Storyvault is another little delivery from the wonderful world of Web 2.0 and follows in the footsteps of Facebook and its ilk. However, this site is more for the memory lover, the keeper of chronicles if you will. Here you can capture your life in one central place and all for absolutely no cost at all.

• Click here to check out Storyvault.com

The site is officially launching at the end of March and is currently completely free. The idea behind the site is that if you want to find ways of capturing those you love in eternity you can use the site to recount key experiences of their lives.

You can use the site to archive your memories but uploading short stories, films, photographs, comments or anything else that will make your storyvault personal to you. You can interview your grandparents, recount adorable pieces of your child’s development and talk about your own feelings for them to read when they grow up.

The content is private so only those who you want to share your thoughts can access them and the site really does promote interviewing your family members as a primary part of the experience. You can get advice on how to hold these interviews and how to upload them plus you can access other public interviews to discover more about other people’s lives.

While this is still in its infancy, the potential is enormous and the idea interesting. So if you would like to make mum a stunning gift to remember, why not create a storyvault just for her, interview everyone who loves her and put these up for her to watch in bed with her breakfast on March 14.

Lovely...

Traidcraftshop.co.uk are one of the top fair trade organisations in the UK and they’ve got some lovely gifts at fabulous prices for Mother’s Day. Fancy nabbing Mum a card or a gift that doesn’t come with a history of bad practise? Well this is where to go.

• Click here to visit Traidcraftshop.co.uk

If you’re doing Mother’s Day on a budget but also want to stick to your principles then I’ve discovered a ton of stuff that will make you happy. The site has an entire section dedicated to Mother’s Day yummies that sit at anything from £2.50 to £24.

What about a handmade paper heart-shaped box stuffed with delicious heart-shaped chocolates? The box can keep as a lovely storage container long after the choccies are gone. It costs only £8 and with a gorgeous paper Dotty Heart card, you’ve got yourself a stunner of a gift for only £10.50.

You can get a jewellery set for £10, recycled champagne flutes, Guatemalan bags, earrings, gift sets and even an incense collection. One of my personal faves is the gardening basket that comes packed with gorgeous utensils and pots, all in time for Spring, for the lovely price of £26.  It’s definitely worth a closer examination for those of you on the prowl for the perfect gifts...

If you’re looking for a delightful little something to get your partner on Mother’s Day then these little lip glosses from the Lip Gloss Company are a good place to start. Designed like little roses in pink or red, they pop open to reveal a little pool of lush gloss inside. 

• Click here to see the range from MAD Beauty  

The Rosey Lips lip glosses are a good size, they fit neatly into coat pockets, handbags and even small evening purses. Personally, I think that the design makes it far easier to find them when you’re scuffling through a handbag in a rush, but some may find them a little bulkier than the standard tube. 

The gloss itself adds a really nice sheen to your lips and tastes rather yummy. I found that these added that little extra to bare lips when the mood isn’t quite right for slapping on lipstick. The gloss itself lasts for quite a while and isn’t too sticky. It doesn’t have that horrible “glued lips” residue that some brands do. 

I did find that the pots were a bit difficult to open initially. At one point I managed to turn mine into a deadly missile as it shot out of my hands and into the wall. However, the neat design and total cuteness make that a forgivable flaw in a lovely gloss. The quantity of gloss looks really small but I’ve been using my pot solidly for a week now and it doesn’t appear to have dented the supply – perhaps it’s a Tardis in there... 

I have to say that I like these guys. I like the unique design and the light colour the actual gloss adds to your lips. They’re a nifty extra to add into your Mother’s Day gift pack (or for you to buy as a treat for yourself, mum) and really don’t cost the Earth.

Calling all parents to be (or weird pram collectors like me)! Here lies a lovely deal that will sort you out for years to come. This extremely pretty and chic set has been marked down from £230 to only £109.99 but there are only 550 in stock so hurry!

• Click here to see the deal at Kiddicare

I really like this set. The understated design and colours really make it a complete winner for new parents, especially those that aren’t forging ahead and finding out the sex of their baby beforehand. I’ve always wondered what those people do when it comes to choosing a travel system? Do you send hubby out straight after you’ve given birth to buy one in the right colour?

Anyway...this Huack Speedsun system is in navy with a flower geometric detail in yellow, blue and white.  It is suitable from birth to three years and includes a pram, car seat (birth to 12kg), sun canopy, support pillow, chest pad, footmuff, changing bag and pvc.

