Father’s Day Letter Box Hamper 

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

Father’s Day is Sunday 18 June, and everyone, without fail, struggles to find something that’s perfect for Dad! Every year he says there’s nothing he wants, knowing that he’ll get another supply of socks or beer like every year, but secretly, I’m sure all Dads would like something that’s more of a thoughtful treat for them. 

The Letter Box Hamper company cater for all sorts of hamper treats throughout the year, and this year have sent us a lovely Father’s Day hamper. Keen followers will see that we also have one of these Father’s Day hampers as a competition prize too, so I’ll do my best to give you the low down!  

At £32.95 this is a great price for a gift on Father’s Day. It’s not too expensive, but it shows that some thought has gone into this present and isn’t just picked off the shelves. In fact, you can only buy it online on the www.letterboxhamper.com website and have it delivered, so not everyone is going to have one.  If you don’t fancy the Father’s Day Hamper then there are loads of other lovely ones for other occasions on their website too.

As the name suggests, the letter box hamper fits through the door. You don’t need to be home to be able to receive it and there’s nothing breakable inside to worry about as it hurtles through the air and onto your doormat.  The box itself is lovely and resembles a hamper/suitcase of old and when you open it, there’s a personalised message in there for Dad too so he knows who it’s from! When the hamper arrives through the post, it is parcelled up with lovely wrapping paper and string and looks so special, so there’s no way Dad can miss it.

As for the box, it has loads in it;

  • 5 Classic tea bags from Tregothnan (the tea grown in England)
  • A pack of 2 Scottish shortbread fingers from Shortbread House of Edinburgh
  • 3 chocolate truffles from Charbonel et Walker 
  • A traditional oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s
  • A bar of 61% dark chocolate from Coco
  • A bar of hazelnut and raisin dark chocolate from Willie’s Cacao

If you do the simple maths, there’s five tea bags and 5 snacks in total so that’s tea and a snack for every day of the work week!

Starting with the tea if you’ve never had English grown tea before (thanks to global warming there are plants all over the UK now) then this medium/strong tea is a great delicacy and probably something you wouldn’t expect as a gift given how local it is.  The chunky oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s is Yorkshire baked and delicious, particularly good for when you need a heart pick-me-up in the afternoon or if Dad has been working in the garden. I’m a big fan of shortbread anyway so the House of Edinburgh shortbread fingers are particularly nice and not too grainy!

The other snacks are all chocolates. If you’re familiar with ‘posh’ chocolates then you’ll recognise Charbonnel et Walker as being one of the premium brands sold in their custom shops and when you eat their truffles, you’ll understand why. Made with the finest chocolates and ingredients, they are to die for!  Willie’s Cacao also feature with their Peruvian dark chocolate flavoured with hazelnut and raisin. The taste is so subtle and actually very grown up so I wouldn’t imagine children would enjoy this, leaving it for Dad. The final chocolate bar is the Coco Colombian dark 61% chocolate. Again, this is great for adults as it has the distinct dark chocolate taste that goes so well with strong tea or coffee.

The Letter Box hampers all have a variety of items in them so you feel like there’s more there than just a quick bite to eat or a cheap snack, and plenty of choice if there’s something in them that you don’t happen to like.  This Father’s Day hamper is a hit with the whole house too with a lovely selection of different snacks and the personalised note makes it a special holiday treat.

Excuse me whilst I make another brew and tuck into some more chocolate… or another shortbread finger…

Johnsons Lawn Seed Celebration Wildflower Tins

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

I love gardening, especially this time of year when all the plants start to really take off, it’s a joy to be outside and the wildlife is taking over our gardens.  I plant a lot of seeds, take cuttings and every year promise myself to do something different to encourage nature in the garden.

Johnsons Lawn Seed are helping with that goal.  They don’t just sell grass seed for lawns, but seed mixes too. We were sent some Celebration Wildflower tins to try for this summer, which incidentally coincides with #NoMowMay; the month where we are encouraged to not mow the lawn and let the wildflowers, weeds and therefore nature take over. It increases diversity and encourages the ecosystem to flourish.

