BLOGMAS Day 5: My Christmas Wishlist...

What's Christmas without sharing a bit of what you fancy?! The only list I make for Christmas is for Si, he likes me to write one out so when he's shopping he has ideas of things that I'd like, to go with any surprises he gets for me. If people ask me what I'd like then I tell them something different or tell them something from that list, or they talk to Si about what I'd like that he hasn't already got.

I've asked for bits and bobs like CDs and DVDs but I thought I'd share with you a few of the main things that I would love to receive for Christmas this year. Let me know if you have asked for any of these items too!

1 - This Big Ben Wall Clock sticker set is something that I've had my eye on for a long time! I've just never got round to buying it to be honest so when I was writing up my list for Si, I popped this on there. I just love the concept of it, rather than having a normal wall clock. In our living room we have a feature wall and then the rest of the walls are magnolia so I think it'd be perfect in there. I already know exactly where it'd go! So, it basically comes as four vinyl wall stickers, which each have intricate cut out detailing to reveal the wall behind. It has a 3D clock face, with carved metal hands and an ultra quiet ticking motion. It is 132cm high and requires 1 AA battery. I just love how unique it is. Different sizes and styles are sold all over the Internet but you can get the one I've featured above at I Want One Of Those for £9.99.

2 - I love Lush products but this Turkish Delight Shower Smoothie is my favourite product that they do. It smells AMAZING! I can't even do the smell justice through a blog post, but it lingers, so I always come out of the shower smelling like roses! It contains rich cocoa butter and almond oil so it leaves my skin feeling so soft and supple and it does last. I'd buy this product all the time but the only thing that puts me off is the price. It's £16.95 for a 200g tub, but it's a great gift to ask for if someone wants to spend a little more and buy you something special. My sister said she was going to pick this up for me this year as she was meant to get it for me last year but just never got round to picking it up. So I'll be very grateful if she does :).

3 - I love playing The Sims, so as The Sims 4 PC game is now out, I thought this would be a good gift to ask my dad for. If I receive it, I'm looking forward to trying it out and seeing what's new with the game. Si got me The Sims 3 when it came out and I've had fun playing that. I'm hoping there's a lot more features to keep me interested with the new game as sometimes I can get a little bored after I've made a family, chosen a house and furnished it. I always have the best intentions of progressing with my family though, so it'll be good to start afresh with The Sims 4. You can get this from Argos for £40.99.

4 - Gucci Rush is one of my all time favourite perfumes. I first had it when I was 17/18 and I'm not sure if I bought it for myself or received it as a gift, but I've loved it ever since. My sister asked me what I'd like for Christmas and I mentioned that I've run out of nice perfumes. She knows that I love this perfume so said she'd get it for me. I haven't had it for so long, so I can't wait to wear it over Christmas :). It smells of a mix between florals and spices with notes of bergamot, peony, gardenia, violet, vanilla and patchouli. It is quite a deep, sensual fragrance, I'd definitely recommend giving it a smell next time you're in Boots :). You can get a range of sizes for different prices from Boots.

5 - This Real Techniques Blush Brush is another thing that I mentioned to my sister that I'd like. I only have three Real Techniques brushes, but they are my favourite type of make-up brush to use as they are so soft and provide a flawless finish. I'd love to own the whole collection but out of all the other brushes from the collection, I thought this is the one I'd love to own next. You can get this brush from Feel Unique for £9.99.

6 - I love this Prolex Ceramic Kettle and Teapot In One. It is like a regular kettle but in the shape of a teapot. This specific one is from B&M's for £14.99. This is the first ever design I saw of a teapot kettle and then more recently I saw a similar one in Next. I actually went to a B&M store with Si to purchase this and they didn't have it in stock at that branch but I'd seen it at another branch with my mom a month before, but decided to leave it until a month later as I'd already bought a lot of home furnishings that day. Typical, it's always the way! Anyway, Si said he'd look for one for me for Christmas, so it's on the list! I don't mind if it's this exact design, but I know if Si gets me one, he'll find a good one :). I think this would really stand out in our kitchen and will be something a little bit different, which I love!

What have you asked for this Christmas?

Have you asked for any of the same things as me?

Don't forget to like, comment and follow to keep up to date with the rest of my Blogmas posts :).

Thanks so much for reading lovelies!

Gem XxOo

Images courtesy of I Want One Of Those, B&M's, Boots, Feel Unique, Lush and Argos.

Female Christmas Gift Guide 2012...

Well...it's that time of year again! I can't believe it to be honest and I know people say this every year but I really don't know where the year has gone. Very very fast, I know that much!

