#HyggeHappy + Giveaway

2016 has been a pretty awful year for everyone with brexit, Trump, all of the conflict around the world and so many amazing celebrities passing away *Alan Rickman, cries* but one of the only positive things to come out of this year is a Scandinavian lifestyle that I'm all for, Hygge.

There are so many pronunciations of the word 'hygge' but I think it would be pronounced 'hoo-ga', although maybe I'm wrong. Hygge is one of the many amazing things to come out of Scandinavia and it is all about creating a comfortable, cosy and happy environment at home, with friends or at work. I've read a couple of books about hygge and they all seem to be focused on a few key items and concepts such as lighting and candles, cosiness and comfort, friends and family, good food and trying to be content whether by yourself or with a small group of friends or family. Baking together, playing games and movie nights are all hygglig activities.

I'm an introvert *I'm 78% introvert according to the Myer Briggs test everyone seems to be doing recently* so I'm much more comfortable staying in at home or friends houses than going out so obviously I love anything to do with hygge. I'm at my most content when I'm reading with candles lit, baking, having a bubble bath with a good book or when I'm spending time with friends and close family so anything that encourages that I'm all for.

I was very kindly sent a #HyggeHappy kit from the super lovely people over at Bed Guru which contains some gorgeous hygge essentials such as a festive *Yankee Candle Votive Set which is perfect for creating a cosy hygge environment, a soft and fluffy *Snug Rug Throw Blanket which to be honest I will use all year around and a set of pretty *Filigree Heart Lights which will look amazing on my book case or on the mantlepiece. I also received an indulgent box of *Thorntons Continental Chocolate and finally Hygge: The Danish Art Of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg which is one of the prettiness books I own!

Incorporating a few lifestyle changes or some hygge essentials is so quick and easy and are perfect additions to your home this winter. Candles are the easiest way to make your home look and feel more cosy, homely and inviting; apparently the Danish mainly use unscented candles but I prefer scented candles - the 'all is bright' and 'festive cocktail' samplers from the Yankee Candle set smell amazing! Throws, blankets and cushions are another quick and easy way to make you feel cosier and they would be great for a family movie night or a night in with friends or neighbours. We all probably have some form of fairy lights or Christmas lights up at this time of the year - it's one of my favourite things about around the festive season as everywhere looks so pretty!

Hygge activities can be so relaxing such as taking some me time to read with candles burning, taking a long bubble bath with a book or cooking and baking with friends or family. I love movie nights, especially at this time of the year but all year round and I need to organise a festive one soon with friends. I also need to invite friends round for a baking day together as well, I think my friends toddler would love it too!

I adore the concept of hygge, especially during the colder months, as the feeling of cosiness, being content and spending time with friends is so rewarding and to be honest I think it really helps with my anxiety and stress levels too! Incorporating hygge ideas and products into your life is so easy and very festive so why not try it! This is not a sponsored post but it was created in collaboration with Bed Guru.

Now onto the giveaway! If you want to win all of the items in this post then make sure you fill out the Rafflecopter form below! The giveaway is UK only and will run for two weeks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This winner has been contacted - thanks for entering!

What do you think about the idea of hygge? Do you love movie nights, if so what have you been watching recently? Have you been adding hygge ideas into your lifestyle? 

Read More

The Little Book Of Hygge

Everyone has been going hygge crazy over the past couple of months and it's easy to see why! Hygge kind of translates to coziness but it means so much more than that - it means safety, comfort, happiness and it's a Scandinavian speciality that the rest of the world should adopt.

I was very kindly sent *The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking (£5, hardcover) by Penguin which is not only a really useful and interesting book but it is also one of the most beautiful books on my bookshelves! I love the cover design, illustrations and the gold detailing! The book explains hygge (pronounced hoo-ga? or who-knows!), what it means, how to incorporate it into your lifestyle and the significance in Danish culture.

The chapters range from explanations, beautifully designed diagrams and graphs to recipes, hygge activities, danish culture and so much more. I didn't know it had recipes in it and I'd definitely be interested in a hygge cookbook! I loved learning about the Danish culture especially as I've been to Copenhagen and I'd love to go again - the book gives me serious Scandi withdrawals.

The love the writing style, it's almost as if you were talking to a friend, with candles everywhere, comfort food and board games because that is the hygge way. I am an introvert and I love spending time at home with friends and family, especially during the colder months, so this book and the hygge ideas of home is where the heart is, coziness and good food and company definitely appeals to me.

Overall, I think it is a fantastic all round book full of interesting information about the Danish culture, hygge and recipes; it's perfect for this time of the year when hygge feeling is at it's highest. One fact that I found interesting is that in Denmark they burn SO many candles (although right now I might be able to single handedly compete with Denmark when it comes to candles!) but they usually only burn unscented candles which seems to the opposite in the UK. This beautiful book would be a perfect christmas gift, I cannot recommend it enough! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Now...can I move to Denmark? 

Have you read this book? Do you love some of the hygge essentials of candles, coziness and comfort food? 

