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  • Health & Beauty
    • The Best Hot Air Brushes Reviewed
    • The Best Lady Shavers Reviewed
    • The Best Heated Rollers
    • The Best Hair Dryers
    • The Best Beard Trimmers
    • The Best Epilators
    • The Best Hair Straighteners
    • The Best Curling Tongs & Curling Wands
  • Home & Garden
    • The Best Bean to Cup Coffee Machines Reviewed
    • The Best Inflatable Hot Tubs Reviewed
  • Sport & Fitness
    • The Best Indoor Exercise Bikes Reviewed
    • Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes
    • Best Folding Exercise Bike
    • Best Mini Exercise Bikes
    • The Best Air Bikes
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How to prepare your home for Christmas

Les Roberts November 23, 2018 Inspiration 0

Although it only comes around for one day a year, there’s so much more to Christmas than giving presents on December 25th, and preparations need to start well in advance if you’re to make sure you’re fully prepared for the festive season.

This means getting the kids’ presents sorted as early as possible (unless you actually like the idea of a Jingle All The Way-style Christmas Eve), as well as making sure the turkey’s been ordered, the tree is in hand, and the cards have been popped in the post with plenty of time to spare. In between all that, you somehow need to make sure you’re all set for the party season too.

If you’re going to be entertaining at home this festive period, you also need to make sure your house is in order. And, as there’s no time like the present, just follow these simple steps to help prepare your home for Christmas.

Have a clear out

Christmas brings clutter – from decorations to presents to wine bottles, your house accumulates more stuff over Christmas than at any other time of the year, so it makes sense to have a clear out before the festivities begin.

Take a walk around the house and work out which items you can pack away and which ones you can throw away. And try not to be too sentimental, if there are things in cupboards that haven’t seen the light of day for months or even years, don’t be afraid to throw them out.

If you could do with a new vacuum cleaner to help with the cleaning, the Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner offers unparalleled cord-free cleaning on carpets and hard floors. If you don’t want to spend the time vacuuming, the Coredy Robot Vacuum Cleaner can do all the hard work for you – it even lets you schedule and customize cleaning preferences from its remote control, with vacuum and wet/dry mop combo options for a brilliant cleaning.

Organise your kitchen

If you’re entertaining at home, you’ll no doubt be doing a lot of cooking, which means you’ll need your kitchen to be spick and span and make essential kitchen tools, utensils, and cookware are thoroughly clean and within easy reach.

If your kitchen cupboards are a bit of a mess, try and clear things up with an Icoco adjustable and extendable shelf organising storage tidy, and keep the sink area organised with an Oriware utensil holder and draining pan.

Then check the oven, stove, microwave, food processor, and dishwasher are all working properly, and repair or replace them where necessary. If you need an extra hand with the cooking, an Andrew James Halogen Oven is perfect for cooking meat, especially chicken, and could free up the main oven for the turkey, if you’re cooking more than one type of meat.

It’s also worth having a clear out of the fridge and freezer, to make room for the extra food and drink you’ll be getting in for Christmas.

Arrange the celebration space

Every house has its preferred spot for the tree and presents, but if you’re going to be entertaining this Christmas, you might want to shift things around for a larger celebration space. Work out which is the best room in the house for guests to socialise in, and make that the centre-point of your Christmas celebrations. And don’t be afraid to rearrange, replace, or remove furniture, either temporarily or permanently, this can all be part of your pre-Christmas clear-out. If you love the idea of a real Christmas tree, but don’t fancy the falling pine needles or the post-Christmas disposal, why not buy and artificial pine tree, then blitz it with a spritz of Aroma Mist Christmas Tree room spray?

Then complete the ambience with a couple of Yankee Candle Classic Perfect Tree jars and a set of Ollny LED Window Curtain String Lights Icicle Fairy Decorative Lights.

Then sit back, relax and enjoy everything the festive season has to offer.

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Top 5 Christmas Gifts for Gadget Geeks

Les Roberts November 21, 2018 Inspiration 0

If you’re having trouble deciding what to by the gadget geek in your life this Christmas, you’ll be glad to know there is a healthy crop of tech to choose from this year, ranging from retro toys and games to cutting edge electronics.

Here are the recommended Which to Buy Christmas gifts for gadget geeks…

Top 5 gadget gifts for Christmas 2018

Playstation Classic by Sony – £89.99

If you long for the days before online multi-player and having to delete half your hard drive to install the latest games, then the Playstation Classic is the console for you. This pocket-sized, plug-in-and-play console comes with 20 of the best Playstation games, including Metal Gear Solid, Oddworld, Rayman, Resident Evil and the original GTA, along with two classic Playstation controllers.

