ve bought one lipstick, you can buy refills in either the same colour or a different one, and saving not just the packaging but also a bit of money! I was sent my second choice of Brown Fig, a slightly darker shade with a touch of red in it. This was a great colour for when I was wearing a darker outfit and wanted my lips to pop.

The Annabelle Minerals Jumbo Lip Pencil is probably my favourite of all the lip products. I was sent the Marigold colour which compliments all the other lipstick colours in the range. I used it as a lip liner, then you can fill in your lips with that colour, or dab it on as a base before you add a lipstick on top to vary the colour. You can also do the opposite and put the lip liner on top of your lipstick and seal it in and also change the colour.

With each of the lipsticks and the lip liner, they glide on perfectly, don’t come off easily and keep a constant colour. I didn’t notice them on my lips as they’re not greasy at all and in fact, I didn’t even need to blot with each application. They travel really well too, with a pencil lid to the liner and magnetic locking lipstick cases. I’ll be exploring more of the range at Annabelle Minerals, and looking at what Mum would like for Mother’s Day.

Annabelle Minerals Lipstick: £12.90 (Apricot)

https://www.annabelleminerals.com/en_gb/lips/1368-sheer-lipstick.html

Annabelle Minerals Jumbo Lip Pencil: £11.90

https://www.annabelleminerals.com/en_gb/lips/1268-1922590-jumbo-lip-pencil.html#/364-jumbo_lip_pencil-marigold

Annabelle Minerals Lipstick refill: £9.90: (Brown Fig)

https://www.annabelleminerals.com/en_gb/lips/1368-1922976-sheer-lipstick.html#/478-lipstick-brown_fig/485-options-refill

Seep Plastic Free Cleaning Cloths

eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Home & Garden, REUSABLE, Sustainable, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

Granny always knew about cleaning. When I was little, there were so many different cleaning cloths, just in her kitchen that I could never keep up. As time went on though, all her cleaning equipment as well as the cleaning products in my parent’s house whilst growing up were plastic, non-recyclable and not good for the environment. We’ve come full circle though, with cleaning products now becoming more environmentally friendly and from companies other than the big corporations.

Seep (Sustainable, Everyday, Essential Products) is the only B-Corp certified cleaning product company which means they can be proven to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. They have an extensive and ever-increasing range of products too, and these Valentines Eco All-Purpose Sponge Cloths are one of their latest innovations.

The pack of 2 cloths are zero plastic and long lasting, made from sustainable wood pulp. That also means they are compostable! Each cloth measures around 15 centimetres square and is spongey to the touch. They soak up loads of water and are easily rung out. You can add them to the washing machine to give them a longer life but they dry really quickly on the side of the sink or over the tap. They’re hardwearing too, but when they are at the end of their life, they can be compostable. Just cut them up and add them to your compost or food waste bin.

Each of the designs is suitable for Valentines, but they can be used by anyone! If you’re like me and don’t particularly relish the thought of cleaning products as a Valentines present, then any of the Seep products can be used as part of a bigger present, or a hamper for your Mum, Nan or a friend at Valentines. I think the best use of these Valentines Eco All-Purpose cloths is to use them as a date marker – start using them on 14 February and you can easily tell how long they last before you need to buy new ones.

Available from £4.95 for 2

Steccato Set of 4 Dinner Plates

Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Plastic free, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

These Steccato dinner plates which are part of a much bigger collection at Spode, remind me of al fresco dining in Italy, or your favourite posh Italian restaurant back home. Made of Earthenware, these plates are 28 centimetres in diameter and have the traditional cobalt blue striped design. The timeless artwork and deep colour of gorgeous blue is a scheme which never go out of fashion.

The Steccato Dinner plates are made in England and are dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven safe. So whether you are making a fancy meal from scratch or just heating up leftovers in the microwave or oven, Spode have covered your back and made life easier with these super durable plates. You can see how each plate is made with quality in mind, and their robustness is a beautiful quality that will keep these dishes contemporary and relevant for a long time to come.

