Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Anyone looking for chocolate gifts will love the PLAYin CHOC organic chocolate range. Made from Peruvian Cacao it has no dairy, no gluten, no nuts and is totally vegan. The business was started by Maya back in 2016 when she wanted to create dairy-free chocolate using the simplest ingredients; cacao, coconut and vanilla. Maya also wanted to promote awareness about the planet’s biodiversity and offer an ethical alternative, so all of the PLAYin CHOC products are plastic free.
Beyond how award winning this chocolate is (It has won the Great Taste Award in 2022 for both their dark and milk chocolates, among other accolades), the range is something to behold in terms of fun. Just a quick look at their website and you can see the chocolate gift boxes available, all of which include their winning chocolate, but also have models which children can build based on the theme of the gift box. There’s Endangered Animals, Woodland Animals, Dinosaurs, Rabbits and a Christmas box. There’s some lovely 12 and 24 day advent calendars available at Christmas time too!
For the adults, PLAYin CHOC also have 60gram tablets of 6 pieces of chocolate. We were sent the Peruvian Cacao Milk Chocolate and Peruvian Cacao Dark Chocolate to try. Each chocolate is wrapped in compostable material (it looks like plastic but it’s not) so you can store them easily or even add them to a lunchbox for a quick chocolate treat.
My favourite was the Dark Chocolates. You can really taste the cacao in them, and there’s a strong flavour from the coconut as well. I really enjoyed the fact that there were no added extras to the chocolate, it’s a chocolate lover’s worse nightmare to be deterred from the real chocolate by additives, preservatives and unnecessary flavourings. The dark chocolate has a stronger chocolate flavour,, but the milk chocolate is milder if you’re not a big fan of dark.
If you’ve never tried PLAYin CHOC, have a look at their website for chocolate for both chocolate for the kids, as well as yourself!
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and whilst we all want to find the perfect gift there’s no need to spend a fortune to show you care and these fantastic gifts from Swizzels are a fantastic inexpensive way to treat Mum.
What’s better to say I love you than a huge chocolate Love Heart? This giant Love Heart looks just like the traditional love heart sweet, just a lot bigger and made of 100% milk chocolate. With ‘FOR YOU’ surrounded by the iconic heart we all know and love it makes a lovely gift for Mum.
The iconic Sweet Shop Favourites Gift Box includes a selection of some of the UK’s most well-loved sweets: Refreshers, Drumstick, Love Hearts, Parma Violets, Double Lollies and Fizzers. As soon as you open the box the familiar scent of ‘childhood’ brings back so many happy memories and the hardest part is choosing which one to have first! My favourite is the Refreshers bar – what is yours?
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Edifier are known for their high quality speakers, I already own a couple of their products and like them so was pleased to be asked to try the MP100 bluetooth speaker which Edifier suggests is a “great outdoor companion”.
With a rugged waterproof construction the MP100 is ideal for use outside. It is covered in a dust proof fabric and has an IPX7 rating which means the speaker can be 1 metre underwater for 30 minutes without getting damaged – so there isn’t the same urgency to put it somewhere dry when it starts raining – as often happens in this country!
It is available in a choice of three colours, Forest Green, Lake Green and Black and has a single button to control calls. There is a large loop which can be used to hang the speaker up and I found it to be quite easy to hold whilst wearing gloves. It isn’t a small device, it has a 95mm diameter and is 50mm thick, and with a weight of 185g it weighs around the same as a mobile phone. On the bottom of the speaker is a circular rubber base which helps keep the speaker from sliding around on whatever surface it is put on. The USB-C charging port, which is covered with a small rubber flap, is on the bottom half of the speaker along with the control buttons.
Setting up the speaker is easy, turn it on by pressing the power button for a few seconds, until the blue light comes on, then search for Edifier MP100 Plus in the Bluetooth settings of your device. The speaker makes an audible sound when connected and then you can use it to listen to music/audio from your device.
Built around a 5W 43mm full-range speaker the sound is great and with a claimed battery life of 9 hours is good for a whole day in the great outdoors. Now, I have to say that I’m no fan of people who play music whilst out hiking – I much prefer the peace and quiet – but for other outdoor activities, like camping or a day at the beach, it would be great. I spend a lot of time in the garden and enjoy listening to music or podcasts whilst I’m working and in the past have worried about damaging my speaker – with the Edifier MP100 Plus I no longer need to worry, I just hang it up, relax and enjoy!
Should you wish to use it for calls it has a built-in microphone and I found the sound was very clear, with noise suppression to remove unwanted background noise.
So whether you are camping, caravanning, relaxing in the garden or hitting the beach this summer make sure you have the Edifier MP100 Plus in your bag.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If you’re unable to eat chocolate due to being lactose intolerant, have an allergy to nuts or are vegan, you used to struggle to find chocolate on the High Street. Nowadays, there are a lot more options available to you though including NOMO chocolate. No More Missing Out? That’s their slogan. Does their chocolate live up to it though?
We were sent a selection of different flavoured chocolate Easter Eggs and Easter character chocolates. Although not necessarily aimed at children, anyone can enjoy them but we are also treated to an Egg & Lolly character egg for very young children. All of the chocolate are vegan and free from egg, nut, dairy and gluten.
The adult Easter egg flavours included Cookie Dough, Orange Crunch and Caramelised biscuit. Each Egg weighs 160 grams and has an extra Bunny included in the egg. The chocolate is listed as ‘an alternative to milk chocolate’ which is slightly darker than conventional milk chocolate but not bitter like dark chocolate is. We particularly enjoyed the Orange Crunch chocolate which had a distinct flavour of orange with a slight texture to it which added an interest to the confectionary. The Cookie Dough flavour is similarly textured and very sweet whilst the caramelised biscuit is as grown-up as it sounds with crunchy biscuit pieces and the sweetness of the caramel. The added bunnies (a character chocolate, each one weighing 30 grams) are similar milk chocolate substitutes but just as tasty!
