2013 SUMMER COMPETITION!

It's that time of year again - Summer Competition Time! And this year we have a very wonderful treat for our customers indeed. We're giving away a whopping £60 voucher for you to use on our website, allowing you to treat yourself, your family or your friends and colleagues to some wonderful treats. 

All you have to do to enter the competition is simply comment below what you would spend your voucher on, and what the gifts you choose would go towards - perhaps you'll create a wonderful picnic basket for a family day out, or buy yourself some pampering treats!

Don't forget to like and share on Facebook too, to spread the word about our competition - which will be announced on the 23rd of August!

GOOD LUCK!

National Allotment Week!

This week in the UK it is National Allotment Week, and to celebrate we'll be bringing you articles with facts on how to look after your allotment and why you should own one if you don't already! To start off this week, here are a few facts about the happiness of gardeners - with proof that getting outside and dirty can spruce up your lifestyle!

In a poll taken by Gardener's World, it was discovered that of the 1,500 people who were tested, a massive 93% stated that gardening improves their mood highly!  A combination of the fresh air and the satisfaction of achieving a noticeable result, such as a beautiful garden, growing your own vegetables or noticing flowers springing up all over the flower bed, there is no doubting that gardening causes a natural high!

The poll also showed that 80% of gardeners felt satisfied with their lives, compared to the 67% of non-gardeners - proof that perhaps opening an allotment or fixing up your garden will enable you enjoy a new aspect of life and take the strain off others, such as work!

For more interesting facts about the world of gardening, stay tuned! Or you can check out the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, for ways to get involved this week.

5 Foods To Stay Healthy This Summer

As you know, we've been experiencing a scorchingly hot summer this year, with 2013 proving to be one of the hottest years on record. Can you believe that Monday the 22nd of July was the hottest day in 7 years? So, in weather so drastically different to what we usually experience in the UK, we thought it appropriate to provide you with a few tips on what to eat to make sure you're staying healthy in the madness of the heat!

1. WATERMELON!

This is a great fruit to consume on hot days - with a percentage of 92% water, it is perfect for keeping up levels of hydration, acting as both a tasty snack and a water supplement. It also contains lycopene, which protects skin cells from sun damage! A tasty sun lotion...

2. GRILLED VEGTABLES!
Perfect on the BBQ, and a brilliant way to remain healthy throughout the summer, and of course very tasty indeed. There's a variety to choose from... whether your tastes are bell peppers, asparagus, courgette or red onion - they're fab for adding flavour to any summer meal and provide you with your necessary source of greenery. Try them on skewers with your favourite kinds of meat - chicken, lamb, pork? 

3. BANANAS!
As well as tasting delicious, bananas are also helpful for replenishing your body after its loss of fluid through sweating, and is a rich source of potassium. If bananas don't float your boat, how about dried fruit or greens- fab sources of potassium too!

4. ORANGES!
Oranges, similarly to Watermelons, are a great way to keep yourself hydrated, as they are 80% water, and they're also another brilliant source of potassium. If you didn't already know, a loss of potassium can put your muscles at risk of cramping, so replenishing it is highly important during the hot summer days. 

5. RASPBERRIES!
Would you believe that one cup of raspberries has 8 grams of fiber? This means they are an excellent way to prevent weight gain and lower your cholesterol level - by increasing your intake of fiber to 8 grams per 1000 calories, you can lose upto 4½ pounds!

Here at Smart Gift Solutions we sell a variety of fruit baskets that you can either treat yourself to, or send to a friend this summer for both a healthy treat and a way of showing them you're thinking of them. Click here for our selection, suitable for all different occasions...

6 Tips for Healthy Hands!

As you may well know, the downside to gardening can be the stress it can cause on your hands - creating dry skin, cracks and even blisters. So, to avoid that this summer we've put together a short and sweet list of top tips to avoid hands that suffer at the expense of your gardening!

1. Wear gloves! The best way to keep your hands dirt free and protected.

2. Sprinkle talcum powder on your hands before putting on your gloves, and it will make the process of removing the gloves later a lot easier for you.

3. Keep your nails short to avoid them breaking, or having dirt trapped underneath them.

4. If you don't want to shorten your nails, you can make sure they have lots of vaseline under them before applying your gloves, so dirt is less likely to be trapped under your nails! 

5. Both olive oil and baby oil are the perfect treatment for rubbing on your hands after a hard day of gardening, to keep them well moisturised and in the perfect condition. 

