Category Archives: celebrations

5 Hatke Ways To Celebrate Raksha Bandhan!

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We love all things funky and unique at Con Affetto! Check out our ideas on hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan 2016. Pajama parties, movie marathons, virtual coffee if your brother or sister is far away, a trip to an amusement park or bringing back a childhood ritual, which creative way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan will you pick?When we first set eyes on the picture above, it had us going ‘OMG, yes!‘ and laughing till we teared up, all at the same time, as memories of those childhood squabbles came rushing back in a flood. You may love them to bits, or love to hate them at times, but all said and done, if you have a sibling it’s hard to imagine life without them! Your siblings understand you in a way that few other people do, and nobody else has that shared and intimate knowledge of the other that comes with years of growing up together.

You may enjoy: 5 Life Skills You Learn When You Have An Elder Brother

This year in addition to the rituals, the symbolic tying of the rakhi; the traditional goodies and mithai; the friendly banter and the demand for gifts 😉 we wanted to do something unique to bring back the memories and bring alive the fun that characterizes the relationship between siblings. Sounds interesting? Read on for some hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with your brother or sister!

#1: Take a walk down memory lane this Raksha Bandhan

Sunday morning cartoons over breakfast; Friday night pizza dinners; weekend trips to the park or beach, every childhood is replete with certain family rituals. Bring back some of your favourite rituals this Raksha Bandhan and relive memories of your childhood with your brother or sister as you go back to being kids again in each other’s company, even if it is only for a few hours.

We love all things funky and unique at Con Affetto! Check out our ideas on hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan 2016. Pajama parties, movie marathons, virtual coffee if your brother or sister is far away, a trip to an amusement park or bringing back a childhood ritual, which creative way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan will you pick?

Take a walk down memory lane…

Con Affetto Stories: Riya, 27 & Arjun, 23 from Chandigarh, grew up in Dehradun with a shared passion for Scrabble. “As kids, Friday nights were Scrabble nights. We would rush back from school on Fridays, finish whatever we needed to and then get down to Scrabble! Even Mummy, Papa knew better than to disturb us, in fact they encouraged us. We would often eat dinner over the Scrabble board and things could get really competitive. Now, with Riya settled in Delhi, those Friday night Scrabble sessions are a thing of the past, but we make it a point to play a game every Raksha Bandhan. Whether it is Delhi or Chandigarh, we take out the time to catch up every year, even if it is just for a day, and the Scrabble board travels with us! And yes, things can get really competitive even now!”

#2: Celebrate this Raksha Bandhan at an amusement park

Nothing is more symbolic of the unbridled fun and abandon of the early childhood years than a trip to an amusement park. A whole day set aside for fun and frolic; exciting rides; enticing food; laughter and shared moments with loved ones, some of our best childhood memories are often associated with picnics or trips as a family. You may be all grown up now but the amusement park can still bring out the inner fun loving child in you. And hey, its a great way to unwind, de-stress and bond with your sibling without having to worry about planning the details. Just book your tickets and you’re sorted!

We love all things funky and unique at Con Affetto! Check out our ideas on hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan 2016. Pajama parties, movie marathons, virtual coffee if your brother or sister is far away, a trip to an amusement park or bringing back a childhood ritual, which creative way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan will you pick?

Bring out the rakhis at an amusement park this year!

Con Affetto Stories: “When we were kids, a trip to Essel World every year was a must in the summer holidays. Some of our best childhood memories are associated with that place” recount Tejas, 37 and Divya, 32. “Now, Divya is in the US, and I’m in Mumbai and we just get to meet once a year. But last year she made a special effort to plan a trip around Raksha Bandhan and both of us had the same idea: Essel World! We took the entire extended family along; our kids had such a blast and we really got to spend quality time together after years. It was the best Raksha Bandhan in years!”

#3 Planning a last minute Raksha Bandhan and don’t know what to do? Try a movie marathon!

The daily grind can get to the best of us, so if you’re one of the many who’ve had absolutely no time or mind space to even think about what to do for Raksha Bandhan, a movie marathon may be the perfect solution! It’s a brilliant opportunity to hang out and catch up, while being able to relax and unwind all at the same time. You could head to the most conveniently located multiplex, or the neighbourhood theatre where you watched movies together as kids if that’s possible! Or, if even that seems like too much effort, just sack out at either of your homes and bring on the movies!

We love all things funky and unique at Con Affetto! Check out our ideas on hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan 2016. Pajama parties, movie marathons, virtual coffee if your brother or sister is far away, a trip to an amusement park or bringing back a childhood ritual, which creative way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan will you pick?

Have a chilled out Raksha Bandhan with your fave munchies & movies!

Con Affetto Stories: Twins Anchal and Abhimanyu, 26, love watching movies but their hectic schedules barely leave them with time to breathe! They often end up watching movies together over the weekend as it also gives them a chance to hang out and a movie marathon to celebrate Raksha Bandhan seemed like a brilliant idea! “We are not really into rituals and stuff. What is important is that you bond with each other and spend time together. This year Raksha Bandhan was in the middle of the week so it was also a day off and much needed respite from work. A movie marathon seemed brilliant! We even got popcorn and ice cream and ate from the same tub like we used to as kids :)”

#4 Celebrate this Raksha Bandhan in your pajamas!

We’re talking pajama parties and sleepovers! Back when you were kids, you and your sibling probably shared a bedroom and spent long hours chatting and bickering way into the night. Bring out those jammies and bring back those all night talkathons with a good old fashioned pajama party. You could even throw in some of your favourite grub and organise a midnight feast! It will be a unique Raksha Bandhan all right and a super fun way to bond.

