Mothers Day Chocolates – Thorntons Continental Selection

[UPDATE 19/03/2009 - We've now passed the cut-off point for the Thorntons Mothers Day heart selection - take a look at our other Mothers Day Chocolates ]

It’s time to start thinking about that special lady in your life, and we don’t mean your wife, girlfriend, or Judy from accounts. No idea?  How about the lady who raised you, looked after you when you fell over and scraped your knee, or who picked up all the clothes from the floor when you were a teenager.

Presumably that’s not Judy from accounts.

It is, of course, your mum.  With Mother’s Day fast approaching (Sunday 22nd March in 2009 – don’t forget!) and Mums being the most amazing people in the world we thought we’d get the ball rolling on potential Mothers Day gifts with this fabulous and reasonably priced Mothers Day Thorntons continental selection.

Containing 24 of the finest Thorntons chocolates, including the so-good-they-should-be-banned Viennese truffles, this limited edition Mothers Day chocolate selection is bound to make your mum feel a little bit special.  Available (with other Mothers Day chocolates) on the Buyagift site now in two different colours – this fetching aqua blue and an equally pleasing lilac.

Pancake day recipes – the Buyagift edition

It’s Shrove Tuesday – or Pancake Day if you prefer – today and that means it’s time to dust off the frying pan (or at least get around to cleaning it), get some eggs, some flour and your favourite toppings and make some pancake-y goodness.

Whether you choose to make the classic British pancake (which, in our humble opinion, is the best), the French style Crepe, or the American thick pancake there’s a million different ways you can make and garnish your pancake.  Find out how Team Buyagift top their pancakes after the jump…

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Gifts for a Manchester United fan

Tonight’s the big night: we’re halfway through Paris Hilton’s British Best Friend!

Oh, and there’s the small matter of a Clash of The Titans style match between Manchester United and Inter Milan, with Alex Ferguson and Special One Mourinho butting heads (possibly literally) once more.

We know which one we’ll be watching here at Buyagift HQ and it won’t be the one featuring cute little dogs in little doggy body warmers.  We did think, however, that today might be a good day to think about some of the gifts for Manchester United fans we’ve got on the site…

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Family days out = half term fun

It’s February half term, yay!!!

But what to do with those precious few days of freedom?

Resist the urge to stay in and catch up on junk TV because Buyagift have put together a brilliant collection of kids days out for half term, including adrenaline activity days to Go Ape over, and fascinating family football stadium tours.

There’s something for kids of all ages in this handy guide to half term fun! Read more

The Black Stig – back from the deep?

Like the Kraken rising from the unspeakable depths, the Black Stig has made a reappearance.  Last seen racing a jet on board the HMS Invincible in 2003, the Black Stig was thought to have met his watery end (which you can see here) when he went overboard. At 109mph. Read more

New Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Aston Martin have announced the latest sleek supercar to bear the Vantage name.  The Aston Martin V12 Vantage will be launched at the Geneva Motorshow on 3rd March and is described as Aston Martin’s most “potent production car” in their production history.  Blimey. Read more

Top 5 romantic songs… that aren’t romantic

Picture that perfect Valentines Day. The poetry, the roses, the red, red wine; a beautifully arranged candle lit meal cooked to perfection and elegantly set to a soundtrack of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You. How could such a formula go wrong I hear you ask? Easy…Mrs H is actually singing about walking away from her loved one. Not the greatest choice eh? Read more

Annabella’s guide to Valentines gifts

Annabella is Buyagift’s own resident gift guru. Drawing on her own vast experience of giving and receiving presents she answers questions from readers on how to choose the perfect present for the right person, navigating the modern manners minefield that can make choosing gifts so difficult, and anything else under the sun.

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Unfortunately, Annabella can’t reply to customer service type messages so she asks that any customer service related queries are directed to the helpful folk over at customercare@buyagift.co.uk

Annabella is making a special effort to answer calls for Valentines Day gift advice within 24 hours. (Tea supply permitting.)

Hello my dears,

How exciting that Valentines Day is not far away! My gift-guru sense has been tingling since some lovely Valentines gifts went up on our website – surely the most splendid selection of romantic gifts ever assembled.

But how to choose the right romantic gift for your Valentine? Whilst a sensuously silky bouquet of Valentines flowers ‘does it’ for one, a nicely naughty Valentines gift will ‘do it’ for another. Fear not though my friends, Annabella is here to help you express those tender sentiments with perfect Valentines messages and Valentines gifts.

Choosing the right Valentines Gift in a new relationship

When Mr Annabella and I were courting, the phrase ‘making love’ meant simply to speak stirring words of affection. In the current dating climate one needs to be armed with an arsenal of Valentines gifts to sweep a new lover off their feet and out on a Valentines Day date.

A combination of traditional Valentines gift with fun little trinket covers all bases and does not express the same assumptions as, say, a ‘Naughty Weekend Kit’ might. Please your new found friend with a deliciously wicked box of Valentines chocolates (do check first that your new flame isn’t terribly allergic to nuts or dairy products) and contrasting unique Valentines gift like our Solid Silver Rolo or Name a Rose gift pack.

Valentines gifts for long term lovers

Even now as a mature lady I remember the sparks flying between Mr Annabella and I on those first unchaperoned outings. But when one has spent several years washing their husband’s very disagreeable socks, how does one put the zing into Valentines Day and manage to please that pernickety partner?

First, a Valentines Day out is a very good way of making the day special, so make part of your Valentines gift a fine dining experience for two and reconnect over a ravishing desert (or two).

If you are a gentleman it is a very nice idea to present your partner with a posy of roses or alternative Valentines flowers before entering the restaurant.

If you are a lady perhaps purchasing the aforementioned Naughty Weekend Kit would leave him anticipating the later part of the evening and distract him from noticing the bill.

All the best this Valentines Day my dears, and remember you can always email me if you find yourselves stuck (and of course all cards from secret admirers can come to the usual Buyagift address!)