8/22/2018

Finding My Perfect Summertime Bouquet From Blossoming Gifts* | Just Add Ginger


There's just something about having fresh flowers in my home that makes my soul happy. I don't know whether it is the fragrance, the aesthetic, or my romantic nature. Whatever the reason - if there is ever an excuse for me to have a vase sitting on my mantelpiece displaying a pretty posy or bouquet you know I'm going to jump on it.

Blossoming Gifts reached out to me a few weeks ago and asked if I would like to receive one of their bouquets to review. How could I say no? Only ever sticking to the same online stores for flowers and after spotting the most perfect bunch that really spoke to me I gladly accepted and waited for my bouquet to arrive.

kitchen table displaying a vase of flowers, box of chocolates and notecard

When it comes to flowers, I am really drawn to those that are more neutral in colour (roses being my absolute favourite for sentimental reasons) and in particular, bouquets that contain a lot of foliage. Comprised of Oriental Lilies, Avalanche Roses, Cinerea Eucalyptus and Salal, on first glance the White Rose & Lily bouquet seemed to combine everything I love and I knew that had to be the one I chose and I couldn't wait for them to arrive so I could put them pride of place in the brand new vase I had bought for them.

The bouquet arrived promptly on the delivery day I had selected and was packaged really safely, securely fastened to the box with the stems bound together, hydrated, a plastic covering around the blooms themselves and all tied up with a chic ribbon. The box itself was beautiful - not cheesy or over the top, but just enough to make you feel really special and want to open the box in excited anticipation. 

photo of a bouquet of closed oriental lilies and avalanche roses

close up of two avalanche roses

After preparing and arranging the flowers I took a step back to review what the bouquet looked like fully assembled. The roses were all fully opened however the lilies were all still closed. This did not change the visual impact of the flowers though. They looked beautiful - a mix of greens and whites and varying textures and shapes and they made a beautiful addition to our kitchen, really standing out against the warm grey tones of our walls and the print directly behind on the wall.

close up photo of an oriental lily and avalanche rose

close up photo of eucalyptus leaves

With a '7 day freshness guarantee' I decided to track what the bouquet looked like over the course of a week to see if Blossoming Gifts delivered on this promise. For a few days after the delivery the lilies stayed closed with only a few looking like they were getting ready to open. On day five the first one blossomed, with three others following shortly behind. 

The roses stayed crisp and white, with only a few starting to look a little tired by the time the first lily appeared. At the time of writing this review we are on day seven and it looks as though the rest of the lilies are going to make an appearance soon. The roses are still pretty much all going strong.

Hand on heart I have been genuinely so impressed by the quality of these flowers. I'm always a little sceptical when it comes to ordering bouquets online but considering how long these flowers have lasted I am well and truly blown away and so happy. Every time I see them sitting on our kitchen table I just can't help but smile. They are just perfect.

close up photo of an avalanche rose

close up photo of eucalyptus leaves with avalanche rose in foreground

close up photo of an oriental lily and avalanche rose

Blossoming Gifts not only sell flowers but also an array of gifts - from alcoholic to those with the biggest sweet tooth. They also offer 'next day flowers 7 days a week' so if you doing some last minute shopping for someone special, they are definitely worth a visit.

I am absolutely in love with the White Lily & Rose bouquet and am dreading the day when I have to say goodbye to it. The flowers have delivered on their longevity, look stunning, chic and finishes of our kitchen beautifully. Eric has also taken an interest in it too and it gives us something to talk about while he is eating his breakfast. 

bouquet of oriental lilies and avalanche roses

Offering a range of beautiful flowers at really competitive prices, Blossoming Gifts has blown every other online flower retailer I know out of the water. This bouquet has made the most perfect summertime addition to our home and now my only problem is I need to find a good enough reason to buy a replacement because I'm going to miss them so much!

* I was very kindly gifted the White Lily & Rose bouquet from Blossoming Gifts to review. This does not affect my opinions. For more information, please see my disclaimer.

8/15/2018

Little Tikes Light 'n' Go 3-in-1 Activity Walker* | Just Add Ginger


Eric has always been a fickle little thing when it comes to toys he likes to play with. One minute he'll be tearing around the living room clutching a plastic car and the next he's happy sitting and turning the pages of a book. 

