Joe & Seph’s Popcorn Ultimate Night In Gift Box

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

Whenever I buy Joe & Seph’s Popcorn, my friend Lisa always asks me, “Have you got any more of that posh popcorn?” so when we were offered the Joe & Seph’s Ultimate Night In Gift Box, I knew we had to review it!

The box is priced at £12.50 with three different flavours of popcorn; Salted Caramel, Caramel & Belgian Chocolate Popcorn and the slightly different Milk Chocolate Popcorn Bites. The Bites are different because they are cups of chocolate with a piece of popcorn set in them. These were particularly nice because the chocolate and popcorn worked together well, and we had them in the fridge as little snacks to eat throughout the day!  The chocolate was particularly good quality too which made them more of a treat. 

The Salted Caramel and Caramel & Belgium Chocolate Popcorn were for us to enjoy after dinner on a Friday.  Both of the flavours are favourites of mine so I was keen to try them.  The Salted Caramel is not as ‘salted’ as you might think, but more caramel. I love Joe & Seph’s popcorn because it’s not sticky at all, and the Salted Caramel flavour is no exception. You can pick it up and hold the popcorn without it melting in your hand or feeling sticky which makes it much easier to handle as well as easier to share.  The quality of the popcorn itself is much better than your cinema popcorn because there are minimal kernels and unbaked pieces of corn.  In fact, there’s no un-popped corn pieces at the bottom of the bag, so all you get is proper, fluffy popcorn!

The Caramel & Belgium Chocolate Popcorn was my favourite of all the flavours.  Layered in a light coat of chocolate, you can taste the Belgium chocolate straight away, and the second flavour is the delicate caramel.  The see-through grab bags are easy to share, but just as easily pour into a bowl due to the shape of the bag.  

The Joe & Seph’s Popcorn Ultimate Night In Gift Box arrives in a presentation box to your doorstep, after being handmade and packed in London, but the boxes can be sent to anywhere in the country. Ordering on the website, you can also add a 60 character message, which makes it a great gift for anyone who loves popcorn, chocolate or snacks in general. I think this Ultimate Night In Gift Box works as either a Girls’ night in with some Prosecco, a movie and a bit of gossip, or as a gift for a teenager’s birthday, along with the Amazon gift card they all crave!

Joe & Seph’s Ultimate Night In Gift Box costs £12.50: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/gift-box-ultimate-night-in

The Ritual of Ayurveda Gift Set

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

If you are looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift then the Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Gift set needs to be top of your list, it is beautifully wrapped (always a bonus when you have left your gift buying to the last minute!) and contains a lovely selection of products for your mum to pamper herself with.

From the moment I unwrapped the origami designed packaging and discovered the sturdy floral designed cardboard box I could tell that this was going to be a special gift set. On lifting the lid of the gift box, I discovered four travel sized products – foaming shower gel 50ml, rich body oil 30ml, body cream 70ml and hair & body mist 20ml – everything you need to bring a little luxury into your bathroom.

The Ritual of Ayurveda products are designed to help you achieve inner harmony and are based on the aromas of Indian rose and sweet almond oil. These products all smell amazing and are a real sensual treat.

The foaming shower gel lathers nicely and when used alongside the body cream helps carry the delicious scent around with you all day. The body oil is wonderful to apply, it glides on like silk and supercharges my skin with moisture. The oil is light and absorbs quickly, leaving behind the most gorgeous scent and leaving my skin smooth, soft and with a healthy sheen. The hair and body mist has the same beautiful fragrance and the handy sized bottle is perfect to keep in your handbag.  

The Ritual Of Ayurveda giftset makes a lovely Mother’s Day gift – pure luxury & the ultimate indulgence for that special person in your life.

RRP £27

Kelly Loves Sushi Kit

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!

Sushi At Home Kit currently on sale at £29.99 here: https://kellyloves.com/collections/sushi-at-home

Flapjackery

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!

Philip Kingsley Haircare Products

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

Philip Kingsley is synonymous with quality hair products as well as great gifts.  We were sent the Nourish & Volume Jet Set pack – a set of Elasticizer, Body Building Shampoo and Moisture Balance Conditioner in travel sizes, all set for going on holiday this summer!

