Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts, Toy Reviews
Bergere de France ‘Sporty Nina Kit’
I love crafts and wish there were more hours in the day to mess about with my patchwork projects and various ‘started and yet to finish’ sewing kits. An extra hour about 8pm would be great. The kids would all be asleep and the usual tiredness which usually sinks in at the end of the day would not have set in yet! Dream on mummy..
Well, I have to say craft kits are a brilliant way to cram a little craftiness into a busy day. You have the enjoyment of shopping around in shops or online for a suitable kit which takes your fancy without the hassle of looking for all the various pieces to make the finished product. I have discovered a great little craft company lately called Bergere de France. Here you will be sure to find craft kits to suits all needs from crochet, knitting, dressmaking and stitching toy kits. I was completely taken with the Nina collection and ordered ‘Sporty Nina’.
Nina is delightful and her sporty gear also appealed to my 10 year old daughter. She was a craft kit with a difference, very trendy and fun. When Nina arrived I was delighted and relieved to find the actual doll was already sewn together. We were left with the challenge of knitting the clothes and adding the finishing touches, hair, etc.
There are 3 Nina kits to choose from all retailing at £12.50.
‘Budding young crafters can learn to knit creating these colourful outfits for Nina. Kit includes: 23 cm doll, 3 50g balls of wool for her outfit and hair, buttons and full instructions’ (Bergere de France)
The website is really worth a look. I was attracted to the ‘Help, I’m a beginner’ and had a look there first, but there are craft ideas for those who are well experienced also. There is lots of interesting news articles on what’s ‘in’ and an offer of £10 off your first online order when you join online and claim a free catalogue.
If you are looking for interesting Mother’s Day gifts you need look no further. I have the crochet cushion kit on my wish list! Choose from a homemade table cloth or even a simple mug cosy? The skill necessary is clearly highlighted so you can be sure to make the correct selection.
For further information visit www.bergeredefrance.co.uk
Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
Ben 10 Alien figure, Toe-Pick and Water Hazard.
From the Ben 10 Omniverse series come the aliens!
Each Omniverse figure comes with a small mini figure to be used with the new Omnitrix. The figures are for children ages 4yrs and upwards and I happen to have one of those! He has just turned 4 yrs and is Ben 10 mad. Our latest addition is Toe-Pick! This has got to be the most grotesque alien yet! Press the release button and the helmet opens to reveal his face – if you really want to see it that is! The eyes protrude out and they sure look as if they could scare just about anyone in the universe.
Fully pose able, this 10cm action figure stands easily so perfect for the younger Ben 10 fans. His arms move up and down and you really would have to see it to believe how Bandai can make these figures so like the real cartoon characters! My son has not set this down from it came into the house, Toe-Pick even accompanies him to bed! A great toy for Ben 10 fanatics.
For those of you who prefer a figure a little less ‘gross’, Water Hazard works with the Omnitrix Shuffle and comes with a mini figure and an accessory.
His mask can be removed to reveal a face so small compared to the size of his body. Water Hazard is red with a hood and as a Ben 10 TV character, he can absorb moisture through the portholes in his hands. He can also fire water blasts from these holes making him a force to be reckoned with. His very strong looking armored exoskeleton protects his body from damage, including radiation so he is very popular with my son who thinks he is the most dangerous alien to date!
Have a look on www.bandai.co.uk for this and other brilliant durable Ben 10 toys from as little as £4.99.
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
The All New Badge-it.
My entire family enjoy using Badge-it. Hours and hours has been spent sitting around the table designing and making individual little masterpieces.
Badge-It from Bandai is an multi-award winning toy, which allows children to make their own badges quickly and easily. It looks trendy and has survived my household, so its’ definitely sturdy! The badges are metal and they will stand the test of time.
They are a good way of jazzing up a school bag, pencil case and clothes accessories. I have even used Badge-it to make co-ordinating badges for special clothes to cover a stain or a hole – ingenious I thought!
The starter set contains the badge maker and materials to make 15x3cm badges.
Refills can be bought very cheap (£9 for 30 badges) so the fun goes on and on!
Available from www.bandai.co.uk RRP £20.00
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Simply Natural Lavender & Geranium Candle.
Love candles and scenting your house? I am so delighted with ‘On a Wick and a Prayer’. They have a great selection of both candles and reed diffusers and with UK shipping included in the price, their website is one of my favorites. An added bonus is the reassurance that all the products are made on site by the team in the Peak District.
I would tend to select naturally scented candles where possible and these can sometimes be hard to come by, especially a ‘nice’ one – if you are buying as a gift. ‘On a Wick and a Prayer’ have a really great selection of scented natural wax candles and original wax bars. If you are looking for an extra special candle for someone this Mother’s Day, this is the website for you!