Read More

*Hygge Home Inspired Wish List

Even though it's coming up to spring and hygge seems to be more of an autumn and winter theme, I still love the idea of hygge and especially hygge decor. Hygge is all about being cosy and spending time with friends/family as well as hygge homeware such as candles, blankets, throws and minimalist but comfy furniture.

TV Bed

The first item I'd love in my hygge inspired home is a TV bed! Growing up in the 90's meant that naturally I had a purple glittery TV in my bedroom with a VHS player...it was huge and I'm so surprised it didn't fall off the wall. I'd love one in my bedroom again but not a glittery purple one this time around, more of a sophisticated hidden TV bed. I'd have to choose the Liberty TV bed in 'oatmeal' as my TV bed of choice as it has a simple design but it still looks cosy and hygge-esque. I think that if you're looking for a TV in your bedroom, childrens bedroom or guest room then TV beds are a great, space saving option.

Clawfoot Bath

Next up is quite a fancy item and that's a gorgeous, luxe clawfoot bath. I did want one in our newly renovated bathroom but they're so expensive and sadly our bathroom is pretty small (you'd have seen the renovation on my Instagram stories - @ofbeautyand). Clawfoot baths look so luxe and elegant and ideal for a hygge bath!

Plants

Lastly, plants aren't really considered to be typical elements of 'hygge' but I love bringing nature into our home and to me, plants are a cosy addition to any room. I have a few succulents in my study which surprisingly I've managed to keep alive for over a year now but I'd love more plants within the kitchen and bathrooms, especially with spring around the corner.

What hygge items are your favourites? What do you pick of my picks? 

*Sponsored #AD

Read More

February Reading Wrap-up

February has been a fantastic reading month, especially compared to last month! I've read one cookbook, one novella and six books and two short story collections. All of these books were very kindly sent to me either via the publisher as a physical book or via Netgalley as an e-book.

*Someone Is Watching by Joy Fielding - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

Some of my favourite book genres are: mysteries, historical fiction, unique short non-fiction and magical books as well as thrillers and crime novels. This book is a mixture of contemporary, thriller, crime and mystery genres which I love! Let's start with the basics, the cover is very simple and I'm not a massive fan of it; it's published my Bonnier Zaffre and it is approx. 364 pages.

The book starts out very dark as we are introduced to Bailey, her job and the horrendous crime that happened to her. Usually I would go into detail however I'm not going to as I don't want to give anything away but I feel like I need to warn potential readers about the topics of this book as it was a surprise to me - the book contains crime, family drama, revenge of sorts and potentially the most triggering aspect, rape. There's a lot of mentions, flashbacks and descriptions of the rape that occurred in this book so if you don't want to read that then don't pick this book up.

The rape came as a shock to me and it did make for very uncomfortable reading for the most part and it is throughout the book as well as various sexual incidences so I'd say that maybe it should have an age guidance on the book, in my opinion.

Anyway, the book was very compelling throughout, I wanted to know what happens next and to figure out the mystery of Bailey's unusual family situation and to find out who raped her. The writing was very easy and quick to get through and I managed to finish this over 350 page book in two days - it was definitely the quickest read of the year so far! Despite the uncomfortable topic, I did love the characters of Bailey and Jade but there were a lot of unlikeable characters too. I was disappointed with the ending, it wasn't as shocking as I think the author wanted it to be but I did enjoy the book (maybe enjoy is the wrong word but you know what I mean!). I would recommend this book as a very quick mystery crime thriller but be aware of the constant mentions and inclusion of rape within this book.

*Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed by Liam Hogan - ★★★★☆, 4/5

First of all, I adore the cover! I haven't read a short story collection before so I didn't know if I'd like the style but I loved it; the writing style is a wonderful mix of witty, sarcastic contemporary language and fairytale/folktale connotations and themes - yes, yes, yes!

Some of the stories in this collection were VERY short and I mean a few pages long which I'm not used to so it was a little strange and for some of the stories I just wanted more and more rather than a few short pages. For quite a lot of the short stories, there were strong magical, fairytale and folktale vibes which I loved such as the stories: Snow-White, Whiteclaw and Blaxley and The Painted Platform but then there were some mediocre ones, in my opinion. There was only one negative and it's not about the actual book but the formatting on my Kindle app - throughout the book some of the beginnings of sentences had mouse head emojis and on other pages a group of words were smushed together rather than being separate - it was very distracting! Overall, I really liked this short, quick and magical short story collection that left me wanting more!

- Hygge by Charlotte Abrahams - ★★☆☆☆, 2/5 (I'm being very generous with my rating)

This is at least the third book about hygge that I've read and I adore the previous two so I thought I would love this...but I was very wrong! The cover is quite uninspiring, the photos weren't particularly striking (most of them in the e-book version via Netgalley were missing) and the first third of the book is so focused on interior design, specific designers and furniture that for me, someone who is interested in design but not incredibly passionate about, it became quite boring and tedious.