6. Be sure to massage your cuticles - both before and after - to be sure you don't find them drying out and breaking away easily.

Remember - just because you love to garden, doesn't mean your hands should suffer - follow these 6 rules and you can keep hands as soft as the petals you're working with!

Happy Gardening :)

'Tis the season for a great wedding!

As you all know it is summertime (despite the weather tending to say very different), meaning there is an abundance of wonderful romantic weddings occurring left right and centre, BUT the question on everybody's lips is what exactly do you buy for the newly wedded couple?

We've recently added a selection of new personalised gifts to our wedding section here at Smart Gift Solutions so you won't be stuck when choosing the right present! For example, there is a gorgeous Rustic Wooden Heart Decoration for just £10.95, which is a great way to give the new couple a gift they can treasure and flaunt in their home, inscribed with their names for extra sentimentality.

Or perhaps, a gorgeous heart shaped map, beautifully presented in a wooden frame - which you can personalise with a postcode of your choice (perhaps where they live or the location of their wedding day) for only £19.99! Once again, its a wonderful gift that is very special to the couple - it's the gift to assure your present won't be pushed into the spare room!

Click here to be directed to our Personalised Wedding Gifts section, to get choosing the perfect gift for the special couple!

National Kissing Day!

Today is National Kissing Day, and in celebration, we thought we'd share with you a few fun facts about kissing! 

Although it may seem utterly ridiculous, it has been proven that kissing can in fact lower cholesterol levels and cause a decrease in stress levels, so if you're having a bad day at work kissing may make things a little better!

The longest recorded kiss in history was made earlier this year on Valentine's Day in Thailand by Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, recorded at a whopping 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds! Isn't that absolutely crazy... how did they manage that?! Lots of practice we presume!

Kissing may seem natural, but it is quite a sport - using 34 facial muscles! That's a heck of a lot, and no wonder it can burn 2-3 calories... A passionate french kiss can burn up to 5! So, we say forget about the diet and get kissing, because its a damn healthy, beneficial activity!

What are the health benefits of chili?

To coincide with our Facebook competition, in which we are giving away 3 Grow It Chili Plants - all you have to do is you simply like and share our status, we thought we'd provide you with a few key facts that you may not have previously known about chili! Even if chili doesn't tingle your tastebuds, there are many beneficial factors to eating it that may make you change your mind...

For example, did you know that the key ingredient found in chili is called capsaicin, which has been scientifically proven to both REDUCE blood pressure and BOOST weight loss? (Can this really be true...) Well, yes! Capsaicin has anti-bacterial and anti-diabetic properties, and can reduce cholesterol levels. It can also speed up your metabolism, consequently reducing your appetite and improving weight loss!

Chilies do more than just fire up your taste buds and add flavour to a variety of meals, they can also stimulate and clear mucus from your blocked nose, meaning it can help rid you of your horrid cold! BUT be warned - there is a chance you may become addicted to chilies, due to the endorphin released when eating it, giving you a sense of pleasure! Get involved in the chili madness, by growing your very own chili plants - available here...

Things you need to know about Emma Bridgewater...

 

We absolutely love Emma Bridgewater's gorgeous collection of quintessentially English pieces, that combine perfectly class and style to create unique, traditional gifts, and we think (if you're not already) that you should definitely be in the know about this wonderful company (and the woman behind it too - featured to the left)! So, for our readers, we've composed a list of essential information for you to become equipped with the Bridgewater ways!

- Started in 1985 by Emma Rice née Bridgewater, and later joined by her husband Matthew, the company has now grown to become one of the largest pottery manufacturers in the UK!

- Emma is still very much a part of the business, contributing to many of the designs - including the Spongeware selection (which we sell on our website!).

- They follow a wonderful brand ethos, being that each piece is to be handcrafted in their Stoke-on-Trent factory - meaning it is a truly born and bred English company.

- If you fancy having a browse in person of the Emma Bridgewater selection of timeless pieces, you can visit one of her several stores in the UK - with 3 being located in London and 1 in Edinburgh, including an outlet store in Stoke-on-Trent.

 

Treat yourself to your very own Emma Bridgewater piece from our website, where you can choose from a selection of wonderful gifts, each filled with delightful treats for you to nibble on... What's great about the tins and cases we sell on our website is that they can provide you with an everlasting gift, as they can all be put to use after you've finished the treats! Featured here is our unique Biscuit and Cake Tin, the perfect Birthday Gift for a loved one, or a great way to say Thank you!