The plates are part of a whole set of Steccato ware which instantly lift a table and give a sense of style. There are also sets of similar designs which you can mix and match to your taste, so that there’s more interest on the table, or you can build your crockery set over time with different statement pieces and arrange them for your celebrations.

Available for £80 for 4 at: https://www.spode.co.uk/steccato-set-of-4-dinner-plates

Spode Creatures of Curiosity Travel Mug

Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, Mother's Day, Sustainable, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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

Mother’s Day gifts are always hard to source especially if you veer away from the chocolates, flowers and wine tradition. Spode have a fabulous range of gifts for Mum, Nan or Aunty which are slightly unusual but very usable. Like most Spode products, they are hugely decorative and decadent and not something your Mum is ever likely to buy for herself.

Take for example this Spode Creatures of Curiosity Travel Mug. Made of ceramic, as you would imagine a Spoke piece would be, it’s a 0.31 litre travel mug that’s decorated in a beautiful dark floral pattern with curious snakes, bugs and pink roses. The cup itself is very hardwearing and both dishwasher and microwave safe. The silicone lid needs to be hand washed, but the manufacture makes it easier to place over the mug and doesn’t spill easily when knocked about in transport. As the ceramic mug is well constructed and robust, it holds the heat of your beverage really well and for a long time. It doesn’t burn your hands when you hold it, so no need to add a sleeve to carry it around. You can use it for cold drinks too of course!

At 15 centimetres high it fits into most car and buggy cup holders and has real longevity compared to the plastic mugs. The ‘curious’ pattern is a real talking point because it’s so beautifully detailed and very feminine, unlike most sports travel mugs that don’t have any character. This is not a mug to use whilst jogging; it’s more for long walks in the park, taking the dog out with friends or keeping warm on long car journeys. The baristas will love this too because it’s so easy to heat up and to put the silicone lid on quickly. It’s a classy piece that Mums or Nans who love their hot tea or coffee on the go and want something with more of an occasion to drink it!

There’s also a matching laptop sleeve and water bottle as part of the Spode Creatures of Curiosity collection.

Available from £15.50 at: https://www.spode.co.uk/creatures-of-curiosity-travel-mug

She Grows Veg Valentines Gifts

Birthday Gifts, Children, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Spring, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

Probably not your first thought for the typical Valentines present, but let me explain She Grows Veg to you and it will start to make sense!

She Grows Veg is an online seed company with a very modern, yet traditional twist. They sell seeds online, but they are heirloom seeds. That means the seeds are cultivated from rare varieties of vegetables, fruits, flowers and trees and are typically not found in your usual garden centres. This means that the varieties often have different looks, taste different and grow differently to what you might be used to. It’s an expanding industry where so many people are now getting into gardening especially growing their own food since lockdown.

She Grows Veg sell singular packets of seeds, but they also sell gift bags, like the two that were sent to us; Chilli Trio and Tomato Lover’s Bundle (£22.50). If you or your other half are gardeners, you’ll know that this is an excellent selection of seeds for someone who loves growing, especially growing and eating!

The Chilli Trio contains 3 different chilli seeds; Biquinho Red, Chocolate Habanero and Machu Pichu. On the back of each pack are the growing instructions and key facts, along with a QR code to find out more on a You Tube video. You can see from the photos on the packets what you’re getting, and helpfully, the instructions on the back tell you what kind of flavour each chilli is and how to use it. The Biquinho Red chillis are from Brazil and take a little longer to geminate but are worth it. I’ve never grown chillis before but the instructions say to start sowing in January or February indoors, so these are perfect as Valentines gifts.

The Tomato Lover’s Bundle contain 5 packets of tomatoes, none of which I’ve ever seen before. There are three hanging varieties; Crazy Cherry (a sweet green tomato), Red Currant (small, early ripening and very sweet) and Hanging Prince (plum shaped and unusually last for months if stored correctly). The other two tomatoes are Black Beauty and Green Doctors, but of which are favourites of Lucy and Kate at She Grows Veg. Each of the gift bundles comes with a gift bag to keep your seeds safe but can also be used to store larger seeds later in the year.

These are lovely gifts for Valentines and if you harvest the fruit right, they produce can go on for weeks in the summer. The fact that these seeds are heirloom and not easy to find anywhere else if at all, makes them all the more special as a gift.