So this year I have decided to do two different gift guides: one for females and one for males, so you will see the one for males shortly after this one :). There will be something to suit all budgets and ages. I hope you like my gift ideas, I do try to look for gifts that are a little different, personal and of course all time favourites from brands that I know you guys love. Enjoy...and please please comment and let me know if you like any of my ideas and if you are going to or have bought any of the items that I feature. I love receiving your comments :).

Up to £20...

Animal, the UK sports adventure brand has launched a new beauty and accessories range which would make great gifts for females who like a bit of adventure in their life! They have items ranging from nail files, lip balms, nail polishes and even some cool pink headphones. The Colour Blast Nail Polish Collection (£10 see picture below) is one of my faves as it has four gorgeous metallic colours which will be perfect for the Christmas period and beyond. It has a burgundy, silver, gold and gorgeous blue included, aswell as two nail files. You can take a look at the Animal range at Boots online or in store.

Also from Boots and exclusive to Boots for Christmas is the new limited edition Wild Party trio set (£4.99 see picture below) from Batiste. I'm a huge fan of Batiste and always recommend it to people, so I think this set or a can or two of Batiste would make a great gift. The set includes three limited edition fragrance minis of extrovert and bold Savannah, sassy and daring Wild (a bestseller) and sassy and striking Mamba. The trio comes in a handy see-through bag which can be re-used and is always ideal as you can see right through it, so you know where everything is! There is also a chance within each pack to win a £300 wardrobe from Motel Rocks and you can get 20% discount with your first order. They don't seem to be on the Boots website at the mo, but keep checking or if you're interested pop down to your local Boots :).

I had to include a 'perfect for Christmas' nail polish set from Nails Inc, I couldn't resist! They are perfect colours for the Christmas season. The After Party nail trio (see picture below) consists of a black holographic effect polish, a party glitter polish and a full coverage glitter polish. Disco Lane, Soho Street and Covent Garden Market are the three beauties that make up this trio set. Absolutely perfect for Christmas, parties and feeling all festive! This set is £25 and you can buy it from Asos.

                  Picture courtesy of Boots.             Picture courtesy of Batiste.

Picture courtesy of Asos.

       

Most people associate Aveda with skincare, haircare and make-up. Well I found a lovely alternative to a traditional Aveda gift...their holiday warmth candle (see picture below). The candle has the most amazing Christ-massy smell and consists of ginger, ginger lily and clove. I have one of these myself and can't wait for Christmas time, all snuggled up, warm and cosy with this burning...bliss. It's £20 and burns for over 40 hours! You can buy it from Aveda salons, spas, stores (find your nearest) and online from November 2012. I have checked today (2/11/12) and it isn't online yet, but just keep your eyes peeled if you're interested :).

Another idea along the same lines is a massage candle from Laughing Donkey (see picture below) for£14.99. Candles to me and I imagine most people means chilling out and relaxing. Being at a spa and having a massage also means the same to me. This product combines both (you will need to find the masseuse yourself mind ha!), you allow the candle to burn for up to ten minutes, extinguish the candle and check that the oil it has created is an ideal temp. Then you can find your masseuse, or massage the oil in yourself as a moisturising treatment. There is a little lip on the candle holder, which will make it easy to pour the oil out :). The candle is made from ecological shea butter, scented with lavender, which means it is really moisturising for the skin and will relax you beyond belief...lavender is a god send to me!

Talking of lavender, I sometimes have to rely on this scent to get me to drift off at night. I have cushions filled with lavender and essential oils that I use most nights. If you have the same problem as me, I would definitely recommend trying out lavender oil or products filled with the scent as it can really help and will save you having to go to the doctors for sleeping tablets. Celia Lindsell sells some lovely items filled with lavender, such as her large Lavender Bags (see picture below), which are £15 each and you can get them in lots of different designs. It will sit nicely on your bed and then just lying by it at night should naturally relax your body and mind so you can drift soundly off to sleep :). Highly recommended!

                Picture courtesy of Aveda.       Picture courtesy of Laughing Donkey.

Picture courtesy of Celia Lindsell.

Moving onto something a bit more personalised now...a his & hers calender. When I first saw this I thought it was so sweet and could imagine buying it for couples I know and seeing them smile/laugh at the different pictures for each month. The 12 month calendar is from Getting Personal and is £9.99. You can enter the names of the couple and choose a start month. You can also preview it before you purchase. The pictures are so adorable, there's a gingerbread man and woman page, his n hers pillows, two bears with their arms around each other and each name printed on their backs, rubber ducks, cheese on toast and much more! Each picture has both names featured. *Links removed June 2015 by request.

