So, we’ve taken inspiration from dreamy staycations, and created a collection of blog posts that are all about helping you to have an absolutely fantastic Summer (whether you’re at home or away).
We’ve got Summer iced coffee recipes to last you the whole season.
These decadent, flavourful drinks are perfect for hot days - whether you’re hosting a party or just in the garden, they make a classy and refreshing drink.
This year, you don’t need an excuse to treat yourself. So, on a hot day in your home office, take your pick of these decadent yet easy-to-make brews.
Don’t worry if you’re busy at work - with the Smarter Coffee machine, you can whip up these drinks in no time at all. Our Smarter coffee maker allows you to brew fresh, aromatic coffee remotely, via the Smarter app. So you don’t even need to leave your desk!
If you want to have Summery Smart Coffee as a part of your WFH routine, be sure to check out our Smarter online shop, where you can find our Smarter Coffee, along with many more innovative gadgets.
[Update: Due to supply chain disruptions Smarter Coffee is out of stock]
Written by Josephine Walbank
In our previous blog (part 1 of this Spring cleaning blog series), we covered our top decluttering tips, advice on how to air your home, and key products to add to your shopping list.
In this second part of our Spring clean tips blogs, we’ll be covering:
We’ve broken everything down into types of tasks, based on their difficulty or how long they’ll take.
Below, you’ll find a key checklist of what to clean and how to clean it. You can make this your go-to guide as you tackle your Spring cleaning.
This comprehensive spring cleaning check list includes the sorts of jobs that you’d, realistically, never do otherwise. We’re here to make sure you stay focused, don’t deter from your cleaning mission, and are left feeling absolutely delighted by the end result.
So, let’s get started.
In this section, we’ve created a list of smaller cleaning jobs, along with our tips for helping you tackle them.
Doormats
These are more dirty than you may think. Take them outside and give them a good beating, then hose them down and leave them to dry outside. This will ensure that you get rid of any trapped dirt. Finally, when dry, give them a good vacuum on both sides of the mat.
Kitchen counters
Before you start, remove any electricals or items from your counters, otherwise you’ll only be cleaning around them. Hot water is key here - if your water is lukewarm, then you’ll leave streaks behind. Also, you may wish to invest in a specialist surface cleaner, or (if you have granite worktops) a counter polish. Be sure to get into any little grooves and avenues, too.
Reusable Shoppers
This might sound really extra, but trust us when we say that these can get dirty. Over time, bits of debris can build up in these bags, which isn’t a pleasant thought, when you consider the fact that you’re putting your food in there…
So take them outside and give them a good shake. Then, give the insides a good wipe down with a cloth and some hot, soapy water. Allow them to dry before popping them away again.
Chopping boards
These are key culprits for the build up of day-to-day grime. So, pop your chopping boards in the dishwasher for a good clean. Then, we’d recommend sprinkling the top of the board with baking powder, and wiping it down with a slice of lemon - trust us, it does the trick!
Bookshelves
Dust can really build up along your shelves. So run your duster along the tops of the books, and then the edges of your shelves, too. If you’re feeling really dedicated, you might even want to organise them (grouping your books by colour looks super effective).
Blankets, Duvets and Pillows
Have a read of the label to check how to wash these items, and then set your washing machine accordingly. It seems like a faff but, while you’ve set aside a day for cleaning, this is a great chance to get this job ticked off the list.
Phone and Electrical Devices
You’d be surprised by how many germs and bacteria can build up on these devices. So give them a good wipe down with an antibacterial wipe. You can do this for your phone, keyboard, TV remote, laptop, home phone, and any other devices that you use regularly.
Kitchen Cupboards
Empty out your cupboards, and then give them a good hoover to get rid of any crumbs. Finally, give the whole thing (sides and tops too) a good wipe down with warm soapy water.
Sofas
Dust, dirt and grime can soon build up under your sofa cushions. So be sure to give these (and the areas underneath them) a good vacuum. We’d also recommend using a fabric refreshing spray on them once you’ve done.
Now, we’ll be moving on to the slightly more tricky jobs. But don’t worry, you've got this.
The Kitchen Sink
This is one of those jobs that we always put off. However, boy does it feel good when it’s done.
Firstly, we’d recommend using a specialist kitchen drain cleaner, and leaving that to do it’s work (read the instructions provided). Then, give the whole thing a good scrub. We’d recommend using a mixture of standard dish soap and hot water. You can also get into the harder-to-reach areas with a toothbrush.
Or, if you have a stainless steel sink, you could use a combination of baking powder and water to get rid of any tougher stains. But, don’t use this if your sink is not made of stainless steel, as this could cause damage to your unit.
Finally, use a disinfectant, anti-bacterial spray, and spritz all over the sink (including the taps!).
Microwave
When cleaning the microwave, you can actually use it’s capabilities to your advantage. Our top tips would be to fill a bowl with water, then pop in a quartered lemon. Then, add the bowl to the microwave and put it in for around 2-3 minutes. When it pings, leave the solution to cool down (this should take around 5 minutes). Finally, remove the bowl and give the inside of your microwave a good clean with a soapy sponge and some hot water.
Kitchen Pans
Now’s the time to get rid of those stubborn stains. Our top tips for cleaning your pans would be to fill the pan with water, and add around 200ml of vinegar to the water. Then, place the pan on a low heat until the water boils. Take it off the heat, and stir in a couple of tablespoons of baking powder. Finally, rinse out your pan and give it a good scrub with a sponge - the grime should lift right off.
Curtains
Who ever has the time to clean their curtains? That’s exactly why this deep spring clean session is the perfect time to do it. Check the label on your curtains, and stick them in the washing machine on the recommended cycle. Then, once they’ve been washed and tumble dried, hang them up on the back of a door straight away - this will help to prevent any pesky creases from occurring.
Grout
Thankfully, there are some great specialist cleaners on the market for you to use for this job. Follow the instructions provided with your cleaner of choice, then grab a good stiff brush. Scrub the cleaner off in circular motions, then give the whole thing a good rinse down with some hot water.
Windows
The best way to stop streaky windows? It’s as simple as a specialist glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth. Clean in circular motions, and be sure to get every nook and cranny - you’ll have them sparkling in no time!
Kettle
Keeping your appliances clean is the best way to prolong their life, in addition to keeping them sanitised for you and your family. That’s why we recommend that you clean your iKettle every couple of months.
Thankfully, to help you with this process, we’ve detailed an all-natural kettle cleaning method in our blog. Have a read of our how to clean your iKettle guide, and you’ll get this one ticked off your to-do list with no trouble.
