Category: Gifts for children

 Easymark Bookmark

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Do you read a lot? Or pick up a book to read and then put it down without marking the page? How about returning to chapters to re-read them? With any of these scenarios, the Easymark Bookmark can help you.  The Thinking Gifts page marker sits on the corner of a page unnoticed as you continue to read, but allows you to return to that page later, thanks to the design of the bookmark corner. This design is of a cactus, but Thinking Gifts have lots of designs to choose form, and you can purchase multiple Easymarks for lots of different reading books, or if you want to mark lots of different pages within a book. They’re easily transportable too, and if you leave them in a book and put them back on the bookshelf, they stay exactly where they are but don’t take up too much space or damage the spine of a book.

At only £3.99 they’re a great stocking filler or Secret Santa plus you can stock up on them and make up a gift from a range of items, especially if it’s for a book lover who would want a set of books and something like the Easymark Bookmark to finish it off. There are some lovely other designs for all ages too.

Available for £3.99 at: https://www.thinkinggifts.com/products/easymark-bookmark?option_values=6998825782e9b570bdbce5e0 

Flexilight Classic Book Light

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stationery, Stocking Fillers, Tech

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

This is a brilliant gift for anyone who reads, and not just book lovers. The Flexilight is a bookmark and book light in one, allowing you to read anywhere thanks to the built-in light at the top of the page marker. 

The Flexilight Bookmark is ultra slim to be a bookmark, but the neck can be tilted towards the pages so that you can angle the light at the top to be able to read whatever size book you are looking at.  The LED light has 8 lumens of bright light and comes with the 2 batteries needed, but you can change the batteries in the future if you need to.

This is a great Secret Santa gift , especially as it’s only £8.99 at the moment, and it’s great for children who like to read in the back of the car, or under the bed covers at night.  Imagine having this in a sofa cushion den under a blanket and being able to read in secret? This is a great stocking filler, and any age can use it!

Available from £8.99 at: https://www.thinkinggifts.com/products/flexilight-original-book-light?option_values=6674d2bac7b00e129da33980

Penmark Ruler Bookmark

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stationery, Stocking Fillers

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

The Penmark Ruler Bookmark caught my eye because it’s multifunctional.  Not only is it a pen, but it’s thin enough that it can be a bookmark too. Additionally, the decoration on it is that of a 10cm or 4 inch ruler. Not only that, but the Penmark comes with two refills and already comes with an ink cartridge. 

I know I would use this in the office when I’m running about and trying to find a pen for my notebook – this fits into the pages nicely and won’t get lost.  If you’re in an industry where you need a ruler too, this is an exceptionally good gift. It’s brilliant for a stocking filler or Secret Santa, or just for putting in your handbag because it’s so light and easy to carry around. 

Available for £4.99 at: https://www.thinkinggifts.com/products/penmark-pen-bookmark?option_values=6877767922f3c885a0ca472b

Plusheez Phone Holder

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Toys

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I have the perfect P|usheez gift for you!  This ocean-inspired clown fish is not only a desk toy, but it is designed to prop up your phone too.  Whether you’re charging your phone, on a call or trying to read something, the Plusheez Phone Holder can prop up your phone either vertically or horizontally.

I kept the Plusheez on my desk at home, so that I could take a call on my mobile and have it facing me and the microphone could pick up my voice whilst I was on my laptop. It works just as well with video calling too, so that you’re hands free. The fact that Plusheez is a soft toy is also great for phones because it doesn’t mark or damage them in anyway with grippers or anything that secures phones in place like a tripod does. If you’re like me and need to have something on the desk to distract your hands when you’re on a long, boring call, the Plusheez toys are great for that too, and they don’t make a noise when you drop them or play with them!

The Plusheez are really great toys that have a use, anyone can use them. Fabulous Secret Santa or stocking filler gifts too.

Available from £10.99 at: https://www.thinkinggifts.com/products/plusheez?option_values=66790eb201bc075225ebaaed

Tile Wireless Phone Charger

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Tech

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

This pretty tile is more than just for decoration, and it’s not a coaster either! The Tile Wireless Zip Charger from www.thinking.gifts uses a USB-C cable to connect to either your laptop, a plug or any compatible device (which could even be your car if it has a USB-C plug). If you place your phon over the centre of the tile, the light changes to red and charging starts. It even works through a phone cover, depending on the material. Once fully charged, the red light turns blue.

The Tile Wireless Phone Charger works with Apple iPhones, Samsung and many major phone brands, and also works with Apple Airpods. The Tile is really light weight, and uses a normal USB-C cable so if you’re packing for work or for travel, you don’t need that many cables. It’s really lightweight too, and is only 12cms by 9cm in size. 

This is a brilliant Secret Santa gift or a Stocking filler for teenagers or anyone who spends a lot of time on a laptop and needing to charge a phone on the go. It looks so pretty too!

Available from £14.99 at: https://www.thinkinggifts.com/products/zip-charger-wireless-phone-charger?option_values=6717a072ed44ba45f5ca297b

Casdon Ice Cream Parlour Playset

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

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

When the weather outside is hot and the words “I’m bored” have already been uttered approximately 47 times before lunchtime, finding ways to keep children entertained during a heatwave can feel like a full-time job. Luckily, Casdon came to our rescue with their Ice Cream Parlour Playset, bringing a little bit of ice cream shop magic into the playroom.

The colourful set gives children everything they need to open their very own frozen dessert empire and crucially during a heatwave, there is absolutely no need for actual ice cream. It’s all the fun just without the sticky fingers, melted ice cream and children bouncing off the walls after consuming way too much sugar.

The playset lets children take on the role of ice cream shop owner, serving up their imaginary creations to family and friends. They can scoop, stack and decorate their pretend treats, taking orders and generally behaving as though they have just secured the franchise for the world’s most successful ice cream chain. And it’s not just generic pretend ice cream either. The set includes some familiar Wall’s favourites, including dark chocolate and white chocolate Magnums, plus Solero, Twister and Calippo lollies. They look remarkably like the real thing, but these will never melt! There are even some clever little details that make them extra realistic – the Calippo can be pushed up as though you’re eating it, while the tops come off the Magnums and Soleros, making it look as though someone has already taken a bite.