I have the ‘Simply Natural Lavender & Geranium Candle’ RRP £17.95 and I can’t be parted from it. My sister was 34 recently and she adores candles. Because of having a young baby in her house, like me, she prefers naturally scenting her home. However, I have to be honest and admit even though this candle was intended for my sister, she did not receive it. I have it sitting on my hall table scenting the house whether it is lit and even when not burning. The box is divine, an absolutely gorgeous white and blue box with a ribbon encasing a beautiful candle. I love it (Sorry sis)!
Have a look on the website – www.onawick.co.uk and treat yourself or maybe your mum for Mother’s Day.
Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
City of Zombies.
Ok mummies and daddies, I have the perfect solution to boredom! City of Zombies! Yes, it sounds scary and it sort of is! Imagine a board game which appeals to all kids, this game is like no other ‘boring’ game. The illustrations and characters certainly appealed to my children as they were pretty gross and anything gross is ‘big’ in my home at the moment!
This game will even have the older members of the family interested and working together in the race against the Zombies. Who will survive and who will succumb to a ‘horrible death’? Lets find out..
This new game has achieved so much success despite its recent launch, only in December 2013. Eclectic Games found it to be the best selling board game and it has been nominated for the Best Family and Education Games Award 2014 in 3 categories. Board Game Geek rates it 7.8/10
Are you wondering why? Read on.
Teachers and parents alike LOVE this game as it sneakily teaches your children maths and numeracy skills and without them knowing as well, how clever is that? Very! My kids groan when it is time for homework but they learn just as much with this game and they are having too much fun to notice!
‘City of Zombies is a educational board game that makes maths fun, kids want to play it over and over, while parents and teachers love it because not only does it sneakily get kids doing a huge amount of free form maths calculations, it make them work together against the Zombies to survive’ (City of Zombies).
Pampered Presents highly recommend this game and are proud to say it is British designed and made thus rating this one of the best board games reviewed to date. Try it and I am sure you will fast become ‘addicted’ as well. A very well thought out game which has given us hours upon hours of family fun for a great price, RRP £29.99.
Find out more about the game here: www.cityofzombies.com
Enter our Facebook competition to win a game. https://www.facebook.com/Pamperedpresents
Gift Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Rosa Red Jewellery.
Do you ever watch glamorous ladies on the TV talk shows and wonder where they get their clothes and jewellery? Well I may be able to help you. Rosa Red jewellry has been worn by celebs including Carol Vorderman, Anne Diamond and Andrea McLean as shown below. Despite the celebrity following, this is certainly glamour you can afford.
Rosa Red offers top quality hand-made items at a fraction of the cost. Not only are the items hand-made, but they are hand polished and hand finished, giving each piece the individual touch. The jewellery is gorgeous with very easy to wear styles that will ensure you stand out from the crowd. I love the matching sets – have a look on www.rosared.co.uk You will find necklaces, bracelets and matching ear-rings to suit all occasions.
I always prefer to promote hand-made and environmentally friendly products on Pampered Presents and I am 100% happy blogging about Rosa Red and assure you the items are high quality and beautiful. All of the jewellery is nickel free and in line with European regulations.
I have a few suggestions which would make excellent Mother’s Day gifts and if you shop before 27th March and use the code MUM2014 each order will receive a free gift box!
One of my favorites would have to be Cameo, an intricate design with a mother of pearl center which reminds me of the Maui stones in New Zealand.
This pendent looks stunning and comes with matching accessories. (RRP £28)
The design is rather intricate and I have the matching bracelet on my ‘wish list’ – it’s really gorgeous.
Another special piece I have to mention is the Folia design. This Silver leaf pattern is as close to nature as any jewellery will take you! Perfect as a special treat for yourself and for mum as well.
Rosa Red jewellery can be bought from various stockists listed online.
www.rosared.co.uk
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Pevonia Micro-Retinol Skincare.
The search for an anti-aging product without ‘nasty’ ingredients ends here, with Pevonia.
Pevonia has taken retinol to another level introducing a complete skincare range with micro-retinol. This range suits those who wish to delay the first signs of aging and also those who have visible signs of aging they wish to diminish and prevent from developing further.
‘Pevonia Spa Clinica® PRO Micro-Retinol makes it extremely easy for the skin to immediately absorb the high concentration of actives and visibly repairing ingredients within each product’s result-driven formula. This means that the product line was precisely crafted to penetrate quickly and reach the deeper layers of the skin. A vitaminic infusion of Vitamins C and E, works in synergy to stabilise and optimise the Micro-Retinol delivery, maintaining the potency of the formula intact for optimum benefits and amazing visible results.’ (Pevonia)
This range really is worth a try. I have always been on the lookout for good quality natural products and found the market limited. However, I am so impressed with this range and love the emphasis on preventing further aging to the skin and reducing the signs already appearing.
