Showing posts with label valentines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label valentines. Show all posts

Thursday, 3 February 2011

Tried & Tested: Valentine's Gift Ideas

For her...
Rigby & Peller Lingerie Bag £17.99


Our Rigby & Peller lingerie bag is the perfect accessory for traveling or storing your luxurious lingerie in style. The satin drawstring bag ensures your lingerie will be protected in transit as it will prevent snagging on any other piece of clothing. To match our lingerie bag we also have a satin eye mask essential for any globe setter. Ideal gifts for any occasion.














What our reviewer said:


"If my other half bought me this lingerie bag for Valentines I would be very impressed.I know he wouldn't be able to afford to by me the underwear to match but I love a bit of luxury and it's all about feeling a little bit posh. The bag is satin with a ribbon drawstring and it feels so soft -  definitely not one for putting your granny knickers in! I'll be putting my posh undies in there - maybe to keep them safe until Valentines. ; ) I think it's a lovely gift."

For him...
Flip Ultra HD
An incredibly simple to use high definition pocket camcorder with a signature flip-out USB arm and award-winning built-in software, Flip lets you shoot unforgettable moments in great quality, quickly and easily create videos on a computer and share with your loved ones online. Being pocket sized and allowing you to capture up to two hours of footage, it's the perfect gadget to capture romantic moments for years to come.  The latest range of Flips were launched in November and are priced from £149.99.



What our reviewer said:

"This is so easy to use and would make a great gift for any occasion.  Just press the red button to record and away you go. All the software is pre-loaded so you just use the USB to connect it directly to your laptop and from there you can take photo stills from your videos - great if you've got kids that wont stay still - just film them and select the pic you want later on! All of our films were great quality and the only downside was that there was no flash for night use. If you're buying this as a Valentines gift why not pre-record a video message on to it telling them how much you love them. Very romantic! Would definitely recommend."

To Share Some Giggles...
MR & MRS Travel Edition (£4.99)
From the popular ITV game show, the brand new MR&MRS Travel Edition, launching in February 2011, is perfect entertainment for some fun around Valentine’s Day. The game’s questions are intended to tease out gems of information on subjects that you may not expect! Guaranteed to cause arguments, blushes, blank looks and lots of laughter! The MR&MRS Travel Edition is licensed by University Games and available from all good retailers with an RRP of £4.99


What our reviewer said:

"We haven't laughed so much in ages. The questions were brilliant and really put us to the test. I won - naturally but we argued because Chris was convinced I was lying with my answers so that I could win! A night of giggles. We've let mum and dad borrow it so I expect to see my Dad with a black eye at the weekend for not knowing what my Mum's favourite food is! You have to get this - but it will make your cheeks hurt from all the laughing."


A Personalised Keepsake...



Love is... book From It's Your Story

Give the person you love something truly unique this Valentine's Day with this personalised Love Is... book. 24 specially selected illustrations from the celebrated original artworks of Kim Casali have been brought together to capture loving sentiments. As well as your names on the cover, there are twelve illustrations throughout the book created for you to personalise with your names and additional information such as your favourite film to watch together and favourite food.


What our reviewer said:


"We have already reviewed one of the children's books from It's Your Story and it was fab so I chose to review this one just for me and Chris and I was really excited about it. It was personalised to us and the things that we do and like. I wasn't sure what Chris would make of it but he actually had a little tear in his eye as he read it. It's really special and we both love it - we'll keep it forever. You have to buy one for your true love - they love you forever."

Breakfast In Bed...
Heart-Shaped Silicone Ring (£3.49)
Create the perfect romantic breakfast in bed with this flexible silicone heart shaped egg ring. Heat, odour, and stain resistant with a fold up / fold down handle, and heat resistant knob to easily remove the ring once the egg is cooked.


What our reviewer said:
 
"Last year I tried to cook an egg in a heart shaped pan that cost about 50p - with little success - in fact it was so bad that we had to bin the pan! This was ingenious. On my first attempt the egg did ooze out from underneath the silicone heart but I put that down to the amount of oil in the pan. Since that first attempt I have made at least 10 perfectly heart shaped eggs. A great novelty item to make Valentines breakfast in bed a little bit special."
 
 
Heart Flex Turner (£8.49)
 
Flexible nylon heart-shaped spatula with stainless steel handle.


