The Green Familia » Gifts

Spa Christmas Gifts from Macdonald Hotels & Resorts

Jo — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:00:46 +0000

Are you still wondering what to get your loved one for Christmas, or maybe you need to send something to a relative who lives too far away to pop around and drop a gift into. TGF has the answer. Macdonald Hotels & Resortshave launched their Health & Beauty Gift Vouchers ‘Spa Collection’, which can be redeemed at any of their 24 spa hotels nationwide.

Starting from £25 you can choose from treatments and experiences featured on their extensive spa menu. If you know of someone who needs a bit of pampering then this could be a great way to kick start 2012 for them.

For a more personal touch, Macdonald is also offering a selection of Spa Gift Voucher Experiences starting from £30 at selected hotels in the UK such as the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa, Falkirk where for £40 you can treat someone to A Decleor Aromaplasty Facial – a totally luxurious 60 minute experience which incorporates a deep cleanse, followed by a facial massage using natural essential oils .

Or you could choose one of their luxurious Christmas Gift packages such as the Winter Wonderland and Champagne Voucher, available from the Macdonald Forest Hills Hotel & Spa, that includes a full spa day with a 1hr 30minute treatment, a healthy two course lunch and a complimentary Decleor Gift Box worth £40. Just £200 for two people

Vouchers are available to purchase from now until 25 December 2011 and are valid for six months.

If you are looking for that present for someone who has everything, or just want to refresh and revitalise yourself after a frantic holiday season that has been spent running around after the family, check out Macdonald Hotels & Resorts where there are a whole host of exclusive Christmas and New Year offers available. To find out more visit the Macdonald’s website.

Valentine Gift Ideas For Him

Hannah B — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Women usually find purchasing gifts for their loved ones very difficult for Valentine’s Day as it is almost impossible to know what a man desires other than the stereotypical pair of slippers, underwear or a dressing gown. If you want to treat your loved one to something unique and personal this year for Valentine’s Day then take a look at some of the ideas TGF have selected that will bring a smile to your man’s face:

The Amore Gourmet Chocolate Pizza – Instead of giving your loved one a typical box of chocolates why not try something different instead and give this delicious chocolate pizza as a Valentine’s gift. The pizza base is made from Belgian milk chocolate with toppings such as red rainbow drops, milk and white chocolate coated honeycomb balls, mouth-watering chocolate curls and finished off with two white and milk chocolate handmade hearts placed in the centre. Costing only £12.95 this is a unique gift that both you and your loved one can enjoy! Click here for details on how to order this product.
Eco Flying Lanterns – Flying lanterns have been traditionally used by the Chinese for nearly two thousand years and are now available for you and your loved one to enjoy. It is said that if you write a wish on the lantern that as it soars into the sky your wish will come true. This lantern is special as unlike many flying lanterns on the market it contains no metal parts, so it is completely bio degradable. This pack contains 5 lanterns for your enjoyment. These are a quieter, gentler alternative to fireworks, and are a perfect way to create an amazing visual display in the sky to make your Valentine’s Day that bit more special! Available for just £14.99, click here for more details.
Grow Your Own Tea and Coffee -It is a fact that couples love snuggling together whilst drinking a nice hot cup of tea or coffee so to bring a bit of added excitement to this experience why not try and grow your own? The process is very simple with everything you need being inside the gift box including starter growing plants, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. Your partner will love this unique gift and become a fan of growing their very own tea and coffee just for you! Available now for the price of £12.99, click here for more details.
The Big Red Heart Photo Frame -The Big Red Heart Photo Frame makes a wonderful and romantic gift for a loved one and is the perfect way of capturing a special moment between you and your special someone. This photo frame can be free standing or hung on a wall. Costing only £14.95 this gift is a perfect way of illustrating your love, click here for more details.
Personalized Purple Ronnie Brilliant Boyfriend Mug - This personalized coffee mug is perfect for your man this Valentine’s Day. You can personalize the coffee mug with your loved ones name on the front for that extra special touch. Just imagine this hilarious gift on his desk at work or maybe you want to swap his old chipped coffee stained mug for something better! Purple Ronnie are renowned for their hilarious and slightly naughty gifts, costing only £12.99 make your loved ones day with a Brilliant Boyfriend Mug!

Tree2MyDoor Special Offers

Brenda — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:00:37 +0000

At TGF we really like the company Tree2MyDoor. They offer a great alternative idea of gift giving. Here are some of their special January offers, which are valid until the 28th January 2011, so be quick!

They are getting ready for the annual Tree2mydoor valentines poetry competition. 1st prize wins £100 in Tree2mydoor vouchers.

Get an exclusive 10% discount for being a TGF reader on their 3 top selling fruit trees.

