Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
SKYCIG White Pack and NRG Packs.
SKYCIG is one of the largest distributors of electronic cigarettes in the United Kingdom, and the popularity of this alternative to hazardous smoking continues to grow. The trusted reputation of SKYCIG has lead to the company’s growth and success.
4000 harmful chemicals can be found in cigarettes and many people who have found it difficult to stop smoking have turned to SKYCIC with success. Skycig allows the customer the ‘freedom’ to smoke without the hazardous health complications.
As you can imagine, the health benefits from switching to SKYCIG are immense and I would hope this will reflect on the statistics of lung, throat and other cancers over the next few years.
SKYCIG is available in many forms, with multiple variations of flavour and pack style so there is an electronic cigarette to suit everyone.
The cigarettes are rechargeable and each box comes with a battery and a USB charger. SKYCIG have a free phone number on each pack so help is available if you have any questions or concerns. The White pack featured below is £20.
A freedom pack is available which is really good value at £49.99 and additional packs can be bought for variety. The USB chargers and batteries are interchangeable.
The NRG pack contains 3 cartridges which have Taurine added. This is an amino acid which is not addictive but gives a flavor similar to that of energy and sports drinks. RRP £20.
SKYCIG have suggested you give the ‘gift of life’ this Christmas. If you have a family member or friend who smokes cigarettes, SKYCIG would be an exceptional gift which could result in the receiver stopping smoking. What better gift could there be than one which could make a vast difference to someone’s health?
SKYCIG products are available online from www.skycig.co.uk
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Jam Classic Wireless Speaker.
My husband was so excited with this product and thinks its brilliant! The Jam Classic Wireless Speaker is the speaker for you if you enjoy listening to music and are looking for excellent sound quality. This speaker is super handy, very portable and has the appearance similar to that of a jam-jar with its cool matching ‘pot’ cover.
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Ribbit Handheld Massager.
There is more to this little massager than meets the eye! The Ribbit handheld massager from www.homedics.co.uk is a very powerful tool for only £9.99.
The funky look and selection of colours are eye-catching and with its 4 massage nodes, it really does give a superb massage. The vibrations are surprisingly powerful for its size. I use mine to help relax and relieve back pain at night. I have been having physiotherapy and my therapist stresses the power of exercise and massage to help with muscle spasm. I found this massager worked very well to relieve spasm and the associated pain.
This would be a great gift for anyone, whether they suffer from muscular aches and pains or not, as it is fabulous for relaxing and fun to use. The compact size allows it to be slipped into an average sized handbag so if you feel stressed at word, you can enjoy a stress-busting massage during your lunch hour!
Available in 2 colours and requires 3xAAA batteries (included). Excellent value for money at £9.99
Homeware Reviews
Snuggledown Ultimate Hungarian Goose Down Pillow.
ZZZZZZZ…. Even writing about this fabulous pillow makes me feel sleepy! I’ve always been a fan of Goose Down duvets and pillows, but this one beats them all hands (or heads) down!
Made from the finest Hungarian Goose down and encased in a pure 100% cotton cover, this pillow can be machine washed at home, especially good for allergy sufferers who need to wash bedding frequently. It can even be tumble dried, guaranteeing that it will be ready by night time! The feathers are carefully cleansed and sanitised resulting in ultimate purity.
This pillow offers a surprising amount of support despite being very soft and fluffy, and retains its shape and plumpness extremely well, unlike other feather pillows I’ve had over the years which all seemed to go flat and stay flat despite my best efforts to “re-plump”. This pillow provides excellent neck support, something that I find quite surprising for a feather pillow. Quite frequently now, when I walk into my bedroom, there’s one of my daughters lying on my bed reading a book, head snuggled into my nice new pillow.
This pillow is a standard pillow size, 48x74cms approx. and is available on Amazon, reduced from £165 to the bargain price of £67.00. Not to be missed. Night night…..
