Personalised Gifts + Christmas Cards with Snapfish

I have featured Snapfish on my blog previously and I've also bought quite a few items for family myself as I love how quick and easy it is to create personalised gifts that look fantastic and are so special. Everyone who has received a gift from Snapfish has loved it and it's especially nice to receive a photo gift or personalised item for Christmas!

As well as amazing photo gifts, they have have an option for photo/personalised cards including Christmas cards. Family photo Christmas cards would make a lovely surprise for family or you could create a friends card with a group photo too. I've kindly been allowed to pick a few items from Snapfish to personalise and review:

*Snapfish Christmas Cards (£1.99 each)

I chose three cards, one for my grandad with photos of myself and my sister, one for my auntie with family group photos and one for a friend with a group photo of us and our closest friends. I chose the designs: Confetti Christmas Joy (which is my favourite), Bright Merry Christmas Lights and Christmas Wood and Leaves. All three designs are unique, festive and would make a lovely, special cards for family and friends. You can not only add photos to the front of the card but to the inside as well which is what I have done for all three of the cards. Here are some tips for family photos from Snapfish:

• Get an extra pair of hands or alternative use a tripod and remote 
• Make sure you get the best lighting you can, whether it's natural or artificial 
• Festive or formal wear is always best 
• Photo props can make great additions to group photos as well as family pets - don't leave them out
• Keep it fun and maybe tell a story with the photo 

They also make photo gifts too including notebooks, canvases, prints, keyrings, cushions, coasters, phone cases, calendars, magnets, Christmas ornaments and more. I've made a few photo books via Snapfish, either with a voucher that I've been sent or with my own money and they are fantastic but this time I opted for a cute mug and keyring.

*Snapfish Porcelain Mug (£8.99)

They offer a range of mugs but I chose this lovely porcelain mug which is dishwasher and microwave safe. You can add your own photos or you can add photos to an existing pre-made design which is what I did. I picked one from the 'friends and family' options and changed it with text and photos so it would make a lovely gift for my mum. The photos can out really well, I love the design and I know my mum will love it!

*Snapfish Keyring (£2.99)

The final item is a cute keyring that I've made for my dad featuring one of my favourite photos of myself, my sister and my dad together when I was around four years old *in a cute dress, that I wouldn't mind having now!*. The photo is printed on both sides and the plastic is scratch resistant so it should last for years.

Overall, I couldn't recommend Snapfish enough for amazing and special christmas gifts as well as lovely christmas cards that would make anyones christmas! I've bought items from Snapfish myself and everyone who has received a Snapfish gift or card has always been happy with them. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

What do you think of these Christmas gifts and cards? Have you bought anything from Snapfish? Will you be gifting any personalised or photos gifts this year? 

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Christmas With Harrods

Is there anything more luxurious than a Harrods Christmas hamper? I don't think so! When an email arrived about reviewing a Harrods Christmas hamper, I have to admit than I did squeal slightly and then even more so when this amazing *and huge* box arrived filled with a selection of beautiful Harrods Christmas products. There are so many Harrods Christmas hampers to choose from with prices ranging from a surprisingly affordable £25 to over £2000 so there's a hamper for everyone.

I chose the gorgeous *Harrods 'The Christmas Carol' Hamper (£100) which contains selection of festive favourites and essentials as well as a luxurious festive bauble to adorn your tree. The hamper contains: Spiced Christmas Coffee, Spiced Black Tea, Spiced Plum & Fig Jam, Clementine & Sweet Orange Marmalade, Winter Spiced Biscuits, Honey & Clementine Biscuits, Brandy Butter and a Classic Christmas Pudding.

*Harrods Winter Spiced Biscuits with Golden Sparkle 

Would it really be Christmas without biscuits and sparkle? No! I love these biscuits, they're so delicious and perfect for the festive season as they are rich with mixed spices, treacle and sultanas so they are bound to be an all round favourite. As with all of the products in the hamper, the packaging is delightfully festive and would aesthetically make a exquisite festive gift.

