Christmas Gifts with Cheerz

It's been quite christmassy on my blog and social media this week with lots of gifts coming in and I've posted two Christmas gift guides this week! The first was a Lush Gift Guide and the second was a Botanicals Gift Guide For Her so you can check them out if you want more gift ideas.

However, today's post is a little different as we're focusing on personalised and photo gifts from Cheerz. I've been lucky enough to work with Cheerz a few times already this year and I've adored all of the items I've received and this one is no different! You can use the discount code CSNGNS with your order.

*Cheerz Grrrr Photo Box (from £14) 

They have so many wonderful products including magnets and calendars but I opted for one of the photo boxes. You can choose the outer packaging design, I have the 'grrr' design but there are others to choose from including a gorgeous Christmas design that I love!

The box is well made, sturdy and a great keepsake in which you can add 30 to 45 photographs - the more you include, the more expensive it will be but I think for what you get, the price is fantastic. I chose to include lots of photos from our amazing trip to Norway this summer and I love how well the photos were printed.

Your photos will be printed onto premium photo paper, you can add a caption or place name to your photos and they look like cute polaroid photos! They'd be great to pin onto a memo board, hang up around the house, add to a scrapbook, stick to the fridge or keep them in their cute box.

Here are a couple of other gift suggestions from Cheerz such as their magnets (from £10) which can also come in an adorable Christmas box as well as a personalised photo calendar (from £18). I've made one using family holiday photos from the past few years and I know my mum will absolutely love it!

Don't forget to use the code CSNGNS on your order! 

Have you bought anything from Cheerz? What do you think of these Christmas gifts?

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Final Father's Day Gift Guide 2018

Father's Day in the UK is less than one week away (it's this coming Sunday) but there is still plenty of time to buy gifts so today's post is my final Father's Day gift guide featuring a range of amazing brands including Teapigs, Cheerz, Crabtree and Evelyn, Thames and Hudson and Temple Spa, all of which are brands that I love! 

*Teapigs Feel Good Teas (£3.99 each)

I have been very lucky to work with the super lovely people over at Teapigs a few times previously reviewing their Matcha Green Tea Drinks, Feel Good Teas and some of their gifts as part of one of my Last Minute Gift Guides last year. Within todays gift guide, I'm including some of their newer flavours in the feel good teas range including the 'trim', 'happy' and 'calm' flavour options. 

The feel good tea flavours are all fantastic and my favourite of the three has to be the 'trim' tea which includes guarana seed, rosehip, hibiscus and peach - the flavour is so summery, fresh and fruity which I love at this time of the tea. The feel good tea options are fantastic as gifts as they not only look so colourful and cute but they also taste lovely, they can help in specific ways depending on what tea you buy and they'd be perfect to add into a hamper. 

I've also tried their peach lemonade, peppermint, apple and cinnamon and green tea with mint and I cannot recommend them enough, they're all delicious and would also be great for a Father's Day hamper too. If you want something a little more summery then the matcha green tea drinks are ideal particularly for spring/summer picnics. 

*Teapigs Stag Mug (£7.50)

Next up is a gift idea that I love, mugs! I have so many mugs but somehow I need more mugs and there are quite a few on Teapigs that are so cute, including this adorable stag mug. The stag mug comes in a gift box and looks so nice as a gift. The design is very simple with a stag illustration and quote on the handle but you know I'm a fan of minimal design. Mugs are a great gift idea, they'd also be great to add to a hamper as I've done along with tea and a keep cup. 

*Teapigs Keep Cup (£15.99)

Lastly from the super generous people at Teapigs is probably my favourite eco-cup design, it's the Teapigs keep cup. Keep cups are made of durable glass, BPA free plastic and sustainable sourced cork so it's an environmentally friendly made reusable cup that would be perfect to take to work, on the go or to a picnic! 

I love the cute, compact design although it does hold 340ml so it's bigger than it looks (like the Tardis of reusable cups) and it would be ideal for tea or coffee (or hot chocolate). It isn't a thermal cup but it's great for on the go rather than storing hot drinks for a long time. I've been using mine off and on recently while visiting a few historic houses around Manchester and Cheshire (follow me on instagram to come along with me). 

*Cheerz Framed Photo (from £15)

Speaking of brands that I love and have worked with multiple times over the past year or so (and I've bought items from them as well), is Cheerz. Cheerz is a French brand focusing on wonderful photograph gifts including photo albums, canvases, memory boxes, magnets and more. One of their newer products, along with their canvases, are these wonderfully designed framed photos which come in a wide variety of options. I have the 20cm by 20cm framed photo with four photos included but you could opt for just one photo. The other size options include: 40cm by 40cm, 40cm by 60cm and 50cm by 70cm. 

