Category: Mother’s Day

Love Vicci 3 in 1 Multi-Functional Make Up Brush

beauty, Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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

Whilst I have a large collection of cosmetics and make up brushes at home, when I’m travelling, I try to only take the essentials, with the aim of fitting everything into one small make up bag! It’s relatively easy to choose a small selection of cosmetics but I find it’s not quite as easy to reduce the amount of brushes I take so I was really pleased to discover the Love Vicci Multi-Functional Make Up Brush, a cleverly designed 3 in one professional brush which is not only great for travelling but it’s perfect for keeping in my handbag for a quick touch up during the day.

At first glance the Love Vicci brush looks just like any powder brush but on closer inspection you can see that it cleverly incorporates a foundation/concealer sponge and an eye make up brush in the handle of the main brush.  To get the brushes out you simply unscrew the handle – it’s such a simple idea and a great way of saving space and keeping all your brushes together.

The brush has been designed by beauty industry experts and the chunky power brush feels nice and sturdy in my hand. The dense bristles in the fluffy soft brush pick up the powder easily making application a dream.

I always use a sponge to apply my foundation as I find they help blend the colour and give a more natural-looking  finish, so I was really pleased to discover that this brush set contains a foundation sponge. The sponge is smaller than the one I currently use but it worked really well with my foundation, transferring most of it onto the skin rather than absorbing it. The domed shape was good for blending in the foundation around my nose and eyes and the side was ideal for the larger area of my face like my cheeks and forehead. As the sponge is stored in the handle it also keeps my make up bag nice and clean which is an added bonus.

The bristles on the eye brush are quite firm which is perfect for applying eyeliner or for cream brow products. The brush is angled which helps give a precise line and if you’re really trying to travel light it can also double up as an eyeshadow brush.

If you’re looking for an affordable makeup brush set that is not only compact but performs well then this is the one to get. Love Vicci also have a 3 in 1 eye make up brush which looks just as impressive so I’ll be buying one of those before my next trip!!

£19.95

Valuxxo Skin Revive (AHA) Face Scrub Bio

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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

The key to radiant, glowing skin is regular exfoliation and I find using a face scrub twice a week is the best way to remove all the dead skin cells, leaving my face not only smoother and clearer but more radiant too. I’m currently using the Skin Revive (AHA) Face Scrub Bio from Valuxxo which blends Alpha Hydroxy Acids with nourishing botanical oils to refine, brighten, and renew your complexion.

Enriched with Lactic and Salicylic acids, the face scrub encourages natural skin renewal, unclogs pores and helps keep skin clear and free from blemishes. The face scrub also contains mango butter which helps to keep skin hydrated too.

The scrub is applied to wet skin, you only need a small amount and massage it onto your face for between 30 to 60 seconds before rinsing off with warm water. The face scrub is in a handy 70ml tube and it is really easy to squeeze it out of the tube. The fine grains feel a little gritty when you’re massaging them into your skin, but they don’t feel too harsh or leave my skin feeling irritated afterwards.  

After the first use I was quite surprised to see the difference in my skin, there was a definite glow and my face felt incredibly smooth – just like it feels after you have been for a facial – but at a fraction of the cost! After using it twice a week for a month my skin is not only more radiant but it’s softer too and my pores are a lot less noticeable.

This is the first time I’ve tried a Valuxxo product and I’m really impressed, I can’t wait to try some of their other products now.

RRP £24 available from Valuxxo here

SJCAM C300 Action Camera

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Mother's Day, Sport, Tech, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

In this digital age it seems everyone is documenting their lives on social media and for those who enjoy the great outdoors then an action camera is an essential for recording all those adventurous activities. Designed to be mounted, whether that’s on the handlebars of a mountain bike, a helmet when climbing, skiing or canoeing or on a chest mount for hiking and trail running, they are great for capturing the action in places where you need to have your wits about you and your hands free. They also tend to be more robust and waterproof meaning they will survive your adventures and capture the action no matter what the conditions!  

We’ve been trying out the SJCAM C300 Action Camera over the last couple of weeks and have been really impressed with it.  The key features are

  • Waterproof up to 30m with waterproof case
  • 4K resolution and 20MP lens
  • Remote control bracelet to easily control recordings and taking photos
  • Immersive first-person view with the clip to position on your chest
  • Adopts extra-large aperture to increase light intake by 40% to for low light shooting
  • 1.3” Dual touch colour screen and 154° wide-angle lens to take pictures from the best angle
  • App control

Included with the camera are two batteries and a selection of mounts including one that claims to be waterproof to a 30m depth! I’m not a fan of water so I won’t be putting this to the test but I’m sure lots of people will find this a great feature. There is also a USB cable, instructions and a cleaning cloth.

The camera can be paired with either of the batteries, the smaller 1000mAh battery gives a compact size that will fit into the waterproof mount but only has a single display. The larger battery at 2800mAh gives much longer recording times and a second display on the rear of the camera but does not fit into the waterproof mount. Instead, it does offer a standard ¼” tripod mount which allows me to use some of my other camera mounts.

Controlling the camera is easy, there is just a single button on the body which doubles as the power control and the shutter button, other settings are accessed using the 1.3” touch screens. They worked well but I certainly wouldn’t want to use anything smaller! Swipe from the top gives options such as playback or switching display whilst video settings are changed by tapping an icon at the bottom of the screen. A swipe from the left switches quickly from video to photo, a feature that I use quite a lot – it allows me to grab a quick picture without swapping cameras. 

Another option for controlling the camera is to connect your phone to its WiFi and use the SJCAM app. This allows quick access to all the image and camera settings plus you can take control from a distance. The app also allows images and videos to be transferred to your phone although I prefer to connect to my PC with a USB cable and transfer files that way.

I don’t tend to carry video cameras in my hand, preferring a tripod or other mount but I did take some handheld video and was very impressed with how easy it was to frame the shot using the dual screens and also how steady the video was using the gyroscopic stabilisation. It definitely worked well and smoothed out the jerkiness you get when holding a video camera.

A much more realistic test came when I mounted the camera in its waterproof case to my bike (I purchased a go-pro mount for my Garmin GPS mount). I’m not a fan of wearing a camera on a helmet but video shot from my bike in the past has always been very unstable. After a two hour ride, I was very pleased with the results, the video was crisp with good colour and most importantly smooth. My only gripe is that the default video clip length is just 3 minutes which makes transferring and editing the video a bit of a pain. This is a setting that can be changed to a more reasonable 10 minutes.

