Why not set up a blog for a loved one this Christmas?

Why not set up a blog for someone this Christmas?

For many years I have used the blogging service Blogger.com which is owned and operated by parent company Google / Alphabet.

Why do I use it rather than Wordpress, for example?  The ironic thing is I have actually have a qualification in designing and operating Wordpress sites and did launch a test Wordpress site but I found it less-than-impressive, to be honest.

There are seemingly always issues with the wide variety of plug-ins that you require to operate your site.

Wordpress also brings out a bewildering plethora of updates that are very difficult to keep up with.

Page speed can be an issue, taking forever to load, or so it seems.

There are many error messages that don't seem to make sense, especially to the new user.

You often need a developer to create your blog.

However, with Blogger.com you sign in with your GMail account, you start your blog and congratulations! You have your blog! Often within minutes rather than the hours it can take with other blogging services.

You can easily create a beautiful and stylish blog that perfectly fits within your own design ethos. 

You can opt from a selection of very easy-to-use templates. And all templates come with with flexible layouts and literally hundreds of background images that you can use at no cost. You can use specially designed templates, but I tend to use standard templates that I modify with background images, apps, etc.

And if you have a Google Adsense account you can run these on your blogs/s, too. 

You can create a gift card to present to the recipient of your gift blog and you can help them to start their blog and also give them hints and tips on how to run the blog which they can use to publish their poems, their stories, recipes, family history, etc, etc, etc.

Just visit www.blogger.com to start up.

Google also operate a dedicated help and advice service which you can find here https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/1623800?hl=en.

If you love cocktails at Christmas you'll love Primo Aperitivo

Most people love the idea of making and then drinking cocktails at Christmas and into the New Year party season.

But how do you go about creating your own cocktails? Will they be too strong? Or perhaps so weak they might need some assistance to escape the shaker or the glass?

Well, fret no more neophyte cocktail makers! Because Primo Aperitivo has got everything covered for you with some very, very stylish and very tasty pre-made cocktails!   

A spokeswoman told us: "We currently have a range of three Ready to drink Aperitivo Cocktails, the classic Negroni cocktail, the Americano and the recently viral Sbagliato Cocktail. They are all sustainably produced, made in Italy, come in beautiful gift boxes which are crafted using recycled materials and have won several awards." 

She went on to say: "We are also about to launch gift sets together with Roasting Plant for Coffee Negroni Sets and  Lucocoa for a set of Negroni and chocolate, as well as our Negroni kits including 2 eco-crystal glasses."

Their Coffee Negroni Set with Roasting Plant will also be a fantastic Christmas gift as they're going to be launched as a limited edition across their five shops in London and their respective webshops. 

It will include a bottle of Negroni and two packs of RP’s freshly roasted coffee, plus instructions on how to make Coffee Negroni’s out of this for those of us who are keen on living a little and making our own cocktails.

She pointed out: "For us coffee and Negroni is a match made in heaven!"

To learn more and to make your purchases, please visit them at In the meantime, have a look at www.primoaperitivo.com or follow them at @primoaperitivo over on Instagram.

New advent calendars from Village Melts

Village Wax Melts is well-known for their strongly scented and long-lasting wax melts, is thrilled to bring to the public their new wax melt advent calendars to keep your house smelling festively special throughout the month of December.

Village Wax Melts advent calendars contain 12 very special yet also mysterious wax melt scents including festive scents and some of their popular year-round scents.

Just open the relevant window to discover which scent is behind the window of the particular day during the Advent season.

With their carefully chosen beautifully executed festive designs, the wax melt advent calendars make a are beautiful seasonal statement that is a welcome addition to any room.

They stand them up like a photo frame which you can proudly display in your home.

However, as they only cost £7.99 Village Wax Melts points out that it's best to order one (or more!) as soon as you can.

They are only available exclusively at their dedicated online shop www.villagewaxmelts.com.

 

Cocoba Chocolate introduces new Christmas gifting range!

Cocoba, the Kentish chocolatier famous for producing irresistible chocolate and hot chocolate gifts, has now launched this year’s Christmas gifting range.

From jolly Santa and Snowman Hot Chocolate Bombes to Hot Chocolate Bombe Crackers and boozy Truffles, Cocoba’s Christmas gifting range really does have something for all.

Cocoba Chocolate has also created some truly gorgeous Christmas Hampers nicely filled up with many delicious treats; you need look no further than Cocoba for a complete and full range of festive gifts to get everyone into the all-important Christmas spirit.