We think the Casdon Ice Cream Parlour Playset is a lovely way to keep little ones entertained, it encourages imaginative play, gives children the chance to create their own games and, importantly, provides something they can enjoy away from a screen. We love the little details that make the ice creams feel so realistic, and there’s plenty here to keep children coming back to their imaginary ice cream shop again and again. It’s also a great one for playing together, whether that’s taking turns being the customer, serving up increasingly ridiculous ice cream combinations or simply sitting back while your child proudly announces today’s specials. And while you might eventually find yourself ordering your seventh Calippo of the afternoon and wondering where your imaginary money has gone, at least nobody is covered in melted ice cream!

RRP £30

GNAW Handcrafted Chocolate

Birthday Gifts, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Chocolate has always been a popular treat, and gift, but nowadays it’s taken on a life of it’s own with the new phenomenon of handcrafted chocolate. Combine that with the new novelty flavours and higher quality ingredients which are available, and you have a completely new genre of food connoisseur, similar to wine or coffee experts.  GNAW Handcrafted Chocolate sent us a box of chocolates to review, and by box, I don’t mean your supermarket box for Granny on a Sunday, but a box that can be delivered through your door and contains 6 slabs of chocolates, each of them weighing 80 grams and of all different flavours, we couldn’t resist!

The GNAW chocolates arrived in a letterbox sized box and contained 6 bars; Dark Chocolate 70%, Dark Chocolate with Raspberry, Milk Chocolate New York Cheesecake, Milk Chocolate Honeycomb & Caramel, Milk Chocolate Popcorn & Peanuts and Milk Chocolate Lemon Drizzle. The bars are wrapped in paper labels with a ‘foil’ inside cover in an old-fashioned style, but all the packaging is actually recyclable. The chocolates don’t contain any palm oil and the packaging tells you if they are single origin ingredients too, which in the case of the Lemon Drizzle, the single origin is Colombia.

You might be thinking that these are unusual flavours for a chocolate? Well, they are! They represent a small selection of all the flavours that are available online in their shop; https://www.gnawchocolate.co.uk/collections/milk-chocolate-bars which has a lot more dessert-inspired flavours as well as everyday milk chocolate and dark chocolate bars.  They are especially good if you like something slightly different to just chocolate, or if like me, you skip dessert and instead have a piece of chocolate instead. 

How do they taste? Well, of course, I had to taste a piece of every chocolate bar we were sent, purely for research purposes… the dark chocolates are 70% so they are darker in colour and taste but still sweet enough to eat as a snack. The added raspberry is a treat because it sweetens the dark chocolate a little bit. The milk chocolate bars are a little less traditional but all have a theme of being slightly sweeter than the chocolate itself. The Lemon Drizzle has a hint of lemon but the added texture of tiny biscuit pieces. New York Cheesecake also has subtle biscuit pieces but you can taste the cheesecake filling as the flavour develops. Honeycomb & Caramel reminds me of a famous triangular brand of chocolate, so it’s a more familiar taste but I love having the chewy texture in a chocolate bar. Finally, the Popcorn & Peanut is a strange combination which is more about the consistency than the taste, until it evolves after a few moments.

I think my favourite chocolate was the Dark Chocolate Raspberry because of the juxtaposition of sweet raspberry and the dark chocolate. I don’t think there are any that I wouldn’t buy again, but I am very tempted by the other flavours on their website too!

Available online at: https://www.gnawchocolate.co.uk/collections/chocolate-bars

JLab JBuds Mini Wireless Ear Buds

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Tech

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

“The smallest fit ever” is what the packaging on the JLab Mini JBuds claims and we’d have to agree! Even the casing is smaller on these diddy earbuds, which are perfect for children or those with smaller ears.  The ear buds are 30% smaller but the case is 50% smaller than other ear buds, which also makes them easier to carry, especially in pockets. They’re so small in fact, that at just 3.3 grams each and a total of 18.5 grams for the case, they make an ideal keyring or can be worn as a charm on your phone. 

The JBud ear buds pack a punch though with a 6mm dynamic driver speaker for audio and an output of 103 ± 3dB.  The battery life is around 20 hours when fully charged, which is impressive amount of play time with such small headphones. It takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to charge depending on how you charge the case, which is a USB-C port and comes with the C to C cable. The ear buds connect to Bluetooth 5.3 (the most recent version) and have approximately 30 foot range.

These are especially great for children because of their size and they also connect really easily to devices when in ‘find’ mode. There’s not very many settings on them either, and the 4.5cm length case is easy to handle and keep on children in their pockets, rather than having to hand them to someone else or carry a bag with them.  They’re a great price too, either as a gift or as a stocking filler and they’re currently on sale at £29.99 on the JLab website below!

JLab JBuds Mini Wireless Ear Buds for £39.99 at: https://www.jlab.com/en-gb/products/jbuds-mini-true-wireless-earbuds-teal

JLab Pop Party Ultra-Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Summer, Tech

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Here’s a great gift for the teenagers or when you’re travelling – a portable Bluetooth speaker that lights up and connect to other JLab speakers to create a wall of sound!

Imagine being out on a picnic, or camping, and having a team of these JLab Pop Party Bluetooth speakers all playing the same music at the same time from the same device. Each of the speakers lights up so that not only can you find them easily amongst all your stuff, but as night falls, you can see each other in the glow or red, green and blue lights.  They each have 8 hours of power in them; enough for a whole day outside or a night time party.  The JLab Pop Party Ultra-Portable Bluetooth speakers are only £24.99, and make excellent birthday gifts, stocking fillers or gifts for children and teenagers.

With 5 watts power and a 2 year warranty, the speaker is only 7.55 inches tall and has a 2 inch driver and 2 inch woofer. It has various mounting options and a detachable magnetic loop, which you can hold in one hand or mount on a bicycle handle or in the backseat of a car. It has IP55 waterproofing so you can take it outside (it’s rain protective, not water protective so you can’t submerge it!) It’s lightweight so you can carry it in hand luggage or just over your wrist.