Chilli Trio (£13): https://shegrowsveg.com/product/chilli-trio-with-gift-bag/Tomato Lover’s Bundle (£22.50): https://shegrowsveg.com/product/tomato-lovers-bundle/

Blind Test of the LoveRaw Chocolate vs High Street Brands

Children, chocolate, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for children, Home, Lunchbox Fillers, Vegetarian

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

We’ve never really done a proper Blind Test before. That is, officially comparing one brand of a product against another, without knowing which brand is which and not being able to tell them apart. So when LoveRaw Chocolate asked us to test and review their product against other brands, it was quite the coup! Naturally, we love anything that’s a challenge but when it involves chocolate too, we’re all ears…

LoveRaw are a chocolate brand with a difference. They produce chocolate products which are largely vegan (allergens are listed so you can check easily) and they have a whole host of products available which seem to be ever growing and includes white, dark and milk chocolate alternatives.

We were sent a Blind Tasting Pack which had three different LoveRaw products; Nutty Choc Balls, Cream Wafer Bar (milk chocolate) and Cream Wafer Bar (white chocolate. Each of the LoveRaw products was teamed up with the High Street equivalent and all the items were in clear packaging, just marked with their numbers for easy identification. The LoveRaw products are all plant based, contain no palm oil and have no artificials. The High Street versions are not any of those (ie not plant based, contain palm oil and have artificial ingredients.) A sealed black envelope was also included so that after the tasting you can find out which were the real LoveRaw items. How exciting!

First up was the Nutty Choc Balls. Looking at them, I couldn’t tell the difference. They look incredibly similar and when I bit into them, the chocolate didn’t give me any clues as to which one was plant based. I guessed that A1 was the High Street variety only because it tasted slightly more processed. A2 had a smoother texture which led me to think it was made with more love. We shall find out the answers at the end of the testing (even I haven’t opened the envelope yet!)

Second was the Cream Wafer Bar in Milk Chocolate. These bars looked different. B1 looks like it’s intricately made by a machine in a factory and the bar is slightly longer. B2 is smoother, and the chocolate looks darker so I suspect that this is the LoveRaw one to look at. Tasting them, B2 has a lighter texture to it and has more layers but the chocolate between the two tastes the same. B1 has more additives, you can tell that from opening the packet and the smell of the chocolate is artificial. In this testing, I think B2 is the LoveRaw product.

Finally, it’s the Cream Wafer Bar with White Chocolate. I’m not a huge fan of white chocolate so this is going to a different type of test. C1 looks like it’s made in a factory because it’s got intricate designs on it whereas C2 looks like it could be handmade and dusted with chocolate flavouring. As for the taste, I started with what I thought was the High Street version (C1). It’s light and wafer-like and I like the texture of it. C2 is densely packed and doesn’t melt as easily but both taste of white chocolate and have some fun sweet flavours going on. I think C2 is the LoveRaw version.

So to recap, before we go to the big finale, this is what I think the products are:

Nutty Choc Balls: A1 is the High Street Competitor; A2 is LoveRaw

Cream Wafer Bar (milk chocolate): B1 is the High Street Competitor; B2 is LoveRaw

Cream Wafer Bar (white chocolate): C1 is the High Street Competitor, C2 is LoveRaw

Let’s scroll down to see the results in the black envelope…

So I was right for the Milk Chocolate Cream Wafer Bar but wrong for the Nutty Choc Balls and White Chocolate Cream Wafer Bar! Goes to prove that you really can’t tell the difference between LoveRaw and the High Street Competitors!

All of the LoveRaw products are found online at their website shop: https://eatloveraw.com/collections/vegan-chocolate

Brita Water Filter Active Bottle

Baby, Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Days Out, eco friendly, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Home, Lunchbox Fillers, REUSABLE, Summer

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

Daily life nowadays means you are running errands, looking after children and/or parents and probably juggling that with a full-time job and adding in a social life of your own. Oh, and don’t forget you need to get exercise too, and lots of it! We look for gadgets and life hacks nowadays to make life easier but to also improve the quality of life.

