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…

I want to get my girlfriend out of the house and OUTSIDE to do something awesome! please suggest something that I could get her…

Reza

Hi there Reza!

I think you’re in the market for a summer day activity – my favourite kind!

You should treat your girlfriend to something that she can enjoy with you. That will make it a whole lot easier to break her homely routines. I always say that you should go big or go home and that’s exactly what we’re going to here with a Lovers Leap Bungee Jump! What do you think? You and your lovely lady will leap from a bungee surface over 160ft up in the air. You’ll be strapped together for that real ‘together’ experience [and that's a great way to convince her that it's okay!]. I’ve got to say: I’ve always been terrified of the bungee experience but I’m sure that I’d feel a lot more comfortable if I was doing it with someone I trusted

If you’re looking for something tamer than extreme bungee then you might choose a hovercraft experience or a sphereing activity.

Good luck Reza, and let me know if you need anything else!

x Stacey

Treat your niece to an Easter gift that she’ll adore and make this a holiday to remember! Take advantage of the long weekend and let your niece have the time of her life when you give her an unforgettable experience… much better than the time-old box of chocolates that she was expecting!

I have two beautiful nieces whom I adore, and I can’t think of a better way to give them the world than by treating them at every opportunity I get! I thought I’d share my Easter gift ideas with you so that you can get a head start on your gift shopping…

I’m treating my youngest niece to a kids makeover and photoshoot because she’s such a little diva and she will love the opportunity to dress up and pose in front of the camera! I know that she will especially love being pampered like a princess when she gets her makeover!

The eldest girl was a little trickier to buy for but I’ve decided to get her something a little more ‘grown up’ so I’m getting her something I’ve heard a lot about – hovercrafting! This is supposed to be heaps of fun and I think she’ll really enjoy zooming around a course that’s made up of land and water. She has only recently learned how to drive a car so I’m sure this will diversify her driving experience!!

This is the video that sold me on the experience… I just know she’s going to love it! This is definitely going to be an Easter worth remembering

Hi Stacey, just wanted to ask if you have any gift ideas for anniversaries? It’s my best friend’s 1 year with her boyfriend and I want to get something special that she can enjoy by herself… just as a little treat to say ‘well done’ any ideas??

Bridget.

Dear Bridget,

That is very thoughtful of you! What a nice idea. I know exactly the kind of gift you’re talking about … you want something that feels like a real treat to spoil your friend on her special day, and you want to watch your budget as well. Luckily for you, there are quite a few amazing deals out there that fit that description! Here are two that you might find very useful.

The first thing you might consider would be a day pass to a leisure club. This is such a treat that will give your friend the opportunity to take advantage of top facilities like the gym, the sauna, the swimming pool and the steam room. This is such a luxurious indulgence – just the right way to celebrate her special day!

Another great idea would be to treat her to a fabulous makeover and photoshoot. She’ll get the chance to dress to impress in her favourite outfits and pose in front of a professional photographer! The best part about this activity has got to be that your friend will also be given a makeover … just what she needs to make her feel extra special!

Just have a look at what kind of day awaits your friend on her anniversary:

Isn’t that amazing? She’ll be made to look like a princess before she heads out for her anniversary celebration with her boyfriend.

I hope this inspires you!

x Stacey

My two lovely nieces are perfectly nice but they can be naughty little creatures when they set their mind to it. In fact, they’ve been tearing up the house whenever they come to visit! That’s why this weekend I’m taking them out so that they leave my furniture intact and use up their energy outside!

This is what I have in mind:

Doesn’t it look fabulous? So much fun! They’ll definitely get a kick out of this one and perhaps they’ll learn a thing or two in the process. They could definitely do with 2 – 3 hours of walking around the city! My youngest niece is currently going through an ice-cream phase so I’m sure that she’ll be delighted with the opportunity to sample soft serve from different sightseeing hotspots!

Easter is a time of family bonding and festivities, but that doesn’t meant that you should forget about your friends! On the contrary: it’s a great time to celebrate all of your special relationships that you are grateful for, even those that you share with your best girl friends. I’ve always said that family is family but friends are family too. That’s why I think it’s important that you get together and enjoy some Easter treats with the people that you appreciate most!