Charging is with a C to C cable in the USB-C port and takes around 3 hours to fully charge. Syncing is with Bluetooth 5.3. There’s approximately 30 foot range of connectivity. You get the most out of t he RGB lights if you use the JLab App to control the frequency, pattern and create the light show from it.

This is the first time I’ve seen these ‘Pop Party’ speakers and ever got to use them. They’re really useful for just taking out for the day and for children to play with in the garden or for teenagers to take out with them.  The sound quality is excellent and connection to my phone was super easy one I turned on the speaker and it was ‘findable’.  The JLab Pop Part Ultra-Portable Bluetooth speaker is ultra-easy to get along with and use, making it a perfect gift for anyone!

JLab Pop Party UltraPortable Bluetooth Speaker for £24.99 at: https://www.jlab.com/en-gb/products/pop-party-ultra-portable-bluetooth-speaker-black?srsltid=AfmBOoqK6kuF00xfCjWpXLHOKF0Unr3Tr9WJdnI1K9qK1ksBeALP11zW

Aldi Back to School Uniforms

Autumn, Children, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for children, Home, Summer

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I know it seems early to be thinking about it, but it’s never too early to get school uniform in! Aldi’s have a huge selection of school uniforms available now through the summer until the autumn term begins. We were sent some blue Polo shirts, a red sweatshirt and some grey boys’ trousers to try before the summer.

Starting with the grey trousers, these are aged 8 to 9 years and they are a tapered fit for boys with an adjustable waist, name label inside and a permanent crease down the front. Made of Teflon, they have reinforced knees and they’re also easy iron. They are for age 8 to 9 years old which is a height of 128 to 134 cm, a waist of 61 to 63 cm, and hips of 70 to 73 centimetres. They made mainly of polyester (65%) and viscose (35%). They look very good quality and even to touch they are very durable like. I can see that they’re very well stitched and held together with a YKK zip at the front. We haven’t had a chance to test them fully yet, but they look like they would last!

The red sweatshirt is a roundneck and for ages 4 to 5 years. It’s a relaxed fit and made of 80% cotton and 20% recycled polyester. For age 4 to 5 years it is aimed a height of 104 to 110 cm with a chest of 57 to 59 cm. This shirt should be washed at 40°C, tumble dried and can be ironed. It’s a vibrant red colour which will hopefully last, and long sleeved for the autumn and winter months. There is a 12 month satisfaction guarantee and inside there is a name label included. This would be a great sweatshirt for the last year at nursery or the first year at kindergarten.

Finally, the LD Aldi Back to School polo shirts in light blue are for age 9 to 10 years old. This packet contains two polo shirts which are both machine washable are made of cotton, and these are also 12 months satisfaction guaranteed. The shirts are short sleeved with a collar and three buttons down the front. They can be washed at 40°C and can be tumble dried. These shirts are 100% cotton and for the size 9 to 10 years old they are aimed at a height of 134 to 140 cm, a chest of 70 to 73 cm and a waist of 63 to 65 cms. These could be worn out of school as well as in school where I presume they’re either for the summer or as part of the PE kit. They are very tough wearing but you can see the texture is brilliant for summer because they’re very thin yet durable.

If you’re not familiar with the Aldi school uniforms have a look online and you’ll see that there are tons available this year for all school uniform needs including in PE kits and after school.

Back to School products cane be found here:

https://www.aldi.co.uk/products

CUKTECH 15 Power Bank Air

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Tech, travel

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I love a gadget, and this power bank is perfect for a Father’s Day gift!  

The CUKTECH 15 Power Bank Air holds enough power to recharge your iPhone 17 by 1.6 times or a Samsung S25 Ultra about 2.2 times over. That’s only for phones, it can power laptops too with 65W Fast Charging, which is enough to power a Mac Book Air from zero to 48%. 

The slim design is deceptively heavy though! It’s enough to carry all that power but is about the size of a phone just fatter. It does mean that it fits into a pocket or hand luggage, and it would comfortably fit into a handbag too but it comes with a cosy bag to keep it in, along with the USB-C cable. The front of the power bank has a display which tells you the percentage charge already on the power bank, plus how long it will take to charge  fully or how much charge it has left through each of the ports. Speaking of which, you can charge to and from the CUKTECH 15 with a Type-C2, Type-C2 and USB-A1 ports. The screen goes dark when not in use but the button at the side lights it up again so you can see the stats as it charges. The three different ports mean you can power up to three appliances all at once too.

You can charge up the CUKTECH with the provided cable. To change the direction of charge, click the side button twice and the display changes. Keep clicking and it allows you to change the display and setting so that the screen stays on and it shows you which port is being used to charge in or out of the power bank, and how long it takes to charge and the percentage. You can even change the display to be upside down so that you use it on the go or if it’s in a pocket!

At around £50, it’s not a bad price for a power bank on the market, as there are a lot out there which aren’t as compact or as useful, and having the ability to charge 3 appliances at once is definitely a benefit.  The cable is a bit short though, especially if you have the charger in your pocket and you’re trying to walk and text at the same time, and you would have to source other cables for the other ports if your appliance didn’t already come with one, but they can all be poppled in the supplied bag so that you can carry them with you.  Although it’s heavy too, it’s not any heavier than other power banks, and that’s because of the nature of the battery it contains.

The CUKTECH 15 Power Bank is a really useful gift and a great surprise for Father’s Day as something that is actually helpful to everyday life. 

Available from £49.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNQK3VHZ?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_P8ESV8CN44BP0FR26YKP

Stabilo Pens

Birthday Gifts, Children, eco friendly, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Stationery, Sustainable

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

We are heading into revision season and for many students (and parents) it can feel a bit overwhelming, so anything that brings a little spark of motivation is worth its weight in gold. When it comes to choosing stationery STABILIO is a name I trust and gravitate towards as they have such a fantastic selection of stationery in a rainbow of colours, which are perfect for making students feel in control of their revision.  

