Date Truffle Recipe - Valentine's Date Night just got Fruitier with Forest Feast #ThePerfectDate

Forest Feast produce an amazing range of dried fruit, and for Valentine's Day, their Medjool Dates are the perfect ingredient for cooking up a deliciously healthy treat for your loved one. With dates being a great source of minerals, fibre, amino acids and energy, they are a nutrient dense, modern superfood. Medjool dates have a sweet, sticky, soft caramel quality making them a luxurious, natural treat and are considered an aphrodisiac and symbol of sex and fertility in some cultures - perfect for Valentine's Day!

Forest Feast sent me some of their Medjool Dates and a recipe to make some Date Truffles. The recipe is suitable for vegans and is a super healthy alternative to chocolates. The bite size balls of decadence are rich and delicious.

Medjool Date Recipe

7 Forest Feast Medjool Dated (pitted)
65g of nuts (I used walnuts)
85g ground almonds
30g cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
pinch of sea salt

Soak dates in hot water for a few minutes to soften.
Drain and squeeze.
Finely grind nuts in food processor. Add ground almonds and cocoa and pulse together.
Add dates, vanilla and sea salt and pulse to form a sticky ball.
Take teaspoon size balls and press into a silicone heart mould.
Pop into freezer and once hard pop them out and roll in cocoa powder.
Alternatively, roll into balls and roll in cocoa powder, chopped nuts or dessicated coconut - or keep them naked if preferred!

Not the prettiest truffle, but they are absolutely lush!

Forest Feast dried fruits are available online and from retailers nationwide. Medjool Dates are £2.85 for a 180g bag and Smart and Hearty Dates are £1.99 for a 100g bag. Perfect for snacking or cooking.


www.forestfeast.com
@forest_feast

Yankee Candle True Rose - the scent of love

Love and romance are sure to be in the air this Sunday when Valentine's Day comes round for another year. Most of us enjoy being swept along with the sentiment, and I personally enjoy the excuse to make a special meal, decorate the living room with red balloons and buy little gifts for my loved ones - I say loved ONES because Valentine's Day is also extended to our children, because they enjoy joining in with our celebrations too. We've had many a candlelit dinner for six, complete with heart shaped cakes for dessert! 

If you are looking for a gift for your significant other or if you want to set the scene for romance, Yankee Candle has a gorgeous range of floral and fruity fragranced candles, which perfectly capture the sentiment of Valentine's Day. I was sent a beautiful True Rose jar candle.

The rich red coloured wax has an incredible scent of alluring, velvety rose petals.  The fragrance has a good strength that fills the room and is really authentic - very much like the smell of a freshly cut bouquet of red roses. It gives the air a romantic and passionate ambiance that lasts long after the candle is blown out. With 150 hours burn time, the True Rose candle will keep smelling sweet, long after a bunch of flowers will have wilted.

As it is fragrance of the month at Yankee Candle,  you can currently buy one for the reduced price of £16.49 for the large size jar (usual price is £21.99).  Express delivery is available online.

Yankee Candle also have some other lovely gift ideas for Valentine's Day. There is a five votives gift set which includes Fresh Cut Roses, Red Raspberry, Pink Hibiscus, Sweet Strawberry and True Rose for £8.99. They also have a lovely gift set featuring a large Red Raspberry Jar Candle and an Illuma-Lid in a heart design for £29.99.

With a range of jar candles, votives, melts and accessories, and with a load of different fragrances and designs, it is easy the perfect gift whatever your budget, making it simple to share the love this Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day Strawberry and Cream Sandwich Recipe

It's almost Valentine's Day, so why not treat your loved ones to a delicious Strawberry and Cream sandwich?  It's a romantically themed lunchtime treat that the kids will love too, perfect for a half term picnic.

Roberts Bakery sent me a loaf of  their thick sliced Soft and Fluffy White Bread and some heart shaped cutters so I could try out some for my family.

Ingredients

4 slices of Roberts Soft and Fluffy White Loaf

8-10 ripe strawberries

1 tub of cottage cheese, ricotta or cream cheese

Handful of rocket leaves

Ground black pepper

Method

Cut four big heart shapes from the sliced bread.

Cut two small hearts from the centre of two of the large hearts.

Lay out the two whole heart shaped and put some rocket on the.