Now, there are some interesting bits about Danish life, the Danish view of hygge and a slightly more balanced view of hygge (there were quite a few negatives about hygge mentioned) but the rest seemed to be a combination of the authors rants about her disjointed family, her life choices and divorce or sections that were just copied and pasted studies/wikipedia entries. At the beginning the author states that she isn't an expert or Danish...so why is she writing this book. I did not enjoy this book and towards the end I was frequently just flicking through; sadly I would NOT recommend. Buy the Little Book of Hygge instead; also it's far prettier, more interesting and composed by not only a Dane but an 'expert' too!

- United States of Absurdity by Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds - ★★★★★, 5/5

One of my reading goals for 2017 was to read more non-fiction and unusual, historical and unique non-fiction are my preferred genres so when I noticed this non-fiction on Netgalley I had to request it immediately and I'm SO glad I did as this non-fiction read was very quick and enjoyable, unusual and eye opening read...sometimes in a disturbing way.

The book features unusual people and events during Americas unique *I think it's safe to say that* history and I found it thoroughly fascinating and disturbing in equal measure. There were a couple of people and stories that I already knew of but most were new and delightfully OMG and 'what the hell' that I had to tell the nearest person, albeit omitting the swearing. The only section I wasn't as interested in was the sports section as I have no interest in reading about anything to do with sport but the rest was so entertaining. If you like dark, sarcastic humour and tales of amazement, uniqueness, freak shows and yes, a lot of absurdity then this is for you! However, if you're squeamish or are uncomfortable with the dead bodies, vampires, mistreatment of humans and animals and all round grossness then...read it anyway!

*The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - ★★★★☆, 4/5

Firstly, how stunning is this cover and secondly the main themes in this book are magic, fairytales, family and Russian folktales - yes, yes, yes! The book follows Vasya, her family and the community her father lords over as well as the magical 'old' gods throughout the wonderfully atmospheric and beautiful Russian forrest setting.

I love the writing style, it was quick to get through and I loved the story as a whole as well as the characters of Vasya, Dunya, Alyosha, the gods and the magical folktale characters but there is one thing I didn't like about this books, well two, the first is the christian themes and the second is the character names which for a non-russian are difficult anyway but every character seems to have at least two names, sometimes three so it can be a little tricky to know who is who on occasion. However, I adored Vasya as she is such a memorable, magical and endearing character (the story as a whole, even though it is quite bleak, is endearing).

The ending was a little bittersweet and I wish it was a little different but overall it was such an enjoyable, magical and endearing story about adversity, family, old religions and gods and to an extent, breaking the stereotype of women. I'd definitely recommend this book!

*Is Canada Even Real? by - ★★☆☆☆, 2/5

I've been loving the non-fiction I've read recently so I couldn't wait to start this book as it seemed like a fun, quirky non-fiction about Canada but sadly for me it turned out to be 60% boring, unrelatable and unusually formatted (although I think that's just because of the e-book format) and only 40% of the book was genuinely interesting and informative - I think Canadians would find it more interesting and nostalgic compared to non-Canadians such as myself. Also the photographs were unusual, blank or a little amateurish. I did however find the sections about Canadian prime ministers and mascots interesting but that's not enough to save the rest of the book from a low rating!

*The Lost Child of Lychford by Paul Cornell - ★★☆☆☆, 2/5

I have seen the first book in this series everywhere when I am casually browsing for books on a Saturday night *wild* but I've read that you don't have to read the first book before this one so I started with this second book in the series/world. I love the cover, the themes of the book which are of witchcraft, ghosts *kind of* and friendship as well as the English country village style setting.

I love the writing style, it's so quick and easy to follow and I finished this novella in a day or so; it is such an easy story but it does have a bit of an atmospheric feel in some parts but for most of the book it has a contemporary vibe which isn't usually what I go for. Even though there were aspects that I loved such as the writing style, the relationship between the three main characters, the setting and how easy to was to get through; I found that I wasn't really interested in what happened, it wasn't as interesting or as creepy, atmospheric or horror filled as I thought it would be sadly. I would recommend it as it's so quick and I definitely want to read more by this author however it just isn't as good, interesting or as witchy as I thought it would be.

*Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

I have wanted to read Shirley Jacksons work for months and I have bought 'the haunting of hill house' but I haven't read it yet however now I can't wait to. This is my second short story collection of the month and I'm starting to get into them although I personally find short story collections quite jarring but I love how quickly I can get through them and the variety of stories. I wasn't as impressed with this one as I was with Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed earlier in the month but I'd still recommend it.

The theme of all of the stories, as the title would suggest, is dark, atmospheric and usually family, marriage or relationship orientated which I liked as I find that any horror or darker stories related to family are really creepy. Some of the stories were very short but most where long enough to really get into the story and get to know the characters and the settings. I would say that 60% of the stories were darkly entertaining and interesting but for me about 40% of the stories were a little boring. I love Shirley Jackson's writing style and I definitely want to read more from her but this wasn't quite for me, probably only because my expectations were so high going into it.

*Those Who Lie by Diane Jeffrey - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

I'm part of the blog tour for this book so I can't really say anything about it now but it follows Emily after she has been part of a tragic accident and all that follows as well as her disturbing past. I liked the writing style, it was very quick to get through but there are difficult and sensitive topics of rape, family issues, stalking and much more. My full review will be live later this month!