Bursting with a generous helping of mini marshmallows, the delicious Christmas Character Hot Chocolate Bombes are handmade using only the finest tasty Belgian chocolate in the shape of three classic festive friends; Santa, Snowman and Reindeer. 

These sweet stocking fillers are available as either a pack of three Belgian milk and white chocolate bombes for £9.95, or sold as individual characters for just £3.95 each. 

A must-have stocking filler includes the hot chocolate bombe crackers, hidden inside the crackers are three hot chocolate bombes made with silky smooth Belgian chocolate with marshmallows.  

Available in a number of different delicious flavours, including milk chocolate, salted caramel, orange chocolate, dark chocolate (Vegan) and white chocolate, so there are plenty to choose from. 

Not a big fan of marshmallows? (my wife reports that she doesn't rave about them, but doesn't especially mind them) then there's a fun alternatively, Cocoba also has a new Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate Bombe Cracker filled with Popping Candy.  

Each three-pack of Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombe Crackers retails at £9.95. A single milk chocolate Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombe in a Box is also available at £3.95.

Now, everyone knows that it just wouldn’t be Christmas without sharing a moment of true indulgence with your loved ones, and that’s exactly where Cocoba Chocolate’s luxurious truffles come in. 

Every Christmas, the Christmas Pudding and Mulled Wine truffles are a popular favourite with adults for the fun tipple-infused flavours.  

Beginning at a mere £3.95 for a tray of six truffles, to £9.95 for a beautifully decorated tin.

Ultimately, Cocoba definitely has it all wrapped up with a collection of exquisite Christmas hampers starting from a fairly modest £19.99.  

The contents of each hamper are carefully chosen and the whole hamper is nicely put together to display an array of chocolate treats, before being fastened up with a hand-tied ribbon to add the perfect festive finishing touch. 

Please visit Cocoba Chocolate’s website for more information including the Christmas vegan product range.

www.CocobaChocolate.com.

Cocoba’s chocolate products include Belgian hot chocolate, chocolate bars and lollipops, truffles and buttons, and a growing range of vegan dark and ‘milk’ chocolates.

Cocoba’s range is available from www.CocobaChocolate.com plus please don't forget as well as Cocoba’s flagship chocolate café at Kent's Bluewater Shopping Centre, independent farm shops, delis, John Lewis, Selfridges and more besides. And please remember, all of their products are handmade in Kent. 

Incidentally to save even more on your Christmas gifting this year, please remember to join the their mailing list which entitles you to a special 10% discount on your first order. Plus delivery is free on orders of over £35.

Go Nuts! This Christmas with Chika's as the launch new Limited Edition Sweet Almonds

Bring a little extra joy to Christmas this year with CHIKA’S new Crunchy Sweet Almonds.

CHIKA’S, the brand behind all natural, gluten free snacks, is launching a tasty new limited edition duo of delightfully delectable Sweet Almonds just in time for Christmas, that are bursting with flavour and packed full of all-important goodness.

Available in two tempting and delicious festive flavours, Irish Cream and Sweet Cinnamon, the new Sweet Almonds are gently baked to achieve that perfect crunch, but they're guaranteed vegetarian, gluten free, and a great natural source of plant protein and fibre, too.

Chika Russell, the founder and CEO of CHIKA’S says: “With the festive season rapidly approaching, many of us are seeking out tasty treats to enjoy at home, or to share with friends and family. Maybe to act as stocking fillers, too? But a little bit of indulgence doesn't have to make us feel guilty.

“Why? Because our New Crunchy Sweet Almonds offer snackers something a little bit extra special this Christmas. They have incredible flavours, a moreish crunch, and a sprinkling of sweetness, but they are also vegetarian, gluten free, and packed with natural protein and fibre.

"At CHIKA’S, making good snacks goes further than ingredients and flavour, it’s also about a deep rooted commitment to supporting communities, giving back through every snack we sell."

“Chika went on to say: “As a woman-built business, at CHIKA’S we are passionate about supporting women and giving them chances and opportunities to succeed.

“Today, 31 million girls around the world are not being schooled. And every 7 seconds a girl is getting married. As a business, we want to change that.

“Through our ‘Empowering Girls’ programme with World Vision, we’re supporting 30,000 girls with education by 2025. And this year, we launched CHIKA’S in Africa with the aim of creating 300 jobs and a 70% female workforce. It’s about raising aspirations and creating a culture where female success is celebrated.”

NEW! CHIKA’S Sweet Almonds (Irish Cream and Sweet Cinnamon) will be available to buy from www.chikas.co.uk, Amazon, and Ocado from Christmas 2022. RRP £3 for a 100g sharing bag.

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