Picture courtesy of Getting Personal.

Lastly in this section, I'd like to show you some jewellery from a couple of online jewellery sites that I've found recently. I love the style of the jewellery the companies sell and I think they would appeal to a lot of people. First up is a company that sell wrap bracelets. They come in many different designs and layers (3 wrap, 4 wrap, 5 wrap etc). The bracelets are created using leather, beads, semi-precious stones and pearls, to make stylish, on-trend bracelets. The company is called 345 wrap and their items are sold through independent websites such as Reba Boutique. One of my favourite bracelets and one I actually have is the 345 wrap purple bracelet for £12 (see picture below), I love how it sparkles and shines when it catches the light and it definitely jazzes up an outfit, perfect for Christmas party season I think! There are lots of designs to choose from so take a look at that website, or take a look at Not On The High Street, Treasure Box or John Greed, where they are also sold.

The next site is one I have mentioned in a previous blog post of mine...Celliana. I think they have so much on-trend, stylish jewellery to offer, that it would be a shame to miss them out. They have recently had a new A/W collection launch so it's definitely worth a look if you know people who are into their stylish costume jewellery. A couple of my favourites are the Smooth Torq (£8 see picture below) and the Statement Collars (from £2.75-£30 see picture below) that they sell. I especially love the statement collars as gifts, as I think buying someone a couple of them, so that they can swap and change with simple black dresses/tops is a great idea!

Lastly, sticking with fashion, I'd also like to share a watch gift idea with you, but this is a watch with a difference. Ever worn a watch and thought it didn't go with your outfit, so taken it off and gone without? Well now there is a chance you might not have to do that. Find Me A Gift are selling a watch called a Ribbon Watch (see picture below). It's £12.99 and comes with 11 differently designed and coloured straps. You simply choose which one you want, loop through the watch face and tie into a bow! Such a unique way of wearing a watch and something a little bit different. I have seen watches like this in Primark before where you can tie them into a bow, but they didn't come with 11 different strap designs! I think this would make an amazing gift for any fashionista and would jazz up any outfit, making a change from that standard coloured strap.

Picture courtesy of Reba Boutique.

Pictures courtesy of Celliana.

Picture courtesy of Find Me A Gift.

£20 to £50...

The first thing I want to share with you is a company/concept called U Star Novels. The basic concept is that they sell books which you can personalise with your own name, your loved ones name, your families names, your friends names etc...depending on the book and how many characters there are in the book, you can personalise it :). I think it's a really clever and interesting idea that could appeal to a lot of people and it is something a little different. Imagine receiving a book at Christmas (which I don't mind, but some people might) and thinking it's just another book, then reading it and finding out all the character names are of those that you know. If you choose a classic book, it will be clear straight away that it's personalised, as most people will be familiar with the characters in classic books, but with the romance novels, it might not click straight away until you read further into the book and realise there are more and more names that you know. Like I said you can choose from classic books such as Romeo and Juliet or you can choose a romance/vampire novel. They start from £16.95 for a classic novel and go up to £24.95 for other novels. Take a look, you'll have fun typing in names of people you know and reading a preview...I know I did!

Picture courtesy of U Star Novels.

Next is another item I think a lot of people will be interested in...something called a 'Shlomper'. Now this concept is very similar to a onesie but it doesn't fit you all over, it's best described as a house-coat/dressing gown without the tie as it is zipped. It's perfect for lazy mornings or just being cosied up and chilling at night. You can choose from a kimono or kaftan style and prices start from £25. I have one of these myself and it is seriously as comfy as my onesie. These, onesies and snuggies all have the same kind of idea, but they each have their own USP!

  Pictures courtesy of Shlomper.

I'm not sure how widely advertised the next items are, I suppose it depends on whether you go into certain shops, but I only found out about them from a press release. Hasbro...the game company, has partnered with the social gaming giant Zynga to launch physical versions of games played online or on mobile phones. Games such as Cityville, Farmville and Draw Something (see pictures below) have been launched along with others. I know of a few people who are always playing Cityville and Farmville on Facebook as I'm always receiving requests from them to play...too many requests ha, but I have had a go on Draw Something on Si's I-phone (couldn't upload it on mine as it's too old ha ha) and I can see the hype as it can get quite addictive. I can imagine these kind of games are going to go like hot cakes once people know about them enough. You can purchase them from stores such as Argos, Tesco, The Entertainer, Play.com, Toys R Us and Smyths. Draw Something is priced at £19.99, Cityville is £21.99 and Farmville is £19.99 - the prices may be different in each of the before mentioned stores, but those are the approx prices. Take a look at the range, I'm sure you can think of a few people that will like these games :).

