Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Christmas is my favourite time of year, but if I’m being totally honest it can be a bit full on too. Between the shopping, cooking, wrapping and making sure everyone’s happy I usually end up running myself ragged. That’s why I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the Kettler Tenderflame Café 18 Candle. After a mad day of ticking off the Christmas to-do list, I light the candle, make a brew, and just sit there for a bit, letting myself relax. There’s something so soothing about the way the flame flickers and because it burns for hours without needing constant attention, it’s perfect for just switching off. No interruptions, no faffing about, just proper chill-out time.
The Tenderflame Café Candle has a modern, Scandinavian minimalist design featuring a sturdy concrete MgO base paired with a tempered glass top which not only looks elegant but goes with any décor. When lit, the flickering flame casts a cosy, warm glow that instantly transforms any room into a haven of relaxation. Powered by eco-friendly Tenderfuel, this candle gives a clean-burning flame without any soot or smoke. That means no messy wax spills to clean up and no fumes lingering in the air. Plus, the innovative patented wick ensures that the fuel only ignites only upon contact, making it a much safer alternative to traditional candles.
The Tenderflame Café Candle isn’t just a treat for yourself though, it makes a thoughtful and elegant Christmas gift too. Perfect for anyone who loves creating a cozy atmosphere at home, it’s a wonderful way to give the gift of relaxation during the busy festive season. Its stylish design and clean-burning technology make it a great present, offering your loved ones a little slice of calm to enjoy long after the holidays are over.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
As Christmas gets closer, time is running out for purchasing that last minute gift. Prsnt have the perfect solution though – a gift card that’s an instant gift.
Unlike store bought gift cards, Prsnt is a personalised gift. It’s not just a monetary amount but you can literally gift a gift through the app to someone and they use the app to purchase that gift. There’s a catalogue on the app which allows you to choose what it is that you want to send and the receiver, once they download the app, can receive the gift whenever they want. We were given access to a Prsnt account which allows you to both send and receive gifts.
First, you need to sign up to the account using your phone number or your Facebook, Apple or Google accounts. Once your account is confirmed, the app brings you to a home screen where you can pick up a gift that’s been sent to you, or you can send a gift to someone in your contacts. They don’t need to already have a Prsnt account to receive it but the do need to download the app once they do.
We were excited to see that the lovely team at Prsnt had already sent us a gift to try out the app! Under the Received menu, there was a gift waiting to be unwrapped. You don’t see what it is at first, you just need to click on ‘Unwrap Prsnt’. The app goes into a lovely display of what the gift is by allowing you to reveal it slowly on your phone by swiping away the ‘wrapping’ to reveal what the gift is. We had a lovely surprise of tea and cake from Costa Coffee waiting for us!
There are over 200 High Street brands to gift from with presents already picked out. Some of our favourites include a book at Waterstones, Jo Malone Candle, aftershave from John Lewis, cinema tickets from Odeon and hampers from Marks & Spencer. There’s conventional gift cards as well in case you don’t see anything you like. You can even add a video message or a written message as you send it, using just their mobile number.
It doesn’t take long to send a gift and it means you can securely send something without having to know their home address or personal details. There’s a range of gifts available with more being added all the time. It’s economically more responsible too with there being no physical aspect to the gift card that can be lost, thrown away easily or forgotten about in a drawer.
Prsnt is a brilliant alternative to gift cards or spending time on sending individual presents and in today’s international market, you can send them to anyone, anywhere in the world!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
As we approach Dry January, Jamu Wild Waters makes an excellent alternative to alcohol whilst being more exciting than just plain water or sparkling water in a can. With 100% natural ingredients, each can contains zero sugar, no artificial sweeteners and is very low calorie at 18-20 calories each, depending on the flavour. Even better news, there’s 5 grams of prebiotic plant fibre per can and added Vitamin C and Zinc for immune support.
The belief of Jamu Wild Water is to make healthy living, and especially fizzy drinks, which are also good for the environment. That’s why they don’t use plastic in their products, instead favouring the aluminium cans which are recyclable and cardboard that contains up to 70% recycled products. Made in the UK, there’s a lower carbon footprint when Jamu Wild Water isn’t shipped across the sea and the waste products are easily recycled in the UK too.
Jamu Wild Waters comes in three flavours; Sparkling Blood Orange, Sparkling Lemon and Sparkling Raspberry. The prebiotic factor doesn’t affect the taste, with the sparkling water being bright and each flavour being distinctly different. You can taste the lemon botanical amongst the bubbles, and the Blood Orange flavour is very citrussy! My favourite though is the Raspberry flavour, with a slightly sweet, fruity taste and the carbonated bubbles add a lightness that makes you think that you’re drinking something alcoholic. There’s no reason why you couldn’t create a non-alcoholic cocktail using Jamu, or likewise add it to children’s lunchboxes. I can’t speak of the long-term effect of Jamu Wild Waters’ prebiotics but it can’t be a bad addition to the larder!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Talented artist Frank Porthouse is more than just an artist. A 55 year career in architecture has spawned a love of drawing which includes not just architectural design and drawing on a commercial basis, but watercolours and ink sketches on topics ranging from buildings to portraits and even movement in sport. This array of subjects has led to Franzart’s website. Gifts galore are based on Frank’s artwork including greetings cards and postcards, tote bags and ceramic mugs. The horse-themed ‘Freedom’ mug is one of a range of 20 different varying designs of mugs on Frank’s website which includes other animals such as dogs of different breeds, more horses, a cow and a particularly cute rabbit!
The ceramic Freedom Mug is sturdy for coffee or hot beverages, with the Freedom horse design on both sides so you can’t miss it. The blue ink line drawing of the face of a horse on a particularly windy day is striking in its detail and sure to be a favourite of any horse lover. Each mug is dishwasher safe and each design is made especially for you the buyer, so it can take a bit longer for delivery.