This weekend I’ve been working in the garden so thought I’d try out one of the other modes, timelapse video. I setup the camera using one of the mounts strapped to a fence post and then got to work. Over the day I moved the camera a few times and looking back at the footage I’m really happy with the results, I’m much more likely to use a timelapse that condenses hours into a few minutes than try editing a day long video down into something more interesting.

When you are not using the camera for adventurous activities it can also be used as a dash cam to record when you are driving, this will be great for all those scenic routes but is also invaluable in the unfortunate event of an accident.

There are also a couple of other modes that I haven’t had chance to try yet such as slow motion video, starry night and even a fishing mode!

I’m very happy with the camera and its performance and I’m looking forward to taking it on lots of adventures this summer!

RRP £129.99

Rumi Cosmetics

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

As I’ve got older I’ve changed skincare products to suit my ageing skin but I’ve never thought about changing my make up, that is until Rumi Cosmetiques got in touch and offered to send me a couple of their products to try.  The family run company was founded  back in 2020 and they “strongly believe in creating beauty products for mature women that highlight their natural beauty instead of trying to cover it”

Mascara is the one item in my make up bag that I can’t live without, I love how it darkens and defines my lashes, making my eyes stand out and now I’m getting older I actually feel quite naked without it. The VolumeCare + Mascara is a 2-in-1 mascara that not only colours your eyelashes but it also conditions and nourishes them to give the appearance of longer, thicker & healthier eyelashes that are less likely to fall out or break. I have incredibly sensitive eyes and generally can only use a couple of brands, so I was really pleased to discover this mascara didn’t irritate my eyes at all and I could wear it all day without any signs of irritation.

When applying the mascara, I noticed an instant boost in length and volume with my lashes separating really well, it was easy to apply and build the colour and it didn’t clump at all. I was really impressed with the staying power of this mascara, it stayed put all day and looked just as fresh after 14 hours as it did when I first applied it. At the end of the day it was easily removed with a cotton pad soaked in my usual eye make-up remover.

RRP £31 available in Natural Black and Dark Brown

I don’t often wear eyeliner as I struggle to get a neat line, but following the handy tips on the website I actually found the LushLine+ waterproof eye liner really easy to apply, it was soft enough to give a smooth line without dragging my skin and it gave a strong defined line to my eye make up. I especially liked the built in sharpener meaning you never have a blunt eyeliner which makes it much easier to apply. The  eyeliner is smudge proof and waterproof and like the mascara lasts all day.

RRP £24 available in Natural Black, Natural Grey and Dark Brown

The PowerBrow+ Tinted Eyebrow gel comes in three different coffee themed colours, Espresso, Mocha and Latte which will suit most colourings. I’ve noticed that as I’ve got older my brows have become a little thinner but I’ve not used make up on them before  so after watching a couple of YouTube videos for guidance I had a go at applying the product on my brows. The brush is very easy to use and glided easily over my brows. It was quite easy to fill in the sparse areas and define the shape of my brows. The brush evenly distributed the colour and I was amazed at the difference it made to my brows.  

The gel also contains active ingredients that nourish and thicken your brows with every stroke so I’m hoping with continued use I will see an improvement in them.

RRP £26 available in Espresso, Mocha and Latte

I’m really impressed with these products, I would never have considered switching my make up now I am older, but these products are fantastic and really lift my eyes, they are kind to my sensitive skin and are now an essential part of my make up bag.


Sharp Tokyo DR-P420 Radio

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Mother's Day, Tech, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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

I’m a real fan of the radio and as well as listening to it in the car I also enjoy listening to it at home on my portable FM radio.  As an avid radio listener, I was very pleased to be given the opportunity to try a Tokyo DR-P420 from SHARP as not only is it much newer and nicer looking than my ancient radio, a DAB radio offers a much wider choice of radio stations.

The Tokyo DR-P420 is a small, portable radio which offers both digital and analogue radio along with Bluetooth streaming. It can be powered by 4 AA batteries for portable listening or from a USB supply using the provided cable.

Setting up the radio is really simple, the radio automatically searches for radio stations and then up to 20 favourites can be stored for both DAB and FM radio. Three of the favourites can be recalled using buttons on the panel, the rest with an extra button press. The time is picked up automatically and is displayed when the radio is in standby.

When you’ve had enough of the radio, you can also stream music from your phone using Bluetooth 5.0 and the buttons on the front panel can then be used to play, pause and skip tracks as well as controlling the volume.

Whatever you’re listening to, the sound quality from the single speaker is excellent and is loud enough to fill most rooms. If the rest of your family don’t appreciate your choice in radio stations or music then don’t worry as you can also listen through headphones as there is a headphone socket on the rear of the radio.

The radio now has a permanent spot on my desk but it can also be used as a clock radio when powered from USB. Two different alarms can be set with options for weekday or weekends, and each allows a choice of alarm with either a radio pre-set or buzzer to wake you.

I really love the Sharp Tokyo DR-P420, it is easy to set up has excellent sound quality and with all the extra stations I’m finding I’m listening to the radio even more now!

Available in Black, Steel Blue, Blossom Pink and Snowy White

RRP £39.99 available from Currys, Robert Dyas, Amazon and The Range

got2b got CURLZ Hair Products

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Vegan, Women

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

I have naturally curly hair which is currently quite dry and frizzy and in desperate need of some TLC so the arrival of a parcel containing a couple of Schwarzkopf got2be got CURLZ products couldn’t have come at a better time!

The got2b gotCURLZ Coil Refreshing Cream is a lightweight 2 in 1 hair styling and care cream which moisturises and revitalises curls without weighing them down. Infused with coconut oil, castor oil, argan oil and shea butter this cream works by defining and sealing single coils to shape the hair. It can be applied to towel dried hair or a small amount can be used to refresh curls in between washes.

The cream is quite thick but as it’s in a wide screw top pot it is really easy to scoop out. I used a small amount on my shoulder length hair, raking it through to make sure it was evenly distributed before scrunching it in. I then dried it with my diffuser and I have to say I am really pleased with the results – my normally dry, frizzy mop of curls was magically transformed into beautifully defined bouncy curls. As well as looking amazing there was less frizz and my curls lasted longer, meaning I didn’t need to spend as long each morning refreshing them.

The cream is also great for defining curls between washes, a small amount scrunched into the ends of my hair was all I needed to define my curls and leave them looking good until the next wash day.

