So how big is your gourmet gift basket going to be this year? What are the assortments that you have chosen? What is the theme? Are you opting for a wine and cheese basket?

As more and more companies plunge into the gift basket business, the competition is getting fiercer whilst the options are increasing. Today, a buyer needs to be well aware of the choices in the market and how to find the most appropriate gift basket.

Here are some tips for new buyers

* Surf: The online world is vast and there are hundreds of websites selling Gourmet gift baskets . The best way to improve your knowledge quotient is surf, browse and read. Sort out a list of websites that have affordable gift baskets. Get to know their best prices, deals, discounts and inventory. Compare them with other sites in your list. You can also try directory listings or printed magazines.
* Enquire: Most of these websites and gift basket stores have a toll free number that you can call to enquire about their products and services. Make use of that number and call them. Are there any doubts in your mind about their shipping conditions? Clear them off. Once again, start comparing amongst the gourmet gift basket dealers.
* Narrow Down: Lastly, narrow down to one or two dealers from the entire list and then place the order. Ensure that the basket is delivered to the intended recipient.

Other than this, you always have the option of customizing your own gift basket. Most dealers offer customization options.

Follow the above mentioned tips to avail yourself of the most affordable deals on gourmet,birthday gift baskets online.

For more info here : Birthday gift baskets.

vegans can apply their good nature across their entire lifestyle… and have great style too!

FASHION CONSCIENCE is a clothing website that specialises in eco clothing and also boasts a Vegan section too.

Along with other elegent accessories there are some new designer shoes - all with a green tag of approval. Interior Design Blog about interior design, focusing on kitchen design and new concepts implemented by UK interior designers.

visit the website to see high end design shoes made from 100% vegan faux suede.

Scott Norman Shopping Collection Scott Norman helps You to find quality products sold by companies online.

If you’re looking for Sexy Costumes visit Costume Alibi which is your source for high quality adult and children’s costumes at the right price. At Costume Alibi you can indulge your passion for fun, adventure, fantasy, being different from the crowd, sexy swimwear and adult costumes for all occasions. Get taller shoes can increase your height 2″- 4″ invisibly.They are also referred to as lift shoes, height increasing shoes or elevator shoes. GetTallerShoes.com provides high quality and low cost shoes, without losing any comfort. Visit online today.

You may have heard - there is a fruity and nutritious cordial out that is more than just tasty.

the drink that mixes blueberry, grape, raspberry and elderberry claims to help fight cancer. Test have shown that tumors have shrunk by a quarter in two weeks.

The cordial is available and may even be in your local organic produce shop.

It may be the antioxidants in the red, blue and purple fruits that fight free-radicals. Its not to be overlooked and everyone should make sure that they get more than their fair share of antioxidants.

On 21st March 2009 Brighton will host a very special event, the first ever Brighton Vegan Fayre. This mighty one-day event promises to fill Brighton Centre with 140 stalls showcasing the very best vegan products, services and information and you’ll be impressed by this massive gathering of knowledge, information, food, drink, bodycare, fashion and so much more!!

Many of the stalls are doing a ‘special offer’ at the show – which means you can save a lot of money if you shop wisely. We are delighted to see some of our own Brighton companies leading the way at this event including free goodie cups from Shakeaway and a special treat from Neon Collective,15% of all handbags!

Some of our favourite Brighton vegan companies will also be there, so don’t miss Beyond Skin, Conscious Chocolate, Infinity Foods, Jethro’s Marinades and The Raw Chocolate Company


It this wets your appetite then get your skates on and pre-book your tickets from the show organisers yaoh.co.uk. Although the Brighton Centre is huge and holds thousands of people, you are advised to buy tickets in advance especially as people are travelling across the country to this event, so it may well get busy!

Brighton Vegan Fayre

Date| 21 March 2009

Time| 11am – 7pm

Venue| Brighton Centre, Brighton BN1 2GR

Tickets| £8 (£4 Kids under 12).

Early Bird Special

Adult Tickets only £6 - very limited period only.

***Buy your ticket HERE!***

Really excitingly it looks like Portia de Rossi may be about to pick up where Natalie Portman left off, by launching her own vegan shoe line.

The super stunning actress apparently let slip at an event in LA that she is planning her own range of vegan footwear. Few other details were shared but Portia is a known animal rights lover who avoids wearing leather.

When Portia married long term partner Ellen DeGeneres in LA last summer, the couple and their guests sat down for an all-vegan dinner and they even had a vegan wedding cake. Portia, who used to wear fur, and Ellen, who used to wear leather have gradually made the change together to a vegan lifestyle together. Sweet♥

Details to come on what the shoes will look like and when they’ll be out, but if you can’t wait and need a bit of glamour NOW, then try Neon Collective for stylish vegan shoes.

Not sure what to do this weekend? Then head over to the Sanctuary Café in Hove for an evening of good vegetarian food and great entertainment.

Benefit Culture

A fund raiser for the Cambodia Trust with music acts including Mark Hole, Like a Thief and Ed Sustr.

