For The Garden, Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews
Littl’Juey 650W Electric Line Trimmer.
DIY – Do it yourself, that is my motto – married for 10 years, I have come to the realisation that if you want a job done, it’s best not to even ask. There is nothing worse than a job started and not finished. I have counted 47 of these within my house and in the garden, so now I ‘DIY’!
More and more ladies are catching onto this DIY, and my friends agree, why continue to ask a man to do a job week after week, and even sometimes year after year? We are perfectly capable of carrying out minor household and gardening tasks – after all, it’s a proven fact women are much better at ‘everything’ than men.
I recently took it upon myself to cut the hedge and edge the lawn. I love my garden and enjoy keeping it tidy. My hubby would not be as keen, so these gardening jobs would be ‘put on the long finger’ ie- not done.
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Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Halo Super Bright LED Pocket Torch Set.
Have you ever been completely stumped when trying to think of unusual stocking fillers, something other than the usual sweets, chocolate or silly but totally impractical gimmicks? Well, look no further, I’ve found it! Halo2cloud have a fab range of mini torches in cool and funky animal print designs like giraffe print or snakeskin print. These little torches are about 6 inches long and are powered by 9 leds, which emit a surprising amount of light. They have a useful wrist strap and the case is metal so it is excellent quality.
These little torches are perfect for just about anyone. They’re small enough to fit in your handbag or the glove box of your car. I keep one in my handbag, which is useful when I’m coming home in these dark evenings and it’s difficult to find the keyhole in the door! My daughter keeps one by her bedside for if she wakes up in the middle of the night so she can see whatever she needs to see without waking her sister (which saves rows all round!). This is a brilliant idea for a stocking filler with a difference and you can be sure the recipient will still be using it long after the smell of roast turkey and Christmas Spice candles has faded away!
Available from www.qvcuk.com
RRP £15.95 for a set of 5 torches in co-ordinating gift boxes.
Gift Reviews
Dear Mum Gift Journal.
I have to raise my hand and admit I am the most sentimental mum on the planet. It absolutely made my day when I discovered www.fromyoutome.com
I dump nothing and never have. Our attic is full of all my childhood belongings and photographs. I now have 3 children and this ‘hoarding’ has continued. If you can relate with this at all, then you will really love what I have to write about today.
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www.fromyoutome.com have the most amazing selecting of journals for those who share my sentimental habit and enjoy recalling memories from their parents and their own childhoods.
I have a Dear Mum gift journal. It is part written, and the ‘mum’ completes the journal and presents it back to the giver – usually her child. What an idea!! The content is so good, and they cover everything. Approximately 60 questions are asked throughout the book. I thought about giving this to my mum to give back to me, but have since decided to write it myself and present to my children when it is complete.
Every night when they go to bed, they all say ‘Tell me about what it was like when you were a little girl?’ This journal is the perfect gift and I am really enjoying using it. I write a little piece every night and smile to myself at the memories the book has re-created for me.
Other journals are available – Dear Dad, Dear Grandad, etc and there are a wide variety of related products on site.
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You also have the opportunity of creating your own personal journal – I intend for this to be my next project!
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Have a look at www.fromyoutome.com when you are shopping online this Christmas. Dear Mum Journal is very reasonably priced at £12.99
Gift Reviews, Pampered Foods
Rolly’s Brownies.
Who doesn’t love Brownies?? I adore them and have made them using many recipes on many occasions. I was 100% sure, you cannot buy Brownies quite as good as you can make at home – until I tried Rolly’s Brownies.
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These delicious Brownies are famous for their ‘home-made’ taste, having featured in The London Evening Standard, Vogue and The Sunday Telegraph. They will shortly also feature in Glamour Magazine – you can’t get better coverage than that!!
As you now know, at Pampered Presents we love all things home-made, locally sourced and as natural as possible. We are therefore proud to have Rolly’s Brownies on Pampered Presents. 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 drove my little Jack Russel mad!
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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.
Each box contains 6 pieces weighing over 400g.
More information about Rolly’s Brownies and its services are available at
http://www.rollysbrownies.co.uk/
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Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
Big City Wooden Rail Train Table from the Early Learning Centre.
WOW, from the second I spied this, I showed it to my hubby – ‘This will solve all our problems’!! A huge statement and maybe a little bit heavy, but I was convinced.
The Big City Wooden Rail Train Table from the Early Learning Centre is just what it says – A big wooden train table, but it is also much more.
This table itself measures: 40cms high, 119cm wide and 83cm deep, so it is a brilliant size. Now, you may think – ‘Do I have room for that?’, but we are short of space and I still believe it was a great addition to our house.
There are over 100 pieces that come with this set – trains, track, train accessories and a colourful 2 sided table top – one side train suited, the other a road which is great for playing with cars.
I got this table for neither of the above reasons! My children LOVE building bricks – as I am sure all children do. Every weekend they would cover my entire dining room table with their ‘town’ and it would look great until Sunday morning when I wanted to set the table for dinner. The bricks never lifted off in one piece and there were tears all round.
