Saal Digital is a professional photo lab based in Germany, I was asked to review a wall decor product for them.
I chose the Alu-Dibond Format in a 40x60 size without any mounting as I like to use the really strong sticky pads as they don't ruin the walls and you can mount the wall art flat against the wall.
Their website https://www.saal-digital.co.uk/ is easy to navigate and I clicked through the menu option of Wall Decors. I was a bit confused as to which type of wall decor I wanted but the chart on their website made it easy to choose:
I like the alu finish for a lot of my photos as I like the matt feel, I was torn between the normal and the butlerfinish. The normal is matte and the butlerfinish is brushed, I would like to have tried the two to see the difference. I ended up going for the normal one as I have had that finish before so I know what it is like.
The finish is a nice matte texture up close, at a distance you don't notice the texture. It is very thin which also makes it very light and easily mounted to the wall with sticky pads, it then hardly sticks out from the wall at all unlike a canvas.
The colours are exactly as the photo.
I would recommend Saal Digital, their prices are reasonable too, this was just over £50 with postage. It also arrived in under a week, we have used Snapfish before now and find they can take over a week to deliver.
I have not been paid for this post, however a £50 voucher towards the product in order to review. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity.
Team Stokey
Reviews for your pets and children and more. We enjoy an active, adrenaline filled life with our young daughter, bengal cats and dogs. I am a keen photographer and videographer.
Friday, 13 July 2018
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Purplebricks
We have been using Tepilo to sell our property and we marketed it with them from October last year. At the time we did have Purplebricks round to value as well but to be quite honest I wasn't keen on the representative from Purplebricks, he was a bit like you imagine an estate agent to be and was a bit pushy, had brought comparable houses he printed off which weren't really comparable. So we went with Tepilo.
Earlier this year Mumsnet asked for people to review Purplebricks, we hadn't been having a lot of interest through Tepilo so I jumped at the chance to join as we had the basic package without a cost in order to review.
We had our valuation appointment early May and it was someone different this time, Alan, he was lovely and not pushy at all, he had done his research and was sensible with the price and comparable properties. He really seemed like he wanted to help and to sell the property for us.
Alan wrote the description and took some photos from different angles so they looked different from Tepilo's photos. We had a link to the draft property on the website and approved it so Alan sent it live. Tepilo work a bit differently as you have to write the description yourself which isn't as bad as you think but I do think that the description Alan has written for Purplebricks reads better as he is doing that day in day out.
As soon as the property went on the market with them we had a couple of viewings, these were really easy to manage through their app, whereas with Tepilo you have to login to their site as they don't have an app. Once they have viewed you confirm it on the app and they then get asked for feedback from Purplebricks, really easy process.
We rarely hear from Tepilo and when we do they can't really give us any ideas as to how to get more viewings etc. However with Purplebricks, Alan is really good at coming up with different ideas such as offering to take part exchanges, swapping the photos round etc. He is very good at chasing up feedback from viewings etc.
So if you are considering an online agent and are choosing between Tepilo and Purplebricks, I would go for Purplebricks. Their app makes life a lot easier and you do get a lot more support from them too.
Earlier this year Mumsnet asked for people to review Purplebricks, we hadn't been having a lot of interest through Tepilo so I jumped at the chance to join as we had the basic package without a cost in order to review.
We had our valuation appointment early May and it was someone different this time, Alan, he was lovely and not pushy at all, he had done his research and was sensible with the price and comparable properties. He really seemed like he wanted to help and to sell the property for us.
Alan wrote the description and took some photos from different angles so they looked different from Tepilo's photos. We had a link to the draft property on the website and approved it so Alan sent it live. Tepilo work a bit differently as you have to write the description yourself which isn't as bad as you think but I do think that the description Alan has written for Purplebricks reads better as he is doing that day in day out.
As soon as the property went on the market with them we had a couple of viewings, these were really easy to manage through their app, whereas with Tepilo you have to login to their site as they don't have an app. Once they have viewed you confirm it on the app and they then get asked for feedback from Purplebricks, really easy process.
We rarely hear from Tepilo and when we do they can't really give us any ideas as to how to get more viewings etc. However with Purplebricks, Alan is really good at coming up with different ideas such as offering to take part exchanges, swapping the photos round etc. He is very good at chasing up feedback from viewings etc.
