Celebrating Chinese New Year

Whether you have friends that are Chinese or simply enjoy getting involved in the customs of other cultures from around the world, Chinese New Year is becoming a popular celebration to get involved with.  Many cities around the world that have a Chinatown will have organised New Year celebrations but the essence of the holiday is getting together with friends and family so this can be done on a smaller level in your own home.

Basics

Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival and isn’t a single day as the New Year here is in the UK but a fifteen day long celebration that begins with the preparations in the old year and goes through for days afterwards.  The date is defined by a combination of the solar and lunar calendar and a series of complicated astronomical calculations – in 2016, the result is that it is on Monday 8^th February.  The occasion is also celebrated in parts of south-east Asia including Vietnam where is it called Tet, Malaysia and Taiwan. 

One of the big parts of celebrating Chinese New Year isn’t as much fun as the food and fireworks – the cleaning of the house.  Chinese believe it is important to give the house a good clean before the event, a little like our spring clean.  This cleans away any bad luck accumulated over the previous year.  Decorations are then put up with red being a central theme as it is considered lucky.  Paper cut decorations are popular as the tradition dates back to ancient Han times in China.

Food traditions

In northern China, dumplings are a central part of the New Year traditions.  A fish dish is also considered important to serve for the New Year’s Eve Dinner, where all the family and friends gather together.  Just like our New Year, every stays up until midnight for the fireworks.

New Year Cake is made from glutinous flour with sugar and is a popular dish to serve on the occasion for those from the east of China.  Tang Yuan is also made with glutinous rice flour, mixed with water and made into small balls.  These are served in boiling water and can be filled or left unfilled.  It is often associated with the Lantern Festival, on the 15^th of the first month of the New Year.

A Tray of Togetherness is another food tradition – it is an octagon shaped tray that has eight compartments and each is filled with symbolic foods.  These might be things like lotus seeds and lychee nuts that give a sweet start to the year.  Everyone takes a little from the compartments as part of the celebration.

Gift traditions

Red again features in traditional gifts to celebrate the occasion, with small red packets called leisee being given to children.  They have gold symbols on them and are filled with ‘lucky money’.  Of course if your guests aren’t Chinese, then you could opt for a personalised gift to celebrate the New Year, such as a glass with the event and year on it.

Why Valentine’s Isn’t Just About Roses

It can be easy to fall into the trap around Valentine’s Day to pay a fortune for some red roses or perhaps splash out on a big box of chocolates.  And there’s nothing wrong with either of these presents for the one you love but what about if they are on a diet and suffer with allergies?  Or if these traditional presents just don’t suit the person?  Then the good news is that Valentine’s Day is about more than just roses and chocolates.

Show your love

Modern Valentine’s Day is about showing your love for the one in your life and there are lots of ways to do this that will be with them for longer than traditional gifts such as flowers and chocolates.  Wall plaques are a popular way to show your love, with the ability to put a personalised message into them adding to the sentiment.  One example is the I Love You Valentine’s Teddy Bear Heart.  The recipient’s name can be added to the heart and the ceramic decoration hangs from the wall for a daily reminder of your love.

If the two of you live together, then the Love Tiles Personalised Cushion Cover is a great idea for your sofa or to sit on the bed.  Under the love tiles can be added up to 20 characters so both of your names is one idea or perhaps the date you moved in together or your anniversary.  Another reminder of your love that will last longer than a box of chocolates!

Fun presents

Valentine’s presents can also be the chance to give a fun present that tells someone you love them.  The I Love Personalised Sweet Jar is a great example.  With the I Love fixed text can be added two lines of up to 12 characters so you could add your name with the ‘& sweets’ for someone with a sweet tooth!

The Hearts and Buttons Mug is perfect for coffee fans and features a single area for a name then three lines on the reverse side of the mug with up to 25 characters per line to add a special message.  That way, every time the person has a mug of their favourite drink, they will remember your love.

