Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Sensuality Massage Oil from Natural Thinking.
‘High Quality Ingredients brought directly to you, ethical, quality, affordability’ (Natural Thinking)
Imagine a ‘perfect’ massage oil which does exactly what massage oils should. I present you with Sensuality Massage oil from Natural Thinking!
Combining the aphrodisiac effects of sandalwood with Sweet Almond, Ylang Ylang and Rose Absolute, this oil is the ultimate in luxurious relaxation.
Create your perfect state of mind this Valentine’s Day with a massage oil from Natural Thinking. They have a vast range of aromatherapy oils and highlight the Sensuality Massage oil as an ideal Valentine’s gift. I couldn’t agree more, the oil smells divine and feels gorgeous on the skin. It can be used as a massage or bath oil and comes in a delicate little aluminium bottle 100mls retailing for £10.80.
As far as aromatherapy oils go, the range from Natural Thinking is rather exclusive as the oils are sourced ethically and naturally from various countries. This is a great company to purchase from and to follow. They have a firm work ethos, aiming to sustain the environment and ensuring workers get a fair price for their products.
Choosing natural skincare is one of the most important decisions you make, just as important as choosing natural foods! 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. Think before you splurge out on various lotions and potions filled with preservatives, artificial scents, parabens, etc. It is much better to be selective when choosing your skincare essentials. Choose products which do not have a negative impact on the environment or on your body such as those from Natural Thinking.
Have a look at the website www.naturalthinking.co.uk for further information and products.
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Post-It notes and dispensers for Valentine’s Day.
I’m fairly sure just about everyone has heard of those indispensable sticky notes called Post-Its by the brand 3M. My office walls are decorated with them, I seem to be constantly reaching for one for some reason or another. I love the brightly coloured sets and I have several different shaped Post-it notes, brilliant for prioritising my notes along the edge of my desk!
My children have a selection for their school work. They are perfect for highlighting pages as they come in small little individual arrows, and as a ruler with little tabs which peel off and attach neatly to mark pages.
Ingeniously, they are now available in a cute pop up dispenser in a variety of shapes, such as handbags, karate men and pink hearts.The dispensers are easy refillable with 76x76mm Post-It notes so it’s not just a single use throw away item. They’re novel, fun and useful.
The pink heart dispenser would also make an ideal Valentine’s Day pressie for that special someone in your life. Heart shaped notes are also available.
These are available on Amazon priced at £8.99.
Visit the link below to reach the facebook site, they are worth a ‘like’ !
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
A4 Loveheart Photo book from Photobox for Valentine’s Day.
I adore photographs. I have 3 children and want to ‘preserve’ every special moment! Photobox is really worth checking out if you have a host of ‘adventures’ you would love arranged in an album but don’t have the time to process photos, find a suitable album and arrange all your photographs to fit.
Photobox is one of the leading online digital photo services with over 27 million members.
‘We are market leaders because we’re passionate about what we do – the photography and the collaboration – and how we do it – insanely great products and customer service.
We help people create memories and keep them alive through Photobooks, cards, wall decor, mugs, t-shirts, and more.
We’ve built an active and extensive online community that sparks much of our innovation – we’re always finding new ways to engage with them and share the joy of PhotoBox’ (Photobox)
I selected the A4 Love heart book as my first Photobox project. I must say I had no idea it would be so much fun. The online process was so easy. I selected the photos I wished to use and then the layout of these pictures. I really enjoyed myself choosing photos and arranging them within the album. I had the option of using anything from 26 to 100 pages.The best part was definitely the front cover. With the Love heart photo book, the first photo can be seen through the cut out heart shape, thus this picture was very special. I selected my favourite photo of the 3 children together on holiday.
After ordering, the follow-up service from Photobox was excellent. I received an email thanking me for my order and another email telling me the book was dispatched.
When the book arrived I was so excited I simply had to open it in the car at the post office. Wow – I was delighted! The book was even better than I imagined and I loved the glossy finish I had selected for the photos.
Now I have discovered Photobox, I have big plans for all the photos I have on various phones and tablets. I plan to make a few more books with Photobox. A photo book would be a lovely gift idea also, especially the ‘Love Heart Book’ for Valentine’s Day.
Have a look at www.photobox.co.uk, I would highly recommend having a photo book printed. You will be just as delighted with the result as I was.
A4 Love heart photo book from £27.99
29.2cm x 21.6 cm
Gift Reviews, Pampered Foods
Rolly’s Brownies for Valentine’s Day.
Rolly’s Brownies are famous for their ‘home-made’ taste, having featured in The London Evening Standard, Vogue and The Sunday Telegraph and Glamour Magazine.
Pampered Presents loves all things home-made, locally sourced and as natural as possible. We are therefore proud to have Rolly’s Brownies, once again, on site. These super gorgeous Brownies are made in Weymouth, using local ingredients – free range eggs of course and organic flour.
