CHRISTMAS | Friends + Money Saving Gifts

Hello! My friends and I always do Secret Santa between us as it means that we can get a larger gift for one person, rather than something small for everyone. We normally set a guideline budget (that none of us really stick to) but I have put together this list as some things you could get if you're on a smaller budget or want to get something special for a friend. The final phase of Christmas ideas.

1. Lush Products or smelly stuff. Lush has something to suit everyone. Shower gels, bath bombs, face masks and gift sets. Whatever it is you can probably find something that is a special little present and you could also make your own little hamper of products you know are their favourite or a selection of the Christmas Collection. Lush is your oyster.

2. A charm. If your friend has a Pandora bracelet you could get them a christmassy charm or a charm that reflects something they love. It's pretty simple but it builds up a bracelet beautifully. Likewise, you could buy them a bracelet from elsewhere that they will be able to wear all the time.

3. Slippers. After Christmas I always have a slippers phase. I'm not sure why because I generally hate wearing socks or having feet that are hot but they make me feel super Christmassy. Primark is a great place for really comfy slippers that won't break the bank so it's always worth a look!

4. P-jays. Again, Primark is a great place for really comfy pyjamas. I love matching sets of pyjamas and you can find loads in various different shops. You can get matching with your friend or just something similar, whatever floats your boat. It's just an idea.

5. Perfume. Zara perfumes, to be exact. All of Zara's perfumes smell really good and they're pretty cheap so they would put you out too much. Last year I got one with glitter in and I really loved it! I have a couple of others as well for a couple of seasons and they come in really pretty bottles. Just saying.

6. Knickers. Topshop do 3 for £10 I think which is a great thing to put with a couple of nail varnishes or a Lush bath bomb. You can never have too many pairs of cute Topshop knickers!

7. Frozen. Or any DVD but Frozen seems incredibly appropriate. Most people I know love Frozen and/or know all of the songs so I don't see where you could go wrong. The Fault in Our Stars just came out also if they already have Frozen. Whatever DVD you buy you can all sit down in a girl group and watch it after you've exchanged your presents.

8. Nail Varnishes. Very simple and they don't have to be Essie. I love Barry M and Rimmel for their nail polishes and chances are there is a deal on at Boots that allows you to pick up 3 for 2. If you're buying more than one friend a gift you could pick out 3 polishes and 3 pairs of knickers and give them one of each. Just a way to stretch your pounds!

9. A book. There is a book out there that will bring your friend a few hours of joy and something they can look back on. Add a personal festive message inside to make it super special and they will never forget it!

10. A photo frame or album of you and your friend. This is a good one for your best friend and you can leave space in the back so that they can add to it in years to come!

I hope this gives you a couple of purse-friendly ways to get cute and thoughtful gifts for your friends this Christmas. If none of you have a great deal of money then give the Secret Santa idea a go and then each of you will get something a little bigger. Stick to a £10/£15/£20 budget, depending on how much you are all able to spend.

I hope this series has been helpful. Happy spending!

CHRISTMAS | Boyfriends and Brothers

Hello! I find brothers, boyfriends and dads notoriously hard to buy for. They always seem to have exactly what they need - a wallet, a watch, aftershave. So I had a discussion with my brother and we came up with a nice little list to help you along your way when Christmas shopping for boys. Second in my Christmas-ideas line up; Boys.

 

1. Cufflinks. Boys tend to get to an age where they have to wear a shirt at least once a year. For school, dinners and work a nice pair of cufflinks will always come in handy. Maybe if they love something like football you could find a pair sporting their interest (accidental pun, kind of) which would make it extra personal. 

2. A wallet or bag. Boys tend to stick with one wallet for a long time and be pretty happy with what it does. It holds a couple of cards, some notes and perhaps a coin or two and in their eyes it is doing what it was made to do. The same with bags. You could treat whoever you're buying for to a nice leather wallet or bag which is perhaps leather and a bit more expensive than something they would buy for themselves.

3. I don't really know if boys like Lush but they do have lots of stuff that is aimed at men like shaving foam and cleansers. If it's a boy you live with you can always steal some of the shaving cream for your legs so even if they don't get a lot of use out of it, you will.

