There’s a rule in our house; no Christmas food until after Bob’s birthday on the 21st of November. It’s a hard one for me to stick to as I love snacking on festive themed treats, but now the day has safely passed we’re going at it full pelt.
First on our list were these Fairtrade Chocolate Caramelised Cashews with Cranberries* created by Liberation Foods for Tesco Finest.
Liberation Foods are the UK’s only farmer-owned nut company, and this product will bring extra income to farmers and their communities in countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Costa Rica.
Made up of two types of cashews: caramelised and coated in dark chocolate, and roasted and coated with creamy white chocolate, this is a super indulgent treat, paired perfectly with sharp and zingy cranberries for the ultimate festive treat.
These are a lovely looking product, perfect for popping out when hosting guests over the festive season or putting in to a hamper. It’s worth noting that packaging is also recyclable, boosting the products eco and fair-trade credentials. Available in Tesco stores across the country, and online for £4.00, both Bob and I highly recommend these – what a way to see in the start of the season of snacking!
Next in my series of little gift guides is some stocking filler ideas for beauty queens; I’ve always enjoyed receiving nail products in my christmas stocking and the pieces featured in this post will also be perfect for using for the New Years festivities.
Leighton Denny are one of my favourite nail brands and are always super on point with their trend-led colours. The glass nail file* costs £12.50 and is perfect for handbags as it won’t bend and snap like standard files. I absolutely love these two shades of polish*, especially the deep blues and greens of shade “kinky boots”. These cost £12.00 each and are worth every penny.
Kiss Nails are well known among bloggers, and for good reason. Whilst I’m currently sporting acrylic nails (my little indulgence) these are the only brand of stick on nails I’ll use and, again, they are something I’ve always loved to see stashed in my stocking. These very trendy sets are beautiful and perfect for party season as well as gifting. The Rose Gold glam fantasy set is especially stunning- you can find the full range at Boots and Superdrug (both sets gifted for consideration for this post).
Halloween and bonfire night have passed, which, according to just about everywhere now means it’s Christmas! I’m usually one of those people who is super organised and has most of their shopping done by now, but this year I am a bit stuck and therefore WAY behind myself. Am I panicking? Perhaps a little…but I’m sure it’ll all work out in the end.
I was recently sent a couple of gifts from Sous Chef which is one of my all time favourite foodie sites to browse, so to say I was over the moon would be a slight understatement. Actually, since these items arrived I’ve had further browsing sessions on the site and I do feel that half my Christmas shopping problems have been solved. Anyway…
Anyone that knows Bob and I will be familiar with our chilli obsession; we curved our enthusiasm somewhat after a vegan chilli disaster last year (never before has a dinner gone entirely in the bin, it was literally glowing from the heat it contained) but are gently easing ourselves back in, so this Mexican Chilli Selection (£13.95) was very well received and is just one of many fantastic chilli options on the Sous Chef website.
The second item we were sent was this beautiful Ramen set (£39.50) which could not have been better timed as we had literally just a few days before decided we wanted to experiment more with ramen and noodle dishes in general.
This is such a beautiful set (there are several options available) and makes such an ideal gift for a foodie couple. It comes with a booklet full of recipes, and whilst we haven’t made anything yet you’d better watch this space (well, instagram) for what is to come.
Both items arrived impressively packaged and ready to give as gifts. Whilst these items were gifted to me by Sous Chef I honestly cannot recommend this website enough, I’ve been a fan girl for years. You’ll find everything you need for foodie friends and family, from stocking fillers and delicious treats to much grander gifts for super special occasions.
Doesn’t the year just fly by? Each one seems to go faster and faster; no sooner is one Christmas over and done with we all start counting down to the next… and when you hit double figures in days until the season to be jolly, you might well start to quietly panic.
Christmas gift buying is a challenge. Not only is it a major financial undertaking, but it can also be really stressful coming up with ideas of what to get people. You need to show them that you care and that you have thought of them, but there can be a danger of overthinking about it and not being able to commit to a gift and making a rash panic buying decision at the last minute.
There are a few ways that you can make life easier for yourself when it comes to gift buying. Whether you are looking for British Jewellery, clothes, or beautiful ornaments, there are ways to buy these things with less stress weighing on your mind.
Start Earlier In The Year
The earlier you start buying all of your Christmas gifts, the earlier you will be finished. Believe it or not, the best time to start buying gifts is in January. During the January sales, many retailers need to clear through all of their excess stock. They will be playing a game of dual purpose when it comes to setting out their sales. Firstly, they want to clear through any remaining inventory so that they can make way for the next seasons stock. Secondly, during the quietest time of the year for retail, they need to get as much money in the back as possible. With the end of the tax year looming, they need their balance sheet to look good. Enticing people to buy at markdown prices is often the only way they can do this when people have such empty pockets. This is a time when you can get some of the best deals of the year.
If you fail during the January sales, fear not. The summer sales are normally a chance for retailers to make space for their Christmas stock. You will see some genuine bargains during this time.
Buy An Experience
Memories are worth much more than gifts. If you want to give a gift that will be treasured, give somebody a memory instead. Why not pay for a ride on a hot air balloon? Or even take them away for a weekend relaxing in a spa? Try and cover every base; the more attention to detail you can add to the gift, the better. So, pick out where you will eat when you take them there, work out how they will get there, have a full itinerary ready so that they don’t have to think.
Give Handmade Gifts
If you want to show someone that you care why not make them something that is well thought out and creative. You have the skills, devote a bit of time to making them a piece of artwork or jewellery. They will appreciate the effort that you have put in. .
Ever since the books launched I’ve had a soft spot for Harry Potter and his wizarding pals. Fifteen year old me named my black and ginger guinea pigs “Harry” and “Ron”, and whilst now, 17 years later I’m a bit more restrained in my love of these characters, it’s still very much there.
Gift brand Paladone have an amazing range of Harry Potted themed merchandise and very kindly allowed me to pick out a few pieces for myself. With Christmas rapidly approaching (I hate to say it, but it’s true) I thought this would be the opportune moment to start introducing some gift guide type posts.
I love this little travel card holder, and whilst I don’t have need of travel cards I’ve been using this to keep my most used bank cards handy on my lunch break when I don’t want to take my whole bag out with me. This is the perfect little stocking filler for any Harry Potter fan.
This travel mug is a lovely, grown up gift for Harry Potter fans and super useful. I collect travel mugs like I collect normal mugs- you can never have too many in my eyes. I love the burgundy colour and the proud Hogwarts crest.
Sorry for the terrible photo, I really need to get a light box or something for photos as our house doesn’t lend itself to good lighting. You can still see how awesome this mug is though- designed like the travel mug with the Hogwarts crest, this is a great gift idea for grown up, and not so grown up Harry Potter fans and ideal for a restorative brew.
Paladone is a new to me absolute treasure trove for gifts and inspiration- make sure you’re following them on instagram too for all of their greatest releases.