Johnsons Lawn Seed Celebration Wildflower tins are 100% wildflowers which cover up to 15 square metres, which is about the size of a large room. The prepare the area to be sown, a bed of soil needs to be weed free (to decrease competition) and raked finely to give a medium-fine seedbed.  Seeds should be sown from April to the end of June, then rake over them slightly and water in to ensure the birds don’t get them! Wildflowers don’t need to be deep in the ground to be able to grow well.  The wildflowers should start to bloom from mid-June onwards until the first frosts of the autumn (mid October) as long as you keep them watered, especially at the germination phase.  

The tins, which are the same type of pull-cans as supermarket beans, contain 17 different seed types including California Poppy, Cornflower, Cosmos, Painted Daisy and Pot Marigold.  Each of the different wildflowers grow to different heights and at different times so over the course of a summer you get a tumbling array of different flowers, scents and foliage. With each tin, the 15 square metres of soil space will probably provide a few wildflower bouquets over time as well, but the variety of different seeds will attract all sorts of butterflies, bees and even moths to the garden over the course of the season.  Children will love to help plant these as well as watch them grow as they are quick to geminate and wildflowers by their nature are able to grow in all sorts of soil and spaces. If you don’t have a soil bed anywhere, a pot or window sill will also accommodate the blossoms if you keep them well watered.

The Celebration Wildflower seeds we planted this week haven’t germinated yet and it will be a few more months before they do, and we are looking forward to seeing what comes up, and what wildlife is attracted into the garden.

Available from £7.99 at most garden centres. See details at Johnsons seeds here:  johnsonslawnseed.com 

Yankee Relaxing Summer Candles

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

Whether you’re going on holiday this summer or relaxing at home, your mood can be seriously enhanced with some gorgeous candles, especially if they’re Yankee Candles! The famous luxury candle company have sent us these seasonal beauties to try out, in the hope that we bliss out and pretend we are on a Mediterranean yacht somewhere…

The first Yankee Candle we tried was the Cucumber Mint Cooler 368gram (medium size).  This size has two wicks to light, so it burns more easily and fills the room with scent as it does so.  The fragrance certainly comes across as very cooling, with the fresh cucumber smell taking hold first, then the mint is more subtle afterwards.  The whole candle perfume is light and crisp, much like a white wine on a sunny day and doesn’t overpower a room at all. It could be used outdoors as well as indoors as the size of glass protects it somewhat, although I haven’t tried it yet myself.

The second candle is the Hand Tied Blooms Candle, which is a lilac/pink colour and this larger size weighs 567gram. A much more floral smell, this candle is rosier, with petal tones to the fragrance and a bit stronger when it burns. It’s a very even, consistent scent with the lavender tones coming through, and a vanilla tone to it. I think it’s more of a feminine smell, unlike the Cucumber Mint Cooler which is more universal, but the Hand Tied Blooms candle would be great for celebrations or a family gathering over the summer. It reminds me of summer a lot, so it’s perfect for when the sun is out!

Both candles, like everything from Yankee Candles, are in sturdy glass jars, complete with lids so you can extinguish them safely if you need to, or keep them until they’re needed again. They make gorgeous presents and arrive in a lovely box which is ideal for gifting.  Anyone who buys from the Yankee Candle online shop earns Fragrance Family Rewards which you can redeem later on – perhaps for another treat for yourself?

Cucumber Mint Cooler (medium size £24.99) https://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/yankee-candle/shop-by/new-arrivals/cucumber-mint-cooler/ORCL_1728904E.html

Hand Tied Blooms (large size £29.99) https://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/yankee-candle/candles/shop-by-type/signature-large-jar-candles/hand-tied-blooms/ORCL_1734800E.html

My Little Sudocrem 22g Travel Pot

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

Cycling weather is upon us and if you need to take provisions, any cyclist knows there’s not much that can be carried on a bike when you go out and about.  There’s also not much you can buy in shops or rely on the local amenities so something like the My Little Sudocrem for minor ailments is ideal. Sudocrem is also excellent for chaffing especially on really long rides!