We love all things funky and unique at Con Affetto! Check out our ideas on hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan 2016. Pajama parties, movie marathons, virtual coffee if your brother or sister is far away, a trip to an amusement park or bringing back a childhood ritual, which creative way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan will you pick?

How about some bedtime stories, just like when you were kids?

Con Affetto Stories: “We often plan sleepovers for our kids these days but we never thought of having one for ourselves until one of our kids gave us the idea!” share Preeti 27, Anjali, 32 and Rakesh, 35. “We felt a bit silly at first, but slowly we began to enjoy ourselves and had so much fun that we didn’t want the pajama party to end! We are all in the same city but every one is so involved with their own lives that we barely get a chance to meet. We have decided to celebrate Raksha Bandhan every year with pajama parties so that come what may, the three of us get to spend time with each other.”

#5 Long distance Rakha Bandhan? Raise a toast…virtually!

Miss your sibling terribly come Raksha Bandhan but feel helpless because you are continents apart? Fret not, in the day of Facebook Live and SnapChat, a little social media can go a long way! This year, why not catch up with your sibling over a virtual meal? Just pick a time slot that is mutually convenient and arrange for a snack that suits the occasion! You could go one step further and pick a snack you know your sibling is particularly fond of, or maybe something you both equally relished as children!

We love all things funky and unique at Con Affetto! Check out our ideas on hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan 2016. Pajama parties, movie marathons, virtual coffee if your brother or sister is far away, a trip to an amusement park or bringing back a childhood ritual, which creative way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan will you pick?

Continents apart at Raksha Bandhan? Virtual coffee to the rescue!

Con Affetto Stories: Ridhi, 23 and Rishabh, 27 have celebrated many a Raksha Bandhan together, albeit virtually “We were really close as kids, and now with both of us settled in different countries, we really miss those growing up years when we were always together. Especially on occasions like Raksha Bandhan you really feel the pinch, but it’s difficult to plan a trip every year now with kids in the picture and everyone’s evolving schedules! Skype really came as a blessing to us. Even today, when I feel really low, my first instinct is to check if Ridhi is free for a quick Skype chat and it’s the same with her. On Raksha Bandhan we make it a point to set aside a good one hour for each other and chat about anything and everything. Last year we had this idea of having a meal together, on Skype to celebrate Raksha Bandhan! Our time zones were so out of whack that we could only manage a cup of coffee but it was so wonderful. Best coffee ever!”

So there you have it, some truly hatke ways to celebrate Raksha Bandhan! Movie marathon, pajama party, trip to the amusement park…which one will you pick? Or maybe you have some ideas of your own or some unique experiences you’ve had at Raksha Bandhan with your siblings. Tell us; we’d love to hear from you this Raksha Bandhan!

Mother’s Day Special: The Different Types of “Dessert” Mums We Love!

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Oh Mom, you’re such a cookie! Or…a doughnut, maybe?

It’s that time of the year again peeps! Mother’s Day is round the corner and if you’ve been waiting all year to say those sweet ‘everythings’ to your Mom, to let her know just how much she means to you, we’ve got just the thing! Take a quick look below to figure out which dessert type your Mum fits into and then treat her to some gorgeous looking & scrumptious tasting edible bouquet-ish love with our very special Mother’s Day bouquet, crafted especially for all the extraordinary Mums out there!

Gift your Mom an edible bouquet, a unique gift idea this Mothers Day 2016

Let Mom dig into these gorgeous & delish blooms crafted especially for her! #mothersspecial

1. The Glazed Cinnamon Doughnut Mommy

When Mother’s Day rolls around you want to jump up and down, let out loud whoops of joy and give your Mom a big, warm hug. Coz your Mom is just freakin’ awesome! Down to earth, no nonsense, she is terrific with all types of people and all sorts of situations. Got a problem to deal with? Your Mom can handle it and how! Super independent and confident, your Glazed Cinnamon Doughnut Mommy sure knows how to walk the talk! Take the afternoon off and treat her to a movie that she loves this Mother’s Day, and let the rest of the world handle its own problems for a change 😉

2. The Vanilla Almond Sponge Cake Mother

So, you know how it is with cake, right? Everyone wants a slice and there’s never enough to go around! That’s how it is with your Vanilla Almond Sponge Cake Mother. Easy to talk to, a great listener, the friend everyone can turn to…she’s the one you want to go home to. She’s got her stuff sorted and she makes even the most complicated mess seem like…what else? A piece of cake! 😉 It doesn’t take much to make your sweet, simple Mum happy, so why not melt her heart this Mother’s Day with some DIY? A hand made gift into which you’ve invested time and effort will truly show her how much she means to you.

3. The Red Velvet Cheesecake Mummy

Perfectly coiffed hair; pearls in place, she is sophistication personified. Elegant and polished, she can work any social situation with ease, and has saved your skin on many an occasion, because she knows exactly what to say and do! She has high standards, is hard to please and won’t settle for anything but the best. If that sounds like Mommy dearest, you’ve got The Red Velvet Cheesecake Mama! Treat her to an afternoon at her favourite spa this Mother’s Day, so she can put her (perfectly pedicured) feet up and unwind.

Gift your Mom an edible bouquet, a unique gift idea this Mothers Day 2016

Red Velvet Mom? Or Glazed Cinnamon Doughnut maybe? Whatever her dessert type, she’ll love our divine edible bouquets!