The Egg & Lolly character Easter Eggs are also vegan and free from egg, nut, dairy and gluten. The 92 grams cute little eggs are perfect for younger children who won’t know the difference between milk chocolate and these free from eggs. Inside the egg there’s a chocolate lolly to enjoy, as well as some fun activities for children to do over the Easter holidays.
You can also buy the NOMO Easter Bunny separately. At 30 grams, the chocolate bunnies are also vegan, dairy free, gluten free etc and are filled with flavoured truffle in either Orange Crunch or Cookie Dough like the Easter Eggs.
Dairy free, Gluten free and egg free chocolate has come a long way in the last few years, and for anyone who needs a ‘free from’ diet, NOMO Chocolate Easter Eggs and Bunnies are so similar to the real thing, you won’t know the difference!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I love sushi, but I have never made it at home before. I’ve eaten it as take-away lunch at work, at a restaurant for dinner and I’m a fan of the raw fish too but I’ve never thought of making it for myself.
The team at Kelly Loves asked if we’d like to sample their Sushi Atelier kit for our Mother’s Day Gift Guide and even added some extra treats for me to be able to start my sushi journey. Well, when the kit arrived, I was in for a treat! The box contains a double bento box (for keeping the sushi fresh when out and about), sushi rice, wasabi, picked ginger, a bamboo sushi mat, spicy mayonnaise, a packet of 7 nori seaweed sheets, sushi vinegar and fried onions. There wasn’t much missing from the kit apart from the fresh ingredients of course!
The kit includes a postcard with a QR code to access lots of recipes of Japanese and Korean food, including different sushi rolls you can make. Using the code and a bit of knowledge of sushi, I started with the rice which thankfully has instructions on the side. It isn’t as simple as just boiling up the rice; you also have to add the sushi vinegar to flavour once the rice has been cooked and cooled. I also used the spicy mayonnaise to affix the fried onion but you can fix the onion by wetting the seaweed first too. The mayonnaise added more flavour but was very messy to use.
The instructions tell you how to cut the nori seaweed sheets in half and fill them with the rice and fillings (I chose smoked salmon, cucumber and avocado) and then roll them using the roll mat. You will need a sharp pair of scissors to cut the seaweed and a very sharp knife to cut the sushi once it’s rolled, which meant I had to sharpen my knives several times otherwise it tears through the seaweed and leave the roll in a heap!
Once the sushi is cut, you can arrange it any way you like and add the pickled ginger, wasabi and we were also sent soy sauce to dress the sushi with. When it came to serving, if you’ve never had wasabi before, it would be worth trying the tiniest (and I mean tiniest!) amount as it’s extremely hot. If you’re used to sushi with wasabi though, it’s great added with the pickled ginger, which is a generous amount in the jar provided with the pack.
Nothing beats freshly made sushi which is completely different to most shop bought varieties. I made up only half of the rice in the pack, which is just as well because as you can see from the photos, this was only half of what was available, and with the other ingredients only half being used, there is plenty left for another meal. I think this amount could feed 4 people, depending on what fillings you use.
The sushi tasted AMAZING and now that I know how to make it and how easy it is, I will be making it more often, topping up the items in the box with what I need and perfecting my rolling technique! Everything from the rice to the fried onion is of high quality and has the authentic sushi taste, all of which adds to the overall effect.
As a gift, this is a super great idea for anyone and especially any foodies, and as for Mother’s Day, it will make a fabulous present for Mum, especially if you make it for her!
Kelly Loves also has some other sushi products online including a ramune carbonated drink, which is much like lemonade. They also have spare ingredients online like the fried onion, pickled ginger and sushi vinegar. There’s also roasted sesame seeds, cabbage kimchi (delicious!) and a variety of different soy sauces online if you want to add to the gift to Mum on Mothering Sunday.
I loved this kit, not just for the quality of the ingredients but because it was all there and so easy to use but resulted in a delicious meal which my Mum really enjoyed. Despite it being the first time I made the sushi and it being a bit of a mess (see photos!) I loved making it and Mum actually commented that it was like the sushi you eat in a restaurant, which was a nice compliment. I can highly recommend Kelly Loves sushi kits for Mother’s Day gifts, and to start a love of homemade sushi for all the family!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Whilst an Alfa Romeo car may be way out of your price range you can buy your loved one a taste of Alfa Romeo style with a bottle of Alfa Romeo fragrance from Agence de Parfumerie
This fragrance is packaged in a bright red box emblazoned with the Alfa Romeo logo. The deep red bottle is chunky and modern and with the chrome lid is a stylish addition to any bathroom or bedroom.
When my husband tried the fragrance the first thing I noticed was the freshness, with top notes of pink pepper, pineapple and citrus they sharpen the senses without being overpowering. With fruity middle notes and base notes of amber and tonka bean the fragrance settles down to be a more earthy scent which is very pleasant and appeals to all ages – my 21 year old son liked it just as much as my husband does.
It doesn’t have a heavy scent so is perfect both as a day or evening fragrance and it lasts well – a couple of spays will last all day.
With a RRP of £19.95 for the 100ml bottle it’s also very reasonably priced and the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own
This giant Swizzels milk chocolate Love Heart will be a favourite with both young and old this Valentine’s Day. It is styled as a traditional love heart sweet, just bigger and made of 100% milk chocolate. With ‘FOR YOU’ surrounded by the iconic heart we all know and love it makes a lovely gift for a friend or loved one.
Created with the aim of encouraging people to share the love this Valentine’s Day it costs only £2.49 from Home Bargains and the Swizells website so why not share the love and treat a few friends and loved ones this year?
To coincide with Valentine’s Day, Swizzels have also launched a #BeYourOwnValentine competition giving people the chance to win the Valentine’s Day of their dreams- why not take a look and enter here .