*Harrods Honey & Clementine Biscuits with Golden Sparkle 

Again the packaging is gorgeous as are the contents; you really can't go wrong with all butter biscuits with honey and a sprinkle of glittering golden sparkle. They are perfect to share over the festive period with friends and family...or just for yourself! Both of the biscuit options within the hamper are very moreish and indulgent.

*Harrods Spiced Black Tea 

I've always been a coffee lover but this year I've been venturing into tea, particularly green, mint and herbal and iced tea but I think I have a new favourite. The tea is spiced with ginger, cloves, orange and cinnamon; it is deliciously christmassy! The flavours are a favourite of mine all year round but particularly during the colder months and it's perfect as a autumnal/winter warmer - I adore this tea, it's subtly spiced and slightly sweet.

*Harrods Christmas Spiced Coffee

Aside the hamper box, this packaging is the most stunning; the Harrods wax seal effect detail is a luxe touch! It's a medium roast Arabica coffee with flavours of cinnamon, hazelnut and chocolate - yes, yes and yes. Festive flavoured coffees are a perk of the somewhat chaotic and stressful season and this Harrods offering is definitely my new favourite. I adore the hazelnut and subtly spiced flavours but I don't personally get that much chocolate coming through. However, the coffee is delicious, indulgent and when enjoyed with oat milk, it creates a moreish and lusciously creamy coffee.

*Harrods Classic Christmas Pudding 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a classic, rich Christmas pudding to finish. The Harrods Christmas pudding has been matured for 9 months and has been specifically created using the time honoured Harrods recipe so you know it's going to be sumptous and the perfect end to Christmas day.

*Harrods Brandy Butter with Courvoisier VS Cognac 

I haven't actually tried brandy butter before but this one sounds gorgeously festive with Courvoisier VS Cognac; it would be a perfect accompaniment to mince pies, Christmas pudding, bread and butter pudding, plum pudding or as a more unique addition to my warm, delicious two-tiered chocolate cake!

*Harrods Spiced Plum & Fig Jam 

I'm not a huge fan of jam; however I do love it within a victoria sponge cake and I'm definitely going to be making a christmassy victoria sponge with this uniquely flavoured jam - I think it would be a great adaption for festive gatherings! A Christmas roulade, bakewell tart or trifle would be great too.

*Harrods Clementine & Orange Marmalade 

I love marmalade on toast as a quintessential British breakfast or afternoon tea option but I haven't tried a more festive variation; this sweet and zesty marmalade contains a delicious orange liquor to add a festive touch!

Lastly within the decadent hamper is a lovely *Harrods Christmas bauble featuring the Harrods logo which would make a fantastic addition to the christmas tree this year - adding a touch of luxury to your tree or the lucky recipients.

Overall, as this is my first Harrods Christmas hamper, I can honestly say that I'm very impressed with the range, quality and number of items included in 'The Christmas Carol' hamper and it looks so stunningly festive and beautiful, it would make an indulgent and thoughtful gift for anyone! Alternatively you could host your own festive afternoon tea to share the hamper with friends and family over the festive season. I rate the majority of the items I feature on my blog but we all know what the rating for this hamper will be...★★★★★, 5/5. I just want to say thank you to the lovely people at Harrods for my gorgeous hamper!

What do you think of The Christmas Carol hamper? Have you tried any of the Harrods festive (or non-festive) hampers? 

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Last Minute Gifts For Everyone

Stocking Fillers & Secret Santa

Paperchase Mini Around The World Exercise Book (£2)  -  Prezzybox Smartphone Projector (£15.95)  -  Prezzybox Make Your Own Chocolate Pizza (£12.95)  -  Paperchase Tattoo Santa Mug (£6) 

This Works Sleep Balm (£10)  -  Burts Bees Classic Pomegranate Bauble (£6.99)  -  Molton Brown Rhubarb and Rose Shower Gel Bauble (£10)  -  Lush The Magic Of Christmas Bubble Bar (£5.95)

