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Archive for March, 2015

Gift Hampers- The perfect gift for any occasion

March 24th, 2015

The problem of indecisiveness when looking for good gifting ideas is very common. Almost everyone has to encounter this menace from time to time. The inability to zero in on a perfect gift often drives people nuts during the holiday or the wedding season. Finally unable to come up with anything good, they are forced to go with gifts that are called the safe gifts like a box of chocolates, scented and colourful candles, expensive bubble bath, imported perfumes or office stationery. Even though these gifts do not fail, yet they lack the personal touch usually associated with gifts. Gifts like these are more often than not considered mundane and impersonal.

Why go for gift hampers?

It is simply due to its convenience that the trend of presenting gift hampers has caught on like wildfire. Gift hampers simply swap out the indecisiveness out of the idea of gifting. The guesswork needed to find the perfect gift is also taken out of the equation. Gift hampers can never be boring as it can be personalized to suit the recipient’s needs. Also, the selection of the items in the hamper can be done by the presenter to show their thoughtfulness and closeness to the recipient.

The universal gifting item

The gift hamper is the perfect gift for a finicky person. The collection of items in it makes sure that even if the person does not like one or two items; he will love the rest and still be able to appreciate the presenter’s gift and effort. These kinds of gifts can be easily presented in weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, as thank you gifts or simply as return gifts.  Hence, the gift hamper is a universal gift that can be simply handed out to anyone while safely hoping that they will love it.

Corporate gift hampers:

Corporate gift hampers in UK are also handed out in offices as a token of thanks and appreciation to the employees from the management. Some companies hand out the gift hampers to their clients during the festive season to win their good faith. The company logo on the items also serves as advertising for the company. Gift hampers, thus, enable the corporate businesses to present people with something that they will like irrespective of their gender or age.

Tips for the gift hamper

Different ideas should be used while assembling a gift hamper. Using the same safe gifts in a hamper does not make it an interesting gift. The services of a gift hamper designer can be taken to come up with a fun and original product.

Unless intended for that very purpose, presenting people with gift hampers having religious messages like “Merry Christmas” is not always welcome as not all people celebrate it. Instead a simple of wish of “Happy Holidays” would be more appropriate.

A gift hamper can be presented as a single gift to a family or a group. The recipients can choose from the items in the hamper. This reduces the presenter’s effort of individually wrapping everyone’s gifts.

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How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh and Healthy

March 24th, 2015

Cut flower arrangements add cheer to your spirits and colour to the dullest of rooms. If you want to keep your Valentine’s Day posies or graduation day bouquets blooming for many days, you can follow these tips from florists.

Most of the ingredients in the recipe to keep flowers fresh are common household items. But some are specially made items too like flower food.

Here is a list of additives that will keep a vase of freshly cut flowers blooming for several days:

  • Soda: Don’t discard the last drops of soda in your home. Empty ¼ cup of soda into a vase filled with cut flowers. The blooms will last longer because of the sugar in the soda. If you have transparent vase, you can get a clear look using clear soda like 7-up or Sprite.
  • Hair Spray: Just like it sets your hair, spritz of hair spray can help keep your flowers look fresher for a longer time. Stand a foot away from the bouquet and give a swift spray, just below the petals and the leaves.

 

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: For everyone who wants their fresh cut flowers to keep blooming for a long time, here is a simple household solution: Combine 2 tbsps Apple cider vinegar with 2 tbsp sugar and add to vase water before placing flowers. Ensure that you replace the water with its additives, every few days for the longevity of the blooms.
  • Vodka: The secret tip of keeping cut flowers fresh for the maximum possible time is to inhibit growth of bacteria and enhance nutrition from plain water. Add some drops of clear spirit like Vodka to the vase water to inhibit bacteria. Also, add 1 tsp of sugar. Change the water every other day, replacing the sugar and the vodka.

 

  • Aspirin: A much tried and tested way to keep roses and other flowers fresh for a long time. Add a freshly crushed aspirin into the vase water before adding flowers. Change the water every few days with this additive.
  • Bleach: For long lasting of freshly cut flowers, add ¼ tsp bleach per 1 litre (quart) of water in the vase. Another top recipe is to add 1 tsp sugar along with 3 drops of bleach into a quart or litre of water. This will prevent the water from turning cloudy and inhibit bacterial growth.