Freedom is available as a design of tote bag, also on the Frankzart website, as are a host of other designs with no doubt more to come!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Buying Christmas gifts for teenagers can be a real challenge, but I’ve found something that’s guaranteed to go down a treat, these incredible sweet and chocolate bouquets from The Sweet Bouquet Emporium. They’re the ultimate treat for anyone with a sweet tooth and make a fantastic Christmas gift for all those hard to buy for people that we all know and love.
Now whilst I love a bouquet of flowers, a chocolate bouquet is a real game-changer! Perfect for any occasion, but especially magical at Christmas, these beauties tick all the boxes. They’re not just delicious (and who doesn’t love a bit of chocolate?), but they’re also put together so beautifully, you almost don’t want to eat them… almost!
What’s brilliant about these gifts is the range of options you can choose from. Whether you’re a fan of Haribo, Ferrero Rocher, Dairy Milk, Galaxy, or retro sweets like Rainbow Drops and Love Hearts, there’s a bouquet for everyone. Each one is carefully arranged in a colour-coordinated box with matching tissue paper and ribbon, giving it a sophisticated yet fun look. The chocolates and sweets are displayed like a floral arrangement, which adds that all-important wow factor.
The Galaxy Chocolate Bouquet costs £28.95 and is a chocolate lovers dream It includes:
2 large 114g bars of Galaxy Cookie Crumble,
6 smaller 42g bars (3 each of Smooth Milk and Smooth Caramel),
3 Ripple bars, and
3 bags of Galaxy Minstrels.
For those who love a nostalgic treat, the Classic British Sweet Bouquet is packed with retro sweets like Refreshers, Haribo, Double Dips, Giant Fizzers, and Love Hearts. It’s a delightful trip down memory lane and a perfect gift for sweet lovers of any age, priced at £32.95.
Just like with a traditional bouquet of flowers, you can add a personalised message to your chocolate or sweet bouquet, making it an extra special gift. Plus, with delivery available across the UK, it’s so easy to send a thoughtful surprise to friends and family, no matter how far away they are. It’s a fabulous alternative to flowers, who wouldn’t love a bundle of sweet treats arriving at their doorstep?!
Whether you’re shopping for teenagers, friends, or that one person who’s impossible to buy for, a chocolate or sweet bouquet isn’t just a gift—it’s a centre piece, a conversation starter, and a guaranteed way to brighten someone’s day.
So if you want to bring some sparkle to someone’s Christmas, these bouquets are a no-brainer. Trust me, you’ll want to order one for yourself too!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Whether you’re at work and wanting to grab something different for the time of year, or out shopping at the weekend and need a break, Caffe Nero have a new menu for Christmas 2024 that includes sandwiches, cakes and drinks that we can all enjoy. We were sent off (happily) for a working lunch to find a few of Caffe Nero’s yummy delights!
All of the items we tested are on Caffe Nero’s Festive Menu. We started with the Pigs Under Blankets Panini and the New Italian Festive Porchetta Focaccia. Both sandwiches are best when heated up, which the Caffe Nero staff are happy to do as they make your hot drink. We liked the Pigs Under Blankets for the festive sausages, bacon and added onion relish and when it’s hot, it’s especially nice! The Italian Porchetta Focaccia has not just the porchetta ham but mozzarella and pesto. This sandwich is sweeter than the Pigs Under Blankets and you can taste the pesto and mozzarella most with the ham and the sweetness of the focaccia bread being second.
We then tried one of the delicious Caffe Nero Classic Mince Pie. Made with shortbread pastry and filled with raisins, currents, sultanas and mixed peel with spices, this was a very sweet mince pie which can be eaten hot or cold. I chose to have it cold with my hot panini sandwich but you could add cream or ice cream to this easily. The mince pie is really sweet, and has a lot of filling and really light pastry to it too. We would have tried a few drinks that day but the coffee machine was broken, but seeing as we still had a lot to try, we went back another day!
Next day we tried the Festive Feast Panini with bacon, chicken, cranberry & apricot stuffing and cranberry sauce in a sourdough panini. This panini was also heated up and tasted of sweet cranberry and chicken with a herb-tasting panini. The New Brie, Bacon & Cranberry Panini was also warmed which allowed the Brie to melt all over again and give the counter-taste to the bacon and cranberry. We also got a cake today, a delicious New Black Forest Chouxnut. If you’re not familiar with a chouxnut, it’s a ring doughnut made with choux pastry which is filled with a Black Forest cream and topped with cherry ganache. The filling is incredibly sweet and the topping makes it very decadent – great for work or a treat and even better if you can share it with someone!
We also tried the New Tiramisu Latte. This latte has a tiramisu syrup flavouring and dusting of chocolate powder, and even has a sponge finger added on top to give it more of the tiramisu dessert flavour! We liked this for the heartiness of the latte and the added tiramisu coffee and chocolate flavouring which made it feel extra Christmassy.
We loved the variety of the sandwiches, cakes and drinks, and there were so many to choose from that we couldn’t try them all. They’re full of flavour and have lots of Christmas spirit to them. All of the Caffe Nero Festive Menu is available to view online (we made our choices before we even left the office!) and are all in store from now on. Vegan and Vegetarian options also available.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
In an age dominated by smartphones and digital reminders, you might think that calendars have lost their charm. However, paper calendars still have their place, especially in our house – I still like a paper calendar in the kitchen where it’s easy for the whole family to glance at upcoming birthdays, appointments, holidays, or even reminders for car insurance and MOTs.
With such a wide variety of calendars available it’s easy to choose one to perfectly match the recipients’ interests. Whether they’re passionate about cookery, enchanted by nature or devoted to a football team there’s a Danilo calendar to suit every personality.
The Planet Earth II Official 2025 Calendar showcases stunning photographs of the natural world, capturing the beauty and wonder of the iconic BBC series. Each month offers a breathtaking new image, with ample space to jot down important dates making it the perfect Christmas gift.
RRP £10.99
Perfect for the home or the office the RHS Flowers desk easel calendar makes a great stocking filler or even a Secret Santa gift. Celebrating Women in Horticulture, it features exquisite illustrations by renowned artists like Lilian Snelling, Lydia Penrose, and Caroline Maria Applebee. The spiral bound month-to-view design is not only functional but creative – the beautiful image for each month is also a postcard that can be removed and kept or posted to a friend.
