Category: Gifts for teachers

Spode Creatures of Curiosity Travel Mug

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She Grows Veg Valentines Gifts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clean Co Non-Alcoholic Botanical Spirit Gin

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Mother's Day, Women

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

Clean Co, the drinks company started by TV personality Spencer Matthews in 2019 has been going from strength to strength. No doubt lockdown helped with the sales of the company’s non-alcoholic spirits, but the increasing product range has led to people talking about all of their products. We first tried Clean Co over a year ago when few people had heard about it, but without me prompting the conversation, Clean Co (and specifically their ‘gin’ in the green bottle) has come up in conversation recently with the moniker of ‘the best non-alcoholic gin.’

To explain, the Clean Co products all mock the high alcohol volume spirits you normally find on the shelves but are made alcohol-free and retain the same taste. The whole range extends to; Clean G Gin (green bottle), Clean G Pink Rhubarb Gin (pink bottle), Clean W Whisky (dark brown), Clean R Rum (light brown), Clean T Tequila (clear), Clean V Spiced Apple (also clear). There are new flavours arriving all the time, so check out the website to see new additions soon.

The award-winning and original Clean Co drink, the Clean G works exactly like gin. You can make a cocktail with it, drink it neat, or simply add tonic and lemon to re-create your favourite tipple. It tastes so close to gin that you won’t know the difference. It’s also sugar free with just 14 calories per 50ml serving. The design of the bottle (Art Deco, 1920s) also makes it more theatrical to drink at home, making it easy to forget that it’s not got alcohol in it. Most people who don’t know the brand would assume that it’s not alcoholic either.

The Clean Co Clean G non-alcoholic gin was a hit with my friends, some of whom had already heard of the brand and one in particular who already drinks it.  It’s a winner in both worlds; non-alcoholic but with the taste of gin that allows you to enjoy your favourite tipple, guilt free.

Available from £16 at:

https://clean.co

Island Bakery Biscuits

Birthday Gifts, chocolate, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers

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

Organic biscuits, shortbreads and nibbles made in the Hebrides, Scotland.

Here at the Review Studio we never say no to trying something new but biscuits are a clear winner! Even better, the Island Bakery biscuits are organic and sourced with local ingredients where they are made on the Island of Mull.  The team sent us 3 varieties to choose from their range of 11; Apple Crumbles, Chocolate Gingers and their savoury Cheese Biscuits. How quickly do you think we put the kettle on to test these…?


Island Bakery Cheese Biscuits

Starting with the Cheese Biscuits, these are flavoured Harissa & Cumin.  The cheese is sourced locally in Tobermory, where the Island Bakery is situated on the Isle of Mull and the cheese comes from just one herd of Friesian, Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle. Each biscuit is made with real butter and the harissa warms the texture of the biscuit along with the cumin. You’ll notice other spices in there, which work brilliantly with any of the cheeses you choose to pair with the Island Bakery Cheese Biscuits.  A fabulous savoury offering that if you’re clever, you might even be able to pass off as homemade!

Available at £3.79: https://www.islandbakery.scot/product/isle-of-mull-cheese-biscuits-harissa-with-chilli-cumin/

Island Bakery Apple Crumbles

Onto the sweeter biscuits, suitable for tea or coffee or just as a snack on their own.  The Apple Crumbles are oaty biscuits, made with real, dried apple piece and apple juice, complete with sprinkles of cinnamon. The biscuits are snappy, not soft and chewy and work exceptionally well dunked in tea, although they’re far better as a biscuit on their own. In fact, they were more like a snack than a biscuit because I had intended to eat two (purely for testing reason you understand!) but one was enough. They’re very filling which is probably because they are made with real products and not with additives and synthetics. They’re great for after Sunday lunch and remind you of grandma’s homemade cookies.

Available from £3.15: https://www.islandbakery.scot/product/apple-crumbles-2/

Island Bakery Chocolate Gingers

Sharp, spicy and wickedly delicious, these Chocolate Gingers pack a punch after you bite into them and start to chew.  Made with stem ginger, and lashings of it by the taste of them, they are also half coated in dark chocolate. They’re very hearty and much like the Apple Crumbles, they don’t need a second one (unless you really want to!) to fill you up. I think I loved these the most because of both their texture, and the juxtaposition of the ginger and the sweet sugar taste. The added chocolate is a welcome bonus and its generous chocolate too. I was still savouring the chunks of ginger with my tea long after the biscuit was devoured and the tingling sensation was still in my mouth from the ginger.  These are much better than the High Street variety where they go soggy if left out for a few days. The Island Bakery Chocolate Gingers are a biscuit lover’s dream and so moreish you’ll be buying these as gifts too.

Available from £3.95: https://www.islandbakery.scot/product/chocolate-gingers-copy/

All of the biscuits are delicious, and that was only a small selection from the website. Other flavours include Lime Melts, Lemon Melts, Blonde Chocaccinos (coffee and cinnamon) and other savoury biscuits such as Onion and Thyme Cheese Biscuits. There’s also biscuits in tins available on the website shop, which are great for giving as gifts. Delivery is £5 in the UK only but if you order more than £30 worth, delivery is free.

