Tablets and iPads are becoming increasingly popular and they are not just for corporate meetings and presentations. There are thousands of us now using tablets and iPads to help us decide what to put on the dinner table!

Home chefs now have access to a myriad of apps and websites that have thousands of recipes and meal ideas and tablets are making it easy to access these from their kitchen.

The problem? Cooking gets messy! The last thing we want to do is get some batter stuck in the speaker, some stock dripping onto the screen or oily finger marks all over our shiny new tablet.

Belkin has come up with a solution for this problem!

The Belkin Tablet Stand with smart stylus

Stylish and practical, the Belkin Tablet stand sits on your kitchen bench top and comes with an amazing stylus that allows you to navigate the tablet without your fingers touching the screen! The stylus is sturdy, made from a material with comfortable grip and can be washed easily afterwards with warm, soapy water.

This would make a perfect addition to any kitchen and would also be a perfect gift.

Model number: F5L099qe RRP $49.95

I’ve always been a fan of the humble pancake, so the arrival of the Breville Pancake Creations for review was a good excuse to stray from my usual breakfast choices of toast or muesli. It was time to indulge in some serious pancake making!

I decided to make it a weekend affair, boycotting my usual indulgence of eating brunch out in favour of cooking up pancakes for myself and the housemates. The appeal of Breville’s Pancake Creations is that it’s ridiculously easy to use – much the same as cooking up pancakes pan-style, except it’s cleaner, straightforward and you are guaranteed to turn out delicious pancakes.

Make the pancake mix

My staple recipe is pretty basic: one cup of self-raising flour, one cup of milk, one egg and a teaspoon of butter. Use the measuring scoop provided and put the mixture into the Pancake Creations (which looks not unlike a small sandwich maker). It makes four pancakes at a time and doesn’t need to be flipped with a spatula, as the appliance features rotational hinges. Just turn it over and a few minutes later four hot, beautifully round and thick pancakes await.

While there’s something wonderful about the smell of pancakes cooking, there’s something even more appetising about tucking into a stack of homemade hot pancakes you made yourself.  Our house now has more than a few pancake ‘creation’ days planned, with some branching out into pancakes with a savoury bent for a different take on lunch/dinner.

A fun little kitchen addition.

I bought a new bed the other month and since purchasing it have wanted nothing more than to buy new bedding. I have already invested in a new quilt and sheet set, so reviewing the Logan & Mason Pure Latex Pillow was a nice accompaniment. I’ve always been more than a little curious about latex pillows, so this was a perfect opportunity to give them a test run.

At first glance, latex cushions can seem a little foreign, as they look so firm. But this is actually what makes them most beneficial. Designed to support the neck and head, pure latex pillows are said to encourage a more restful sleep.

I struggled a little on my first night sleeping with the latex pillow, as it felt quite different to my usual soft feather and down pillow. Anyway, after reading for a while to distract myself I eventually fell asleep. A week in and I am quite the fan. It’s largely a matter of becoming accustomed to it. I do feel that my head is better supported and my sleep is deeper and less broken.

I think I’ll be buying another Logan & Mason Pure Latex Pillow to accompany this one. Added bonuses are that it is dust mite and bacteria resistant and will last for years.

There’s been a lot of buzz around Argan oil in recent months. The oil is produced from kernels found inside fruit that grows on wild Argan trees native only to Morocco, and is extracted via cold pressing.

The rare oil is commonly labelled as ‘liquid gold’ by many in the beauty and hair care industries due to it being naturally rich in antioxidants, vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Its nutritive and healing properties make it a powerful ingredient in helping heal and repair various ailments in skin and hair, so I was more than a little interested to see if the Agadir Argan oil would live up to its ‘miracle’ reputation.

Made with 100 per cent pure and certified Argan oil, this leave-in spray treatment can be used every day. Formulated to repair and nourish dry or damaged hair, it’s also designed to help shield hair from damage caused by heated appliances such as straighteners and hair dryers.

My hair – which is prone to frizz and dryness – was ideal for giving Agadir Argan Oil a test run.  After a week of applying the leave-in treatment every day I have to say it’s quite effective. Easily absorbed and not at all greasy, my hair felt softer, healthier and less brittle. While products containing Argan oil do tend to cost a little more, it has to be said that this so-called ‘miracle’ product does actually deliver close to what it promises.

As one might expect of long weekends, I really enjoyed the recent four-day Easter break.

I spent much of my time sharing delicious meals and catching up with family and friends. I also figured it would be an ideal testing ground for this week’s product review, the Mini Cooper Official licensed remote control car, among its most potential owners: kids (in this instance, my niece and nephew).

In the realm of remote control cars, this yellow Mini Cooper may not be the fastest or most extreme but – like its real life incarnation – it is stylish, speedy and super cute. The model is 1:14 in scale and 25.6cm (length) x 12cm (width) x 10.5cm (height). It doesn’t require any assembly, so it’s simply a matter of unpacking before it’s ready to go.

The trigger-type remote control is easy to use for all ages (from toddlers through to thirty-somethings) and has full forward/reverse and left/right function control. The kids and I – and other family and friends that decided to join in on the fun and have a steer – all gave the car a good thrashing and, while small, it can withstand some decent crashes and collisions.

Priced at under $25, the Mini Cooper Official licensed remote control car is an affordable, easy-to-use toy with an all-ages appeal. It will get both adults and children vying for a go, and bring out the competitive streak in the best of us.

