Gtech Hylite Upright Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Having any kind of decoration or building work done comes with the mess, dirt, spills, splashes and of course dust and the worst thing that can happen in the middle of all that is your hoover deciding it has had enough and is no longer going to work.  I was kindly gifted the Gtech Hylite to try and after a good 3 months of using it, I thought I would share my thoughts.

The Gtech Hylite is an upright, lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner which is described as offering an outstanding cleaning performance as well as being robust, durable and a product which needs very little maintenance.  On all of those fronts, it sounds like a perfect replacement for my former hoover, but for me, it comes with a mixed review.

I love that it is lightweight and it most definitely is durable. It is compact enough that I can store it in the kitchen drawer when it isn't being used.  It has a battery, which when charged gives 20 minutes of cleaning time, which if you live in a one-bedroom flat like I do, then that is more than enough time to complete hoovering each room.  

It is a bagged hoover, so definitely something to think about when making a purchase, even though a replacement pack of 15 costs just £12.99.  It can be put together and taken apart in a matter of seconds and cleaning the hoover is really easy to do so there is the option to use the long handle option for hoover the floors or the shorter handle option for the stairs and even your furniture and on the front of the hoover is a pair of LED lights, a feature which makes it easy to see where you are hoovering and if you are about to pick something up that could cause a blockage - elastic bands for example!

Gtech claims that the Hylite collects dirt 1cm from the ground and because it doesn't have to suck it up through a hose blockages are reduced and you, therefore, spend less time taking everything to bits to find out what is causing the issue.  The biggest issue for me is what it does actually collect to perform its role as a hoover and the simple answer is not very much.  We have two rooms which are carpeted - the lounge and the bedroom, the other rooms have either tiled floors (Kitchen and Bathroom) or a wooden floor, so we have ample surfaces for this Hylite to be tried on and I wasn't that impressed with its performance on carpet.  We have cats, so naturally, there will be pet hair on the floor, instead of hoovering it up, it almost collected it into a ball and left it on the carpet.  It didn't touch anything on the rug that we have, being a black rug you can see all kinds of dirt and things, after a good 15 minutes of hoovering it didn't look any different.  So I turned my attention to the non-carpet rooms and it did do a lot better.  Having emptied some of the dust out of my old hoover on to the wooden floor to try it, it did pick up 90% of what was to be picked up, but it still left bits that I needed to go over with a dustpan and brush.  On tiled flooring, it was a little better than the other options, but not perfect and again, I had to use the dustpan and brush to ensure the floors were as clean as they could be.  The other issue is that because it is so compact, as soon as the hoover bag is full, it obviously cannot collect anything else and it stops picking up absolutely anything at all until the bag is changed.

This hoover is clearly not going to give you 100%, it has a lot of good points which include being compact, easy to use, easy to put together and take apart, it doesn't block, it has the option of being used with a long or short handle, it is lightweight, definitely durable and comes to part enough to fit inside a bag and then put into a kitchen drawer or cupboard.

It is great for a quick once over the floors but that is where it doesn't quite hit the spot for me.  I have a busy life and don't have time to hoover, re-hoover and then go over my floors with a dustpan and brush.  So I am on the fence with how I feel about the Gtech Hylite because it is everything I want with looks, style and durability but just not quite there on the job it is there to do.

The Gtech Hylite is on sale for £199.99 here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Gus and Bella Best Mum Cat Box

Anyone who knows me or follows me on social media will know that I am a mad cat lady, we currently have two fur kids who mean the absolute world to us and despite still coming to the terms with the loss of one fur baby last Summer, the boys have continued to be quite the support. Gus and Bella got in touch to see if I would like to review their latest box and naturally I agreed. Gus and Bella is a subscription box for both cats and humans and it is such a cute idea that you can treat both the cat and the owner in one big box!

Gus and Bella came to being after being inspired by two cats, known as Gus and Bella and like my boys, they were central parts of the family. Gus and Bella were indoor cats and the idea of the gift box was born out of a desire to help other cat owners to find a new way to treat their furry friends and occasionally themselves.  As soon as this box arrived, my two seemed to know it was for them and couldn't wait to see what was inside.

The cat subscription box delivering happiness
to cats and their humans

The March box theme is "Best Cat Mum" in honour of Mothers Day and it is filled with little treats for both you and your cat(s) and as soon as you remove the box from the outer packaging, the first item is the Rosewood Jolly Moggy Play Tunnel, an item I have always purchased when we have got a new kitten as it creates hours of fun, even now, my two play with the tunnel as a means to jump out on one another in a game of chase, so this is a welcomed addition.

Then inside the box is a whole host of treats that got one of my boys very excited, so much so he pretty much tried everything there was on offer and laid in the presentation box and fought me if I dared to touch anything to take a photo.

My Cat Grass - All of my cats have always been a fan of cat grass, we always buy one of the grow your own kits in the summer for them to munch their way through. 

If you didn't know, cat grass is really beneficial for your kitty and not only does it help them to deal with furballs, it also helps with preventing constipation, aids digestion and encourages water intake.  This is a great item within the box.

Hi-Life Cat Treats - Another favourite for my boys comes in the form of cat treats, as soon as they hear the packet rattle they come bounding through into the kitchen to see what is on offer.  From Hi-Life we have the 'It's Only Natural Chicken Breast Treats'. 

This freeze-dried treat is made using just 100% chicken breast and it has been carefully diced to ensure it is the right sized portion.

For the cats again we have two further bags of biscuits with the Arden Garden grain free treats in Ocean White Fish and Potato and Fresh Chicken and potato flavours. Arden Grange is a family business whose core philosophy of ‘nutrition without compromise’ is the foundation on which Arden Grange has been built. 