RRP £7

The got2b gotCURLZ Hydrating Beach Waves Spray is great for adding a little texture to my hair and I’ve been using this between washes to revitalise my hair. Infused with coconut water and ocean minerals it not only smells amazing but leaves my hair lovely and soft with a summery tousled look.  

It can be used on both damp and dry hair although I tend to get better results when I use it on dry, day old hair as it revives my curls and gives my hair a little body. It’s easy to use, simply spray onto dry hair and tousle or if using on wet hair you can leave your hair to dry naturally or use a diffuser.

RRP £7

Both products are Curly girl method approved and are suitable for Vegans too. If you have a Boots Advantage card there is currently an offer to save £1.50 per product here

HJ Hall Pro Trek Socks

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Spring is in the air and with the Easter holidays fast approaching it’s the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and explore the countryside. There are many forms of outdoor exercise that you can do but my favourite is hiking, a great all-round exercise that is suitable for everyone and best of all doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment.

If you are planning on starting walking then my advice is to invest in some decent socks, it really is amazing the difference a good pair of walking socks makes, having cushioning in the right places and wicking materials to draw moisture away from your feet is really important, helping to keep feet nice and comfortable and also prevent blisters – every walkers nightmare! I’ve been trying out a couple of pairs of HJ Hall socks over the last month and I’m really impressed, they’ve kept my feet incredibly warm and comfortable (and blister free) and I’m looking forward to covering many miles in them this year.  

The Mountain Climb socks are a heavyweight sock with extra padding on the heel, toe and Achilles tendon areas. Made with an ultra durable, moisture wicking, scientific wool blend, the socks offer warmth and long lasting comfort and are the perfect choice for colder days. The socks are lovely and thick and keep your feet nice and toasty when the temperature drops. They are comfortable to wear, the arch support and ankle bracing keep the socks from moving about on your feet and they are a good length, coming up higher than the back of my walking boots. The socks are also long enough to tuck into trousers if you wish.  This sock is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a heavy duty hiking sock, especially if you walk a lot in cold weather as they will keep your feet warm in sub zero temperatures.

The Adventure Trek are a middleweight sock, they are thinner than the Mountain Climb socks and are suitable for both boots or shoes. The breathability is excellent thanks to the mesh zones that run across the top of the sock and along with the cushioning underfoot they are very comfortable to wear in both warm and cold weather. The socks hug my feet nicely and I have worn them on both long and short hikes with no discomfort. Whether I’ve been on the fells, the park or a recent trip to London, when we walked an average of 12 miles a day, they’ve never slipped, sagged, or bunched up and my feet have been comfortable all day long.

I would highly recommend the HJ Hall socks for anyone who enjoys walking and hiking, they are good value for money and your feet will certainly thank you for putting them in socks as warm and comfortable as these are. So whether you’re exploring the local fells, conquering mountains or walking the dog make sure you have a pair of HJ Hall socks on your feet. Happy hiking!

Mountain Climb Socks RRP £16.50 available in sizes 4-7, 6-11 and 11-13

Adventure Trek Socks RRP £15 available in sizes 4-7 and 6-11

The Ned Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Fleur de Lise Rose Wine

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

If you’re wondering what wines to buy for the Easter weekend then we have a couple of suggestions that are bound to go down a treat, either as gifts or enjoyed with a meal with friends and family.

Rosé fans will love the Fleur de Lise 2022 rosé from the Saint Mont region of France. In a distinctive tall bottle with attractive label the fruity dry rosé has notes of raspberry and redcurrant and is lovely and crisp on the palate. Best served chilled, the wine is great as with grilled meat, fish and salads. It also goes surprisingly well with chocolate – it is Easter after all!!.  

ABV 12% RRP £9 available from Ocado

The Ned Marllborough is a Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Marisco Vineyards in the Southern Valleys region of New Zealand. We enjoyed a glass with our roast chicken dinner, but it will go just as well with seafood. The wine is lovely and crisp with hints of lime, herbs and gooseberry and we found it to be nice and refreshing to drink. I’m hoping the weather warms up a bit by Easter as it will be nice to enjoy a glass or two with friends in the garden whilst the children are doing their Easter Egg hunt!

ABV 13% RRP £11.99 available from Waitrose

Lola’s Cupcakes Mother’s Day Cake

Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Home, Mother's Day, Vegetarian, Women

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

You can never spoil your Mum enough on Mother’s Day, but you probably struggle to find enough in the way of presents.  Lola’s Cupcakes have the perfect Mother’s Day Cake which Mum can enjoy, or you can enjoy with the whole family with their range of sponges, fillings and sizes. Lola’s Cupcakes sent us this special delivery today and we can’t get enough of it! 

This cake, which is available for delivery nationwide, is the lemon and elderflower version in size medium.  There is the option of three different cakes; lemon and elderflower, chocolate sponge with chocolate buttercream filling and vanilla sponge with buttercream and raspberry jam filling.  The wording on the top is either “Happy Mother’s Day” or you can leave it blank to personalise yourself later. This lemon and elderflower version is lemon curd and buttercream filling with an all-over lemon buttercream icing and delicate, edible real flowers. It’s a pretty pink board and well fitted into a Lola’s Cupcakes box so it’s easily deliverable.

The lemon sponge is incredibly light and fresh, with the hint of lemon which only comes from using real lemons as a flavouring and not artificial flavourings. The lemon curd filling is evenly matched with the buttercream filling so that the lemon taste isn’t overpowering but it’s definitely there. The elderflower mascarpone makes a nice change to the usual flavours and overall, the combination make for a light, tangy taste. The flowers, including daisies, also add some flavour to the icing. Even better, this cake is vegetarian so more people can enjoy it!

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This medium sized cake, which is about 4 inches tall (10 centimetres) has 14 generous sized portions so could easily be used for a meal on Mother’s Day this Sunday.  It’s available from today (6 March) to be delivered over the weekend and can be ordered online or over the phone – details are available on the Lola’s Cupcakes website: https://www.lolascupcakes.co.uk

I’ve never tried Lola’s Cupcakes before and certainly not a home delivery service for cake but I was overly impressed with this. This cake is beautiful, and huge, and is delivered in perfect condition. The taste is exquisite, with a stunning combination of flavours that really work together to create a memory for Mum on Mother’s Day. It looks straight out of an Instagram page as well, but rest assured, it didn’t stay looking like that for long once my family all had a piece!

