Gifts for Her – Page 6 – The Review Studio

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

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

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

She Grows Veg Valentines Gifts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Island Bakery Biscuits

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

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

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

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

Island Bakery Cheese Biscuits

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

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

Island Bakery Apple Crumbles

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

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

Island Bakery Chocolate Gingers

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

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

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

Greyson’s Premium Pink Gin

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

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

Aldi’s Greyson’s Premium Pink Gin is not just gin, but flavoured gin! It’s not a cocktail as such, but it is infused with strawberry, raspberry and cranberry. It’s light and fruity and doesn’t need any other mixers to make it a perfect evening treat.

At 37.5% ABV it’s potent stuff and specially made for Aldi. The gin, which is triple distilled, is similar to Gordon’s Pink Gin which is obviously pricier. Adding tonic to it though, you have a perfect after dinner drink or something to sip with friends after work at home. The sweet, light taste separates it from heavier spirits but makes it more fun especially as the berries are evident and there’s a hidden, more subtle flavour which I’m told is from the juniper berries.

I tried this as a straight gin and although it’s got a very pleasant flavour, I didn’t like how strong the alcohol is. Much better to add some tonic, ice and a lemon (or I’m told an ice cube with a frozen strawberry inside is also nice!) and sip it all night to make the flavour last and enjoy the alcohol longer. I’ve not tried Greyson’s Premium Pink Gin in a cocktail yet, but as it’s a 70cl bottle, there’s plenty left for us to try out something special!

One last note – Greyson’s Pink Gin is also vegetarian, so if you’re not doing Dry January but you are veggie, this one is for you!

Available from £13.99 at: https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-greysons-pink-gin-70cl/4088600497792

Brita Water Filter Active Bottle

Baby, Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Days Out, eco friendly, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Home, Lunchbox Fillers, REUSABLE, Summer

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

Daily life nowadays means you are running errands, looking after children and/or parents and probably juggling that with a full-time job and adding in a social life of your own. Oh, and don’t forget you need to get exercise too, and lots of it! We look for gadgets and life hacks nowadays to make life easier but to also improve the quality of life.

Carrying water around is essential nowadays, and especially for children. Brita have a range of water bottles for everyday use but they also contain filters to make the water extra clean. The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle is a clever 0.6 litre bottle which includes a filter in the top so you can filter tap water when you’re out and about and not have to worry about the nasties.

The bottle is made of 100% BPA free material with a sports cap (so you can use it when exercising or to prevent it falling over and spilling) and has flexible sides so that you can squeeze it to direct through the sports cap. The filter is made of natural carbon and originates from coconut shell material so it’s more sustainable too. The Brita filter cartridge used in the Brita Water Filter Active removes chemicals found in tap water such as chlorine and some herbicides, pesticides and hormones but leaves the useful elements like Magnesium and calcium. So if you’re out of the house without your Brita filter, any tap in a café or restaurant, or even at the gym will fill the Brita Active Bottle and the water will be cleaner than just taking out of the tap.

The bottle is also multipurpose because it’s adapted for sport. Not just squeezy sides but there’s a sports loop to attach it to your belt as you’re working out or to pick it up and hold it, and it comes with a cup that fixes to the base snugly so that you don’t lose it. The same cup works as a lid to protect the spout. Taking this out with a pram where you can attach it to the handle bars with the loop or put it in the cup holder, it can also help a toddler drink from a cup as you dispense it into the attached beaker. If you’re going to the gym and don’t want the attached cup, it’s easy to leave behind and 0.6 litre capacity is probably enough for an hour’s session.

The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle comes with a cartridge already but when you need to replace it, it only takes taking off the top screw cap and placing the filter in the neck of the bottle. No fuss, and easy to carry around with you if you’re on holiday for instance. The whole bottle with filter and full of water is light to carry too, so it fits into hand luggage. If you can’t take a bottle of water onto a plane, you can take a Brita Water Filter Bottle when it’s empty, then fill it up when you’re airside or on the plane and you’ll know you have filtered water for the journey. Think how great this would be for camping too!