4. As much as I hate Xbox's and Playstations, quite a lot of boys use them. My brother is an avid Xbox user and plays online and all that stuff so Christmas is a great time to get the new Fifa or whatever is coming out these days. I really don't know, I'm not down with gaming. My boyfriend is a serious Sims player if he has a spare hour so if you know a Sims player that is still on Sims 3, apparently Sims 4 exists!

5. Similar to what I put in my Girlfriend and Sisters post, you could treat a boy to a day out. A cinema trip, match or a concert is always a good idea and you don't always have to go with them. Get your dad to join your brother or vice versa and give them a ticket each so they get to go together. Perhaps you don't fancy going to a sports match with lots of cheering men (I don't!)

6. Smelly things. I think boys are less fussy with their smells and everything boyish always smells pretty good. I'm a big fan of Hugo Boss smells so I usually get my brother a bottle for Christmas but go into Boots and have a sniff. If you like it, chances are they will too!

7. A watch. If they don't have a watch then they're always something that you can buy for them that they would never think to get for themselves. If you get them something classic and timeless (another pun?!) then they will always be able to wear it, and just replace the battery in the future.

8. A Polaroid. Again. They're just such a nice idea and I would recommend them to people who like taking photos a lot so that they can capture memories!

9. Clothing. Sometimes boys tend to neglect clothing and forget that it is in face, a necessity. My brother never buys himself clothes but always appreciates a nice shirt or beanie so I always think it's a pretty safe option. If they hate it they can return it and you could always go help them pick it out!

10. A hip flask. I think these are always nice ideas as you can get so many designs, add a bit of leather or eve their name or initials. You can really tailor it to them and it's quite a nice thing to have around!

11. Finally, a leather book. If someone you know likes writing things down or they're going off somewhere you could get them a special book so they can record it all. It's just something nice that they can make their own and you could pair it with the Polaroid so they have somewhere to put them all!

I hope this gives you some inspiration for boys. Again, you could buy them a picture frame or make them something that is quite personal. Good luck with the hardest quest of all: presents for boys.

Wishlist: Christmas

Hello! Christmas is close now. I feel very very festive. I get way too excited about Christmas and I definitely get it from my dad. I sometimes find Wishlists for Christmas and birthdays a bit awkward when people ask but there isn't anything I really specifically want this year. I thought I would give you some inspiration for when people ask what you're asking for this Christmas. How many times can I say Christmas?

1. Nike Air Force 1's - White/Low. I have wanted a pair of these for a while. I never wear trainers as casual shoes and sometimes I find myself needing something plain and easy to slip on my feet.

2. A magazine subscription. Specifically to The Creative Review. I wouldn't normally buy this for myself and I can't find any kind of Review's in my town. You can get Reviews of loads of things like English, History... Whatever you like, they most likely have it to just search The ______ Review and see if there is a Review that is perfect for your interests.

3. MAC Lipstick in Syrup. I don't actually own a MAC Lipstick. I never seem to have enough money to comfortably buy one and not regret it but Syrup is a really lovely shade that isn't too bold and is pretty neutral which I know I will get a lot of wear out of!

3. Beyonce Calendar. I actually made a point to my parents one year to stop buying me calendars. I never turn the page and it stays on the same picture for months at a time until a friend comes round and changes it. However, as I get more busy and start working I want to have a calendar that I can write all of my exam dates and festival dates on so I know what I'm doing all the time. Who am I kidding, I just want to see a new picture of Beyonce every month!

4. Zoeva Make Up Brushes. Because I only own Real Techniques brushes. I do love them, but I really want to try out some others and I know that if I like Zoeva brushes I will continue to buy them as they're pretty purse-friendly. I hear nothing but good things about Zoeva brushes so I'm dying to try them out!

5. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. This was an accident. I went into the Kielh's store in Brighton to grab a sample of Midnight Recovery Concentrate as I thought that would make it to my wishlist but the woman ended up giving me about 5 samples to take away. I ended up liking the Midnight Recovery Concentrate but I'm not head over heels for it like I hoped. Instead, I am in love with the Ultra Facial Cream Moisturizer. It works at night and in the day under make up and is so hydrating. I love it!

