Slime Baff, Gelli Baff and SnoBall Battle Packs from Zimpli Kids

Christmas stockings are such a fun part of Christmas. They represent the first taste of Christmas Day, as you awake to find your stocking filled with goodies at the end of your bed. Every year I try to find some cheap and cheerful, fun and interesting items to pop into the kids' stockings. Little bits and bobs that will bring a smile to their faces. Zimpli Kids do a range of products that make great stocking fillers that I know will be a hit with my son Freddy and my grandchildren.

The award winning Gelli Baff and Slime Baff ranges provide an opportunity for children to enjoy some sensory play as they experience and enjoy the different textures of the products. The powders are added to water to create lots of gooey, slimy fun. Perfect for bath time or for play time, the slimes can be used for imaginative games. At Halloween we put lots of plastic toys such as bugs, severed fingers, spiders, rats, body parts and skeletons into a cauldron of Gelli Slime and let the children explore. It was a great way to enjoy the product. I'm sure I can think of some festive uses for the products too. The kids love getting hands on and getting messy with the goo!

The SnoBall Battle Packs make a realistic looking snowy substance, so even if we don't get a white Christmas, we can still enjoy making and throwing snowballs. And as an added bonus, we won't get cold hands!

Zimpli Kids products are 100% safe for kids and unlike some ready-made slimes, contain no boron or boric acid. They are also fully biodegradable making them safe for the environment. Even the glitter used in the Glitter range is biodegradable. Gelli Baff comes with a dissolver to turn it back into a liquid for washing away, whereas the Gelli Slime dissolves straight into water for easy disposable.

With products starting at just £4.99, they are well priced and great value for money, providing lots of play value and fun for kids this Christmas.

Check out independent reviews of the products on YouTube - the products have over 6 billion views to date  - just search for Gelli Baff or Slime Baff.

More information can be found at: www.zimplikids.com.

Thomas and Friends Educational Toys for Pre-Schoolers

Here is a last minute Christmas idea for pre-schoolers who love Thomas and Friends. The Thomas Alphaphonics and Flip and Learn Phone from Trends UK, are great educational toys which will help little ones to learn while they play. Featuring Thomas and the other Really Useful Engines from Sodor, these toys are colourful, fun and perfect for little fans to enjoy.

Thomas Alphaphonics - £19.99

Pre-schoolers can learn letters, sounds, and spelling with the Thomas Alphaphonics. The easy-to-handle interactive system features every letter in both upper and lower case. Each letter is represented by a character or associated word with 'T' of course being for Thomas! Children can select from seven different play modes, including musical activities and play patterns to help memory. Activities include questions on letters, sounds and words and a game for identifying sequences of  objects. It is easy for little hands to carry and would be great for keeping children entertained away from home or on car journeys.

It assists early letter and word recognition, basic communication, sensory perception, memory and concentration.  It requires 3 x AAA that are included. Suitable from 3 years+.

Thomas Flip & Learn Phone  - £10.99 rrp

This chunky classic flip-up phone in blue, has a backlit answer screen with an image of Thomas and Percy on it. Little ones can call Thomas and his Sodor friends to hear their greetings. It also includes games to help children with number and colour recognition. You can even pretend to take pictures with the camera-phone feature.

This chunky little phone helps children with colour and number recognition, simple communication skills, hand-eye coordination and encourages imaginative play. Memory, concentration and attention is developed as pre-schoolers follow instructions from Thomas and some basic vocabulary is learned through the friendly chatter.

The sturdy, solid design is ideal for younger children aged 18 months+. It might even keep toddlers off their parents iPhones!

The Thomas and Friends toys will be a hit this Christmas. Find the Alphaphonics on Amazon or find the phone in Argos, currently in their 2 for £15 offer.

Awesome Little Green Men Stocking Fillers

If you are looking for stocking fillers for the kids this Christmas, the Awesome Little Green Men Mystery Soldiers blind packs are a great choice. These new collectibles have recently arrived in the UK, delivering a fresh new take on little green army men. Playing with toy soldiers has been brought right up to date with these quirky collectibles with their battle game play.

Awesome Little Green Men may be small in size but their characters are larger than life and serious about the mission ahead. Each with their own expression, you can find the likes of Major Attack and Captain Quiver to collect, each boasting different stats. The aim of the game is to build the strongest troops to win the battle.

The single or twin blind packs are the perfect size for a Christmas stocking, and the four soldier Marksmen Squad or Ranger Unit packs are perfect gifts for under the tree.

You can find them at Smyth's Toys Superstores.

Find out more at: awesomelittlegreenmen.mgae.com.

Tumball - the nerve wracking, bead stacking game

Tumball is the new nerve wracking game from Megableu that the whole family will enjoy. The idea of the game is to take turns placing beads onto a cluster of suspended hanging balls without bringing the whole precarious lot crashing down!

The contents includes a base, arm and hook that are easily put together and dismantled. A ring with seven hangers attaches to the hook and the coloured beads are pushed onto the ends of the hangers. There are 24 white beads and four wands that are used to place the beads.