The more you use this Brita Water Filter, the more uses you have for it and realise how versatile it is for everyday life. It’s a great gift item too for new mums, sports lovers or commuters alike. Have fun this summer with Brita Water Filter Active Bottle!

Available from £14.18 at: https://www.brita.co.uk/water-filter-system/water-filter-bottles/active

Avon Hydramatic Iconic Red Lip Giftset

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.

A cheery red lipstick is just we need to bring a flash of colour to these dreary January days and Avon have come up trumps with the Hydramatic Iconic Red Lip Giftset. The set contains a lovely creamy lipstick and a matching lipliner in a vibrant red that can’t fail to set your day off on the right foot. Beautifully packaged in a striking red fabric drawstring bag this set contains everything you need to add a spot of glamour to your working day.

The Hydramatic Matte Lipstick in Siren red glides on nicely with no bleeding or feathering, leaving my lips plumped and hydrated. The colour remains vibrant, even after eating and drinking and stays fresh and bright for about 5-6 hours.

The Glimmerstick Lip Liner in Ruby Shock complements the lipstick perfectly and the creamy texture is a dream to apply, outlining lips effortlessly. The twist up style means there’s no need for a sharpener and the fine tip allows you to line lips with total precision.

The drawstring bag is ideal for keeping the products together in your handbag or you can use it for for storing small items like hairclips or bobbles.

At £12.50 it is excellent value for money and a great way to blow away those winter blues!

Darn Tough Lifestyle Socks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RRP £27

Pikachu Pokemon Flat Brass Ornaments

Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Home, REUSABLE, Stocking Fillers

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

I bet you’ve never seen Pikachu ornaments for the Christmas tree before, let alone these gorgeous brass decorations! The Pokemon people have brought out these fabulous flat brass silhouettes of Pikachu to adorn your Christmas tree for years to come. There’s six in a pack and two different designs, already ribboned and ready to go straight on your tree.

These are high quality ornaments which will last much longer than just one year thanks to being metal made and sturdy at that. The brass is highly polished so they catch the light, and especially work with the Christmas tree lights shining through them, like in the photo above. The metallic gold colour works with any colour scheme but even if you’re not a Pokemon or Pikachu fan, they are subtle enough to sit on any tree.

As gifts for children who love their Pokemon, these are brilliant in the run up to Christmas or for children who have their own tree to decorate at home. They’re pricy, but teenagers with an interest in Pokemon will love them! They will last for years too thanks to their outline structure in brass. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of the characters, they’re still beautiful at Christmas time.

Available from £24.99 at:

https://www.pokemoncenter.com/en-gb/product/710-95567/pikachu-pokemon-winter-wonders-flat-brass-ornaments-6-pack

Puma Golf Double Canopy Umbrella

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Days Out, Family Life, Fashion, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Sport, Stocking Fillers, Winter

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

Ideal Christmas gifts rarely exist but Puma’s double canopy golf umbrella is very close! Not only is it a staple for any golfer, beginner or advanced, but golf umbrellas are excellent for everyday use, or just keeping handy in the car. Families love them too for days out when more than just one person needs covering or as a brilliant sunshield in the summer.

The Puma double canopy golf umbrella is heavy duty for even the toughest of weather out on the course, and the double canopy not only acts to keep you dry but adds extra structure so that it doesn’t turn inside out. If you’re using this for sports, it also makes the umbrella more durable with extra layers so it won’t fall apart after a few winters. The handle has a foam moulded hand grip to make it easier to hold for long periods and it’s also sturdier compared to everyday umbrellas. It’s opened by a push button at the handle too – much easier when it’s starting to rain!

The Puma double canopy golf umbrella has minimal branding and is available in black with bright white features and made of 100% polyester. Its suitable for golf players or any outdoor sport or spectating and even comes with a chic cover for storage. I’m keeping this one in the car for when I’m caught in a downpour and don’t want to leave!

