Christmas Gifts With Crabtree + Evelyn

Why can't it be christmas more than once year, I love all of the christmas lights, decorations, spending time with family/friends, cosy nights in and of course giving and receiving christmas presents. There are so many to choose from, it can be a little over whelming but the christmas range from Crabtree and Evelyn is simply gorgeous - with something for everyone! Not only do they have beauty gifts but they also have homeware, fragrance and food gifts. 

I will start with the *Crabtree and Evelyn Chocolate Fudge Festive Bauble (£7, 150g) which is the largest bauble I have seen; I love the traditional christmas design! The best part is that inside the bauble you get scrummy chocolate fudge because you know...it's christmas, you have to treat yourself, it is the law...well it should be!

Next up my favourite item, the *Crabtree and Evelyn Noel Small Poured Candle (£12) which is one of the most christmasy, festive candles I have had for a while. Not only is the box beautiful but the candle comes in a red frosted glass tumbler. The candle is a mixture of balsams, persimmons, citrus, clove, star anise and nutmeg - basically christmas in candle form. The scent does have a soapy note to it as well which I really like as it makes the candle smell very homely and cosy. 

Last but not least a very festive *Crabtree and Evelyn Nail Polish in Apple (£6) which is the perfect bright christmas red, essential for the festive season. This is the first Crabtree and Evelyn polish I have tried and I am really impressed. 

Overall, I love all of the products I received; they are beautifully packaged and the prices are fantastic, as is the quality. I definitely have my eye on a few items from the christmas range that I will look out for in the sales! Here are a few of the products I have my eye on: 

Have you tried anything from Crabtree and Evelyn? What do you think of the products I have featured? 

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Early Christmas Gift Guide: Pampering + Self Care

Yes, today I'm writing about Christmas gifts...some people might think it is too soon but I am one of those people who picks up gifts for friends and family throughout the year and usually around autumn is when I pick up the last bits that I need for everyone. I like to be prepared and know that I have everything before the chaotic Christmas rush to buy gifts begins!

This will be the first of many Christmas gift guides and todays post will focus on pampering products and self care items that would be great to give anyone at this time of the year as Christmas and New Year can be very stressful! My anxiety and stress levels always peak around Christmas and New Year although it is punctuated by happy, festive and wonderful moments too.

*Weekender Wash Kit by Men's Society (£25) 

Let's start with an all in one gift set that is perfect for dads, grandads, friends and anyone who loves travelling or weekends away! I love the design of the kit and how complete the set is; it contains shampoo, face wash, face cream, toothpaste and a toothbrush so it would make a great holiday or weekend away kit, particularly as it complies with current hand luggage regulations.

The shampoo and body cleanser, face wash and face cream are all 50ml sizes so they are great sizes for a weekend away and the toothpaste is small too - it's the Marvis brand which is one of my favourites. They have a few sets in this style such as a 'overindulgence survival kit' which would be an essential over the festive season, the sneaker cleaning kit, beard kit, shave kits and more to choose from so definitely check out their site!

*Malee Verdure Conditioning Body Scrub (£36, 250ml) 

There are certain products such as face masks and hair masks that are synonymous with pampering but another product that I think is equally as important include scrubs! Body scrubs are such an overlooked pamper product, they can transform your skin and are so quick and easy to use. I was very kindly sent this lovely body scrub from Malee which is a 100% natural brand inspired by the natural scents and landscapes of Africa.

It's an award winning product which isn't surprising when you use it as it is one of the best body scrubs I've ever used, if not the best. It smells heavenly, so fresh and clean; additionally the texture is perfect as it's very exfoliating but it isn't harsh. I've tried so many scrubs and most of the time the exfoliating component either washes away instantly or dissolves before it can be fully used but this one doesn't!

I think it would make a great gift as it looks and feels very luxurious, the packaging is gorgeous, the scent is divine and it's so effective but also leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft, nourished and moisturised. I cannot recommend it enough and they also make beautiful looking candles, fragrances and other wonderful body care products.

*Morris & Co Pure Morris Collection (£25)

How stunning is this tin, when I opened the package I was quite shocked at how gorgeous the packaging for this beautiful kit was! Even just aesthetically it would make a lovely and expensive looking gift, I know my mum and aunties would adore this set. The set contains a hand cream (100ml), shower gel (200ml) and body lotion (50ml).

The hand cream has been my favourite product as I use hand cream so often and this one is lovely. It is infused with silver birch and thistle extracts, shea butter, cocoa butter and macadamia oil to soften, moisturise and soothe the skin which is just what my hands need at this time of the year due to eczema. The body lotion is equally as gorgeous with lovely ingredients such as vitamins, almond oil and cocoa butter.

Lastly, the shower gel which smells just as nice as the rest of the products within the set and it contains plant extracts, vitamins and kelp, which is an unusual ingredient. I think this set is a fantastic all around gift that not only contains lovely, effective products but the beautiful tin can be re-used too! There are lots of other gift sets to choose from such as the hand cream library which I have my eye on.

*Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender and Espresso Soap (£7.50, 158g)

Now, when I noticed that Crabtree and Evelyn had released a new range among which was a selection of products with the scent 'lavender and espresso' I was instantly intrigued as lavender and fresh coffee are two of my favourite scents and combining them can be nothing but extraordinary!