Drain the cottage cheese and add a generous layer on top.

Slice the strawberries and arrange on top.

Season with black pepper.

Put the cut-out heart shaped bread slices on top to finish the sandwich.

Strawberries and black pepper is a very interesting combination - well worth a try!  For children you could use jam, cream cheese and strawberries to make a sweeter sandwich, using the same heart shaped cutters to make it look really pretty.

Here is a printable copy of the recipe card:

Novelty Valentine's Day Gifts from Toxic Fox

Valentine's Day is the one day of the year where everyone has the excuse to unleash their inner romantic.  Immersing yourself into the saccharine sweetness and sentimentality of the day is wonderful if you are happily in love, but what if you're not?  Maybe a dozen red roses or a heart shaped box of chocolates isn't an appropriate gift for your other half.  Perhaps you are more interested in something more risque or would prefer to buy a novelty gift, and have a bit of fun with your Valentine's gifting this year.

Toxic Fox has a selection of crazy and unusual gift ideas that may just fit the bill when it comes to buying a gift for your significant other or for yourself this Valentine's Day.  Some of it may not be to everyone's taste but if you are looking for something that is a bit off the wall then you might find the perfect prank or novelty.  They sent me a couple of their quirkier, alternative Valentine's gifts to test out.

Personal Revenge Voodoo Doll 

For the jilted on Valentine's Day - "Don't get mad - get even!"  Featuring nine uncomfortable revenges ranging from constipation to halitosis, this voodoo doll comes with ten pins and can have a photograph attached to its face to personalise the experience.  Personally, I'm not one to mess with the occult, black magic or voodoo (I've watched too many horror films where dabbling in the unknown has opened up a very evil can of worms), but my daughter thought this little doll was 'cool'. I guess it could be a good device for getting rid of your own negative energy after being cheated on by a bad boyfriend - and is definitely better than causing criminal damage to his property or inflicting GBH on him in person.  

At £4.99 it is a well priced unique, novelty gift with a difference.

Stress Balls

If your other half is driving you nuts, these stress balls may well provide you with the relief you need. You can crush them, prod them, squeeze them and poke them to offload your tension and send a clear message to the man in your life.  You get all the satisfaction of having him by the balls, without actually damaging his family jewels!

These stress balls are strangely comforting to cup and squeeze!  Inside is a gel liquid with two rubber balls suspended within it. You can squidge them, twist them and generally take out all your frustration on them!

Freddy found the Stress Balls and with all the innocence of a child gave them a squeeze or two before announcing that he wanted to take them in for Show and Tell this week.  Not sure how his teacher would react to that!  Needless to say, I steered him in another direction.

I took a sadistic pleasure watching Ian squirm every time he saw the Stress Balls being squeezed to near bursting point!  He now knows that it is in his best interests to never get on the wrong side of me.

The Stress Balls are £4.99 and are a fun novelty gift idea!

Find these and other novelty gift ideas at the Toxic Fox website.  They also have a great range of personalised gifts and romantic gifts if you want something a bit more cutesy or sentimental for your Valentine.

Toxic Fox are offering readers a code to get 10% off any Valentine's gifts (except those that are included in the 3 for 2 promotion).  Just use the voucher code TFLove to receive the discount (valid until 15th Feb 2015).

Money Saving Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

My Valentine's Day planning is underway.  Although currently riddled with a really heavy cold, I have my fingers crossed that I will feel well enough to celebrate the day according to our family tradition - a romantic dinner for the whole family to enjoy together!  It's a great excuse to do something special and we enjoy extending the remit to include the children, and not just focus on myself and Ian.  We'll have plenty of years when it's just the two of us when the kids leave home, so we prefer to include them while we still can!

I have got a load of Valentine's Day decorations to decorate the dining room and a planned menu for a three course meal with Red Velvet Cupcakes to follow.  

It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to give token Valentine's Day gifts to my loved ones. But I still like to retain my thriftiness and like to get a bargain.  Homemade cards, framed photographs or home baked treats make wonderful and thoughtful gifts.  Even if you have a budget of just £5, there are some lovely bargains to be had this year.  Here's a few suggestions.

