Potters Crouch Candles Review

Potters Crouch Candles Review

 I love having candles around the house and lighting them, I think it makes our home such a lovely relaxing environment. I find candles a perfect way to relax after a tiring and maybe stressful day at work. I was recently given an opportunity from Potters Crouch to try and review some of their range, of course I couldn't resist.

Potter Crouch are based within Hertfordshire, each candle is handmade, hand-labelled and hand-finished and all is done within their barn conversion. Potters Crouch only use the finest ingredients within each of their candles, and each scent is original and created exclusively. Each candle has an approximated burning time of 50 hours, which is amazing! The candles are priced at £8.50 and for the amount of burning time and quality I find this an amazing price.

The Potters Crouch website is easy to navigate and very eye catching. When looking at the candles there is an option to view all of the candles if you are not sure what you are looking for, but also a range of categories if you know roughly what you are after. The categories include Fruits & Flowers, Christmas, Fragrances of Yesteryear, Fragrances of the World and Charity Candles. The hardest decision I had was choosing a candle from the range of over 70. When I finally made my choice I was looking forward to receiving them and having some relaxing time.

When the candles arrived around 2 days later They were neatly packaged within a box, and came with 3 fair-trade mini chocolates and a leaflet on how to make the most of your candles. Potters Crouch suggest the first time you burn your candles, you do so until the pool of wax reaches the end of the tin. This increases the burn life of the candle, and allows it to release more fragrance.
 

 

My first choice of candle was the Cedar and Sandalwood. I had never had a candle of this fragrance so thought it would be nice to try. This candle has a lovely scent which isn't too overpowering, I find this a great point with a baby around. The fragrance filled our room with a lovely scent, which continued after the candle was blown out.

'The wonderfully  aromatic Sandalwood retains its fragrance for decades, and here a hint of grapefruit and ozonic notes freshen the top of this fragrance with its heart of ylang ylang, cinnamon and honey on a bed of cedarwood, sandalwood and amber.'

 

My second choice of candle was the Magnolia an Vanilla. This is a scent which we often choose to buy. Magnolias remind me of my Nanna and my Mum. Again this was such a lovely scent when burning, also filling our room with a lovely fragrance after it was blown out. I found this to be a slightly stronger scent and made me feel a lot more relaxed.

'The bark from Magnolia has long been used in traditional Chinese Medicine where it is known to contain compounds that have demonstrated  anti-anxiety  properties.    The distinctive  scent of vanilla  blends beautifully with the magnolia to create a gentle fragrance reminiscent of soft marzipan'

 

Another fantastic thing I love about this range is each candle comes with a picture upon the lid. Each picture is carefully painted by the lovely staff at Potters Crouch. I am very happy with the candles and the service from Potters Crouch and would definitely purchase from them again and recommend them to friends. The candles burn evenly and smell divine filling your home with a lovely scent.

 

Please Note. I received these products from Potters Crouch for the purpose of this review, all opinions and wording are my own

 

 

Saaf Organic Eraser Body Oil Review

Saaf Organic Eraser Body Oil Review

 

We were recently sent a bottle of Saaf Organic Eraser Body Oil to review. Saaf use 100% naturally organic ingredients within all of their products, this is a great thing that I love about this brand.

 

Dr Mah Hussain-Gambles is the founder of Saaf, first creating a skin balm for her mother. The success of the skin balm for her mother began a fascination with skin care. Mah is a trained pharmacologist and homeopath, so mixed principles of each profession to help create the wonderful range which is Saaf.

When initially receiving this product I was amazed by the weight, the Eraser Body Oil is presented within a glass bottle. To me this shows this product is of amazing quality and a lot of work has gone into it.