4. The French Macaron Mama

Will you stop day dreaming already? Except in this case, it’s you who says this to her and not the other way round! Coz your Mama is a day dreamer and a hopeless romantic to boot! She dreams that someday you’ll end up marrying the guy (or gal) of your dreams, have the beach wedding that she always fantasized about and maybe end up living in a gorgeous atelier in Paris with a dreamy view of the Seine, gorgeous art and an endless supply of luxuriant Macarons…the dessert that describes her best! Your French Macaron Mama loves all things haute couture and is a sucker for the fine things in life…and you wouldn’t want her to be one bit different! Treat her with tickets to the most happening event in town this Mother’s Day…we’re thinking art, couture… or maybe a musical or play she might enjoy.

5. The Apple Crumble & Pecan Pie Momma

She may seem unapproachable to some because of her seemingly strict, crusty exterior, but you know the soft-hearted goodness that lies within! She’s wise beyond her years and an ace at handling even seemingly insurmountable difficulties. And she has a goofy side to her as well…one that you know only too well, even though she keeps it well hidden from the rest of the world! Take your Apple Crumble & Pecan Pie Mumster to an evening out this Mother’s Day…an evening of fun, frolic and wild abandon, where she can let her hair down! We’re thinking a night on the town…bowling, clubbing, a go at the casino…or maybe a stand up comic act!

6. The Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Mumma

She’s the super enthu social butterfly and her friends (and yours!) know they can rely on her. She’s fabulous company and loves having people over, is a real softie at heart (though she can go rock hard if someone’s messing with you) and is incredibly versatile. She’s everyone’s favourite, huggable Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Mumma and you love her to (chocolate chip) bits! Give her a break from all that frantic socializing this Mother’s Day and treat her to a picnic! Just whisk her away unexpectedly…some food, soothing music and a nice shady tree is all you need!

7. The Classic Chocolate Brownie Mom

She has a heart made of…pure chocolate! Warm, soft hearted, kind and loving, everyone loves your Classic Chocolate Brownie Mom! And why wouldn’t they? She’s approachable, practical, easy going and always makes time for you and the things that matter to you. No wonder all your friends love her (almost!)as much as you do! Oh and did we mention she’s fabulous company too? Take her out with all your pals (they’ll only be too happy to join in) and maybe their Mums too, to her favourite restaurant this Mother’s Day to celebrate her unique spirit.

Gift your Mom an edible bouquet, a unique gift idea this Mothers Day 2016

Con Affetto salutes #momspirit! Treat her to one of our edible bouquets this Mother’s Day and have her swooning all year round!

So there you have it! Which dessert matches your Mum best? Whether she’s a Doughnut, a French Macaron or a crusty, flaky Pie, there’s only one of her, so go all out and make her feel fabulous this Mother’s Day!

Bake For Family Month is upon us!

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Can you guess why February is our favourite month of the year? Hint: it has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, though we are suckers for romance 😉 Give up? It’s because February is ‘Bake For Family Month’! And we’re celebrating ALL of this month by having the Con Affetto Bake Off Party, where each member of our team gets a traditional family bake to work, for everyone to tuck into!

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

EVERYONE in the Con Affetto team is going to be baking up a storm this Bake For Family Month!

So it’s but natural that we’re FULL ON excited about Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association, to encourage families to spend time together baking- and having a blast while they’re at it! Baking can be incredibly uplifting and relaxing when done in your alone time, but when done in a group it can take you to a whole different zone. And when it’s done with close family and friends, it can be almost therapeutic! Here’s a look at why baking with family should be on your must-do list this baking season:

B for….Bonding!

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

Bake up some great family bonding moments together too :)

All that jazz about quality time with your loved ones? If that’s what you’re looking for, it doesn’t get better than baking together! Baking requires time and patience. It’s but natural that if you’re doing it with someone, you’re investing time and effort into creating something together. In the process you nurture and strengthen your bonds with each other, in the most delicious way imaginable :)

There’s something in it for everyone!

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

Even the family dog can play a part ;)

From toddlers to grandparents, everyone can help out in baking a scrummylicious cake; or a fun and funky pizza! From measuring ingredients (grandpa, with his penchant for being precise); to mixing the cake batter (the kids get to play a role here!) baking is an all inclusive affair. Even the family dog can play a part- licking the batter off the kitchen floor! 😉

You get to learn a lifelong skill…

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

Learning a life long skill that may even become a lifetime’s passion!

Yup, baking ain’t just fun and games! As anyone who is clueless about cooking; we’re talking about being unable to even boil an egg- there really are peeps like that out there!- will tell you, learning how to bake is an invaluable skill. And it’s a skill that will last you a lifetime.  If acquired well, it can bring you great joy (not to mention delicious bakes!). And hey, if you get really good at it, you may even make it a lifelong passion!

Baking is SUPER for kids!

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

Can you think of a more fabulous- or delicious!- way to spend an afternoon with the young ‘uns?

Okay, there are reams and reams of research out there which prove beyond doubt that baking is a fabulous activity for families with kids to indulge in as often as possible. Not only does it get kids interested in trying healthy foods (carrot cake, anyone?), it gets children involved in the process of meal planning and learning about healthy ingredients, makes them feel included and accomplished by contributing something to the family meal and teaches several basic math and scientific principles. So get your kids around that oven already!

You’re creating more than just baked goodies…

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

You’re creating memories that will last a lifetime!