As well as being able to change the frame size and number of photos, you can also change the colour of the frame from white and black to oak, I chose the latter even though it's a little more expensive because it matches our living room and kitchen decor really well. Photos for the frames can be uploaded from your computer or social media including facebook and instagram which is so handy although for my Father's Day gift, I opted for older photos of my dad, our family and a rather cute photo of myself and my sister back in the 90's. I cannot recommend Cheerz in general enough as their products are so cute, they make unique personalised gifts and the quality is amazing. 

Both the frames and the retro prints are both reduced for Father's Day and the last day for standard shipping in time for Father's Day is TODAY (11th). The last day for express shipping is the 13th so you still have time. It's so easy to order, especially using their free app! Use the code: 10BEAUTY to get 10% off your order but you have to hurry as it ends on the 17th June!

*Sentinels Of The Sea by R.G Grant (£19.95)

From January 2016 I started reading again after not reading fiction for around ten years (apart from maybe three books per year); however since then I've fallen in love with reading and I'm surpassing my yearly goals by 237% (2017) and 142% (2017). Since I started reading again I've had to discover my favourite genres and one of them is definitely quirky non-fiction and Sentinels Of The Sea definitely fits into that category!

Sentinels Of The Sea is a quirky and incredibly beautifully designed non-fiction read all about the history of lighthouses, from the very early designs to the engineering and designs used today as well as some of the main individuals involved in that evolution. As well as an easy to follow history, it also contains so many blueprint style photographs and diagrams of lighthouses throughout the world which I loved! Additionally, the cover matches the beautiful content within as it too is stunning. I have a few books from Thames and Hudson that are of a similar style including one about dentistry, surgery and another about 'madness' - I've only read the dentisty book so far but I can't wait to read the others. If you're looking for a quirky, beautiful book for Father's Day then look no further. Check out my GoodReads for my book ratings.

*Crabtree and Evelyn Anti-Ageing Hand Cream (£15.20, sale)

Now onto a couple of pampering products because dads deserve some pampering too! My dad doesn't like anything too 'girly'...but he does love hand cream and aftershave, the latter he receives all the time so hand creams are a safe, practical gift. Crabtree and Evelyn is  a fantastic, high quality and effective pampering brand with a range of fantastic gifts for Father's Day! I've tried the hand cream and it's so lovely, rich and moisturising but it isn't very greasy or heavy on the skin, thankfully. It contains so many gorgeous ingredients such as cucumber, sage and rosemary extracts which makes for a perfect hand cream. This hand cream is currently on sale on their site!

*Temple Spa Unisex Travel Bathroom Kit (£18.50)

The final gift idea is from another wonderful pampering and beauty brand, Temple Spa. I absolutely adored their room spray, diffuser, concealer and mascara so I'm very confident that I'm going to love all of their products as they're not only very high quality but smell lovely and they're so effective.

This unisex set contains their frequent use shampoo, everyday hair conditioner, aromatic bath and shower gel and their calming skin balm, all of which are 50ml sizes so they'd be perfect for a weekend away. I love the packaging, all of the products are so well designed and presented and they smell so nice! I love the sets and gift options from Temple Spa as they look so luxe and expensive, I can't recommend them enough. They offer free delivery on orders over £50 and you can get 10% off if you sign up to their newsletter.

That's it for final Father's Day gift guide for 2018, luckily this year I've been able to share quite a lot of gift ideas from so many wonderful and lovely brands, especially those included in todays final post! I love all of the gifts included and if you still haven't bought anything for your dad or grandad yet then you still have time. I hope my gift guides have given you some Father's Day or birthday gift ideas! Check out my video for a few shot clips of some of the gifts in my gift guide!

What do you think of the gifts included in my final Father's Day gift guide? Do you have any gift ideas? 

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Gifts For Her: Fragrance, Beauty + Homeware

How is it almost Christmas time! It feels like last Christmas was only a few months ago and yet here we are again. I’ve already published a few gift ideas posts which you can check out but today’s post is focused on gifts for herald the home - whether that’s your mum, aunties, friends or partner. Thanks to Betsy Benn, Find Me A Gift, Mad Beauty and others for the wonderful gifts!

*Betsy Benn Personalised Constellation Christmas Bauble (£10) 

Personalised gifts are some of my favourite to give and also receive as they are typically very special and unique; this gorgeous personalised bauble is no different. It comes nicely packaging, it’s wooden and it is personalised with up to seven family members names (or friends names if you wanted to create a personalised gift for a group of your close friends!). The Christmas bauble is so incredibly beautiful, I adore the design and it will look amazing on our tree this Christmas. You may already know this about me but I love stars, star designs and constellations so this is the perfect Christmas bauble for me, especially with family names on it which is a cute bonus. I think it would make an amazing gift for family or friends especially with new little ones as some of my friends have.

I cannot recommend Betsy Benn products enough, definitely check out the site for more beautiful Christmas gift ideas! There are other wooden personalised Christmas baubles to choose from as well as personalised aprons, clocks, mugs and prints, all of which are beautifully designed and would make amazing, unique gifts this Christmas. I was kindly given a discount for my readers to use on Christmas gifts if you want to - you can get 10% off your order with the code: ofbeautyand10.