At-Home Collection Easy 4-Step Protocol includes:
1)Micro-Retinol™ Essential Foaming Cleanser
This delightful high performing foaming gel with Retinol is hydrosoluble so it cleanses gently yet thoroughly leaving skin smoother, with a more even tone. Use AM and PM.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- Hyaluronic Acid – retains moisture
- Retinol (Micro) – enhances skin cellular performance; improves fine lines and wrinkles
- Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C) – promotes healthy collagen formation
2)Micro-Retinol™ Essential Toner
Alcohol-free, this Retinol rich toner completes the cleansing process and prepares the skin for further treatment. Use AM and PM after Micro-Retinol™ Essential Foaming Cleanser.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- Hyaluronic Acid – retains moisture
- Aloe – soothes, replenishes, and moisturises
- Retinol (Micro) – enhances skin cellular performance; improves fine lines and wrinkles
3)Micro-Retinol™ Essential Serum
Powerfully formulated, this bio-microemulsified gel works deep within to smooth wrinkles while visibly lightening and deeply moisturising the skin. Use PM before Micro-Retinol™ Essential Moisturizer.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- Retinol (Micro) – enhances skin cellular performance; improves fine lines and wrinkles
- Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C) – promotes healthy collagen formation
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E) – protects cell membranes from free radical damage and nourishes skin
4)Micro-Retinol™ Essential Moisturizer
Exceptionally high-performing, this triphase, homogenised resurfacing and anti-aging moisturizer penetrates deeply to smooth wrinkles while resurfacing and brightening the skin. Use AM and PM.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- Marine Collagen – anti-ageing; retains moisture
- Marine Elastin – anti-ageing; protects skin’s surface
- Retinol (Micro) – enhances skin cellular performance; improves fine lines and wrinkles (Pevonia)
Feel free to search the web and high streets, I am 100% sure you will not find a skincare range to equal Pevonia.
The cleanser and toners leave the skin smooth and soft even before adding the serum and moisturiser. I noticed my make-up had added staying power as well. I was pleased this new range I had discovered seamed to suit my skin very well. Lines were less pronounced after the first application, as my skin was more effectively hydrated. The moisturiser left my skin soft and smooth yet not greasy. The serum was fantastic with its resulting ‘velvet’ skin feel that I loved so much! I can’t wait to see what Pevonia introduce us to next! A brilliant range of skincare with natural ingredients and a resulting low carbon footprint.
For further information visit www.pevonia.co.uk
Products start at RRP £35.
Health and Beauty, Pampered Foods
LighterLifeFAST at Superdrug.
I have to raise my hand and admit I have tried every diet under the sun. Truth is, I just adore food, in particular sugary food which is not good! The health benefits of staying within an acceptable weight and not exceeding your recommended BMI are well researched and documented. Even with this knowledge, most of us find it extremely difficult to find a diet plan and stick to it for more that half a day. My diets always start first thing in the am and by lunchtime I crave my chocolate bar. Discovering LighterLifeFAST has helped with my sugar craving as I can continue on a diet plan while having delicious chocolate bars which do not taste like dry wafers – like some others do. 
With LighterLifeFAST you can have 4 ‘portions’ daily. These range from spaghetti bolognaise, vegetable soup, pasta, and various chocolate/toffee bars. These are pre-packed and easy to make up. They are even easier to eat! The banana shake is yummy. 
LighterLifeFAST food packs contain all we need to keep fit and healthy while encouraging weight loss as well. With 28 vitamins and minerals in every portion, I was not left craving certain foods as a result of lack of certain key vitamins and minerals. The packs are priced at around £8.49 and £8.99 and available exclusively from Superdrug stores. There are over 800 stores in the UK and Ireland nationwide or shop at www.superdrug.com For further information visit http://www.lighterlifefast.com/
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Caroline Hely Hutchinson Designs, Olive Oil Bottle.
I can honestly say this is one of the most joyous items I have ever received. Thank you Caroline!
Caroline Hely Hutchinson, (once barrister now artist! ), designs and paints a selection of tableware’s which will never fail to impress. I am posting this at this time of year as I am sure it would make a fantastic Mother’s Day gift.
‘Caroline sees the essence of her business as a ‘colour conversation’. It has been a journey of discovery in many ways, the evolving dialogue of how people see colour, which colours say what to them, how colour enhances their mood and how they want colour within the home. The conversation continues as the different designs within ‘Diversity’ present themselves in many playful combinations. Each CHH Design piece communicates with every other, and though all the designs are individual and exuberant, the colours still sing in harmony’ (CHH Designs)
Making Caroline’s wares even more appealing, she is a corporate partner of Wellbeing of Women. For every olive oil bottle sold on the website during 2014, she has pledged £5 towards this charity. Their work significantly benefits woman’s and babies’ health worldwide by helping fund various research projects.