 

'Nature’s correction fluid in a bottle, Saaf Eraser Body Oil, is a skin-saving formulation. It contains a high percentage of Rosehip Seed Oil, which is known to effectively reduce uneven pigmentation and the appearance of raised scar tissue including stretch marks. Eraser Body Oil contains Safflower Oil, which soothes skin irritations while increasing the moisture content of the skin. Both nourishing and protective, Organic Eraser Body Oil promotes healthy skin renewal, guards against scarring, calms irritated, itchy skin and helps keep skin supple and smooth.'

 

Alongside the oils mentioned above the Eraser Body Oil also contains a Mandarin Essential Oil. This is not what only gives this oil a lovely fragrance but the key ingredient to repairing spots, scars and stretch marks.

 

I am very sceptical about stretch mark creams and oils as I believe nothing will stop you from getting them, so when pregnant I didn't use any creams or lotions to help. I was eagerly awaiting to use this to see if they results were as Saaf claim them to be.

From around the third trimester of my pregnancy I got stretch marks, and these only got worse as my pregnancy continued, so when Jack was born I had quite a few. I wasn't pinning any hopes on them ever going (which doesn't bother me too much) but I was hoping the Saaf Eraser Body Oil would reduce the look of them.

 

From after a weeks use you was able to see amazing results from the Saaf Eraser Body Oil. The stretch marks had been clearly reduced from the daily use of the oil. I would apply the oil twice a day as stated upon the packaging. Not much oil is needed as it is very runny, and although feels quite greasy it absorbs within your skin very well. From using the oil there was a lovely citrus scent which came from the Mandarin Essential Oil but this wasn't too over powering.

 

I would definitely recommend this product to Mums to be or anyone with stretch marks or scars. A 100ml bottle can be purchased from the Saaf website for £35.99, although this may seem a lot for a stretch mark oil. I believe it is well worth the money as it reduces the look of stretch marks but also lasts a long time.

Saaf have kindly offered the readers of our blog an amazing 35% off their stock. Please enter TOTS35 at the checkout.

 

Please Note. I received this product from Vaseline for the purpose of this review, all opinions and wording are my own  
 
 
 

Vaseline 2 in 1 Hand Cream and Anti Bac Review

Vaseline 2-in-1 Hand Cream & Anti-Bacterial Review

 

Along with the Cocoa Butter we were recently sent from Vaseline I was also sent some Hand Cream.

 

 

As an expectant mother or a mother already you can never wash your hands enough to keep them clean, but constant washing can make your hands become dry. When you are out and about you never know where you may have to do an emergency nappy change, and changing facilities may not always be available (no this isn't stated within your child's handbook!). Therefore, I always like to carry around an anti-bacterial gel to ensure my hands are germ-free until I can find a proper sanitising unit. Again, this can lead to my hands becoming dry so I also like to use a hand cream regularly too. This is where Vaseline 2 in 1 Hand Cream saves the day.

 

 

The Vaseline 2 in 1 Hand Cream is a moisturising hand cream whilst also removing germs like a hand sanitiser. It contains 5 essential moisturisers to keep hands soft, it is also non-greasy and is made from an alcohol-free formulation.

 

The cream comes out looking like any usual hand cream however quickly absorbs into a clear substance to apply over your hands. I do not find this to be as thick as a usual hand-cream, which is a great point, but still find you only need a small amount to cover both of your hands. I find the cream has a lovely natural scent, and leaves your hands feeling smooth and healthy; I also feel safe knowing they are germ free. I keep this product within my changing bag at all times, and I have also purchased another to store within my handbag too.

 

This product retails at £3.29 which I find amazing for a hand-cream which also doubles as a anti-bacterial.

 

Please Note. I received this product from Vaseline for the purpose of this review, all opinions and wording are my own 
 

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Gel Oil Review

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Gel Body Oil Review.

I was recently contacted to ask if I would like to try some Vaseline Cocoa Butter Body Oil. I suffer with very dry skin, since the birth of Jack my skin seems to have become even more dry therefore I jumped at the opportunity. I was also given the chance to try some Hand Cream with Anti-Bacterial.

