Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Dobble by Asmodee is one of our favourite travel games and travels everywhere with us. The handy tin is small enough to fit in my bag and has entertained our mini reviewers in many different locations over the years including trains, restaurants, hotel rooms, and campsites. When I heard that Dobble had launched a Scouts version I was quite excited as my whole family are involved in Scouting, so this version has a special significance for us.
Available directly from the Scout Store (where all profits are returned to the Scouts) this new version uses symbols associated with Scouting – you’ll find hiking boots, canoes, rucksacks, tents and many more outdoor adventure symbols on the game cards in Dobble Scouts.
With 5 different games to play this game will keep everyone entertained, both young as old as the good thing about this game is everyone is on a level. There’s always a matching symbol on any two cards but with 8 symbols on a card in different sizes and orientation it is more challenging than you would think and sometimes you will find yourself staring at your card for ages and still not see it!
A game doesn’t take long to play, around 5-10 minutes, but it is such good fun that you’ll find that everyone wants to play it over and over again. It’s a great game for 2 but equally as fun in a larger group.
In the words of the Scout motto – “Be Prepared” and put this in the pocket of your rucksack when you go off on an adventure – it’s great to play with friends old and new around a campfire in the evening once you’ve finished adventuring!
As well as the game the new Dobble Scouts collection will also include hoodies, badges and keyrings in the famous Scout colours and will make great gifts for Scouts young and oldCubs,
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There can never be too much chocolate in this house, and not only have I never tried Montezuma’s chocolate before, I don’t think I’ve ever tried this array of flavours either. Let me explain…
Montezuma’s sent us a box of chocolates containing a bag of Giant Dark Chocolate Buttons (74%) and a box of small bars of Montezuma’s chocolates, known as a Mini Chocolate Library, containing 12 bars of 25 grams each in five flavours; Milk Chocolate Butterscotch, Dark Chocolate Lime & Sea Salt, Milk Chocolate Peppermint, Organic Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate.
The bars are individually wrapped and presented in a handy (and very cute) little handbag-shaped box which boasts, “A perfect selection of our favourite chocolate bars, in the perfect size’ which it very much is. This box appeals to both children and adults, especially as adults are more likely to enjoy the different flavours of chocolates. However, with the peppermint, milk chocolate and dark chocolate bars too, it’s great for the whole family or for after dinner watching TV. I particularly like dark chocolate, so this was a great one for me, but the Lime & Sea Salt was a really interesting flavour. It reminded me of when Salted Caramel became popular and you had to get used to the taste of the salt and sweet caramel together, but once you do, the flavour stays with you and you start to enjoy it more. This is a Montezuma’s flavour which I’ll definitely be looking out for in the shops!
If you’re looking at Christmas gifts already, then this is a good one to keep for families, or to break up the whole library and use as part of an advent calendar. I think it would also make a fabulous present for a teacher at the end of the school year too, and it’s easy to wrap up or for you to give to a child to take into class on the last day of term.
The Montezuma’s Dark Chocolate Giant Button grab bag is 180 grams of organic chocolate, nicely pressed into easy-to-eat buttons for your convenience. This is great for picnics, sharing or taking somewhere like the theatre or cinema because of their size and ease of eating. The chocolate, like all Montezuma’s chocolate, is of high quality, using all the best cocoa which is ethically sourced from South America and beyond. Helen and Simon (founders and makers of Montezuma’s Chocolate from 2000 onwards) pride themselves on building ‘Britain’s Greatest Little Chocolate Company.’ We all know about the very biggest chocolate confectionary companies in the world, but if you’re looking for local, more ethically focused chocolate, Montezuma’s is for you. A lot of their products are organic too, plus there’s a massive range on their website of chocolates suitable for both adults and children, and all sorts of occasions.
I can’t speak highly enough for the quality of the chocolate too. It’s not over sweetened, there’s no gritty texture to it and no horrible bitterness to the dark chocolate that leaves you thirsty. Just good quality, old fashioned chocolate that leaves you with that cocoa ‘hit’ any chocoholic craves.
In the words of the Montezuma’s team, ‘A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands!’ and I agree!!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Have you ever tried gazpacho before? No? Not sure what it is? Well gazpacho is a summer soup; cold soup drunk in the warmer months when hot soup would be unbearable but made with summer vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber etc) it is a favourite of BBQs and dinner parties.
Re:Nourish have a huge selection of soups and a gazpacho available in the shops in an array of flavours which would suit anyone. We were sent a selection including;
Pea, Basil & Lemon (for Energy)
Tomato, Red Pepper & Cucumber (to Refresh) – their gazpacho
Roasted Carrot & Ginger (to Digest)
Kale, Spinach & Turmeric (for Immunity)
Each of the qualities of the soups and gazpacho (Energy, Refresh, Digest and Immunity) are written on the bottle labels so that you can see what they’re great for, as well as the fact that they’re all delicious. The labels also tell you their nutritional content up front too, so the Pea, Basil & Lemon flavour is great for high protein, whilst the Tomato, Red Pepper & Cucumber flavour has vitamins C, A & E.
If you’re put off by the fact that a gazpacho is a summer soup then think of it asa vegetable smoothie. It has the texture of a soup, thin enough to be eaten with a spoon or if you prefer, they can be poured into a glass or drunk straight from the bottle. It’s not designed to be heated up, so there’s no temptation in making it look homemade, but they are very easy to eat as a snack or for lunch. I like to eat mine with a spoon and add some crème fresh or eat with crisps or tortillas for lunch.
The first flavour I tried was Roasted Carrot & Ginger soup. I particularly like carrot soup, so this with the addition of ginger seemed like a good place to start! You can really taste the ginger in this flavour, but not so much that it becomes too tart to eat. The Tomato, Red Pepper & Cucumber is the only gazpacho so far in the range, and is so refreshing with the addition of cucumber, working well with the fresh crème fresh. It’s very easy to eat because it’s essentially a tomato soup with some added extra veggies for flavour. These flavours would be great for children in order to get their vegetable quota in each day.