The beads are divided between the players who take turns to position their beads onto the balls. You need a steady hand and nerves of steel as you place your beads. If any drop, they are added to your collection. The first player to get rid of all their beads wins.

It takes a lot of concentration to position a bead through the hangers and into a space where it won't bring the whole lot down. If you tremble, the balls will tumble!

We all enjoyed playing Tumball together. I loved the fact that Freddy had as good a chance as winning as his older sisters or me. It definitely tests your dexterity, nerve and fine motor skills as you position the beads, and it is always a bit of a shock when your turn causes the hangers to shake, separate and bring all the beads crashing down. It's a clever little game that is really quite addictive as your strive to get rid of all your beads first and build the biggest stack on top of the balls.

The game is for 2 to 4 players aged 5+ and is £17.99 RRP.  It's a great Christmas gift idea and will a fun game to play together over the Christmas holidays. Find out more at www.megableu.com/uk/tumball


        

Give the Gift of a White Christmas with Insta-Snow

We're singing songs about dreaming of a white Christmas. There are images on Christmas cards portraying snow covered landscapes and carrot nosed snowmen. However, most children in the UK  have never actually experienced a white Christmas. Most Christmases in recent memory have been pretty grey and damp without the magical addition of a sprinkle of snow. In fact the last time we saw snow on December 25th was seven years ago.

This year, we can all enjoy the excitement, fun and magic of snow thanks to Insta-Snow. Winner of the Science Toy Awards 2017, Insta-Snow creates the magic of real snow, with the added benefit of teaching STEM skills. Insta-Snow’s unique super absorbent polymer changes its state from a dry powder to a big, fluffy and moist snow-like consistency. It’s science, but with added magic!

You simply add water and the powder expands to 100 times its original size, fluffing up like real snow. Just without the chill!

Insta-Snow doesn't melt or dissolve and so it lasts for ages. When it dries out, you can add more water to enjoy the fun all over again.

At just £3.99 for a single pack it makes a great stocking filler, guaranteeing a white Christmas for your little ones this year, whatever the weather! It's also available in a 100g jar for £7.99.

Find out more at www.trendsuk.co.uk/insta-snow.

Family Games Night Fun with Boom Blast Stix and Five Nights at Freddy's

Games nights are a great way to bring the whole family together for an entertaining evening away from the TV, smartphones and iPads! Whatever your age, a games night is guaranteed to bring laughter, some healthy competition and plenty of family fun. Games allow us to unleash our inner child, whatever our age, and come together as one to enjoy some quality time. Spending an hour or two at the weekend or on an evening indulging in some family games is perfect at this time of year when the weather means we are often stuck in the house. My children have always loved it when we all sit down to play something, whether it's a card game, a traditional board game or one of the newer, more modern games on the market.

We received two new amazing games, Boom Blast Stix and Five Nights at Freddy's, so we could enjoy our own family games night. These games are far more exciting than the traditional games from my childhood. Both include a unique element of suspense and surprise, bringing extra excitement to games night. Family games night has never been quite so thrilling!

Boom Blast Stix is an explosive new game that keeps players on their edge of their seats. It features forty interlocking sticks that are under tension and can explode at any time. The aim is to stack as many of the pieces on top of the lid before the structure goes off causing a boom of cascading, spring-loaded pieces that literally fly across the room. It happens so suddenly, you can't help but jump out of your skin!

The high risk, addictive and unpredictable gameplay, is guaranteed to elicit laughter from everyone as they anticipate the blast. You have to try and be as gentle and calm as you can be as you place your next piece on the pile, but the tension makes it really tricky. You just don't know when the exploding  pile will go off. Even Ian with his steady hand was caught unawares a few times as the pieces exploded on his turn.

The packaging doubles up as the base for building the stack. You can use the lid alone or go higher using the box and lid together. Everything tidies away neatly inside after use. The design in this respect is really good.

Boom Blast Stix has been featured on CITV's Scrambled, and is set to become a fierce family favourite! A perfect choice for some fun this Christmas, and great value at £14.99. It is recommended for kids age 6+.

My youngest Freddy is 8 years old and loves the world of his namesake from Five Nights At Freddy's, having played the game online many times. This game brings FNAF's demon teddy Freddy Fazbear into real life in 3D form for another really tense and nerve wracking family game. Five Nights at Freddy's is famed for its jumpscares and this game definitely delivers the right level of jumpiness that kids will love.

Freddy holds pieces of multi-coloured pizza in his tray that players need to take from him in turn using the tongs. All is calm at first as Freddy sits back and snoozes. Creepy music plays, adding to the tense atmosphere, as each player takes their suspense-filled turn to spin the dial and take the relevant number and colour of pizza slices according to where the spinner lands.

However, someone will try to take one piece too many and will wake up Freddy from his slumber and unleash his rage. It's jump scares all round as he suddenly leaps up, opening his red eyes and screeches, signalling that player is out of the game!

 The winner is the last player standing. This game has the nostalgic element of games like Buckaroo, bringing that sense of tension, suspense and anticipation with each turn. However, the character of Freddy, brings the genre right up to date for today's kids to enjoy.

