Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2013

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Tested & Recommended

Published on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 10:38

Last Updated on 02 March 2013

Monica Costa

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In this Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2013 you will find original gifts tried and tested by London Mums.

The Vango Stone 10 in vibrant hot pink colour must be the best value-for-money backpack I have come across in years. At RRP £15 it is a bargain. Its quality is amazing and a fashionable rucksack of this kind would normally cost £40. It is ideal for everyday use and is well suited for the commute to work or the gym. Special features include A4 folder compatibility, reflective tabs, internal key clip, a grab handle, AirForce Back. Available at Sports Direct stores. You will impress your mum or girlfriend with this practical but yet trendy gift!

Facial Spa

Get your mum the gift of free pampering in the comfort of her home 365 days per year with this simple to use device. I absolutely love it because it makes me look younger without having to spend lots of money at the beauty salon.

The Facial Spa leaves your skin feeling soft and supple by helping stimulate blood circulation. By bringing extra oxygen and nutrients to your skin’s surface it opens your pores for a deeper cleansing experience. With an adjustable steam control and an angled soft-touch mask , the Facial Spa is easy and convenient to use. Available from Argos and Amazon at RRP £19.99 www.homedics.co.uk

SLEEK AND CHIC AC DRYER

How often does you mum treat herself to a professional blow-dry? The likelihood is not very often but with the Sleek & Chic AC Dryer, a professional blow-dry doesn’t need to be reserved for special occasions. With an AC professional motor, 2000-watt airflow and ionic ceramic technology, not only do you get a dryer that does the job fast, but one designed to give a beautifully high shine finish while it works. The tourmaline technology with two speed/three heat setting options and extra-long concentrator nozzle will give precision drying, allowing the high performance airflow to reduce static build up and see off frizz for sleek results that last. Designed to give salon results whenever you use it, this dryer doesn’t just look good, it’s made to perform and guaranteed to last. RRP: £44.94

The Bump Gift Pack by Mum&Me

The RRP £15.99 pack includes a Smooth & Glow Pregnancy Shampoo containing Almond Oil and Pro Vitamin B5, a Soothe & Nourish Body Lotion with a blend of Avocado, Almond & Grapeseed oils, a Relax & Unwind Bath Soak containing Camomile and a Relax & Unwind Sleep Mist with Lavender and Camomile. The natural ingredients included in these products are a great choice during the cold chilly months when your skin can be extra prone to damage. The case itself looks stunning and will be highly appreciated.

Forever – the Aloe Vera Company

25th Edition is the perfect Mother’s Day gift for any mum (of any age)

A great perfume for women, a bit of an alternative choice from the usual high street glam perfumes but certainly a very healthy one. You can buy it directly from www.forevershopnow.com shop. From the same shop you can get an amazing gift set Aroma Spa Collection including a three piece collection of new Aromatherapy Spa products (Relaxation Bath Salts, Relaxation Shower Gel and Relaxation Massage Lotion).

CALL THE MIDWIFE – THE ALBUM (Released on 18 February 2013)

CALL THE MIDWIFE, with average first series ratings of 10.6 million, made it the most successful new drama series on BBC One for many years. A period piece set in East London in the 1950s, and based on the best-selling memoirs of Jennifer Worth, the series follows newly qualified midwife Jenny Lee (Jessica Raine) and the work of the midwives and the nuns of Nonnatus House, a nursing convent. Amongst others, the series also stars Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris, Miranda Hart, Judy Parfitt and Laura Main.

Fans of the hit BBC One TV series Call The Midwife are in for a real treat with the CD release of the official soundtrack to the series from the Demon Music Group. Released to co-incide with the launch of the second TV series, and in time for Mother’s Day 2013, CALL THE MIDWIFE – THE ALBUM gives the listener the chance to relive their favourite moments from the series, including many popular classic songs from the likes of Doris Day (Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be), Everybody Loves a Lover), Dean Martin (Memories Are Made Of This), Malcolm Vaughan (My Special Angel), Petula Clark (Baby Lover) Perry Como (Catch A Falling Star. Magic Moments, Hot Diggitty (Dog Ziggity Boom, (I Wonder Why) You’re Just in Love), Elvis Presley (Blue Moon), Andy Williams (Walk Hand in Hand), The Chordettes (Lollipop), Mitzi Gaynor (I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair) as well as original cast recordings from The Nuns featuring Sister Bernadette played by Laura Main, herself a trained soprano.

THE SAPPHIRES DVD (out on 4th March 2013)

A DVD is always a great present and what a better gift than a feel-good film. The Sapphires is brilliant and your mum will sing with joy this Mother’s Day thanks to this perfect DVD gift. It’s a great girlie movie you can watch with your girlfriends too.
Based on a true story this fun and feel-good comedy follows the dreams of four soul-sisters struggling to make it big. Read our review and watch the trailer here!