Celebrating the day

If you want to do something special for Valentine’s Day, such as cook a meal or have an intimate cocktail party for two, then you can bring the present into the theme.  A bottle of prosecco with a personalised label may be an ideal way to celebrate the occasion and your love for each other.  Alternatively, if they are a fan of shot drinks, then a Be Mine Happy Valentine’s glass would be perfect to present to them on the night along with a bottle of their favourite spirit – Jägermeister or Tequila are two favourites for the short and sharp drink fan.

Whatever you choose to buy for your special person, being together is often the most important part of Valentine’s Day and whatever you get them, they are sure to love it like they do you.

Preparing for Your First Puppy

So the family has had a meeting and a decision has been made – you are going to get your first puppy.  Whether you are opting for a little ball of fluff or a big dog that will get bigger, there are some pieces of advice that remain the same.  Here we help you prepare for your first puppy.

Basics

The most important thing for any dog is their food and water so the first things you need to get are bowls for this.  There are some cute and funny shaped ones out there but most dog owners will tell you that a solid ceramic or stainless steel bowl are winners.  Plastic bowls are too easily chewed as those little teeth grow and these chew marks can actually harbour bacteria that can infect the food or cause teeth and gum infections.

A mat to stand these on is a good idea to help save the mess on the floor, though be prepared that the dishes don’t stay there all the time when the puppy is still in their exuberant and enthusiastic time!

Having mentioned chewing, this leads to another crucial element for a new puppy – toys.  If you don’t provide them with chewable (and destructible) toys, they will find items around the house to do the job.  Likely the thing you least want chewing or that could even be dangerous.  Chewable toys help them with their teeth and is enjoyable for them.  Make sure that the toys are specially designed for pets, non-toxic and don’t have any small parts that can be chewed off, swallowed and become a choking hazard.

Identification

There are several different ideas about identification for your puppy but it is important to choose an option as soon as you pick him up.  By law, all dogs need to wear a collar that has a tag on with your name and address, a phone number being a good idea too.  In addition to this, many owners choose to microchip the puppy too.  This is a quick and painless procedure carried out by your vet and isn’t as easy to shake loose as a collar can be.  Vets and shelters can scan the information on the chip if your puppy gets away from you and ensure you are reunited with them.

Other items

Grooming your puppy is important to help them keep their coat in good order but is also an important bonding experience between the two of you.  Pick them up a personalised dog brush that is only used for them and have a regular grooming session.  Dogs often need a bath too so best to get them used to this experience from a young age.

Before the puppy arrives, it is important to puppy-proof the house.  You might want to consider a stair gate if they are able to get to the stairs to stop accidents.  Also go around the house and think like a puppy – what can they chew?  How high will their reach be and what can they get at?  All of this can help avoid accidents and injuries once they have arrived, though your puppy should always be supervised when young.

How to Make New Year Resolutions that Stick

One constant of the New Year rituals for many people is making their New Year resolution.  We have grand ideas about changing ourselves, improving something about ourselves or doing something different and the new year seems the ideal time to put them into force.  Then by mid-January, the ideas have gone out of the window!  So how do you make New Year resolutions that stick?

Understand the mind

The first step to sticking to new year’s resolutions involves a little psychology.  Understanding why we give in can be a good way to try not to do this.  According to psychiatrists from Harvard medical school, self-restraint is a rational desire that is found in the front of the brain, the most recently evolved part.  This is often overridden by those old survival instincts that have been with us since cave man times.  Pleasure also lives in this instinctive area and when we do something pleasurable, the brain releases a chemical called dopamine.  In effect, we reward ourselves for doing something we enjoy, such as eating a particular food or drinking a certain drink.

Making and keeping new year’s resolutions, therefore, are about out-manoeuvring those instinctive urges and listening to the rational ones.  Sounds easy, right?