The car seat has a three-point safety harness and the pram has a multi-position backrest with a removable hood and adjustable leg rest. Bargain!

Thanks to silkenlaydee at HUKD!

Here we have a stupendous deal for the outdoorsy family that’s looking to revitalise their camping kit. The kit is packed with pretty much all you need to get started on your camping adventures and it is all for the lovely price of £99.99.

• Click here to see the deal at Argos

The set includes a four person tent, two single sleeping bags, one double sleeping bag, two double airbeds and a lantern. This really is NOT roughing it in any way, shape or form. A bit of technical detail on the tent – it has two rooms, one door, two windows, an attached groundsheet and is based on the ring and pin system (whatever THAT means!).

The tent is 140x420x210cm and weighs in at 14.13kgs. It looks quite fab in the piccie, if a bit small for my tastes, and even has a nice little awning for a spot of people watching in the rain. The site includes plenty of other camping items that may appeal to you including the Regatta set for £24 more.

Thanks to ashleyj1155 at HUKD!

It was with some excitement that the PlayPennies Mum Panel started to review this range of Mother’s Day gifts from Photobox. The idea is that you donate money to charity every time you buy one of these gorgeous Mother's Day mugs from Photobox and still give mum a magical pressie. It looked like we were onto a winner.

So, armed with our favourite photies (and some red wine, obviously) we created our very own photomug for mum, and this is what we discovered:

Breast Cancer Campaign Pink Mug For Mum

Photobox have teamed up with the charity Breast Cancer Campaign to create a funky and fabulous Mother’s Day pressie. You pay £8.49 and £2.15 of that goes straight to them – not only will mum appreciate the effort but also the sentiment.

We only created one mug between us and it was thanks to my having won the coin toss that I got to be the one who chose the final photo and kept the mug.

Creating the mug is extremely simple. The hardest part is probably going to be choosing which photograph to use. In my case I used a vertical photo that had my daughter running in the distance. Now I would not recommend choosing a similar style when you do this. The image didn't work well on the mug at all - it was too distant and washed out.

This is not to say that the product is bad, not at all, just that a close-up photo similar to the one you can see on the left, is your best bed. Bright vivid colours in close-up is what you need for the perfect mug.

Setting up took seconds and the guide showed us how the photo would fit onto the mug. The entire process made it very simple for all of us to adjust the image to fit properly.

"I was extremely impressed with this. Extremely," said Anya, "I know it sounds like I’m dancing around about something random, but you have no idea how many different photo gift sites I’ve used and how many times I’ve growled in frustration."

It was so easy we were somewhat worried about how everything was going to turn out -  you all know that feeling right? So we sat and waited patiently for our mug to arrive.  Please note that you must order by tomorrow (09 March) to get yours in time!

The mug is really solid and sturdy and the pink inlay subtle and appealing. The image was somewhat washed out but when I compared it to the image I’d chosen it was, as I mentioned earlier, my choice of image that was at fault rather than in the process itself.

The mug didn’t come with dishwasher safe instructions so it’s been slung in there for testing. So far so good I might add!

And Finally

As Mother’s Day gifts go, I think this one is at the top of our favourites list. It may not be a huge pamper fest but I have really loved drinking my morning coffee out of it and seeing my little girl laughing up at me. On a dark stressed out morning, this reminder of a happy moment is just wonderful.

Disney World may be the happiest place on earth but when you get there it can also be the most overwhelming. The place is HUGE! I remember when we first went, we kept losing each other. I even suggested electric shock devices that go off the moment we get too far from each other. Well here is a book that could transform your experience for only £6.99 at Waterstones.

• Click here to see the Disney deal at Waterstones

The books will show you how to find all the hidden Mickeys, tell you the truth behind Madame Leota’s ring at the Haunted Mansion and plenty more. You’ll learn all about the hidden magic that permeates these fabulous resorts in this tell-all handbook.

The book includes over 600 secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and will be an indispensible guide for anyone who plans to go Disney this summer. You can also get a further 10 percent off the price by using the code: VK8645 which drops the price down to £6.29 delivered.

So if you’re bobbing off to Disney in Florida then nab a copy of this to read on the plane. You’ll be the family having the most fun.

Thanks to Cadmus at HUKD!

Sorry dads, this month is all about mums and this deal is absolutely perfect for the mums out there. Don’t worry, you’ll get your turn soon...This deal from Glamour is an absolute corker with you landing 24 issues of the magazine for only £18 – this works out at only 75p per issue!