The Kale, Spinach & Turmeric and Pea, Basil & Lemon soups are different flavours as they’re more savoury and lend themselves towards a lunch rather than a snack. The added lemon and turmeric add a certain ‘kick’ to what you might think are bland green vegetables, but also add extra vitamins and minerals to make the drinks more exciting. I wouldn’t suggest introducing these ones to younger children as they’re a distinct taste and it will probably put them off Re:Nourish completely!
In addition to the mixture of vegetables and their vitamins, Re:Nourish gazpacho and soups have no additives, no preservatives, no added sugar and are high in fibre. They’re also gluten free, dairy free and low in fat, which is obvious if you think about how they’re just made from lots of vegetables!
Re:Nourish is available on their website: https://renourish.co.uk/collections/bundles or from retailers including Waitrose, Ocado, Planet Organic, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and Co-Op among others!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We are in full swing of summer now, and I’ve lost count of the amount of places I’m meant to be, want to be or end up finding myself thanks to the beautiful weather. With friends coming round too, there’s always a need for endless snacks to go with the wine, Prosecco or chats with the girls.
The Artisan Olive Oil Company sent us these crisps and vegetable chips to try, as part of their artisan Italian snack range, all of which are found on their website. This was one of those times when I opened a box and kept delving to find more and more yummy treats; my mind whirling with how I was going to try all of them in such a short space of time… but don’t worry, the girls with the wine, Prosecco and chatter helped me out!
Included in the bundle was;
Vintage Truffle Potato Chips (120g)
Vintage Potatoes with Sweet Chilli (120g)
Vegan [vegetable] Crisps (150g)
Lightly Salted Tortilla (125g)
Blue Corn Tortilla (125g)
For anyone looking for summer snacks, this is only a small selection of what the Artisan Olive Oil Company offer, and you can see that there’s more than just your run of the mill crisps just in this selection. The flavours are varied as well, which helps when you don’t know what everyone will be drinking.
It is surprisingly fast how quickly so many packets of crisps disappear when you open them! We did study them first though, noting how each of the crisps were of high quality. The potato crisps were sharp, fresh and there were no burnt edges or green crisps in the packet, and none of those monster crisps you used to find as a child! All of the vegetables were of high quality and were cooked in high quality oil. The Vintage Potatoes with Sweet Chilli are not as hot (in taste) as some of the other brands on the market, but have more of a sweeter taste to them. The crisps are still precise though, and make for a lovely texture.
The same goes for the Vintage Truffle Potato Chips, which have a subtle taste but are great with the flavour of the oil coming through and the quality of the potatoes. I really liked the Vegan Crisps which were vegetable chips of carrot, beetroot and parsnip. Not only are they some of my favourite vegetables but they have a taste all of their own once they’re cooked, and the added seasoning makes them irresistible.
Finally, the Lightly Salted Tortilla and Blue Corn Tortilla are more gritty, but flavoursome corn chips, with a tiny bit of flavouring to them but just as delicious. These went really well with white wine and their slightly sour tastes of Pinot Grigio and I think would be even better eaten with a dip or salsa, all of which are found on the Artisan Olive Oil Company’s website where you’ll find even more summer treats!
Crisps and snacks available online from £4.25 per 120g bag at:
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If, like me, you are trying to stick to a low carbohydrate, high protein diet but still love the sweet stuff and crave chocolate, then you’ll know that there are lots of products on the market but most of them are unpalatable! They’re often made of substitute products which are bland and tasteless which ultimately puts me off them.
Warrior have been making high protein bars as part of their range of protein products for a long time now, so the new Peanut Butter and Jelly flavour is a nice treat in a long line of bars. Each bar is 64 grams with 20 grams of protein and 2.3 grams of sugar with 22 grams of carbohydrates in all. Eaten at any time of day as a snack or pick-me-up, they add some variety to the usual keto diet which many of us find difficult to keep up when we’re out and about, so these bars make life much easier!
The flavour is not something you usually find in shops either. We’re not used to peanut butter and jelly (PBJ) in this country but if you’ve ever tried it in a sandwich, then you’ll know that this set up is going to be delicious, not least because of the chocolate involved! The bars are filled with the peanut butter filling and coated with jelly (it tastes like raspberry jelly to me) then have a final coating of thick chocolate. The sweetness of the jelly really comes through to give you a ‘sweetness hit’ but you really can’t tell the different between this and a confectionary bar you buy off the shelf. There’s no hint of it being a fitness bar and frankly, it’s much bigger than the kiosk sized chocolate bars you buy these days, so it’s a double winner!
I had this after lunch as a ‘dessert’ but you can eat it at any time. It works well within a low carb diet, and the nutritional values are on each bar packaging so that you can fit them into your diet and regime. You could actually only eat half at a time and still feel the benefit, but if you’re like me, you enjoy a proper bar of chocolate but don’t want to hit the top of the dial with the high carbohydrate options, the Peanut Butter and Jelly Warrior bar does the trick!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Groovy Food Company have launched 2 new Agave flavours to their range of sauces, honeys and oils. The Hot Agave Nectar and Chipotle Agave Nectar sound like they could be fire hot additions to the BBQ this year with their chilli flavours an chipotle, but are they just another sauce to keep in the fridge for the next 6 months?
Both of the sauces are actually fat free and have no artificial colours. The Hot Agave Nectar has no artificial flavourings either and both are suitable for vegans and Kosher – KLBD. They’re not just for the BBQ thought. They’re great on salads, pizza, any kinds of meat or fish, as an accompaniment to cheeses or even on lasagne or pasta to give it more of a zing!
The Hot Agave sauce is chilli hot, but not so hot that your mouth burns. It would be suitable for older children as an addition to their pizza or salad or to use it as a dip for chicken nuggets. It’s got a lovely texture to it, making it very easy to pour and eat when drizzled over your meals. It certainly makes vegetables more exciting and with the addition of the Chipotle Agave Nectar, you can alternate flavours or add both to the same meal.
The Chipotle Agave Nectar has a smokey flavour to it but again is not too hot that children couldn’t enjoy it. The Agaves make for great sauces to dip the crusts of pizzas into, but I haven’t tried it as an addition to making a sauce yet – maybe a homemade pasta sauce with added Chipotle Agave Nectar would give it that extra kick?