Before I even mention the product I received, I have to comment on the presentation. I was just in the door from work and a note telling me the postman had been and gone was waiting. I rushed off to the delivery office to collect my post, not actually expecting anything, I was not aware of the delight that ensued.
The package was placed on the passenger seat next to me and I headed home only to get stuck in a long trail of traffic with two speeds – dead slow and stop!
I looked at the package thinking, ‘ I am not expecting anything, I wonder what this is?’ Curiosity got the better of me and while sitting in a long tail back of cars, I reached over and removed the brown paper. WOW, it revealed the most glorious pink and black box – don’t you just love it when a company puts as much effort into their product presentation as they do with their products? I do. The box was pink and black, with a crocodile skin effect on the lid and a delightful monkey design around the logo CHH. I was absolutely itching to open the box!
‘I want to help revive the art of giving’ – well she certainly has! (CHH)
Inside this super box, buried within pink tissue paper and cushioned on white silk was the most beautifully decorated olive oil bottle and stopper ever!
The colours brought back treasured memories of little shops I had discovered while on holiday abroad, where all the wares are painted so delightfully you want to pack them all into your suitcase.
Red, pink, yellow, orange, sea blue and turquoise were among some of the colours used to decorate my bottle. Finely painted on high quality strong china, this bottle takes pride of place on my kitchen worktop, next to my cooker. Its presence screams joy and delight, I just can’t explain it. I want to buy loads more and have Caroline’s items dotted around my home adding a much needed and glorious injection of colour.
Why not have a look for yourself. Log onto www.chh-design.com
Have a look at the other tableware’s. The cow shaped creamers are delightful and next on my wish-list, as are the matching butter dishes.
Olive oil bottles retail at £39.99
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Kingston MobileLite Wireless Reader.
Kingston MobileLite Wireless Reader, what is it?
This is a small media reader and wireless streamer with a built in battery to enable phones to be charged from it.
It is simple to use. There is an on off button and that’s about it. Attach it to a PC and the battery charges up and it will read SD cards as well. The USB slot will take a USB memory stick and read files from it and wirelessly transmit them to either Apple or Android devices. You can store loads of files on a USB stick and read them wirelessly on the Android device without using up the limited memory.
To use it you need to download an app from Google Play for Android or Apple Store for iPads etc.
The unit has a built in battery (Kingston claim the battery will last for 5 hours, I wouldn’t disagree with that statement) that can be used to charge up a phone or iPod battery. I tried this on my Samsung S4 Mini and it charged the battery up so will be very useful if I am away from a power source.
My overall impression would be positive. This is a compact gadget that does lots of things. In fact one which I did not realise how much I would use it for. It’s a useful SD card reader, charger and media streamer and saves using up the limited memory on iPhones, I pads and Android devices. I am sure anyone who buys this will get a lot of use from it especially those on the move who like to take lots of media files with them. This is one of those gadgets that’s actually very useful indeed!
We used to travel with a 7” car DVD player and a stash of DVDs to keep our kids entertained on long journeys, whether by car or plane.
Last year I bought a tablet which the kids love for games. This meant carrying yet another device around… until I discovered downloaded movies for the tablet. I quickly realised that not having to carry a DVD player and a fat DVD wallet around is great but that the built-in 16GB storage space of the tablet, partly used up by Apps and other stuff, doesn’t leave much space for movies.
That’s when I decided to give the Mobilelite Wireless a try. It turned out to be easy to use, works reliably and with PLENTY of movies stored on a 32 GB SD card we took this along on our two week vacation. The beach turned out to be much more attractive then any movies we had brought along and the kids actually didn’t watch much at all. However for the journey back home we had a nine hour flight ahead of us and had promised the kids one movie before “lights out” when the flight attendant announced that the in-flight entertainment system was broken. There were some very disappointed passengers on the flight, including my 9-year old and my 5-year old who was about to have a very public melt down.
This is when the Mobilelite Wireless came to the rescue and showed it’s true potential: I switched it on and within minutes one child watched her movie of choice on the Nexus 7 whereas the other one used my iPhone to watch a different one. Eventually, my wife decided to pull out her Galaxy SIII phone and enjoyed a third movie. All three devices obviously had the respective Android or iOS MobileLite Wireless App installed.
Result: Definitely one happy family on that flight thanks to Kingston.
Contents you will find in the box:
The main unit, a USB cable, fold out instructions and a SD to micro SD converter card and instructions on how to download the management app from Apple and Google.
For further information visit http://www.kingston.com/en/.
Available from www.amazon.co.uk RRP £49.99
Many thanks to Ashley Smith for this review.