Baked to order, you cannot get fresher and I was so excited when mine arrived in the post. They came in a tube and in an inner box so they were in perfect condition. The box was lovely – they say we taste first with our eyes!! That is so true. These were expertly presented and on opening, the smell was delicious. My brownies were especially packaged for Valentine’s day. Beautiful orange flavored brownies packed in a long box with a pink sleeve printed with the words ‘Made with Love’.
Rolly’s Brownies can customise their deliveries with gift cards, I think this is a great idea and they would be a delicious gift to send to the ‘foodie’ in your life this Valentine’s Day.
Each box contains 6 pieces weighing over 400g. There are many flavors to choose from; chilli, orange, caramel, cranberry and double chocolate, etc.
More information about Rolly’s Brownies and its services are available at
http://www.rollysbrownies.co.uk/
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Gift Reviews, Teenage Gifts, Toy Reviews
What do the Grown-ups do?
What Do the Grown-ups Do?
“What a refreshing and innovative way of introducing children to career possibilities in later life. A delightful series of books, which gently guides younger children through the adult world of work. The accompanying photographs of the main characters bring the lives of Joe the Fisherman, Fiona the Doctor and Papa the Stock Farmer, to life.”
Louise White, Broadcaster.
After reading 3 of these books I wholeheartedly agree with the above description. What brilliant books to help create a mindset for children – if you work hard it is much easier to get a job you enjoy doing!
These books could not have arrived at a better time for me. My daughter is in her last 2 years at primary school so she has a lot of work ahead of her.
‘What Do the Grown-ups Do?’ follow 3 children as they meet characters from various jobs and explore the work they do in detail.
The books reiterate the importance of working hard at school to achieve qualifications which will enable children to find a worthwhile job.
The books are targeted at readers aged 5-10 yrs and this is ‘spot on’. My 4 year old is a little too young to enjoy these books, but my 8 and 10year old children love them.
The photographs are interesting and descriptive to suit the reading material. The information is given in a way which is easy for a child to understand and the ethos of the relationship between working at school and who we become in later years ‘rings true’ throughout.
‘JOE THE FISHERMAN
Joe the fisherman lives next door. A great strong man with a cheeky grin, Joe has fished for prawns all his life, just like his father before him. Joe the Fisherman tells of Joe’s life aboard and the pros and cons of being at sea. Like many of the local creel fishermen, they fish using sustainable techniques. Joe tells the girls how to prepare bait, maintain the creels and how to stop catching crabs in their lobster pots!’
PUBLISHED 28th February 2014
£10 _paperback_ £3.99 _ebook_
‘PAPA THE STOCKFARMER
Papa the stock farmer calls the children one morning to ask for help moving the cattle and the girls embark on an adventure where things don’t exactly go as planned! During their work on the farm, they learn about the difference between high and low ground farming, how to make silage so that the animals have food in the winter, how the cattle poo can improve the ground, and how to save a baby calf!
PUBLISHED 28th February 2014
£10 _paperback_ £3.99 _ebook_’
Sean the Actor.
The eagerly awaited 3rd book in the Series ‘What do the grown-ups do?’ ‘Sean the Actor’ will be published on the 28 April 2014
‘This time the children move away from farming and fishing and meet a real actor. The young children ask question including:-
“How do you become an actor?”
“How does the film get made?”
“How do you know which camera to look at?”
“How do you make money in your work?”
Once again the Author Mairi McLellan brings the story to live with beautiful photographs and interesting facts that the grown-ups can learn from as well’
My 10yr old daughter takes this book to bed with her every night. Sean is a great character and I have also enjoyed reading this book to my other children. Sean the actor meets the children while shooting a film in their town. He is very friendly and the children learn a lot about the ‘real’ life of an actor from him. My children were amazed the amount of work put into the making of a movie and that acting is actually a job and not all fun and parties.
Although the main characters of these books are men, my girls really enjoyed reading them. We live in a town but I was brought up on a farm. My girls would never have seen a calf being born nor have they ever ‘baited a line’. They found these books very interesting and informative and I enjoyed reading with them. I would highly recommend them for every boy and girl from the age of 5 and up.
Available at Amazon & all good book stores
More information can be found on the website www.kidseducationalbooks.com
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty, Teenage Gifts
Green People for Valentine’s Day
Green People are a company that specialise in organic skin and body care products. Their products are made as naturally as possible with no harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances. I have been using their products for some time now and always find them to be very effective.
I have recently had the pleasure of trying out some of the new gift sets for Valentine’s Day – Valentine’s Red For Her – ‘Organic Lifestyle’, which contains a 50ml tube of Vitamin Fix and a 10ml tube of Rejuvenating Eye Cream.