Five Nights at Freddy's is a great game for FNAF fans and is priced at £24.99. It requires 3 AA batteries and is recommended for kids age 8+.

Both games have that quality of being really exciting, as players wait for the moment when it all kicks off! Whether it's Freddy springing to terrifying life or the Boom Blast Stix firing off around the room, you can guarantee there will be squeals of laughter and plenty of jumps. There won't be a single dull moment during games night, as these high energy games keep delivering the surprises.

My Freddy, literally screamed out loud and jumped backwards against his chair the first time that Freddy Fazbear woke up. He was not expecting it at all! It was quite a hilarious response that had us all laughing. The creepy fairground style music is really unsettling and a great part of the game adding a very spooky atmosphere that Freddy says is "terrifying in a good way".

The Boom Blast Stix exploding was also quite unexpected. They go off with some force and everyone ends up ducking for cover as they fly off. The game keeps you on the edge of your seat. My 15 year old daughter loves this game and thinks it is "very intense, a lot of fun and a little bit lethal!" Freddy also enjoys playing this on his own trying to build the highest stack that he can. It is definitely a new favourite in our household.

Both games really do add that extra layer of entertainment to games night. Even the hardest to entertain children will love them. We will definitely be getting Freddy's older siblings playing these games with him when they are home for Christmas this year!

You can find both games at www.character-online.com.

Christmas Presents for A Fiver from Sports Direct #sdfiverchallenge

SportsDirect.com has always been my usual first choice when it comes to shopping for low cost tracksuits, swimming costumes and football boots for the kids and it's our go-to place for when we need new trainers.

With Christmas coming up, I've been challenged to choose some Christmas gifts, with a budget of £5 for each present, from Sports Direct. Initially, I envisioned everyone on my Christmas list getting multipacks of Donnay trainer liners or a logo'd polo shirt under the tree this year, however, I was surprised to discover that the website sells so much more than just cut price sportswear and socks.

With a range that includes jewellery, accessories, bags, cosmetics, fashion wear, fragrance, books and toys, Sports Direct offers hundreds of products, many of which are priced at £5 or less. Thanks to their buying power, many items cost less than they do elsewhere.  These lost cost finds make ideal gifts for teachers, the kids' school pals, Secret Santas and stocking fillers.

Searching the website, it was easy to use the filters to bring up items in each category priced at £5 or less, and there was plenty to choose from. From teddy bears to art sets to mugs to t-shirts, the range was quite extensive and interesting. I was able to find gifts to suit most people on my list.

Ordering was simple, with a flat £4.99 postage charge and my delivery came within a few days.

Donnay Basketball Play Set £5.00

This is a great gift idea for both children or adults. It makes a good novelty game for grown-ups who can hook it up to the office door or wall and relieve stress by shooting hoops. The soft ball is safe for indoor use.

This would be a great stocking filler for my young at heart 29 year old son. He's a sporty businessman who I can just imagine shooting hoops between making deals!

2 in 1 Prehistoric Excavation Kit £5.00 (RRP £10.00)

This is perfect for budding paleontologists who will love unearthing fossils and bones in a dino dig using the digging tool and brush. There are four replica fossils and a T-Rex skeleton to excavate from the plaster blocks. A magnifying glass lets junior scientists study their finds. The dinosaur bones fit together to create a 3D model.  I love that this is both fun and educational for children with an interest in STEM subjects.

I have a dinosaur loving nephew who would really enjoy finding this gift under the tree on Christmas morning. The physical activity of bashing the rocks would definitely keep him entertained and the model and fossils would be proudly displayed afterwards.

Rain Check? Umbrella £5.00 (RRP £12.99)

I love this see-through, black handled, dome plastic brolley from Miso. It has a cute 'rain check?' logo that has a very John Green-esque style with the pale blue cloud and white font.

It is a great gift for my university student daughter who is doing her Masters in wet and rainy Manchester! As she is also a John Green fan, the design is perfect for her too.

Zartz - Urban Throwing Darts £5.00

This is a really fun gift that consists of a super sticky, oversized dart and two hand held targets. You can it, whip it, flick it and stick it! The tip of the dart is made from SOFTEK foam that sticks to loads of different surfaces and can be played inside and outside. Kids will love it, but so will the young at heart!

Freddy, who is eight is going to love throwing around this dart on Christmas morning. I can imagine him enjoying some target practice with his older siblings and I'm sure it will be aimed at various objects during the day. I just hope the TV won't become a target during the Queen's speech!

Plastic Boules £3.00

Boules is a great family game and at £3 would be a great priced present for neighbours or family friends. The set consists of eight weighted balls and a little white jack in a black plastic case. For the price, it really is top value - cheaper than a box of chocolates and much more long lasting!

This is going to be a great gift for one of my friends and her kids. With life being so expensive these days, we agree that we won't spend a lot on each other and just choose a token giftsexchange. For the money, this is a good choice. They will enjoy playing it together long after the festive season is over.

I was impressed with all my buys. For the low price tag, they are good quality items. My only complaint is that my goods arrived in a plastic postage bag, and the box of the Excavation Kit was damaged in transit, which is a shame when being bought as a gift. Other than that, everything arrived in good condition and arrived as expected from the descriptions on the website.