If your other half is a film fan, then why not add a DVD to their collection?  Whether you think they'd enjoy a good rom-com or if they'd prefer an action film, Aldi has a great range of films starting at just £2.99.  Perfect for a Valentine's Movie Night.  Just add popcorn, chocolates and a glass or two of wine for a great budget night in.

Don't forget the kids!  There are some lovely films in the Aldi range for little ones too.  So you can enjoy a family film night, or let the kids watch a movie in bed while you  enjoy some uninterrupted time together!

For a sweet toothed loved one, how about this chocolate heart from Asda?  Just one of a range of confectionery gifts starting at just £1.  A lovely way to show someone that they make life sweet!

This net of chocolate bees are perfect for your honey!  They make a really cute decoration when scattered across the dining table.  Tastier than table confetti!

These bricks from Asda are a fun way to get the message of love across.  They are a novelty gift that could double up as a quirky alternative to a card.  Simply write your own message on them with Sharpie marker for a personalised keepsake. They are just £2. 

Make breakfast in bed for your loved one and start the day with a smile.  These toast stamps are a playful way to say 'I love you' and start the day in a romantic mood.

For just £1 you can treat someone you love with a gift box of HARIBO Heart Throbs.  They also make  brilliant and cheap toppers for homemade cupcakes.  

Instead of dining out this Valentine's Day you could save a fortune by eating in.  If you don't feel like cooking

something from scratch, you could get in a Valentine's Meal Deal.  Lots of supermarkets have meal deals allowing you to dine at home in style.  Asda have a deal on their Extra Special range for two to dine for just a tenner, available online and in store in selected stores.  It's so much cheaper to eat at home and you also save on transport costs and babysitting - plus no one has to be the designated driver!

However you decide to celebrate, I hope you have a really happy Valentine's Day!

We received the items featured from Aldi and Asda to review.

Valentine's Gifts in Unusual Places

This Valentine's Day, if you are looking for some cute, quirky and great value gifts to treat the man in your life, then it's time to defy convention.  Forget about looking for tacky toys or novelty presents in expensive gift shops, florists or jewellers...check out Sports Direct.  With hundreds of products available online or in store, you'll find perfect presents for your other half...even if he isn't that sporty!  Many of the items are under £20 so you'll find some top bargains too.

Here are my five fab finds that Ian would love to receive on Valentine's Day.


Lee Cooper Hi-Top Trainers £12.99

I love a man in a pair of canvas hi-tops.  They are playful and bring back memories of being young and carefree.  They remind me of summers spent having fun, being impressed by him doing tricks on his skateboard whilst looking casually and effortlessly cool.  You're never too old to embody the inner skater boy! Give these to a guy to let him know that you love him heart and 'sole'!!

Superman Classic Folded Wallet  £14.99

Let him know that he is your superhero with this fun take on a sensible gift.  Wallets are always a really acceptable present because, after all, we always need somewhere to keep our cash and cards safe!  This one is perfect for fans of comic books, embellished with classic comic strip artwork and bearing the Superman logo.  With the resurgence of DC and Marvel, many man have a secret (or not so secret) hankering to be a superhero...and this Valentine's Day, I'll happily be Lois Lane to Ian's Superman!

Arsenal Mini-Football Table £17.00

Whether he supports Chelsea, Man Utd, Spurs, Liverpool or Arsenal, re-enacting on pitch action with a mini-football table can be most cathartic.  The near misses, the great saves and the goals will never be as much fun than when played out together through the medium of table soccer.  It's a chance to embody the Premier League players and get a bit competitive.  What's not to love?

 DC 3 Pack of Pyjama Bottoms £11.00

I love lounging around, snuggling on the sofa and watching a good film together.  In fact that would be my ideal way to spend Valentine's Day evening, after enjoying a delicious meal for two.  Cracking open a bottle of red and settling down with a movie, feeling all comfy and cosy is a wonderfully relaxing way to round of the evening.  If you throw these super cool DC PJ bottoms into that mix, the night just gets even more chilled.  I love the Iron Man, Thor and Hulk, Spidey & Captain America designs.  And as previously mentioned, many men love the whole superhero thing, making these a fantastic gift idea.  Perfect to cuddle up in!