Once opened, they both need to be stored in the fridge and shaken every time used, but there are approximately 75 servings from each bottle.
If you’re a fan of chilli and chipotle then these Groovy Foods agaves are worth trying, and trying on all sorts of different dishes to see how they can change anything from vegetables to your favourite homemade dishes.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
During the summer, when we are more likely to be working out or going for a run, or perhaps you’re on the beach and need to carry very little with you in hand luggage, ear phones can be a life saver. Nowadays, earphones are state-of-the art and not only come in this ‘ear bud’ form, but are Bluetooth. Connecting to your phone or laptop wirelessly, they don’t have wires so you can hide your phone in a pocket and carry on with your day.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro come in a charging case so you don’t lose them easily. Their full charge time is 24 hours, so enough for a holiday or long journey but just 10 minutes of charge gives you an hour listening time. The ear-tips are also anti bacterial, so you can share them if you wish, or even if you drop them on the car floor, they’ll still be safe to put back in. The box contains the NeoBuds and case, spare sets of ear tips, charging cable and case and written instructions.
The NeoBuds uses LDAC technology which is an auditory technology which allows high quality streaming over Bluetooth. Before purchasing these Edifier NeoBuds, make sure your phone or laptop supports this technology. LDAC is considered to be the premier audio coding available at the moment, so the NeoBuds are making use of the best technology available, and it shows in the quality of the audio! There’s Ambient Sound technology too, so you can still hear certain sounds around you when the music is playing – great for when you’re in town and weaving in and out of traffic.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro also have crossover technology for balanced sound thanks to the Knowles Balanced Armature drive. No matter what audio you’re listening to, the NeoBuds balance out the sound making it a better listening experience all round. You can also use the NeoBuds for phone calls, thanks to the three microphone noise cancellation technology. It also has low latency with game mode, so you can hear exactly what’s happening on screen as it happens and without a time delay.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro contain all the technology, and more that you need for everyday use of headphones. There’s no problem with how they perform and the sound quality is excellent. It took me a while to figure out how they fit into my ears and get used to the sensation as I don’t normally have ear buds but it doesn’t take long. I was impressed with how high quality the sound is because it automatically balances out the levels with each song. Audio books are richer too; you can hear the bass of the reader’s voice much easier and phone calls are as clear as you’d expect them to be and I didn’t experience any drop-off in calls with Bluetooth.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro are practical, easy to use and easy to store. They’re so versatile across all the different sound appliances that you don’t need another pair, and they store away in their case so you don’t have to worry about carrying heavy overhead headphones that might break. Not just for summer, the NeoBuds Pro are for all year and all uses!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Popcorn has become the most fashionable snack nowadays, probably since lockdown and we’re all spending time at home watching on demand TV with better quality food!
Joe & Seph’s Popcorn has also gained in popularity not just for the convenience but for the quality of the kernels and the different flavours available. Not just content with the usual sweet flavours like Toffee or Sweet & Salty, but there’s the summer limited editions such as Eton Mess and White Chocolate & Raspberry. Don’t get me started on the savoury flavours too like Mojito or Goat’s Cheese & Black Pepper.
We were sent one of Joe & Seph’s specialty Chocolate Lover’s Gourmet Popcorn Selection boxes. Unlike the other bags, this 105 gram box is a mixture of four different chocolate flavours; Caramel & White Chocolate, Caramel & Belgian Chocolate and Double Chocolate Popcorn and our luxurious, rich Dark Chocolate Popcorn Bites. If you’re not familiar with the flavours already, then the first 3 are varieties of chocolate coating on the famous Joe & Seph’s popcorn, whilst popcorn bites are piece of popcorn set in chocolate cups. Not just ordinary chocolate cups, but cups of delicious dark chocolate where you can really taste the richness of cacao.
The box makes it the perfect shape for sharing, or for giving as a gift. If you have a friend or loved one who loves chocolate, popcorn or both, this is perfect because of the mix of flavours, all of which work together nicely to create a type of ‘dessert’ in the form of a box of snacks, thanks to the mix of sweet flavours.
The quality of the popcorn really is as gourmet as you would hope, with no unpopped kernels at the bottom of the box, no strange shaped, odd pieces that missed the delicious chocolate coating, just a box packed full of quality popcorn.
If you’re not keen on chocolate flavoured popcorn, have a look at the website for lots of other flavours, and different sizes of bags.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Getting children into a good bedtime routine can take a good while, so anything that helps achieve this is very welcome. A night light can be a big help, they are great when babies are small, as the gentle light is enough for night feeds and it eliminates the need to turn on the main light when checking on your child. They are also good for children who are afraid of the dark. There are lots of different night lights available now, making it easy to find one that will suit the decoration of your child’s nursery.
We have a couple of mini reviewers who aren’t the best at going to bed, so in the quest for a good nights sleep, we have been putting a couple of Pabobo Angelcare nightlights to the test, in the hope that they will help them get to sleep a little bit quicker!
The Pabobo Lumicolour Bear Night Light is a cute bear shaped night light that can also change colour. The night light has 3 different modes to choose from
Colour detection – in this mode it scans and matches the colour of the touched object.
White light – 2 different intensities enabling you to reassure or read a story.
Rainbow – the bear changes colour every 10 seconds with the option to freeze it on your favourite colour.
I was quite intrigued to see how the colour detection mode worked and found it quite fascinating watching it change colour as it is placed on different objects! This is quite a quirky product and was a big hit with our mini reviewer who loved putting him on different coloured stacking cups to get him to change colour. The light is a soothing glow rather than a bright light and is just what you need at bedtime. It can be left on all night or there is a handy timer which will turn the light off after 45 minutes by which time your child will hopefully be asleep!
The nightlight is rechargeable and comes with a micro USB port which is really handy as it means it can be taken away with you on holiday or trips to grandparents, enabling your child’s bedtime routine is kept the same when they are away from home.
Once fully charged the battery can power the light for up to 1 month if used on the 45 minute timer or for 24 hours continuous use.
The bear doesn’t come with a USB power adapter but most families have plenty of these around the house so this isn’t really a problem.