*Goal Journal via Find Me A Gift (£45.99) 

It’s coming to the end of the year and before we know it, it will be 2018 which is an equally terrifying and renewing prospect as with a new year comes the chance for change and new starts. Diaries and journals are perfect Christmas gifts in preparation for the upcoming new year and this one is especially gorgeous! It’s a pink leather journal with gold text on the front including the quote ‘achieve your dream life’ which I love. It also comes in a gift box so it’s practically a pre-wrapped present already. It isn’t lined inside, there are just blank pages - perfect for bullet journaling or just writing down your weekly or monthly goals inside as well as notes and thoughts. A fantastic gift idea and it is currently on sale for £36.99 as I’m writing this (24/10/2017).

*Ciate 2016 Advent Calendar (£24.40) via Perfume Click

I have always had an advent calendar but chocolate just does cut it so but beauty advent calendar do! I've tried a couple and I think they are a genius idea and there are so many more now than there were a few year ago. One of the most beautiful from last year is this gorgeous advent calendar from Ciate. The packaging is just gorgeous, it contains 24 items from polishes to a nail file and treatments. There are mostly mini sizes but there's a mystery full sized polish within the calendar too. As it's last years calendar, the price is fantastic on Perfume Click so you are getting so much for your money as well as a little present to open everyday! The products come in individual cute boxes for each day, you can see the inside of the calendar in the short video below!

*Monsoon Rose Gold EDP Fragrance (£24, 50ml) 

Fragrances are fantastic, practical and also safe gifts to give so if you are unsure what to buy someone, then with fragrances you really can’t go wrong. This fragrance from Monsoon not only comes in a cute box but it has a gorgeous bottle which is very photogenic (as a blogger, I always think of these things!) and it has a great price point. I think this fragrance would be great for teens, young adults and twenty somethings but obviously fragrances can be for any age! It is a great all round fragrance, it isn’t too strong and the longevity is pretty good for the price point. I’ve already reviewed this fragrance on my blog so you can read the full review (here) if you want. A great gift idea as is the Lovelily fragrance for younger girls and teens.

*Cheerz Paperback Photo Album (from £17)

I've worked with the lovely people at Cheerz over the past few years and I think this photo album is one of the best products I've been lucky enough to receive from them! The paperback album is priced from £17 and it will increase depending on how many photos/pages you add to the album. The front cover can be changed in terms of the shapes, colour and the cover photo - I used a photo from a a trip to Copenhagen a few years ago!

I filled my photo album with collages of as many photos as I could fit into it from the family holidays we've had over the past few years such as Venice, Rome, Russia, Sweden and more as we have a lot on SD cards but not so many that are printed. I think photo albums and photo gifts make some of the nicest presents as they are filled with lovely memories to look back on and to laugh, cry and smile at all over again. Cheerz also make amazing photo magnets too as well as memory boxes, photo prints, invitations and more. The Cheerz app is so incredibly quick and easy to use (as well as free) so it only takes a few minutes to create a special gift for someone this Christmas! To get 10% off your order (over £20), use the code: CSNGNS.

*Tatty Devine Peg Necklace via Rock My Vintage (£19 - SALE)

Now onto something a little more unusual but gorgeous! I love this cute wooden peg necklace from Tatty Devine via Rock My Vintage which is a fantastic vintage clothing and accessories site. Tatty Devine is a brand that has been on my radar for ages but I've never bought anything from them however all of their pieces are so unique and cute. I love the design, it isn't too long which is great for me and it's perfect with jeans, a white tee or chunky jumper and ankle boots. The necklace is currently out of stock but hopefully it will be back in stock soon and there are so many others to choose from including more Tatty Devine items. Check out their mid-season sale!

*Showpony Clarissa Eco Shopper via Rock My Vintage (£6 - SALE) 

Over the past couple of years, instead of using gift bags, I've been using gift boxes and tote/shopper bags as gift bags - they also make great additional presents. We use tote bags all of the time for shopping, recycling and generally for storage so they'd make a great practical present or gift bag. I love this one from Rock My Vintage as it has a vintage bag printed onto the shopper bag which is something I haven't seen before. It's printed onto 100% organic cotton and it looks so much nicer and is far better quality than the ones I have now!

*Amphora Aromatics Orange & Clove Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Kit (£13.50)

I love candles but I know that not everyone does so diffusers are a great alternative! I was kindly sent one of the new diffusers from Amphora Aromatics; I have the gorgeous 'orange and clove' fragrance which is perfect for the festive season! Most diffusers around this price point look quite cheap and they aren't very strong but this one is the opposite as it looks so nice, it smells amazing and the scent is quite strong too!

I also adore the packaging, it would make a lovely gift for those who don't really like candles, like my mum. There's a wide range of scents to choose from such as rosemary and thyme, tea tree and geranium and lavender, the latter is one I definitely need as I love anything lavender scented. I'd definitely recommend this diffuser as a gift this Christmas or just for yourself.