The My Little Sudocrem tubs are petite circular screw top pods which weight only 22grams. Durable and able to be kept in pockets or tucked into the smallest of rucksacks or handbags, they pack a punch with the full benefits of Sudocrem, just delivered in smaller vessels so that you can transport them anywhere.  Cyclists will love My Little Sudocrem because of the size, and because it’s so handy to prevent, or relieve chaffing.  If you’ve never had little children around or ever used Sudocrem, then I can tell you it’s a dream for so many purposes. As a rich, scentless cream it can be used on almost anything on the skin, from grazes to allergies or even just to keep you skin soft. I use it as a body moisturiser for the summer months when my legs are dry and I’m wearing skirts and dresses, and on my face for outdoor sports when my visage is chapped, such as out cycling or on the water.

The My Little Sudocrem is also brilliant for taking on holiday, or keeping in your car for when out with the children or after outdoor sports.  There’s something very soothing and medicinal about a cold cream on your face after a day out in the wind, rain or sun and Sudocrem has the soothing effect like an aftersun cream, only with a thicker, richer moisturising effect. Also great for the playground when the children have grazes on the swings, there’s a whole host of uses for My Little Sudocrem this summer.

Three available for £8.99 at Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sudocrem-Barrier-Multipurpose-Family/dp/B088RJF58C/ref=asc_df_B088RJF58C/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=435764429196&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6858848114809714868&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045873&hvtargid=pla-931863630238&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=101204935637&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=435764429196&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6858848114809714868&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045873&hvtargid=pla-931863630238

Good Gracious Shampoo and Conditioner

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

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me to find out that my naturally curly hair is difficult to tame, frizzy if I don’t straighten it and the curls only stay in place when the hairdresser puts them in.  My curly hair is also exposed to extreme hard water in my area, which strips out all the oils and all the nutrients to leave my hair dry. Each time I wash it, if I don’t straighten my hair I have to add loads of products or else, I just tie it up and try and forget about it.

Good Gracious is a new brand available at Tesco, with a range of shampoos, conditioners and masks which are tailored to your needs to give you the best product combination for your hair. All of the products in the range are 97% natural and vegan friendly. The ranges are Purple (hydrating), Pink (colour care), and Orange (repair) which is the range I was sent to try for my poor, dry hair. There are masks available too, all of which are at Tesco in the haircare aisle.

The Orange range, meant for intense repair of hair, contains Argan oil, sweet almond oil and almond milk for a triple hit of intense treatment to hair. Working together, the ingredients have a repairing effect on hair, especially if used long term. When I opened each bottle, there is a lovely smell from the Argan oil and almond milk. The shampoo and conditioner work best when used together so I have been testing for a few days now and leaving my hair to dry naturally to give a better idea of how it repairs. My hair is becoming softer and the curls more defined, and over time I hope it becomes even more manageable with the more I use the Good Gracious products. Argan oil for the win with Good Gracious hair!

Follow Good Gracious on Instagram @goodgraciousbeauty and every time they reach a milestone following they donate to a different charity, starting with Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Available from Tesco from £5 at: https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/search?query=Good%20Gracious&icid=tescohp_sws-1_m-ft_in-Good%20Gracious_ab-226-b_out-Good%20Gracious

LINDOR Limited Edition King’s Coronation Milk Chocolate Box

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

Continuing with the celebrations around the King’s Coronation, LINDOR have released and excellent Limited Edition Coronation Milk Chocolate Box, fit for a king!

The 200 gram box of pure milk chocolate LINDOR truffle chocolates are found in a Union Jack box, perfect for sharing whilst watching the ceremony, or to adorn your table at your Coronation street party. 

LINDOR have been making chocolate since 1845 and pride themselves on making any moment a LINDOR moment. Each chocolate is a shell of finest pure milk chocolate, encapsulating a similar chocolate truffle which upon reaching room temperature, melts ever-so-slightly to create a rich filling.  Alternatively, you can keep the LINDOR truffle chocolates in the fridge and create a whole new experience when biting into them!  If you’re partial to a LINDOR truffle, then try one of their other flavours including new LINDOR Blood Orange, LINDOR Strawberries & Cream or LINDOR Salted Caramel, all priced at £6.00 for 200 grams and available in shops or online.

I’ve always been a fan of good quality chocolate so trying these LINDOR Limited Edition Coronation truffle chocolates wasn’t a chore.  Sure, they are the same milk chocolate truffles you can buy in the shops but they aren’t branded for the Coronation like these ones are! If you’re looking for more to share with your loved ones for the Coronation, then LINDOR also have the Lindt LINDOR Pick & Mix tin with a Union Jack design which is also available online or in shops. At £25.00 for the tin, it contains flavours such as Pistachio, Stracciatella and Raspberry & Cream. 