Available from £27.50 (£40.00 for the medium size shown) at: https://www.lolascupcakes.co.uk/Web/Sites/Cupcakes/OrderingPage.aspx?ID=1529

RapidLash and RapidBrow Enhancing Serum

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

I will confess now that I love these products. As a woman of a ‘certain age’ I realised that my eyebrows and eyelashes were starting to thin and not be as long as they used to be. Lashings of eyebrow pencil and mascara were my only option, or something really drastic like make-up tattoos were going to be needed but I didn’t want to go down that route. RapidBrow and RapidLash came to the rescue though.

If you haven’t guessed what RapidBrow and RapidLash are yet, they are both serums for enhancing eyebrows and eyelashes without the use of make-up but instead work overnight to build up strength and therefore thicken brows and lashes. 

The statistics on the front of the packaging tell the story of how well loved RapidLash and RapidBrow really are. 93% of people experienced improvement in the appearance of brows and 88% experienced improvement in the appearance of lashes with each respective serum. 91% experienced thicker, fuller and healthier looking brows whilst 86% experienced thicker, stronger and longer looking lashes. This information was gathered after just 8 weeks, but the serums last a lot, lot longer so you can expect the treatment to carry on for several more months.

Each of the RapidBrow and RapidLash serums are applied once a day, preferably in the evening, to clean lashes and brows that have had all traces of make-up removed. RapidLash should be applied to the base of the eyelashes on the top lid, and RapidBrow is applied to the full length of the brow.  That’s all you have to do. The serum works its magic overnight and in as little as a few weeks you start to see a difference.

This is why I love these products.  Within a couple of weeks, my eye lashes were stronger plus they were able to hold more mascara whenever I did wear make-up. My brows, which are starting to thin with age, were stronger and didn’t come out as easily. It may be my imagination but the colour was deeper too, meaning I didn’t have to add pencil to them.  Within 4 weeks, I did a double-take in the mirror where I swear my eyelashes looked longer BEFORE I put mascara on, and my eyebrows looked like they had already had the eye brow fixer on them, or at least a little pencil colour.

Over time, I hope that the serum keeps working and keeps strengthening my eyebrows and eyelashes so that I have more of a base to add make up to, but also to give a more natural look. The serums are much cheaper than having any cosmetics done, and don’t have the initial ‘look’ that tattooing or permanent make-up have when they’re first done. It looks so much more natural having the lashes built up over time and gets you to a level where you can keep the hair strength. These serums last forever too, so are very cost effective plus they make great gifts!

From £37.00 – £40.00 at: https://rapidlash.co.uk

The Official Tower Single Basket Airfryer Cookbook

Birthday Gifts, Books, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Home & Garden, kitchen appliances, Mother's Day

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

I’ve had an air fryer for a couple of years now and whilst I hear of people creating amazing culinary delights in theirs, I must confess that up until now ours has only been used for cooking chips and fishfingers! When I received the Official Tower Single Basket Air fryer Cookbook from Tower Housewares it was just the push I needed to liven up mealtimes and I have been enjoying experimenting with some of the delicious recipes – it’s fair to say my family have been thrilled with the meals and our air fryer has had a new lease of life!

With over 100 years of experience in manufacturing everyday kitchen appliances the new Air Fryer recipe books have been carefully created by the Tower development team to make the most of Tower air fryers. There are recipe books for all three styles of air fryer so whether you have a Dual Basket, Single Basket & Oven there is a recipe book for you.

With 249 pages the book is organised into the following sections, Breakfast, Starters & Light Bites, Midweek Dinners, A Taste of Takeaway, Meat Free, Sharing Snacks & Sides, Pizza & Savoury Bakes and Puddings & Sweet Treats. It contains a really good selection of recipes and there is something to suit every taste. Many of the recipes include “Top Tips” which suggest alternative ingredients or serving suggestions and they all show the Prep time, Cooking Time, Number of servings and difficulty level.

Each recipe spans two pages, one for the ingredients and method and the second for a colour photograph which shows you what the finished dish should look like.

The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and as we’re trying to save money at the moment we decided to create our own Chinese meal rather than going to the takeaway. The dishes were surprisingly easy to make and the whole family were really impressed with the air fryer versions of our favourite dishes.  

The Sesame Prawn Toast was simple to make and tasted amazing – so good that we all agreed that we won’t be buying it from the Chinese take away any more!

Another favourite is Crispy Chinese Style Chilli Beef, this was a really easy dish to create and cost a fraction of what we normally pay at the Chinese take away.

With the Chinese dishes going down a treat we tried a mix of Indian dishes next, Tandoori Style Chicken, Onion Bhajis and Crispy Bombay Potatoes. As our air fryer only has 1 basket, in order to have everything ready together I did prepare the Onion Bhajis and Crispy Bombay Potatoes earlier in the day and then reheated them at the last minute and this worked really well. The Tandoori Style Chicken was much easier to make than I expected, only taking 5 minutes to prepare and was a real winner with my family.

This book contains an excellent selection of recipes which are easy to follow and actually turn out exactly like the pictures. It’s been fun experimenting with the air fryer and I’m looking forward to working my way through the recipe book. I’m so pleased I’ve upped my air frying game and whilst I might still cook the odd basket of chips and fish fingers our air fryer is now fully occupied cooking much more exciting cuisine!  

RRP £19.99 but you can save 25% off by using promo code RECIPEBOOK

Grace & Stella Mother’s Day Pamper Gifts

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

Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day as it is more commonly known, falls on the 4th Sunday of Lent, meaning the date varies each year and if you’re not careful it creeps up on you without you realising! With the increasingly busy lives that we all seem to lead now, and with many people watching the pennies, it’s good to know that there are plenty of affordable and easily accessible gift ideas that mum will love this Mother’s Day. Amazon is my go-to place for last minute gift ideas and I know my Mum will love this selection of pampering treats from beauty brand Grace & Stella.

Rainbow Bath Bomb £19.99

The rainbow clouds are the ultimate bath time treat, scented with lavender extract and packed with nourishing oils to help you relax and unwind. The simple white clouds aren’t very exciting at first glance but when dropped in a bath full of warm water they quickly explode into a riot of vibrant colours, creating a swirling rainbow that is quite mesmerizing to watch. The beautiful lavender fragrance is lovely and relaxing and when you get out of the bath your skin feels lovely and soft.

