Review: Baker Days Valentine's Letterbox Cake

I was absolutely thrilled when Baker Days contacted me on Twitter and asked if I'd like to review a letterbox cake from their Valentine's range, RRP £14.99. Being a huge fan of cake, I couldn't say yes fast enough!


The idea behind the letterbox cake is so simple, so ingenious, and totally brilliant. Sending foodstuffs through the post can be a nightmare because, if your recipient isn't home, they can end up getting past their prime at your local sorting office. With the letterbox cake you don't need to worry because, well, it fits through your letterbox. When ours landed on our doormat I wasted no time in getting the package open.

I tore open the white shipping box to reveal a gorgeous card, a cute tin containing the cake, and a mini pack of Love Hearts which I thought was just a really sweet (geddit?) touch. I love that the cake comes in a proper tin because it's something that can be kept as a memento, in addition to having a practical use as storage for bits and bobs - or even more cake.

The lid is off!

We couldn't wait any longer, there was cake waiting to be tasted. Anthony was sure the cake would be in pieces after a trip through the post, so I took great enjoyment in proving him wrong when I took the lid off the tin. The cake is plastic wrapped, and packaged really snugly so you can be sure it will arrive at its destination in perfect condition. The paper tab is there to help you get the cake out of the tin. You just pull the tab to raise the cake, then carefully remove it.

Depending on your preferred slice size, this 5" letterbox cake is a great option for 1-4 people, but Baker Days actually make their cakes in four sizes (7", 9" and 12"), not counting their cupcakes. There are loads of different designs too, for occasions ranging from Get Well Soon to Graduation to One Direction. You might think that last is not an occasion, but I'm sure most of us had moments where we'd like nothing more than to see a toddler cake smash through a picture of modern world's most ubiquitous boyband...

I chose the 'Pugs and Kisses' design because it's a long running joke between Anthony and I that one day, irrespective of his allergies and dislike of dogs, I will have a pet pug. I figured he'd enjoy a reminder of what his future holds! Baker Days offer lots of personalisation options, so I had Anthony's name put on the cake. 

You can also choose what flavour sponge you want. The default choices are vanilla or belgian chocolate chip, but for a little extra you can upgrade to fruit cake, gluten or dairy free sponge. I went for the chocolate chip and it was absolutely stunning! The sponge was lovely and moist, and the combination of choc chip and icing was fab. I loved it, Anthony loved it, and when my mum popped around she tried some and loved it too. Even Marianna got in on the action.

We were all really impressed with the cake, the packaging, and the whole concept. It's something a bit different to give as a gift, and with the huge range of designs you're bound to be able to find something suitable, no matter what the occasion. To get your own Baker Days cake, check out their website, www.bakerdays.com, or click HERE to go direct to the Valentine's range. If you live in Wales, remember (to remind your significant other) that St. Dwynwen's Day is on January 25th too.

Mini Mart: Felicity Price Miniatures

I haven't bought too many miniatures recently, what with the financial pressures of Christmas, Marianna's birthday, etc. But I did have a little splurge on stuff from one of my favourite suppliers...

This was my other purchase over Christmas, from eBay. It's a 1/18 scale VW Golf GTI from Welly - it's the perfect home for the Re-Ment Pose Skeletons. :)

Supplier: Felicity Price
Website: felicityminiatures.co.uk. You can also find them on eBay.

Products: Felicity stocks a wide range of 1/12 scale needlepoint kits, along with various miniatures, from dolls to cutlery. There is a working search function, and the website is particularly good if you're looking to buy craft elements, which tend to be much cheaper than other UK stockists. This time round I bought lots of miniature tinsel and bells, a garland of miniature ivy, and a set of picture frames.

Post and Packing: You place your order using the online shopping cart, then Felicity will check everything is in stock and send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal, cheque or postal order, and items are generally dispatched within 24 hours of payment. UK postage is a flat rate of £3.50. I've bought from Felicity a few times and always had top notch service.

How to Set Up a Custom 404 Error Page on Blogger

What is a 404?

The dreaded '404 Not Found' message appears when a server can't find the web address you requested. This might be the result of a broken or dead link, or human error when typing in the address. Either way, it leads to equal amounts of frustration!

What does my 404 page look like?

To check just add /404 to the end of your blog's web address. If you're using Blogger's default settings, your 404 page will look something like this:

What's wrong with it?

Well, nothing per se. It's just a bit boring, and doesn't do much to keep the disgruntled visitor on your blog. Some people set up an automatic 301 redirect from 404 errors to their home page, but this is bad for your SEO, and confusing for people who clicked a link expecting something specific. The best way forward is to create a custom 404 page.

How do I fix it?

Blogger makes things nice and simple for you. On your Dashboard, click 'Settings' then 'Search Preferences'. You'll now see a section headed 'Custom Page Not Found'. Click 'Edit' and, ta-dah, you get a nice empty box waiting to receive your custom HTML.

If you don't feel confident typing it straight in, just get it all ready in a draft post then copy and paste. I decided to keep things simple - I made a cutesy 'page not found' image with canva.com and added a search bar:


The great thing is that you can make yours as simple or as complex as you like. You can use your 404 page to help find a missing child, showcase your favourite blog posts, or engage people with a web game. For inspiration, check out creativemarket.com's list of the coolest 404 pages on the net.