We’re all about sharing and spreading the love this Valentine’s day!

Rather than last minute flowers, check out the gifts that your Valentine’s actually want, from amazing chocolate creations to keepsake bears and fun cards.

Check out our 2018 Gift Guide to Valentine’s Day:

National Theatre Bookshop

Want to send a Valentine’s card without the sap? This Valentine’s Day, twist the traditional and make them laugh with perfectly punny cards.

The Grown Up Chocolate Company

 Let’s face it – no matter how typical, everyone still loves V-day as an excuse to demolish all the chocolate. This is the ultimate sweet treat – an entire tray of decadent, delicious box of fresh cream, handmade chocolates full of delights.

Love will most certainly be in the air… but still, there’s no need to share!

Love Keep Create

Perfect for long-distance loves or even just romantic reminders, send your Valentine a sweet message no matter how far you are with the Heartfelt Message from LoveKeepCreate.

Equipped with a sound device in the back, this beautiful, handmade cotton heart is ready to record and play your personal message to them at any time.

Flying Tiger

Sometimes cheesy is the way to go, and there’s nothing better than Flying Tiger to go full cheddar on the most romantic day of the year.

So, whether you’re near or far from your valentine this year, make sure they have a huge smile on their face and show them you care with and sweet, quirky, lovable gift. 

Have you ever tried cleaning out your closet (finally) only to find piles of old clothes that you just can’t bear to part with, at which point you merely refolded everything to make it look slightly nicer, put it all back in the exact same place, and closed the door?

No? Just us?

Well, ask any parent what they did with their children’s old baby grows or any mum where their wedding dress is, and chances are you’ll hear “in the attic, gathering dust” more than once. Let’s face it- we all have storage boxes filled to the brim with memorable clothes that we mean to do something with someday, and never get around to.

Well look no further because someday has finally arrived. We’re so excited to introduce our newest client, a brand with keepsakes in mind, LoveKeepCreate.

LoveKeepCreate takes your most cherished fabrics like your baby’s first outfit and turns them into beautiful keepsake items so that you can have a little piece of your baby’s childhood to keep with you always.

So how does it work? Three easy steps and within a few short weeks, your chosen keepsake will be in your arms.

To get started, choose your favourite fabric or clothing to transform. Then, pick one of the many adorable keepsake ideas on the LoveKeepCreate website, ranging from cuddly animal designs to patchwork memory quilts.

Finally, pop your fabric in the post to the ‘memory-makers’ who will work their magic and create a precious keepsake that you’ll have to hold and cherish forever. It’s as easy as that!

These keepsakes make for unique gifts with a personal, hand-made touch. And what a fun way to up-cycle old clothes, worn-out baby grows and sentimental pieces that you can have on display instead of tucking them away in a storage box. With Mother’s Day coming, what more could you want?

Started in 2011 by Rachel and Merry who met in the Army, LoveKeepCreate has expanded into the heart-warming keepsake company it is today and they have also just introduced a wonderful range of organic clothing to keep little ones comfortable and stylish all day long.

From thoughtful keepsakes to seriously snuggly outfits for your little ones, find a gift for everyone at LoveKeepCreate.

On the 26th of November, The Association for Cultural Enterprises joined forces with over 100 museums in and around the UK for the first time.

For those who didn’t jump on the bandwagon, Museum Shop Sunday offered a ‘feel-good’ alternative to Christmas shopping. With all proceeds directly supporting each institution, it was a great opportunity for people to get onto Santa’s nice list.

Organisations which took part included: the Science Museum, Natural History Museum Ronald Dahl Museum, Glasgow School of Art, British Library, Barbican Centre, Design Museum and London Transport Museum (to name a few!).

Museum Shop Sunday event organisers & participating shops were delighted to see interest from nationwide publications such as, Metro, London’s Fabric magazine, Londonist, and many more.

Overwhelmed by the event’s achievements, Imperial War Museum’s online retail manager Kieran Whitworth said: “We had one of the best online trading days ever – up 145% on the previous year!”

Iveta Rozlapa, Freud Museum’s shop manager, commented: “I’m pleased to hear that the Museum Shop Sunday was a success, we certainly think it’s true as we received loads of smiles and admirations from visitors on the day.”

Iveta added: “We greeted 55% more visitors than last year on the same day! We were really happy to receive some excellent publicity from our local paper ‘Ham & High’ which had both an article and a cartoon about our Freud cookies.”

Overall, Museum Shop Sunday proved to be a great success for all involved. To those who didn’t make it this time, get your shopping game ready for 2018 as we are thrilled to hear that many participants will be returning next year with even more surprises up their sleeves.

We all know Christmas is a time to indulge and ditch the diet- Really, why else would Santa provide us with chocolate advent calendars?

This year, The Grown-Up Chocolate Company has answered our prayers (and stomach groans) by creating beautifully hand-crafted chocolate baubles. With a printed star design and matching ribbon, these sweet treats will perfectly fit in with any tree décor – that is, until they’re consumed (and we’re betting that won’t take long).

These hanging balls of joy come in four different flavours – Salted Peanut Caramel Bauble, Crispy Toffee, Crunchy Praline Wonder and Dark Chocolate Smoothy (for the milk-haters out there). And while we’re biased and couldn’t possibly pick a favourite, it’s good to know that Cosmopolitan is *nutty* for the Salted Peanut.

Make your friends & family jealous this Christmas with a stand-out chocolatey tree. Just make sure they’re not half eaten when your guests arrive!

Hey!