Vitamin Fix is a rich moisturising face cream for all skin types. It contains a mix of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants including Avocado Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Green Tea extract. It is a light non-greasy moisturiser which applies smoothly and is quickly absorbed into the skin. I have extremely sensitive skin and find it difficult to get a moisturiser which does not give me an attack of pimples. I am pleased to say that this fabulous cream not only leaves my skin pimple free but my face feels wonderfully soft and moisturised.
Rejuvenating Eye Cream is simply exactly what it says on the tube! This rich cream expertly softens lines around the eyes and soaks completely into the skin. It is perfect for under your make-up with its non-greasy formulae. The moisturising benefits last all day, and make-up will not sink into lines making them even more evident – I know this as a fact! Maybe it is the added benefit of essential fatty acids that make this cream so effective. I adore this eye cream, I have been using it for years and will continue to do so.
This is a great gift set, containing what I can say are 2 of the best skin care products I have ever tried. It would make a lovely gift for your other half this Valentine’s Day. RRP £15.00
The Age Defy Gift Set would also make for a brilliant Valentine’s Day gift. I have this on my wish list!
‘A collection of youth boosting skincare essentials
Hydrate & Renew Serum (5ml) – uniquely blended to deliver amazing rejuvenating, balancing and regenerating properties directly to the skin.
Cell Enrich Facial Oil (5ml) – a powerful blend of active ingredients work in synergy to deliver skin clarity and brilliance for a more youthful complexion.
24 Hour Brightening (5ml) – an active-packed, high-potency natural moisturiser offering superior skin nourishment. This revolutionary organic product also actively reduces skin pigmentation and age spots when used daily.’ (Green People)
Green People products are not tested on animals and never contain:Sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate, parabens, lanolin, phthalates, propylene glycol, alcohol (ethyl alcohol, ethanol), harsh foaming agents, synthetic fragrances, irritating emulsifiers, PABA-sunscreen, petrochemicals, colourants, urea, DEA, TEA or PEGs.
In my opinion, Green People are one of the most trusted skincare suppliers on the market. You can relax and not stress about ingredients, just place your trust in Green People.
For more information visit www.greenpeople.co.uk
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Gone Crabbing Apron and Soaps for Valentine’s Day.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to review this fantastic company’s produce again. I am crazy about Gone Crabbing!
A little history lesson first… The company was launched in 2008 by Susie Mason, who has created beautiful items relating to all thing ‘seaside’.
Susie’s range includes soaps, towels, clothing for children and adults and much more. I am truly addicted! It is a family run business, so well done Susie! The company has continued to grow, with the support of stockists and local companies. You will find ‘Gone Crabbing’ in seaside shops as well as on-line.
Colin is the Gone Crabbing LOGO, and he appears on several of their items as well as on the labels. He is an absolutely adorable little orange crab and you will love him too! Sometimes he features as the main design, and on some items he will appear in the corner but always on the labels. A brilliant feature, and I am sure this company will continue to grow and grow.
I have a few of the different Gone Crabbing soaps now and cannot pick a favourite. They all smell gorgeous and I leave a bar or two sitting around as they look great on the bathroom shelf, the packaging is fun loving and very pretty. The scent lasts FOREVER and I have a bar in a few of our wardrobes as well. When I open the door, the smell is simply wonderful.
Gone Crabbing soaps are 100% vegetable and not tested on animals, there is surely a soap for everyone – just go online and have a look for yourself! From ‘Beauty on the Beach’ to ‘Really lovely smelly soap’, again, you will want them all. RRP £3.99.
Following the success of ‘Colin the Crab’, Gone Crabbing have introduced us to ‘Shaun the Prawn’! Shaun is just as playful as Colin and certainly makes an impact wherever he features. You will find him as the lead on his very own apron along with the slogan ‘Cocktails at my Place’! I think he is quite French looking myself, with his fab moustache and cheeky expression. Wouldn’t you agree?
A ‘Shaun the Prawn’ apron retails at £15.50 which is really great value. The aprons are 100% cotton with adjustable straps and large enough to suit both men and women. 85x60cms.
Shaun also features on an ovenmit and tea towel as well. This set would make a perfect gift for your other half this Valentine’s Day as Gone Crabbing will never disappoint.
For further information visit www.gonecrabbing.co.uk
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Envelope style Tablet case by Proporta for Valentine’s Day.
I love this envelope style iPad case from Proporta. The colours and pattern look really well and with the ‘stamp’ detail, it would pass for a large envelope sitting on the front seat of your car!
I always seem to be rushing from place to place and with 3 kids and various iPads and other tablets we try and hide them somewhere discretely in the car when we are out and about. With this case you have your precious iPad perfectly disguised!
The envelope tablet case by Proporta will fit all 10 inch tablets and is quite spongy to touch. It will protect your tablet while expertly ‘dressing’ it at the same time. Despite the high level of protection offered, this case is fairly flat, therefore easily slipped into your hand-bag or brief case.