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Elle Macpherson Aromatherapy Foot Spa.
Define the ultimate relaxation after a long day on your feet? The Elle Macpherson Aromatherapy Foot Spa!
This is a foot spa like no other, with every add-on you could possibly imagine. Suitable for all foot sizes, this spa is shear heaven, accommodating feet up to a size 12 UK so it is more than suitable for all the family.
There are several extras that set this light years ahead of other foot spas, one being the pedicure attachments. Fine and coarse pumice stones gently remove old and tough skin from your feet. This is brilliant and delivers excellent results. I like to make this the beginning of my foot treatment. The massage is to follow. While soaking your feet in gorgeous warm bubbly water, 4 interchangeable massage rollers work your feet and relax your body. Various massage functions can be selected – Hydro massage, Vibration massage, Magnetic Therapy, Aromatherapy and Light. I was so impressed with this and love the Hydro massage along with the aromatherapy.
The spa includes an aromatherapy mist diffuser so you can sit back, enjoy your massage and relax while breathing the smell of frangipane aroma oil. When my children go to bed I so look forward to this, it is the highlight of my day. Unlike my previous foot spa, the Elle Macpherson Aromatherapy Spa has an angled base so you do not have to sit bolt upright to achieve the full benefits of the massage. I can relax on my sofa and enjoy the spa experience in a comfortable position.
To top it off, LED mood lighting can be selected in a choice of 2 colours. This is just fantastic and I couldn’t recommend this foot spa more.
It is the perfect Christmas gift for everyone.
Available from www.amazon.co.uk and Debenhams. RRP £74.99
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Cuddledry Newborn Baby Gift Set, Coffee Dot.
I have been reading online about Cuddledry as I am to review one of their products. I like to do my ‘homework’ first!
I can honestly say I have never known a company to win or be nominated for as many awards. The list is endless and I cannot name them all. However, impressed I was! As always, anything that makes mums life easier and rates as baby and environmentally friendly goes down well at Pampered Presents and Cuddledry sure fits this mould.
Wow, I have to tell you about a few of the awards. The Mumsnet Best Award is no mean feat and is greatly longed for by many companies. Cuddledry apron towels have won this award every year since 2008! This towel also won the Right Start Best baby essentials 2012 award. Other Cuddledry products maintain this standard also. This is a business that will know no bounds in my opinion. Well done Cuddledry!
I was so pleased to learn that Cuddledry came to exist from the minds of 2 mummies, Helen and Polly. These ladies achieved global success shortly after the business began and they now have a fully equipped website and a great mail order service.
My review product is a Cuddledry gift set and I had plenty of willing testers. My twin sisters have 2 little girls so they were all too keen to try this gorgeous set.
Most baby gifts are either blue or pink, but that’s no good for someone like me who likes to buy in advance. My Cuddledry set is ‘Coffee and Cream’, the most luscious shade of taupe and cream and trimmed in co-ordinating polka dot edging.
Cuddledry use a combination of cotton and bamboo. I love that, and believe other companies should follow this example. In my dreams of a perfect world, bamboo will exceed the cotton industry as it is so environmentally friendly. Bamboo requires a fraction of the water than cotton does, it is the fastest growing plant in the world and thrives naturally without pesticides or fertilisers.
The feeling of bamboo on the skin is also softer than cotton, so perfect for using against the skin of a newborn baby.
The gift set includes a hooded towel, washmitt and squeaky duck. The towel is huge – I received towels as baby gifts and none of them were as big as this one. It is the perfect size to encompass ‘all’ of your baby when he/she is scooped out of the bath. I used to say, ‘I’m gona wrap you like a parcel’ to my children, they loved being wrapping up tight in a towel after the bath. This Cuddledry towel is perfect for the job. It is super soft and gorgeous – just like your baby!
When bathing babies, one hand is all you have free and this washmitt allows you to hold and wash baby safely. A great companion to the towel, it is also super soft and colour co-ordinating. The little squeaky polka dot duck is made from ‘baby safe’ natural rubber.
