Gifts for Him – Page 3 – The Review Studio

Swan Slow Cooker

Autumn, camping, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, kitchen appliances, Tech

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

Take note, winter, we are ready for you! As the evenings draw on it’s time for a different kind of dinner and those in the know use a slow cooker. It’s not just that you can cook food for longer and get a better texture to meat and vegetables, but if you time the slow cooking properly, you can either come in from work or when you are out of the evening and the whole house smells amazing, plus dinner is ready! Swan have sent us a slow cooker from their Nordic Range to try out, and we couldn’t wait.

If you’ve never used a slow cooker before then it’s great for beginners. There’s a ceramic bowl in the middle, a lid on top (to keep the heat and the steam in) and it’s all surrounded by the slow cooker itself which heats the whole ceramic pot to one of 3 temperatures; low, high or on auto. With the ceramic pot in place, add the food (more on that later) and anything else like vegetables, herbs, spices etc and the lid as well. If you don’t add the lid then the pot and therefore the food doesn’t heat up enough to cook. You’ll notice that the lid isn’t the best fit. This is to allow tiny gaps for the steam to escape. Once the food is cooked, you can lift the ceramic bowl from the cooker or as I do, I just take the food out and let the rest of the cooker cool down before I wash it up.

What are the temperature settings?

Low Setting – this is typically around 75C-80C and is great for vegetables or reheating. Food rarely burns at this temperature so if you’re not sure how long you’re going to be out for, this is your safest bet. If you do cook meat at this setting though, you’ll need to brown it off first.

High Setting – everything else is cooked at this temperature, which is around 85C-90C and therefore there can be times when there is a touch of boiling, and the steam will need to escape. This temperature is great for baking and for meats.

Auto Setting – this is a great alternative to both previous setting as it starts cooking on the higher temperature, then switches to low for the remained of the cooking time.

What about the timing though? Slow cookers don’t have timers on them, they’re designed to cook food slowly over 6-9 hours. The secret to cooking the food well is learning about the timings needed. Like with all new ovens, you have to learn how it works to be able to judge what time you need, but as a general rule, if something takes 15-30 minutes to cook then try it on 4-6 hours on low. If the traditional cooking time is 60 minutes, then 6-8 hours on low or auto setting.

When it comes to adding food, you can prepare it in the ceramic pot the night before, store in the fridge then transfer to the slow cooker the next day and start cooking. Alternatively, preparing dinner around lunchtime and throwing in all your favourite vegetables with whichever meat you choose, you can create a masterpiece with whatever you have in the fridge. You don’t need to stir the food and lifting the slow cooker lid means the whole cooker loses temperature and puts back the cooking time. What you do need though, is some kind of liquid. It’s usually half of what you would use in a traditional recipe though, but it really helps the cooking if you have some kind of sauce, gravy or stock with the meat. It’s at this point that you can add the spices and herbs that add all the flavour to the meat you’re cooking.

Using the Swan Slow Cooker couldn’t be easier and it’s great for anyone who is new to cooking, students or if you’re busy with family life. It’s an alternative to the oven, air fryer or BBQ too, giving a different texture and a different flavour to anything you cook. There’s only 1 control on the front with the temperature settings and as long as you can plug it into electricity, there isn’t much else needed. When we were young, my Mum used to take a slow cooker on holiday with us in our caravan and it was fabulous coming in from a day out and being able to eat straight away. Like with a BBQ, the same food cooks differently than in an oven so you get a completely different experience.

I’ve loved experimenting with the Swan Slow Cooker and trying out beef, stew, sausages and even baking. There’s so much you can use it for, that’s half the fun!

Swan Nordic Slow Cooker currently on sale at £28.99 online: https://shop.swan-brand.co.uk/collections/slow-cookers/products/swan-35l-nordic-slow-cooker

Alba Leather Belt from Pampeano

Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

It’s always difficult to know what to get someone for Christmas, but when it comes to luxury goods and something that’s functional, a beautiful leather belt can’t miss.

Pampeano, the Argentinian crafted leather company, have a range of gifts from belts to dog collars, bags, wallets, keyrings and bracelets. They sent us this beautiful leather belt in the Alba style, complete in a gift box as well so that you can wrap it or send it easily!

The belt is decorated by Argentinian craft workers by hand in the polo design that Pampeano is famous for. The Alba design is inspired by the incredible sunrises over the pampas of Argentina. The Alba design incorporates navy jean, sky blue, light blue, cream, light orange and bright orange in a continuous pattern around the belt with a gorgeous brass buckle and Pampeano logo embossed on it too. The belt can be worn by men or women, with the bright colours able to match any outfit but I like wearing Pampeano belts with jeans to add a bit of cheerfulness to otherwise plain trousers.

