How to afford those driving lessons

Our brilliant site users never cease to amaze us with their incredible ideas for wish lists.

The latest is to satisfy a common family dilemma when kids turn 17 and are so excited that they can now learn to drive, only to find out how much it costs! So, and I think you know what I'm about to write, why not set up a driving lessons list for friends and family to make contributions for birthday, Christmas, or just because they are positioning themselves to ask for lifts in the future.

Festivals for free

Now that summer is here there are a multitude of places to go, things to see, and lots of festivals to attend. Our canny site users are now wise to the opportunity to create a list for any occasion where friends and family would like to buy them a gift....it could be for passing exams, getting in to University or leaving home! So instead of getting a present which will languish in a drawer while you tavel the world, why not put the thing you really want on your list so people can contribute towards it and make you truly happy...it could be a ticket to Glastonbury, or the wearwithall to survive the experience.

For the Green Party

A wonderful addition to the Bill Brown roll out bed is the Bill Brown sleeping bag, which is now available in a sublime patchwork. It's just what you need as the camping season arrives, and is always a great addition for those spontaneous sleepovers and parties.

Hand woven certified organic cotton, made in Kerala and printed with AZO free colourfast dyes it doesn't get much greener than this.

Spring into Summer

We are heading for longer days, warmer weather and hopefully we can take a moment every now and then to look at the glorious blossoms all around us.We are especially happy that whatidlove.co.uk has a growing numbers of users month on month, whatever the weather or political direction.

According to a report in the Telegraph last week more wedding couples are abandoning the traditional wedding list and asking for money!! Well, we still have many couples compiling traditional wedding lists albeit - online! but we are finding an increasing number are asking for contributions towards their honeymoon or towards a large item like a sofa. Perhaps whatidlove.co.uk offers a more subtle approach to asking for money!

Whether its for a birthday, baby shower or a wedding, loads of you are discovering how easy it is to make an online list and how useful it is to be able to add just one or two expensive items that people can contribute towards. When you are ready you get the money transferred into your account and you can be happy in the knowledge that no one has wasted their time or indeed their hard earned money buying you something you don't need or want.

Suffice to say whatidlove is able to cater for any requirement (and any event!). A traditional list from one retailer, a list including a mix of items from any variety of retailers along with original products from our fabulous boutique retailers or a charity list full of donations you'd like people to make on your behalf - or a mixture of all!

Talking of boutique retailers...Sarah Frost Textiles has just launched her summer range with some fabulous products made in the heart of Wales.

Sarah Frost summer collection:

Everybody loves a winner

Congratulations to Yogi, a Hungarian Vizsla and 2010 winner of Crufts, the largest dog show in the world.

Whatidlove.co.uk, the online wish list website, is a big fan of dogs and features a range of goodies for dog lovers from african beaded dog collars by Aspiga to dog T shirts by K9byigloo. A particular favourite is the doggy overnight bag which contains bowl, balls, treats and a thank you card from the dog – how civilised.

...and when it comes to setting up wish lists for your nearest and dearest...why not for your best friend!

Why not try this?

Yes - Spring is just around the corner and birds everywhere (in between snow showers) are looking for nesting sites and mates. Bulbs are pushing their way out of the ground and the occasional burst of sunshine is warming things up - thank goodness!

Recently recommended to Kim and me is the RSPB's site giving advice on making, siting and maintaining a nesting box in the garden. http://www.rspb.org/advice/helpingbirds/nestboxes

Carpentry skills not up to much?

One of our fabulous Boutique shops is offering at a "spring" rate a nesting box with a camera inside with 30 metres of cable that links straight to your TV for your very own Spring Watch programme ! What a great present!

Our boutique shop Wild has them on offer for just £125.00 inc vat and postage (rrp £179.00 plus postage etc), saving over £50.00!

All you have to do is put them up (see the RSPB site for good positioning) and plug in the TV....making the most of spring whatever the weather!

Our BAFTA Nominee

The fabulous Sandstorm Kenya company based in Nairobi, East Africa has been chosen as the official nominee gift bag provider! ...to translate, all those lucky nominees get to choose one of Sandstorm's luxury bags to take home for free!

Managing director, Mark Stephenson, commented: "we were delighted to be approached by BAFTA late last year. Outside Kenya we're still a little known brand, sought out by the discerning few, but we would like to think we make some of the best canvas and leather bags in the world and the fact that we still make everything ourselves, ethically, here in Kenya, is what brought us to the attention of BAFTA.

Whatidlove are delighted to have found them before the BAFTA lot and have these exclusive bags available to buy from Wild Travel in the boutique section of our site, so you too can choose from the safari-styled tan canvas and tan leather or the more urban black canvass and black leather.....Cool!