You’re creating beautiful memories that will not just last you for a lifetime; they will be even handed down for generations after! Think about it; are there any family recipes which have come to you from your great-great-grandmother’s time and are guarded like precious family heirlooms? Well, not only do you relive and recreate those memories from your grand mum’s kitchen every time you and your kids get together to bake, now you’re getting to create recipes and memories of your own. Which may someday be relished and loved by your great grandkids!

Baking together gets those creative juices flowing…

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

Get, set…bake! Baking unleashes creativity…did you know that cake pops were the result of a creative burst of inspiration?

Baking has been likened to a work of art and a good baker is akin to an artist. So it goes without saying that when you and your family get involved in baking you bring your individual personalities and talents to the entire process and feed off each others creativity. You can take that basic cake recipe and add your own creative flair to it. Who says you have to be a text book baker? In the process, you not only unleash your imagination, you amp up the entire creative process! Many epic desserts- think cake pops, or macarons!- have been created by imaginative and innovative bakers thinking outta the (cake) box!

Bake for family month will foster some awesome teamwork!

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

The home team in action!

Remember that old saying about how too many bakers can ruin the cake? Just as with any other group or community project, baking requires great teamwork and organization. In any team there are people with different skill levels and competencies; some need support and guidance, some get an opportunity to develop their leadership skills. And when you’re playing for the greatest team of all-the home team- it’s a learning ground like no other, and fun too!

We hope we’ve got you all revved up about spending time with the fam around that oven, baking up loads of happiness! Don’t forget to watch this space for more fun bake for family month activities– we have LOADS of awesome stuff we plan to serve up to you this month- fresh and hot from the oven, Con Affetto style 😉

You may also like: 10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs

Con Affetto’s Valentine’s Day Contest!

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“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.“ Charles M. Schulz.


Valentine's Day contest at Con Affetto, enter to win a Con Affetto bouquet worth Rs 1,550!

Celebrating the season of loooove!

And what if you could have both? It’s one of our favourite times of the year again and we’re celebrating with a funky Valentine’s Day Contest here at Con Affetto! Coz what better way to celebrate the season of love than by spreading a whole lot of love (and chocolate!) around, right?!

Valentine's Day contest at Con Affetto, enter to win a Con Affetto bouquet worth Rs 1,550!

Get closer to your Valentine with our fab contest!

So gear up and get set for the dreamiest Valentine’s Day ever, coz we are SO going to make all your Valentine dreams come true this year!

Everyone has that image of the perfect Valentine’s Day with the love of their lives. It could be a picnic under the stars or breakfast in bed; lounging around in pajamas all day and ODing on Netflix….or an all out, extravagant gift that screams ROMANCE!

Valentine's Day contest at Con Affetto, enter to win a Con Affetto bouquet worth Rs 1,550!

Is a dreamy day at the beach your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day?

Well, whatever it is that makes YOUR heart go boom boom boom!, all you need to do this Valentine’s Day is tell us and we’re gonna make it happen! Yes, it really is that simple. Hooked, booked and ready to rock this V Day boat? Read on for our easy as pie contest rules below:

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! Con Affetto’s Valentine’s Day Contest! Be there or be square 😉

Step One:

Simble! ‘Like’ us on Facebook! Here we are!

Step Two: 

Check out our Valentine’s Day Contest on Facebook here and tell us YOUR idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day.

Step Three: 

Simbler! We will pick the top TWO most fun, funky, quirky replies and announce them on our Facebook page on 10th February (mark that date!)

Step Four:

Now  for the fun part! For the two winners, we will convey YOUR idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day to your Valentine, so that he or she can go all out to turn that dreamy Valentine Day into reality come February 14! What’s more you and your Valentine get one complimentary bouquet of Valentine’s Special, our exclusive new cake pop bouquet worth Rs 1,550!

Funky gift ideas for her! Gorgeous edible bouquets from Con Affetto

Make it a swoon worthy Valentine with our exclusive new cake pop bouquet!

Step Five:

Bonus! Those lucky peeps will be featured on our blog as the Con Affetto Cutest Couple!

That’s it! And the contest starts….hey, wait! It’s happening already! So head over to the Con Affetto page on Facebook RIGHT NOW and join the party! It’s going to be a Valentine’s Day like no other with Con Affetto :)

*Contest is on in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida only *Contest will be on till February 10, 2016 *Winners will be chosen at the sole discretion of Con Affetto *The contest is not associated with Facebook in any way

Funky Gift Ideas For Her, This Valentine’s Day

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Tick tock…tick tock… Gentlemen, we hope you have your eyes on the clock! It’s 2nd February and that day is looming on the horizon…You know which day we mean, right? The day when the love of your life would like to feel a little extra special, a little more pampered than usual and would like to be reminded of how she really IS the only one for you. You guessed right…Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and we hope you’ve got your game plan ready, guys!

Check out our funky gift ideas for the special girl in your life

The season of LOVE is back :)

And because we know just how important (and how challenging!) it is to make every Valentine’s Day memorable & meaningful for the love of your life, this Valentine’s Day we have a special V Day launch just for all you awesome guys. Yes, you heard that right! Presenting an exclusive new Con Affetto launch….wait for it….*DRUM ROLL*…

The Valentine’s Special Cake Pop Bouquet: An Exclusive, All New Con Affetto Launch!

Funky gift ideas for her! Gorgeous edible bouquets from Con Affetto

Make it a swoon worthy Valentine with our exclusive new cake pop bouquet!

