For The Garden, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Leisure Gifts
Aldi Specialbuys – Grow Your Own
Well, the weather is starting to show signs of improvement and you can just about look out of the window without shivering. It’s time, once again, to turn our attention to the garden. My spring bulbs are coming up and everything is showing little buds, this really cheers me up!
If you’re like me, you will be thinking of garden equipment, what you need, what you can’t find from last year, what someone borrowed but never returned… Well, check out this weeks Aldi Specialbuys – Grow Your Own Event.
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
OXO Good Grips Strawberry Huller for your Valentine.
Why have I selected the OXO Good Grips Strawberry Huller as the perfect Valentine’s day gift? Well, my hubby is always buying me kitchen and garden items for special occasions. I have received a watering can, a bulb planter, and a gravy boat to name but a few. While these items are useful, they are not very romantic! If you have a practical hubby like mine, why not let him get you something useful and romantic – the OXO Good Grips Strawberry Huller! This is red, so fairly romantic, plus, I think strawberry’s are a good fruit to associate with Valentine’s Day- they are the colour of ‘love’ and go very well with a good bottle of champagne!
The OXO Good Grips Strawberry Huller is a quick way to have your strawberry’s ready for your fruit platter.
The entire hull is removed in one movement with no ‘digging’ into the fruit and removing half the fruit with the leaves. I am like a child with a new toy!!
The button at the top opens the blades and when you push these into the berry, simply pull and ta da! The entire hull and leaves are removed.
As with all OXO products, it is very easy to clean. The Strawberry Huller is dishwasher safe and comes apart to allow for easy cleaning.
For further information on the OXO Good Grips Strawberry Huller visit www.oxouk.com RRP £7.
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Heaven Fresh NaturoPureTM Powerful Stainless Steel Deluxe Juicer
If you have made a few ‘healthy’ new year resolutions there is no better way to top up on your vitamin intake than juicing your fruits and vegetables. Juicers were a bit of a mystery to me and it was only when I was faced with one to try for myself did I really appreciate the many uses and benefits of owning one of these super machines.
I have had a look around my local shops and on-line and have selected a juicer that is both very powerful and good value for money. You will find both cheaper and more expensive juicers on the market but I think the Heaven Fresh NaturoPureTM Powerful Stainless Steel Deluxe Juicer is a good buy for any household.
I began my ‘juicing journey’ armed with a book my sister bought me for Christmas – Smoothies and Juices. This book has numerous recipes all using a vast variety of both fruits and vegetables. Well, did I have fun? YES !
I found the Heaven Fresh NaturoPureTM Powerful Stainless Steel Deluxe Juicer easy to use and easy to clean. The latter is very important as when you have an item that is easily cleaned you will surly use it more often than something you dread the thought of cleaning.
Juicing is also made easier when you can put the entire whole fruit, not chopped, into the tube to be juiced. There are a few fruits, like a pineapple, obviously, that would need chopped smaller before juicing but apples, oranges and pears all fitted nicely into the juicer without any chopping or cutting. Another huge plus is that the blades are stainless steel and therefore very strong. Your fruit will almost be entirely ‘juiced’ leaving minimal pulp therefore more juice and less waste.
I also found this juicer particularly compact and quite contemporary. It looks very well and would suit both modern and older kitchen styles. The stainless steel outer is easily wiped clean and I also found it to be almost finger proof resistant.
The Heaven Fresh NaturoPureTM Powerful Stainless Steel Deluxe Juicer can be purchased online from www.heavenfresh.co.uk and also from www.robertdyas.co.uk RRP £49.99
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Toy Reviews
Aldi Baby and Toddler range.
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.
From 29th January they have a brilliant Aldi Baby and Toddler range in store. I have tried some of these special buys and was delighted with the quality and price.
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.
This pack of 3 sleepsuits are 100% cotton and only £3.99 . The pop buttons make nappy changing quick and easy.
This soft and snug fleece jacket also comes in a variety of colours and is a bargain at £4.99.
A pack of 3 muslin cloths are only £3.29 and available in different colours to suit boys and girls.
A selection of books at only 99p are also included in the special buy event. Don;t wait and these items are only available while stocks last.
For further information on Aldi Baby and Toddler range and more visit your local Aldi store or shop online atwww.aldi.co.uk
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Le Creuset Sweet Heart Ramekins.
I adore these little Le Creuset Sweet Heart Ramekins. They would be a perfect Valentine’s day gift or even a thoughtful Mother’s day Gift. Presentation is perfect, the box looks fab and the actual ramekins look ever better!
