Personalised Christmas Gifts

Personalised gifts are some of the nicest to give and also to receive at this time of the year! I have quite an old fashioned name so I've never really had that many personalised gifts growing up but the few that I did, I loved *especially the alice band with my name in glitter on it, if you're a 90's kid too, did you have one of those?*.

I was very kindly sent a few lovely gifts from the wonderful people at I Just Love It. They have so many gorgeous and unique gifts for all ages that can be personalised with the recipients name or a message. I couldn't be happier with them and I know the recipients are going to be over the moon with them.

*Personalised Dream Big Little One Hanging Cloud (£13.99) 

How absolutely adorable is this little children's bedroom sign! I love the cloud design, stars and the ribbon, it would make a lovely and thoughtful gift to keep for years to come. I've added my friends baby's name to it as he loves stars and to be honest, I just loved it as a pinterest worthy gift! It's a wooden sign and would be great hung up as a part of a wall art collage or on a bookshelf with baby photos.

*Personalised Rolling Pin (£10.99)

Even though the Bake Off has ended *cries*, I'm still obsessed and I know pretty much all of my family and friends love the show and love to bake. Any baking gift would be perfect for so many people in my life but my auntie Danel (pronounced, day-nel, unusual I know) would love this personalised rolling pin; she bakes multiple times a week and everything is always gorgeous (especially the coffee and walnut cake and soda bread) so I know she'll get so much use out of this and it will be a nice surprise gift!

We all have that one person (well I have a couple) that are so frustrating to buy for and my grandad is that person for me; I never have any idea what to get him other than biscuits! My dad is also awful to buy for as I always just get him aftershave and socks...but in comes I Just Love It to the rescue!

*Personalised Hardback Decades Book (£24.99)

My dad and my grandad would love this gift, not only as it's personalised and really pricey looking but they both love history. This A4 hardback book contains re-prints of Daily Mirror newspaper headlines from the decade that you choose - I chose the 1940's as that's the decade my grandad grew up in. It's such an interesting and unique gift and I know my grandad will love it. I've been flicking through it and some of the headlines and the adverts in the newspapers at the time are so unusual and interesting! I think the quality, personalisation and uniqueness of the gift is amazing for the price.

Overall, I'm beyond happy with the gifts from I Just Love it and I cannot wait to give the lovely gifts to their deserving recipients over the christmas season as I know they'll love them. The quality of the items is amazing and they're so unique. I've featured more personalised gifts on my blog so if you want other recommendations then check out my previous gift guides.

What do you think of these gifts? Will you be buying any personalised gifts this year? 

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Handmade & Personalised Gifts From Etsy

Stocking Fillers

Personalised Night Sky Tote Bag (£12 - Hannah Stevens Shop)  -  Wooden Tree Decoration (£8 - Rachel Emma Studio)  -  Christmas House Cookies (£4, Nila Holden)  -  Sherlock Brooch (£8, Kates Little Store)  -  Personalised Wooden Spoon (£9.50, Bespoke and Oak Co)  -  Personalised Camera Notebook (£9.95, Made By Ellis)

Gifts For Him

Personalised Heart Ornament (£3.20, BR Salty Candy)  -  Father's Day iPhone Case (£39, Sophia Victoria Joy)  -  Personalised World Map (£15, STN Stationery)  -  Personalised Wooden Spoon (£4, Lanky Cow)  -  Personalised Ceramic Bauble (£7.50, Darwin and Gray)  -  Personalised Marble Serving Board (£48, Sophia Victoria Joy)

Gifts For Her

Personalised Baking Bowl (£22, Desirable Giftware)  -  Rose Gold Initial Necklace (from £9.95, Custom Chic 801)  -  Cat Lady Mug (£14.75, Sophia Victoria Joy)  -  Scrabble Print (from £15, Boka Print)  -  Personalised Stationery Set (£10.14, Curio Press)  -  Handmade Recipe Book (£28, Dani Fox Books)

What do you think of the gifts I've featured? Will you be buying any personalised or handmade gifts from Etsy this year?

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Valentines Day: Personalised Gifts #2

It's coming up to Valentine's Day and also Mother's Day (if you're in the UK) so it is time to start thinking about gift ideas, whether you are going to be celebrating Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day this year and Just Love Gifts have a fantastic selection of personalised gift ideas for all occasions, gift recipients, interests and budgets so you're bound to find something special! If you are looking for more gift ideas and gift guides, check out my previous posts, here.

*Personalised Breakfast In Bed Slate Tray (£29.99 - sale) 

I'm lucky enough to have reviewed a beautiful personalised gift from Just Love Gifts already (their rose gold bracelet) so I was very happy to review another item, especially as it is something I've wanted for a while. I was very kindly sent one of their personalised slate trays which can be personalised with either your initial or the initial of your gift recipient. There are a couple of styles to choose from in terms of the lettering/design but I opted for the 'brackets' design.

I have wanted a cute breakfast tray for a while but I haven't found one that I loved, until I saw this one on the Just Love Gifts website and if you're interested in this one (or the other style available), it is currently on sale at £29.99. The tray features two stainless steel handles, a 30cm by 40cm slate tray and your initial engraved onto the the middle on the tray.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I love giving personalised gifts as they can make a much more thoughtful and special gift, even if the item is more of a practical gift. If you've been following my blog and reading my gift guide posts for a while then you'll know that I love to give practical gifts so combining a practical gift with a special personalised touch - perfect!

I personally love the look of slate, I think it is such a lovely material and in the form of a cute, practical and personalised breakfast in bed tray, I think it is ideal! The personalised element is simple but eye catching and I love the minimal design of the tray so I think it would look great in any room or with any decor. I think the tray would make a lovely Valentine's Day, Galentine's Day or Mother's Day gift this year!