The Lindt LINDOR Limited Edition Coronation Milk Chocolate box is available for a limited time from the end of April for £6.00 from Sainsbury’s, WH Smith, Tesco and www.lindt.co.uk

Ryman’s Royal Coronation Range

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

First with the Platinum Jubilee and now the Coronation, there have been lots of Union Jack products around to help us celebrate. For the Coronation this year, Ryman have a whole range of items to both help celebrate and commemorative items to remember this year.  We were sent some lovely Coronation decorations and souvenirs to review from the team!

For the big street party, there’s the fabric bunting (£1.99). At 3.6 metres long, it’s enough to tie between two lampposts or adorn to the front of the house.  As it’s fabric, it will be more durable in the British weather should you choose to keep it outside for longer than just the Coronation day, and can also go in the wash afterwards for you to use again.

The Union Jack 3 tier Cupcake Stand (£2.99) arrives flat packed but fits together easily. It’s made from cardboard but you can use it again and again for either cupcakes or it would suit sandwiches and scones too if you are going for the full afternoon tea.  The Union Jack design makes it very photogenic for the Coronation Street Party, standing 34cm high and 39cm wide.  After using it, you can easily dissemble it and pack away for another day.  

We were also sent a 1000 piece Charles III jigsaw and water bottle.  The Charles III jigsaw (£19.99) depicts His Majesty The King over his lifetime from boy to King, and some of the events of his life such as becoming the Prince of Wales in 1969 and his military uniforms.  1000 pieces is a family sized jigsaw, suitable for adults as well as teenagers, and makes for a fabulous pastime during the long weekend. Don’t forget that there are 3 Bank Holidays in May alone this year so you’ll have plenty of time to play with it!

The final item was the Coronation Water Bottle (£13.99). The 500ml bottle has the official Coronation crest on the front, and you have the option of personalising it for up to 20 characters, just below the logo, or you can leave it blank. The screw top bottle can be kept cold in the fridge although it can’t go in the dishwasher and is hand wash only. It’s a really useful keepsake of the Coronation as well as a lovely present for someone.

The whole Ryman range of Coronation items is available online, with a mixture of decorations, mementoes and lovely items for the street parties like Union Jack paper plates and straws. Most of the items are reusable and environmentally friendly too!

Items available from the Ryman online store at: 

https://www.ryman.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=coronation

NEW 1912 Stilton Cheese fit for a (Coronation) King!

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

There’s a new cheese in town! The award winning artisan 1912 Blue Stilton is made by the famous Long Clawson dairy who have released a recipe for a stilton crown to commemorate the King’s Coronation this month. We were sent some stilton to try and the recipe below for a regal Coronation Crown fit for any Royal party, or street party!

Stilton has long been the subject of love vs hate due to the strong taste and slightly gritty texture. The blue mould veins put off a lot of people and children are particularly averse to trying it. However, once you get over the obvious issues, Stilton has a taste like no other, and in combination with other flavours it makes a fantastic ingredient. I still love to eat it on it’s own, straight out of the fridge but then I’m a cheese lover so I always do this!

The 1912 Stilton isn’t as strong as other Long Clawson cheeses but still has the ripe taste of a blue cheese. It’s creamier as well, with less of the ‘grit’ that other cheeses have and I found it crumbled less when cut which makes it easier to handle. Marketed as The Real Deal, 1912 Blue Stilton has been granted DPO, which stands for Designated Protection of Origin, so you know it’s certified as a bone fide blue cheese. 

If you’ve never tried blue cheese before or are put off by the taste or aroma, you could do worse than try 1912 Blue Cheese.  If you’re not so sure about trying it, start with a recipe that uses 1912 as an ingredient. There are a lot of recipes on their website (the Stilton Pasta looks particularly appetising) or this recipe below is for the 1912 Coronation Crown for King Charles’ Coronation!