A set of highlighters is essential when revising and the STABILO Boss Original highlighters, which are available in bright, vibrant colours, make key points easy to spot. Their special anti-drying technology gives you up to four hours cap-off time, which is ideal for those slightly chaotic study sessions. The wedge tip gives you flexibility for both neat underlining and broader highlighting, and the fact they’re refillable is a great bonus for reducing waste. With 30 shades available, from neon to pastel to nature tones, there’s plenty of scope to colour-code your notes in a way that works for you.

Writing in different colours can help highlight information and help students remember information and the STABILO Point 88 pens with a 4mm tip are great for note taking, report writing, and even a spot of doodling! With a metal-enclosed tip and excellent dry-out protection these pens are a particular favourite of mine. They can be purchased in a variety of different sized packs from individual pens right up to a fantastic set of 65! The pens are the distinctive orange hexagonal design and have caps the colour of the ink for easy identification. The colours are bright and vibrant the ink flows very smoothly, they also dry really quickly so you don’t get any smudges on your work.

When you’ve a lot of writing to do then the STABILO 4 Pointball pen is the one to choose. With a rubberised grip they’re designed to be used for longer periods of time without your hand complaining! The pens are smooth to write with and are also eco friendly with the pen body made from 87 % ISCC PLUS-certified bio-based plastic (mass balance), reducing CO2 consumption compared with fossil-based plastic. Once the ink has run out it can be replaced with a STABILO Ballpoint Refill. There’s six different colours to choose from so you can make your notes stand out.

Whilst new stationery won’t do the revision for you, it will make the process feel more organised, more enjoyable, and a little less daunting. And with the right tools in hand, there’s every chance that all the hard work will have paid off when results day arrives!

Sponge Cake Cards & The Legends Brownie Box from Sponge

beauty, camping, eco friendly, Fashion, Fitness, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Gluten Free, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Cakes for all occasions! Sponge send cakes that are, “Brilliant cake. Bold flavour. A little bit cheeky” and we couldn’t agree more. Why send just a card when a piece of cake and a card will make them feel more special? If you’re anything like me, Father’s Day is an especially difficult day to buy for so Sponge make it easier!

Sponge.co.uk have a selection of cake pieces, whole cakes, brownies and cupcakes that can be delivered to your recipient’s door. All cakes come with a card which in some cases, are a little bit cheeky! You can customize each card to suit the receiver. We were sent The Legends Brownies box and a Sponge Cake Card which are both brilliant for Father’s Day. If you order before 2pm, it can be delivered the next day.

The Sponge Cake Cards are literally cards with pockets that house 2 slices of cake which you can choose from a range including chocolate, carrot, white chocolate & raspberry, Red Velvet and several of the same cakes but in vegan or gluten free versions. You also get to choose the design of the card and if you want to, you can upload a video too which can be viewed online. The card can be personalised with any greeting and then you can choose up to 2 extras, including items like tea bags, face mask, balloons or even a candle.  

Once you’ve made your choices, you can choose to have the Sponge Cake Card delivered or you can even pick up from their warehouse in Holt, Norfolk.  The same process works whether you’re sending a Cake Card or any of the other cakes and items which the company stocks.

As for the cakes…. The Sponge Cake Card came with a chocolate and a Victoria slice, both of which were obviously freshly made and not processed or frozen. They were light and fluffy with ample amounts of buttercream filling and a light topping, but not enough to make a sticky mess in the cellophane!  The brownies were obviously very densely made, with 8 pieces in total and all of them delicious. I haven’t worked my way through all of them yet, but there are 4 flavours in all and again, they were freshly made.

An interesting idea of having cake delivered as well as a card, Sponge.co.uk execute it very well and make it easy to send any type of celebration to a loved one.

Sponge Cake Cards from £9.99: https://www.sponge.co.uk/cake-card

The Legends Brownie Box from £18.99: https://www.sponge.co.uk/cakes/brownies/the-legends-brownie-box

Casdon Dyson Cordless Vacuum and Ooni Pizza Oven

Children, Family Life, Gifts for children, Learning, Toys

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

We’re half way through the Easter holidays and the weather has been, well…..unpredicatable. Grey skies and rain have meant we’ve been spending more time indoors than I would like, so the arrival of a couple of new Casdon toys was a very welcome treat.

Casdon are a family run business and the number one manufacturer of role play toys in the UK and Dyson, Ooni, Morphy Richards, Kenwood and Joseph Joseph are just some of the many brands that they make miniature versions of. They kindly sent us two of their popular toys, the Dyson Cordless Vacuum and the Ooni Pizza Oven to try out with our mini reviewers and we’ve all been enjoying playing with them (me included!!)  

The Dyson Cordless Vacuum (RRP £25) was extremely easy to set up, it was simply a matter of putting in 3 x AA batteries (not included) and then clicking the pieces together. It comes with a long orange extension tube and two cleaning heads that attach and detach with the push of a button and once clicked in stay firmly in place.  

The toy vacuum cleaner is extremely lifelike with all the features that that a real Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner has. It even has working suction that picks up small bits from the floor. There’s an easy to empty dust box, quick release attachments and a fantastic  “whizzing cyclone effect with colourful bits of plastic spinning around to replicate dust and dirt.  

Our mini reviewers have had so much fun zooming around the house with it, it’s the perfect  height for little ones (68cm) and light enough for them to carry about the house. The really enjoy using it when I am vacuuming and they have started to follow me about ‘helping’ with their toy Dyson.

Next it was time to cook up some fun with the Ooni Pizza Oven (RRP £20), this was just as easy to assemble by slotting the legs into the base. The legs are also easy to remove for storage which is good. The oven takes 3 x AAA batteries (not included) which power the flames in the oven that look very realistic and add to the authenticity of the toy.

The set includes six pizza slices that slot together to form a full pizza. We found that they don’t stay fixed together very well, so it was much easier to assemble them on the pizza paddle before sliding them into the oven. The pizza toppings clip easily onto the base, with a tomato base to start, followed by pepperoni slices, mozzarella and basil leaves.  

Once prepared, the pizza goes into the oven to “cook.” When it’s ready, the little chefs can slice it up with the pizza cutter and serve their tasty creation. We did find that making the same pizzas can become a little predictable so the Pizza Topping Station available on the Casdon website would be a good addition to extend the interest of the toy.   