I'm currently reading Earth by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen and Linda Elkins-Tanton (I'm finding it quite boring) as well as Heretics! by Steven Nadler and Ben Nadler and The Spy of Venice by Benet Brandreth.

Have you read any of these titles? What are you currently reading? Are we friends on GoodReads? 

Read More

Hygge Inspired Christmas Gift Guide

According to the Visit Denmark website, hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) as cosiness and spending quality time with friends and family. There are many activities that fall under this lifestyle such as movie nights with friends, cooking with your family, reading by candlelight, going to a cosy cafe and snuggling under a blanket with hot chocolate and the people you love. 

I'm all about that hygge life and all of the cosiness it involves so I wanted to create a hyge inspired christmas gift guide full of gift ideas for friends and family, or for yourself. Giving a hygge inspired gift or hygge gift hamper would make a perfect gift for the winter period because autumn and winter are the cosiest seasons of them all! 

*Helen Russel Earmuff Penguin Mug (£10.99)

Let's start with the cutest gift to today's huge hygge gift guide! I've been lucky enough to receive an adorable mug from Helen Russel Creations previously and I'm still using and loving it. The adorable earmuff penguin mug is so cute and I love the simple but heart-warming design. It came beautifully packaged and well protected which is needed because all of the mugs are hand decorated and composed of fine bone china. As well as the lovely gift box, the mug also comes with the most adorable message story postcard about the journey of your penguin mug (it's the perfect mug for christmas!). 

*Baileys Almande Dairy Free Drink (£20)

Next up, one of the most iconic christmas drinks, to me, has to be Baileys! I love the original Baileys but they now have a range of varieties to choose from including their new dairy free almond drink which is naturally suitable for vegetarians and vegans. I love that so many brands are now making dairy free versions of their original products or adding new vegan options! A vegan friendly Baileys would be perfect for friends and family this christmas and it tastes delicious - sometimes almond flavoured drinks and food can be very artificial tasting and overly sweet but this isn't, thankfully! I'll have a separate post coming over the next couple of weeks with a few recipe and cocktail ideas featuring Baileys Almande and Cranes, so stay tuned. Check out their instagram (@baileysofficial) to find out more about #BaileysAlmande. 

*LeeshCraft London Candles - Sandalwood (£12, Travel Size)

One of the main physical elements of hygge are candles, along with good food and drinks. I love candles, I always have a couple of the go and my favourite style of candle have to be the ones featuring crackling wicks as these amazing offerings from LeeshCraft London do. The crackling wick makes the candle ideal for the autumn and winter seasons and it makes any room seem cosier and more atmospheric, in a very good way! 

I was lucky enough to receive two (they arrived beautifully packaged and protected), the first of which was the Sandalwood scent. To me the Sandalwood scent is very creamy, rich and musky, it smells heavenly! Both of the scents I received are from the Rituals collection and they'd be perfect autumn, winter or cosy Christmas nights. 

*LeeshCraft London Candles - Night Bloom (£22, Full Sized)

The second candle is the 'night bloom' scent which has the same gorgeous, celestial packaging and crackling wick as the Sandalwood travel sized candle. Unlike the Sandalwood scent, this one is very sweet, feminine and floral. Both of the candles remind me of others I've tried but there is definitely something very unique about them that I can't put my finger on! I think all of the LeeshCraft London candles would make great christmas gifts and it's always nice to support a smaller business while giving a special and unique gift to friends or family! The rituals collection is gorgeous as a whole and their new gothic collection looks even more divine! 

Handmade Christmas Co Sack

*Cranes Cider Set (£17.50)

Enjoying drinks, whether they are alcoholic or non-alcoholic, with friends is one of the perks of the christmas season and this gorgeously designed set from Cranes would be the ideal gift. The set comes three bottles of their famous cider in the flavours: raspberries and pomegranates, blueberries and apples and finally, cranberries and limes. The first flavour, raspberries and pomegranate is definitely my favourite of the three, closely followed by the delicious cranberries and limes flavour. I love the unique flavour combinations!

The set also comes in a gift box with a branded glass too which makes for a complete and more luxurious looking gift set. I think this set has something for everyone and it could be shared out with friends for a Christmas catch up. Additionally, for those watching their calorie intake over the festive period, which will definitely include myself, Cranes cider is made using 30% fewer calories compared to other brands on the market. If you're looking for a unique and beautifully presented booze filled gift set that would be ideal for so many gift recipients, from dads and grandads to friends, colleagues and more, look no further than Cranes. 

*Dust & Things Personalised Christmas Box (from £29.99)

Speaking of beautifully presented gifts, this Christmas Eve box from Dust and Things would make a lovely gift for all ages but especially the little ones in your life. Dust and Things is such an incredibly lovely brand with such a wide range of gorgeous gifts from christmas, personalised and birthday gifts to wedding, teacher and anniversary gifts to choose from so you're bound to find something lovely!

The Christmas Eve box can be personalised, not only with the name of your gift recipient but also a cute symbol (I chose a snowflake!) and a personalised message on the bottom of the box too. Additionally, you can change the size of the box and you can add a FREE personalised greetings card as well. 

