simba hybrid duvet review

Simba Hybrid Duvet review

by with No Comment Reviews

My husband and I have tried quite a few different duvets over the years in our search for the one that’s ‘just right’. And, honestly, it’s been a bit hit and miss. But I think we may have finally found a winner with the Simba Hybrid Duvet.

After working with Simba a few months ago on a review of their fantastic mattress toppers I was so happy when they offered me the chance to work with them again. This time round they sent me a hybrid duvet to try out and, with the weather warming up and me thinking about packing away our old winter duvet, the timing couldn’t have been better.

Now, the one thing Steve and I have got right in the past when it comes to duvets is getting a King Size one, even though our bed is just a double. It means there’s plenty of duvet to go round, so we very rarely end up fighting over the covers during the night. So we opted to stick with that size for this new duvet.

The King Size hybrid duvet from Simba costs £249, with fast, free delivery so you can get it on your bed as quickly as possible. It’s a 10.5 tog duvet and has been designed to be used all year round, so you don’t have to worry about changing your bedding with the seasons.

It’s also machine washable (as long as your machine is big enough to handle it!) and it dries more quickly than a lot of other duvets thanks to the lightweight filling.

That filling? It’s made with super-soft Simba Renew Bio, which is made from recycled plastic fibres that are combed into soft, airy layers. So basically it gives you a down-like feeling that’s also lovely and breathable, so you don’t get that clammy feeling you can get with some other duvets.

The Hybrid Duvet also has a genius cotton cover that has Stratos ‘cool-touch’ tech on one side to keep you comfortable on hot nights. You just have to make sure that you sleep with this side closest to you, so you feel the benefits through the night.

There are also some little details that I love with the Simba Hybrid Duvet. Like the little tag on the foot end of the duvet so you always know which way round it goes! And the QR code tag that takes you to advice on caring for your duvet so you can always easily find the information you need.

Since we upgraded our sleep set up with the Simba mattress topper and the Hybrid Duvet I have been absolutely loving climbing into bed each night. They’re both fantastic quality and have definitely made a difference to how well I sleep. The only downside is they also make it that bit harder to get up and out of bed in the morning!

If you’ve been thinking about getting a new duvet now the weather is warming up, then you should absolutely go and check out the range from Simba. They’ve got a few to choose from, all with their own unique benefits, so whether you want a great all-rounder like the Hybrid Duvet, something a bit more customisable, or a light, breathable duvet for the summer, you can easily find what you’re after.

Disclosure: I was sent the duvet for the purpose of writing this review but all thoughts, words, and images are my own.

getting a great night sleep with Simba

Getting a great night’s sleep with a Simba mattress topper

by with No Comment Family lifeReviews

Getting enough sleep at night is one of the most important things we can do to when it comes to our health and wellbeing. But that’s hard to do when you toss and turn all night in an uncomfy bed.

And lately my husband and I had been finding that we weren’t sleeping as well as we could be because he runs hot in the nights and our mattress wasn’t helping matters. And Nerys had also mentioned that her mattress wasn’t all that comfortable and cosy anymore.

So when sleep tech firm Simba offered to send us some of their comfort-boosting mattress toppers I jumped at the chance to try them out and see what a difference they could make.

We were sent a Simba double hybrid topper for our bed and a Simba single hybrid topper for Nerys, and we’ve honestly got nothing but great things to say about them.

The toppers arrived neatly rolled up in boxes that were easy to carry up to the bedrooms. Then it was just a case of unwrapping and unrolling them on top of our mattresses a few hours before bedtime to let them fully settle.

Of course, we couldn’t wait that long before having a sneaky lie down to try them out! We were all immediately impressed with how comfy they made the beds. They’re the perfect balance of soft and firm, and feel lovely and supportive which is great if you have any issues with back pain.

That night Nerys was so excited to get into her ‘new’ bed and couldn’t stop telling me how comfy and cosy it was now it had the Simba mattress topper on it. And honestly, I couldn’t wait to climb into bed too that night to really put ours to the test!