There was many more things I could have chosen that would suit everyone from young children through to adults. Some things have a sporty theme such as football team teddy bears, fidget spinners and wallets, but there are plenty of non-sporty items too. You can find things from big brands such as Playmobil, Fisher Price, Playdoh and Playskool and there are also items featuring favourite characters from Disney, Bratz, DC Comics, Barbie and Marvel. There are some brilliant rock band mugs on the website at the moment that are great value at just £4.99 for the music lovers in the family. So Sports Direct isn't just for the sports fans in the family. It's definitely worth taking a look at the website for some gift buying inspiration this Christmas.



This post is an entry for BritMums #sdfiverchallenge Christmas Challenge, sponsored by Sportsdirect.com.

Children's Books for Christmas #StoriesForLife

Books make such wonderful gifts for children. In gifting a book, you are giving a child access to a whole world of imagination. As they enter the pages of a book they are transported to different places, embarking on new adventures and meeting exciting characters. The gift of reading will last a lifetime!

This Christmas I am taking part in the Britmums and Penguin Random House Children's Books Christmas Present Challenge. I have been sent three fantastic books to gift to some of the special little people in my life.

Girl Online: Going Solo - Zoe Sugg

Zoe Sugg, best known as vlogger Zoella, has released a third novel in her bestselling Girl Online series. The story follows Penny, who accepts an invitation to visit a friend's performing arts school. An opportunity to meet new people and make new friends seems just the remedy that Penny needs as she faces the world on her own.

Zoella's books have proven to be a big hit with many of the YA audience who can't get enough of her fluffy, light, comforting and easy reading style of storytelling. So for her adoring fans, this latest installment will be a fantastic Christmas gift.


Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down - Jeff Kinney

7 year old Freddy is a very reluctant reader, however the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series is something that has totally grabbed his imagination. Double Down is the 11th book in this bestselling series. Greg's mum has decided that video games are turning his brain to mush and wants him to explore his creative side instead. So, inspired by a bag of gummy worms, Greg decides to get his mum off his back by making his own film. He hopes he might also become rich and famous in the process! But will doubling down on this plan just lead to double trouble for Greg?

Jeff Kinney's humorous and relateable style of writing and the brilliant, funny sketches throughout the book, is perfect to keep kids thoroughly entertained. The pages aren't too wordy making them easy to read.  The series has really captured my Freddy's imagination and he will be very happy to find this latest installment under the Christmas tree this year.


The Racehorse Who Wouldn't Gallop - Clare Balding

Clare Balding, is more familiar to me as a TV sports presenter, so I was surprised to discover that she is also a children's author. This heart-warming tale tells the story of horse-mad, ten year old Charlie, who accidentally manages to buy herself  a racehorse. When the family farm becomes under threat of being repossessed, Charlie plans to race her horse on Derby Day. She knows he has got what it takes to win and save her home. However, the horse has a problem - he won't gallop and he won't go anywhere without his best friend, a naughty palamino pony called Percy. Can Charlie and her family help the horse overcome his nerves and become the champion she knows he can be?

My 8 year niece is an avid bookworm and this book will definitely be finding its way to her this Christmas.

***

As a child, I enjoyed the freedom that reading gave me, allowing me to visit far flung places and experience amazing things as I immersed myself in my books. One of the books that I absolutely loved, and which has stuck with me over the years is The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden.

The Diddakoi is the story of a little girl called Kizzy. She is half gypsy and lives in a wagon with her gran and her horse Joe.  They embrace a peaceful life holding on to bygone traditions. This means that she is seen as 'different' to the other children in town and cruelly judged by the adults who interfere in her life 'for her own good'. When her beloved gran dies, Kizzy finds herself all alone in a hostile world. She experiences bullying and loneliness that no child should ever have to endure. This book is written with a deep sensitivity and challenges the theme of acceptance with its gritty realism. Kizzy's indomitable spirit, feisty personality and strength of character will not be beaten, and we are heartened to find that there are good people who want to help this young girl find her way in the world.

I saw a lot of myself in Kizzy. A soulful child who didn't quite fit in. I loved her grit, her refusal to be kept down, her feistiness and her stubborn determination to do what was right for her. Kizzy was my first taste of girl-power!

This book made such an impression on me as a child, that I even named my daughter Kezia (the name that Kizzy is derived from in the book). That is the extent that this book impacted my life. I highly recommend it as a gift idea this Christmas. It is a story that I have already passed on to my own children, a real classic.

Christmas Gift Ideas - Bratz RC Hoverboard

This Christmas, the Bratz dolls are jumping on the latest hoverboard trend. The new range features fully functional RC hoverboards so the dolls can whizz around dressed in their cute helmets and safety gear. Cloe and Yasmin are both available with a co-ordinated hoverboard, which matches their accessories. 

The range combines all the appeal of a Bratz doll with the fun of a remote controlled vehicle. Just like a real hoverboard, the Bratz hoverboard goes forward, backward and in circles and LED lights shine on the board when it is in motion adding to the cool effect. The RC controller is egg shaped and matches the colour of the hoverboard, pink for Cloe and purple for Yasmin.

