If you know me, then you'll know that I love to be very organised and I love to plan so whenever there is something coming up that I need to buy for, I'll have the gifts months in advance! The next big gift buying occasions coming up for me include a wedding and Father's Day, the latter is on the 17th June in the UK. So todays post is an early gift guide featuring gifts that I think would make great presents for birthdays or Father's Day!
I love all of the gifts in today's post but I think one of my favourites has to be this stunning and very unique light box! It features a personalised timeline of various events of your choosing presented in a linear timeline with dates and a description of the marked occasions, for example, a wedding, birthday, holiday, milestone, promotion or birth.
I was very kindly sent mine from the wonderful people over at Find Me A Gift and I chose the Royal colour option which is a combination of beige, grey, blue and green tones but there are various others to choose from - I was torn between Royal and Metallic, both of which are gorgeous. I chose this option as the colours match so well with our living room with a hint of colour in the form of the blue and green.
The timeline light box has the appearance of a photo frame, albeit a very thick one but when you plug it in via the usb cable provided, it lights up! The illumination is fairly subtle but it makes all of the text and dates stand out and it makes it much more of a unique homeware item and gift. I haven't really seen anything like this before, especially with the level of personalisation it has. I chose to add the dates for my parents wedding, mine and my sisters birthdays, our first cruise, graduation dates and my dads upcoming retirement which I think he'll love!
When it comes to buying any gift for my dad, I'm always stuck for what to get that isn't aftershave, toiletries or food as he is definitely a little picky especially when it comes to clothing and shoes but thankfully the lovely people at Dobell have the answer with a range of fantastic formal wear, shoes and accessories to choose from as well as suits, wedding attire, tuxedos and gifts.
One item that I know my dad won't be too picky with is shoes (thankfully) and Dobell have a great range of mens shoes, particularly formal shoes. I opted for the black leather Oxford shoes for my dad as they're similar to a couple of pairs he owns for formal occasions and I know he'll like them! There are a few designs similar to these on their website in addition to a wide range of colourful dress shoes loafers, brogues and casual options.
I picked the UK size 7 which isn't currently available on their site as I'm writing this post (1/05/2018) but hopefully they'll be back in stock soon. My dad was very pleased with them (which is impressive considering how annoyingly picky he can be about clothing, accessories and shoes) and the size 7 fits really well. They'd be great for work or any more formal occasion - I think he'd take them on holiday as cruises usually have at least one formal night on the ship where everyone gets dressed up! I'd definitely recommend checking out the Dobell site if you're looking for a gift option or formalwear for the men in your life!
I love to buy homeware, either for myself or for others but that usually consists of candles; however for a more unique homeware gift, Ginger Snap have the perfect solution. I've been lucky enough to work with them on a previous gift guide (Valentines Day Gift Guide) featuring their cute letterboards but they also make a range of gorgeous lamps!
I was very kindly sent two, one of which will be featured in my upcoming wedding gift guide which should be live in the next two weeks so stay tuned but the lamp in today's post is this gorgeous star design! The star light is white and the base is rose gold (the cable is also rose gold) so it's a very blogger item so naturally I love it.
The lamp is a great size and it can be either plugged into the mains or computer via a usb cable or you can use four AAA batteries but I found the latter to be a little temperamental (maybe my batteries weren't as new as I though they were) as the lamp flicked slightly. I love the star design, it looks so cute on my bookshelves and the light is actually fairly bright so it's not just a cute decorative object. There are various options to choose from including a heart, cactus and flamingo design all of which come nicely presented! I cannot recommend the star lamp enough - stay tuned for my upcoming wedding gift guide for the second lamp from Ginger Snap.
The final item in my gift guide is a little more of a safe option rather than some of the more unusual gifts I've mentioned so far; however, the book is far from boring! I've worked with DK Publishing a few times over the past couple of years and I genuinely love their books especially the history and cookbooks!