 

A World of Foodie Fun at Regent's Park this Summer

 

We're looking forward to the Taste of London this week! Returning to Regent's Park in London on Thursday through to Sunday it's your opportunity to savour dishes from 40 of London's hottest restaurants and see World class chefs live on stage! With some great bands too including Sadie and the Hotheads!  If you're a fan of Elizabeth McGovern in Downton Abbey then you'll recognise Sadie :-)

We're there on Sunday so sadly will be missing Sadie and the Hotheads but will definitely be making the most of our afternoon session and will be looking to taste as many culinary delights as possible but particularly looking forward to Thai cooking demonstrations and dance displays.

If you're planning on going... enjoy!  For more information visit the Taste of London website.

10 Fascinating Facts About Father's Day...

1. According to statistics the most common and popular gifts for Father's Day are a necktie and flowers.
2. Despite all the popular gifts a rose is the official gift for Father's Day... a red rose is worn in the lapel if your father is living, a white rose if he is deceased.
3. The world's oldest father was an Indian farmer named Nanu Ram Jogi who fathered his 21st child at the grand old age of 90 years, in year 2007.
4. The word "Dad" originated in the 16th century... it might have got its origin from the Welsh word ‘tad’ (father) that later got altered to dad. The word ‘father’ is basically derived from the Old English word - ‘foeder’.
5. Only 50% of all Father's Day cards are purchased for Dads.... 20% will be for husbands and the rest for grandfathers, uncles, brothers, sons etc.
6. In the UK 7 million Father's Day cards are sent each year, compared to 13 million Mother's Day cards.
7. Aside from a greeting card the necktie is the most popular of all father's day gifts and a whopping £198 million will be spent on DIY gifts.
8. The average age of a first-time father in the UK is 32 but only ten per cent of  babies are born to a father over 40, and a mere 1% to a father over 50.
9. Research has found that on average we Brits spend £27.37 on cards and treats for our Mum, while fathers warrant a spending total ofj ust £14.45.
10. When asked over 52% of Father's said they would like to receive a hand written card and most said they're ideal present would simply be a day out with the famiy.

Father's Day is on The Way!

It may be a little while off yet but it’s never too soon to be thinking about Father’s Day Gifts, especially if your dad is hard to buy for! Father’s Day is on the Sunday 16th June this year and we at SmartGiftSolutions.co.uk are here to help you find a unique gift for your Dad and we’ve got a great selection now available to buy on our website with the facility to buy now and select a delivery date for later.  Let's take a look at our favourites and best selling gifts especially for Dad…

Keep Calm and Eat Toffee -


Get his sweet tooth smiling with a jar of Walker's scrummy toffees. Label reads "Keep Calm Dad and Eat Some Toffee"... with a great price of only £4.99 it's the ideal Father's Day gift choice.





Belgian Chocolate Truffles in Classic Cars Gift Tin -

A great gift for big boys... Dad can enjoy the scrummy truffles and then put to
good use the cool tin with classic car illustrations for a number of uses around the home or workshop a great foodie gift and keepsake gift all in one at just £19.95.  Buy this gift now.



Champion Beer and Snacks Gift Hamper -

If you really want to spoil Dad how about sending him the ultimate luxury hamper for a bit of Royal Treatment.  Let him know what a champion he really is with our Champion Beer and Snacks Hamper bursting with treats such as toffees and chocolates, pate and biscuits, biscuits and cake, nuts and beer all perfectly presented in a luxury picnic basket.  We think this offers the ulimate value at just £64.95.


The Great British Beers Gift Box -

Go ahead and spoil him with our Great British Beers gift with a selection of famous british beers presented in a smart wooden box with sliding lid which he'll be able to put to good use in his garage or workshop after he's enjoyed relaxing and drinking his favourite beers... a spot on gift for just £28.95.




Multicoloured Star Glass Token -

Dazzle him with a vibrant starburst featured on this lovely personalised glass keepsake.  Convey the message that he's a star and personalise with any message of your choice of up to 45 characters.  A great gift of fantastic value for just £14.99.







 Photos in A Word Dad Frame -

What better way to let Dad know you care than with your favourite photos displayed in this letter mounted frame.  A special keepsake gift especially for him providing everlasting memories all for just £12.95.  Buy the Dad Photo Frame now.

The Fine Cheese Company & Artisan Biscuits

Our most popular gifts by far are our Cheese and Wine hampers... a classic gift selection that suits almost any occasion including get well soon, birthdays, thank you and a new baby celebration, providing a thoughtful gift for the proud new parents!