RRP £7.99
The Star Wars Desk Pad Weekly Planner is a must for any Star Wars fan. This weekly desk pad makes planning the week ahead a breeze with plenty of space for notes, deadlines and reminders. It’s a practical yet fun choice for fans of the galaxy far, far away!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This is the gift you didn’t know you wanted! Carmen’s Vibrating Massage Seat Cushion (with heat) is a classic gift that will charm your loved ones at first, but then you don’t know what you did without it.
The Carmen Vibrating Massage Seat Cushion can be used on any seat, although I found it easier to put on my armchair. It just needs an electrical socket nearby to power it. There’s an attachment that comes with it to be able to use it in the car. More about that later though!
All you have to do is fix up the power socket to the connector and then find the control which is kept in a Velcro pocket. Turn on the Power (PWR button at the top; blue in colour) and the cushion is set to Auto. If you look at the control, you can see that the Intensity light (INT) is lit already and it will probably start on the first function which is Pulsate. This is where I started to play with all the buttons! There are 5 modes in all; pulsate, tapping, rolling auto and kneading. To change modes, you just press the Mode button and go through the list until you find the one you like, or need! The diagram shows the areas of the body which are being worked on, and the buttons to the right allow you to switch on or off each area. You can have all areas working together (upper back, lower back, hips and thighs) or isolate one area on its own. Finding the combinations and which mode is right for you is part of the fun!
The Carmen Vibrating Massage Seat Cushion has other functions too. The INT button (for intensity) gives four different levels of vibration so that you can adjust it if you are particularly sensitive or have high inflammation. There’s also a HEAT button which as it suggests, adds heat with the vibration. This is great if you need the cushion for certain types of pan management. At the bottom of the controls, there’s also a timer. You can set the cushion to 15 minutes, 30 minutes or 1 hour and it will switch itself off after each time, allowing you to go to sleep, or to relax and not have to worry about how long you’ve been there!
The attachment for the car is genius if you get backache in the car, have to travel a long way or have a relative who isn’t great with sitting for long amounts of time especially in the cold. The cushion can be amended to a very low level of vibration in just one area and you just turn the heat on, or you can have any of the vibrating functions and include heat as well. Perfect if you have an injury and find it difficult to drive long distances, or if you just need to have your circulation improved as you drive, especially in winter. It attaches to the cigarette lighter in the car, or if you don’t have a cigarette lighter, you’d have to find an adapter.
I tried it at home and was pleasantly surprised with how powerful it can be, and the versatility of it. It can be used for injuries, inflammation or relaxing and in winter, as an added way to keep warm too!
With a 1 year guarantee and an option for another 2 years.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There are some products that we all use all year round, and yet we never think of buying them for ourselves. A hairdryer and a set of straighteners are among them! I don’t think I’ve ever bought myself a hairdryer but instead wait for Christmas to either ask for it on my Christmas list (thanks Mum!) or be surprised by it!
The Carmen Twilight Hair Dryer and Straightener Set includes a hair dryer with three heat and two speed settings to give a professional look and making it ideal for all hair types and all types of finish. There’s also a handy mirror in the back of the hair dryer so that you can see what you’re doing. Anyone who has curly or frizzy hair knows that you have to blow dry your hair first, with a straight nozzle, before you can straighten it. Which makes it very handy having both the hair dryer and straighteners in a set!
The Twilight hair straighteners are keratin infused to give a smoother finish and prevent burning, even if your hair is still slightly damp. It heats up to 215 degrees which is comparable to other straighteners on the market. Both the hair dryer and straighteners are part of a set of other Twilight products including tongs, a cosmetic bag and a high grade hair dryer all in the Twilight blue colour.
The Twilight Hair Dryer works brilliantly and is not as noisy as some of the older model hair dyers I’m used to. It’s light weight too and the mirror is really handy! Other models would have some diffuser and interchangeable nozzles to go with this product but if you’re drying straight hair or hair that’s a bit frizzy and needs straightening, this is the nozzle you’d use anyway. The straighteners work really well too and it’s nice to have brand new straighteners with keratin coating that glides through your hair. It left my curly hair nicely straightened and with blunt edges in just a few attempts, leaving my long hair straight all over in a matter of about 15 minutes.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
One present that’s good for Christmas this year is a Rechargeable Hot Water Bottle, ready to stave off the cold as well as relax your loved ones over the winter months. Carmen have a Rechargeable Hot Water Bottle, which doesn’t use water at all and keeps warm for up to 5 hours!
With cost of energy being high and the mantra we all have to, “heat the person not the room,” then it’s advantageous to heat up this hot water bottle and keep toasty. The appliance comes with a charging cable which heats up the water inside, which is completely sealed and therefore can’t leak if you drop it. It doesn’t need refilling either so you won’t scold yourself on the hot water tap.
There’s a plug on the hot water bottle that you use the provided cable to plug in and charge. It takes around 15 minutes for a full charge but if you charge it for less time, there’s still heat from it. The bottle is covered in a fleecy grey cover with a pocket for your hands, so you can sit with it on your lap, or safely use it in bed. It keeps the heat for about 5 hours, or through the night if you’re keeping it under the duvet! It can’t over heat because there’s a thermostat which cuts off as soon as it’s hot enough.
This is a great gift, especially as it’s so safe for anyone to use so children, the elderly or anyone who’s not I the best health can get warm quickly. I also like that it can be charged whilst you’re at work and might be cold, or to charge at work and take in the car on the journey home. Lots of work offices don’t have boiling water any longer so it would be impossible to fill a conventional hot water bottle, but this is a great idea!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Some people prefer completely practical presents for Christmas, and Wade Pottery is an excellent example of a gift you wouldn’t buy for yourself, but would secretly like someone to buy for you at Christmas!
