The Most Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas

October 28, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

The phrase “ecological consciousness” has been added to our vocabulary in recent decades. The abundance of material goods, their reckless and short use, the multiplying and growing landfills, and the destruction of the environment lead humanity to a dead end. The solution is a greener and safer life. There are some simple moves you can make in your daily life to gain greater ecological awareness. Even buy eco-friendly gifts for your loved ones. School supplies, a friend’s birthday or celebration, even if there is no reason for it, you want to make a gift and because you have an ecological conscience, you want your gift to be ecologically similar. So let’s explore some of the most eco-friendly gift options for our loved ones:

Create experiences

Offer experiences instead of material goods. Give your loved ones experiences that will benefit them either by relaxing, entertaining, or teaching them something valuable. Some ideas are a relaxing massage, a yoga or dance class, movie or concert tickets, an online course or an escape room walk. The choices are dozens, but the result is invaluable to the recipient. In the end, no material good can compare to a truly intense experience.

DIY Gifts

A more original, memorable and personal idea is to make something for a gift, with materials you already have without having to throw them away or buy new ones. Some relevant suggestions are to cook a delicious meal, make your loved one’s favourite dessert, make a body scrub with sugar & oil, make an ornament, or create a video with memories that will speak directly to the recipient’s feelings. DIY will not only offer you perhaps the most economical solution, but by making the gift yourself, you make this whole gesture more personal and even more important.

Eco-friendly products

If you decide to give a gift as a gift, prefer it to be ecological. This may mean it is plastic-free, reusable, zero-waste or digital. For example a glass water bottle, stainless steel straws, a bamboo toothbrush, natural & cruelty-free soaps and cosmetics or an ebook. However, among all these fantastic options, one stands out among the others: a piece of jewelry made from ecological materials.

This particular gift not only manages to utilize old recyclable materials creating a new beautiful result but also manages to give a unique character to its holder. Jewellery that has nothing to envy from other industrial products comes to steal people’s hearts with their exceptional beauty. Make such a special gift today to your loved ones, conveying the spirit of ecological consciousness and creation. Find the perfect gift of handmade recycled glass jewellery by MiNiMis company at great and economical prices.

We all love to make and give gifts. But these gifts do not have to be expensive or costly to the environment. Above, we discovered together simple, easy, alternative and ecological solutions for the presents of your loved ones. To make their lives and our own a little better by protecting our environment and spreading happiness all around.

Gift Guide for New Parents

September 17, 2021September 20, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

Once you get to my age, with two kids of your own, you’re pretty well versed in what is and isn’t useful to give to new parents as a gift. I’ve been through various things like nappy bins (I never really got the hang of our one, to be honest) and wipe warmers to know what I would never buy again, and also remember what was an absolute godsend when my two were little. With that in mind, here are a few suggetions that will definitely be a hit with new parents:

Vests and Sleepsuits

It doesn’t matter how many new vests and sleepsuits new parents buy ahead of their baby being born, once they arrive it will never seem enough. I don’t think there are many parents in the world who have bathed and changed their baby into clean clothes, only for a poo-nami or vomit volcano to erupt! Cute baby sleepsuits are always a winner and the range of neutrals for parets who don’t know the gender of their baby is MUCH greater nowadays.

Takeaway Voucher

In the past, lots of people would turn up with a freshly baked casserole or a stash of frozen meals to make new parents life easier. The modern version of this is buying them a gift card! Either find out their favourite takeaway or go for a delivery service like Just Eat or Deliveroo and have a voucher for a meal delivered. They’ll thank you for making their lives easier AND for making sure they’re getting a decent meal between feeds and nappy changes.

Muslins

As with the baby grows and vests, another thing which new parents can never have enough of is muslins. They’re a fab multi-purpose item which can be used for wiping up spit-up, using as a shoulder guard when you’re burping baby, draping over you if you’re breastfeeding and want some privacy – there are even huge muslins which are made for swaddling baby.

Thermometer

When Sausage was a tiny baby, my Mum and Dad gave us a Braun in-ear thermometer, and we still use it to this day. It’s been an absolute godsend for over a decade and while some people may feel uncomfortable giving a gift which relates to potential illness, it’s genuinely one of the most useful, practical gifts we were given. A few years ago, we were gifted a newer, no-touch model which was fairly new tech at the time and after using it a few times, we actually gave it away and went back to our trusty in-ear model!

