Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
Lonely Planet World Search Books.
Reading – have you wondered why teachers encourage this activity more than any other? My children’s handwriting isn’t perfect and the maths may need a little work, but my daughters manage to astound the teachers with their vocabulary! Apparently this is down to the volume and variety of books they read.
My daughters and my son would visit the library weekly borrowing, returning and requesting specific copies of books. The teachers said reading books served to fuel the imagination and extend the vocabulary.
If you have children and are thinking of topping up on their book collection this year, have a look at the books from Lonely Planet. My children have a few from the ‘Not for Parents’ and the title alone encourages them to read!
![normal[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/normal1.jpg)
These books are hardback and beautifully illustrated. The reading material is factual and perfect for boys and girls alike who are keen to discover the world around them.
From February 2014 you will be delighted to find a new range – World Search. Perfect for inquisitive little minds, and expertly recommended from the age of 5yrs and upwards, my children love these books.
The books are ‘flap’ books, but they are not your average ‘flap’ book – there are lots and lots of interesting little flaps to lift on each page. Three different books are available and I just had to have all three. They are equally brilliant and enjoyed by my ten and eight year old daughters and also by my four year old son.
‘Travel the world in search of the weird, wonderful and sometimes plain silly things that happen all over the globe. From animals and cities to the cool jobs people do, there’s plenty to look out for. So get ready to hunt for amazing treasure, spot some awesome objects and travel the world.
World Search: Amazing Jobs’ takes kids in search of the most amazing jobs in the world including being a stuntman on a Bollywood film set, a park ranger in Yellowstone National Park and a Royal Flying Doctor in the Australian Outback.’ (Lonely Planet)
My children have a host of career paths to choose from after reading this book – the sky is the limit! I love guiding my children away from the conventional path and encourage thinking ‘out of the box’ If you can relate to this, buy this book!
Busy Places’ holds the key to yet another host of adventures. If I had to choose a favourite, this is the book I would choose.
‘Busy Places takes kids through some of the busiest places in the world including Copacabana beach, New York City, London Heathrow Airport and Paris streets in search for hidden items.’ (Lonely Planet)
Incredible Animals is my son’s favourite book.
‘Incredible Animals takes kids in search of incredible animals in their habitats around the world including Antarctica (polar), Read Sea (coral reef), Serengeti (grasslands) and the Indian jungle (rainforest). (Lonely Planet)
We play a game when reading this book. I point to a ‘flap’ with a picture and he tries to recall the interesting fact that hides underneath. This is great fun and very educational, for both my son and myself!
The World Search books retail at £9.99 and are available from:
Lonely Planet has printed over 120 million books and they are the world’s leading travel content provider. They recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary. They boast mobile apps, ebook portfolio and an award winning website and they can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
facebook.com/lonelyplanet
Twitter @lonelyplanet and #lp
Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
Valentine’s Day Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Who doesn’t love Build-A-Bear? I have been to a Build-A-Bear work shop once and my hubby couldn’t get me out! I love the concept, and the toys are so cuddly and individual.
These plush Valentine figures from Build-A-Bear Workshop will melt your heart. They are the utmost in quality and definitely have the cute factor. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love one of these soft plush figures this Valentine’s Day.
I adore this Dressy darling Big Hearts Bear. When she arrived in the post in her unique Build-A-Bear box I was thrilled to bits. I had no idea she would be so big. She is absolutely gorgeous, my 4 year old son fell in love instantly! The accessories are fabulous, beautiful glitter red shoes and a fancy red dress and hand bag. Extra clothes can also be bought from Build-A-Bear Workshop and the toys can be dressed and undressed to the delight of yourself or your children.
Most are approximately 15 inches tall and free standing. Aside from the toy aspect, they would look beautiful as a ‘decoration’ kept safe on a bedroom shelf.
With regards to a specific recommended age, Build-A-Bears are enjoyed by both my 4 year old son up to my 10 year old daughter.
Build-A-Bears can be bought online at www.buildabear.co.uk or you can go to the nearest store and enjoy a bear building experience.
Dressy Darling Big Hearts Bear and accessories RRP £36.50
Recommended for ages 12 months and up
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Wilko for Valentine’s Day gifts.
I have recently discovered a great value online company – Wilko, who have a whooping 374 stores nationally as well. I discovered Wilko by accident – like all great discoveries! They have a great selection of almost everything! Yes, whatever you are on the lookout for, have a look at www.wilko.com and you will be sure to find it.
I have a few of their products now and keep returning for more. They offer free UK delivery with £80 purchase. Shipping is quick and I have never been disappointed with Wilko.
For Valentine’s day they have a lovely selection of gifts I would be delighted to receive. I have a couple of the photo frames on my wish-list.
I love multi aperture frames. They hold so many photos yet I only have to lift one frame to dust! Wilko have a beautiful silver rococo photo frame with 5 different aperture’s for only £10. This would look grand on my mantle piece with our 5 family members in each frame.
As a special gift for your other half, I would recommend the Butterfly Photo Frame 6inx4in for £8. This looks much more than £8 with intricate butterflies and diamante detail around a beautiful glass frame.
I have my eye on a few other home-ware items that would add to the shabby chic look I love. A hanging ‘Willow Love Heart’ RRP £5 and the ‘Heart Lantern Candle Holder Glass’ for only £2.
Why look elsewhere when Wilko has fab items at a fraction of the price?
For further information visit www.wilko.com
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/
Like us on Facebook and never miss a review https://www.facebook.com/#!/Pamperedpresents
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