Diamond Jubilee Celebrations!

We can't believe we're nearing to June... where have the past few months gone? It only feels like yesterday that we were sending Christmas treats to customers all over the world! It's madness, like the unusual English weather we've been receiving for the past few days... but we're not complaining!

With June on it's way, the celebrations will soon begin for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - and we're more than excited to embrace the fabulous events that will be happening all over the UK! Including the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace that we wish we were attending... did anyone else swoon over Gary Barlow discussing it on Graham Norton a few weeks ago?

Street parties will commence all over the UK on Sunday 3rd, and if you're getting involved, why don't you take along our Great British Tea and Scones Gift Set to share with your local neighbours or family and friends? It's designed with the Union Jack Flag and filled with delicious English treats, including quintessentially English Twinings Tea and Handmade Chocolate Fudge! It is the perfect way to start the celebrations for The Queen's 60th year in reign, and for under £30 it is affordable too! 

We also sell the Great British Afternoon Tea Jute Bag featured to the left, which includes a Union Jack designed mug, perfect for drinking your English Tea from this weekend! This too is priced at under £30, and includes Twinings and Elegant English biscuits to snack on with family and friends... it's the perfect celebratory gift to give to loved ones, or to bring along to celebrations too! 

If you want the chance to win some Diamond Jubilee inspired goodies, you can visit our Facebook page over the following week where we will be giving away 3 gifts for you! All you have to do for your chance to win, is simply Like and Share our 'Giveaway Status'... so like and share away and we could be sending a gift out to you that will be perfect for celebrating with this Jubilee Weekend!

We recently created a Pinterest page dedicated to inspiring our Smart Gift followers with ideas on how to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee too! Check it out for inspiration , including ways you could design Jubilee cupcakes! We'll be adding to it throughout the week too...

Let us know via Facebook, Twitter or in the comment box below how you'll be celebrating, we'd love to here how you'll be joining in! 

Cupcakes and Cookies!

Mel & Sue

Did anybody watch The Great British Bake Off show last year, presented by the fabulous pair Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins? We certainly did, and what a fantastic show it was! I don't know about you, but I just love watching people cook (even if it's badly...), especially delicious cakes - and this programme showed some of the most gorgeous recipes live on air! So, we were thrilled to hear last month that it will be returning to our screens later this year... 

Only £3.50

If you want to get involved in the Summer festive season, and bake some delightful cakes to give to friends, family and colleagues at work - at Smart Gift Solutions we sell a fantastic little book published by Women's Weekly called 'Cupcakes & Cookies', which we sell for a wonderfully affordable £3.50! It's filled with 70 mouthwatering recipes, catered to large groups so you can bake for dinner parties, birthdays or even a box of Get Well cupcakes to cheer somebody up!

Yesterday we blogged about The  Christchurch Festival, where last year's winner of The Great British Bake Off, Jo Wheatley, is hosting the Bake Off! So if you're in the area on Saturday 18th May, head down to Christchurch in Dorset to see her! (Starts at 10am).

Christchurch Food & Wine Festival

A few days ago, we blogged about Torquay Food and Arts Festival, which was held last weekend to bring the best produce to both local citizens and visitors in Devon. This week we have another fantastic festival to talk to you about... The Christchurch Food & Wine Festival in Dorset, running from the 11th to the 20th of May - plenty of time to discover the 150 events that are taking place during the course of the week! Click here for a day to day list of the events which are being held at the Festival, for you to plan which ones to visit. 

The Christchurch Festival was initially created as a celebration for the Millennium, but after it's huge success it gradually evolved into an annual event, now celebrating it's13th year! With 60,000 visitors flocking to the Festival, which boasts celebrity chefs, International stalls, and free cooking demonstrations - it is no wonder it is considered one of the best Food Festivals in the UK! You can read more about the Festival here, where you're bound to find something you can enjoy...

Many of the events are free of charge and for affordable prices you can book tickets to see Musicals, wine and dine in fantastic restaurants with a selection of incredible food... you can even experience a Cheese and Wine lunch - which we'd be dying to try! As you may already know we have a love for Cheese and Wine here at Smart Gift Solutions. If you're not aware, check out our article all about it!

During the Festival, on the 19th of May,  The Great Christchurch Bake Day event will take place too, which you can get involved in by applying through the website! If you're thinking about applying, why don't you buy yourself a Baking File from our website to write your ideas down?

Don't forget to keep checking back to our blog, to discover what other Festivals are coming up this summer - as we're not limiting ourselves to certain parts of the UK... there is bound to be one near you! 

Food and Drink Festivals

Here at Smart Gift Solutions, we enjoy hearing about the latest Food and Drink festivals that are happening around the UK... from Cheese and Wine to Beer celebrations, there is a festival to entertain and attract anyone! 

So, to keep you updated with the latest festivals this Summer season, we will provide you with regular blog posts about 2012 Food and Drink Festivals... Here you will find the best places to be, and how to get involved - and they won't be restricted to certain parts of the UK, you'll be bound to be near one or two! We'll even provide you with our latest hampers to join each festive celebration - so if you can't make a festival, you can celebrate at home!

To begin the Festival celebrations, you can head down to West England, for the Torquay Food and Arts Festival in Devon! Starting this Friday (the 4th) for a two-day feast of the finest foods, to celebrate one of the most "beautiful and productive landscapes in the UK", you can view some wonderful arts and crafts, and a range of producers of the best food! You'll be able to enjoy a hog roast from Poole Farm Pork, or to sample beautifully made local cider...

Don't forget to keep checking back to our blog to discover the next Festival you can check out! You can contact us via Facebook, Twitter or in the comment box below to tell us what Festivals you'll be visiting, and if you'll be at the Torquay Food and Arts Festival - like we wish we were!

If you're unable to start of the Summer season at Torquay, why don't you check out our Essentially English Hamper that will help you start of the celebrations of 2012 summer in your own home. Although it does not contain a Taste of the West... it is quintessentially English!

Pin To Win With Pinterest!

The new online community of Pinterest is a place where you can share pictures of things you love on your very own Pinboards - it's the ultimate scrapbook! You can visit our Pinterest page to see our boards, including What Inspires Us!

Through this brilliant website, Smart Gift Solutions are running a new competition which gives you the opportunity to win ANY gift you love from our Pinboards... All you have to do is simply pin the gift you love to your own Pinboard, and one lucky winner will be announced every fortnight!

To be involved in the competition, you must have an account with Pinterest - though it doesn't take long to sign up and get involved! So Get Pinning for the chance to win... Good Luck!

Add Adorable Elmo to a Sesame Street Fan's Collection!

As you may already know, last week saw the UK release of 'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey', the incredible story of the Kevin Clash - the voice behind Sesame Street's adored monster! You can check out the trailer here, if you haven't already seen it, to discover more about this fantastic film... It's one children and adults of all ages should see!

At Smart Gift Solutions, although we can't provide you with the real deal Elmo... you can buy your very own gorgeous teddy version, to give to friend's colleagues or family members that are fans of the legendary show! Or you can even keep it for yourself... Priced at £17.95, its the perfect affordable gift for a young girl or boy on their birthday, or as a quirky present for a colleague at work that you know secretly loves Sesame Street! 

If you've seen 'Being Elmo', let us know via Facebook, Twitter or in the comment box below - we'd be interested to know what you thought!