I really like the quality of the Pampeano belt too. The leather is well crafted and there’s no faults in the stitching or the embroidered design nor do the threats or edges of the leather wear away easily. The buckle is also hard wearing and beautifully crafted. There’s the option when you purchase the belt to have it personalised with a blind emboss of up to 3 characters – so the initials of someone you love, which makes it a perfect gift for Christmas. If you’re not familiar with the whole range of Pampeano gifts, have a look online or choose a different pattern belt – there’s plenty to choose from!

Available from £79 at: https://www.pampeano.com/collections/classic-leather-belts/products/pampeano-belt-alba

Tile Bluetooth Trackers for Back to School

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Home, Home & Garden, Tech

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

As September approaches and many children will be starting a new school and indeed, many teenagers will be going off to university for the first time, there is a lot to remember. There is also responsibilities to take care of that weren’t there before. Tile have a range of fancy trackers that can help aid that responsibility and we were sent the Tile Pro and Tile Mate to try out – before school start again!

The Tile products work as trackers linked to an app on your phone (or website or device) whereby you can locate the Tile tracker and hence anything that it’s attached to. This could be a set of keys, car keys, purse or wallet, rucksack, sports equipment or even a car or wandering pet! Once you have the app and sign up one Tile tracker then the possibilities become endless especially for someone who is always losing something…

The Tile Mate (£19.99) has a range of 250 ft (or 76 metres) which makes it ideal for finding anything in the house, but also for finding something left in the car whilst you’re still in the house, or if you’re at the office and wondering if your house keys are in the car outside. The battery lasts up to 3 years although it isn’t replaceable but the use of the app is free. You can activate the ring on it from the app so that you can find it in a hurry and it’s water resistant too (which means it can be on the outside of a school bag and still endure the rain). This is great for kids going to school when they can’t find their PE kit or are always losing their house keys before they get home!

The next product up in the Tile range is the Tile Pro (£29.99). This tracker has a range of up to 400 ft or 120 metres, so much further and has more uses. All of the trackers can be used multiple ways thanks to the keyring design where they can be clipped to keys or kept in a pocket. The Tile Pro is especially good for car keys but as it has a larger range, I would use this at the airport to keep tabs on the luggage when it’s in the airport. The Tile Pro is also great for keeping on toddlers and small children in busy places so that you can track them on your app if you need to. Think about a summer festival or busy park and 120 metres is a large area to be scouring to find a missing small person! There’s a really loud ring on this Tile Pro too so you can hear it from much further away and it has a reciprocal button on it so if you, or your child press the button, it alerts the app on the phone it’s attached to. If you have a Year 6 child at primary school this year, the Tile Pro is often enough range to track your child to and from school if you live close enough, and ensures you know where they are at all times.

Tile Mate and Tile Pro available from the Tile online shop at: https://www.tile.com/en-gb

Pampeano Leather Belt

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Fashion, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Women

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

Add glamour to your summer with this timeless leather belt from Pampeano. Not heard of them before? Let me explain…

Pampeano means ‘from La Pampa’ – a region in Argentina famed for their stunning views and handmade leather goods. Argentina is famous for both horsemanship and their polo fields, which has inspired Pampeano to create an extensive range of leather good for sale all over the world, including these stylish belts. We were sent the Alba belt to review this week, which was quite a treat!

The Alba belt, like all the Pampeano belts comes in sizes from 80 centimetres to 15 centimetres (28-42 inches). The leather belts are adorned with different patterns and the Alba is embroidered with 6 colours of a typical Argentinian design, with a slight feminine twist. The variety of colours means it can be matched with a range of outfits or just with a plain white shirt and jeans. Don’t just stop at jeans for these hand-made Pampeano belts though, because they can just as easily be paired with a dress or a long shirt to create a waist that isn’t already there and the quality of the leather and the metal buckle means it can be used in a casual outfit or for very dressy. Think maxi dress, boots and a low-slung belt.

The belts are made to a high quality, with a beautiful design and durable stitching to ensure the buckle stays in place. It also arrives in a gorgeous presentation box to not only protect it but to keep it in great shape if you want to give it as a gift. The range of sizes online also make it a great present so that you can tailor each piece to different friends, not having to worry about whether it will fit or not. High quality leather belts like Pampeano will always be in fashion and last a long time and are well worth the investment.