There are so many gift options to choose from on Just Love Gifts, from slate breakfast trays, photograph frames, personalised drinking glasses, monogrammed jewellery and cooking related gifts to gifts for children, personalised greetings cards and so much more. The majority of their products are very well priced and currently most of their Valentine's Day gifts are on sale.

Have you checked out Just Love Gifts? What do you think of this gift idea? 

*gifted

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Valentine's Day: Personalised Gifts #1

Christmas is sadly over but gift buying for Valentines Day or Galentines Day is just around the corner! There are so many gift options to choose for Valentines Day such as chocolates, flowers, perfume and of course, jewellery. I think all four options are great gift ideas for any occasion and for most gift recipients too but they fit very well for Valentines Day especially. Whether you are going to be celebrating Valentines Day, Galentines Day or treating yourself next month, now is a great time to start looking for gift ideas.

*Personalised Always With You Bracelet in Rose Gold (£19.99, sale)

I think that jewellery is such a lovely gift and it can be made into an even more special and thoughtful gift if it is also personalised. I've been lucky enough to review quite a lot of lovely personalised gifts on my blog and I've been gifted many too and it's always lovely to see the gift recipients expression when opening a more unique or personalised gift. My name isn't unusual but it is fairly old fashioned so I do find it a little difficult coming across gifts with my name; if you gift recipient is the same then I think a monogrammed or personalised gift would be all the more thoughtful.

Just Love Gifts have a wide range of gift ideas for all occasions, from anniversaries and birthdays to Mother's Day (which is coming up in March for those in the UK - I will be posting gift guides for Mother's Day next month) and of course, Valentines Day. There are so many options that can also be personalised for each occasion and celebration too including photo gifts, personalised gifts for pets, alcohol related gift ideas and personalised jewellery, among others.

I was very kindly sent the *Personalised Always With You Bracelet in Rose Gold which I love! I chose the rose gold option (who doesn't love rose gold) but there's also a silver option and other personalised jewellery pieces available to choose from. Sadly this option is currently out of stock on their website but hopefully it will be available to purchase again soon.

One of the things that caught my attention about this gorgeous bracelet, besides the minimal design (we all know I love minimal jewellery), is the beautiful colour combination of soft grey and rose gold! It looks so chic and timeless as well as a colour combination that would be perfect for many causal outfits and occasions. I also love the fit and how easily adjustable it is as there's so fiddly clasp which is perfect for someone who has teeny tiny wrists, like me. The 'one size fits all' design of the bracelet makes it ideal if you are unsure of the size for your gift recipient as it will fit comfortably for everyone.

The personalised element of the bracelet is the cute circular rose gold tag which can be personalised with the first initial of your gift recipient (or yourself, I'm not judging). I love how minimal the design is and how unobtrusive the personalisation is too as sometimes a full name is a bit much for a small or delicate piece of jewellery. Thankfully the personalised element for this gift option is quite subtle which suits my jewellery preferences.

I'm very happy with this gorgeous personalised bracelet and I think it would make a fantastic and special gift idea for Valentines Day or Galentines Day this year! Check out the other personalised and Valentines Day gift ideas on Just Love Gifts for more inspiration.

What do you think of this gift idea? 

*Gifted

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Personalised Mother's Day Gifts ft. Vanilla Reindeer

Mother's Day is almost here but there's still time to buy a lovely gift for your mum, grandma or guardian, whoever you want to buy for this year. I always love Mother's Day as it means that I get to treat my mum which is admittedly very easy as she likes pampering products, gardening gifts and personalised items.

Personalised gifts are some of the most coveted and special gifts you can give, especially for a special holiday such as Mother's Day. I've given my mum so many personalised gifts over the past few years, all of which she's liked, even more so than other gifts. There are so many personalised gifts to choose from but a site I've found recently has a gorgeous range of unique, special and personalised gift options to choose from, as well as personalised gift bags, boxes and cards so you can get everything in one convenient place is Vanilla Reindeer.

*Vanilla Reindeer Chocolates x 9 (£11.99)

One of their cutest and ideal gifts for Mother's Day are these chocolates boxes which can not only be personalised in terms of the design you choose but also the name, message and photograph on the box too. There are various box sizes to pick from including 9, 16 and 25 which relates to the number of chocolate truffles within each box.

I was very kindly sent two of the chocolate boxes with nine chocolates in each and they're the perfect size as my mum does love chocolate and sweet treats but like me, she won't eat lots of them. Nine chocolates is a great number for us and it can easily be added to a hamper, gift box, small gift bag or to send in the post.

There's a single layer of nine chocolates within the box that are wrapped in plastic and the inside of the lid contains all of the nutritional information (that may seem like a little thing but as someone with dietary restrictions, it's very important). The chocolates included contain the following flavours: smooth milk, white lemon truffle and intense dark truffle, all of which sound delicious. I love that they've included a range of flavours as I would have expected to just receive one generic flavour.

The whole presentation, attention to detail and quality is just fantastic and it's well worth the price, in my opinion. I have two designs from their Mother's Day range including the 'worlds best mum' and the 'flowers on the table' design. I love both, I think they're so pretty but also quite unique - in my experience, most Mother's Day gifts and designs are very generic. However I think the 'worlds best mum' is my favourite of the two although they are both very cute.

You can see the 'flowers on the table design' above and I know that my mum will love both! In terms of the website and the process of creating both the chocolate boxes and the gift bag, it was incredibly quick, easy and simple to do. The website is so easy to navigate, I love the amount of choice and how simple the process was from start to finish. I also like the preview of the design before you order which is a 3D rotating image of your design so you can see it from all angles and check it is as you want it to be.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with the design, quality and appearance of both of the chocolate boxes and I think they would make absolutely fantastic gift ideas for Mother's Day. If you don't fancy either of the designs I've chosen then head over to their website to see all of the others; some of which can't be personalised with a photo but most can be. Also they have a great range of gifts and gift bags for other occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, Father's Day and many more.