What our reviewer said...

"We tested this alongside the Heart-Shaped Silicone Ring and it was the perfect size for transporting said eggs from pan to plate. I was worried that I might not be able to use it with my non-stick pan but it's made of a special material so it won't scratch. Another lovely little idea."

On a budget...

Selection of Valentines Gifts at Poundland


If you are looking for fun this Valentine’s Day, look no further than Poundland. With some naughty little gifts to get you hot under the collar, to cute and cuddly soft toys, Poundland has a great selection to make your Valentine’s Day special!



What our reviewer said:

"We got sent a few things to have a play with: Love Crackers - sounds rude but it's just a Christmas Cracker with a funny joke and a hat! An 'I Love You Toast' Stamp - you push it in to your bread before you put it in the toaster and it leaves your lovely message on the toast.Valentines socks - I'm wearing them as we speak! A cuddly toy - really cute and a bargain at £1 and a lovely gift bag to put all of your goodies in. Great novelty gifts, all good fun and at a bargain price - what more can you want?"

For the Bedroom...

Chippendale Diva (£59.99)

The Chippendales Diva is a must have object of pleasure. Created to tease and please all the right areas externally. This intimate massager boasts eight stimulation modes in two programs, all easily adjustable for the most varied and satisfying sensations perfect for solo or partner play. It is fully lockable ensuring discretion at all times. The Chippendales Diva is currently available in two colours; black and white and is provided with a chic silk storage pouch.

What our reviewer said:
"When this arrived I took it in to the lounge to investigate, put the batteries in turned it on, giggled and then put it on the stairs to take up to the bedroom. Fast forward 5 hours - son comes home from school and finds it on the stairs - "Mummy, what's this? It's moving. Come and look.' Whoops!!! It's now safely hidden away in the grown ups room! So is it any good? Well this is embarrassing! I won't go in to detail but let's just say yes - it is good - it did cause giggles at first but it does what it's supposed to ; ) "

Tuesday, 1 February 2011

Tried & Tested: Classic Valentines Gifts For Her

So you want to treat your lady to something special this year - she tells you not to waste your money but if you don't get her anything then she doesn't speak to you for a week. Well, take a look at these lovely gifts, we guarantee you can't go wrong with these...

Taylors Luxury Valentines Bouquet

Make sure you make the right impression this Valentine’s Day by spoiling your loved one with a beautiful hand-tied bouquet, crafted just for her by an award-winning florist. This Valentine’s Day surprise her with a limited edition bouquet of 12 perfectly formed scarlet red ‘Passion’ roses, dressed to impress in a stylish matt black standing gift box, tied with a pretty red raffia bow. What’s more, bouquets start from only £19.99!



What our reviewer said:


"I never ever get flowers - despite the most obvious hints to my man -so this was a treat. These roses were delivered by courier but were in perfect condition, so beautiful. They came with instructions on how to make them last for as long as possible. They graced my living room for almost 2 weeks before they started to droop and I had to take them away (this is a record for me). What woman doesn't love to receive flowers - I'd send them to her work address for a grand gesture and have her work mates cooing over what a great guy you must be!"

Godiva Chocolates

Give the ultimate gift of Godiva’s Romantic Heart boxes. Wrapped in the most seductive red fabric and decorated with silky red ribbons and satin roses, the box forms the perfect package for the most romantic of chocolates. The Romantic Heart boxes are available in three sizes: small and sweet (15 chocolates), heart-meltingly medium (27 chocolates) and lovingly large (40 chocolates). Prices start from £35.00.



What our reviewer said:

"Wow! We were sent a small heart shape box of truffles to sample the delights of this Belgian chocolate and we were certainly left wanting more. Although these are expensive - you can certainly taste the difference and my taste buds are pricking up even now as I write this review. If you are a chocolate lover then you have to taste these - although I have to warn you - they will leave you thinking normal chocolate is not worth the effort. If a man bought me these then I would love him forever."


Nicolas Feuillatte: Rose NV

An absolute classic, reflecting a fresh and elegant style, perfect for pre-prandial pleasures, cocktails, and for sipping on a terrace. A dependable and subtle Champagne for those simple relaxing moments. For lovers of a more natural taste. Elegant, soft, round and thirst-quenching. The ultimate pleasure in rosé Champagne. Beautifully balanced and finishing on a strawberry note.