Making a resolution

Understanding how the brain works is only part of the process.  The actual resolution itself is a big factor in how successful you will be.  For instance, people make these big lists of things they want to change but the successful ones pick a single thing.  It could be stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol, eating better or even going for a walk every week.  Make sure it is something realistic and achievable with a bit of work.  Pick one thing and stick to it until it is achieved, then look at picking another.

Before you begin, do a little research into the subject to prepare yourself.  For instance, say you want to cut down on your intake of sugary drinks.  So look into what other drinks you can go for instead.  Smoothies are a popular option at this time of year for their detox properties and natural boosts.  So pick a favourite recipe then buy yourself a personalised high ball glass.  Instead of a birthday message, have a recipe printed on it or an inspiring quote.

Starting out

Choose a message about your resolution

New Year’s Day is a common start date for a resolution but it doesn’t have to be January 1^st when you start.  Pick a date when you are prepared for your resolution.  One suggestion is to write on a card what you are going to do and the start date or you can make it a bit fun and have a wooden plaque made that has the resolution and date on it.  Hang it somewhere relevant, such as the kitchen and glance as you are passing, reinforcing that it is a good thing and helping your brain stick with the rational side and ignore those pesky instincts.  Once you have completed the task, the plaque can act as a reminder of what you can do when you put your mind to it!

What is Dry January?

Let’s face it, many of us have too much to eat and drink over Christmas and New Year.  It’s a fun time and there’s lots of celebrating to do but come the first few days of the new year, we can feel a bit hideous.  A good detox works miracles but another idea that has come along is called Dry January.  But what is it and how can you take part?

Dry idea

The Dry January idea started in 2015 and saw over 2 million people cut down or cur out their drinking for the 31 days of the month.  Because we often manage to stick to a resolution if we have a little help, you can sign up on their website to take part.  The benefits include feeling better, potentially losing weight or sleeping better and even having a little more money in your pocket.  The campaign is run by Alcohol Concern who also work to raise money to dealing with the problems caused by alcohol on families and society as a whole.

What to drink instead

So if you are laying off the alcohol this January or simply want to replace it with something a little softer on the body, what are the best alternatives?

One of the best drinks around is always said to be water but there’s something a little lacking in a plain glass of water.  Next on the list is green tea which has a range of health benefits that are particularly useful at this time of year.  For example, it is known for sorting out problems in the digestive system right through to helping protect the body against serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.  There are no calories in a mug of green tea and it is simple to make.  Get yourself a teapot, add the hot water and wait until it is just past boiling then pop in a green tea bag.  There are also varieties including green tea and peppermint or green tea with citrus to help adapt to the flavour.

Another tea drink that helps the digestive system after all the excess of Christmas is mint tea.  It helps food process through the digestive tract so is a perfect drink for Boxing Day!  It also helps to relax muscles so after all those nights standing around at parties, it is great to relax the body and allow it to feel better.

Soy milk may be a love it or hate it drink but it can be used in smoothies or other shakes to add ingredients to disguise the taste.  Soy milk has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease as well as lowering the bad cholesterol in the system.  You can even buy soy milk fortified with vitamins A and D as well as calcium to sneak in some of the benefits of full fat milk.

Cranberry juice is a great one to combat all those sugary treats over Christmas as it has been shown to help combat gum disease.  It also has antibacterial properties that can work again urinary tract infections.

Top New Year Canapé Ideas

If you are having a few guests round to celebrate New Year or even hosting a full on party, making a few special canapés yourself always adds something special to the buffet table.  Okay, the bigger the party, the more you are going to buy in but there are plenty of great recipe ideas that can cater for different numbers and don’t require a degree in fine dining to produce!

Modern sausage rolls

Sausage rolls have been the staple of the buffet table for generations and are still a favourite for many guests.  The Sausage and Fennel Seed Slices bring a modern variation of the classic party food.  All you need are 400 grams of sausage, either skinless or skin removed and 375 grams of ready rolled puff pastry.  Put the sausages into a bowl, squash them around and form them into two balls.  Pop them into cling film and roll them into a cylinder around 30cm long.  Keep them in the fridge. 