We all slept really well that night, and it’s been the same every night since, which I’m so happy about. Steve’s noticed that, while he’s still running hot, the night sweats haven’t been anywhere near as bad as they’ve been in the past. See, the Simba hybrid mattress toppers are made with Simbatex® foam which is less dense than standard memory foam, as well as being more breathable. And they’re also infused with natural graphite which helps to conduct excess heat away from your body while you sleep. Oh, and that innovative foam also combines an airy Aerocoil® spring layer and a breathable mesh border that lets heat escape through the mattress rather so you can sleep easy all night long.

Overall we’ve been really impressed with the toppers. They’ve saved us from needing to buy completely new mattresses, but have still transformed our beds and made them so comfy.

All of the Simba mattress toppers come with an anti-slip base and thick, snug-fit corner straps so they stay put on top of your mattress all night long. We’ve not noticed any movement at all with ours, so the system clearly works! These straps also come in handy if you want to take the topper off your bed to take away somewhere with you, because you can use them to secure the topper when you roll it up to pack in the car.

So if you want to improve the quality of your sleep or just want to upgrade your current sleep set up without buying a whole new mattress, then it’s well worth considering getting a Simba mattress topper.

As well as the double and single toppers that we’ve got, you can also choose from a Simba king topper, a super king topper if you have a bigger bed, and even a small double if you have that slightly awkward sized bed!

If you want to go all out though it’s well worth checking out Simba’s full range of mattresses, beds, pillows, and duvets, all made to help you get an amazing night’s sleep.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to head back to bed. It’s just so comfy there now!

Disclosure: I was sent the toppers for the purposes of this review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The foodie bag

The Instagram Bag – the perfect accessory for foodies and photographers

by with No Comment PhotographyReviews

It’s no secret that I love taking photos. Whether it’s snapping shots of my family on visits to the beach or setting up flat lays at home for product reviews, I love picking up my camera and getting creative capturing images for this blog.

So I was thrilled when Paper Bag Co asked if I would be interested in reviewing their Instagram Bag, packed with everything you need to level up and get creative with your photography.

The bag itself is a fantastic size, perfect for fitting in all my kit if I’m out and about taking photos. And I can see me using it for other things too, like days out with my children, with it being so big and sturdy.

It has a mesh divider and internal pocket so you can keep your things organised in it, and it zips up along the top to keep everything safe.

I love the designs on the two sides of the bag, and the fact that it’s canvas means it feels like it’ll be really hardwearing.

What’s inside The Instagram Bag?

Inside the bag is basically everything you need to get started with levelling up your food photography! There are 4 gorgeous backdrops, a 5-in-1 pop up reflector, and 8 photo postcards with tips on the back to help you take your best ever photos.

The thing I was most excited about when I first got my hands on The Instagram Bag was the collection of backdrops to use for flatlays and food photography.

There are four backdrops in the bag and they’re all really different designs so you can create so many different looks in your photos with them. I especially like the white marble which is perfect for clean, light images, and the dark baking tray which I think will work brilliantly for photos of all sorts of recipes.

Along with the backdrops you also get a fab set of photo cards inside The Instagram Bag which are perfect for sparking inspiration and have helpful tips and advice on the back for improving your photography skills.

The last bit of kit in the bag is a fantastic 5-in-1 reflector that is just such a handy tool to have around when you’re taking photos.

It folds up into a little carry case so it’s easy to take out and about with you, and is no bother to store at home when you’re not using it. And when you open it up you can use it as a silver, gold, black, or white reflector as well as a light diffuser for especially bright days.

The Instagram Bag really does have everything you need to up your photography game and I’m loving the extra spark of creativity its given me since it arrived on my doorstep.

You can get the bag from Paper Bag Co for just £39.95 which is a great price considering everything you get with it.

And while you’re checking it out take a look at the other bags they have on offer made from all sorts of materials including jute, cotton, and paper, which you can have personalised with your own images or branding.

So body collagen supplements

So Body Peptigen+ multi collagen powder review

by with No Comment ReviewsWellbeing

Did you know that the amount of collagen your body produces starts to drop once you turn 20? And by the time you hit 40 your collagen levels are significantly reduced.