 

  • Coins: You can make your fresh cut flowers last longer by adding a spoon of sugar and a copper penny to the water in the vase. The copper in the pennies will help the flowers last as it will act like an acidifier, which kills bacteria.
  • Sugar: The most popular ingredient to keep flowers in full bloom. Make your own preservative: Mix 3 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp white vinegar per litre of warm water. While filling up the vase, ensure that the cut stems are covered by 3-4 inches of the preservative water. The sugar acts as a source of nourishment while vinegar inhibits bacterial growth.
  • Listerine Anti-Septic: It kills bacteria like how it kills plaque. A cap full of mouth wash poured on day one will keep flowers blooming till day four.

 

  • Flower Food:  Contains bio-cide to destroy bacteria, sugar to nourish blooms and acidifier to help stems drink water.

Now that you know how to keep your posy of flowers fresh, you can preserve the bouquet from others, who send flowers cheap and in perfect condition.

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How to Make Easter Gift Hampers

March 24th, 2015

When it is Easter season, it is time to exchange sweet little gifts like Easter bunnies and Easter eggs. By assembling the gifts at home, you can not only save money but also add value and meaning to the gift. Especially children will love creating gifts on their own during their spring break.

Here are a few Easter items:

Easter Decorations:

  •  Balloons covered with yarn make for lovely and cheap decorations made by children.
  • Egg cartons can be made into a carrot patch topped by a miniature bunny rabbit.
  • Large egg shells can be transformed into mini planters with sprouting seedlings and a little glue.

Easter Treats:

  • Simple cupcakes can be made into edible Easter gifts
  •  Instead of the usual multi coloured Easter eggs, try and create faux Faberge eggs. They are good looking, as well as delicious

Easter Garden Theme Gifts:

  • For a gardening fan, why not replace traditional Easter gift basket with garden theme materials like gardening gloves, packets of seeds, tools, etc.
  • For a bird watcher friend, paint a premade bird house with bright Easter colours.
  • One can also make a very attractive decoupage planter by using cheap plant pot and basic crafts supplies. Include a plant and it makes for a perfect Easter gift.

Easter gift baskets are an inexpensive and much appreciated way to wish Easter greetings to a loved one. It involves the following aspects:

Finding the Basket:

  • The first task is to find a suitable basket. Think out-of-the-box. Instead of the usual wicker basket, why not go in for a bathroom caddy filled with lotions, soaps, lip gloss and bath salts. How about a beach pail complete with toys like sand shovel, towels, etc. Let your imagination run riot –from planters to serving bowls.
  • Make your own baskets: You can create baskets of many types. One simple way is to use plastic mesh like containers, which are used to wrap strawberries and other fruits in super markets. Wash and clean them and use strips of coloured paper to weave them in and out of the holes in the basket. Secure with glue

Fillings:

  • If you are making your own basket, there is no need to fill them up with usual, boring items like plastic toys and chocolate goodies. Design the contents according to the likes and hobbies of the recipient.
  • For the boy obsessed by horses, include colouring books on horse themes, stickers with horse pictures, a stuffed horse toy and a DVD on horses. For sweets include candied baby carrots and apples-a favourite treat for horses.
  • Has your daughter begun ballet lessons? Include in her gifts basket, a pair of ballet slippers and ballet theme hair clips. Make a tutu for her using hot glue gun and a spool of toile. Instead of gift basket, gift her pink backpack containing all these items

 

These are some of the ways in which you can assemble a great Easter gift hamper. You can send the gift hamper by post to loved ones, who you could not meet during Easter. They will really appreciate the effort you put into making a personalized gift hamper with your own hands.

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Different Types of Bridal Bouquets

March 24th, 2015

There are different types of bridal bouquets. One of the most important decisions to take about your wedding flowers is the style and shape of your bridal bouquet.

The most common types of bridal bouquets are three in number: cascade, round and hand tied. But part form these basic styles, today there are many variations. Here are a few styles of bridal bouquets:

  • Round Bouquet: They come in different choices from bold, beautiful ones to small delicate ones. The one thing in common is that flowers are shaped into round tops. These bouquets are either wired or hand tied
  • Posy Bouquet: It is easy for the bride to carry as it is a small round arrangement. They come in two types- wired or hand tied. Hand tied posy is a loose arrangement tied by a simple ribbon or string. The wired posy is more structured and has stems of flowers discarded and replaced by florist wire. This bouquet usually does not feature much greenery.
  • Nosegay Bouquet:  It is round and small containing both greenery and flowers. According to tradition, this bouquet was kept in a Tussy Mussy: a container made of glass or metal in the shape of a cone. They can be placed on the tables at the reception to make optimum use of bridal and bridesmaids bouquets.
  • Cascade Bouquets: These are large, formal arrangements with a round of flowers that trail into a big V-shape in the front. Also named as ‘shower bouquet,’ this bouquet may suffice to cover the hands of the bride while some others trail down to the floor. Another name for a small version of this bouquet is a ‘tear drop bouquet’
  • Clutch Bouquet: It is a hand tied loose bouquet in which stems are left long. Such bouquets are best suited to garden or outdoor weddings.
  • Presentation Bouquet: They are also called as Arm bouquet or Pageant bouquet and consist of long stemmed flowers cradled in the crook of the arm of the bride or bridesmaids. These are not very well liked as they are inconvenient to handle, but they look formal and elegant
  • Beidermeier Bouquet:  It is a round and large bouquet. It is notable as it consists of many types of flowers arranged in a circular fashion. Every ring of the bouquet is made of a particular type of flower.
  • Crescent bouquet: It is an arched flower and leaves bouquet, which trails down on either side. These dramatic, large bouquets may be symmetrical on both left and right sides or for a more modern look, it might be asymmetrical.
  • Wristlet Bouquet: This bouquet is a corsage for the wrist. This small arrangement is well liked by bridesmaids and brides as it is easy to carry. The foliage and flowers are attached to a wrist bracelet that is elastic.
  • Pomander Bouquet: It is a ball of flowers, suspended using a ribbon. It is also called as the Kissing Ball and is popular with bridesmaids.
  • Cone Bouquet: It is naturally cone shaped. It works best for flower girls and bridesmaids
  • Scepter Bouquet: It is in the form of a wand and gives a dramatic backdrop of your wedding. Hands are very long, entwined with ornaments and ribbons.
  • Basket Bouquet: It is made of flowers arranged beautifully in a shallow basket usually used in a garden theme wedding.

These are some of the best types of wedding flower arrangements. If flowers are not available locally, you can send for flowers by post.  Wedding flowers will be remembered for a long time.

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How to spend a holiday in an interesting manner?

March 23rd, 2015

Getting board on holidays is sometimes so usual that you get used to it.  And the major one is the weekend holiday which is brief and you have piled up with many house hold activates. After a tiring week at work most men prefer to spend a lazy weekend holiday just by resting, sleeping for long hours than usual, eating sweets or by reading newspapers while the women’s get busy in the piled up house hold chores . Yes, no one can deny the importance of doing house hold works. They are much important and not an option at all. The cycle of these day to day activates must be keep going for a smooth life. But in all these works of home and office one forget that we are not machines. Even machines also need rest, maintenance and changing of spare parts some times to get it going. So you should indulge yourself in some mind relaxing activates to calm your soul and mind and to give yourself a new start for the tiring daily week activates.

So here are some tips to make your holiday enjoyable and refreshing.

 

Go for Sightseeing:

Sightseeing has a soothing effect on the nerves. You simply feel relaxed after enjoying a good place rich with natural beauty and peace. It’s a good way to make a boring weekend worth enjoyable by visiting any such place. It is also a great way to spend some quality time with family and friends too.

Watch an interesting movie:

With the daily hustle and bustle of life one can’t able to take a peaceful time out for a movie. Its might be a case that you have to takes several breaks to watch a full movie so why not enjoy your favorite movie or a new blockbuster on holidays. It will provide you both relaxation and entertainment.

 

Indulge in some hobby:

Hobbies are food for the soul. They nurture our spirit, restore our physical energy, and renew our mind. But when we think of giving time to a hobby thousands of thinks come before it. It might be studies, career, office work, household chores or even a sleep. But the fact is that the relaxation on get after enjoying a hobby is much more then a sound sleep in deed. Holidays are the best way to indulge in some productive hobby.

 

Indulge in some exercise:

The human body is also like a machine. It should be kept in a running position which wills enhance its performance.  Your body needs time to maintain itself. Exercise in whatever way possible and convenience for you. It can be jogging, running, walking, cycling or going to gym.

Gift yourself:

Enjoy a delicious treat given by you to yourself if there is no other one who will give it to you. If you love chocolates, sweets cookies etc. then make on online order for sweet hamper UK or buy on for you from market. Make a good dinner as a treat to yourself or eat whatever you love to eat just to feel better and make your day a bit different from the daily routine.

 

Go to spa and saloons:

Personal care is of the good body charger. It’s a comfortable way to pamper you and enjoy a relaxation treat. Have some time for just yourself. Go to a good spa or enjoy going to a saloon having some haircut, manicure, pedicure, facial or body message.

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