The soap contains evening primrose oil and shea butter and is scented with black lavender, coffee and smoked woods - I didn't think a product range could be so perfectly what I'd what but Crabtree and Evelyn have done it! The scent is perfect for this time of the year as it's musky, smoky and has a powdery floral scent to it as well. Enough gushing about the scent, the soap lathers well, it is gentle on the skin and doesn't irritate the eczema on my hands at all. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're going to create a lovely pamper hamper for a loved one this Christmas.

*Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender & Espresso Body Cream (£28, 250ml)

I have to admit that during the spring and summer months, I definitely forget how important pampering and self care is, particularly when it comes to body exfoliating and moisturising on a daily basis but when the colder months come around I reach for the body lotions, butters and creams so much more.

I have been using this body cream constantly since I received it, even though the tub is huge I've been keeping it on my desk so I can use it as a hand cream throughout the day - that's how much I not only love the scent of this product but for how velvety smooth and soft it leaves my skin. I've been trying to think of a way to describe how this body cream leaves the skin and the only way is by comparing the skin after using it to a gorgeously scented and incredibly soft blanket or linen *not weird...*.

This body cream is a little pricy but I think it's definitely worth it for the softest, smoothest and most heavenly scented skin! It is definitely a 'treat yo self' type of product but it's so worth it. There are other products within this gorgeous range including a massive hand therapy lotion, hand wash, body wash and others.

*The Rose Tree Luxury Natural Wax Candle - Rose Tree No. 1 - De-Stress (£19, 75g)

I don't really burn candles during the summer months but for the rest of the time I always have one on the go! Autumn and winter are perfect candle months as the nights are drawing in and it's getting colder so candles are ideal to add such a cosy feel to any room as well as a lovely scent. I was kindly sent this pretty candle from The Rose Tree which is a luxury natural candle, skincare and bodycare brand featuring British made products.

There are a few variations of their candles but I have No.1 which is the 'destress' candle so it would make a great gift for anyone who will be stressed over the festive season which I think will be most of us! The candle came beautifully packaged in a box with tissue, it looks so cute but substantial and it smells heavenly. To me it has a very classic sweet floral scent due to the geranium but it is also quite woody and musky which I adore - it's a wonderful autumn candle. I couldn't recommend it enough but if this scent doesn't appeal to you then you check out their other candles as they sound equally as gorgeous.

Lastly, I just wanted to mention a few other brands that I think will be perfect as pampering Christmas gifts or as treats for yourself. Starting with Bloomtown Botanicals which have the most beautifully packaged products and such a wide range too so you'll find something you love! Bomb Cosmetics also have a fantastic range of bath bombs, bath blasters, bath creamers and soap all of which are adorable! I wanted to mention Dr Botanicals as their skincare and bodycare products are lovely and great for sensitive skin types, I've currently loving the moroccan rose light summer cream. Finally, I have to mention Valley Mill which is an online store stocking gorgeous, homely products including the lovely chestnut wax melts (I've been savouring the last two I have!) that are featured in the video below!

Have you tried any of these products or brands? 

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Christmas: Men's Gift Guide

I don't know about you but I find it so difficult to buy my dad presents for his birthday, father's day and christmas - he always gets aftershave or shower gel type products so hopefully this mens gift guide will give you some unique present ideas for dads, husbands, brothers and friends. Check out my video at the end for a roundup of the products and some extra gift ideas!

*My Beanies Mini Xmas Stash (£10): I am a big coffee drinker, I have one everyday and if I don't then I'm counting down the minutes until tomorrow when I can. I adore gingerbread all year round but especially during the festive season so this set is perfect. You can choose the pre-made christmas trio (winter warmer, mulled wine and christmas pudding instant coffee) or you choose your own flavours as I did. I chose cinder toffee, gingerbread and nutty hazelnut and I love the cinder toffee one the most! I think it's a fantastic set for coffee lovers and they may find new flavours that they love.

*Crabtree and Evelyn Indian Sandalwood Shave Soap in a Bowl (£22, 100g): My dad doesn't really use shave soaps but I think he definitely will when he sees this! The wooden bowl the soap comes in looks so fancy and luxe; also the soap smells amazing, so much so that I want to steal it. When the soap has been used up, you can just buy a refill such as the *Crabtree and Evelyn West Indian Lime Shave Soap (£12, 100g). The West Indian Lime soap smells so musky and masculine but it has a sweetness to it - I know my dad will love this scent too. I think these two items will be fantastic for dads and grandads. Also if you buy anything from the mens range at Crabtree and Evelyn in November, they will donate £1 to the Movember foundation.

*Bluffers Guides (£6.99 each): I always tend to buy my dad cookbooks, hence the overflowing bookcase so these would make a great alternative. They are interesting guides related to various topics such as rugby, food, football, beer, cars, bond and many more! I chose the rugby and food guides to include in my mens gift guide and I know the rugby guide will go down very well in our house as since the rugby world cup a couple of months ago we have been watching it much more although it is a complex game so an informative but amusing light read is perfect. I cannot recommend them enough, they would be perfect stocking fillers too! I have my eye on a few for myself!

*Bond and Knight Wallet (£68): If you haven't checked out my latest blog giveaway then you should as you could win any product from Bond and Knight! I have the Bond and Knight MK1 Wallet which has my dads initials embossed on the inside - it would make such a special present this christmas.