A V-Pillow

Although I didn’t breastfeed my two, having a large, v-shaped pillow was a huge help when it came to bottle feeding. I’d sit in an armchair and place the pillow on my lap with baby snuggled safely on top. It meant that my hands were both free for bottle holding and interacting, and we were both comfortable. It’s something that would be one of the first things I’d recommend to new parents, I think.

Family · Gift Ideas · Review

LoveLox Personalised Locket Review

March 7, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

Here in the Mum’s the Word house, we’re huge fans of personalised gifts. In the past, we’ve made mugs, photo books, canvas prints and even chocolates with special messages on them! That’s why, when LoveLox Lockets got in touch and asked if I’d like to review a personalised locket, I knew I couldn’t refuse.

LoveLox is a London-based company with one goal – providing beautiful bespoke jewellery which is unique to everyone who buys one. There’s a huge range of options to choose from in terms of your finish and engraving, and each locket is engraved, assembled and packaged here in the UK.

The beauty of the personalised locket is that, unlike old fashioned lockets where you have to try to find a TINY photo and cut it out to put it in the locket yourself, LoveLox use a lab quality printer and professional grade glossy paper to place the image directly into each locket before they send it to you. Aside from making the whole process about a million times easier than doing it yourself, it looks about a million times better, too!

The actual process of creating your locket online couldn’t be easier. Simply choose the images you want to use and upload them to the website. You can move the photos around and crop them as you need to, to make sure they’re displayed perfectly. This is where you can add your engraving, with choices of fonts and letter sizing allowing you to get it just right. There’s also the option to choose a 16-18 inch necklace or a slightly longer one which is 20-24 inches – I went for the latter because I’ve got a fat neck and standard necklaces end to look like chokers on me!

Once the order was placed, delivery took less than a week, and there’s even an option for two-day delivery for just a few quid extra, making this ideal for even the scattiest of brains if you need a gift for a special occasion! The lockets are beautifully packaged, too, so you could happily send one directly to the recipient, safe in the knowledge that it will turn up looking perfectly gift-worthy and gorgeous.

I’m absolutely delighted with the quality of my personalised locket – the images may be small but they’re lovely and clear and the engraving looks top-notch. I wear it constantly, even when I’m just at home, as I love the feeling of having it close to me. As you can see from the images above, I’ve got one picture of Husband with Chuck and one image of Husband with Maureen and the engraving says “Goodest Ones” (absolute pigeon, I’m aware, but we used to tell Chuck that he wasn’t just a good boy, he was the “goodest boy” and it’s something that just stuck).

If you’re looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift, birthday pressie or just something to show someone how much they mean to you, I highly recommend LoveLox. I couldn’t be happier with my beautiful locket and it’s something that I know will last a long time. The personalisation makes it so special and I can’t imagine anyone receiving one as a gift not loving it.

Head over to the LoveLox lockets page to see all of the different options available.

(I was gifted a locket for the purposes of my review but all opinions are genuine)

Christmas · Football · Gift Ideas · Liverpool

Still Nil Nil – A Football Lover’s Perfect Gift

December 16, 2020 JayneLeave a comment

As you’ll know if you’re a long-time reader of Mum’s the Word, we’re fans of Liverpool Football Club. Husband has been a fan his whole life, and when we met I adopted LFC as my team, too. That means that there are many historical games from LFC’s football past that we revisit from time to time, and we’ve been to Anfield as a family for a special day of Liverpool FC hospitality (we also saw Luis Suarez score his first ever Home hat-trick while we were there, which made it extra special).

Perhaps one of the most relevant games to current Liverpool fans is the night of the 2005 Champions League Final, where Liverpool came back from 3-0 against AC Milan to win on penalties and become European Champions. It was an amazing night, and although it happened before I became a Liverpool fan, it was a night that Husband has rewatched with me MANY times, and one in his life that he’ll never forget. That’s why, when I received an email about Still Nil Nil, I knew it would make an incredible gift for Husband. You see, Still Nil Nil have taken these special nights in sporting history and created beautifully illustrated books, containing original poetry, describing the events in detail. There are currently three titles available, costing £12 each; The Treble, based on Manchester United’s historic 1998/99 season, Invincible, revisiting Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003/04 season; and The Miracle of Istanbul, retelling Liverpool’s epic Champions League final comeback in 2004/05.