Bruler Bergamot & Oud Luxury Soy Candle

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, Fragrance, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Winter, Women

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

Lighting a scented candle is a simple way to create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere in any room and with Valentine’s Day coming up, make the perfect gift for a loved one. For a special occasion it’s lovely to have a luxury candle but premium scented candles, whilst smelling amazing, can be a little pricey so I was really pleased to discover Bruler Candles whose mission is to make premium scented candles at an affordable price. With over 15 scents and a choice of candles and reed diffusers there is a great selection to choose from.

In my experience the sign of a good candle is always when you can smell the fragrance before you take it out of the packaging and the Bruler candle did not disappoint on that score! After unwrapping the Bergamot & Oud luxury soy candle l couldn’t resist lighting it straight away and within minutes the sublime fragrance was diffusing around the room.  The balance of bergamot and oud is perfect, the fragrance is noticeable but not too overpowering and it fragranced my room beautifully, lasting long after the candle had been blown out. With the 30cl candle having a burn time of 40 hours my home is going to be smelling lovely for the next few months.    

The design of the candle is nice and simple, a solid glass jar with a white label meaning it will suit any style of décor and not look out of place. The 30cl glass candle costs a very reasonable £23 and there is the option of adding a gift box for an extra £2.  Standard delivery is £3 and orders over £50 (with standard delivery) are free.

So if you want a candle to create a romantic ambience this Valentine’s Day then take a look at Bruler candles, they will add a luxurious feel to any home without an expensive price tag. And if there isn’t anyone special this year then why not treat yourself!!

Darn Tough Lifestyle Socks

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

Is there such a thing as a sock snob? If there is then I’m definitely one of them! Where I used to just pick up any old socks when out shopping, I now have more discerning tastes and I’ve discovered it really is worth spending money on a decent pair of socks – I’m on my feet a lot and the difference between a good pair of socks and a bad pair is quite astounding.

If you’re not a hiker the chances are that you won’t have heard of the American sock brand Darn Tough. Made in America the seam free socks are made from merino wool and are unbelievably comfortable to wear, I have a couple of pairs that I wear when hiking and it’s no exaggeration when I say it’s like walking on air when they’re on my feet. As well as being incredibly comfy the socks are very hard wearing, in fact Darn Tough are so confident about the durability of their socks that they offer a lifetime guarantee. Yes you heard that right, if they wear out you can send them back and they will be replaced free of charge without a receipt and no questions asked!

As well as the popular hiking socks they also make everyday socks called the Lifestyle range. These crew socks are thinner than hiking socks and are the perfect choice for everyday wear, whether that’s in shoes, trainers or boots. Made from a mix of 61% merino wool, 36% nylon and 3% lycra the socks are moisture wicking and more breathable than your average pair of socks and once you’ve worn a pair, I guarantee you won’t go back to those supermarket socks! The animal designs are cute and I especially love the ones with ducks wearing blue spotted wellies.

The Darn Tough Lifestyle socks are available in small, medium and large which will fit  feet between sizes 2.5 to 9. They sit nicely above the ankle and are ideal for wearing in trainers or casual boots. The merino wool is not only soft against your feet but is also perfect for helping to regulate body temperature and won’t lead to smelly feet.

The socks are an excellent fit, sitting nicely on my foot and they don’t slip down when walking, the ribbed cuff is a comfortable fit and not too tight around my leg. I have worn these socks a few times now and they are lovely and comfortable both in trainers and casual boots, fitting snugly on my feet. They wash well, even on cooler washes and they are still soft to the touch and have not lost their shape.  

So if you’ve run out of inspiration for all those hard to buy for friends and family members then a pair of Darn Tough socks are the ideal choice. With many different designs you are bound to find a pair to suit everyone and with the lifetime guarantee it it’s gift that will last forever!

RRP £27

Pact Coffee Christmas Selection Box

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thorntons Chocolate Advent Calendar

advent calendar, chocolate, Christmas, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers

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

These days advent calendars have lots of different goodies hiding behind the windows, including beauty products, alcohol and toys, but I much prefer the traditional ones that contain chocolate – after all what other time of the year can you get away with chocolate for breakfast!! 

Whilst Thorntons have closed all their high street shops, you can still get their delicious chocolates in supermarkets and online and I was delighted to receive The Best of Thorntons Advent calendar which contains 24 yummy chocolates from the Continental and Classic range as well as a couple of the new Thorntons Pearls.

This really is a sophisticated advent calendar for grown up kids – the snow scene design is very festive and there is a delicious chocolate to enjoy each day. As the selection of chocolates are from 3 different ranges there is a great mix of mouth-watering flavours in milk, dark and white chocolate and with 12 different chocolates in the calendar you can look forward to a second one appearing again later on in the month.

So on to the chocolates – my favourite has to be the Triple Chocolate, bite into it and your mouth is filled with the taste of smooth, quality chocolate. The Orange Velvet Pearl is a real taste sensation, a decadent orange chocolate ganache coated in smooth milk chocolate. 