Queen Cox Apple: Discount code: ‘GFCA10′

Stella Cherry Tree: Discount code: ‘GFSC10′

Victoria Plum Tree: Discount code: ‘GFVP10′

Top 5 Gift Ideas from Big Green Smile in December

Brenda — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:00:31 +0000

Here are 5 great gift ideas from Big Green Smile this December.

1001 Ways you can save the planet by Joanna Yarrow, price is £7.99.
Bird Nest Box, price is £18.
Glow Brick in Blue from Suck Design, price is £15.95.
Cath Kidston Rose Guest Soap Collection, price is £10.
Water Powered Calculator, price is £7.25.

If you have tried any of these gift ideas, leave a comment below and tell us your thoughts on them.

3 Hot Products from The Organic Toy Company

Brenda — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:00:14 +0000

One of my favourite companies is The Organic Toy Company. They stock a lovely selection of natural gifts and the owner Natalie has to be one of the nicest people on this planet. She offers a very high level of customer service and is always on hand to answer your questions if you are stuck for a gift suggestion. Here are 3 hot products from The Organic Toy Company.

Organic Monkey’s Cheeky Monkey organic cheek rub teething relief oil £7.50 – This ethical and environmentally-friendly organic and Fairtrade cheek rub will help to relieve teething pain in babies without the use of any medicated treatments.

Nature’s Purest Sleepy Safari Organic Activity Bricks Set – £25.00 – These exquisite activity bricks are made with undyed brown, green and white organic cotton fabrics. Different faces of the bricks feature appliquéd designs including the Sleepy Safari lion, giraffe and elephant’s faces and knotted tails. A beautiful and extra-special organic gift, suitable from birth.

Steiff organic Hoppel bunny rabbit 28cm £32.50 – Steiff are world-renowned for their prestigious teddy bears and much loved soft toys, which often become treasured family heirlooms. With increased demand for organic toys, Steiff recently launched their own organic range which includes this lovely bunny, available in pink or blue, in a choice of two sizes and with a musical version too (all suitable from birth). These are the larger, non-musical versions of Steiff’s organic bunny.

Guest Post: Take Advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the UK

Brenda — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Save money, effort and the environment with some smart shopping

The Friday after American Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year. It’s the official start to the holiday shopping season, when shoppers can tick off their Christmas lists and retailers are catapulted “into the black” with quick profits. But is there any place for eco-conscious shoppers amidst all of this excess and consumerism?

As the green lifestyle continues to gain a following, more stores have been able to jump into the game with affordable pricing on products that will satisfy your conscience. And while Black Friday may be the stand-alone American holiday for huge savings, the deals don’t stop at the border. Learn where to look and how to shop for deals on your favorite green products.

How UK Shoppers can Get in on the Savings

With the advent of online shopping, international customers have begun to take advantage of the enormous deals that are offered by many American retailers. One great aspect to online shopping is the energy, time and environmental impact you can save – any eco-conscious family will agree that efficient home shopping wins over hours of driving around town. You’ll be happy to learn that some stores will advertise their deals online in the weeks prior to the sale, so you’ll have some time to research and plan your purchases.

One thing to keep in mind is that some online deals will only apply on Thanksgiving Day and will only be shipped within the United States. For UK shoppers, what has come to be known as Cyber Monday may be your best bet for good deals. Most online stores will extend Cyber Monday deals from the Monday following American Thanksgiving weekend to the first Monday in December, and many web-based retailers are happy to ship internationally. In any case, look onto retailers that have a firm online presence and a variety of green products: sites like Amazon.com will not only advertise enticing deals, but you can also find reviews of the products before you buy them.

Stay Green and Save Money

Once you begin to spot major deals, it’s easy to get caught up in the frantic accumulation of luxury items. Try to resist the semi-conscious mouse-clicking that leads to a virtual cart full of popular products – one major key to a green lifestyle is to consume carefully, and Black Friday is no exception. Think about what you need, what is unnecessary and which is the most eco-friendly model to choose while you check out Black Friday ads.

Before you order from an online retailer, consider their shipping practices. Sending parcels across the world can leave a big carbon footprint, so look for companies that carbon offset. Some companies insist on green manufacturing and selling practices: Gaiam is a good place to start for deals on fitness and wellness products, or check out Nimli for green clothing that comes with carbon neutral shipping. As for big box stores, look for products made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood or electronics that bear the ENERGY STAR seal to ensure you are making an eco-friendly purchase.

Deliah Abraham is a Black Friday buying guru. She has perfected the art of budgeting year round and staving off large purchases, such as appliances and furniture, until she can be certain that she is getting the very best deal available.

