Category Archives: gifts

Christmas Treats from Crabtree & Evelyn

07th December 2014
A week in to December and I’m on a roll with my gift ideas…I might be done and dusted with my own shopping (it’s even wrapped up) but I know not everyone is quite so obsessive about getting things done with weeks to spare and I figured a little inspiration might help.

So in the spirit of goodwill to all men here is are a few little gift ideas from the lovely folk at Crabtree & Evelyn who were kind enough to spoil me with a taster of the range for myself…

First up was a rather jolly festive room spray which is perfect for creating a Christmas atmosphere in your home. Full of citrus and spices this is a really love fragrance not just for Christmas, but for all winter long! £12.00 for 100ml.
Next came this rather attractive tin of hand creams which contained three of Crabtree & Evelyn’s best selling hand products; Gardeners Hand Therapy, Rosewater Hand Therapy and La Source Hand Therapy with each 25g tube being the perfect handbag size. With a retail value of £15 and costing £12.50 in a stunning festive tin I think this would make a truly lovely present for your Mum or an Auntie…or of course, for yourself!
Last but by no means least comes my favourite, the festive bauble trio which contains three gorgeously vintage tin baubles to hang on your tree. On their own these would be simply stunning but they are made all the more endearing by the fact that each one contains 55g of fudge! One bauble contains Festive Spiced Fudge, another has Clotted Cream flavour and the third contains a delicious Chocolate Fudge! I didn’t realise that Crabtree & Evelyn did food gifts but if you look on their website you’ll see a huge selection- I’m hoping Santa gets the hint and brings me this Gingerbread Man Tin (I promise I’ve been good all year!)
Have you seen anything that’s caught your eye? How are you getting on with your shopping?

end

Posted in christmas, gifts, review

Permalink 2 Comments

Presents for Men- not just for men!

04th December 2014
As you can probably tell, I’ve gone gift crazy of late and have been fortunate enough to work with some wonderful websites in the hopes of sorting out all of your gifting needs. I was recently contacted by Presents for Men who I had (wrongly) assumed would only sell presents for, well, men! I do loved to be proved wrong sometimes and upon further investigation I discovered that as well as having all kinds of unique and useful gifts for the guys in your life they also stock treats for women too meaning you can sort out his stocking whilst picking up a present to you, from you at the same time!
As well as introducing me to their wonderful site and giving me plenty of inspiration for the awkward men-folk in my life I was kindly gifted this “Bad Hare Day” (£16.99) that has been on my wish list for rather a long time! It’s the perfect size for storing my stash of lip products in! I’m thinking I now need the matching note pad for creating wish lists and shopping lists…it’d be rude not to right?
Where do you get gift ideas for men? I find them so much harder to buy for…especially at Christmas!

end

Posted in christmas, gifts, inspiration

Permalink

#dearsally- festive inspiration for tall girls!

23rd November 2014
As we race towards December I realised I’ve been so focused on gift guides that I’ve neglected to put together any posts on outfits for over the festive period. I’ve teamed up once again with Long Tall Sally to put together four looks for over the holidays- perfect for fellow tall girls looking for inspiration!
Christmas Shopping
I always think it’s best to keep it simple when Christmas Shopping, you want to stay calm and comfortable amongst the crowds of people and this all black ensemble is exactly the kind of thing I wear. I love the idea of the chunky funnel neck jumper from the TTYA range paired with skinny leather look trousers, it’ll keep you snug whilst remaining chic. I always favour flats for shopping in as I cannot bear having sore feet whilst charging around. I was instantly drawn to these ankle boots to toughen up the look a bit, finished off with a leather jacket that can easily be slipped off it things get all hot and bothered.
Christmas Party
As a tall girl I like to make the most of being able to wear maxi dresses without falling arse over tit and this metallic black number just screams glamour- it’s an update on the rose gold version I popped in a wish list back in the Summer, and although it might look simple it certainly makes an impact. I’ve added in some chic pointed toe shoes and a big old yeti coat to keep off the chill at the end of the night.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day in our house is a casual affair, gone are the days of getting all dressed up, we realised we actually prefer slobbing out in our comfiest casuals where it’s perfectly acceptable to undo a button to make way for the roast dinner food baby we’re all nursing. I love this cute robin sweater and would pair it with some slouchy boyfriend fit jeans and some pristine white converse (just in case I felt like an after dinner stroll).
Gift Ideas
If you need inspiration for your Christmas list or have a tall friend/relative to buy for this year then I highly recommend checking out the gift section on the website. I would 100% welcome a pair of pretty PJs that don’t flap around the ankles, and who can resist a super snuggly dressing gown? I’m also rather taken with the checked slippers and the hot pink hat and scarf…I do hope Santa is taking notes!
What do you think of my choices? What would you have picked?

end

Posted in christmas, gifts, inspiration, wish list

Permalink 2 Comments

Boomf!