• Click here to find out more from Glamour

The magazine features hot celebrity gossip and news, fashion and beauty features, gripping real-life stories, in-depth features plus health, entertainment, fitness, food and travel. It’s a neat little bundle of fabulous relaxing entertainment in one.

This is not only perfect for mum to get for herself as a treat, but perhaps a stunning gift for that special mum in your life? For only £18 you’re netting her two years of fun with a good magazine. Not only that but you also get two free bottles of nail polish!

When you book your subscription you’re given the choice of different colours dependent on the payment terms you choose for your subscription. I’ll be honest, this did have me chuckling a little. If you want something truly funky then you may have to subscribe for a longer period of time...

Thanks to ramnee at HUKD!

Fancy getting yourself a super play centre for the garden for a mere £29.99? Well Toys R Us have a simply awesome deal running at the moment for this playcentre that has a swing and a two-seat glider.

• Click here to see the deal at Toys R Us

You are guaranteed hours of fun on this fantastic playcentre that will fit beautifully into most gardens. Although, if your garden is anything like ours it will take up the entire space. I am hugely impressed with this deal as the original price was £59.99 and you’re only charged £4.95 for delivery.

The set is brightly coloured and made from steel, it is easy to assemble and comes with ground anchors and weather resistant ropes. However, I must add that there is a small little disclaimer on the site that says it requires concreting! That is hardly easy to install in my books, but perhaps you DIY types will laugh and do it with one hand tied behind your back.

So if you’re on the prowl for something to entertain your kids this summer then perhaps this will fit neatly into both your budget and your garden.

Thanks to amibees at HUKD!

If you’re about to build your nursery then you’re probably wondering what kind of bed you need to get for your child. Personally I’m in favour of the cot bed as this will last for years and years and will end up saving you money. This deal from Wilkinson for a cot bed at £130 including a mattress is really good value for money.

• Click here to see the deal at Wilkinson

The cot bed is suitable from birth until they are toddlers and comes in a rich dark wood finish. It includes full panels with horizontal grooves and three different height positions. The two split ends convert into a junior bed when little one gets too big for their cot.

Like most good models, the bed also comes with protective teething rails so baby can munch away to their hearts content. It’s funny because in the old days we all used to just chew on wood and we came out ok (well, I think we did anyway). One of our old cots has teeth marks all the way down the sides from generations of babies.

The Wilkinson deal also includes a free cot bed mattress. Just add the product to your basket and go through the checkout and it will be automatically deducted from the price. Just make sure you choose the right one or you’ll end up paying!

Thanks to babyxxxx at HUKD!

Ok so if you’re on the prowl for a Mother’s Day gift that will get her away from the home and out into the wonderful world, then this deal is something you need to look at. It will take a bit of explaining (read on!) but if you follow the instructions then you’re looking at paying only £47.98 per person for an eight day holiday in Spain.

• Click here to view the deal at Ryanair and Eurocamp

To start with let’s look at your flights. Fly with Ryanair from Luton, there are other airports available at the same price but you will need to check online. The dats are 05 May to Reus and back on 13 May 2010.

The total cost for two adults and two children is £79.92 but it does mean you’ll have to only take hand luggage and use the prepay card to pay. It is highly unlikely that you’ll manage eight days without taking an actual suitcase so expect to pay a bit more.

The accommodation is at the Eurocamp Park Playa Bara which is a four star park. For the cost of £110 you geteight nights in a five person tent. These tents are not roughing it, oh no, these come with proper bedrooms and a living area and are really lush. If you really hate the idea of living in a tent, though, you can pay £11 more per person to nab yourself a mobile home.

Add up the total for flights and accommodation and you’re looking at a fabulous deal indeed. Single parents  have also been catered for with some special offers just for you. Take some time to eyeball the site and get yourselves a lovely holiday. Happy Mother’s Day!

Thanks to sbfc at HUKD!

New parents take note! Travel cots are the most useful things on the planet (aside from nappies, of course) and they can be quite pricey so this lovely deal at only £25 should get your fingers tingling. The price does exclude delivery, which seems a little steep to me at £5.95, but the price is good and you can always get it instore.

• Click here to see the travel cot at ASDA

The cot won a silver award from Mother & Baby magazine which is actually a fairly big deal and does mean it has been through some rigorous testing. According to them the cost “gives your baby a soft and sleep-friendly environment”.