*Scaramouche and Fandango Christmas Cracker (£15): I have featured a gift set from this brand on my blog this already and I'm glad I can again. This set contains two full sizes of the face scrub and facial hydrator, all contained in a giant christmas cracker. I think it would be a fantastic gift!

Here's my mens gift guide video, apologies for the quality, the weather is not on my side recently #BloggerProblems. Let me know if you have any problems with the video:

Will you be buying anything from these brands? What do you think of my mens gift guide?

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Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide For Her

We are now into December which means that if you haven't started your Christmas shopping then go, go, go! I love shopping of any kind, obviously, but I particularly love Christmas shopping for friends and family as it's so nice to find the perfect gift. Finding gifts can be challenging but for the women in my family as well as my friends it's so easy. Here are some of my favourite gifts for the women in your life, or for yourself, I'm not judging.

*Nude Jewellery Vanilla Links Triple Link Silver Necklace (£98)

I was very kindly sent this gorgeous necklace from the super lovely people over at Nude Jewellery. They're an independent jewellery boutique who create beautiful handmade items and are based in Mayfair, London. Their wide range of jewellery features unique and bespoke pieces to contemporary engagement rings, designer jewellery and handmade wedding bands.

I have this simple but beautiful triple link silver necklace from their 'vanilla links' in-house collection. The chain length is 16" which is a great length for me and as the links are lightly hammered, it gives them not only a unique texture but it creates a slight sparkle and shine too. It's such a lovely everyday or formal necklace and as it's very minimal but striking, it will be perfect with so many outfits or occasions. I know my mum would adore this necklace and it's already a perfect present as it's handmade and presented beautifully too. I've tried one of their necklaces before and I love it too so I cannot recommend their jewellery enough so definitely check out their site. Also, their 'autumn leaves' and 'goddess' collections are stunning too!

*Urban Veda Purifying Facial Ritual Travel Set (£11.99)

Next up, a fantastic skincare gift set from Urban Veda which is a great brand that is vegetarian society approved and they don't test on animals! All of their products contain such lovely natural ingredients such as orange peel oil, tea tree leaf oil, coconut oil, witch hazel, sweet almond oil and many more!

This gift set is ideal for those with oily and more problem skin as it's focused on refining pores, reducing oil production and it helps to combat blemishes and breakouts with natural, gentle ingredients instead of harsh chemicals that are usually found in oily or blemish prone skincare products. I love the packaging for this gift set as it's not only recyclable but it's cute and a great all in one gift set with a facial wash, exfoliator and day cream in handy travel or trial sizes. They have a fantastic range of gift sets for the face or body from £120 to £11.99 - sign up to their newsletter to get 15% off your order.

*Crabtree and Evelyn Comfort & Indulgence White Cardamon Body Duo 

Crabtree and Evelyn have created some of my favourite festive gifts sets as they look so incredibly beautiful and festive as well as being very luxe at a great price point! This beauty is no different and it's one of my favourite scents they've made too. For Christmas Crabtree and Evelyn have created a range of festive scents for their gifts sets including Noel, Frosted Spicewood, Red Berry & Fir and White Cardamon, the latter is my favourite and the most unique, in my opinion.

The 'Body Duo' set I was kindly sent contains the white cardamon body cream (250ml) and the white cardamon body scrub (365g). The packaging of not only the gift box but the products too is so pretty and festive especially with the gold foil. The products themselves are fantastic sizes as well and it's a well presented and luxe gift set so it would be ideal for your mum, grandma, aunties or friends.

The scent is heavenly as it's sweet, light and floral but a little musky and spicy too, I adore it! The body cream smells delicious and the scent lasts for a while too which is impressive. The texture of the body cream is also impressive and it leaves my skin velvety smooth, super soft and completely moisturised without irritating the skin. I cannot recommend this gift set enough!

*Evermore Candle (£25, 250ml)

I adore candles, they are some of the nicest gifts to receive as they smell amazing and can make any room so much more cosy and homely as well as being a cute container to re-use afterwards. I was very kindly sent this incredibly beautiful candle from the amazing people over at Evermore London. All of the candles are hand crafted in their East London studio using organic certified coconut wax as well as essential oils which is fantastic. I have the 250ml candle which has an approximate burn time of 50 hours.

The packaging is just gorgeous; I love the minimalist design and the copper foil so aesthetically it would make a lovely gift. I have the Christmas scent 'North' which is composed of frankincense, patchouli and myrrh, all of which I adore and are perfect for this time of the year. It is very musky, rich and festive with a hint of the coconut wax base so it's a very unusual candle and would make a great alternative to the generic Christmas candles on the market now which tend to be sickly sweet or too strong. I've been burning it for the past few days and while it is subtle, I do love it! I cannot recommend their candles enough, there are so many others to choose from as well including Tides and Moon which sound so gorgeous. They also have a candle making kit which would make an incredible Christmas gift! To get free delivery over £40 use the code: FREEDEL40.

*Sudio Sweden Vasa Earphone (£55 - Pink)

Earlier in the year I worked with the lovely people at Sudio Sweden and reviewed their Vasa Bla Rose Gold Earphones which I adore and now we're working together again! They are the most comfortable earphones I've ever used and the Vasa earphones are no different.

The earphones come so beautifully presented in a christmassy gift box so it's already pre-packaged which is great if you're like me and you can't wrap presents without them looking as though they've been thrown around the room. The earphones come in a range of colours but obviously I chose the pink option!

