One4all Best Birthday Guide- Guest Post

“Best Birthday”

For busy people with busy lives 

Life is go, go, go these days with little time to pamper yourself, let alone organise a birthday celebration to remember… does this sound like you?

You’re not alone – in fact, One4all Gift Cards conducted research recently that found an increasing number of people are overlooking their special day. 

To help bring back the magic of birthdays here is a great guide to ensure you have a fantastic birthday.

The One4all gift card is a great gift idea and can be used in 17,000 stores nationwide! In fact it can be used in some of the retailers featured in this guide – B&Q, House of Fraser, Red Letter Days and Superbreak.

Steps to achieving the ‘Best Birthday’ 

1. The Birthday Cake 

The research showed that less than 15% of us would always get a cake on our birthdays…. It is easy, in a rush, to pick up a standard supermarket cake that is plain, dry and rather ordinary. However, you could have a wonderful and unique birthday cake without having to stand for hours in the kitchen slaving over a mixing bowl and icing intricate detailing onto a Victoria sponge. 

Have a browse on the Internet and see the vast array of unique cake makers and the specialist cakes on offer, from all over the country. 

It takes a couple of clicks and you have an original specialised cake… and make someone’s day really special.

The cake deigns are unique to you, and nothing seems impossible for these talented cake makers (see some examples below). 

The Decorations




So, you want fabulous decorations but don’t have the time to trawl around for the best bunting or price compare what’s on offer?

Well, there are plenty of ways to acquire decorations that appear to have taken a lot of effort, but have only taken a few minutes of your time. 

Websites such as Party Box have tasteful decorations available – at a very reasonable price. You can even take the party outside with cheerful garden party decorations such as these super fairy lights from B&Q.

A quick and easy way to make a birthday celebration special…

3. Drinks

Are you fed up of drinking copious amounts of wine and beer at your birthday celebrations?

Cocktails have never been so ‘in’ and you can liven up your drinks choices at a reasonable price to you, and feel like you’re ‘so’ Sex in the City. 

A little bit of imagination can go a long way; here are some great cocktail ideas that are reasonable, easy and creative from Black Cherry Martini to a Fair and Warmer. 




However, you can even be inventive with the drinks that you already have at home… a great example is Sangria – which can add a Spanish mix to your party celebrations.


Ingredients: 3 parts red wine, 1 part orange juice, 2 parts lemonade, ice, fresh mint (optional) and sliced fruit such as oranges and lemons. 

Preparation: Mix all the ingredients together in a large jug and add more red wine, orange and lemonade according to taste and desired strength and then enjoy… simple! 





Another great recipe, that is non-alcoholic, is Mint Lemonade…


Ingredients: large handful of fresh mint, 6 lemons (juice and zest of 3), 3 tsp of sugar cane syrup and sparkling mineral water. 

Preparation: Place the mint leaves into a tea towel and bruise with a rolling pin, add the mint to a pitcher, with the lemon juice and zest and sugar cane syrup, top up with sparkling water. Mix the cocktail well and more sugar cane syrup, to taste… chill in the fridge and enjoy!





Also, liven up the displays of your drinks on offer. A top tip for beers (in a garden celebration) is to display beer buckets, and also using jam jars as glasses is a current trend.

You can find some great al fresco dining accessories at House of Fraser.






4. A Birthday experience… to remember

Forget a meal or night out… why not celebrate your birthday in style - a birthday with a difference. Red Letter Days , offers a wide range of experience days, and has some great birthday ideas, which they can set your birthday apart from previous years. And what’s more – you can buy with a One4all gift card!


Red Letter Day birthdays are great for celebrating a monumental birthday – great for both men and women, of all ages. The packages range from test-driving Ferraris to a unique wine tasting day.

The Red Letter Days experience can be purchased with the One4all gift card.



5. A mini break

Would you like to get away from the hustle and bustle? A mini break can be a perfect way to celebrate your birthday, for you. If you aren’t keen on big party celebrations, then a city break and getaway could be the perfect answer to make your birthday special.

There are plenty of websites that have reasonable and last minute places available for that perfect getaway both in the UK and abroad. E.g. Superbreak

6. Perfect gift

Fed up with receiving a gift you do not want? The answer is asking your friends and family for a gift card, but not any gift card – a multi store gift card. 

The One4all gift card is secure, safe and can be spent in over 17,000 retail outlets nationwide. Retail partners are well known names such as House of Fraser, Debenhams, Boots, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Topshop, Waterstones, Pizza Express, Zizzis and Beaverbrook’s to name a few. Find out more here.

The One4all gift card also has a group gifting function, and this means that family and friends can collate money and you can purchase a larger present with it – no more unwanted presents! 









7. Party food 

Party foods trends are always changing… below are the top five key trends for the upcoming summer season…perfect for any birthday celebration to make or buy. 

Cake pops


Mini Burgars

Dips

Toasts

Macaroons

Finally, however you spend your birthday make sure you take time for yourself and enjoy your special day. Don’t forget… it only comes around once a year!