Thursday, January 28, 2010

History of St Valentine's Day

Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.

In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s.


Esther Howland was a pioneer in the American valentine manufacturing industry. It was after her graduation from Mount Holyoke College, in 1847, that she received her first English valentine. She then became fascinated with the idea of making similar valentines and imported the necessary paper lace and floral decorations from England. Surprised by the demand for them she recruited friends to assist her, and issued her first advertisement in a Worcester paper, The Daily Spy, on Feb 5th, 1850. The assembly line operation that began in her home eventually led to a thriving business grossing $100,000 annually.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Approximately 85 percent of all Valentines are purchased by women!! Are they trying to say that men aren't romantic are that ladies are perhaps just a little more organised!!

This Valentines Card is rumoured to be the most expensive card around as it is valued at over £4000 stg and held by the British Postal Museum and dated from 1790. The card is a handcrafted puzzle that unfurls to reveal different poems such as:

“My dear the Heart which you behold,
Will break when you the same unfold,
Even so my heart with lovesick pain,
Sure wounded is and breaks in twain.”


How romantic is that. They certainly do not make them like they used to....

Better start shopping for mine!!
Sian x

Friday, January 15, 2010

Future Positive On TV3


Congrats to our client Future Positive who we appeared with on TV3 a few months ago on making their second appearance yesterday morning. Niall was looking suave and made a great impression on all the viewers with his range of mobile and landline phones. Future Positive have a fantastic range of phones which are fantastic for the visually impaired or people with hearing difficulties. They are also fantastic to give the extended family peace of mind as they all have SOS facilities enabling the person to push an alarm button and call specially allotted numbers in an emergency.

A fantastic business and run by a gentleman going from strength to strength. These phones can be used by any sim card and are a one off payment with no hidden charges just peace of mind. A great investment. Well done Niall!!

Sian x

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Last minute Christmas Gifts!!

Christmas Shopping has never been easier than at www.giftsandvouchers.ie. With over 1500 gifts to choose from we have something for everybody. From luxury branded gifts to vouchers for local businesses all over Ireland. Gifts and Vouchers will deliver all over Ireland right up until Christmas week. And for those last minute gifts we have a fantastic new gift which will suit everybody young and old – eVouchers!

Check out our eVouchers. These can be bought instantly and emailed directly to you or to somebody else. And not only that, it takes the pressure of choosing a gift away from you! They can then spend the eVoucher online choosing from over 1500 gifts themselves! Never get caught out again for a last minute gift with these eVouchers.

So if you find yourself stuck for a Christmas Gift right up until Christmas Day just log onto Gifts and Vouchers and check out our eVouchers. Don't get caught out for those last minute gifts ever again!!

Happy Christmas,

Sian x

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Plants and Flowers Online for Christmas Gifts and others


One of the most popular gifts for any occasion be it a Christmas Gift, Birthday Gift, Get Well or just to show you care is flowers or plants. They are a gift that can be sent to both men and women and are generally quite easy to select. A lot of people tend to have a favourite flower or colour which makes it easier to choose a bouquet or basket. You can also choose from hanging or window baskets which can then be reused making them very economical.

I always find flowers a fantastic pick me up and love having them scattered through the house and on my doorstep as a welcome to people. I think they brighten up any home and create a warm ambience. They need not be just for Valentines Day or Mothers Day. We have a lovely new range from our new clients Plants Online. One basket in particular which caught my eye was their Strawberry Hanging Basket. I think this would make a fabulous Christmas present for anybody. We also have a wide selection of bouquets and baskets from our client The Flower Yard. Both of which can be delivered anywhere in Ireland.

Now to drop some hints to my darling Hubbie. Roses are my favourite!!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

World's most expensive Handbag!!!

The one accessory that can always finish off any outfit for a lady, and sometime now a gentleman, is a handbag. Women are known to spend a fortune on these accessories. But they are an accessory that last. I know I have handbags in my wardrobe that come out year after year beacuase they are good quality and stylish and last. But the great thing about them as well is that you can get great value handbags as well for that sparkly outfit which will finish it off perfectly in the likes of Dunnes and Pennys. I was heading to a Ball a couple of months ago and realised an hour prior I had no handbag. A last minute dash into Dunnes Stores and I picked up a perfect little black clutch bag for €7 and a green stone brooch for €3 to pin into the front of it. I felt like I stepped out of Blue Peter!!

If you fancy really splashing out! Earlier this year the most expensive handbag in the world was the Chanel Diamond Forever – A Precious Fashion Accessory at £261,000 Stg!! I think that is just ridiculous. And if anybody bought me a Christmas gift of a handbag of anything over a couple of hunderd euro I would find it hard to take it. But that is me. I know people spend thousands on handbags. But is it as a statement of who they are and what they can afford rather than a style and fashion accessory?

If you would like to see some affordable handbags from Irish Stockists Handbag Heaven, Louth Craftmark and The Deisgn Gallery please check out our ranges on Gifts and Vouchers. These would make some fabulous Christmas Gifts or Gifts for Her.