Fridge
Our FridgeCam is a great help with this notoriously tricky task. We’d recommend tackling this fridge deep clean as follows:
And don’t forget to tackle all the shelves, nooks and crannies. Another top tip would be to add half a lemon to the centre of the fridge when you’re done - this will help to keep it smelling fresh, too.
You can find plenty more of our top fridge cleaning-tips on our dedicated blog post. Read our full guide on how to clean your fridge here.
When faced with this list of cleaning jobs to be done, the key thing to remember is don’t let it overwhelm you. You may be one of those Spring cleaners who create a massive (completely unrealistic) list of tasks, or, you might really kick yourself if it all takes far longer than you’d expected.
Don’t be hard on yourself, and take it at your own pace - just remember, even if you only did one thing on this list, that’s far better than having done nothing!
And your Spring cleaning session doesn’t have to be a chore; try to have fun with it! Get your favourite playlist on, and be sure to reward yourself with plenty of treats (and cups of tea, of course).
We hope these blogs and our Spring cleaning check list have helped you to tackle this process with confidence. And remember, if you feel like some helping hands wouldn’t go amiss, be sure to check out the Smarter online store, where you can treat yourself to one of our FridgeCam devices. That’ll significantly cut down the stress of deep cleaning the kitchen.
Written by Josephine Walbank
Every year, as the Spring rolls around, we see all these budding plants and signs of life, which represent a new start and fresh beginnings. As such, for so many of us, the first few days of the Spring have always been synonymous with the concept of a ‘Spring clean’.
It’s a chance to get rid of all the slobbing and slovenliness that we associate with Winter (as fun as that is at the time), and get the house ready for the brighter evenings and the general business that comes with the longer days and more active lives. So, we’re really going all out with this tidying malarkey.
In this blog post, we’ve actually provided you with a two-part series. These pieces are designed to give you a complete guide to how you can deep clean, declutter and get your home organised this Spring.
In part one of these blogs, we’ll be covering:
First things first, let’s get all your possessions sorted. After all, there’s no point getting everything clean before you decide whether or not you’re going to keep it all.
Decluttering is a bit of a daunting task - it can be a job that’s both physically and mentally draining, and if you’re guilty of a little bit of hoarding, the volume of things to get through can be overwhelming.
But, it’s one of the easiest ways to feel like a weight has been lifted. It’s a chance to get your whole home sorted and managed, which will not only make it look better, but help you to enjoy being in it more.
So, below, we’ve rounded up our top 20 tips to help you tackle your clutter. Don’t worry, we’re here to help make this task a far less challenging one.
For the kitchen’s clutter:
Now that your space is all clear and decluttered, the next step is to give the house a good airing.
Not sure what this means? It’s quite an old fashioned term, and it’s one that we hear a lot, but many of us aren’t actually sure what the step requires of us. In essence, it’s a way of bringing fresh air into the house. This will help to reduce the build up of moisture, damp, dust or generally stale air. By bringing more clean air into your home, it will feel fresher and cleaner, and also help to limit the build up of any illness associated with mould, and improve the condition of your home, too.
To air your house on a warm day, don’t open your windows at the hottest point of the day. Instead, wait till the early morning or the evening. At this time, leave the windows wide open. You should try to open windows at the opposite sides of your house, as this will create an air flow, and so will make the airing process much quicker. Also, keep all of your doors open, so that the air can travel throughout the house.
You could consider investing in window vents, as these are a great way to keep your home filled with clean air throughout the year. But, it all depends on whether you are willing to pay for this addition.
We would also recommend that you buy a few little potted plants for your home. These take in carbon dioxide from within your home, and release oxygen, thereby creating far more natural, cleaner air.
Now, we’re almost ready to get started on the cleaning. But, before we get cracking, we need to make sure all our supplies are in order.
So, below we’ve created a little guide to the resources that you’ll need to buy for your big deep clean session.
There are also some great eco-conscious options in this list, to help you make sustainable choices when you shop.
For example, in all of the wet wipes that we’ve listed below, most supermarkets offer biodegradable versions of these products, which we would highly recommend. So be sure to look out for clever alternatives like these.
For the last point, a good kettle might not necessarily be the first thing that you think of when it comes to a spring cleaner tool, but believe us when we say that it’s one of the best helping hands that you can get.
With an iKettle on hand, you’ll be able to give your house a thorough clean far more efficiently. This is because this smart kettle can be boiled remotely, via the Smarter app on your phone.
So, when you need to heat up some water for your mop bucket, or you need some piping hot water to wipe down the kitchen counters with, you can simply tap a few buttons on the app. This way, you can continue with the cleaning task that you’re currently on while the water is heating, then the kettle is ready for you to use when you start with the next step. All without you having to abandon the task that you’re on.
Plus, the intelligent temperature control function means that you can heat the water to a point that’s hot enough to eliminate germs, but not so hot that you scald your hands when using the cloth.
So, if you need a little extra Spring clean helper, be sure to check out the Smarter online store, where you can order an iKettle for your home.
Click here for the spring cleaning checklist template.
Written by Josephine Walbank
]]>Thanks to the Smarter Coffee machine, these coffee recipes are super easy to make. You will probably already have most of the ingredients in your cupboards. Then, when you fancy a drink, all you need to do is brew a cuppa using the Smarter app, and stir in the extra ingredients.
Here are our three favourite boozy winter coffee recipes.
Method
Use your Smarter Coffee machine to brew a strong cup of coffee.
Add the honey to a small coffee mug. Pour the coffee over the honey and stir well.
Add in the rum, and stir until all of the ingredients are combined.
Coffee, rum, chocolate and orange - what a combo. This smooth, decadent cocktail is bursting with wintertime flavours. It’s the perfect seasonal drink to serve at dinner parties, or to bring a bit of fun to a Friday night.
It takes its inspiration from classic chilled winter cocktails (like the snowball or a glass of eggnog), then adds a signature twist to it, in the form of a generous glug of cold coffee. Sounds divine.
Ingredients
Use your Smarter Coffee machine to brew a strong cup of coffee. Then leave it to chill in the fridge. Add the ice into a cocktail shaker. Pour in the coffee, rum, chocolate liquor, orange liquor and condensed milk.
Shake the mixture for at least 30 seconds.
Strain the drink into a glass, then garnish with a piece of orange peel.
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What’s your drink of choice during the winter time? While summer cocktails call for fresh fruit, light bubbles and zingy flavours, we think winter cocktails are best paired with coffee, rum, spices and a generous dose of chocolate.
Whatever you fancy on a winter evening, the Smart Coffee machine is certain to provide you with the perfect brew to use in your pick of these coffee recipes.