1912 Coronation Crown

2 x puff pastry rolls

1912 cheese

1 egg

Bunch of red grapes

1 packet of pecans

1 pomegranate 

Method

  1. Grate the cheese. 
  • Spread out the puff pastry and sprinkle one half of the party (lengthways) with the grated 1912 cheese. Fold over the pastry (lengthways) and press down so that it is securely stuck together. Cut in half lengthways so you are left with two wide strips and then cut them in half again so you are left with 4 strips. Repeat with the other puff pastry.
  • Pick up the strips of pastry and rotate from each end until you have a lovely twist all the way down. Repeat for all the strips. 
  • Line a baking tray with some greaseproof paper. Place a large upturned Perspex oven proof bowl onto the lined tray.
  • Tear 4 large pieces of tin foil. Mould each piece into a ball that can sit on top of the Perspex bowl. You’re creating the base for the pastry to sit on to look as close to a crown as possible.
  • Cut a small piece of greaseproof to go on top the tinfoil Perspex bowl so the pastry doesn’t stick.
  • Grab a strip of pastry and lay it over the top of the bowl so either side reaches the bottom of the bowl. You want to create a cross on top, so grab another strip and lay over the top of the other strip. Push down the pastry in the middle where the two pastry strips lay on top of each other. 
  • Get another strip of pastry and lay it around the base of the bowl. Take another strip and lay it on the other side of the bowl so that they two pastry strips meet and you have a circle. Press together so that they join securely. Repeat with another two pastry strips that goes on top, so it’s a double layer. You’ll have a few strips left over, just pop those around the empty space on the tray.
  • With a whisk egg brush the pastry all over. 
  1. Pop the tray with your crown into a preheated oven 180C for 30 minutes or until golden brown and nicely risen.
  1. Once cooked get out the oven and let it cool. Once cool then separate the crown from the bowl. 
  1. With your large 1912 cheese place onto a tray or chopping board whatever you have that is big enough and lay your crown of pastry over it!
  1. Now time to adorn your crown with pecans around the base of the crown. Add red grapes on top of the cheese and pomegranate jewels all over the crown. And enjoy!

Available at Tesco for £3.00: https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/312561244

King’s Ransom Chocolate from FATSO

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

The Coronation is the perfect time to bring out the best in treats. If you’re having a street party, or even just a gathering over the Coronation weekend, why not try something different?

The chocolate company FATSO have created the King’s Ransom Chocolate bar for the Coronation in the special flavour of mint, pistachio and cocoa nibs. I’ve never tried that combination before so along with the fact that the Big Bar chocolate is single origin, Columbian 60% dark chocolate this was going to be an education.

I’m not a fan of pistachio so I wasn’t expecting to like this, but actually, the combination of the flavours means you don’t taste the pistachio or mint on their own, and the texture you normally have with pistachio flavoured chocolate is not the same. There are no ‘chunks’ to work your way through, and the flavours are subtle so you won’t be overpowered by the mint, for instance.  The main texture and taste that comes through is from the chocolate, which at 150g per bar is dense and very rich, but not bitter like some dark chocolate.  If you’re into the more refined chocolates, rather than the traditional ‘candy’ chocolates you used to buy as children, then this is a gourmet variety which adults will enjoy tasting.

It is worth pointing out here that the quality of the chocolate makes a big difference to your experience. You can taste that it’s better excellence of ingredients, especially with the chocolate which is so smooth that you can’t eat more than a mouthful at a time.  It’s very satisfying as both a snack and for the flavours that come through as you eat it, making it something which you can enjoy and yet still don’t need much of to get the full effect.

I hadn’t seen FATSO chocolate before, but the website has a range of flavours including Morn’n Glory (cornflake, toast and marmalade), Nan’s Stash (peanut, toffee and Digestive biscuit) and Home Run (salted pretzel, whole almond and honeycomb).  There’s also a bundle of bars available, all online!

Available online from £6.50 at: https://sofatso.com/paytheransom/

Joe &Seph’s Limited Edition Coronation Popcorn Range

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

Most of us have never seen a Coronation in the UK so this year is special.  Joe & Seph have launched a range of limited edition popcorns to commemorate the Coronation in a few weeks, and we’ve been reviewing them to find out what they’re like!