The set features an adjustable doll stand, which enables Yasmin or Cloe to stand on their light up hoverboard while in motion for realistic hoverboard action. Both dolls are wearing a trendy new, casual outfit, as they adopt their hoverboarding style, accessorised with pink or purple elbow pads, knee pads, and helmet. The fact that they are wearing safety gear is setting a great example to encourage children to always stay safe when playing on bikes, skateboards, skates or even on a hoverboard like Cloe and Yasmin.

The easy to use Hoverboard RC controller allows a range of movement so the board can move forward, backward and complete a full 360° turn. The remote control requires 2 AA batteries and the hoverboard requires 3 AA batteries. So be sure to stock up ready to play.

The Bratz RC Hoverboard dolls are recommended for children aged 5 and up and have an RRP of £39.99. It is a great Christmas gift idea for Bratz fans this year.

Christmas Review Round Up - featuring Cuddledry, Peter's Yard and Stag Bakeries

Cuddleduck

How about this adorable little rubber duckie as the perfect stocking filler for little ones! Cuddleduck is a soft and squishy, 100% safe baby toy suitable for bathtime or for use as a teether. It is made from natural rubber that has naturally anti-bacterial properties and contains no nasties at all. It is shaped for little hands to hold and explore, and for little gums to chew.

The gentle colours and polka dot pattern are stylish. Cuddleduck will look great in any bathroom and provides plenty of playtime fun for babies and children. They come in blue, pink and original polka dot designs and come attractively gift boxed.  At £7.99 they are a lovely little gift this Christmas.

Find out more about the Cuddledry range at www.cuddledry.com.


Peter's Yard

Christmas tea always involves cheese and biscuits in our house. I like to get some good quality savoury crackers and crispbreads to complement the selection of cheeses that I buy. I love the Peter's Yard selection boxes for offering a good range of biscuits for cheese that are a little bit different.

Peter’s Yard’s new Sourdough Crispbread selection box gives a great variety bringing together three quality, distinctive crispbreads with differing colours, shapes, textures and flavours. The Selection Box includes Charcoal, Spelt & Poppy Seed and the classic, award-winning Original recipe. Charcoal is recommended for a Brie or soft goats’ cheese; Spelt & Poppy Seed for Single Gloucester, Camembert, Wensleydale or Caerphilly whilst the neutral base of the Original crispbread is a perfect match to any cheese.

They are made using natural ingredients to an authentic Swedish recipe making a light and crisp textured biscuit. They make a good gift idea for foodie friends who don't have a sweet tooth! Peter's Yard products are available from quality independent retail stores, Waitrose and Ocado and priced at £6.00 for the 265g box.

Stag Bakeries

Stag Bakeries is one of the most remote bakeries in the UK, based in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis on the Scottish Outer Hebrides.

New for 2016 they have produced a range of Dipping Crackers in Lentil & Biriyani, Green Bean & Ras El Hanout and Chickpea & Garlic varieties. These innovative and exciting crackers are part of their West Coast range.

The Lentil & Biryani dipping crackers are made with Mathia flour and delicately spiced with traditional Indian flavours. They work well with curry as an alternative to poppadoms. Or dip into mango chutney or raita for a delicious snack. They would make a lovely addition to a homemade foodie hamper and are suitable for vegetarians.

Each variety is packed into 80g resealable bags which are available from speciality food stores like farm shops, delicatessens and independent retail stores for RRP £2.30.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Vegetarians and Vegans

When you have anyone with alternative dietary or lifestyle needs in the family, some thought has to be made to ensure that the gift you choose is appropriate. As the mum of a family where the majority of us are vegetarian and vegan, I am used to sometimes having to think outside the box when it comes to buying gifts or developing our own family traditions at Christmas. I enjoy sourcing ethical gifts, dairy-free chocolates, vegan nut roasts and cruelty free products at this time of year, to keep our celebrations in line with our beliefs.

Buying presents needn't be a daunting task. Here are some cheap and cheerful, yet thoughtful ideas for what to get for the vegan in your life!

There is an increasing number of stockists of vegan confectionery with brands such as Booja-Booja, Plamil, Moo Free and the Fabulous Freedom Factory producing exciting chocolate gifts. Even supermarkets are doing their own Free-From ranges including sweets and chocolates.

Check out Vegan Town who do an excellent £20 vegan treat box containing 10 to 14 vegan chocolate, sweets and cruelty free goodies. They are available as a one off purchase or as a monthly subscription. I bought one last year and it was incredible. No one has to miss out on sweet treats this Christmas! 

Cosmetic companies such as Lush, Montagne Jeunesse and The Body Shop are all proud to be cruelty free, so it's easy to buy lovely toiletries and cosmetics, which always make great gifts.

Faith in Nature is a British company that produces an organic, cruelty free, vegan range of products that use the power of plants for their healing properties and gorgeous fragrances, just as nature intended. They are free from Parabens and SLS so contain no nasty toxins and are packaged using recycled plastic. 