I love that they come with lids so perfect for microwave and oven cooking. They are also sized perfectly. With so much emphasis on our ever increasing waistlines, these are not too big, yet big enough to hold an adequate portion of starter or pudding.
They come in a few colours but I simply had to choose red for Valentine’s day. Priced at £30 they would make an ideal reasonably priced gift.
For further information on Le Creuset Sweet Heart Ramekins visit:
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Ted Baker Tokyo Range and Orla Kiely Valentine’s Day Gifts.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and I am so excited. I must admit, I am more excited this year than any other – might be something to do with a certain movie premiere coming to the cinema! Anyway, we will all be feeling romantic this Valentine’s Day after watching Christian Grey with his sultry voice and gorgeous eyes. The Ted Baker Tokyo Range and Orla Kiely Valentine’s Day Gifts from John Lewis and House of Frazer have romance covered this year with their exceptionally romantic gifts and a love story to compliment!
I love a good romance story and historical ones are the best for sure. The new range of candles and diffusers from Ted Baker are fantastic. I have one from the Ted Baker Tokyo range and I love it.
This Ted Baker Tokyo Diffuser is more than just a scented gift, but a love story in a box.
‘This story is about a Princess from ancient Edo falling on love with a servant’s son, but being forbidden from seeing him – so she places a candle on her balcony each evening to let him know of her desire’ (Ted Baker)
The presentation is gorgeous – a beautifully boxed diffuser with imagery suited to the story on the box. The fragrance: Green tea and Bamboo, is inspired by devotion and unrequited love and you couldn’t find a more romantic scented gift for Valentine’s Day. The Tokyo range also includes a beautiful boxed scented candle.
Available from House of Fraser and John Lewis
Candles £28, Diffusers £35
To compliment the scented candles and diffusers, Ted Baker have yet another gorgeous scented addition to the range – the Mia Fragrance. This is another gift that will be well received. The presentation, again, gorgeous.
A beautiful nude pink and rose gold box opening to reveal a delicate bottle of Mia. The scent smells like spring romance to me – perfect for Valentine’s Day. I adore freesias and the delicate scent of this flower is so evident in this perfume, along with rose, lemon, raspberry and patchouli.
Available from www.boots.com and in store for £15.
Another fab gift selection from John Lewis has got to be these gorgeous Orla Kiely bags. Available in 3 sizes, these have the iconic Orla Kiely pattern in navy and pink – perfect for Valentine’s Day.
The cosmetic bag, £20
The medium washbag bag, £26
The large washbag, £32
One of these gorgeous bags simply isn’t enough!
Ted Baker Tokyo Range and Orla Kiely Valentine’s Day Gifts are available online and instore.
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Bella Linea Kettle and Toaster.
How about some trendy new kitchen essentials for this Valentine’s Day? I certainly wouldn’t say no! I adore the range from Bella. a bright new brand well accomplished in the USA and now making it’s mark in the UK.
Bella have a matching Linea Kettle and Toaster, which comes in either a 2 slice or 4 slice variety. Both look fab and would be a welcome addition to my kitchen. I have them in red although they also come in black.
The Bella Linea Kettle is a mix of a stainless steel metallic and a bright red finish. It looks well, very on trend and classy. More importantly, it is energy efficient and Bella claim this uses a third less energy than other kettles – wow, impressive!
The base swivels around completely so perfect for those of you who have limited space. This kettle fits nicely into a corner and the lead is easily kept to the back. When empty, this kettle has the intelligence to switch off and the filter is removable and washable. Another point I really need to mention is the noise level of the kettle. My phone is in the kitchen and its not cordless so I am forever saying, ‘don’t boil the kettle’, when I am on the phone. The Bella Linea Kettle has a lovely quite boil noise so you can easily carry on chatting on the phone while the kettle is boiling.
The Bella Linea Toaster is just as trendy and efficient as the kettle. I have the 2-slice variety so it sits neatly beside the kettle. Despite the compact size, the toasting slots are wide enough for bagels and muffins – a huge plus over my previous toaster. The settings allow you to adjust the heat and duration so you can make the perfect slice of toast.
These items are available from Argos.co.uk and further information can be found at www.bellahousewares.co.uk
Bella Linea Kettle RRP £55
Bella Linea Toaster RRP £39.99
Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Stoneglow Candles
I adore candles, my husband does not! He prefers a reed diffuser as, in his own words, ‘They will not burn the house down’. To be fair, I am quite forgetful and have left candle burning once or twice so he has a point.