Gifts For Her

Cloud Nine Micro Iron (£54.95)  -  Antipodes Joyful Hand and Body Cream (£28.99)  -  Micro Pedi Gift Set (£59.99)  -  Little Ondine Winter Wonderland Trio Polish (£29.50)  -  Guerlain Collector Palette (£50.40)  

Twig and Dot Candles (£16)  -  Neom De-Stress Set (£20)  -  Jurlique Aromatic Rose Set (£38)  - The Body Shop Green Tea Set (£18)  -  Lush You're A Star Set (£42.50)

Gifts For Him

Crabtree and Evelyn West Indian Lime Set (£24)  -  Zombie Blood Shower Gel (£4.99)  -  Doctor Who Cluedo (£29.99)  - Where's Wally Tablet Case (£14.99)  -  Italian Cheese Making Kit (£19.99) 

My Geek Box Subscription (£17.99 - £19.99)  -  Camera Lens Cup (£8.99)  -  100 Things They Don't Want You To Know (£14.99)  -  Skull Shot Glass (£8.99)  -  Power Bank (£9.99)

Have you been naughty or nice this year, take the Paddy Powder Bingo quiz to find out! This is a sponsored post. 

What do you think of my gift ideas? Do you have any of these products?

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Christmas: Women's Gift Guide

It's finally December! I can't wait for christmas so to carry on the festive cheer, I have my third christmas gift guide and this one is all about gifts for her - whether that is your mum, wife, sister, aunties or friends. I was very kindly sent the products featured by brands that I know and love as well as a few new products. So grab a cup of tea, this post is a long one!

*Crabtree and Evelyn Country Florals Hand Therapy Trio Tin (£12.50, worth £15): Crabtree and Evelyn have such amazing christmas sets, I included some of their products in my mens gift guide. Their hand creams are one of their more famous and poplar products and these scent sound gorgeous. I think this set would be great for mums, aunties and grandmas, although I'd love it too as you can never have too much hand cream!

*Bluffers Chocolate Guide Book (£6.99): I have also already featured the Bluffers guides in my mens gift guide and my stocking fillers posts as I think they are fantastic gifts that are so reasonably priced and there is a topic for everyone.

*Wild Olive Luxury Spa Tuberose & Jasmine Set (£16.95): I have tried Wild Olive products previously and I love their candles! This set contains bath salts, soap and a candle so it would be perfect for anyone who needs a pamper. All of their product are handmade in England and they use natural ingredients. The Tuberose and Jasmine set smells amazing and it is packaged to beautifully.

*Botanicals Beautiful Hands Anti-Ageing Serum (£13.95): Again, another brand that I have tried and that I love. I have tried so many hand creams but this is the first hand serum; it is such a hydrating oil and the I love the pipette dispenser. It would make a lovely stocking filler or part of a pamper hamper and as with the Wild Olive brand, everything is natural and cruelty free. You can get the hand serum in the lovely Hand & Feet Christmas Pamper Box which would be a perfect gift.

*Gemporia Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace (£27, worth £67.99): I don't wear that much jewellery but I do love necklaces and this one is gorgeous. It is simple and understated as well as being very reasonably priced but it is sparkle, elegant and it is perfect with formal and causal outfits. It sits well, it feels comfortable to wear and I think mums, sisters and friends would love it!

*Yves Rocher Sumptuous Colour Eyeshadow Quad (£13.50, sale): If you have been following my blog for a while then you will know how much I love Yves Rocher products, from the fragrance and haircare to bodycare and makeup. I chose the quad in 06 Brun Incandescent which is a lovely everyday quad - you can see swatches and a close up in the video below.

*Yves Rocher Apple Delight EDT (£5, 20ml): One thing that I always notice with Yves Rocher products is how cheap they are and there are always offers on! This fragrance is part of their new  range and it smells heavenly; to me it smells like a toffee apple scent with musky perfume notes. It would make a fantastic stocking filler, as would their shower gels.