Remember, you heard it here first! Valentine’s Special: a gorgeous and absolutely swoon worthy arrangement of crimson red and sunshine-y yellow flowers playing peek-a-boo with the most scrumptious cake pops your taste buds would have the good fortune of letting melt all over ’em…sigh! So quit Googling the best online flower and cake delivery options in your city this Valentine’s Day and gift your gal this delightful little taste of spring encased in cake pop velvet, instead. And then sit back and watch all those regular, boring flower bouquets wilt in comparison (and envy 😉 ). Bonus: You get to share some of these droolsome treats with your girl, while the other guys, erm, get to watch their flowers wilt *evil laughter*

Our fabulous new Valentine’s Special bouquet will feature on our website real soon; in the meantime feel free to drool all over our other scrummylicious bouquets 😉

Check out our funky gift ideas for the special girl in your life. Edible bouquets are a great gifting option for Valentines Day!

Your special someone will be spoilt for choice with our gorgeous edible bouquets!

And while we’re talking ways to make this Valentine’s Day a memorable and meaningful day for your girl, here are some of our specially curated, funky gift ideas for her, that will make her fall in love with you- all over again! Whether your girl is the mushy sort or the ‘I care two hoots about Valentine’s Day’ cynic, our funky gift ideas for her, oozing with romance, will be sure to blow her away this V-Day. After all no girl is immune to true blue romance, especially when it’s straight from the heart and comes with a quirky twist! Read on:

1. A ‘Book of Love’….written by YOU!

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized book of love

Write your way into her heart this Valentine’s Day… (Image Courtesy: Uncommon Goods, link below)

Want her to know how your love for her will go on for eternity? Capture those emotions in words that will last forever, by penning a book for her! Before you break out in a sweat, check out this sweet little book from Uncommon Goods that takes all your deepest sentiments and cutesy moments and translates them into words for your love…in the most effortless, fun way possible! Yup you’re on your way to best-selling author land all right and you sure will write your way into the heart of your very special reader!

2. A funky gift for her to prove your love can be priceless…

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized wallet insert

Your love is…priceless! (Image Courtesy: www.etsy.com)

Money can’t buy love right? Yeah, but it sure can act as a reminder of your love…right in your lady love’s wallet! This quirky yet ultra romantic metal wallet insert- with your personalized image and message- will remind her of how priceless your love truly is, each time she whips out her wallet. Yup, there are some things that money can’t buy, and this gift will work as a constant reminder of that :)

3. Tareekh pe tareekh!

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized wall calendar

All those dates…easy as pie 😉 (Image Courtesy: Vistaprint, link below)

Does your girl often crib about how you never remember the day you first met, or when you first kissed, or when you proposed to her, or when she first told you what you mean to her, or when…gaaah! Is your head spinning already? We don’t blame you… remembering all those dates can be CRAZY, but that’s exactly what some girls expect you to do! Now, don’t just remember all those dates, set them down in stone (um, print) with these fantabulous personalized calendars from Vistaprint. You don’t just get to customize every month of the year with cutesy pics of the two of you, you can put every goddamn date in there- from your first gift to her to the first kiss and make up after the first fight 😉 Now all you have to do is get all the info on all those dates from your girl (yup, girls remember everything) without her guessing why!

4. Put a ring on it…

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized initial ring in sterling silver, rose filled gold or gold

Put a ring on it! (Image Courtesy: www.etsy.com)

The two of you together, forever? Sealed with a kiss, and engraved in gold? Put a ring on it, guys! This bee-yoo-tiful two initial ring in sterling silver or gold, will do just that. You can put in your girl’s birthstone and a special message from you to go with it as well. Trust us, this is one ring she won’t want to take off anytime soon!

We hope our funky gift ideas for her have you feeling inspired, gentlemen! Your love may be timeless but time, tide and..er, Valentine’s Day wait for none…the countdown to V-Day has begun so take your pick and get going already!

For more inspiration check our some of our other super cool and oh so romantic ideas here!

Con Affetto’s Dessert of the Month: Gooey Chocolate Cake

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Gooey. Sinful. Decadent. Delicious. Happiness is now just a chocolate laden slice away! Do you know what makes us ecstatically, deliriously happy? A freshly baked slice of chocolate cake, just the right amount of moist and gooey, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream nestling by its side and some sizzling warm chocolate sauce caressing them both tenderly. Sighhhh…just the thought is enough to send us into raptures of joy!

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

A decadent slice of bliss!

We’re back this fabulous Friday with an all new series: Con Affetto’s Dessert of the Month and starring this January is- what else- but Gooey Chocolate Cake! And hey, guess what? 27Th Jan is celebrated as Chocolate Cake Day, so if you didn’t treat yourself to some chocolate cake making happy this Wednesday, go ahead and indulge today- we can’t think of a better way to end the week!

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

Chocolate coated happiness is this :)

Chocolate cake is pretty ubiquitous across the dessert scene everywhere, but did you know that chocolate cake first started off as a beverage? Yup, that’s right! Until the 1830’s, chocolate was consumed mainly as a beverage and the popular notion of ‘chocolate cake’ was actually a white or yellow cake that was eaten along with a chocolate drink! Whoa, you sure have come a loooong way, baby!

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

And this is how it all began! The origin of chocolate cake…was as a beverage!

This National Chocolate Cake Day we’d like to, ahem, honour this all time classic dessert (and one of our personal faves, droool!) by treating you to our favourite gooey chocolate cake recipes. Try one out this weekend (or right away!) and it may even chase those Monday morning blues away!

