Gifted Originals

Whereas the names Michael, Robert, Laura, and Katie, were once seen as sensible, good, ordinary names, celebrity parents are striving to call their offspring the most unique, some say strangest, names possible.

These days, any A-lister worth their salt have to conjure up the most imaginative (or daftest) name possible to show and prove their credentials. From Brangelina’s Shiloh, to Gwyneth’s Apple, and Beckhams’ Romeo, one American study published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science, found that in recent years, even ‘ordinary’ parents have been less likely to give their children popular names.

Controversially though, researchers concluded, “The most compelling explanation left is this idea that parents are much more focused on their children standing out. There’s been this cultural shift toward focusing on the individual, toward standing out and being unique as opposed to fitting in with the group and following the rules.”

This was then followed by the most cutting statement of all, “I think it is an indication of our culture becoming more narcissistic”.

It’s not doubtful that being called Princess Tiaamii will make her stand out, but does it really make Katie Price is narcissistic, wanting the hog the limelight years down the line when her youth and success has long left her?

According to 72 per cent of Lil Sugar’s readers, ‘No — Picking a less common name for your kid doesn’t mean anything’, compared to 28 per cent who think that ‘Yes — I don’t know why people are going name crazy these days!’

But what do you think, are our offsprings’ names a reflection of out creativity and imagination, or just a way to feed our narcissistic impulses?

Most girls dream of being a prima ballerina – pirouetting across the stage to the backdrop of the Swan Lake, with Tchaikovsky’s magical music providing the soundtrack to the arabesque-fest and the grand plies galore.

As we get older, the dreams of being Margot Fortaine subside to the realities of earning a decent crust, and what was a burning ambition aged 5 is a childhood memory at the ripe age of 30…it was good while it lasted, though!

If your little one is mesmerised by the images of ballerinas, and wants to look like one minus all the hard work, then the Stella Ballerina Outfit is the perfect solution. Recommended for ages 2-5, this gorgeous ballerina set, £9.99, comes with tutu, ruffled pants, boots and tiara headband.

While we’re not going to pretend it will turn Milly into Margot, it will provide the perfect costume to show mum and dad she can spin, kick, and bend. Who knows, it could be the start of something special, igniting a burning desire to take to the stage and become the prima ballerina many have dreamed of, but few have realised.

Every Fontaine has to start somewhere, and who says the Stella Ballerina Outfit isn’t it?

You can always count on Tim Burton to make the darkest, wackiest films in cinema. With his favourite actor Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, and actress and wife Helena Bonham Carter as the ‘ugly, oppressive queen’, Burton’s adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is the latest of his Victorian-period films.

This time though there’s a difference. This time, Alice and all that delicious but dark Wonderland will be in all it glorious 3D, jumping out of the screen to spellbind and thrill the audience. Opening to mixed reviews, such as “Tim Burton tampers with the children’s classic to his cost” (Observer), to, “In all, a fantastic film that gets curiouser and curiouser” (Times Online), Alice in Wonderland has always been a book, then film, that has divided audiences with its less-than-obvious themes.

Already grossing $41m on its opening on Friday, Alice and Wonderland 3D is apparently the biggest 3D release of all time, beating James Cameron’s Avatar, and will go a long way to reassure Disney, who spent a whopping $250m on the remake of the classic book.

So will it leave you grinning like the Cheshire Cat, or as Mad as a Hatter?

With Spring beckoning and the daffodils ready to bloom, now is the time to start tending to the garden. After the cold snap that saw Britain’s gardens covered in snow for weeks, some TLC is desperately called for to get them pruned and prepared, and what a better way than to tackle it as a family?

Miniature versions of mum and dad’s, our children’s Garden Tools are a fantastic way to introduce the young ones to the joys of gardening. Rather than forking out on expensive days out, the mud, worms, and ladybirds to be found in the garden are more likely to bring out their sense of adventure and wonder.

Including a trowel, shovel and rake, these three brightly coloured metal tools are heavy duty enough for Titchmarsh Junior to tackle his own little patch and create a haven for all the creepy crawlies he has discovered. Priced at £4.99, the Garden Tools really are the essential accessories for children who want to dig their way to the centre of the earth, and get covered in mud in the process.

For more information, type ‘garden tools’ into the keyword box on the Gifted Originals website.

When it first hit cinemas 15 years ago, Toy Story captured the imagination of adults and children alike. Introducing Woody and Buzz Lightyear, the Pixar animation was to mark the departure from classic 2D to cutting edge 3D.

Set for release in July, Toy Story 3 sees Andy leaving for college and after some twists and turns, the toys are accidentally donated to Sunnyside Daycare Center, where new characters such as Peas-in-a-Pod and Ken – of Barbie fame –  join the old favourites. Realising some of the new toys aren’t as friendly as they first thought, the toys discover Andy is desperately trying to find them.

Set for release on July 23, Toy Story 3 will once again capture the imagination of its older audience, while also appealing to a younger one.

Click on Toy Story 3 Official Movie Trailer to see the toys in action.

Dear readers, brace yourself for what you’re about to read.