*Bloom and Wild Flowers: As well as candles, there is nothing more welcoming and homely than flowers; they make such a difference to a room and let's be honest, who doesn't love to receive flowers. The flowers came so beautifully packaged and the box can fit through a letterbox so you don't have to worry about being in. I think the three months of flower set (£50) would be perfect for mums or grandmas as they will receive three gorgeous bouquets so it's the gift that keeps on giving!

*BKR Glass Water Bottle (£25, 500ml): I think this unique and adorable glass and silicone water bottle would make a great gift for gym goers! It comes in a range of colours and I have the adorably named 'cupcake' shade. The bottle is is BPA free which is fantastic, it will fit in most cup holders and in my case it will be perfect on my desk or on the go as it is 500ml so I know exactly how much I'm drinking and it will make me drink more as it's so cute!

*Let It Snow Tee (£10): I love christmas jumpers, but they aren't for everyone so this cute christmas tee would be a great festive gift. I would personally wear it as a longline pyjama top and it is so adorable and it is also well priced in my opinion.

Kiko Cosmetics: This gorgeous palette from their new christmas range is in place of all the Kiko products I've tried as I think they are fantastic, from the nail polish and eyeshadows to lipsticks and gift sets - they would make fantastic and great value gifts for any makeup lover.

Spectrum Brushes: I am a makeup brush hoarder, I have so many and I think these from Spectrum are the most adorable brushes I own and they are amazing quality as well as being cruelty free! I luckily won a couple of sets this year and I was kindly sent a brush too and I have been using them non-stop!

Now onto the video, as with the others, it isn't the best quality because of the damn english weather and lack of natural light but I hope it isn't too bad! I've included some extra gift ideas in the video from Arran Aromatics, Molton Brown, Rifle Paper Co, Roger and Gallet, Breo and Boots.

Lastly, if you are still doing your christmas shopping then check out My Derma Center as if you spend over £45 then you will receive a fantastic deluxe gift with purchase including fantastic sample sizes of products from Roger and Gallet, La Roche Posay, SkinCeuticals and Vichy. So you can buy lovely presents for everyone and receive a gift for yourself!

What do you think of the products I've included? Do you have any of these products? 

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Christmas Stocking Fillers

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

Books:

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

Beauty:

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

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

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

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

Personalised Gifts: 

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

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

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

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The Body Shop Christmas Collections

The Body Shop has been a favourite brand of mine since I was a teenager and I love their christmas ranges every year; the Glazed Apple range, which is back again this year, is gorgeous! However the range has expanded to include a selection of beautiful art deco looking makeup for getting your glam on this festive season and new year. The christmas ranges are limited edition and will sell out quickly so if you want something for yourself or someone else then go, go go! 

The christmas eyeshadow palettes/quads are split into two looks, the 'grooving gold' and 'swinging silver' looks. I have the 'grooving gold' palette as well as three other products from the christmas range. *The Body Shop Grooving Gold Palette (£16) features four autumnal shades that would be perfect for so many christmas party looks including a pink rose gold, purple toned mauve, deep rich purple and an almost molten gold shade. All of the shades are shimmery and metallic looking but there isn't a lot of fall down and there is no chunky shimmer.

A very christmasy product is *The Body Shop The Sparkler (£14, Golden Shimmer) which is a shimmer body spray to add flecks of pretty glitter to the skin and oddly it smells nice too! The shimmer won't stick unless you use a body butter before but it would be pretty on the decollete and legs for festive parties. 

The Body Shop have also released christmas nail polishes, I have *The Body Shop Colour Crush Festive Nail Polish in Gold Metal (£5, 10ml). The bottle and shade are both gorgeous and the price is fantastic for the amount you get and the quality. The brush is quite wide which makes application so quick and easy. The polish is crazy pigmented, it covered the black polish I wore underneath it and it isn't very streaky at all unlike most metallic polishes. You could easily wear the gold on it's own as it is so pigmented but it makes a great base for *The Body Shop Colour Crush Nail Sequins in Gold (£7, 10ml) which is SO pretty on an accent nail. The sequins polishes contains large black and gold flecks and smaller gold glitter that looks so unique and it works perfectly with black shades. 