14th November 2014
Around a year ago now I introduced you lot to Boomf and their awesome idea of making personalised marshmallows. I’m delighted to see the brand go from strength to strength over the last twelve months whilst sticking to their unique selling point, and when they re-contacted me and asked if I’d like to feature another box I had no reservations about saying yes!
Last time I let the folk at Boomf pick the designs, this time I chose myself- and obviously went for a Mae theme.
The Marshmallows are expensive, I’m not gonna lie, at £15.50 for 9 (this includes speedy delivery) they are a luxury gift but in their defence they are something unique, pretty large and very, very tasty and I wouldn’t hesitate in purchasing these as a special gift for someone, nor be upset if someone purchased these as a gift for me! I’d rather get a box of Boomf than a block of posh but stinky cheese…
With Christmas not far away and the hunt for the perfect presents getting up to full speed I think you could do far worse than heading over to Boomf and getting creative…likewise, if you know someone with a special Birthday looming why not purchase a pack, pop some cocktail sticks in the bottom and turn them in to edible cake toppers?
This is one of those ideas that still gets my mind boggling- I want the kind of brain that comes up with such an invention. It’s also one of those ideas that I will forever love and be drawn to…now, who to put on a marshmallow next?

end

P.S. The only downside to putting your pet on a sugary confection is it makes them almost too cute to eat…almost!

Posted in brands I love, christmas, food, gifts, review

Permalink 3 Comments

Stocking fillers for the whole family this Christmas (guest post)

11th November 2014
Christmas is nearly upon us and this year we wanted to take on the challenge of hunting down the perfect stocking fillers for the whole family.

Buying for one person can be tricky enough, let alone finding amazing gifts for the entire clan. With so many different people to consider, the present buying conundrum can transform generous gift giving into a stressful dash for last minute presents.

Don’t panic, we have rounded up some Christmas crackers ideal to suit even the fussiest member of the family.

Gift for Mum
Gift for a Sister
Impress your Brother
Gift for Dad
Mums

While you know most mums will happily accept any old present you give them, make this year extra special by giving her something she’ll truly love.

For anyone struggling with what to get their mother for Christmas, we think the DKNY Crosswalk Watch could be the answer. A sophisticated stainless steel watch with a crosswalk bracelet and decorated with a string of diamond inspired quartz, this classic watch is perfect for any occasion. Spruce up a casual outfit to create a more put together look, or include it in your business attire to add a touch of professionalism and class.

Additionally, a cashmere scarf is always a lovely gift. Choose a scarf of plain colour with fringing at both ends to provide comfort and style during the cold months.

Teenage brothers and sisters

Give your sister the gift of celebrity style this Christmas with the Kardashian Kollection Chunky Charm Bracelet.

A striking gold tone bracelet that’s bang on trend with an assortment of unique chunky charms. The charms feature mock black opal stones, tiger tooth details and gold brushed spikes, perfect for any fashion conscious teen wanting to make a statement.

Moving onto one of the more difficult people to purchase gifts for – the teenage boy. If your little brother is as useful as a chocolate teapot when it comes to giving genuine gift ideas, then the Casio Classic Watch is a decent solution for him. The rubber strap and water resistant casing mean that this durable watch is practically indestructible. The simplistic black design and digital face will look great with all outfits and will also be suitable to wear to school.

Bath bombs also make fabulous gifts for boys and girls alike. Younger boys enjoy creating an explosion of colour in the water, while girls can opt for a more luxurious spa-like bath supplement.

Dads

As dads are notoriously challenging to buy gifts for, why not consider a practical present like a professional Fountain Pen? This elegant writing pen has a twist action cap, a black polished lacquer body and is finished with sophisticated chrome detailing. The Equinox Black fountain pen also comes with refillable cartridges so you can guarantee this is a practical present that will last a lifetime.

While it may sound boring, you can never go wrong with a good pair of socks. Opt for high-quality material such as pure cotton and if you’re feeling a little more adventurous go for the novelty kind!

end

Posted in christmas, gifts, guest post

Permalink