Smarter’s device is a bean-to-cup machine which provides coffee lovers with the ability to create their own personalised coffee every time. Through the Smarter app, you can tweak your coffee strength, volume and temperature so that it produces a cup that is exactly to your liking. This feature is perfect when you are following recipes like these.
With the Smarter Coffee, you can pick your preferred coffee beans (we recommend dark roasted beans with fruity tasting notes for these cocktails) to use in your home brewing - the choice is yours.
So what are you waiting for? Currently the coffee machine is in pre-order and can be purchased through the Smarter online shop. Have a browse through our product range to find out more about how Smarter can transform your kitchen this winter.
Written by Josephine Walbank
]]>Matcha is widely renowned as a brilliant ingredient for health conscious foodies. This vibrant green powder is brimming with natural nutrients, making it a fantastic addition to your coffee. Beyond its health properties, matcha is renowned for its unique, earthy flavour. This iconic grass-like taste is the perfect partner to milk and coffee.
These are just a sample of the many, many benefits that can be gained from regularly consuming matcha. It’s a fascinating ingredient, with a rich history and a huge number of health boosting properties.
But this ingredient will be an unusual one amongst many homes. So, how can you incorporate this into your diet, and consume matcha on a regular basis? One of the easiest ways that you can improve your routine is by introducing matcha powder to your homemade lattes.
A matcha latte is not only a decadent, delicious drink, but it also provides drinkers with a wonderful array of health benefits.
To help you improve your routine into the new year, we’ve provided you with an easy recipe for a delicious matcha latte, which you can make at home with ease.
The addition of maple syrup to this recipe is optional (it depends on how sweet you like your lattes!).
If you like, you could also upgrade your homemade matcha latte by frothing up the milk, before you add it to the coffee. You can do this by using a simple milk frothing tool, which is inexpensive and easy to buy online.
This recipe is designed to be simple to follow and recreate at home. The intention behind this recipe is to make incorporating matcha into your home-brewing easier. Then, by exploring this ingredient and trying it out at home, you will be able to bring your family together and try using it more often in your family’s bakes and brews.
Whatever you fancy on a winter evening, the Smart Coffee machine is certain to provide you with the perfect brew to use in your pick of these coffee recipes.
Smarter’s device is a bean-to-cup machine which provides coffee lovers with the ability to create their own personalised coffee every time. Through the Smarter app, you can tweak your coffee strength, volume and temperature so that it produces a cup that is exactly to your liking. This feature is perfect when you are following recipes like these.
With the Smarter Coffee, you can pick your preferred coffee beans (we recommend dark roasted beans with fruity tasting notes for these cocktails) to use in your home brewing - the choice is yours.
So what are you waiting for? The Smarter Coffee is available to buy online through the Smarter online shop. Have a browse through our product range to find out more about how Smarter can transform your kitchen this winter.
Written by Josephine Walbank
]]>After a particularly difficult day, one of our favourite ways to bring a smile to the faces of our loved ones is by serving up a delicious plate of comfort food. This idea has inspired us to create a winter round-up of recipes to make you happy. Food is the ultimate simple pleasure, and it’s a great way to bring a bit of fun to an evening.
Let’s kick things off with something sweet. Our chocolatey, malt-y cookies are a divine treat for a wintry day.
Ingredients:
Method
This cosy, warming dish is perfect for a midweek meal. It’s full of goodness, and the bulk of it can be made in advance, so it’s a nice and easy meal to make.
Ingredients - For the pork
For the polenta
Method
You could either eat this cold, or warm with a generous serving of custard. Or, if you want to add your own twist to the recipe, you could add in some chopped pears, some rum-soaked raisins, or some slices of banana.
Ingredients
Method
We hope that these tasty recipes bring a bit of joy to your midweek routine. One thing’s for sure, there’s nothing dull about winter dishes.
At Smarter, our products are designed to make home cooking infinitely easier. Our smart appliances are made to improve your routine, by bringing some affordable yet intuitive kitchenware technology to your operations.
If you’d like to upgrade your kitchen ready to try out some new recipes this winter, be sure to pay a visit to our Smarter online store. Right now, you can even enjoy free delivery to the UK, US and Europe.
Written by Josephine Walbank
]]>Did you know that our favourite Halloween tradition of dressing up as scary creatures actually started out as a way of trying to hide from ghosts? People believed that when they left their homes after dark, if they tried to blend in with all the ghosts and ghouls, they wouldn’t trouble them.
Another fun Halloween fact is that the trademark orange and black colour combination was actually created by the ancient Celts. As part of their celebration of Samhain (which marked the end of the harvest season, when the boundary blurred between the living and the dead). With this occasion in mind, the black came to be representative of death, while the orange harks back to Autumnal colours and the bright changing leaves.
We love this highlight of the Autumnal months. But, what with everything that’s been going on lately, Halloween has crept up on us a bit this year (you’re not the only one to have checked the calendar and been in total shock to see that it’s October already).
So, for those of you who love getting involved in the seasonal celebrations, we’re on hand to help make your slightly last-minute Halloween full of fun, thoughtful touches, and eerily realistic grub. In this blog post, we’ve put together our favourite recipes for little Halloween-inspired treats which, when all laid out together, make up the perfect creepy buffet to delight your little ones.
Plus, what we love about this collection of Halloween recipes for kids is that they’re a quick, easy and affordable way to bring some seasonal fun to your dinner time come October 31st. Everyone can get involved in making these treats, and your little ones will have a great time decorating everything!
So, without further ado, let’s crack on with these spooktacular treats. First up, we’ve got the recipe for our savoury pizza bagels, which are topped with sweet little mozzarella ghosts.
Ingredients
Method
Ingredients:
Method:
Ingredients:
To decorate:
Method:
Ingredients:
For the biscuits:
For the decoration:
Method:
These simple yet super effective creepy treats are a fantastic way to transform your dining table this Halloween. Without blowing the bank or spending hours slaving away in the kitchen, you can whip up a few delicious creepy delights.
You can even make the whole day one long spooky celebration by getting the kids involved in the baking and decorating. They’ll love the chance to create a yummy buffet for dinner, before they dash upstairs to get changed into their costumes.
If you enjoy receiving nifty tips and tricks to transform your home cooking, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter. Our Smarter newsletters are filled with seasonal recipes, ideas for affordable kitchen upgrades, and information about our nifty home gadgets. To subscribe, all you need to do is click the link on our blog page.
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Every year, we look forward to this most magical of seasons. It’s wonderful to watch the leaves changing colour, to don cosy knitwear and snuggle up by the fire. ‘Cause that’s what the season is all about - comfort, cosiness and its own unique aesthetic.
