Gift 1:  Green and Black’s Chocolate Making

OK, we use any excuse, but Christmas does mean chocolate. This year, why not give the box of Celebrations a break and treat her to the ultimate in chocolate making. Working with the finest Green and Blacks chocolate, she’ll learn how to create delicious chocolate recipes, and she’ll get to take her creations home. This experience is also available for two so you can join in the fun!

Gift 2: Bannatyne Spa Day

If she doesn’t have a sweet tooth, how about treating her to a day of relaxation at a Bannatyne spa?  Everyone deserves a day of pampering, and the massage therapists and beauty specialists at Bannatyne are the very best at what they do. The package includes a facial and a manicure, plus as a two for one offer she can bring a friend along. Or you, if you ask nicely.

Gift 3: Next Top Model Makeover and Photoshoot for TWO

Let her look and feel phenomenal with this great makeover and photoshoot package. This half-day experience includes a moisturising treatment, a professional make-up application, dry-hair styling, and finally the professional photo-shoot! She’ll get to bring along the outfits she wants to be photographed in, and take away a complimentary 5×7 print to remember the experience.

Gift 4: Tea Tasting and Blending

If you’ve seen her get bored with the same old tea bags, we suggest that you treat her to a tea tasting and blending experience with the master of the tealeaf Alex Probyn. She’ll learn about the history of tea, what goes into creating a great cuppa, and she’ll have the chance to create her very own blend, which will be packaged and delivered to her.

Gift 5: Thrill Flight

If she’s looking for something with a bit more adrenaline involved, we recommend this helicopter thrill flight. With a choice of six locations, she’ll be whisked up into the air to marvel at the stunning surrounding landscape! If she’s never been in a helicopter before this 150mph experience is the perfect introduction.

As chocoholics know, Green & Blacks are the creators of some of the finest chocolate ever to grace the inside of a wrapper. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of chocolatey goodness, you know that you know someone who is. Here at Tellallmyfriends we’ve got a fantastic 15% discount offer on their wonderful Indulgent Chocolate Making Workshop where you can learn the tricks of the trade for yourself.

Whether you’re serious about creating a wonder of dark chocolate, or whether you’re looking to make a more playful concoction than the usual chocolate cake, there’s something for all fans of the cocoa bean who’s looking to learn how to make chocolate as well as expanding their repertoire. There’s an array of the finer things available to use as ingredients in your chocolate dessert, with everything from cardommom and chilli to marshmallows and praline laid out for use in your creation. And let’s not forget the finest Green & Blacks chocolate! You’ll learn about the fascinating history of chocolate as you create your own recipes, and at the end of the day you’ll have over twenty of your own chocolate inventions to take home.

The Green & Blacks Indulgent Chocolate Making Workshop is the perfect gift for anyone who’s got a sweet tooth and is interested in putting their culinary skills to the test to create their ultimate chocolate delicacy! Looking for a recipe for chocolate? Look no further! There’s also a Green & Blacks Chocolate Making Workshop for Two if you’d like take a special someone along. If you think that this an experience you’d like to get someone but are feeling a bit concerned about the price, don’t forget our fantastic group gifting app! With Grant My Wish you and your friends can club together to make sure that you get the gift you really want to give, rather than the gift you have to settle for.

We’re very excited here at Tellallmyfriends about this new initiative we’ve got going. It won’t be long until people start telling you “’tis the season”, and in that spirit we’re giving you the gift of group gift giving. In these hard times of economic uncertainty we’re all watching what we spend but we still want to give our friends and family something to show that we care. That’s where our group gifting comes in.

Now, you and your friends can each chip in however much you want to towards an experience day for that special someone. You can see how much your friends have already contributed to the gift. Best of all, we have a group gifting app called Grant My Wish for your iPhone or Android system so you can keep tabs on your friends’ gifts and gifting on the go. There are over 1000 gifts to choose from, so let’s give you a few examples of great group gift ideas.

PAMPERING

We all know someone who deserves to be pampered. Now with group gifting it’s so easy for you and your friends to chip in and get that special someone a day of luxurious treatment.

The 5 Star Pamper Day at London’s Bentley Waldorf Astoria is currently 25% off and offers spa treatments and massages. You’ll receive three wonderful spa treatments, starting with a mini back massage, followed by a luxurious facial treatment, before finishing with an intensive foot massage. These treatments will relieve tension and revitalise body and soul.

Alternatively there’s the Marriott Pamper Day, which we’re currently offering as a 2 for 1 deal. You and your friend will each be able to choose a treatment: a smart mini-manicure, a refreshing facial, or a back, neck, and shoulder massage. You’ll also be given access to the wonderful facilities for the day, as well as a 10% discount on any of the products. With 17 locations, everyone can enjoy this relaxing and restoring treat.

