Delicious Chocolate for Chocolate Week

So I started the week with wool, but I thought I would wait until Friday to do my Chocolate Week related blog. After all who doesn't need some chocolate by Friday afternoon. There are events all over the country to celebrate chocolate week, including chocolate spa treatments at the Elms Hotel in Worcestershire and a chocoholics afternoon tea at Brown's Hotel in London.

If someone you know loves chocolate why not treat them to their own chocolate making kit? Put together by Trish Deseine and available from Chocolate by Trish, the kit contains all you need to get started with creating your own delicious chocolates.

Alternatively, if you don't think that making their own chocolates would appeal why not treat them to a chocolate tasting evening. Run by Artisan du Chocolate the tutored tasting session lasts for two hours, where you are able to taste a wide range of products from brownies to chocolate cocktails.

I love this chocolate stilletto shoe by the Monk Bar Chocolatiers. The shoes come in a variety of designs, you can even buy a gift hamper that contains a pair of small and a pair of large stillettos. What a great gift for shoe and chocolate lover.

At Lick The Spoon they take chocolate to a whole new level and create many delicious sounding treats. I would love to try this Strawberries and Cream chocolate slab. Lick The Spoon also make wedding favours, bespoke chocolate gifts, cakes and easter eggs. Just looking at their website makes me hungry.

At the Chocolate Cafe in Manchester you could treat someone to a chocolate pizza, with a choice of toppings or a fantastic chocolate hamper. The hampers are made up to suit the gift recipients tastes and so different everytime.

So don't wait until Christmas and Easter, chocolate is a great gift at anytime of the year.

Tea break

For most of us one of the simple pleasures in life is a good cup of tea or coffee. Whenever I am stuck with something, or work is not going as planned, it is to tea and coffee that I turn. However, I have discovered that it is not just the tea or coffee that matters. We all, I am sure have our favourite mugs - well I know that I do. What better gift to give someone than a mug or cup that will be their favourite when making that reassuring cuppa. So here is my selection of a few of the best out there.

For those who like a colourful cuppa then this mug from 1000degrees Art Studio is ideal. I love the bunting around the edge that conjures up the image of a summer village fete even as we head in to autumn.  As a bonus the mug comes with a matching bowl to cheer up breakfast time on the most miserable day.

If you are looking for a more traditional mug then you are likely to find one at Little Brown Mug . They have assembled a collection of handmade and hand painted mugs by art potters. Each mug comes with a postcard listing the artist, date and details of materials, decoration, glaze and firing. I particularly like the range by Les and Sally Sharpe that include this lovely frog design.

 

For those who would like to hark back to their childhood there are these beautifully illustrated Moomin mugs. Available in a range of designs from Pussy Home Boutique, they have to be one of my favourites as I love the Moomin books. I particularly like this one of the Snork Maiden.

 

However, if you think that the person you are buying for might prefer a designer touch to their mug then this ISAK mug from Cloudberry would be ideal. Not only does it look great but it has an oak lid to keep warm drinks warm The lid also acts as a coaster if required to protect your tabletops. 

From Bob by Post there is this lovely snowflake mug that is ideally suited for those who like a good mug of hot chocolate to wrap their hands
around in the winter. I can already envisage sitting
in front of our real fire with a steaming mug of chocolate.
 
 
  

I was going to end there, but Mr Present Cupboard was disappointed I hadn't mentioned his favourite mug, which he received last christmas from his daughters. So here it is an Egg Yolk Yellow Pantone mug. It has to be said I also love Pantone and if you know someone who has a particular favourite colour then there is a huge range to choose from at Illustrated Living.

Have a happy tea break.