Christening gowns are the chosen attire for babies that are getting christened into the church of England (usually the Catholic church will have a baptism instead). There is also the option of christening rompers and other outfits that can be comfortable for young babies, but traditionally, a gown is the chosen look for both male and female babies going through this important ceremony.

Babies are typically dressed in a white christening gown, according to tradition. If a gown is going to be very traditional, then, it will tend to be white, and quite intricately detailed, making it fit in with tradition but also with the tastes and styles of the parents. Parents will often have been christened as babies themselves and can have quite set ideas about the types of gowns they might want for their own child. If not, there are lots of ideas and christening gowns can be readily bought when required.

Christening gowns are a very special outfit for one of the most important days in a baby’s life. You need the outfit to match the occasion perfectly and most importantly, you want your little one to be completely comfortable throughout the day. They need to be able to move around in their outfit and to be comfortable whatever the weather, hot or cold.

Some parents choose made to measure christening gowns that are hand sewn for their child. This will be more expensive that a standard christening gown but it will ensure the perfect fit for your baby. If they grow before the event itself, the gown can be adjusted by the person who made it very easily and they will already have experience working on your child’s outfit. A handmade gown that is the perfect size for your child might be the best option to ensure that you can all enjoy the perfect day you deserve.

A christening gown is often a once in a lifetime outfit, but actually, some parents prefer to keep it in the family. If you have more children in future, it can be a lovely touch to have a christening gown that all of your children can wear. In this case, you will need to buy a christening gown that will stand the test of time.

In order to help with this, you might choose to have a christening gown made. It can be made to your own own tastes, so that it becomes less about fashion and more about those personal touches. If you don’t want to keep a christening gown in the family, having a timeless gown will mean it’s easier to sell on if you choose. Even if you don’t want to make any money back, others are more likely to appreciate it if you donate a timeless gown to a charity shop.

Buying a car doesn’t necessarily mean buying a new car. The norm is often to buy a car that has been previously owned, often more than once, in order to get more for your money – cars will lose a lot of value as soon as they are driven off the forecourt. There are some points you should bear in mind when buying a second hand car, such as how much work they will need if they aren’t in perfect condition.

If you are willing to do some work to a car it might get you a very good deal when shopping around. However, make sure you know how much work is actually required and whether you are able to carry it out. For someone with some experience, fitting new components, bearings and carrying out minor cosmetic work shouldn’t be an issue. However, replacing parts of the engine might be much harder.

Your child’s christening: an event that you will remember for the rest of your life. Everyone wants their child’s christening to be a special event and will look the the perfect outfit, the perfect church and the perfect place to come together afterwards and celebrate this important event. A cake is something that many people choose to have to help them celebrate and choosing the right one can help make your event even more memorable.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a christening cake for it to be special. You might have a friend who could bake a beautiful cake for you, or you might choose to go to a local baker. What is nice about both of these options is that your christening cake can be personalised to make it perfect for your little one on their special day. You can have any decoration you like, and personalise it with their name.

When you have a new baby in the family, chances are people will keep asking you when he or she is being christened. It is a wonderful occasion, giving everyone the chance to meet your new child and celebrate his or her being in the world. Here is what you need to do before the big day:

• Choose the church where it will take place. Select your church based on where you live. Often you will need to be within the parish.
• Talk through the christening arrangements with the vicar. If you are not a regular attendee at church, you may be required to attend some services first.
• Organise the event itself. Make sure there will be food and drinks for people and arrange for somewhere to go after the christening itself.
• Buy your child’s outfit. Do this last as children grow very quickly. Choose a handmade, custom gown, or buy one that is ready made.

It’s approaching that time when many people will be getting ready for their summer holiday. There are lots of things you’ll need to buy in preparation, so we’ve put a handy list together to help you get ready. Here is what you should shop for before your holiday this summer:

• Swimwear. This will sell out fast, so make sure you get yours as quickly as you can. This will make sure you have plenty of choice.
• Sun cream. Shop around for deals – many of the big brands will be on sale in different shops so you can get your favourite at a reasonable price.
• Travel-size toiletries. Get toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant etc. in handy miniature travel packs that will fit into your case easily.
• Travel insurance. Always shop for travel insurance before leaving the country. It is one of the most invaluable purchases you will make.
• Footwear. It can be difficult to know what to take with you on holiday. Sandals? Trainers? Something in between? Shop far enough in advance to find something that is both comfortable and stylish.

Shopping at an outlet can be a brilliant way of saving yourself some money. It’s a great idea for present buying in the run-up to Christmas and you’ll be able to get hold of a wide range of goods depending on what you want to purchase.

Shopping outlets tend to be highly accessible so you can go there with the whole family. As they’re usually based just out of town, there should be plenty of parking and you’ll be able to find a space within easy walking distance of the shops.

Outlets will often have many of the biggest high-street stores selling their goods at discounted prices. This may potentially be due to slight faults, so do check everything thoroughly before you buy. Often, though, retail outlets can keep their prices low because they are selling off last season’s stock and it can’t be sold in their usual stores. It’s a good opportunity to find some excellent bargains.

Some retail outlets will also have designer stores – check which shops are there before you travel so that you can pick a complex which has stores you want to shop in. If you like designer labels this is a brilliant way to get hold of them at a much more affordable price than usual.

Retail giants Argos have taken a giant leap and opened their first set of ‘digital stores’, partnered with supermarket giants Sainsbury’s.

The outlets which can be found in Nantwich, North Cheam and Surrey, are offering around 20,000 items which can be purchased instantly or set for a later collection. If you’ve figured it out already, yes this does mean the stores will be ditching the tiny pens and order slips! With Argos now embracing touchscreen technology and tablets.

There are eight new digital stores opening this summer, again based in Sainsbury’s stores in – Bognor Regis, Calcot, Crayford, Drumchapel, Durham, Keighley, Rustington and West Hove.

It sure is a shame that Argos will be getting rid of some of the basics of their brand in the new stores, but they’re moving with the times. Something companies such as Woolworths and Comet did not do.

Spring is always seen as the awkward month, especially here in the UK because it is not necessarily hot and it’s not exactly cold either. You may often ask the question should I wear my coat or not, or should I wear a t-shirt or a jumper? And that means that you have to be sensible when it comes to clothes shopping in spring.

As we come away from winter, the likelihood is that you will have purchased plenty of winter clothes over the last few months, meaning it may be more beneficial to purchase lighter clothes, so you’re ready for spring and summer. There’s no problem when it comes to buying a jumper or a cardigan but we will soon be moving away from the really cold weather, so any coats and thick jackets should be avoided.

Clothes shopping in Spring is certainly a bit tricky, but if you move away from the thick clothes that you’re likely to be fed up of wearing and brave it out in t-shirts, skirts dresses and light cardigans from time to time, and perhaps even shorts; you’ll be ready for the majority of the days in summer and spring – we hope.