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’m such a sucker for good deals. I can’t help myself. I mean, why would I not take advantage of 2 for 1 deals?! It means I get to maintain my (expensive) social life and ‘me time’ and I get to take a friend along for absolutely no additional cost. And that means that she can take me next week with her too! It’s definitely a win-win situation here!! And I know we’d be super thrilled if we got it as a gift… so I thought I’d take some time to collate a few deals for your browsing pleasure, dear sirs, so that you can give the special girl in your life the perfect gift that she can enjoy with her best friend (or, in fact, with you!).

(1) 2 for 1 pampering at the luxurious Hillmotts Retreat. The Hillmotts is rather charming day spa located within 2000 acres of picturesque valley and farmlands. You walk through the natural location into a sophisticated and elegant day spa area and get pampered like a princess (or a prince) by some of the finest professionals in the business.

(2) 2 for 1 Marriott pamper day. The Marriotts are famous all around the world for being the most highly sought-after destinations in the leisure industry. They offer stellar accommodation and super facilities, and their pamper days are super indulgent too! If you’ve never had an opportunity to enjoy Marriott facilities before, this is the perfect chance to see what kind of facilities and service get the Marriott seal of approval.

(3) Marriott Leisure Day Pass. This one is also for the Marriotts and is valid for two people. You both get to use the top-rate facilities on-site (and some Marriotts even have saunas and jacuzzis) for the whole day. This is a nice deal for couples.

And that’s it! There are loads of other deals so I’ll post some up tomorrow for you all to enjoy (and spoil someone special this week!). Have a great day!

Guys, trust me. If you’re looking to spoil a special lady in your life then there are two very powerful, very emotive and very convincing words that I need to share with you. Now listen carefully and take notes. Are you ready?

Afternoon Tea.

With brownies, scones, cake slices, sandwiches and don’t forget the clotted cream! Yumma! I know I promised to try and write posts about adrenaline adventures and sporting activities this week but I’m afraid the wintery traditions haven’t quite left! And this is all brought on by a delicious e-mail somebody special sent me inviting me to afternoon tea for two! I simply can’t wait!

The only down-side to our booking is that it is rather late in the afternoon, but that’s down to us booking two days before at one of the top destinations around! London County Hall Marriott, here I come! It shall just have to be a very late lunch (or an early dinner). Either way, I’m not complaining! And while I’m nattering away – have you seen the County Hall Marriott? It’s like a palace! I could get used to that kind of treatment.

I’m really looking forward to this! It’s going to be so indulgent that I’ll definitely have to hop into a kayak (read yesterday’s post to see what I’m talking about) and have a good row! So, guys out there, loyal readers and stumble-uponers, treat the special person in your life to an afternoon tea for two and set the mood for an indulgent bonding moment with luxuriously decadent tastes and treats. You’ll never look back.

Yes I agree, our health is of the utmost importance! And it’s good that you mention this at Easter too – everyone is going to be tripping over each other to find the perfect Easter eggs when they could be treating each other with healthy activities that are fun too! There are loads of fun Easter activities that you could enjoy like Sphereing or Zorbing, and there are some healthy food options as well. Here are some of my favourite classes that you might share with a loved one for the perfect Easter gift that is pro healthy living:

Keith Burke’s MARKET FRESH cookery course is a fabulous introduction to healthy eating. You are guided around one of London’s finest fresh produce market to purchase lovely fresh ingredients before heading on to Keith Burke’s (Michelin Star Chef!) kitchen to learn how to prepare them. This is a great cooking course for couples – - I hear that it is heaps of fun!

Another cooking course you might consider is the quick and easy “cook, eat and run” course which is taking the nation by storm. This incredibly popular course is ideal for those of you who don’t have much time to spend enjoying the culinary arts but would like to give it a go anyway… you learn quick and easy recipes that you can cook up in half an hour, and then you sit down with your classmates and enjoy your cooked meal together afterwards. The recipes are delicious and the class has a very friendly atmosphere. Have a quick look at this video to see what I mean:

And finally, my personal favourite is the THAI COOKERY course, also hosted by Keith Burke. If you love Thai food (and I DO!) then you’ll love this course! Keith is friendly and encouraging, the kitchen facilities are superb and the people are all so nice! I had a brilliant time there, I can’t wait to go back! And best of all my new Thai Green Curry recipe is a hit at all of our dinner parties! This is a must do this Easter.

Good luck with finding the perfect Easter Gift, and I hope that you manage to achieve those six-pack abs you mentioned!

x Stacey