So if you are considering an online agent and are choosing between Tepilo and Purplebricks, I would go for Purplebricks. Their app makes life a lot easier and you do get a lot more support from them too.
Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Rustlers Burger Hacking Challenge!
I have looked in the shops at the Rustlers burgers before
and never actually bought them, I like burgers but I like
proper meat in my burger and not just the rubbish cuts. Rustlers state that they use 'quality chicken' so I thought I would give this challenge a go. We were challenged to add to
the burger to make a balanced meal that is also fun and creative.
I found a great website that had some recipes listed for
healthier sides (http://www.eatthis.com/healthy-side-dishes) so I used a couple
but I also made them my own:
Mediterranean Salsa
This was so easy to do and had some healthy pulses and veg
in there too. I used a small can of
chick peas, black olives, tomatoes, red onion, basil, feta and tossed it all in
a swig of olive oil and lemon juice.
This went really well with the sweet potato fries.
Veggie Kebabs
My daughter loves these, because they are on a stick it somehow
is really exciting! She enjoyed helping
me put the veggies on the stick and also eating them! Another great way to make veggies fun and you
can use anything you want. We had
courgettes, tomatoes, mushrooms and aubergines, sprayed them with some Fry Light
and into the oven at 220degrees C for 15 minutes. Really tasty and went really well with the
burger.
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower
Again an easy dish and because hubby doesn’t normally like
cauliflower I have to try and make it tasty!
Split out some florets, put them in a baking tray, spray them with some
fry light and crush some garlic over them with grated parmesan. Into the oven with the veggie kebabs. Super tasty!
Finally we put some carrots, parsnips and sweet potatoes in
the Actifry instead of chips, I am actually not that fussed over chips and my
daughter is the same but she enjoyed all of these.
I think we created a really balanced meal as most of it was veggies
and they had only had a small coating of oil, it also created a bit of fun with
the kebabs which can be tailored to suit any taste.
Rustlers Southern Fried Chicken Burger
The burgers were quick and easy, taking just 90 seconds in
the microwave. They are £2.50 for a Twin
Pack, each burger is only small (140g) – about the same as a Mayo Chicken from
McDonalds. As I thought about this I
thought I would compare how much ‘healthier’ the Rustlers burger was to a McDonalds
as I expected it to be a healthier option. I was
surprised to find that the Rustler burger had 100 more calories, a gram more
sugar, nearly a gram more salt, 0.6g more saturated fat but it did have a couple
of grams more protein. There is also
nowhere on the Rustlers burger that states what type of chicken is used, the texture
of the burger is quite lumpy and rubbery, they market the product as being
quality chicken but it doesn’t actually state chicken breast anywhere and
usually if it is it will be detailed as such, my idea of quality chicken is
chicken breast. McDonalds state their
burger is Chicken Breast Meat and it has a lot better texture. The burger coating on the Rustler doesn’t
crisp up as it is only heated up in the microwave. The taste of the southern fried chicken is good as some coatings can be a bit spicy and my daughter doesn't like that.
We are a busy family yes however by the time you have done accompaniments
to make the burger a balanced meal then it is not any quicker than cooking
perhaps a chicken burger from frozen which will taste better, be crispy and you
can find something made from 100% chicken breast. These burgers are more for people like my husband
who throws them in the microwave for a quick lunch at work. I wouldn’t choose to feed them to my children
again, they also work out expensive, if I buy two twin packs it is £5. I could buy 4 (100% chicken breast) burgers
from Tesco for £1.50 and 4 buns for 70p so a saving of £2.30 – which mounts up
if you do that every week! Our challenge
stated ‘Rustlers provides a quick, convenient and affordable meal when mums
need it most’ but I really can’t see that myself, it’s a quick, convenient ‘snack’
not a meal.
This was a fun challenge it made me think about making
mealtimes more fun, my daughter loves her veg so I don’t have to be that
creative and this challenge made me be more creative and made dinner time fun. I did want to love the burger but I just can’t
see its place in a family meal, it still remains to me as a quick snack type
lunch for someone at work or college. Hubby has enjoyed taking the remaining burger to work for his lunch!