Alternatively, you could opt for the Nintendo Classic Min NES (£47.99 from Amazon) or the Nintendo Classic Mini SNES (£69.00 from Amazon)

Buy the Sony Playstation Classic from Amazon

Apple Watch 4 – £499

If ever there was a gadget that signals we’re definitely living in the future, then the smart watch is it – and the Apple Watch Series 4 is arguably the best around. Its edge-to-edge display is 30% larger than previous iterations, and its improved digital crown offers improved tracking and the watches ECG for heart-rate monitoring. It also has an improved microphone and speaker for better call quality, and allows you to read messages without having to take out your phone. And the fitness tracker offers the perfect motivation to stick to that New Year health kick.

Buy the Apple Watch 4 from Amazon

Bose Noise Masking Sleep Buds – £229.95

Tired of arguing between listening to a podcast or some ambient sounds at bedtime? Does your other half need something to block out your incessant snoring? Then the Bose Noise Masking Sleep Buds could be just what your nighttimes need. Completely wireless, the buds block out external noise by channelling engineered soothing sounds into the wearer’s ears, and come in three sizes for a comfortable fit. They even work as an alarm clock only they can hear.

Buy Bose Noise Masking Sleep Buds at Amazon

Sphero Mini – £49.99

The gadget you never knew existed is also the gadget you never knew you needed. The Sphero Mini is a small robotic ball (think a headless BB-8), that has numerous driving modes including the ground-breaking Face Drive, which uses the latest facial detection technology to allow you to manoeuvre the Mini by tilting your head, raising your eyebrows and opening your mouth. Connect to the compatible smartphone app to play games and even teach yourself to code and program Javascript.

Buy Sphero Mini from Amazon

iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum Cleaner – £499.00

Once the dust has settled on Christmas, all the presents have been opened, the last of the turkey has been curried and final drop of port has been quaffed, it’s time to start the clean-up operation. Now everyone knows that buying someone a vacuum cleaner for Christmas is akin to admitting you see them as little more than the home-help, but buying a robot vacuum cleaner is a completely different kettle of fish. And if your significant other isn’t wowed by the sheer robotic-ness of the iRobot Roomba, just let them know they’ll never have to clean up the carpet ever again – powered by a suite of intelligent Sensors, the Roomba robot vacuum makes more than 60 decisions per second to adapt to your home and help thoroughly clean your floors!

Buy the iRobot Roomba from Amazon

If you’re in the market for some top notch tech, you’ll no doubt be aware that the Black Friday weekend is on the horizon – a great time to buy anything from smartphones to smart TVs. For more inspiration, check out our Which to Buy guide to Black Friday.

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How to start your New Year health kick before Christmas

Les Roberts November 19, 2018 Inspiration 0

How much over-indulging have you got planned for Christmas this year? Even if last year’s festivities provided a massive ‘never again’ moment, the same temptations will be there this year and lead to the same guilt-laden New Year health kick.

So, why not get your health kick going before the party season gets into full swing?

Why you should start your health kick now

Christmas is famously known as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but it’s also one of the most stressful, especially for women – an Ipsos MORI poll reveals that over a quarter (27%) of women feel stressed about Christmas preparations, compared to just over one-in-ten (14%) men.

Getting all your Christmas preparation done early is an obvious way to cut your festive stress levels, but getting all the presents and food in before the real rush begins is easier said than done, not least because of the cost involved.

So it could be time to turn to physical activity – exercise produce endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and stress relief, and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.

If you get into a regular exercising routine now, this can help you switch off from the work and social stresses of Christmas, and help to dramatically cut your stress levels.

If you’re planning on leaving your health until the New Year, you’re basically giving yourself a free pass to overindulge in December, but being in an active routine when the party season starts should help give you the extra will power to turn down that extra mince pie, or and cut down you alcohol intake (at least swapping that glass of wine for a slim line G&T).

So, with that in mind, here’s how to start your New Year health kick before Christmas…

Top tips to get your New Year health kick started early

If you want to help cut your Christmas stress levels, as well as feel good and look fabulous for the Christmas party season, check out our top tips…

Find your motivation

Motivation is arguably the toughest part of any exercise regime, but nailing down your motivation from the start will help keep you going when physical activity is the last thing you want to do. Your motivation could be anything, from better mental health, to a better feeling of physical well-being or a better body image – it’s your motivation, so use whatever keeps you going.