‘Ten inch tablet case with unique envelope design
Compatible with numerous ten inch tablets
Faux-leather tablet case is slimline and lightweight
Tablet sleeve protects against scratches, drops and knocks
Perfect for travelling or commuting
Lifetime Exchange Warranty’ (Proporta)
If you are buying a gift for your other half this Valentine’s Day, have a look at the Proporta range of tablet accessories online. Gifts such as these have style, taste and functionality and last much longer than flowers or chocolates!
http://www.proporta.co.uk/tablet-case-for-10-inch-tablets-envelope
Available now for £29.95 RRP £34.95
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty, Teenage Gifts
Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara
Mascara, a tricky subject! I have tried loads of brands at both ends of my budget. I have concluded that the cheap brands are no different than the more expensive brands and they all sting my eyes! I would have sensitive skin and favour natural skincare products. I have used a natural moisturiser and make-up for years but have only just discovered a natural mascara.
Eye of Horus is a naturally derived beauty brand founded in Australia. Their following includes many celebs and I am delighted to say these products are now available in the UK.
Eye of Horus mascara is a natural product containing natural waxes and essential oils. I have ‘Goddess Mascara’ and was so impressed when my postie delivered this to me. The packaging was so exquisite – a beautiful thick gift bag with the logo and inside I un-wrapped the mascara from folds of co-ordinating tissue paper sealed with matching stickers. Don’t you just love it when products arrive like this? I do!
The mascara itself was nicely boxed and looked a lot more than £17.
‘‘Goddess Mascara’: This is Eye of Horus’ hero product and the brainchild of Australian girls Holly, Heather, Nicole Spierings and Amy Lennane, Founders of the brand. Their sensitivity to eye make-up inspired the research to come up with a gentler and natural mascara formula. The star ingredient is Moringa Oil, which is rich in vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants to strengthen the lash structure. It delivers beautiful long and full lashes with its anti-clogging formula that has long lasting results. The ‘Goddess Mascara’ is ideal for sensitive eyes and safe for brittle lashes and can be used on eyelash extensions. Its water resistant formula also nourishes and assists the lashes’ growth.’(Eye of Horus)
Needless to say, with ingredients like this, Goddess Mascara is perfect for those who have previously reacted badly to the added ingredients other mascaras contain.
This did not sting my eyes, neither did my eye-lashes break or come off with the mascara at the end of the day. I love the rubber brush – try this and see for yourself – this is the only type of brush which I have found to give lashes like the girls in Cosmo, Yea!! The mascara lasted all day with no smudges yet was easily removed.
Eye of Horus – you are now a staple in my make-up bag!
For further information visit: http://www.eyeofhoruscosmetics.co.uk/
Gift Reviews, Pampered Foods
Tanqueray London Dry Gin.
Anyone for cocktails? Following our holiday to Barbados a few summers ago – (10 yrs ago!) I have had a keen interest in making cocktails and drinking them. We purchased a ‘Cocktail Recipe Book’ at the airport and it has never managed to make its way to the back of the cupboard like the ‘healthy eating’ cookbooks! I detest vodka so a lot of our cocktails are made with gin.
We have moved from one variety of gin to another but on trying Tanqueray London Dry Gin, we have continued to purchase this particular brand. This gin has a unique full flavour I have found hard to equal with other leading brands.
‘Tanqueray London Dry Gin has an elegance that sets it apart from the rest and a flavour that shines in sophisticated cocktails and vibrant gin and tonics. Its great flavour is achieved by the blend of the finest botanicals including juniper, coriander, angelica and liquorice’
(Tanqueray London Dry Gin press release)
If I have intrigued anyone to try this gin, I have included 2 recipes below. Both are simply fabulous and I cannot pick a favourite.
Tanqueray Raspberry and Lavender fizz
Ingredients:
25ml Tanqueray London Dry
15ml Lavender Liqueur (Raspberry liqueur also optional)
Top with Prosecco
4 x Fresh Raspberries
Method: shake all ingredients together and pour into a coupette, top with prosecco and garnish with a raspberry or rose petal.
Tanqueray Clover Club
Ingredients:
35ml Tanqueray London Dry
15ml Raspberry Syrup
20ml Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of Egg White
Method: shake all ingredients together and strain into a martini glass, garnish with a raspberry.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, why not try one of these cocktails and present it to your loved one when the kids are in bed? Better still, why not book a nice meal out and have one of these while waiting on a taxi like I plan to!
The non-alcoholic liquors are not expensive and neither are fruit juices so go on, treat yourself and your partner to a bottle of Tanqueray London Dry Gin this Valentine’s Day and surprise yourself with the delicious cocktails you can put together – just like a pro!
I must mention that I also find this gin goes down rather well with tonic water!
RRP £21.50 Available from most supermarkets and off licence stores.