 

 

Coleen Rooney recently named the Cocoa Butter Gel Oil as one of her beauty essentials as an expectant mum, keeping her skin moisturised through the pregnancy affects.
 

When pregnant your body goes through a lot of changes so it is important to look after your skin. The Vaseline Cocoa Butter Gel Oil is intended for use after showering, as daily showering can strip your bodies natural oils and moisture can escape. The key ingredients within the Cocoa Butter Gel Oil are Brazilian Nut Oil and Almond Oil. The Brazilian Oil is rich in essential nutrients which the body needs so help to boost your skin's natural moisture barrier. This therefore locks in the moisture leaving your skin looking naturally radiant. The Almond Oil is also naturally high in minerals and antioxidants, this will leave your skin feeling pampered.

 

The gel oil is a little thicker than a liquid oil, but this allows it to spread very easily and go such a long way. After applying this oil my skin instantly felt moisturised and smooth, it was also very shiny throughout the day. I felt it kept my skin very hydrated from morning until evening, which is always a good thing as a busy mum. There is also a fragrance with this gel oil, I find the fragrance lovely and long lasting. It is a long lasting Cocoa scent but is not too overpowering.  

The RRP of this product is £5.10.
 

 Please Note. I received this product from Vaseline for the purpose of this review, all opinions and wording are my own



 

Haba Ball Track Roll n Roll Review

Haba Ball Track Roll n Roll Review

 

As part of being a Toy Tester for Izziwizzi Kids we were recently sent a Ball Track Roll n Roll to Review from Haba.

 

The Ball Track Roll n Roll is suitable from 1.5years, Jack is currently 14months and has really enjoyed playing with this. The aim of the game is to roll the ball from the top and watch it fall down the track to the bottom. As it passes down the track it passes via some bells and a chatter track. All of which make interesting noises for children to listen to.

 

You can watch a more detailed and in depth review of this game below.

 



Preezo Swadlincote Review

Prezzo Review

 

As I have previously mentioned we are keen lovers of going out for meals so when given the opportunity to visit Prezzo and review their new menu we jumped at the chance. Neither of us had been to a Prezzo restaurant before however we had been looking at going as we do enjoy Italian food. This was to be a whole new experience for us, so when I discovered we had a restaurant within our local area I was keen to try it out. The restaurant in which we attended was at Swadlincote.

Prezzo Swadlincote

 

 

Initially we found it very difficult to find the restaurant, this was through no fault of Prezzos just our Sat Nav's refused to work when nearer the area. I rang up Prezzo as we had gone 10miniutes over our reservation time and the staff who answered the phone was very friendly and said it was ok. This initial phone call experience was fantastic, I was really looking forward to getting there.

When we arrived, it was very clear to see, it had a lovely big sign clear from all around, and the outside was very tidy, it was a very welcoming restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant the inside layout was lovely and the tables were well spaced out so families did not feel they were eating on-top of another family.

 

 

 

Upon sitting down we were kindly asked by the waitress if we required any drinks, and had the menu clearly explained to us alongside the additional menu. We were given a fair and reasonable amount of time to order our meal, from ordering our meals to receiving our starters was a short 9 minutes. This was a very quick service, although it was quick our food was no less cooked than others. The starters were served warm as they were supposed too. We were amazed at the portion size of our starters. Mum and I had a Bruschetta whilst Ashley had a Ciabatta Bread. We thoroughly enjoyed our starter and found it very filling. We found the selection of both red and green tomatoes were great and were kindly complimented with the pesto. 

Bruschetta
 

Ashley's Ciabatta bread was chosen from the Bread & Olives menu which I believe was to compliment viewing the menu. However we found the ciabatta was a perfect size for a starter. The dipping oil which was served alongside was a perfect compliment to the bread.

Ciabatta Bread

After completing our starters and having our table cleared was a further 9 minutes. The waiting times were amazing and hardly anything! Each of us had chosen a different meal, I had chosen the Calabrese which is part of the new Spring Menu currently available within Prezzo. This was a large chicken breast which was chargrilled and served within a lovely sauce, alongside this I had house fries. The fries were also very nice as they had no added salt. Within my first mouthful I found this dish a little spicy, however it later occurred to me I had eaten a chilli. I found this meal very filling and very tasty.