Handmade crafts on Etsy.com

Shane — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:00:22 +0000

Christmas shopping is gearing up and now is the time to start the search for the perfect Christmas gifts. Personally, I love Etsy.com for homemade, quality gifts. This website has everything from jewelry to baby quilts and shoes. If it can be made by hand, then they sell it. Etsy.com is made up of individual artisans across the world who come together in an online market setting. Each person runs their own “booth”. To be listed on Etsy.com items have to be made by hand, vintage (more than 20 years old) or are materials that can be used to craft. Also, when I say that people all over the world participate, I mean it. There are crafters from the middle east, Australia, Europe, America…you get the picture. There are some artists that offer organic or reclaimed material based products as well.

Pictured here are a pair of house shoes I recently found on Etsy.com for my daughter (and they were only $14). They are well made and I know we will not see 10 other babies with the same shoes when she wears them.

Another reason I love this site is that it allows you to choose how you want to shop. You can choose to shop local artists (big “green” points there), by a specific item search, by color…the list goes on and on. If you want to sell items you made, it is easy to do that as well.

Top 8 Gift Ideas from Folksy

Brenda — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:00:06 +0000

Here are our top 10 gift ideas from Folksy, the place where handmade shines.

Knitted Watch from Little Peche, only £18.
Little White Rabbit Sock Bunny from Widget and Friends, only £12.
Altered Vintage Pocket Watch from Zuzu’s Petals Altered Art ‘n’ Stuff, only £25.
Hot as Hell Fire Scarf from Mrs Bee, only £14.99.
Hand Knitted Adult Beanie Hat from The Kittens Mittens, only £12.99.
Black MP3 Holder from The Sequinned Sheep, only £10.
Extra Long Naturally Dyed Purple Silk Scarf from Lissi, only £27.50.
Shimmering Black & Gold Cape from The Crafty Bride, only £20.

If you have any recent finds from Folksy please share them with us.

Christmas Gifts from The Knitted Cafe and Cody Street

Jo — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:00:04 +0000

The shops are starting to fill up with Christmas gifts, and it is hard to get into the Christmas spirit when shopping on-line, but have a browse through The Knitted Café and then pop along to Cody Street for a shopping experience that will load you up with festive atmosphere but without the frenzy found on the High Street. So get your lists out, check them twice, and tick off all those Christmas essentials. The Knitted Café is full of unusual items that will make choosing presents an easy task. Get organised and buy your Christmas cards now. There are some really beautiful and humorous illustrated watercolour packs of cards by artist Emma Ball, and some gorgeous appliquéd and embroidered sacks and stockings to hang up ready for Santa that will be passed down the family from child to child for generations.

For a gift that will entrance the adults as much as the children have a look at the soft and squashy fabric Noah’s Ark. It will give toddlers hours of fun whilst teaching them about matching pairs. The colourful ark has storage pockets and a handle – all ready to set sail with Noah and pairs of lions, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles, cows, ducks, hippos, rabbits and zebra. A fold down door on the side allows animals to enter two-by-two and Noah lives in his cabin in the roof of the Ark.

For the bookworm in your life the Original Book Jacket in soft brown leather or suede would be the perfect present. It is ideal for those moments when you would prefer to keep what you are reading a secret – think Harry Potter in the rush hour – and it is easily adjustable to fit the most popular paperback and hardback book sizes. It fits neatly over the top of the book’s own cover and the tuck-in flaps adjust to fit the book size. Easy to remove and swop to another book.

The Christmas Store at Cody Street is now open and full to the brim with gifts to choose for all the family, along with a few special treats that will add that individual touch and a smile on the faces of those who are receiving them. Have a look at the stocking stuffers and you are sure to fall in love with the cute Rag Dolls. Hand made in the UK using new, vintage fabrics and safety stuffing, each one comes with her own Adoption Certificate.

Liven up party time and offer your guests a wine tasting challenge with a set of 10 black canvas bottle bags numbered 1-10. Just slip the bag over the bottles and ask your guests to identify the wine! Finally, at the top of my personal list would be the pruning gloves that are made in the UK and come in a choice of four colours (I like the pink!). These are both practical and stylish and have an extra long cuff for protection. Christmas might seem a long way off, but you can feel smugly satisfied knowing that you have started your shopping early!

Top 3 Gift Ideas from Little Green Earthlets

Brenda — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:00:16 +0000

Below you will find our top 3 gift ideas from eco kiddie store Little Green Earthlets.

Pull Along Noah’s Activity Ark – suitable for infants from 6 months, price is £19.94.
Safari Friends Cot Blanket - available in either pink or blue, price is £21.
Toddler Rainbow Puzzle – choose from a selection of 9 different puzzle styles, price is £9.95.

Let us know your favourites by leaving a comment below.