10 useful and thoughtful gift ideas for men

Ok you asked I deliver. I asked on my social media recently did people find gift guides useful and the response was overwhelming positive but there were definitely certain gifts that people found hard to buy for. And men were the number one so I have put together a gift guide, of gifts I have bought for my husband or family before that I know were well received. Anyway I hope you find 

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Fota Wildlife Park Cork – family pass and VIP family experience review

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Last year one of the first big purchases I made with money I earned myself was the yearly pass for Fota Wildlife Park here in Cork. So many of my friends have it and even though its about a half hour drive from the house I just knew it was something we would get a huge amount of use out of. And I was so right, I would estimate we have been about 20 times in the past year and honestly there has never been a time where I have suggested going to Fota and the girls have been anything less than ecstatic. And it’s been a joy to watch Lucy change over the last year going from a ‘baby’ that stayed in the buggy the vast majority of the way round to a little lady that literally walks or runs the whole route now and grows more and more fascinated by the animals every time we visit. And the park has changed loads since we started going, there have been new animals introduced and new babies born so it really is a new experience every time we go. Continue reading

Stocking fillers and Secret Santa gift ideas for everyone in your life

(AD – This post is sponsored by Marks and Spencer) There are some gifts that are easy to buy and there are some that aren’t and honestly I find Secret Santa ones the hardest, you often find yourself having to buy a little gift for someone you may not know that well, maybe it’s the colleague at work you got in Kris Kindle, it could be for someone you just want to thank like the nurse who looked after you in the maternity ward or the childminder. Or is could be your brother in law or your aunt you want to get something nice for but you’re plain out of ideas – that’s why I am here and I have a huge selection 

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Lottie Dolls – realistic, inspiring dolls for young girls

I have long since been a fan of Lottie Dolls. I think the whole ideal behind the brand appeals to me, making dolls for small girls that actually look like small girls. I mean really when you think about it it makes perfect sense, why should a 4 year old be playing with a doll with boobs far larger than her mothers and a waist almost the same size as her mothers!!! I jest but in all seriousness I love the concept of it, it means kids can identify with it and can play games around the idea of kids rather than adults.  Continue reading

Baba Box – quirky gifts for Mums and babies alike

I find with Instagram there are some accounts that you constantly go back to check on because their feed is not just aesthetically pleasing but the content is fantastic too. This I find with Sarah’s Baba Box account and when she kindly offered to send me the February box for a look see I was delighted. Baba Box is a brand that provides both a subscription service and a one off gifting option. The selection of products contained in the boxes Continue reading

Abosca – baby gift boxes and hampers

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10 % Discount code until 20th March 2017 for Abosca.ie is darling10

The one thing about this blog that continues on a daily basis to provide me with such a feeling of content is the people I connect with. They are all facets of myself, Mums to be, Mums on maternity leave, Mums back at work and Mums working for themselves. So I can identify with them all and everyone of them, of you, that makes contact with me makes me smile. Continue reading

Stocking fillers for kids from Irish businesses

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So this is the start of it! I love doing these sort of gift guides as early as possible because it gives busy people plenty of time to get their sh*t together. That said I’m usually the very one that leaves it until the last minute to sort out gifts but sure I love the stress of it all! So like always and like last years gift guides I will lean towards supporting small Irish brands and businesses. First up I want to share some gift ideas for kids, stocking fillers really as I guess most kids get their big gifts from parents or Santa so this is more a stocking filler type guide for parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents, friends etc!  Continue reading

Handmade Irish baby gifts

When Siobhan the lady behind Monaghan based Bonnie & Bumble, and whose Instagram feed I literally drool over, got in touch and sent me this beautiful baby vest for the new arrival I was inspired to go back to some of the basics of this blog. I simply love to support Irish businesses, especially ones that develop from kitchen tables across the country, that are started by talented Mothers working hard to combine the jobs of parenting with creativity to produce unique and beautiful items. Continue reading

Creating memories with personalised gifts

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There are some people that are easy to buy gifts for, like sisters that too love makeup and bags, and then there are those that are a little more difficult, like Great Grandma’s and Grandparents and even yourself. And that is where the idea of personalised gifts come in. In our house we do Kris Kindle but I wanted to get something small for my parents from the girls. We don’t see either sets of grandparents everyday so I thought that something that would remind them of the girls everyday would be nice so that’s when the idea of Photobox came to mind. Being one that enjoys a bit of a giggle I decided to get my parents two of these quirky cups that, on the face of it, are black but when you fill up the cup with hot water it changes so you can see the picture and message underneath.  Continue reading

Luxury Irish Christmas Gifts

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I will preface this post by saying that most of these I haven’t tried (hint hint hubbie!) but you’ll agree that it’s a collection of delights sure to please. I think the thing about luxury and Christmas gifts is that it doesn’t need to be something that you need but rather you can indulge in the ridiculous and treat yourself to something you normally wouldn’t. Continue reading