I tried out the Alba Pampeano belt with a pair of jeans. It fit snugly in the belt loops of most pairs of jeans but the unique, understated design of the pattern stands out compared to other leather belts. Whilst using it, you can feel the quality and the weight of the buckle. The leather is of high quality and is treated so that it doesn’t crack or split easily and you can see the workmanship in the way the belt is constructed especially around the buckle which is where most of the wear is on a belt, and the part which is seen most often.

We often forget how important a belt is to an outfit and for some trousers (and skirts for that matter) a belt is essential. Pampeano have a beautiful range of not just belts but bags, purses and wallets which are also made to the same high quality and have distinctive, Argentinian designs you’ll love.

Priced at £79.00 the Alba belt: https://www.pampeano.com/collections/shop-all-pampeano-belts/products/pampeano-belt-alba

Immature Garden – Home Grown Microgreens

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, health, Home, Subscription Boxes, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

What a great gift! The team at Immature Garden sent us one of their Large Microgreen Growing Kits to show us how indoor planting of microgreens is not only easy, but a great present for anyone. We had no idea what was in the kit when it arrived, so what you’re seeing is a succession of photos as we unpacked what was inside. Read on to see how it works…

Anita and Arnold founded Immature Garden in 2019 when they couldn’t find a sustainable, easy way to grow microgreens at home. Fast forward to today and they do indeed have a lovely business growing microgreens, selling the kit and everything that goes with it. What are microgreens though? Vegetables which you would normally go and buy in the shops at maturity are just as nutritious, if not more, when they are seedlings and before the vegetables or fruits start to grow. You see microgreens on lots of restaurant dishes and if you are serious about increasing your ‘5 a day’ to increase your nutrition intake, microgreens are the way to go. They’re also excellent for growing indoors and during the colder months where you can just cut them down and use them as you need them.

We were sent the Large Microgreen Grow Kit which has more than enough of everything for you to be able to grow microgreens for yourself. Within the box, there are 3 coconut shell and 6 packets of coco soil. Hidden within the box (and this is great for kids as you have to pull the box apart to find what’s hidden at the bottom!) contains three different types of microgreen seeds; radish, kale and clover. The box comes with instructions or there is a video online but if you’re a gardener or have grown microgreens before, you’ll know how easy it is to put together.

The soil provided is just the right amount for each of the coconut bowls. Empty one packet into a bowl, keeping the plastic bag to one side. Fish out one of the packets of seeds – a whole packet covers the soil of one bowl as long as you spread the seeds out evenly and this is important to stop them from becoming mouldy. Water them sparingly just so that the soil and seeds are wet. Using the plastic bag the soil came in, enclose the bowls and seal up the bag so that there is enough heat generated for the seeds to germinate. Once they have started to sprout, you can take them out of the bag and keep them indoors until they grow to a reasonable height. The seeds will keep growing unless you cut them and use them, but with the multiple packs you can keep the Immature Garden going for several months – and order more seeds from the website too.

This is a fabulous gift for anyone who is interested in either cooking or gardening, and families with children will love it too as they learn about growing seeds as well as being hands-on. I recommend starting the kit outdoors so that the soil doesn’t go everywhere, which is what I did, then you can move the bowls in the bags indoors. The kit can be started any time of year not just in summer so as a gift it would be great for Christmas, and in the winter is when we need more nutritious food that can’t be found in shops as easily. It’s also great fun watching them grow and make beautiful centre pieces for dining tables and decoration on shelves!

Check back to see my photos as the kale, clover and radishes sprout and grow – I can’t wait!

Large kit £33.80: https://www.immaturegarden.co.uk/product-page/Large-Microgreen-Grow-Kit

Starter kit: £17.75: https://www.immaturegarden.co.uk/product-page/Starter-Microgreen-Grow-Kit

UPDATE: We have some germinated seeds already! Don’t they look fab!

Cocoba Chocolates

Birthday Gifts, Children, chocolate, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Stocking Fillers

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

Chocolate aficionados will know that supermarket chocolate is not what it used to be. Thankfully, there are lots of new chocolate companies out there who are killing it in the market with those who appreciate good chocolate. Cocoba Chocolate is one of those companies, starting as a pop-up hot chocolate drinking shop in Brent Cross, London. Founder Darren comes from Australia and arrived in Blighty to find that he couldn’t find the same quality hot chocolate he was used to growing up. So he made his own. From hot chocolate, the business grew and now includes bars, boxes of chocolates, truffles and a whole range of gifts. We were sent some bars of Cocoba Intense 70% Dark Chocolate, Cocoba Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Buttons and Cocoba Cocoa Dusted Salted Toffee Truffles.