Lavender Foot Peel Mask (2 pairs) £20

Winner of the “Best Footcare Product” in the 2023 Marie Claire Sin Awards these foot masks are the ultimate treat for tired feet. After soaking your feet in warm water for 10 minutes put the foot booties on, securing with the supplied tape and then put on a pair of socks, which helps speed up the peeling process. They need to be left on for an hour – so the perfect opportunity to grab yourself a cup of tea and a good book and relax whilst the magical ingredients do their stuff. After an hour you remove the bootie and then wash your feet with soap and water. My feet felt incredibly soft afterwards and I found the lavender scent was very relaxing. The peeling starts in 5-7 days and it is recommended that you soak your feet for 10 minutes everyday to help loosed the skin. I found it quite satisfying peeling the dead skin off and I was really impressed with how soft it has left my feet. While the peeling process might not be for everyone, I would say that the end result is definitely worth it.

Eye Mask (24 pairs) £17.50

Eye masks are a popular choice to help reduce under eye puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles. These eye masks are simple to use, adhere nicely to the skin and stay put for the 15-20 minutes recommended use. The unscented eye masks are ideal for a boost when you haven’t had enough sleep and need to look bright and alert or you can incorporate them into a pamper session and sit back whilst they do their magic. I found they have really reduced puffiness, especially after a late night and after using them I look a lot fresher.

Face Mask £20.95

The Dead Sea Mud Mask is infused with Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera Juice and draws impurities like dirt and oil out of your clogged pores to give a clearer  complexion. Applying the mask was nice and simple as the mud spreads easily and then you then leave it to dry for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.  It took a few minutes to remove but my skin felt lovely afterwards and I was I was really impressed with how fresh and clear my complexion looked.

Lavender Body Lotion £14.95

Containing a whopping 470ml this body lotion contains Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera and Rosehip Oil that moisturizes, nourishes and soothes skin. This body lotion smells amazing, the lavender fragrance is calming and relaxing, yet not overpowering and it lingers nicely on your skin, creating a relaxing spa-like atmosphere long after it has been applied. The lotion is smooth and creamy and absorbs easily without leaving a greasy residue. My skin felt instantly hydrated and is a great choice for everyday use.

I’m really impressed with the Grace & Stella products  and I am sure lots of mums would be delighted to receive a selection of pampering products this Mothers Day.

Available from Amazon

Rugby Icons Max Brown and Greg O’Shea unite to champion the excellence of Organic Irish Beef

Family Life, Food & Drink, Mother's Day

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

Renowned Irish rugby player Max Brown and TV presenter and Rugby Pro, Greg O’Shea, have joined forces with Bord Bia in an exciting campaign celebrating the unparalleled quality of organic Irish beef. 

Known for its delicious flavour, organic Irish beef comes from cattle that have grazed on the nutrient-packed clover and yarrow grasslands of Ireland. The beef that comes from these cows is not only incredibly tasty but has the following benefits too:

1. Premium Protein: Naturally rich in protein and vitamin B12, organic Irish beef is a great choice for those seeking to increase their protein intake. Max Brown, drawing on his experience as an athlete says “As an athlete, I’ve always been mindful of the crucial role nutrition plays in peak performance. Organic Irish beef not only offers an exceptional taste but also the protein and nutrients essential for athletic excellence.”

2. Energy Elevation: Packed with protein and essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12, organic Irish beef contributes to energy production. Greg O’Shea, recognising the importance of a balanced and vibrant lifestyle, emphasises how incorporating organic Irish beef into one’s diet can be a key element in achieving optimal energy levels.

3. Natural & Organic: The delicious flavour of organic Irish beef is a testament to the natural and organic practices followed in its production. Cattle grazing on Ireland’s lush grasslands result in beef that is not only delicious but also aligns with the values of conscious and healthy food choices.

In order to taste the quality of the steak ourselves we were sent a couple of sirloin steaks to try. The steaks are expertly butchered and naturally matured for a minimum of 21 days to enhance their full flavour potential. Sirloin steaks can be cooked in a variety of ways and I decided to cook them in a griddle pan as  this gives the meat those all-important char marks and gives a smoky flavour to steak, which my family loves.

Before I cooked the steaks, I oiled them before seasoning with salt and pepper and then left them to stand for 10 minutes whilst the griddle pan was being heated in the oven. Once the pan was REALLY hot and smoking, I placed the steaks in the pan, I like my steak to be medium rare, so cooked it for 2 minutes on each side.

Once cooked it was served with all the trimmings, chips, corn on the cob, broccoli, mushrooms and onion rings. The verdict – this was a fantastic sirloin steak, it was perhaps a little on the medium side than medium rare but it was perfectly cooked and a  juicy,  delicious steak. The combination of the crispy flavoursome layer of fat and the succulent meat is heavenly and if I was served this steak at a restaurant I’d be more than pleased.

There is currently a giveaway over on the Irish Beef Instagram page to win two tickets to the Ireland vs England clash in the 2024 Six Nations Championships at Twickenham Stadium. The competition closes on the 28th February so get your entries in quickly before the competition ends!

If you want to try some Organic Irish Sirloin Steaks for yourself then Bord Bia has partnered with Ocado who are offering a saving of 15% until the 19th March, with Mother’s Day coming up they would make a lovely treat for your Mum or Mother figure this year.

Just Spices Discovery Spice Box for Mother’s Day

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, health, Mother's Day, Summer

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

If you’ve never heard of Just Spices (and if you ever go to the supermarket and look at the spice and herbs section, they’re everywhere!) then let me tell you a little secret. You no longer have to blend a whole heap of expensive spices together to make savoury meals or even desserts because Just Spices has an enormous range ready-to-use which does all the work for you.

This Just Spices Discover Spice Box contains 8 ready spices including; Sandwich Seasoning, Potato Allrounder, Pizza Topping, Chicken Seasoning, Pasta Allrounder, Vegetable Allrounder, Avocado Topping and Egg Topping.  Each of the sachets contain a mix of herbs, dried vegetables and spices which can be added to food especially the ones recommended on the packet.

For example, the Sandwich Seasoning contains salt, onion, leek, black pepper, cumin and lemon myrtle among other ingredients. It doesn’t matter what sandwich filling you’re using, you can add the Just Spices Sandwich Seasoning sachet to it and enhance the flavours. Alternatively, you could make the same sandwich every day and use different sachets to create different flavours. Your cheese sandwich will taste completely different with the Pasta Allrounder seasoning with the added paprika, chilli and rosemary.