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Are you looking for something a little different as a Valentine’s treat or simply to show someone special you are thinking of them? If they have a sweet tooth and love flapjacks then Flapjackery is the place to go!
Founded in 2015 by Carol Myott and Sally Jenkin, the pair who share a passion for home cooking met selling cakes at a Devon farmers’ market. They started baking in their own kitchens but as the company grew, they needed to move to bigger premises to keep up with the demand for their flapjacks. Like all businesses they were badly affected by covid as their normal outlets, farmers markets and events stopped so they decided to start selling their delicious flapjacks online.
We’re big fans of Flapjackery so were really pleased to be asked to sample one of their Valentine’s gift boxes containing five flavours of flapjack – Chocolate Orange, Millionaire’s, Raspberry & White Chocolate, Rocky Road and Clotted Cream.
Nicely packaged in a carboard box, which fits easily through a letterbox, each flapjack is individually wrapped to keep it fresh. They also have long “eat by” dates, my box was dated the 5th April but they are so yummy they only lasted a couple of days! As my box had a Valentine’s theme the Millionaire’s flapjack was decorated with a white chocolate heart which is a lovely touch. They all looked delicious and the hardest part was deciding which one to try first!
Each flapjack was fresh, flavoursome and incredibly moreish and after sampling them all the raspberry and white chocolate was my favourite, sandwiched with juicy raspberries the flapjack is nice and moist and fruity. The white chocolate complements the sharper raspberry taste and mixed with the buttery flapjack makes a delicious treat.
They currently have a selection of Valentine’s gift boxes available and there is also an option to create your own. Choose from either a box of 8 or 12 flapjacks or a message plaque box containing a giant millionaire’s flapjack with 4 of 8 flapjacks. The boxes can be gift wrapped and a free personalised message added to make your gift a little more special.
You really are spoilt for choice when selecting a giftbox, there are 24 flavours to choose from ranging from a traditional flapjack to more unusual flavours like rocky road, honeycomb or florentine. Have a look at the full range here.
With a box of three flapjacks costing £12 they really are the perfect Valentine’s treat!
Valentine’s Day is on the horizon and whilst there are plenty of gifts available for women it can prove a little more difficult finding the perfect gift for the special man in your life. In my experience alcohol and food always go down a treat and if your husband/boyfriend loves snacking – especially on pork crackling, nuts and cider then Roberts Dorset is the place to go!
With products suitable for those following a Keto or Vegan lifestyle they have a fantastic selection of gift boxes that can be customised to suit the recipient.
Robert’s Dorset began back in 2011 in the family kitchen, initially selling their products at their local Dorset markets. They quickly discovered that their snacks were incredibly popular and worked hard to create new flavours, now supplying their tasty snacks all over the country.
I have always liked pork crackling but never realised there was a choice of flavour beyond “pork”. I was therefore intrigued to discover that Roberts Dorset produce a variety of flavours – Sea Salt, Salt & Vinegar, Extreme Naga Chilli, BBQ, Salt & Pepper, Sage & Onion and Garlic and have enjoyed sampling them all.
These delicious savoury bites are incredibly moreish and I haven’t been able to stop myself dipping into the pots for my crackling fix. The crackling is crunchy and crisp with the slightly pork fat taste, that I remember so well from Friday nights at the local pub!
As well as the crackling the Scrumptious Combination gift box also included a couple of tubs of peanuts (sea salt and sweet chilli) along with a couple of cans of St Austell Brewery “Proper Job” IPA.
I enjoyed all the flavours but be warned the Naga Chilli flavour is incredibly hot and not for the faint hearted. I would say that all the flavours are suitable snacks to have alongside drinks as a change to the more traditional crisps and peanuts. The tubs are recyclable but have a good fitting lid which makes them very useful if kept. Eaten in conjunction with the excellent St Austell Brewery “Proper Job” IPA’s they make a perfect Valentine’s treat.
So soon after the indulgence of Christmas some might wonder about the healthiness of pork crackling but as they are gluten free, high in protein and MSG free, surely they can count as a health food!?
The many different options that Roberts Dorset offer mean that there is something for everyone. They make a superb gift idea – something that little bit different and a nice change from the standard box of chocolate or smellies.
Take a look at the fantastic selection of Gift boxes here, prices start at £17.50
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
Love is in the air at The Review Studio this week and we are currently surrounded by a fantastic selection of Valentine’s products and looking forward to sharing our favourites over the next few days.
One present that always goes down is alcohol and this delicious Cranberry and Blood Orange Liqueur from Cranes will make a lovely gift for the special person in your life.
This striking red liqueur has been created by the founders of Cranes – twin brothers Ben & Dan along with one of the UK’s top mixologists. Made from Wisconsin cranberries and infused with blood orange juice and orange rind, this double award-winning liqueur is sweet with underlying, but not overpowering, sourness – imagine a ‘sour’ candy sweets but add a 17% alcoholic kick!
The bottle comes with minimal cardboard packaging and the distinctive square glass bottle is nice and chunky and is the type that look good on a drinks trolley.
The liqueur can be drunk neat, on the rocks or why not add some Prosecco to make a delicious Cranbellini cocktail.
Talking of cocktails there are a couple of ideas on the box to try
Cosmopolitan (Cranes Liqueur, Cranberry juice, Vodka and lime)
Lemon Berry (Cranes liqueur, Limoncello and Sicilian lemonade)
Shaddock’s G&T (Cranes liqueur, Gin, Tonic water and Pink Grapefruit Juice)
Cranes Spritz (Cranes liqueur, Soda water, Prosecco)
It a sweet, fruity liqueur but there is a hint of sharpness, and like any liqueur is best drunk slowly so you can savour every sip. It also goes well in cocktails and having tried all the ones above (well someone has to!!) we decided that the Cranes Spritz was our favourite, it’s a light and refreshing cocktail and the accompaniment toa Valentine’s Afternoon Tea.