The earphones come with a genuine leather pouch, extra sleeves and metal clip and the manual as well as a guarantee certificate that's valid for one year after purchase. They are in-ear earphones which means that they are super comfortable and it makes them in part, noise cancelling too.

Unlike all of the other earphones I've used they are comfortable to wear for a long period of time and it has an anti-tangle cord as well so no more earphone tangles that are irreversible! I cannot recommend these earphones enough as they are so easy to use, I love the volume controls on the cord and they are the most comfortable earphones I've ever used!

You can get 15% off at Sudio Sweden with the code: ofbeautyand15

What do you think of my womens gift guide? Have you tried any of these products or brands? 

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Father's Day Gift Guide 2018: Part Two

Over the next month I have quite a few birthdays to buy for as well as a wedding and Father's Day so it's going to be a very busy May and June! My friends, my mum and most of my family are very easy to buy for but the two people I find so difficult to choose any gifts for include my grandad and my dad!

Typically my dad usually gets aftershave, food or cookbooks but we have far too many cookbooks and he has a plethora of aftershave so it's time for me to find something a little more unique, in comes Prezzybox, Crabtree and Evelyn and Beyond Living to the rescue for all of those daughters with dads that are difficult to buy for.

*Prezzybox Personalised Multi Tablet and Phone Holder (£45)

Let's start with one of the most unique and special gifts in todays post and it's from the incredibly lovely people at Prezzybox who I've been lucky enough to work with a few times now including my unique gift ideas post, quirky wedding gift guide and personalised jewellery post, all of which you can read out to find out more.

I was very kindly sent this gorgeous and extra special tablet and phone holder which is made of solid oak (so it matches the solid oak tables and counter we have in the dining room and kitchen perfectly) and it can be personalised with any message or name in a choice of two fonts - I chose the script font.

The tablet and phone holder fits two phones, my iPad mini and my dads iPad (the huge first gen iPad) as well as some change, hand cream and more. It looks so pricey, unique and very special with the inscription on the front too. I think it will look perfect on a side table so they can charge and be stored together. It could also be used to hold a book as well as tablets, keys or important smaller objects.

I cannot recommend this special gift enough, it would make the perfect practical gift (we all know how much I love practical gifts) for Father's Day, Mother's Day or birthdays. My dad is so difficult to buy for which is why he always receives the same gifts over and over but I know he'll love this unique gift from Prezzybox.

*Crabtree and Evelyn Gardeners Overnight Hand Therapy (£19, 75g)

Next up is another brand, along with Prezzybox, which I've loved for years and I've been lucky enough to work with a few times. Crabtree and Evelyn have an amazing range of wonderful pampering products as well as food, travel toiletries, home fragrance and mens products. I've tried a few products and gifts, all of which are fantastic quality, well packaged and beautifully designed. Additionally, their products are always effective, luxurious and perfect for pampering and self care days.

The Gardeners Overnight Hand Therapy contains cucumber, rosemary and sage extracts, vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids and shea butter all of which sound gorgeous. The hand cream comes in a squeezy plastic tube so it's great for travelling and the hand cream itself has a musky, earthy and subtle scent that I think will be a hit for so many, particularly as it's subtle as I know that not everyone likes strongly scented products. The hand cream has a creamy, rich texture and leaves my hands very smooth and moisturised which is what my eczema prone hands need constantly but thankfully it isn't very greasy or heavy on the skin. I cannot recommend it enough but if you need other gift options check out their site!

*Vinoos - The Real Wine Gum (£7.50, 50g)

Next up is a very unique gift, wine flavoured candy! Yes, you read that correctly and yes, they are as good as you think. The Real Wine Gum are a perfect gift for those who don't drink alcohol or who just love the taste as they are all non-alcoholic and vegan friendly candy (how amazing is that!).

I was kindly sent four samples of their flavours which include: merlot, chardonnay, riesling and rose wine, the latter two were definitely my favourites. They don't have the soft gummy texture that other gummy candies usually have but they are delicious. I particularly love the rose and riesling flavours which were sweet and floral. They'd make a perfect gift, wedding favour or post dinner party snack. They actually taste like wine but without the alcohol and I cannot recommend them enough!

*Roam by 42 Pressed Scented Candle - London (£25, 198g)

The final gift for today's Father's Day gift guide is from one of my favourite scented candle brands and one of my favourite online candle stores - Beyond Living. They stock a wide range of more unusual and unique candle brands such as Roam by 42 which is a American candle brand based in Charleston, South Carolina.

Their candles and matching prints are all based around cities including Chicago, Paris and London, I have the latter and it's gorgeous! The London candle contains notes of lavandin, black pepper, oak moss and labdanum which combine to make a very musky, masculine but fresh scent that would be ideal for the spring months as well as Father's Day. I've tried the Chicago candle (which was heavenly) and it lasted well, burned evenly and looks amazing; this one is no different. If you're looking for a great candle for Father's Day or if you want to check out more unusual candle brands then visit Beyond Living.

What do you think of these gift ideas? Have you tried any of these brands?

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Glossybox - Under The Sea July 2018

If you want to see all of the blogger mail and subscription box unboxing then follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand) because I show everything on my stories! I always love receiving the Glossybox boxes every month as they contain so many wonderful items and I've genuinely loved some of the items I've received so far and this box is no different!