It does come with well padded top rails for extra protection and the mesh sides mean you can easily keep an eye on baby while you pootle about doing your own thing. The magical thing about these cots is that you don’t have to only use them when you go away on holiday. They are also perfect for popping baby into for a nap during the day.

Easily collapsible and fairly straightforward to assemble, this chap is a bargain at £25.

Thanks to Jolouise83 at HUKD!

If you have a budding Hello Kitty fan in your home, or perhaps you’ve been one yourself, then these welly boots will appeal to you enormously. Selling for only £4.99 at Halfcost, they are a complete bargain, although the price does exclude delivery.

• Click here to take a gander at Hello Kitty at Halfcost

These girls’ wellington boots have a large brand logo on the side and the sole is lined. They look pretty sturdy to me, and the adorable Hello Kitty face pops out against the pink houndstooth background. You really can’t get cuter than this.

The available sizes are dwindling pretty fast so if you need to nab yourself a pair of wellies for the spring rains then you better get a move on!

Thanks to millarcat at HUKD!

I love the name of this deal – the box of dreams. Doesn’t that make you feel as if you’re going to open up a world of amazing imagination and excitement that’s yours alone? No? Oh, just me then...Well this box of dreams is down to £3.99 from £9.99 at Play.com

• Click here to see the deal at Play.com

This box has a ton of lovely stuff squozed into it. You’ll discover a storybook treasury, a colouring book, a read-along storybook and CD plus an activity pad. You also get five metal pin badges with your favourite Pixar characters on them.

How do they know which one is my favourite? Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to know that. Especially since they used to get it wrong a lot...

Right, my madness has taken me down the crazy path again so let’s get back on track. This is a fab set for parents that are about to embark on long journeys. Planning an Easter break that involves a lot of travel? Nab yourself one of these for the kids. It will distract them for long enough periods of time to keep you sane.

P.S. Delivery is free!

Thanks to millarcat at HUKD!

Are you looking for an unusual gift for Mother’s Day? Perhaps your mum has green fingers and adores to spend her free time pottering around the garden or around flowers? Well this deal from Thompson & Morgan should get you grinning! Only £5 for five young plants including free delivery!

• Click here to see the deal at Thompson & Morgan

I must warn you that they will only be dispatched by the end of April 2010 (and that they can’t spell the word dispatch) so this will be a late gift. I don’t think many mums will mind the wait when they know they’ll be getting something this lovely. You can even get numbers of 10 and 30 should you have the budget.

These flowers will look stunning in baskets, window boxes and displays and can bloom up to 10cm across. The collection includes colours such as Bella Rosella, Blueberry Fizz, Deep Purple, Seventh Heaven and Voodoo.

Awesome. I’ll take some Voodoo in Seventh Heaven please...

Thanks to stevey_p7 at HUKD!

Deliciously delectable recipes that will make you drool (as I am, all over my keyboard) are ready for you to take for free from the Carnation website. So Dad this year why not get together with the kids in the kitchen to create soft and indulgent cupcakes?

• Click here to see the free Mother’s Day recipes from Carnation

There are some really divine recipes on here and I have to confess that I’ve put on about a stone thanks to my having to (obviously) make each and every one of them. I had to be sure that they were good enough for you, didn’t I?

I also hate it when I find a recipe and it just doesn’t work. The expense of getting all the ingredients only to end up with gooey, horrible inedible mess is just too great. Luckily for you, and me, these recipes work a charm.

There are a ton of recipes to choose from but the Vanilla Cupcakes really are among the easiest. They’re also the most fun to decorate and make with little ones in tow. And I can guarantee you that mum will melt when she sees sticky little fingerprints and crumbly little cakes that show how much love and care went into making them.

P.S. They even have pudcasts (snort) that talk you through the difficult bits...

The Affordable Art Fair Spring Collection runs from the 11^th to the 14^th of March and is all about bringing quality art to the normal budget. The fair will be at Battersea Park in London and PlayPennies readers are entitled to a special 2-For-1 price at the door.

• Click here to find out more about the Affordable Art Fair Spring  Collection

The fair is one of the most popular art fairs in the UK with a record number of visitors in October 2009. Thousands of art lovers have ambled through the doors and discovered gorgeous works of art to take home. This show is proof that there is a demand for accessible and affordable art.

I agree – you shouldn’t have to be a multi-billionaire to be allowed to choose art for your home. Art that you can appreciate and admire and that is yours alone. This fair provides you with a unique opportunity to find those special artworks to revolutionise your home. 