This set of 4 Capri Pasta Bowls from Wade are made in England by Wade Pottery. Measuring 22.5 centimetres in diameter, they are both dishwasher and microwave safe. The bold Mediterranean pattern is based on an original hand decorated Wade design and is part of a larger set by Wade, available online. The Capri bowls are deep coupe shaped and easily stacked Earthenware with glaze, which gives them more durability.
Having used these bowls for weekend pasta night, they are large enough for a main meal or can accommodate a salad, noodles or even cereal if you wanted! They stack nicely, clean quickly under the tap or fit into the dishwasher. The Capri design is a classic which will last for years and one which you can add to, or give as a gift, time after time.
There’s a 1 year guarantee on these bowls with an optional 2 years extra guarantee when you buy.
Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Sometimes you don’t realise how much you need something until you have it. For me, vacuuming was a daily chore, thanks to my two sons who constantly trail dirt into the house and whilst I knew robot vacuums existed, I just didn’t think that they would be up to the challenge, but I’m very pleased to say I have been proved wrong!
As a fan of smart home technology I already had a few smart appliances around the home, so setting up the Hoover HG4 robot was pretty simple. The instructions were easy to follow and within minutes it was connected to our WiFi and the app was up and running. Before we could start though we needed to make sure that the floors were clear so a bit of a tidy up was necessary to get the loose cables and abandoned shoes out of the way and once done the robot was ready to tackle the floors. On it’s first trip it carefully mapped out the layout of our home, tracking the walls and identifying where the furniture is. The app shows the robot’s progress and I was fascinated to see how the laser was able to “see” the walls and features of our home, even down to individual chair and table legs.
The following day I scheduled the hoover to clean the entire downstairs floor whilst I was at work. I couldn’t resist checking it’s progress on the app but I was astonished when I came home and saw just how noticeably clean the floors were! Every room had been thoroughly vacuumed and the robot had returned to the charging point ready for the next cleaning session.
Once the mapping is complete the app allows you to name individual rooms and to create cleaning schedules. Now the robot cleans the hallway and porch every morning while the rest of the house is tackled througout the week. Although most rooms are carpeted, a few rooms have hard floors and different options can be chosen for these rooms, for example I’ve chosen a lower power vacuum for the tiled kitchen floor.
While we’ve made an effort to keep floors clear, there were some early hiccups, shoelaces in the hall caused a tangle and the robot has been stuck under a table. Fortunately, these issues were easily resolved by using the app’s virtual wall and no-go zone features to restrict access to trouble spots.
The robot’s cleaning performance has genuinely impressed me. Even the edges of the carpet are cleaned thanks to the side brush that sweeps dust toward the centre. It’s easy to maintain with a spare brush, extra filter, and a handy cleaning tool included to keep everything running smoothly. Emptying the dustbin is quick and easy too, there’s a small bin at the back of the robot that lifts out and can easily be carried to the bin.
After seeing how clean my house is I can confidently say I won’t be going back to a manual vacuum cleaner ever again – the Hoover HG4 robot has certainly earned it’s place in our home!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Travellers, holiday makers and even those who enjoy an extreme daytrip, this is one for you! the Fold+Rºll Packing Organiser is designed to pack up an outfit that can be carried on hand luggage safely or even put into hold luggage so that items don’t spill out and get lost. The website even boasts, “Because no one wants to see your pants.” Which is true!
It struck me that the Fold+Rºll is designed for packing to GO on holiday, but it’s actually more practical for when you are coming back. Stopover and need a change of clothes? Fold+Rºll in your hand luggage. Need a pillow on the plane but can’t take any more hand luggage on board? Use Fold+Rºll to create a pill AND keep your change of clothes safe. What about if you need to take pyjamas on a flight for the kids? They’re nice and safe in your handbag in a Fold+Rºll.
The premise of the invention is that the easily foldable contraption keeps your clothes enclosed but with minimum fuss and all you have to do is lay your clothes on the instruction side and fold and roll. The clothes are kept safe and also away from other objects in your bag. The instructions are all printed on one side of the garment bag, and the whole piece can encapsulate an outfit. The photos below show how you place a t-shirt (in this case) in the middle of the sheet, fold over the edges then roll into a Swiss-roll shape, folding over the last edge to keep it tight.
This would work brilliantly if you have slightly damp clothes and want to keep them away from your packed clothes, or if you have dirty clothes that you don’t want to get mixed up with the rest of your luggage. It’s primarily for taking an outfit on as hand luggage if you don’t want to check anything into the hold but the more I use this (and plan my next holiday abroad!) the more uses I can find for it. Hiding jewellery? A rolled-up blanket for a baby on board a flight? Keeping soft toys safe on a flight until it’s time to be unwrapped? The possibilities are endless!
The Fold+Rºll is a great gift for travellers but also families on car journeys. It’s something that you’ll find use for for years to come.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
You may have seen us rave about Seep before, but if not, you’re about to have your head turned by not just cleaning products, but eco cleaning products!
Seep pride themselves on making cleaning items that are plastic free, sustainable, natural and effective. Their Christmas bundle includes Eco Sponge Cloths (zero plastic), Eco Sponge Scourer and Eco Rubber Gloves. Most of the items are sold separately albeit in packs of 3 or more but there are also lots of Cleaning Bundles available on their website.
The Eco Sponge Scourer is brilliantly ecological and made of loofah. That’s right, the same plant that grows to create the back scrubber you have in the bath is also great for your pots and pans! It’s got no plastic as it’s entirely a plant and it’s gentle too so this can be used on coated cookware. It also works great for plates with residue or with washing up. It may not last as long as the Eco Copper Scourer but it does last longer than you think. I use these in conjunction to get the best of both products and to not damage my cookware.
The Eco Rubber Gloves are made of real rubber, which is 100% biodegradable. Available in 3 sizes (small, medium and large) they actually extend over your wrist to make them extra durable. The fingers have textured grip and they’re flock lined for comfort but I feel like the lining also helps with durability and makes them more stable. They fit very well, but I suspect that’s because I have small women’s hands – men may struggle even with the bigger size!