I wasn’t really sure what to think when the Sun Jar appeared on my desk for review. Made by Suck UK, it quite literally was a jar – a lovely looking frosted Mason one at that – with a globe encased within and no cord or visible controls. A solar powered lamp, hey?

I took the Sun Jar home and, after a quick read of the instructions, left it on my sunny kitchen window to bask in the requisite light it needed for a day. The idea behind this crafty little invention being that after several hours of sunlight the solar cell (tucked away in the lid of the jar) creates an electrical current that charges the battery over the course of the day. Once it becomes dark, an automatic light sensor in the jar is activated and the stored energy then powers the enclosed LED lamp.  Once lit, the Sun Jar emits a soft and very pretty light, which lasts a little under five hours.

The Sun Jar needs strong and consistent sunshine, so the light’s lifespan may be lower in winter or it may flicker a little. If you aren’t using the Sun Jar on any particular given night, flick the manual override switch to Charge mode. That way, the lamp will bank up the energy it has gathered until you switch it back to auto. The Sun Jar is a lovely and unique addition to a kid’s room, bedroom (though it may be a little impractical as a light to read a book under) or as an outside lamp, as it has a waterproof seal.

Spotted in the hands of the most influential babies, Sophie the Giraffe has become the latest arm candy in Hollywood and beyond.

Sophie the Giraffe is a natural rubber teething toy which is cute and easy to hold for young children.

Since 1961 more than a 50 million have been sold across the globe and its appeal still remains strong today.

We road tested Sophie on some Lasoo babies and it received roaring accolades from all. Many of the children seemed to love and respond well to the little squeaks the giraffe made and parents felt safe knowing their children were chewing on a toy made from non-toxic materials.

Ranging from around $20-$40 the Sophie Giraffe range is a must-have for parents!

Do you have a Sophie Giraffe? What are your thoughts?

Many people invest in a juicer for their home in a bid to lead a healthier lifestyle. The potential for weight loss is great and so is the potential to save money where food is concerned; especially when the cost of groceries is only getting more expensive at the checkout.

Thankfully, the Breville 900W Juice Fountain is a fabulous way to use up leftover fruits and veggies at the end of the week using its extra large feed chute and powerful 900W motor. It’s also perfect to make a fresh addition to the breakfast table and gives you peace of mind knowing that the juice your flatmates, partners or family are consuming is free from artificial colours, preservatives and nasties.

Since freshly squeezed juice is usually good for two to three days when stored in the fridge, you can squeeze in advance to save time. Make use of the 800ml juice jug; it even spares more time with the integrated froth separator.

Cleaning is a breeze, too. There’s an easy to use cleaning brush included. And if you don’t feel like washing by hand, the 900W Juice Fountain has many dishwasher safe parts so you can spend less time cleaning and more time with loved ones.

If you’re looking for a juicer, the 900W Juice Fountain is an ideal choice. The high-quality stainless steel body ensures that it will last the distance and you won’t have to replace it any time soon. And if young kids are around, you need not worry about wandering hands. The safety lock feature mechanism prevents unsafe operation.

Love reading on the go, but tired of carrying around heavy books? Perhaps you’ve tried tablets in the past and are sick of the eyesore that comes from reading backlit tablets for hours. If so, then Sony’s latest touch sensation is for you: the Sony Touch Screen e-Reader.

It’s smaller, cheaper and lighter compared to most of its counterparts on the market. Though the real benefits lie in the touch screen interface and the e-Ink screen technology.  It’s so easy to turn pages smoothly, zoom in and out and look up words you don’t understand in a dictionary with the swipe of your finger (Internet connection required). Plus, users can even write annotations just as they would in a normal paperback book.

e-Ink technology isn’t backlit, so just like a reading a real book, users need to supply their own light to read the screen which makes it incredibly easy on the eyes – there’s less glare. And since power is only used to redraw a page, the Sony Touch Screen e-Reader has an impressive one-month battery life. So you won’t get sick of constantly having to charge it and get annoyed by it dying just when you’re reading the best bit of your book!

Overall, the comfort factor is great. The device is no bigger than a paperback book and weighs in at just 168 grams –making it perfect to hold with a slightly stylish curved profile that fits gently in your hand. Best of all, it’s available in red, white or black so you can express yourself with a colour that best reflects your personality.

When my face moisturiser ran out the other week, I got to thinking that it might be time to switch brands and try something new.  So I happily agreed to review Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex. While I have used Olay moisturisers in the past, Regenerist seemed to be of a different calibre. It was more expensive than Olay’s general skincare range, the product packaging seemed more high-end, and it was a targeted product: an anti-ageing moisturiser.

I decided to take Olay’s two-week Regenerist challenge, which stated that it would “reduce the appearance of fine lines in just 14 days”. I am in my thirties, so figure anything that can help prevent and minimise deep or fine lines has to work in my favour. Regenerist is formulated with amino-peptide and pro-vitamin B5, as well as vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, green tea extract, allantoin and glycerin – basically a swag of ingredients to help plump the life back into your skin.

I applied Regenerist every morning and evening, after cleansing my skin, to my face and neck. It has a delicate pleasant fragrance and is quite light to touch and apply. I found it absorbed easily and didn’t feel at all oily or thick. My skin felt hydrated and, after a few days, I have to admit that my skin felt softer and nicer. Two weeks on, I found I am quite happy with Regenerist and the way it makes my skin feel – though I don’t know if I can claim it made the lines on my face disappear. I think it’s a good pick as an anti-ageing facial moisturiser, but only wish it had an inbuilt sunscreen.