Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas - Roberts Bakery, Wilkinson Sword and Beech's Fine Chocolates

If you are yet to buy a present for your dad this Father's Day don't panic! Here are some ideas for some last minute gifts that won't cost too much, but will be gratefully received.

Breakfast in Bed

Why not show him how much you care and treat dad to breakfast in bed for Father's Day? Perhaps you could make him a voucher (or print out the one below) and present dad with it so he can redeem it whenever he fancies an indulgent lie in with his choice of breakfast served to him in bed.

For Ian's Father Day Breakfast, we'll be making him a Quorn Bacon Butty using Roberts Bakery Soft and Fluffy Thick White Bread and tomato sauce. Served with a mug of black coffee, this is the perfect brekkie for dad!

Keep an eye on the Roberts Bakery Facebook page for their ultimate Father's Day Bacon Butty Guide!

Wilkinson Sword

Practical gifts can be much appreciated, which is why toiletries are always a good idea for dad. You can buy them in supermarkets so can be picked up easily wherever you are. They are a great idea for the dad who has everything.

Wilkinson Sword's Hydro 5 razor gives dad a revolutionary shave care system with its five ultra glide blades, hydrating gel reservoir and flip trimmer. It gives a high performance shave with the benefit of added skin care.

How about the new Wilkinson Sword travel kit, which includes a Hydro 5 Razor, travel cap and mini can of Protect shaving foam? It's a great idea with the summer holidays and festival season approaching. This kit is a Tesco exclusive, but Hydro 5 can be found nationwide. Wilkinson Sword products are currently included in an up to half price special offer with the Hydro 5 Groomer at £7.49 and the Razor at £4.19. Pair them with dad's favourite aftershave for a brilliant gift idea.

Find out the latest new on the Wilkinson Sword Men UK Facebook page.

Beech's Chocolate

If your dad has a sweet tooth or is a bit of a chocoholic, then you can treat him to some quality chocolates. Both Ian and my dad enjoy darker, richer blends of chocolate, savouring a few squares a night.

Beech's Fine Chocolates have a range of delicious, top quality 60g bars that are perfect for Father's Day. They are grown up chocolates for the more discerning palate with their range of interesting varieties.

The range includes:

White Chocolate

Milk Chocolate

Dark Chocolate

Dark Chocolate with Natural Ginger

Dark Chocolate with Lime and Chilli

Milk Chocolate with Anglesey Sea Salt

The Dark Chocolate with Natural Ginger is 55% cocoa solids. It is smooth and dark with a subtle hit of gingery warmth. It is delicious.  The 55% Dark Chocolate with Lime and Chilli is a really inventive flavour, with a citrus tang and a hit of heat. Ian really liked this one...it's a proper manly flavour! The chocolates are delicious on their own or would be excellent ingredinets in a recipe. (Watch this space for a recipe in the near future using a sample of Beech's Fine Chocolates that I was sent to try!)

Beech's have been making fine British chocolates since 1920 using the finest, natural ingredients. The packaging is really attractive, bearing the Beech's crest. The dark chocolate varieties are suitable for vegans, while the rest are vegetarian friendly. Beech's have an extensive and impressive range of vegan friendly chocolate creams, chocolate Brazils and chocolate thins

Beech's currently have a competition online where you can win a holiday or a hamper of chocolate simply by signing up to their newsletter. Just by entering you receive a 10% discount code to use against your first order.

The bars are £1.50 EACH or 3 for £4.00 or 12 for £12.00 with FREE DELIVERY on orders over £12.00.

Visit Beech's Fine Chocolates for more information.


We received these samples for the purpose of this review.

Father's Day Gift Guide - featuring Scruffs Hardwear and Truprint

Scruffs Hardwear

Scruffs make menswear that works just as hard as dad does. With durable materials and stylish designs, dad will enjoy wearing the workwear to show that he is #scruffsenough for anything, whether at home or at play. I received a sample of the Scruffs range to try out.

The Scruffs authentic vintage T-shirt is made from thick 100% cotton and is comfortable to wear. It is well made with good stitchwork and has branded label detailing on the sleeve and at the bottom of the shirt. It is available in sizes up to XXL and comes in grey or blue. At £11.95 it is a great price for a quality men's T-shirt.

The Scruffs Boxers are firm fitting and stylish, made using tough, durable polycotton. They have a Scruffs logo printed waistband.  A two pair pack of large boxers are £10.75.

Other gift ideas from Scruffs include a handy bottle opener belt for £11.95 and a water resistant and shockproof sports watch for £19.95. These would all make practical Father's Day gifts for a hardworking dad.