If you struggle with motivation, it could be time to turn to tech to help you along – a fitness tracker is a great way to keep tabs on your basic daily activities and the effectiveness of your workouts. If you’re on a budget, you can pick up a Lintelek Fitness Tracker for just £25 on Amazon, or if you want to go all-in, the Fitbit Charge 3 Advanced Health & Fitness Tracker is available for £129.99 and can track calorie burn, optimise workouts and uncover health trends that inspire you to make moves on your health and fitness goals.

Don’t make excuses

The easiest way to fall out the habit is to make an excuse why you can’t exercise on a particular day – and days soon turn into weeks, and before you know it, it’s New Year and you feel terrible again.  So, try to avoid these common excuses…

  • I can’t get to the gym – Exercise at home instead. There are loads of apps available that offer exercises you can do at home with no specialist equipment, or you could even bring exercise equipment into the home. An exercise bike offers an ideal cardiovascular workout, and you can pick one up for less than the price of a few months’ gym membership. The LIFE CARVER BTM Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike can be picked up on Amazon for £135, or the Sportstech TEST WINNER* Exercise Bike ESX500, which comes with smartphone app control and Google Street View, can be ordered for £249. If money is no object, the JTX Cyclo-5: Upright Gym Exercise Bike is a feature-Packed Bike with Advanced BLUETOOTH Computer and FREE Polar Heart Rate Chest Strap. Buy it on Amazon for £650. Check out a full range of exercise bikes in our buyers guide to the best exercise bikes.

Set realistic goals

Goal-setting is vitally important to starting and sticking to an exercise regime, but they have to be realistic – setting unrealistic targets will quickly de-motivate you. Make them SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely – and aim to do at least three, 45 minute workouts each week. This consistency will generate results quicker than doing a week of seven days straight in the gym then having a week off, and bear in mind that the effectiveness of an exercise session begins to diminish after an hour – so unless you’re going for all-out cardio fitness, it’s best to keep each one less than an hour.

Stay hydrated

Water is vital to keeping yourself in tip-top condition, and staying hydrated is necessary for basic metabolic functions. And if you’re going to be partying hard, staying hydrated is essential to help avoid horrific headaches and hangovers the morning after.

Cut back on alcohol

You may find it difficult, but it’s definitely worth cutting back on the alcohol over Christmas. Non-alcoholic beers pack fewer calories than alcoholic beer, and can help reduce your calorie intake as part of a healthy diet. Not only that, but over-consumption of alcohol can cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), which can lead to light-headedness and make you tempted by high-calorie, fatty food after drinking. Drinking low-alcohol or ‘alcohol-free’ beer means you’re less likely to have a hangover, so you’ll be more motivated to exercise the day after.

Keep eating

Your body needs fuel to function, so make sure you eat regularly – this doesn’t mean filling your face with Christmas pudding, crisps, cheese and crackers at every opportunity, so make sure you keep yourself refuelled with the right stuff, including plenty of fruit, veg, fish, eggs, white meat and any other sources of protein.

Be patient

No matter when you start your health kick, you won’t see the benefits overnight, so bear in mind you’ll have to be patient, stick with it, and the results will follow. And getting started now instead of after Christmas means you’ll have a good head start.

Black Friday is on the way, so now could be a good time to get yourself some fitness equipment in – check out What to buy on Black Friday to see what other discounts you could bag yourself.

And if you want to get a head start on the kids Christmas presents, the Top 5 Toys for Christmas 2018.

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How to prepare for Christmas party season

Les Roberts November 12, 2018 Inspiration 0

Halloween has been and gone, which means Christmas party season is around the corner – so, if you simply have to look your best for every occasion, whether a family gathering or the office party, here are some invaluable tips to prepare for this year’s festive get-togethers.

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What to buy on Black Friday

Les Roberts November 4, 2018 Inspiration 0

Black Friday is almost upon us, which means shoppers of a certain persuasion will be getting ready to wrestle in the aisles to make sure they get their hands on the best pre-Christmas bargains.

If you want to make sure you bag the biggest discounts, but don’t fancy a black eye as part of the bargain, then it makes sense to avoid the crowds and do your deal-hunting online. Whether you’re in the market for a brand new TV for a winter box-set binge, or after a new console to tick off the kids’ Christmas list, you could save some serious money by doing your shopping over the Black Friday weekend, which kicks off on November 23rd, this year.

Here are six of the best big ticket items you should consider buying this Black Friday.