It makes an ideal Valentine’s Day gift or why not buy a bottle and make some delicious cocktails to accompany a romantic night in.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
It’s the 1st of February today – which means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! All the shops are currently full of cheerful displays of gifts and flowers and it’s the perfect excuse to treat your loved one and bring a little joy to the gloomy February days.
Food gifts are a popular Valentine’s gift and your Valentine is bound to be impressed with the Valentine’s Gift Box from Sponge.
When I opened the box, I was delighted to find a nicely wrapped parcel containing a lovely selection of treats. The top layer contained four baby sponge cakes, each in its own little box and sealed in plastic to keep it fresh. We received Red Velvet, Chocolate Orange, Sticky Toffee and Carrot cakes and each cake was lovely and moist and incredibly delicious. Sponge Cakes cater for all types of dietary requirements, and you can request standard, gluten free or vegan cakes in your giftbox.
Underneath the cakes were even more treats
Valentine’s cocktail & a mini bottle of Prosecco (or a non-alcoholic cocktail & ginger beer)
A single white rose
6 heart chocolates (vegan fudge instead of chocolates included in vegan option).
A Pukka love tea bag
A Valentine’s Card
Considering there were cakes and a real rose in the box everything was packaged really well and arrived in perfect condition. I also liked the little touches like the organza bag containing the chocolate heats, this simple touch makes the gift even more special.
This is a lovely, thoughtful gift and now I know how delicious the cakes are I will definitely be ordering from them again. I had a look on their website and have my eye on the sharing cakes, these are such a fantastic idea and are perfect for families like ours where everyone likes a different type of cake.
Sponge online cake company make all their cakes from scratch, using only high quality ingredients and deliver all over the UK so if you want to treat your special person on Valentine’s Day I would take a look now!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I’m a lover of afternoon tea. I also love Indian food, so when they mentioned Indian afternoon tea, there was no way I wasn’t going to try it!
Colonel Saab, located at the Holborn Old Town Hall at 193-197 High Holborn, London WC1 was only opened in October 2021 but is already winning awards. Just walking through the door, you can see all the accolades, including the Forbes top 40 Indian restaurants in London.
Inside, the 134 covers restaurant is situated over the ground floor and a cut-o mezzanine floor. As soon as you pass the bar, it’s the giant multitude of rose glass Indian chandeliers which leave you fascinated with the décor. Photos of owner Roop Partap Choudhary’s family, antique paintings and at the back, a photo each of his parents, Colonel Choudhary and his wife, Binny Choudhary. The restaurant is named after Colonel Choudhary and is a love letter to their relationship since their marriage more than 40 years ago.
We were there to review the Indian Afternoon Tea, a specialty of Colonel Saab which takes a bit of explaining as India isn’t known for their own Afternoon Teas. Firstly, Champagne was brought out to each of us before the tea arrived. You don’t have to have the typical English Breakfast Tea to accompany your meal, so I tried the Massala Chai tea whilst my guest had a latte coffee. Massala Chai is a special blended tea, with milk, which has spices such as cinnamon and a touch of sugar to give a full bodied, slightly sweet tea that challenges the usual English Breakfast. I ordered a second pot of Massala tea in the end as it was so delicious!
The beautiful afternoon tea cage was brought over to our table with the familiar three tiers, but with an Indian twist. The first tier of sandwiches were cucumber and yoghurt, and dhokla fingers. If you’re not familiar with dhokla, it is an Indian cake-like fermented batter that is savoury but flavoured through the middle. The middle layer had the familiar scones with cream and jam, but their added Indian twist here was a vegetable samosa!
The final layer at the top were the cakes! Carrot cake, Lemon Meringue, two different flavours of macaron and a chocolate truffle each. If, like us, you were particularly full by this time, you can always ask for the cakes to be boxed for you to take away. However, they are so delicious, it’s easier to just have another cup of tea and work your way through them!
With the delicious afternoon tea finished, I was given a tour of Colonel Saab to show where the idea came from and the facilities beyond just the restaurant floor. The bar, on the ground floor, is available at any time and doesn’t need booking. Around the corner are the family photos of Roop Partap Choudhary [the founder] and love letters between his parents. Behind the front door, there are the private dining rooms, which were beyond magnificent! One large room, or a divider makes them two smaller rooms, the area is dominated by a huge canopied fireplace. You can’t miss the enormous mobile bar though – which although made by Aspreys of London, belonged to Colonel Choudhary and travelled around with him whilst on campaign. It is stunning, and still looks as if it could serve drinks today.
Going upstairs, there’s more tables, all of which have different styles. At the far end of the mezzanine there is a quiet ‘nook’ area of a canopied table for four. A perfect hideaway and position to watch the restaurant downstairs!
I was also told to walk downstairs to the bathrooms as this is one of the most ‘Instagramable’ areas of the restaurant. Dark red walls festooned with family photos and even more of the beautiful rose glass chandeliers. The bathroom itself was also very beautiful with carefully designed soft furnishings and retro sinks.
Don’t forget the two portraits of Binny and Colonel Choudhary in the main restaurant, with so many decorative plates around them, and the 6th centuries old painting between them that is an Indian traditional and takes literally years to paint.
By the time we had finished, we had been there nearly two hours and didn’t want to leave. The atmosphere of the restaurant and the friendliness of the staff, all of whom said hello to us whilst we were there made this a hidden treasure. Just outside of Covent Garden but not quite in theatre land, it’s easier to get to than you think and as well as the fantastic food, it’s fascinating to visit.
Afternoon tea is £25 per person or £48 for two. Champagne afternoon tea starts at £41 per person.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
We live in a world where most people use electronic devices for entertainment and a good quality set of speakers can really enhance the experience. Edifier is a well-known audio brand that produce a wide range of speakers and are known for their high-quality audio and sleek designs. They recently sent me the MF200 portable speaker, and I was really impressed with both the build quality and sound.