Calvin Klein Two Pack boxers £19.99

They are classic, sexy, snug fitting and something that every man should have in his pants' drawer.  The hot pink trimmed CK's are the perfect Valentine's Day underwear.  The waistband peeking out over the top of his jeans is a designer fashion statement boldly declaring that this guy is confident, smooth and isn't afraid to flash his pants in public. A great gift that is practical, while still be a little frivolous and cheeky!

Find these gifts and more at SportsDirect.com.

A Thrifty Tip for Valentine's Day Decorations

I have a money saving hint for buying decorations for Valentine's Day (and many other special occasions).  In my local garden centre, all the Christmas produce is being sold at 75% off.  Looking at the range of ornaments, decorations and baubles, I realised that there were lots things which weren't Christmassy at all.  There was quite a selection of hearts and angels among the more festive designs.  Perfect for St.Val's! So I bought a selection of beautiful heart shaped glass baubles, cherub candle votives, lace winged butterflies and a large wooden heart decoration. The whole lot was worth over £30 but I paid less than £8 for the lot. Much cheaper than buying bespoke Valentine's Day products, plus the quality is far superior to many of the novelty Valentine's Day items on the market.

It's well worth keeping an open mind when looking at things in the post Christmas sales.  There are often things that have multiple purposes and as I love celebrating all the year's special days, I can often find things appropriate to other occasions.  As well as these decorations, the garden centre had ones shaped like gemstones, cars, musical instruments, birds and little toys.  All could be used as decorations for birthdays, themed parties or other events. Just because they are a part of their Christmas range, doesn't mean you have to use them solely at Christmas time!

On Valentine's Day I will be decorating the dining room with my haul to create a romantic setting for our special dinner.  Decorating the room really adds to the ambiance, fun and atmosphere.  I'm planning on spray painting a branch, popping it in a vase and hanging the decorative hearts on it, as a lovely table centrepiece.  

I love a good bargain and I like having a good selection of pretty things ready to adorn my home to make every celebration simply perfect. 

Occasion Smurfs from Schleich

Ever since the release of the Smurfs movie, the little blue fellas have proved quite a hit with my kids.  The prospect of the second movie this year will only add to their love of all things Smurf.  So when I received a collection of Smurf figures from Schleich, the children were very happy!

The collection includes: Valentine's Day Smurf; Sorry Smurf; Happy Birthday Smurf; Bride & Groom Smurf; Baby Smurf; Thank You Smurf; Get Well Soon Smurf and Party Smurfette.

Each cute little character is posed with an accessory befitting the occasion they represent.  The fun Party Smurfette comes in her own cocktail glass, Valentine's Day Smurf is holding a big love heart shaped box of chocolates behind his back and Happy Birthday Cake has a cupcake with a candle and a party hat.  The attention to detail, from the expressions on their face to their posture is perfect to convey their special messages.

These Smurfs would make a great alternative to a card for a special occasion, or could be used as a cake topper.  The Bride and Groom Smurf would look very smart sat on top of a cake celebrating the wedding of two Smurf fans!  Baby Smurf in his nappy and with a dummy in his mouth is a lovely memento to celebrate a baby being born and makes a cute little keepsake.

As with all Schleich's ranges, the Smurfs are well made, hand painted with exceptional detail and are well designed, bringing each character to life.  They would make a great collection for Smurf fans or will stand alone as a small gift for a special occasion.

The Smurfs are available from Amazon with prices starting from £3.39

February In Pictures

Cute Cupcake Recipes

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, so I made some love-themed cupcakes for the family to enjoy. They went down very well and even though I say so myself were pretty damn yummy!!

Best of all though, they were really easy to make.  Although they were very different cupackes, one batch of Pink Vanilla Cupcakes and one of Fruit Topped Chocolate & Chantilly Cream Cupcakes, they started their journey to cakedom in one bowl of mix that was split into two and then had the different flavours added.  It makes bulk cooking so much quicker and easier, and they can go in the oven at the same time.  

Although they were for Valentine's Day, they could be easily adapted to suit any occasion.

The basic mix was an all in one whisked method recipe that makes 24 large cupcakes.

8 oz  baking liquid (Stork or Flora)

8 oz self-raising flour

8 oz golden caster sugar

4 free-range eggs

Then, divide the mixture in two.

Pink Vanilla Cupcakes

Add a drop of pink food colouring gel and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to half of the mix.

Cook at GM 5 for 10-12 minutes until springy to touch.

Cool.

