Any birthday is special. But a 70th birthday is especially so.
Making it to 70 should be celebrated in style. Picture this: all the birthday ‘girl’ or ‘boy’s’ friends and family are present; the party is in full swing, the buffet is disappearing fast, the champagne flowing – and the gifts – including yours, are stacked on a table, taking pride of place.
No pressure, then!
So what do you buy the 70 year-old with everything? Some people are easier to buy for than others. Perhaps they have a hobby – though chances are your 70 year-old giftee doesn’t include sky diving on their CV. However, it has been done; and not for the last time, we’re sure!
Maybe your lucky giftee is going on a cruise to celebrate with the best of ‘em. If so, buying a birthday gift will be a walk in the park. Anything holiday-related will guarantee suitcase space.
If your recipient is staying on terra firma, however, then you could buy him or her a short break in a luxury hotel, or even dinner on the Thames for two.
Something different is the order of the day. Birthday gifts dedicated to the 70th theme are spot on – even more so, if they are personalised.
A silver plated photo frame in which to place a particularly cherished photo will go down a treat. Perhaps a beloved grandchild could give her grandmother or grandfather a lovely photo within such a special frame.
Indeed, being 70 is something of a feat in itself. So what better way to celebrate your recipient’s life so far than with a gift on The Day You Were Born theme? Containing 60 I-never-knew-that facts relating to the day of their birth, this present will delight all the family to boot.
Or read all about it in a gift boxed original newspaper, published the day your giftee was born. This lasting keepsake makes fascinating reading for everyone.
If your 70 year-old is into games in a big way, then a wooden games set containing chess, dice, cards and dominoes will provide hours of entertainment, wherever they happen to be.
And if your giftee is mad about golf, then an engraved golf club will really score a hole in one in the Gift-Giving Open.
Whatever you decide to give your 70 year-old for his or her birthday, give it with love, and it will be just perfect.
Just go online, and see what’s out there for the buying. You will have a ball.
18th Birthdays
An 18th birthday is a landmark celebration within any family. When your little cherub has reached the big ‘one eight’, he or she can indulge in a tipple at the local, vote for the next government, and drive a car – all perfectly legally!
Consequently, being 18 is cause for Celebration with a capital ‘C’. It’s the perfect excuse to throw a party and welcome adulthood into your 18 year-old’s life.
Whether ‘adulthood’ to them means flying the nest, or at least leaving home temporarily, to study at university, is up to your big prince or princess’s individual ambitions.
Leaving home may be exciting for your fledging offspring, but can prove the mother of all parental wrenches. Suddenly, buying a dog seems a really good idea. No matter how annoying your teenager has been in the years circa 13 to 18 (and you thought it all stopped at the ‘terrible twos’ stage!), you cannot help but feel at a loss, once they announce they are leaving home for pastures new.
If you are a parent in this position, then perhaps you are in need of a birthday present of your own!
Buying for 18 year-olds is easy if you are a close family member, as you will not baulk at splashing the cash for such a good cause. Lasting keepsakes such as pewter tankards for young men (with the facial hair to prove it), is practially tradition in this country.
Alternatively, a cool silver plated photo album in which to display all their adventures forever, will make a super 18th gift for boys and girls – or should that be men and women – alike.
There are fab ‘n’ funky gifts available on the Internet your 18 year-old recipient will equally adore. A glamorous 18th birthday champagne flute will fit the bill nicely. Personalise it for VIP appeal, and you will really get their vote.
Any gift featuring the gift of the door – traditionally for 21st birthdays, yet just as appropriate for the 18th landmark, will hammer the message home that your recipient has officially made it to adulthood (woohoo!).
And if your 18 year-old giftee is planning on taking a gap year to travel the world, then the range of gifts open to you, is positively endless. A personalised pewter hip flask makes the perfect travel companion. Or how about a natty passport holder?
There are millions of ideas out there in the world of the Internet to make your would-be traveller’s life easier and more comfortable. From rucksacks to bum-bags, compasses to swiss army knives, the choice is yours.
When your little adventurer returns to the family base, then you can select their favourite photo of their travels and pop it in the sparkly 18 Years frame you bought them for their landmark 18th birthday.
Guaranteed, in a heartbeat, she or he will be uttering those immortal words: “It’s great to be home, Mum!”
Winter christening wear
As summer draws to a close, the subject of the winter christening is gaining more relevance.