I’m Shivani & I’ve just come to the end of my fabulous 2 weeks of work experience at Neat PR. From studying business/marketing at university and being someone who grew up within the digital age, I always knew that I enjoyed learning about the power of social media & advertising. However, it’s only after getting the chance to do work experience at Neat that I actually understand the extent of what PR entails. My two weeks here have been both exciting and educational; from helping to write press releases to updating blogger information or reaching out to journalists – and, not to mention, enjoying a lot of sweets – I was able to see how busy yet enjoyable the life of a PR agency could be.

I have absolutely loved my time here and I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone at Neat PR for being so warm and welcoming and giving me this opportunity.

-Shivani ?

Spotted: Luxury events company Dazzle & Fizz in Metro’s Hot List roundup today!

Ever find yourself wishing for a magic touch when it comes to planning your kids’ parties?

Look no further than Dazzle & Fizz. This creative company takes extravagance to skyscraper-level with magical children’s parties for any and every occasion. Famous for throwing show-stopping events for royals, celebrities and more around the world, they specialise in immersive, theatrical scenes that whisk children away to distant lands, magical spots and prehistoric soirees as soon as they enter the door. Every production makes imagination realised, down to the very last table decoration.

With such an eye for design, it’s no wonder their newest party trick is a real show-stopper. Dazzle & Fizz’s recently launched online party shop brings all the ceremony and none of the price tag to your very own home.

Now, for the first time ever, everyone can decorate their children’s special day the Dazzle & Fizz way, with curated top party wear picks giving you the VIP treatment. Whether your little one wants to dance with unicorns, party like a prince or soiree with superheroes, their perfect party awaits the click of a button!

Pick from perfectly coordinating table sets to set the stage down to the very last straw – seriously, don’t forget the gold star paper straws (£4.50 for a pack!) to match your gold cups and starred napkins. Add a regal touch with colourful tassels fit for a king, locate your nearest buried treasure with pirate map tablecloths, and eat from the rainbow (nearly) with spectacular plates for every occasion that even national newspaper Metro wants to steal for their “own stylish summer soirees” – We hear you, Metro (can we join?)!

Save yourself an extra step with a pre-themed Party in a Box. Only £14.50, this inclusive kit contains everything down to the kitchen sink (or, in this case, tablecloth). Simply pop open the box, send out the unique party invites, arrange a stunning selection of recyclable themed tableware and top it all off with decorated party bags – then pat yourself on the back for a stress-free event.

Whatever the budget, no dream’s too big for Dazzle & Fizz. Plan your next do with the click of a button today – Visit www.dazzleandfizz.co.uk today!

We’re so excited to announce our newest client, Muddy Puddles!

A children’s outerwear brand that believes every child is wild at heart, Muddy Puddles is on a mission to encourage childhood play in the great outdoors. Waterproofs, wellies and ski wear are sure to keep children warm, dry and happy, regardless of the weather!

Known for their vibrant, unisex colours and designs, Muddy Puddles is built on the proposition that there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong kit. Each item in the extensive Muddy Puddles collection has been carefully designed to protect children from the elements to enable as much outdoor fun as possible.

Designed with technical performance in mind, Muddy Puddles’ outerwear inspires families to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible, regardless of the weather (which, as we all know, can quickly reduce any day out to tears). The Muddy Puddles team painstakingly perfects their designs to ensure every item is flawlessly fit for purpose. Suitable from ages 0–12, each piece is fully waterproof, breathable, and machine washable (yes, even the wellies! Parents, rejoice). A brand with a conscience, their newest A/W ’17 collection even includes innovative styles made from cutting edge recycled fabrics to reduce negative impacts on the planet.

Started by a farmer in Devon familiar with the woes of muddy children, Muddy Puddles has been creating weather-proof clothing for over 20 years. Now, their vision extends beyond just clothing as Muddy Puddles continues to inspire through their various, charitable ventures. For the past two years, Muddy Puddles has supplied samples, returns and non-saleable items to children in need; those living in makeshift homes in refugee camps worldwide. Leading up to this years Refugee Week, they’re calling on other brands to donate their fully-functional returns.

Together, Muddy Puddles and Neat PR are intent on spreading the message that children need to spend 5-15 hours per week on outdoor activity to have healthy bodies and excellent concentration. By protecting children from the weather, Muddy Puddles enables children to leap into life, rain or shine!

You can check out Muddy Puddles’ extensive collection today at www.muddypuddles.com.

Be bold. Dress to be visible, not invisible. Forget the constraints of fashion trends. 

That’s just a selection of the pearls of wisdom that London based artist and textile designer Cressida Bell offered while being interviewed by Metro. In her full-page feature today, she not only explains her inspiration and approach to new designs, but also explains how she sees patterns and designs affecting people – and why it matters.

She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at how she created her newest collection, a collaboration with the Natural History Museum shop. The new range has been curated to celebrate the world’s vibrant abundance of plants by combining a passion for Earth’s natural beauty with a nod to the museum’s rich heritage

The stand-out botanical illustrations take inspiration from the 162 decorated ceiling panels in the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall which were illustrated by hand and date from when the Museum opened to the public in 1881. To make a cohesive design out of so many options, Ms. Bell focused on her favourite botanical designs, sketching a variety of patterns before settling on a delicate, leafy pattern.

Using a colour pallet which includes silver and gold Cressida has designed a stunning repeat pattern artwork complete with border. The collection has something for everyone, from notebooks for the creative to home textiles for the stylish.

Pick up a copy of today’s Metro to read more from Cressida Bell, or browse her new range of exclusive designs at www.nhmshop.co.uk.