“Buying Easter eggs is a popular tradition yet with the current concerns over health, it might be sensible to limit the number of Easter eggs children receive. Our alternative Easter gift guide offers a variety of gift ideas that children will love too,” said Sophie Baxter, managing director, Big Fat Balloons.

“We’re not suggesting that parents should ban Easter eggs altogether, after all Easter wouldn’t be the same. But some children receive so many Easter eggs from family and friends that they don’t know what to do with them all,” Sophie added.

The Big Fat Balloons’ guide to alternative Easter gifts also includes gifts for babies and young children such as a range of Easter balloons, that will keep everyone amused for hours. Cuddly Bunny soft toys are also popular with children.

“If the Easter gift is fun and entertaining, you can be sure it will be a hit with children. For example, we’re discovering that girls of all ages adore our Bunny Ears headbands,” said Sophie.

Easter treats that involve the whole family also feature on the Big Fat Balloons list. A family trip to the cinema that includes a special lunch or a shopping trip for a new summer outfit are all suggestions to not only treat the kids but also keep them occupied during the school Easter holidays.

Other ideas to keep children amused include board games and craft gifts, all of which will keep them away from the TV and entertained on rainy days.

For Easter gifts on a budget, Big Fat Balloons has even more ideas. Encouraging kids to bake traditional Easter goodies like Simnel cake or hot cross buns can help cut costs. Meanwhile, making their own Easter cards for aunts, uncles and grandparents not only helps with the finances, but also keeps the kids busy for hours and relatives will appreciate the effort.

For further press information, please contact Sophie Baxter:

Tel: 01422 300654 - Email: info@bigfatballoons.co.uk

View Easter Gifts for Heathly Children on PRWeb’s site

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Father’s Day celebration. According to research from Big Fat Balloons, the online helium balloon and gift store, it’s readily accepted that Father’s Day was established in Spokane, USA by Sonora Louise Smart Dodd.

While listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909, Sonora, who was brought up by her father following the death of her mother, had the inspiration to establish a day to honour fathers. Her campaigning led to the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane on Sunday, 19 June 1910.

In the UK and around 50 other countries, Father’s Day is still celebrated on the third Sunday in June.

“Today, whatever your age, Father’s Day is about taking time to show your ‘Dad’ how much you care. Yet it needn’t be your biological father. It’s about showing the man who is most influential in your life – be it your natural father, step-father, or grandfather – how much they mean to you,” said Sophie Baxter, director, Big Fat Balloons.

Big Fat Balloons suggests that while expensive gifts are always welcome, often it’s the little things that mean the most to a Dad on Father’s Day. Starting the day off right by treating Dad to breakfast in bed can be followed up by giving Dad control of the TV remote control for the day. Taking over those summer Sunday chores, like cutting the grass, can also be a welcome gift.

“Yet many children will still buy or make a card and Father’s Day Gift for their Dad. Traditional gifts like ties, socks and chocolates are always high on the list, but more personal presents that show how much thought has gone into the gift are often most valued. Perhaps you could get your Dad a book by his favourite author, a CD by his favourite group, or even tickets to a favourite sporting or music event, if budgets allow,” said Sophie.

For younger children keepsake Dad teddy bears, home-made cards, pictures or stories drawn and written by their children can make delightful Father’s Day gifts. Similarly framed photos of their children are also excellent ideas.

While it’s easier for adults to simply spend money on their Dad, time can be a wonderful gift on Father’s Day. Taking Dad out for a meal or cooking him a homemade meal is a great way to spend more time with Dad on Father’s Day. It also returns to the root of why this day was first established – to appreciate all the things that fathers do for their children throughout their lives.

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For further press information, please contact Sophie Baxter:

Tel: 01422 300654 -  Email: info@bigfatballoons.co.uk

Editor’s information:

For more information, please see www.bigfatballoons.co.uk

“While all gifts are very welcome, some are more useful than others. Also, if you don’t have children of your own, it can be difficult to know which gifts parents will find most useful,” said Sophie Baxter, managing director, Big Fat Balloons.

“Even gifts like flowers require a little bit of thought. Hospitals only have a limited supply of vases, so ordering arrangements in a basket or with their own water reservoir makes it much more convenient for the new mum. Equally, such arrangements are easier to transport when the new parents leave hospital.”

Baby clothes are another popular choice. But again, Big Fat Balloons offers a word of caution.

“If you’re planning to buy clothes for when the baby is older, then don’t forget to consider the season. A pretty summer dress may look gorgeous now, but if it’s the middle of winter before the baby will be big enough to wear it, chances are it will go to waste,” said Sophie.

Other ideas from Big Fat Balloons include clubbing together with colleagues or friends to buy more expensive items like sterilisers or baby monitors.

Teddy bears and toys that will stimulate the baby are always welcome gifts for newborn babies. However, Big Fat Balloons advises purchasing special baby teddy bears that are suitable from birth.