I love their Pineapple and Lime shampoo and conditioner, made with an uplifting blend of pineapple, lime and mango, bursting with tropical fragrances. It is fruity and fresh, bringing some much needed sunshine into your morning shower. The handmade Faith in Nature soaps contain essential oils and natural ingredients. The Coconut Soap has a lush tropical scent and moisturising properties. The soaps come individually wrapped in 100g bars. The Rejuvenating Facial Wash contains aloe vera which has antioxidant properties. It is a simple product that foams with water, cleanses, refreshes and feels nice on the skin. The Restorative Hand Cream contains hemp oil which is rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and minerals. It's a great saviour product for the winter, keeping hands soft and moisturised.

It makes a very thoughtful gift to buy a selection of products such as these and package them up in a basket, box or bag, to make a bespoke pamper hamper. Faith in Nature products can be purchased at discounted rates at www.discount-supplements.co.uk, online suppliers of health and fitness items at low prices. Prices start at £1.81 for the bar of soap to £6.05 for the hand cream.

Kitchen gadgets always make great gifts for aspiring vegan cooks. Shops such as Lakeland stock lots of gadgets and gizmos, some with a novelty touch, some more serious. When it comes to a fun kitchen gadget that has a real Christmas vibe, the Chef'n Twist 'n Sprout is perfect. If you are a fan of vegetables - and in particular Brussels Sprouts - this is an excellent gift idea. It's a bit of a novelty - but is also actually pretty useful when it comes to making Christmas dinner.

Preparing sprouts is pretty laborious, but with the Twist 'n Sprout, it is much more fun. This gadget has a circular blade with a point. You pierce the stem with the point and then it works like a reverse pencil sharpener, boring out the core with a simple twist. It trims the outer leaves and takes out the core for evenly cooking your sprouts. It'll be a god send on Christmas Day!

The Twist 'n Sprout is £7.95 from Lakeland.

Another great gift idea for vegans and vegetarians is to make your own bespoke hamper, filled with exciting foodie products. It's great at this time of year because there is such a lot of choice in supermarkets, pop-up shops, food halls in garden centres or from gourmet brands. Many products are accidentally vegan so just check the labels when you are shopping. You'll be surprised how many products are suitable.  Here is a selection of some really interesting foodie treats that are perfect for Christmas.

Barry Norman is best known for being a movie buff, but he also makes some excellent premium pickled onions, which taste as good as homemade ones. They are hot and spicy, crisp and crunchy, adapted from a nineteenth century family recipe. A festive essential! RRP £2.40 from Ocado.

Clement Faugier's Vanilla Chestnut Spread is a festive treat containing crushed candied chestnuts in a sweetened, vanilla flavoured chestnut puree. Eat it on its own or with vegan ice cream, on crepes, in a pastry or as a topping for toast. Christmas in a can! It is available from Waitrose for £2.05.

Opies is a family owned food company dating back to the 1880's. Their quality foods are just perfect for Christmastime. Take for example their Pickled Walnuts, packed by hand these are a world renowned English delicacy. Great with some vegan cheeses and crackers on Boxing day.  They make a delicious sounding potato, mushroom and walnut salad. £2.49 from Ocado.

Opie's Stem Ginger in The Famous Grouse Whisky is new for 2016. Young ginger stem is carefully preserved in an alcoholic syrup, and is another Christmas essential. It can be used in recipes or poured over vegan ice cream for a simple, but very indulgent dessert!  It is £8.00 from Ocado. 

See the whole range with many vegan and veggie friendly products at www.opiesfoods.com.


Whoever you are buying for this year, just have fun with it and enjoy giving something thoughtful!

Cool, colourful stationery stocking fillers from Helix Maped

A great gift idea for school age children is stationery. Kids love something shiny and new in their pencil case or school bag, so it's a good idea to pop some lovely, colourful, kid-friendly stationery in their Christmas stockings. Anything that encourages my six year old Freddy to put pen to paper is a good thing, so if I can add an element of fun to writing, all the better. Even reluctant writers won't be able to resist when faced with a selection of cool, funky stationery,  such as these lovely products from Maped.

Maped Helix is a stationery brand with a long history in making educational supplies. The Maped products are the fun side of the brand, giving brightly coloured, quirkily designed, stationery supplies that the kids will love using. We were sent some products from the range to try.

The product that immediately caught my eye was the Bunny Innovation sharpener. The rabbit's mouth has buck teeth that move up and down when the pencil is sharpened as if nibbling on the pencil, helping kids learn to use the sharpener properly. It's innovative and fun and encourages a child's independence and responsibility when it comes to managing their own stationery.

The Twin Tip pen is the first double nibbed pen with colour changing ability, allowing writers to switch between four different coloured inks. Each end writes with a choice of two colours so switching between them is quick and simple. The soft grip pen makes it comfy to use. Great for diary writing, kids can easily add some colour to their page using just the one pen.

