Thank you to nuvonova for allowing me to use her wonderful photo this week. Check her out at flickr!

Hi there and welcome back to our stroll through the anniversary years and finding the perfect gift!

Today we pick up where we finished off late in 2009 – the 11th wedding anniversary.

First of all, the traditional gift theme is steel, which I didn’t think was terribly exciting. I started to conjure images of steel pipes, fittings and factories which does not speak romance, love or affection!

Stainless steel on the other hand can be a little more enticing if you consider the wide range of stainless steel items available for the kitchen or even fashion. Think a stunning stainless steel cutlery set – something you may not buy yourself, but could last a lifetime if you purchase great quality.

Peter’s of Kensington have a huge range of cutlery sets at very reasonable prices, alternatively you can browse your local homewares store.

If you already have a good quality cutlery set, then perhaps a beautiful set of salad servers to compliment might be an option. Take it a step further and get them engraved with your wedding date or a special message.

A lot of people struggle for gifts for men and anniversaries can be no different. Gilletts is a great place to start with a range of stainless steel rings for men available online.

The modern theme for this year’s anniversary is fashion jewellery. There are any number of stores available online to help pick out a great gift, but I would like to give a huge “thumbs up” to this online store: Just Jewellery.

They have made shopping for all special occasions so easy with their great tool bar on the right hand side. Simply put in the anniversary year, birthday or zodiac sign etc and they will sort their collection for you in moments! This year is the year of the garnet and they have no less than 4 pages of great items available. If you love to give jewellery, then this is one store to keep as a favourite.

If your love is a true fashionista, then perhaps she would enjoy something a little different. This store is an Etsy store which seem to becoming more and more popular these days. Joy Made Jewelry is a small operator (not a franchise or multinational company) who specializes in handcrafted pieces that are unique. Bearing in mind that she is located in the US, it might be worth contacting her first to see if she will arrange international delivery. Unfortunately this store is now closed.

The traditional choice for flowers this year is the Lilac. Again, this is not a commonly found flower in many florists, but it also happens to be a colour. There are many flowers that have the lilac colour that are available at florists, including the Hyacinth, Lisianthus (one of my favourites) and Lavendar.

Surprise her with a lilac coloured dress (if she likes purple), a great scarf or accessory. Take a stroll around a shopping centre using the theme lilac and you will be amazed at what you can find!

Remember one of the greatest ever movie scenes with the lovely Patrick Swayze (may he rest in peace) and Demi Moore in Ghost? Talk about making pottery sexy! Is there a local art council or artist who offers pottery classes?






Hollyhock is the flower alternative for this year’s anniversary. Admittedly I didn’t know much about this flower (although I thought they might have been poisonous), so researching them was educational! I found out that you can purchase seeds through a mail order nursery and that they can grow up to 3 metres!

Hi there! Thanks for joining us on the journey through anniversaries. Today’s post is about the 6th year anniversary and some gift ideas for the special occasion.

The traditional theme for this year is candy or iron. The two theme ideas are very different, but certainly give you more options for gifts!

Candy, sweets or lollies are all pretty common, but check out the lolly bouquets from “Candy Bouquet” or Lolly Potz who deliver Australia wide.

If you happen to be in the Mackay or surrounding areas Hamperific also creates chocolate bouquets which start from $40 delivered.

So perhaps you would like to spend a little more on your partner and a chocolate or lolly bouquet just won’t cut it. Why not take advantage of the great Aussie dollar and take a trip to California staying at the one and only Candy Cane Inn, located just outside of Disneyland!

How ‘sweet’ would that be? You certainly would win some ‘brownie points’ there!

Ok, enough with the bad jokes and moving on to iron. I am pretty sure that are not meaning the iron that you plug in and press your clothes either, so let’s not even consider that as an option.

Bliss Garden and Giftware offer some lovely wrought iron decorations and there are some truly special ideas from Overwrought (great name!).

Woodenware features as the modern alternative for this wedding anniversary, so check out my gift ideas from last week’s post.

Add to that range of ideas a woodfired pizza oven! Ok, so it’s technically not woodenware, but the idea of a pizza from your own pizza oven cannot be overlooked.

Delivery is POA, but prices start at approximately $1000 for a DIY kit.