I'm extremely happy with my box from Dust and Things as it's so well made, it looks very sustantial and it is personalised for my gift recipient. It is a perfect size to double up as a present and storage for other gifts - almost like a self contained hamper. I have the Box 1 size which is ideal for me and for most, I think and I cannot recommend it enough, along with all of their other wonderful gifts. Use the link above when purchasing as it will give you 10% off your box or use the code: OFBEAUTY&XMAS to get 10% off the Christmas Eve boxes on Dust and Things. 

*So Close Studio Penguin Couple Plant Pot (£12)

Another utterly wonderful and unique personalised gift is this adorable penguin plant pot from So Close Studio which has to be the cutest plant pot I have ever seen! I was very kindly sent some gorgeous gift items from So Close Studio and everything came so nicely packaged and presented. Everything is printed in their studio in the lovely area of Devon. 

I think most of us have a favourite animal and for my mum, that animal is the penguin. I'm personally not a huge fan (they're birds that can't fly!) but I know that she'll absolutely adore this plant pot as not only does she like penguins but she also loves gardening so it's a win, win. I think the design and personalisation that can be added is so beautiful and I know that my mum will be very happy with it. Check out So Close Studio for more interesting and lovely gift ideas for all ages and occasions. They offer free UK delivery, so what are you waiting for!

*Bomb Cosmetics Jingleberry Candle (£8.99)

There can't be a mention of hygge without the obligatory candles and I have a couple of gorgeous offerings to talk about from Bomb Cosmetics and Ormonde Jayne, both of which would make wonderful wintery candles. As you may know, I'm a Bomb Cosmetics ambassador (of sorts) so I'm very lucky to receive boxes of their goodies to review and I recently received an amazing box of christmas products - you'll have seen the unboxing if you follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand). I've already reviewed the Bomb Cosmetics advent calendar I received in my big beauty gift guide which you can check out. 

However, while Bomb Cosmetics is well known for their adorable bath blasters and gift sets, they also have a range of heavenly candles. One of their Christmas candles is Jingleberry which is the most adorable candle name ever. It is a handcrafted candle made using essential oils including frankincense and myrrh so naturally it smells musky, christmassy and perfect for the colder months. 

*Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita Candle 

I'm not sure you can purchase this mini candle from Ormonde Jayne but the full sized version is available from £65 which I'll admit is expensive for a candle but christmas is the time to treat friends (and to treat yo self!) so why not. I love the bright orange packaging of the Ormonde Jayne products I've tried! Everything about this brand feels luxe and expensive, from the packaging to the scents. 

Sampaquita is an unusual scent, whether it's in fragrance form or candle form, it's very musky, floral and ideal for winter. My description definitely doesn't do this candle or scent justice as it is one of the most unique fragrances I've encountered, particularly in candle form. If you are looking for a unique and luxe candle for yourself or someone special this christmas then you should visit Ormonde Jayne. Ormonde Jayne products can be bought online or at Selfridges Trafford Centre. 

*Handmade Christmas Co Personalised Christmas Sack (£22)

If you have read my previous early christmas gift guides this month then you'll have seen this gorgeous gift idea from the Handmade Christmas Co already as it makes the perfect christmas photograph background (#BloggerProblems)...I have wanted a cute hessian style personalised christmas gift sack for so long and now I have the cutest one! 

I was very kindly sent 'The Robertson' design which has an ornate and elaborate almost victorian inspired design that I utterly adore. I love the presentation of the christmas sack, it came in a tube with the Handmade Christmas Co logo on and a ribbon - it felt very special opening it and I'm sure any gift recipient will feel exactly the same, especially when they notice the personalisation. 

I'm lucky in that I was able to have 'The Nixon Family' printed onto the sack and I think it looks amazing; I couldn't have asked for anything better! As well as the personalisation, you can also change the font and the colour of the font as well as look through all of the other christmas sack designs they have. It's 80cm by 53cm so it's large enough for what I wanted it for which is my parents presents (they receive a lot each year from me because I can't help myself from treating people at this time of the year!). I absolutely love mine and you'll be seeing it a lot in the upcoming months with all of my other gift guides!

*So Close Studio Dadmiral Mug (£12.50)

My second and final gift idea from So Close Studio is this adorable 'dadmiral' mug which as soon as I saw it on their website, I had to have it because I know it will definitely bring a smile to my dads face - it did to mine! I'm a bit...a massive mug hoarder, I have so many but I'm always quite picky with mugs as some can be very thick, some can be poor quality and others can be the wrong shape (I feel a little like goldilocks) but this one is, just right. I love the simple but striking design, the size and shape is perfect and it looks great! 

*Energy Ball Recipe Kit (£15)

Last but not least is a very unique and special gift that I'm sure your gift recipient will not be expecting! A hygge inspired gift guide wouldn't be complete without food and today's offering is something you can make with your friends or family over the christmas period and you'll end up with some yummy, healthy energy balls to snack on! The kit is available to purchase now for £15 - I love the packaging and design of the kit as well as the plastic free packaging which is always a plus. You can buy a one off box for £15 or a monthly subscription for £14 per month. 