*Elizabeth Shaw Biscuits & Chocolates (from £1.79) 

A staple in any British household at this time of the year and excessively over the festive period are chocolates and biscuits! Elizabeth Shaw is a brand famous for their gorgeous chocolates which I've featured on my blog previously but they've just released a range of delicious biscuits in a variety of flavours from mint & cocoa, raisin & cocoa and raisin & hazelnut to coconut & hazelnut.

I received a package full of biscuits from Elizabeth Shaw this morning and I'll be honest and say that the boxes are definitely lighter now...oops. I received the 'raisin & cocoa' biscuits which are so yummy, the 'raisin and hazelnut' biscuits which are even more delicious then the 'salted caramel crisp' which are our favourites from the biscuits I was sent. Lastly, I received the 'milk chocolate twists' which contain milk chocolate and hazelnut - my favourite combination ever! The biscuits should be available to buy now but the chocolates will be out in November.

*Mad Beauty Lightbulb Moment Nail Polish Duo 

I have loved Mad Beauty products for a while; I was kindly sent a few products back in July. So many of their products would be amazing stocking filler gift ideas and their gift sets would be great too! The nail polish duo would be a perfect stock filler idea for children or teens!

*Mad Beauty Bubble Bath Crackers (£14.99)

Each year my friends come round and we have a Christmas catch up and exchange presents as well as  eat far too much so these Christmas crackers will be perfect for a pre-christmasy day day...The crackers are pink and glittery with a 50ml bubble bath in each one from cranberry, blueberry and strawberry to watermelon and passion fruit. I think they are a fantastic gift idea to share out between friends or together as a set. Mad Beauty has an amazing range of gifts, I have my eye on the beautiful Disney sets too!

*English Provender Plum & Apple Chutney (£1.90, 300g)

Last year I included a few items from English Provender in a gift guide and I have a few products in this years gift guide too. However, the difference is the new packaging which I absolutely love and it looks like a more beautiful gift now! The plum and apple chutney contains a secret blend of spices that is a perfect Christmas Day or Boxing Day table addition.

*English Provender Hot Chilli & Red Pepper (£1.90, 300g)

This one would be perfect for my dad as he adores spices, spicy food and chilli so he'll be very happy with this! I think they are great but unusual stocking fillers or they could easily be added to a food hamper gift. It contains jalapeños and red scotch bonnet chilli so it's not for me as I cannot handle anything spicy but I think most would love this chutney!

*English Provender Caramelised Red Onion Chutney (£1.90, 300g)

Lastly, one my aunties would like at this time of the year! I'm personally not a massive fan of onion chutney but my family love it, especially on crackers with cheese so you can see how it would be ideal for the festive season. You can find their products on Ocado, Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's.

*Thomas Kent Portobello Hare Clock Via Red Candy (£24)

I think I've saved one of the most beautiful gifts for last and it's this stunning mantle piece or desk clock by Thomas Kent via Red Candy. I was lucky enough to work with Red Candy back in April - they are an amazing site for homeware and gifts. I think this adorable clock would make a lovely home gift!

There are so many clocks to choose from but I think the Thomas Kent clocks are some of the most beautiful, this one in particular. I adore the hare and woodland themed design and it fits with our living room perfectly. It's also a great size, the base is flat so it can be placed anywhere and it just looks so gorgeous! I know friends and family would love to receive this clock; it would make such a nice house warming gift too. Check out Red Candy for amazing and unusual Christmas gifts!

What do you think of my Christmas gift guide? Do you have any of these products? What are your favourite gifts to give or receive? 

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Final Gift Guide of 2017

Today's post is full of exciting gift ideas and sets from so many lovely brands but it's also a little melancholy as it's my final gift guide post for 2017! I can't understand how the past few months have gone by so incredibly quickly and Christmas is almost here which is madness! If you still need to buy gifts for friends or family members you need to hurry and order as soon as you can as for most sites you still have time to get your gifts before Christmas if you choose the express or next day delivery option.

*Rewined Soy Wax Candle - Champagne (£28, 312g) from Beyond Living 

As I'm writing this I've had to put all of the lights on in the house as it's only 3pm and it is so dull and dark outside so this first item is ideal for this time of the year. Rewined Candles are such a perfect gift as candles are not only a safe gift option but the container of this one is a wine bottle. Also the scent of the candle I received is champagne...it's a champagne scented candle and believe me when I say, it smells like refreshing, bubbly champagne! I don't understand how they can obtain that unique, bubbly fresh champagne scent and transfer it to candle form.

Each candle looks like a vintage, luxe wine bottle and they are all handmade in Charleston, South Carolina - you know how I feel about lovely handmade gifts. It contains sweet notes of white grape, honey, fresh baked bread and citrus, it is one of the most unique candle scents I've ever come across! Your gift recipient will be so happy with this special candle that will produce 'oohs' and 'aahs' from everyone. I also tried a couple of little tea lights of their other scents and they were lovely too. Definitely check out Beyond Living for unique candles!