Available from £44.99 at:

Puma Golf Double Canopy Umbrella

Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

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

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

I’ve just found my new favourite headphones! I’ve been testing a pair of Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling headphones and I’m in love. I’m a regular headphone user, listening to a range of music plus podcasts and radio programmes and from the moment I put them on I couldn’t help but notice the quality of these headphones. I can tell that they’ve been made by a company that knows the music industry and what is expected from a pair of premium headphones. At 334g they’re not lightweight but I have found them to be very comfortable even when worn for several hours at a time. The pressure of the ear cups is firm but not overly so giving a secure feeling and the padding on the cups and headband is just right.

Most importantly though the sound quality of these headphones is simply outstanding. As soon as I put them on the 50mm drivers delivered high-fidelity sound across a range of music genres. Ordinarily I’m the sort of person that doesn’t tend to play with settings – I generally just put the headphones on and listen to music and if I wasn’t reviewing this pair I wouldn’t have felt the need to play with the settings at all as the sound quality was so good, in fact I would go as far as saying it was excellent, my music was very clear and spoken words on podcasts sounded like I was in the same room.

I have reassessed my position about settings though after using the Shureplus Play app. It offers loads of options for improving and adjusting the sound depending on what I’m listening to. There are the usual pre-set equaliser settings but also full manual control with the option to save my own presets. There is what Shure call a Spatialiser – this technology adjusts the depth of the sound, making the sound stage wider with different effects depending on what I’m listening to. Music, cinema and podcast options are available and I was amazed at the difference. The Snapdragon Sound Technology which is incorporated into these second generation of AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, really gives an outstanding audio experience and no matter what genre of music I listened to the sound was crisp and crystal clear with absolutely no distortion.

Noise cancellation is available using microphones inside and outside the ear cup and is something I use when working in the garden. The level is adjustable and includes a “Max Aware” level so I don’t lose contact with my surroundings. There is even an “Environment Mode” where external sound is mixed with the music allowing conversations whilst listening, I was very impressed.

I generally connect using Bluetooth but all options are covered with analogue and USB-C cables included as is a smart hard case providing useful protection when travelling.

These new headphones have 50% more battery life than the first generation giving up to 45 hours of runtime, so you don’t need to worry about running out of charge on a weekend away. When they do need charging the quick charge feature gives an impressive 5 hour boost with only 15 minutes of charge.

Supported codecs include aptX, aptX HD, aptX-Adaptive, LDAC, SBC and AAC. The USB connection supports high resolution sound up to 32-bit/384 kHz.

At £349 these are in the higher end price bracket for headphones but they stand head and shoulders above all the headphones that I’ve used in the past so I really do feel they are worth the extra expense. They are such high quality and durable and I know they’ll continue to perform for many years to come.

With Christmas coming up they would make a fantastic gift for a loved one or why not treat yourself – it is Christmas after all!!

Pact Coffee Christmas Selection Box

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ava May Fairtrade Wax Melts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grangers Down Care Kit and Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield

Children, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for Him, Home, Stocking Fillers, Uncategorized

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

It’s officially winter, and that’s probably not the best time of year for me take up running but that’s what I’ve done. With some new (and very expensive) running shoes, I’ve gone on Park Run a couple of times. Each time it was pouring with rain, which isn’t helpful when you don’t know the course yet.

Cherry Blossom have the Ultimate Protection in the form of the Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield. This spray not only shields trainers from rain but from stains too, which is helpful when you find you’re running through muddy fields as well as a muddy woodland. I was sent some to try along with the Down Care Kit.

The 200ml Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield spray can be used on all materials including canvas, synthetic materials, leather, suede and nubuck. It’s best to spray your trainers before you wear them if they’re brand new, otherwise the Cherry Blossom Sneaker Cleaner Kit is ideal for cleaning up your shoes before applying the spray. After shaking the can, spray onto the trainers from roughly 10-15 centimetres away (4-5 inches) and allow to dry. You can apply another layer after an hour or so, depending on how worn your trainers are and how porous they have become. It’s best to leave the spray to dry on the trainers for at least a few hours, but I left them in a warm place overnight before I used them.