Though more expensive than the average supermarket calendar you simply can’t go wrong with this Thorntons advent calendar, weighing in at 258g, you’re getting plenty of chocolate for your money.

If you have a chocoholic in your household, I would recommend you treat them to this advent calendar, or just treat yourself – it is Christmas after all!

RRP: £15.33

Available from: Lidl, Sainsbury and Thortons.com

Ava May Fairtrade Wax Melts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hive & Keeper Honey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bonne Maman Advent Calendar 

advent calendar, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home

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

Bonne Maman are known for their exquisite jams and spreads and more recently for thoughtful gifts too. This limited edition advent calendar contains all you need for a festive December where all 24 windows have a delicious treat inside!

This year, Santa’s elves have created a calendar of Santa’s workshop, complete with Christmas trees surrounded by helpers who are making jams and spread and transporting them to households worldwide. Behind the windows you’ll find not just jams but savoury spreads and even 6 varieties of tea bags. The jams and spreads are more than just what you’d find on the Bonne Maman shelf in the supermarket as some of them aren’t available in the UK so don’t be surprised by what the elves have made! Some of the specialties include Apricot & Banana Spread, Fig with Cardamon, Mara des Bois Strawberry and even Quince With Chunks for the savoury lovers.  The teabags are also specialities too including Morning Blend, Quiet Moment and Christmas Blend.  Behind window 24 for Christmas Eve, there’s a special surprise too…

The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is available to ship to the UK only.  It arrived in a massive box too, probably to accommodate the size of the two leaves that open out to make the whole Santa’s Workshop landscape.  The windows hide a glass 30 gram jar of each of the jams and preserves, so you have the excellent quality of Bonne Maman which is kept fresh and safe from perishing. The glass adds to the weight of the calendar but is worth it for the mixture of jams and spreads inside. You’ll never get bored of the different flavours!

Speaking of flavours, I have never seen such a mix of fruits.  There’s not just the usual strawberry and raspberry jams (although they are included!) but delicacies such as fig, nectarine and peach, all of which are mixed with different spices to give whole new flavours.  If you only occasionally eat toast or scones but appreciate good jam and don’t want to open a whole jar each time, this is a brilliant gift. It’s also good for food connoisseurs who love trying new flavours or cooking with different jams. For example, the Apricot & Lavender spread would be scrumptious on a gammon joint to bring out the flavours.  Chestnut and orange would also be perfect for Christmas Day lunch or a Sunday Roast to add to the stuffing or as a side to the Yorkshire Puddings.

Once you’ve indulged in all the spreads, don’t forget the teas. I think there’s a reason each of the herbal teas are based around calming, soothing flavours at Christmas time, so make sure you make full use of them!

Available from £33.00: https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/advent

Kikkerland Make Your Own Tea Kit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kingsland Drinks Wine Selection

alcoholic drinks, Autumn, Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Winter

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

Who doesn’t enjoy a nice bottle of wine with their Christmas dinner, or cosied up in front of a roaring fire? We certainly do so were delighted to receive a selection of wines chosen by the experts at Kingsland Drinks, which as well as being lovely gifts are the perfect accompaniment to Christmas lunch.

Rosé fans will love the Tourmaline 2022 rosé from esteemed producers, Barton & Guestier. The wine is in a gorgeous tall bottle with a glass stopper and the dry wine has floral, citrus, pear, peach and red berry notes. Best served chilled, the delicious fruity wine is dry and crisp and great with food or  drunk whist curled up in front of a fire with loved ones. With a beautiful pink hue this French wine is hard to beat.  

ABV 12.5% RRP £26.99 available from Waitrose (currently £18.99)

The South Australian Sauvignon Blanc from The Hidden Sea is perfect for Christmas lunch, we enjoyed this zingy citrussy wine with chicken, but it will go just as well with turkey and if you are having a seafood starter even better as it pairs nicely with seafood. This is a delightful fresh wine and is very smooth and palatable and also works really well as a spritzer with ice and sparkling water. Another bonus is for every bottle purchased The Hidden Sea will remove the equivalent of 10 x 500ml plastic bottles from the sea and recycle them, so perfect for those who want to do their bit for the environment.

ABV 12% RRP £8 Suitable for vegans, available from Sainsbury’s and Asda

Champagne might be out of your budget this Christmas, so a bottle of Prince Alexandre Crémant de Loire is purse friendly. Made in France in the exact same method as Champagne, this sparkling wine is a subtle blend of  Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc and boasts a fresh elegant aroma of citrus and white stone fruit with hints of biscuity notes. When I poured it into a tall flute there was a multitude of bubbles that jumped and fizzed and popped satisfyingly on my tongue, served chilled it is perfect for a festive toast.

ABV 12.5% RRP £14.49, Waitrose

These wines should appeal to pretty much all palates and I’m off to Waitrose to stock up whilst the Christmas offers are available!!

Danilo Calendars

Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

Now Halloween is over thoughts are turning to Christmas and buying gifts. Calendars make great stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts and here are a few of our favourites from Danilo, Europe’s number one publisher of licensed calendars, that are bound to be well received on Christmas morning.