*Cheerz Christmas Calendar (from £18)

The time might have passed for you to be able to get your Cheerz gifts in time for christmas but the rest of the range would make wonderful gifts all year round or you could be super organised (maybe too organised) like me and order some christmas gifts for next year...Use the code: QPLJM2 to get £5 off a £20 spend!

I've reviewed quite a few wonderful gifts from Cheerz this Christmas season including their paperback photo album, photo box and magnets, all of which would make amazing, special and thoughtful gifts for Christmas.

I made this lovely Christmas themed calendar (it's limited edition so you will have to be quick if you want one for Christmas or as a gift for next year). I made it for my grandad using photos of myself and my sister growing up, including the photo above of myself and my mum which I love!

You can personalised the cover photo, the photos for each month and you can add birthdays or special dates to the calendar. I love how the photos came out, I think my grandad will absolutely love his calendar and it would make a pretty, special and practical gift. I cannot recommend Cheerz enough! You might be able to order, if you use express delivery to get it but you will have to be lightning fast. Don't forget to use the code: QPLJM2 to get £5 off a £20 spend!

*Rampley & Co London Silk Scarf (£95)

This next item is not only incredibly beautiful but it's the most luxurious item in today's gift guide as it's a divine silk scarf that came beautifully packaged and presented. I was sent it by the incredibly generous people over at Rampley & Co London and I chose the 'Bird on Branch Watching Spiders' design. My choice must have been a popular one with customers as this design is sadly sold out as I'm writing this (20/12/2017) but there are so many other gorgeous designs and styles to choose from. You can enter your email on the product page to be notified when it comes back in-stock.

The scarf I have is the 90cm by 5cm version which is a more unusual but chic option and something your christmas gift recipient might not already own. It can be worn around the neck, wrist or the hair. Additionally you can add it to the handle of your handbag or as an almost fake tie effect. I haven't worn a skinny scarf such as this before so it will take some time to find a style I like best on myself but I absolutely adore it especially the gorgeous print.

It is reversible so as well as the lovely bird design, you also have a grey and pink polka dot design on the opposite side too. The design of this scarf is inspired by a painting by Watanabe Seitei from circa 1887 and I think it would appeal to so many people, myself included, obviously. I think a 100% silk scarf would make a wonderful, special and luxurious gift this Christmas! You can still order in time for Christmas if you email them directly - the email can be found on their website. They have a wide range of other items to choose from too such as larger 90cm by 90cm silk scarves, mens ties and pocket squares as well as handmade braces, umbrellas and socks.

*Morris & Co Home Fragrance Gift Set (£24)

I know that the Hygge bandwagon is officially full and has passed on but I'm still all for the cosy nights in with candles, a festive film and foodie treats (I didn't choose the hygge life, the hygge life chose me). So any gift sets that contain candles and diffusers will be perfect for the hygge lovers in your life. This set contains everything you need to give your home a subtly christmassy fragrance in the form of a room spray, candle and diffuser.

It's a great set for those people that you don't know quite as well because there are a range of products so if they don't always like candles then they can use the room spray and diffuser more often. You can find this set on John Lewis and their last order dates for delivery to a store is the 22nd, standard home delivery is TODAY by 9pm and delivery to Collect+ shops is TOMORROW by 2pm.

*We Are Littles Instant Coffee Selection Pack - A Little Tipple (£8)

For the cover lovers in your life, you cannot go wrong with any of the gorgeous festive gift sets from We Are Littles as there are so many to choose from with prices ranging from £2.75 to £10. They would make great secret santa gifts, gifts for colleagues or stocking fillers. They even have a 'Christmas spirit' flavoured coffee that is just for the Christmas period.

I was very kindly sent the 'a little tipple' gift set which contains three flavour options including Irish cream, Cafe Amaretto and Havana Rum, all of which sound so delicious. I've reviewed a few of them previously and my favourite has to be either Swiss Chocolate, Spicy Cardamon or French Vanilla. I'm definitely excited to try the Havana Rum flavour coffee as it sound so unique. Each container is a great size so you can fully try them out before buying the full size of your favourites. Order ASAP if you want it delivered in time or you can find the individual flavours on sale in Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Selfridges and more.

*Hema Reindeer Pillow (£10)

Now onto what has to be the cutest item in the gift guide as it's an adorable reindeer cushion from Hema. Hema is a homeware, lifestyle, clothing and food store that stocks pretty much everything from phone cables, candles and snacks to stationary, gift ideas, clothing, beauty products, childrens toys, party supplies and even more. They are based in the Netherlands but shipping to the UK is quick and easy (I made and order a year or so ago and there were no problems).

I love the design of this cushion as it's so minimal and simple but also very festive, cute and perfect for your living room or a childs bedroom this christmas time. It would make a lovely childrens gift or gift for the home and for the price you can't go wrong with Hema!