Which means that you’ll start to notice fine lines and wrinkle appearing, your skin started to get that little bit less firm, your hair getting thinner, and your joints getting a bit stiffer.

I turned 40 last summer and while I’m not particularly worried about the laughter lines around my eyes, I have noticed that my joints aren’t as strong as they used to be. My knees in particular like to complain these days after a home exercise session full of lunges and squats.

So when the lovely people at So Body got in touch to ask if I’d like to try out their collagen supplement I jumped at the chance.

So Body Peptigen + Multi Collagen is a collagen supplement powder with five different types of collagen to support joint health as well as help to smooth out wrinkles and support stronger hair and nails.

Taking a collagen supplement is a great way to boost your body’s supplies when natural production starts to slow down, and this powder from So Body is one of the UK’s most popular brands for anyone looking to reverse the signs of aging.

All you need to do is add one scoop of the powder to a drink, give it a good stir, and then drink up. What I really love about this powder is that it’s really fine and dissolves perfectly into the drinks, so you don’t have to deal with any nasty lumps or grittiness.

It’s also an unflavoured powder and while it does have a taste to it that you can notice when you just mix it with plain water, it’s subtle enough that when you add it to your morning cuppa or blend it in with a smoothie you can’t taste it.

I’ve been adding a scoop to my coffee in the morning and find it just seems to add a bit of extra creaminess to the drink.

I really love how easy it is to add taking this into my daily routine, and by stacking this new habit on top of my existing habit of drinking coffee in the morning it’ll be so easy to stick with doing it.

So Body Peptigen+ is 100% natural and gives your body 9g of multi-collagen protein which has already been broken down to make its amino acids more readily available to your body.

And while some collagen supplements just contain one type, So Body is loaded with 5 types of collagen to meet all your needs.

Type 1 collagen is the most common type of collagen in the body and it works to boost skin firmness and reduce dryness and wrinkles.

Type 2 collagen is mainly used for cartilage, and a study at Penn State University in 2008 found that taking type 2 supplements can help to significantly improve joint pain.

Type 3 collagen provides skin elasticity, while type 4 helps with the formation of cells, especially in the hair, skin, and gut.

And type 5 collagen works to heal bone and tissue to improve joint health.

So the reason So Body Peptigen+ is so effective is that it has all these types of collagen combined to give you everything you need to support your skin, hair, nails, and joints.

I’ve not been taking So Body for long enough to notice any big changes yet, but when it’s this easy to take every day I’ll definitely be keeping up the habit and making adding a scoop to my coffee part of my morning routine.

There are loads of reviews on the So Body website from women who’ve noticed huge changes in the condition of their skin and hair as well as their joint mobility and I’m really looking forward to seeing if I notice the same sort of improvements from taking the Peptigen+ regularly.

Disclosure: I was sent a pack of So Body Peptigen + for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are my own

Violife vegan cheese

Violife vegan cheese alternatives: review from a non-vegan family

by with No Comment Family lifeRecipesReviews

My family and I aren’t vegan, but my daughter is vegetarian and the rest of us enjoy eating a mixture of meat-based and meat-free meals. So we’re really open to trying vegetarian and vegan alternatives to the different foods we eat.

When Violife asked me if we wanted to try some of their vegan cheese alternatives I jumped at the chance, because we get through a fair bit of cheese in our house and I was curious to know what the vegan alternatives were actually like.

The first thing that really surprised me was the range of cheeses that you can get from Violife.

Because I don’t normally buy vegan cheese I’ve not really paid that much attention to all the options that are available, so I was really impressed when I realised how much choice there is now.

The Violife range includes everything from blocks and slices of vegan cheese to vegan alternatives to soft cheese, camembert, and mozzarella. And they come in some delicious flavours too, like smoked cheese and tomato and basil.

I also love the fact that Violife have a load of vegan recipes on their website which is perfect for inspiration on ways to cook with their products.

The products my family and I tried from Violife were:

  • Le Rond camembert flavour
  • Smoky cheddar flavour slices
  • Epic mature cheddar flavour block
  • Original flavour slices
  • Original flavour grated

They’re all made with coconut oil, starch, and sea salt, enhanced with vitamin B12 and with different flavourings added to create the different options.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I tried the different products, and was a bit worried that the texture and taste might not be all that great. So when I first bit into one of the Smoky Cheddar flavour slices I was immediately impressed with how good it tasted and how similar the texture was to standard cheese slices.