Carrying water around is essential nowadays, and especially for children. Brita have a range of water bottles for everyday use but they also contain filters to make the water extra clean. The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle is a clever 0.6 litre bottle which includes a filter in the top so you can filter tap water when you’re out and about and not have to worry about the nasties.

The bottle is made of 100% BPA free material with a sports cap (so you can use it when exercising or to prevent it falling over and spilling) and has flexible sides so that you can squeeze it to direct through the sports cap. The filter is made of natural carbon and originates from coconut shell material so it’s more sustainable too. The Brita filter cartridge used in the Brita Water Filter Active removes chemicals found in tap water such as chlorine and some herbicides, pesticides and hormones but leaves the useful elements like Magnesium and calcium. So if you’re out of the house without your Brita filter, any tap in a café or restaurant, or even at the gym will fill the Brita Active Bottle and the water will be cleaner than just taking out of the tap.

The bottle is also multipurpose because it’s adapted for sport. Not just squeezy sides but there’s a sports loop to attach it to your belt as you’re working out or to pick it up and hold it, and it comes with a cup that fixes to the base snugly so that you don’t lose it. The same cup works as a lid to protect the spout. Taking this out with a pram where you can attach it to the handle bars with the loop or put it in the cup holder, it can also help a toddler drink from a cup as you dispense it into the attached beaker. If you’re going to the gym and don’t want the attached cup, it’s easy to leave behind and 0.6 litre capacity is probably enough for an hour’s session.

The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle comes with a cartridge already but when you need to replace it, it only takes taking off the top screw cap and placing the filter in the neck of the bottle. No fuss, and easy to carry around with you if you’re on holiday for instance. The whole bottle with filter and full of water is light to carry too, so it fits into hand luggage. If you can’t take a bottle of water onto a plane, you can take a Brita Water Filter Bottle when it’s empty, then fill it up when you’re airside or on the plane and you’ll know you have filtered water for the journey. Think how great this would be for camping too!

The more you use this Brita Water Filter, the more uses you have for it and realise how versatile it is for everyday life. It’s a great gift item too for new mums, sports lovers or commuters alike. Have fun this summer with Brita Water Filter Active Bottle!

Available from £14.18 at: https://www.brita.co.uk/water-filter-system/water-filter-bottles/active

Soda Stream Terra Machine

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, eco friendly, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, kitchen appliances

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

Ordinarily in December I buy lots of fizzy drinks to enjoy over the festive period. This year I’ve been trying to reduce my use of single use plastics, so the SodaStream Terra is a very welcome addition to our kitchen, drastically reducing the amount of plastic in our recycling bin each week!

With a chic and minimalist design the black SodaStream Terra is stylish and will look at home on any kitchen worktop. The machine uses an internal CO2 cannister to add fizz to plain tap water, making carbonated water which you can enjoy on its own or add a flavoured syrup to make a refreshing drink.

It is really easy to set up, simply slot the CO2 cylinder in the back of the machine and you are ready to go. It doesn’t need electric so it can be placed anywhere in the kitchen and there are no wires to get in the way or look unsightly. When you want to use it you slot a SodaStream bottle full of tap water into the machine. It’s better to chill the water in the fridge first as cold water holds the carbonation much better and I find it better to have 2 bottles on the go so I always have chilled water available. The bottle snaps in easily and all you need to do is press the button on the top a couple of times, depending on the level of carbonation you require. Once you’ve made the fizzy water you can either drink it as it is, add a flavoured syrup or add the fizzy water to standard cordials to liven them up which is a great way to get children (and adults) to drink more water.

There are branded syrups available allowing you to make your own Pepsi, Pepsi Max and 7Up at the press of a button which is great for parties when it can be hard to gauge how many drinks you are going to need, it also eliminates the problem of where to store all the plastic bottles.

Normally once a 2l bottle is opened it needs drinking the same day, otherwise it soon goes flat but with SodaStream each drink is made fresh and you can even control the fizz, making your drink lightly sparkling to super fizzy.

Each C02 cylinder holds enough gas to make 60 litres of sparkling drinks and refills are available from supermarkets and the Sodastream website.