I started with the Salted Caramel Chocolate Buttons (you’ve got to start somewhere, right?) as they’re so easy to open and pop into your mouth. It only takes one button to give you that chocolate hit and they’re relatively small so I had these as mini-snacks after lunch or with a cup of coffee. They’re very smooth milk chocolate but with a hint of the salted caramel to them which makes them extra sweet and a bit crunchy. To add a different dimension, keep them in the fridge and then let them melt in your mouth after a hot drink to feel the texture as well as savour the flavour.

The mini bars of chocolate (33 grams) are 70% dark chocolate, hence they’re called Intense 70% Dark, and they are certainly intense! There’s no flavour to them other than the dark chocolate and very few ingredients either, just cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter and natural vanilla flavouring. I love dark chocolate anyway and these are perfect because the size means they’re a light snack, fit into a lunch box or are beautiful after dinner, but 70% dark chocolate isn’t so rich that it’s difficult to eat.

Finally, the Cocoba Cocoa Dusted Salted Toffee Truffles were my favourite! Truffles are a big hit with me anyway but I didn’t know that these were going to be such dark, smooth chocolate and have the extra texture of the salted toffee. You can taste both the salt in them and the small pieces of toffee that get into your teeth – but don’t worry, they’re not toffee enough to take out your fillings! You can really taste the soft cream in these and the cocoa coating is left on your hands when you pick them up. They’re great for after dinner or for sharing and make magical gifts as well.

I’m never one to refuse chocolate but when it’s good quality chocolate like this? What is there not to like?

Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Bag £4.95: https://www.cocobachocolate.com/products/salted-caramel-milk-chocolate-buttons?_pos=3&_sid=954c85107&_ss=r

Cocoa Dusted Salted Toffee Truffles £7.95: https://www.cocobachocolate.com/products/cocoba-cocoa-dusted-salted-toffee-truffles?_pos=1&_sid=94397d296&_ss=r

Intense Dark Chocolate Mini Bar 70% £2.50: https://www.cocobachocolate.com/products/intense-71-dark-chocolate-mini-bar?_pos=1&_psq=intense-dark&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Weleda Arnica Shower Gel, Cooling Gel, Massage Oil and Muscle Soak

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Sport, Summer

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

My journey in running started about 7 months ago where I had never previously even thought about running before. With the help of a coach I was running the 5 km local Park Run, albeit mostly walking, and the learning began.

Weleda’s Arnica products were created for sports enthusiasts, especially runners who need that quick recovery before another jaunt outdoors or on the treadmill. Arnica is well known as a natural anti-inflammatory and is great for bruised, helping tissue recover quickly thanks to over 150 pharmaceutically active compounds. We were sent the Arnica Muscle Soak, Sport Energising Shower Gel, Arnica Cooling Gen and Arnica Massage Oil. I was on a mission after my Saturday Park Run to try them all!

The Arnica Soothing Gel can be applied both before and after exercise. I usually use as spray before a run to help my calves which are the problem area that get the most sore so by using Weleda’s Arnica Cooling Gel before the run, my muscles were well prepped. The gel has a lovely herbal smell, and you don’t need a lot as it absorbs into the skin easily. Unlike other gels, it doesn’t tingle or make any sensations, it just absorbs over time and helps refresh muscles.

Post run, the Weleda Energising Sports Gel certainly lives up to its name with a zesty, invigorating fragrance that can’t be missed! Although it’s a gentle cleanser, it’s the scent that will bring you round and the rousing injection of energy it gives you as you shower. You could even use this in the bath if you wanted to, but post workout or post run it certainly wakes you up and leaves a bright fragrance on the skin too.

If showers aren’t for you, or if you’re in need of some extra care post-run, the Weleda Arnica Muscle Soak is a bath milk with added refreshment. With a similar fruity fragrance to the Soothing Gel (but not zesty like the Sports Gel), the Arnica Muscle Soak is aimed at recovery and relaxation. The mind is also calmed with the fragrance and provides an overall mind and body wind-down. This is a lovely scent, and comes in a stylish glass bottle which is better for the environment but could also be a great gift.