Pipe on swirls of pink buttercream. 

(6 oz icing sugar, 3 oz softened butter, teaspoon vanilla extract and a drop of pink food colouring gel.)

Top with a Haribo love heart sweet and a heart shaped cake topper to finish.

Fruit Topped Chocolate & Chantilly Cream Cupcakes

Add one tablespoon of sieved cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons of milk to the other half of the mix.

Cook at GN5 for 10-12 minutes until springy to touch.

Cool.

Top with Chantilly Cream (whisk 8 fl oz of double cream until almost stiff, then whisk in 1 tblspn icing sugar)

Decorate with quartered strawberries and blueberries and finish with a cake topper.

Beautiful Gifts From The Global Market

NOVICA - Supporting Artisans Around The World

NOVICA is an online shop in association with National Geographic.  It gives artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity.  With talented sculptors, painters, jewellery makers, wood carvers and other skilled artists from Bali, Java, Brazil, Central America, Mexico, India, Thailand and West Africa, NOVICA gives us access to beautiful, unique and hard to find items.  They use the infrastructure of the internet to create a bridge between the consumers and the talented artisans from around the globe.  The beauty of this is that communities in the countries can support themselves supported by the worldwide sales of their hand made products.

I was given the opportunity to buy something from the NOVICA website and from the moment I began exploring the products for sale I was taken aback by the range of beautiful objects and the stories of the craftsmen and women behind them. Everything is divided into sections to make browsing easy and gifts start at under $25.

I was particularly drawn to the sculptures originating from craftsmen in Bali and Java.  The stunning, handcrafted treasures are carved from local wood and are simply beautiful.  I just had to order one for Ian for Valentine's Day, "Love In Between",  a contemporary piece formed by two intertwined figures forming a heart at their centre.  A beautiful tribute to an age-old emotion. Hand carved by Kadek Rudyana, who learned to carve as a boy to pay his way through school, it is a wonderful example of how the arts can support poorer communities.  This statuette costs $26.96.

I also loved the "Gift of Warmth" which was a scarf woven by craftsmen using Alpaca wool in Peru.  It is thick, warm and beautifully made.

The NOVICA site is a US site and prices are in dollars.  Shipping is worldwide and you can easily calculate the cost of having your items shipped to the UK direct from the countries they are made in.  There is an option to have all taxes pre-paid making it very straightforward to order in confidence. You can choose to upgrade to premium delivery which takes 3-8 business days.  Foe example, the cost to ship the statue above with premium delivery is $15.95.  Gifts come direct from the countries in which they are produced to your door.

The parcels came beautifully gift wrapped and with a postcard from the artist, connecting you with the hands that made your piece.  A printed gift card is also included which completes the gift perfectly.  Buying from NOVICA is a complete experience that makes you feel a part of the process.  These gifts are really special and Ian was delighted to receive them.

If you are looking for beautiful and original gifts from talented craftsmen from around the world, then take a look at the website www.novica.com.  

Perfect for Romantic Gifts for Him or RomanticAnniversary Gifts.

Valentine's Day Fun and A Fallen Hero

I know that many people do not enjoy participating in Valentine's Day.  However, all the arguments about the commercialism and resenting being told to be romantic on a specific day don't cut it with me at all. My relationship with Ian doesn't need to be prompted into romance.  We are pretty lovey-dovey 365 days a year anyway.  He is an attentive, caring and demonstrative man.  He believes in love and romance and soul mates.  He believes in sharing the household chores and responsibilities.  He takes the weight off my shoulders. We connect everyday, finding our moments even in the mundane.  We don't need Valentine's Day to keep our spark alive - but we love the excuse to do something a bit special and to include our kids, which makes them feel a part of it all.

Our Valentine's Day history goes back to a snowy February in 1984.  After painstakingly cutting out letters from a magazine to make an anonymous message in the card I had bought him, I cajoled my two best friends to walk the 3 and a half miles to Ian's house.  I didn't realise it was that far as my sense of geography is pretty pitiful.  Had I understood what a seven mile round trip in the snow would feel like, perhaps I would have thought twice about it.  But we made that journey and so begun the relationship with the boy that would later become my wonderful husband.