*Glossybox - Under The Sea July 2018 

This box is a little late but I'm glad that I've received it because the box theme is so unique, under the sea. The theme leaves the door open for lots of summery products which is very appropriate for the heatwave we've been having over the past month or so in the UK. There are six items within the box featuring brands such as Hawaiian Tropic, Crabtree & Evelyn, Oriflame and more.

Oriflame The One 5 in 1 Wonder Lash Mascara (£9, full size)

Let's start with the one disappointing product in the box, for me anyway. Oriflame is a brand I haven't tried before but I have heard pretty good things on the whole. The mascara claims to lift, curl, volumise, lengthen and separate lashes but for my lashes it only defines and separates. The one thing I'm always looking for in a mascara is volume and this one doesn't do it for me; however, if you do love a lengthening, separating and defining mascara then you'll love this!

Regenerate Enamel Science Advanced Toothpaste (£2.50, 14ml mini)

One item that is ideal for me is a travel sized toothpaste as I have a couple of trips planned for August including a weekend away in the Lake District and a cruise as well as a couple of day trips and maybe a night camping! I have tried a toothpaste from this brand before and liked it so I'm glad to have another - the timing is perfect too.

Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Sun Lotion SPF 30 (7.4ml sachet)

The second mini included in the box is another that is ideal for summer holidays as it's a sun lotion from a very reputable SPF brand. I have heard great things from other bloggers about this particular sun lotion as it smells amazing (and I have to agree).

Senhor Do Bonfim Sea Water Hair Spray (£15, full size)

This theme is just perfect for the upcoming summer holiday season as we have another ideal summery product, a sea salt hair spray. I adore the packaging for this product, it's so cute! I also like the scent although I think it will be a marmite aspect of the product. I haven't tried it yet but I can't wait to, especially when I have my hair cut short next month - I'm getting close to 10 inches cut off and donated to the Little Princess Trust.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Therapy (£8, 25g)

The penultimate item is one of my favourites from the box, although to be honest, I'm love all but one of the products in this months box! Crabtree and Evelyn is one of my favourite brands and their hand creams are so lovely - I've tried a couple already. This mini size is going to be perfect for my handbag and I will be taking it on holiday with me next month.

Inuwet Cheek Shell Brush (13.20, fulls size)

The final item is the most adorable makeup brush I've ever seen! Along with mugs and books, I have a habit of hoarding makeup brushes so I always need more especially when they're so cute. This cheek brush, that would be ideal for cream blush, bronzer or highlighter, is the most adorable and uniquely designed makeup brush I own.

What do you think of the July Glossybox? 

*affiliate link and gifted

Update: I don't have affiliate accounts anymore 

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Seaside Decor Makeover ft. Lyme Bay Holidays

Happy Friday everyone! Today's post is all about a few new summer and coastal themed changes I've made to my home thanks to the lovely people at Lyme Bay Holidays. I love being by the coast on holiday and every year myself, my family and our neighbours would go camping by the coast in Wales, the south of England or Scotland so anything nautical, beach themed or coastal brings back lovely memories of camping, summer evenings on the beach and swimming in the sea...while being terrified of all the jellyfish!

Room Sprays: Crabtree and Evelyn Seaside Vibes & City Zen Sprays 

I was very kindly sent an amazing coastal and beachy themed hamper from Lyme Bay Holidays to try and create my own zen space in my home which I think is a great idea as I love to change up my home decor each season. The first immediate change is with a new room spray and I have been using the *Crabtree and Evelyn Lifestyle Mists in City Zen and Seaside Vibes (£16, 100ml) to instantly change up my home this summer.

Both mists are heavenly and they are very different to the 'clean cotton' scents I was using previously. I love both but I think my favourite of the two has to be the Seaside Vibes scent which contains notes of bergamot, orange and lavandin. It is such a fresh, uplifting and clean scent that I think would be perfect to refresh any room but I've mainly been using it in the bathroom and my home office.

The City Zen scent contains notes of ginger flower, cardamon, clove and black pepper which makes it much more of a musky, rich and spicy scent so I've been using in the living room mostly. I've tried quite a few room sprays and nothing has been quite like these two sprays from Crabtree and Evelyn. I'd definitely recommend them if you want to add a new, fresh scent into your home this summer.

Seaside Decor & Accessories 

Next up, you could add some seaside or nautical themed items or accessories to your home such as seashells or an adorable mermaid mug! Seashells instantly remind me of our family holidays to Llandudno and playing on the pier, in the lido and paddling in the sea. It's interesting to see how a simple change of decor or scent can transform a room and how it can bring back memories!

One of the easier rooms to switch up is the bathroom as the inclusion of a seaside scented candle or room spray along with a few decorative shells, wicker basket storage boxes and a practical wooden bath caddy can make the room look fresher and more summery very easily. I also like the idea of adding decorative, metallic or painted shells to a vase alongside a fresh bouquet of gypsophila.

Fairylights & New Storage 

Another idea for a quick, easy and budget friendly change is to add fairylights the room(s) you want to refresh for the summer. Outdoor fairlights on a patio, within a summer house or in a conservatory are ideal summer evening home accessories. Fairylights and outdoor lighting can instantly add a cosy atmosphere to a summer BBQ or party. I was kindly sent a set of shell fairylights which is a great combination of coastal and cosy (is costal hygge a decor style?).