*Hema Throw (£17.50)

The second item I was very kindly sent from Hema is a gorgeous deep navy, grey and cream throw which is a little more on the higher price range for Hema but the quality is fantastic and the throw itself is huge at 130 by 150cm. It's soft and thick but it also feels very durable and long lasting. I think it will look great in the summer house to be all cosy during the cold winter weather.

I cannot recommend Hema products enough, I've bought them myself and I adore their stationery, candles and homeware. I've also bought the stroopwaffles which were so delicious! If you order online now, your order might not get to you in time for Christmas but there is a little Hema store in London Euston (we didn't have time to go in when we were there in the summer) and they have just opened their flagship store on Tottenham Court Road - it's their largest store to date!

*Leighton Denny Two Of A Kind Duo (£10)

I haven't mentioned any beauty gifts so far in this post so let's show off the cute Leighton Denny duo from the Two Of A Kind collection which looks so perfect for the festive season. The nail polish duo set comes with the shades: Real Treasures and Down Memory Lane. Both shades are gorgeous for winter, they are both a little glitzy and from my experiences, Leighton Denny polishes are fantastic - my aunties swear by Leighton Denny polishes. I think this little duo would be an ideal stocking filler or little gift for the nail polish lovers in your life.

*Fat Face Hand Cream Gift Set (£15)

One brand that I have never tried anything from, until now, is Fat Face. They do have a store in Manchester but I've never been in however all of their gift sets this year as well as their nightwear and jumpers all look gorgeous!

I was kindly sent one of their Christmas gifts, the Hand Cream Gift Set which contains three 40ml hand creams in the scents: camomile & apple, ocean palm and sweet pea. All three scents smell lovely, I adore the packaging and the product sizes are a little bigger than your regular hand creams at 40ml each. Fat Face products are cruelty free which is amazing and it would make a gorgeous gift for so many people this christmas such as colleagues, friends or as a secret santa gift as everyone needs hand cream especially during the harsh winter months. Order from the Fat Face website by tomorrow to get your gifts in time for christmas.

*Raw Halo Chocolate (from £2.79)

Chocolate is an easy gift at this time of the year but it's always the same thing, selection boxes or tubs of chocolates which I personally don't like *don't hate me*. In comes Raw Halo to the rescue with their interesting flavour combinations, unique packaging and organic, vegan offerings. I was sent four of their flavours (thank you!) including milk + pink Himalayan salt, pure dark, dark + sweet orange and pure milk (35g each).

All of these bars are vegan as well as organic and gluten free so if you need a gift for a vegan or coeliac friend or family member then look no further! I love the minimal but striking packaging and the brand ethics. So far I've only tried the milk and pink Himalayan sea salt fully and I adore it as it's rich and indulgent but the bars are fairly thin so it doesn't feel like I'm eating a huge block of sickly chocolate and the sea salt makes it a little sweeter which I love. I'm not a massive chocolate fan but this one is so incredibly moreish! I also really liked the pure milk flavour as well. I'd definitely recommend them as wonderful, unusual stocking fillers. Use the code: RHD20 to get 20% off their site.

*Cheerz Christmas Magnets (from £9.50)

The penultimate item in my final gift guide (although there might be one or two late arrivals over the next day or so) is also from Cheerz. I mentioned their Christmas calendar earlier in the post but I also wanted to share their adorable Christmas magnets which would make such a special stocking filler this year!

For £9.50 you will receive nine square magnets in a lovely Christmas box with your photos on them which I think is such a great deal. The photos are printed so vividly, true to colour and they look great on the fridge as reminders of wonderful moments, memories and holidays. I also adore the cute Christmas themed gift box! You might still be able to get your items in time for Christmas if you use the code: EXPRESSXMAS at the checkout but you will have to be very quick!

*Go Customized iPad Mini Case (£19.99)

Last but not least is another special and personalised but practical gift from Go Customized. My iPad mini case is starting to fall apart so an upgrade is definitely needed and why not get one that will not only protect your iPad but one that has a cute or special photograph on it! I chose this photo of Olden, Norway from our trip there back in August. I adore the photo and it is making me want to go back to Norway right now but in the meantime I have a gorgeous image of Norway with me everyday.

The case I chose is made of silicone so unlike harder cases, this one is so easy and quick to put on or take off and there is no chance of it scratching your iPad. It also protects the sides of your iPad and the photo is scratch resistant so it's great for those who take their tech on the go or while they travel. They have so many other case options to choose from for a variety of devices, all of which can be personalised with photos and would make lovely, thoughtful but practical gifts!

What do you think of my final gift guide of 2017? Have you tried any of these items or brands? 

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Stocking Fillers Gift Guide 2017

It's almost that time of the year again where gift guides are starting, or at least I'm starting my gift guide series! I love writing gift ideas and gift guide posts so I love this time of the year and I get to share lots of gorgeous, cute and unique gifts with you. Hopefully you'll get some great gift ideas from these posts!