Lastly there’s the Christmas Eco Sponge Cloths which are in the Sleigh The Dishes design. These sponge clothes are plastic free and can be placed in the washing machine or dishwasher (yes, really!) up to 300 times which makes them very long lasting! If you think that you put them through the wash once a week, that means they could last over 5 years. I would recommend treating yourself to some new Seep Eco Sponge Cloths more regularly than that though! These can air dry very quickly so as long as you rinse them out overnight you can use them the next day. They’re great for wiping down surfaces, clearing away drip marks on plates or a quick rinse of cups and plates.
There’s more to see on the theseepcompany.co.uk website and new products are coming in regularly. The Christmas bundles are great for ringing in Christmas, or just as a bundle for a new house, a student or to help out over Christmas.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thought and opinions are our own
Imagine waking up on a chilly morning and without leaving the comfort of your cosy bed, being able to turn your kettle for the all important first brew of the day. That’s now a reality with the Swan Digital Kettle which boasts the title of the world’s first Alexa-compatible kettle. As someone who appreciates home automation, I was intrigued yet sceptical – did I really need to turn my kettle on with a voice command?
Design-wise, the kettle has a sleek, modern look, finished in glossy black with a LED touch panel. At first glance, it resembles a standard cordless kettle, but the illuminated display reveals advanced features like a temperature indicator and a “set” button, allowing you to choose the temperature of the water. With five temperature options ranging from 40°C to 100°C it’s perfect for everything from green tea to coffee. It even keeps the water warm for a couple of hours too which is ideal when you need a top up.
Now, let’s talk Alexa integration. Connecting it to WiFi via the app was very straightforward and within minutes it was under Alexa’s control. I’ve also linked it to custom Alexa routines which turn the kettle on when I say, “Alexa, I’m home,” or when I turn my alarm off in the morning. While you can’t check if there’s water in the kettle remotely, it does have a boil-dry protection feature, which turns the kettle off if there isn’t enough water in it, which is lucky as getting the family into the habit of refilling it is proving to be a challenge!
Overall, the Swan Digital Kettle is a stylish, functional addition to any kitchen, blending tech-savvy innovation with everyday practicality. A smart kettle might not be essential, but it’s undeniably a luxury that’s nice to have.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
My family has a competitive streak and absolutely love playing board games. Bananagrams is a firm favourite, as this fast-paced word game is not only highly addictive but it’s a game that can easily be played in teams, making it ideal at Christmas as players of all ages can join in. The game’s competitive edge keeps everyone on their toes and as well as being fun it sneaks in a bit of learning, helping the children improve their spelling without even realising!
The concept is simple yet brilliant. Players race to build crossword grids out of letter tiles, much like Scrabble without the complexity of a board or the hassle of keeping score. This freedom to create words makes it much easier for players of all ages to join in. Once you’ve played all your tiles you shout “PEEL” and everyone grabs a new tile from the pile. If you feel stuck then all you need to do is shout “DUMP” to swap one tricky letter for three new ones. When there are fewer tiles than players the first player to use all their tiles shouts “BANANAS” to claim victory. The words must then be checked by the other players – any misspelled words, abbreviations or proper nouns means the rest of the players gleefully shout “ROTTEN BANANA” forcing them to return all the tiles to the bunch and the game continues.
The game is aptly packaged in a bright yellow, zipped fabric banana which can easily be popped into a bag, making it the perfect traveling companion whether you’re off to Granny’s for the holidays or packing for a winter getaway.
Bananagrams is a fantastic gift for children promising hours of fun, whether gathered by the fireside or around the kitchen table this Christmas.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There’s nowhere better than The Ivy this Christmas to meet up with friends, celebrate with family or finish off a joyous evening at the theatre. With The Ivy’s new festive menu, you can take the work out of Christmas and dine on their sumptuous, all-Christmas menu. We visited The Ivy Market Grill at Covent Garden this week to see the Christmas lights turned on and start the celebrations with a gorgeous meal!
All venues of The Ivy throughout the country are decorated from now until New Year with an Alpine theme of snowmen, skiing and winter chalets. Here in Covent Garden, we couldn’t move for the amount of people stopping to admire the snowmen, skis and the festive trees at the front door and have their photo taken. As you enter, the restaurant is dotted with fully lit Christmas trees throughout the floor, providing a backdrop to each of your yuletide photos.
We were also privy to the luxurious private dining rooms which were set up and ready for guests that evening. There are two private dining rooms at The Ivy Market Grill in Covent Garden, one which can sit 18 on a long table or more on 3 round tables, and the other room comfortably seats 10-12. Each room had a Christmas tree and lots of candles to create the Christmas mood, with each table laid with candelabras and floral centre pieces. A perfect setting for your department outing, or to meet up with family without the hustle and bustle of the bar and other patrons.
Upstairs, the Covent Garden level tables are split between outside dining (with appropriate heating and throws to keep warm!) or indoors with booths, tables or at the bar. The atmosphere on this Tuesday night was much like a Friday with lots of people dropping in for after work dinner and drinks. We tried out some of the staples on the menu including this Stilton salad and then the smoked salmon and rye bread. For mains we had seabass and duck curry then ice cream with shortbread and I tried the Birthday Dessert Box – a luxurious dessert of a golden orb, vanilla ice cream, honeycomb pieces, chocolate strands and a hot caramel sauce poured over, with a taste of birthday cake and a huge amount of calories! It’s presented in a ‘box’ which reveals the dessert underneath.
This Christmas, The Ivy have a special festive menu which includes some of your favourites like The Ivy 1917 Cured Smoked Salmon like we tried above, plus some takes on the usual dishes. There’s the Goose, Turkey and Duck Shepherd’s Pie which is a step-up from the Shepherd’s Pie you find on the menu all year round, and of course being Christmas, there’s the obligatory Turkey Ballotine with all of the Christmas trimmings. There’s also some new cheeky extras – like the Pigs In Blankets side dish! Two courses (served until 6:30pm) are available for £55 or 3 courses (available 11:30am until close) is £60.
It’s not just the A La Carte menu that’s been updated but this year, you will be able to sample the Boxing Day Brunch with The Ivy, complete with a Bloody Mary and brunch served all day.