This year, like every year, Ian took the day off work.  We spent a very nice morning together while Freddy was at nursery. We exchanged gifts and snuggled under a blanket to watch a film together, uninterrupted by anybody or anything - a rare treat!  Our choice of film was the movie Sinister, not a traditionally romantic title but perfect for us and our shared passion for horror.

Afterwards, we picked up our boy, who came out clutching a card he had made us, and went for lunch at Starbuck's. Always a good idea!  Once home I hit the kitchen making Pink Vanilla Cupcakes and Chocolate Chantilly Cupcakes with Strawberries and Blueberries.  That's why I love Valentine's Day.  It's an excuse to make themed food and to decorate the house and interject a dose of loved-up fun into everyday proceedings.

We had a fabulous Mexican feast for five this evening.  All the flowers, homemade cards and balloons are decorating the living room and the girls are watching the gift that we got them "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" on DVD.  Ian is putting Fred to bed, as he always does and we have a bottle of Champagne chilling for later.  It is just perfect.  Knowing that Megan and Joe are also having wonderful Valentine's Days too is just the icing on the heart shaped cake!!

The only blot on the landscape of today was the news about Oscar Pistorius.  He is one of my greatest heroes.  The fastest man on no legs.  The blade-runner.  The first paralympian to compete in the Olympics.  I saw him run at London 2012.  I cried tears of total wonder and awe at this amazing individual as he broke down boundaries, challenged preconceptions and changed history. Now he is being held in custody over the suspected murder of his model girlfriend, having shot her four times in the arm and head.  Early reports suggested that he thought she was an intruder and acted in self defence, but four shots seems excessive even in this scenario.  The fact he has been refused bail and that the police have been called to his address numerous times in the past for domestic disputes suggests something far more horrible. Seeing his arrogant outburst at the Paralympics made me concerned about his state of mind.  Was there some mental health issues or extreme anger issues at play?  Was this a terrible accident or a deliberate act of violence?  Either way, I doubt that my sporting hero will ever be running again.  I'm glad I got to see him run.  I am sorry that his heroic journey has ended in this way.  Whatever the truth is, my hero has fallen.

Making Valentine's Day Cards With Freddy

Today Freddy was off nursery as he has a nasty cough.  Having his company meant that we could do some craft activities together for Valentine's Day. As a family, we enjoy any excuse to have a themed day with food and activities planned around the occasion, and Valentine's Day is no exception.  You don't find me and Ian having a romantic meal for two, instead it's family fun for five!

 I dug out all the crafty bits and bobs that were even vaguely heart shaped and let him go wild with a glue stick and some cardboard.  I love the idea of making homemade cards for special occasions.  Shop bought cards are so expensive and I end up binning them, but homemade ones cost nothing and are kept forever.  They are a wonderful record of your child's artistic development, showcasing their creativity.  I have over 20 year's worth of my children's drawings, paintings and cards packaged up in my garage!! (No wonder I have an issue with clutter!)

Freddy is a very active child who runs around, dances, kicks things, throws things and plays hard.  He also has a fabulous vocabulary and a sharp sense of humour and is amazing with technology.  Although he loves educational games on the computer and can recognise many of his letters and numbers by sight, he is extremely reluctant to pick up a pencil or crayon.  He does not like to draw or colour in and makes no effort towards the early mark making that becomes emergent writing.  In fact he can't even hold a pen. He just doesn't get it!  I don't know if it is because he is a confused left-hander (his dad is a leftie) or if his eyes are the problem or whether there is something else going on...or whether it is just a 'boy thing'.  I'm sure once he is at school he'll get into  the swing of writing and drawing, and if not we will be able to work out what the problem is.  But for now, rather than pressuring him into doing something he really does not want to do, I think that doing craft activities is a good way for him to develop the necessary fine motor skills required.  He enjoys it too, so everyone is happy.

Freddy loved sticking the foam shapes, material hearts, paper hearts  beads, sequins and googly eyes onto his design in a display of carefully considered and precisely positioned randomness!

I loved that he made the top heart into a face.  That is a very Freddy thing to do!  So although he wasn't impressed with the idea of signing his name inside the card, which is for his daddy, he stamped his personality all over it and it will be much treasured!