The gas cylinders are of course recyclable and once sent back, or exchanged at a supermarket they are inspected and reused again minimising waste. To encourage you to return the cylinders there is a discount when you buy a new cylinder.

If you’re still looking for Christmas gift inspiration then a SodaStream is a great idea and makes a fantastic gift for anyone who enjoys fizzy drinks or sparking water.

RRP £109.99

Pact Coffee Christmas Selection Box

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, coffee, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Subscription Boxes

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

The Pact Coffee Christmas Selection Box opens to reveal the words, “Christmas Just Got Better” and for anyone who loves coffee, that is certainly true! The Pact Christmas Selection Box contains 4 freshly roasted flavours of coffee all for the festive season; Nyangoma, San Carlos, Kiri and Christmas Blend Filter, all of which are roasted in Surrey and delivered to your door within a few days!

Pact Coffee produce specialty grade (the very best) coffee which is delivered to your door as either a gift, or as a subscription. You can look through the online catalogues of coffee to choose which you would like delivered or have a subscription box where different varieties are delivered to your door. You get to choose whether you want beans or ground, regular or decaf and the type of plan which suits you best including how regularly they are delivered.

We were sent a Christmas Selection Box of 4 coffees to try as part of the Christmas product range for 2023. After choosing our ground or whole bean options, it wasn’t long before the coffee aromas were wafting through our door and filling the kitchen! Honestly, opening the box when they arrived, there was a wall of coffee smell that hit me and I realised what was inside. Gorgeous, freshly roasted ground coffee all ready for the cafetiere.

Much like wine is described with fruity undertones and comparisons to oak aging, these Pact Coffees have tasting notes on the front of each pack Kiri boasts, “Turkish delight and blackcurrant’ whist Christmas Blend describes itself as, ‘Hints of Christmas pudding.’ Each of the coffees has their own personality thanks to where and how they’re grown in origins such as Kenya, El Salvador and in the case of the Christmas Blend, how it’s put together by the clever experts at Pact. Pact choose their coffees carefully and make sure they’re of the highest quality as well as having more than 82+ points in coffee scoring. Not only are they great flavoured coffees and the best possible quality, but each one warms you with their differences and yes, remind you of Christmas!

In addition, Pact coffees come in recycled coffee pouches and can be further recycled. Pact are a B Corp Certified Company which means they act in both a sustainable and ethical way with their suppliers in overseas countries. They include brewing tips on each of the pouches too so that you can get the most out of each coffee you try at home. The labels also give you background to where each coffee is grown and the date the coffee is roasted and packed too so you know that your coffee is tip-top fresh!

Take drinking coffee to a new level with the Christmas Selection Pact choice of different blends, origins and tastes which allow you to really savour the Christmas spirit, and take you into the New Year with some new coffee favourites!

Available at Pact from £19.95: https://www.pactcoffee.com/christmas/christmas-filter-selection-box-2023

Ava May Fairtrade Wax Melts

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, cruelty-free, eco friendly, Family Life, Fragrance, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Vegetarian, Winter

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

Ava May of Mayfair have just released the first ever Fairtrade wax melts to the UK market, made from products cultivated in Sri Lanka and the result of 2 years’ work to produce some beautiful home fragrances. Wax melts vary from candles because although they are made of ‘wax’ like candles, they don’t have a wick and are instead melted over a flame in a special wax burner. The aroma from the wax melts fills the room and slowly melts away but has the advantage of lasting longer than a candle.

We were sent a box of 7 of Ava May’s most popular wax melts to try:

Lavender, Geranium & Chamomile
Bergamot, Coconut & Tonka
Rose Water & White Musk
Saffron, Pepper & Oud
Damask Rose, Cedar & Oud
Pear, Patchouli & Orange Blossom
Neroli, Eucalyptus & Musk

Each of the waxes lasts for about 8 hours and can be re-melted in that time so if you don’t get a continuous run of 8 hours, the wax solidifies and can be melted later. There’s no cleaning up after a candle either, but it is recommended that you clean out the wax burner after each fragrance so that you don’t get cross-contamination.