We adore the rich, sweet and earthy flavour of pumpkin. For so many of us, it’s become totally synonymous with Autumn.
In fact, our favourite bright orange veg has a HUGE hold on the season’s food and drink market. Did you know that America’s processed pumpkin market alone has been valued at $1.34 billion.
Since the start of the decade, we’ve all gone crazy for the flavour, spending around $600 million on pumpkin spice flavoured food and drink every Autumn.
But where did it all begin? When did pumpkin spice become such an iconic Autumn staple?
Well, we wanted to find some answers.
So, we’ve used this blog post to delve a little deeper into the world of pumpkin cooking, and discovered some intriguing facts about the moments where pumpkins and Autumn recipes first came together.
Then, to celebrate the start of Autumn (and since we’ve waited 9 months for it), we’ve shared our favourite pumpkin recipes with you.
It’s a blog filled with pumpkin-inspiration. Tee hee.
It may have become a popular trend in recent years, but you’d be mistaken if you thought that pumpkins haven’t been on the culinary stage for long.
They’re native to the Northeast of Mexico and the South of the U.S., and it is believed that they were used in cooking as far back 7,500 BC, making them one of the first plants to be domesticated in the world.
Pumpkins have been a much-loved ingredient for many reasons, not just their taste.
For instance, did you know that you can eat every single element of the pumpkin? As well as the flesh and seeds, humans can safely eat the plant’s skin, flowers, stem and leaves, too.
In fact, there’s a lot to learn about pumpkins…
Now, it’s time to put that passion to good use. We can’t wait to get stuck into cooking up some delicious meals, which showcase the wonderful flavour of the humble pumpkin.
We couldn’t do a pumpkin-themed blog without including a recipe for a pumpkin spiced latte.
So, here’s our take on the famous pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks (it tastes just as divine as the real thing, even if we do say so ourselves).
Ingredients
Method
Ingredients
Method
Ingredients
Method
Ingredients
Method
Pumpkin pie
Ingredients
Method
And there you have it, enough pumpkin recipes to last you for the entire season.
If you’re excited to start brewing fresh, warm pumpkin spice lattes at home, the Smarter Coffee machine will be your helping hand all Autumn long.
Visit the Smarter online shop to get yours, so you’re all set for when the leaves start falling.
In a similar report by UNICEF, it was warned that 1 out of 3 children in the UK are either overweight or obese when they finish school.
Healthy eating is an invaluable practice, for so many reasons.
By eating better, we can help ourselves and our families to live happier. Nutritious food means happier days, being physically fitter, having more energy for our favourite activities, an appreciation of nature and the environment, new taste sensations and a longer, healthier life - just to name a handful of the benefits.
We get it - during a super busy day, where the kids are running us ragged, it’s sometimes easier to just grab a quick bit of junk food for them to eat.
However, although grabbing a bag of crisps may be convenient, this should only ever be a special treat.
To remove the temptation of junk food snacks, we’ve dedicated this blog post to recommending snack ideas that are just as easy, but a whole lot healthier.
By making these in advance (when you’ve got a few minutes spare), you can have a stock of delicious, fresh and nutritious snacks on hand, ready to treat your little ones.
Read on to find our favourite quick, easy and healthy kids snack ideas. You’ll never need to raid the crisp cupboard again.
Simply slice a pear, then spread ricotta cheese on top of each slice.
This snack is a refreshing, sweet and salty treat, which is a great source of fibre, protein and calcium, and it’s also one of their 5 a day.
In just one smoothie, you can enjoy a huge boost of fresh fruit, tasty veg and key nutrients. Plus, it’s such a versatile snack. You can adapt the recipe to use up whatever you’ve got left in your fridge.
Top tip: don’t use fruit juices in your smoothies, because these have a lot of sugar in them.
For our go-to smoothie recipe, we blend together:
These scrummy cookies make a great, super-filling snack. The oats provide a long-lasting source of energy, while the branana adds one of their 5 a day. Plus, thanks to banana’s natural sweetness, there’s no added sugar in sight.
They’re so easy to make, all you need to do is:
This healthy snack is remarkably easy to make. Plus, it’s full of all-body health benefits. Turkey is rich in protein, and avocado is a great source of healthy fats, heart-helping nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins.
Simply squeeze some lime juice over avocado slices, then roll each one up in a neat parcel using turkey slices.
Chips? Trust us on this one. Instead of frying these chips, you can bake them in the oven. This makes them WAY healthier.
Using sweet potato fries (instead of regular potatoes) also makes this snack a great source of beta-carotene. This key nutrient helps to keep the body healthy, particularly your skin and eyes.
All you need to do is chop a sweet potato into thin strips, cover with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt, then bake in the oven at 220°C for 20-25 minutes.
Ok, so we’ve already had alternative chips… but how can you make crisps healthy? Well, believe it or not, kale can actually be used to make delicious crispy crisps, which are loads better for you.
In just 65g of kale, your little one can access all of the vitamins A, C and K that they need for the whole day.
To make your own kale crisps at home:
Energy balls taste just like creamy cookie dough, but these versions are filled with nutrients, vitamins, minerals and health-kicking ingredients, with no artificial ingredients in sight.
Here’s our favourite easy energy ball recipe:
Ingredients:
To help you keep on track with your new healthy eating ethos, we wanted to share some helpful online resources, which are designed to give actionable advice for families.
We’d recommend that you check out the following links:
Now, when your kids inevitably say, ‘Mum, Dad, I’m hungry!’, you’ll have a snack on-hand that’s as tasty as it is healthy.
With all this fresh food coming in, it’s important that you keep a close eye on your fridge stocks. With the help of the FridgeCam, you can gain a much clearer knowledge of what’s in your fridge.
With this handy kitchen device, you can monitor your food’s use-by dates, reduce food waste, stop double-buying ingredients, and create your very own smart kitchen.
All in all, it’ll be easier than ever to prepare and keep fresh, healthy snacks.
To find out more about the FridgeCam, or to order yours ready for the start of the Back to School season, head over to the Smarter online shop.
Written by Josephine Walbank
]]>As much as we’ve loved spending time as a family, the six weeks can definitely start to drag. Its a pretty long time to be finding constant entertainment for the little ones (especially given how temperamental our British summers can be).
Because how many times have we mistaken flour for icing sugar?
Create some labels to stick on your pantry essentials. These include baking ingredients like plain flour, self raising flour, bread flour, icing sugar, yeast bicarbonate of soda and baking powder, as well as things like salt, grains, pulses, rice, pasta, and anything else that you use regularly. Trust us, you’ll be so satisfied with the results.
