Creating the Perfect Gift Basket

There are a number of occasions throughout the year when sending a gift basket is a good idea. Whether you want to commemorate a special anniversary, wish someone a happy birthday or remember a loved one at Christmas, nothing beats a package filled to the brim with goodies. It’s nice to receive an item of clothing or a good book as a present at times, of course, but there’s something extra special about a selection of items, each of which brings its own individual delight.

As you might expect, there are a number of organisations which sell pre-prepared gift baskets, including major supermarkets and some of London’s most prestigious stores. And on the Internet there are specialist sites which allow you to choose from a number of options ranging from premium cheeses to extravagant bottles of juices or fruit nectars. However, a number of people in recent times have decided to compile their own baskets instead, choosing far more personalised contents in the process.

In most cases, it has proven to be far more cost-efficient as well. And, thanks to cheap parcel delivery options which won’t cost much to send the completed gift basket, either. Whether you plan to despatch cheeses to Chichester or flowers to Falkirk, you don’t have to spend a fortune to tell someone that you’re thinking of them. The fun part of the process is, of course, deciding what to include in the basket, and as always that will depend entirely on the personal tastes of the lucky recipient.

It’s the little things that make the difference

Anyone who is living abroad or staying a long way from home will undoubtedly miss some of the more familiar tastes that they once took for granted. Therefore, the inclusion of what may seem rather mundane products could prove to the highlight. A jar of peanut butter, a couple of tins of tomato soup or even a packet of tea bags could be enough to bring the memories flooding back, so be sure to think about the recipient and his or her own particular likes and dislikes.

Perfect Personalised Gift Basket

Needless to say, nothing beats a little luxury every once in a while, so if the budget is large enough to include one or two special items so much the better. Top of the range favourites include a bottle of malt juices or a fine port, a pack of specialty coffee beans, an expensive cut of steak and perhaps a box of high quality biscuits. Another popular choice is a jar of top quality conserve, such as a fruity jam or a tangy marmalade, which would brighten up breakfast tables from Albania to Zimbabwe.

It should be pointed out, however, that the perfect gift baskets contain more than just food and drink items. As always, the more personal the contents the happier the recipient is likely to be, so it’s a good idea to include some well-loved reading material, such as a well-loved book or two or perhaps a few issues of a favourite magazine. When you’re far away from home and in need of a little rest and recuperation, it can be so relaxing to settle back into a comfy chair and while away an hour or two with the printed word.

Another way to personalise a gift basket is to include some photographs of loved ones, and perhaps a selection of letters. If you have the time and inclination, why not compile a scrap book of photos and personal messages from friends and relatives? They say absence only makes the heart grow fonder, and an especially personal collection of memories can make a thousand miles feel more like a hundred yards. It may take a little while to find the right contents, but the effort will be more than worth it in the end.

10 Best Tech Gifts for Kids

Here are ten gifts for kids that are basically gadgets but toys. Most of them are great fun, although some are mildly expensive. Some are great novelties and hopefully some will last a little longer than a few hours. The list is in no particular order as they are all equally fun.

1 - Tetris Light

This is a game which allows children to play the popular Tetris game but at their own pace. The great thing is also that the pieces light up as they are placed onto the framework. It is a little bit like the shapes in the hole games that children are given, except that you have to work it with the classic Tetris shapes. It is good fun for people of all ages, whilst making a great excuse to buy your kids something that you want to play with.

2 - Gyro-Botz

This is a bit of a fad with robots that is engaging for a while. You have to put the robots into the battle arena and have them fight as they spin. The child may then make the robots do spinney and bouncing tricks within the arena. One of the great things about the game is that it does not need batteries, so the child may start to play with the toy as soon as he/she gets it out of the box, instead of having to wait until somebody makes the obligatory trip to the corner store.