Next, lay out the pastry and cut unto four strips that are 40cm long and 10cm wide.  Place the sausage meat in the middle and then sprinkle with some fennel seeds.  Drape the pastry over the meat then brush it with egg then take three thin strips of pastry, plait them and lay them on the top, again brushing with egg.  Bake at 200 degrees for around 40 minutes until golden.

Potato and smoked salmon

Putting together potato and smoked salmon may not sound like the most successful combination but you may be surprised.  The Potato Cakes with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese are a great alternative to the usual blini used to serve the luxury salmon.  Take 1kg of baking potatoes and cook them around about 1 hour 20 minutes until cooked.  Put the potato into that personalised bowl that the kids got you for your birthday, discarding the skins and mix in around 75grams of butter, 100 grams of plain flour and one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda.

Line a baking tray with parchment and brush it with butter.  Roll out the potato dough and put it on the tray, it might break up a bit but don’t worry, just push it back together!  Brush it with butter and bake for around 45 minutes.

Once the potato cakes are cooled, you are ready to add the salmon.  Whisk up 280 grams of full fat cream cheese with the juice of a lemon and 100 ml of double cream.  Spread this on the potato cake and cut them into squares.  Top with strips of salmon, a little dill and the zest of the lemon then serve.

Corn cups

You can use pre-made corn cups or make your own from circles of tortilla heated in the microwave then pushed into muffin tins.  Brush them with oil and bake for 8-10 minutes then leave to cool.  Next, chop up 100 grams of prawns and marinade in lime juice for 5 minutes.  Add them to a bowl with mango, red onion, chili and coriander and mix together.  Add these to the corn cups to bring a little Mexican to your New Year celebration.

Best Last Minute Christmas Gifts

So there’s just over two weeks to go before the big day and many of us are down to those last few awkward gifts that we need to finish our Christmas shopping.  There’s always someone on the list that you just don’t know what to get them or who say they don’t need anything.  So here are a few unusual last minute gifts to help inspire you to finish your list.

Food and drink lovers

If you know what someone’s favourite drink is, then this is always a good starting point for a present.  For example, if they enjoy making themselves cocktails, then a Gold Bubbles Personalised Cocktail Glass is perfect.  You can add a message onto the glass up to 50 characters so you can make it seasonal or just a special hello so they can remember you whenever they have their favourite margarita.

One of the biggest Christmas presents for fans of everything from smoothies to homemade soups and other healthy eating options is the Nutribullet.  This blender-smoothie maker is a top gift that many kitchen fans will be receiving.  If you know someone who is getting one, or has something similar, then their companion is the chopping board.  While these seem functional items, you can get personalised ones that bring a bit of fun and individuality to this item.  The Chef of the Year personalised chopping board lets you add up to 20 characters for the name as well as the year and is perfect for those pre-blending preparations.

With Love at Christmas

Sometimes a nice present from one family to another is something they can bring out each Christmas to remember the other.  Wooden plaques are a big trend, whether the shabby chic style or minimalist in style.  They can be used to send a variety of messages including for a Baby’s First Christmas, one for the kids and family versions.  The Merry Christmas Personalised Wooden Sign allows you to add up to 20 characters for the recipient’s name and comes with ribbon attached to mean it can be hung up straight away.

Kids often want to buy their friends special presents and it can be hard to pick something when kids are already getting their toys and clothes from family and friends.  One special idea that can be treasured for years to come is the snow globe.  Given as a child, it will still be a treasured seasonal memento when they are an adult.  With the Polar Bear Personalised Snow Globe you can add two lines worth of message onto the globe, wishing them love at Christmas and stating who it from to remember for all time.

Last post

Remember that most personalised items take seven to ten days to deliver so to ensure that you get the present through before the big day, don’t delay in ordering.  The last posting date for delivery by Christmas Eve is Saturday 19^th December for Second Class mail and Monday 21^st December for First Class post.  Merry Christmas!