The two flavours which were sent to us are Bakewell Tart and Salted Caramel. Bakewell Tart, the very British dessert cake made from almond and jam is a British classic, notably from Derbyshire originally.  As a lover of popcorn as well as desserts, this was an easy win for me to try and I wasn’t disappointed! The popcorn has a slight almond flavour to it, very similar to the Bakewell Tart which also has the slightly sweet, nutty flavour of almonds but without the marzipan power. I’m not a fan of marzipan so this was a fair test of how well the popcorn would favour.  There’s also the sweet cherry jam flavour to the coating too, which blends in well as a delicious dessert-like taste.  

The second flavour is Salted Caramel. Probably one of the most popular flavours for cakes and desserts these days, this flavour translates well into popcorn. It’s slightly sticky, and the caramel flavour comes through first, followed by the savoury sea salt. This flavour appeals to those who prefer the sweeter tasting popcorn, and this would work really well with salted caramel ice cream or in place of a dessert.

Both flavours are iconic, and popcorn has come a long way from the cinema-type of buckets we had growing up.  If you’re a fan of popcorn or know anything about the Joe & Seph then these are lovely flavours to add to your store cupboard, and I think you’ll be impressed with how likeable they are, as well as different to the normal High Street shelf flavours.  As ever, they are very addictive though, so stock up on these flavours whilst they’re still available!

The handmade popcorn is gluten free, has no artificial colours or preservatives and is suitable for vegetarians.  Popped in London artisan kitchens, the Joe & Seph’s team have toiled to create the best popcorn they possibly can.  Check out their website and social media to find out more about the flavours available, and the snacks they have which can be found in a range of stores or online.

These two flavours of popcorn are great snacks or after dinner instead of a dessert. They would be PERFECT for around the Coronation party table though, it’s just a shame that they are limited edition!

Available from £4 per packet: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/popcorn/coronation-salted-caramel-popcorn

iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank for iPhone 12/13/14

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

Available for Apple iPhones 12 and up, without a case.

Adding extra battery life to your iPhone is a must if you can’t be near a charging socket anywhere. Festival season in particular is a difficult time for charging phones, so any extra help for your iPhone battery is needed!

The iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is specifically designed for iPhones 12 and up, which have magnetic casings which allow wireless battery charging.  The iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is designed to attach itself via its magnet to the back of your iPhone and add to the battery life. The front of the battery pack shows the percentage charge remaining, so you know how much you have available to charge your phone, and a finger ring at the back to make holding the phone easier and for the removal of the battery pack.

Each full charge of the iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank gives approximately 1 full charge of your iPhone, but this can vary depending on the health of your battery and which model iPhone you have. I found that it gave roughly 1 full charge for my iPhone 12, which in addition to the 24 hours+ charge I have when I plug the phone into the wall, it gave me an extra day that I wouldn’t normally have!

To use the iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank, you need to remove any extra cases on top of the iPhone then attach to the back by the built-in magnets.  The battery pack with automatically start charging when you press the power button, which is located on the side. The LED display will show you the amount of charge on the battery pack and the front of the phone shows that it’s being charged.  You can remove the battery pack easily and charge it up again using the provided USB cable, which doesn’t take long. You can use the LED display on the front again to see when it’s been fully charged.

It’s slimline, less than 1 inch thick and fits onto the back of your iPhone easily. The finger ring makes removing the battery easier but also works as a handle when using the phone, and as a rest for propping the phone up to read from it or to video hands-free.

As Apple iPhones move towards having magnetic cases, more chargers like the iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank will become available and be handy for charging all appliances, not just iPhones.  I also love that it’s available in 5 different colours too (black, white, white, red and mint green) to match your phone casing! It also has an intelligent temperature control so that it doesn’t overheat whilst charging or whilst you’re using it, which is also a safety feature.

The iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is not just a handy charging gizmo for your iPhone, but an investment for all of your future Apple products which will need magnetic charging sooner than you think.

Edifier W820NB Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Stereo Headphones

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

Being a bit behind with the times, I don’t own any Bluetooth headphones. I’m still on the wired earphones which came with my iPod, even though I know I could use wireless headphones on any of my gadgets! Edifier sent us the W820NB Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones from their extensive range for us to try this week, and so far, I’m impressed!

The first thing you notice about the headphones is the noise cancelling. I put them on around the house and the ambient noise from the road outside and the planes overhead was eliminated – they really are noise reducing, even without anything playing on them!