Finally, the Weleda Massage Oil is for serious recovery or the hardcore athlete. The massage oil is incredibly rich and yes, it’s a real oil! The herbaceous smell has more of an arnica twist to it than any of the other products and requires thorough massage, not just a light touch. The aroma is lovely though and very relaxing, and the result of the massage oil being worked into tired muscles really is relaxing. Just sitting here as I type with the oil rubbed into my tired arms is making me drift off to sleep with the fragrance as well as the arnica working into my body. Of all the products, I think this one has had the biggest effect, but working together all of the Weleda products create a sense of calm.

Each of them, in different ways help with the recovery from sports and workouts and are only a fraction of the much wider Weleda product range and even more in the Weleda Arnica range.

If you’re looking for a gift for someone who is running or starting their exercise journey, the Weleda Arnica range is perfect and such a luxury after a long session. We were sent the products in a beautiful orange vanity bag which fits the Weleda Arnica range nicely. Pure luxury as well as a very useful essential for runners.

The Arnica range can be bought online here: https://www.weleda.co.uk/natural-ingredients/lead-plants/arnica

Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce

Birthday Gifts, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Summer

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

Dads beware! This is a novel Father’s Day Gift you won’t be expecting, unless you’re an award-winning hot sauce lover looking for another challenge!

The Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce is made with the famous Carolina Reaper peppers, known for being the fieriest, hottest peppers in the world and as if you didn’t need any more evidence, even the packaging has black and yellow, “Warning Extremely Hot” written across it! I love the box it comes in too, which adds to the drama of the World’s Hottest Sauce.

Brought to you by Tropical Sun, the international foods experts, Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce is part of a range of international food sauces and lots of other foods you can’t always find in the supermarkets. It may be a novelty to most people, but if you’re passionate about your hot sauces, this is one to try. I would recommend trying a small, very small amount with food first and having water to hand. Not only is it hot but there’s a fiery flavour to it too so you might not like the taste. However, if you are a seasoned hot sauce eater, you won’t need telling how to sample a Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce, but you will enjoy the thrill of trying it!

A brilliant idea for Father’s Day, the Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce will certainly make a gift that will have you talking for years to come. Just remember to take the photos as Dad tries it!

From £1.99 at: https://tropicalsunfoods.com/products/carolina-reaper-hot-sauce?_pos=1&_sid=dc1b14d4c&_ss=r

TOZO Tonal Dots T12 Wireless Earbuds

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Summer, Tech

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

The TOZO Tonal Dots T12 Wireless Earbuds are some nifty headphones which for the price, do everything you expect them to do and more. We were sent a pair to review this week, which are perfect for the summer and those sports activities that are starting again soon.

The TOZO Tonal Dots T12 are wireless stereo earbuds which come in their own carry case which acts as a charger case too. The charge case has a digital display to show you how much charge the headphones have, so that you know to charge them or that you have up to 15 hours of full charge left- which is pretty much a whole plane journey or 2 weeks plus of running, gym or walking. I haven’t needed to recharge them yet, but judging by other TOZO earbuds, it shouldn’t take long with a USB cable fast connection.

The Tonal Dots are easy to connect with Bluetooth 5.3. Yes, you need a phone or appliance with Bluetooth 5.3 but most of us do nowadays, then connecting is easy because my phone (and laptop) could ‘see’ the TOZO headphones when they were in the charge case and kept the connection. There’s a great range to them too; I could walk all over the house and still be connected and the connection didn’t drop at all. Even going outside was no problem. These TOZO Tonal Dots T12 are great for sports because of the distance they connect over, but also because they are waterproof and sweatproof! You can wear these swimming, although I haven’t tested them yet, but with a long connection range it means you can be at the gym and still connected to your phone nearby, or at the pool and your phone be on a lounger somewhere.

There are 16 preset EQs with the Tonal Dots so that you get the sound you need with whatever music or even audio files you listen to, but you can personalise it too. I liked the quality of the sound with these TOZO earbuds, and how easy it is to change the presets. The Smart Touch control is a must on earbuds, and they work perfectly on these headphones, plus are quickly responsive.

The carry case and compact design make them perfect for travelling and for sports. The wireless charging also makes them easy to charge on the go, so that hotels and planes can charge for you whilst you are travelling or getting unpacked. The waterproof quality makes them doubly useful and at such a low price (and currently on offer at some places) means you can keep them for work or children are going to love them for their ease and quality but without such a high price. Perfect birthday presents too!