Josh Clarke, founder and director of Still Nil Nil, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to finally unveil a true passion project, Still Nil Nil. Millions of parents and children bond over their football club – and our books represent the perfect way for parents to pass on their passion, and memories, to their children with an incredible shared experience.

“With Christmas fast approaching, the response to our initial three books has already been overwhelmingly positive. We are delighted to be delivering gifts that football-mad children (and, probably more so, parents) are going to love.”

I can’t wait to give Husband his copy and I think it will be something he’ll cherish. The books are aimed at kids, but I truly think they’re perfect for football fans of any age, and for Liverpool fans young and old, the night in Istanbul will be something they want to remember forever.

There’s still plenty of time to order your copy of a Still Nil Nil book from the website, so head over there and grab one now.

Gift Ideas · Happiness

12 Ways to Find the Perfect Gift for Anyone

April 21, 2020 Jayne1 Comment

When there’s a special occasion coming up, you’ll probably be wondering how to pick the perfect gift, as doing so can be somewhat stressful. No matter who you are buying for, it’s important to choose something which is just right for them – there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to buying gifts. Giving gifts can make us feel good, sometimes even more so than receiving them, which is why we have 12 top tips to help you find a great gift for someone you love.

What do They Need?

First and foremost, practical gifts are always great. If you know your friend or loved one really needs something at the moment, this would be a perfect gift opportunity. Even more so if they need something but are unlikely to buy it for themselves. You could even put together a hamper full of essentials and small treats to really make this a special gift idea.

Think About Memories You Share

If you’re wondering how to find the perfect gift for someone you’ve known for a long time, think back on all the special times you have had together. You could create a photobook or a scrapbook filled with memories – they are sure to treasure this forever, and you can be sure they won’t already have the same thing.

Consider Personalised Gifts

Personalised gift ideas are great, they are one-off and really show that special someone how much you care. You can find something related to their interests, such as personalised kitchen gifts for someone who loves to cook, or a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry for someone who loves wearing accessories. You can find the best personalised gifts online, and ordering them is a piece of cake.

Give an Experience Gift

Experience gifts are great for the person who has everything. Perhaps there’s something they’ve always dreamed of doing, such as driving a racecar or taking a flight in a hot air balloon. Their special occasion is the perfect time to give them such an experience, and it’s sure to be one gift they’ll never forget.

Use Special Wrapping

To make your gift stand out even more, you can present it really nicely. You could make your own wrapping materials, or choose out a lovely gift box in their favourite colours or patterns. Friends and loved ones are sure to appreciate this extra added effort.

Find Funny Gifts

Everyone appreciates a gift to make them laugh, so if you know your friend’s sense of humour, this is a great option. It could be an in-joke the two of you have shared, or simply a novelty gift to bring a smile to their face – the possibilities are endless.

Give Something Personal

If you have some creative skills, now is a great time to use them. Friends and family will really appreciate the effort that goes into a homemade gift, whether it’s a special greetings card to accompany the gift, a cake you’ve baked or perhaps a scarf you’ve knitted, if you have talents, put them to the test in making a gift for that special someone.

Food Gifts are Always Great

You can’t go wrong with a food gift! Bake them their favourite cake or pick out a big box of their favourite chocolates. Or, get creative and gift them a box of fancy teas, coffees, or jams for example – the possibilities are endless.

Teach Them Something New

If your friend has been wanting to learn a new skill, help them out with a gift subscription to a service which will help them out. Sign them up to an evening or online class, or even sign yourself up to go along with them for added motivation!

Subscription Gifts Will Last All Year

If you want to choose a gift that keeps on giving, a subscription is a great idea. It could be a year-long supply of their favourite magazine, monthly deliveries of socks or other accessories, anything goes! There are loads of online subscription services out there, so there’s sure to be something to appeal to your friend.

Consider Charitable Gifts

If your friend is passionate about good causes, why not choose a gift which makes a donation to their favourite charity? Many companies donate a small percentage of profits on certain items to good causes. If not, consider a monetary donation on your friend’s behalf.

Think About Who They Are

Last, but not least, think about the recipient’s tastes and interests when choosing them a gift, rather than buying something you would like to receive yourself. Whether that means choosing personalised wooden spoons for a keen baker, or creating a one-of-a-kind memory book especially for them, it’s important to put your loved one first when choosing a gift idea.