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

Whip up some chocolate making happy this Chocolate Cake Day!

Presenting…our all time favourite ooey gooey….droool…okay, sorry! We got a little carried away there! Getting back…presenting our all time favourite ooey gooey chocolate cake recipes! Try one, or try ’em all. Instant bliss, guaranteed 😉

1. Gooey Chocolate Cake by Joy The Baker

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

Mini shots of chocolate love :) (Image Credit: Joy The Baker- link below)

Good things come in small packages sometimes and Joy The Baker proves just that with these little gooey chocolate cakes. These miniature gooey chocolate cakes make for a great post dinner treat, or a pre-workout snack, or a tea time accompaniment….heck, you can just scarf ’em down anytime of the day…or night!

Get the Gooey Chocolate Cake Recipe by Joy the Baker here!

Related: 10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs

2. Gordon Ramsay’s Gooey Chocolate Cake

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

For when you need to quell that chocolate craving with something light and still OD on chocolate 😉 (Image Credit: Good Food-link below)

This one is just right for when you want something sumptuous and chocolatey, but not over the top heavy. Hit all the right (chocolate) notes, with this easy to follow recipe over at Good Food.

3. Gooey Chocolate Cake in Seconds: A Hug in a Mug!

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

A hug in a mug! And it’s chocolate!

Okay, this one is our personal favourite among all the personal favourites and you’ll soon see why. It’s ready in 60 seconds flat! You heard that right. Chocolate cake. 60. SECONDS. FLAT. Perfect for those days when you need instant chocolate comfort and you need it NOW. Oh and did we mention that you need only three ingredients for this one? This is a hug in a mug, alright- and a chocolate smothered one at that!

Are you still hanging around, reading? Get the recipe at Babble already!

Related: How to Bake the Perfect Brownie!

4. Nigella’s Gooey Chocolate Cake

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

You can’t go wrong when it’s a Nigella chocolate cake recipe!

Um, you can’t be talking gooey chocolate cake and not talk Nigella right? Right! This one is super fudgy, moist, gooey and chocolatey and SO easy to make! No wonder it’s one of Nigella’s favorites as well! Get the recipe here.

5. Thoda Chocolate, Thoda Caramel

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

Awesome threesome: cake, chocolate, caramel. Ooey gooey love! (Image Credit: A Pinch of Yum- link below)

Okay now this one has a slight caramel twist as you must have guessed, but that’s exactly why it makes it to our list of must try gooey chocolate cakes! Think moist cake. Melted chocolate. Soft, melt in your mouth caramel. A match made in heaven? This is one threesome you simply gotto try! It is ooey gooey, oooh-ey gooey, it is delish and like the lady says, it WILL change your life. Get the recipe at over at A Pinch of Yum.

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

And we’re off for some chai and chocolate cake :)

We’d love to hang around and chat but after all those recipes, all WE can think about is chocolate cake so we just gotta rush to the Con Affetto kitchen and whip up some RIGHT NOW. Later, peeps! And wish you’ll a Very Happy Chocolate Cake Day! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate happiness :) Can you?

You may also like: The Difference Between Macarons & Macaroons!

Con Affetto’s List of Must Try Desserts in 2016!

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“Life is uncertain- Eat dessert first.”– Ernestine Ulmer


That pretty much sums up our philosophy of life! Which is why we can often be seen beginning and ending meals with generous helpings of the dessert(s) of the day (or night)! 😉 It’s our very first post of a brand new year and what better way to wish all you awesome blog readers a better Happy New Year than with a specially sweet post? Here’s a list of MUST TRY desserts in 2016; some scrumptious sweet treats you simply must sink your teeth into in the coming year. And since we like to plan our desserts down to the “D”, we’ve got it all planned out for you with our very own month wise sweet treat planner of must try desserts:

Con Affetto's List of Must Try Desserts in 2016

Here’s wishing you all a fabulous New Year filled with good food, great friends and melt in your mouth desserts! Let’s toast to 12 gloriously sweet months in 2016 :)

7 New Year’s Resolutions Every Couple Should Make

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There’s no time better than December to reflect on the year gone by and start thinking about what lies ahead. If you’re like us (and most other peeps!) it’s also the time when you start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Before you start feeling bummed about the age old New Year’s resolutions you’ve been making and breaking every year (lose weight on your list?), listen to this! This New Year, why not make your New Year’s resolutions as a couple? Think about it. Making your resolutions with your partner will mean you have something to work on together, as a team. And as a bonus you get to create some wonderful memories while you’re at it! Sounds like a plan? Here are 10 New Year’s resolutions you (and every sensible couple 😉 ) should make:

1. Sweat it out together…

Give your New Year's resolutions for 2016 a quirky spin and make your resolutions as a couple this year

The road to fitness can be fun with your partner along for the ride!

Why look for a fitness buddy elsewhere when you can get fit and fab with your partner? With everyone and their aunt riding the fitness wave, there’s no better time to jump onto the fitness bandwagon. So after you’re done being wasted at this year’s New Year bash (it’s New Year’s, it’s allowed!), pick your favourite couple fitness activity and get going!

2. Bake as a couple :)

Give your New Year's resolutions for 2016 a quirky spin and make your resolutions as a couple this year

Let’s raise a toast to some fabulous ‘couple bakes’ in the New Year ;)

Did you know that cooking together as a couple can strengthen your relationship? And baking is even better coz it means you get to dish out some fabulous grub without slaving over a hot stove- that’s the oven’s job!