The spray left the shoes slightly shiny but well protected. Even the laces were waterproofed! With the two layers of protector spray on them it was time to test the shoes whilst out running. I think the two layers helped because I was running through some long, very wet and frosty grass at places and found that the trainers not only stayed dry but the dew collected on the uppers and didn’t affect my feet underneath. My socks stayed toasty dry! This has spurred me on to try the Cherry Blossom on other trainers and shoes like the garden shoes I use for pottering around, and my Sketchers.

The Grangers Down Care Kit is a powerful cleaning agent for your down insulated clothing, namely duvet coats and puffer jackets. I have a Regata jacket that I wear obsessively throughout the winter but I’m loathed to wash it because I hate how it loses its fluffiness. The Down Care Kit contains the Wash & Repel solution and 3 dryer balls to help dry your garments quicker, and to get more air into the down so that it doesn’t go flat after washing. To use, you just add 2 capfuls (100ml) of the Wash & Repel solution to the washing machine drawer where you normally put detergent. For each additional garment, add another capful but I washed just my coat on one load to give it room to spin properly. If you’re tumble drying, add the dryer balls on a low heat to get the air circulating more. You might need to redistribute the down as it dries so that you don’t end up with all sorts of lumps and bumps. I let my coat dry outside on a clear day so that it gets some natural air to it too and make sure that all the moisture is out.

Once dry and you’re able to wear it, your garment is not only clean but is protected against rain as well. It’s not completely waterproof (depending on the material of your garment and how it’s made) but it is water repellent. It doesn’t soak in the rain as much and it’s quicker to dry if you do get wet.

The Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield and Grangers Wash & Repel Kit are handy kits for anyone who is the outdoor type, or a stocking filler for anyone who takes part in outdoor sport. They also help make clothes and trainers last longer!

Cherry Blossom Sneaker Shield available from £7.45 at:

Sneaker Shield

Grangers Was & Repel Kit from £17 at:https://grangers.co.uk/products/down-care-kit

Modibodi Festive Gifting 3 Pack Briefs

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Fashion, Gifts for Her, health, Home, REUSABLE, Sustainable, Women

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

The Australian company Modibodi have been changing how women deal with periods for 10 years now, but still not everyone knows about their revolutionary products!

Sometimes known as period pants, Modibodi produce underwear that doesn’t need tampons or sanitary towels because Modibodi design in a high absorbency layer to their clothing, giving you more protection. As these are reusable feminine products, they have added layers of materials which give much higher absorbency than disposable liners etc, therefore giving you longer wear.

The Modibodi Festive Gifting 3 Pack is a set of 3 differently sized and shaped knickers all in Fiesta Red colour. Including High Waist Bikini (light/moderate absorbency), Classic Bikini (moderate/heavy) and Full Brief (heavy/overnight), they are bundled up in an attractive draw string bag which can also be used for laundry. The packs are available in sizes 8-18.

The briefs are made of bamboo viscose for the body of the knickers and merino wool for the absorbency section, which is brilliant at absorbing moisturiser to keep you dry. They look and feel like everyday pants, which is always a bonus and the different sizes and shapes make them adaptable for any dress or trousers. The bright red colour makes a change from the usual dark blue or black period knickers which are usually on the market and I can guarantee you have something red and Christmassy you want to wear over the Christmas season!

I have been using Modibodi pants for a while now, and they’re really innovative. If you’re a bit nervous about using them, you can always use a sanitary towel or tampon as well, before you get used to how much more absorbent they are or how they fit. I find if I am going out for the day, I use a towel or tampon as security and then rely on the pants later on. It’s more comfortable that way. The knickers themselves fit really nicely and the bamboo viscose is cosy and fits well, especially as they’re in my dress size and not S/M/L like other period pants.