We've created two new hampers to add to our selection incorporating superior products from the The Fine Cheese Company and Artisan Biscuits. The Fine Cheese Company, specialists in cheese for twenty years, has been owned and run from the beginning by Ann-Marie Dyas. A judge at both the British and World Cheese Awards, Ann-Marie is committed to the survival of traditional cheese-making, and to introducing farmhouse cheeses to as wide a public as possible. As well has being cheese experts the company has also made it their business to know what flatters it and makes it a new experience by producing a unique range of Crackers, made by their sister Company, Artisan Biscuit. Fruits, whole fruits, chutneys, and english pickles for cheese are the result.

You will not find any of The Fine Cheese Company or Artisan ranges of products ever sold in a British supermarket but in over 600 delicatessens, farm shops and so on throughout the UK, and in over 30 countries from Austria to Australia.

Our new Cheese Wine and Biscuits Gift Basket includes The Fine Cheese Company's Waxed Farmhouse Chedder Cheese (200g) made in Somerset accompanied by Toast for Cheese with apricots, pistachios and sunfower seeds, an excellent accompanient to delicate goats' cheeses.

Our new Luxury Cheese Hamper includes Toast for Cheese biscuits with cherries, almonds and linseeds, an excellent accompanient for rich blue cheeses. Also included are All British Cheddar Biscuits and All British Stilton Biscuits made from freshly grated cheese, all butter and perfect with a drop of red wine or for gin and tonic and beer. 

The Fine Cheese Company is located in Bath, so if you ever find yourself in that neck of woods why not drop in where you'll be able to enjoy their cheese shop with artisan cheeses, and great food and wine, some of which you can't buy anywhere else.

Shop Our Cheese Hampers

Soft and Chewy or Crisp and Crunchy?

Do you like yours soft and chewy or crisp and crunchy?

Everyone needs a killer cookie recipe... here's two of our favourite so whatever way you prefer your cookie you'll have a, ridicously easy to cook, delicious batch of cookies in no time...

Make them soft and chewy...

You'll need the following list of every day ingredients -

• 2 1/4 cups  of  plain flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together the flour and baking soda and set aside.
   
   Combine the butter with both the granulated and brown sugar; beat until light and fluffy (this should be done with a blender for best results). Add to the mixture the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed (about 1 minute).
   
   Add flour mixture, mix until just combined and stir in the chocolate chips.
   
   
2. Prepare your baking trays lined with parchment paper and drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart.
   
   
3. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes.
   
   Remove cookies from oven, and let them cool for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack once cool and let them cool completely.
   
   Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They should last for  up to 1 week.
 

Make them crisp and crunchy...

You'll need the following list of every day ingredients -

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup melted butter
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees.  Sift both the plain flour and self-raising flour into a bowl and add the sugar and chocolate chips.  Stir well to combine.
   
   
2. Thoroughly mix both the melted butter and beaten egg and pour into the flour mixture stir until just combined.
   
   
3. Prepare your baking trays lined with parchment paper and drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart. Bake for around 18-20 minutes or until the cookies spread slightly and are a light golden colour.
   
   
   Remove cookies from oven, and let them cool for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack once cool and let them cool completely.
   
   Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They should last for  up to 1 week.

Enjoy!!

Send A Cookie Gift Basket to someone you love...

National Gardening Week 15th - 21st April 2013

Thousands of people are coming together this week and throughout the weekend for all kinds of gardening events around the UK. Gardening groups of all kinds will be getting together to share the love of their garden and keeping Britain beautiful.  

Launched by the Royal Horticultural Society to get the nation growing an example of some of the events going on this week is a Masterclass in salad growing!  Matthew and his wife Kirsten run 'The Little Salad Company' on a market garden in the heart of South Oxfordshire. Matthew looks forward to sharing what he’s learnt about growing salads and what he’s learnt about starting up a new business...  book a place.

If you're not able to get out and about this week and attend an event why not take just a little a bit of time and start prettying up your garden by planting something to celebrate the beauty of gardening.

Explore National Gardening Week Events

Adorable Bunny Cupcakes for Easter

 

Well let's hop to it and make these adorable little bunny cupcakes with the children for the Easter celebration.  So easy to make especially if you buy pre-made cupcakes and ready made icing... or if you've time on your hands you can make your own from your favourite cupcake recipe.








What you'll need...
 

Cupcakes
White icing
Shredded coconut
Pink decorators' sugar
Jelly beans for the nose
Chewable sweets for the eyes
Large marshmallows
Mini marshmallows
 

Directions... 
  