At 490 grams it isn’t heavy, but it is well built and the solid aluminium construction gives a luxury feel to the speaker. It is a simple device and comes with a USB-C input / charging cable and a handy cloth bag for taking it out and about.
At one end of the speaker is a USB-C connection, used for both charging and as an input source and a 3.5mm socket for the AUX input. On the other end is the power switch which doubles as an input selector. There are three options for connecting to the speaker, Bluetooth 5.0, the 3.5mm AUX socket and the USB-C connection for smartphones and PCs. (Edifier does say that it is PC only, but I’ve had no problems connecting my Android phone).
On the front panel are three discreet touch / push controls to adjust the volume, skip tracks or pause playback.
Once connected the sound quality is excellent, producing a rich sound with no distortion, even at full volume and the soft rubber feet efficiently prevent vibrations moving through to the furniture. Internally there are two 4w 36mm full-range drivers and whilst they’re not going to shake the foundations, they’re great as a portable speaker.
This speaker is not just for connecting to your smartphone, it makes a great option for anybody who’s fed up with sub-par sounds from their laptop, just connect and play!
If using the speakers wirelessly, you should get up to 10 hours of use from the built-in 2200mAh high-capacity lithium battery.
I’m really pleased with this speaker, it has a quality feel that is matched by the clear sound of its speakers and its distinctive triangular design looks great wherever I take it.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own
We’re almost half way through Dry January and with so many new and exciting non-alcoholic drinks to try I’ve found I haven’t missed alcohol at all!
Ordinarily I do enjoy a nice G&T so was really pleased to receive a bottle of BOWSER LEAF from Conker Distillery. Launched in 2021 LEAF is a unique botanical blend offering all the complexities of a premium gin but without the alcohol. It can be served with ice and tonic for a refreshing drink or if you are feeling a little more adventurous you can create a mocktail?
Distilled in copper pot stills using New Forest Spring Water, five carefully selected botanicals – Patchouli, Mint, Basil, Tarragon and Thyme are distilled separately and blended carefully to create a well-balanced, complex spirit that has a beautiful mouthfeel and that vital fresh dryness that you expect from a premium gin. I tried it with an unflavoured light tonic to get the full flavour and I was really impressed.
A hint of spice, followed by fresh mint and thyme, this is a sophisticated drink that is refreshing, light and best of all doesn’t leave you with a hangover the following morning. It has the classic gin bitterness but with none of the alcohol or calories (BOWSER is calorie free) so it is much better for your waistline too!
BOWSER is perfect when you want something special that isn’t alcoholic. A party taste without the hangover – what’s not to like!
A 70cl bottle costs £20 and is available from Ocado
Disclaimer – We received this book free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The spirit world and the physical world are closer than you think. Many people don’t ‘believe’ in Spirit (Spirit in this context meaning the all-encompassing concept of life after life) and dismiss the healing powers of Spirit without even giving it a second thought. Others though, not only know about the powers of Spirit, but live a life guided by the other world.
Author Wendy Sheffield has not spent her whole lifetime working with Spirit. Her spiritual journey started with a dream 12 years ago and since then she has been working as a medium to communicate on behalf of loved ones who have passed over to the Spirit World, and likewise send back messages from those who wish to teach us.
Her second book, Pure Spirit, was communicated to her as both the title and the short chapters that make up the book. The passages, which are scribed in italics, are direct messages from Spirit with the aim of teaching each of us something new about ourselves, or our world. The passages are introduced by Wendy too, with a short summary of what the passage is about or who it is for, and sometimes how she came to communicate the subject.
Each passage is only a page or so long so they’re not heavy reading. The vocabulary isn’t difficult to comprehend and each chapter is direct and to the point. For example, the chapter titled Reflection In the Water is about using your reflection in the water to see what others see, and explaining that what others see, might not be apparent to you until much later.
Each of the 27 chapters has something to communicate, and some of the subjects (such as death and Fear of the Unknown) are heavy subjects, but handled delicately. Wendy writes with soft prose as well as we an understanding, and hopefully as a reader you will pick up on her concern as well as the philosophy she is conveying.
It wouldn’t matter if you are Spiritualist, merely interested in mediumship and the Spirit World or even if you are a complete non-believer, there is something in this book for everyone. Not all of the chapters are about the Spirit World or mediumship but you will learn a lot about the Spiritualist movement and teachings by reading the book cover-to-cover. For anyone needing any kind of guidance or support, such as in grieving or loss, Pure Spirit is a good place to start without getting too involved and hemmed in with technicalities. The book lends itself, with short chapters, to being able to be picked up and put down easily, whilst being absorbed in short sprints.
Wendy Sheffield clearly loves what she does and has found her clear life path, a spiritual path, and enjoys communicating from the Spirit World to our own.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Valentine’s Day is only a month away and you may (or may not!) have started thinking of gift ideas. Whilst the traditional gifts of chocolates, flowers or fragrance are always well received I always think a personalised gift means a lot more as the recipient will appreciate the thought that has gone into creating it.
Vistaprint have a huge range of products on their website that would make superb Valentine’s gifts including photo books, canvas prints, mugs, cushions and my favourite – a fleece blanket to snuggle up with rather than turning the heating on!
The website is really easy to navigate with all the personalised gifts on one webpage. Each gift has clear images and the prices are clearly shown. Once you have selected your gift it is really easy to create your masterpiece. Simply choose the photos you love and Vistaprint will turn them into personalised artwork and gifts that you and your family can enjoy for years to come.
I created a photobook which was really easy to do – there is a choice of 8 different sizes and once you have decided you are ready to start creating your photobook. I found it very easy to add photos and once I had selected them I just clicked the upload button and the photos were quickly uploaded. I was amazed how fast this process was, the last time I created a photobook I remember this stage taking ages so this was a definite improvement. Once the photos are uploaded you can use Vistaprint’s “Smart Selection” which removes any duplicates, blurry or out of focus pictures so you only have the best pictures in your album.