As for absorbency, you get used to not having any other products to rely on. I found that I forgot I was wearing Modibodi pants and it really helped that I wasn’t wearing a towel at the same time when I was in jeans or certain dresses where I was more self-conscience. The absorbency of the period pants was also much better than towels or tampons. The wool material used for the black lining is super absorbent and you can go a whole lot longer without having to need to change them, especially in the full briefs which are bigger. If you have the 3 pack bundle and use them in conjunction with other Modibodi pants (such as the PUMA Active Period Underwear we reviewed previously), you can go your whole period and not use and disposable products at all. Modibodi saves money on using feminine products but also saves the environment with having less to throw away each month.

Even if you’re not buying the Modibodi 3 Pack gift set for anyone else, treat yourself to a pack this Christmas!

Available online now at a discounted price of £39.00:

Modibodi Holiday Gifting 3 Pack – Fiesta Red

Critically Endangered Socks – Elephant Speckle

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Fashion, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

Who would have thought that socks could save wildlife? Critically Endangered Socks have made it their mission to do just that, and your tootsies could be the reason that an elephant survives in the future; but how?

The profit from the Critically Endangered Socks is donated to charities such as WWF who benefit from 10% of direct sales. The socks are embroidered with some of the animals the charities save including pandas, cheetahs, orangutans and tigers plus these stylish elephant socks in gorgeous pink. All of the socks on sale are 85% GOTS certified organic cotton and include 5% Spandex (to make them last longer!) plus 10% Polyester for hard wearing. The little elephant on this pair aren’t over the top, just giving you a glimpse of the animals at the ankle.

The socks themselves are super soft! The elephant pink tie-die are very unique and go well with snazzy trainers. They’re certainly a statement piece and I was able to wear these with my trainers to the gym because of how stretchy they are and the high content of cotton makes them fabulous for working out.

For Christmas this year, there are also baby socks, pyjamas, jumpers, baby rompers and muslins available online. Critically Endangered Socks make excellent presents for the person who has everything as well as animal lovers who want to know they are doing something for the greater good, and who doesn’t always need socks?

Available from £12.00 at:

Elephant Speckle

Donnerberg Back Massager

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Home, Mother's Day, Tech

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

Christmas is a time to ask for that gift you would never buy for yourself, or to surprise someone with a present that they weren’t expecting but similarly love! For me, the Donnerberg Back Massager falls into both categories as I’d seen them around but not ever thought of buying one. Likewise, it is something which I wouldn’t think of giving as a gift.

Read on to see why the Donnesberg Back Massager is perfect for both categories…

The Donnesberg Back Massager sits on the back of a chair so that the user sits with the massager behind them. It’s mains powers so there’s no need to charge it or change batteries and there are four settings; Shiatsu Massage, Massage Intensity (3 levels), Infrared head (2 levels) and Tapping/Percussion. That might sound like a lot of functions but playing with the different functions is part of the fun!

Donnerberg Back Massager Review, Shiatsu massager,

I started by plugging in the massager, which is easy with the UK plug that’s included. That’s all you need to do to get it working! Starting with the Shiatsu Massage, the plates on the machine work extremely hard, giving a deep massage into the different areas of your lower back. There are 10 massage heads in all which work in different directions and patterns to give you a deeper, firmer massage in certain places as well as the infrared heat which helps you relax, but also aids healing. The intensity can be increased with the function buttons, and the infrared heat can be increased too.

The second setting to try out is the Tapping/Percussion. This is a lighter, rainfall-like rhythm which helps relieve tension in the back muscles but with a different pattern. The Tapping/Percussion setting can be used with the infrared heat too, to give a deeper healing. Try using a combination of the tapping/percussion and Shiatsu massage settings to help with your specific ailments and eventually, you’ll work out a session that’s most beneficial to you! There’s a timer on each of the settings too so you don’t spend too long in one place.