Toys are our thing, we love them in fact – but maybe not as much as the people at Toy Travelling agency in the Czech capital, Prague. Recognising that in these recession-hit times we humans can’t afford the luxury of city breaks, the travel agency will take pictures of your beloved toy at Prague’s favourite sites for the fraction of the cost.

Most probably inspired by French film Amelie, Toy Travelling will keep you updated on his adventures through daily email communication, and send him home with photos of his journey. But what if Paddy is a vegetarian? Well, because your toy may have special preferences, you can opt for vegetarian-only meals for him and specify whether he drinks alcohol. This information will be useful to the tour operators, who, with your permission, will take your toy and a group of fellow toy travellers on a picnic.

On offer are three different packages, with the least expensive being the most basic, although if you’re going to go to the effort of sending Paddy to Prague, then he’s going to need a spa treatment to recuperate.

If this all sounds like good fun, then visit sendyourdarling.com

According to the Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, us Britons – the supposedly tea-loving nation – are consuming less tea than in 1999. While us older folks can’t function without our morning tea, younger people fail to see appeal of the wonderful tea bag, and are opting for cold soft drinks instead.

Consumer research group Mintel found that 85 per cent of over-65s drink tea, whereas those aged 15 to 24, only 72 per cent drink tea. Ellen Shiels, the senior market analyst at Mintel, said: “There is a need by manufacturers to make traditional tea more of a fashionable beverage. The tea market has become more segmented, trying to be many things to more people.”

Until the marketing and advertising people at Tetley think of a way to appeal to the young’uns, then why not mix a little creativity with utility by painting your own tea set?

The Tea Set Painting Kit. £9.49, contains mini cups, saucers, sugar pot, milk jug, teapot paints and a paintbrush along with a display stand. We think it’s a great way for children to not only create something that they can then show off to friends, but will also preserve the quintessentially English tradition of tea drinking.

For more information, follow the links. paint your own tea set , children’s craft kits

watch?v=dU7nG3KvZDA“They just know what they want” is the usual response from parents who have demanding offspring. What is spoiled to one, is regarded as spirited to the other, with the “I want it NOW!” increasingly being viewed as a sign the 7-year-old is going to be a great business person in twenty years time.

But can you really measure if your child is spoiled? According to ‘mommy website’, Lil Sugar, you can. Sparking a lively debate among its readers, the website posted a checklist of 10 signs that indicate that you may have a spoiled child on your hands.

From the ‘She throws tantrums, often’, to the ‘He tries to control adults’, and ‘You have to beg him’, Lil Sugar has put itself at the mercy of over defensive, or perhaps just protective mums. While it is safe to say we all know a spoiled child when we see one, it is less apparent when our child is the spoiled one, hence the hot debate.

But what if you watch Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it all seems a little too familiar? Then Lil Sugar has tips on how to ‘unspoil’ spirited Sam. From ‘Acknowledging why you spoil’ to ‘Get on the same page’, and ‘Don’t justify your reasoning’, Veruca Salt will be no more.

But is it really that easy? For more on this, visit www.lilsugar.com/Thing-Spoiled-Child-7523028

And if you need a reminder – or a reality check, click on Veruca Salt in action

If, unlike Shameless’s Frank Gallagher, you’re not sure on ‘ow to throw a par’ay, then look no further than our party range.Whereas for some parents the whole ‘let’s have a party’ is an excuse to show of their incredible craftmanship, embroidery, and costume making, we at Gifted Originals HQ know most of us don’t have the time or know how to put Harry’s mum to shame.

Whether your son is obsessed with pirates or creepy crawlies, and your daughter thinks it is the perfect chance to be inaugurated as Princess of Greenville Road, we have a theme that is sure to please. From party bag fillers to ready-made party packs, we have all the party paraphernalia you need to ensure it looks the part.

What’s more, with prices starting from 33p, who says you have to spend big to have maximum effect?

For more information, type ‘party’ into the keyword box on the Gifted Originals homepage. We look forward to the invitation!

Check out the all the party food boxes and party bags here!

Stopping off in a car park to stretch their legs at the foot of Glastonbury Tor, Somerset, Jade Thomas and her daughter, six-year-old Jasmine, couldn’t have predicted what was about to unfold.

While they were away from their car, thieves struck and ransacked the car.

As well as stealing two bags, and items including a wallet and camera, the petty criminals also took Jasmine’s Jeep backpack, which had in it her beloved soft toy, Pengi, and a security blanket she has owned since birth, lovingly known as Blankie.

“Obviously, I was upset at the car being broken into and our property being taken, but Jasmine took Blankie and Pengi everywhere and she is very upset,” said mum. Expecting the cuddly toy and blanket wouldn’t be of interest to the thieves, Jade is appealing to ramblers in the area to keep an eye out for Blankie, which is described as white and cream with a hole, and Pengi, who is said to have a cream body, with stripey green feet and wears a matching green-hooded top.

“She’s never really been all that interested in toys, she just likes what she likes and although she’s been a little trooper, she misses him very much,” said mum.

Pengi and the scene of the incident

Gifted Originals