I Love…Christmas

I’m not usually one to give, or ask for toiletries as a Christmas gift. I don’t know why that is- force of habit I suppose and assuming that like me, everyone else has overflowing cupboards of products they will never get around to using.

There are some brands I’ll make exception for though because they do gifting exceedingly well. I Love… is one of these brands as I’m yet to have a product from them that I haven’t enjoyed hugely or wouldn’t want to receive as a gift myself. I was recently sent some of the products from this year’s Christmas gifting range and couldn’t wait to share what’s on offer as part of my ongoing quest to provide gift inspiration (it’s a hard life!).

The first product out of the box was the Big Barrel of Love available at Superdrug. This gorgeously girly tin is packed full of treats and the first thing that hits you is the amazing smell! The barrel contains 500ml Cherry Almond Bath, 200ml Cherry Almond Butter, 100ml Cherry Almond Spritzer, 75ml Raspberry & Blackberry Hand Lotion and each item is more delicious than the last. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Cherry Almond scent but it’s really delicious, incredibly hard to explain but it’s not going to turn you in to a walking Bakewell tart which was my immediate concern. This has an RRP of £20 and would make a lovely gift for a special friend.
The next item would make a perfect stocking filler or secret santa gift. The Lots of Bubbles festive edition set features 6 miniature bottles of bubble bath and shower creme in flavours that include chocolate and oranges, iced cookie and sugared cranberries. This would be great to give as is, or if making up stockings for friends and family splitting between them. At £6 this is excellent value and something I will very much enjoy using between now and the big day!
Which of these scents do you think you’d like the most?

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The Perfect Gift with Jacques Vert

We’re officially in to the festive run up now, the clocks have changed and Christmas trees are springing up in shops across the country. Today I have some lovely luxury gift ideas to share from the Jacques Vert Group who are home to brands like Kaliko and Precis as well as their namesake brand, perfect for a special someone in your life.

Mirror | Hats from a Selection | Jewellery from a Selection | Scarf | Umbrella

This is only a small selection and my favourites from what Jacques Vert have to offer and I think they offer some lovely, affordable and sophisticated pieces for the special women in your life. Starting taking notes and be set to impress when December 25th rolls around- and don’t forget to ask Santa for a piece or two for yourself, too.

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Getting Personal

Once October rolls around (and indeed it’s now nearly rolled out again) my hunt for the perfect Christmas gifts starts in earnest. I can easily while away a couple of hours in the evening seeking out something unique and meaningful for my loved ones and I like to share some of my favourite finds on the blog in hopes of providing inspiration for others as well.

I was recently contacted by Getting Personal who offered to send me a gift of my choice from their vast selection of personalised goodies. Anyone who knows me well will already know what theme I rolled with and I happen to think I picked the perfect piece for gifting any fellow feline fans.

Mug c/o Getting Personal (get yours here!)

“Love me love my cat” is pretty much my motto in life and despite trying to put a silencer on it I just can’t help but talk about Mae to anyone and everyone. I think this mug makes the perfect present for anyone who is obsessed with their pet. It can be personalised with any message of your choice too to give it that extra special touch.

I’m delighted with my new mug and also with the Getting Personal website. I had heard of them before but hadn’t used them, thanks to their well timed e-mail I’ve found gifts for a few of the trickier to buy for people in my life (and there may be a few little presents to me, from me finding their way in to my basket as well).

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Four beauty tips that will make you the belle of the ball this Christmas*

With the festive season fast approaching, now’s the time to start getting yourself in party mode. To ensure you’re the belle of the ball this Christmas, here are four easy to follow beauty tips that should help you turn heads for all the right reasons.
1) Forget the LBD and go bold with colour

The LBD may be a fashion staple at this time of year, but rather than going back to black this winter, why not add a splash of colour with an altogether bolder choice? Vibrant hues like reds, pinks, greens and purples can work perfectly, and for a playful look, choose a peplum dress. With their pleated strips at the waist, these outfits create striking silhouettes, making them perfect for Christmas parties. White is also bang on trend right now, and to recreate the red carpet look, go head to toe with a shift dress, jewellery and heels in this classic colour.

2) Enhance your look with shape defining lingerie

Don’t just focus on your outerwear. To shine in your ensemble, consider using shape defining lingerie as well. There are a whole range of options to choose from, including elegant waist cinchers and corsets that can help to give you the ultimate hourglass figure. If you’re not sure which style of lingerie to go for, you can search online for inspiration. Sites like Tights and More showcase a range of different options that are designed to give you curves in all the right places. As well as helping you to look fab, these sexy underwear combinations can give you a big confidence boost.

3) Try out a textured hairstyle

Forget straighteners and pristine hairstyles this festive season. To really wow, think about mixing things up with a more textured look. If your locks are bob-length, consider creating defined waves that frame your face. You can achieve this style by blow drying your hair across your face and applying some polishing wax to give added definition and shape. If your hair is longer, take inspiration from Taylor Swift. The singer has been showcasing the classic ‘70s feathery, flyaway shoulder-length layers originally sported by the likes of Farrah Fawcett.  For added drama, apply a volumising mist to your roots before blow drying and use a round brush to smooth your tresses in different directions.  

4) Add some shimmer to your makeup

Another tip is to bring some extra glamour to your makeup by using glittering powder on the inner corners of your eyes and across your cheekbones. If you have darker skin, look out for highlighters with golden tones, but if your complexion is pale, you may be better off opting for pink-based powders instead.

Remember, a little prep goes a long when it comes to looking good for the party season but don’t leave it to the last minute to get ready. From booking your hair and nail appointments to adding outfits to your ‘I-need-this-in-my-life’ Pinterest board, there’s plenty you can do now to ensure that you stun at all Christmas bashes in your calendar this year.

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A Wrist Candy Wish List*

Ok so I’m actually really not a fan of the term “wrist candy” but I couldn’t think of another title for this post so let’s roll with it.

I’m on a bit of a mission at the moment having spent some time sorting through my jewellery collection and realising that I own plenty of rings, necklaces and earrings but not much in the way of wrist wear (if we don’t count my vast array of watches that is). I love my Pandora bracelet which gets added to a few times a year but sometimes I crave something a little more minimal and with a bit of a tougher edge. With Christmas fast approaching I thought I’d pop up a little wish list of bracelets I rather fancy, both to serve as inspiration and also as a not so subtle hint to those around me.

All of these bracelets are stocked at House of Fraser along with many, many, many others. As you can imagine this is a very restrained wish list from me- I’ve spotted at least thirty pieces I’d like to own, mainly from the brands Ted Baker and Michael Kors. Oh heck.

Have you started writing a Christmas list yet? What’s your bangle style? I have quite dinky wrists and find that cuff styles suit me best…dainty little chains with a charm look very pretty much don’t seem to suit me so well.

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