All of the ingredients of the Ava May wax melts are 100% natural, and certified Fairtrade meaning there is a fair deal for all the producers who supply from around the world. The Ava May products are cruelty-free and vegan too with one of the main ingredients being coconut oil with added pure essential oils to create the different scents.

The fragrances are all designed to help relax you and take you to another place at the end of the day, especially in winter when we all need a bit of help. The sensory impact of scents such as Damask Rose and Lavender & Chamomile help with relaxation when the evenings are long. My favourite (and I haven’t had a chance to sample them all yet) is the Rose Water & White Musk scent for its fresh melodies and reminder of clean laundry. The wax melts take just a few seconds to start releasing the fragrances and filling the room and they linger on for longer than the 8 hours melt time.

Ava May of Mayfair Wax Melts are an elegant way of adding comfort to your home, or being able to gift to someone the ability to relax at home.

Available online in various gift forms from: https://avamayaromas.com/wax-melts/

Hive & Keeper Honey

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, health, Home, Plastic free, Subscription Boxes

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

There are some gifts which are perfect to give to anyone. Hive & Keeper produce the most exquisite gifts suitable for everyone this Christmas and we were sent a special sample of their famous giftbox of honey to try out. You’ll soon see why honey is the perfect gift for anyone, especially anyone who is difficult to buy for!

Hive & Keeper was started by Emily soon after she discovered bee keeping. It wasn’t until Emily owned bees of her own that she found out that the honey we buy in shops does not stand up to any of the honey produced naturally by beekeepers by a long way. In fact, Emily thinks that honey in shops tastes nothing like what she and her colleagues were producing in the natural world. Working with other crafts people with natural, British products (leather, wool, wood, antler and other natural materials) that Emily discovered a whole new world of sustainability and natural beauty in craft.

Hive & Honey’s website sells a range of natural product gifts but the main focus for Emily is the honey. She sources different honey from many suppliers around the country, giving the honey different tastes. Did you know the taste comes from the different flowers and plants bees pollinate? So the heathers on the Scottish borders produce a very different honey than somewhere else in the UK such as farmland in Surrey. Each of the keepers are featured on the Hive & Keeper website so you can see exactly where the honey is from. The jars are each labelled with the name of the keeper and given a reference such as, “good on toast” so that you know best how to enjoy each variety!

Gift wise, Hive & Honey have individual jars, gift boxes and subscriptions where households can order 1 or 2 jars to be delivered every 3, 6 or 12 months. We were sent the Big Breakfast Honey Gift Set which contains 3 different honeys, all suitable for breakfast (toast, porridge and tea). The gift arrives in a lovely cardboard (recyclable!) giftbox with straw as packaging and the three jars nestled inside. There are cards for each of the honeys giving information about the keepers. My jars came from Matthew in Staffordshire, Eduard in Berkshire/Buckinghamshire and Howard in the Forest of Dean.

As for the honeys, they each have a different shade and aren’t clear like supermarket honeys. This is an indication that they aren’t over filtered and contain some of the (harmless) impurities in all natural honeys and haven’t been treated. Don’t be surprised if you open a jar and there’s a swirl of different colours in there, it’s just where the honey has settled. To reap the full benefit of each honey, open the jar and smell the aroma. Mix the honey and then taste a small amount, paying attention to the different notes like you would a wine. If you’re unsure about how you want to use it, and there are thousands of ways, then have a look at the jar and see if it’s good for cereal or porridge, in tea or on toast or even experiment yourself to find out how it goes in baking and as a glaze when cooking.

I am a huge honey lover anyway. Being able to try these British honeys without having to worry about air miles or sustainability is not only a weight off my shoulders but it’s a real treat to try authentic honey, straight from the hive. I think Hive & Keeper honey is a fabulous gift for any food lovers, families or anyone who you can’t buy gifts for easily. The Hive & Keeper honey opens up a whole new culinary world that you never thought was out there. Turns out, the bees are out there in the British countryside and they were making excellent gifts for us all along.

