If you are like me, you always try and buy people interesting and thoughtful gifts as opposed to cold generic presents that they could get off anyone. If you have some kind of artistic talent then you probably like to make them something but if not then you might struggle to get good gifts every birthday and Christmas. You like the recipient to know that you have put some thought into their present, that you took time to consider what they would like and what would put a smile on their face. Here are a few suggestions for gifts tailored just for them.
For anyone – photos – you can print a huge family portrait, an image of their pet and or travelling photos or photos of friends. Anyone would appreciate that you have picked out a special picture just for them but it is still relatively easy toframe a photo print or get a canvas print from a site like hellocanvas so you do not even need to leave your house. There are a huge variety of options available so you tailor it to their own personal style and find something that will fit in with their other home décor items.
For the creative one –make your own lip balm kit – a lip balm kit is one suggestion but it could be anything, candle making or jewellery making. If they already like to make things then a beginners kit could be a great way to get them started on a new hobby. Or maybe you just think they would be good at it, perhaps they like a new challenge. The added bonus with this gift is that they might well gift their first creation to you!
For the foodie – personalised kitchenware – you can get anything personalised or engraved these days and that applies to kitchenware. Get them a set of wooden spoons or a chopping board with their name carved on it. If they are partial to a drink then get them a wine carafe or personalised beer glass. There is always the classic novelty apron that your resident barbeque lover would enjoy. There is no end to possibilities!
For pet lovers – custom dog lead holder orcustom cat bowl – most pet owners absolutely dote on their furry companions and would likely love a gift that both of them can appreciate. Get a personalise dog leash hook with their puppy’s name on it or a personalised cat bowl for their feline friend. I can guarantee these kinds of presents will bring a smile to the face of any pet owner and they will probably appreciate that you remember their pet’s name!
For the frequent traveller – ascratch map – this is perfect because it lets them show off all the places they have been to and show visitors just how well-travelled they are without it being too obvious. And it is something they can keep on using, scratching off every new place they go to throughout the years.
It is not uncommon for parents to worry about the nutritional value of the food they are serving their children and little ones. The food children and babies eat when they are younger can really make a difference on how they eat as they get older. However, it’s important for parents to keep the pressure off for everyone, including themselves. Think about what’s eaten over a week, not day to day and avoid coaxing little ones to eat or ensuring kids stay at the table until they’ve finished the meal. All of this can impose negative associations around foods which is ultimately what we want to avoid if we’re trying to create little foodies. According to research recently conducted by Stokke 53% of parents struggle to prepare a meal that the entire family will enjoy.
Make choice part of your mealtime routine. Kids are more likely to eat something they feel they’ve had a say in, so instead of just plating up their food, ask them first “do you want X or Y with your dinner” or “Would you like spaghetti or rice for dinner today?” for example. You could also try offering multiple sides and giving them autonomy to choose what they want. You’ll probably be surprised how much more gets eaten when it’s them calling the shots. Younger babies don’t often have much choice in their meal options but try offering them a variety & following their lead. At mealtimes have conversations about the meals and foods on offer, allow honest opinions and maybe even make a game of rating the meals for the week. This can help children and toddlers to really think about their foods and their likes and dislikes a little more as well as being mindful about the foods they are eating.
Three fifths (60%) of families will always eat their families will always eat their family meals together at the dinner table. Sitting together and being present at mealtimes helps, but actually eating similar things can also help children to accept a wider variety. Some research shows that families eating together is a big factor in positively influencing the diets of their children, so as much as you can try to ROLEMODEL what a balanced diet looks like, and it’s likely your little ones will follow suit. Remember babies also learn the WHAT and the HOW of eating from copying their parents and those around them too, which is why I love the Stokke Tripp Trapp as a great way to bring baby right to the table with you at mealtimes. Research, conducted by premium children’s brand, Stokke, explored the importance of eating meals together as a family, found that 49% of participants believe eating together as a family creates a happier child and 34% believe it creates a more confident child.
