Review: Wildlife World Nature Oasis Bird Bath

Whilst we humans are enjoying this hot weather, birds and other wildlife need access to fresh cool water to drink and bathe in. I purchased the Wildlife World Nature Oasis Bird Bath and Drinker.

The price of the bird bath varies immensely depending on where it is purchased. The cheapest I could find was Waitrose and Partners  at £14.99, whilst Amazon was the most expensive at £38. The bird bath looks very heavy, as though it is made from stone, but it is in fact very light weight as it is made from polyboo, a sustainable mixture of recycled plastic and clay. It is frost proof (birds and wildlife still need access to water in freezing winter months) so it won’t crack or break. I like that the bath has a ripple effect of tiny steps going down to the base of the bath. This looks nice but is also a safety feature as it gives smaller birds extra footing to get in and out. I have also seen insects perched on the steps having a drink/ cooling off.  The base of the bird bath fits perfectly into the parasol holder of the picnic table I use as a bird table which helps prevent it getting it knocked off if there is a squabble over food. The bath measures 5.5x30x30cm and I have seen all types of birds ranging from robins to blackbirds having a splash around in it. I like the colour and overall sleek design of the bath. There is engraving around the edge of the bath which is a nice touch. The bath looks to be ageing nicely and hasn’t become discoloured despite being pooped on and food regularly being thrown in by the pigeons. 

I would recommend this bath, just check prices before you purchase one. It’s an added bonus that it looks great and it is made from sustainable materials which should last for years. Most importantly of all the birds actually use it! 

 I purchased the items myself and the views expressed on this blog are my own. 

Review: bows_and_food Hair Bows

Although I purchased all these hair bows at her (sadly) closing down sale I thought I would still post about them as she is still selling the key ring version of the hair bows and she may choose to reopen and come back at a later date. 

 bows_and_food is an Instagram account/seller who sells handmade  hair bows, key rings and celebration cards for a very reasonable price. I purchased 7 hair bows, some are Disney/ Bambi themed, the others are flamingos and pandas. They are extremely well made out of faux leather. The bows are just the right size so that if you were them at the top of a side pony they won’t scratch your face.  They also look nice worn around the wrist. The Disney themed ones would be great to wear if you were Disney bounding as they give a nod to the character you are trying to be. 

 The purchase process was quick and easy. Just find her on IG and then send a message with your requirements. I then paid by PayPal. I got my items quickly and her customer service was great. 

Considering the prices that places like Claire’s Accessories  charge for mass produced hair ties and accessories these hand made items, which take so much time and effort to make, these hair accessories are a bargain and I really hope the creator comes back when she is feeling in a better head space. I really like my hair ties and would recommend this seller. 

I purchased the items myself and the views expressed on this blog are my own

Review: Honu The Cornish Seal Sanctuary Ring

I purchased the Honu Cornish Seal Sanctuary ring  (£25 now £12.50) at the same time I purchased my Under The Sea ring. 10% of profits from the seal ring are to be donated to the Sea Life Trust Cornish Seal Sanctuary to help fund the  rescue rehabilitation and care of seals in Cornwall UK. The sanctuary rescues around 70 grey seal pups from the Cornish coastline every September- March who need help due to reasons ranging from malnutrition to being separated from their mothers. The Sanctuary also provides long term specialised care for those seals who cannot be rereleased in to the wild. 

The ring (and necklace which is no longer available) is made from recycled sterling silver and was designed and made in the UK. It came packed in a little tie string gift bag/ pouch.   The ring is very comfortable to wear as it fits flat against my finger with no sharp ends that could scratch my glasses. I itch my eyes a lot and have destroyed several lens when rings have scratched them when I have been itching my eyes. I love the outside design of the ring but I would have preferred the seal to be flat and look more like a readily identifiable seal. I think this is why I waited for it to be in the sale as I would have liked the seal to be carved or embossed into the silver rather than the 3D effect that was used. I do like the ring and wish I had got the necklace when it was available. 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed on this blog are my own. 

Review: Honu Under The Sea Ring

I have been following Honu on Instagram for sometime and I finally decided to make a purchase as if you spent a certain amount you got a free pair of earrings. Honu jewellery is very detailed and intricate, the designs are inspired by the ocean and marine life but still affordable and different. 

The Under The Sea Ring(£22 now £13.20) is made from recycled sterling silver.  The ring is inspired by nature under the sea and hatching turtles first steps towards the ocean.  The ring features barnacles, starfish and of course a tiny Honu hatchling turtle which sits in the middle of the ring with a tiny shell on one side and a starfish on the other. Barnacles are scattered around them. I love that although the ring is minimalistic, elegant and tiny there is so much detail. The engraving on the turtle’s back, the detail that has gone into the barnacles so that they are realistic not just blobs, for example, is just amazing. Everytime I look at it I see something new. I find the ring light and comfortable to wear. I haven’t taken it off since I got it! The packaging is plastic free and the ring came in a little drawstring bag.

I like Honu as a concept as they are an environmentally conscious brand that supports marine wildlife and they use recycled sterling silver. They partner with a charity to help marine life. I also like their designs. There aren’t pages and pages to scroll through just several well thought out designs that are affordable but don’t seem like fast fashion jewellery to be worn a few times then discarded. I love my Under The Sea ring (and the other items I purchased) and will continue to wear them for years not just this Summer. I have made a conscious design to only support philanthropic brands that support charities that I am interested in and Honu certainly fits the bill with their minimalistic, affordable affordable jewellery. 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed on this blog are my own. 

Review: Stackers Marble Cone Small Jewellery Peak

I purchased a Stackers small marble effect jewellery peak (£10) to use both as a blog prop and to store my favourite rings by my bedside. The ring cones are part of the Stackers Peak range and are available in two sizes and two colour ways. They are available in small and large. The small measures 7.2 x 3.3 cm, the large 11.3 x7cm and has a hidden compartment at the base to store more jewellery. The cones are made from resin and are available in either rose quartz or marble effect. There is felt on the base embossed with the Stackers logo to prevent any possible scratches. 

I was lucky enough to win and then review the Stackers large grey peak way back in 2018 and whilst I still use it I do prefer the aesthetic and colour way of the newer versions. It looks more refined and elegant. I also find that when my rings are stacked on the peak they are liable to slide off when I lift the lid to get to jewellery in the base. Having said that I am considering getting the rose quartz large version and putting the grey version into retirement! I like that the small peak is small enough not to be knocked over or take up too much room on my bedside cabinet whilst it can still hold several rings. The marble effect means that the cone almost glows in certain lights and so will make a great blog prop when I am presenting any new rings. 

I like this ring storage holder and I am considering upgrading my grey large cone to the rose quartz version. My existing cone has lasted several years and is still going strong so the workmanship is great.  The cones certainly will last longer than the copies on Shien etc and so will work out cheaper year per use. 

 I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own