The controls on the headphone are on/off switch, volume up/down and a Bluetooth button. With such simple controls, it was very easy to set them up to sync with my laptop, so much so that I didn’t actually need to read the instructions.  All I had to do was turn on the headphones and press the Bluetooth button until the light flashed. My laptop found the headphones within a few seconds of being set to ‘discoverable’ so it didn’t take much effort at all.  I was able to play anything from my music online, streaming or YouTube onto them.

The sound quality is excellent. With the headphones also being noise reducing, it was a surprise to hear how good they were with stereo sound and I couldn’t fault them.  I had to use a combination of the laptop sound as well as the headphone volume buttons to get the volume as high as I wanted it, but that’s only a matter of practice.  The range was also excellent with there being no disconnection on the Bluetooth wherever I was in the house which made a difference.  The headphones are nice and lightweight as well so can be taken on holiday (they’re perfect for flights or working out) and have a titanium diaphragm for longevity.

To skip to the next song or ahead in a podcast for instance, you hit the volume button up/down and hold, the Power button is for pausing.  The headphones can also be used for taking calls by Bluetooth although I haven’t tested this yet. Using the Multi-function button (with the Bluetooth symbol next to it) you can change between noise cancelling, gaming mode and use it for Bluetooth pairing.

My only gripe with the headphones are that they don’t come with a bag or pouch of some kind so that you can transport them easily or put them in an overhead locker on a flight.  There is a cable which comes with them for charging, but you won’t need to charge them very much as there’s a 49 hour playtime on each charge. The cable is a USB connection so will charge from most sockets if not your computer.

The more I play with these Edifier headphones the more I like them, and am surprised by how good they are. I have found several times when I can walk around the house with them connected via Bluetooth and still listen to my laptop, tune into a radio station or eventually be on a call and not lose any of the quality I’m used to with more expensive, wired headphones.  

https://www.edifier.com/product-w820nb.html

Currently on sale at Amazon for £69.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-W820NB-Hybrid-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B09FF244QP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2T9TA5A4TJKYB&keywords=w820nb&qid=1681726589&sprefix=w820nb%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-3&th=1

James Martin Kitchen Collection by Wahl

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

Whenever anyone asks me what I’d like for my birthday or Christmas I always struggle to come up with anything. I’m not one for trinkets or jewellery and unlike a lot of people I know I am actually quite happy with something practical like kitchenware. I really enjoy cooking so it is nice to be treated to better versions of the small kitchen appliances that I use regularly. Wahl recently sent me a selection of kitchen appliances from their James Martin range which look super cool in my kitchen and are a welcome upgrade to my existing kitchen gadgets. My food processer is at least 20 years old and well past its prime and my hand mixer is even older so it was really exciting to discover both of these products in the parcel from Wahl.

The 300W electric hand mixer is a substantial and reasonably heavy little mixer. It comes complete with stainless steel beaters, dough hooks and a whisk which all came in useful when I was making lunch on Easter Sunday. The beaters were used for the batter for Yorkshire puddings and for making chocolate brownies, the dough hooks for hot cross buns and the whisk for the whipped cream.

The mixer is a good weight, not too heavy to use, but just heavy enough that it feels solid in your hands. It has a rubberised handle which makes it comfortable to hold and is a huge improvement on my old mixer. The mixer has 5 speeds plus a turbo boost and is a fantastic little gadget. It has a button to press for the quick release of the beaters which saves you getting your hands covered in cake mix, you can just eject them into the washing up bowl or they can go in the dishwasher.

RRP £32.99

I wouldn’t be without a food processor, mine is a real work horse making light of chopping, grating, liquidising and making vast quantities of pastry. With a houseful at Easter the James Martin Compact Processor with Spiralizer Attachment really came into its own and I’ve spent the last few days slicing, mixing and juicing to create a range of culinary treats that went down a storm with my family. Delicious soups, buckets of coleslaw, healthy smoothies, even crushed ice for drinks, this little workhouse was the star of the show making mundane tasks like chopping vegetables and grating cheese a breeze. The spiralizer was an added bonus and any vegetable that went near it was spiralized by my son!! This was an innovative way to encourage him to eat more vegetables!!

