Chocs away! Pick out sweet treats for mum
Splash the cash or pool your pocket money on buying chocolate goodies for Mother’s Day with our selection box
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend but if you can’t afford to give your mum a sparkly present on Mother’s Day, go for the gift of chocolate.
Few women can resist a sugary treat and the gift will taste even sweeter because it’s been chosen by you.
From fancy assortments with prices to match to a little gift that won’t break the pocket money piggy bank, the huge range of chocolates available could have you searching for hours.
But to save you time, here are a few suggestions:
If you want to treat your mum to a luxurious gift and are prepared to splash out, An Indulgence of Chocolates will satisfy your quest. This collection of velvety truffles, silky caramels, ganaches and pralines is presented in a pretty toile gift box with pull-out drawers. Priced £87.95, you can buy it from www.rococochocolates.com website.
Melt-in-the-mouth milk, white and dark chocolate are on offer in the Gold Wrapped Ballotin from Godiva. The 500g box is perfect for your mum to share with her family and will cost you £52.50. Visit www.godivachocolates.co.uk website.
Favourite chocolates such as roasted almonds, hazelnut praline and sumptuous caramel are encased in 50 per cent milk chocolate in Hotel Chocolat’s Happy Mother’s Day HBox which also includes an irresistible fudge sundae. The 14-piece assortment costs £12.95. Those looking to buy a little treat can purchase Hotel Chocolat’s Yummy Mummy Pillow Pack or Best Mummy Pillow Pack, containing five milk chocolate hearts, for £2.50. Go to www.hotelchocolat. com website.
One of the prettiest boxes of sweet treats can be bought at Marks and Spencer. The You’re Blooming Brilliant Chocolates are 12 beautifully crafted chocolate tulips filled with salted caramel and cream. Priced at £5 they are available in store now.
Chocolatier Thorntons is offering mums a taste of luxury with their Marc de Champagne Truffles. Seventeen milk chocolates are topped with a dusting of icing sugar and cost £15 from www. thorntons.co.uk website.
Every woman loves to look her best – and your mum is no exception – so treat her to the gift of make-up or perfume on Mother’s Day. She might not wear either every day but she’ll be prepared for that night out or a romantic dinner at home.
For many children, their mum is the star of the family so treat her like a glamorous celebrity on this special day. Boots’ extensive range of perfumes includes those endorsed by Ariane Grande and Britney Spears. A particular favourite is Jennifer Lopez Promise Eau de Parfum 50ml Set with notes of jasmine and honeysuckle contained in a trio comprising 50ml Eau De Parfum, 10ml Deluxe Miniature and 75ml Scented Body Lotion. Priced £21.33, it’s available from www.boots. com website.
Marks and Spencer is offering Autograph Riviera Neroli which mums can either wear on its own or mix with other scents from the range to create their own. This scent is crafted using orange essential oil and includes bergamot, grapefruit, neroli, jasmine, vanilla and musk. Currently on offer for £14.50, a saving of £5 from www.marks andspencer.com website.
You can save money on expensive fragrance gift sets such as Gucci, Mark Jacobs and Lancombe with The Perfume Shop. Visit www.the perfumeshop.com website.
Make-up is a mum’s best friend, helping to conceal the dark circles under her eyes, skin blemishes and bringing out her best features through eyeshadows and lipsticks.
Iconic brand Sleek MakeUP offers high impact satin lipstick, lengthening mascara, or the perfect blush palette to bring a rosy shimmer to the cheeks. The I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette Grounded, pictured right, is a mix of new matte, shimmering, foil and duo-chrome shades. Priced £8.99, from www.sleekmakeup. com website. Keep your mum looking good from head to hands with Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Original Set to moisturise and protect. Use the balm to shape brows, soothe dry hands and smooth cuticles and nails. Priced £27.99 from www.superdrug.com website.
There is surely not a woman on the planet who doesn’t enjoy receiving flowers. Whether a small, hand-picked posy or an ample bunch of blooms, joy is guaranteed.
The pandemic may have altered many aspects of our lives but we can still send flowers, even if spending Mother’s Day together may not be an option for some.
And when it comes to choice, the market is blooming.
From a simple bunch of supermarket daffodils, which look lovely tied with a ribbon, to an illustrious bouquet, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets.
And it’s well worth taking time to find which offers the best value, particularly with such a difference in price.
Research from savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk analysed the cost of the cheapest bunch of Mother’s Day flowers sold online at popular retailers and revealed that Brits could be paying up to 250 per cent more, if they don’t shop around.
Of those studied, Home Bargains offered the cheapest Mother’s Day bunch of carnations at £9.99 while Interflora listed its cheapest Mother’s Day bouquet as one of a kind assortment of seasonal flowers at £35.
“Sending our heartfelt thanks in the form of a gorgeous bouquet of flowers is a classic way to express our gratitude and now that many won’t be physically there to celebrate.
“Sending flowers is the perfect way to make your mum feel special,” said
Anita Naik, lifestyle editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk site.
“However, our research shows that not all florists are the same and shopping around really can save you a significant amount of money.
“We recommend planning ahead and ordering early to ensure you are not overspending and avoid disappointment. Before you place your order, check our list to help you make the most of your money.”
For anyone thinking about the wider impact of their gift, Fairtrade flowers are grown to the highest ethical and environmental standards.
As well as treating someone special on Mother’s Day, buying Fairtrade flowers offers many reasons to feel good about your purchase.
Fairtrade flower workers in countries such as Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Ecuador receive an extra 10 per cent for each stem sold. This is called the Fairtrade Premium and is spent on education, families, healthcare and communities, among other things. Look out for the Fairtrade Mark on flowers from High Street retailers.
Arena Flowers is recognised by The Ethical Company Index as the UK’s most ethical florist, seven years running, and 100 per cent of its products are Fairtrade where they can be.
It works directly with Fairtrade farms, actively supporting sustainable farms and farmers and is committed to their safe working conditions and fair labour.
With every order placed, the company plants a tree, having so far planted more than half a million trees with a mission to reach one million by March 14.
Its Mother’s Day collection is designed to celebrate all mother figures – whether mum, grandma, step-parent, sibling or friend.
Say it with an elegant display