I have bought Philip Kingsley before and was impressed by with the high quality of their shampoos and conditioners so to have a travel set that I can take away with me, and not have to rely on whatever shampoo the hotel provides makes it a travel must have for me. Whilst we’re on the subject, why do hotels only provide shampoo and not conditioners when you stay? Do we not want luscious, glossy locks whilst we’re on holiday, or do they assume we will bring our own? Well with this shower-proof pack (the set comes in a zip bag) there isn’t a question.

The Philip Kingsley Elasticizer (75ml) is step 1 in your haircare routine.  To apply, wet your hair before shampooing and work the Elasticizer into all sections. Cover with a shower cap for 10-20 minutes, the longer the better, then rinse off and use the other Philip Kingsley products. The pre-conditioner works on your hair before you take off the residue with the shampoo, leaving it softer, conditioned and as the name suggests, elasticised.  

The Body Building Shampoo (75ml) works with the Elasticizer to cleanse the hair but also leave it voluminous and bouncy.  It actually cleans really deeply too to leave your hair properly clean, and as I like my hair, squeaky clean! It has a lovely light fragrance too.

The Moisture Balance Conditioner is the last of the Philip Kingsley haircare steps and is great for when you’re on holiday because it nourishes and moisturises hair which might have been exposed to sea water, chlorine and the weather.  Used in combination with the Elasticizer, it’s slightly more gentle, but leaves hair soft and bouncy and manageable too.  It also has a lovely fragrance like the shampoo.

All Philip Kingsley products are available on their website and are 100% recyclable and cruelty free. All orders on their website are postage free and also come with a free sample – I had a 20ml shampoo sample with mine so I can take that on holiday too!

Philip Kingsley have a huge range of haircare products on their website and works with trichologists to develop the very best in haircare products.

Philip Kingsley Nourish & Volume Travel Kit is available online for £30 at: https://www.philipkingsley.co.uk/philip-kingsley-nourish-and-volume-jet-set.html

BOWSER LEAF

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

Hada Labo Day Cream-in-Milk Moisturiser

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

Hada Labo is Japan’s Number 1 skin care line, which although being available from Superdrug in the UK, it isn’t very well known here. It is remarkably cheap though for such a good quality product as I discovered when I tested the Hada Labo Day Cream-In-Milk.

The product gets it’s name from the milky essence of the moisturiser, delivered in a pump to make it easier to carry and travel with.  It contains 5 types of hyaluronic acid, which is not only the newest type of skincare ingredient but is very fashionable at the moment, found in a lot of the high-end skincare products available on the market. Hada Labo’s Day Cream-In-Milk works on different layers of the skin to provide moisture, filling and wrinkle-smoothing throughout the day. 

Best used in the morning, it is best to pat the cream into the face and neck area rather than rubbing it in, which can damage the structure of the moisturiser and doesn’t particularly help repair the skin.  You can then apply make-up on top of the Day Cream but Hada Labo suggests using their Premium Lotion Super Deep Hydrator and night cream.  As it’s a rich moisturiser, it is particularly good for lifeless skin that might be dehydrated. Anyone living in the UK at the moment probably has dehydrated skin, thanks to the cold weather and the need for central heating this time of year!

Using the cream in the mornings after my shower, the fragrance-free Day Cream-In-Milk blends into your skin beautifully, although it is quite rich. I can see why it has the moniker ‘In-milk’ because it does have that slightly rich texture of milk but it does blend in easily.  I could see that at first, it left my skin quite dewy then as it absorbed and dries, it leaves a base moisturiser which is great for applying make-up over the top.  It certainly as a filling effect on the fine lines on my face too.

For the price, this is a remarkably good day cream, with all the ingredients you find in the top day creams available today and with a lovely texture to boot, too.

Available from Superdrug from £15.33:

https://www.superdrug.com/anti-ageing/expert-anti-ageing-skin-care/hada-labo-tokyo-premium-day-cream-50ml/p/817393

ARRAN After The Rain Bath Salts

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

Arran Sense of Scotland is based on the beautiful Isle of Arran, if you haven’t visited Arran, I recommend that you do – the island is beautiful and the breath-taking views from the summit of Goatfell are definitely worth the climb! Their skin care products and home fragrances are inspired by the unspoiled way of life on Arran and the intoxicating fragrances aim to help reconnect you with nature.