We have the table in my son’s bedroom. Somedays I go up and it is a beautiful well organised and buzzing train station. The next week, it is lined with houses and cars – unfortunately my children also play ‘funerals’ like I would have as a child – is this normal?? They simply love to line the cars in a row and move each one about a millimetre forward at a time funeral style!!
Following that phase, they will then turn to the bricks. This table is great for cars and trains but it is INCREDIBLE for playing with bricks. The ‘car’ side of the table top is the street, and they play for hours on end on this table.
Conviently, the table has a storage drawer which will hold all the accessories when not in use – another brilliant idea.
No more standing on Lego – isn’t that the most painful item to ever stand on, even when wearing shoes?? OOUCH!
All the bricks, cars and trains are now off the dining room table and also the floor mat and played with neatly on the Big City Wooden Rail table. This cannot come highly enough recommended by myself – absolutely the ultimate Christmas gift this year. Treat yourself mum’s – with this table, you will never have to spend half an hour tidying up after the kids go to bed ever again!
Available from www.elc.co.uk RRP £100
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Toy Reviews
All in 1 Car Toy from Taf Toys.
I presented my sister with this toy for her 10 month old baby wishing I had had it for when my own children were small. I always kept my rear facing car seat in the back of the car behind the passenger seat as recommended, which made it difficult to see and soothe the baby safely without stopping the car and turning around.
When people tell me their unsettled baby always went to sleep in the car, I used to get very jealous as this wasn’t the case with mine. My sister found that with this toy, her car journeys have been made much easier. Our families live two hours apart so travelling long distances with young babies is a frequent occurrence for her.
Her little girl loved looking at herself in the mirror from the minute she could focus (don’t know WHO she takes that after!) She quite happily does this in the car now with the handy curved mirror which fits very easily to the headrest and also lets the driver have a great view of her at a glance.
When baby moves on from ‘looking’ to be entertained, there are great little hanging toys attached to this car toy. A Jingle bells ball that, when touched with a hand or foot, make a very seasonal jingling sound, and a rattling flower is also within easy grasp with this toy.
My sister said lots of her friends have asked for this to be ‘passed on’ in the future when her daughter no longer needs car toy, but this may be some time as even her 4 year old plays with it!
The All in 1 Car Toy is available from Taf Toys. Visit www.halilit.co.uk 01254872454
Also available from nursery and toy retailers across the UK and Ireland.
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Toy Reviews
Little Hands Music Band.
We seem to use batteries at a rate that other households would use bread and milk, so there’s always a selection of screwdrivers on the kitchen window sill for this very reason. This is one of the main reasons why I love these musical toys, they will never stop working as they do not need batteries.
My friends children seem to be quite happy playing with fabric or board ‘quiet’ books, fiddling with their shoes/blankets or soft toys. My children were never that easily amused.
![little_hands_music_band[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/little_hands_music_band1.jpg)
Toys just can’t be loud enough for them and they love the Little Hands Music Band. My four year old plays happily with all of the four toys for prolonged periods of time which is more that I can say for a lot of his (more expensive) toys. I always make sure I have at least one of them in my bag when going out in the car or to coffee with friends.
My favourite instrument has to be the xylophone and I love watching my children play with it. Also, the fact that the stick fits neatly underneath it means I don’t have to go hunting for it all the time.
The ‘wave drum’ very easily captivates children, including small children like my young niece. She is ten months and she can grasp it and turn it around. She loves watching and hearing the tiny balls slide across the inside. It is also very sturdy as she whacks it on the floor very hard to increase the sounds and it hasn’t cracked the plastic surround or tore the drum!
The ‘spinning beads’ rainbow maker-type toy is also very durable as it’s still intact too….despite rather ‘rough play’!
In conclusion, a fabulous toy, I have since purchased two more as baby presents for my friends to ensure they don’t have to compete with my son for his. He refuses to share them and they’re so nice I think he’s quite right not to!
Little Hands Music Band available from www.halilit.co.uk and from nursery and toy retailers across the UK and Ireland. 01254872454
RRP £29.99 for ages 12 months and over.
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Gift Reviews
Paul Mitchell Express ion Curl 1.0
It’s party season and I am so excited. The shopping for a dress, whats hot and whats not? Make-up – will I be adventurous this year? What about nails? Do I settle for the usual stick-on’s I usually end up putting on in the taxi or will I treat myself to salon perfect talons that is so in this year?
All this screams expense and I have not even mentioned my hair! For those of you who don’t know me personally, my hair is as fuzzy as can be. I mean, have you ever seen those advertisements that are supposed to be funny where someone touches an electric fence and their hair stands on end? That is my hair every morning – not a word of a lie. The straighteners do a wonderful job but sometimes I miss my curls.
Instead of a salon visit which would set me back about £80 for curly bouncy hair, I have opted to invest in a Paul Mitchell express Ion Curl 1.0. This handy little item cost £59.99 and delivers the SAME result as my local salon, and I have it year after year. In my opinion, money well spent.