One of the nicest diffusers I have ever seen has to be the Red Rose Reed Diffuser from Stoneglow Candles. Presentation is fit for a queen, and the beautiful box opens to reveal a gorgeous round flat glass vase with a rose inside. The smell was heavenly even before I opened the box!
So, why not say it with flowers in an unusal way this valentine’s Day with this stunning Red Rose Reed Diffuser from Stoneglow Candles? This can be yours for a mere £30 and it will be sure to impress your loved one. Excellent value as the scented oil will last for up to 16 weeks.
Another gift idea worth a mention is the Rose Petal & May Chang fragranced candle. Containing May Chang and Geranium essential oils this smell reminds me of The Four Seasons Hotel we visited in Cyprus and I can close my eyes and get lost in the scent! This candle will burn for at least 40 hrs and is hand poured in the UK.
Another excellently presented gift, this beautiful boxed candle will steel anyone’s heart for only £15.
For further information and fabulous gift ideas visit
Gadget Gifts, Homeware Reviews
Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm.
Nest Protect is somewhat of a technological revolution, taking both the smoke alarm and the carbon monoxide alarm into the 21st century. This nifty little device looks similar to your standard smoke alarm but it does so much more. It has been created by the same man who designed the iPod so, in my opinion, that gives it instant credibility as I love my iPod!
The Nest Protect won’t suddenly alarm when you burn the toast but will give you a ‘not so alarming’ heads up prior to an alarm and it will tell you exactly what the danger is. I love this as I tend to set off our smoke alarm quite a few times, usually at mealtimes! I then take a few minutes to find out exactly why it has gone off. It is usually the toaster oven, but on occasion it has been the open fire or the microwave.
The Nest Protect will connect with your mobile phone and will even let you know via text when the batteries are running low! That will save you listening to that very annoying ‘beeping’ smoke alarms make when the batteries run low.
Another huge plus is the night light or ‘Pathlight’. I think this is absolutely brilliant – This Pathlight glows white at night as you walk under it, so no more fumbling around at night in my house!
Despite this futuristic technology, the Nest Protect is super easily installed, even I could do this. I can think of no reason you would not need this device. In my opinion, it is one of the most necessary devices that will make a difference in anyone’s home.
For further information visit www.nest.com
RRP £89 Available from Amazon, Apple Store, B&Q, John Lewis, www.nest.com
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Chipolo, a very useful Valentine’s day gift.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and I am sure there will be lots of ‘panic buys’ in the next couple of weeks! Get yourself organised this year and order your other half a Chipolo. No, this is not another fancy type of sausage! Every one of us could benefit from having a couple of these tags, especially myself.
Ask my husband and he will agree, I am forever losing my phone and my car keys. Almost every day I have to search for one or the other. However, no more! I have a Chipolo tag attached to my keys and am planning on getting one for my phone as well.
With Chipolo your phone, keys or anything else will be easily found when they manage to hide themselves in a coat pocket, under a pile of post or anywhere else elusive. Simply attach the Chipolo tag and download the app. You can have notifications sent to you if the item leaves a certain range – I am thinking this would be extremely useful if you were with young children in a crowded place as well as for your phone and keys!
You can also keep your Chipolo on your key-ring and simply shake it to find whatever item you have this set up for – mine would have to be my iPhone and iPad as I am truly lost without them.
The Chipolo is small so it would easily clip onto your key-ring or attach to your phone or any other small item you use and need regularly. The colour choices are fab so there is no compromising on your style either.
I have had my Chipolo for a couple of weeks now and have to say I love it. It has made a huge difference to me, I am no longer getting frustrated while wasting time looking for my phone. I can’t wait to build up my collection and get one for my husband’s keys and my daughters phone as well. My son is always asking ‘Mum, where is my tablet?’ – maybe the creators of Chipolo should think of selling multipacks!!
For further information on how this useful little tag can help in your busy life visit www.chipolo.net . There is loads of info on the site as well as a great little video clip.
I would have estimated something like this would cost around £35 and I consider myself a bit of a ‘whizz’ at estimating prices. However, I was wrong! The Chipolo retails at only £19.
Features:
- Search for the tag by sound using the app
- Notification when the object leaves and comes back into range
- Size of a 10p piece, 5mm thick
- 12 months battery life
- Comes in nine different colours
- Also works in reverse – shake the Chipolo tag to find your phone
- Price – £19