Why don't you have a go at the Rustlers Burger Hacking Challenge, make yourself a quick meal! #RustlersHack
Why don't you have a go at the Rustlers Burger Hacking Challenge, make yourself a quick meal! #RustlersHack
This post is an entry for BritMums Rustlers Burger Hacking
Challenge, sponsored by Rustlers http://rustlersonline.com/
Thursday, 4 January 2018
Goodwins, Tettenhall
We visited Goodwins, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton a little before Christmas and I never did share our thoughts. We walked in and had a warm welcome from a cheerful waitress who showed us to our table. The décor inside is lovely, classy and modern.
We were surprised at the prices, we visited on a Sunday so we had the option of Sunday lunch. The Roast Beef is £9.99 which I think is really good value compared to other upmarket pubs in the area whose service and food quality leave a lot to be desired!!
I did go for the roast beef and it was amazing! I don't normally go for beef as it is normally overcooked, chewy and dry, this was not. It was beautiful and pink, so tender, lots of veg, home made Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes that were so soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The waitress was happy to bring us a drop more gravy for our meals.For dessert we had the Cookie Dough Cheesecake and Cheesecake Bombe (a rich millionaire caramel rolled in choc chips, then surrounded with creamy buttermilk cheesecake, rolled in crunchy golden oat biscuit crumb. Served with chocolate pudding ice cream). I do like something different rather than the usual run of the mill desserts, these were lovely and good portion sizes too. Coming in both under £5, they were good value for money too.
As a summary, I would really recommend Goodwins, they aren't overpriced for a nice pub/wine bar in the area. I would say they are priced about right, the drinks were good value too. Service was exceptional it really was, our waitress was really attentive and pleasant. It is one we will be returning too :)
Thursday, 21 December 2017
Santa Safari - Hawkstone Park & Follies
Last year we went to Lapland just before Christmas so this year we decided to go all out for Santa and just do one 'special' visit rather than a few at local fairs/town centres etc. We decided upon Hawkstone which is just north of Shrewsbury. It is £17 per adult and £18 per child during daylight hours and £20 per adult, £22 per child during twilight. We decided to go during daylight as I thought I may get better photos but actually the majority of it was in the caves so it would have been nice during twilight.
You meet at the hotel for a cup of hot chocolate and get taken by land rover to the caves up at the top of the hill. You pass under the wishing arch and arrive at the top to be greeted by elves. I do feel the car ride could have been made to feel more festive. It would only take a few small touches such as playing Christmas songs in the car, the driver could have been dressed more festive, perhaps some tinsel in the car etc. It didn't feel the 'magical adventure by Land Rover' that they market it as.
Once you are at the top an elf gathers you together and runs through some health and safety. There are two reindeer in a small wooden box which I thought was a little odd as they looked a bit cramped and we were told you couldn't touch them. I felt a bit sorry for them, they could have had a bigger area to wander round in.
Families were staggered when entering the cave so that everyone didn't go through at the same time and there be a queue for santa. This was a nice touch. As you walked through the caves there were different festive/wintery scenes such as Winnie the Pooh and friends, Minions where the children could have a go at remote control ice skating with them, Trolls, Unicorns & Fairies and Mario Kart where they had a little car race track and podium for the children to have a go with. At each section an elf greeted you and chatted to the children, leading you on to the next section of the cave again making sure everyone was staggered.
You came to a bench surrounded by festive trees where you waited for Santa behind a closed door. Again an elf came to the door and lead you through to Santa who was sitting in a lovely big sleigh. Everyone could sit in the sleigh and he had a box in front of him the children could sit on so they didn't have to sit on his lap if they didn't want to. He was a fabulous santa, gave them a present but perhaps could have done with spending a little longer talking to the children though.
You are then lead out of the back of the caves where you are met by a wonderful view of the Shropshire countryside. Down a path (which was nicely lit and would look lovely during twilight) and back to the land rovers to take you back.
Overall it was something a bit different, the caves were fabulous, it could just do with a few extra touches here and there to make it worth the money as it is expensive when you have to pay so much for the adults too. I am not sure it is worth the money? However it is a different experience you wouldn't get anywhere else.
Tuesday, 7 November 2017
Sportsdirect.com £5 Christmas Challenge
I decided to put myself forward to take part in the Sports
Direct #sdfiverchallenge Christmas Challenge.
Which is basically finding Christmas presents for under £5. I do struggle to find little stocking fillers that are good
quality but also a little unusual too. I
like to shop online and it’s difficult to get ideas.
