Treat Your 'Mammy' To a Northern Irish Afternoon Tea This Mother's Day With Local Treats From Tesco.

Ahhh the Northern Irish Mummy and her quirks. Aside from making sure you take your coat off in the house so you get the benefit of it later, a preoccupation with whether the immersion is off or on, and telling you to wear clean underwear in case you get in a car accident, the Northern Irish 'mammy' loves to feed you. Father Ted's Mrs Doyle is a great character study of the Irish mammies we know and love, "will you have a cup of tea? Awk go on, y'will".

So this Mother's Day how about switching the tables and putting on a fine spread of local treats from Tesco, and feeding up Mum for a change? 

Tesco stock dozens of local brands suitable for the job of afternoon tea, such as Genesis Crafty scones and Howell's delicious biscuits. You can put on a glorious spread with Graham's millionaire bites and Scott's miniature tea cakes.

You can also pick up gifts for Mother's Day in store like prosecco, beautiful bouquets and beauty treats.  You can't go wrong with a lovely bunch of tulips.

Also worth noting that Tesco launch their new site  Taste NI this Monday. It will serve as an online hub for all things tasty and Northern Irish. They will explore local foodie traditions, celebrate the wealth of quality local produce available from the province, and share recipes and tips from well-known chefs who are inspired by Northern Ireland's products.

Mother's Day 2017 Gifts at Asda- Smix, I Want The Bell Jar

A quick gift guide for Mother's Day next weekend, and Asda has you covered for all the cutest Mum Gifts going. They are your one stop shop for the usual- gorgeous, lush bouquets, scented candles and beauty items, delicious chocolates, plus sparkling wine to toast the matriarch of the family.

What immediately caught my eye, and went straight on my wish list, was the £12 birdie bell jar. It would look so twee on a side table, or even a bedroom dresser. Beside a pastel flower arrangement, it has vintage appeal in the long standing popular shabby chic genre. 

Asda kindly sent me some items from their  small but perfect gift collection. They are the better place to buy your Mum Baylis & Harding gift sets, if she loves them. They are always a good couple of pounds cheaper than the same sets in chemists.

As I mentioned there is a wide range of floral bouquets, but maybe your Mummy is a green fingers and would love to grow her own pink oriental lilies. It's a more thoughtful present if you have little ones because you can make the planting an event together, then watch the flowers grow as your child grows up also.

Kitty in a basket is another trinket that I'm going to have to buy myself if Smix doesn't come through with the goods. The ironic ceramic plate is just so me. There is also a bunny plate that could work for an Easter gift too.

What about a bunny teapot? So cute.  

You can never got wrong with some sweeties and a lippie. There is an exclusive L'Oreal range in the Mother's Day department in your Asda store, with limited edition fun prints. 

Finally, you are only just a mum to be for one Mother's Day, and it every woman sees a Mother's Day being pregnant. So if you're a man reading this and your other half is pregnant with your first child right now and you are wondering should you buy a Mum-to-be gift for next Sunday.... the answer is YES! Mummies of all kinds deserve a special day to thank them for the thankless work all year round. That's why whilst you're in Asda you could phone Mum and ask would she like you to make the Sunday dinner next weekend too. I love you, Mum. 

Mother's Day 2016 This is Your One Week Warning! What's in Store at M&S?

Mother's Day this year is Sunday 6th March, which means you have a week to find a lovely present. Here's what's in store at M&S, Homeware and Food Hall gift ideas. 

The Mother's Day Food Hall gifts are all themed with this beautiful, Spring, floral design.  

There are various chocolate box selections, but if you fancy something sweet but different, why not buy your Mum this pistachio, hazelnut, honey & sour cherry nougat. 

Thank you chocs £9 : Handmade nougat £5

These are the chocolates in the Thank You box. A beautiful selection of dark, white and milk chocolates.

Biscuits £3 : Sweet treats £8

If your family all get together for Mother's Day, then this triple chocolate brownie cake would be a welcome sight. I'm a huge fan of M&S flavoured creams, they really top off a delicious dessert. 

brownie cake £5 : vanilla cream £1.50

And how about this amazing Mother's Day cake? And if you buy one thing I recommend from M&S, make it this pink champagne cream, it's unreal. 

cake £12

Cream £2

Finally, here are some of the cool cards on offer and you can check out more gift ideas on the M&S website.

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.