Pictures courtesy of Hasbro.

Lush is an all time favourite shop of mine and I love how at different occasions they have products to suit that occasion, so of course they have plenty of Christmas products and gift sets! They have soooo many Christmas gift sets to choose from aswell as individual Christmas items, but all are fabulous and it'll be good if you have a budget as it will be easier for you to choose :). One of my favourite gift sets is 'Merry Christmas' for £23.95, which is an uplifting box of luxury and sparkle featuring: Sunnyside Bubble Bar, Golden Wonder Bath Bomb, which spits out stars! Creme Anglaise, Snowcake Soap and It's Raining Men Shower Gel...such gorgeous products and a gorgeous box for it all to come in!

Picture courtesy of Lush.

Next is a haircare set/range for those that need a little bit of TLC when it comes to their hair. Macadamia Natural Oil products are great to enrich, nourish and rejuvenate the hair. They have many sets that are suited to different hair types/styles, but my favourite gift set is the Macadamia Canteen/Maintenance Set, which is best suited to dry/damaged hair and when you use styling appliances a lot, this can happen and I know a lot of people that do, so if you have a higher budget or want to treat a female to something really nice...this is an ideal gift. The Macadamia Canteen/Maintenance Set comes with 1 x 4.2 oz Healing Oil Treatment, 1 x 3.3 oz Rejuvenating Shampoo, 1 x 3.3 oz Deep Repair Mask and 1 Oil Infused Comb. All of these products are presented in a carry case with a carry strap. This gift is £49.99, so your budget would need to be slightly higher, but I can guarantee the recipient will be thoroughly happy with her gift and will thank you even more when she sees the results! They do have other gift sets available at lower prices, so take a look at their range. If you're wondering why Macadamia Natural Oil is different from other oils, here is what the company said about this on their website...

'Macadamia Natural Oil is extremely light weight and highly absorbent. The oil's unique composition is remarkably similar to our body's own natural oil. It also has an extremely high concentration of Omega 7 acid, which is our body's own natural moisturiser. These two factors enable Macadamia Natural Oil to promote healthy hair growth, not just healthy hair maintenance'.

Picture courtesy of Lavish Soul.

£50+...

The only gift idea that I thought was worthy of being in my over £50 section this year is what I can imagine to be most girls dream. A website that allows you to design and purchase your own shoes! You could give the gift of letting someone design their own shoes or design a pair yourself to give as a gift, knowing how unique and special such pair of shoes are. Shoes of Prey is a website that allows you to choose the shape, colour, design and height of a pair of shoes. Prices start from £100 for sandals up to £210 for ankle boots, so there are going to be some people who want to use this site but can't (like me for example ha!) as their budget isn't big enough. However, if you do have the budget, can you imagine being able to design an original pair of shoes for someone you think a lot of! They do a range of sizes aswell from a tiny child's 12.5 to a much much larger, ladies size 13.5. They can also make one shoe bigger than the other, adjust widths and much more! They also do gift certificates, so if you don't want the pressure of making a unique pair of shoes for someone, give a gift certificate and let your loved one have a field day designing their own shoes.

Picture courtesy of Shoes of Prey.

I hope there is something that catches your eye within my gift guide for females. I'd love to know if you go ahead and buy anything for any of your loves ones :). Many of the companies mentioned/linked above ship to other countries aswell as the UK, so take a look at the websites linked and see what options they have available :). Bring on the Christmas cheer, celebrations, Christmas markets, cosy nights and hopefully fingers crossed...a Christmas morning full of snow!

I hope you all have a fab run up to Christmas and an even better Christmas and New Year :). Look out for my male Christmas gift guide and Christmas food/drink guide coming soon...

Gem XxOo

*

Valentine's Gift Guide for Males and Females...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, a lot of people are thinking about what to get their other half. I have some lovely ideas for both males and females that I thought I would share with you all.

Lets start with gift ideas for females :-). Listen up guys!

Lush is one of my favourite shops ever and I know that for certain special occasions (Valentine's, Christmas etc) they tend to have a lot of new things come in especially for that occasion. Valentine's Day is one of them and they have individual items and gift sets. All are as cute as each other and very hard to choose from, but guys I can imagine it's going to be easier for you to pick up a gift set rather than choosing individual bits if you aren't that familiar with Lush.

Picture courtesy of Lush.