If budget is an issue, then Big Fat Balloons suggests a keepsake gift. These can vary from a few pounds for a baby development book or keepsake box to a few hundred pounds for a family portrait session with a local photographer.

Although it’s doubtful that new parents will have spare time for reading, parenting guide books can come in useful for some new parents. After all, babies don’t come with instruction manuals.

“One of the most useful gifts I received as a new parent was a baby goody hamper. This home-made gift had been put together by a friend of mine, who had collected all the essentials you need for a new born baby – shampoo, cotton buds, nail clippers, baby lotion, nappy rash cream, nappies, in fact everything I needed to pamper my new baby. It was practical and incredibly useful,” said Sophie.

Big Fat Balloons’ final gift idea for newborns is a new baby balloon in a box. After all, it was when Sophie received a balloon by post to celebrate the birth of her first son, that she had the inspiration for Big Fat Balloons.

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For further press information, please contact Sophie Baxter:

Tel: 01422 300654 Email: info@bigfatballoons.co.uk

“While we consider any birthday after the age of 20 that ends in a nought, to be a landmark birthday, this isn’t necessarily the same around the world,” said Sophie Baxter, managing director, Big Fat Balloons.

“There’s also a vast difference in the age that countries and religions celebrate when an individual ‘comes of age’ and the gifts that mark this landmark birthday,” Sophie added.

In the Chinese culture, a baby’s first birthday is a significant celebration. Known as the ‘zhua zhou’ or the ‘birthday grab’ this milestone is considered a ‘coming of age’ for Chinese babies and has been passed down from dynastic times.

Following a celebration feast, items are placed before the birthday child. The first item that the child picks and successfully gives to his or her parents is considered an indication of the child’s future career, for example a stamp is used to donate a high-ranking official or person of power.

In the UK, the coming of age birthday has changed. Traditionally it was only celebrated on a person’s 21st birthday. Known as ‘key of the door’, individuals were (and often still are) presented with a symbolic key.

Yet, when the legal age of adulthood in the UK dropped to 18 in 1969, 18th birthday celebrations became popular. Today many people celebrate both their 18th and their 21st birthday.

In the USA however, ‘sweet sixteen’ birthday celebrations mark an individual’s coming of age – especially for girls. Latin American countries celebrate Quinceanera, which is a coming of age ceremony held on a girl’s fifteenth birthday. Gifts for this important birthday are usually religious in nature, such as a Bible, a cross, rosary or sceptre.

Meanwhile coming of age in the Jewish religion is celebrated with a bar mitzvah for boys on or around their 13th birthday, and a bat mitzvah for girls on or around their 12th birthday, (in some forms of Judaism).

“As we get older, there are several landmark birthdays of note. In the Chinese calendar, your 60th birthday marks the end of one cycle of your life and the start of another. In China, as you’re expected to have a big family by the age of 60, it’s considered a time to celebrate this achievement and traditional gifts include eggs, long noodles, wine and money wrapped in red paper,” said Sophie.

Yet the ultimate landmark birthday has to be the 100th birthday. After all, it’s quite an achievement to live for an entire century. In the UK, this landmark birthday is traditionally marked by a personal message from the Queen. But spending time with a friend or relative on their 100th birthday has to be one of the best gifts to give.

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For further press information, please contact Sophie Baxter:

Tel: 01422 300 654 - Email: info@bigfatballoons.co.uk

While A-list celebrities might spend millions on a landmark birthday, most budgets are considerably lower. But Big Fat Balloons, the online balloons and gifts store, has put together its top five ideas for celebrating like – if not with – the stars.

Sophie Baxter, managing director, Big Fat Balloons, said:

“We believe that special birthdays deserve a special celebration. There’s no need to spend a fortune, it’s the little touches that make all the difference and turn a special birthday into a really memorable event.”

1. Add some sparkle

Start the day with a champagne breakfast. If budgets are tight, then substitute the champagne for a good bottle of cava, which can be equally delicious.

2. Surprise them with a party

If they don’t like surprises, it can be safer to let them know about the party and surprise them with a special gift or invite a long lost friend.

3. Arrive in style

Hire a stretch limousine to take them to the party or restaurant where they plan to celebrate their birthday.

4. Personalise the gift

Engraved jewellery, vouchers for a favourite restaurant or even a newspaper from the day that they were born, can make treasured and memorable gifts.

5. Record the memories

Take photos throughout the day and present them to the birthday boy or girl in an album as a lasting reminder of their special day.

One thing that Big Fat Balloons advises not to do, is ignore the day. As Sophie said:

“Whether you love them or loathe them, big birthdays will come along once a decade. So we have the philosophy that the bigger the birthday, the bigger the celebration, it seems to be a sentiment shared by many of our customers as our special birthday balloons and birthday teddy bears are extremely popular. From 18th and 21st birthday balloons right up to 70th, 80th, 90th and even 100th birthday balloons, friends and family like to celebrate these landmark birthdays.”