Next up, the body collections, they have three this year including the popular Frosted Cranberry and Glazed Apple ranges but they have released a new range - Frosted Plum which is the range I was most excited to try so I was over the moon to find it in the package! The Frosted Plum range contains plum extract from Turkey and fair-trade babassu oil resulting in a fruity, floral fragrance with notes of plum, peony and magnolia so I think it will go down well with so many people.

Firstly, my favourite product from the Frosted Plum range, *The Body Shop Frosted Plum Feel Good Tin (£17), now I have to be honest and say that my main reason for liking this set so much is that it looks like a giant plum - how cute! The set contains mini sizes of the shower gel, shimmer lotion, body butter and sugar scrub. All of the products smell incredible and it is a great way of trying numerous products from the range. I think it would make a fantastic and unique gift.

I also received a mini size of *The Body Shop Frosted Plum Body Butter (£50ml) which is packaged so cutely and it's very festive. The scent to me is a mixture of candy sweetness, baking and fruity notes as well as floral notes too. It is a very 'Body Shop' scent but it is quite unique and I think it will appeal to a lot of people. This body butter is just as fantastic as all of their others which I have loved for years!

Next up, *The Body Shop Frosted Plum Shimmer Mist (£8.50, 100ml) which is something I wouldn't have picked out but it is SO pretty - as hopefully you as see from the video below. When shaken, the liquid looks like purple and silver molten metals, to me anyway! I thought it would be full of shimmer and very obvious on the skin, as glitter sprays and roll ons from the 90's were but it isn't! The shimmer is so subtle, it just adds small amount of sparkle to the skin which it perfect for the festive season and it doesn't make you look like you have time travelled back to the 90's. It is almost a hybrid between a subtle shimmer mist and a fragranced body spray.

One product that I was most excited to try were *The Body Shop Frosted Plum Bath Fizzers (£12, 300g) as I love baths especially at this time of the year. They smell amazing and I'm SO impressed as the scent is so strong in the water, they fizz for ages and as they fizz they release the scent and clouds of purple turning the bath water into a pretty pastel, milky lavender shade! I think that along with the giant plum set, this is the product I was most impressed by.

Last but not least, the cutest product I was very kindly sent, *The Body Shop Owl Bath Sponge (£4) which is so adorable and it would be a fantastic stocking filler for children! Sadly I forgot to photograph it but you can see it in the video below.

Here's a little video showing all of the products as well as swatches of the palette, sorry for the quality - I had to crank up the exposure as otherwise it would be in darkness (damn english weather!):

Are you going to purchase anything from The Body Shop Christmas collections? What do you think of the products I've featured?

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Partylite Autumn/Christmas 2015 + Giveaway

If there's one thing that I love about the colder months, it's all of the candles that I get to use and all of the christmasy and wintery scents! Candles make a room feel so warm, cosy and homely to me and christmasy scents get me even more excited for the big day (probably far too excited than I should be...in November although it is christmas next month *squeals*).

I was very kindly sent a range of products from the new Autumn/Christmas 2015 range from PartyLite; also the lovely and very generous people at PartyLite are giving one lucky winner the chance to win all of the products I feature in this post which is such an amazing prize worth over £100! 

First up, the cutest products from the range, the *Endearing Tea Light Holder Pair (£36, Champagne Edition) which are the most adorable and festive tea light holders ever! I love the minimalist gold reindeer design which makes it looks festive but it isn't gaudy or over the top as most christmas products are. The reindeer tea light holders are so cute together and they are quite weighty too, so I think they would make lovely gifts - I know my aunties and friends would love them! 

Next up, I have the *Snowflakes Tea Light Trio (£19.95) which are festive tea light holders that have snowflakes printed on them that again are quite minimalist and not gaudy. They are all so pretty when there is a tea light burning, especially the silver and gold tea light holders. 