RRP £35
The Angelcare Pabobo Underwater Effects Projector projects waves and fish onto the wall and ceiling whilst playing soft lullaby music or white noise to help lull your baby into a deep sleep. It does require 3AA batteries which aren’t included.
It has three light intensities to choose from and will automatically turn off after 25 minutes or 15 minutes if the sound is on.
The light display is calming to watch and certainly captured our mini reviewers attention. There are also couple of lullabies to play as well as the sound of waves, white noise and a heart beat to help relax your child ready for bed. The projections and sounds don’t have to be played together, you can choose just projections, just sound or both together, so choose which variation suits your child the best.
As well as being a calming influence at bedtime, the projector is a great sensory toy, the lights and sounds create those all important links in your baby’s brain helping support their development and learning. I do feel that it has helped achieve a much better level of calmness at bedtime and provides our mini reviewer with something enjoyable and comforting every night.
It’s compact enough to take on holiday or when staying with friends and family so you can keep the same routine when away from home. Another useful feature is the fabric part of the projector can be removed for washing – I’ve not needed to wash it yet but it’s good to know that when it gets grubby I can easily remove and wash it.
RRP £45
If you are stuggling to get your children to settle at night then I would definitely recommend trying a night light, these have been a welcome addition to our mini reviewers bedtime routine and definitely help them to settle better every night.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Walkers, hikers, runners, athletes and casual sock fans are discovering Darn Tough socks… but if you’re any of the above you probably know something about the Vermont, USA based company already.
Darn Tough socks are made from merino wool to be, well, darn tough. Their main selling point apart from being so hard wearing is that they are seam free so don’t rub and wear away over time, and if you’re a walker, that’s a big problem. They have additional features which make them so durable too. The shin areas typically have extra cushioning for wearing under boots (if they’re longer socks) thanks to the way the socks are woven. There’s added measures to prevent boot bite too. The extended toe box allows for wear and tear inside boots and shoes with a flex zone over the front of the foot so that you can rest assured that there isn’t the wear there from laced up shoes.
The heels are particularly well engineered to allow for lots of walking. Some of the snow socks (of which there are lot more new styles) have added weight to them for extra durability. There’s some new running socks this coming season which are shorter but allow for the same durability, but with the added bonus of being so pretty as well! If you look at the catalogue online, you’ll see that there’s a massive range of socks for men, women and children, but also a complete kaleidoscope of patterns. This hiking/trekking pair of women’s socks have a bear design on them! There’s plenty of other socks to choose from, not only for different activities but in different colours and even landscape designs on them. It makes them much easier to pair up after washing too!
The bonus of all Darn Tough socks is that no matter how they wear out, there is a lifetime guarantee on each pair that means they will replace your socks, no questions asked, whenever a hole appears or they wear down. What better promise of quality is that?
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Everyone has a water bottle nowadays and knows to stay away from plastic which typically isn’t easy to recycle, nor is it very good for your health, especially if left to heat up. Hydro Flask produce a whole range of flasks and food storage items which keep your drinks and food cold, or hot, for longer.
Using stainless steel and their TempShield double wall technology, flasks such as this 32oz (946ml) water flask can keep your drinks cooler, or hotter for longer. The inner workings of the flask include a vacuum insulation between the layers of the stainless steel, ensuring the drink doesn’t transfer heat to the outside of the bottle. Hydro Flask 32oz keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours.
Think of all the ways that this is practical – not just for camping or days out where there is no hot water, but keeping water at least warm to heat up a baby’s feed, or cold drinks when you’re on the go for long distance exercise. For taking in your daily water allowance, this flask only needs to be filled up once a day on average with nearly 1 litre capacity. It also looks good with the powder coating colour and black and steel lid.
The wide mouth of this flask allows you to drink as you walk or run, but Hydro Flask also have alternative lids which suit all sorts of needs. There’s the Flex Chug Cap – ideal for when running or walking because it narrows the mouth of the 32oz flask so that you don’t spill it as easily (no guarantees that you won’t though, especially if you’re running!) and comes with the same flex strap for easy carry. The Flex Chug Cap is also BPA and toxin free and can be put in the dishwasher like all the other flasks.
The second attachment for the Hydro Flask 32oz is the Wide Mouth Flex Straw Cap. It fits all Wide Mouth Hydro Flask bottles and comes with two straws which can be cut down to size. It’s also insulated and like all the flasks and their lids, it’s leakproof when closed. It’s not for hot liquids though, but I’m not sure there is any hot drink you use a straw for nowadays anyway? The Wide Mouth Flex Straw Cap is also BPA free.
The Hydro Flask 32oz comes in a range of colours, including this green, called Dew, but other colours include white, black, Gojo (red) and Lupine (lilac). There’s a 100% customer satisfaction warrantee on each flask meaning there’s a limited lifetime warrantee against manufacturer defects.
Hydro Flask are quite possibly the future in insulated flasks, especially in the wake of anti-plastic.
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 item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Treat yourself this summer to a new Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack, made with waterproof material and a laptop compartment, is it for urban, or rural?
Available in various colours including dark blue, black and the green which we were sent to try, the Stockholm Backpack holds 28 litres and has a front pocket for valuables, closing with a zip. The back pocket is padded for a laptop whilst the straps, no matter what you’re using the backpack for, are more comfortable for long wears because they’re padded.
The top of the Stockholm Backpack is a roll top and buckle – no zip here, so you can stuff it full of clothes or gadgets and the roll top is waterproof, like the rest of the polyester material which makes up the whole bag. The straps also have a cross-strap to hold them in place and distribute the weight across your shoulders, and the whole bag is wider than a normal backpack to add more volume and to even the load. The length of the bag is bigger than usual too so if you’re taking a lot with you camping, or travelling with more than usual this is for you. Anyone who is that big taller might find this a useful bag too as the dimensions mean it holds a lot more but is also more comfortable for wider shoulders and frame.
The base of the bag is re-enforced with a waterproof material which looks and feels like leather (but isn’t) to make it more hard wearing especially if it’s put down on the ground or used for travelling. Empty, it flattens down to almost nothing thanks to its square design, and the material is incredibly durable so is bound to last a long time. It’s easy to clean as well as there aren’t many components and it’s made of only a few materials which can all be machine washed.