Can You Can Save £££'s on Valentine's Day

In times of financial hardship, things like Valentine's Day can cause us unnecessary pressure as we want to spoil our loved ones, but can't afford to splash out a lot of cash.  If you have a spending budget for Valentine's Day in mind, you can make that money go further by opting for a home cooked special meal instead of dining out.  Enjoying a candlelit dinner for two at home can save a fortune in babysitting fees and taxis too.  An added bonus is you can both enjoy a tipple and get snuggly together in the privacy of your own home.

There are lots of ways that you can add to the occasion.  Poundland have a great range of novelty items for just £1 each so you can add some fun presents and decorations to the proceedings for just a few quid!

The quality, plastic gift bag is a perfect place to pop all your gifts to surprise your Valentine.  Poundland also stock cute teddy bears, Valentine's Day cards, toiletries, confectionery, candles and other heart emblazoned goodies to make the perfect romantic gesture for just £1.

To create the perfect ambience, they sell pink heart fairy lights, heart balloons, red napkins, love crackers and confetti.  The red, heart champagne flutes are a fun way of toasting your love to each other.  It's a lot of fun to enter into the spirit of the day, and you don't need to spend a lot at all.

My favourite thing is the Cupcake Set consisting of heart print cake cases and cake toppers in heart, lips, rose and love designs.  They will make cupcakes look perfect for the occasion.  Making a batch of Red Velvet cupcakes or Chocolate and Bailey's cupcakes using this set will make a wonderful, inexpensive, home made gift for a loved one.  I'll definitely be making some Valentine's Day cupcakes this year!

Valentine's Day doesn't need to cost much at all!  Even if you do plan on buying an expensive gift for your other half,  Poundland's bargains allow you to keep the theme of the day going which is something I really enjoy.  I love an excuse to include the children and let them celebrate the day too.  It's amazing how a few balloons, some heart-shaped choccies and some novelty tableware can make the day special for everyone.  And when those things only cost £1 each it is a very affordable way to spoil your loved ones!

www.poundland.co.uk

Disclosure: Poundland sent me and their other ambassadors some Valentine's Day goodies to enjoy.

Cupid Dog Film Review

Cupid Dog is a new DVD from Lionsgate due for release on February 4th.  The story centres around Gabe the matchmaking mutt, who comes up with a plan to get his newly single owner Eric a girlfriend to stop him from moving to London for his job.  Unhappy at the prospect of six months in quarantine with big scary dogs, Gabe will stop at nothing to get journalist Eric together with pretty neighbour Sara. Inspired by a TV dating show, Gabe sets the wheels of romance in motion. The plan goes awry however, when Sara suspects that Eric is using her when he finds out about her big secret.  Their future happiness rests in the paws of Gabe, the pup with a gift for love.

This film is a light hearted romantic comedy for families that focuses around the dog who causes trouble and chaos despite his best intentions.  Kids will be charmed by the talking dog but the film doesn't quite match up to the charm of the little pooch Gabe. The dog monopolises the camera time meaning that you don't really get to connect with the human characters, which could have added an extra dimension to the story.  Consequently, the relationship between Sara and Eric has no real depth and the dialogue between them is superficial.  

However, the message of the film and Eric's dawning realisation that relationships are more important than his job is quite heartwarming. There are some funny moments as Eric finds himself on dates he hasn't organised and being thanked for flowers he has never sent  Anyone would be questioning their own sanity, or be thinking that the woman in question was a dangerous and delusional stalker!

Overall it is an amusing canine romp, with a few laughs and a cute mutt which will make you smile. Yes it's cheesy, yes it's implausible...but it's a bit of lightweight fun.

With Valentine's Day approaching this DVD could be a nice gift for a loved one who has a liking for frothy talking-dog-movies.  Just add some wine and chocolates and 'Puppy Love' just might be on the cards! 

DVD technical details:

o   Number of discs: 1

o   £9.99

o   Certificate: U (UK) 

o   Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround

o   Running time: 87 minutes approx

o   Copyright: ©2013 Lionsgate Home Entertainment UK. All Rights Reserved.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Our Visit To Build-A-Bear Workshop

Most of us have had a favourite teddy bear at some point in our lives.  Whether it was a teddy from our childhood or a more recent gift from a loved one for Valentine's Day, they hold a place in our hearts forever. Even in this age of technological playthings, a simple teddy bear still rates very highly on my children's list of favourite toys.