Looking for some fabulous recipes to begin your foray into baking? Take a look at our recipe selection here.

3. Be nice, not nasty!

Give your New Year's resolutions for 2016 a quirky spin and make your resolutions as a couple this year

Criticize less, compliment more!

When you’ve been in a comfortable relationship for a while you can tend to nag, nag, nag….Sounds familiar? Make a New Year’s resolution to be nice instead. The next time you feel compelled to criticize your partner, pay them a compliment instead!

Related: 15 Surprising Benefits of Being in a Romantic Relationship!

4. Kiss, kiss, hug, hug…

Give your New Year's resolutions for 2016 a quirky spin and make your resolutions as a couple this year.

Hugs, cuddles, kisses aplenty…one of the best parts of being in a relationship!

No, we haven’t suddenly lost the plot; we’re still talking New Year’s resolutions! Cuddling, kissing and hugging- for no reason at all!- are great ways to keep the spark alive in your relationship. Baby steps- start with a ‘good morning hug’ soon’s you open your eyes and a ‘welcome back kiss’ when you walk thru the door from work- and take it from there!

5. Break some bad together!

Give your New Year's resolutions for 2016 a quirky spin and make your resolutions as a couple this year.

Make a couples pact to get rid of some unwanted baggage this New Year!

Um, we’re talking bad habits, of course! Whether it’s smoking, gorging on junk or yapping too much on WhatsApp (guilty!), pick one habit, make a couples pact and resolve to break it together!

6. Don’t forget to play!

Give your New Year's resolutions for 2016 a quirky spin and make your resolutions as a couple this year

Pillow fight, anyone? :)

Yes, play! And we’re not talking organized sport (though you can do that as well!), we mean silly, non serious stuff. Stuff like pillow fights, talking in funny voices or inventing a language only the two of you understand. Use your imagination; even if you can’t think of anything, you’ll still have loads of fun being silly!

7. Shhhhh…

Give your New Year's resolutions for 2016 a quirky spin and make your resolutions as a couple this year

Sit back, relax, LISTEN!

L.I.S.T.E.N. Seriously, if there is just ONE thing you decide to do together as a couple, let it be this one. Okay, straight after the bake together one 😉 Active, mindful listening is NOT easy, but it truly is the best thing you can do for your relationship. So, the next time your partner’s sharing stuff with you, stop what you’re doing, look them in the eye and listen up.

Need some help with the listening? Try our fun challenge, it’ll be half the battle won!

Here’s to happy New Year’s resolution making and stronger, fabulous and fun relationships!

Con Affetto’s Traditional Christmas Bakes: Part Deux!

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If you read the first part of our series on traditional Christmas bakes, you’re probably drowning in visions of that perfect Christmas cake, baked just right, spongy and moist with the perfect bite of spice and sweet. Or maybe the alluring scent of crusty shortbread is what you’d rather have wafting from your kitchen. But before you get up close and personal- with your oven of course!- you’ll need the perfect recipe. SO! We’re back with part two of our series, just like we’d promised! A carefully curated and especially Christmassy collection of recipes for some traditional Christmas bakes you cannot afford to miss these season. Bring on that Xmas cheer already! 😀

Traditional Christmas bakes to relish this season with Con Affetto's curated Christmas recipes

Bring on the Xmas festivities with a baking bonanza!

Must try traditional Christmas bakes: the all time favourite Classic Christmas Fruitcake

There are traditional cakes and then there are festive cakes, but there will always be only one Classic Christmas Fruitcake. You’ll either love it or hate it, such is the reaction it evokes, but come Christmas you simply cannot ignore it! Why not try baking the original classic this season? Our go-to recipe when it comes to traditional Christmas cake is a Jamie Oliver classic- you can’t go wrong when it’s a Jamie!

Traditional Christmas bakes to relish this season with Con Affetto's curated Christmas recipes

Traditional Christmas Cake (Image Courtesy: www.jamieoliver.com)

Christmas Cookies! Our fave of all the traditional Christmas bakes

It’s no secret! We love all things cookie, here at Con Affetto! From gingerbread men, to sugar cookies; double chocolate sandwich cookies to biscotti, our Christmas fantasies pretty much revolve around baking bonanzas involving large batches of scummylicious cookies! We’ve treated to you our very own Easy Christmas Cookies not so long ago, now here’s another look at one of our personal favourites: the crumbly, rich, melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread Cookies. Try out this simple and superbly demonstrated recipe from Joy of Baking of the classic Shortbread Cookie recipe; you’ll be licking your fingers when you’re done, we promise!

Traditional Christmas bakes to relish this season with Con Affetto's curated Christmas recipes

Shortbread Cookies (Recipe Courtesy: www.joyofbaking.com)

A list of traditional Christmas bakes is incomplete without the Classic Mince Pie!

These bite sized, flavourful delights are a staple on the festivity menu, and we bring to you an unbelievably easy mince pie recipe to boot from GoodFood. Get this- this recipe requires no rolling! It’s so simple even a child can make it, which is actually a brilliant idea- get your kids involved while making these mince pies and turn it into a festive family affair! You’ll all be scarfing down these oh-so-easy-to-make, delicious pies packed with flavour in no time!