 

Calabrese

My Mum had ordered a Gorgonzola, which again was a chargrilled chicken breast within a gorgonzola and cream sauce. Alongside this my mum had chosen gratinated potatoes. Mum really enjoyed this and said the sauce and mushrooms worked really well together and it was a very tasty meal.

Gorgonzola

Ashley had chosen to have Roasted Duck Leg, again this was from the new Spring menu. This was served on a bed of potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, onion, chilli and tomatoes. The portion size again was large. The arrangement of the meal was well done, and the food worked very well together. The duck was cooked very well as the meat was easy to detach from the bone.

Roasted Duck Leg

We did have Jack with us however I never got round to taking a photograph of his meal. For Jack we ordered a Pizza, when it arrived he had a large Pizza to himself. I found this a really large meal for Jack, and would still consider it a large meal for an older child, however Jack had a good go at finishing it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. What I loved about where we were sitting and the cooking is we were able to see the pizza's being cooked within the open stove.

 

Upon completing our foods we were asked if we would like to look at the desert menu, which we did and the waitress kindly cleared the table. Mum and I decided we would try a pudding as they looked very nice. When we placed our order for the desert the waitress kindly cleaned the table for us. I found this a great touch as I have never experienced this within a restaurant before.

 

From ordering our deserts to them arriving was 4 minutes, again amazing service from the staff! Mum had ordered a Strawberry Eton Mess Cheesecake, this was served on a strawberry sauce alongside a strawberry. The overall taste of the cheesecake was nice and it all complimented each other very well.

Strawberry Eton Mess Cheesecake

I had opted to have a Honeycomb Smash Cheesecake, this was served upon a chocolate sauce and topped with crushed honeycomb pieces. Overall this was a very delicious pudding and I was extremely full after the whole meal.



Honeycomb Smash Cheesecake



The overall experience of Prezzo was amazing, we had excellent service and the meals were definitely great value for money. The presentation and care which had gone into the food really showed upon serving the meals to us. We will definitely be visiting Prezzo again, and will definitely be recommending the restaurant and the chain to others.

 

Please Note. We received a free meal from Prezzo for the purpose of this review, all opinions and wording are my own

What Are Letterpress Invitations?

What are Letterpress invitations?

 

When you are looking for wedding stationary there is a wide choice available within designs. Not only is the choice of designs wide, you then also have a choice of printing. Your wedding invitations are the first glimpse your guests get as to what colours and theme will be at your big day. The printing of the invitations is often overlooked by couples and is just taken for granted. A type of printing which is a lovely vintage feel, but also fits extremely well with modern themes is Letterpress Printing.

 

Letterpress printing began around about 1440 by a German printer by the name of Johannas Gutenberg. He invented a moveable printer which has individual cast, reusable letters which are placed within the bed of the press, inked and then pressed against the paper or card to created the impression which is desired of the customer.

As the letterpress invitations are so precise and most machinery only allows for one colour to be added at a time, choosing invitations with a variety of colours would be difficult. So much care and precision is taken when creating letterpress invitations there is no room for error. For a printer to provide a letterpress invitation to high quality a lot of skill is required of them, this is why occasionally they seem more expensive.

However, in my opinion this reflects in the overall final look of the invitation. The overall look of the wedding invitation to me is very elegant. As the letters are individually pressed onto the card not only is the ink left upon the card but an indentation is also made.

If you are on a tight budget a letterpress invitation may not be of an appeal to you, however if you are looking for elegance it will. Letterpress invitations can give your guests an amazing first impression of what your wedding shall be like. When considering the cost you also need to consider the time and effort that goes into making your wedding stationary.

 

Please Note. This is a commisioned post, all opinions and wording are my own.