With 82% of parents worrying about the nutritional value of the food they are serving their children and want to ensure they get the balance right – here is what I try to give my children for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: Breakfast
Breakfast is often porridge, or pancakes – mainly because it’s SO easy to add extras to these – extra flavours such as cinnamon, or ginger, extra nutrients from peanut butter or milled seeds stirred in or extra portions of your 5 a day with some berries thrown into the batter/with the oats or even just sticks on the side.
Lunch
I like a picky finger food lunch for those busy days. Trying to make this balanced is often easy too so things such as
Wraps with hummus and pepper
Cucumber fingers with yogurt dip and leftover curries
Tuna, yogurt and sweetcorn spread on toast
Omelettes with potato, mixed veg and cheese
Dinner
Tends to be something hot, but it does vary.
I love potato tots for babies as they are just so simple and easy to vary.
I’m all about trying to make the most of meals and balance the food groups on offer where possible so that you know babies AND kids are getting all the nutrients they need. This means I’m always thinking about what I can sprinkle on top, what I can use as a dip or how I can add extras like lentils, fish or beans to pasta sauces.
Expert nutritional advice from Charlotte Stirling-Reed, author of new book “How to wean your baby”, that publishes on 29th April but available for pre-order. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785043242 @sr_nutrition
Stokke is a leading high end baby brand in Scandinavia whose ethos is to nurture family bonding, having your baby closer to you and the importance of eye contact. The iconic Tripp Trapp® highchair was launched in 1972 and has since sold more than 12 million worldwide. www.stokke.com @stokkebaby
Ingredients: 50ml Cotswolds Dry Gin, 25ml elderflower liqueur, 12.5ml fresh lime juice, 75ml pressed apple juice
Method: Place all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker, shake and strain into an ice-filled Copa glass. Garnish with fresh cucumber and mint
From £34.95 for 70cl (46% ABV). Available from Cotswoldsdistillery.com, Waitrose, Majestic, Oddbins, Laithwaites, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason.
Cotswolds Whisky Sour
Ingredients: 60ml Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 20ml sugar syrup, 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters, ½ egg white
Method: Dry shake all ingredients, add ice to shaker, shake, fine-strain & serve into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a fresh lemon wheel & cherry
From £44.95 for 70cl (46% ABV). Available from cotswoldsdistillery.com, Waitrose, Majestic, The Whisky Exchange, Harrods and Laithwaites.
Method: Shake all ingredients apart from the Champagne with ice. Double strain and top with Champagne. Garnish with a twist of orange peel
From £29 for 70cl (42% ABV). Available from kokorogin.com, Master of Malt, John Lewis, 31Dover, Amazon and other good retailers. Also in the Kokoro Gin range are their delicious Japanese-inspired liqueurs, including Blueberry & Lemongrass, Yuzu and Ginger and Cherry Blossom.
From £12.50 for 20cl (20% ABV). Available from kokorogin.com and John Lewis
Barentsz Mandarin and Jasmine Martini
Ingredients: 55ml Barentsz Mandarin and Jasmine Gin, 15ml triple sec (Grand Marnier) , 15ml dry vermouth, dash of orange bitters
Method: Pour ingredients into a shaker half filled with cracked ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
From £38.00 for 70cl (40% ABV). Available from Barentszgin.com and from 31Dover.com in a luxury gift carton.
Lowlander Sobeer Citrus Mocktail
Ingredients: 150ml Lowlander 0.00% Wit Beer, 30ml Seedlip Grove, 10ml Ginger syrup, 10ml Lime juice, Garnish with a juiced orange peel
Method: Fill a highball glass with ice. Stir all ingredients and strain into the glass over ice. Garnish with a swirl of juiced orange peel.
Lowlander 0.00% Wit Beer is available to purchase online: As a single bottle from LightDrinks.co.uk for £1.99. As a single bottle from 31Dover.com for £2.02. As a case of 12 from Amazon for £36.95
Pinkster Gin & Jam
@tonephotog 07908236655 shep@tone-photographer
Ingredients: 50ml Pinkster Gin, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup, 1tsp raspberry jam, a handful of blackberries
Method: Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a Rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with fresh blackberries
From £36 for 70cl (37.5% ABV). Available from Marks & Spencer, Fenwick, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Majestic Wine, Ocado, 31Dover.com, Master of Malt and Pinkster Gin.com.