*Helen Russell Penguin Mug (£12.50)

Let's start with one of the cutest gifts in this post and it's an adorable penguin mug from Helen Russell Creations. My mum is one of those people who love penguins and by that I mean she has lots of penguin themed products all over the house but the only item she doesn't have is a penguin mug. I adore the design of this mug as it's incredibly cute although it's very minimal. It came in a cute gift box and I think it would make a lovely gift for any penguin lovers out there! There are many other items to choose from within this penguin range and everything is so cute - I'd highly recommend!

*Wild Olive Cocoa Butter Bath Melts via Prezzybox (£5.99)

I have tried a couple of products from Wild Olive previously and loved them so I knew this set would be lovely! I adore the packaging as it looks like a little cupcake and the bath melts smell incredible. I have the lavender and geranium bath melts, they have the most gorgeous scent and they look really cute. All of their products are handmade in the Peak District which is great as I love supporting smaller UK businesses. There are lots of sets and products to choose from, I cannot recommend their handmade soaps, bath melts and candles enough.

*Cheerz Copacabana Box Of Magnets (from £10)

I think personalised gifts are some of the best that you can give as they are more meaningful and usually more surprising! I think photograph gifts are wonderful and they always go down really well with my friends and family. Cheerz create photograph magnets which I think is a great idea as not only are they practical but they are thoughtful too and they come well presented.

I created a few photograph magnets from our recent trip to Norway as not only are they great memories but Norway was definitely one of the most break taking, wonderful and picturesque places I've ever visited. The magnets are fantastic, the photos came out really clear and they're a great size too. Using the following code you can get 10% off your order with Cheerz: CRTW86. 

*Bakerdays Christmas Chalkboard Cake (£15.99) - Chocolate Chip

Now onto a delicious stocking filler gift idea and it's a yummy chocolate chip cake from the lovely people over at Bakerdays. I've featured one of their cakes on my blog previously so I was excited to receive another as they are lovely gifts, well presented and really uniquely designed. Additionally they can be personalised with names and also photographs.

I chose the chocolate chip cake but there are other options available such as lemon drizzle (which I've tried and I loved it), rich chocolate chip, gluten free and dairy free sponges, traditional sponge and a half and half cake too. The chocolate chip option is my favourite, why wouldn't it be! The cake tin is great too and it can be re-used. I cannot recommend Bakerdays letterbox cakes enough!

*Beauty Feet Socks (£4.99)

As well as personalised gifts, I think that self care gifts are really important too. Pampering gifts might be viewed as easy or safe gifts but I think they are some of the best gifts to give as it allows the recipient an excuse to look after themselves! One item that would be perfect within a self care hamper to give to someone special this Christmas are moisturising socks.

These socks are a little unusual as within the fabric of the heel, there is a pad which contains moisturising ingredients, Chinese herbs and nano-silver. I've been using them for a few days and while they don't look very attractive...at all, they do work so well without any effort. They seem very unassuming but they are well worth a try!

*Melody Maison White Voltive Candles (£5.99 - SALE)

Candles are a perfect gift for autumn and winter as they make any home look and feel very cosy, warm and inviting as well as smelling lovely. This set of candles comes gift boxed so it would aesthetically make a great Christmas or even wedding gift. They are orange blossom scented and to me the scent is very subtle, floral and clean scent but bear in mind that it is very minimal so they would be ideal for someone who doesn't like strongly scented candles. Melody Maison have a wide range of gorgeous homeware and gifts to choose from.

*Pocket Microscope via Prezzybox (£7.99)

The final gift idea is more unusual but very interesting stocking filler gift idea as it's a pocket microscope. I think this would be great stocking filler for children over six or seven or even for teens and adults! It can magnify items up to 30x so you'll be able to see items and objects within fine detail. It seems very easy to use, it is inexpensive and it's a more interactive Christmas gift. The only thing I'd say against it is that it isn't pocket sized, it's huge but I think it would still make a great, interactive stocking filler for various ages.

Have you bought any Christmas presents yet? What do you think of these stocking filler gift ideas? 

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Christmas Stocking Fillers

One of the best things about christmas when I was a child and now, to be honest, was hanging my reindeer stocking on my door on christmas eve and in the morning finding that it was full of little goodies, including chocolate and small beauty products. It's one of the christmas traditions we have always had and still do and I hope it never changes. Here are my stocking filler ideas:

Books:

*Bluffers Guides (£6.99) have already been featured in my mens gift guide but I had to include them again as I think they would make fantastic gifts in general but they would also make lovely and more unique stocking fillers. I have the rugby, chocolate and food guides which are so useful and informative without being a heavy or dull read. I have my eye on the business, quantum universe and hiking books. They have free UK shipping which is amazing and for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Bluffers are having 50% off! 