So here we have the P.S I Love You Gift Set from Lush. It is £16.95 and comes in an amazingly cute keep-sake box, which I can imagine most females loving! The set includes It's Raining Men creamy honey shower gel and Soft Coeur chocolate-honey massage bar. There is also a piece of their limited edition Sweetheart soap and some jasmine -scented Silky Underwear dusting powder. This is a lovely gift set and sure to make your loved one feel special and pampered when she is using the products, knowing that you bought it for her! If you don't have a Lush shop near you, you can see this gift set and what else they have to offer for Valentine's on the UK site here. See here if you live elsewhere.

Yankee Candle are well-known for candles and I must say a brand I love! I love getting the little samplers (approx £1.60 each) so I can change the scents I use often. These still provide up to 15 hours of fragrance and are really inexpensive. I have noticed on their website that they have a little section especially for Valentine's Day and I think any female would appreciate receiving these. They fill a whole room with fragrance and there are so many scents to choose from all year round!

Picture courtesy of Yankee Direct.

If you don't have any stores selling Yankee Candles near you, you can see some of their Valentine's range here, but I think any scent(s) would be great as gifts. If you don't live internationally (USA etc) click here to purchase.

Lipsy have a lovely fragrance that would be perfect for a Valentine's gift. It has an uplifting, feminine and sweet scent, which comes housed in a gorgeous pink, love heart shaped bottle (perfect!). The EDT has top notes of bitter orange, mandarin, juicy pear and ginger. Mid notes of rose, jasmine, violet and muguet blended with saffron. The base notes are styrax, patchouli, musk, amber and vetiver. The perfume is available in Lipsy stores or online here and is £18 for 30ml or £25 for 50ml.

Picture courtesy of Lipsy.

Lets move onto gift ideas for males :-) listen up gals!

If you are a regular reader of my Blog you will know that I did a post recently on BlueBeards Revenge shaving products. The post was written by me but in the words of my Fiance, so all opinions were his. You can read that post here.

Pictures courtesy of BlueBeards Revenge.

The pictures above are the products/items that were reviewed in my Blog post (The BlueBeards Revenge Shaving Cream 100ml £9.99, The BlueBeards Revenge Post Shave Balm 100ml £9.99 and The BlueBeards Revenge 'Doubloon' Bristle Shaving Brush £6.99). I won't go into the ins and outs of these products because I have explained it all in the post linked above. However, all I will say is that I Blogged about them for a reason and with qualities such as reducing hair growth, I think BlueBeards Revenge products would make a great gift for any male that hates the hassle of uncomfortable shaving! They also have other products available, for example razors, gift sets, accessories and deodorants. You can see what they have to offer here.

Anyone that is a fan of H&M will probably know that David Beckham has recently joined them to design a range of bodywear. His range includes boxer shorts in different styles, tops, briefs and pyjama trousers, all ranging from £7.99-£19.99.

Pictures courtesy of H&M.

I think with this being a new range and with David Beckham being involved, anything from this range would make a great Valentine's gift for males! If you don't have a H&M near you, you can purchase any of the items here. If you live elsewhere see here.

I just wanted to let you know about the Valentine's gifts that Tesco are doing this year. The reason being because they have quite a few items that are really inexpensive and I immediately thought of younger couples that maybe don't have that much of a budget and want to buy a cute/sweet little gift for their other half.

  

Pictures courtesy of Tesco.

They have a number of gifts for males and females ranging from bath and body products (see pictures above: Bayliss and Harding Rose Love Soaps £4, Bayliss and Harding Skin Spa Rose Bubble Bath £4 and Bayliss and Harding Bathing Roses £3), chocolates, scents and other gifts. If you have a Tesco store near you I would recommend popping in and taking a look at what they have to offer. Otherwise if you live in the UK, you can purchase items online here.

Prezzybox also have a huge range of exciting Valentine's gifts for both males and females, if you are looking for something a bit different.

   

           Pictures courtesy of Prezzybox.

The above items are two of many. The cup originally has red hearts all over it and then when it is filled with a hot liquid it changes to 'I <3 YOU', but obviously with a proper heart :-). So adorable and I think suitable for males and females. You can buy this here. The egg cups and cosies are ideal for couples living together, but if you're not, you can have one each! Each egg cup comes with an egg cosy to keep your breakfast warm before you tuck in! You can purchase this here. They also have plenty of other Valentine's Day Gifts for you to check out.

I hope you like my contribution of ideas and I think any male or female would be lucky to receive any of these lovely gifts :-).

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Much Love,

Gem XxOo

Disclaimer: I have created this Valentine's Gift Guide myself and everything included are my own ideas and products chosen by me. A couple of the gifts have been sent to me as samples or for review consideration, but I chose them in the first place. My opinions/thoughts are and always will be 100% honest.