My dad's side of the family all love to cook and I'm no exception (although mine is more vegan rather than traditional English food) so a book I think everyone will love is The Science Of Cooking by Dr Stuart Farrimond! It's a beautifully designed and illustrated hardback book all about ingredients, cooking methods, the science behind cooking processes and even more. I've been flicking through it constantly since it arrived and it's definitely interesting and intriguing with so much information I'd never even considered before. It also answers lots of common cooking questions and myths which I think my dad would love to read about. If you're looking for a book for a foodie friend (or just a great coffee table book), then look no further!
What do you think of my early Father's Day gift guide?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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?
How it is almost Christmas! This year has been pretty awful, generally with the world and it has gone by so quickly! Today's post is my penultimate gift guide for 2016 and it features so many lovely gift ideas, most of which are beauty related but there are some fantastic accessories and lifestyle gifts too so hopefully you'll find something for friends and family...or yourself.
In my previous gift guide, the Under £15 Gift Guide, I featured the gorgeous Bodhi & Birch Allure Set which I definitely recommend as a lovely gift for mums, aunties, friends or grandmas but in today's post I have the equally gorgeous 'Unwind' set which contains: Rosemary Chai Bath & Shower Therapy, Rosemary Chai Lotion, Jasmine Falls Bath & Shower Gel and the Jasmine Falls Lotion. All four are 50ml each so they'd be great for anyone who travels a lot or as a trial set for anyone who hasn't tried the brand before. My favourite scent of the two is the Jasmine Falls scent but they're both heavenly.
Now for a couple of lifestyle gifts including this gorgeous *STM 'Grace' Laptop Case (£24.95) in the colourful but not too colourful option called Coral Dove which is my favourite of the four available. I have the 15" option but there's also a 13" one too. The case is really well padded and cushioned and it has an incredibly soft interior so your laptop is going to be really well protected on the go whether you take your laptop to work, school or travelling. I adore the design and I think it would be a perfect practical gift for workoholics, travellers, commuters or students - you can't go wrong. It can be bought from Amazon or Currys online.
I LOVE giving practical gifts and more luxurious gifts and these glove tick both boxes! Winter accessories are great gifts for Christmas as they're going to be needed with the gloomy and chilly English winter. These gorgeous and cosy gloves from Gant came in such a beautifully presented box with a ribbon so aesthetically it would make a luxe and fancy gift! The gloves are made of a wool and cashmere blend which makes them feel so soft, smooth and cosy. The design is simple and the colour will go with everything; my mum would love these gloves. If you want to give a practical and useful gift that is also really luxe, high quality and cosy then look no further! They have a lot of other gloves and products to choose from for men and women so I'm sure you'll find one...or ten things that catch your eye.
I have been lucky enough to try a few Yves Rocher perfumes and I have loved all of them, you can check out my reviews of them if you want more info! They also make gorgeous men's aftershave, the Ambre Noir EDT contains notes of patchouli, vetiver, bergamot, cardamon, lavender and tonic bean absolute. I love the packaging and I adore the fragrance, it's very musky, rich and typically masculine so I think it would be a hit with so many recipients this Christmas! Also the price is amazing!
The Neroli EDP contains notes of orange blossom, neroli, bergamot and orange. Again, the packaging is just gorgeous as is the bottle - they're very photogenic! The fragrance to me is very unique which is an unusual to come across with SO many fragrances on the market. It's sweet, floral, fresh and just gorgeous; I know I'll get so much use out of it, especially during the spring months. I cannot recommend both enough!
Is anyone else a bit obsessed with Stranger Things? I know I am! I have watched the series a couple of times already and I cannot wait for the second series which will be released sometime next year. *hurry up!*. I was very kindly sent this amazing tote from the lovely people at Truffle Shuffle. I use tote bags all of the time for blog products to be photographed, books and groceries. I can't recommend it enough and I think it would make a great present or a gift bag for fans of the show!
I love Roger & Gallet gifts, they all look so gorgeous and this offering is no exception. The practical and wintery wash bag comes with the shaving foam (150ml) and the after shave balm (75ml) so it would make a great gift for travellers or for anyone who hasn't tried the brand. I love the wash bag, it's really spacious so it would be perfect for a weekend away. The L'Homme Sport products have a fruity, woody and musky fragrance that I think will be a hit with most, I know my dad will love this set!