Union Spirited Maverick
Ingredients: 50ml Spirited Union Lemon & Leaf, 20ml Passion Fruit Puree, 30ml Fresh Lemon Juice, 15ml Vanilla Syrup, fresh passionfruit
Method: Pour ingredients in a shaker. Shake with ice and strain into pre-chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a passion fruit wheel float.
Ingredients: 50ml Jaisalmer Gin, 15ml fresh lime juice, 10ml Cinnamon Syrup, 50ml Cloudy Apple Juice
Method: Pour ingredients in a shaker. Shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with an apple fan of 3 slices and add grated nutmeg (optional)
Method: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the ingredients and shake until the surface of the shaker feels chilled. Strain into a Coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of lime peel
This gorgeous Abbott Lyon Tote Bag in blush pink is the perfect present. It is beautiful and well made. There is a zip at the top and a lot of compartments: perfect.
I only heard about Weird Fish recently and now I am obsessed with them. For gorgeous, soft and perfectly made scarves, gloves (and more) look no further. I love the Katy Brushed Scarf as it is so soft, long and luxurious and the Jenny Striped gloves. They have stuff for men too.
These Skull Candy Wireless headphones are amazing. They are easy-to-use and stylish with great sound. They also have a microphone and a backup cable. Highly recommended. I use them to listen to podcasts when I am trying to get my littlest one to bed.
Never miss a beat with these Skullcandy Grind Wireless Headphones that are designed to produce awesome sound quality. They connect wirelessly via Bluetooth and with 12 hours battery life you’ll never have to miss out on your favourite tracks.
From AO.com who also have a lot of other amazing gifts. Their service is great and highly recommended by Frost.
I love these pyjamas. They are so comfy and stylish.
Taking inspiration from your favourite, comfiest t-shirt, Eve designed a pair of 100% cotton jersey pyjamas to give you snug softness with a lightweight, loose-fit stretch. And with pockets and other trendy little details, these PJs really nail the laidback style, too.
www.evesleep.co.uk
Havaianas Slim Glitter Flip Flops in Pink.
These are perfect for the Christmas season. Glitzy and comfortable, they look great with any outfit. They would fit inside a stocking easily too.
From www.houseoffraser.co.uk
Chi Chi London
Chi Chi London have an array of gorgeous clothes that are perfect for Christmas. I love their Lydia dress which is embroidered with a pink skirt. I also love this jumpsuit. Convenient online shopping and beautiful high-quality clothes. What more could you want?
Toy State, a toy industry leader and innovator of highly-stylized licenced “lights and sound” and radio-controlled vehicles has a fantastic selection of Christmas toys suitable for toddlers. Designed to cope with tough toddler play and encourage co-ordination and imaginative play. We reviewed the following:
Hot Wheels Extreme Action Sharkruiser– All the excitement of Hot Wheels™ with lights and sounds for extra action. Get ready for extreme fun with the chomping jaws and glowing eyes on Sharkruiser. Ages 3+ Expected Market Retail price £19.99, available from smythstoys.com, TheRange.co.uk, ASDA.com, Wilkinson.com, ToysRUs.co.uk
A huge hit with toddlers. They can barely wait until it is out of the box. Chomps away as it goes.
Cat Buildin’ Crew E-Z Machines® R/C- You are never too young to start playing with a Remote-Control vehicle. Designed for toddlers, the single button activation allows the child to drive the Cat machine forward when pressing the button or watch it spin in circles when released. There are 2 fun characters to collect including; Haulin’ Harry™ and Rugged Randy™. Ages 2+ Expected Market Retail price £16.99, available from smythstoys.com, TheRange.co.uk, Toymaster.co,uk and Debenhams.com
A brilliant little toy for toddlers. Easy to use and tons of fun. It also helps their coordination.