3 - Fisher Price Video Camera

You will probably recognize the brand, and the toy does exactly what you think it does. It is actually a durable video camera for children. In a half-blessing, half-curse manner, it will only take fifteen minutes of film. It means you do not have to watch hours of your kid filming the cat licking itself. But also means that you will be commanded to load the video onto your computer every fifteen minutes so that your child may continue to play with the toy.

4 - Furby, the New Generation

This is the remaining of the Furby, which at one time was such a feared toy that it was not allowed in US military installations. The new generation will probably be equally feared. They have made it so that this one starts off by speaking the Furby language, but then slowly learns your language, as opposed to the previous versions that would recovered your conversations and then tell you to join to Chinese invasion in three years.

5 - Gadget The Robot

This is a toy that talks back to children, which should make a nice change from them talking back to you. The toy is little more than a more modern cyber pet, in that you have to feed it toy discs to keep it alive, teach it phrases and letters and it will learn and talk back to you. The child may also make it react to clapping noises and it can be taught dance moves.

6 - Twister Dance

Twister is the game played by horny teens who want an excuse to meld into karma-sutra-esque positions with other teens in the hope that it turns into some sort of teen movie sex party. Thankfully the Twister dance gadget is aimed at children and is to be played one person at a time. It uses the classic Twister matt, but the child has to put a hand or foot on the correct circle in time with the music.

7 - Attacknids

This is a robotic toy that is going to cost you a fortune, but your kids are going to get a few hours of fun before putting it in a drawer and asking for a skateboard. It is a toy that has six legs and a rotating head. It works by remote control and is able to fire its weapon up to 30ft if it has a following wind. It is about ten inches tall and looks great on the adverts, so your kids are going to want this gadget come the holiday season. Luckily, the company cannot afford too much TV advertising.

8 - Singalongz Me Me The Cat

This gadget allows the child to sing into the microphone and the cat will sing the song back with them in a stranger voice. It does have a novelty value that will keep kids coming back every few weeks if you remind them that it exists. It has also won an award for being a great toy, so it may be worth a look.

9 - Kidz Labs Green Science Rocket Kit

This is a classic American toy and is a cheap little project for your kid to try once and then get bored of. The gadget box involves some very rudimentary equipment in order to create a science rocket that will fly (once). Some people have had it fly quite a few feet in the air, which is okay since the device is only made from empty bottles so it will not matter if the wind catches it.

10 - Robotic Mammoth

This is a weird gadget because it is made from wood. You connect together the pieces with your kid and create your wooden mammoth. You do not need to glue any pieces together. Once it is completed you may activate the movement controls by clapping your hands. If only the Trojans had known about it then maybe they would not have been so easily fooled.

Great Gift Ideas for Antique Collectors

Buying a gift for a loved one can be a tricky business especially when the person is an eager antique collector. How do you find something that’s meaningful, unique and isn’t something you just grabbed off any old website? Well, have you ever considered opting for an antique or vintage gift? Something that has a history or story behind it, won’t be available on the high street and will look beautiful.

To make that task a little easier, here is a rundown of five great gift ideas for antique collectors who love receiving vintage gifts.

Tins and Boxes

It may sound slightly strange at first, but the craftsmanship of antique and vintage boxes and biscuit tins can be truly magnificent, and not too expensive. They can be extremely charming, particularly with intricate vintage art designs, are genuinely useful around the house for storage and are easily found when rummaging around vintage markets. You can even fill one with some classic candy as a nice surprise!

Ceramics and Pottery

Pottery and ceramics whether for practical or decorative purposes always make a fantastic gift, especially for a home owner looking to decorate their house. A beautifully crafted vase will sit proudly on any mantlepiece or table as an attractive feature in a room. For a more practical gift you could always consider some antique cutlery and crockery that could be used to complete a sophisticated dinner party.

Jewelry and Watches

Jewelry varies greatly in style and price from period to period whether it is antique or vintage. But there are a huge variety of pieces available from small pieces, such as cufflinks and brooches, to larger pieces, such as necklaces and jewelry sets. Watches also make a beautiful gift, with lesser known makers such as Patek Philippe making intricate and extravagant gifts that will set the wearer apart.