Despite all the electronic options available I still like a paper calendar in the kitchen as it’s easy for the whole family to see at a glance what’s going on – whether that’s birthdays, appointments,  holidays or reminders for insurance and MOT’s. There are lots of different wall calendars available but I especially like a calendar that has columns for each family member as it makes it easy to see at a glance who is doing what.

The Great British Bake Off 2024 Official Family Organiser has 5 columns to keep all the family organised along with a seasonal recipe to try each month. It also has over 200 stickers which are perfect for highlighting important dates such as birthdays, school holidays, dentist and doctors appointments helping them stand out on the calendar.

As you would expect from Danilo it is very good quality and the images of the cakes and pastries all look absolutely delicious. There is a handy pouch at the back of the calendar to store the stickers, receipts and all those important bits of paper that you accumulate as a family.

RRP £9.99

Perfect for the home or the office these Harry Potter calendars make great stocking fillers or even Secret Santa gifts.

The Harry Potter Desk Postcard Desk Calendar is spiral bound and has the dates down the right-hand side alongside a colourful graphical image from the eight Harry Potter films. The calendar is designed to be flipped over and each image is actually a postcard that can be removed along the perforated edge and kept or posted to a friend.

RRP £6.99

The Harry Potter Desk Block Calendar is a page-a-day calendar designed to sit on a desk. It has a hard cover and has a separate page for each day featuring fun quotes, trivia and images of characters from all the Harry Potter films including Harry, Ron and Hermione along with others. It can laid flat on a desk or use the cover to stand it up.  

RRP  £10.99

Joy of Christmas Hamper Gift Box

alcoholic drinks, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Gluten Free, Home, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

Hampers are such a good idea at Christmas. I remember receiving a few over the years when I was a child as ‘thank you’ gifts at Christmas so that the whole family could enjoy them. I don’t particularly remember what was in them but it was so exciting rummaging through all the ruffled paper to find something else. Then there’s the obvious questions to my Mum, ‘What is this?’ It would turn out to be something like a posh chutney, or a type of Christmas dessert we never had in our house. I remember loose tea being in one hamper and my mind automatically thought you had to assemble your own tea bags from it. What was the point of that?

Hampers have come a long way since then but they’re just as popular as gifts and there’s so many varieties to choose from. The Goodness Project use lots of vegan and gluten free products for their gift boxes, and there are plenty of gift boxes available on their website so you’ll find one within your price range and suitable for any occasion.

We were sent their 2023 Joy of Christmas Gift Box to try out.  This £28.50 box is deceptively full with treats for Christmas!  There’s everything you need including:

  • A bottle of Bottega Gold Prosecco (20cl)
  • Angelic Chocolate and Orange Biscuits (vegan)
  • Love Cocoa Peruvian Dark Chocolate (71%) 
  • English Truffle Potato Crisps
  • Filberts Flavoured Nut Mix
  • Lottie Shaw’s Deep Filled Mince Pie (70g)

The box is enough for one person to eat themselves or two people to share, but the bottle of Prosecco is probably only enough for 1 glass each! The Filberts Flavoured Nut Mix was a surprise with how lovely they were. There was a mixture of different nuts, but they were roasted and flavoured with herbs which made them different to what you can usually buy on supermarket shelves. The English Truffle Potato crisps from English Heritage have won the Great Taste award for 2023 probably due to the quality of the potato and then the delicious truffle flavour. If you’ve never tried truffle crisps before, then if I describe them to you as posh mushroom but not as strong, you’ll know that the taste is pretty tame and even children would enjoy it.  

For the sweeter snacks, there’s the Deep Filled Mince Pie from Lottie Shaw’s.  Bigger than the mine pies you get in the supermarket in packs of 6, this is deep filled and baked in Yorkshire to a family recipe.  It’s great for the mince pie aficionado who loves to compare all the varieties on the market each Christmas! There’s also the Angelic Chocolate Orange Vegan cookies which are also dairy, nut and gluten free. The packaging says they’re safe for the top 14 allergens which is good to know if you’re buying the gift box for a teacher or family you don’t know that well. There’s two packets of biscuits in the box (which is all recyclable) and 4 cookies in each making 8 in all. Plenty for a snack throughout the Christmas period but also great for entertaining!

Lastly there’s the Peruvian Dark Chocolate from Love Cocoa. With a weight of 75 grams it’s about the size of tuckshop confectionary but at 71% it’s a dark chocolate from one of the best chocolate makers around.  It’s very smooth and very strong so even if you’re a dark chocolate lover like me, you probably won’t want to eat all of it in one go.

The final item in the Joy of Christmas Hamper Box is the Bottega Gold Prosecco which is also organic and vegan. A light, sparkling wine which compliments the mix of Christmas flavours in the other items in the box, it’s a welcome alcohol addition to round off Christmas. It is 11% though so best keep it away from the children!