Once you are happy with your design it is then straightforward to finalise the order, just choose either standard or premium glossy paper and you are ready to go. Vistaprint have a range of delivery options including free economy delivery on orders over £40.
Ordering was very easy, once the order had been placed I received a confirmation email with estimated delivery dates and a second email once my products had been despatched. I actually received my gifts before the estimated delivery date which was quite impressive.
Now that it has arrived I am thrilled with my photobook, it looks very professional and I know my husband will love it. I will certainly use Vistaprint again as after seeing the quality of the photo book I am really interested in trying some of the other photo products that they do. With such a wide choice I just need to decide which ones!
Photobooks start at £7.49 and there is currently 40% off so get those Valentine’s gifts ordered soon!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
Like many others I started cutting my husband and son’s hair during lockdown, my first attempts weren’t great and it’s a good job they weren’t leaving the house but after watching a few YouTube videos and with three heads to practise on I quickly improved. With the cost of living crisis my barbering skills are being called on again so I was really pleased to receive the Wahl Peaky Blinders Clippers & Beard Trimmer Gift Set.
Wahl are known for their hair clippers and this is a great set containing everything you need to keep control of your hair and beard. Male grooming is big business now and with beards very much back in fashion along with shorter hair styles, cutting your hair at home makes more sense than ever before.
The mains voltage clipper is very solidly built and not being limited by battery power will run as long as you need it to and as is always ready to use. The clipper has a long power lead and includes a thumb operated fade blade to get that modern crisp look. There is a choice of 12 attachment combs offering cutting lengths between 0.8mm and 25mm with left and right tapers so whether you want a close cut or something a little longer you can achieve it with this set.
The clippers are extremely comfortable to hold and give a nice clean cut without pulling or tugging the hair. They move through hair nicely and don’t get clogged up and are very easy to use either by yourself or on someone else’s hair.
They can be used for cutting hair, trimming sideburns and beards and for trimming around the ears and neckline.
The battery powered trimmer is handy for smaller areas, my son found it particularly useful when trimming his beard and around his ears where the main clipper was a little cumbersome.
The set even includes a cape in the set to protect clothes whilst your hair is being cut. When not in use you can store everything away neatly in the stylish grey bag.
Also in the set are the following items to give you the full barbers shop experience at home
Scissors
Barber Comb
Fade Brush
Barber Cape
Blade Oil and Cleaning Brush
Storage Bag
Style Guide
This is a great set for anyone looking to purchase clippers for the first time or as a replacement set. It has everything you need to maintain the sleekest look in town – just like the Peaky Blinders!
RRP £100 but currently on offer for £50 on the Wahl website
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
It’s the first week of Dry January and I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to having a break from alcohol (and hangovers) after a few weeks of over indulgence!
I enjoy a glass of cider, so I’ve swapped my normal brand for low alcohol cider from Cranes Cider. It’s got the fresh, crisp flavour you would expect from a quality British Cider but with only 0.5% alcohol content is a much healthier choice.
When you pour it into a glass you get the same apple aroma as you would from a traditional cider, and I was pleased to discover that it has the same crisp freshness in the mouth that I am used to. This is every bit as good as traditional cider and one I will continue to drink once Dry January is over. At only 0.5% ALC it is ideal for those who can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol and is suitable for those who follow a vegan or gluten free diet too.
RRP £22.50 for 9 x 500ml bottles and is available from Cranes
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Aches and pains are an everyday part of life, but don’t have to last long when you have a masseuse at the touch of a button. The Wahl Cordless Mini Massage Gun has been on my list of items to try, so when the team offered to send me one to review, I was eager to see if it stood up to my expectations!
The gun itself is only about 15cm long (hence it’s a mini massager) and approximately 10cm high. Charged with a type C USB cable, there are no batteries involved and the cable is a standard computer lead which comes with the kit but can also be found with other appliances. It can be charged from a USB port on a computer, or on a wall charger.
The gun and attachments come in a handy zip-up case which fits neatly into a gym bag or a drawer at home and contains all 4 attachments as well as the USB lead. Starting with the gun, it only has one on/off button to operate, which is triggered by holding down the button for just a second. The digital display on the front tells you the intensity of the movement (1 being lowest, 6 the highest) and the amount of battery left. I found that it took up to 4 hours to charge the battery in full but it can take longer. The instructions suggest you charge the gun every 3 months if it hasn’t been used.
The gun is already fitted with the Flat Head attachment, whilst the Round Head, Bullet Head and Spinal Head are contained in the case. Each attachment pops in and out, there’s no threading to worry about but they are fitted quite snugly so you have to use some effort to change them sometimes.
The instructions don’t give an indication of which attachment to use on any particular part of the body, just techniques for the shoulders, neck, back etc. I found that it was best to start the massage gun on the lowest level and use the round attachment first on the hands, thighs and upper arms until you get used to the sensation. It’s quite powerful, even at a low level which is exactly what you’re looking for in a massage gun but does take a while to get used to! I found that the Round Head was good for working the back of my neck. The gun isn’t very heavy so you can hold it in one place for a long period of time. The attachment is really quite effective though, with the headache I had at the time easing. If you had a person massaging with the same intensity for any length of time, there wouldn’t be as much power, and they would probably get tired very quickly. The fact that you can change the intensity of the motion too means that you can tailor the massage to your needs.
The other attachments were great for other areas too. The Bullet Head works well on certain reflexology points on the feet, giving a precise massage to pressure points. The Flat Head also helps with digestion when you massage the abdomen in circular motions. It’s very difficult to try the Spinal Head on yourself, but the wishbone shape works on the muscles either side of the spine (never use directly on the spine) to relax the back muscles. With some ingenuity, you can find the right attachment and the right intensity for any part of the body which needs restoring, which is part of the fun of a massage gun!