Or, there’s the Bannatyne Spa Day which currently is on a fantastic 2 for 1 offer! You’ll get a range of fantastic beauty treatments at this day spa for two experience that’s available in 29 locations, and includes an Elemis Pick Me Up Facial and a Leighton Denny On the Move Manicure. This experience is perfect for those who are looking to open a little window of luxury time in their busy schedule.

Whoever you’re looking to get a treat for, there’s plenty of great pampering experiences to choose from!

Makeovers and Photoshoots
Have you ever wanted to feel what it’s like to get made-up and photographed like a professional model? Fulfilling that wish is just a click away – Tellallmyfriends has dozens of makeover photo shoot packages to choose from for you, for him, even for baby! Maybe you’d like to send your man for a once-over and a stylish photo shoot, or treat your mum to a surprise glamour photo shoot – these packages will make you look and feel fabulous, and at an incredible price.

Makeovers and Photo Shoots for Her

Girls, if you want to look fantastic for a special night out, or you want to treat yourself and some friends to an afternoon of getting pampered and dressing up, check out over twenty different photo shoot and makeover packages ranging from £15 to £250. If you want to bring a friend along, try out the Next Top Model Makeover and Photo Shoot for Two. You’ll spend the morning getting pampered and having your hair and makeup done by professional artists. You bring along up to four changes of outfits and let the photographers do the rest! You’ll come out of it looking fabulous, and with a complimentary 5×7 print, as well as your digital images.

If that doesn’t quite do it for you, then why not go for the Ultimate Diva Makeover and Photo Shoot? This is the ultimate styling and pampering session. You’ll start out with a consultation with a professional artist who will work with you to decide what kind of look you want to achieve. Then you’ll be handed over to professional makeup artists, stylists and photographers to have your hair cut and makeup done in the style you’ve chosen. After this you’ll be photographed in a professional photo shoot, and come away with five stunning prints from the day.

Makeovers and Photo Shoots for Him

Makeovers aren’t just for the girls! Sometimes guys need a bit of pampering too, and Tellallmyfriends has just the thing for it. These exclusive men’s makeover and photo shoot packages are designed to bring out a man’s best features, and show him how he can look his best. The days typically start out with a consultation from a professional stylist, who will then hand you over to professional beauticians and hair stylists and a makeup artist who will apply subtle makeup for the photo shoot.
You’ll be given loads of tips on how to always look your best, and how to tame that hair. The session ends with a viewing of the photo shoot and a complimentary A4 print.

Family Photo Shoots

If what you really want is a collection of stylish, professionally done photos of you, your newborn baby or your loved ones then there are loads of Dad and Baby photo shoots, photo shoots for mum and family makeover and photo shoot deals. Keep a look out for special offers!

Everybody needs a little love and attention… and what better way to spoil someone special than with a personalised spa package? Lie back and relax as the experts work their magic and you’ll soon feel completely rejuvenated and revitalised!

Check out this video to see more:

There’s no better pamper treat than a personalised package that’s just up your street! Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, and those guys and gals who aren’t a part of the world cup madness!

Welcome back to meeee! I’ve been away enjoying the sun, the sand and the sea in sunny Cardiff, thank you all for your lovely messages while I was away! I’m very pleased to be back though, and I’m full of fantastic ideas for you to enjoy!

Today’s ideal gift experience is for everyone who needs a holiday from being back at work: the perfect Aromatherapy Massage package! Tantalise your senses with a sensational aromatherapy indulgence and relieve all your work-related stresses (it does seem awful just after a holiday, doesn’t it?) and feel completely rejuvenated and revitalised with a ’second wind’! Aromatherapy has a very long (and successful!) history and offers fantastic, effective solutions to modern-day ailments. Lavender soothes the soal, orange and bergamot renews your energy, and tea tree invigorates your skin with renewed refreshment… And what better way to take advantage of these age-old remedies than with a stunning two-hour massage? Mmmmm! And best of all, these natural remedies are all organic!

Enjoy! x Stacey

Gooooood morning! I hope that you all had a fabulous weekend and enjoyed the (mostly) summery days! I found something spectacular online this weekend and I simply had to share it with you before getting down to work…

THIS classic makeover for two has been slashed by a massive 80% (on re-reading that it makes me sound like a salesperson! hahaha) and is now only £10.00. Yep, that’s £10.00 for TWO! I had to re-read the fine print a hundred times but it’s true. And the best part of it all is that you will each get a free print to take home with you (the print alone is valued at over £40.00, so this is more than worth it!). Just think about it: if you’re looking for the perfect gift for girls then you just can’t go wrong when you spoil them with a day full of pampering, attention and make-overs before sending them off into a professional photography studio for their close-up!