Beauty:

*Balmi Super Cube Lip Balm (£4.99) is a cute and unique lip balm that would be perfect for teens! I have the cherry flavour and it is a lifesaver for my dry lips during the colder months. It contains shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E so it keeps the lips moisturised and smooth. They are so handy on the go and they looks so cute! Sticking with the lip balm theme the *I Love...Tinted Moisture Balm (£2.99) is also so cute. I have the cherry flavour and for a tinted balm it has quite a lot of pigmentation and staying power. 

Pampering during the festive season and the colder months in general is essential for me to de-stress and *The Bath Mama Christmas Star and Holly Berry & Mistletoe Jumbo Bath Bombs (£1.99, 180g) fit the bill perfectly. I have already reviewed a few Bath Mama Bath Bombs and I loved them, they are fantastic especially for the price! 

My final beauty stocking filler is the *Roger and Gallet Gingembre Rouge Shower Gel (£9, 200ml) and it smells amazing; I always receive some beauty products in my stocking and I would be very happy to find this on christmas morning. Roger and Gallet products are just fantastic and I definitely want to try more! 

In my video gift guide below, I've also include the *Roger and Gallet Fleur de Figuier Hand and Nail Balm (£6, 30ml) which I already review in my introduction post to the brand. I love hand creams and this one is fantastic! Additionally, I think the *Freedom House of Glamdolls Palette (£8) would be a great stocking filler for makeup lovers as Freedom and Makeup Revolution palette are amazing quality and this one contains not only a range of shadows but blush, lipgloss and more. Lastly for makeup, I think anything from Burts Bees would be lovely but their lip glosses (£7.99, shade Flutter) and lip shimmers (£5.99, shade Rhubarb) are all gorgeous! A favourite product of mine for the past few weeks has been *The Wet Brush (£11.99) as it works wonders on my thick and knotty hair - it would be the ideal stocking filler for those with unmanageable or knotty hair (I already have a review on my blog). 

Personalised Gifts: 

Last but not least, personalised gifts are always so much more special and thoughtful than others so these *Cheerz Photo Strips (£6.49 for 5 photo strips) would be a lovely stocking filler addition. I've made mine for friends, to include in their christmas cards as an extra gift. The *Cheerz Photo Magnets (£7.45 for nine magnets) are fantastic too, they come in a cute box so you could give it as it is or you can give one each to friends.  I made mine on the app which is free and so easy to use - their final christmas delivery date is the 17th Dec. 

Here is my stocking filler gift guide video, again sorry about the quality and lighting changes (damn english weather!). Oops, the video title is womens gift guide instead of stocking filler gift guide - all these christmas posts are getting to me! 

What do you think of the products I've featured? 

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*Catching Memories While Travelling with Destination2

Last week I was lucky enough to be in the incredibly beautiful country of Norway on a cruise with my family! Norway was utterly stunning especially the cities of Olden and Flaam with their breathtaking glaciers, lakes and fjords. I'll have at least a couple of posts coming soon with photos and a few clips from my trip to Norway.

Even before blogging I was one of those people who can't go on holiday without taking a couple of thousand photos *I'm not exaggerating* and it hasn't been helped by being part of the online and blogging community where every moment needs to be captured. This lifestyle and way of thinking may be positive and negative but I always view it as a positive as it means that moments are captured and can be remembered over and over as well as being shared with others.

So for my trip to Norway, I came prepared and ready to take as many photos as I could and to try to capture just how stunning, unreal and beautiful Norway is. These photos are just a couple of examples as I took over 2,000...and you'll see more of my favourites in the next week or so. Here are a couple of tips for capturing special holiday moments:

- The first is the most basic but it's also the most important and that's to have your camera battery and your phone battery fully charged for the day as there's nothing more frustrating than wanting to take a gorgeous or special photo and not being able to! Maybe you could invest in a second camera battery?

- Memory space is another thing to consider and before I went on holiday I deleted so many unnecessary photos and videos from my phone - why did I think that I needed so many food photos, screenshots of dresses and holiday photos from 2010 on my phone...

- Spontaneous photos are always the best so look out for those moments and you might end up with a few photos that you'll love...or hate forever. We have a few from our holiday to Norway that we can't stop laughing at every time we see them, let's just say that they involve luminous orange lifejackets.

Destination2 have found that "29% admit to leaving snaps on the computer. A further 29% admit to not doing anything with them at all while over 14% go as far as putting them in a separate folder on their phone" and I have to admit that I am one of those people sometimes but I also love to print special photos.

I've had holiday photos printed onto acrylic, keyrings and notebooks with the lovely people at Snapfish UK and holiday photos printed onto magnets as well with Cheerz. You can also turn special photos into more unusual products such as tea towels and mugs with Wrappz which would make great Christmas gifts...

I didn't even wait for a few days since getting back from Norway before looking into cheap holiday deals to Norway, Iceland, Paris and Greece! If you have any travel recommendations then let me know or if you have ideas for photo printing then leave a comment below!

Do you like to take lots of photos on holiday or not? Are you guilty of leaving holiday photos and not doing anything with them? 

*This is a sponsored post

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