Now onto the candles, the *ReminiScent Scented Mini Jar Candle Trio (£24.95) contains the following scents: Emerald Balsam (green), Crimson Berry (red) and Iced Snowberries (white). As with the tea light holders, this set has the same pretty snowflake print. To me the Emerald Balsam scent is woody and musky but it isn't too strong and the Crimson Berry scent is sweet, fruity and musky. Lastly, the Iced Snowberries scent which is my favourite scent of the three as it is fruity and sweet but quite fresh and crisp. I also have the *Universal Tea Light Set in Iced Snowberries too - the tea light scent is subtle so if you like the sound of this fragrance then maybe opt for a larger candle. For full descriptions of the scents check out the Partylite Autumn/Christmas 2015 online catalogue. 

Last but not least, the *Bayberry Scented Candle (£25.50) which is a whopping 453g - yes, it's huge and definitely one of the largest candles I've ever had. As with all of the other products, it came well packaged and the box itself is pretty too so it would make a gorgeous gift for any candle lover. The candle has two wicks as it is pretty massive and it smells very woody, earthy, natural and musky but it also has a fresh scent to it so it isn't cloying or overpowering. The scent makes me think of crisp autumn/winter walks in a snowy forest! Even though this candle is a little pricey, it is huge so it will last a long time and you can re-use the candle container afterwards too - I think I will re-use mine as a makeup brush holder. 

Now for the giveaway! It is UK only and it ends on the 14th November. The winner will receive everything I have featured in this post including all of the candles and candle holders which will obviously be brand new. To enter just fill out the rafflecopter form below, good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Great British Bake Off Inspired Christmas Gifts

I have to admit that I am a massive fan of the Great British Bake Off, I love Mary Berry and I love baking (mainly gingerbread, lemon meringue pie, cinnamon muffins and bread) so I thought I would put together a GBBO inspired christmas gift guide, yes I know it's a bit early but I love christmas even more than bake off! 

I think hampers are a great gift (I'm giving away a £40 voucher to spend at Serenata Flowers if you are interested - they have gorgeous food and christmas hampers!) so I have made a baking and food themed hamper which I think will be a fantastic gift for any food lover or avid baker. I was very kindly sent a few items from Nucasa, Crabtree and Evelyn and Sass and Belle for this gift guide. 

First up, the 'hamper' section of this gift which is the gorgeous *Mason Cash 29" Mixing Bowl (£19.99 sale, RRP £22 Nucasa) which is something I've wanted for so long as Mason Cash is famous for fantastic quality baking tools. I love the pink colour and hearts around the outside but be careful as it is quite weighty. I can see myself using this bowl a lot especially as I always end up with so much mixture! The bowl would be a nice gift on it's own but I have included some other baking goodies. Definitely check out Nucasa for loads of baking goodies, I have quite a few on my list to santa!

Next up, I have the *Sass and Belle 'enjoy the little things' Wooden Spoon (£4) which is such a cute addition, in my opinion. I love the little details and it is so inexpensive - it could be added to a hamper or as a little stocking filler for bakers. Sass and Belle also have the most adorable and useful cookie cutter ever, the *Eat Me Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter (£2). I can't believe how cheap this cookie cutter is and it is so handy! I have used it once already (you may have seen my vegan gingerbread men if you follow me on Instagram - heathernixon4) and it made the cutest gingerbread men, if I do say so myself. 

Following on from the biscuit theme, I have the *Crabtree and Evelyn All Butter Christmas Pudding Biscuits (£5) which come in a gorgeously festive container so aesthetically alone it would make a lovely christmas gift. The biscuits are a modern twist on seasonal fruits and spices; I know my granddad would just love these! 

Now, I had to include a couple of products that were autumnal and also beauty related, I couldn't help myself. The *Great Escape Candle in Escape to Mississippi is just divine and perfect for the colder nights as the crackling wick is reminiscent of a cosy crackling fire. The Escape to Mississippi scent smells like rich, creamy vanilla and baked goodies which are the kind of scents I always gravitate towards. My beauty item from this hamper is *The Library of Fragrance Dark Chocolate Cologne (£15, 30ml), now who wouldn't want to smell like chocolate all of the time...ok, it would make a lovely room spray too! The scent is so authentic, like rich dark chocolate biscuits with slight hints of musky notes to me; actually layering it with the lavender cologne is amazing!