Rather than buy another ever-decreasing size box of chocolates and the dreaded Panettone

 for your neighbours or family friends this Christmas, splash out on a bit more and send a Goodness Project gift box and forget about having to wrap it – their gorgeous ribbon box is sent directly to them for you!

Available online for £28.50 at: https://thegoodnessproject.co.uk/shop/joy-of-christmas-hamper-gift-box

Moulins Mahjoub Organic Artichoke and Sevilla Orange Chutney

Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home

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

Any chutney lovers out there? Chutney is commonly used for cheese boards and is usually made from an autumn fruit like apple or onion, but it can be made from lots of different ingredients. Similar to a jam, but not as sweet, chutneys are also added to cold meats or can be an accompaniment to vegetables or pies during the cold months too. There’s always mango chutney for your curry or naan bread, making a delicious textural change to the spiciness of the meat.

Moulins Mahjoub chutney is probably made from ingredients which you have never tried in a chutney before – artichoke and Sevilla orange. Inspired by the Mediterranean, the ingredients are all organic and a usual Tunisian pairing, just not something we see in this country so much! The flavours go well with chicken dishes (including Tunisian chicken recipes) couscous and of course cheeses.

The flavour is quite something – you can taste the sharp Savilla orange taste, with spikey citrus tones straight away whilst the base of artichoke is more subtle.  It makes an interesting union with more bland cheeses, which is how I used it with very mild Cheddar. The tartness of the orange flavour allows you to mix very little of the chutney with your favourite foods to give a completely different taste which we aren’t used to in our kitchens.  combining it up with thick ham to give a sandwich or a cheese toastie, grilled to melt the cheese and have the Artichoke and Sevilla Orange chutney inside will add a different dimension to your lunches.

It’s probably not one for children as it’s such a strong taste (it’s the strength of an extra strong Cheddar) but over Christmas with the cheese and charcuterie board, it will provide an extra kick, plus a fabulous talking point!

Available from the Artisan Olive Oil Company from £4.40:https://www.artisanoliveoilcompany.co.uk/products/moulins-mahjoub-organic-artichoke-and-sevilla-orange-chutney-210g?_pos=2&_sid=d8c67e6bd&_ss=r

Aldi Lacura West Hollywood Eye Make-up and Brightening Concealer

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

If you’re popping into Aldi this Christmas to get all the party food, Christmas day meal and all the trimmings plus general festivities, then have a look at the Lacura beauty range by Aldi.  Every year they have something lovely and this year is no exception. We were given the West Hollywood Eye Make-Up set and Brightening Concealer to try our as part of their extensive range.  Are you feeling in the festive mood yet?

The West Hollywood Eye Make Up set is 16 shades of the gorgeous Natural Radiance range, with 8 of the shades a matt colour and finish and 8 highlighting shades to compliment them.  You don’t have to use the complimentary shade with each block, and you can mix and match them (I have already!) and create a whole new look but there’s enough range there to give you a whole host of choice.  From the base neutral colours which would suit various skin tones to more vibrant and sparkly golds and metallics, this pallet isn’t just for Christmas but for all year, and all day too. There’s a lovely Espresso dark charcoal colour which is great for smokey eyes, and teaming it up with either a shiny top colour like Glam or Auburn would give you great ‘party eyes’ or something more subtle like the shade Toasted would make it more of a day wear colour.  Whichever shades you like to use, there is plenty of choice and it glides on beautifully with little effort and doesn’t go sticky or rub off easily.

The Lacura Brightening Concealer, which is in the palest shade Lacura produce (yes, I am that pale!) is a rich concealer that needs a minimal amount to blend in. You can see from this test patch on my hand that the colour is deep and you don’t need much to give all the coverage. Depending on what you need to cover (such as under eyes, or maybe a scar) you only need the tiniest amount as it goes so far so quickly.  If you do use too much though, it has a tendency to be a tiny bit chalky so start small and build up layers if you need to. I don’t think you would need to though as it gives great coverage and don’t forget it’s just a concealer, not a foundation that give all over coverage. 

The West Hollywood Eye Set and Brightening Concealer aren’t on the Aldi website yet so they won’t be in stores for a while, but when they are, get them asap! The Lacura range often sells out early!

The Kind Edit Co. Spa Botanique Garden Glove Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

Calling all of you who need a Secret Santa this year… or who are struggling to find that little gift for Mum or Gran! The Kind Edit Co. have this beautiful Luxury Garden Glove Set and Hand Cream in a gift set, which any garden enthusiast will both love and need.

The set includes a pair of green and pink gardening gloves with elastic fit and finger grips and 125ml hand cream of bergamot, ylang-ylang, lily and sandalwood. The hand cream formula is 95% natural, hence the Kind Edit Co endorsement.  You can either put the hand cream on before the gloves when you work in the garden, or apply the cream after working in the garden although you could use it at any time. The hand cream has a lovely floral aroma which is not lost on the fact that this is part of a gardening set!

I like the gloves especially because they’re very heavy duty but made of cotton, so they’re not waterproof but they are softer on the skin. They’re hand wash, which is easier when you’re working outdoors and can just leave them to soak.  The hand cream is nice and rich and has a lovely fragrance so if you do put it on under your gardening gloves, it leaves them smelling so sweet!