You can view the entire range of Scruffs workwear, safetywear and accessories at Scruffs.com.

Truprint

I have been busy making Father's Day mug and coaster gift sets for my dad, FIL and Ian with Truprint. I have also created a lovely notebook to give to Ian, featuring photographs of myself and all five of our children. At just £5.99, the notebooks come with plain or lined paper and can be personalised using a range of patterns and layouts.

When I give someone a notebook, I think it is really lovely to write a note on the first page. For Father's Day, each of the children can write a personalised message or draw a picture inside for dad to treasure.

Find this and other Father's Day gift ideas online at Truprint plus find details of an exclusive discount code valid until June 15th 2015.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for the Man In Your Life

This year, June the 16th is Father's Day.  A day where we are encouraged to celebrate the men in our lives.  Now, although in our household we are always letting Ian know how much we love and appreciate him, we still enjoy the excuse to celebrate with the masses and enjoy spoiling him that little bit extra on Father's Day.  Plus it's a good reason to indulge in some cake - how about a deliciously grown-up and indulgent Chocolate and Whisky Layer Cake - and buy some fun pressies that Ian will love.

Here is a round up of some present ideas that will be perfect for dads on Father's Day whatever their taste and whatever your budget.

If you want to treat your dad this Father's Day without spending too much money, you can show you care by giving a gift that costs just £1 at Poundland.  From snazzy gift bags and cards to presents that will make dad's day, Poundland has it covered.  An official Family Guy beer glass or insulated bottle jacket make a great gift (especially if given along with a bottle of dad's favourite beer!)  Or how about a Grow Your Own Football Pitch or a wooden cube puzzle for a good novelty present?  Cuddly toys are always a much loved gift idea and Poundland always has a great selection!  All these things and more can be purchased in store at a Poundland near you, for the budget-busting price of just £1 each!  Find out more at www.poundland.co.uk/top-tips/fathers-day/

If you have a bigger budget you could treat your dad to an experience day he will never forget. There are a great range of exciting experiences available online to suit any dad.  From a short break to beer tasting to a tour of a football stadium to a bungee jump, there is a whole host of things to pick from.  My favourite experience on the Buyagift website, and the thing that Ian would love the most is the Zombie Experience at an Abandoned Manor House in Manchester.  This adrenaline pumping zombie survival experience for two, lets you live and breathe the horror of a zombie apocolypse.  How awesome would that be!  Perfect for the horror film loving dad.  It costs £214 for two for a 3 hour experience and comes with excellent reviews from satisfied customers. One day we will do this together!

If films are more your thing, the brilliant film Wreck it Ralph has just been released.  We adore this latest Disney feel good offering and it would make the ideal movie for a Father's Day family film afternoon served with popcorn and nachos!  If your dad is more like my Ian, then Texas Chainsaw is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and 3D.  It's a real gore-fest for fans of the franchise, seeing the return of Leather Face and his trusty power tool.

If your dad likes a little tipple, how about a bottle of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.  Morrison's currrently have 70cl bottles of Glenfiddich whisky down from £33.99 to just £20!  Small bottles are just £10.

If your dad has a sweet tooth, there is a range of Guiness confectionery that he might enjoy including truffles and little chocolate pints for just £2.99, available at Morrison's.  There are lots of other choccie treats too, marketed especially for Father's Day.

Whatever you decide to do for your dad this Father's Day, I hope you all enjoy celebrating the men in your life!

Albelli For Father's Day Gifts

Photo Books...Perfect Presents For Father's Day

This June 17th it is Father's Day.  For the well organised among you, this may mean that you are thinking of what to buy your dad to mark this special day.  One idea for a really thoughtful present that will bring a lifetime of joy is a photo book.  Filled with favourite, family photos, a photobook really is the perfect keepsake that any dad will be thrilled to receive.

Albelli was voted no.1 by the gadget show (sure to impress any geeky dads out there!) and promises 100% satisfaction.  Moments captured on camera can be used to make a beautiful, bespoke photo book.  Don't keep those digital snaps stored on a computer...they deserve to be turned into something special!

There are many different sizes and formats to pick from with prices starting at just £6.95.  The designs and layouts can be personalised according to the style you want.  Covers can be personalised using a photo, or you can choose a coloured linen cover, or a luxurious leather finish.  Pages can be upgraded to a high gloss finish and extra pages can be added to include all those extra prints.   Each photo book really is as unique as you make it!  There is an auto-fill option if you want to make a photo book really quickly online.  You simply select your chosen photos and the book is created for you.  Alternatively you can create your own using the downloadable tools, giving total control over the design.