Within the kit you receive all of the ingredients you'll need to create your energy balls! I was very kindly sent the apricot and coconut recipe kit - I love that the leaflet lists everything as well as the nutrition information. The instructions are very easy to follow, I love all of the illustrations and I can't wait to try my kit. I've wanted to make something like this for a while but I didn't know which recipe to follow but now I don't have to guess as everything is weighted out and ready to start. 

What do you think of my hygge inspired christmas gift guide? Will you be picking up or looking into any of these gift ideas? 

Read More

*Hygge Inspired Cozy Autumn Wish List

Today is the first day of Autumn and I'm beyond excited about that! I love everything about autumn, from the chilly crisp mornings and hot chocolate to candles, halloween and all of the cozy autumnal clothing! I work from home so I'm always looking out for more comfy, cozy clothing and autumn is the perfect season for coziness AKA. hygge.

I found all of these gorgeous items via LoveTheSales which is a fantastic site where you can search for specific items and it will show you the results from a wide range of stores so you don't have to search all of the stores individually. You can also add filters to the search so you can just find items in your size, preferred colour, price range etc which is amazing and such a time saver. It mainly focuses on clothing but it has a section for sport, the home and more.

Yumi Open Back Jumper  -  Zalando Cosabella Triangle Bra  -  Eberjey Pyjama Bottoms  -  Ugg Slippers  (Ugg Sale) -  Miss Selfridge Knitted Jumper  -  Asos Petite Oversized Shirt 

There's my autumnal, hygge inspired wish list, I will probably end up buying some of these times by the end of the day...oops. I love the shirt especially and the triangle bra! Also you should definitely check out LoveTheSales, it's a fantastic site!

What do you think of my wish list? Any hygge/cozy items on your autumn wish list? Have you checked out LoveTheSales? 

Read More

Hygge Haul ft. Zaful

Cosy and comfy clothes are basically all I buy as I work from home and I want to be dressed but I also want to wear comfy clothes too so loungewear, leggings and jumpers are perfect. I need more ASAP as it is getting super chilly in Manchester recently and I've been wearing these items non-stop since I received them a couple of weeks ago from the lovely people at Zaful.

*Zaful High Neck Sweater ($19.49, SALE)

I pretty much live in leggings and dresses or longline jumpers as they are so comfy especially at this time of the year when it's cold and grey outside and you just want to be warm and cosy. I'm petite so I can get away with wearing longline jumpers and sweaters as dresses with leggings and this one is perfect. I love the colour (I love anything grey, as you'll see from this mini haul...everything is grey) and I love the super thick and cosy material. I love the high neck, it's high but not so high that I feel like a snowman with no neck at all. I have been wearing it constantly and I'm really happy with it; I have a size M which is perfect for me and I'm a UK size 10.

*Zaful Knit Hat ($6.01)

I have been looking for a cute beanie with a pom pom for so long and I may have found the perfect one. I hate massive pom poms but this one is great and obviously I love the colour. The material is stretchy, thick and cosy so it will keep you warm which is definitely needed now (hopefully it won't snow!). I love the simple design, the fit and the size - you can go wrong and the price is great! If you don't like the grey *then what's wrong with you*, they do have other colour options to choose from instead.

 *Zaful Hooded Fleece Coat ($21.99, SALE)

I have a thing for short dressing gowns, they are so much comfier and cosier than the full length ones which I just feel restricted in. I have a similar one to this from Marks and Spencers but it is lighter grey and it definitely isn't as soft or as warm as this one. It's honestly the softest and cosiest short dressing gown (or house coat if you call them that) I've ever owned. I can be wearing it for only a couple of minutes and I'll be so toasty warm, it's amazing! I love that it has a hood and pockets too; I'm so tempted to wear it in the car as it's freezing to drive and the heating doesn't come on for a while. Definitely recommend!

Overall, I couldn't be happier with all three cosy, hygge inspired items from Zaful. I know online stores, particularly ones that are abroad can be a little underwhelming when it comes to quality but the quality of all the items I've had over the past few months from Zaful have been genuinely fantastic! I am currently wearing the fleece coat and I couldn't be warmer or cosier! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

What do you think of my mini Zaful haul? Have you bought anything from Zaful? 

Read More

December Reading Wrap-up

Images from Google

I didn't think I'd read that much during December but I have, kind of but most of the have been illustrated books and shorter books or graphic novels. The past two months haven't been amazing reading months for me - it was exactly the same at the beginning of the year. As I'm writing this, I'm on what would have been my 80th book of 2016 *I'm currently reading Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban and More Very British Problems*, both of which I'm loving*.

*The Motion Of Puppets - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

I was attracted to the book initially because of the gorgeous and intriguing cover and the blurb which sounded so unusual and almost magical. To me, it began as a contemporary with a sense that it could turn into a bit of a thriller. It follows Kay and Theo, who have recently moved to Quebec as Kay has a summer job as a circus performer.

