Pearls are the obvious choice. Did you know; you can tell real from paste pearls simply by rubbing two together. If they are smooth, they are not real pearls. The Real McCoy pearl has a rough feel to it. Rub two together, and you should feel the roughness.

While a fitting pearl wedding anniversary gift from a husband to his wife would be a real pearl necklace, buying for him will prove rather more tricky. However, just getting your imagination into top gear will soon get those pearl anniversary gift giving juices flowing!

For instance, mother of pearl effect photo frames and the like make  very nice alternatives for the man in your life.

Whilst aiming to give a gift in the material for that particular wedding anniversary is always special, it is not written in stone – or pearl, for that matter, that a pearl wedding anniversary gift Must Always be Pearl, to the exclusion of anything else. Anything decorated with pearls will do the job nicely.

On the other hand, perhaps you would like to give something completely different as your pearl wedding anniversary gift. Maybe you both fancy doing something special together, like going for a balloon ride, or climbing aboard the Orient Express.

Perhaps you both share a hobby. Whatever your interest, there is something out there for you, whether here or abroad.

And talking of venturing overseas; maybe a second honeymoon is more up your street. You could re-visit the old haunts of your original honeymoon destination, or try somewhere completely new. Opting to give yourselves a joint pearl wedding anniversary present is the ultimate in romantic gift giving. Or spring a surprise on your beloved. Just make sure your passports are up-to-date first!

If you want to buy a pearl wedding anniversary gift,  such as the one above, for another couple, yet cannot stretch to the budget, then why not get together with family or friends, and buy a gift between you?

A group of friends or relatives might even want to get in on the action by going with their chosen couple on their romantic getaway or experience day.  Some couples might actually prefer to enjoy their anniversary amid the company of good friends.

If you are totally stumped as to what to buy your pearl wedding anniversary couple, then cut to the chase, and ask them what they would like.

There are thousands of great anniversary gift ideas for the asking on the world of the Internet. You can shop from the comfort of home, and save the planet for future generations while you are at it.

Now there’s a pearl of wisdom for you!

Don’t get me wrong, the giving experience is one that I relish, no matter what the occasion, just to see the face of the loved one or friend light up when they receive something is truly magical, and as the giver, this magic is infectious.

However, as I’m sure many of you do.. each year you send or give a gift to a friend or loved one on a regular basis, birthdays, christmas, wedding anniversaries etc.. & each year you struggle to find something bigger & better than the previous year.. (i know i do). No denying that this gets increasingly difficult & occasionally I have fallen into the gift voucher route, or even given money to some of the younger family members.

So whats the answer? well I suppose a lot of that depends on budget & how special the actual occasion is; for instance a nephew of ours (Jamie) recently turned 18, we struggled for ages looking for something that would rock his world so to say.. Like most 18yr olds, he’s into music, going to gigs.. cars, sports etc etc..

Normally the budget for a family members 18th birthday would be around £100 pounds & i’m sure 8 out of 10 times we would probably have given the cash… but as we are getting on in our years, we wanted to make sure the gift we gave him would be remembered for a lifetime!

Sounds impossible doesn’t it? how on earth do you find a gift that somebody will remember for the rest of their lives?

Well we managed it! & boy will he remember it.. we decided to push the boat out & booked Jamie & gift experience surprise from The Gift Experience Days website, now this was back in June… they had quite a selection & I must say a little too many great gift ideas for us to narrow down… but we went for the Aston Martin Experience Day at £99.00…

He was over the moon.. I mean cmon, to go & drive a £150k Aston Martin around a track has got to be a once in a lifetime thing!  His experience day is due this month, so I’ll post the pictures soon..

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.

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!”

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!

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.

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..

whre to buy.. good question.. your local Tesco or Wallmart doesn’t do too great in this departmant.. if your lucky enough to live near a decent M&S or Waitrose, then it might be a different story..

So its a good thing that there are plenty of online options available to order corporate gifts & wine baskets, in fact perhaps there’s a little too many of them.

We’ll be reviewing a few specialist suppliers over the next few months.. so watch this space for the full run down on where to buy your corporate gifts & wine baskets.

There are some great sites for flower delivery.. a quick search for local florists on Google should bring some great results.. we found the average bouquet of flowers costs around £25.00, which we think is great value!

Watch this space for our recommended list of flower delivery companies!

Hi-tech objects must be carefully selected, because these are rarely offered as gifts and you need to know exactly what and for whom to buy…