The Ivy is open on Christmas Eve all day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as well where there’s a great 3-course menu for £87.50 per person. For dinner on the 2nd quarter of the 21st century, you can sample all of the delights of The Ivy without any of the leftovers!
Finish off your meal at any of The Ivy’s bars. We were treated to the Nyetimber Classic Cuvee and there are some delicious Christmas-inspired cocktails to try including the Christmas Mojito, Fig Leaf & Pear Negroni and Ginger & Honey Margarita.
I cannot wait to go back to The Ivy later this month when I meet up with friends for our annual Christmas dinner. We love the food, and the service is always so special plus the atmosphere at this time of year is exactly as you dream it should be – Alpine Christmas all the way.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
It’s baby’s first Christmas. Everyone will be buying little romper suits, cuddly toys and anything noisy that keeps them entertained but have you thought about buying something that’s both cute AND practical?
Brush-Baby have a range of products for babies which specifically help little teeth and gums, from when milk teeth first show through to helping established teeth keep clean and grow. We were sent these gorgeous Bobbie Bunny Teether, Wild Ones Electric Toothbrush and some very handy Brush0Baby Teething Toothpaste.
The Bobbie Bunny Teether is literally a bunny-shaped toy designed to fit your baby’s hand perfectly and aid teething. The textured areas help massage sore gums and give babies somewhere to bite down on and the lightweight body is shaped so that their little fingers can grip onto it. The feet are made to be even more durable so that later in teething when the molars are coming through, they can bite down on them. The textured tail also helps develop tongue control and the overall Bobbie Bunny character acts as a toy and focus for children to engage with.
Once teeth come through, there’s the Wild Ones Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush. We were sent the very cute Koala toothbrush which comes with 3 brush heads which are smaller than adults’ and softer. Each brushing session is timed to 2 minutes with a signal at every 30 seconds to give an equal amount of brushing time for the whole mouth. The toothbrush comes with a USB charging cable and doesn’t take long to fully charge, or as with lots of bathrooms now, there is a charging point for USBs in bathrooms for toothbrushes. The brush is very cute, and as well as koalas there are other animals online such as an elephant, monkey, bear, penguin and others.
Finally, Brush-Baby also have Teething Toothpastes. This comes in applemint flavour so it’s more appealing for babies to use, and has less fluoride than adult toothpastes. The added Zyltiol helps reduce sugar acids in the mouth and camomile is a natural anti-inflammatory for teething gums that will be sore. It’s safer to swallow some of this toothpaste than an adult version, so everyone can be happy that they’re doing the right thing from day 1.
Brush-Baby have a whole range of products including toothbrushes, teething wipes, and toothpastes for all children’s ages up to 10 years old. See all the products here: https://brushbaby.com
Babies will love the characters, textures and tastes in the Brush-Baby range and you’ll know that you’re doing something practical for their health this Christmas.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
All kids, whether they can eat dairy, nuts or eggs, will love the NOMO Chocolate Advent Calendar! That’s because NOMO make chocolate with none of those ingredients to create a vegan chocolate that’s also pal oil free and gluten free. What’s not to like?
The NOMO Advent Calendar is filled with 24 days’ worth of NOMO chocolate drops in Creamy Choc flavour, which to you and me is the equivalent of “milk chocolate’ except as these are dairy-free, there is no milk involved! The choc drops are each 3.3 grams in weight and have the same soft texture of the milk chocolate you buy in shops. It’s not gritty either and doesn’t leave an after taste like some Free From chocolates do. There isn’t anything in eating them that makes you think that it’s anything but milk chocolate, so you really don’t feel like you’re missing out.
I particularly like that the NOMO calendars are still giving 24 days’ worth of treats, as advent calendars should, but may manufactures have now gone to just 12 or even 10 days of Christmas treats. Hardly an advent calendar but at least with NOMO you can give this as a gift to children and still maintain the legitimate Christmas Advent Calendar theme.
The NOMO Creamy Choc Drops Advent Calendar is a great gift for adults or children, and even better, it’s really universal so even if you’re not sure if they can or can’t eat an ingredient, NOMO has you covered.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This vacuum cleaner is seriously impressive! We were sent the Tower VL60 Cordless Vacuum to try out as part of their Black Friday sale and I wasn’t expecting much for a cheaper vacuum cleaner but I was pleasantly surprised by the power, ease of use and efficiency of it. Even better, it’s part of the Tower Black Friday sale so it’s cheaper than normal too!
The Tower VL60 NimbleVac Cordless Vacuum is delivered in pieces but doesn’t need much explanation to put it together. The accessories include the charging plug, which is small enough to sit in a drawer between charges, and there’s a bracket for the wall if you need it mounted. The other accessories include a nozzle, sofa brush and velvet brush roller as well as the everyday single brush roller. They’re pretty much the same accessories as you would find with a mains powered vacuum cleaner so there’s no need to have both with this cleaner.
Putting together the vacuum cleaner is just clicking it together and you’re ready to go. There are two speeds to the motor for cleaning; regular and max, both of which are on the handle. I used the regular speed for just testing out the vacuum, and I was surprised at how well it picked up on my hallway carpet. I was also impressed with how unbelievably quiet it is! You can easily talk over the noise of the motor and it’s less likely to frighten pets. I would go as far as saying that it wouldn’t disturb a sleeping child either, which can only be a bonus! There’s a really handy light on the front to show where you’re heading and the whole brush head swivels really easily and is light to use. In fact, I can pick up the whole cordless vacuum easily with just one hand.
The VL60 is lighter than my other make of cordless vacuum and I can store it easier because it comes apart with just a click, and is smaller too. There’s a light on the handle to show how much charge you have and it lights up as you charge it too. I haven’t been able to use it long enough to see how quickly the charge runs out, but the literature says the regular speed cleaning lasts 35 minutes and the max speed is 15 minutes. Speaking of the max speed, I tried it out but I didn’t have a need to use it because the regular speed kept up with the cleaning I needed to do.