The descriptions of Quebec were so lovely and quaint, the author seems to love the city and it was nice change for me to read a book set somewhere I've never been or read about before. I liked the writing style, even though it can be a bit overly descriptive sometimes.

The story follows their relationship, Theo's work (which I really didn't find interesting at all) and Kay's disappearance and her life while Theo is looking for her - I don't really want to say more about Kay or the ending as I'll spoil it for you. I didn't really form any kind of attachment to the characters but I did like Kay, Theo and Egon as well as some of the puppets. I found the parts of the story with Theo and Egon interesting but my favourite parts were the puppets as it was quite magical and really quirky - I think Tim Burton could make an amazing and heart breaking movie with this story but as a book it was a little predictable, distant at times and sometimes a little boring and or frustrating as I just wanted to know how it would end. The ending to me wasn't very emotional as I wasn't very attached to the characters as a whole and it was really anticlimactic. Th book was a re-telling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice which I am not familiar with but I think if you were then it's maybe not worth reading as finding out what happens ultimately was the only thing keeping me intrigued through the book.

*The Women Who Made New York - ★★★★☆, 4/5

One of my reading goals for 2017 is to read more classics and non-fiction but I always find it difficult to get through non-fiction even if I'm interested in the topic as it's easier and quicker to watch a documentary and fiction is usually quicker to read but this book was so interesting and enjoyable to read (well, 85% or so was). It follows the lives of so many incredible women who were either born, raised or lived-in New York and contributed to it's architecture, the lives of people who live in the city, it's cultural or food scene, New York's reputation or justice and law enforcement.

I adore the cover, the layout and the illustrations throughout the book and I will definitely be buying the hardback edition so I have a physical copy as it's a gorgeous book and I know I'll want to read parts of it again. The book took me a couple of weeks to read fully as it obviously isn't massively action packed or mysterious like the fiction I've been reading recently but it was very enjoyable and I liked the writing style so I do hope she writes more!

History mostly focuses on men but the women included in this book are all amazing and definitely deserve to be recognised! I'm English so I only knew about four of the women mentioned in this book but if I were American I would have probably known many more. My favourite sections were the ones focusing on the women who helped the sick, poor and immigrants as well as civil rights. My least favourite sections were the ones about the topics of music, food and art which I did skim read a little if I'm honest. I'd definitely recommend it, even if you're not a fan of non-fiction; there needs to be more books like this for other cities as I'd buy them all!

*Map of Days by Robert Hunter - ★★★★★, 5/5

I was very kindly sent this book by NoBrow which is an amazing publisher; it's not released for a couple of weeks but here's my review. I have read Robert Hunter's graphic novel/comic book 'The New Ghost' which I loved for it's sweet and endearing story and the stunning illustrations so I wanted to read this new release. As with all books created by NoBrow, it's beautifully published and I adore the cover; the illustrations throughout are minimal but striking and vivid. The story follows a creation type story that is something I'm familiar with in graphic novel form and this one is equally as sweet. It's a very quick, easy and enjoyable read and makes a lovely and unique change to the full length novels I mostly read.

*Night Shift by Debi Gliori - ★★★★★, 5/5

This beautifully presented and put together short illustrated book was kindly sent to me from Bonnier Zaffire. As with the previous book it is a hard back edition and contains gorgeous but minimal illustrations. This book is the authors attempt to describe her struggle with depression, in the hope that it could help others in the same position as her. The illustrations are as lovely as they can be considering the topic. She describes depression as a dragon which I can on some level relate to as this time last year was awful for me with the most horrendous eczema flareup I've ever experienced as well as anxiety and depression. I think it described some of the feelings of depression well and I found it relatable to an extent so I think it would be a great little book to relate to and to show that there is also hope.

*Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg - ★★★★☆, 4/5

This is the second book about hygge that I've read, well flicked through a couple of times; the first book was The Little Book of Hygge which is beautiful and published by Penguin Life. I was very kindly sent this book as part of a hygge kit and you can win it along with other amazing goodies (my giveaway ends on the TODAY). The book cover is stunning, I love the lay out and I especially love the recipes in the book, some of which I'll definitely have to make. I also really like the 'hygge dictionary' included which is really useful.

*Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Anderson - ★★★★★, 5/5

I've wanted to pick up some of her products before as I love her super relatable and funny illustrations so I'm glad I was accepted to review this ebook via Netgalley. It's her second book and I now want her first. I love the simple illustrations and the topics as well as all of the funny captions. I loved this little ebook and I'd definitely recommend it!

*The Slanted Life Of Emily Dickinson by Rosanna Bruno - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

Another illustrated book via Netgalley and this one is based around the life of the American poet Emily Dickinson. To be honest, the reason I wanted this book was because I love learning about writers and I want to read more non-fiction but I was quite disappointed by this book - I think it's aimed at an American audience who are already familiar with her, which I'm not. I do love the illustrations though and I found some of it interesting but I won't be reading it again sadly.

I'm currently over half way through More Very British Problems and I'm loving it, I read the first a couple of years ago and adored it. It's the second book and I think it's the same as the Very British Problems Abroad book - just a different title. I'm also part way through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and I'm loving it but annoyingly I'm in a reading slump.