I am sure every parent would be delighted to receive this set as a baby gift. It comes expertly packed and beautifully presented in a cream gift box with a ribbon trim.
Available from www.cuddledry.com RRP £39.99
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Emjoi Micro Pedi Gift Set.
Need a bit of help getting your tootsies ready for Christmas party sandles? You need this! The Emjoi Micro Pedi Gift set has all you need to get your feet in top shape.
Micro Pedi is the UK’s NO.1 foot-care product simply because it delivers fantastic results. Using the Micro Pedi, rough skin is painlessly buffed away in a matter of seconds. The extra course micro-mineral roller rotates at 30 times per second leaving your feet silky smooth with no tough or dry skin in sight.
The gift set contains an array of goodies to compliment the Micro Pedi. Pamper your feet with peppermint oil and cocoa butter Ultra Finishing Foot Cream for a super soft and cooling experience. Nothing feels better on your feet than peppermint oil!
Five separate attachments are also included which can shape and buff nails and achieve the look a salon would deliver. Buffing, shaping, emery, fine shaping tools and cuticle pusher rotate at the same speed as the Micro Pedi roller. This really is a great all rounder for both hands and feet and I wouldn’t be without mine. Outstanding results can be achieved in an hour at home time and time again without going to a salon and paying for treatments.
The gift set includes everything you need to beautify your hands and feet along with the Micro Pedi – nail scissors and clippers, toe separators, nail brush and a drawstring pouch to keep all your essentials together while on the go.
The ultimate pampering gift set, this is great value at £80 with a half price offer from mid November.
Available from Boots and www.boots.com or order direct from Life2Good on 08453990038 or at www.micropedi.co.uk
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Slim Sonic Vibrating Toothbrush from Lifes2good.
We all know an electric toothbrush is miles better then a manual one. Dentists have proved this several times over the last few years. I love my electric toothbrush and wouldn’t be without it, and the new Slim Sonic vibrating toothbrush is one of the best I have tried.
Have you ever wished you had your toothbrush in your handbag? I have, especially when I have had onion or garlic for lunch! With the Slim Sonic you can carry your toothbrush around in your handbag easily. This vibrating toothbrush is new on the market and will add a certain style to your handbag. It comes in a selection of jazzy designs – silver, pink, bubbles, Zebra etc so you can have your design to suit your fashion style. I have the Zebra design and love it. The cover ensures it is kept clean and hygienic to use and can be carried around and easily switched from your work bag, gyms bag and evening bag.
I love mine for travelling. It is slim enough to slip into my pocket and I can have that fresh breath feeling while on the go.
Apart from looking good, this toothbrush IS good. 22,000 brushstrokes per minute are delivered – Wow, the perfect accessory!
Available from Boots or www.boots.com
RRP £29.99 with four-head replacement packs for £11.95.
Homeware Reviews
Oxo Tots Collection.
I can never resist an Oxo review. Their products have never let me down, I find them both reliable and useful. Oxo are also thoughtful, in that they think about the product and how to make it easy to use and appealing. This is ever evident within their Tots range. BPA and PVC free – I love to see that on kitchen products and all too often, I do not.
All Oxo Tots products are BPA and PVC free so mum’s can rest assured they are feeding their children from safe non-toxic products.
I have been testing the Oxo Tot range and have tried a great selection of really innovative feeding essentials. The Sippy Cup has impressed me no end, as it claims (and is) non-spill. Cups like these are hard to find, thank you Oxo for this! My son who is 4 yrs continues to take a cup to bed. I don’t mind and he is happy with water at night and he sleeps all night. We have tried lots of cups and each one has had their own faults – leaking or the lid coming loose.