These would go perfectly with crackers for a snack and would also taste amazing in a toastie, although I’ve been enjoying just sneaking a slice now and then from the fridge.

The texture and taste of the other cheeses are all just as good as the smoky slices, and I’m not even sure I’d notice that the cheddar flavour slices and block weren’t dairy if I had them in a sandwich with some chutney and lettuce.

Where there is a more obvious difference is with the way Violife melts when you put it in a toastie or on top of a pizza. It does melt really nicely and has a good bit of stretch to it like you’d expect from a melted cheddar or mozzarella, but it’s a very different texture to what I’m used to with dairy cheeses.

I found with both the cheddar flavour slices and the grated option that the texture was soft, almost paste-like, which is actually a lot nicer that it perhaps sounds! I had a few of the cheddar flavour slices in a toastie with some tomato relish for a super quick, really tasty lunch. All I would do next time is use a few more slices than I did this time, because with the way they melted down the toastie wasn’t as full (or filling) as I’d normally make them.

To try out the grated Violife I made a quick pitta bread pizza, with a simple tomato sauce and the grated cheese. I popped it under the grill for about 8 minutes for the cheese to really start to melt and start to brown in a few spots.

Next time I’ll put a bit more of the vegan grated cheese to really get a good covering, because it didn’t melt and spread the way our normal mozzarella does.

All in all though, once I was used to the unfamiliar texture, this pizza was really tasty. The Violife has a pretty subtle flavour that worked really well with the tomato sauce, and the fact that it comes ready-grated in the pack made making the pizza ridiculously quick and easy.

I have honestly been so impressed with all the cheese alternatives we tried from Violife. And while I don’t think we’ll be giving up our usual cheddar and mozzarella quite yet, I would definitely pop some of these in our trolley for a change now and then.

It’s also really good to know that if Nerys decides to make the move from vegetarian to vegan at some point that there are some brilliant, tasty cheese alternatives out there so she can still enjoy the meals she likes.

Disclosure: I was sent the products to try for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Coffee review Cafedirect

Cafédirect coffee review

by with No Comment Reviews

We love coffee in our house.  My husband and I both drink about 3 or 4 cups a day, although he drinks his black while I prefer mine with milk.

We’ve tried quite a few different types over the years and always enjoy tasting different beans and blends to see what we like the most.

So when Cafédirect got in touch to ask if we wanted to try out some of the coffee beans in their range we jumped at the chance.  Cafédirect are the UK’s largest Fairtrade hot drinks brand, so as well as making amazing coffee they’re doing amazing things to improve lives around the world.

 

Cafédirect have got a great range of coffees available on their website that you can order and have delivered right to your door, as well as a brilliant subscription service that means you’ll never have to do a mad dash to the shops for your coffee when you realise you’ve run out.

We were sent three different types of coffee from their range to try at home.

We spent a bit of time looking through the options on the Cafédirect website and were really keen to try the London Fields Honduras coffee, which sounded like a great everyday coffee.

The other two coffees were picked out by the people at Cafédirect, and were perfect for getting an idea of the range of coffees they have available.

 

London Fields Honduras coffee

The London Fields Honduras coffee is described on the packaging as being sweet and smooth, with a well-rounded body.

As soon as you open the bag the smell of the beans is amazing, and we couldn’t wait to grind some up and give it a taste.

 

The beans all come with these little information sheets, which I really love.

They tell you all about where the beans come from and how they’re responsible sourced.  They also include tasting notes to help you identify the different flavours in the coffee.

This Honduras coffee is described as, “well rounded body, soft mouthfeel with smooth notes of sweet molasses, caramel and praline” by one of Cafédirect’s coffee roasters.

It is a really lovely everyday coffee, very easy to drink either black or with a bit of milk.  The sweet molasses flavour definitely comes through and gives it that bit more of an interesting taste than some other everyday coffees.