A FridgeCam will totally revolutionise the way that you use your kitchen. With it, you can improve the organisation of your food shops, reduce your food waste and generally keep on top of what you’ve got in stock.
It’s super easy to install - just fit it into your fridge or cupboards, plug it in and you’re all set!
In the past 5 years alone, there’s been a huge surge in the quantity and variety of organic produce available to us. Now, you can get everything from fruit to fabrics as an organic alternative, and most of those are even readily available at the local supermarket.
Modern food shopping is an incredible system. Just 20 years ago, you could only eat foods that could be grown in the UK climate, at that specific time of year. Now, you can have fruits, berries and vegetables of your choosing, whenever you fancy them. This sheer volume of choice never ceases to amaze.
We get through a staggering number of coffees. If you sit down and do the maths, it’s amazing how much coffee just one person gets through. According to recent studies, the average person in the U.S. drinks around 3 cups of coffee every single day.
If we use 7g of coffee grounds in each cup, that’s 21g of coffee grounds used each day. That’s over 7 and a half kilos a year!
Thankfully, it’s easy to compost old coffee grounds, so we don’t need to worry about our coffee harming the environment. But what if we could go one better?
Coffee grounds, believe it or not, are actually a wealth of opportunities. They are an incredibly versatile waste product, which can be used in a huge range of different ways.
From skincare to deodorisers, the life of a coffee ground can extend far beyond your morning cuppa.
In fact, when we wrote our last blog post about using up spent coffee grounds, we found that we had loads more left to share. We decided that we weren’t done with coffee grounds yet.
With our eco-conscious readers in mind, we’ve dedicated this blog post to sharing 15 more of our favourite ways to use up old coffee grounds. These range in effort levels, the rooms to use them in, and skill level.
Whether you’re feeling crafty, or are running a bit short on time, you’ll definitely find an idea to use your morning coffee.
So, before you dump your grounds in the compost, give these tips a read.
We love a good cup of coffee. But, rather than just sticking with the same old brew every day, use your old grounds to liven things up a bit.
Using a long cold brew method, soak your grounds to extract the coffee flavour (even if they’ve already been used once).
Then, you can add them to coffee cocktails or iced drinks - our blogs are filled with recipes to inspire you.
With the same cold brew method of flavour extraction, you can use your spent grounds in home baking, too.
Our Sugar-Free Cinnamon and Coffee Cake is a delicious (and healthy!) cake recipe, which makes a perfect midweek treat.
If it’s savoury you’re after, coffee grounds can also be used in your cooking.
By adding them to a marinade, then leaving the meat to infuse its flavour, you can achieve more tender meat, with a richer flavour and a note of smokiness.
We all know how frustrating it is when our wooden furniture gets a big scuff mark. With a few coffee grounds, it’s super easy to lift off these scratch marks.
Simply add a teaspoon of olive oil into a bowl, then stir in a tablespoon of the grounds. Give it a good mix, until a paste is formed. Then, dab the mixture onto the scratch with a cotton bud.
Wipe with a dry cloth, and see the difference!
Coffee is a remarkable deodoriser. Once the grounds have been used, and while they’re still damp, press them into an ice cube tray, then pop them in the freezer.
Once they’re frozen, you can use these little tablets as deodorizers in your bathrooms, kitchen, waste areas, laundry areas, and garden.
The tablets that you’ve made above also work really well in freezers. They are ideal for shelves that contain pre-cooked meals, meat or fish, or any other strong-smelling foods.
Each tab can last for weeks, too!
Candle making is a lovely craft, and the results are really impressive. They make great gifts, and you can really get your creativity going with their design.
What’s more, by using old coffee grounds, you can save a lot of money on your new favourite hobby. Swap out aromatic oils for your grounds for a natural (and free) scent.
You can even create a layered look (alternating between grounds and cream wax) to create a chic statement piece.
When used in skin care, coffee has remarkable acne-fighting capabilities.
To make your own fresh face mask, simply combine your grounds with cocoa powder, milk, lemon juice and honey. Death Wish Coffee has a great recipe for you to try.
Your caffeinated skincare shouldn’t stop there. It’s rough texture and deodorising properties make it the perfect ingredient for a hand soap.
Melt a standard block of glycerin soap, then add in around 50g of used coffee grounds. Then, pour the liquid into a mould and leave to set (it’ll only take a couple of hours) back into a bar of soap. Easy peasy!
There’s a reason why so many luxury shampoos and conditioners contain coffee. This ingredient is great for leaving your hair sleek and shiny.
If your hair is dark in colour (we wouldn’t advise this recipe for blonde or copper hair), then steep your coffee grounds in hot water for 20 minutes, then leave the mixture to cool.
Once cooled, rinse your hair with the coffee in a sink, before you start your usual shampoo routine. This will give your hair a glossy, shiny look, without needing any chemicals.
As you can see, coffee is a brilliant all-round skin care ingredient. This is all thanks to the active compounds that it contains. In addition to being a favoured hair and face care ingredient, it’s also commonly used to help reduce cellulite.
To make your own (infinitely cheaper) alternative to professional cellulite treatments, combine 200 ml of steeped coffee grounds with a teaspoon of olive oil.
Then, apply the mixture to cellulite, wrap with cling film, then leave to soak in for around 20 minutes.
If your dark clothes are losing their colour, then they can quickly look worn out. Thankfully, just like us, they can be refreshed with a good cup of coffee.
Bring them back to top condition by adding coffee (made by letting your grounds soak in a cup of hot water) into your washing machine. After this cycle, your clothes will come out with a richer and bolder colour.
Coffee is a rich source of nutrients and minerals. As a result, they make a great addition to your soil, especially if you’re growing flowers that benefit from acidic soils.
These include flowers like hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons - with a scoop of old coffee grounds added to their patch of soil, these plants will absolutely thrive in your garden.
Younger plants also benefit greatly from the addition of coffee. If you’re growing seedlings, add a scoop of coffee into the soil. This will give them a good kick of nitrogen, which will help them to flourish.
A clump of coffee grounds is a highly effective (and completely organic) way to keep ants, slugs and snails at bay.
Simply add a pile near any areas of your garden where you commonly encounter pests.
And there you have it - even more DIY ideas to give your used coffee grounds a whole new lease of life. With these all-natural chemical-free ideas, you can reduce your household waste, and totally transform your home while you’re at it.
If you drink as much fresh coffee as we do, you’ll want to invest in a bean-to-cup machine that gives these mighty beans the respect that they deserve. That’s where we come in.
Our Smarter Coffee machine is a must-have for any coffee lover. Trust us, this innovative device will completely radicalise your morning routine. Check out the Smarter online shop to find out more.
