Five Golden Gifts: The Gift of Time + Win Afternoon Tea For Two At The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin

Last year, instead of doing the typical gift guides that I had done in the past, I did the 12 Days of Giftmas. This was 12 days where I wrote a post each day on a different brand, store or specific type of gift and did a giveaway to accompany each post.

I loved the result but the whole process nearly killed me. Between communicating with the brands in advance of the giveaway, posting each day (without pause), promoting the post, monitoring the entries, doing the draws, contacting the winners and arranging prizes to be sent out, I was stressed and exhausted. This year, I've already been crazily busy between the day job, trying to have a life, the blog, another big side project (see day five this year), travelling more and going back to college for an evening course in a new language. I couldn't figure out how I was going to make time for the 12 Days this year but I didn't want to not do it either. I like giving something back to people who keep returning to this blog, even if it's nothing very big or impressive, and I didn't want to skip out on that.

After stressing about it for a while, my best friend just said, "Why don't you make it 'Five Golden Gifts'?"

Which is what I decided to do. Never fear, however. There may be less giveaways this year but they are bigger and better than before and I'm really happy with them. I also really like the gift ideas that I'm putting forward this year as they really reflect how I feel about gifting, in general, and the way I plan on giving gifts myself.

The first of these gifts, and the one I believe in most, is the gift of time.

We are all so busy and spend so much time running around like idiots that it is easy to turn into a recluse and just bail on everything in favour of our pyjamas and preferred streaming sites. As a result, we often don't spend as much quality time with the important people in our lives as we should or would like to.

For me, one of the best gifts to receive is a concert ticket or a trip or meal in a restaurant. Preferably, it is one-on-one with someone and we have the chance to spend time together and talk beyond merely catching up. I have way too much stuff in my life as it is, I don't need more things but I could always do with more time with the people I love. Most of all, this gift isn't just about monetary value, it is somebody setting aside time to focus on you and you alone. Money can't buy that.

So, my first gift idea is a voucher. Not just a voucher for a shop (not that there's anything wrong with that) but one that comes with an additional gift; the promise that you'll spend some quality time together.

The 5 Star Fitzwilliam Hotel on St Stephen's Green in Dublin coming swooping in this festive season with vouchers that are perfect for this. There is quite a range of vouchers to choose from with options for all sorts of pairings, groups and price points. Whether you want to bring your dad to dinner, go on a spa weekend with your bestie, take your granny on a shopping trip, have a romantic staycation with a partner or go for afternoon tea with your mammy, there is something for everyone.

You can personalise the message on each of the vouchers and design them according to your taste and then have them posted to yourself or the person in question or, even, have them e-mailed for the environmentally conscious giftee. We've teamed up to give away a voucher for afternoon tea for two but you can browse the other voucher options here, with prices starting at just €25.00.

I had the opportunity to try out the afternoon tea a few months ago with one of my closest friends and it actually opened the door to a really lovely day where we ended up spending a good fifteen hours straight together. It was probably one of the nicest days I had with a friend all year. Afternoon tea itself took two or three hours, as we were really relaxed and taking our time, and consisted of delicious sweet and savory snacks, good tea (so hard to find) from a wide selection and cocktails. The environment was decidedly unhurried and perfect for chatting at length. The staff at the Fitzwilliam were incredibly accommodating and informed, explaining what everything was in detail and making sure we were never short of anything.

As a bit of an afternoon tea aficionado, I can confidently say that it was one of the better experiences I've had and I can't recommend it enough. If you want to try it yourself and give the gift of your time and a lovely afternoon to someone you lovely, just read on to find out how to enter. And be sure to come back for the next four days for some more amazing gift ideas and prizes!

1. This giveaway is open to anyone, over 18, who can be in Ireland to use the voucher.

2. The prize is a voucher for Afternoon Tea for Two at the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin and is worth €70.00. 

3. All you need to do is comment below here or on Facebook with who you'd give it to - or if you want it for yourself! However, you must be following me on at least one platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', Tumblr), let me know which one in the comment if it's not obvious!