The set includes a processor bowl with stainless steel blade, a disc for slicing and grating as well as a spiralizer attachment and a 1.5L blender with filler cap and easy to clean removable blades. The blender is a good size and perfect for making smoothies and liquidising home made soup. The parts are all dishwasher safe which is a huge plus.

The food processor is nice and sturdy and sits nicely on my worktop, it has suckers on the bottom which help it stay firmly in place when in use . I use mine a lot so I keep it on top of the worktop but it will easily fit in a cupboard.

It has a powerful 500 watt motor with two speeds and a pulse setting and the compact size means it is doesn’t get in the way when it is sat on the worktop not being used.  

RRP £74.99

The James Martin by Wahl Grind and Chop is such a handy little gadget and I don’t know how I have managed to overlook this piece of kitchen equipment. It’s one of those products that once you start using one you don’t know how you managed without it – especially good with a houseful of guests!

Stylish and powerful it has a 70g capacity and is perfect for grinding coffee beans and making curry paste with a simple press of the lid. With a 200W motor it makes short work of smaller jobs – instead of throwing away bread that is past its best, I use this to make breadcrumbs which I can pop in the freezer for my next recipe.

Use the grinder for dry ingredients and the chopper for wet or oily ones, no need to worry about working out which cup is which as they are both marked up. It comes with a handy recipe book with spice mixes to grind and accompanying recipes. The Spicy Tandoori mix was a favourite with my family.

There is no fiddling with this gadget as the blades are fixed in the cups and all you need to do is sit it on the base, pop the top on and press it down to start chopping. I like how easy it is to use – it can be operated with just one hand. Once you’ve finished chopping you simply lift the top off and use your ingredients.

The Grind and Chop machine looks very smart on the worktop, the brushed stainless finish being very on trend right now.  To carry out basic chopping and grinding with no fuss you really can’t beat this gadget.

RRP £36.99

Whan you have a houseful of guests extra cooking facilities are a big boost and the James Martin Healthy Table Top Grill has been invaluable to help feed all the hungry mouths. With a variable temperature control and ridged and flat cooking areas it sits nicely on the work surface and has  been used most of all for bacon butties at various times of the day as well as grilling chicken and meats for sandwiches and buffets.

It has a good sized cooking area and can easily cook enough food for a family in one go. It has a drip tray for excess oil and non-stick removable grill plates and it makes cooking easy and healthy.

Cleaning up afterwards was effortless thanks to there being  less burnt-on grease on the non stick plates and the fact that the grill plate can be removed so it can be washed in hot soapy water by hand.  

I can see this being an incredibly useful gadget and it will be great to take away in the caravan this summer so we can cook healthy meals outdoors.

RRP £59.99

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

Ayluna Shampoo for Dandruff & Dry Scalp

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

Dandruff and dry scalp shampoos used to be medicated and foul fragranced concoctions, only available over the pharmacy counter. Nowadays, there are alternatives including the Ayluna Shampoo for Dandruff & Dry Scalp.

Ayluna, although effective at beating dandruff and moisturising a dry scalp actually contains organic rosemary and juniper wood oil which banishes the dandruff and dry skin.  The combination of herbs adds a more delicate, but strong scent to the shampoo which lathers up beautifully in the shower. Surprisingly, the Ayluna Shampoo doesn’t contain silicone or paraffin, no synthetic colourants, nor artificial scents or preservatives. The smokey, aniseed fragrance is completely natural from the herbal ingredients.

When used in the shower to wash my hair, it was very potent and filled the room with the scent of the oils, but struck me as not being overly feminine, so it could be used by anyone in the family. You don’t need much shampoo to lather up either, and I felt that afterwards, the dark colouring of the mixture enhanced my dark coloured hair as well as leaving it with the herbal fragrance.

I don’t have particularly bad dandruff but occasionally, when I’m stressed, it flares up. At the moment though, my hair is very clear from using the Ayluna Shampoo and making sure it rinses out thoroughly and leaving my hair squeaky clean.

Ayluna Shampoo for Dandruff & Dry Scalp is a perfect alternative to the over-the-counter medicated shampoos that really put me off with their fragrance and harsh chemicals. Ayluna does the job just as well but has a much more friendly after-scent.

Available online at:https://www.ayluna.com/products/hair-care/shampoos/index.htm

See the Ayluna website for more details at: www.ayluna.co.uk