At the weekend, we were lucky enough to be invited to our local Build-A-Bear Workshop in Telford to make ourselves a brand new teddy bear.  Freddy was in charge of choosing what he wanted in order to make the perfect bear, which he wanted to be a present for his eldest sister Megan.  (Her childhood teddy bear recently had a traumatic run in with a washing machine.)

As soon as you arrive at the shop door the magic hits you.  At the Build-A-Bear Workshop you get to choose your bear and bring it to life. You just have to smile at the sights, sounds, colours and energy of the place!  We were introduced to Will who was in charge of helping us make our bear.  He was absolutely lovely, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and engaging and he involved the kids throughout the process.  The interaction of the staff is a big part of the Build-A-Bear experience, elevating this beyond the normal toy shop teddy purchase.

The first step to making your bear involves choosing the design.  There are lots of different bears and other animals to choose from, in many different colours.  Freddy immediately chose the very lovely Rainbow Hugs Bear.  He picked out his unstuffed bear and was ready to go.  (The Rainbow Hugs Bear costs £16.50.)

Freddy wanted to call her Daisy and was very excited as he helped bring her to life!  The staff were all so lovely and attentive, Freddy had a great time assisted by his sisters Kizzy and Ella under the guidance of Will.

You can add optional extras to your bear.  Freddy chose a voice box that said "I Love You" but he could have gone for giggles, roaring or even a song to pop inside his teddy bear's tummy.  You can even record your own message for a really personal touch. (My nephew actually proposed to his girlfriend assisted by using a personal message in a teddy bear!)

Will then stuffed the bear while Freddy pressed the foot pedal to work the stuffing machine.  A bubblegum  scent was added as well as a satin heart.  Freddy made a wish and kissed the heart before popping it into Daisy Bear.  It is such a lovely touch.  Freddy gave his bear the hug test to make sure she was just right!

Will pulled the stitching together and tied off the threads to complete Daisy the Rainbow Hugs Bear.  The process is very quick and efficient, and the stitching is very secure on the bear's back.

Once the teddy is completed, you can really go to town personalising it with clothing and accessories.  The array of gorgeous little outfits is amazing.  There are several ranges that are brilliant.  The new Disney Princess outfits are totally adorable and come complete with little wigs.  There is also a fantastic medical range including a surgeon's outfit that I loved.  But Fred had his own idea of what he wanted for Daisy.

Freddy chose a sparkly pink princess outfit for Daisy along with some fabulous accessories: pink silk pants, frilly socks and bejewelled satin shoes.  Megan is going to love her!!

Daisy was taken to the changing room where Will helped Freddy get her all dressed in her gorgeous new outfit.  She then had her hair brushed and was ready to have her birth certificate issued.

Parents (or in our case Big sister Ella) can complete the online form to register the teddy bear and create the birth certificate.  Daisy was officially registered as Freddy's teddy.  Whereas it was originally going to be completely for Megan, Freddy decided that she could instead share the bear with him and they could play with it together at Megan's house.  Bless him!  Every teddy registered can be played with online in the virtual Bearville game.

Freddy was then presented with Daisy Bear in a box with her birth certificate tied with a pretty, pink bow.  Before he left the shop, Will lead Freddy in the Build-A-Bear promise where he promised to make Daisy a friend for life.  Freddy was very proud to do it!

Daisy will definitely be loved and cherished by Freddy and also by Megan who is so touched by her little brother's lovely gesture to share Daisy with her.  Making her was a wonderful experience that we all enjoyed.  It is such a wonderful shop that just makes you feel happy!!

I love the attention to detail that the bears, clothes and accessories have.  The quality is excellent and the designs are simply lovely.  I love that the ranges have something that will appeal to everyone.  I was particularly impressed that Build-A-Bear Workshop stocks items to personalise bears that includes glasses, wheelchairs and crutches.  Everyone can create their perfect companion.

With Valentine's Day coming up, Build-A-Bear Workshop has some lovely bears and accessories that will help create a perfect present for your loved one.  You can also have a child's birthday party hosted at Build-A-Bear workshop with prices starting at £9 per person.

Find out more at their website www.buildabear.co.uk or pop into your local Build-A-Bear Workshop!

Freddy was gifted with Daisy the Rainbow Bear thanks to Build-A-Bear Workshop.