The Wahl Mini Massage Gun runs for approximately 20 minutes on a timer or 200 minutes in all on a single charge. If you need more help, or indeed inspiration, Wahl have a tutorial on their website to give you more ideas.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Families are always looking for more wholesome ways to connect and have fun, so Tomy’s board game Triggle is a gem for the winter months. Based on 2-4 players (but you could play in teams) it is aimed at 8 years and upwards and has a remarkably simple objective; to create triangles.
The starting board consists of pegs arranged in a geometric pattern. Each player chooses one of the colours of pegs (there are 21 pegs for each player) and the elastic bands are divided out between everyone playing. Taking it in turns, each player add one rubber band to the board, suspending it between any two posts in any direction. The only ‘rules’ are that the line created by the band must be straight, and it must stretch across 4 post only and touching at least one other rubber band.
Once a player creates a triangle with their rubber band, they can claim it as their own by placing their coloured peg inside it. A triangle consists of only one single space.
The game ends whenever there are no spaces left on the board to claim, or one of the players uses up all their pegs. An alternative to the full game is for each player to have a set amount of rubber bands (for instance, 10 or 20) and the players play until there are no more bands left. Whoever has the most pegs placed on the board is the winner.
This is a remarkably easy game to follow and learn the rules for, and can keep the whole family entertained. We found that playing with just two, and especially two adults or older children was exceptionally easy and allowed for conversation throughout. There was no need to remember where you were in the game, so it was easy to talk, or walk away and come back after dinner if you needed to. It also doesn’t last for hours and hours where you feel compelled to complete the game. It also didn’t require point scoring or writing anything down as you can just count up the number of pegs visible, and there’s no need for remembering characters or complicated rules!
If you are in a group who don’t speak English or have limited vocabulary, this is a great mind teaser puzzle, and if you lose the rubber bands, they can easily be replaced. Instead of using the pegs, you can use any other type of counter from another game, so there’s longevity too. I found that after a while, some of the younger children (under 12 years old or so) were able to make up new games of their own, or liked making patterns in the board after the game had finished, so there was endless entertainment to be had over the school holidays.
Triggle isn’t really a game you grow out of and can be picked up by anyone. It’s definitely a “thumbs up” from us as a family game.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Back to work this week after the Christmas break and many of us are having to haul laptops into hotdesking offices. The STM Goods Myth Laptop Bag has a clever design and material features which make it stand head and shoulders above other backpacks and lends itself ideally to laptop carrying.
For starters, the handles are designed with a cooling mesh which sits comfortable on your shoulders and allows air to pass through, saving your skin from heating up when there’s a heavy load inside the bag. On the back, there’s also the Pass-port Passthrough, a new design which allows you to slip the backpack onto the handles of a suitcase or hand luggage trolley so that you can transport both with one hand. It saves having the backpack handle clasped onto the suitcase and falling off due to not being balanced.
Inside, there’s completely new technology to support your laptop. Instead of just a pocket, there’s a whole compartment which has cushion technology to save your laptop (or tablet) from impact when setting it down on the floor or from being bashed about on transport. You’ll also find tons of other pockets and compartments inside, specially designed for your AirPods, or for wired headphones to be clipped inside and kept safe. The ample pockets are big enough for phones, tablets, notebooks and even pens and are all hidden away inside to make it more difficult for anyone to pickpocket you, as well as being cushioned from impact.
On the front of the backpack, there are more pockets too. If you’re travelling, the front pocket is ample size for passports and travel documents plus a smaller pocket at the top for loose change. Although the STM Myth Laptop Bag is for transporting laptops to and from work, this backpack actually works really well for travelling by plane because of its size (it’s suitable as hand luggage) and the ‘bump’ technology keeps gadgets safe when on transport. However, it also has the durability needed when travelling a lot. Having been completely redesigned, the team at STM have thought about everything. As we don’t use money as much now and rely on our phones to store our credit card details, it means we can carry around less precious items but need to keep phones and laptops safe. The zips on the STM Myth are big enough to accommodate a lock if you need to, and there’s room inside to hide a Tile or Apple AirTag.
The more I look at the bag, the more I find uses for it! I took this away on holiday where I only had a limited amount of hand luggage and found that I could fit most travel items in it easily, and more importantly, they were safe and protected and didn’t get crushed in transit. Even my headphones were safe from being squashed!
The little details in the STM Myth Laptop Bag make it excellent for travelling, working or even as a gift. The zips are protected with a cover to prevent rain and dirt entering, there’s an integrated CableReady system which allows you to charge your laptop or tablet whilst it’s still in the bag and a durable top handle so that you can carry it in one hand, or pick it up easily from the floor or overhead locker. It weighs less than 1kg when empty too, so with most hand luggage being a maximum of 7kg, you still have plenty of room for the laptop, phone and even a snack!
But finally, what does STM stand for? Smarter Than Most… the Australian company who think of everything!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
My New Year’s Resolution is to cook more from scratch, rather than relying on ready made sauces. I love curries but have never really tried making my own, so I was really pleased to be able to try a subscription box from Spice Kitchen Each box contains a selection of spices along with a handy recipe guide with plenty of tasty recipes to get you started. Using the spices with the suggested ingredients means you know exactly what is going into your dish and that all the ingredients are healthy and suitable for the whole family.
The subscription boxes are available as a 3 month or 6 month subscription which are posted monthly or quarterly – you choose the timings. The spices are different in each box
3 month subscription – India, Around the World, Middle Eastern & African Spice Collecion
6 month subscription – The same as the 3 month followed by Chilli, Moroccan and Flavoured Sea Salts
The spices are packaged in resealable plastic bags which are clearly labelled so that you know which spice is which. Each box contains enough spices to make over 100 meals so you can try plenty of different recipes with each box. Once you have tried the ones in the recipe guide have a look at the Spice Kitchen website where you will find plenty more.