So take a tip from the stars and celebrate your special birthday in style.

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For further press information, please contact Sophie Baxter:

Tel: 01422 300 654  Email: info@bigfatballoons.co.uk

Editor’s information:

For more information, please see our Big Fat Balloons web site or read our Celebrate Big Birthdays article.

Online balloons and gift store, Big Fat Balloons has come up with a list of budget Christmas gift ideas to help families stay in the black over the festive season.

“There seems to be an expectation that we must all spend like crazy in the run up to Christmas, yet for some families this leads to financial problems that last well into the New Year. However, we don’t believe that Christmas has to be so expensive. By shopping smart and planning ahead you can cut your costs without cutting down on the fun,” said Sophie Baxter, managing director, www.BigFatBalloons.co.uk.

To help people stay in the black this year, Big Fat Balloons has put together the following top-five list for a recession busting Christmas.

1. Start early

The earlier you start the more chance you’ll have to pick up a bargain. Keep an eye out for gifts throughout the year or take advantage of end of season sales. Many department stores also run three day sale extravaganzas in the run up to Christmas that can save you pounds. Shopping early can also avoid last minute panic buying, which often results in you spending more than intended.

2. Shop online

Always shop around, especially for more expensive items, and shop online. Some stores offer discounts online that aren’t available on the high street. Not only will online shopping save your feet, it can also reduce the chance of impulse purchases that can soon blow your budget.

3. Buy nearly new

Internet auction sites and free ads in your local paper can be a great way to pick up Christmas presents at a fraction of their store price. You should always check the condition of second-hand goods carefully, but it’s amazing how many are just like new. Some arrive in their original packaging and are completely untouched – probably unwanted gifts from a previous Christmas.

4. Get creative

Spending time on a gift, rather than money, is another option if you really have to reduce your costs. Photographs, poems and artwork can all be framed to make delightful gifts for parents and grandparents.

5. Manage expectations

With children, it’s always better to be as honest as possible, as early as possible. If you just can’t afford the latest games console this year, then let them know. While they may be upset initially, it won’t last forever and at least they won’t be disappointed on Christmas morning.

“However if you really don’t want to disappoint your children, you could ask other family members to contribute towards the gift. After all, one gift they’ll appreciate and play with is better than a dozen they discard,” said Sophie.

Whatever gifts you buy this Christmas, remember it’s the thought that really counts.

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For further press information, please contact Sophie Baxter:

Tel: 01422 300654 Email: info@bigfatballoons.co.uk

Editor’s information:

For more information, please see our Big Fat Balloons web site.

Read the full Budget Christmas gift ideas that won’t break the bank article.

Big Fat Balloons has matched the personality of each judge with a character from its novelty, Airwalker balloon range.

For newbie judge, Cheryl Cole It has to be the Heart-shaped Smiley Face Airwalker balloon. Over the last few weeks we’ve seen the popular, pretty popstar from Girls Aloud wear her heart on her sleeve as X Factor hopefuls have poured out their dreams and sob stories. Perhaps this walking heart can rush on with a box of tissues next time.

Fierce, scary and with a roar to send you fleeing for cover, this walking Tyrannosaurus Rex balloon is perfect for Simon Cowell. We’re sure that many of the contestants who experienced Simon’s fury in the elimination rounds would much rather square up to a T-Rex. But let’s hope for his sake that Simon’s hopeful stars aren’t the first to become extinct from the live shows.

With her feminine, feline looks and sophisticated air, it has to be the Cat Airwalker for Dannii Minogue. The purrfect accessory for the Australian pop princess, this walking cat balloon has style, charm and a killer instinct. But has Dannii stalked the winner in this year’s final?

Finally we get to Louis. His bumbling attitude belies the fact that he’s the man behind some of the most successful bands in pop history. So we’ve decided that the Tortoise Airwalker, with its protective shell to hide behind, is the perfect gift for Louis – we also think it looks a bit like him too! Perhaps this year it’s a race between the hare and the tortoise, but will slowly and surely win the race, after all?

Why not visit www.bigfatballoons.co.uk and check out the full range of Airwalkers. Who knows, you might match up some more celebrities with their perfect pet. Perhaps Katie Price with the Pony Airwalker and her husband, Peter Andre with the faithful Shiba-inu, lap dog Airwalker. You choose.
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For further press information please contact Sophie Baxter at Big Fat Balloons:
Tel: 01422 300 654 Email: sophie@bigfatballoons.co.uk

Editor’s Notes:
Big Fat Balloons is an online helium balloon and gift delivery store, founded in 2006. It provides a wide range of helium balloons and gifts for all occasions. All available for next day, UK delivery.