These toys have been a very welcome addition to our playroom and whilst whizzing around with the vacuum and baking pretend pizzas, our mini reviewers have been busy learning, playing and having fun.

Suite Spaces Modular Dolls House Sets

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Learning, Toys

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

The moment December arrives, parents across the land descend into a familiar state of mild panic. There’s a list, it’s long and of course it’s non-negotiable. And somehow, you’re expected to source everything whilst juggling work, life and the madness of Christmas itself. So, if you’re currently hunting for a dolls house and furniture, allow me to save you some time by pointing you in the right direction.

The Suite Spaces Modular Dolls House Sets are designed for 8 to 10cm dolls. There’s five different rooms available, a Deluxe Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom and Game Room set plus the Style Surprises Blind Boxes which contains five surprise décor pieces to help children style and personalise their Suite Spaces rooms.

The clever bit is the flexibility, each room can easily be joined to the others to form one large house but as each room is modular you’re not locked into a single layout. When boredom inevitably strikes, the whole thing can be pulled apart and rebuilt in a completely different configuration. It might be kitchen on top one day with the bathroom at the bottom and on the next day it’s been swapped around – the layout is entirely up to the child’s imagination. Even the wallpaper and flooring are reversible, allowing for yet more rearranging and redesigning.

The attention to detail is just brilliant and it’s easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into every room. In the bathroom there’s soap, sponges and candles and the game room has a very modern feel complete with selfie light! The living room comes with a vase of flowers and candles, and the kitchen even has its own little fried egg for the frying pan.

I was also very impressed by the quality, the oven opens, the computer chair swivels, and when the rooms are stacked together they feel sturdy and well made. These are definitely built to stand up to the kind of enthusiastic play a child aged six and over will give them. This is not a flimsy, fall-apart-by-New Year sort of toy.

The smaller sets include 20 accessories and the larger ones come with 30, so there’s no shortage of home accessories to ignite budding designers imaginations. The sets encourage storytelling, creativity and hours of happy play, with endless scenarios to act out.

The Suite Spaces sets would make a wonderful Christmas present for any child who loves playing with dolls houses. We absolutely loved everything about them and I’ve no doubt they’ll be a big hit under the tree this year.

Standard rooms RRP £15 & Deluxe Bedroom set RRP £20

Blind box RRP £6 Avaiable from The Entertainer

Original Squishmallows Micromallows Plush 10 Pack

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

If you have young children you are bound to have heard of Squishmallows. These super cute stuffed egg-shaped cuddly toys are available in a wide selection of characters and have a habit of quietly taking over bedrooms and sofas. Fortunately, they’re nice and soft so when you accidently sit on them it doesn’t matter!

Micromallows are a smaller version of  Squishmallows and have all the softness and charm of the originals, but are much smaller and a lot more portable, meaning they can be stuffed into pockets, bags, and glove boxes and taken on lots more adventures. Designed for collecting, displaying, and imaginative play, Micromallows allow children to construct entire plush-based worlds without needing an extension on the house!

The Micromallows plush 10-pack contains a selection of favourite characters including Hans the Hedgehog with his cute green bobble hat, Natnat the Alien who brings a touch of intergalactic fun to playtime while Puff the Penguin looks prepared for either a polar expedition or a well deserved nap. Malcolm the Mushroom, a Squishmallows celebrity is there too.

Compatible with all Micromallows Accessory and Storage Display sets, these tiny plush characters are easy to display, carry, or include in elaborate imaginary scenarios. They fit neatly into display cases, backpacks, or play scenes dreamed up by collectors of all ages.

The set makes a lovely gift, but you can also split it into stocking fillers or why not use them as a cute name place holders at the Christmas table?

Whilst officially aimed at children aged three to ten, they are also adored by older children and teenagers.

RRP £19.99 and available from Smyths Toys where they are currently available for £12.99

Beauty & the Beast – The Grand Theatre Blackpool

Children, Christmas, Days Out, Family Life, Gifts for children, Theatre

It’s December and the panto season is in full swing and there’s nowhere better to soak up this Christmas tradition than in Blackpool. Nothing says festive fun quite like a good old-fashioned pantomime, and in Blackpool, where the humour is gloriously cheeky and the double entendres glide in quicker than a seagull after chips – it’s family entertainment at its finest.

Betty Legs Diamond, the original Funny Girl herself, strides on as Dame Polly La Plonk, resplendent, outrageous and armed with a wicked glint that suggests she could reduce a grown man to helpless giggles with nothing more than a raised eyebrow.

Belle, played by Kitty Harris is exactly how a fairytale princess should be. She’s beautiful and kind and you can easily see that she sees past the horns, fur and claws to spot the prince within.

Leading the all-star cast is Coronation Street baddie Marc Baylis as Hugo Pompidou. He strides across the stage with the perfect mix of danger, drama and irresistible charm, making it impossible not to boo the moment he appears.

Photo credit © Blackpool Grand Theatre | Photography Martin Bostock

But the real heart of a Grand Theatre panto is, as ever, Steve Royle. Having earned the title of the UK Pantomime Awards’ Best Comic, he bounds onto the stage like a child who’s had too many fizzy drinks. His energy, perfectly timed slapstick and razor-sharp adlibs had the audience in stitches from the moment he appeared on stage.  

Photo credit © Blackpool Grand Theatre | Photography Martin Bostock

The costumes this year are an explosion of colour, big, bold and bursting with personality. The Beast’s costume is particularly impressive and with his swishing cloak he cuts quite the imposing figure. The transformations from prince to beast and back again are especially impressive, they are so quick that you half expect to find Doctor Who lurking in the wings with a malfunctioning time vortex! Maybe one to include next year!!  Elsewhere, the French theme justifies a profusion of red, white and blue. The dancers seem to have a new outfit for every scene, while Dame Polly’s costumes… well, let’s just say they’re that little bit more daring. Would we expect anything less?

The show is peppered with brilliant scenes, from classics like the Ghostbusters routine to wonderfully funny adlibs when the balloon scene went deliciously off-script.