All ingredients within their foods have been included for their nutritional value and promote optimum health and vitality.

Up next we have the Gus & Bella customised travel candle which is a really cute addition to the box and alongside them is a bag of Hames chocolate Hearts and a really cute designed "Happy Catmum Day" card.

Finally, we have a Flamingo Candles Mother of Cats - This is probably my favourite item in the box and it is called a Mother of Cats Key Tag and is has 'Mother of Cats' engraved on black acrylic with a silver keyring. For me, this is perfect for adding to my bunch of office keys which has a very worn out Mickey Mouse.

The Gus and Bella Box is a subscription service and it costs £26.95 per month or £28.95 every two months and with that is £2.95 for postage and packaging.  You can also use the option to purchase one-off box, such as this one, then it costs £30 plus p&p which I personally think is an absolute bargain and my boys would agree with that too!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Glossybox - All Eyes On Me

All Eyes On Me is the title of the March Edition of Glossybox and it is designed to make you feel more confident than ever.  The Glossies have curated a box which features five products, four of which are said to be makeup must-haves and one skincare item.

I really like that there is a mixture of makeup and skincare within this box and whilst I have tried some of the products before, there are some I have now.

First out of the box from Eyeko is the well known Black Magic Mascara. This is an award-winning mascara which is enriched with a botanical Shea Butter blend which helps to take care of your lashes whilst at the same time intensely volumising and curling. 

Housed inside a silver squeezy tube the conditioning, Keratin-enriched formula works in tandem with the curved brush by coating every lash from root to tip to lengthen, lift and add curves. I like that this is not a clumpy mascara and I like how easy the brush can be wiggled between my lashes, top and bottom.

From Ciate London comes the Stamp & Drag Liner Duo. Described as being the must-have tool for winged eyeliner.  I have a love/hate relationship with eyeliner, I either wear or I don't but it is never the product I feel lost without.

Featuring a pointed tip on one end of the pen which allows you to draw that precise line across your lashline and a wing-shaped stamp on the other end to ensure you get that symmetrical wing shape.  I like that the pen itself is quite chunky to hold onto and the liner itself is a dark black shade.

Moving away from makeup to skincare and from Sebamed we have the Q10 Eye cream. This Lifting Eye Cream is specially formulated with co-enzyme Q10 to help slow down the appearance of ageing around our eyes.

Q10 is a natural antioxidant that protects your skin from free radical damage as well as helping to maintain the skin's elasticity and increase the production of new skin cells.  I like that this is not a thick formula and it is one which once applied, is not at all greasy or tacky on the skin, over time I would be intrigued to see the effects it does have on those fine lines around the eyes.

From MCoBeauty comes a long-lasting lipstick and I have the shade flawless. Described as having an ultra-creamy formula which is intensely hydrating, this lipstick is one which glides effortlessly onto the lips.

The shade flawless is a bright pink shade and one that is perfect for the warmer months, though not a shade for me as it doesn't suit my skin tone, but I do have another lipstick from this brand and I do like how it feels on the lips, almost weightless and balm-like.

The final product within this box is an old favourite from Sleek with the Solstice Highlighter Palette.

This palette is easy to recognise owing to its gold packaging. Inside, the palette features 4 stunning shades - Ecliptic, Hemisphere, Subsolar and Equinox of two are baked powders, one luxurious cream formula and one silky shimmer powder.

I think this is another really good box from Glossybox and one which features products I am definitely using for myself.

As always you can subscribe to Glossybox right here and if you use the code BQUEEN20 you can get yourself 20% off that first box!  

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

How To Work Through Problems In Your Relationship

Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

Relationships generally start with a flurry of rainbows, happy memories, and romantic gestures. For the first few weeks, months, or even years of a relationship, it may feel as though you are walking on air when you are around each other. But make no mistaking, being in a committed and loving relationship can be tough at times. As time goes on, you begin to share your problems together. Soon, something that is a major stressor for one of you, will become a stressor for both of you. There will be times when your interests clash, and there will be moments where you feel as though your lives are pulling in separate directions. 

If you are married, as these tensions build-up, it can lead to both of your looking for reasons for divorce rather than trying to cling onto a reason to stay together. Sadly, it is often easier to walk away from a relationship than it is to repair the damage. 

Here are some tips on working through some difficult times in your relationship. 

Identify The Problem But Do Not Assign Blame - Blame and guilt are complex emotions and they can tear two lovers apart. If you are worried about stresses and strains in your relationship, and you feel as though you are constantly butting heads, try and work out what has happened and where the problem lies. You need to address this in a way that does not assign blame or guilt on one of you as there are often very reasons for tensions in a relationship that should be worked through in a supportive way. 

If you can both agree to the areas in which the problems are and are either happy to draw a line under it and solve the problem together, or both admit to any elements of responsibility freely, then you will be able to move on from this point. 

Get Help - Communication can often go out of the window in a relationship. You may not notice it leaving, but once you have an inability to talk about the important matters such as your feelings, then you will hit a hurdle that neither of you can move past. This type of communication breakdown may be caused by the traumatic experience of repeated arguments, or it could be due to an inability for one or both of you to process emotions elsewhere in your lives. 

By sitting down with a couple’s therapist, you will be able to learn to communicate with each other. Communication often starts with being able to listen to each other, and a therapist may teach you to hear and understand what your partner is actually saying without you interjecting and it becoming an argument. 

Remembering Why You Fell In Love - One of the most important things to hold onto is the reasons that you fell in love with each other. You will have meant something very specific to each other, and talking through what you actually mean can remind you of what you need to hold on to and work through. 

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.