Caroline Gardner virides reed diffuser

Beautiful reed diffuser in the lovely scent of virides, a fresh delicate scent of cut grass, pear and rose with a hint of jasmine which pervades the room and leaves a calming smell which is ideal for a small office environment. The scent diffused through hand cut and dried natural stripped reeds, includes a unique blend of fragrance oils and purified gm free alcohol. The glass vessels used are made in France. The virides diffuser is supplied in a caroline gardner designed diffuser box, with the big daisy print which makes it a unique Mother’s Day gift. RRP £26.00 www.carolinegardner.com

Angela Langford Natural Skin Care

Inspiring female entrepreneur Angela Langford makes her own natural skin care range – handmade in Britain (for a change) that contains no parabens, petrochemicals or synthetic fragrances – all tested on her friends, family and herself but never on animals. This range is really soft on your skin, so it is especially suitable for people with delicate skis. Angela is so confident (with right) that women will love her products that she sends a Sample Pack with detailled instructions to anybody (only one pack per person allowed. Angela carefully selects each ingredients for its unique natural skin care properties – whether it is anti-ageing, rejuvenating, healing, calming, soothing. In addition, she has formulated each product to suit and to treat particular skin types. Well, she deserves a lot of credit and we love to support the ‘Made in Britain’ industry. Get in touch with Angela via www.angelalangford.com.

ACORELLE

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to enhance and affect our moods and now fragrance is being used therapeutically to help create health and wellbeing through the sense of smell. Acorelle delivers an elegant and organic perfume collection that not only smells good but actually improves our mood and state of mind, helping us to feel amazing every day. Uplifting ‘Mood-Boost’ with Acorelle’s enchanting organic perfumes either soothe, energise or balance as well as making mum smell good! Now available at M&S stores.

Salter Orb Mechanical Weighing Scale Hot Pink

This fashionable scale does weigh up to 1 kilogram / 6.5 pounds but is petite and does not take a lot of space. It’s light, easy to use and very accurate. Salter is a reliable brand and we have tested a lot of their products which over time are still in perfect condition. The hot pink colour makes it stand from the crowd of kitche tools.

The East India Company’s Mood Infusions

The delicate new range of herbal infusions from the East India Company has been developed with alternative herbalism expertise and is encased within pyramid bags to ensure the whole ingredients have space to maximise their beneficial properties. The collection includes six infusions, which will perfectly complement you throughout the day, or provide you with the perfect selection to dip in and out of, depending on your mood.
One of our favourite tea is Life Force, with its vibrant Siberian ginseng, ginger, black pepper and liquorice, creates a spicy but sweet blend, a perfectly invigorating pick me up that will start your day off with a zing – particularly good for those looking for a great kick start without the caffeine!

Post-it® Heart Pop-up Dispenser (includes pink Post-it notes), RRP: £8.99

Looking for a Mother’s Day gift that will stick in the mind? Then Post-it® from 3M has it covered with their handy dispensers. Perfect to tell mums you love them, there’s something for even the smallest pocket money budgets. A weighted heart shaped dispenser available in romantic Pink or cool ‘Zebra’ design*… ideal for personalising mum’s workspace on 10th March and beyond!

TAKE YOUR MUM AND FAMILY TO THE ANNA KARENINA COSTUME EXHIBITION AT HAM HOUSE AND GARDEN OPEN UNTIL 4th APRIL 2013 OR GET THE ANNA KARENINA FILM ON BLU-RAY AND DVD

Considered one of the greatest love stories of all time, Joe Wright’s bold and visually audacious screenplay adaption of Anna Karenina was partly shot at the National Trust’s stunning seventeenth century property, Ham House and Garden, in London. The recent Blu-ray™ and DVD release of the Anna Karenina movie features an all-star British cast including Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The National Trust are opening the doors of Ham for a series of exclusive guided tours and an exhibition, showcasing a selection of the iconic costumes featured in the film. It is the ideal day out with the family. Ham House is open for exclusive guided tours of the Anna Karenina Costume Exhibition from 26th January until 7th March (selected days only).

From 9th March until 4th April 2013 (except Fridays), Ham House will open to all visitors for the chance to admire the exhibition unguided. The Anna Karenina Costume Exhibition at Ham House and Garden is free for all National Trust Members; non-members are subject to an entrance fee of £11.00 for adults, £5.50 for children. Anna Karenina is out on Blu-ray and DVD, both with UltraViolet digital copy on 4th February 2013.

TREAT YOUR MOTHER TO A ‘RACY’ DAY OUT FREE!

The annual Paddy Power Imperial Cup on Saturday 9th March is set to be as exciting as ever and this year the day falls the day before Mothering Sunday and Sandown Park is offering you the chance to ‘bring your mother racing for free” (offer includes Grand Military Gold Cup Day) . To redeem this great offer, racegoers need to visit www.sandown.co.uk where a special Mother’s Day code can be redeemed. The free ticket can only claimed on these days and alongside the purchase of either a Premier or Grandstand ticket in advance.