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Heat Holders Thermal Leggings Review

Posted on by Abi

If there is one thing the British like to talk about it’s the weather and my goodness it can get cold during the winter! Keeping warm with rising fuel bills seems like an impossibility but specially designed thermal garments may can help to keep you warm without the huge price tag. Heat Holders sent me a pair of their Thermal Leggings to test out.

LeggingsFirst here’s what they are supposed to do:

Heat Holders Thermal Leggings – RRP £8.00

‘Tested to achieve a 0.63 tog rating, these leggings lock in more warm air closer to the skin.

Available in Small/Medium/Large/X-Large and in colours: Black/Blue/Plum.’

All sounds great but… they didn’t fit me 🙁I was sent the size Small/Medium in white, the package states these should fit a UK dress size 6-14 so they should have fit me perfectly. Unfortunately I wore them out on a cold winter day and was so frustrated by them continually falling down that I had to take them off.

LeggingsI should mention that I am tall, slim and don’t have massive hips so potentially my body shape may have been an issue. Someone the same size but shorter or curvier than myself may be ok, but I do think the sizing was rather ambitious none the less.

Luckily that isn’t the end of the review because I passed them onto a size 16 friend who despite being outside the stated sizes found that the leggings fit her perfectly. Here I ask her questions about their effectiveness.

Did the Leggings keep you warm and comfortable?

I found the leggings really comfortable and they were light enough to fit under most clothes. They definitely kept me warm and I’ve taken to wearing them around the house instead of having the heating on all day.

Did you have any problems or could you make any recommendations about the leggings?

I didn’t experience any problems and I would say that the leggings work exactly as they are supposed too. I would perhaps suggest that if you are a size 16 like me you buy the small/medium as they were the perfect fit and I suspect the larger size would be too big. I’m actually very tempted to buy another pair in a darker colour.

Abi’s Final Thoughts

This has been an unusual review for me as you might have guessed as I can’t actually comment personally on the product. However it seems that the leggings do indeed keep you warm and work exactly as described. You may need to be careful on sizing and ensure you can return for an exchange should you need too.

The experience (or lack of) hasn’t put me off Heat Holders as their claims re. warmth appear to be accurate and I’d be happy to purchase other products (hats, gloves, socks etc) from their range in the future.

Details

For more information on the leggings and other products from the Heat Holders range visit www.heatholders.com

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Hampergifts review

Posted on by Abi

IMG_5220‘Eat, Drink and be Merry!’ If ever there is a time when this phrase can be said to be true it’s at Christmas. Traditionally we fill our tummies fit to burst and drink wine and punches as we play host to family gatherings. Of course selecting and purchasing many and varying treats can be time consuming, and buying a hamper either for yourself or a friend is the perfect way to relax and enjoy the season. I was lucky enough to be sent a Christmas hamper from the good folks at Hampergifts to review.

IMG_5191While I adore wicker baskets and use them for storage, I’ve never actually bought or received a real food hamper before. So when the Christmas Celebration hamper crossed my threshold I was over the moon! On opening I was greeted by this wondrous beauty filled to the brim with delicious treats and wines.

IMG_5202The hamper itself was beautifully constructed from willow with leather straps and a lined fabric interior. There is something quintessentially British about hampers and to me they conjure up images of the Wind in the Willows with Ratty boating along with his companion Mole. However at the end of the day the contents is just as important as the presentation.IMG_5203

The hamper contained:

  • Bottle of Sandeman Fine Ruby Port 75cl
  • Bottle of Coteaux d Aix-en-Provence, Château de Beaulieu, France, 75cl AWARD WINNER
  • Bottle of Beaujolais La Cle Saint Pierre, France, 75cl
  • Bottle of White Burgundy Bouchard Aîné Fils, France 75cl
  • Baronie Assorted Belgium Pralines 200g
  • Cairnsmhor Crushed Black Pepper Crackers 150g AWARD WINNER
  • Chocolaterie Diane Praline 75g
  • Cottage Delight Cheese Maker’s Pickle 115g AWARD WINNER
  • Edinburgh Preserves Port Wine Jelly For Cheese & Pate 227g
  • Alice McPhersons Petticoat Tails Luxury Shortbread 150g
  • 4 x Deep Filled Iced Mince Pies 300g
  • Dark Chocolate Coated Crystallised Ginger 150g
  • Cherry & Coconut Flapjack 120g
  • The Wooden Spoon Cranberry & Orange Sauce 113g
  • New English Teas English Afternoon Tea x 10 Envelopes
  • Traditional Brandy Christmas Pudding 100g
  • Hand Made Olive & Sesame Biscuits 100g
  • The Wooden Spoon Wholegrain Mustard & Spitfire Ale 42g
  • Triple Chocolate Gourmet Cookies 100g
  • Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Co. Medium Roast Coffee 56g
  • Lewis & Cooper Savoury Mustard & Coriander Biscuits Tin 200g
  • Lindt Excellence Mint Intense 100g
  • Olives Et Al Chilli & Garlic Olives 150g AWARD WINNER