When it comes to creating a new look for a dull, boring room or to change it up for a new season, the first thing I do is to look at the storage I have. This might make me sound like an old woman (there's nothing wrong with that) but I love to organise, sort through and throw away items, I don't know why but it gives a room such a new feeling! I love a clean, organised and minimally decorated space as it allows me to be much more productive so looking for new storage options is a must for me.

Wicker baskets and woven baskets, wooden storage and wire boxes are all great ideas to add not only a new look to a room but also to add in a slightly coastal theme, especially when paired with a relaxing cooled toned colour scheme, seaside accessories and a soothing coastal soundtrack or clean scented candle.

If you have a little extra money or time to spare on a room makeover then a fresh coat of white paint, whitewashed wooden units or flooring, seaside decor or cool toned accessories would make for a perfect summer makeover, especially for a bathroom, conservatory or utility room. However, a few accessories and new decor items such as the ones I've featured in today's post would liven up and add some coastal vibes to any room in need of a seaside summer refresh.

Lyme Bay Holidays 

Lastly, if you're looking for the real deal with a coastal holiday cottage to rent this summer then check out Dorset holiday cottages from Lyme Bay Holidays as they have a wide range of beautiful cottages to choose from within Devon and Cornwall. There are so many amazing special offers on currently and if I didn't just have to pay for eye surgery (as this post is published, I'm still recovering, probably while eating copious amount of pasta...), I'd consider booking a little getaway for myself and a couple of my best friends. We visited the Lake Distict and stayed within a beautiful 18th century converted post office last summer so a relaxing coastal weekend away would have been perfect!

Would you consider a coastal makeover? Will you be checking out Lyme Bay Holidays? 

*Gifted

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Ultimate Stocking Fillers Gift Guide

This post is going to be a long post, so maybe grab a snack and a coffee! There are some amazing and gorgeous stocking fillers in this post, most are great for women and teens but there are also a few gifts for children, men, colleagues and secret santa recipients so hopefully there should be something for everyone, including a couple of cute personalised gifts. 

First up, one of the most seasonal gifts, the *Elegant Touch House Of Ho Ho Ho Christmas Nails (£8.99 each). I was kindly sent a few in various cute and festive designs including: Deck The Halls and Snow Globe, both of which are so pretty and christmassy. I think they'd make perfect gifts for teens and anyone interested in beauty. I was also sent the equally pretty *Elegant Touch Nails (£6.99) which are a slightly cheaper option but the designs are adorable - I have Polar Opposites and Let It Snow designs. I hear nothing but amazing things about this brand and their false nails so I can't wait try these in December. 

Chocolate is usually a really safe gift to choose for secret santas, colleagues, friends, neighbours...basically everyone, I'm also a fan of chocolate *wink wink*. Morse Toad (best brand name ever?) have a range of personalised greeting cards with chocolate in them as well as little stocking fillers. I was able to choose a couple of products and I chose the *Morse Toad 'Merry Xmas' Chocolate Christmas Card (£10.50) which comes really nicely packaged and has Merry Xmas in chocolate within the card. I chose the 'add your own image' option so I have an old photograph of myself and my best friends  from years ago so we can all cringe and share the chocolates! I also picked up the *Personalised Chocolate Stocking Filler (£2.75) and I opted for the 'Ho Ho Ho' message which would be great to add to a secret santa gift, as part of a foodie hamper or as a little christmas morning stocking filler. 

I love Green People skincare, I've tried a few products and I cannot recommend them enough if you have sensitive skin. They have brought out a few products where 15p from each Refresh Gift sold will go to support the work of the Butterfly Conservation, so not only do you get a little treat for yourself or a stocking filler for mums, aunties, friends or secret santa gifts but you are also contributing to charity! 

The packaging is gorgeous and I know that isn't everything but during the festive season, it's worth finding pretty gifts for friends and family. The *Green People Refresh Shower Gel (£5.50, 30ml) is 82% organic, it's a special edition product and it contains sweet orange, ginger, aloe leaf juice, amara flower water and more natural ingredients. There's also the *Green People Nourish Hand Cream (£6.50, 30ml) and it contains ho wood and red mandarin. I think hand cream is a really safe gift and it's always needed especially at this time of the year. Lastly, the *Green people Indulge Night Treat (£8.50, 30ml) which is an organic facial night cream that contains raspberry and apple. As I said, I cannot recommend Green People skincare enough! All three products are suitable of vegetarians and vegans *round of applause*. 

Now onto a couple of snacks, I've always had food as a stocking filler because opening christmas presents is hungry work! The snack of choice for my stocking fillers post are these moreish *Rocky Rice Bars which come in Chocolate, Strawberry an Orange flavours. I used to have these kinds of bars in school as a snack and I still love snacks like these. All three are so yummy, moreish and perfect as a snack and on the go. The chocolate is my favourite but the strawberry is great too! 

Burts Bees and Crabtree and Evelyn are two of my favourite brands when it comes to gifts and I've bought various sets and products from both brands for friends and family. First up, the *Crabtree and Evelyn Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy 'Feast For The Senses' Christmas Cracker (£6) which contains three mini hand creams in the scents: spiced earl grey, festive fig and rose pineapple. The Crabtree and Evelyn hand creams are fantastic and all three scents are amazing, especially the spiced earl grey hand cream. I love the Christmas cracker packaging, it's adorable and so festive. 