Because simply having natural skill isn’t enough - these athletes are totally committed to their training. Every single day, they take care of their body, train hard, and focus on their discipline. This is how you become the best that you can be.
Sport: Artistic Gymnastics. Olympian and three-time British all-around champion.
Top tips: Daniel really recommends protein shakes, and says that they are a fantastic post-training drink to help him refuel.
His Typical Day of Eating:
Breakfast: Wholemeal toast with poached eggs
Lunch: Chicken and pasta, with a side salad. Plus a protein shake to drink
Dinner: Meat with potato, fresh vegetables, and sometimes some wholemeal bread on the side
Snack: High protein cereal bars
As you can see, along with proteins and carbohydrates, it is imperative that these athletes take in plenty of nutrients. And this goes for everyone - not just professional sports people!
In order to take care of your body, and keep it working as healthily as possible, you need to take in all your key nutrients.
Alongside fruit, vegetables and fish, drinks are a great, convenient way to up your nutrient intake.
Health tea is the perfect drink to enjoy during your exercise regime. Not only does it taste delicious, but it is brimming with healthy ingredients. You can shape up your recipe depending on what you fancy, and vary it between each day, to ensure that your week is filled with all the nutrients that your body needs.
To help you create delicious, healthy tea throughout your week of workouts, you’ll need a kettle that’s up to the task.
Our iKettle makes it easier than ever to make healthy, fresh, homemade herbal tea at home.
FridgeCam is an extra help in your daily tasks. It's a smart camera for your fridge which works by sending a snapshot of the inside of your fridge, cupboards or pantry to your phone, every time the fridge door is closed. This means that when you head out for a shop, you know exactly what you’ve got at home.
In fact, we now have the full range of Smarter appliances in stock - the iKettle Original, Monochrome range, iKettle Limited Edition, Smarter Coffee and FridgeCam.
Visit the Smarter website to find out more about our iKettle and FridgeCam and treat yourself to one of your own.
Written by Josephine Walbank
Their ability is unbelievable - we are always shocked by the speed and skill that humans can reach. Although a lot of this is down to natural genetics, their intense training preparation makes a huge difference.
Much like a Personal Trainer would, 5/3/1 Strength is a fitness app which allows you to build an effective, personalised training programme.
There are a lot of risks to jumping into a higher weight or intensity too soon, but you don’t want to stay safe forever and make no progress. So, regardless of your ability, we all need an expert’s guidance to help us advance our strength training.
With this app, users can input their current level, and then use this starting point to create a recommended training plan to reach their strength goals.
Naturally, we want to make the experience of being at home as good as possible, both for ourselves and for our families, too. So, if you’ve got a weekend at home, or a few extra days off to use, committing to DIY is a decision that you won’t regret.
This one is more comfort than style, but you’ll appreciate the change just as much.
With this, you can control the temperature of your home, and easily modify it throughout the day. It’s a great, quick way to upgrade your home. In fact, there are some models out there which allow you to control the temperature through your phone.
The Nest 3rd generation smart thermostat is the go-to name when it comes to smart thermostats and with good reason, this brand (now owned by Google) continues to drive innovation in the smart home space and their smart thermostats are leading the way.
Nest learns from you, by monitoring your heating use it automatically adjusts and syncs your heating with your behaviour, knowing the times of day you use your heating, as well as the ideal room temperatures you prefer. They recommend professional installation for the latest version.
Visit their website to learn more about the features and benefits for your home.
This is the ultimate speedy DIY, but you’ll be able to reap the rewards from it for many years to come.
A smart lock allows you to enter a keypad to get into your home. It sits just where a conventional keyhole would, but instead, it features a combination code pad. This way, you can keep your home secure, without ever having to worry about forgetting your keys again!
And the best part? All you need to do is switch around a couple of screws in the door. It’s as easy as that.
To find the perfect smart lock for your home, see this complete guide.
It’s never been easier to create a sweet, stylish and cosy little snug in your home. Window seats are bang on trend, and it’s easy to see why - they make a beautiful little reading spot, where you can soak up lots of natural light.
All you need is a few comfy cushions, and a bit of creativity.
Or, if you really want to go out, this blog tutorial from House Beautiful gives you some fantastic DIY window seat inspo.
In a busy, family home, storage is always hard to come by. But it’s such an essential element of home life - without giving your possessions a proper home, you can soon feel like your home is disorganised and chaotic.
We absolutely adore this idea from Vintage Revivals. They’ve provided a full guide to creating your very own DIY Giant Pegboard.
Now, it may sound like a huge task, but actually, it couldn’t be easier. With some plywood, panels, peg boards and wooden dowels, you can create a stunning feature piece for your home, which gives you loads of extra space to store your bits and bobs.
We may be biased here, but we absolutely believe that the kitchen is the heart of the home.
So, it’s well worth investing some time into revamping your kitchen. You can do this based on what you use it for the most - if you’re more into hosting than cooking, enjoy small family dinners or big get togethers (or all of the above) then adapt your kitchen accordingly. That way, you can make using it more enjoyable.
Our quick Summer DIY tips for kitchen remodelling are:
There’s a whole world of kitchen gadgets out there, and - from the simple to the sophisticated - these tools are brilliantly designed to help you enjoy spending time in your kitchen.
The iKettle is a fantastic example of this. With it, you can boil water precisely, quickly and effortlessly.
It works by partnering up to the Smarter app through your phone. Then, whenever you need some hot water, you can set the specific temperature through the app, and then tell the kettle to get started. You don’t even need to be in the same room as the device!
This makes it perfect for both weekend lie ins and weekday morning routines alike. It helps to keep you more organised and, by making your much-loved tea breaks more effortless, makes spending time at home more enjoyable.
Now, you’ve got loads of ideas for Summer jobs. You certainly won’t be short of home renovation inspiration!
If you want to get cracking with your Summer DIY list, be sure to check out the Smarter online store. There, you can find more kitchen upgrade inspiration, and treat yourself to a brand new iKettle while you’re at it.
Written by Josephine Walbank
The great thing about a staycation is that you can decide to get away pretty last-minute. With no flights to book, you can make the most out of a week’s holiday, long weekend, or even just one night, with very little planning required.
Or, if it’s a big city holiday that you’re after, The Goring is the perfect place to stop at during your tour of London’s sights.
This magnificent hotel has earnt itself 5 stars, and it's easy to see why. The decor is dramatic and grand, and its alfresco eating area makes guests feel as though they are somewhere on the Med, even when the UK weather is acting up.
In fact, did you know that The Goring was the venue which the Duchess of Cambridge stayed at before she married Prince William? It must be something special.