*Small Landscape Gift Bag (£6.99)

Last but definitely not least, I was also sent one of their small gift bags and I opted for the landscape style. There are various sizes to choose from including bottle bags, medium sizes bags and bottle boxes, all of which can be personalised. I chose the 'best looking babies' design from the Mother's Day range as it instantly caught my eye because of the cute spring colours, gorgeous font and beautiful floral illustrations on the front, back and inside of the bag.

Even though it's the small size, it's still bigger than I thought it would be and easily big enough to contain the boxes of chocolates and other gifts. Part of my mums Mother's Day gift this year is a night away in Edinburgh (we went on a little mother/daughter trip to London last month and it was so nice!) so I'm only gifting a couple of material gifts this year. I already have a couple of pampering products to add to the bag and they'll fit easily without breaking the bag as it's very sturdy.

Overall, this is my first experience of Vanilla Reindeer and I cannot recommend them enough! The designs are so cute, the website and creating process is very easy, they have so much choice and I'm very happy with the end products (and I know my mum will be too). I've already looked through their easter gifts and I'll probably order some for my friends and family this year. You can currently use the code: MUM30 to get 30% off all products until 31st March so there's more than enough time to order and get your discount.

What do you think of these Mother's Day gift ideas? 

*Gifted

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Personalised Christmas Gifts

Today's post is a little bit overdue but I have been inundated with christmas gifts (which I'm very thankful for) so this post has taken a backseat for a couple of weeks but I'm going to be recommending a few personalised gift ideas today. Thanks so much to the wonderful people over at Signature Gifts, Own A Moment, The Personalised Gift Shop, The Gift Experience and Tesco Photo for the amazing gifts! 

*Personalised Children's Christmas Book (from £29.99)

Let's start with one of the most nostalgic items in today's post and it's a personalised children's christmas book which I was very kindly sent from the lovely people at Signature Gifts. This item is very nostalgic to me as when I was growing up, I had a christmas book that had my name throughout it and as Heather isn't the most common name, it was amazing to have a book with my name in it! That book was so incredibly special to me, I have no idea where it has gone (it's probably in the depths of the attic somewhere) and as it was so beloved by me at the time, I think something similar would make a wonderful gift - this one is so much nicer than mine! 

The christmas book comes in the most beautiful and simple box and the cover is just stunning! I adore the red hardback cover with all of it's gold foiling and personalisation which makes it shimmer in the light. It looks like such an expensive, luxe and thoughtful gift that will be treasured for years, as mine was. The book is so much nicer than mine which was a paperback and it is something that will see you through many christmases.

When it comes to the personalisation, you have the name of the gift recipient on the cover of the book as well as the title paper (along with a message from you) and that's not all! The name of the child is throughout the entire book, whether it's on a stocking, in the sky or in the text which is amazing! I didn't expect the name to be so prevalent thoughout the whole book, I thought it might just be on the front, the title page and at the end but I'm glad it is so frequent as it's more special and surprising! I cannot recommend this gift enough as it's so unique, special and thoughtful. 

*Luxury Towel Set (£45)

For this gift guide, I wanted to include gift ideas for everyone so we have a gift idea for the little ones in your life and we also have a few gifts that would be great for new homeowners, parents, grandparents and special aunties or uncles! One of the more unique but very practical gifts in today's post is this gorgeous personalised luxury towel set which I think is such a great idea and something I hadn't thought of before. 

The Personalised Gift Shop has such an amazing range of personalised gifts, some of which I'd never even considered before such as these towels. Some of the gifts available so are specific and niche that you're sure to find something that even the person who has everything won't have! From personalised champagne glasses, monogrammed jewellery, rugby gifts and experience days to personalised pet gifts, Christmas Eve boxes, keepsakes and personalised food gifts, you will find something for yourself or someone else this christmas. 

I chose the towel set as it's a very practical gift and I love practical gifts but it's a little special and personalised too. It came in a large box and everything was presented so nicely! You probably wouldn't have to even wrap the box as it looks like a wrapped gift already, which is great for me as my present wrapping skills are horrendous. 

The towels are made of 100% cotton, they come as a set of three including a bath towel, hand towel and bath sheet. All three of the towels are personalised with the initials or even name of your gift recipient, if they fit within the three character limit. I chose to have 'I&S' on the towels for my parents as I know they'll love these and as they are having a new bathroom fitted in December, I thought it would be a very timely option to choose. The towels are soft and I love the size of the initials as they aren't huge but they aren't tiny and unidentifiable either. I think this set would make a lovely, unique and practical gift this christmas for parents, grandparents or any new homeowners you are buying for this year. 

*Own A Moment Deluxe Framed Gift (from £32)

There are so many unique gifts in today's post but one of the most unusual and something I'd never even heard of is from Own A Moment which is exactly what it says. You can register a single moment in time from the Official Time Registry and have a certificate either emailed, printed or framed (depending on your budget) to gift to someone special this year to mark an occasion such as a birth, wedding or retirement, for example. 

I have to admit that the concept of this gift did confuse me a little at first as how can you own a moment in time but I think it's such a wonderful idea. I chose the 11am time slot for the 22nd February 1992 for mine as it is the time when my parents got married so as far as I'm aware, no-one else can choose that specific time on that date as I have the certificate for it. How amazing and unique is that! 

It is very easy to buy as you just enter the time (hour and minutes), date and year you want then search to see if that time is available - if it is then you can select a photograph to add to the certificate along with a personalised message that appears at the bottom of certificate. You can have the certificate emailed to your gift recipient which is the most inexpensive option (£23.50) and would be perfect for gift recipients who live abroad, for example, so you don't have to worry about shipping or your gift getting lost in the post. 