Available online for £28.95 at:https://www.hiveandkeeper.com/collections/gift-boxed-honeys/products/the-big-breakfast-honey-gift-set

Critically Endangered Socks – Elephant Speckle

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Fashion, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

Who would have thought that socks could save wildlife? Critically Endangered Socks have made it their mission to do just that, and your tootsies could be the reason that an elephant survives in the future; but how?

The profit from the Critically Endangered Socks is donated to charities such as WWF who benefit from 10% of direct sales. The socks are embroidered with some of the animals the charities save including pandas, cheetahs, orangutans and tigers plus these stylish elephant socks in gorgeous pink. All of the socks on sale are 85% GOTS certified organic cotton and include 5% Spandex (to make them last longer!) plus 10% Polyester for hard wearing. The little elephant on this pair aren’t over the top, just giving you a glimpse of the animals at the ankle.

The socks themselves are super soft! The elephant pink tie-die are very unique and go well with snazzy trainers. They’re certainly a statement piece and I was able to wear these with my trainers to the gym because of how stretchy they are and the high content of cotton makes them fabulous for working out.

For Christmas this year, there are also baby socks, pyjamas, jumpers, baby rompers and muslins available online. Critically Endangered Socks make excellent presents for the person who has everything as well as animal lovers who want to know they are doing something for the greater good, and who doesn’t always need socks?

Available from £12.00 at:

Elephant Speckle

Kikkerland Make Your Own Tea Kit

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Sustainable, Winter

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

For the tea lover who has everything, they will always need more tea! Kikkerland have this gorgeous Make Your Own Tea Kit tin which has everything you need to brew your own.

Whether you’re a loose tea lover who wants to make your own blend or simply take loose tea with you out and about, or if you love making whole new blends of herbal teas, perhaps from your own dried flowers and fruits from the garden, this is for you. The tin contains a bamboo tea spoon, 5 reusable teabags, 2 mesh envelopes and a booklet on how to make and blend tea.

The mesh envelopes are for collecting your herbs, flowers or berries from the garden and helping them dry so that you can make your infusion later. The mesh bags are sewn on three sides to make it easier to collect and store natural items easily and allow the air to dry them naturally. Each of the teabags is drawstring and can be washed in a normal washing machine cycle after use. The bags have ample room for brewing tea, and not just herbal teas but loose tea works well too. There’s a lovely bamboo spoon which allows you to dolly-up the mixture into each bag, or even stir the infusion once the teabag is in your cup. The handy green tin also doubles up as an air-tight container to keep your teabags in once you’ve made them up but not yet used them!

The Kikkerland Make Your Own Tea Kit is a lovely kit for Secret Santa or a friend who loves making their own tea. Teenagers who are learning to make their own infusions will love the practicality of this make-your-own craft kit.

Available online for £13.00 at: https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/make-your-own-tea-kit?_pos=1&_sid=b07c6d0a5&_ss=r

DANILO Star Wars Musical Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Gifts for Him

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

The 1^st December is only 4 weeks away so it’s time to start thinking about advent calendars. Whether you prefer a chocolate advent calendar or one of the more extravagant versions you are going to be spoilt for choice with the huge selection of calendars available this year.

Danilo are Europe’s number one publisher of licensed calendars and The Review Studio team were really impressed with their Star Wars musical advent calendar, which is the perfect choice for Star Wars fans both young and old.

With a Hoth Ice Planet backdrop, the calendar opens out to create a Star Wars scene, the numbered doors on the base of the calendar lift up to reveal characters from the film and the doors on the backdrop have trivia and stickers behind them. The calendar is cleverly designed with a ribbon keeping the backdrop standing up and the three magnetic characters – C3P0, R2-D2 and Yoda can be placed on the base of the calendar and when the button is pressed move around to the Star Wars theme.

The sound quality is surprisingly good and the batteries can be replaced so this calendar can be used year after year. Whilst it doesn’t contain chocolate of gifts, it’s certainly a winner from a novelty point of view – it’s not just the children who loved pressing the button and watching the characters move around the base!!

This calendar is a great alternative for those who don’t or can’t eat chocolate and as long as you love the Star Wars theme, as that button will be pressed multiple times a day, it is a fantastic novelty way to count down the days to Christmas.

RRP £24.49