I was very kindly sent a range of DVDs from the super generous people at Warner Bros that would be perfect gifts for the men in your life. I received Batman vs Superman, Black Mass, Creed, Point Break and Mad Max Fury Road, none of which I've watched before so I can't wait to have some family and friend movie nights over the festive season to watch these! I've heard great thing about Batman vs Superman. I'm currently hosting a giveaway on my Twitter (@ofbeautyand) with Warner Bros in which you can win all five of these DVDs!
What do you think of my last minute gift guide? Do you have any of these products? Have you finished your Christmas shopping?
Today's post is one of my last gift guides for the year *how has 2016 gone by so quickly, especially the past couple of months!*. Blogmas is coming to an end and it's gone by really fast but I still have some christmassy posts coming as well as another gift guide after this one so there's still some festive posts to look forward to. Today's post features some incredibly lovely gifts that would be great for mums, friends, aunties, brothers or dads from lots of amazing brands.
I've tried a couple of products from the natural brand Bodhi and Birch and I couldn't recommend their products, I tried the ylang-ylang shower gel and lotion which are both heavenly. So when this set arrived in the post I had to rip it open and smell everything immediately. The set contains: ylang-ylang body therapy bath and shower gel, ylang-ylang lotion and the camomile sky bath and shower therapy. All three for large minis, so they'd be great for travelling and they all smell divine. Bodhi and Birch products are a treat for the senses and the mind as they all make me feel so relaxed and pampered! I couldn't recommend this set enough and it comes beautifully packaged too.
Candles are a really safe gift for me personally and also for me to give to friends, cousins and my sister - I am gifting quite a few candles this year. I've tried a few brands of candles including the famous Yankee Candle but I'm loving the Gift Company/Flame Homeware candles just as much. I was kindly sent a couple of their Christmas candles.
The packaging of mine is slightly different to the one online but I'm glad as I do prefer this packaging. I love the large jar size, it makes a really substantial and heavy gift and I know so many friends that would love this! It smells so nice, I love cinnamon scents at this time of the year and it's lovely. To me the scent is a bit more of a musky cinnamon rather than a generic sweet/strong cinnamon scent.
*Gift Company Christmas Candle (£6.99)
This candle is one of their best sellers and I can see why as it looks festive and it smells like the essence of Christmas to me as it has a cinnamon/clove scent mixed with Christmas potpourri which is really nostalgic to me as my auntie always had potpourri that had a similar scent every Christmas. It's quite sweet but I really like it and the scent throw is pretty good. I'd definitely recommend both candles and for the low price, you really can't go wrong!
My mum is quite paranoid about candles so they are a no no for her but that means I can pick up some cute diffusers! I was kindly sent two and this 'gingerbread house' one is my favourite of the two. The diffuser looks so nice, unlike most which can be quite ugly! It has a subtle gingerbread/cinnamon scent so it's not overpowering but if I'm complete honest, I wish it was a little stronger.
I haven't opened this one yet and I also don't have photos of it or the Christmas candle as my SD card became corrupted so I've lost over 500 photos and I haven't had time to re-take - this past week or so has been really stressful with driving lessons and my test (I passed!). However, it has the same lovely and festive packaging design as the other and it smells just as nice! The candles and diffusers should should have been £15 each but they are all reduced!
Next up a gift for the men in your life and as for the previous gifts, it's a lovely presented practical gift (my favourite kind of gifts!). The London Sock Exchange is a new men's sock subscription service in which for £15 per quarter you or your gift recipient will receive three pairs of socks or you can choose the yearly subscription which is £60. They come really nicely packaged and the box can easily fit through the letterbox so you don't have to worry about being home for the delivery.
The socks in the box I have come in really modern and unique designs, I personally love the centre zebra head design the most but from the website their is a large range of designs that you could receive. I think it's a great idea for a gift as they're obviously useful and really well made but the designs are quite unique - also no more boring sock shopping! You can use the code OBANYEAR for 10% off a yearly subscription or OBANSUB for 10% off a quarterly subscription!
Beauty gifts are always safe options as most people use beauty products daily anyway and I think these four offerings would be great for makeup lovers or anyone really! I haven't tried any of these brands until I received these products and I'm really happy with everything especially the lip balm!