The latest addition to their iconic After the Rain collection is the After The Rain Bath Salts. A carefully crafted blend of natural sea salt and Epsom salts, they are fragranced with Lime, Rose and Sandalwood and are formulated to revitalise skin, relax the mind and aid restful sleep. As a perimenopausal woman I struggle a lot with sleep, often waking several times a night, so I was very interested to see if the salts could help.

I added a good handful of the salts to a hot running bath and the salts quickly dissolved, filling the whole bathroom with comforting scents of Lime, Rose and Sandalwood. The salts created a heavenly experience to unwind in, especially when teamed with candlelight and I was soon laying in a relaxed state feeling the warm water over my body. All my worries seemed to melt away and when I finally dragged myself out of the bath I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I even slept all night, waking up feeling energised and rested which was amazing.

If getting a good night’s sleep is top of your list of priorities, this product is definitely worth trying. Using the salts and following a simple sleep routine has worked wonders for me and has enabled me to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep and soothed my aching body and tired mind.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching why not treat your loved one to a bottle of these amazing bath salts?

RRP £16

Triggle Family Board Game

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.

Available from £19.50 at Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Brain-Preschool-Educational-Suitable/dp/B08SRF4FKJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2T4AYCESTM577&keywords=triggle+board+game&qid=1672763459&sprefix=triggle+board+game%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Edifier CC200 Bluetooth Headset

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.

Available for £49.99 at:

Edifier TWS1 Pro True Wireless Earbuds

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

I have never had wireless headphones before, and with all the commuting I do and going to the gym, I really should have done before now!  Opening these pink Edifier ear buds, it was nice to have them in their own case, which also doubles up as a charging unit.  The buds fit snugly in the magnetic case where they snap into place and fit the connectors to charge.  

Placing them straight into my ears was obviously the first thing I did, but like any good reviewer, I tried to connect them to my iPhone X without reading the instructions.  It turns out that these TWS1 Pro headphones are super easy to set up. From my phone, all I had to do is go to the Bluetooth settings and the headphones were already there. I just clicked on ‘connect’ and the headphones were working, playing the songs from my phone straight away. They turn themselves on when you take them out of the case and turn themselves off again when put back in place.

Using the headphones was easy too. It was just a matter of tapping once (on either ear) to play or pause, twice on the left ear for the previous track and twice on the right for the next track.  Volume up and down is a hold on either ear bud. It’s one tap to accept a call and 2-3 taps to disconnect a call on your phone too.

The ear phones stayed in for the whole of my cycle and weights workout which I was surprised about.  The sound is balanced between both ear buds but there’s not the best bass on them and I can’t find a way of changing the settings. There’s a long battery life on them and they’re very sharp when listening to audio books etc.

For the price, these are great stocking fillers or for teenager who already have a smart phone.  It’s difficult to go wrong with how easy they are and compact but well designed in the case and they come with not one but two sets of spare ear pieces.  I am converted to using these headphones now instead of my wire ones for everyday use and I’m not going back!

Available for £59.99 at:

Havaianas More Joy Women’s Flip-Flops

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

The heatwave isn’t over yet! Regardless of how hot it is, these Havaianas flip-flops from Brazil can be worn spring until autumn. We were sent a pair from the new More Joy range by Christopher Kane to try this week, and thankfully, the weather has been kind to us whilst testing them!

Priced at £40 for a pair, you might think twice at paying so much for a pair of flip flops when the local supermarket store carries the same sort of design for less than £5.  Well, the very trendy Havaianas are made of 100% rubber on the soles and PVC silk for the straps, making them hard-wearing, but the rubber sole also makes them more comfortable. They’re made from one continuous block of rubber, so there are no stuck-on soles or coatings which wear off over time. Instead, the thick rubber creates a cushioning effect to make them more comfortable to walk in for long periods of time, and of course, much cooler than shoes!

Havaianas More Joy Flip Flops

The More Joy designs are a trendy version of the ‘Peace Sign’ for the fingers, but this time for the toes! Don’t believe me? Have a look at the red and white designs and you’ll see the Peace Sign is represented on the upper sole…

I have been wearing these at the weekend to walk around town and the garden. They’re very comfortable, and show no sign of wearing like some flip-flops do.  The dark rubber and straps show little sign of dirt either so they can go on and on. 

Check out the Havaianas store online for lots of other designs for men, women and kids as well as lots of other summer clothes.

More Joy by Havaianas cost £40 from here: