Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Sophie Allport Mugs for Father’s Day.
Sophie Allport is quite the household name! My family love her designs and when I visit my sister we always end the day with 2 cups of coffee pouring over the latest fabric designs and kitchen accessories released on her website.
Sophie designs her products in the UK – always a favourite with Pampered Presents! She has a background in graphic art and design and runs a very successful business along with the help of her family and friends. If you have ever been to the Country Living Fair in London you will have seen her work on display and this is how she first became ‘noticed’ and her business progressed from her first appearance at this fabulous event.
I have selected a few of her products to feature this month as Father’s day is looming on the horizon. This is always a bit of a nightmare as my dad and hubby seem to have everything they want and I am sure they are a little bored with the usual meal vouchers they usually get presented with.
My dad is a shooting man along with my hubby and I can’t think of a better or more appropriate gift than one of these mugs from Sophie’s collection.
I favour the pheasant by far but the stag follows closely behind. They are made from fine bone china and come beautifully presented in a gift box.
The mugs are £9.50 so perfectly priced. have a look on her website, I was delighted to find 30% off some designs and have snapped up quite a few gifts for teachers also as end of term is not far away.
For further information visit www.sophieallport.com
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Mc Laggan Smith Mugs for Easter – Celebrating Ronald Dahl.
Mc Laggan Smith – my favorite mugs ever! These are simply the finest china mugs you will find. I have a few in my collection and wouldn’t drink my coffee from any other mug!
Mc Laggan Smith have a fabulous collection for Easter and with the celebration of Ronald Dahl’s 50th anniversary, you will be surly spoiled for choice.
I loved Ronald Dahl as a child and am so delighted my kids have followed suit. I kept all my books and love to see the girls enjoying them now as much as I did 20 years ago – (more like 30 yrs ago but who’s counting?!)
To commemorate his 50th anniversary, Mc Laggan Smith have a delightful set of mugs with scenes and sayings from some of his best loved books.
Enormous Crocodile.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The BFG – my all time favorite book!
These mugs are treasured in my household and the 3 kids have their hot chocolate from them every night. There is always a little disagreement regarding whose turn it is to have the various mugs so I may have to acquire a few others!
For those of you who are shopping for Easter gifts, themed mugs are available with Quentin Blake designs and the delightful Madeleine Floyd also features. Her images are so cute and homely.
Mclaggan Smith Mugs is a Scottish based, family run company established in 1974 – and I might add this was a very good year for my parents.
The mugs are hand decorated and fired in Scotland and can be ordered from www.msmugs.com or online at 01389755655. RRP £9
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Gigaset E630A for Mother’s day.
Designed to withstand tough everyday situations
It was the opening title of the description of this phone which really caught my eye – Designed to withstand tough everyday situations! If anyone qualifies for a phone like this, I sure do. The Gigaset E630A was made for me!
Any mum on the planet can relate to me when I say this – running a household with 3 kids, a dog and a husband is not easy. With so much emphasis put on mums in the media, we constantly strive to be ‘perfect’ or simply the best mum we can be at all times.
We keep the house clean and tidy which can be difficult with 3 kids bringing home ‘clutter’ from school every single day. We strive to only resort to feeding our family convience foods once a week so this means we make a home cooked nutritious meal from scratch, without help, 6 days of the week.
With the recent home baking revival, we also turn out a few delicious desserts, some muffins and always have a cupboard stacked with neatly squared ‘tray bakes’ so as hubby can have something tasty with his cup of tea.
In the middle of all these chores, and I have not even mentioned homework, bathing and walking the dog, where do we get the time to chat on the phone??
I have 3 sisters and without fail I manage to speak to each of them every day. I put this solely down to my new super phone, the Gigaset E630A.
I you are on the go as much as me, you will NEED one of these phones. I have had ‘hands free’ phones in the past but this phone is amazing. Simple to use, easy to answer if you are busy feeding kids, washing dishes, etc, and with excellent sound quality, this is now my most cherished possession.