On Sports Direct’s website you can visit this page: https://www.sportsdirect.com/christmas
and then select a price range. You can
also select who you are buying for – male, female, child etc. I just filtered for under £5 and included all
types – I was a bit disappointed to start with as it brought back lots of
football gifts and nobody in our family likes football (not uncles, in laws,
hubby – nobody!) However, once I scrolled
past these there was a lot more choice, something for everyone from toolkits to
chocolates to wrapping paper and even jumper debobblers!
I was surprised at some of the children’s toys, quite a lot
of Disney there – I bought the following:
Disney Up games are £4.99 and you can buy Princess, Cars or
Frozen – I bought a Cars one and a Princess one for relatives. These are great little games and are decent quality
for the money, they are a great price and I couldn’t find cheaper elsewhere –
Sports Direct claim they are usually £9.99 however I found them on Amazon for
£6.89 as part of Prime.
The Spirit Of Christmas 13in1 Hammer Tool was £4.99 and an
ideal stocking filler for hubby who is always looking for tools! This hammer is a real hammer and includes pliers,
wire cutter, knives, screwdrivers, a saw, a bottle opener, a wire bender, a file,
and a nail puller. Quality seems
brilliant, knives are sharp and it is a nice heavy item. He will probably keep it in his car as sometimes
needs tools with his job but doesn’t want to carry a toolkit round with
him.
My daughter is only a metre tall and she is on her knees - very small marble run! |
I also bought Marble Mountain Game for my daughter, I can
remember having one of these as a child and having great fun making different
tracks and racing the marbles, the price was £4, claiming it was usually £8. I have to say I was extremely disappointed with
this product, considering it should have normally been £8 the quality is
absolutely shocking – the plastic is really brittle. The whole thing is tiny and the connectors
don’t fit together well – the slightest knock and it falls to pieces, my
daughter dropped a marble and knocked it over, one of the connectors chipped on
the edge and it was not a hard knock at all.
This is not worth the money so I would avoid buying it.
Loop the loop doesn't fit flush and keeps falling apart |
I do think Sports Direct are expensive when it comes to delivery as it is £4.99 flat rate and it wasn't free over a certain amount, even if you have it delivered to store it costs £4.99 although you do then get a £5 voucher to spend in store. So you do have to take this into account as it may not be worth ordering if you only have one or two items, however if you are buying several items it isn't so bad. In future I will probably also stick to the branded gifts like the Disney games, the unbranded marble run was shocking quality and I am glad it wasn't a gift for a relative as it really wasn't worth the £4.
So all in all it is a great place to do some Christmas shopping at good prices and to get some gifts that you perhaps don't see every day.
So all in all it is a great place to do some Christmas shopping at good prices and to get some gifts that you perhaps don't see every day.
This post is an entry for BritMums #sdfiverchallenge
Christmas Challenge, sponsored by Sportsdirect.com. https://www.sportsdirect.com
Monday, 2 October 2017
ChileanEasyPeelers Challenge
We try to eat healthily in our house, right from day 1 I had
said that when Macy started weaning that I was going to avoid anything sweet
and she always had water or milk to drink.
As a result she does eat lots of fruit and veg and although does love
her sweets etc she actually loves fruit more 9 times out of 10.
I signed up for the #ChileanEasyPeeler Challenge, sponsored
by Citrus Fruits from Chile along with Britmums. We were sent some easy peal mandarins, which
are low in calories and fat and full of vitamin C, a rich source of fibre, folate,
potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Easy peel mandarins have a high water content as they contain
about 87 per cent water. No matter how much you encourage Macy to drink, she
usually forgets and you can’t think about it all the time, so picking foods
with a high water content like these helps to keep her hydrated. I find that
during summer we eat a lot of fruit.
Our challenge was to enjoy a summer day out as these delicious
little oranges are easy to pack up for days out and lunch boxes. However, our stumbling block has been that
since the oranges arrived it has done nothing but rain and Macy has hot lunches
at school!
Her face lit up when she opened the box and saw all the
oranges. She loves the fact that she can
go and peel them herself, they are so easy to take out with us as they aren’t
messy and she can eat them on her own.
They are a great little snack between school pick up time and
dinner. She often has swimming or a
dance class so I don’t want to give her anything substantial but she is usually
a bit hungry, these oranges are great just as a little snack that is light
enough before she is swimming or dancing.
This post is an entry for the BritMums #ChileanEasyPeelers
Challenge, sponsored by Citrus Fruits from Chile.
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