Available from £39.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOZO-T12-Headphones-Cancelling-Waterproof-Black/dp/B0C8NNCWGL/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZiSbXPGeasQZix3NSt-dCoSV0TYrPr5_RFgDTIrue3r0xNMQ4v9cRQrcLO-dJa1G7BplSvG5Y8yzzcqzSeFDd66dWqNgjUA9NIs06yPPqkPzgp-tBG22WG46R2Ce3Nlidqpk6tZnDicuCEJF7KZo3Q.reyIJ45G6hWblS4_hEZaHAypzEL7pFgOVfszDcE42Ic&dib_tag=se&keywords=TOZO+tonal+dots&qid=1710172852&sr=8-3

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Edifier W320TN Earbuds

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

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

Christmas is coming and it’s time to start thinking what to buy my teenage son. He spends a couple of hours each day on the bus going to and from college and often listens to music so a new pair of earbuds like the Edifier W320TN earbuds will be the perfect gift for him this year.

Rather than the usual white, these earbuds are in an attractive gloss grey colour, although they’re also available in ivory. Supplied in a smart gift box they come packaged with the usual instruction manual and a USB-C charging cable. They connect effortlessly using the latest Bluetooth 5.3 and are Hi-Res certified.

Many earbuds are supplied with a range of different size silicone ear pieces to ensure a good fit, instead Edifier have designed these to fit without the fiddly silicone sleeves and I don’t know how they’ve done it but it’s almost as if they were custom made. They’re lightweight too so I could wear these for hours without any issues and the battery life wouldn’t stop me either, the earbuds are good for up to 5.5 hours playback and then there is another 22 hours charge in the case!

The earbuds also have an AI Multimodal Adaptive System which combines multiple sounds and algorithms to ensure that users have the strongest noise cancellation, the best sound quality and the clearest calls.

You can just connect them to your phone and start listening to music but it’s well worth installing the Edifier app where lots of settings can be altered. As well as adjusting the equaliser settings and turning on the Hi-Res audio pretty much everything else can be changed, including the touch sensitive controls which are activated by pinching the bottom of the earbud’s stem enabling you to answer and hang up calls, control music playback, switch modes etc.

One feature I especially like is the “wearing detection” feature that turns off the music if you take out an earbud and re-starts when you put it back in – meaning you can have a quick chat and then go back to your music where you left off. I’m also impressed with the active noise cancellation – perfect for those noisy bus journeys and they’re IP 54 rated so won’t get damaged whilst waiting for the bus in the rain!

RRP £99.99 from Amazon

Maxtris Chocolate Advent Calendar from Sacla

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home

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

Everyone knows European chocolate is the best there is. It’s the ingredients, the way it’s made and a centuries old history that elevates it above all else out there. The Maxtris Chocolate Advent Calendar from Sacla is Italy’s finest confectionary, all bundled up in Christmas in the form of 24 drawers each filled with chocolate.

The A4 sized boxed chocolates are extremely pretty, with doors that open up to reveal the 24 windows for each day of advent. Behind each drawer there is a chocolate from a range that includes Extra Dark 70%, Milk, Pistachio and Noisette. Each of the chocolates are reminiscent of another brand of round, individually wrapped European chocolates, with a coating of chocolate around a filling of softer fondant chocolate which melts at a lower temperature. After having tried several of the chocolates for this review (yes, I know it’s not Advent yet but I am testing them after all!) I can confidently confirm that these chocolates are actually much nicer. Maxitris chocolates don’t have the processed taste to them, they feel more natural and have the sweetness of the chocolate coming through instead of the added sugar that other brands have. They taste more authentic.

The advent calendar itself is gorgeous. The bright red packaging, which is very sturdy and suitable for posting, is well made and recyclable. The little drawers behind the doors are individually numbered save for a few which you can work out as you hunt for numbers. There’s cartoons of Santa, elves and a reindeer plus a shiny gold metallic finish to each of the illustrations. Once you get to drawer 24, Christmas Eve, there isn’t an extra special prize unfortunately, but if you felt like it, you could always add something yourself as the drawers aren’t fixed and can be opened and closed without ruining them.

This is a lovely calendar for adults or children. Children will like the bright colours and discovering what’s inside each drawer whereas adults will appreciate the exquisite chocolates. The whole calendar can be re-purposed as well, either adding something different or extra to the drawers, or keep the whole calendar for next year when you put something different in it, even if it’s not chocolate or sweets. It’s not gender specific nor does it have any year assigned to it so this could be used again and again!

A perfect gift for chocolate lovers, anyone who loves Christmas or anything to do with Italy. Looks very pretty on the mantel piece too!

Available from £25.00 at: https://www.sacla.co.uk/products/advent-calendar-by-maxtris?variant=43821577175270