Toys and Teddy Bears

If you are buying a gift for a child, or maybe a toy collector, then a vintage teddy bear is a great choice. Makers such as Steiff produced high quality bears that are highly collectible and make lovely gifts. Alternatively there are more recent action figure collectibles from the 1980s which also make great gifts.

Sports Memorabilia

A high quality piece of vintage sporting memorabilia would make a perfect gift for a sports enthusiast. There are pieces available from all major sports, whether it’s a signed baseball card, basketball shirt or picture of a sporting icon there is an abundance of sporting memorabilia available. Often it’s best to go to an official memorabilia shop to ensure the authenticity of pieces before you buy though!

Hopefully this has given you some food for thought in your quest for an antique or vintage gift for that special person!

Top Toys for Growing Boys and Girls - Best Christmas Toys Gifts

As a parent we face the same challenge every year.  What toy should we buy our little boy or girl for Christmas? I don't know about you, but I find myself constantly trying to raise the bar from the previous year. It is completely out of love that we try and find the perfect toy.

After searching the Internet, we have compiled a list of our favorites.  Christmas is in 5 months you know! In our search we used several criteria.  As a parent, we look for toys that not only entertain, but also use the imagination, harness creativity and educate our children.  Here is a list of our Top 5 Favorite Toys of 2013:

1.  Nook

Why the Nook?  In this day and age, our children must know how to use a computer by kindergarten.  I have a kindergartner so we have tested out several IPad combinations and chose the Nook as our favorite.  Affordable, durable, and has excellent apps for many different age groups.  Most of them are capable of searching the Internet.

2.  Bicycle/Tricycle

Go for one of the basic toys of the past, the bicycle/tricycle. It has been around for a very long time.  Not only do the children get exercise, but also it gets them outside, soaking up some vitamin D which is very important to development and well being.  Also, when children first ride his/her bike by themselves it is a very rewarding experience for your child.   Be sure and take plenty of pictures.  And if you’ve got a toddler, try out the balance bike.  The balance bike will help them learn how to ride a bike quicker by teaching them to balance their weight quicker.

3.  Dress Up Clothes

Pretend play is so important in developing the mind of your child. In fact, studies have linked role-play to empathy. Kids who engaged in pretend, were more skilled in judging how others might feel, than those who didn't participate.

4.  Legos

With Legos, there really is no age requirement.  How many of you have started out helping your child build a toy only to realize the sense of accomplishment you achieved by building something yourself?  If you haven’t tried Legos, I highly suggest buying some for your kid's.... shhhh, we won't tell.  Legos are easy to use.  You can spend hours building and rebuilding projects.

5. Toydle Indoor Forts

The Toydle fort building kit is new on the market.  Its design is built on the idea of Legos, building blocks, and tents all in one.  Think indoor fort taken to the next century.  There are several wonderful features.  The Toydle comes with a bag for easy storage, can be used to build a fort indoors ranging in size from small to massive.  It can be used in the backyard for a party or as a team-building exercise at your child's birthday party.  Also keep checking back.  I hear they will be coming out with customizable covers. 

Do your kids complain when they are stuck inside on a rainy day?  With the Toydle, there will be no complaining. Gone are the days they complain about their tent covers falling off their chairs...The Toydle comes with great clips to hold all the sheets and covers.  Encourage your children to dream and build.  As an added bonus, the product is made in the USA with American material. 

The best gifts are the ones that your child can use for many years.  We are also looking for toys that pass the test of time by being very durable.  This list includes some toys you may already know, and some toys that may be new to you.  I guarantee your children will enjoy each of these toys, increase their knowledge, and develop hands on skills at the same time.  What little boy, or girl, doesn’t love to build with their hands?  And, yes, these toys are not just for Boys!