Finding the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

The trouble with Mother’s Day is that it is easy to fall into the trap of buying the tried and traditional presents that are in all the high street shops whenever you visit them – a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, and a bunch of flowers.  And while all mums will likely appreciate these presents, something the generic gift just doesn’t tell them how you feel adequately.

Finding the perfect Mother’s Day Gift can take a little planning and a little studying.  Knowing what your Mum likes sounds simple enough but when it comes to buying a gift, suddenly all those ideas seem to run and hide.  So here are a few inspirations to help you recapture those ideas.

Go Personalised

One of the best ways to tell your Mum you love her is to actually tell her you love her – and use a personalised gift to do so.  There are a wealth of different ideas now available that allow you to pick the perfect gift and have it personalised with a message direct from your heart.  For example, if your Mum is a coffee fan, get a mug with a message on that will make her smile every time she had a drink.  Or if she is a wine drinker, a message on the wine bottle will be a lovely surprise and the bottle can be reused as a commemorative vase afterwards.

Gardener presents

Buying flowers is lovely and creates a beautiful display for a few days but a plant can last for years, especially if your Mum is green fingered.  Plants don’t need to be expensive either as most supermarkets and garden centres will have a selection that start from less than £10 for those on a tight budget, or where the kids want to pay themselves.

Alternatively, treat your Mum to a new set of gardening tools.  You can go ultra-practical from the garden centre or fun and frivolous and choose one of the many sets of brightly coloured trowel and fork sets now available.

Chef presents

If your Mum enjoys cooking or baking, then some new gear for her kitchen will always be appreciated.  From a new apron to a set of heart-shaped cupcake moulds, there are tons of items that you can pick up for the kitchen that will bring a smile to her face.  Plus, you get the benefit of persuading her to try them out and sampling the end result!

Another idea is to combine the personalised theme with the kitchen theme and order Mum a personalised chopping board.  Nothing says ‘hands off’ like having your name on it!  Alternatively, you can add a fun message such as her name and Queen of the Cake onto the board so whenever she uses it, she will get both a smile and a subtle hint about what to bake next!

Conclusion

Whatever you buy your Mum for Mother’s Day, there’s no doubt she will love it but by getting something that will last a little longer than a few days, you can remind her of your love all the way through the year.

Special Anniversaries and What to Buy for Them

For as long as there have been weddings, there have been special anniversaries and over time, certain gifts have become associated with certain anniversaries.  Most of us know the most popular ones, such as 50 years being the golden wedding anniversary but do you know what to buy someone for their 7^th anniversary?  And what is the recommended gift for someone who had been married for 10 years?  Here is a look at some of the most popular.

One to Ten

From years one to ten, there is a specific association and a recommended gift that goes with it.  While this doesn’t mean that a present for the anniversary has to fall in line with these ideas, it can be a great starting place if you are unsure what to buy someone.

The 1^st anniversary is associated with paper in the US and cotton in the UK and the suggested modern gift to give is a clock.  For the 2^nd anniversary, the US and UK versions swap around and the modern gift is recommended to be a piece or set of china.  For the 3^rd anniversary, both agree on leather while the gift is either something made from crystal or from glass.  While the traditional idea for this would be a pair of crystal flutes or a set of nice glasses, a new idea is to give a personalised crystal token that has the couple’s names and wedding date inscribed on it.

Here is a list of the first ten anniversaries and their suggested gift:

Year	US	UK	Gift idea
1st	Paper	Cotton	Clock
2nd	Cotton	Paper	China
3rd	Leather	Leather	Crystal, glass
4th	Linen, silk	Fruit, flowers	Electrical appliances
5th	Wood	Wood	Silverware
6th	Iron	Sugar	Wooden objects
7th	Wool, copper	Woollen	Desk sets or pen and pencil sets
8th	Bronze	Salt	Linens, lace
9th	Pottery	Copper	Leather goods
10th	Tin, aluminium	Tin	Diamond jewellery

Fifteen to twenty

From years 15 to 20, there are less associations with each year and many people stop giving gifts for each anniversary, instead concentrating on the 15^th and 20^th only.  However, there are still recommended gifts for each year if you do want to continue the tradition.

The 15^th anniversary is associated in both countries with crystal and giving of a watch is the modern ideal present.  Silver hollowware is associated with the 16^th, furniture with the 17^th and porcelain with the 18^th.  Bronze is the gift of choice for a 19^th anniversary and when 20 years comes around, china is seen as the traditional option while something in platinum is a modern alternative.