If you usually cook pasta once a week, or have avocado on toast anytime, then the seasoning sachets make a pleasant departure from your usual cuisine.  Without Just Spices, you’d have a cupboard full of tons of opened spices and herbs, all past their sell by date and all in different quantities that you’re never going to use anyway!  I’m not sure I’d even think of adding a different herb to my egg on toast let along a whole host of the Just Spices ones…

The Just Spices Discovery Spice Box is not only for popping in the post to your Mum or Grandma, but it could introduce your household to the range of Just Spices available in the supermarket without the cost of having to buy a whole jar.  The Discovery Box is also easy to post to a student who is just starting out cooking or doesn’t have a lot of room to store anything in a kitchen. It’s the perfect gift for a teenager learning to cook as well as something homely for Mother’s Day.

Available from £9.99

Olay Protect Gift Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, 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.

Mother’s Day is a great excuse to buy Mum some luxury skincare and with the Olay Protect Gift Set, it’s not just the day cream, but a night cream and Vitamin C eye cream that’s included! This gorgeous box set contains Olay Retinol24 Night (50ml), Olay Niacinamide SPF30 Day (50ml) and Olay Vitamin C Eye Cream for Day (15ml), all in a pretty gift box.

Starting with the Olay Niacinamide SPF30 Day Cream, the hydrating, renewing, age defying cream works perfectly as day cream either under make up or just on its own, especially as it is SPF30. For British weather, it’s a must to both moisturise and have some sun protection as we’re not used to the high temperatures in the summer and like now, the biting cold and wind that the winter can bring. Your skin will love you for looking after it with a rich day moisturiser! Couple this with the Olay Vitamin B3 24 Eye Cream.  Packed with lots of vitamins to work for as long as possible, this eye cream hydrates the delicate area around the eyes and acts as a barrier too, to prevent free radical damage.

The final piece to the Olay puzzle is the Olay Retinol 24. This cream moisturises and smooths skin overnight using the powers of Retinol and helps give your skin that healthy glow.  It’s fragrance free too so you still wear a scent with it.  This is a lovely indulgence to put on at night as part of your bedtime routine because it feels so soft against the skin and gives you a luminous glow before bed and when your skin regenerates as you sleep.

Each of the creams are lightweight and don’t feel greasy at all. They’re fabulous on their own, but in combination and over time they work together to give your skin a continuous glow and make it feel hydrated and smooth.  They’re so light in fact that you can wear them under make up and it won’t matter but the vitamins help protect your skin when you’re out and about.

If Mum (or Nan!) love Olay, then this is the perfect gift for her. You know she’ll use it, love it and appreciate having it all together in one box set is a thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day.

And if you don’t give it? You could just keep it for yourself!

Available from £111.00 at: https://www.boots.com/olay-project-protect-day-and-night-moisturiser-and-eye-cream-christmas-giftset-10335161

Lacura Collagen Lip Oil from Aldi

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Women

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

A few weeks ago, some girlfriends and I went for a makeover in a posh London department store.  After buying a ton of new products, I was hesitant about buying the lip oil they had used on me. I had never heard of lip oil before and my usual lip covering is lipstick or sometimes a matt lipstick applied with a wand, so the lip oil was a new product to me.

Well, Aldi had other ideas! They sent me this Lacura Collagen Lip Oil (8ml) with Shea butter and Vitamin E to try, so after last weekend I was very happy to oblige!  The lip oil is a tube with roller glass ball for ease of application and is only about 7 centimetres tall so can fit into a handbag or purse easily when you go out.  The added shea butter and vitamin E are to protect and moisturise the skin and you can really feel the softness of both ingredients and taste the shea butter too!

Lacura Collagen Lip Oil applies easily and doesn’t leave your lips feeling sticky like a lip gloss. It’s more like a light oil, as the name suggest and leaves a shine on the lips. It’s colourless on application but seems to enhance your natural colour, or if you apply with a lipstick underneath, brings out the lipstick colour and protects a little from the make-up transferring onto glasses etc. It’s easy to wear on its own during the day or to mix it up at night with a lipstick as well and create a different look, especially if you’re really good with lip liner and can create a blend with the oil too.

I’m loving experimenting with the Lacura Lip Oil and being able to make a new look with it for both day and night.  It’s so easy to use too and doesn’t need to be precise at all. A new staple for the make-up bag!

Available from £2.99 at: https://www.aldi.co.uk/collagen-lip-oil/p/722836778210501

Mavogel Sleep Mask

camping, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Mother's Day, Summer, Women

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

The mornings are getting lighter, which means the evenings are too and as we approach summer, the nights aren’t as deeply dark. If your circadian rhythms are affected by the daylight then you’ll appreciate some darkness in order to sleep. I know I do.

Mavogel’s Sleep Mask is a handmade mask which goes over the eyes and fits over the nose to give a completely light-tight night time.  The mask is designed with an adjustable strap at the back so that you can get a custom snug fit, and the bridge of the nose has a mouldable cartilage to fit over the nose and prevent light entering. The mask is made of black cotton with a sponge inner that makes it more comfortable to sleep in, and there’s no sharp bits that dig in or are too tight. The adjustable straps make it easy to fit and not be uncomfortable when you sleep. 

The mask itself is very deep so can accommodate most faces and prevent light seeping in at the top or over the nose, where conventional sleep masks usually struggle to keep out light. This is great for adults and for older children because of how it adjusts. I think this would be excellent for travelling with too as the mask comes with a travel pouch and clip that you can use to keep on the plane seat in front or the back of the car.  If you don’t know where you’re staying, it also makes a handy travel companion as it’s so light it can go into main luggage or hand luggage. No doubt a life saver if you need it and you won’t notice it’s there if you don’t!

It’s comfortable too. The nose clip is made of carbon steel and can adjust to nose bridge sizes but also be straightened out in case someone else needs to use it. I found the strap easy to adjust and fitted my head and nose easily. It absolutely blocks out all the light too! It was one of those moments when I woke up in the morning and didn’t know what time it was because it was so dark! If you’re a shift worker, this is also great for sleeping in the daytime.

Great as a travel companion or for anyone who finds it hard to sleep with the amount of light in the room. 

Available from £6.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cotton-Sleep-Eye-Mask-Comfortable/dp/B07D3M6892/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3AB6UWQO46YBV&keywords=mavogel%2Bcotton%2Bsleep%2Beye%2Bmask&qid=1707324947&sprefix=mavogel%2Bslee%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&smid=AAJ55L688ECUI&th=1

Lola’s Cupcakes Valentine’s Postal Cake

Birthday Gifts, chocolate, Easter, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

Love is in the air and The Review Studio team have been spoilt rotten by our loved ones today.  As well as the usual chocolates and flowers we’ve had a very special delivery from Lola’s Cupcakes who make the most amazing cakes. Their stores are mainly in London, but they do offer a nationwide delivery service, meaning everyone can enjoy their delicious bakes.