Next up is another gift that comes so beautifully packaged, the *Burt's Bees Treat From The Bees Set (£7.99) comes in a honey pot style glass jar with a metal handle - it could definitely be re-used for jewellery, mini soap or tea lights (it would be perfect for tea lights). The pot contains the vanilla lip balm, peppermint & vitamin E lip balm and their classic hand salve. I have the Burt's Bees Original Beeswax lip balm which I adore so I cannot recommend their lip balms enough. My mum, aunties, friends and cousins would love this little but luxe festive gift. 

Mini's are a fantastic option for stocking fillers as they are inexpensive but most brands have some minis, including more expensive or luxe brands such as Moroccan Oil. I've tried a few Moroccan Oil products including the amazing hair oil and I love these minis. The *Moroccan Oil Moisturise Repair Shampoo (£6.25, 70ml) and Conditioner (£6.75, 70ml) are perfect stocking fillers - I love their products, as they are perfect for my dry, frizzy hair and they smell AMAZING! I also couldn't recommend the Moroccan Oil dry shampoo enough too. 

Sticking with the haircare theme, the *Tangle Teezer Lulu Guinness Compact Styler (£13.50) which would be perfect for friends/family who love beauty/haircare or who have thick, long or tangle prone hair. Additionally this particular brush would be great for anyone who loves Lulu Guinness prints/designs - they have a lot of other designs to choose from including Hello Kitty. Another Tangle Teezer brush that would be a great, practical gift is the *Tangle Teezer Finishing Brush (£15) which I've been using constantly as it's amazing for taming frizz!

Toys and plushies would also be great for childrens stocking fillers or fans of the characters; there are so many to choose from including Marvel and comic book characters, Star Warz, Wizard of Oz and Christmas characters. They're from Hallmark but they can be purchased from Amazon. I have the *Batman Itty Bitty (£6), *Scooby Doo Itty Bitty (£5.99) and the *Snoopy Itty Bitty (£6). They are all so adorable, soft and utterly cute! 

They next few gifts would be ideal for work colleagues, secret santa gifts or stocking fillers! Let's start with some gorgeous stationary from Flying Tiger Copenhagen; I have a few items from them and they're fantastic as is the price. They have so many fantastic little gifts including the *Ballpoint Pen and Propelling Pencil Set (£2), Gold Triangle Paper Clips (£1 for 30) and a cute Leather-Look Notebook (£2), all of which would be perfect for work colleagues or any students in your life. 

Next up, a foodie gift! As well as socks, gift cards, bath products and chocolate, foodie gifts are a really safe bet. The *English Provender Sweet Tomato & Chilli Chutney (£1.90, 325g) and the *English Provender Apple, Pear & Fig Chutney (£1.90, 325g), would be great Christmas stocking fillers or as part of a hamper - they're really inexpensive too. 

The final two items are two of my favourites as they're so pretty, for different reasons but they would both make lovely gifts. I am constantly making lists, especially to-do lists and this *Busy B List Pad (£7.99) is perfect; I adore the design and I know I will get so much use out of it and if you know any stationery lovers or list makers then I'm sure they will too. 

The final item in my stocking fillers gift guide is the *POP Book (£5.99) which is an app created by Fujifilm, whereby you can create a photo book using Instagram, Facebook or the photos on your phone. The app is really easy to use although for me it did crash a few times and I kept having to start over again but that might just have been my internet. The book is really well made and it's 10cm by 10cm, so it's a great pocket/stocking filler size. I filled mine with photos from our trip to London and the Harry Potter studios in August. It would make a lovely gift for anyone! 

Phew, there are all of my stocking filler gift ideas and I couldn't recommend them enough especially the Burt's Bees Pot, POP Book, Itty Bitty Plushies, Tangle Teezers (not even for a present, just for yourself!) and well...just everything in this post! Thank you so much to all of the incredibly lovely brands for the wonderful gifts! 

What do you think of my stocking filler gift ideas? Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? 

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Ultimate Women's Gift Guide

I love gift guides, they've been so fun to write and I've been lucky enough to work with amazing brands this year - thank you to the lovely brands and PRs who have contributed wonderful items and gift sets to my gift guides this year! Today's gift guide is my rather long women's gift guide which contains gifts that I think would be great for a range of ages and interests, I know my friends and family would love all of these! 

*AA Essentials Skincare Rose & Pomegranate Duo (£11.88)

I've tried a range of skincare from this brand and I've loved everything but this is the first haircare set I've received. I love the packaging, it's nicely presented in a box so it would make a lovely gift. The products contain anti-oxidant rich pomegranate and rose; both products are suitable for vegans to use (on a side note, did you know that the new £5 notes actually contain animal fat!). The shampoo and conditioner both smell gorgeous and are suitable for all hair types so not only does it look like a lovely gift but it will be suitable for everyone! 

Books have become a massive part of my life this year (I know that sounds so cheesy) and I've read over 70 this year which I'm so proud of so obviously I want to gift people books this year and you really can't go wrong with a Mary Berry baking book or any useful and interesting non-fiction read. 

*Mary Berry Cook The Perfect Step by Step (£25)

The edition I have from the lovely people at DK Publishing has a free baking themed tote bag included so it would make an extra special gift (it would be great for groceries). I love Mary Berry, she's like the nations grandmother and I'm still slightly devastated about the Bake Off news. I love her cooking programmes so I knew I'd love her book - my auntie has it too and uses it all of the time. I love the recipes, they're so easy to follow and I love the cute tote bag as well. 