Although pricy at £65, it is Helly Hansen so you know it’s well made, will last and is designed and made for the outdoor life. It works just as well for commuting though as it’s the size of a laptop (or bigger) and hold a computer safely with the added compartment. It’s a great bag for cyclists who are going into work with laptop, change of clothes and lunch all thrown in, and the slightly bigger size makes it easier to carry more. Thankfully the waterproof material and buckle roll top will save your work clothes for the British weather too!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We’re on the last few weeks of the summer term and on the countdown to summer holidays. Travelling with children can be incredibly stressful so if you can keep then entertained it makes the journey a lot more pleasant for everyone! In the run up to the summer holidays I am always on the lookout for compact games that I can pop in my bag to keep the children entertained, whether they are on a plane, car, hotel room or caravan.
We were recently sent The Genius Star from The Happy Puzzle Company which can be played solo or as a 2 player game. The game is great fun and will not only keep them occupied whilst travelling it is also fun to team up to play together as a family in the evenings.
Inside the box are two plastic star shaped grids, two sets of 11 multi-coloured wooden shapes, two sets of seven blocker pieces (triangles) and seven dice (a mixture of six and eight sided). The game is very easy to play, simply roll all the dice and place a blocker piece into the triangle matching the seven numbers that appear on the dice, then race your opponent to fill every other space on the grid using the 11 shapes. There is also an added twist with the ‘Golden Star’ which allows you to score a double win by solving the puzzle with the ‘Golden Star’ Apparently only 57.4% of the puzzles have a solution that includes the ‘Golden Star’ so this adds to the challenge!
The game is good for STEM learning using skills including problem solving, critical thinking and logic skills to complete the puzzle.
Each game is reasonably quick but with 165,888 possible combinations you do sometimes play a round that takes a little longer to complete, especially if you try to use the ‘Golden Star’ but that just adds to the fun. With so many different combinations this is a game that will keep children (and adults) entertained these holidays.
The Genius Star is suitable for ages 8 to adult and has an RRP of £19.99
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
This week is World Wellbeing Week and it is a great opportunity to think about what you can do to prioritise your wellbeing. Take a look at your work-life balance, stress levels, the amount of sleep you get, diet, exercise (or lack of it) and think about whether there is something you can change, it doesn’t have to be something huge, just the smallest of changes can make a difference and it is also incredibly important to fit in some “me time.”
The use of aromas to enhance mood and improve health and wellbeing dates back to 3500 years BC and you’ll know yourself that spraying your favourite perfume, lighting a scented candle or taking a long bath with your favourite bubble bath can really boost your mood.
Scented candles, diffuser and room mists are a great way to instantly fragrance your home and can create an instant calming and relaxing ambience. Athletia Beauty recently sent us their Switching Aroma Green Ray Room mist which with only a couple of sprays quickly enhances not only your surroundings but your mood too.
Made from natural botanical essential oils and inspired by travel and nature’s vistas – think forests, the ocean and mountains this crisp refreshing spray has the power to change your mood after only one spray! It contains frankincense oil which is a favourite of mine as the oil is well known for reducing anxiety and stress.
The thing I like about a room mist is you have more control over the intensity of the fragrance than you do with candles or diffusers as you can spritz as much or as little as you like – a quick spray to add ambience to a room or more to mask cooking smells or even wet dogs!
Once sprayed, the scent filled my lounge, creating a relaxing ambience and the beautiful fragrance lingered for hours. I wish I could send a spritz of this electronically as it is such a lovely relaxing fragrance but you’ll just have to take my word for it and try it yourself – I promise you won’t be disappointed!
£39 for 100ml – available from Athletia Beauty here and Selfridges
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We love summer. Summer isn’t always great in this country for skin though, either the direct sunlight, which we’re not used to, or the dry temperatures which our skin hates. My skin is always dry in summer no matter the weather though, so I have to make sure that I not only wear sunscreen when I have to but that it’s hydrating.
The biggest threat to skin and the most common cancer is skin cancer. Altruist Sun Protection was developed by dermatologist Dr Andrew Birnie, Skin cancer is undoubtedly caused by exposure to sunlight, especially powerful sunlight if you’re not used to it throughout the year and get a blast of intense sun all in one go. As well as refraining from burning, using sunscreen, as well as a hat and shirt are the best way of preventing melanomas.
With a lot of research, Dr Birnie has developed the Altruist range of sun protection for the whole family. From bumper 200ml tubes of SPF 30 to a Face Fluid at SPR 30 (Dr Birnie admits to using this as an after shaving lotion!) and a handy invisible spray which is SPF 50 and PPD 42. There’s an even bigger range online so you can find what you need for yourself and your family.
All of the products in the range are fragrance – free and have UVA, UVB and broad spectrum protection. The Family Sun Spray is particularly useful because it packs away flatter than tubes and has the gun action which makes it easy to supply. It’s fabulous for holidays too because there’s a seal which prevents it from leaking in luggage and the shape doesn’t break easily either. It’s suitable for babies and children so at SPF 50 and 250ml it’s the only sunscreen you need to take on holiday!
The Face Fluid works great as a daily moisturiser as it contains vitamin E and it’s an anti-oxidant sunscreen too. It’s pretty rich, and takes a while to absorb into the skin so I wouldn’t recommend it under make-up but it’s great for the beach or by the pool.
The Invisible Spray works differently because it’s such a fine mist, but it’s also non-sticky. I would wear this in the evening so that my clothes and make-up don’t get ruined and it won’t show when you’re no doubt taking photos and in unnatural light.
No matter what you use Altruist Sun Protection for, there’s a product for you and the reassurance that you’re using the right kind of protection from a skin care expert.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We were very excited to learn that it’s World Chocolate Day on 7th July, which gives us a perfect excuse to test out some chocolate, and what better than Artisan Coffee Company’s Chocolate Flight and Coffee Selection Box. Chocolate AND coffee!