When sending cakes through the post they need to be well packaged to ensure they arrive in perfect condition and I was really impressed with the care that goes into the packaging. The cake sits in a carboard box with a protective layer of cardboard on the top and there is a cool block and thermal liner to ensure they arrive in tip top condition. Once opened the cake should be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container and is best eaten within 48 hours. It can be kept in the fridge for another 2 days  – ours didn’t last that long!!  The thermal liner and ice pack can also be returned to Lola’s Cupcakes and they will be cleaned and reused which is a great idea and to make it even easier there is a prepaid label so it doesn’t cost you a penny.

So, onto the important bit – the cake – the Valentine’s Postal Cake not only looks amazing but tastes fantastic too. The delicious chocolate sponge is beautifully decorated with pink vanilla buttercream with “Happy Valentines” iced in the middle. It won’t come as a surprise to hear that it is adorned with hearts – a couple even have “Love” written on them and there are plenty of Valentines sprinkles and a few rose petals to complete the Valentines theme. The cake has a nice thick layer of pink buttercream sandwiched between the two moist chocolate sponges and once we had cut into it, we discovered that the cake was light and fluffy, nice and chocolatey and incredibly tasty.   

We were all really impressed with this cake, it has travelled a few hundred miles yet still looks like it has just been picked up fresh from the bakery. Lola’s Cupcakes make all their cakes daily by hand and from scratch, using only the very best ingredients and have a fantastic selection of cakes, cupcakes and brownies available on their website. The cakes make lovely gifts so next time you need a birthday, anniversary, get well soon, Mother’s Day, Easter or even a “Just Because” gift for a loved one then Lola’s Cupcakes is the place to go and I guarantee they will be well received by the recipient!   

Small (serves 8) £25  

Large (serves 14) £40


Joe & Seph’s Valentine’s Day Popcorn

Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gluten Free, Mother's Day, snacks, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year so instead of going out we’re planning a cosy night in with a good film and plenty of popcorn. Since discovering Joe & Seph’s gourmet popcorn I must admit we’ve become “popcorn snobs” and supermarket popcorn doesn’t get a look in anymore!  Joe & Seph’s have an amazing selection of flavoured popcorn and we eagerly await the limited editions that are launched throughout the year for special occasions. The latest flavours to land on our doorstep were the Valentine’s collection which consists of three delicious flavours, Rose Chocolate, White Chocolate & Strawberry and Caramel Macchiato & Whiskey.

Joe & Seph’s make their popcorn in small batches using only the finest, natural ingredients which means all their popcorn is packed full of flavour. All the popcorn is lovely and crispy and covered in a delicious indulgent coating which makes it the perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day treat.

The White Chocolate & Strawberry air popped popcorn is a real treat for the tastebuds, when you pop it in your mouth you first taste the smooth caramel before getting a white chocolate hit which is then followed by a delicious fruity strawberry taste. It is light in colour with pink flecks and incredibly moreish so be warned!!

The Rose Chocolate popcorn is perfect for chocoholics. The rose flavour works well with the chocolate and reminds me of Turkish Delight. The popcorn is light and crispy and goes incredibly well with a sparkling rose wine!  

The Caramel Macchiato and Whisky Gourmet popcorn isn’t one I would have chosen myself as I’m not a whisky lover, but I was pleasantly surprised with this popcorn, the combination of smooth cream, Columbian coffee and Scotch whisky works incredibly well together and as it’s not as sweet as the other popcorn was my husband’s favourite of the three.

The 80g pouches contain 4 servings and the pouch is resealable, Once opened it’s recommended that the popcorn is eaten within 5 days – I’ve never been able to check out the freshness after 5 days though as it never lasts that long in our house!!

RRP £4

Edifier WH950 NB Headphones

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, Tech, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

I love listening to music and podcasts so there is always a pair of headphones in my bag. You can’t go wrong with a pair of Edifier headphones and I’m currently using the new WH950 NB headphones which not only look great but are comfortable to wear and most importantly offer a great sound, especially when I’m out and about.

Available in black or ivory with rose gold the wireless headphones are very stylish and well made,  the earcups and headband combine soft leather effect material with memory foam, giving a pair of headphones that are comfortable to wear, even after many hours of use.

That’s a good thing as the battery life of these headphones is quite impressive. Charging from USB-C for 1.5 hours gives up to 55 hours of use (34 with ANC on) and if you’re in a rush just 10 minutes of charging is good for another 7 hours!

The headphones use 40mm titanium film drivers to deliver the sound with a frequency response of 40kHz and the Edifier app gives plenty of options to tune your music with equaliser settings plus different sound modes to get the best from games and movies. With a compatible device the headphones support both Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio wireless with LDAC certification. Hi-Res audio provides a wide range of detail and clarity so whether you’re listening to music, podcasts, gaming or using them for calls the sound quality is excellent.

I’ve already mentioned how comfortable the headphones are, but the soft over-ear design also helps to block external noise too. When combined with the active noise cancellation it is a great way to listen to music when in noisy environments or travelling as you don’t hear background noise when wearing them. There are also ambient sound and wind reduction modes if needed.

Connection is made with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 so Android users will also benefit from fast pairing.

These headphones are great for travel, folding into the included hard case which also has room for charging and audio cables. They feel very well built, with all moving parts made of metal and I’m confident that these will last me for years to come. They even include an aeroplane headphone adapter so will be perfect for my holidays!

RRP £149.99 available from Amazon

Annabelle Minerals Lipstick, Jumbo Lip Pencil and Refill

beauty, Birthday Gifts, cruelty-free, eco friendly, Fashion, Gifts for Her, health, Home, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

What beautiful Mother’s Day gifts!  Annabelle Minerals have been around since 2012 and founded in the UK to provide handpicked ingredients that are both minimalist and natural. The idea is that the ingredients pamper your skin so that you don’t have to suffer unnecessary layers of heavy chemicals just to look your best.  The theme of the ingredients being natural also carries across into the style of make up – natural and understated but still with a flare for style.

We were sent some lovely lip make up for Mother’s Day.  Annabelle Minerals have both lipsticks (with refills available online) and jumbo lip pencils which can be used as both lip liners and as a lipstick. There’s several colours online too, including these shades; Apricot for the lipstick you can see and Brown Fig for the refill.