There is no bag on this vacuum cleaner, just a dust tank which holds 300ml. I vacuumed my whole house, including the hard floors and it wasn’t full, so I assume there is more than enough room for most households to clean comfortably. The HEPA filter removes 99.95% of fine particles down to 0.3 microns, and whilst using it, I realised the dust doesn’t come back into the room but stays there in the tank until you remove it. This is great for allergies especially in the spring and summer when pollen can easily get into the house and needs removing from the air and soft furnishings.
I’m really impressed with this vacuum especially given the price and the physical size of it. It works great around the house but I also think it would work well in a caravan due to it’s size and weight and the accessories that mean it can be hand held. Fabulous for long car journeys too when you have to clean up after the children!
Available on special offer for Black Friday at £74.99 (usual price £99.99):
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
You won’t miss out on Christmas advent calendars this year if you don’t or can’t eat chocolate. The NOMO Ultimate Choco Advent Calendar is dairy free, nut free, gluten free and egg free, plus their chocolate has no palm oil!
This bumper advent calendar measures nearly 40 centimetres tall and includes 24 mini NOMO chocolate bars in flavours Mint, Creamy Choc, Caramel and Orange each of 11.8 grams. On Christmas Eve, there’s also a 38 gram Caramel bar to celebrate Christmas.
All of the NOMO chocolate flavours are gluten free, egg free, nut free and most especially, dairy free. They contain sugar, rice flour and cocoa butter but no palm oil, which also lends the whole chocolate company to being Rainforest Alliance Certified.
The NOMO Ultimate Choco Advent lends itself to adults as well as children, with the variety of flavours and at just £12 for the whole 24-day calendar, it’s a great gift too!
Disclaimer – We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
November’s here and if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping, don’t worry as we’re here to give you a helping hand. For anyone with a tractor fan in your house (young or old) there’s no shortage of great options from Britains and John Deere Kids by Tomy.
These farm sets and tractors are more than just toys, they teach children about responsibility, problem solving and creativity. Just like on a real farm children will learn how things work and develop a sense of timing and purpose. Give a child a farm set and before long they’ll be feeding animals, baling hay and fixing fences and learning the basics without even knowing they’re learning! The beauty of these toys is that they run on good old fashioned imagination, with no batteries required!
The Britains brand has been a family favourite for many years. Growing up on a farm I remember spending countless hours playing with our Britains tractors. We would spread our farm across multiple rooms (much to my Mum’s dismay), recreating the jobs my Dad was doing on the farm. Now I get to watch my own son carry on the tradition, “working “ the land with his tractors just like his granddad used to do.
Britains 1:32 die-cast replica models are perfect for children aged 3+ and are great for farm role play and development. The well made tractors are suitable for indoor and outdoor play, although keeping them indoors is best if you’d prefer to avoid mud being brought inside! I especially like the Metallic Olive Green Valtra Playset which includes a stunning Valtra tractor, two cows, a calf, a dog, a bale lifter, feeder and two bales. With big tread tyres, a detachable driver’s cab and a working steering wheel this tractor can handle uneven ground and with a front and rear hitch you can attach other 1:32 scale models to get all your farming jobs done.
And these Britains tractors aren’t just for children, they’re quite collectable, especially with the farming community. My family have them proudly displayed on desks or bookshelves acting as mini reminders of the full sized tractors we grew up or in some cases – long to own! For those of us from farming families these toys are a nostalgic link to the past, bringing a piece of agricultural heritage into our homes.
RRP £39.95
John Deere’s a familiar name when it comes to tractors and they now have a fantastic range of children’s toys If you’ve got a young one interested in farming or tractors then they will be thrilled to bits with the John Deere Kids Fun on the Farm Playset. This 20 piece set includes everything they need to create their own miniature farm and has four different vehicles – a John Deere combine, gator and two tractors along with three trailers, four animals, two farmers, four fences and three accessories. With all these items children can enjoy hitching up trailers, loading animals and moving hay bales just like a real farmer would.
For added realism the combine’s head rotates as it is pushed along and the grain moves back and forth in the hopper. One of the tractors has a lifting bonnet while the other has a loader for moving bales providing hours of farming fun for little ones. The set is also compatible with other 1st Farming Fun sets making it easy to expand their farm as they grow.
RRP £42.95 Suitable for ages 12 months +
So if you’re thinking of what to get this year, or any time, really, look no further. A proper tractor toy or a farm set is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s a bit of education, a load of fun and it doesn’t matter if it’s a three-year-old or a fifty-three-year-old – you’ll see a smile just the same.
For the full range of Britains and John Deere Kids products take a look at the Tomy UK website.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate all of those friends and family who buy us Christmas gifts which are both stylish and practical. With the Contigo West Loop Mini travel mug, you could be one of those gift-givers because Contigo have come up with this excellent design of travel mug that will make anyone happy!
The Contigo West Loop Mini travel mug is designed to fit into outdoor pockets or be able to be carried snugly thanks to its curvy design. It keeps drinks hot for p to 4 hours or cold drinks are cold for up to 14 hours due to a clever design with BPA-free stainless steel. It’s dishwasher safe as well, including the lid which twists off and reveals 470ml of drinking space – the size of most coffee mugs.
The most ingenious design of the Contigo West Loop Mini is the 100% leak-proof seal. If you play around with the lid, you find that there’s a spring release autoseal (marked ‘AUTOSEAL’) which when pressed, release the sip cover so that you can drink. When it isn’t pressed, the West Loop Mini is completely sealed so that it doesn’t spill anywhere. That means you can use it in the car, put it in a bag or rucksack and not only will it keep the heat of the drink but it will not leak at all. You can see by the sturdy design of the lid and the inner spring that it’s really effective and when I tested taking it out into the garden, there was indeed no spill no matter how much I threw it around! This would be great for when you’re out with the children or if you’re into real outdoor pursuits in all weathers.