Visit their website to find out more
In this, our Summer Gadgets Guide, we’ll be sharing some of our favourite accessories to invest in this season. With these on hand, you’ll have even more fun when you’re out and about. They make the perfect addition to your trip to the beach or the park, are super helpful for hosting, and will bring some fun to all the adventures you’ve got planned.
Read on to find out what devices made our list.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this fab flavour, masala chai is a traditional type of tea, which originally comes from India. It is made by boiling black tea, then adding in milk and a combination of spices, including ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. It has been enjoyed in India for centuries, but in recent years, chai has skyrocketed in popularity across the world.
Ingredients
For the chai milk
For the loaf cake
Method
This spiced and decadent cake is the perfect midweek treat. How do we have ours? We’d recommend it with a piping hot cup of coffee, during our morning work break.
It’s a deceptively simple cake which (when you’ve successfully got all the spices in stock) looks impressive, but is brilliantly easy to make. For the decoration, the vegan glaze only takes a minute to whip up, but provides a really classic finish.
Once baked, your whole house will fill with sensational aromas - so much so, you can expect this cake to be gobbled up super quickly!
The trickiest thing about this cake is the long ingredients list. Although it’s easy to combine them all together, ensuring that you have them all in stock, in date, and enough of each one is no mean feat. That’s where the FridgeCam provides a brilliant helping hand.
This handy camera is not just for fridges, it also works in your kitchen cupboards, too! With it, you can keep track of everything that you’ve got in your store cupboards. Then, when you head out to the shops to top up your ingredients, you can use the FridgeCam as a reference point, to double check precisely what you’re missing.
Eat smart with our FridgeCam. Check out the Smarter online store for more details.
Written by Josephine Walbank
Our increasingly selfless lifestyle practices are bringing with them a whole new mindset - namely, instead of ‘What can I take from the planet?’, we’re thinking, ‘How can I minimise the harm that I do to the planet?’.
There are several key areas in which we’re thinking in this way, including waste management, shopping, and brand loyalty. Food waste in particular is a potent example of this.
The show is hosted by the fantastic duo Dr Rupy Aujla, and Bake Off judge Prue Leith. Between them, they know just about all there is to know about nutrition, making different foodstuffs shine, and creating sensational dishes.
However, it's only natural to have that voice in the back of your mind going, “But won't I miss early nights and cosy evenings at home?”. Don't worry if you're not in the Summer spirit just yet. In fact, we've dedicated this blog post to help you get there.
And what better way to do it than with some flavourful Summer drinks? We may be biased, but we can't think of anything that gets us energised and excited quite like quality food and drink.
So we've used this blog post to help you get into the Summer spirit, our way. Below, you can find three of our favourite Summertime drinks recipes. These are health conscious (more about the famous Chaga mushroom later on), nutrient-rich and full of goodness. It's a perfect way to start off your Summer 2021.
Chaga mushrooms are one of the latest superfoods to shake up the food and drink scene, and their health perks are pretty stand-out.
A Chaga is a mushroom variety, which naturally grows on the bark of birch trees (it grows on the side of the tree, and just looks like a little stub of charcoal). It can be found across the northern hemisphere.
These funky little ‘shrooms have been used in traditional European medicines for many years. Amongst their first usage was the mushrooms being crushed into a fine powder, before being brewed into tea.
It’s medicinal properties are what the Chaga is most known for - this nutrient-rich superfood is a great antioxidant, it boasts impressive anti-inflammatory properties, and it also helps consumers to focus better, and feel less drained.
It may sound pretty exotic, but once again, we owe the internet our gratitude. You can easily buy Chaga mushrooms online - either ready to brew in teas, as a capsule, or as a powder.
If you’re still intrigued by Chagas, in a previous blog post, exploring the craze behind Chagaccinos, we found out more about this emerging drinks trend and the big benefits that it had to offer.
But for now, we’re moving on to our seasonal drinks of choice - in our opinion, the perfect way to be prepared for Summer.
Using your Smart kettle, boil the water to 95ºC (203ºF). This precise temperature will ensure the maximum possible flavour extraction, without making the Chaga flavour overly harsh or bitter and pour into a job. Then stir in the Chaga powder.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the jug. Whisk together until all of the lumps are removed.
Although, so far, 2021 may not have been exactly what we'd hoped for, there's still every reason for us to remain hopeful and excited about the Summer. So, even if a staycation with the family is all you've got planned, make the most of it.
To help you prepare for the perfect drinks to accompany your Summer 2021, our iKettle and Smarter Coffee machine are just the tools you need. With these in your kitchen, you'll be whipping up decadent drinks all Summer long.
So, to get your kitchen ready for the Summer, head over to the Smarter online shop.
Written by Josephine Walbank
]]>A great example of this is gluten. Just a few short decades ago, very few of us would have thought twice about incorporating gluten into our diet. But, now that we know so much more about it, a far higher number of people are choosing not to eat foods containing gluten, or consume gluten as often as they did before.
This choice could be made for health reasons, or simply because the individual believes that this diet is the best way for them to take care of their body. Although a gluten-free diet isn't for everyone, and needs to be supervised by your doctor if you do choose to adopt it, there are a number of impressive benefits to it.
So, in this blog post, we'll be investigating gluten-free diets, and finding out more about how they can help your overall health. Then, we'll be sharing a smart recipe with you, in the form of our gluten-free morning matcha cake. In our opinion, it’s the perfect accompaniment to your morning brew.
The term ‘Gluten-free diet’ is one which is being used more and more frequently. But, some people may still be left a little confused about what it actually involves.
To put it simply, a gluten-free diet means that the individual does not consume any products containing gluten. They would then exclude gluten from their diet, including both food and drink.
Gluten is a natural protein which exists in grains, including barley, wheat and rye. As a result, it is present in a huge variety of foods, drinks and popular products.
Although there are a lot of foods that they will need to be cautious about (including breads, pastas, alcohol and baked goods), there are lots of natural ingredients that support a gluten-free diet, including fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, and rice and potatoes.
So, just because someone chooses to eat a gluten-free diet, this does not mean that their options are hugely constricted. Undoubtedly, it is not an easy diet to adopt, and it will require the individual to exercise a lot of caution and careful planning around mealtimes. But, there are still a huge variety of different foods and drinks that they can enjoy, while prioritising the health of their body.
If the ups and downs of the pandemic have taught us anything, it’s that the UK has a lot to offer us, and that there’s really no need to travel so far for our holidays. After all, not to sound corny, but the best thing about a holiday is the people who come with us.
