We Love the Vax Pure Air 300 Air Purifier

For some reason, Bristol has had some of the best weather in the country this summer. Hazy days, followed by humid nights have made us feel pretty good. Also, just a little bit special, particularly when hearing about other, less sunshine-y parts of the country. There has been a definite downside though. It starts with the sneezing. The endless, snuffly sneezing. Then come the itchy eyes, and the general cold-like grogginess. Oh yes, it's hay fever season and don't we know it! This year, though, we were offered a Vax Pure Air 300 to review. Read on to find out how it coped with the pollen onslaught. 

Cooking Fantastic Healthy Meals with Mindful Chef

I was asked by Mindful Chef, if I would like to review their recipe delivery service. The subscription service offers healthy, gluten free recipe ingredients, delivered to your door. You can pick from a range of recipes from the website, and the options change each week. They offered to send a free meal box, containing all the ingredients to make two healthy, nutritious meals from scratch. As well as being an excellent and convenient way to cook healthy meals for the family, I thought it would make a brilliant gift for students or any young person wanting to learn to cook. So I asked Jade if she would like to have a go at reviewing the box and here's what she said... 

Something for Granddad, with Howick and House of Fraser

I struggle with Father's Day, I'll be totally honest. I don't know why I find it so hard to cope with, but I either forget the husband, or my own dad, I can't remember both at once. I always end up leaving it far later than I would like to, particularly if I need to post something! This year though, we have been sent something lovely to review, from the House of Fraser Father's Day range which is just perfect for my dad and L was keen to help out and full of reasons why Granddad should get something special.

Gtech Multi Review

I have been curious about the Gtech Multi for some time. I have always wanted cordless handheld cleaners to work well, because they have such an array of potential uses. Everyone has that niggling housework job that would be made easier by having something pokier, or more maneouverable but, finding something with enough oomph to do the same job as a full size vacuum cleaner can be a struggle. I know I have had very little success in the past. They would either lose charge quickly, or have very limited 'suck' in the first place! It's been years since I've tried a new one, though, so I was keen to see what had changed and how I would get on with this new technology.

Lumie Brightspark SAD Lightbox Review

I don't have SAD, but I do have a problem staying awake during the day. It's something to do with the quality of the sleep I get at night, but I don't have a definitive answer yet as to what could be causing it. However, it is a big problem, when you spend a lot of the day sitting at a computer trying to type coherent sentences, without resorting to piles of chocolate and tea to get through it. Ok, I might still consume copious amounts of chocolate and tea anyway, but it would be nice to be able to stay awake and enjoy it. Lumie produce a variety of different lightboxes, as well as bodyclock wake-up lights and skin therapy lamps. They sent me the Brightspark Lightbox free of charge, for the purposes of this honest review.

Mother's Day Flowers from The Flower Studio

You know it's going to be a good day, when you receive a package marked 'this way up'. Or 'handle with care'. Or any package really. packages always bring joy. This box was no exception. It contained the loveliest bouquet from The Flower Studio, who sent it free, for the purpose of this review. They offer perfectly arranged flowers for any occasion, as well as gifts, plants and a Bridal range. What was especially lovely about these flowers, was that they arrived looking exactly like a beautiful bouquet already, without any interference from me, which was probably for the best. They were tied in such a way, that all the blooms were already the right height, and positioned so that all I had to do was literally drop them in a vase.

Mother's Day Flower Delivery with Blossoming Gifts

I love flowers, particularly in the winter. They can really lift the spirits and they remind me that spring is coming, even on the dullest winter's day. Receiving flowers is always a treat. Flowers are the ultimate extravagance and you have to be pretty determined to buy them for yourself, as there is always something more practical that needs to be purchased. Mother's Day is the perfect occasion for flowers, as it falls just as the spring flowers are starting to bloom and everyone is beginning to think about summer. 

Asda's Wonky Veg Box First Impressions

I think I might have struck lucky this week, as I happened to spot Asda's new Wonky Veg boxes when I was shopping on Friday. Apparently, I've since found out, the boxes are only available in certain stores in limited quantity at the moment to gauge interest, so I was quite pleased to get one. They only cost £3.50 for 5kg of mixed veg, so I bought one, mainly out of curiosity. However, when I got it home, I was quite surprised by how much veg it actually contained. 

Bosch Kettle TWK7602 Review

I randomly found this kettle reduced from £29.99 to £7.38 in Tesco and thought it would be rude not to buy it. Please don't rush out to buy one, as it was somewhat abandoned in the 'bargain bin', all by itself, so I have no idea if there are anymore available in other stores. Keep an eye out, if you are passing anyway, though, you never know what you might find! As it turns out, it's a really good kettle. It comes in three different colours. Cream, light blue and this darker blue, which looks a little different to the picture. It doesn't even look totally like the colour on the box, it's a little greyer. I would call it Petrol Blue. Something to bear in mind if you want it to go with a particular colour scheme. 

The Book of Everyone: A Gift for Anyone!

Everyone has that friend or relative who is impossible to buy for. Like the dads, grandads, brothers, etc, who have got to that age where they have enough money to buy all their own boys' toys and do. Or the mums, sisters and girlfriends whose hobbies don't seem to involve anything tangible, just chatting and possibly drinking tea. So inconsiderate, when they know you need to buy them a gift, there are only so many tea accompaniments you can buy! I have this problem every year, so I was thrilled to find the answer, in a personalised book idea, from The Book of Everyone.

Christmas Dinner in a Pie with Pieminister

Did you know, the Christmas season begins with your first Christmas pie? You didn't? Neither did I, because I think I just made that up. I might make it a Christmas tradition though, because when I met up with some fellow bloggers in Bristol recently, the arrival of the Pieminister Christmas pies had us all feeling decidely Christmassy. We went along to St Nicholas Market to enjoy our pies and it was bustling with people and excitement, anticipating the Christmas lights switch on. There was even a rooftop band. I swear, only Bristol could have a market so small, you have to put your live band on a roof! 

Well Fitted Bras Galore!

"A friend is like a good bra: hard to find, comfortable, supportive and never leaves you hanging."

I'm a bit obsessed with well-fitting bras. There is just nothing worse than a badly fitting bra and after having children, it becomes even more important to get the right fit. When you have children, not only can your boobage fluctuate in size quite significantly, due to hormone changes, weight gain, etc, but also comfort becomes a really big deal. You may find yourself having to attempt running, when your toddler makes a break for freedom in the supermarket.