Traditional Christmas bakes to relish this season with Con Affetto's curated Christmas recipes

Unbelievably Easy Mince Pies (Recipe Courtesy: www.bbcgoodfood.com)

It isn’t Christmas without some traditional Christmas bread

The last on our list of traditional Christmas bakes, Christmas breads are a sure shot way to become even more popular than Santa this season– just gift some made-with-love traditional Christmas breads!- while also getting to show off your baking skills. We can’t think of a better win-win, can you? This superb festive recipe of Chocolate Cranberry Stollen will make for a fabulous gift– as long as you make sure you don’t wolf it down the second it pops out of the oven 😉

Traditional Christmas bakes to relish this season with Con Affetto's curated Christmas recipes

Chocolate Cranberry Stollen (Recipe Courtesy: breadbaking.about.com)

Do give a try to some of these festive recipes this season- and don’t forget to give us a shout out to tell us how it went! Merry Christmas and Happy Festive Baking!

Con Affetto’s Traditional Christmas Bakes: Part One

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Christmas is upon us and we’re feeling particularly festive here at Con Affetto! We lurrve all things Christmassy right from Santa with his festive troop of reindeer, beautifully decorated Christmas trees to the promise of funky Christmas gifts 😉 , but if there’s one thing that really gets our Christmas spirit soaring, it’s the traditional Christmas bakes we get to relish this season!

Traditional Christmas bakes play a key role in the festivities

The traditional Christmas dinner is quite a feast!

Food has always been a big part of Christmas with the traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey with stuffing and gravy; mashed potatoes; cranberry sauce; steamed veggies and the ubiquitous Christmas pudding becoming popular all over the globe, but did you know that some traditional Christmas bakes are equally relished as well? Here’s a quick low-down on what you should be baking- or digging into- this season!

Lets begin our journey into traditional Christmas bakes with a look at some X’massy cakes!

Traditional Christmas bakes include the classic Christmas fruitcake with marzipan or icing

Think Christmas, think cake!

Think Xmas, think cake! Christmas cakes are truly a feast for the senses! There are myriad versions of Christmas cakes but among the more popular are the the classic fruit cake with marzipan or icing and the Scottish Dundee cake, which is a relatively 😉 lighter version. Then there’s also the ‘mincemeat cake’ which comprises of any traditional mincemeat mixed in with flour and eggs, and the fun Yule Log, which is basically a Swiss Roll coated in chocolate. But more than the cake itself, we especially dig the fun traditions surrounding Christmas cakes! One is the ‘stir up’ tradition which involves mixing some of the ingredients for the cake  (a super fun activity for the entire family, some peeps even like adding coins to their cake for good luck!). The second tradition is ‘feeding the cake’ which is when alcohol is added in small quantities to the cake over a period of time to build the flavour and keep it moist (we like!) and a third tradition is to avoid cutting the cake before dawn on Christmas eve (considered unlucky!).

You might also like: 5 Handy Cake Decorating Hacks That Will BLOW Your Mind!

Christmas Pies come next on our fun list of traditional Christmas bakes…

Traditional Christmas bakes include that all time British favourite, mince pies

An all time Xmas favourite; mince pies

The traditional Christmas Mince Pie, small pies filled with minced fruit, dry fruit and spices, is a popular inclusion on Christmas menus across the world. Although mince pies first originated in an oval shape and then went on to include a variety of shapes from stars and hearts to flowers, today they are commonly made in a round shape and eaten hot or cold. We like ours piping hot with some ice cream on the side! A custom from the Middle Ages says that if you eat a mince pie every day from Christmas to Twelfth Night (6th Jan) you will have happiness everyday for the next twelve months! (A custom worth trying, we think!) And hey, did you know that mince pies are SO popular in the UK, they have their very own Mince Pie club?!

Our personal favourite traditional Christmas bake of the season…

Traditional Christmas bakes include Christmas cookies

It’s not Christmas without the cookies and gingerbread cookies are a personal fave!

Christmas cookies! Yup, when it comes to Christmas, can cookies be far behind? 😉 Christmas feasting traditionally involves a baking bonanza (yay!) and back in the day, unlike pies or cakes, cookies could easily be shared and gifted. Our traditional Christmas cookies date back to these medieval gifts. Cut out cookies, shortbread and gingerbread cookies are some of the most well loved cookies of the season but we’re rather partial to sugar cookies and biscotti. For most people it isn’t Christmas without cookies. There are cookie plates, cookie exchanges, heck, even Santa loves his cookies! Children traditionally leave out cookies for Santa– a practice started by parents to encourage generosity in their kids-and one that is still going strong. You ain’t getting to size zero anytime soon, Santa!

Break some Christmassy bread with this traditional Christmas bake…

Traditional Christmas bakes include a wide variety of Christmas breads, which are also a lighter alternative to the rich Christmas fruitcake

Bake and break some Xmassy bread this season ;)

If you’d rather give a toss to tradition and Marie Antoinette, and bake bread instead of cake, you’re in for a treat because Christmas baking comes replete with a fabulous selection of Xmassy breads. If you like fruitcakes, you’ll LOVE these Christmas breads, traditionally made to be moist, with dried and candied fruit and nuts. From the traditional German Stollen to Julekake – a Norwegian Christmas bread, to cinnamon tea rings and pumpkin bread, these sure are some bread-y and heady alternatives to traditional fruitcake, and also make for fabulous gifting options!

Are you drooling already with visions of buttery Christmas cookies and spongy slices of Christmas cake floating before your eyes? We’re just about getting started! Watch this space for Part Deux of our traditional Christmas baking series: some funky, fabulous and mouth wateringly delicious traditional Christmas baking recipes coming your way…very soon!