Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
It’s the first week of Dry January and I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to having a break from alcohol (and hangovers) after a few weeks of over indulgence!
I enjoy a glass of cider, so I’ve swapped my normal brand for low alcohol cider from Cranes Cider. It’s got the fresh, crisp flavour you would expect from a quality British Cider but with only 0.5% alcohol content is a much healthier choice.
When you pour it into a glass you get the same apple aroma as you would from a traditional cider, and I was pleased to discover that it has the same crisp freshness in the mouth that I am used to. This is every bit as good as traditional cider and one I will continue to drink once Dry January is over. At only 0.5% ALC it is ideal for those who can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol and is suitable for those who follow a vegan or gluten free diet too.
RRP £22.50 for 9 x 500ml bottles and is available from Cranes
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The heatwave isn’t over yet! Regardless of how hot it is, these Havaianas flip-flops from Brazil can be worn spring until autumn. We were sent a pair from the new More Joy range by Christopher Kane to try this week, and thankfully, the weather has been kind to us whilst testing them!
Priced at £40 for a pair, you might think twice at paying so much for a pair of flip flops when the local supermarket store carries the same sort of design for less than £5. Well, the very trendy Havaianas are made of 100% rubber on the soles and PVC silk for the straps, making them hard-wearing, but the rubber sole also makes them more comfortable. They’re made from one continuous block of rubber, so there are no stuck-on soles or coatings which wear off over time. Instead, the thick rubber creates a cushioning effect to make them more comfortable to walk in for long periods of time, and of course, much cooler than shoes!
Havaianas More Joy Flip Flops
The More Joy designs are a trendy version of the ‘Peace Sign’ for the fingers, but this time for the toes! Don’t believe me? Have a look at the red and white designs and you’ll see the Peace Sign is represented on the upper sole…
I have been wearing these at the weekend to walk around town and the garden. They’re very comfortable, and show no sign of wearing like some flip-flops do. The dark rubber and straps show little sign of dirt either so they can go on and on.
Check out the Havaianas store online for lots of other designs for men, women and kids as well as lots of other summer clothes.
Disclaimer: We received the SodaStream Art for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own.
The forecast next week is predicted to be hot, hot, hot with temperatures up in the 30’s. We are not used to those temperatures in the UK so it is really important to stay hydrated. We all know we should drink 8 glasses of water a day, but I really struggle to do this so was really pleased when Sodastream sent me a Sodastream Art to try.
SodaStream have been making fizzy bubbles for over 100 years now and their aim is simple, allowing people to make fizzy drinks in their own homes and saving the planet in the process. One SodaStream bottle can save up to thousands of single use plastic bottles, so is the perfect swap this Plastic Free July.
The Sodastream Art is a stunning machine with its sleek black housing and looks great in the kitchen. I was a little disappointed that the machine didn’t come with any syrups so until I could get to the shops, we just made fizzy water and added it to cordial which is a great way to get children (and adults) to drink more water. When I went shopping, I discovered our local supermarket stocked the Pepsi Max and 7Up , so I picked a bottle of each, much to the delight of my sons!
We were really impressed with the flavours of the syrups and the thing I liked most was each drink can be made fresh, so they are always fizzy. Normally once you open a 2l bottle you really need to drink it the same day, otherwise it quickly goes flat but with SodaStream each drink can be made fresh and you can even control the fizz, making your drink lightly sparkling to super fizzy.
The C02 cylinder that comes with the machine holds enough gas to make 60 litres of sparkling drinks and refills are available from the Sodastream website.
Staying hydrated has never been easier and when it’s hot why not liven up your drinks with plenty of ice and a slice of lemon or lime.
Disclaimer – We received this item for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Now that summer is upon us, and the last 2 years of lockdown are gone, we can begin to enjoy the company of others. Some of us may not want to get away this year, but with Bramblecrest sofa sets, it will feel like you’re on holiday!
The UK company Bramblecrest is based in the Cotswolds and pride themselves on high quality garden items. Started 22 years ago by two friends, they have continued to increase their range, and still design enviable furniture. We were sent the gorgeous rattan Kingscote Sofa Set to review – an 8-seater ceramic topped garden table with corner sofa and two benches which can easily seat up to 10 people. The pièce de résistance in this set is the table top firepit to heat you whilst outdoors, or even use as a BBQ!
The set arrives in pieces but is assembled on delivery by the installation team. The whole set is made of high quality rattan and comes is two colours, Nutmeg and Cloud. Our set is Cloud with Eco-Charcoal fabric cushions, which are included in the price of the set. The table is assembled with a drawer to one side which is where the gas cylinder is placed and connected for the firepit to work. The table top is made of large ceramic tiles (very weather durable!) with the firepit covered by another tile until you are ready to light it. A glass fire surround is also assembled for you which is for safety, but also adds a beautiful reflection to the fire when it gets dark.
The firepit comes with coals which need assembling before it’s lit. It doesn’t take long to arrange them around the gas ring, which is hidden by the mound of coals. You will need to source a 5kg Propane gas cylinder in order for the firepit to work, details of which are in the instructions. This will require a contract if you don’t already have one, and the purchase of the gas. The table is still perfectly useable without the propane though, and the protective cover still allows you enjoy the table. The gas is switched on from the control on the side, so there’s no lighting matches!
Fire Pit controlCeramic Table Top and Fire Pit
The whole set measure approximately 290cm by 290cms which includes two benches. The benches can be moved around easily because they’re light weight, so if you are snug on space you can still accommodate as many people but perhaps with a different configuration. Each bench is 110cm long and can hold up to 3 people although 2 people per bench is probably more comfortable for eating.
The corner sofa is assembled to a width of 290cm. As this is the largest part of the set, you’ll need to measure at least this amount to know if the sofa will be able to fit into your space. The sofas are very, very comfortable. Just sitting on them shortly after they were assembled I could feel the quality from the depth of the seat, the height of the backrest and the cushions- oh the cushions! They are made of a weather resistant material so can stay outside, but there is something about the material and the filling that makes them all warm and cosy. I think the material absorbs the sunlight heat which makes them more comfortable and along with the deep base of the seat, it makes them so relaxing. Even better, they’re made with recycled plastic bottles!
Even after being outside in the rain, the rattan and the fabric dried quickly. I was worried about the fire pit getting wet but it was designed with rain in mind, so there is a drain underneath and the drawer with the cylinder means water just runs straight through. There was no puddling of water anywhere which would warrant needing a clean. However, if you prefer to keep your outdoor furniture in good shape all year, Bramblecrest also sell a bespoke seat cover set which is extremely sturdy. When the rains came over and we were expecting a storm, I put the covers on expecting them to be one-size-fits-all but these covers are made exactly for the Bramblecrest sofa sets, machine stitched with ties incorporated so that you can fit them tight around the furniture in the worst of the weather.
Bramblecrest’s All Weather Seat Covers
After more than a week of the sofa set being installed, it has changed the dynamics of our family sitting outside. The weather proof covers mean that we can sit outside at any time, and the quick drying fabric cushions mean that the sun dries up any dampness they may hold. The addition of the firepit over the summer will mean that we can keep warmer as the nights become cooler, and have the added benefit of the grill to keep any food warm, allowing us to eat outside for longer into the autumn.
The best part of the Bramblecrest Kingscote Sofa Set? The feeling of being on holiday when you can’t be… the instant Mediterranean feeling of the laid-back sofa lifestyle, with the open fire and comfort of the cosy cushions beats the British plastic chairs any day.
The Review Studio 