4. Competition closes a week from now on the 8th of December 2016 at midnight Irish time.

5. Winners will be chosen at random.

6. I will then comment below the winner's comment and ask you to email my official blog email address.

(Thanks to The Fitzwilliam for providing this amazing prize!)

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12 Days of Giftmas -The Zipyard II ¦ Giveaway

On the eleventh day of Giftmas my true love gave to me, a way to get the clothes I really need...

A while back I worked with The Zipyard on a post where they took a piece that I loved but needed revitalising and breathed new life into the garment. The result was that something I always had to carefully style and felt guilty about not wearing enough becoming something ridiculously cool that I wanted to wear and show off.

At the press day that pre-dated the update of said garment, I was truly blown away by the company and the kinds of services they offered from tailoring to altering and from completely changing garments to replicating items. When it comes to updating the clothes, there are stylists and experts instore who will help you realise your vision for a garment, or even come up with and suggest ideas, if you're unsure yourself. If you peruse their website, you'll be able to see a selection of projects that they've worked on in the past and get a sense of the amazing things that they can do. Suffice it to say, however, that they can completely transform pieces, almost as if by magic.

Last week, I decided that I also wanted to try out their replication services. I have a particular black dress which is incredibly simple, a kind of shift that I wear as a pinafore over tees and shirts. It's a favourite of mine, I often wear it multiple times a week as it can be styled in so many different ways. And, as I do wear it so much, I wanted another one. I popped into the Zipyard branch at Jervis where the wonderful team and store manager, Patrick, in particular, were super lovely and helpful. Once I brought them the original dress and a similar, but thicker, fabric in navy, they were able to make me another. I was delighted with the result which is slightly more structured and flares out at the hem but has the same basic silhouette. It's impossibly well-made and everything I wanted.

Which is why I had to include them as an entry into the 12 Days of Giftmas.

"But what, pray tell, might this 12 Days of Giftmas be?" you're probably asking.

If you didn't read yesterday's post about VOYA, let me explain it again!

The 12 Days of Giftmas is a project that occurred to me last week. An idea that I ambitiously decided to go through with very last minute - I must be a lunatic. It's a sort of advent calendar for me and my readers, a way of saying thank you for reading and rewarding you in a small way. For the first 12 days of December, I will be writing a post every day on a shop, brand or item that would make good gifts. This is instead of the long gift ideas posts I've done in the past and offers a more in-depth look at some amazing companies and things. To complement each post, I've also teamed up with these fantastic brands and will be giving something away each day! So, the 12 Days of Giftmas will give you some gift ideas and the potential to win something for a loved one (or yourself!).

We all acquire so much new stuff that we often don't actually need each Christmas that I thought including The Zipyard might be a nice idea as an alternative gift idea. Whether it's getting a friend's favourite coat relined, a beloved dress taken in or up to be worn again or a holy grail top replicated; there's a service for all the people in your life. And for yourself.

Because, like me, too many of us have that coat hiding at the back of the wardrobe that needs re-jigging or a piece we only fell in love with later and wished we had multiples of. For a wardrobe that really works for you and things you really want to wear, you need to head to The Zipyard.

The coat I had pimped.

A photo posted by Colette Fitzpatrick (@wideeyedandblind) on Dec 11, 2015 at 8:33am PST

So, if you want to give this amazing service a try for yourself, enter my giveaway for €30 worth of vouchers to be used on alteration services in store.

1. Sadly, I can only keep my giveaways open to Ireland this time around. I apologise to those who might disappointed but I have to keep the generous brands that I'm working with in mind!

2. The prize is €30 worth of The Zipyard vouchers.

3. All you need to do is comment below here or on Facebook with who you'd give it to - or if you want it for yourself! However, you must be following me on at least one platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', Tumblr), let me know which one in the comment if it's not obvious!

4. Competition closes a week from now on the 18th of December 2015 at midnight Irish time.

5. Winners will be chosen at random.

6. I will then comment below the winner's comment and ask you to email my official blog email address.

And that's that! Good luck and see you again tomorrow for the next brand and giveaway!

(Thanks to The Zipyard for everything!)

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