Twenty five and up

Twenty-five years universally calls for a silver present while the 30^th anniversary can be either Pearl or something with diamonds involved.  The 35^th is the coral anniversary but the modern alternative is to pick up something in jade as a present.  40 years is commemorates with ruby, 45 with sapphire and of course the 50^th anniversary is the golden anniversary.  Finally, 55 years is emerald, 60 is diamond and 70 is platinum.

Conclusion

The great thing about these ideas is just that – they are ideas to give you inspiration to find that perfect present for someone.  And while you may not be able to buy a diamond necklace for your friend and diamond cufflinks for her husband, something as simple as a diamond wedding picture frame may be a perfect match.

Best Gin Cocktails

Gin is one of those drinks that you either love or hate, I always thought.  A friend of mine was a gin fanatic, never drank anything else and I even bought her one of those ‘Gin o’clock’ glasses for her to enjoy her favourite drink.  But then I discovered the joys of gin in cocktails and found a new appreciation of the drink.

What is gin?

Gin is a spirit made mainly from juniper berries and was originally created in the Middle Ages when it was an herbal medicine.  It was brought to England when William of Orange, leader of the Dutch Republic, took control of the thrones of Scotland and England with his wife Mary.

The original gin drink was gin and tonic and this came about when the British had colonies in tropical areas of the world.  A substance called quinine was used as an anti-malaria compound but had a bitter taste so it was dissolved into carbonated water to create tonic water and mixed with gin to help with the taste.

There are now lots of different types of gin including flavours and variations but all have to have juniper as their base to be allowed to be called gin.  One such example is Sloe Gin, made by infusing sloes, the berries of the blackthorn bush, in gin to create a liqueur.

Classic cocktails

The Gimlet is one of the classics of the gin cocktail range and dates from the 1920s.  It is a simple drink made from gin and lime juice with soda, though the Raymond Chandler novel The Long Goodbye said that the Gimlet should only consist of half gin and half lime juice, maybe for those who can handle the tang of the lime!  For those with a gentler taste, four parts gin to one part lime is used in a cocktail glass, though can be topped up with soda into a bigger glass for a longer drink.

The Singapore Sling is a long drink that did originate in South-East Asia.  It was created in the 1910’s by a cocktail bartender working in the Raffles Hotel Singapore.  There are many different variations now but all use a Hi Ball glass.  The official IBA recipe is:

• 3 cl gin
• 1.5 cl cherry brandy
• 0.75 cl Cointreau
• 0.75 cl Benedictine
• 1 cl Grenadine
• 12cl pineapple juice
• 1.5 cl lime juice
• Dash of Angostura bitters

Famous cocktails

Martini cocktails are amongst the most famous in the world, with the Vodka Martini being favoured by a certain spy while the Dry Martini remaining one of the simplest and classiest gin cocktails.  It is stirred but never shaken and uses ½ measure gin to 3 measures of dry vermouth and has a single green olive on a cocktail stick for garnish.

Colourful cocktails

Just because gin is clear, doesn’t mean it can’t be made into funky coloured cocktails.  One example is the Juliana Blue cocktail.  This involves putting crushed ice, 1 measure of gin, ½ measure Cointreau, ½ measure blue Curacao, 2 measures of pineapple juice, ½ measure lime juice and 1 measure of cream of coconut into a blender.  Once the mixture is like slush, add some ice cubes to a martini glass and pour the mixture over them.  Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cocktail cherry for a beautiful blue drink.

Valentine Cocktail Ideas

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, there are plenty of ideas for meals to cook or luxurious venues to take your loved one.  But sometimes life doesn’t leave enough time for these time-consuming events.  If you are one of the people who never have time for a sumptuous meal together or to spend the night at the theatre, then why not create a special cocktail for the evening to drink and relax together at the end of the day?

The perfect sip

The great thing about cocktails is that they can be tailored to any taste, including those who don’t drink alcohol.  Serving the cocktail can even be the centre of a short but sweet Valentine’s Day event by picking up a pair of personalised glasses to share the drinks in.  So here are some recipe ideas to get you started on cocktails designed for two.