This curler is ceramic and we all know this is a good thing, ceramic does not burn your hair and the curler heats evenly so you are left with bouncy curls that last and last. I can get a few days out of one curling session and this saves me so much time in the mornings – much quicker than straightening my hair.
Paul Mitchell have a unique express ion complex, and this is the reason you will love this curler. Curls are shiny without adding serum or wax – which would leave your hair greasy looking sooner. Your hair is curled and hydrated at the same time. The barrel is 1 inch and I love this – it is just the perfect length for natural curls – thicker barrels make my curls look fake and ‘old fashioned’ – as I picture Stephanie Powers!!
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To finish this review I have to mention one last very important point – the cord is 9 foot long! This is amazing – I can sit up straight at my dressing table and curl my hair – with my straighteners I had to do everything with my head to one side as the cord won’t reach long enough to let me see into the mirror!
Think about this as an investment and try the Paul Mitchell express Ion Curl 1.0, you will not be disappointed.
Available from selected salons and online retailers. With an RRP of only £59.99 the Express Ion Curl would make an excellent Christmas gift/stocking filler.
Paul Mitchell® Pro Tools™ are gentler on hair thanks to our exclusive Express Ion Complex™—a blend of volcanic minerals that naturally delivers conditioning negative ions and far infrared heat. – See more at: http://www.paulmitchell.com/PRODUCTS/PROTOOLS/IRONS/Pages/ExpressIonCurl10.aspx#sthash.bwQHv7h5.dpuf (Paul Mitchell)
Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
Mask ‘N’ Ask from Drumond Park.
I have this game saved for Christmas for my 4 year old son. He will absolutely love it. Children of a young age are obsessed about what they will ‘be when they grow up’ – I am sure you will agree??
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My children ask me every night what they will ‘be’ and I always try and steer then towards ‘nice’ jobs (in my opinion!). I suggest careers like teaching, veterinarian and nursing. My suggestions are somewhat limited I know, but I believe in realism. What’s the point in suggesting a marine biologist, an astronaut, or an explorer of new worlds?
Am I a pessimist? I learnt to be care-full with my suggestions when my younger sister was choosing her college career. I had just seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and suggested to my sister that she should be an archaeologist! No-one could change her mind (mum and dad tried) but she studied archaeology for 4 years to degree level and came home every weekend covered in mud and her clothes were in tatters. She did however love it, working on the digs, but alas, opted for a career in insurance as Tutankhamun’s tomb had been discovered and she lost heart!
![Mask n Ask montage LR[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Mask-n-Ask-montage-LR1.jpg)
Mask ‘N’ Ask is a game where the children (and adults) wear a mask but they do not know which one they will be wearing. The object of the game is to guess who you are. Each player takes it in turns to ask a question to help them determine who they are. I think this is brilliant as a quite a few careers are covered and a few animals as well. Children will find themselves learning about jobs, who wears a uniform, a hard hat, and also about animals and the world around them. Best of all, they learn this through play – and not a computer in sight! Hurrah!!
There are 30 double sided masks in total so boredom will not set in, everyone wants to be the Princess just like Kate, or a Sailor and so on.
Oodles of fun to be had and a lot of learning too. Excellent value at £16.99.
Available from many department stores, most major toy shop chains and independents, plus the leading grocery chains and catalogue and online traders.
Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
LOGO Billionaire from Drumond Park.
‘The latest board game in the super-popular LOGO series is the new card- and cash-collecting LOGO Billionaire (rrp £24.99, age 8 to adult). It’s the battle of the big brands! Fortunes can be made or lost on a Cornetto… someone is planning to steal your beloved Beetle… and the humble Hob Nob could propel you to billionaire status!’ (Drumond Park)
This game is THE game for your family this Christmas, buy it, you will not prove me wrong!
There are two versions of the game and this is an ingenious concept as it can be as difficult or as easy as you like, depending on who is playing.
The Apprentice version is what we play, my children are 10, 8 and 4 yrs and they all love it. The familiar brands add to the appeal – Pot Noodle, Sun-Pat, Weetabix, Twix, Mini Cheddars and Dairy Milk. For Dad, there is Volkswagen Beetle and Mini Cooper!
Children will have their ‘business heads on’ as they wheel and deal, trading their brands and negotiating deals which will launch new companies. The excitement builds from the very beginning, with everyone keeping their cards close as the odds could fall for or against you! As in the ‘real’ world of business, you can go from mega rich to bankrupt in seconds!
When the kids are tucked up in bed, we take the game to another level and thing get real serious! The Executive game allows for an increased element of suspense and the risks also increase. If mum wins dad does the dishes for a month – Love it!
Endless hours of fun is to be had with this new game – Logo Billionaire from Drumond Park. RRP £24.99
Available from many department stores, most major toy chains and independents, plus the leading grocery chains and catalogue and online traders.