Tatoo Soft Scissors are comfy to use and beautifully designed with colourful handles and matching colourfully designed blades. They are perfect for paper crafting and are 13cm in length making them good for smaller hands to manage. The Graph Pens are vividly coloured, fine markers for writing and drawing. Their triangular shape makes them easy to hold and control. 20 different colours are available in a variety of sets or individually. The Colour Peps Flex Box is another innovative Maped product. The lidded tube contains 12 coloured pencils, which can be easily accessed by removing the lid and squashing down the flexible, concertina-style tubing to create a handy pencil pot. Once you've finished you can unclip the tube and allow it to go back to its full size and pop on the lid, storing your pencils safely and neatly away. It's a fun design that is quite ingenious. The pencils themselves have a soft lead and an easy to sharpen wood surround, making them nice to use.

These are just a small selection from the extensive Maped range. They also stock lots of stuff for left-handers, which I think is absolutely brilliant. Having lefties in the family, I know the difficulties they have when it comes to using some stationery, so to find fun and colourful left-handed friendly products is great for leftie kids.

See the range on the website at: www.mapedhelix.co.uk/products

Tetris Light - a great gift for kids, teens or the young at heart

A unique gift idea for kids, gamers and tech lovers

Fans of the classic Tetris video game will love the Tetris Light, a fascinating, colourful and stylish lamp available from Maplin. Made up of seven individual Tetrimino pieces, you can create your own combination of the shapes, which light up in a multicoloured array. Each Tetrimino piece is made up of squares measuring 4cm x 4cm that build together into countless configurations. The endless possibilities that the Tetris Light offers, allows you to create your lamp in the shape and design that you want.

The blue piece is plugged in using the mains adapter and forms the base to the lamp. When another piece comes into contact with the base piece it automatically lights up. The other pieces light up when they touch any other illuminated piece. Remove a piece from the lamp and its light goes out instantly. It's so clever and playing with the combinations is as addictive as the game of Tetris itself!

The lamp looks really cool and funky. It would look great in a teen's bedroom, games room or office setting. It would also be lovely to use in a kids' room, giving off a gentle, coloured light at bedtime. For younger children, it is worth bearing in mind that the pieces simply stack together and so the lamp can be knocked over quite easily.

The Tetris Light is a former winner of the Gift of the Year and after playing with it, I can see why. It is such an innovative product that combines an element of techy Tetris fun with the functionality of  a lamp. How it works is really fascinating and the lamp looks great when assembled. You can change the shape and configuration to suit your mood, and experimenting with the pieces is really quite stress relieving, making this a great novelty gift for young at heart executives too.

The Tetris Light is available from Maplin for £29.99. Check out Maplin's range of electronic goods to find the ideal gifts for loved ones this Christmas, from toys to audio equipment to cameras, for the technophiles and hobbyists in your life.

Christmas Forget-Me-Nots - top tips for a strees-free Christmas

This Christmas Eve, make sure you avoid some of the classic Christmas pitfalls by being prepared for the big day ahead. We all know how stressful things can get as you juggle over excited kids, last minute gift wrapping and food preparation, so pre-empting problems can help you get through the day allowing you to go to bed filled with confidence that the day ahead will run smoothly. Here are some top tips to make sure your Christmas Day is a joy filled success.

Keep your energy levels boosted

Perfect for those who pack lots into the festive period, Emergen-C offers a double hit of energy release and immunity support  in handy fast dissolving, wallet-sized sachets. Packing 1000mg of Vitamin C to support the immune system, antioxidants, fruit extract and 7 B vitamins for energy release, Emergenc-C costs £4.99 for a pack of 8 and is available from Boots stores nationwide. For further information visit http://www.emergenc.com.

Buy gifts for unexpected guests

Whether  one of the family invites  an unannounced guest to Christmas lunch or your neighbour decides to pop in for a mince pie, it’s lovely to make all guests feel welcome no matter how unexpected they are. To help ensure there are no awkward moments when it comes to gift giving, your local Lloyds Pharmacy has got last minute gifts wrapped up.  Pop an extra toiletry set or two under the tree just in case. They stock some lovely Baylis and Harding gift sets for the ladies and if you don't get any unexpected guests, you can keep them for yourself! The Sweet Mandarin and Grapefruit Weekend Essentials Bag contains bath milk, bath creme, shower gel, hand cream, body wash, body butter and a body polisher in a stylish weekend bag complete with phone purse. It's great value at £19.99 from Lloyds Pharmacy.

Avoid the‘Batteries not included’ issue

Imagine the scenario: when you pop the pressies under the tree, you realise that the latest must-have toy MUST have batteries and you are all out.  Avoid the disappointment on Christmas morning and be sure to stock up in advance. Keep a supply of AA and AAA batteries to make sure the kids can enjoy all their new toys this Christmas Day.

Help make it a silent night

If the excitement of the festive period has made the kid’s bedtime a nightmare before Christmas and the stress of preparing for the big day means you can’t switch off, why not try an essential oil? Soothing essential oils have been found to be very beneficial for supporting relaxation. Add a couple of drops of  Lavender Pure Essential Oil to your bedtime bath. (£11.39 available from Holland & Barrett Stores and online www.hollandandbarrett.com.)

Avoid those sticky moments

Avoid sticky situations if you find yourself wrapping Christmas presents at the last minute by making sure that you don't run out of tape. Make sure you have an extra roll or two of sticky tape on hand.