This was the coffee we picked out, and it definitely met our expectations.

It can be a bit hit and miss sometimes when you order things like this online, but the detailed information and tasting notes on the product description on the website really help you pick out coffee that will suit your tastes.

 

London Fields Myanmar Ruby Hills

The next coffee that we tried was the London Fields Myanmar Ruby Hills beans.

This coffee was picked out for us by Cafédirect and we were both really curious to try it.

 

This coffee is described as bright and aromatic, with flavours of elderflower, raspberry and vanilla.

It smells just as amazing as the Honduras coffee beans when you open up the bag, but the difference in flavour once the coffee is brewed is incredible.  This coffee is much lighter, and has an almost floral taste to it.

The tasting notes that come with it describe it as having a, “Delicate aroma of vanilla and elderflower, followed with a juicy pop of raspberry and candied orange peel”.

 

London Fields Burundi Nyiagisguri

The last coffee that we tried was the London Fields Burundi Nyiagisguri, which was one of Cafédirect’s limited releases.

Along with their regular coffees on the website, Cafédirect offer limited edition coffees which, as you’d expect, change regularly which I really like.  It’s a great way to try out new coffees that you otherwise might not come across.

 

The Burundi Nyiagisguri coffee is another one that we might not normally have picked out as it has a lighter body than we would normally go for.  But the flavour profile sounded really interesting and we were both keen to try it.

It’s described as having notes of green apple and brown sugar, along with caramel flavours and these really do come through, making the coffee that bit more complex and giving it a bit of extra sweetness.

I really liked this one and think that when it’s made with milk it’s a really lovely coffee to drink at any time of the day, although Steve found it a bit too light-bodied for his tastes.

 

All in all we’re really impressed with the coffees and the service from Cafédirect.

The website is really easy to navigate, with nice clear descriptions of the different coffees they have available.  There’s a great choice of different coffees on offer, which is big enough to have a good variety of strengths and flavours but not so big that it’s overwhelming.

Along with the coffee beans you can also buy equipment like coffee grinders and cafetières so you can make the perfect cup of coffee at home.

 

If you’re a real coffee fan then they also offer a subscription service so you can have beans or freshly ground coffee delivered to your home.  You can choose from weekly, fortnightly, or monthly deliveries, and decide what sort of coffee you’d like to try, from bright and aromatic to rich and chocolatey.

 

The coffee is more expensive than the beans and ground coffee you can find in the supermarket but for real coffee fans, especially those who like exploring new blends and flavours, I do think it’s worth it.

It can be really easy to get stuck in a rut with things like the coffee you drink every day, and Cafédirect can help you break out of that rut and try some amazing new coffees, without even needing to leave the house.

You can’t really go wrong with that can you?!

 

Disclosure:  I was sent this coffee for the purpose of this review, but all words, opinions and photos are my own.

Water bottles Super Sparrow

Super Sparrow drinks bottle review

by with No Comment Reviews

My family and I have been using reusable drinks bottles for years now, and we’ve been through a few different types with the children to find ones that are leak-proof, easy to drink from and easy to keep clean.

Some claim to be leak-proof but have a cap that can really easily be knocked open, resulting in soaking wet school bags.

Others have caps and spouts that are almost impossible to keep properly clean and hygienic.

So when Super Sparrow asked me if we wanted to test out some of the water bottles in their range I was really excited to see what they had to offer.  And I think we may have found a winner here in our search for the perfect reusable drinks bottles.

 

Super Sparrow have 4 different styles of drinks bottles to choose from, and we put 3 of them to the test.

We were sent a wide mouth stainless steel insulated bottle, a standard mouth stainless steel insulated bottle, and 2 Tritan sports bottles.  The range of bottles that Super Sparrow have is spot on in my opinion.  There are enough choices to suit pretty much any needs, but not so many that it’s impossible to make a decision.

The only trouble we had was with picking what colours we wanted, because there were lots of lovely options we could’ve gone for!

If you’re looking for new drinks bottles for your family, then here are our thoughts on the different types that Super Sparrow have to offer.

 

Super Sparrow wide mouth stainless steel insulated bottle

This is a lovely, classic drinks bottle which is perfect for so many different situations.