The first time I tried out the Donnerberg Percussion Massager I did all the settings and all the intensities going on for more than 20 minutes. This turned out to be a mistake because the next day my muscles were sore and I had bruises! Instead, it’s better to find a medium intensity for your back and work up to the higher intensities over time. You don’t notice how strong the massager is at the time of working it, and it’s usual to find that it’s a bit of a weird sensation at first, until you get used to how deep it can be.

Over a week, the massage became more relaxing as your muscles get used to the sensation and start to relax over time. I haven’t needed to increase the intensity to the maximum level yet but as times goes on there is that option. Interestingly, there are other areas you can use the Donnerberg Massager on. Whilst watching TV, I put it on the floor and rested my feet on it. It’s a very weird feeling at first but once your feet start to relax, and your calf muscles start to melt away, it’s very nice having the vibrations trace through your feet and legs! After a run, this was especially useful as it distracted from the pain but then as the day went on, all the blood rushed to my calves and feet to bring the oxygen.

The Donnerberg Massager can be used on other areas of the body too. Placing your thighs or calves directly onto the massager face and putting it on a low intensity also helps with relaxing muscles and getting rid of aches and pains. The massager has a low noise output too, so you can still watch TV with it running in the background.

The only downside I can see is from having the cable to the mains adaptor. The lead is a few metres long so you can move it around whichever room you’re in but it means you can’t use it outside in the summer easily, and might not be able to use it in every room in the house. Still, it’s great to use whilst sitting up and you can probably use it whilst lying in bed too.

The Donnerberg Percussion Massager is a fabulous toy for anyone who has everything, or if your loved one needs to relax! It’s perfect however for anyone who runs, works out with weights or has a busy life where they need muscle relaxation but probably don’t have the time for a massage. Sit with the Donnerberg massager whilst watching TV and soon the aches and pains will melt away, no matter how active you’ve been!

Available online for £130.00 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Donnerberg-Percussion-Massager-Shoulders-Feet-RM099/dp/B07MM1GBR3?maas=maas_adg_24031058CD9482C941442D86EFC447DF_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Tower 1.6l Soup Maker with Sauté Function

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Home, Tech, Winter

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

You may think you already have all the kitchen products you already need, but have you ever tried a soup maker? I sometimes make soup at home, standing over a saucepan endlessly stirring in order to make a vegetable soup or maybe a stock and I didn’t think anything of how long it takes until Tower sent me their 1.6 litre Soup Maker, complete with sauté function…

The appliance is a bit bigger than a kettle, and looks stylish in chrome and black. Having never used a soup maker before, I had a look at the instructions (Tower always have really good instructions for their products) and realised it was really easy to make a soup in a maker like this, and far less time consuming.

The Tower 1.6l Soup Maker has 5 functions; Smooth and Chunky (for making soups), Sauté (for cooking bacon and other small pieces of meat before adding them to the soup) and then Juice and Blend. The Juice and Blend functions are primarily for making smoothies, so not only is this a soup maker for the winter but also a smoothie maker in the summer! To make any of the types of soup or smoothie, you just add the ingredients then press the function and the machine does the right amount of blending or mixing for you, and knows how long to heat the soup for in order to create it at the perfect temperature.

Inside the soup maker, there is a blending blade for creating the smooth soups and mixing up the smoothies. There’s a level on the outside to tell you the minimum amount of liquid to add to the jug and a maximum so that you don’t overfill it. There’s only a few ‘rules’ about making anything in the soup maker; like you can’t add ice to it (presumably because it will blunt the blade quickly) and you need to cook all the meats before you add them to the soup, but that’s easy with the sauté function. Everything else can go in and either be blended or cooked as chunks.

So after reading the instructions I was keen to try out this soup making. I added a mixture of vegetables (courgette, carrot, swede and onion) as chunks to the jug of the soup maker and added a litre of stock made up from a pre-packaged stock cube. You can add other things at this time like any butter you want or herbs etc but I was keeping it as a simple vegetable soup. Press the Smooth function on the top of the soup maker and it automatically knows to blend all the ingredients and that it needs heating for 21 minutes.