Last but not least, we all know that I'm a mug addict collector and this one is perfect for me and also many of my friends/family members as we all love the bake off - it's the *Bring On The Bake Off Mug (it was from Flamingo Gifts but the site doesn't seem to be working). Also a GBBO book would be great too, we have at least three of them!

Phew, that is my Great British Bake Off inspired christmas gift guide for those early bird gift buyers (I already have all mine sorted but not wrapped yet, don't worry I'm not that organised...or crazy!). I would definitely recommend all of these products as they are from brands I know and trust - it would make a lovely christmas present for food/baking lovers and GBBO fans! 

What do you think of my GBBO christmas gift guide? Do you have any of these products? Are you a fan of the Great British Bake Off?

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Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas with After Noah

I recently started working with brands on a new blog platform called 'the blogger programme' where you can contact brands and ask to work with them in exchange for products to review etc. I found this online shop through this website, this is not a sponsored post but I saw a lot of items that I liked and would make great, unique gifts! I have already published a post on some gifts I was very kindly sent by After Noah which you can see here. Last orders today and they have a store in London, open late.

1. The Writer Toolbox (£16.99): As a blogger and previously as a university student, I find that I can become subject to writers block which can be incredibly frustrating especially if you have a deadline you need to meet. So when I saw this creative ideas and exercises kit on After Noah I was instantly intrigued. It contains exercises and instructions which help keep those writing juices flowing. I think this would be a great gift for a student or blogger. 

2. Pocket IQ Test (£6): I received this myself from After Noah and it is great fun, it would be great for students or brainiacs! I scored 116 as my IQ score which I am not massively impressed with but it is a great little stocking filler - or birthday gift, in my opinion. 

3. Kirigami Origami (£6.99): I started creating small basic origami items as a child when a friend of mine started doing it with items from china town in Manchester. I love origami, I think it is a great gift and you can make such cute items. This set is for ages 7+ so I think would would be great for children or teen who like DIY/creating things. 

4. Alice in wonderland sticky notes (£6.50): Alice in wonderland is one of my favourite cartoon films - the 1951 version, not the more recent variations! I can't get over how cute these sticky notes are, I need! 

5. Freudian Slip Sticky Notes (£6.50): I was kindly sent these sticky notes by After Noah and I do love them. They are so kitsch and perfect for psychology students and enthusiasts!

6. Shakespeare Insults Mug (£10.99): I studied romeo and juliet at school as most children in England do but I personally loved it but others didn't. I think this mug would make a great, cute, funny gift for those who love shakespeare or are studying english. 

7. Marian Antique World Globe (£53): All of my gift ideas so far are mostly unisex as I wanted to cover all bases. I have personally always wanted a globe but I have no idea where I would put it. I think this would be a great christmas gift for a traveller or antique collector. 

There are my picks of christmas or birthday gifts from After Noah, click here to find more gift ideas from After Noah. What gift above do you like the most? x

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H&M Christmas Home Decor

I was browsing the H&M website one grey day and I came across a whole range of gorgeous christmas home ware! I want all of it! From blankets, cushions, cookie cutters, cake stands, tea light holders, tea towels, mugs, childrens items and so much more! This is not a sponsored post.

All images above are from H&M

I love this time of year, christmas decorations, hot chocolate, cosy blankets, fairy lights and crisp leaves. There is nothing nicer than being outside in the cold and then coming home to a warm, cosy house with a hot chocolate and a film! There are my picks of the amazing H&M christmas/winter range of homeware from blankets to mugs and bedding. I have a couple of H&M home items and I find them to be of a high quality and I really recommend them - especially as most of the items are fairly cheap, in my opinion. I really want the faux fur blanket and the cushions...and the mug...and the tea light holder! Also you can always find H&M offer/discount codes online, just google 'H&M codes 2013' and you will always find one or two (you can use two codes on H&M online). 

What are your favourite homeware picks for the festive season? x

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