The next option is a printed certificate (£26) and finally the deluxe framed gift (from £32) which is the option I have. I chose the real wood antique pine frame as it matched our living room more than the other options including a white frame, brushed gunmetal silver or the dark walnut frame. The pine wood frame I chose is the perfect fit for your living room and I'm so happy with not only the frame but the certificate itself as it looks very luxe and special - it's definitely a gift that will surprise and delight any gift recipient! 

*Gift Boxed Original Newspaper (£39.99)

The penultimate gift in today's post is something that I think would be a hit with grandparents or aunties and uncles as it's an original newspaper which comes in such a beautiful and very festive box. This gift on the face of it doesn't necessarily look like a personalised gift but the personalisation of it comes in a couple of ways; the first is the day and year you choose for the newspaper - I chose the 6th October 1938 which is the day my grandad was born. The second personalised feature is on the certificate of authenticity that comes with every newspaper on which you can add the gift recipients name and a personalised message. 

Firstly, the box, I knew that it comes within a gift box but I didn't know it would be as large or as lovely as it is. The box definitely make it more of a substantial, weighty and luxe gift, rather than just a newspaper. Also the fact that it is a genuine newspaper from the year you choose, whether it's 1938 or 1971, for example, makes it such a special and personal gift. I love gifts like this, I've bought my grandad something similar a few years ago as it gives a glimpse into history and the daily lives, advertisements and news headline of that specific time period which is fascinating. 

Old newspapers and old books have a certain smell to them, which I love and this one is no different -  it smells like it is an artefact almost! I love the idea of gifting an original newspaper as it's not only quite an unusual gift but it very personal and something to read through and look back on. However, be aware that special events are very rare so you won't end up with a newspaper about the moon landing, you'll receive the next available date instead. I can't recommend this gift enough as it's so special, beautifully presented and something very unique. 

*Tesco Photo Gallery Collage Canvas - 30x20 (£30, sale)

Last but not least is the item I've had the longest and I always feel so awful about not posting about items for weeks but I have been so busy! The final gift idea is from Tesco Photo which offers a wide range of photo focused gifts such as photo books and calendars, both of which are currently on offer as well as cushions, mugs, wall art and various other gifts. I was very kindly sent a canvas of my choice from the lovely people at Tesco Photo and I love it!

As well as the canvas I have they also offer a range of finishes, materials and sizes, from fabric canvases and poster prints to aluminium photo prints, banners and high gloss photo panels. Size options for the canvases varies greatly from 10x8 to a whopping 60x40 which would make for a very large christmas gift.

I opted for the large 30x20 size as I knew where I wanted it to go in the house and the size is perfect! It is substantial and large enough to see all of the detail in the photos and the photos in full but it isn't so large that the photographs I choose look blurry or stretched. I chose photographs from our most recent family holiday to the lovely cities of Oslo, Ghent and Lubeck, all of which are gorgeous cities and I cannot recommend visiting enough - I definitely want to go back to Ghent in Belgium!

The canvas is so well made, it's very substantial but it isn't too heavy and one of my favourite things about it is that the photographs all wrap around the sides of the canvas so you don't have unusual looking white sides! The photographs, in terms of the colour and the detail, are all better than I hoped for and it looks amazing on the wall.

As it is currently Black Friday weekend, there are lots of offers on, including some of the websites I've featured in today's post. Tesco Photo currently have deals on their photo books, calendars and makeup bags so check them out! As with all of my gift guides you can watch the short video for a more detailed look at all of the gifts I've mentioned.

What do you think of these gift ideas? Will you be purchasing any personalised gifts this year? 

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Valentine's Day Gifts For Her 2019

Valentines day and Galentines day is almost here so if you are buying a gift for your partner, friends or family members then hopefully today's post, along with my already published Galentines day gift guide, will help you to find a gift. Thanks so much to the wonderful brands within todays post including Ingle & Rhode, Prezzy Box and Bakerdays.

*Ingle & Rhode Silver Love Knot Necklace (£295)

Let's start todays gift guide with the most luxurious gifts which would be ideal for an extra special person this Valentines day. There are a few gifts that are typical of Valentines day such as chocolates, flowers and also jewellery, all of which are quite special, thoughtful and 'safe' gifts to give. However, when it comes to jewellery, there aren't many other gifts that are as gasp inducing and luxe as a gorgeous piece of jewellery, especially when diamonds are involved.

I was very kindly sent the beautiful 'love knot' necklace which is composed of stirling silver and a Canadian diamond, so I think it would fit very easily into the category of very special Valentines day gifts. Diamonds truly are a girls best friend and I don't think that any woman would be unhappy to receive a stunningly beautiful stirling silver and diamond necklace. However, it doesn't end there as the necklace is also nicely presented and packaged (you can see the packaging in the short video below) and the necklace contains 100% ethically sourced materials.

One of my goals for 2019 is to live in a more ethical and environmentally focused way, which is why I've switched to a fully vegan diet and I'm trying to purchase items that are more ethical and green. The history of expensive natural resources such as diamond is tainted by a long and fairly bloody reputation so I'm very glad that the diamonds within this minimal but utterly beautiful necklace are ethically sourced.

The necklace is just one within the range available on Ingle & Rhode to choose from and I definitely have my eye on the snowflake pendant. All of their items are gorgeously packaged and designed, high quality and various items are made of recycled gold, conflict free diamonds, fair-trade gold and ethically sourced gemstones which is absolutely amazing! Lastly, Ingle & Rhode have a wonderful selection of engagement rings as well as their bespoke service in which you can create your own - check out Ingle & Rhode to find out more.

*Personalised Prosecco Flute (£18.99)

Jewellery is a very special gift and in my opinion, personalised gifts are equally as special! Growing up, I always wanted to find items with my name but Heather isn't the most popular name so personalised gifts became very coveted. I know that my friends and family love to receive personalised gifts as well so I think this simple but beautiful Prosecco flute would be an ideal Valentines day or Galentines day gift this year!

The flute can be personalised with the name of yourself or your gift recipient as well as a short message on the front on the glass. I have the name 'Susan' and 'Love You' on the glass which I'm so happy with, particularly as I love the front and it is so clear to read as well. I think that a personalised glass would make a great hamper addition or on it's own with some chocolates as you can't have Valentines or Galentines day without chocolate. There are so many amazing gifts and personalised gift options on the Prezzy Box website so go, go, go.

*BakerDays Valentines Day Letterbox Cake (£15.99)

I've been lucky enough to work with Bakerdays previously but I'm still blown away by how cute their cakes are! I chose the adorable 'nuts about you' cake in the letterbox format but it is also available in 7, 9 and 12 inch cake sizes. I opted for the chocolate chip flavour as I'm going to be having a Galentines day with friends soon and I know that they'll love the chocolate chip option - I have tried the lemon drizzle cake too and it's delicious....I'm not drooling.

You can not only select the size, flavour and design of the cake but you can also personalise it, if you want to with a name, message or a photograph (it depends on the cake design you choose); you can also leave it blank as I did. I absolutely love this Nutella style design as I do love Nutella and it's just adorable. Each cake also comes with a cake tin so it is protected on it's journey and it makes for a great storage tin afterwards too - I adore the design of the cake tin I received. I cannot recommend Bakerdays letterbox cakes enough!

*Pretty Useful Powerbank and Mirror (£29.99)

The final item in my gift guide is a practical but gorgeous gift and if you've read any of my previous gift guides then you'll know how much I love to give and receive gifts that are practical but aesthetically pleasing! This gift has to be one of my favourite gifts in todays gift guide (although I love all of them) as the box is uniquely designed, I love the style of the powerbank and it's a very handy 2 in 1 product.

Not only is the powerbank a great tool for topping up your phone or tablet batteries but it is also a substantial, gorgeously designed and made compact mirror too. If you need to buy for a friend who commutes often or who is going to be travelling in 2019 then I think this powerbank and mirror combo would make for a thoughtful and practical gift to give. The brand 'Pretty Useful Tools' have a range of items on Prezzy Box and I love the style of all of them!

Overall, I think all of these gift ideas would be perfect for your partner or friends this Valentines/Galentines/Palentines day, whichever one you want to celebrate this year. If you want to spoil a special someone with ethical but luxurious jewellery then check out Ingle & Rhode, if you know a cake lover then look no further than Bakerdays and their adorable creations or if you want a selection of unique or personalised gifts then you will find everything you could possibly want on Prezzy Box.

What do you think of these gift ideas? 

*All items have been gifted 

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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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Valentines Day Gift Guide

Valentines Day is almost here so today's post is all about gifts for her, whether that's your girlfriend, friends or if you are lovely enough to treat your mum on this Hallmark holiday; also I just wanted to mention that self love and self care is SO important as well so why not treat yourself this Valentines Day...or Galentines Day? 

I would love to receive any of these gifts and I know all of my friends would too! I was very kindly sent these incredibly wonderful gifts from a range of super generous brands, so thank you! The gifts featured in today's post range from lifestyle options, homeware, vegan chocolate and indulgent, natural pampering products from two of my favourite brands, Tisserand and Dr Botanicals. 

*Kate Spade Thermal Mug (£16)

Kate Spade is one of those brands that I adore and have arm length wish lists for but I think of it as a treat brand, it's a brand that's not something you buy from everyday *although I wish it was*. I love Kate Spade designs, they are fun and colourful but still minimal and chic; this super practical thermal mug is no different. It's a 454ml or 16oz capacity mug which can be used for hot and cold drinks so it would make a perfect gift during the chilly weather we are still having in England. I also love the cute message of 'cold hands, warm heart' on the front! Although if you don't like this design then check out the others that are available on Amara. 

*Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose & Shea Butter Body Repairing Cream (£24.99, SALE)

I recently became a Dr Botanicals ambassador so that means that I can provide a new Dr Botanicals review every month as well as including a discount code to use on the product I mention each month! The star product for the month of February is the Moroccan Rose and Shea Butter Body Cream which has been reduced from £99 to only £24.99 (100ml), it's an amazing saving and you can get an extra 20% off the reduced price so it's only £19.99 with the code: OFBEAUTYBLOG which ends at the end of February. 

The body cream comes in a luxe glass jar and it contains so many fantastic, natural ingredients (it's also vegan) such as Moroccan rose oil which is high in Omega 3 and 6, apricot kernel oil, cranberry fruit extract, patchouli leaf oil and many more. It smells heavenly but not overly floral and it feels so luxurious, indulgent and rich to use. Winter is awful on my skin but this cream has given my skin, especially my arms, post shaved legs and hands a blanket of comfort, moisture and smoothness which it really craves during the chilly winter months so with that in mind, I couldn't think of a better gift for yourself or someone else this winter...well, apart from a holiday! 

*Miller Harris Tangerine Vert EDP (£65, 5ml)

I personally love to receive fragrances for my birthday/christmas and I also love giving fragrances as gifts as they are not only practical presents but they are substantial and beautiful gifts. I've tried a few samples of Miller Harris fragrances but this is the first full size EDP I have...and I adore it. I know we still have a just over a month of winter left but in my mind, it's pretty much spring already so I am sorting out my beauty, makeup and fragrance collection for spring appropriate products and I realised that I don't really have many spring fragrances, they are all very woody, musky, deep or too intense for the upcoming spring months but this one is perfect!

It contains notes of grapefruit, lemon, geranium, orange, cedar, moss and sweet musk which is apparently appealing to both sexes but I personally think that it's a very fruity, floral and feminine fragrance but that's just my opinion. From the first spray, I was addicted and I have been using it so often even when I don't really need to, just because it is such an incredibly uplifting, happy fragrance that takes me back to spring days with blue skies, subtle sunshine, fruity lunches and fragrant flowers.  Also the packaging and bottle are stunning! 

*Tisserand Rose & Geranium Leaf Range (£7.95 - £9.95)

Tisserand is one of my favourite pampering and bodycare brands and I cannot recommend their products enough! I am currently using and loving the Tisserand Lavender & White Mint Hand Cream which is heavenly but I also adore the Rose & Geranium Leaf range. Some of my favourite products from Tisserand are their hand creams and the Rose & Geranium Leaf hand cream is no exception. The scent is floral, earthy and very spring like so it will be perfect for the *hopefully* upcoming warmer months. 

The shower gels lather so well, you only need a small amount and the hand washes are equally as effective but all three products are natural, gentle and they don't irritate my sensitive skin which is fantastic as eczema can be horrendous! I cannot recommend Tisserand products enough especially the hand creams, shower gels, hand washes and the indulgent bath oils. For more vegan beauty product recommendations, check out my recent Veganuary post. 

*Cosy Glow Handmade Soy Candle in Vanilla (£7.50 + £2.50 shipping) 

Candles are staple gifts for me; my sister and friends all adore candles so they are safe gifts and they'd be perfect for Valentine's Day. The candle is made of soy wax and essential oils and it claims to have an impressive 35+ hour burn time. Vanilla is one of my favourite scents, along with lavender, so I have tried my fair share of vanilla candles although most tend to be disappointing - they are either too sweet, too subtle or too strong and headache inducing but this is candle is just perfect. 

The vanilla scent isn't artificial or too sweet, it just has a musky and comforting vanilla scent that will surely appeal to so many gift recipients, myself included. It burns well and smells lovely! I love the cute jam jar style container and the simple packaging which might be a negative but it also means that it won't clash with your decor. If you don't like vanilla, there are a range of other scents to chose from including: bubblegum, lavender, gingerbread, apple pie and freshly baked bread - I need to try the latter! 

*Filofax iPad 2/3/4 Saffiano Gold Wrap Case (£41.99) 

I love giving and receiving practical gifts, as it means that you don't have to buy them yourself! I do love to change up my iPad and iPhone cases but I not only want a cute case but I also want my devices to be very protected and padded, in comes Filofax. Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't know that Filofax had a wide range of tablet cases and they are all fantastic! 

My iPad case is pretty much worn away and a new one was definitely needed so it was great timing that this gorgeously gold case arrived! The case is suitable for an iPad 2/3 or 4 (you can google your iPad model number to find out which one you have) and it's extremely well padded so any device will be protected. It not only has a hard shell that the device fits into but it has two large pockets inside for cables, notes or stationery. My iPad looks so much better in it's new case, I know it will be protected on the go and it would be perfect for travelling with your iPad. This case would be a fantastic practical but pretty gift for the tech lover in your life. 

*Mr Nutcase Personalised Latte Mug (£6.50, 12oz)

Personalised gifts, as I always say, are fantastic and special gifts to give! I love personalised gifts, especially photograph gifts. Mr Nutcase has a wide range of personalised gifts to choose from including phone cases, towels, cushions, macbook covers, books and engraved gifts as well as mugs. I have the latte mug which is personalised with photographs from my trip last year to the amazingly magical Harry Potter studios - I think photographs of trips are perfect for personalised gifts as they are usually the best photographs particularly when compared to blurry selfies! Mr Nutcase have a 20% off code for their Valentine's Day sale, code: CUPID20. 

*Chocolate and Love Vegan Chocolate Bars (£2.99 each or £5.99 for a gift box set)

Last month was Veganuary and I did take part - you can check out my Veganuary experiences and recipes! One of the things I struggled with is the lack of chocolate that is suitable for vegans but there are some options available. Chocolate and Love have a fantastic range of delicious chocolate bars, some of which are suitable for vegans! The Panama (80%), the Rich Dark (71%) and the Orange are all suitable of vegans and so delicious. My favourite is the Dark Chocolate, Caramel and Sea Salt (55%) which is so moreish! The bars individually would be great little gifts (they can be bought from Sainsburys) but you can purchase a gift box set as well which contains four 40g bars in a really well made, beautifully designed gift box. 

Now for a little video of some of the Valentine's Day gifts I've featured in this post! I cannot recommend all of these gifts enough and I'm sure that the lucky recipient, whoever it may be, will be so happy with them! 

What do you think of the Valentine's Day gifts I've featured? Have you tried any of these products? 

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Personalised Birthday Gifts with Historic Newspapers

*Gifted (AD)

Lockdown hasn't been easy for any of us but potentially more so for those with special birthdays during lockdown when celebrating with family and friends hasn't been possible. My auntie turned 80 in April and my dad will be 60 next week and neither of them were able to celebrate sadly. However, a thoughtful and extra special present can be a lovely gesture.

I'm always an advocate for personalised gifts and I've reviewed many on my blog over the years so visit my other gift guides for my ideas! As well as special birthdays, Father's Day is just around the corner in the UK (on the 21st June) so I think now is a great time to look for gift ideas and hopefully today's post will give you an idea of the amazing personalised gifts on offer with Historic Newspapers.

*Historic Newspaper - Birthday Newspaper Book (from £49.99)

Today's post features a very special gift that I think would be ideal for those celebrating an extra special or memorable birthday. I was very happy about reviewing this beautiful birthday newspaper book from Historic Newspapers because my dad turns 60 next week so it will make a fantastic and extra special gift for him on such a milestone birthday. I think personalised gifts are great to give at any occasion and I think the range of personalised gifts including this luxury birthday newspaper book, on Historic Newspapers is fantastic as there's something for everyone including football books, children's books, vintage cookbook newspapers, year books, gift sets and more.

The birthday book I'm reviewing features a luxury A4 sized black leather cover (this option comes with a free embossing which I think makes the book look even more luxurious), inside message and a beautiful gift box (£7.50) that can be used to store the book. The option for personalising and adding extras is available such as the box and various cover options so there's something for multiple budgets.

Within the birthday book, there are newspaper headlines from the birthday year you choose and every birthday after so for my dad the headlines are from there 2nd June 1960 onwards which shows a wide range of news stories with each page. From the title page with describes the book and features your gift message to all of the newspaper headlines pages, the print quality is fantastic and it's interesting to remember the headlines of the past with images, articles and advertisements to look through.

I have reviewed a newspaper gift before of my blog, although it wasn't as luxurious or impressive as this gift idea, but I loved looking through the advertisements of the time as they show the trends and products which are usually quite different to the advertising and products of 2020. The years range from the birthday year to 2019 for the book I was lucky enough to receive and highlight the shocking, important and influential news from that day in time, such as the falklands war, scandals, sporting headlines, celebrity stories and much more.

I couldn't be happier or more impressed with not only the luxurious design and quality of the gift but also the special personalised touches, the presentation and all of the interesting headlines to read through. I know my dad loves personalised gifts and history so this is the ideal gift for him, especially for such a special birthday!

Do you you think of this luxurious personalised birthday gift from Historic Newspapers? 

*gifted

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Mens Christmas Gift Guide: Part One

I love this time of the year when the leaves are changing, everything feels a little more cosy and all of the Christmas gift sets are being released. I have quite a few beauty gift sets and advent calendars on my wish list this year! Today's post is my first mens gift guide of 2019 featuring a range of grooming, fragrance, lifestyle and home gifts for a range of budgets. Check out my first womens gift guide of the year for more gift ideas and to enter my giveaway to win a £60 gift card for TJ Hughes!

*Green People Grooming Ritual Gift Set (£15)

Let's start with a few grooming gifts as I think those are some of the 'safest' and easiest gifts to give at this time of the year, especially as men can be a little difficult to buy for, in my opinion. I love buying and giving gifts for friends and family but the two people I struggle with the most when it comes to finding great gifts are my dad and grandad. They end up with the same gifts every year but thankfully they always seem to like grooming or fragrance gifts.

This gift set from Green People is a fantastic all round, easy and natural gift set that I think would be perfect for those who are difficult to buy for including dads, friends and uncles but also people you might not know quite as well too such as friend's partners, colleagues or cousins, for example. I have been lucky enough to try quite a few products from green people such as their skincare, SPF and makeup with my favourite product of theirs being the *Green People Velvet Matte Lipstick but their gift sets are equally as fantastic.

The gift set contains three x 30ml bottles of their exfoliating face scrub, soothing shave gel and the cooling moisturiser, all three of which are certified organic, cruelty free, suitable for vegans and recyclable. I think this gift set is fantastic for so many people, not just in terms of the quality of the products and the ethos of the brand but it's a great basic set and I love the packaging!

*Carbon Coco Magnetic Charcoal Mask (£54.95)

Sticking with the grooming and skincare theme, Carbon Coco have recently launched their magnetic charcoal face mask. Skincare isn't just for women, everyone needs to look after their skin as it's one of the first lines of defence, it is the largest organ and it is also the first place to visibly show the signs of ageing, dehydration or a poor diet.

I will be posting a full review of the mask in the next couple of weeks but I wanted to include it within this gift guide as I think it's a great gift set idea and something a little different too as I imagine most people haven't used a magnetic face mask before. I've only tried it once so far but I love it and can't wait to share my full review soon.

*Remarkable Trees by Christina Harrison and Tony Kirkham (£24.95)

Next up, a couple of book gift ideas as along with beauty or grooming gifts, I think books are a safe bet, especially non-fiction. I personally love to receive book gift cards or books as gifts but they're even better if they are beautifully published and designed which all of the books from Thames and Hudson seem to be. I've raved about the gorgeous books I've received and bought from Thames and Hudson in various posts, including a couple of last years gift guides and my book recommendation for 2019 is no different.

Remarkable Trees is not only a beautifully published book but I love the layout and the incredible illustrations through it which depict various trees, plants, landscapes and seeds to provide a comprehensive look at the remarkable world of trees. This book would be perfect for those interesting in the natural world, natural history or gardening in general. I find most aspects of non-fiction fascinating so this book is perfect for me and it will be fully reviewed as part of my October and November reading wrap-up at the end of the month.

*Teatulia Classic Tea Selection (£14.95)

If you've read my womens gift guide then you will have seen the jasmine green tea from Teatulia that I mentioned (and loved) but today's post is all about their classic tea selection gift set. The set comes beautifully but simply packaged and includes three tins of their black, oolong and green tea options. The tins are 30g each and contain loose leaf tea so if you're gift recipient doesn't have a strainer or infuser then you could include one (along with a few other goodies) and the selection as a mini hamper.

Even though I'm English, I don't like tea unless it's black, herbal, green or mint but thankfully Teatulia has a great range of options to choose from including caffeine free herbal tea, spiced tea, teaware and tea gifts such as this lovely set. I think the set is great for tea lovers or those who want to try new varieties of tea. Check out Teatulia for more tea related gifts and teaware.

*ASDA Photo Double Sided Wall Calendar (£13)

I personally love to give and also receive personalised gifts and a photo book or personalised calendar ticks all the boxes for a thoughtful, memorable and special gift but one that it also practical - we all know by now how much I love practical gifts. I've gifted numerous photograph and personalised gifts over the years, from photo books and printed cushions to notebooks and calendars and they are always received with smiles!

I think any personalised gift will go down very well as a Christmas gift as it shows more thought and time has gone into the gift compared to a generic store-bought gift, especially if you can add memorable, funny or beautiful photographs. I added lots of lovely holiday photos to my wall calendar for 2020 as there are so many wonderful memories within the photographs that I want to display. I opted for a variety of collages and single photographs to I could fit the best photos in the best places and to add more to the calendar.

I usually gift my granddad a photograph calendar for christmas with photos of myself, my sister and our grandad which he always seems to love. I've made his calendars on a variety of websites over the past three or so years and using the ASDA Photo site was very easy, delivery was quick and I'm really happy with the print quality and colours. If you're looking to give a personalised photo gift this year then definitely check out ASDA Photo!

*Reco Plastic Free Shaving Starter Box (£25, sale)

2019 has been the year of reducing plastic and veganism and I couldn't be happier but one aspect that I haven't really considered until now is gift giving. I know that certain rolls of wrapping paper can't be recycled so I will be using brown paper this year that can be; however I haven't really considered plastic free gifts before. Thankfully more and more companies are brining out plastic free or more environmentally friendly products and Reco is one of them!

I was very kindly sent their plastic free starter box which contains the Reco 3R safety razor, Astra razor blades (x5) and their natural shaving soap. I have only used disposable razors, I've never tried a safety razor and it is a little intimidating, especially as the razor blades are so sharp and they have to be fitted each time. However, I am trying to reduce plastic waste so it seems like a fantastic, reusable option.

The safety razor is unisex, the blades are cheap to replace and there should be less irritation with a single blade. I've only used it once and while it is mildly terrifying to use, it isn't difficult but it requires a little practice. I think it would make a great eco-friendly and practical gift for men or women, particularly if you want to give more environmentally conscious gifts this year.

*Two Tiered Slate Cake Stand (£24.99)

Another great unisex gift idea is this beautiful, sleek and personalised two tiered cake stand! Again, this gift ticks all the boxes for gift giving as it's beautiful, unique, practical and it can be made a little extra special with a personalised message such as a quote, message or a name. I love the look of slate for homeware or kitchenware and this cake stand is no different. I think it would be ideal for anyone who loves to bake as it's a great size to display and serve sweet treats on such as brownies, cake slices or cupcakes, especially over the festive season. I love to cook and bake over the christmas period, particularly vegan gingerbread which would look so cute on the cake stand. If you're looking for personalised gifts, check out Happiness is a Gift for a wide range of wonderful gift ideas for all ages, budgets and interests!

*The Amazing Mystery Box - GOT (from £19.99 per box)

If you have a fan of a particular TV show, movie or series in your life then The Amazing Mystery Box would make a fantastic and unique gift idea! I chose the Game of Thrones box as it's one of my favourite TV series and I usually love the merchandise from the show. The value of the box is double the cost so it's amazing value for money and you can specify the box you want such as a particular TV show or movie (for example, Doctor Who and Star Wars) or by the age of your recipient.

My box contained six items ranging from stationery, pins and wearables to homeware and figurines. I'm happy with the range of items in the box as typically there are mainly figurines in boxes like this but I'm glad there are a few more practical items such as the glasses, tote bag and notebook, all of which I'd love. If you follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand), you'll have seen my unboxing.

I think it's a great gift idea that is a little more unique and even though it's a mystery box of goodies (which anyone would love to receive), it can be more personal to your gift recipient by the type of box you choose. If you have an adult, teen or child to buy for that loves mystery boxes, certain TV shows or movies or collectables then I can't think of a better gift this Christmas.

*Emporio Armani Diamonds For Men (£29, 30ml)

Last but definitely not least are a couple of gift ideas from TJ Hughes! I've included a couple of similar gifts from TJ Hughes within my womens gift guide if you want to check it out and be in with a chance of winning a £60 TJ Hughes gift card. TJ Hughes has such a great range of gifts to choose from including homeware, beauty and fragrance gifts. All of the gifts and fragrances on TJ Hughes are at fantastic prices and this one is no different so if you want to grab a bargain for yourself or someone else, check out their website or stores.

Emporio Armani Diamonds For Men contains the following notes: Italian bergamot, woods, pepper, cedar wood, vetiver, amber and cocoa bean which combine to make such a rich fragrance that I think will be a hit with so many gift recipients - my dad included and he can be very picky when it comes to all gifts but especially fragrances. If you are looking for a fragrance gift for yourself (treat your self!) or someone else this christmas then it's well worth looking on the TJ Hughes website or in-store to see if they have what you're looking for as you might be able to save a little money, which is always welcome at this time of the year.

*Baylis and Harding Citrus, Lime and Mint Grooming Duo (£7.99)

Lastly is a gift set from Baylis and Harding which is a great gift idea for dads, colleagues or as a secret Santa gift as you can't really go wrong with lovely smelling toiletries for christmas! This set contains a 300ml body wash as well as a 200ml shower gel. Baylis and Harding gifts always tend to be well presented and very inexpensive so if you're on a budget, it's a great brand to check out.

I just wanted to mention another unique gift to finish today's post and it's a luxe subscription service, Summerton Whisky Club, which I reviewed in my mens gift guide last Christmas. The subscription service is £50 per month and for the price you (or your lucky gift recipient) will receive the monthly bottle of whisky which is specially selected. I think it would make a very special and luxe gift this Christmas and it's a gift that will keep on giving for the length of the subscription you choose.

I hope you found a few gift ideas for the men in your life from today's post and don't forget to enter my latest giveaway with TJ Hughes for your chance to win a £60 gift card giveaway. It is UK only (sorry!) and it ends on the 17th November so you still have time to enter.

What do you think of my first mens gift guide of the year? 

*gifted

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