What's New For Spring 2015 at YankeeCandle.co.uk? Easter Bunny Scented Candle, Anyone?

YankeeCandle.co.uk is the official store of the world's favourite scented candle brand here in the UK. They sent me this super sweet red rasperberry candle, which smells like melted ice pops, delicious.  

http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/en/uk/red-raspberry/red-raspberry/invt/1323186

The clever little jar lid is Yankee's own official Illumalids. They cast a relaxing shadow on your wall to set a romantic mood. 

http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/en/uk/illumalids/metal-hearts/invt/1331911

There are a few other interesting ranges recently launched. The Grand Bazaar is an exotic, spicy, rich collection with matching opulent accessories. 

There is also some less heavily scented new candles, like this Shea Butter spa candle.

Other fruity scents too. 

See all the new releases at www.YankeeCandle.co.uk

With Easter just around the corner, why not buy a candle rather than an egg for someone this year? Or a little accessory, like this simple perching bird. 

But here's the candle for me. I'll be spoiling myself and getting the largest version of this next week.  

Do You Remember Creamola Foam?

Memories of fizzy mugs of this in the 1980s. The Scottish drink came in powder form in a little tin, and made delicious drinks. You can now buy lots of nostalgic merchandise, but also a reinvented version of the foam at 

https://www.sugarcandymountain.co.uk/57-creamola-foam

http://caledoniamugs.com/creamola_foam.html

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/

http://www.scottishquality.com/Art-Crafts-and-Hobbies/Gillian-Kyle-Designs/237-Creamola-Foam-Coloured-Cotton-Bag.html

Check Out These Super Kitsch Vintage Mother's Day Cards

These plates are pretty cute too. 

There are some interesting, retro, Mother's Day themed adverts online too. 

But this tops it for me, KFC the ultimate Mother's Day gift. 

Cook For Your Mum This Weekend With the M&S £20 Mother's Day Dine In Menu. Is It Cheating If You're Sort of Treating Yourself Too?

Everyone in their right mind loves the Marks & Spencer Two Dine for £10 Menu. You basically buy a bottle of wine and get a free three course meal with it. I even know people stock up when the deal is on and buy multiple variations of that weekend's choices. I might also be including myself in that statement. 

The past two or three years, M&S have put on a special Mother's Day version of the dine in menu. At £20 you choice a roast joint, two large sides, a large sharing dessert and included is a bottle of wine, or non alcoholic alternative, if Mum doesn't like a tipple. 

The full list of options are here http://www.marksandspencer.com/s/food-and-wine/dine-in And I snapped some of my choices in store at their Sprucefield store.

I chose the beef joint, potato cubes, beautiful summer roasting veg and a coconut pudding. Without the £20 deal the total would have been close to £30 so it's a great saving. 

As for gifts, M&S can supply you with all sorts of floral, sweet & scented presents for Mum. Beyond the food hall there is also a up to 50% clothing sale just starting this week. Even a gift card for Mum to have a hoke through that for a bargain herself would be a thoughtful present (hint, hint). Really though you can never go wrong with flowers. I buy myself a bunch of flowers every week now I'm in my new house. Perhaps this weekend little Michael will buy me some. I've dropped many hints, but for some reason he has his heart set on buying me this kitchen gadget that heat seals plastic bags to keep food fresh. Sigh.

Beautiful blooms at a range of prices. 

Daffodil cake £12

How blue are these?? 

Adoring this neon orange frame, and would love one of these patchwork stag heads so much! 

I do love these but £79 is out of my range

So, my picks. I love these pastel tins M&S are packaging their sweets in this spring. I already use the similar, yellow tin to store my sugar, so when I have finished the fudge I'll use this as my tea bag tin. £5

Violet creams are an old fashioned sweet, but one of my absolute favourites. At £4 this box of a violet and Rose mixed chocolates was a 'well done for being a mum' gift to myself. 

Cute little orange tin this time, for my coffee to complete the set. £5

The teeny little box of truffles is only £3 and great for tiny ones to buy for their mummy. 

Finally, this is going to my own Mum as part of her present this Sunday. A £13 gift of mini shortbread in a pretty tea cup. Wouldn't mind this one myself either. 

So a big Happy Mother's Day to all my mummy readers, and any single fathers who do both jobs. Enjoy your special day. 

Tasty, Balanced Meals from Marks & Spencer in Store Now

How's your new year's resolution going? Yeah... mine too. Anyway, if you're feeling like a little health kick you can always check out Marks & Spencer's Count on Us and Balanced for You ranges. Lower calorie ready meals that don't compromise on taste or inventiness.

There are also plenty of take away snacks and lunch options available from both ranges. 

Desserts aren't to be missed out on either! 

This is the Jaffa dessert and it's glorious! 

The Most Frustratingly Annoying T-shirts on the Entire Internet

My Twitter chum Michael is behind these really annoying Slightly Wrong Quotes t-shirts. Buy them and annoy your film buff friends. http://www.mysoti.com/designer/slightlywrong

Little Live Pets, Tweeting In a Toy Shop Near You

The second wave of Little Live Pets have hit toy shops for spring 2015. http://www.character-online.com/products/Little-Live-Pets/Birds/ 

We were sent the mother and baby owl in neutral white & purple. The birds are also available in pink or blue, but refreshingly this slightly more 'girl orientated' toy is being marketed for both boys AND girls age 5+ 

Michael loves this sort of toy, and thought it was very cute as the mother and baby tweeted to each other. The mummy owl also has a repeat back feature where you can record your voice. Of course kids being kids the owl was soon chirping about bums and poos, but that was always going to happen!  

The birds sing together and have dozens of different tunes. You may notice our baby owl looks a little bit worse for wear. It seems that my parents' wire fox terrier dog took a fancy to baby owl too, and he got a little chewed! 

The mother and baby owl Little Live Pets set retails around £17.99, so it's a little bit too pricey for a birthday gift for someone else's child. However if you have an animal lover at home, most boys & girls would love to receive this as a present. 

Belfast Artists, Meet Ink Monkey

Ink Monkey is an art supply store with character. Just three minutes walk from the Art College in Belfast, the North Street store is a quirky one stop shop for all your art materials. Owners Jenn & Tommy invited us to pop in on Saturday and meet the giant TRex that resides in their shop window.  

Students get 10% discount all year round, and as well as every art supply you'd need, they also stock handmade gifts such as vintage tea cup candles and vinyl record clocks. So why not pay them a visit, or catch up with them on social media 

Facebook.com/inkmonkeybelfast  Twitter.com/inkmonkeyholla Instagram @inkmonkeybelfast

Jenn & Tommy