What our reviewer said...

"I love Champagne and this definitely left me wanting more. I popped the cork with my husband and we drank it together (although I did try and persuade him to move on to lager let me finish it but he wouldn't). To describe it - the bubbles are tiny and there's quite a fruity taste to it - I'm not good at this descriptive stuff am I?! It's really good though, we loved it and we'll buy it again."

Monday, 31 January 2011

Tried & Tested: Valentines Drinks - the perfect gifts for the perfect night in!

If you want to treat someone this Valentine's then why not get them a bottle of something special - that way you get to share it with them! Here's a few lovelies that have been Tried & Tested by our panel...


Roche Lacour by Laithwaites Wine

Glorious salmon-pink rosé handcrafted at the historic cellars of Limoux. Celebrated winemaker Laurent Mingaud employs Champagne's méthode traditionnelle to craft his famous Limoux fizz, giving you mouthfuls of tiny bubbles - just like top Champagne.




What our reviewer said...


"I'm a massive fan of Rose wine but I don't often get to taste the fizzy variety. The taste was quite dry and the bubbles felt unusually tiny, making for a lovely drinking experience. This is a great drink to have with a romantic meal - we had it with steak, which was great, but we're no experts. We'd definitely buy this again for a special occasion. Apparently I should be saying that it's beautifully balanced and finishes on a Strawberry note but that means nothing to me! It tastes good, makes me look posh and made me feel tipsy - a winner in my book!

Tails Cocktails



Tails are a perfect way to bring some fun and glamour to Valentine’s Day, whether they’re shaking up a girls’ night in or impressing that special someone. The launch range includes the Espresso Martini, Mai Tai and Cosmopolitan all at 18% ABV.
Note to self - must buy posh cocktail glasses for home!


What our reviewer said:


"I love a good cocktail when I'm out but the last time I tried to pull together a cocktail at home was a nightmare. For that reason alone, I was impressed with the whole concept of Tails (and slighty miffed Id not thought of it myself!) You just buy it off the shelf, add ice in to the Tails packaging and then just shake and pour. All the deliciousness of a cocktail but with out the faffing around (and in my case the mess!) Great fun, no mess - and delicious too. A fab idea for Valentine night."



Camitz Vodka Gift Pack (RRP £19.95)

Camitz + Lindberger, distiller of Camitz Sparkling Vodka, has created a gift pack comprising a 200ml bottle of Camitz Sparkling Vodka (alcohol by volume, 40%), two shot glasses and a Camitz branded Champagne-type stopper. The pack is presented in a striking designer carrier bag.



What our reviewer said...


"I had never even heard of fizzy vodka before.. well... to a certain extent I'm used to Vodka being fizzy because I always drink it with Diet Coke but this is a completely new experience. The bottle has a champagne type cork so it makes it feel quite special. We had a shot (or two) and it was really good. I HATE vodka shots but this I can do - the bubbles make it so much smoother than just a shot a regular vodka. God, does that sound bad, I'm not a shot demon - I promise? This was brilliant. The only downside was that once the cork has popped the fizz disappears after 3 days - it still tastes good but the bubbles are gone. We loved it - great for a celebration - especially if Champagne's not for you."


Demijohn Raspberry Vodka in a Heart Shaped Bottle
(£20.60 for the heart shaped 500ml bottle)

This is certain to win the heart of your loved one. Demijohn’s Raspberry Vodka is made from fresh Scottish Raspberries infused in Scottish Vodka.  ....more For a really impressive drink, make sure you have a bottle of Champagne on ice. Put a dash of our Raspberry Vodka in the flute and pour on the Champagne. It can also be drunk on its own as an aperitif, simply pour over ice, or drunk as digestif after supper.

What our reviewer said:


"I love the whole idea of a deli for drinks. You choose the drink and which type of bottle you'd like to fill. The raspberry vodka was delicious - we tried it on it's own as a chilled shot and also as recommended in champagne. It was great and would make a great romantic drink to share with your loved one this year. A lovely, thoughtful gift idea- much better than flowers - I'm hinting at the other half already."

Monday, 3 January 2011

I don't really know what to say...

Shame on you Marks & Spencer - you haven't even stopped selling tinsel and Christmas cards and your already selling Valentines...

It's January 3rd...
...and this is on the shelves in M&S!

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