The website includes some inspirational ideas to get your creative juices flowing.  Ideas such as a Year Book, or a Family Tree or a 'This Is Your Life' style book can be created for your dad.  You could even photograph children's artwork and include drawings, which will preserve favourite portraits forever!

I was offered the chance to make a photo book for Father's Day and decided to make a book dedicated to our  recent holiday in Disneyland Paris featuring Ian on the cover!  I made a folder of photos I wanted to use then  used the downloadable tools to edit, organise and arrange my photos exactly how I wanted them using a plain white background.  I opted for a photo on the front cover which is an optional extra.  It is a lovely way to personalise the book with a photograph of dad!!

There are loads of masks, frames and backgrounds available to really add impact to your end result, but I went for a simple theme, using the maximum number of photos.  It is up to you how you want to present your pictures.  Text can be added to tell the story and share thoughts and memories.

Another optional extra is to get the pages upgraded to thick, glossy photo quality paper.  It really makes the finished product look like something special.

The finished book arrives well packaged.  The customer service is excellent and the turnaround is prompt.  Emails keep you informed of your book's progress.

As ever I am really impressed by the quality of the Albelli Photo Book that I created.  I'm sure that Ian will love seeing all our holiday snaps brought together in a gorgeous, glossy, quality photo book with his photo on the front cover!

Take a look at albelli.co.uk and discover their range of photographic products and be inspired to make your dad a beautiful and thoughtful gift this Father's Day.

Valentine's Day on a Budget

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. The shops are filled with a huge array of enticing products in reds and pinks, adorned with love hearts, flowers and romantic sentiments.  You could spend a fortune on your loved one on some huge novelty teddy bearing a giant plush heart, which will end up stuffed in the back of a cupboard by the end of the month.  Personally, I think the way to a man's heart (or indeed my heart) is through the stomach.  Nothing beats a fantastic meal with all the trimmings!

Valentine's Day to me, is an excuse to really push the boat out and celebrate through the medium of culinary excess!  However, I don't think it is a good idea to spend more than you can afford to treat your other half if money is tight.  You can enjoy a day of love on a budget.  This is where Aldi comes in.  They have a great selection of gifts, so whether you are looking for a subtle romantic gesture or wish to sweep your partner off their feet, look no further than Aldi for inspiration at fabulous prices!

This year, Aldi have sent me some items to help celebrate my Valentine's Day with Ian.  And if you are quick, you'll be able to get your hands on them in store in time for tomorrow night.

Chocolate and Fizz

Phillippe Michel Cremant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay is a refreshingly dry vintage with citrus notes making it the perfect glass of fizz to drink a toast to love!  At just £6.99 for a bottle it is the perfect price too!

Moser Roth Finest Truffles are beautifully presented in a gift box.  Available in dark or milk, they are really indulgent and luxurious.  Each chocolate shell encases a deliciously rich truffle filling. For just £1.69 they are affordable luxury!

Fondue for Valentine's?

For a fun dessert for two, nothing surpasses the pleasures of molten chocolate.  Aldi are selling a brilliant chocolate melting pot for making fabulous fondue.  How romantic would it be too dip ripe, red strawberries into melted chocolate and feed them to each other!  Or even use the shaped moulds that are included to make your Valentine some home made chocolate hearts!  The set comes complete with a removable pan, base unit, spatula, skewers, a cooling rack and heart shaped moulds.  It is electric, so no need to mess about with matches or open flames...just plug it in, switch on and chocolate heaven awaits.  At £12.99 this is an excellent value set that will come into its own time and time again. It would make an excellent gift.  Get it while stocks last!!

For making pralines or chocolate treats.

Aldi are also stocking a great selection of silicone bakeware while stocks last.  I was sent a large heart shaped silicone pan in red and I am going to be using it to make a heart shaped strawberry and cream sponge.  I'll be posting how I get on with it tomorrow!  At just £2.99, the range also includes a six whole muffin pan to make gorgeous heart shaped cup cakes for your other half.

Heart-shaped Pan

So be quick!  Pop to your nearest Aldi tomorrow and pick up some bargains for Valentine's Day.  They also have amazing red rose bouquets with a dozen roses for just £5.  The premium bunch at £15 is exquisite.  Either one will definitely make someone's day and is so affordable.  A single red rose is just £1.50, so everyone can afford to be romantic tomorrow!