However cause and effect toys are still a big hit with Eric - especially ones that play sounds, move, sing or dance along to music. He finds them fascinating and will go back to them over and over again,  exploring the different ways he can get them make noise. The Little Tikes Light 'n' Go 3-in-1 Sports Zone* has been such a big hit with him for that reason, and knowing how much he has gotten out of it, when the opportunity arose for us to try the Little Tikes Light 'n' Go 3-in-1 Activity Walker I couldn't really refuse! 

toddler playing with the little tikes 3-in-1 walker

The walker is pretty easy to set up, the whole process probably taking about 5-10 minutes. It is multifunctional with different height levels depending on what you want it to do and - like with the Sports Zone - it can be folded down and neatly tucked away should you need it to be (ideal if you are lacking in storage or if you don't want your living room to look like a toy shop).

We set up the walker one evening when Eric had gone to bed and placed it in the middle of the living room ready for the morning. Personally I never really like to make a big fuss over new toys because I don't want to force Eric to feel he can only play with one thing. It's more exciting just leaving things sitting around to seeing if he notices that they are there. 

As soon as he spotted the walker he was straight over to it, a curious half smile on his face, ready to investigate.

toddler playing with the little tikes light 'n' go walker

toddler playing with the little tikes light 'n' go walker

He was particularly taken with the light show, catching on to what he had to do to make them appear and pushing the walker up and down. He also really enjoyed lifting the flaps and sliding the movable plastic elements up and down to see what would happen. 

The walker has three different modes of play there is a lot for a little one to explore. Each offer an educational aspect, teaching your child about colour, melody and music. There are things to spin, flaps to lift and buttons to press. 

A voice offers encouraging phrases, a tune begins to play and a light projector is triggered when the toy is pushed, and the more motion it senses, the more music is played and lights glow. So if your baby is learning to walk, this is a clever little touch that will help cheer them on. 

toddler looking at the little tikes light 'n' go walker

Not just a walker, but with the ability to use it as a stationary activity table for older ones or the option to simply be placed flat on the floor as a play centre for smaller babies, the Light 'n' Go walker really is a toy that can grow with your baby. From a mum's perspective that's something I really like - toys that are multifunctional, are really going to last and won't just be a two minute wonder!  

toddler playing with the little tikes light 'n' go walker

toddler playing with the little tikes light 'n' go walker

Little Tikes have really nailed it again when it comes to creating something that allows little ones to take ownership of their play and with Eric being the age he is, he did not need my help using any aspects of the walker. Of course if he was younger this may be different but for the stage he is at, it really helps nurture his independence.

The walker also provided us with lots to talk about, and I spent some time looking for different animals with him and playing peekaboo. Eric is babbling away at the moment and we think he is about to start talking properly soon (we hope at least) so anything that encourages him to do that is a winner in our eyes. 

toddler boy playing with the little tikes light 'n' go walker

There is just one minor negative that I've found with the walker and that is the volume of the motor. It does seem to be quite loud. Now I don't know if this is just our one but if the walker is not in motion and the lights are triggered there is a pretty noisy whirring sound that starts up. It doesn't last for long but it does happen so I thought it might be worth a mention.

I really, really like the Little Tikes Light 'n' Go 3-in-1 Activity Walker. It is durable, colourful, and encourages a lot of baby's emerging and developing skills (hand eye co-ordination and motor are definitely addressed). It is also really easy to modify, changing from flat to standing in a few seconds and all one handed friendly

close up shot of the little tikes light 'n' go walker

Eric may be full of beans and a whirlwind when it comes to play but the 3-in-1 walker from Little Tikes is definitely something that he won't be growing out of any time soon. And even when the time eventually comes when he is too big for it, you can bet your bottom dollar we'll be storing it away for our future babies because, well, I just love it.

Have you ever tried anything from Little Tikes? Let me know about your experiences in the comments.
* I was very kindly gifted the Little Tikes Light 'n' Go Activity Walker to review. This does not affect my opinions. For more information, please see my disclaimer.