Fri 30^th January - 8pm | £5 on the door

Rapunzel Gets Down

A women only event with music, massage and more…an evening of pure loveliness.

Sat 31^st - 8pm

Songwriters Nut Roast

Come & hear students perform new their own new songs hosted by Chris Difford. Enjoy some very special guest appearances too!

Sun 1^st February - 7.30pm | £5 on the door

For more information, visit www.sanctuarycafe.co.uk

With Valentines Day just a couple of weeks away, we thought we’d bring a top selection of all things heart shaped and vegan for all you hopeless romantics. If you get your skates on then you will be able to order most items online but we do have some lovely goodies you can pick up in Brighton town centre.

For Her…

They call it Truffle Love

(Dairy Free & Organic)

Chocolate is a girls best friend and we adore the vegan treats available at A lot of Chocolate. A selection of eight luxurious, organic dark and dairy free chocolate truffles come presented in this beautiful velvet heart shaped gift box. The truffles are handmade using the finest organic ingredients and are suitable for vegans. They simply melt in your mouth and are truly delicious. Price £8.31

Red Roses (Fairtrade)

It’s a classic, red roses on February 14th from Hove based Eco Chic Fairtrade. Ten beautiful red fairtrade roses come elegantly wrapped in soft tissue and tied together with a ribbon in a beautiful gift Box. Price: £20.50

Choccy Bubbles gift set

Spoil your other half with a relaxing soak from Brighton’s Funk Bubble.

Get the yummy organic chocolate bubble bath and a bottle of organic chocolate shower wash presented in a recycled gift box and tied with a ribbon. At Funk Bubble everything is bio-degradable, environmentally conscious, pH balanced and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

“We firmly believe that we all can look great and feel sexy without overloading our bodies with unnecessary chemicals.”

This is a great gift for a true chocolate lover. Price £13.00

Portishead Bag

If your lady is for keeps, then get her this gorgeous Matt & Nat faux leather handbag from Brighton’s hottest vegan boutique Neon Collective. Be the talk of the town with this red vegan leather bag. Featuring 100% recycled red faux suede lining, tone on tone stitching and antique brass hardware. Price £160

For special social media networking like facebook during valentines and all year round visit: share photos | share videos MyPage 5 meet new friends as you network, share photos, create blogs, share videos, upload music, make new friends, revenue sharing, social networking website uk, dating uk, videos uk

Vegetarian and vegan women like to dress as glamorously as anyone else, but their strong principles of not buying leather are rarely understood by the fashion industry, until now!

Neon Collective is a new Brighton based website advocating a fresh concept in fashion retailing, a collection of like-minded designers and manufacturers who share one core belief: looking good needn’t cost a life.

Neon Collective brings the latest shoes and handbags from the world’s leading vegan and ethical designers into one stunning collection. For the first time, women everywhere can browse and purchase the latest trends in one place - safe in the knowledge no animal-derived products, or sweatshops have been used in their production.

Founder of Neon Collective is Brighton resident Clare Childs, 33, a former television editor of BBC2 fashion show ‘Mary Queen of Shops.’ Childs has been vegetarian all her life and is on a personal mission to make retailing more accountable:

“As a vegetarian I feel I’ve been neglected by mainstream fashion. There’s no reason why women should have to sacrifice style and glamour in order to shop ethically, so Neon Collective finally

provides a choice of luxurious accessories that are ethically sound.”

All the designer vegan boots, shoes, purses and handbags at Neon Collective are 100% leather-free, but Childs believes that doesn’t mean they are only suitable for vegans:

“Any fashionista would find our range tempting, and our new gift vouchers will allow vegans and veggies to show sceptics that ethical fashion can be just as cutting-edge. So if you know a fashion-focused female, a voucher for Neon Collective is the perfect gift.”

You can find discounts for many items and events at voucher codes.

Ranges include designs from renowned vegan brands Matt & Nat, Charmoné, English Retreads and OlsenHaus. Spring will see the introduction of Brighton’s own vegan designers Beyond Skin.

To receive their newsletter, simply sign up for free and become a member.  Moreover, if you’d like to suggest a brand they should stock, contact them.  We’ll be keeping more than one eye on Brighton’s very own Neon Collective.

If you’re the green fingered type then ‘Seedy Sunday’ is just for you. Seedy Sunday takes place every February and will be back at Hove Town Hall on Sunday 1st February 2009 with more seeds to swap, stalls to view and talks to inspire. This is the UK’s biggest community seed swap and it’s on our doorstep!

In return for a donation or in exchange for seed you have saved, growers can choose seeds from dozens of traditional varieties of garden vegetables, to take home and grow.

Many seed varieties are often no longer commercially available, but are naturally well adapted to local growing conditions - as well as being tasty and colourful.

Open from 10am – 4.30pm and tickets are available on the door, adults £1.50 (Children free) Full details can be found at http://www.seedysunday.org

So get growing!