If you’re planning an at-home staycation this year, one of the key activities that you’ll have in mind is a picnic.
Picnics are an absolute sunshine staple. Picture the scene - you and your loved ones sat on a gingham blanket, soaking up the sunshine, and tucking into a basket of fresh and seasonal goodies.
Few activities boast this same level of quaint, outdoorsy and wholesome charm.
So, as part of our series of fun family Spring and summer ideas, we’ll be dedicating this blog post to helping you put together the best picnic possible.
Below, you’ll find our picnic guide split into three sections - helping you to find the perfect blanket, food and boxes. These are the three fundamental elements to achieving the best picnic, and making the most out of the warmer weather.
Top tip: when you are packing your picnic basket, you can wrap any breakable items (like bottles or glasses) in the blanket. This will protect them from any knocks or bumps when you are on the move.
Certainly don’t feel like you have to include all of these options! This list is just designed to give you some inspiration for your menu, and some easy ideas that will keep the whole group happy.
Now, you just need something to carry it all in!
A sturdy and hard wearing picnic box is a great investment, which will last you for many more picnics to come.
When choosing your picnic basket, think about how many people it needs to serve, and what your budget is. There are a huge range of picnic baskets available on the market, but being specific about what you want will really help you to narrow down your search.
We would also recommend that you have a read of BBC Good Food’s best picnic baskets and hampers list, which gives you some great tips and some of the best ideas for picnic 2021.
Alongside a dependable picnic basket, another fantastic tool to have on hand to help you with your picnic planning is a FridgeCam. This intuitive piece of kitchen technology will ensure that the food and drinks for the day are thoroughly well-managed.
The FridgeCam has a range of intuitive features, which are designed to help you keep tabs on the food in your kitchen. For example, when you are out at the supermarket buying supplies for your picnic, you can check what you have in your fridge at home on your phone, through the Smarter app. With the FridgeCam, you can also link your shopping list to Amazon Fresh, so that you can order any goodies you need quickly and easily.
You can find out more about the FridgeCam on the Smarter online store. We’ll have your FridgeCam with you ready for the start of the picnic season.
Written by Josephine Walbank
After a year in lockdown - spending far more times in our homes than we ever had before - we’re particularly invested in the idea of a deep, Spring clean. We’ve created two dedicated Spring clean blogs (we had so much to say that we had to split it into two parts!) and now we’ll be focusing on clean appliances.
Although it can be a bit of a boring task, cleaning your appliances is an essential part of any deep clean.
This is due to three key reasons:
It keeps your device working in top condition. Without regular cleaning, your kitchen appliances will inevitably begin to incur damage or build ups of harmful substances (like limescale). If left unchecked, this will lead to permanent damage, or even cause your device to stop working. It’s a total waste to potentially have to get rid of your device well before its normal lifespan is over.
It keeps them sanitised. You can protect your family from ingesting any harmful substances by regularly cleaning your appliances. Plus, this iKettle cleaning method is ideal for household use, because it does not contain any harmful chemicals. It is an all-natural cleaning technique, which will allow you to continue using your device immediately afterwards.
It creates a more pleasant kitchen environment. Thoroughly cleaning your kitchen, and all the appliances in it, is a wonderful way to create a really relaxing and enjoyable environment in your home.
So, with these points in mind, we would advise you to clean your iKettle once every couple of months. This will ensure optimum usage, and its continued life for many more Spring cleans to come.
As you set about your kitchen deep clean, if you are keen to upgrade your appliances to feature some more chic, modern features, be sure to check out the Smarter online store. There, you can have a browse through our full range of products, including the iKettle.
Written by Josephine Walbank
]]>The annual Spring detox is a popular option amongst many of us. It’s a great, positive opportunity for us to think about our current daily routines, and ditch the bad habits in favour of some more health conscious practices.
This year, we’re gearing up for picnics with a group of six, staycations with our bubble, and days out to the local park. We’re firm advocates of the belief that it’s the little things in life that bring the most joy.
The Smarter Coffee maker is just the thing that returning commuters need this Spring.
With this intelligent device on hand, you can keep your Spring time morning routine both more efficient and also more enjoyable.
The Smarter Coffee machine works through the Smarter app and so the device can be controlled by your phone - with it, users can have a fresh cup of coffee brewed remotely, with just a few taps on their phone.
Plus, this isn’t just any coffee. The device allows you to specify your desired strength, volume and temperature. So, you can create the perfect coffee, faster.
This clever little device from the brains at Apple is definitely one to add to your Spring wish list.
It allows users to control their smart home through this intelligent speaker. Plus, with its crystal-clear, premium quality sound, chatting to Siri or listening to music is an absolute joy.
We’re ready to ditch the blankets and cocoa, and head out to enjoy the brighter weather.
We can’t wait for Spring walks and runs, and the Fit Bit is the perfect device to help us achieve our fitness goals.
What’s more, you can even connect your brand new Fit Bit through to the Smarter app. This means that, when you’re out and about, you can set up the Fit Bit to notify you when it thinks that you could do with a good cup of coffee. Then, all it takes is a few taps on your phone, and your Smarter Coffee machine can have one freshly brewed ready for when you get back.
There is no better time in the year to schedule a garden upgrade. By installing these new outdoor lights in the Spring, you’ve got the whole year to make the most out of them.
Not only are they an ideal home security option, but these outdoor lights also make a modern, stylish addition to the home, too. They’re perfect for warmer evenings spent in the garden, as they make your garden look more welcoming when the sun goes down.
Spring time picnics are one of our favourite activities for this time of year. But, when we’re dealing with so many different varieties of food, a long shopping list and lots of different dietary requirements (as well as picky children!) to cater for, it can quickly get confusing.
With the FridgeCam, you can keep your kitchen storage more organised than ever. This clever device is the perfect aid to kitchen management. With it, users can keep track of what’s in their fridge and cupboards, what they’re currently missing so need to add to their shopping list, and what needs using up.
Plus, you can even take this snapshot of your fridge with you to the supermarket. Since the camera can be controlled by your phone, there’s no rush of doubling up on any picnic items!
We hope that this Spring tech guide has given you plenty of inspiration to upgrade your house, ready for everything that you’ve got to look forward to this season.
Whether it’s preparing for your new back-to-work routine, or planning picnics in the garden with loved ones, these devices are certain to make your Spring a whole lot more organised.
You can find two of the items from our guide - the Smarter Coffee and FridgeCam - on the Smarter online store. There, you can meet these two devices, find out more about their impressive capabilities, and even secure one for your home.
So, if you’re excited to upgrade your house this Spring, be sure to pay a visit to the Smarter online store.
Written by Josephine Walbank