Over half of parents vote for Corbyn as political baby names become hot new trend
53% of parents find it ‘very hard’ to choose the right name for their baby – and a third disagree with their partner over what to pick
70% believe children are judged by their name
23% say political names are on the rise with Corbyn and Cameron the top picks
Surge in popularity of Muslim names used by non-Muslim families
Wacky new naming trends include ‘unicorn names’, ‘tough names’ and even ‘text message names’
7% of families regret their child’s name
New parents are electing to name their children after politicians – with Corbyn the hottest new baby-naming trend, a new poll by video parenting website www.channelmum.com reveals.
After the Labour leader’s post-General Election popularity surge, over half of parents (52%) would consider using the name Corbyn for their child. The name has already soared 50 percent in popularity between 2014 and 2015, but is now expected to see an even sharper rise.
Overall, political names are one of the fastest-growing new UK baby naming trends with 23 percent of mums and dads seeing more politically-inspired names in their area.
Interestingly, while 38 percent of parents would consider the name May, only four percent would use Theresa for a newborn. Cameron was the next most popular, liked by a third of parents, followed by Jeremy, enjoying fresh popularity with 15 percent of families.
However, only five percent would name their baby Boris or Diane, six percent Donald and just one percent believe Nigel will become a fashionable name again. But Nicola was especially popular in Scotland, where 13 percent of mums and dads report its popularity is increasing, and 12 percent of Welsh parents are seeing more Leannes locally.
Across Britain, 1,305 parents were asked which names were increasing in popularity in their local area. The poll revealed a huge 70 percent of parents believe people judge a child by their name – and as a result, seven percent ‘regret’ their choice of baby name. However, three quarters of parents (75%) would be upset if their child wanted to change their name.
A third of couples quizzed admitted they disagreed and even rowed over naming their baby, with 53 percent admitting choosing a name is ‘very hard’. And while two thirds (65%) eventually settled on a name while still pregnant, 19 percent wait until they see the baby’s face when born – and an indecisive four percent wait six weeks until the legal limit for registering the baby’s birth and name.
The study also found that while over a third (35%) of parents use family names to honour relatives, one in five (20%) opt for unique spellings no-one else has to ensure their child stands out.
And with over 62,000 different baby names used annually in the UK, there are a number of wacky new baby-naming trends starting to break through.
The fastest-growing up-and-coming trends revealed by the poll include traditional Muslim names going mainstream, with six percent of the parents quizzed seeing more non-Muslim families using Muslim names. The most commonly-used Muslim monikers include Zane, Zahra, Ayesha, Farah, Anila, Omar and Jana.
One in ten has seen an increase in babies with ‘tough names’ including Axl, Maverick and Diesel, and by contrast, Unicorn names including Rainbow, Twinkle, Sassy, Sparkle and Princess are also beginning to gain popularity (4%).
Football ace Paul Pogba and Towie star Sam Faiers have helped to repopularise the name Paul, with one in 25 parents seeing it used again. There is also renewed interest in 1970s names including Michelle, Susan and even Gary is making a comeback.
And Viking and Scandi names are on the march, with Magnus, Agnes, Linnea, Freya, Annika, Astrid and Britta more popular, according to 13 percent of parents.
Meanwhile, the more bizarre name phenomenons include text message abbreviation names like Ily – meaning I Love You – spotted by one percent of parents – and three percent who have seen US place names including Texas, Miami, Arizona and Tennessee used as baby names.
However, the most common current trend is surnames as first names. Two thirds of parents report this is on the rise in their area, with top names including Cooper, Grayson, Parker, Quinn, Jones, Carter, Mason, Jackson, Hunter and Riley.
Traditional but not twee English names are undergoing a revival, with 61 percent of parents embracing monikers includingSarah, Penelope, Emma and Lucy.
The rise of gender-fluid culture means Gender Neutral names are becoming more popular. Alex, Charlie, Elliott, Ellis, Max and Sydney are among the names spotted more often by 41 percent of parents.
And while it may be the least-used letter of the alphabet, X names are in-vogue, with Jaxxon, Xanthe, Xander and Jaxton the most picked for new babies, and voted more popular by 35 percent of parents.
Meanwhile, 16 percent of mums and dads have seen a flood of babies with water names including River, Lake, Delta and Coast, while 13 percent report meeting tots named after the cast of the film Frozen, such as Elsa, Kai, Anna and Olaf.