To follow my reading progress and to see my ratings, follow me on Good Reads. 

What have you been reading recently? Have you read any of these books? 

Read More

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? 

Read More

Last Minute Gift Guide: Part Two

Today's post is my final christmas gift guide of 2016! How has 2016 gone by so quickly, it feels like it was new year a couple of months ago! I've posted a few gift guides this month and back in November which seems like ages ago now. I've posted my Lush, The Body Shop, Tisserand and Snapfish gift guides as well as my Mens, Luxury, Under £15, Womens, Stocking Filler and Last Minute guides.

This post is for those last minute gift buyers as most online stores have their delivery deadlines either today or over the next two days so you still have time to order or pick up a gift for friends, family or neighbours. This gift guide features a range of beauty, book and lifestyle gifts.

*Beauty Kitchen Everlasting Radiance Moisturiser (£19.99, 60ml)

Winter skincare would make a fantastic practical gift as this time of the year can be damaging and harsh to the skin. I always change up my skincare routine and products during the colder months and this gorgeous, natural moisturiser would be a perfect addition. It contains 100% natural ingredients including seahorse plankton, sea kelp, blue chamomile, bergamot, lavender and more, you can't go wrong. It's blue in colour, smells amazing and it is packaged beautifully so it would make a lovely gift to beauty lovers!

*Susino Wind Resistant Floral Ladies Automatic Compact Umbrella (£19.99)

Again, another practical but cute gift; I think practical gifts are some of the best gifts as the recipient doesn't need to buy them themselves. The umbrella has a pretty floral print, simple design and it is fairly compact so it would be great to keep in your bag or in the car. It has a switch on the handle so it automatically opens (it can be a bit lethal so give it room!) so it would be really useful, instead of fighting with an umbrella that won't open. I can't recommend it enough; I've featured the mini compact umbrellas in my previous gift guide. Next day delivery is available on the Susino website.

 *The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I have been reading so many books this year especially compared to last year when I read just a handful of books but I'm currently reading my 75th book of 2016! One of my reading goals for next year is to read more classics, hopefully at least one per month and this is one at the top of my list. I have watched a few TV shows and films that feature a Dorian Gray type character so I am familiar with the general story but I want to read the book and this Alma edition is gorgeous. They have some amazing book bundles to choose from! Tomorrow is the last delivery date for Christmas!

*Someone Is Watching by Joy Fielding 

I was very kindly sent a couple of new releases from the lovely people at Bonnier Zaffre Books which along with Alma Books and Pushkin Press are some of my favourite publishers of 2016. I am a fan of a lot of genres but one in particular is thrillers. This thriller sounds fantastic and if you have a fan of thrillers in your life then definitely check this one out. You can still get this title in time for Christmas if you use next day delivery on Amazon.

*The Little Book Of Hygge by Meik Wiking 

How gorgeous is this book, it's definitely one of the prettiest books on my bookshelves! I have a full review of this Hygge book on my blog already, if you want more information. Hygge seems to be the new big lifestyle trend of 2016 and I'm all for it as it's about being cosy, comfy, happy and spending time with friends and close family. The book is gorgeous, well laid out and a great mini coffee table book. It's available on Amazon for only £5 which is such a low price considering that it's a hardback and SO pretty.

*A Study in Scarlet & The Sign of the Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This pretty edition is part of the Macmillan Collector's Library range and it's gorgeous! It is a stunning cover which underneath is a duck egg blue clothbound book with gold edges *heart eyes emoji*. It would make a lovely gift for any book lover especially if they like classics as the range is pretty much all famous classics. I've reviewed it already and it's a great read, even if you are familiar with the Sherlock TV shows/films as the book is quite different.

 *Dr Botanicals Total Repair Healing Lip Complex (£99) 

My lips are annoying and stubbornly dry all year round so lip balm is an essential for me which explains my rather massive lip balm collection but there are only a few that are actually deeply moisturising, most just wear off and only work for a very short period of time but this one is amazing! The balm is really pricy, in my opinion but it would make an effective, natural and luxurious gift. The balm feels very nourishing but lightweight on the lips and it pretty much instantly makes my lips feel so comfortable, moisturised and very smooth and that feeling and appearance lasts for so long - I only need to reapply twice a day, whereas with other lips balms I have to reapply ten plus times a day. I cannot recommend it enough!

*Dr Botanical Advanced 8 Hour Overnight Renewal Cream (£106.70 - now £24.99 - SALE)

This cream is actually more balm like which is perfect for my very dry skin as it's so nourishing and smoothing on the extra dry areas of my skin. It is made in the UK as is the lip balm and contains lots of lovely natural ingredients such as pomegranate oil, goji berries and shea butter. It doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and when used as part on my evening skincare routine, it leaves my skin incredibly moisturised, smooth and deeply nourished in the morning. It's a winter skincare staple, even though it's a little pricy but it is currently on sale so GO, GO, GO. There are quite a few products in their amazing over 70% off sale so hurry!

What do you think of my final gift guide? Do you have any of the products I've featured? Do you still have presents to buy? 

Read More