This did not happen with the Oxo Sippy Cup. The cup is designed for children from 6 months upwards and holds 200 mls. It is a clear cup which is great for young children as they can see the liquid coming, thus making it easier to learn the art of using a cup. When your child grows, the lid insert can be removed to suit older children. This is really unique and a brilliant idea, so this style of cup will last from 6 months up to as long as the child drinks from a cup with a lid. RRP £7.66.
To compliment the Sippy Cup, Oxo have the Flippy Snack Cup. This cup is ideal for travelling. The snacks are prevented from falling out of the cup by the travel cover and the child can insert fingers through the flap and enjoy the contents. This flap does a great job of keeping the snacks in the cup, so there is definitely less spillage. The flexable handle can hook onto your buggy so keeping the snacks at the ready. My niece tried to tip her cheerios out to give them to my dog but they stayed put! Her hand has to push through the flaps to remove the food – what a brilliant invention, definitely the work of a woman!
Suitable for children from 12 months upwards. RRP £6.
Feeding a child on the go can be difficult. Trust me, I have had three children and have an array of spoons, bowls and plates. When out and about, these were tossed into a plastic bag when the child had eaten. With the Oxo feeding spoons and bowls, there is a lot less mess.
Oxo feeding bowls come in a set of two – Small and large Bowl Set with Lids. These have a weighted non-slip base which is brilliant thinking as the child cannot knock over the bowl as easily. The lids snap on quite strongly so spill are unlikely, and they also nest inside each other so assist with storage. My niece has threw these onto the floor from her highchair and the lids have stayed on! They also did not break, which was pretty impressive as for a one year old, she has a mighty throw! RRP £8.17.
The co-ordinating ‘On-the Go’ feeding Spoon is also a great help to mums. This spoon comes in a cover, so no more wrapping used spoons in napkins or tossing in plastic bags to wash later. The cover keeps the spoon clean until it is used and also keeps the messy spoon stored until you return home. Suitable for use from 6 months and RRP £4.50.
For more information, please visit www.oxouk.com
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
YUYU
I hate to see the winter approaching, bring with it the cold short days and Jack Frost. Keeping warm is not only a chore but expensive as of late with the costs of heating a house rising every winter.
This is exactly how YUYU came to be. An absolute genius, (in my opinion!), Richard Yu was having difficulty keeping warm. He was at home in South London feeling the cold and he had a hot water bottle along with the heating on. However, he kept moving the hot water bottle from his knees to his feet and back to his shoulders and, as always, necessity breeds invention – the YUYU idea came to him. He thought, ‘Why don’t they make these things a bit longer?’
Over the next 2 years, Richard got to work designing the worlds’ first and only luxury long hot water bottle. The rubber was sourced from Sri Lanka, and the specific design process began. Richard wanted to ensure the bottle could be filled from one kettle full of water and that it would stay hot for as long as possible.
The YUYU has been designed to be the optimal length and width so we can warm more of our bodies. The flexible shape lets me wrap mine over my shoulders or around my back and its fantastic for easing muscular aches and pains. Air bubbles on the bottle actually ‘pocket’ the heat to give greater warmth to the body.
The next stage was to ‘dress’ the YUYU. The luxury of the YUYU really comes to the fore in the cover. The choice offered varies from cotton, to the finest grade A Mongolian cashmere with mother of pearl buttons. A limited edition ‘Christmas Glitz’ cover is also available in each colour with a delicate silver or gold Lurex® thread intertwined making this the perfect Christmas gift with added sparkle.
Words cannot descried the YUYU to the full extent of its luxury, have a look at the images! I have the Heathland cashmere cover and it is the softest wool ever, pure exuberant luxury and everyone in my family wants one!
As you can probably guess, the YUYU was launched in the winter of 2012 at Harrods London, the perfect shop front for such an item.
Beautifully boxed and perfectly packed in tissue paper, treat your special someone to the ‘hottest best friend in town’ (YUYU) this winter.
Available from Harrods and purchases can also be made online at:
Classic and Cable knit designs are available priced from £69 to £179.