Review: Bare Kind Elephant Socks

 

Just when you thought charities had every area covered they focus on  basic every day item that everyone needs - SOCKS! Barekind.co.uk donate 10% of the profits of each pair of socks to a charity related to the graphics on the sock.

My socks are elephant themed so a donation is made to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.  “Make a statement with your socks and help protect endangered species at the same time” is a fun but at the same time serious premise. The socks make a statement but also suppose great causes.

I love my socks they are bright and fun, keep my feet warm and help a great cause, as they are bamboo socks they are so soft which is great as I have neuropathic pain in my feet and cannot tolerate certain materials on my tootsies! what isn’t there to like about this item/ company? Philanthropic and stylish too! I will buy these socks for gifts throughout the year as socks aren’t just for Christmas!

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

Review: Hallmark Collectable Christmas Decorations

I am running my yearly Christmas competitions onTwitter this year, as a way to keep in touch with people like myself who are on their own with not much company etc. I decided to expand my prizes and also run a few competitions on Instagram as well. I decided to purchase some cheaper options than the Disney sketchbook hanging ornaments. I will still be using them as prizes as they are beautifully made and well thought out but they are expensive. I normally wait until they are on offer then splurge!  I decided to go for the Hallmark range as I went in their stores when I was in New York years ago and thought then that their hanging ornaments are reasonably priced and cute. I purchased these items when there was a 30% discount. They do seem to have regular offers so I have never purchased at the full price. I also bought several via Amazon as there often deals to be had there as well (but also lots of copies).

The first ornament I chose was the Harry Potter Chocolate Box and Frog. It is made from a tough resin and measures 8x8cm. It is very realistic to the one in the film and it would look great hanging on a tree: the back is a bit blah as it’s just purple but that doesn’t really spoil the overall item. 

Gizmo the Mogwai with a Candy Cane is adorable. Very cute and photogenic. I hated the movie but he is adorable. He measures 5.7 x 7.6cm and is made from a tough resin. 

The Snoopy on a Doghouse brought back memories as I loved him and the Peanuts gang when I was a child! Made from resin the ornament measures 7.2 x 6 cm it is fun and festive, giving a flash back to childhood!

The final ornament in my first purchase is the Harry Potter with Trolley, Trunk and Hedwig. Again, made from a tough resin and measures 7.8x7.2 cm. The owl doesn’t look twee but like an owl should do. There is a little Howart’s sticker on the trunk and 93/4 on the back of the trolley. My mum adored Harry Potter and I think his would have been her favourite. 

All ornaments cost just under £8 each and are boxed so would make great gifts. They are sturdy and not as likely to break as the Disney ones.  Unlike the Disney ones the hanging ribbon isn’t detachable which is a shame, they also seem more Christmassy- I keep my Sketchbook ornaments out all year but some of these are definitely Christmas only ornaments. Disney Sketchbook ornaments have something about them (apart from the price) which sets them apart from every other ornament I have seen, maybe it’s the attention to detail or the fact that every time you pick an ornament up you notice something new. The Hallmark ornaments, however, are a close second, have a much larger selection of categories such as gremlins, Harry Potter etc and would make a great base or stocking filler if you were just starting a collection: 

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

Book Review: Illicit Temptations by Katee Robert

Illicit Temptations is two spicy, explicit novellas from Katee Robert’s Forbidden Games mini series in one novel. 

Make Me Yours is the first of the two short stories. 3 months ago fitness instructor Becka Baudin had a one night stand with Aaron Livingstone, the best of his life, then she walked away. Fast forward to now and she has to tell him she is pregnant. He is thrilled as he was procrastinating about how he could get her back in his life. He persuades her to move into his Manhattan apartment but she is determined not to be drawn into his flashy lifestyle. He needs to prove that he is not just the baby’s father but can also a suitable partner. Can it be done? 

Make Me Need tells the story of  Trish Livingstone and Cameron O’Clery. Trish needs a new job and so ends up working for Cameron (who is very grumpy) and her brother. They are opposites in terms of character. She is full of optimism and happiness, he is grumpy and abrupt. They know they shouldn’t have a fling as that could ruin friendships and business relationships. They cross the invisible line but how will it affect them? 

I didn’t really enjoy either of these books. They are Dare reprints so raunchier than the Modern series but not as explicit as Black Lace novels. I felt they sort of fell flat. They were rushed and didn’t let the reader Get to know or gel with the characters. I wouldn’t reread. 

 I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

#Win & Review: LittleSilverHedgehog Flower Garden Pendant with a Butterfly and Gemstone Flowers

 

This pendant (£80) is solid recycled silver and is inspired by the jewellery maker and hedgehog rescuer’s garden. As always a percentage of the sale goes towards the cost of running a hedgehog rescue centre.

 The pendant measures around 1.9cm in diameter and  is handmade from recycled materials. The pendant is circular and has three raised flowers with a tiny gemstone in the centre of each one. The silver is brushed giving the piece a natural, organic look and feel. There is a 3D very detailed butterfly flying past them. The chain is a chunky sterling silver link chain with a lobster clasp. 

The pendant is packaged in a brown little box embossed with a little silver hedgehog and “Little Silver Hedgehog”. 

All Emma’s jewellery is handmade and has a nature theme to it. I have always gravitated towards the hedgehog themed items but she also has a wide range of nature themed items which includes badgers, squirrels, flowers and butterflies. This would make a perfect gift for yourself or someone else. 

Enter link >> Twitter Link

I am holding a competition to win this pendant over on my X (formerly Twitter account).

Rules:

Follow @susan1375:

Like, comment and retweet the competition post;

Competition is open worldwide.

Closing date 02 January 11.59 GMT 2025

#win Chamilia Sterling Silver Bowtique Minnie Mouse Necklace & Earrings

 

Anyone remember Chamilia which was a Swarovski owned company? They closed in 2020. They did several collaborations with Disney and Harry Potter. They weren’t cheap but were well made and aimed more for the adult market than children. The pieces weren’t screaming Disney but if you were a fan you knew. 

I purchased a few pieces when stores were selling the jewellery items off, put them in a box in my prize cupboard and forgot about them. I found it when I was emptying out the cupboard of doom last week, so for the next few months I will be giving items away. 

The first prize I shall be giving away is the Minnie Mouse Bowtique Sterling Silver necklace and studs (for pierced ears). I have 2 sets so shall give away one here and one on Instagram- you can enter both. The Bowtique set is very understated- the earrings are tiny sterling silver Minnie bows set with sparkling crystals. The sterling silver necklace has a small built in extender and a larger bow which matches the studs. 

Links to the competitions:

Rafflecopter competition >> a Rafflecopter giveaway

Instagram competition >> IG post

RULES:

BLOG COMPETITION: 

To enter my Rafflecopter competition you must:

Complete the compulsory rafflecopter option;

Complete other Rafflecopter options for extra entries;

Competition is open internationally;

Closing date is 02 January 2025 11.59pm GMT

This competition is not affiliated with Swarovski, Blogger or Rafflecopter I purchased the item myself. Any questions please contact me. 

INSTAGRAM: 

To enter the Instagram competition you must:

Follow my account;

Like and comment on the competition post;

Like and comment on other posts for extra entries;

Competition is open worldwide;

Closing date is 02 January 11.59pm GMT

This competition is not affiliated with Swarovski, META, Facebook or Instagram. I purchased the item myself. Any questions please contact me.