This is a great gift for the price of £4.99 for anyone who enjoys gardening, and I especially like it as a Secret Santa gift for someone at work.

Available from £4.99: https://well.co.uk/the-kind-edit-co-spa-botanique-garden-glove-set/

Artificial Wisdom by Thomas Weaver – book

Birthday Gifts, Books, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Stocking Fillers

A stunning cover image and thought-provoking twist of a title make you want to look inside this book to see if the story lives up to the title. And for the most part it does. The story is easy to read and moves along at a decent pace, even when at times it is dealing with complex issues and ideas. The world Artificial Wisdom is set in is both frightening and believably based on the news topics of today. The characters are likeable, or not if the plot demands, and in a few cases a little too good to be true. The author, Thomas R. Weaver, takes you through the story in such a way that you care about the outcome.

In a not-too-distant future, political leaders are much as they are today and have failed in their actions to stop climate change. The world is failing, countries becoming uninhabitable from heat, flood or famine causing migration challenges and human disasters. The super-rich have built floating climate-controlled islands, to escape the unbearable heat, that are run on their behalf by a unique artificial intelligence. The nations of the world have, rather surprisingly, agreed that one person must be given absolute power to make the hard decisions and save the human race from extinction. But who will they choose?

Against this background, the book’s main character, Marcus Tully, is a journalist who believes in the truth above all else, consequences are not his problem. He is supported by a team of misfits, all with the special skills needed to help his work of uncovering the truth and exposing those in power. He is following an anonymous lead to the ultimate story. But what is the truth and is it more important than saving humanity? The death of his wife in a climate change tragedy beyond imagining has taken a toll on the man.

Artificial Wisdom is essentially a mystery set in a future built but taking its ideas from the paths unfolding in the present. Climate change has not been solved, political intrigue is still rife, political corruption is still prevalent, conspiracy theory is everywhere, information can be deep faked and artificial intelligence is evolving. The author’s writing brings the reader along with each new idea and builds the world in a credible way explaining how such things could have happened.

This is Thomas R. Weaver’s debut novel and is ambitious in its reach. Full of twists and turns but perhaps a few too many coincidences and fortunate connections. However, this aside, the story rattles along and keeps you wanting to read to its conclusion. The concepts and situations challenge you to think about what you would do in this disturbing future timeline. The ending irked me slightly as it required a character to betray principles written in stone for the rest of the novel. However overall, I would recommend this novel to those who like a good mystery novel.

Available from £14.99 at:

www.amazon.co.uk/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0CJT79SXG

Host Your Own Race Night Board Game

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Toys

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

I had heard of Host Your Own Race Night from friends who have played it before and explained what a fun idea it was and how it worked, so when I was given the opportunity to test it, it seemed like the perfect Saturday night in with the family!

Host Your Own Race Night is a board game based on betting on horse races. Instead of having to go to a race meeting, the game is hosted at home with the use of 2 DVDs of 32 races. As a team, you choose which race you want to play, then you are given a Race Form Guide to study the form of each horse and then you place your bets using the race cards provided. At the end of the race, check the results and the winner collects their winnings in the form of (albeit fake!) ‘cash’! At the end of the game, the person with the highest amount of cash wins!

The races are hosted on a dry-wipe board and the pen is included so you can use the board and the race cards over and over. I would have a rag or something similar handy so that you can clean the board between races easily.  You might not have a DVD player any longer so hunt one down before you invite others to come over and play, but some laptops with CD/DVD drives can still play them.

The game instructions are easy to understand and it’s a game for the whole family from teenagers up to grandparents.  Kids will love the fake money too! The game is set for more than 2 players and I would say that this is great for about 6 players ideally.  It is a betting game though, and you probably shouldn’t encourage smaller children to play so the starting age of 14+ years makes sense. You can play just a couple of races or all the 32 races and make a night of it, plus the races are reasonably short so you can stop and start the game for interruptions. This would be a good game for New Year’s Eve for instance, where you might not want to watch TV but you do want to switch it on and off for different celebrations etc. 

It’s great fun, and some family members get really involved in it whilst others are more passive and play for the game rather than the amount of winnings. It’s how much you bet on each horse in each game that makes the game different each time. You don’t need to be a horse racing expert to know how to play or be able to enjoy it, but horse race followers will love it!

Available on Amazon for £20.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cheatwell-Games-23250-Host-Night-2/dp/B07F88XD7Y

Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser and Hydrating Night Cream 

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, health, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

We are all aware of the effects of hyaluronic Acid on our skin to give us glowing, tightened and hydrated appearance so the Dermatologically recommended brand Cetaphil is a lovely choice as a Christmas gift this year.

We were sent both the Daily Hydrating Moisturiser and Hydrating Night Cream this week. Both fight the 5 signs of skin sensitivity, don’t clog pores and are either fragrance free or have no added fragrances. 

The Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser for sensitive skin boasts long lasting hydration that fights dryness, irritation, roughness and a weakened skin barrier.  It works for 24 hours, but can be added throughout the day. The handy 88ml size is great for handbags and as it’s under 100ml, it can be taken on a flight as hand luggage to keep skin hydrated and keep away the effects of jetlag and flight dehydration.  The cream itself is cool and fresh, absorbs easily and isn’t heavy at all.

Cetaphil Hydrating Night Cream is a heavier cream, designed to be absorbed into the skin during the night when the body repairs skin the most.  This 50ml tub protects skin from dryness for over 24 hours, so working in combination with the Daily Hydrating Moisturiser, it will enhance the effects of each other.  This cream is for normal to very dry skin, hence the richness. It’s still luxurious though, and you can feel the moisturiser seeping into your skin, and your fingers, as you apply it.

The combination of both the Daily Hydrating Moisturiser and Hydrating Night Cream give a lovely combination of daywear and nightwear creams that work together to give 24 hours of skincare. They’re so gentle on the skin as well that it’s hard not to keep them handy to just top up throughout the day to give you that silky feeling.  As we go into winter, this is a lovely gift for Christmas to anyone who appreciates the change in seasons but not the changes to their skin.

Daily Hydrating Moisturiser from £9.66: https://www.cetaphil.co.uk/moisturisers/daily-hydrating-moisturiser/5020465201779.html

Hydrating Night Cream from £14.50: https://www.cetaphil.co.uk/moisturisers/hydrating-night-cream/5020465203018.html

Malena USB Light from Paulmann

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Tech, Women

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

Treat yourself or your teen to one of the Paulmann Malena lights from their interior lighting range this Christmas.  Their selection of luminaires add a style to your room which is not like anything you can buy from a certain Swedish home store, giving a unique flair that’s timeless too.

We were sent the Malena USB wall mounted light from Paulmann to review. Available in black and this matt white, it goes with any décor. Measuring 35 centimetres high and 22 centimetres wide, the light comes with fittings to attach it to the wall, but even without attachment, the light can sit on a side table quite easily thanks to the tray shelf underneath.  There’s a USB C port too, which allows you to cleverly charge your phone on the tray shelf, but you can easily charge anything else there or use the shelf for medicines, water etc. 

The unit plugs into the wall with a 1.2 metre cable rather than being wired in, and it should be noted that the plug is a European style so you will need a converter plug as well – never, ever plug this type of electrical plug into a UK socket.  The light doesn’t come with a bulb either, but you can buy these on the Paulmann website when you purchase the light. The Malena isn’t dimmable either, it’s an on/off switch to put the light on.

The brackets are included for installation but the instructions are not that easy to follow. This is an item for a European market so there are no language instructions at all, they’re all in illustrations. You will need to have a screwdriver and simple tools available if you are going to fix it to the wall. Without fixing it, it does sit against a wall but it’s not secure and the back of light unit looks unsightly if you turn it.

We were sent a GU10 Warm White 3.5 watt light bulb from Paulmann that fixes into the Malena light easily with a twist. Once plugged in, all you have to do is press the switch on the body of the light, and swivel the head to position it where you want. It’s ideal for reading or as a direct light in the middle of the night, right next to the bed.

The Malena is a great space saving device, with ample uses and the USB C is an added extra to its usefulness. This is a great gift to a family member who loves reading in bed, or who needs a permanent reading chair light that’s easy to access and perhaps wants to charge a phone at the same time. I personally think it’s great for a guest bedroom where you want to save space but make sure guests feel comfortable and not have to keep looking for somewhere to charge their phone or a light that won’t disturb anyone in the house. In fact, the Malena light is a great practical gift for anyone.

Available from £94.95 at: https://uk.paulmann.com/p/wall-luminaire-malena-usb-c-gu10-230v-max.-5w-matt-white/71098

Curlicue Gift Wrap

Birthday Gifts, Children, eco friendly, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Plastic free, Sustainable

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

I love receiving a beautifully wrapped gift, especially one that has been wrapped in a creative way with lots of ribbons and extra decorations. It also pains me to rip the paper so I always take care unwrapping it and have been known to reuse the paper and ribbons if they are especially nice!

I always put a lot of thought into my gift wrapping, the right gift wrap depends on a number of things including the recipient’s taste as well as the occasion the gift is for. I am also very conscious of waste, most gift wrap can’t be recycled as it has a plastic coating, foil or glitter on it, so I am always on the lookout for more sustainable options that still have the WOW factor with them.

I was therefore really pleased to be given the opportunity to work with Curlicue who make beautiful eco-friendly sustainable gift wrap and accessories. All Curlicue products are plastic-free, vegan and made in the UK and the fun designs are created by independent artists and illustrators.

The company was founded by Hema Stewart who was frustrated by the lack of eco friendly gift wrapping products available and set about creating her own. It took 3 years to create affordable wrapping paper made from 100% recycled paper and printed with vegetable inks that could be recycled with household recycling and Curlicue was launched in 2019. All the products are made in the UK, meaning they have a lower carbon footprint and the company support British businesses by sourcing all partner products from UK manufacturers.