The Shear Lipsticks are presented in these gorgeous gold swizzle sticks and come in Apricot, Brown Fig, Coconut, Dragon Fruit and Strawberry. The names of the colours give away the type of natural ingredients Annabelle Minerals strives for! The Apricot colour I received is a slightly darker shade of my lips, so it’s very natural and glides on superbly. The colour stays all day too, as I discovered when I went out one Friday night wearing it. Only a small amount of the middle of the lips was missing at the end of the night, and probably as a result of drinking.

Once you’ve bought one lipstick, you can buy refills in either the same colour or a different one, and saving not just the packaging but also a bit of money!  I was sent my second choice of Brown Fig, a slightly darker shade with a touch of red in it.  This was a great colour for when I was wearing a darker outfit and wanted my lips to pop.

The Annabelle Minerals Jumbo Lip Pencil is probably my favourite of all the lip products. I was sent the Marigold colour which compliments all the other lipstick colours in the range. I used it as a lip liner, then you can fill in your lips with that colour, or dab it on as a base before you add a lipstick on top to vary the colour. You can also do the opposite and put the lip liner on top of your lipstick and seal it in and also change the colour.

With each of the lipsticks and the lip liner, they glide on perfectly, don’t come off easily and keep a constant colour. I didn’t notice them on my lips as they’re not greasy at all and in fact, I didn’t even need to blot with each application. They travel really well too, with a pencil lid to the liner and magnetic locking lipstick cases.  I’ll be exploring more of the range at Annabelle Minerals, and looking at what Mum would like for Mother’s Day.

Annabelle Minerals Lipstick: £12.90 (Apricot)

https://www.annabelleminerals.com/en_gb/lips/1368-sheer-lipstick.html

Annabelle Minerals Jumbo Lip Pencil: £11.90

https://www.annabelleminerals.com/en_gb/lips/1268-1922590-jumbo-lip-pencil.html#/364-jumbo_lip_pencil-marigold

Annabelle Minerals Lipstick refill: £9.90: (Brown Fig)

https://www.annabelleminerals.com/en_gb/lips/1368-1922976-sheer-lipstick.html#/478-lipstick-brown_fig/485-options-refill

Martha Hill Anti-Ageing All Day Crème Gel

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, 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.

Martha Hills are one of the brands available from the Beauty Naturals team, the natural beauty company since 1980. Their extensive range of beauty items online covers everything beauty related, and this Anti-Aging All Day Crème Gel is no exception.

The new Anti-Ageing Crème Gel is new to the market, formulated with natural probiotics preBiulin FOS™ to protect and restore the skin’s natural microbiota barrier. What does that mean? Well it means that it protects the ‘good bacteria’ on the skin that is needed for your skin to be healthy and therefore keeps a balance that’s more favourable to clear, well-nourished skin.

It’s suitable for all skin types and not oil based so it absorbs in easily without a greasy shine. The Anti-Ageing All Day Crème Gel keeps your skin moist and nurtured all day to give a glowing complexion and the gel seals moisture in.  Along with the preBiulin FOS™ to protect the microbiota barrier, the All-Day Crème prevents wrinkles, protects from UV damage and acts as a buffer between pollutants and harsh chemicals. It also works wonderfully under make up to create a beautiful skin texture.  Over time, the crème will build up protection along with keeping moisturiser in to give you ongoing defence.

I have been using the Martha Hill Anti-Ageing All Day Crème Gel for a few weeks now. It’s not heavy at all, and keeps skin light and hydrated.  It works well under make up, and if you’re wearing it to bed or with exceptionally dry skin, you can still add a moisturiser over the top. It’s fragrance free too!

Available for £21.00 but currently on sale for £14.70 at: https://beautynaturals.com/product/?mh=200

Steccato Set of 4 Dinner Plates

Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Plastic free, Valentine's Day Gifts

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

These Steccato dinner plates which are part of a much bigger collection at Spode, remind me of al fresco dining in Italy, or your favourite posh Italian restaurant back home.  Made of Earthenware, these plates are 28 centimetres in diameter and have the traditional cobalt blue striped design. The timeless artwork and deep colour of gorgeous blue is a scheme which never go out of fashion.  

The Steccato Dinner plates are made in England and are dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven safe. So whether you are making a fancy meal from scratch or just heating up leftovers in the microwave or oven, Spode have covered your back and made life easier with these super durable plates. You can see how each plate is made with quality in mind, and their robustness is a beautiful quality that will keep these dishes contemporary and relevant for a long time to come.

The plates are part of a whole set of Steccato ware which instantly lift a table and give a sense of style. There are also sets of similar designs which you can mix and match to your taste, so that there’s more interest on the table, or you can build your crockery set over time with different statement pieces and arrange them for your celebrations.

Available for £80 for 4 at: https://www.spode.co.uk/steccato-set-of-4-dinner-plates

Sophie Conran Lavandula 3 Bowl Tray Set

Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Plastic free, Women

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

This beautiful table set of three porcelain bowls and a tray from Sophie Conran are perfect for Mother’s Day. 

The set arrived very well packaged in a beautiful light purple gift box from Sophie Conran’s Portmeirion collection.  The bowls, which are about 5 centimetres high, sit in a similarly decorated porcelain tray which can be used on a table for snacks, nuts or dips for entertaining, or even sit on Mum’s bedside table for rings, earrings or her smartwatch.

The bowls and tray each have a delicate lavender design in lilac and green at the bottom with a glazed finish and tactile circular texture from manufacturing. The outside of the tray is completely white so you can’t see a design until you finish the snacks inside! The tray is decorated more heavily with the lavender flowers adorned at the bottom of the tray and the same concentric circles from manufacturing. The three bowls sit snugly on the tray, or you can use the bowls and the tray separately for your table.

All of the pieces are oven, microwave and dishwasher safe and can also be used to store items in the freezer. With these robust characteristics, you can tell that these exceptionally well-made porcelain pieces won’t chip or crack easily and will last a long time.  The lavender pattern won’t be for everyone but with the bowls filled you don’t see much of the flower pattern, just the outside of the bowls, only to discover the artwork on the inside.

These are a lovely set of bowls and tray that make a beautiful present, but will last a lifetime too. If not for Mother’s Day, then a birthday, wedding gift or new home gift would be ideal and the options for how you use them are endless.

Available for £53.50 at:

https://www.portmeirion.co.uk/sophie-conran-lavandula-3-bowl-tray-set

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