The Maxwell Cocktail

• ·         1.5 oz. Cucumber Vodka
• ·         .75 oz. cucumber juice
• ·         .25 oz. Cointreau
• ·         .5 oz. lemon juice
• ·         .25 oz. agave nectar

Mix the ingredients above in a large shaker with ice then shake for around 10 seconds.  Take two champagne glasses and split the content of the mixer between the two.  Fill to the top with champagne and keep the bottle chilled to add more as needed.

Tiki Bowl

• ·         2 oz. orange juice
• ·         1.5 oz. lemon juice
• ·         .5 oz. almond orgeat
• ·         1 oz. light rum
• ·         1 oz. dark rum
• ·         1 oz. brandy

Put all of the ingredients into a blender along with a scoop of shaved ice.  Blend until thoroughly mixed and service into a tiki bowl or a hurricane glass.  To garnish, add ice cubes and decorate with a gardenia.

Chocolate Strawberry Martini

• ·         3 strawberries, sliced
• ·         1 oz. milk
• ·         4 oz. vodka
• ·         2 oz. chocolate liqueur

Put the strawberries and milk into a shaker and mix then add the rest of the ingredients and fill with ice.  Shake again then add to an oversized martini glass that two can share.

The Rose

• ·         2 oz. dry vermouth (Martini)
• ·         1 oz. cherry brandy
• ·         1 tsp raspberry syrup

Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass and fill it with ice.  Give it a good stir then strain into a chilled cocktail glass for each and garnish with a brandied cherry.

Little touches

If your loved one isn’t a fan of cocktails, then why not get a bottle of their favourite wine but add something a little different?  Try a personalised plaque that says something from your heart that you can hang around the neck of the bottle and give them on Valentine’s Day when they are ready to relax at last.

Or for one of the simplest of all cocktails that is filled with glass, invest in a bottle of Chambord and a bottle of champagne.  Take those special champagne flutes you bought and add .25 oz. to each glass of Chambord before topping with the champagne.  This turns the drink a beautiful deep red colour and can be garnished with a twist of lemon for a simple drink that says ‘I love you’.

Healthy Herbs and Their Benefits

There’s nothing bad about herbs when you think about it; they are easy to grow, easy to use, taste great when used with the right ingredients and are good for you.  The last point is probably the least well-known fact but is based on research by nutritional experts.  So which are the super-herbs that give the most health benefits?

Rosemary

Rosemary is a fragrant, evergreen herb with thin needle-like leaves as well as pretty flowers in white, pink, purple or even sometimes blue.  It is native to the Mediterranean region and is commonly used in Italian cuisine.  Herbal tea can also be made using it and it works particularly well when cooked with meats to give a unique flavour.

According to the Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, the smell of rosemary can itself even boost brain performance.  This is because a compound that is absorbed from the aroma has been connected to speed and accuracy of cognitive performance.  The more of the compound in the blood, the better the brain works.

Parsley

Parsley is also a Mediterranean herb and is known for its simplicity to grow as well as its varied uses.  It has spread into Middle Eastern and American cooking as well as being popular in the cuisines across Europe and is often used to garnish a dish with a splash of fresh green.

Parsley has high levels of something called apigenin and a study from Cancer Prevention Research has shown that when rats were tested for breast cancer, they development fewer tumour or had delays in development of tumour when ingested this substance.  Apigenin works to block the creation of new blood vessels that allows tumours to grow.

Peppermint

Peppermint is actually a hybrid plant combining watermint and spearmint that was found across Europe and the Middle East.  As well as being great as a breath freshener, peppermint is also effective at combating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBM) according to a Canadian survey.  It works to relieve pain in the colon and calm pain sensing fibres, particularly to combat the effects of strong flavours such as chili and mustard.

Oregano

Another Mediterranean herb, Oregano is common in pastas and pizza dishes.  It also has natural anti-inflammatory properties and when used on mice’s paws it has been shown to reduce inflammation after an injury.  It contains beta-caryophyllin, which has been shown to inhibit the production of substances that cause inflammation in the first place.

Conclusion

Preparing herbs is very easy and even someone with little knife skills can chop up a few herbs to add to a meal and gain a few of these subtle health benefits.  Most herbs can be torn up by hand, chopped up roughly with a small knife or even cut up into smaller pieces using a herb chopper,

It can also be a great idea for a gift to buy someone a personalised chopping board with a recipe for their perfect herbs on it, to remind them which herbs are their perfect match.