The team at Contigo were also generous enough to send me what I consider a luxury – a proper tea infuser! For those of us who appreciate loose tea, this is a fabulous addition you don’t normally find in travel mugs. Once the loose tea is put inside the stainless steel strainer, the infuser fits inside the lid before you affix the lid in place. Perfect for having the West Loop Mini full of boiling water, then you can add the already filled infuser to the mug and allow the tea to brew. No more stewed tea when you go out!
Contigo have thought of everything with this travel mug, and there are other products in the Contigo range such as the water bottle which has similar clever designs. The Contigo West Loop Mini comes in 5 different colours (the one featured here is the liquorice design) and sizes.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We have all heard about how plastic products are bad for the environment but it is only just becoming common knowledge that a lot of the cleaning products we use in the home are toxic to both humans and animals. Clean Living was started in 2018 as a company who explored cleaning products which were kinder within the home, and a convenient side quest has been the lack of plastic their products use, thereby helping the environment too.
We were sent the Clean Living Kitchen Cleaner and Degreaser Starter Kit. Comprising of:
1 x 300ml reusable aluminium container
1 x Living Areas Glass Microfibre Cloth
1 x 30ml Kitchen Cleaner and Degreaser concentrate sachets
The premise of the kit is to give you one aluminium container full of kitchen cleaner product, diluted down to product 300ml, then once this containerful is finished, you purchase another sachet as part of their range or subscription and save on plastic products.
The Kitchen Cleaner and Degreaser formula is for heavy duty kitchen work, both cutting through grease and cleaning usual kitchen mess. It’s odourless too, and a clear liquid which leaves no mess behind. The Starter Kit contains a microfibre cloth too, so there’s no excuse!
To create the full aluminium containerful, all you have to do is empty the sachet into the aluminium container and fill up with water. The sachet is a bit difficult to empty without going everywhere but you just fill up the rest of the volume with tap water. The solution kills 99% of bacteria using friendly bacteria and lasts longer than harsh chemicals.
I’ve been using the Clean Living Kitchen Cleaner and Degreaser for a few days and it does indeed cut through the grease, plus keeps surfaces clean and shiny. I know I’m doing my bit for the planet as well as keeping my household safe from toxic chemicals too.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Foodies will love this selection of Lebanese food in the Lebani Beirut Box! The mix of different ingredients make a welcome change to the Christmas puddings, mince pies and jars of tea that are so common and instead, inspire you to cook different foods based on Lebanese recipes.
Inside the Beirut Box you’ll find:
Jar of Lebnani Sumac
Jar of Lebnani Zaatar spice mix
250ml Bottle of Zet Zeytoun Lebanese Extra Virgin Olive Oil
250ml Bottle of Chtoura Pomegranate Molasses
Jar of Mrabba fig jam with roasted sesame seeds
Jar of pickled wild cucumbers
Pistachio Backlawa
Recipe card from Chef Jad Youssef
250ml bottle of Chtaura Orange Blossom Water
All of the ingredients keep in the cupboard for ages, but you’ll find the recipe card has a mixture of included ingredients and some fresh that you’ll need to buy. You can of course, use the ingredients however you wish!
The Sumac and Zaatar spices are particularly good to experiment with as they’re not found in supermarkets easily. Sumac has a slightly tangy flavour and is used in meat dishes and hummus but can also be added to salads and other savoury dishes. Zaatar is a mix of spices, including sumac and is used in dishes such as roast chicken or as a seasoning for baked sweet potato or salads.
Most of the Lebanese recipes which include the spices and seasonings also include the Zet Zeytoun Lebanese Extra Virgin Olive Oil. These olives are picked from the Lebanese mountains by hand it is known to be rich in texture and buttery, with a cut-grass-like aroma. I am particularly partial to the Mrabba fig jam too. Figs are not only my favourite fruit but fig jam is great with any scone or on toast and can be added to recipes such as brownies or cookies to give both texture and sweetness. I didn’t realise that Lebanese fig jam is in another league though! The Mrabba fig is not the garden fig variety we have in the UK so this was a pleasant surprise to find how fruity and sweet it was.
Chtoura Pomegranate Molasses is used in Mediterranean cuisine to add fruitiness to savoury dishes, much like sumac and zaatar. There’s a running theme in this box that the ingredients add not just some sweetness to recipes but a real flavour of the Mediterranean to everyday cooking. Pomegranate molasses is no exception and with the sweetness of the sauce, you get a great mixture of flavours to add to any humble dish like a salad, which is also one of the recipes included in the recipe card from Chef Jad Youssef – the Tatbila Salad including onions, tomatoes sumac and the pomegranate molasses.
The picked wild cucumbers are suspiciously like the gherkins we have in UK supermarkets but these are smaller and no less tasty! Adding zing to your salad or as a side dish they’re deliciously juicy. The Orange Blossom Water from Chtaura was a surprise which I didn’t know what to do with. Its water distilled with orange blossom petals to give another sweet addition to many dishes, both savoury and sweet. I think this one would be perfect for adding to sweet desserts instead of a sugary essence like vanilla or making a custard a little bit more exciting.
Finally, the last and most delicious piece in the Beirut Box is the Pistachio Backlawa. I’m not normally a fan of backlawa but this was an education thanks to the 3 pieces included in the food box! The cake-like sweets are dense and sweet with layers and layers of flakey pastry filled with the pistachio sweet filling. There’s no nutty flavour to it but a slight texture and oh my goodness – it was delicious! I’m sure other backlawa I’ve tried before isn’t this satisfying but I really felt like this was a wholesome, filling treat in the afternoon with a cup of coffee and is a dessert or treat which brings about joy! The box alone is worth it just for the backlawa and I could easily have eaten all 3 pieces in one go. (don’t worry, I didn’t!)
Anyone with an interest in Lebanese or Mediterranean cuisine will love this box. If you’re a food lover and want to experiment with different flavours and textures, then this is a great introduction and the recipe card is a great way of getting involved and trying out some of their ideas. The mixture of ingredients also ensures that you’re covered for both savoury and sweet meals and the spices, olive oil and orange blossom water especially will last a long time.
It’s been great fun trying out the ingredients and thinking about different ways to use them!
The Review Studio 