I have seen this brand on twitter so many times but I haven't until now tried their famous lip balms. The balms are multi-use so you can use them as lip balms, cuticle balms or a general skin balm; I've been using them as a cuticle balm and lip balm. The original is really useful and I have been keeping it in my bag for on the go. The limited edition 'red sparkle' version has a very slight red tint as well as glitter for a festive touch (due to the glitter I'd only use it as a lip balm). They're really inexpensive and great as stocking fillers!
I use my Beauty Blender so much for foundation and concealer application but I'm always happy to try new ones especially as the Beauty Blender is really expensive for what it is. This sponge is made by LGFB which is a worldwide cancer charity and between 8-12% of the price of the sponge will be donated. The sponge is fantastic for applying and blending my foundation.
I love giving practical presents and these would make a great stocking filler or as part of a beauty hamper! The bobbles are designed to tie your hair up in a ponytail or bun easily without snapping. I have the white ones from the new pastel collection but they have a range of hair colour or fun colour options to choose from.
Sticking with the theme of super cute but practical presents, these next few items are favourites of mine. The cute compact umbrellas are from Susino and I love the floral design of both as well as the small size. Umbrellas are a necessity in the UK as it is constantly raining, as I'm writing this it is currently raining (it's that fine rain that soaks you through, ten points to you if you know which British comedian said that!).
Both of these cute, floral umbrellas are perfect gifts for anyone and I know my mum would love the design and as she works in the primary school I went to, she'll use it so much! They're both made of lightweight fibreglass and aluminium with a wooden handle so they are light, portable and easy to travel with. Both look very colourful, fun and bright when opened to add some colour to the typical grey, dull and gloomy English weather! I can't recommend them enough and they'd make great practical gifts this Christmas. They offer next working day delivery on all orders made before 2pm - the last day for Christmas delivery is the 22nd.
This adorable set contains a sample of the Bois d'Orange fragrance as well as the hand and nail cream which is amazing - I've tried a couple of their hand creams and I love them as they absorb quickly and have a gorgeous scent. The hand cream also don't irritate the eczema on my hands. I love the design of this little set and I think it would be perfect for beauty lovers, as a secret santa gift or as a stocking filler.
*Inspired Colouring Christmas Book
I was very kindly set this colouring book which came as a cute Christmas present via the Parragon 'blind date with a book' blogger programme. I love the packaging and it was so nice to receive a festive surprise package! I received a really cute coloring book as well as some wooden colouring pencils. The colouring book has so many fantastic festive themed pages and designs to colour in - it would make a great christmas gift!
*Essence Cosmetics
Essence is one of my favourite makeup brands! I love their lipsticks, polishes, mascaras, liquid liner and cuticle oil. All of their products are extremely inexpensive so you could make a personalised makeup hamper or set of products for friends or family. I'd love Essence makeup and I think so many other would too; the products may be cheap but they're very effective! You can buy from the Wilkinsons website or in-store.
What do you think of these affordable gift options? Have you finished your Christmas shopping?
Christmas is almost here *it's 25 sleeps away!* so I have another gift guide to help my lovely readers find gifts for loved ones...or yourself and today's gift guide is all about gorgeous and luxurious gifts which will be perfect for the women in your life who deserve an extra special gift this year! I know my mum and aunties would adore all three of the gifts in today's luxury gift guide.
I think anyone would be happy to receive a gorgeously indulgent teacup and saucer and especially from the world famous brand, Wedgwood. My mum and aunties love afternoon tea so this would be perfect to recreate an afternoon tea experience at home. I adore the simplistic but luxe design with golden detailing. It's made of fine bone china and it comes in a beautifully presented gift box so it would aesthetically make a lovely and unique gift this Christmas!
Fragrances are also a fantastic gift, I know I love to receive perfume for my birthday and as a christmas gift. I have to say that the packaging for this fragrance gift set is so luxe and fancy! The set contains: Joan Collins Luxury Body Lotion, Joan Collins Eau de Parfum and the Joan Collins Fragrance Essence - the bottles for all three are so fancy! The fragrance has citrusy top notes, sensual musky notes and floral notes with woody base notes. I love the eau de perfume, it's musky, woody and perfect for the time of the year or as an evening fragrance.