I flicked through the recipe book and was spoilt for choice, all the dishes sounded lovely however after a lot of deliberation we settled on Chicken Biryani, one of our favourite takeaway meals. We had all the ingredients so were able to try it out straight away. The instructions are really simple and easy to follow and I was really impressed just how easy it was to create a delicious curry.
We served the Chicken Biryani with Naan bread and rice and the whole family loved it, it was flavoursome and had just the right kick to it.
Next we tried the Punjabi Chickpeas, again we had all the ingredients in and my son made this for us. He said it was really easy to make and there were 4 clean plates at the end of the meal, so this speaks for itself!
Now I know how easy it is to make curries from scratch I know this is one New Year’s Resolution that I won’t be breaking! The subscription boxes are a way to bring authentic Indian cooking into the home and would make a great gift for any keen cook or foodie this year.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If you’ve received a new smartphone for Christmas, or take a lot of photos on your camera you’ll know that the smudge factor is real when it comes to the camera lens. I hate it when I take what I think is the perfect photo, only to find that when I view it, there is that misty blur on all the photos because the lens isn’t clean. It’s the price we pay for handling our phones all day, but there are ways of reducing the smudges.
LensPen Smarty Cleaner for Smartphones is a tiny yet useful gadget for cleaning your camera lens on smartphones. Suitable for all makes of camera phone, the pen is only 4cms long and can fit in your pocket, or in the bottom of your handbag without even noticing it’s there! The cap screws loose to reveal the head of the pen which is a carbon cleaner. There’s no detergent or alcohol involved, just a pad which is small enough to fit through any camera phone casing and erases away all the grime.
I tried this on my iPhone, especially as I frequently get blurry smudges and I can’t clean them away easily with just a tissue or corner of my shirt. The LensPen is small enough to fit, comfortable to use and with minimal effort, it dissolved away the greasy fingerprint on my camera lens. To prove it works, I used it on the front of my camera phone on the touchscreen. The pen does indeed eradicate fingerprints anywhere!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Christmas is fast approaching and this gaming headset from Edifierwould make a perfect present for the gamer in your family – young or old!
Made of a grey plastic with leatherette ear cups and a lined headband this headset has a really good feel – they certainly don’t feel cheap and are light on the head and comfortable for long periods of gaming.
With any headphones the quality of the sound must be the most important feature and with a pair of 50mm titanium drivers and Hi-Res audio this headset does not disappoint. The earcups provide plenty of insulation from external sounds and music is clear over the whole frequency band.
Three different cables are provided enabling easy connection to a variety of devices. USB-C can be used to connect to most modern smartphones and tablets, A standard Type-A USB cable allows connection to PCs and PS4 consoles whilst a standard 3.5mm jack is provided for connection to pretty much any other device. At 1.2m long they might not be long enough for everybody but can easily be extended / replaced.
For gamers a good microphone is essential and the microphone on this headset works well. It includes a noise cancellation system to give better clarity and when not in use it easily stows away inside the earcup.
The headset has four controls, on the left earcup is a mute button for the microphone and a scroll for volume control. On the rear of the right earcup are controls to switch between gaming mode and music mode and also to control the RGB LEDs. Different colours can be selected and a long press turns them off completely.
These controls are all dependent on power taken from the USB connection which does mean that they do not work when using the 3.5mm jack.
I have worn these for quite some time and find them very comfortable and the refined styling with the ability to turn off the LEDs appeals to me, I had intended to give these to my teenage son but I don’t think I want to part with them now!
I do have one niggle to mention but it is only minor – the controls on the left earcup are well positioned but on the right earcup the controls are positioned right where I hold the headset when taking it off meaning I’m always pressing buttons by mistake.
Overall I am very impressed with these headphones, they are lightweight, comfortable to wear and the sound quality is excellent and at £69.99 are excellent value for money.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Now that most of us are working from home most of the time, I know that I find myself looking for gadgets and technology that make life easier. This Edifier Wireless Bluetooth Headset is one example of how my working practice has changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Let me explain…
The Edifier CC200 Bluetooth Headset is a wireless, Bluetooth mono headset for taking phone calls or listening to music. As its wireless and Bluetooth, it doesn’t need plugging in anywhere but can connect to your laptop and allow you to walk around whilst the noise-cancelling microphone can still pick up your voice, allowing you to do more than just be sat at your PC.
All of the controls are on the headpiece; the on/off switch and volume controls, plus the call pick up button on the back of the earpiece. How the combinations of buttons work is detailed in the instructions, but the headset does allow you to pick up multiple calls, mute and redial all from the headset. With so few buttons, it doesn’t take long to pick up the sequences to be able to work them without having to look at the instructions (which are super easy) and learn what the buttons do by their shape and texture.
The headset charges using the USB cord which is included in the set. The battery life is around 29 hours for calls and 64 hours for music, so if you’re not on a call you can run your music from your laptop or PC and still wander around with a range of around 10 meters! This is great for parents who are on calls with their hands full all day or those who have a job where they need to be away from their desks for long periods of time. It’s not just a PC which the Edifier CC200 can work from either. The headset is compatible with both Windows and Apple technology and some phones as well.
The Edifier technology boasts crystal clear calls as well. I set this up easily with my work laptop. Using the on/off button, you only need to pair it once using Bluetooth. With the headphone on set-up mode, my laptop was able to search for it and lock on to the headset easily. Once they’re paired, your laptop or PC locks onto it again whenever it’s switched on and you can start using it straight away.
I am familiar with wireless and Bluetooth headsets so this worked similarly to other brands I’ve used. The call is crystal clear though, both hearing the other person and your own voice, and it works well when there are a group of you on a call. The charge length of the battery is super long – I am used to charging my headset every day and the Edifier CC200 lasts for days without needing to be charged. The adjustable headset is really good for those of us with a lot of hair, or if you wear your hair tied back etc, and even better, it doesn’t have sharp bits that get caught in your hair too!
This is a great addition to working from home and I really can’t find any faults with it. It’s a brilliant price too for how well it works.
The Review Studio 