*Neals Yard Remedies Essential Oils (£16.99)

I love the Neals Yard skincare I've tried (I've reviewed the Deliciously Ella skincare on my blog) so I was interested to check out this book. I love using essential oils to scent my bedroom before I sleep, in diffusers and within skincare and bodycare I use so it's been interesting to find out more about essential oils. There are various recipes to try out to make ointments and more so it would be great for those who currently use essential oils or who love to make their own beauty products. 

Tweezerman has been one of my favourite brands for years, even before I started my blog so it's amazing that I get to work with them! I've tried lots of lovely products from Tweezerman and I cannot recommend their eyelash curlers, tweezers, mirrors and brow mousse enough! I've been sent some of their gorgeously sparkly new autumn/winter 2016 collection. 

*Rose Gold Love Story Gift Set (£34.95)

I can't get over how incredibly gorgeous this rose gold set is! It's sparkly and perfect for the festive season *and bloggers!*. The set contains a good sized makeup bag, award winning eyelash curler and tweezers which makes a fantastic gift set. I adore the eyelash curler as it fits my almond/deep set eyes perfectly (the Tweezerman eyelash curler is so much better than the famous Shu Uemura one I have) and I cannot recommend their tweezers enough. It came in a beautifully presented rose gold box so it would make a gorgeous gift for beauty lovers. 

*Merry & Bright Mini Tweezer and Mirror (£25)

Another incredible set, I adore anything sparkly during the festive season and sparkly gifts definitely make the best gifts. I've had one of these Tweezerman mirrors years ago and loved using it as it's a magnifying light up mirror so it is fantastic for precisely tweezing the brows although you do get to see how gross pores are! I love the cute, sparkly tweezer design; the set would be great for anyone but especially for travellers. 

*All That Glitters Holiday Set (£29.95)

Sticking with the glittery, sparkly theme, this final set is so festive and it's a limited edition set so snap it up while you can! I love the golden glitter, the red detailing and the cute case that would make travelling or keeping your tweezers on the go much easier and safer. I have been using Tweezerman tweezers for about eight years and I cannot recommend them enough! 

Hand creams and bodycare are safe but lovely gifts, I've bought so many hand creams for myself and others over the years and also body sets - they're safe and easy gifts for so many recipients such as friends, aunties, cousins and my mum loves any bodycare or hand cream set. Additionally as most people use products like the ones I'm featuring, they would be great as a secret santa gift. 

*Crabtree & Evelyn hand Therapy Sampler Set (£26)

The set contains six gorgeously floral hand creams including lavender, freesia, violet, lily, rosewater and jasmine. The set is worth £36 so it's great value and it looks so pretty too. The hand creams are a famous and best selling product of Crabtree and Evelyn. I've tried so many hand creams and these are lovely. I've featured the cute Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Therapy Cracker in my Stocking Fillers Gift Guide and I love it too. They have so many gorgeous and festive gift sets to choose from!

*Dermalogica Body Buffering Set (£15.50)

This next gift is also great value for money as the contents are worth £36.45 so it's a great deal - go, go, go! The set contains a conditioning body wash, body hydrating cream and a ultimate buffering cloth. The set is packaged so nicely and the products smell gorgeous. To me, the highlight of the set is the buffering cloth which is designed to buff and polish the skin leaving it feeling so silky soft and exfoliated. 

The final couple of items are more lifestyle gifts that I think will be perfect for so many recipients as who doesn't love cookies and candles! I love cookies and candles especially at this time of the year as they are VERY hygge and great for being cosy during the cold and dreary autumn/winter months. 

*Gooey Chocolate Mug Cookie Mix (£5.95)

Is there a more perfect christmas day gift that a yummy gooey chocolate cookie in a mug mix with Belgian chocolate that's ready in less than a minute...no, there isn't! The box contains four portions so it would be great to share if your feeling the christmas spirit, if not then I won't judge (I'd probably want it all for myself too!). I've tried the mug mix is it's so quick, easy and so delicious; I don't have a massive sweet tooth but one of my favourite sweet treats are definitely cookies, especially when they're warm. I know every one of my friends would love this kit as well as my sister and cousins; also the price is great so it would be great as a low budget secret santa gift. If you don't like the sound of the cookie mix (then leave my blog now), then there are other options to choose from including gluten free mixes. 

*Tangy Melon Candles (£9.95)

I love candles and I burn them so much more during the autumn and winter months than at any other time of the year so they're great christmas gifts for me. I was kindly sent a couple from Tangy Melon which are adorably packaged. I chose the #WhiteChristmas candle which is spiced apple and pumpkin scented although to me it has a sweet fruity scented rather than spicy or pumpkin notes; I also chose the #Dope candle which is heavenly and scented with lavender and rosemary. I adore this candle, the scent is gorgeous and the scent throw/dispersion is impressive as I have it burning in my office and I can smell it down the stairs! 

Phew, that was a long post! I have been lucky enough to receive some lovely gifts to feature this year and I cannot recommend them enough, especially the Tweezerman sets, mug cookie mix, the gorgeous #dope candle and the Mary Berry book although every gift would be great! 

Stay tuned for my under £15 gift guide and last minute gift guides coming soon!

What do you think of the gifts I've featured? Have you finished your christmas shopping? 

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