Photo credit © Blackpool Grand Theatre | Photography Martin Bostock

Choreographed by Katie Hill, the talented dancers from The Barbara Jackson’s Theatre Arts Centre were excellent, wowing the audience with a variety of different dance styles. We especially enjoyed the Can Can which added a typical French flourish to the show.

Beauty and the Beast runs until Sunday 4th January, giving you plenty of time to catch this magical, laugh-out-loud production. If you love pantomime – and honestly, who doesn’t at Christmas? – this is one you absolutely won’t want to miss.

Tickets start from £15 and are available from The Grand Theatre here

Photo credit © Blackpool Grand Theatre | Photography Martin Bostock

Emerald Storm at the Emerald Theatre, London

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Days Out, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Theatre

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Hailed as the 21st Century’s answer to Riverdance, the Emerald Storm production by Adam Garcia returns to the West End again, and this time at the Emerald Theatre.

A fusion of Irish dancing, tap dance and urban street dance, the story is brought to audiences by The Boss, played by Tom Ball. A singer in a cabaret show, The Boss punctuates the story as Irish dancers take the stage, The Boss sings, and the immersive theatre happens around you. Watch out for the Mop Boy at this point… then the dancers blend away as tap dancers take the stage and finally singers take on the harmonies as they all take it in turn to bring the dance experience to you.

Every song in this musical extravaganza is accompanied by dance.  The theatre is a cabaret-style, two tier theatre with cocktail tables, several bars and sofa seating to sit back and relax. There are actors walking around before and after the show, who then appear on stage as part of the story.  Not only does Tom Ball need a shout-out for his talent, but principal dancers Olivia Graydon (Irish dancing) Bayley. Graham (tap) and Matt Walker (Mop Boy) also feature heavily in the dancing as well as the interactivity. There’s lots of stomping, clapping, audience echoing and the main show is book-ended with a house band to open, and audience tap dancing on stage afterwards.

There’s a fabulous energy to the show and lots of smiles – genuine smiles between the performers who all hail from performing schools across the country.  The mix of different dance styles is really engaging and is heightened by some fabulous singers and cheeky to-and-fro between the cast and the floor.

It’s an energetic night out with lots of uplifting dance and music, close up and in a cocktail evening style that you don’t get in many places across London nowadays. Magnificent! 

https://www.emeraldstorm.net

Brick Like This! LEGO Card Game from Asmodee 

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for teachers, Learning, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Toys

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

This Christmas, Lego have a genius card game for after dinner or Boxing Day, or as a great gift for families who love constructing with LEGO.

The game is usually played in pairs where one person is the builder and the other a communicator. The communicator takes a card with a diagram of an abstract Lego design and has to describe it to their partner. The game is timed, so the team who build the LEGO model quickest gains the most points!

There are 92 models to build and 20 challenge cards to make the game more interesting, like having to communicate without speaking or building with just one hand! 

The game includes 48 LEGO pieces which pertain to the designs on the cards, and the pieces are full sized LEGO pieces. It can be played with 4-8 players and is aged from 7 years upwards but you do need a stopwatch or time keeper of some kind. The small parts are not suitable for younger children either.

This is a really fun and easy to understand game for everyone. There’s nothing complicated about it and you don’t have lots of rules to memorize before you can play. The scoring is easy, but the actual building of the models is more difficult than you think so it’s really eye-opening to see how people cope with having to describe an abstract shape.  The timing element of the game makes it more urgent and therefore more fun, especially at Christmas time when everyone is more jovial anyway! I loved this game and the whole concept of building with LEGO and can see us playing this as a family throughout the year.

Available from £18 at: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7716074?deeplink=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&&_$ja=tsid:11675|acid:169-582-1252|cid:10199914028|agid:102806174795|tid:dsa-44200048968|crid:763987808626|nw:g|rnd:5883392337404542790|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:9045872&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=10199914028&utm_term=&utm_content=text&utm_custom1=102806174795&utm_custom2=169-582-1252&cmpid=GG05X&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10199914028&gbraid=0AAAAAD9II9kL59fDoEw9wHarGCcZoHXlj&gclid=CjwKCAiAraXJBhBJEiwAjz7MZb-m_opPTTM2pjGuiQLV7uW6JAwZmTizGM7ZYBHPIeqkEaf3t-U8lxoCkYsQAvD_BwE

Tower Slushie Fusion – 5-in-1 Frozen Drinks Maker

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Home, kitchen appliances

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Getting ready for a cocktail this evening? Planning a drinks party this Christmas? Then Tower’s newest frozen drinks maker may be for you, especially if you are a fan of a frozen margherita or daiquiri. Or do you have children who are always bothering you for a slushie when you’re out?

How does it work? Is it easy to use? Yes – add your mix, select what you want from the digital control panel, put a glass or container underneath the spout, press a button and your water mix magically turns into an iced rink before your eyes.

This appliance comes in a very large box and is heavy. This is because it’s effectively an ice machine and crusher in one. No putting cartons of water in the freezer and hammering away with an ice pick to get that perfect snowy crushed ice. You just add flavoured water, press the buttons and fluffy magical crushed ice is deposited into a glass. This machine does it all for you and more.

Unboxed it is also very large and if you are thinking of buying one you may need to check where you’ll put it. It didn’t fit under any cupboards in the kitchen and even at the front of the worktop you couldn’t fit the drip tray underneath. It would have to take up a large space on an open worktop or one a table. But once installed it’s very easy to use and comes with a comprehensive instructions booklet that also has QR links on cleaning and a QR code on the machine for recipes.