Pretty ivory cardigans suit girls and boys alike. Modern fleece versions are available; though it has to be said, the ones knitted by ageing aunties are the warmest! Christening cardigans look best in white, for purity, though no colour is unacceptable. Embellished with satin buttons or ribbon trim, the plain cardi can be transformed into one fit for a little prince or princess.
Lacey knits are ‘in’. As long as they are in a warm fabric, they trap air, rather like those cellular blankets found in hospitals – not to mention all the best nurseries.
Polar fleece, is, as its name suggests, designed for warmth. True Polartec regulates body temperature. Be careful not to have baby too hot though. It’s all a matter of getting the balance right.
Traditional ivory hooded coats, often embellished with faux fur at the neck, cuffs and hem, will always look the part in any christening. In fact, fake fur is extremely popular for a winter christening ceremony. Expect to see it trimming hats, along with lace and satin, or as a cuff on velvet booties. Alpaca fur – sourced kindly, is especially prized.
Indeed, the Anastasia look is perfect for winter christenings. Just add snow, and you could be in Russia.
The hooded poncho has made the transition from the womenswear catwalks to a modified version of the traditional christening gown. This all-in-one garment makes a great coverup which can easily be removed if baby begins to turn pink!
White suede effect coats are also making their mark on the winter christening catwalk. Far softer than the real thing, fake suede nonetheless retains the luxurious look and feel of suede, but in a much more baby friendly way.
They say ‘it’s all in the detail’, and this true for christeningwear, too. Designers can go to town, albeit in a restrained way, with tiny rosebud embellishments, the whitest of ribbons, the prettiest of buttons, and most delicate embroidery.
Items like pearls and sequins tend to get the brush-off, because baby is often tempted to eat them!
Mittens, shawls, and woolly tights are all accessories that come into their own at a winter christening.
Whatever you decide to dress your baby in for his or her christening, you can rest assured, he will be the centre of attention, from start to finish. After all, it is only right and proper that babies steal any show!
Wedding Gifts
A Wedding invitation is a gift in its own right. It is a heartfelt request to join in a ceremony and celebration that changes people’s lives. After all, getting married is probably the biggest decision we will ever make.
The opportunity to be a part of the wedding ceremony – the most important element of a wedding – and to be there in person as witnesses to the love and commitment of the happy couple, is something to be savoured.
What’s more, couples who are invited to a wedding as guests, often think about their own wedding ceremonies, and the vows they made to one another. One couple may have celebrated their wedding recently, whereas another could have spent 40 years or more together in wedded bliss. Consequently, weddings are occasions to be celebrated on a number of levels.
The Gift of Giving
Giving wedding gifts is our way of showing our love and support – both present and future – for the couple as they begin their married journey together. Even though many couples have chosen to live together before their wedding, and possess a healthy selection of household goods between them already, the wedding gift remains incredibly important. Why? Because the sentiment behind the gift is as important as the gift itself; perhaps even more so.
If you have found yourself in the dilemma of ‘what to buy’ as a wedding gift, you will be pleased to know the possibilities are endless. All it takes is a little imagination on the part of the buyer.
A bottle of champagne and an ice bucket for future celebrations would go down well, for instance. Or an extra-special photo frame to display the newly weds’ most treasured image of the big day.
Cut crystal gifts are also extremely popular; probably because glass looks equally spectacular in traditional and modern homes. Crystal also attracts positive energy into a home, if placed by a window. Crystal vases are easy to clean, and exhibit floral displays to the best advantage. And, of course, ‘his and hers’ crystal champagne flutes are a must for every marital household.
Make it Personal
The trend for personalised wedding gifts is really gaining momentum. Practically any item can be engraved with the names of the happy couple and a message of goodwill. Not only that: personalised gifts are also a popular way of saying thank you to each and every member of the wedding party, including the mother of the bride, best man, maid of honour, bridesmaids, pageboys, usher, groomsman, father of the bride … get the drift?
The range of personalised gifts is practically infinite; you name it – it can be engraved with a message of your choosing.
From compacts to cufflinks, candles to toy bears, jewellery to tankards, it’s all out there online.
Personalised engraved wedding rings
These personalised engraved wedding vow rings are high quality inscription wedding rings that contain fully personalized texts carved into the inner part of the bride’s & groom’s rings.
The texts can be either religious vows, quotes or anything else that you wish! Personalized engraved wedding vow rings are perhaps the best present a bride & groom can offer each other… Engraved wedding rings are meant to be the most unique gifts for this special once in a lifetime event..