New Home Gift Ideas

When it comes to picking a gift for someone to celebrate their new home, if they have a set theme to their rooms or a chosen décor, it can be easy.  But for someone who is moving into their first home or who tends towards the neutral colours, it can be a little more difficult.  The good news is that there are some great products available from commemorating the event to adding a splash of on-trend colour.

Adding colour

We all have our favourite colours but sometimes this doesn't always translate well to a room colour or isn't suitable for everyone in the house. It may also be that there aren't any accessories around in that favourite colour. So the next best option is to go for one of the on-trend colours and according to House Beautiful, this year’s colours include:

•  Greek blue – this is a deep blue described as the colour of the tops of church on the Greek island of Santorini or the colour of the Mediterranean.  Alongside brilliant white, this is said to work well with gentle pinks or greys.

Greek blue church roof

•  Sour green – this is a kind of grey-green or sage green that works surprising well on accessories combined with blues or aquamarine shades and the pairing is often used in floral patterns.
• Olive green – olive green works well with neutral shades, whites and creams and is a very warm colour.
• Neutral grey – instead of the normal neutral shades of brown, the new trend is for neutral grey shades with darker grey shades such as charcoal for accents.
• Combining pastels – for a step up from neutral, many people are combining shades of pastel together such as soft mint green and a blush pink with accents in a slightly darker shade.

Shabby chic

For an on-going trend that is easy to adapt to almost any colour theme, go for shabby chic. In essence, this is where furniture and accessories are given an appearance of age with a distressed look. This transforms a brand new item into something that has a soft and vintage feel to it and often works well with cottage-style décor.

Shabby chic fabrics tend to lean towards cottons and linens with whites, ecrus and bleached pastel colours being popular such as sky blue, rose pink and beige. It is often described as a relaxed and feminine style but can be altered as required to be suitable for any household.

The other good thing about shabby chic is that it is very easy to personalise and to make uniquely suited to someone.  From bird-shaped wooden plaques and small desk tidies to floral pattern fabrics and polka dot ceramics, there are plenty of unique pieces available that will fit into any décor.  Many of these items can be personalised, for example with the date someone moved into the new home on a slate plaque to hang in their hallway.

Conclusion

Buying a new home present can sometimes be about helping people get all those items they need to set up their first home.  Other times, it can be about buying them sometimes memorable so in years to come they can look back at the item and remember the event fondly.

Unusual Valentines Gift Ideas

Valentine’s Day means different things to different people – it may be the chance to tell someone how you feel, to treat your partner or even to make up after a time of troubles.  Traditional Valentines gift have been chocolates, cuddly toys and roses and while these will still be a good fit for some people, unusual Valentines gifts can be a little more difficult.  So here are some ideas to get you started.

For Her

Jewellery is always a good bet for a lady but the best way is to make is relevant to them and show you know them.  For instance, look for a charm bracelet that features her favourite animal or a necklace in the colours of her birthstone.  All of these things show that you pay attention to her and know what she likes.  But don’t forget to have a peek at her jewellery box if you aren’t sure of her tastes – no point in buying a big chunky red necklace if she only wears delicate pendants or worse, already has one!

If the lady likes a glass of wine or a cocktail, why not get a personalised glass that speaks to her?  Shops offer services where etching onto a particular glass can be done with fun messages and her name to make something that suits her tastes and personality.

For Him

Men are often considered harder to buy for but this doesn’t have to be the case.  If the man you are buying for enjoys a pint, then the personalised pint glass or whiskey shot glass if you likes the stronger stuff is something that can be perfect.  If he’s a fan of something a little gentler, get a fun mug made that has a favourite saying on or something that reflects his personality.

For the House

Buying something that can be enjoyed by both of you around the house is a way of celebrating the occasion as a couple.  From scented candles to sets of glasses, there are plenty of ideas.  Another trendy idea are customised plaques that feature anything from your names and the dates you met to the date you moved into your home together.  Ceramics are a popular choice and one of the newer options that is perhaps more suitable to give to a man is the slate variations.

Alternatively, select something new for the house that has a romantic theme, such as a wall hanging featuring a pair of lovebirds or a canvas print of the place you went on honeymoon or a favourite vacation.  You could even have a picture of the two of you made – providing that you both enjoy having your picture on the wall!

While chocolates are always a good choice to enjoy together, many top chocolate makers now offer hampers that contain a range of gifts around a certain theme.  These can even be customised if your loved one has allergies or simply doesn’t like certain things.  Again, this shows you care and that you know them well enough to pick the perfect treats.