If you’re not familiar with Tasting Experiences, there is a leaflet enclosed which explains it all; testing the individual coffee bags with their corresponding chocolates, each flavour of chocolate and coffee designed to bring out the richness in each other. For example, testing the coffee called The Genius (no 161) with the chocolate called Wonderously Complex, you should be able to taste the rich cocoa flavour, some pecan notes and a touch of raisin and malt.
Artisan Coffee began in 2019 after conversations about coffee between a coffee research scientist, an entrepreneur and a sommelier of coffee, known as a Q Grader in the business. It’s no wonder the company was named ‘Artisan Coffee Co’ when the team decided to concentrate on bringing the flavour of coffee to the masses and after a year of doing so, brought in Ashley Palmer-Watts; chef and coffee fanatic. He designed a range of flavoursome chocolates which harmonised flavours between the coffee and the chocolates.
The coffee in most cases on the Artisan website is in coffee bags – an ingenious way of getting a characterful cup of coffee without having to brew up beans and filter. Now that we’re all working from home, coffee bags make more sense, or even bringing in a few to the office when we have to makes better sense, but this Tasting Experience box also has coffee pods. So whether you’re working from home or commuting, there’s an option on how to enjoy your roast. The chocolates are individually wrapped and remind me of after dinner luxuries.
The tasting experience card explains exactly how to set up the coffee and what the pairing of chocolates are to the tastes. This is a great after dinner exercise, or date night fun as you try each coffee with each chocolate. I’m not a great coffee lover, so trying the coffees over a few nights, you really get a taste for the pairings and start to taste the differences. The idea of combining the coffees with gorgeous chocolates is really appealing, and makes the experience more fun.
It may be World Chocolate Day and a chance to try some top class artisan chocolate, but you’ll be forgiven if you want to use it as an excuse to taste some of the best coffees on offer too!
The Ultimate Coffee Selection Box is available from £34.99 at:
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Tuesday 27th June is National Ice Cream Day! To celebrate, Oppo Brothers have sent us a selection of their new flavours for 2023 to try, and they sent us some of their most popular ice creams too!
Oppo Brothers Caramelised Biscuit Swirl Ice Cream (475ml) is a tub of their newest flavoured ice cream, with the added bonus of only being 95 calories per 100ml. The caramel ice cream is adorned with pieces of biscuit to add to the Biscoff-style. Sweet but not sticky, the Caramelised Biscuit Swirl Ice Cream goes well with already sweet desserts such as sticky toffee pudding or jam roly poly. We ate this on its own though, with the lovely gold Oppo Brothers Spoon which we were sent too!
We also received the Opp Brothers Double Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream (475ml) which has pieces of chocolate in a chocolate ice cream. This flavour only has 90 calories per 100ml and is a good source of protein as well as a fantastic dessert all of its own, is lower in sugar than other ice creams and own the ‘Great Taste’ award in 2022. Although this could be eaten alongside a dessert, it’s a treat for the whole family and a tub of 475ml goes a surprisingly long way.
The third tub of ice cream was the Oppo Brothers Double Salted Caramel Swirl Ice cream (475ml). This flavour won a ‘Great Taste’ award in 2018 when it came out, and boasts only 82 calories per 100ml. This ice cream is REALLY sweet so I would only eat this on its own, with probably only a few spoonfuls needed in order to get a good ice cream ‘hit’. It’s very indulgent, and if you like trying new flavours of ice cream then this is a definite win, and isn’t offensive at all. No weird flavours here, just wholesome summer ice cream treats!
I had never tried ice cream snacking balls before, so the next two boxes were a treat. The Oppo Brothers Chocolate Hazelnut Snacking Balls (12 balls at 14ml each) make for great additions to desserts, small portions of ice cream for kids or as a snack for lunchtime when you’re working from home! You can see in the photo that they are bite sized, smaller ice creams covered in chocolate crispy shells. The Chocolate Hazelnut Snacking Balls have small hazelnut pieces in the shell, and come in at only 25 calories a bite.
We were also sent 12 Salted Caramel Balls, which only had 22 calories per ball – bonus! Both these and the Chocolate Hazelnut Snacking Balls are vegetarian friendly and made with fresh milk and cream and natural ingredients.
Summer isn’t the same without ice cream lollies and Oppo Brothers sent us two varieties; Vanilla Almond Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Sticks and Salted Caramel Biscuit Crunch Ice Cream Sticks. Each one is ice cream with a chocolate coating and they are only 130 calories each. The Salted Caramel Biscuit Crunch won a ‘Great Taste’ award in 2022 and the newer Vanilla Almond Caramel Swirls are both great for children a well as adults as they aren’t too sweet but are still cooling in this weather. They’re both graded as ‘C’ on the Nutri-Score too, and the packets fit neatly in the fridge so you can store them for a few months, or until they’re gone!
Oppo Brothers have lots of choice for Summer 2023 whether its ice cream, snacking balls or ice cream sticks, you’re bound to find something the family will love!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Summer often brings a need for different, and new, beauty products. RINGANA have sent us these 3 skincare products which are imperative for summer sun life, whether it be in this heatwave we have at home, or to take away on holiday with you.
RINGANA is an Austrian company that prides itself on the natural ingredients it uses for its skincare, beauty and supplement products. Unlike other companies, RINGANA, founded in 1996, use fresh ingredients to make the products from scratch and ship out worldwide to 34 countries, including many which they post products to for free. You won’t find RINGANA in the department stores or High Street, only online where their products are vegan and free from preservatives and additives.
With that in mind, their products are unlike any makeup you’d typically buy. We were sent three summer products to try, the RINGANA Fresh Sunscreen Medium SPF 20 (for medium sun days), RINGANA Fresh Sunscreen Face SPV 15 (face moisturiser for every day) and the delicious RINGANA Fresh Light Legs.