Now the children are back at school there’s lots of party invites arriving and I have been enjoying matching the Curlicue wrapping paper to the birthday boys and girls.

The Dino-roars wrapping paper is perfect for dinosaur fans young and old. Featuring a selection of dinosaurs on a dark background the paper was too nice to throw away after my son unwrapped his presents, so I’ve been cutting the dinosaurs out to use on cards and for crafts with my children!   

Stars At Dusk is suitable for any occasion and can be teamed with the Stars at Dawn print for co-ordinating presents. Add a golden ribbon for the WOW factor.

Sporting Legends is perfect for any sport fan and features a selection of sports including cycling, weightlifting, volleyball, golf and dance.

Unicorns are popular with the girls at the minute so they loved the Sprinkles of Magic paper with the cute pink and purple maned unicorns.

Each sheet is 70cm x 50cm and folds satisfyingly around your gift, the reverse side of the paper is marked with squares to help when cutting the paper and as the paper is nice and strong it cuts easily without tearing.

With matching gift tags Curlicue paper offers a sustainable option without sacrificing style or quality. There are plenty of fun prints for every occasion, giving you the opportunity to make an eco-friendly swap without breaking the bank. 

Available in packs of 3 or 5 sheets:
3 sheets – £6.75 (£2.25 per sheet)
5 sheets – £9.75 (£1.95 per sheet)

Postage is £3.95 and free over £30

Rubik’s Phantom Rubik’s Cube

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

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

The Rubik’s Phantom is a mind-boggling, challenging puzzle related to the famous 80s Rubik’s Cube that many of us grew up with. This one is different though because it has a major difference. You can’t see the colours on the stickers unless you heat them up with the warmth of your hand. Without the warmth of your touch, all the sides are black!

Once you solve the first puzzle (ie getting into the intricate packaging) then the Cube itself looks harmful enough. It has the same black squares all the way around until you put light pressure on each one to reveal the colour.  Quickly you realise that you can’t just sit and hold your finger over one sticker at a time, so you have to find ways of warming up the whole face of the Cube at the same time in order to reveal the different colours.  The photo shows what the Cube looked like before touch, then after.  This however, was only after I worked out how to hold the Rubik’s Cube in my hand long enough to get the full colour through.

The sides are in 6 colours (white, green, orange, blue, red and yellow) and each sticker seems to have a different ‘warm up’ time to it. Some of the stickers kept their colour for longer too, whilst others seemed to fade quickly. The trick is to get as many of the sides warmed up (and it took a good 30 seconds to get a true colour to come through) then work on solving the puzzle with one hand at least constantly on one face to keep from going cold. 

The Rubik’s Phantom is one of the more challenging hand puzzles available with a 5/6 scoring for difficulty. The added pressure of remembering which colour each tile is or indeed remembering to keep the faces warm, adds to players’ cognitive memory, as well as using fine motor skills and general problem solving skills – vital if you’re to work out how to get the tiles warm enough! Incidentally, the heat sensitive faces need a temperature of 26C (79F) or above to change colour. How long it will take to complete the puzzle in anyone’s guess. 

Available from £19.69 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Rubik’s+Phantom&ref=nb_sb_noss

Divine Seriously Smooth Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Stocking Fillers

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

Chocolate is no longer just for children, nor is it the over-farmed, unfair trade that it used to be, or at least it doesn’t have to be if you choose the right retailer. Divine Chocolate is co-owned by cocoa farmers to give them a better deal on their wares plus improves the standard of the chocolate. It’s a win/win for everyone and their 2023 advent calendars are no exception!

We were sent two to try, the first one being the Seriously Smooth Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar. With 24 days (or nights if you’re being pedantic) of chocolate to taste, it’s the usual size and structure of an advent calendar. Slightly larger than A4 size, it can be posted and most of it is recyclable due to the cardboard involved.  The windows open to reveal a Christmas-themed chocolate which appeals to both children and adults.  Nothing complicated about that? Well there isn’t anything complicated, it’s just that the chocolate has secret powers… Secret powers to change lives. Let me explain more.

Every bar of Divine Chocolate helps to directly change the lives of cocoa farmers around the world. Divine Chocolates are made with only Fairtrade cocoa and sugar, so the majority of the ingredients are sourced from the right farmers who are given the right compensation. That alone should make you feel good about buying Divine Chocolate but it doesn’t stop there. All of the flavours and ingredients are natural, and they use only 100% pure cocoa butter. Additionally, Divine are helping to save the environment and habitations too by using NO palm oil.

What is the chocolate like though? Well as you would imagine, it’s smooth milk chocolate, and it has a more authentic chocolate taste because it has pure cocoa butter and contains no palm oil. No substitutions mean that it’s a richer, smoother chocolate both in texture and taste.

This is an advent calendar clearly children will enjoy but adults will too, and anyone with a conscience will appreciate that somewhere in Ghana, there is a farmer and his family whose life will be improved by you supporting Divine Chocolate.

Available for £5 from Ocado, Whole Foods, Oxfam and online at: https://www.divinechocolate.com/product/divine-milk-chocolate-advent-calendar