6. Perfume. Specifically, Escentric Molecules 01 although I would love a new bottle of any of the perfumes on my dressing table! I have actually never smelt it, but I love deep and wintery scents and actually, I never smell perfumes before I buy them (or I asked my dad to buy me one that I love.. it's actually now my favourite.) If I see it in a shop I will give it a smell but I love perfumes in general, I just like smelly things!

That's six things that I'm asking for this Christmas. I don't want anything really badly and I always love the personal touches that people include when they've thought out a gift for you. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas, even though it isn't quite here yet! Happy last minute gift buying! (If you need any help for a gift idea for someone I have lots of idea posts!)

CHRISTMAS | Girlfriends and Sisters

Hello! Welcome to the beginning of my Christmas posts. I like to get pretty organized and plan what I am going to get everyone for Christmas so I hope this isn't too early for anyone (the John Lewis was released on the 6th so this can't possibly be too early!)! I thought I would give some tips to anyone struggling to think of a great gift for different people in their lives. First of all, girlfriends and sisters!

 

 1. A special purse or bag. Purses are something I never seem to be able find for myself. All of the ones I want are out of my price range and to be honest, they never seem to fit all my needs perfectly. A special purse might be something that the person you're buying for would never buy for themselves and they last for such a long time on top of being pretty timeless!

2. Books. There is always a book to fit someone's hobbies and interests. Make up, shoes, fashion or even just a classical read. Perhaps get them the hardback or a special edition in order to make it super special, complete with festive message inside.

3. A nice piece of jewellery. If someone wears jewellery all the time then get them something that will fit in with what they wear.   For example if they only wear silver or gold get them a piece in that colour or if they wear dainty pieces then get them something equally dainty or contrast it with something a bit more chunky and maybe something they would wear for special occasions. Pandora is a popular choice and if they already have a bracelet you can add a charm or you can go outside of Pandora, of course. Whatever you get them, it needs to be wearable for them, just keep that in mind.

4. A fashion accessory. A beanie or a scarf are perfect for many times of the wear. I know lots of people wear beanies really often and scarfs aren't just something you can wear in winter to make an outfit look a bit more dressy. Grab something that suits their style and that you think they would be able to pair with lots of things.

5. A Polaroid camera. And somewhere to put the photos. These are brilliant presents for anyone as it's so exciting to take pictures with others and wait for the result. So old school (my mum does not understand why teenagers have these!)

6. A candle. Candles can get pretty expensive sometimes and I wouldn't spend too much on a candle for myself. If someone you're buying for is a big candle lover or just likes smelly things then buying them something like a Diptique candle would be a fantastic gift for them and not something they would splash out on for themselves.

7. Perfumes are always a great gift as if they have a signature scent it's always something they will use after they've run out of their current bottle. Of course, if you guess a scent it's a bit of a risk but maybe have a sneak about their room/dressing table to see what they use a lot!

8. A day out. No, not literally buy them a pair of ice skates, but perhaps take them ice skating and make a day of it. I know that in London you can get tickets at the Natural History Museum, Winter Wonderland and Somerset House (I've been to Somerset House a couple of times and love skating there!) Even if you or them aren't very good it's entertaining to watch one another fall over. You could similarly get them tickets for a show or a concert. Whatever suits them/you. 

9. Some fancy bath time things. The Laura Mercier Creme Brule Honey Bath is quite a popular bath time thing in the blogging world, although I've never tried it myself. Something that they might not fork out the money for very often is always a special gift, and sometimes bath things just do not come cheap.

10. A chair. I know, weird. But the idea came from my friends boyfriend getting her an armchair last year and she loved it so much. I have no idea how he thought of it but I thought it was quite a nice idea. If they have a big room or nowhere in the house to sit and curl up with a magazine/book then this is a quirky idea!

There we are, 10 ideas for your girlfriend, sister or even just a friend. You could also make them something super cute and personal if you don't feel that any of these will do the trick. A photo frame or a little scrap book always has a super personal touch!!

I hope you're all excited for Christmas and that this has given you a little bit of inspiration!