The flower for the 6th anniversary is the gorgeous Tulip. Of course many great florists stock Tulips and their range of colours is very impressive, but if you want to see a stunning display of Tulips outside of Holland then plan your anniversary around the Tulip Festival in Silvan, Victoria (approx 1 hour from Melbourne).

Check out this year’s event which will wrap up on Tuesday next week to see what you will be in for next time. And remember to book your accommodation early to avoid disappointment!

Sincerest apologies for the delay in this post - I have been enjoying the school holidays!

Well, when I saw that the 4th year anniversary traditional gift theme was fruit or flowers I kind of thought that this was a bit of a drop out gift.

What happened to all the lovely thought and consideration to give your beloved something really, really special? Fruit for goodness sake?

But then I got to thinking about fruit and flowers and well, you could have some fun with that! If you happen to live in Sydney then you are in luck! Delicious Flowers create some great looking fruit bouquets with strawberries, chocolate and even wine if desired.

A similar service is offered to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney through Edible Blooms.

If you don’t live in the metropolitan areas and really like this idea, you can have a go at creating one yourself. Make sure you have a good selection of fresh fruit, a sharp knife and that you create it as close to the day as possible or your fruit can turn brownish thanks to oxidization!

Another option is to think of a resort/B & B that has a fruit name… For example, I found this gorgeous little cottage in Albany called Lemon Tree Cottage.

There is also Mango Bay Fiji if you like to travel a little farther, or Apple Tree Cottage on the Sunshine Coast. There, now who said that fruit was going to be boring?

The modern themed anniversary present again really did nothing for me as it was an appliance.

Please, please, please do not buy a kettle, toaster or any other common old appliance UNLESS your beloved has specifically requested one. Even then, think twice about whether the gift will truly be appreciated.

I don’t believe that there is any need to gift common, everyday appliances for birthdays or anniversaries. Remember my friend who got an iron? She STILL remembers and begrudges her hubby for it.

So, what are the alternatives? Think luxurious, and special. Does your better half drink coffee? An expresso machine to make their own cappuccino or café latte.

Check out your local appliance retailer such as Harvey Norman, or try Appliances Online for a great deal.

During my travels through cyberspace I stumbled upon this little “appliance” which apparently is great for both parties.

A word of warning though before simply purchasing this little gizmo – make sure this would be something that your beloved would appreciate or your anniversary evening may well be spoiled!

Finally, the flower for the 4th year anniversary is violets. These are interesting little flowers because there are a few different types including the African Violet and then the Viola type which are like Pansies.

Depending on the type you prefer most are available from nurseries in punnets (and can be grown all year round as perennials) as opposed to being a cut flower at the florist.

To make the most of these pretty flowers, get some gorgeous pots and good quality potting mix and fill with different colours. For more information on looking after African Violets check out Tumut Valley Violets.

Good luck!

Welcome to the second week of the Gift Assistant’s journey looking at anniversary gifts!

This week we are taking a look at the 2nd anniversary where traditionally cotton is given as a gift. Ironically most material things today are commonly made of cotton and polyester or other synthetic threads where once upon a time they were almost certainly made of 100% cotton.

So what to get if considering a gift of cotton?

If you are considering purchasing a set of Egyptian cotton bed sheets then I say consider this idea a little further. While Egyptian cotton sheets are certainly a luxury, what sort of a message are you sending your beloved for your anniversary – think washing and domestic chores!

A stunning cotton bathrobe might be a more appropriate choice and don’t forget to throw in some relaxing all natural soaps from Aroma Beauty, a satin eye mask and some scented candles for good measure.

Aroma Beauty also offers a sexy, masculine Cedar Wood and Spice soap, so it would be a great addition to a cotton robe for your man. Perhaps skip the eye mask and candles and add a shaving brush and hand towel set currently available from Hamperific.

The modern theme for the 2nd anniversary is China. Many couples may have received dinner sets as part of their bridal registry or as wedding gifts, but if not then check out the 5 pages of styles at Victoria’s Basement. Their delivery prices were very reasonable and with the variety of styles there is likely to be one that catches your eye!

Maxwell and Williams also offer a comprehensive range of dinner sets as well and might be worth checking out.

My personal favourite is the Royal Doulton Gold set available from Peter of Kensington – nothing says classy like white and gold!