Last but not least, my favourite item of the three! A jewellery or watch gift set would be perfect for the festive season as it's usually not the thing that you'd buy for yourself. This gorgeous set contains a lovely watch, bracelet, necklace and earrings all of which are sparkly and have a wonderfully festive snowflake design. The watch and earrings are stunning...well all four items are! It comes in a gorgeous gift box so it's already beautifully presented and perfect for any jewellery lover this christmas, I mean come on, how gorgeously sparkly is this gift set!
Overall, I love all three gifts and I think they'd be perfect for so many recipients this christmas and I know my friends, mum and aunties would love all of them! All three are luxe but not too expensive and look beautiful! Thank you so much to the lovely and generous brands featured in this gift guide. Here's my own mini luxury wish list:
What do you think of my luxury gift guide? Are there any luxury items on your wish list?
I've already published my Stocking Fillers Gift Guide which went down really well so today's post is my roundup of a selection of gifts for him, whether's that is your brother, dad, husband, cousins or friends so I hope you like the gifts and this post gives you some ideas for this christmas season...I want to keep all of these for myself to be honest though.
The first gift is one of my favourites and I've been using it so much! It's a cardboard smartphone projector which is perfect for the colder months as you can have a cosy movie day in bed! The projector is suitable for use with all iOS and Android smartphones so it should work with all iPhones (I have an iPhone 5C and it fits well). It comes with instructions printed onto the box and it is a little time consuming to put together *I'm more used to putting together Ikea wardrobes...* and it takes a while to get the distance/set up right but it is a little DIY project on Christmas day and will mean that you can watch movies and embarrassing christmas home movies over Christmas Day and Boxing Day instead of the awful TV!
Last year I only read about six or so books but this year my goal was 30 which seemed almost insurmountable at the time but I'm now on my 72nd book which I'm really proud of and one of the publishers that I've loved is Pushkin Press; their books are beautifully published and so unique! So I obviously have a few books in my gift guides this year as I think books can make lovely gifts.
First up, these two incredibly beautiful books from Pushkin Press, *Triumph and Disaster and *Genius and Discovery by Stefan Zweig (£9.99 each). I have to be honest and say that book covers definitely affect my interest and catch my attention and I think it's important for Christmas gifts to look the part. I adore the metallic, foil detailing on the books, especially the copper shade *heart eyes emoji*. These dramatised historical studies of some of the most poignant moments in history are so interesting and will make a unique Christmas gift or stocking filler. I'll have full reviews next month or in the New Year (my current TBR is huge!).
The majority of the people in my life love food, baking and cooking so cookbooks are great and safe gifts to give; however they can get a little repetitive but in comes Hoxton Street Monster Supplies to the rescue...you can probably tell by the store name that this isn't your usual cookbook. The Hoxton Street Monster Supplies Cookbook (£13) is a unique cookbook designed for the living, dead and undead alike, it's full of interesting halloween and monster filled recipes such as Classic Kraken Crumble, Boiled Bile Jam, Dragon's Egg Tarts and so many more amazingly macabre recipes - I love it! Also I adore the illustrations, cover and it's a fantastic price; there are so many stocking fillers on their site too and I want them all!
My dad is awful to buy for, he's so picky with everything so I always just end up buying him aftershave which he likes but it's not very interesting so I think this gift set from Crabtree and Evelyn will be the answer! The *Crabtree and Evelyn Indian Sandalwood Traveller Gift Set (£24) contains travel sizes of their hair and body wash, shave cream, after shave balm and cologne in the heavenly 'indian sandalwood' scent. I adore the scent, it's woody, masculine and musky but it's different to all of the generic men's scents. It's presented so nicely and it would make a perfect Christmas gift for dads, brothers, friends and the men in your life who travel.