1. Frost your cupcakes with white icing and sprinkle on your shredded coconut all over to look like fur
    
2. Cut each of the large marshmallows in half (width-wise) and squeeze each half slightly to give it an oval shape, then decorate the sticky side of each one with pink decorators' sugar and set them in place for the bunny ear
3.  

1. Add a jelly bean for the nose and either jelly beans or small round sweets for the bunny eyes and use the mini marshmallows for cheeks. For a finishing touch you can draw on with the decorators' gel sugar pupils on the eyes and/or whiskers. 

Easter Eggs Hand Decorated With Love...

 

Such a lovely story in the news this Easter, despite the horrid weather we're all experiencing this inspirational elderly couple have decorated a 5ft high apple tree with over 10,000 personally decorated easter eggs!

The couple from Thuringia in Germany spent two weeks in the freezing conditions getting the tree ready in time for the Easter celebrations up and down ladders ignoring the snowfall.  The decorated chicken and duck eggs are on display each year and after the celebrations are carefully stored away until next Easter and all broken eggs are discarded and replaced. 

Read more...

Buying a Gift for An Aries Baby?

Aries are born: March 21^st- April 19^th

Be sure to know what gift to buy for the Aries in your life as the bold and independent Aries usually will not make a secret if he or she doesn't like the gift!  As an Aries believes that he or she was born to do great things they will hope to receive gifts that would show them as famous, rich, successful or beautiful.
 

The Arian is not in the least sentimental so steer clear of buying gifts like cuddly toys etc. Buy gifts that appeal to the adventurously-playful side of an Aries, such as skydiving lessons, auto-racing lessons or tickets to a sporting event.  The Arian likes an 'experience' rather than something tangible so what may seem like an impractical gift would likely be a good selection for the dynamic Aries.  Most Arians love new hobbies and learning new tasks.

Red is their governing colour as it's the colour of life and energy excitement, risk and danger. Bright red/orange flowers are therefore a great gift for the fiery female Aries. Foods like hot chillies might appeal to the Aries man. Many Aries men have a great attraction to fire: they love to camp, barbecue or even keep a fire in the fireplace at home. Gifts about fire will be a big hit for the Aries man.
 

Aries hates wasting time and proper time management is on top of the agenda. Think personal organizers, travel diaries and so on. You can also gift gadgets that will help in saving time like microwaves, blenders, toasters, coffeemakers and so on.
 

For the female Aries hair accessories, earrings, sunglasses and stylish organizers are going to be popular. For the men gadget “toys” will win their approval as will anything that confirms his status as an action man. Tickets to a sporting event are also likely to be popular with the Aries male.
 

So, to sum up Gifts which revolve around physical and competitive pursuits, vehicles, gadgets, and hands-on activities will bring a big smile to your Aries face.

Shop Online for Gifts...

Chocolate Gifts for Easter...

 

New and just in time for Easter... We've add some gorgeous Chocolate Hampers filled with the World's favourite Belgian chocolate Guylian... we also love the story behind the name... two passionate chocolatiers combined their names 'Guy' and 'Liliane' to create the world famous company... a true love story of romance and chocolate!  With five different price points there's sure to be a chocolate gift to suit your budget at our store. 

We are always on the lookout for innovative gift packaging, one that will provide your recipient with a long lasting gift and keepsake and this is no exception. All gifts in each of our new chocolate hampers is presented in a container made from sturdy card.  This ribboned storage box is great for a photo memory box, stationery, or can be used anywhere around the home or office.

Check out our Chocolate Hampers

Our Mother's Day Facebook Competition

Our * Best Seller * by far this week (and no surprises) was our Wonderful Mum Gift Basket....

Well done to Claire York, the winner of this lovely gift basket, and thank you to everyone who entered our Facebook Competition :-)

Here's wishing all our existing and future customers a beautiful Mother's Day weekend where ever you are.

Latest Review - Create Your Own Hamper

Thank you so much to Lyndell Lee in Australia for your recent feedback...

"I love this website I wish we had you in Australia!"

Good choice for a gift Lyndell!  Our create your own hamper category is by far one of the most popular.  When buying gifts to send overseas to loved ones what better way than to send a bespoke hamper.  Not just one gift but many, each one carefully selected for your recipient, depending on their likes and dislikes.

Not just food items but you'll find little gifts you can select from our pampering section, or select books, baby items, golf, teddy bears and more!  Take a look... Create Your Own Hamper