There are many women out there (like myself) who love to cook and entertain and so a dinner set may go down well. If on the other hand your bride is not so keen in the kitchen then steer away from things (like dinner sets) that remind her of more work.

Daisy is the flower of choice for this anniversary and may not be so common as they once were. But did you know that the Gerbera is also known as the Barberton Daisy? A bunch of these colourful flowers will surely set the mood. Most florists stock Gerberas as they are apparently the 5th most used cut flower!

And just to complete the botanical lesson on Gerberas, they aren’t actually of the Daisy family, but are closely related to the Sunflower.

Ok, so at the end of this you may have decided that none of these options suit your darling husband or wife. If you are still struggling for a gift then think a bit more laterally. Anything made in China or of Chinese origin is worth considering, or take your partner to a Chinese restaurant for dinner is another possibility.

Another option I have heard of is buying things in twos, representing the 2nd. You could put together a whole gift box of things that come in twos like socks, underwear set (sexy or casual), salt and pepper shakers (fancy ones of course!), two packets of their favourite chocolates, gift vouchers for their two favourite golf courses for a round, two fabulous wines – you get the idea….

Did you have a favourite 2nd anniversary gift? Tell us about it!

Thanks for joining us on the journey through anniversaries! I would love to hear your feedback, so please leave a comment if you have any queries, suggestions or enjoy the blog...

Today we are looking at the 1st wedding anniversary which is exciting for couples celebrating this milestone. First of all, congratulations! You have survived your first year of marriage and are hopefully looking to celebrate it with great meaning and love.

Traditionally the 1st wedding anniversary is celebrated with paper and to be honest that probably doesn’t sound that interesting or exciting, so you need to make it more so!

One young lass I know of received a fluffy, fluro coloured notebook for her first wedding anniversary and to say that she was not pleased would be an understatement. Now, while I can see that perhaps the groom discovered that the anniversary gift was paper and that this might fit the “criteria”, it isn’t perhaps the most thoughtful and loving gift he could have come up with.

So, what is a more appropriate and exciting gift that involves paper?
Gift vouchers are a perfect example of a gift that is paper-based. A voucher to the local day spa for some pampering or even to her favourite clothing/lingerie/jewellery shop is worth consideration.

Tickets to the theatre or movies are also popular and something that you can enjoy together.

If you are of the creative mind, custom make your own voucher for a dinner date to your partner’s favourite restaurant and present it in a card.

Thinking a little bit more laterally indulge in a photo shoot for the both of you to mark your special occasion. Present the voucher for the pre-booked photo session in a card (handmade or store bought) and go one step further by getting one of the prints enlarged and framed for your memory wall.

If paper really doesn’t tickle your fancy you might be happy to know that the modern equivalent for the 1st anniversary is a clock. Does your beloved need a new clock for their shed/office/bedroom?

There are some phenomenal "funky clocks" available to suit almost every personality type and décor. It might be a challenge deciding on just one.

So your nearest and dearest doesn’t need a wall clock… a watch perhaps? Casual or dress, funky or classic check out the jewelers for a massive range or if you can’t find something you like there, try online at Just Watches. Here they are offering free delivery Australia wide.

Finally flowers. Each anniversary year has a dedicated flower and for the 1st it is orange blossom.

Orange blossom may not be readily available in your area, but you might like to consider products that use orange blossom such as those from Evodia. Mists, soap bars, hand treatments and candles – divine!

What is the best/worst 1st anniversary gift you have ever given/received?

Do you prefer traditional ideas, modern or a mix of both?

Struggling to find thoughtful, meaningful and perhaps unique anniversary gifts?

Join the Gift Assistant every Friday where we will be looking at each of the anniversary years and the traditional and modern gift themes.

Don't leave it to the last minute and risk a crappy gift - get organised and be happy to give something special to your love!

"Have you got a great gift idea for my first anniversary? The traditional first anniversary gift is paper and the concert tickets that I wanted to get him have sold out. Do you have any unique gift ideas?" Rhianna*

It is such a shame about the concert tickets, but what about movie tickets? Together you can still enjoy a nice evening and maybe dinner afterwards.

I also noticed that you said that the "traditional first anniversary gift is paper". Did you know that the modern equivalent is a clock? Thinking along this line maybe he needs a new watch or a clock for his office/workshop/bedroom?

*Name changed for privacy