 

IMG_6314Everything arrived exactly as described on the website, I felt like Christmas morning had already come! I am simply in awe of just how beautiful this hamper is inside and out! The tea is wonderful, the Triple Gourmet Chocolate cookies are amazingly moreish and the shortbread is like Christmas on a plate. I haven’t made it through all of the wine, but the White Burgundy Bouchard Aîné Fils is extremely smooth!IMG_6318

Would I recommend this product?

I fail to see how any recipient could even begin to be disappointed on receiving this hamper and I would whole heartedly recommend it.

Delivery

Delivery was extremely quick and the hamper was handled with care by a very polite courier.

Value for money

At £135 this hamper may seem a considered purchase, but Hampergifts stocks other festive hampers ranging from £21.50 – £249.95 so cost needn’t be an issue. Saying that I do believe this particular hamper represents good value for money. The hamper basket alone would cost a significant amount elsewhere, when you add in the individual bottles of alcohol the hamper starts to seem like a really brilliant gift.

I’ve also been keeping my eyes open when I’ve spotted hampers elsewhere (such as highstreet stores) and this basket contained significantly more products every time.

Could it be improved in anyway?

I’d love to see a personalised hamper option where I could swap out certain items and replace with others of a similar value. As an example I don’t personally eat mince pies, so it would be wonderful if I could swap them for a Pandoro or Stollen instead.

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Scented Candle Shop – Yankee Candle Review

Posted on by Abi

IMG_5164There’s something about the festive season that makes scented candles, oil burners and reed diffusers extra magical. The correct fragrance can evoke a forgotten childhood memory, remind you of delicious treats or just help to get you into the Christmas spirit. I particularly love spiced fragrances; cinnamon, clove, orange and mulled wine and I eagerly await new scents from Yankee Candle and Ashleigh & Burwood every year.

The Scented Candle Shop recently contacted me to ask if I would like to try out a couple of items from their current range. Once I’d got over the excitement of having some new candles I took a look at their website and was pleased to discover that they stock a large range of brands and also have some really good deals available.

I chose to test out the Christmas Eve Candle and Christmas Cookie candle, both from Yankee Candles and currently available with a 25% discount!

 

Christmas Eve Candle

Christmas Eve Candle

Christmas Eve Candle

This is quite a departure from my usual spiced fragrances but when I tell you a bit more about it you’ll understand the appeal. To put it simply this candle smells very reminiscent of jelly beans!! How is that Christmassy I hear you cry, well in our house Christmas always means an increase in sweets, chocolates and sugar. It’s a whimsical fragrance that can appeal to young and old alike, in fact my kids ask me to light it every day!

The picture on the front of the jar is wonderful and festive and the bright red colour suits December décor perfectly. On a practical note the candle burns evenly and has a great fragrance throw. I wouldn’t say it lingers around the house as long as some Yankee fragrances can but that’s probably a good thing or I’d be raiding the cupboards at 2am.

 

Christmas Cookie Candle

Christmas Cookie Candle

Christmas Cookie

This is a candle for the bakers or fans of home cooking, to me it smells like the best fresh buttercream. Sweet, buttery and incredibly moreish this candle gave a great fragrance as soon as it was lit.

Make sure you keep the wick trimmed before relighting (as you should with all Yankee candles) or the excess may fall into the cream coloured wax and create a slightly dirty milk appearance. Otherwise the colour and picture on the jar gave this candle an elegant and sophisticated appeal.

IMG_5156Delivery

The Scented Candle Shop dispatched and delivered my candles in lightning speed and both were very securely packaged and protected. They even came wrapped in delicate tissue paper.

 

 

 

 

 

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