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The Top 5 Toys for Christmas 2018

Les Roberts November 4, 2018 Inspiration 0

You may not want to admit it, but Christmas is just around the corner. And if you’ve got kids, there’s no way you can leave the Christmas shopping until the last minute – their lists will soon be in the post to Santa, and toy shop shelves will be empty before the first door of the advent calendar has been opened.

So, to save you the anguish of deciding between disappointed faces on Christmas Day or remortgaging the house to pay over the odds for the latest toys on eBay, here are the top toys for Christmas 2018.

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express

LEGO is a mainstay of Christmas lists for kids of all ages, Harry Potter is never off the TV around Christmas – so it’s no surprise that LEGO’s Hogwarts Express train set, complete with railway bridge and Platform 9 ¾, is expected to be one of the season’s biggest sellers.

Complete LEGO-sized Harry, Ron and Hermione, along with Remus Lupin, the Trolley Witch, Dementor and Scabbers figures, make sure you order early before this disappears from the shops.

Sale
LEGO 75955 Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train Toy, Wizarding...
170 Reviews
LEGO 75955 Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train Toy, Wizarding...
  • Build the Hogwarts Express train set, plus railway bridge and Platform...
  • Features a carriage with 4 seats, removable side panel and roof, plus...
  • Minifigures include: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger,...
−£63.06 from £11.93
Buy on Amazon

Paddington Bear with Classic Boots and Suitcase

Peru’s favourite export has been given a new lease of life thanks to the hit movies. If your kids want to get their hands on a plush Paddington, complete with trademark blue duffel coat, red wellies and suitcase, then this 33cm tall teddy is a must have.

Sale
Paddington Bear Large Classic with Boots and Suitcase
357 Reviews
Paddington Bear Large Classic with Boots and Suitcase
  • Paddington Bear Large Classic with Boots and Suitcase
  • Classic Paddington with his coat, hat and boots and case
  • Comes with real toggles and a label that says please look after this...
−£7.59 £27.40
Buy on Amazon

L.O.L Surprise Dolls. Pearl Surprise 2

This year’s must-have dolls, L.O.L Surprise Dolls are delivered in a shell that’s split into separate compartments, and the only way to unlock it is to use the code cards that are tucked into each compartment. With the accessories unlocked, you can then take off the dolls protective case and dress her up.

The Pearl Surprise 2 comes with a limited edition doll and sister, six pearl surprise dolls, and a glitter case that can be used as a purse, a storage case, or a bath playset.

L.O.L Surprise! Pearl Surprise- Purple
273 Reviews
L.O.L Surprise! Pearl Surprise- Purple
  • Limited-edition doll and lil sister
  • Six pearl surprise balls
  • One shell-shaped doll stand
from £38.91
Buy on Amazon

Chow Crown

There’s always one family game that’s a must-have at Christmas, from Doggie Doo to Pie Face, and this year it’s Chow Crown that looks like it’ll rule over the rest.

Each player wears a crown from which they dangle their favourite food, which they then must eat while music plays – the aim is to eat as much as possible before the music stops, the catch is that players can’t use their hands, and the crown spins as it plays music.

Sale
Hasbro Gaming Chow Crown Game
97 Reviews
Hasbro Gaming Chow Crown Game
  • Fun family games: The Chow Crown electronic kids game is an ideal...
  • Wear the spinning musical crown: Load up the forks; once the music...
  • Hilarious kids game with music: Get ready for lots of laughs as...
−£17.75 £8.00
Buy on Amazon

Crate Creatures

Sure to be a special delivery under Christmas trees up and down the country this year, each Crate Creature come packaged in its own crate, from which it makes noises and peers out with glowing eyes. You can release the creature using a special crowbar (which comes as part of the package, so no need to rummage around the shed on Christmas morning), and if you record yourself speaking to the Crate Creature, it’ll repeat what you said in its own monster voice.

Sale
Crate Creatures Surprise- Sizzle
98 Reviews
Crate Creatures Surprise- Sizzle
  • Pull their tongue and creature vibrates, makes fun noises and has...
  • Use the crowbar to pop the lock and open your creatures crate.
  • Motion sensor inside creature reacts when they're upside down, knocked...
−£12.47 £18.52
Buy on Amazon

What Christmas presents shall I buy for friends and family?

You might have the kids boxed off for Christmas, but what if you’re stuck for ideas for other family members and friends? If you need some inspiration, check out our Which To Buy buyers guides for the lowdown on everything from the latest lady shavers to the best beard trimmers.

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