You could go the traditional ’sweet things’ route but instead of getting them giant chocolate eggs (that are just going to be put away and enjoyed alone!) you could treat them to a delicious afternoon tea that you can enjoy together. Afternoon tea is really delicious too – the pastries, scones, sandwiches and tea are all a lot better than a few Easter eggs Just look at this scrumptious picture!

If you’re looking for something a bit more exciting a lot more unusual then take two of your best friends with you to experience the thrilling Reverse Bungee Sky-Screamer ride! You’ll be able to experience the force of 5 Gs (which is more than what a fighter pilot would feel when he’s travelling at the speed of sound!) while you’re strapped into a rotating cage. I couldn’t think of anything scarier but I hear that this is a ride of a lifetime!

Finally, you could take your girls out for a fab cupcake class where you’ll all learn how to make some delicious treats with expert tuition. You’ll be guided through various decorating techniques and you’ll be able to take home everything you make. Very yum! This class is really fab and I’m recommending it because I’ve actually done it myself so I know that it’s a great bonding experience for good friends It’s also a really nice blend of Easter treat traditions and modern-day living (giving and receiving cupcakes would be a much nicer idea, don’t you think?).

Have a look at this video and see for yourself:

My dear friend Katie asked me for a little help earlier. It’s her teenage daughter’s birthday and she’s stuck for ideas! Lucy, her daughter, is full of beans and she’s constantly changing her mind about what she’s interested in and what she wants – I guess that’s why she’s a teenager! But it doesn’t make it easy for mum, that’s for sure.

Turning 18 is a big day for any girl… it’s the day she officially enters adulthood. It’s also a day she’s likely to remember for a few years! That’s why it’s so important that you help her have the best day possible! Katie and I have narrowed down the possibilities to three awesome experiences that are ideal for teenage girls.

Because Lucy is having a birthday party at home we thought that it would be appropriate to book her in for a fun makeover and photoshoot on the morning of her big day. That way she can enjoy being pampered like a princess and photographed like a queen before she heads home to get the venue ready and impress her guests with her stunning new look. I know that’s what I would have wanted for my 18th birthday party!

Another thing we thought of getting her (also with the birthday bash in mind) is a choreographed dance lesson for her and her best friends so that they could all break out one of those picture-perfect moments to get the party started. One of my colleagues actually suggested this: she got it for her teenage niece and it worked brilliantly – they were talking about the party for weeks afterwards!

And finally, turning 18 is not only an induction into adulthood, it’s also an introduction to the girly delights that come along with it! That’s why our last item we’re considering is a fabulous spa treatment that will make her feel like a queen on her special day!

These are all such good choices, it’s going to be hard to pick just one! I think that the makeover and photo shoot is definitely at the top of our list though – which girl wouldn’t want professional help to look her best for her big day?

I’m looking for a gift idea for my niece. Can you recommend anything? I’m not really sure what she’s into Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

From Bruce.

Dear Bruce,

Nieces are usually charming little girls that you, as an  uncle, get to spoil rotten! In fact, that’s your job! I’m really excited that you’ve asked for help because I delight in treating my nieces and we always have a fab time together! Here are a few ideas to help you out of your predicament:

Little girls like to dress up. It doesn’t matter whether they’re girly girls or tomboys, every girl will relish the opportunity to get our her mum’s make-up and strike a few poses for the camera. That’s why I always treat my youngest niece to fun activities like make-up lessons and photoshoots. She may only be 10 but she loves to glam it up! Her older sister also gets in on the fun and at 21, she’s a bit of a diva too.

Tomboys are tricky because they’re usually very busy little bodies. But that’s okay, you can delight them with fun adventure activities like sphereing that’ll keep them busy for ages! There are also some really fun driving days that’ll let them drive their favourite cars. Now wait, I can hear you asking out aloud: ‘what?’, but it’s true. They actually do driving days for kids aged 12 to 16 and they get to drive some awesome cars! Everything is done with a trained pro right next to them so it’s quite safe. Nice idea, don’t you think?

Older girls aren’t so bad either: they also like to dress up and have fun, they just like to do it their own way. That’s why I’d recommend a fun group song recording session so that she can take her best buds and they can sing their hearts out! She will also really enjoy a cheeky chocolate workshop or cooking class that’ll teach her how to become a master chef in the kitchen!

Good luck Bruce, I hope this points you in the right direction! Do let me know how it all goes,

x Stacey