Starting with the RINGANA Fresh Light Legs, I didn’t know what it was so had to look it up on the website to find out what it was used for. Light Legs are for when your legs (or feet) are tired in the summer and need some rejuvenation. Think about walking around on holiday, in the heat, probably wearing shoes which are totally inappropriate for the weather and terrain. RINGANA Light Legs is for just this purpose! I sprayed some on my calf as a test to see what it was like. The light spray sits on the skin and you rub it in slowly so that it penetrates into the muscle. The feeling on your skin is a slight tingling as the ingredients work away to “pep up” your limbs. Looking at the ingredients, it includes magnesium, which is a known topical tonic for tired muscles and is absorbed through the skin easily. The fragrance is that of summer citrus, which also acts to boost your mood as you wear it. The effect of the Light Legs was to keep my legs (I eventually used it all over) fresh and tingly, giving me some extra energy in the long run, relaxed my leg muscles.
The RINGANA Fresh Sunscreen Face SPF 15 can be used in summer but with the SPF protection it can be used all year round too as your daily face moisturiser. Made with natural plant oils and fragrance free, it protects against UV rays, antioxidants and blue light. The breezy formula is designed for sensitive skin and is COSMOS certified, leaving your skin matt and smooth. I like this formula because it’s so light on your skin but gives you all-round protection and is easy to wear under make up, as well as on its own. My skin was super hydrated but not greasy and stayed that way throughout the day.
The final RINGANA product we tried was the Fresh Sunscreen Medium SPF 20. This product can be used daily, but is more for occasions such as holidays or being outside for long periods of time. It’s waterproof and nano-free and relies on the natural mineral that is zinc oxide as a sun protection filter.
The formula is perfume free, except for the ‘fresh’ smell of the natural ingredients as you apply it, and absorbs with a little effort leaving no film on the skin. It’s nice and rich but also cooling and leaves skin moisturised. I like this Fresh Sunscreen Medium because it doesn’t smell of the synthetic sun creams you get in the pharmacy.
All of the RINGANA products feel so soft and luxurious as they are made with fresh ingredients and not kept in unfavourable conditions for months on end. The whole range of products are designed for everyday living, and summer especially is a great time to start using them. You won’t find many places that make your skin products with fresh, fragrance free, artificial ingredient free and vegan like RINGANA.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Just Spices have been adding character to your mealtimes since 2012 with their spices, sprinkles and meal kits all of which can be found in High Street supermarkets now. This year, to celebrate Pride, Just Spices have released the Pride Edition Avocado Topping for the month of June.
What’s an avocado topping I hear you ask? This 60 gram pot of spices, seeds and salts is a blend of flavours to add to your avocado on toast, or just to add to your avocado! It has a whole host of other uses too, in omelettes, salads, sandwiches, on dips and in rice bowls. You could probably find a whole host of ways to use the topping, especially as it’s got such a versatile blend, and it’s colourful too!
I added it to avocado on toast one day for lunch. The topping consists of pieces of salt, different colours of peppercorn, sesame seeds, chili and some tiny tomato seeds. Picking up a pinch, you can definitely taste the salt (which goes well with avocado anyway) as well as the pepper. All the ingredients are natural with no artificial flavours, each pot sold donates 25% of profits to MindOut, a mental health charity for the LGBTQ+ community.
Just Spice’s Avocado Topping is one of their best selling products, with so many uses in the kitchen and it’s such a time saving way of adding flavour to any dishes, I think everyone will be able to find multiple uses for it, plus it lasts for ages!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
With these summer temperatures, everyone looks for new ways to stay cool especially if we’re spending time outdoors. Balmonds Cooling Cream is for that reason; to keep cool and sooth your skin with its aloe vera, menthol and lavender extracts.
A completely vegan recipe, Balmonds Cooling Cream helps moisturise dry or flushed skin, creating a barrier to dehydrated skin to prevent it feeling any more tired. The medicinal effects of lavender help heal skin that is mildly damaged from dehydration whilst the aloe vera soothes the top layers of skin. It’s ideal for the whole family as it only contains plant ingredients. The cooling cream is fragrance-free, paraffin free and cruelty free so also makes for a great gift.
The 99% natural cream is cool to the touch and takes a little while to absorb into the skin but when it does it gives a matt finish. It can be used as an after-sun lotion, hand or face cream, for hormonal hot flushes and for after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It’s very gentle, very soft and can be taken anywhere with you, especially on holiday!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This retro style portable speaker from Edifier is probably the easiest I’ve ever set up a speaker. With crystal-clear sound, it’s a brilliant addition to your household or as a gift to someone you love.
The Edifier MP230 Portable Bluetooth Speaker has a battery charge of up to 10 hours with a wooden casing and grill cover to give it a retro 50s/60s portable look. The operating keys on the front are piano-style for on/off, Bluetooth, play/pause and two volume buttons. Speaking of Bluetooth, it was incredibly easy to set up. All I had to do was turn on the speak with the button on the front, use the Bluetooth settings on my laptop, which found it immediately and press Connect. As soon as I played a track on my laptop, it came through the Edifier speaker; no need for any instructions or clicking buttons, adding settings etc, it was easy as pie!
The quality of the sound through the speaker is excellent. There are two 48mm driver units, which create stereo sound and an output power of 20W RMS. Along with Bluetooth, the input modes are AUX, USB-C port and even a TF Card. The size of the speaker also lends itself to being taken on car trips, or even packed in luggage. Measuring 16.4cm × 8.43cm × 10.8cm it can even fit in hand luggage, and weighs just 0.85kilorams (that’s just 1.9lbs!)
The Edifier MP230 Speaker can be charged with the USB port and doesn’t take long for a full charge, so can be connected to a laptop or a wall charging point. As it’s so portable, it can be taken with you anywhere, or left on the shelf in a room. The size would suggest it could go outside easily, which would be great for picnics but I don’t think the wood casing nor the grill would survive getting even slightly damp, and definitely not one for the beach! Set up in a baby’s nursery to play white noise or as background whilst in the garden, the Edifier MP230 would be really useful.
I can’t help but think it would be a great present too. The stylish look to it appeals to anyone who likes design or for grandparents who want something that fits in with their pre-IKEA furniture and is small enough to be discreet on a book shelf. Teenagers will love this though, as it doesn’t take up much room and you don’t even need to be in the room for it to connect to Bluetooth. It’s a brilliant addition to any household as well as being a perfect stereo sound for you online music!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The past 12 months has been a royal whirl with the late Queen’s Lying in State, Funeral and now the Coronation of King Charles in May. Hellen Jay Rhind has written a children’s book about the day King Charles III was crowned and what the different parts of the ceremony mean.