Whilst I walked out of the kitchen to do some work, the soup maker did its thing. I could hear intermittent blending and heating, and there was tons of steam coming from it (so make sure it’s not anywhere near something that could get damaged or hurt!) which helped warm up my kitchen on a dull day! When the 21 minutes was up, the alarm sounded and the timer finished so I knew my soup was done. That was it. I didn’t need to do anything else to it except just serve it, which I did with a dollop of fresh yoghurt.

The soup is super hot when you pour it out but it’s beautifully blended and on the Smooth setting there are no lumps. It’s much easier to use than standing over a hot saucepan and allowed me to get on with other things. The Chunky setting allows you to make soup with chunky pieces – just make sure you sauté the chicken or bacon first using the Sauté function or in a frying pan.

I also used the Soup Maker as a smoothie maker using the Juice function. There’s a recipe in the instructions on how to create your own smoothie from scratch but I used some frozen fruits from the supermarket, yoghurt and milk. Adding them all to the jug, you just choose the Juice function and leave it to work its magic. The programme is only 2 minutes long and made a lovely fruit smoothie. You can’t add ice to the smoothie so I left the frozen fruit out for a while to let it thaw. Look at the yummy results!

The duel use of the soup maker with being a juicer and smoothie maker as well makes this an excellent gift, especially for those who aren’t great at recipes like students or anyone pressed for time. The soups make a lovely change to salads and in winter time are a welcome hot comfort for lunch instead of a sandwich.

Available online from £69.99 at:

https://www.towerhousewares.co.uk/soup-makers/16l-soup-maker-saute-function

Retreev SMART Tags

Birthday Gifts, Days Out, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, REUSABLE, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Tech

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

I have thankfully never lost luggage on a flight. I’ve had most of my luggage damaged and even ended up with an empty holdall because the airline company ripped a hole in the side and everything fell out, but so far, not lost anything. It’s one of my fears though; going on holiday and not being able to relax because I have nothing to wear but also that my belongings aren’t personal any longer and could be anywhere in the world. Maybe, never to be seen again?

There are a lot of items on the market for tracking down your luggage, but most of then are very expensive and difficult to set up. The Retreev SMART Tag is a credit card sized tag which you affix to your luggage in case your bags get lost. On the back there is a QR code and it has a chip inside too for any of the airlines who can read them. If your bag is lost, anyone can scan he QR code or chip to register it as lost and you receive a message via text and email to say it’s been found. Retreev SMART Tag is recognised by 3000 airports and 400 airlines and is available in multiple languages.

To set it up, tap or scan the card which you are going to attach to your luggage. Complete all your contact details online and activate your tag. There’s no subscription fee, your card is covered for life. If your bag is found, the finder either taps the card or scans the QR code to bring up the ‘found’ form. They fill in the details of where your bag is and how to retrieve it and you as the owner receive a text and email with the finder’s details. There’s no need for them to know your personal information and the tag doesn’t display anything to show that the bag belongs to you.

We were sent a Union Jack and a Lion tag, but there are many to find online at the www.retreev.com website. They have solid metal tags to them too so that it’s difficult to break them off of your luggage and the plastic cards are made of 100% recyclable packaging. Not only are there no subscription fees, but they have a lifetime guarantee and there’s no batteries to have to replace!

Setting up the cards was easy. I just scanned the QR code and filled in a simple form with my name, email and mobile number. The form is set up to be accessible from anywhere in the world so it doesn’t matter where you call home. Retreev send you a login and you activate the card on a dashboard. That’s it! Adding the second tag was easy because you just scan the QR code again and open your account to activate it.

So far I’ve not had any lost luggage to be able to test how it works, but from what I can see it’s a really good idea and keeps your identity safe too. Here’s hoping I won’t ever need to use it but if I do lose any luggage, I’ll be much happier knowing I have the Retreev SMART Tags on them!

Available online from £14.99 at:

Great Britain / United Kingdom – retreev SMART Tag