To list but a few of the fab features:
- Splash proof
- Resistant to dust and shocks
- 60 min recording answering machine
- Vibrating and light caller alert
- Energy efficient power supply
- Radiation free mode
- Hands free up to 14 hours
This phone is so comfortable to hold if you prefer not to use the hands free option. If you are multi tasking, as us mums do, the rubber grip allows for easy balancing between your ear and shoulder if needs be!
So, now you want one as well?
Further information can be found at www.gigaset.com
RRP £99.99 from Amazon.
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Gorgeous soaps from ‘Gone Crabbing’ for Mother’s Day.
Mother’s day is fast approaching, what will you buy this year? Why not be a little different if you have opted for flowers and chocolates last year. My mum will be receiving a collection of toiletries as she has just had a birthday and her house is crammed full of chocolates and flowers already. Toiletries are a lovely gift for any mum, I love opening the packaging and sniffing the delicious fragrance. Unfortunately for some, I then read the label as I am a little fussy with what I put on my skin!
![original_Gone_crabbing_TT_1__1[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/original_Gone_crabbing_TT_1__11.jpg)
However, have no fear, Gone Crabbing is here!! My absolute favorite company with the little Colin the Crab logo, I simply cannot get enough.
Gone Crabbing soaps are 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. They are excellent value for £3.99 as they are a huge bar and lasts for ages.
![original_really-lovely-smelly-soap[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/original_really-lovely-smelly-soap1.jpg)
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.
![preview_mussel-man-soap[1]](http://pamperedpresents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/preview_mussel-man-soap1.jpg)
For further information visit www.gonecrabbing.co.uk
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, 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, 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.
Homeware Reviews
Aldi Special Buys.
Have you still to try a low cost supermarket? If so, I ugre you to check out Aldi and SAVE!
‘Grocer of the Year 2013’ is but one of the many awards this store has scooped. Putting quality and value for money first, Aldi continues to grow in popularity as more and more people choose to shop ‘wisely’.
I love Aldi and have been shopping there for the last few years. I pick up all sorts of bargains along with my regular weekly grocery shop. The special buys change weekly which is why I never like to miss this – from garden essentials to baby essentials, the special buys really have everything covered. Their Valentine’s Day specials included items of clothing with a heart print which I couldn’t find anywhere else. This is so trendy at the moment and I adore my beautiful heart print scarf, and for only £2.99!
Some of the best coats my children own are from Aldi, along with a host of other clothing items.
I was so impressed with the Aldi Mania Parent Panel.
‘Every month, our panel of real parents will be putting our products to the test and letting you know what they think of them. They will tell you what they like, what they love and what they want more of, so you can be certain you’re buying the best for your family. Look out for our ‘Parent Panel Tried & Tested’ logo that will appear next to their favourite products.’ (Aldi)
I have recently bought some of the baby clothes for my sister’s children and she was delighted. From gorgeous super soft baby grows to the ‘designer look’ toddler outfits, there is a great variety to choose from and the quality was unbeatable.
Find all these bargains and more at your local Aldi store or shop online at www.aldi.co.uk
Homeware Reviews
My Carry Potty.
My Carry Potty – why wasn’t this around when I was potty training my kids? Life would have been so much easier.
Why? Well, this little pot does exactly when the name suggests – the child can easily carry it around. Imagine the ease of having a pot on hand when it is needed without the hassle of having to use a plastic bag etc. My Carry Potty is a pot within a case and yes, it has a child-friendly handle making this the perfect invention – it was so obviously invented by a mum!
The pot is made from strong plastic and there is no assembly required, just pick it up and go. You can haul this to nursery, on school runs, to granny’s and it even looks good enough to accompany your family while out for Sunday lunch. The lid clips shut which make it leak and odour free and it does not need to be carried in a plastic bag which helps our environment.
My Carry Potty will make your potty training days much simpler, take it from a mum who knows! I have recommended this to both my younger sisters who have the potty training saga ahead on them!
An excellent buy for only £24.99
For further information visit www.mycarrypotty.com