The 30 page book is aimed at children aged 6 to 12. Starting with the details of Prince Charles (as he was when he was born) and how the late Queen was crowned in 1953 at Westminster Abbey, the story tells the Royal Family up until 6 May 2023 when the King is crowned. The day is explained with illustrations on one side and details on the opposite page. However, the drawings are not accurate to the members of the Royal Family, nor are the illustrations that of Westminster Abbey nor Buckingham Palace, but they are fairy palaces which will appeal to young children.
The book goes into detail about the types of carriages that were used, the Household Cavalry, the ceremony route and the types of jewels used as symbolic gestures. At the very back, there are photographs of the state crowns, The Royal Robes, The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross and The Sovereign’s Orb, making them easy for children to identify.
This is a great bedtime book, or a book for children interested in royalty, kings and queens and princess castles! The book takes about 15 minutes to read and would act as a prompt for children to ask more questions about the monarchy and what happened at the Coronation in May. It’s also a nice keepsake for the Coronation for anyone who was there on the day or wants to remember it!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
One of the side effects of living a more sustainable life is having more ‘stuff’ in the house. You can’t throw away reusable bottles, pots and boxes like you can plastic ones so you need somewhere to store them. Don’t get me started on pots and bottles that don’t have reusable lids, like the milk bottles the milkman brings…
Which is where Milk Topz and Pot Lidz come in! In a bid to support the comeback of the door-to-door milkman, the team at Milk Topz have developed re-usable milk bottle tops which fit on most delivered milk bottles. They’re made of food grade silicone in a multiple of colours to replace the foil lids which don’t last and can’t be airtight, so helping your milk last longer.
Each pack of 6 lids contains three different colours, so you can use the different colours for different types of milk (ie semi skimmed and full fat). The lids are designed to be re-usable so you can put them in the dishwasher and they’re even 100% leakproof. Tip them upside down and they won’t leak! There has been controversy on BBC Breakfast News this week with talk about keeping milk at the back of the fridge instead of in the door like most of us do… except most of us would have milk leaking all over the place if that happened. Not with Milk Topz. They fit over the top of the 1 pint bottle of milk snugly, keeping air out too so your milk lasts longer.
In addition to Milk Topz, Pot Lidz do much the same job. Still made of food grade silicone and dishwasher and fridge safe, these lids stretch over pots such as cream, yoghurt and soft cheese with a diameter of 95mm. They’re also 100% leakproof, which is great for me when I buy mascarpone and the water residue leaks everywhere in the fridge. Pot Lidz will be a huge help in preventing spillages from now on.
Both Milk Topz and Pot Lidz also support the local community by allowing you to use your local milkman, or local farm shop more effectively and prevent food waste with milk expiring quicker. They’re safe to use and after time, you can find a lot more uses for keeping food fresh!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Disclaimer – The MoGo 2 Pro was sent as a review sample for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
What’s a great Father’s Day gift Dad isn’t expecting? Or what kind of gift could you get him that he doesn’t know he wants yet but when he tries it, will wonder why he hasn’t bought one for himself before!
The MoGo 2 Pro Portable Project from XGIMI has so many feature that I can hardly write them all, but for an overview of what it does, it’s a portable projector and speaker all in one!
With a 120 inch screen, the projector can be used for movies, online content (for example, You Tube) or gaming. It’s compatible with power banks too so you can even take it outside or use it whilst camping. I told you Dad didn’t know he needed it!
As for the technicals, the MoGo 2 Pro Portable Projector supports HDR 10 with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. With an auto focus of ISA 2.0 and an aspect of 1:2:1 it also has Intelligent Screen Alignment and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance.
The system contains 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM with a system of Android TV™ 11.0. There’s an impressive 3 different ports (USB type-C, USB type-A and HDMI 2.0) and an AU 3.5mm output port. Bluetooth 5.0 is also included and it works on a Wifi 5 Duel band of 2.4/5GHz.
The whole kit includes a power cable as well as a remote control. It only weighs 1.1kilograms (2.42lbs) which makes it even more portable and I liked the cube shape which also makes it easy to pack if you’re going away. The possibilities are endless with this projector so having never owned one before, I was excited to get it set up and see how it works!
There are instructions included with the projector, but as you take it out of the box you realise it’s actually pretty simple to set up and the screen takes you through it. Start by connecting the power with the power pack provided, then press the on button. The MoGo 2 Pro starts playing music as it asks you how you want to set up, starting with the wifi network and password, then going through the different type of screen adjustments. The pages take you through each option before you get to the Apps page. There’s even an explanation of how the screen adjustment works on the projector too.
The last page of set up already has a TEX app and you can download other Adroid (Google) apps. There’s no need to hook it up to a computer or network, it’s simply connected to the internet, you log into your Google account (which includes You Tube) and you can view any of your saved videos, or go and search for more.
The whole time I was setting up the projector, it was adjusting to the distance from the wall so that it stayed in focus, as well as the horizontal. It didn’t matter how far the projector was from the wall, it adjusted the size of the screen, knew when it was out of focus and kept adjusting so that it was completely clear. As I was thinking of all the movies and programmes I could now watch on the big screen thanks to this projector, it was really exciting to think how it could change how anyone watches TV, especially as I don’t have a projector already. It was like having my own personal cinema!
The picture remained sharp the whole time my movie played, as well as the audio being pitch perfect throughout. If you have a really good internet connection too it helps, and there was no buffering or loss of sound throughout. I also like how you can play it against any wall, curtain or makeshift movie screen no matter where you are, and the sound of the fan is very quiet so doesn’t detract from the soundtrack. The remote control is super easy to use as well and makes life much easier rather than trying to fiddle with buttons on the machine.
The MoGo 2 Pro Projector changes the way you watch TV and videos, especially if you’ve never had a projector before, and is much easier to use than a TV! Perfect picture, perfect sound and so, so easy to set up that anyone can use it and the whole family can enjoy it. Even Dad…
The Review Studio 