It’s available in 3 different sizes, 500ml, 750ml, and 1000ml and no matter which size you choose the opening is a really wide 66mm.

My husband chose the 750ml bottle and is really happy with it.  It is quite big in your hands and, obviously, holds that bit more water so it’s great for a day out or just to have on the table next to him to remind him to keep drinking through the day as he’s working.

One thing we were pleased with is that, even though it’s a pretty big bottle, it still fits in the stretchy pocket on the side of his backpack so it’s really convenient for when we’re out and about.  There’s also a great, sturdy handle on the cap which makes it comfortable to carry on its own.

The bottle uses stainless steel double-walled vacuum insulated technology (try saying that five times fast!) to keep hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours, and cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours, which is incredible.  On a hot day at the beach it’s so nice to be able to have a perfectly cold drink on hand to cool us all down.

The outside of this bottle (and the other stainless steel ones in the range) has a matte texture which makes it nice and grippy.  This along with the little arc in the middle of the body of the bottle make it really easy to hold onto and drink from.

 

Super Sparrow standard mouth stainless steel insulated bottle

This is the bottle that I picked out for myself and it has barely left my side since it arrived!

Like the wide mouth bottle it’s a pretty classic water bottle at first glance but there are some little details that really make it great.  It’s available in 5 different sizes, from 330ml which would be great for lunch boxes or short trips out, to 1000ml which is perfect for big days out or keeping you hydrated throughout the day without having to keep refilling.

I opted for the 750ml bottle which is perfect for getting me to drink more while I’m working at home, but still great for popping in my bag when we go out.

Like the wide mouth bottle that Steve picked, this one fits really nicely into the side pocket of my backpack so it’s always nice and accessible while we’re out at the beach or the park.

It also has the same stainless steel double-walled vacuum insulated technology as the wide mouth bottle so it keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, as well as being completely leak-proof.

What I particularly like about this bottle though is the fact that it comes with 2 interchangeable caps.

One of them is a simple screw on cap that comes off completely to let you drink from the open mouth of the bottle.  The other cap is a sports cap with a straw that flips out so you can drink really easily on the go.

You also get a spare straw and a little straw-cleaning brush in the box too, which is really useful.

 

Super Sparrow Tritan sports bottles

These are the bottles that we chose for Rhys and Nerys and they’ve been a huge hit, with both them and me.

They love the bright colours, the handy carrying strap, and the fact that they’re really easy to drink from.

I love the fact that they’re completely leak-proof, really durable, and nice and easy to clean.

The Tritan sports bottles from in 3 sizes, 350ml, 500ml, and 1000ml and they’re perfect for school lunchboxes and for popping in a bag for a day out.  They would also be great to take to the gym to keep you hydrated as you work out.

They’re made from BPA free plastic so there’s no worries about anything nasty leeching out into the children’s drinks.  They’re not insulated like the steel bottles, so they don’t keep drinks hot or cold, but they’re still perfect for the children to take to school and on trips out to the park or the beach.

What I really love about these Titan bottles is how nice they are to drink from.  There’s no valve or anything, so once you’ve popped the top open the drinks flow freely so there’s no frustration from the kids when they’re really thirsty.

The caps themselves are great because they lock into place to keep them safely closed, but are still really easy to open.  You just have to flick the catch down and then press a button for the cap to open up.

 

We’ve been really impressed with all of the Super Sparrow water bottles that we’ve tested, and they’ve quickly replaced the other bottles we used before.

I love the fact that they’re all completely leak-proof so we can chuck them in our bags when we go out and not worry about them leaking everywhere.

I also love the smart little features like the carry handles, and the fact that they’ve clearly been designed to make drinking from them as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Whether you need a water bottle for your children to take to school, for family days out, or for taking with you to the gym, there’s something in the Super Sparrow range that would fit the bill perfectly.  And with a huge range of colours to choose from you’ll be able to find something to suit every member of the family!

 

All the drinks bottles are available from the Super Sparrow website and from Amazon.

 

Disclosure: We were sent these bottles for the purpose of this review but all thoughts, words, and images are my own.