However, the study also showed the most disliked baby name trend is text-message names, shunned by 71 percent of parents, followed by double-barrelled names such as Lily-Mae, which half of parents refuse to use.
A further 44 percent wouldn’t name their child after a sports team while 38 percent loathe unusual or unique spellings. And the Kardashian trend of using the same first letter for each child was turned down by 27 percent of families.
Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com said:“What’s in a name? Well rather a lot. Names reflect both changing fashions and our changing society, such as the rise in use of many beautiful Muslim names. With 70 percent of families believing their child is judged on their name, a vast amount of love, care and attention is poured into picking the right moniker.
“Corbyn is the stand-out naming trend this year, and we expect to see lots of babies conceived at Glastonbury or over the election period named after the Labour leader.
“But remember a week is a long time in politics and your child will have that name for a lifetime, so do consider the effects of naming a child after any politician.”
HOTTEST UP AND COMING TRENDS
Political names (23%)
Viking / Scandi names (11%)
Tough names (10% are seeing an increase in this)
Non-Muslim families using Muslim names (6%)
Unicorn names (4%)
70s names (4%)
US place names (3%)
Text abbreviation names (e.g. ILY for I Love You) – 1%
MOST POPULAR CURRENT NAMING TRENDS
Surnames as first names (66% have seen an increase in this)
It is always good to be a little bit different and these two original and fun chocolate gifts make excellent Easter gifts. Either for yourself, or someone else. The chocolate doughnuts are 100% chocolate and are cute and interesting, They even have yummy hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top. They also look like real doughnuts. Have fun this Easter by fooling someone. They won’t mind after they eat it.
Go nuts for Doughnuts that are totally chocolate. These round rings are just this thing to treat yourself this Easter, and are perfect for sharing or dunking.
Dive into these tasty treatsthe Chocolate Doughnuts are made from 100% solid white and milk Belgian chocolate and crafted carefully to look like an iced doughnut, the decoration adds an extra delight with hundreds and thousands.
Irresistibly edible, crave the crunch of chocolate bliss, for this fun food is great for Easter… just £13.95 from www.prezzybox.com.
This super cute bunny rabbit burrowing for carrots is adorable and original. It is also a great gluten free Easter inspired chocolate set. The chocolate is handmade and made from delicious milk and white Belgian chocolate. It will have people talking and is an awesome alternative to the Easter egg.
Make a veggie laugh with this veggie patch, they are even gluten free. Just £9.95 from www.prezzybox.com now.
We were bowled over by Gifts Hub’s Personalised Books for little ones. They come in a gorgeous presentation box, and the books are stunning. The book is personalised on the front and throughout. You can also include a personal message in the opening page.
Journey into the World with “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” Book
Personalised gifting group, Gifts Hub, make these books. We really loved the children’s classic, Journey with The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book. The children’s book is available to purchase on the group’s UK websites, I Just Love It and Historic Newspapers
This new edition stars international-bestselling and award-winning author Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, bringing the iconic caterpillar into the 21st Century for a new generation to enjoy.
Once the book has been personalised, The Very Hungry Caterpillar takes on the chosen name, resulting in the recipient becoming the star of the book. This creates a unique and personalised story for any child, as they embark on a special journey into the world.
Each page has been illustrated and written in homage to author Eric Carle, and his unique drawing and writing style can be seen on every page. Colourful, bold illustrations are teamed with large text to engage and entertain any reader.
The new book can be personalised with a child’s name, which features on the front cover and throughout the copy, and a message, which features on the title page of the book.
A bespoke, embossed pastel gift box has also been produced as a luxury presentation option which is included in the price with any purchase of the new book. The presentation box really takes the gift to another level.
Thomas The Tank Engine. A personalised edition of a classic railway series story.
Another beautiful book. Personalised on the front and throughout. This is a great story with wonderful illustrations by C. Reginald Dalby.
We can highly recommend these gorgeous books which are published by Signature Books. They are classic books with beautiful illustrations, all personalised to your child. Frost loves.