To take advantage of this 2-For-1 offer, simply print out this page and show it at the door to qualify. Ticket prices range from £10 for concessions to £15 for weekend tickets, children under 16 go free. It’s a stunning day out and is a perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day, even if you don’t go on Sunday 14.

In honour of both World Book Day (read more!) and Mother’s Day, I’m doing several book reviews this month. These books are not necessarily part of the World Book Day special offers but they are books, and they are all about reading, so I’m all for them!

The first of these is a nifty little book that really does strike a chord with me. The book is titled, “Presents Money Can’t Buy” by Sheridan Simove, and is all about doing things for the people you love without spending tons of cash. It  also focuses on creating little pockets of love in your relationship because you’re working hard at making things for each other.

Ideas in the book include making a cress initial on damp paper, letting it grow and then giving it to your intended. They will definitely NOT be expecting a cressy letter, I can assure you, and it will make them laugh with delight.

It’s cheesy and silly and absolutely brilliant. Other ideas are; giving them bottled sunshine, making them a fake tattoo, turning your lounge into a movie theatre or restaurant and so on.

As you can see the book does demand you put in the hard work, there’s no zipping over to a store to nab some wilted flowers here. No, this is about printing out homemade labels and sticking them onto things to add to the atmosphere. About creating things that will make the other person feel incredibly special.

I wholeheartedly approve of this book. While some of the ideas aren’t that fabulous, overall there are some real stunners in there. You won’t have to spend a ton of money wooing that lovely lady or showing your partner that you care, and these gifts will mean so much more. These are the kind of presents that are remembered for longer than jewellery or clothes.

This is a great tool for those dads that are looking for some inspiration for this upcoming Mother’s Day. If you’re madly busy or have absolutely no budget, then the £4.99 you spend on this book will be worth it. You will uncover some great free ideas that will look expensive, feel expensive and make her smile for months.

When I first read about this deal I did a lot of staring at the screen. Surely I was misreading this? So I gave them a call and I asked them, “Is this correct? I pay £20 for the Balaton Spa Face Mask and you give me £50 of skincare products for free?”

“Yes!” said the nice lady, who promptly sent me a sample of the mask so I could if it was worth £20.

This is where you can get the deal and this is how well it worked:

The mask is 100 percent natural and offers you a deep cleansing and purifying experience that really is quite divine. The best part, other than the fact that it is deeply divine to use, is that you only need to leave it on for three minutes. This is just perfect for the stressed out, time strapped mum.

The mask has all sorts of lovely benefits such as preventing premature ageing, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (yay!), moisturising qualities, deep skin hydration and revitalising tired skin. In short, it is a fantastic gift for any mum who needs a good pampering.

I loved using the mask as it didn’t leave my skin feeling dry and stretchy like other masks tend to, and as I have sensitive skin I am particularly prone to dry patches so this was a huge plus. It also didn’t take ages of scrubbing or scraping to wash off. It slips on and off as easy as a breeze. The black mud also doesn’t stain your sink or bath – another plus! 

The travel bag that arrives alongside it is completely and utterly FREE! Included in the bag is a 20ml eye gel, a 25g cleansing bar (with added Shea butter), 20ml extra face mask jar, 50ml bottle of cleansing and toning lotion with a refreshing lemon and lime fragrance, 50ml bottle of bodywash and 50ml bottle of body lotion. You also get a 50ml bottle of body lotion.

This is a spectacular bargain for only £20 and mum will thank you if you’re getting her one of these for Mother’s Day.

It’s back! The extremely popular Trunki range of suitcases now features the Gruffalo for your toddler’s pleasure. Down from £39.99 to a tasty £29.99, there’s nothing mousey about this price.

• Click here to trundle on over to the deal at Amazon

The Trunki Gruffalo is a new ride-on suitcase designed by the people who brought you the cows, pigs and other such famous names in suitcase design. The Trunki is light and strong and has been approved as hand luggage so it’s also very, very handy to have.

Children can pack their own suitcases, sit on them for airport zooming fun and enjoy imaginative play during long tedious travel waits. If little one gets too tired and your arms are too full to carry them, the fact that you can tow your kids while they sit on this suitcase is pure genius. 

The maximum weight it can handle is 50kgs (so not me, then) and is suitable for children three years and over. It also comes with a Gruffalo sticker pack so your kids can personalise their suitcase too. It’s a fabulous piece of luggage and is now cheaper than the usual retail price. Awesome.

Thanks to Nicola-picola at HUKD!