Gifts for Teachers - what on earth do you get?!

As a mum, I can easily recognise that reports of a massive increase in giving gifts to teachers is certainly true. It seems that many parents now like to give their child’s teacher a gift both at the end of the school year, and at Christmas time too. But the difficulty is, what to give?

Speaking to other parents and teachers, it seems that the most common gift is either a box of chocolates or a plant or bunch of flowers. But, if you want to thank your child’s teacher with a more unusual gift where do you start? Most people work to a budget, and want to give a gift that won’t break the bank. So the search is on for a low cost and unusual gift for your teacher - where to start?!

A great personalised gift can prove to be an ideal solution. Something that raises a smile, or laughter even. Get it right and you could just be finding the perfect gift that ticks all the boxes. Ideally it would be something truly thoughtful that will be treasured, or perhaps something both fun and practical.

Now, if you can do all that you can relax - you’ve done it, you’ve found the perfect gift. Then all you need to worry about is the next gift time…!

Sarah x

Find fun, touching, thoughtful and practical personalised gifts for teachers at www.PhotoFairytales.co.uk/teachergifts.co.uk. Free UK delivery. Bespoke gifts and keepsakes created to order and truly original. Unique gifts for teachers for end of term and Christmas at www.PhotoFairytales.co.uk.

Look - new look!

Look - new look!

OK, so time to breathe a little life back into this neglected corner of the world wide web! 

I'll start by letting you know that the PhotoFairytales website has recently had a huge overhaul (just in case you haven't spotted it yet). It took quite a few weeks to do, but I think the result is a much fresher and brighter look, and it should be easier to move around too.

To go with the new look site there are some new product lines too - and even more in the pipeline. You can see all the new gift ranges on the What's New page - I hope you see something you like.

Oh, and I'm also doing a fab giveaway on the PhotoFairytales Facebook page too - it must end this Sunday, so head on over and take a look. It's super easy to enter, and you get to choose your own prize!

What do you think of the new look - I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment below :)

Sarah x

Whoops!

Yeeees.... well, it has been a little while between posts hasn't it?

OK, time for an overhaul I think - the PhotoFairytales website has a lovely fresh new look and now so does it's poor old Blog!

A little bit of action will be coming this way imminently, trust me - erm, does anyone have a duster I could borrow first please?

Sarah x

2013 Letters from Santa: now on sale!

Eep! Has it really been that long since I paid any attention to my poor, neglected blog? Shocking behaviour!!

OK well, without further ado, let me launch straight in and tell you the latest news from PhotoFairytales HQ: the new Letters from Santa are NOW HERE! As always, these are limited edition and there's only a certain number available - and with almost 20% reserved already it's time to act quickly if you'd like Santa to write to your little boy or girl (or big boy or girl - there's no age limit!).

I'm delighted to say that every letter sold raises money for a wonderful charity too: Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity. Founded by Mrs Dahl shortly after the death of her husband, this great organisation raises much needed funds for seriously ill children.

For just £5.99 including UK delivery, Santa will send a fabulous letter - written and prepared to order, and each one signed individually by the big man himself. Along with the letter there's also a quality personalised certificate awarded for making it onto the Nice List, plus 4 lovely little gifts. Take a look at the website now by clicking here to see full details of what's included.

• "I cannot thank you enough for the letter from Santa, my daughter was so excited that she had a certificate to say she had been put on the nice list that she has phoned everyone to tell them. Thank you again for letting me be able to make the magic of Christmas alive."

The last order date to order your letter is December 16th unless they sell out first (they sell out every year, so don't leave it until the last minute!). Overseas orders are very welcome - the last order date for deliveries to the EU is December 8th, and the Rest of the World is December 2nd.

• "We had ours a couple of days ago - my son was absolutely thrilled and couldn't believe the detail - best thing I've ever done! Thank you so so much :) I'm happy to give you any testimonials - I wish Santa had written to me like that when I was little."

These great value letters are a wonderful way to keep the magic of Christmas alive, and at under £6 they are a lovely surprise gift in the lead up to the big day. And with some great little gifts too, they'll give you some quiet time while they get busy playing!

Sarah x

Pining for Peddles: bike lust, pure and simple

OK, it’s not big, and it’s not clever - but I feel like I’m 7 years old again and want to have a good old whine - you see, I have bike envy. Quite bad bike envy. Put it this way…

I WANNA NEW BIKE!!!!

I haven’t really given bikes that much thought since I was a schoolgirl. I used to ride mine every day backwards and forwards to school, riding around town to visit mates or go to the park. Then of course, becoming a parent you inevitably get back into bikes to a degree - having a daughter has meant owning bikes with glittery tassels on the handlebars, a basket on the front for dolls (or the cat if she sits still long enough), beads on the wheels that clatter. You know the type of thing.

But our gorgeous and incredibly lanky daughter has now outgrown her bike and the time has arrived for her first proper, grown up sized bike. After much debate over BMX style versus traditional style, colours, basket/no basket (no basket, apparently they’re not cool unless you’re a *little* girl or a mum), etc, etc, she has finally got her clutches on her shiny new bike. And boy it’s a beauty! (Hence my jealousy).

It’s a Raleigh - traditional style, but a hybrid so good for a bit of bumpy off-roading. It’s a lovely pale blue. With silver mudguards. It’s got 18 gears (18! mine only used to have 3…) And spokes that glitter in the sunshine as she peddles. It’s got lovely chunky grips on the handlebars, and a nice squishy seat. And it’s so shiny…. So very, very shiny….

After visiting a couple of bike shops at the weekend I have decided that if money were no object I would most definitely have a bike for every day of the week. Seriously, there are some GORGEOUS bikes to be had out there. I must admit I do rather like the traditional style - and I’m a mum, so it’s OK for me to lust after a basket! There’s the lovely lavender coloured one, with colour coded mudguards. Or the green and orange one with a cupholder (perfect for peddling along the prom, very seaside-y). And there’s the lovely grown up blue one with a brown leather saddle and matching handle grips. Or the bright red one with white tyres (white tyres!) and a ‘Miss Marple’ style wicker basket on the front. Oh, and a proper bell. Ting ting!!

My husband confessed to me that as a child he used to go into the local bike shops to look at the brake blocks. Just, you know, look at them. Not to buy (he didn't actually own a bike). Just look. And one of my earliest memories is sitting in the child bike seat strapped behind my mum watching her back go from side to side as we peddled to the shops. So I guess bikes get under our skin pretty early on. It's our first chance of freedom that comes long before the first car. 

What’s the opposite of being a Petrol Head? Because I think I’m that now. I used to turn my head when we drove past car dealers - but I think that may be about to change….

So biking with a basket: cool or uncool? Leave a comment, and tell me what you think!

Sarah :)