Or try the Scotch Pop-Up Tape Handband Dispenser for an easy way to get wrapping. The pre-cut strips of tape are dispensed from the hand-worn dispenser allowing you to keep both hands free for wrapping. No more searching for the end of the roll or getting stuck in a length of twisted up sticky tape! It's convenient and saves time - essential for this busy time of year. They are priced at £2.95 with extra refill packs available.

Mince pies for Santa or gluten free guests

Children love leaving out a mince pie for Santa on Christmas Eve, but if Santa, or any of your house guests  happen to be gluten intolerant , make sure they don’t miss out by buying some Lovemore’s Gluten Free Mince Pies. Available at Holland & Barrett for £2.89 for a pack of 4, these pies are a delicious festive treat. Made with shortcrust pastry and deep-filled mincemeat they contain no artificial colours or flavour. They are also dairy free.

Relax when the hard work is done

After all the hard work is done and you’re ready to unwind, treat yourself to a relaxing face mask while watching the festive edition of your favourite TV show on demand. The Dr. Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask contains organic Dead Sea mineral salt and mud, which have a long history of skin purifying and health promoting properties. In combination with a blend of bioactive, natural and organic ingredients, such as kaolin, plankton extract and algae extract, this face mask penetrates deep into the pores, effectively removing excess oil and impurities, whilst stimulating new cell regeneration.  A tube costs £7.99 from Holland & Barrett.

Christmas Gift Ideas from Dr Organic, Lloyds Pharmacy and Olpro

The Dr.Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Luxury Hair Therapy Gift Pack is a lovely product, giving the gift of rich, smooth, well nourished, intensively moisturised hair to beauty lovers this Christmas. Containing three of Dr. Organic's best selling products: the Your Hair Magazine award winning Moroccan Argan Oil hair treatment serum, moisture repair shampoo and conditioner, the trio works together to leave hair clean, hydrated and in beautiful condition. 

The organic Moroccan Argan Oil hair serum detangles hair, eliminates frizz, nourishes, protects and adds instant shine. It has a rich fragrance and lightweight, easily absorbed texture, with a little going a very long way. It contains natural essential oils and fruit extracts providing a rich source of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Even the driest, most damaged hair will be improved and look healthy and shiny.

The Dr.Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Luxury Hair Therapy Gift Pack costs £25 and is available from stockists such as Holland & Barrett. Other Dr Organic gift sets are available including a Manuka Honey Hand and Foot Gift Pack RRP £11, Rose Otto Perfect Complexion Gift Pack RRP £25 and the Snail Gel Skin Perfection Gift Pack RRP £40.

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When out Christmas shopping this year, why not pop into your local Lloyds Pharmacy for some great gift ideas? They have loads of quality gifts in store for all the family, including this Despicable Me 'Minion Made' Jumbo Activity Set. It is perfect for any little Minions fans and at just £7 is great value. The large size, Minion shaped set looks really impressive and boasts some excellent contents to get kids unleashing their inner artist with a Minions twist.

The Jumbo Activity Set includes 14 coloured pencils, an A3 scene to colour, 10 chunky felt tips, 11 wax crayons, 14 oil pastels, 6 A5 Minion standees, 2 A4 sticker sheets, a sharpener, 2 self inking stampers and a cut out colour in Minion poster. Everything has Minion branding, making it really appealing to kids.

This is a lovely creative gift that any child will love to receive on Christmas Day. 

Other gifts available at Lloyds pharmacy include a Frozen Musical band Set for £9.99, Babyliss Twilight Shimmer Hairdryer for £19.99, Frozen 52 piece art set for £4.99 and the Baylis and Harding slipper set for £9.99. 

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For loved ones who are interested in innovative new green products, www.olpro.co.uk, the leading UK camping and outdoor equipment manufacturer, has launched a new range of eco-friendly tableware created from rice husk. They make perfect practical gifts or quirky stocking fillers.

Husk tableware is made using discarded agricultural rice husks following the rice harvest, making them extremely environmentally friendly and also biodegradable. Plastic takes thousands of years to biodegrade, releasing poisonous toxins into the ground. Rice husks are natural plant products and the husk material takes just 90+ days to turn into natural compost once disposed of. It's a great solution to the problem that using plastic has on our planet.

The new OLPRO Husk tableware range includes mugs, tumblers, plates, cutlery, bowls and sets of round or rectangular storage. They can be used safely in the microwave, dishwasher and freezer. 

We received a bowl and a breaktime beaker from the range. The travel beaker comes with a silicon sleeve and lid, making it perfect for both cold and hot drinks on the go. The husk material has no pores and is naturally anti-bacterial making it hygienic and extremely safe to use. The silicon sleeves and lids are available in six different colours.

The Kimchi bowl is lightweight, durable and strong providing an eco-friendly, hygienic serving dish for snacks, fruit or hot food. It is a good looking bowl with a unique Korean design that would look great in a modern kitchen. I really love these products. I like the look and the feel of the material and knowing it is such an environmentally friendly innovation is a real selling point.

Prices start at just £2.79 and right now they are on special offer on the Olpro site.