Spoil your best friend, your girl friend or even your mum and take advantage of this limited offer that is guaranteed to be fully booked out in no time! (I know, I’ve even booked myself in again with my sister! And I’ve got one for her two daughers as well, can’t wait!).

I went out for dinner last night with a girl from work and we spent hours and hours talking about everything under the sun! It was such a treat to make new friends who have such excellent taste (and who are heaps of fun as well!) so I owe today’s post entirely to my new friend and colleague Janet.

So what has dear Janet inspired me to write about? Her hen party! You see, she’s getting married next week and her best friend threw her the Hen Party to end all Hen Parties. It sounded like such a blast, I can’t believe I missed it! The bride’s maid got everyone together for a crazy dance-a-thon that was entirely FAME themed! Can you imagine?? Hundreds of people took to the streets all dressed up in their finest FAME gear and dance, dance, danced the day away! The girls are all perfectly coordinated and they are definitely going to “bust a move” on the big wedding day! They even got to be in a video:

How much fun! I’ve always wanted to learn how to do that Thriller dance…

Good Monday Morning to you all out there! What a lovely weekend I’ve had! I’m as pleased as the cat who has just managed to get the bowl of (clotted) cream.

As you can guess, I just had the most magical Afternoon Tea at the County Hall Marriott. It took me a little while to get into the building (I was following Google Maps and it led me to the aquarium instead!) but once I did find it, it was literally like walking into a fairy tale palace! The architecture has that old-world resonance (which is no surprise considering that the first foundation stone was laid in 1912 by King George V!) You walk through this amazing arch way and then you get to the entrance hall where you are greeted by a delightfully friendly porter who will point you in the right direction. The interior is all deep red and brown, and very lush. You can’t help but feel like you could be enjoying the company of royals and dignitaries!

The afternoon tea was really a spectacular affair and the staff were brilliantly helpful. You really admire them all dressed up in their perfect uniforms, serving tea and scones like they’re straight out of the Regency period! But here I am getting carried away with the look of the place when I should be talking about the amazing scones, the delicious tarts, cakes and mousse and not to mention the spectacular sandwiches! And to top it all off, their Darjeeling tea was simply scrumptious. I can’t recommend this enough.

I went with a friend of mine who probably would have rather been watching the football, but we had an amazing time catching up and discussing his new job and gossiping about old friends But perhaps the thing that struck me the most was that there were so many tables full of ladies … it was like all the girls got together to chat over the most delicious treats in London! This is a fantastic treat to share with someone special and an even better adventure to share with your best girlfriends! If you really want to spoil them, treat them all to  a divine day out at the Marriott. If, like me, you meet up with your girlfriends once a week to catch up, why not schedule your weekly tea in this amazing location and make the most of it? This special deal is four couples or ‘groups’ of two so that you can get the best deal.

Found your blog yesterday while I was searching for a fun activity to do … it’s really quite good! I love it that you put pictures up every day! Maybe you can help me too: I’m looking for something that I can do that’s fun but that’s also a bit of a work out. I hate the idea of running on a treadmill and not going anywhere – I’d rather just do something outdoors and get a bit of exercise while I’m at it. Please help, summer is on it’s way and I’m still feeling the winter blues! Thank you!

Dave

Hi Dave,

I know exactly what you mean! the gym is an excellent way to burn off winter calories and that ‘extra padding’ that we all seem to acquire when it gets cold outside! But I completely agree with you: it’s very difficult to drag yourself to the gym when you’d much rather be outside and enjoying the rare bit of sun that’s coming our way recently. So what’s the solution?

Luckily for people like you and me there are a hundred different fun activities out there that can provide us with the motivation we need to get going! My personal recommendation for the summer has got to be kayaking. Take to the waters with a cool, calm, rhythmic motion and experience the great outdoors from a spectacular perspective! You can choose what kind of kayaking routes you’d be interested in (I’m more of a flat-water kind of girl, but you might enjoy rapids, adventure routes, or even kayaking tours where you’d go out in groups for weekend activities) but whatever you choose, you’ll get a great workout! Kayaking doesn’t only work your arms as you might imagine: it’s also an excellent back, shoulder and ab workout that will keep you looking in tip-top shape for the summer! Keep your core balanced and your body toned without ever hitting the gym!

Okay, now for the most important bit: how much is it going to cost you? Well that depends: are you going to spend a few hundred pounds and get your own kayak and kit? If, like me, you like to try out a whole range of things and you’re keen to see if you’re interested first, why not go for a two-hour taster session? That will give you plenty of time to get used to the sport and enjoy some of the scenery! And the best thing about that is it really isn’t going to break your bank either: at only £39 it’s quite reasonable! And a whole lot better than my local (noisy) gym!

I hope you have a great time out on the water Dave, let me know how it goes!

Stacey