I think for most men, skincare and grooming products on the whole are a little confusing or feminine and I know my dad wouldn't know what to buy so I'm always the one to choose products for him and he does actually use them. The Chambers & Co Balm For Active Feet (£8, 60ml) which is perfect for dry skin. It contains carrot oil, hemps seed oil, vitamin E and more fantastic, natural ingredients. The *Chambers & Co Balm For Active Hands (£8, 60ml) also contains great ingredients such as aloe vera, coconut oil and almond oil. Both would be fantastic as men's or womens stocking fillers or as part of a hamper - perfect for this time of the year when your skin needs a little TLC.
Food is also a go-to gift but it's usually chocolate, coffee or hot chocolate but this is much more unique but just as practical and yummy! The *Easiyo Yoghurt Maker (around £18) is a quick and easy to use yoghurt maker that uses packet mixes (£2 each) which makes up to 1kg of yogurt per packet. I have the 'forrest fruit' and 'greek style with honey' flavours, the first is amazing. The yogurt maker is so simple to use and you can have smooth, creamy and delicious yogurt in between 8 to 24 hours depending on how quickly it sets. I think it would make a great family gift as it's something parents/guardians and children could make together! There are also so many yoghurt flavours to choose from and they're vegetarian, gluten free and contain natural flavours and colours.
This final gift is probably my personal favourite and all of my friends, family and neighbours that have tried it have loved it too so it would be perfect for share the experience with over the Christmas season, parties and New Year! The *Immerse Virtual Reality Headset (£39.99) is a virtual reality headset in which you place your smartphone and you can play and explore virtual worlds (via free apps you can download from the app store) as well as 3D movies and videos. I've downloaded a few apps and the best so far have to be the Jurassic VR and Haunted Rollercoaster apps - the jurassic one is amazing as you are in a jurassic park like environment with dinosaurs roaming around! The headset is so easy to use and I love the experience of virtual reality; the only negative I have is that the headset is a little heavy with a phone in it and there aren't a tonne of apps right now but I'm sure that will change soon. My grandad, aunties, friends, parents and neighbours all loved it, it's a great talking point and everyone wants to try it (they're all impressed by it!).
What do you think of the items in my gift guide? Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?
It may be too early for some but I am always really organised when it comes to christmas gifts so having gift guides and gift ideas in November (or earlier...) really helps when I'm trying to decide what I could buy for friends and family. This year I have a couple of little ones to buy for and that means I get to go to toy stores and press all of the buttons on the toys and run away. Here are some stocking filler and gift ideas for the little ones in your life:
I would have loved these gifts as a child, especially the adorable butterfly light (I actually had a light like this growing up but I think it was from Ikea), bubble bars and FUN, teddies and the secret writing set! I know my friend's little ones would love some of these gifts! There are so many gifts out their for children but I think any of these would be great - prices range from £6 to £20. This is a sponsored post.
What do you think of these gift ideas? What will yo be buying the little ones in your life?
Yes, it hasn't been Halloween just yet and I'm already talking about the C word...Christmas! I do love Christmas but I think the build up to Christmas is actually more magical and exciting than Christmas Day itself, is it just me who thinks like this? Anyway, I like to build up to Christmas early, particularly on my blog because for those like me who buy gifts and wrap presents REALLY early, it's good to have gift ideas a couple of months before the Christmas shopping rush!
Out of all of the family and friends I buy presents for, my dad is the worst! He doesn't like chocolate, football or sport in general, he doesn't read that much and he is frustratingly picky when it comes to clothing but I bought him a couple of formal work shirts and more casual shirts from Jacamo last year and he loved them!
This is a sponsored post but as I've already given my dad some items from here and he loves them, I would be already recommend them to you anyway. Jacamo has such a wide range of clothing, accessories and sportswear for such a wide age range, size range and styles; additionally they have a small range of aftershaves and gift sets too. I actually bought my dad the two blue shirts above, or two very similar ones, last year and he wears them so much for work so I'm definitely getting more this year. Also the aftershaves in this post are on offer - if you buy the Burberry Weekend aftershave, you will get the Burberry London aftershave for free! Also it's coming up to Black Friday so stay tuned!
Have you bought anything from Jacamo? What will you be buying your male friends and family this Christmas?
I'm a university graduate, coffee drinker and beauty, book, lifestyle and fashion blogger from little old England - posts marked with an (*) contain products sent for review or sponsored posts Read More >>