The drinks ‘drum’ has a minimum of 0.5l and a maximum of 1.9l fill, so a large capacity to make plenty of slushie mix or iced cocktails at once. However, where I think the machine does fall down slightly, you have to put sugared water in the drum to make the crushed ice mix. It specifically says that low calorie or sugar free slushies can’t be made. To use these mixes you would need to add lemon juice, salt and a low calorie sweetener called erythritol! Probably no low calorie for children then. However, as alcohol does contain sugar, frozen cocktails and other alcoholic drinks would be fine and very enjoyable in the summer. The Tower Slushie Fusion Maker doesn’t just do children’s drinks and cocktails, it can also make frappes and milkshakes. These too would have to contain some kind of sweet sauce or sweetener.e appliance doesn’t come with any recipes but going online to Tower’s website there’s a very detailed recipes book. Browsing through it becomes clear that many of your favourite drinks can have the Slushie Fusion treatment – Espresso Martini, Boozy Cherry Cola or Creamy Pina Colada Slushie! And the other sections were equally exciting – the Vegan Mocha or Matcha Latte Frappe compete with an Apple and Cinnamon Kombucha Slushie.

Worried about the cleaning if you use sugary syrups and milk? Not a bother at all – most parts that get dirty can be dish washed. There’s even a video, via that QR code, to help you out.

Would I buy the Tower Slushie Fusion? For a lover of cocktails or children and friends who love sugary drinks and smoothies then yes. If you were having a large get together or celebration party, it would be worth the investment. There’s a certain novelty to freezing your drinks and it would certainly cause a buzz amongst guests.

Currently available for £179.99 at: https://www.towerhousewares.co.uk/kitchen/26-litre-5-in-1-frozen-drinks-maker-black-t19058

A Fairytale for Christmas at the Dominion Theatre, London

Children, Christmas, Days Out, Family Life, Gifts for children, Theatre, Winter

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Kick start Christmas with an Irish-themed song and dance spectacular in London’s West End! We were lucky enough to see the show live and experience the entertainment of Irish dancing, Christmas classics, live music and a few Christmas jokes in between! 

Starting the show with an Irish band of banjo, violin and guitar, we are introduced to the 6 Irish dancers who accompany the 130 minute long show.  Shane is our main compere and brings us to the show, starting in New York with a lean towards an Irish Christmas tale. We meet the six Irish dancers early on and are treated to a Riverdance-style performance with songs such as Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town, Step Into Christmas and some traditional songs such as Oh Danny Boy, O Holy Night and old-fashioned Irish songs like The Galway Girl, The Irish Rover and Dirty Old Town.

The band are phenomenal and take on the title of ‘house band’ with pride as we’re treated to great live music thanks to Shane Morgan (vocals), Oliver Cave (vocals and guitar), Peet Jackson (banjo), Molly Farmer (vocals) and Caitlin Forbes (Violin).  The show finishes with some chart hits of yesterday such as the famous Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. The show ends with an Irish St Patrick’s Day party where everyone is on their feet, singing and dancing to the songs of A Fairytale for Christmas. A fabulous show for the whole family.

Mighty Wheels

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Toys

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

It’s time to get MIGHTY!

Mighty Wheels is based on the cartoon series of the same name and contains a world of all sorts of trucks as toys as part of their range. Not just any trucks though, an assortment of dump trucks, tow trucks, cranes, tractors and even fire engines. The best part is that they’re made of steel and hardy plastic so they’re super hard wearing and can take about as much tough love as the real things! We were sent the “Super” Dump Truck and the Mighty Man Deluxe Figure as part of the extensive range available this Christmas.

The ”Super” Dump Truck is definitely super. It’s 16” in length and certainly lives up to its name of being “Super” thanks to the massive size of it. The yellow tipper is made of steel whereas the wheels and body are made of tough plastic. The tipper literally tips up and the wheels rotate making it easier to manoeuvre.  This is a beast of a dump truck and it has to be seen to be believed so make sure you have enough room for it at home! It’s great for playing with scenarios where you can actually carry something worthwhile like if you’re on the beach or in the garden.  

In addition to the “Super” Dump Truck, the Mighty Man figure is also from the cartoon show. It doesn’t fit the truck though, so don’t think you can use it as part of the role play. Instead, this is a toy in itself with batteries and accessories. Press the button on the belt and it has three phrases, “It’s time to get Mighty!” and “What do you think team? Can we do it?” as well as, “I got my Mighty Tools, my Mighty Hat and my team of Mighty Wheels!” He wears his famous hat, plus has a toolbelt with a detachable hammer. This is actually a really cool toy that I enjoyed playing with the phrases!

Just a word to watch out though – these toys have small parts that aren’t suitable for children under 3 so be careful with babies. They’re fabulous toys as part of a range of equally collectable and useable toys that children will love and can interact with in different ways depending on their age.

RRP £14.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-wheels-Man-Action-Figure/dp/B0CD2X7P85/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MLUQZDPMLNUZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AcmO13USZGfmDnJ8yarwmW7ipqvRmafkRRrDZXYfBqZCwK0Wu5wrcxl6YtMB900x81odkIPfHYc-W5Yl5wul5DxQvsWb2rDrfaTYPufzu2QBMvPfOSlPMpuHcNQ_eKdHWAZ_WTeaeK3aOoOLFynptqrJ9mo9CcKBq834ivLA_C5PBkOcoTtxPlyILKJGvzdlNID5PyJCa5EUei_iiuZX1eRB7naMEuUdJMvqBN8Qgsg.MxC1YZdwFbUTS24z3XXimeBaIji5BDb6xz8BtUH1GTU&dib_tag=se&keywords=mighty%2Bman&qid=1763402210&sprefix=mighty%2Bman%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1&th=1

Super Dump Truck £21.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-Wheels-Construction-Movable-Free-Wheeling/dp/B07YMBMFB1/ref=sr_1_2?crid=BZ5T5UM08W7D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I-SB0Jw8B7mzg_Ro4YXHCLZGs425oQAFiu59UV8W939DuPYp-mtii3hCTK25LUxBIGAGE2OxsOMi4YeC6FeMBDJAA996DZWr7m-JJRZllsUwp5YMGu2oPQhTQoXgEpumIjFdtwtujYH-tBPY8Hn9d7sb_uR-SpM_YQjN6tbcNezD08C3HPC8vbSxu3nzy4nu0-uZyDnrKCWfXdZM-vAM56tmA0JMqNOW0w9TOqyZFDFdKqSg0n7I81NQ8QJX_pTEPdxRjPlaqQAv57vdjDSCG-E5uZ2__DUvC_8f_alqAHk.9GEJtBit0MDDFNUJC3vKYGpR-AZcak8X_5aeBi87YbI&dib_tag=se&keywords=mighty%2Btruck%2Bsuper&qid=1763402249&sprefix=mighty%2Btruck%2Bsuper%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-2&th=1

Original Source Crisp Apple Shower Gel

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Women

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

Every family has its Christmas traditions, and in our house the stockings always have certain gifts stuffed in them. Yes, there’s the expected chocolate, socks, and underwear  but every year, without fail, Father Christmas tucks in a bottle of shower gel. And more often than not, it’s Original Source. They slip neatly into a stocking, for one thing, and their bright, uplifting scents mean there’s a bottle to suit absolutely everyone.

I’m not what you’d call a natural morning person so I need something brisk and cheering to get me going which means my shower gel has to work hard to wake me gently but firmly. I’m a big fan of Original Source’s Zesty Lemon & Tea Tree, but this year I’ve tried their Crisp Apple Shower Gel which is fresh and crisp and is exactly the thing to nudge me into the land of the living. From the very first use my skin felt refreshed, hydrated, and – dare I say it – almost enthusiastic about the day ahead.

It’s vegan, made in the UK, and fragranced with 100% natural ingredients. The bottle itself is made entirely from recycled plastic and can go straight back into the recycling when you’re done.

A 250ml bottle is currently just £1 at Superdrug and Morrisons so at that price, it’s worth stocking up to guarantee a zingy start to Christmas morning and beyond.

Baker Ross Christmas Crafts and Gifts

Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Learning, Stocking Fillers, Toys, Winter

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

December can be such a busy month so it’s nice to slow down every now and again, enjoy some quiet crafting time and make a few special decorations or gifts for family members. Having used Baker Ross kits before with my Cub pack, I know how good they are so I was really pleased to try out a selection of their Christmas craft kits with our mini reviewers. Their ready-made kits take all the stress out of crafting with everything you need included in the sets. This week we tried three of the sets – the Reindeer “Christmas Lights” Bead Threading Kits, the Christmas Tree Kits and the Santa Chocolate Holder Decorations.

Our little ones love rolling up their sleeves and creating something magical, and these kits kept them entertained for a good couple of hours. The Santa Chocolate Holder Decorations (£5.95) were definitely the favourite  – although the excitement may have had something to do with the chocolate “nose”! Each kit includes a Santa template, foam decorations, ribbon and simple instructions and as there’s no glue required, it’s completely mess-free. Available in packs of 8 or 32, these Santas are brilliant as gift tags, party treats or table gifts. Just assemble, decorate with the self-adhesive pieces and pop in a chocolate (Lindt truffles fit perfectly).

The Reindeer “Christmas Lights” Bead Threading Kits (£5.95) took a little longer to do, but they all enjoyed making them. With five assorted designs, the children enjoyed choosing their beads, threading them onto the black cord and wrapping them around the reindeer antlers to create the look of twinkling lights. Each one has a ribbon hanger so they can be used as a gift tag or Christmas tree decoration.

Finally, the 3D Christmas Tree Kit (£6.95) which contains foam pieces which slot together to form an 18cm tree, ready to be decorated with self-adhesive baubles, candy canes, snowflakes and stars. There’s four trees in the set and it kept our little ones busy for a good while.

As well as their brilliant craft kits, Baker Ross also offer a wonderful range of stocking fillers and party bag treats. Once our little ones had finished their decorations, they were more than ready to dive into a few extra festive goodies.

The Penguin Touchable Bubbles (currently £4.95 for a pack of 10 were an instant hit. These colourful little tubes create magical bubbles that you can actually touch without them popping. The children loved blowing the bubbles and trying to catch them as they floated down. They’re ideal for stockings, party bags or simply adding a bit of fun to a cold, winter afternoon.

The Snowman Pull-Back Racers (currently £4.50 for a pack of 6) were great fun to play with. Each snowman wears a brightly coloured scarf making it easy to spot the winner if you race them. They are ideal for Christmas Day races and are just as entertaining for the adults as they are for children.

It isn’t Christmas in our house without some building blocks and it’s nice to include some festive ones like the Penguin & Snowman Building Bricks in the Christmas stockings (£3.95). Each kit is individually bagged and includes easy-to-follow instructions and once assembled, the figures stand around 6.5cm tall and are perfect for festive play.

We’ll definitely be heading back to the Baker Ross website to stock up on more crafting treats for the Christmas holidays, and I’d happily recommend them to any family looking for easy, creative festive fun.

Customisable Advent Calendars from Vistaprint

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Toys

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Choose your own design for a Vistaprint Advent Calendar this year or use one of their themes to send a surprise to someone you love.

Vistaprint are known for being able to print anything, with a website that allows you to upload your photos and print posters, tote bags, promo products and this year you can create your very own advent calendars, and that includes chocolate advent calendars!

With a range available from Lindt LINDOR Truffles to Toblerone, Mars Miniatures, Milka® Favourites, Kinder® Chocolate Minis or a non-branded chocolate, you can create a personalised advent calendar and have it sent directly to someone.  We chose a photo of our beloved cat Sophia, but you can upload photos, artwork or even promotional images.  Vistaprint then create the advent calendar from the photo and fill it with whichever chocolate you choose and send it off for you!

The Vistaprint Customisable Advent Calendars are great for family who are overseas, especially for sending to (or from!) grandparents.  If you’re looking for something to send out as corporate gifts, then Vistaprint have you covered. You can use the Personalised Advent Calendar service to upload product photos or a logo.  The chocolate is authentic to the brands claimed and the variety available makes it all the more fun to be able to choose!  If you’re worried about waste this Christmas too, then the inside of the box is cardboard with the outer packaging being paper.

The cost isn’t too bad either given that it’s personalised and can replace another gift at Christmas. There’s not many gifts which are truly personable and last as long as advent like the Vistaprint Customisable Advent Calendar can, so you can be certain that it will be well received!

Available from £31.99 (plus postage and packaging) at: https://www.vistaprint.co.uk/photo-gifts/calendars/advent-calendars