5 Things Friday - The Christmas Gift Guide
Short on ideas? It seems to get harder and harder each year, but, fear not, I've done all the hard work for you. Gifts under £20, for him and her, plus a small business edit.
Is it me or does it get increasingly difficult to think of different and interesting presents that someone will appreciate and use? I have a pet hate of unused gifts - the cost, the effort you put in to choose the item and then it sits there cluttering up the house. All sounds a bit bah humbug, I know, but I’m really not a fan of a jokey gift for just that reason! Anyway, in an effort to ensure that doesnt happen, I’ve been scrolling the internet for the last few weeks to get some good ideas and hopefully provide some inspiration.
*A quick up date, a few of my favourite brands have gone into the BF sale this morning, Monica Vindader is now 30% off site wide and a daily 50% flash sale. I did a big Whistles edit here and everything is now 20% off.
First up…
Small Business Gift Guide
Buying from a small business not only means you get a unique, and often handmade, gift, but it also helps to support a small business owner. So what’s not to love? Here are a few of my favourites…
Alison Fern Jewellery - Gorgeous thoughtful jewellery designs crafted carefully by hand.
Amelia Rose Accessories - A lovely range of thoughtfully chosen accessories. Think scarves, jewellery and gorgeous crossbody bags.
Rock&Ruby Socks - Who doesn’t love a colourful sock? And these are made in Britain from luxurious wool and cotton. They do fab gift sets, and my discount code MELISSA10 gives you 10% off.
Harrogate Organics - Local to me, Harrogate Organics has a super range of well-being products. The magnesium spray is award-winning, and I love the sleep candle too. My discount code MELISSAABBOTT gives you 15% off.
Lucky Stitch - Kate Kingham is an experienced designer-maker who has created a unique range of products, from luxurious scarves to charming lavender birds, all focusing on sustainable, high-quality British wool.
Gifts Under £20
Secret Santas, stocking fillers and those little last-minute purchases can end up being costly. Now the girls are all grown up, we’ve opted to do a Secret Santa present that goes in our stockings which we all exchange on Christmas morning on my bed. There are a few around the £20 mark, but I tried hard to source most of them for under a tenner.
You can shop the whole edit here but these some of my favourites…
My uni girls love herbal tea, so I bought them both the big Pukka gift set last year, which was very well received. Tangle Teezer mini brushes are in all my girls’ handbags (I love this fun print one), and I don’t know where my travel mug disappears to, but a personalised one would be lovely. Talking of travel, I received the little mini travel jewellery box as a gift last year and it has since come on every trip I’ve done.
Sourcing gifts under £20 is hard enough, but add in finding one for the man in your life! I’ve gone with a mix here to cover younger men (I asked the boyfriends) as well as the dads, uncles and grandads. Mr A can testify to how good the padded scarf and M&S tee shirts are (he has quite a few). I love the smell of the Jo Malone London Intense, so it was worth going slightly over the budget for that, and I bought the White Company Car Scenting Diffuser last year for one of my girls and every time I get in her car I think I must get one for ours.
Gifts for Beauty Lovers
So that would be me and my daughters! I tend to buy the girls a few products that they use every day (I need the Living Proof Dry Shampoo on tap in my house) and a few special treats. I’ve never used the iconic La Mer cream but a girl can dream, however, Elemis is one of my favourite skincare brands, and the Pro-Collagen range is so good.
You can see the whole edit here, but again some of my favourites… You know I’m a Jones Road convert and if you’ve not tried it yet then go with the Miracle Balm, it’s multi-purpose and great for winter lips! I’ve fallen back in love with my Current Body LED mask after suffering a stressed skin outbreak over the summer - I’ve a discount code MELISSACB for 10% off. La Roche-Posay is one of those no-nonsense brands - the Cicaplast Balm is amazing for all skin concerns and a great price. The last one is the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum set. Personally, I don’t get what the fuss is about but someone asks for it every year and at that price, I’m happy to go with it.
That’s the husband in our house, although there are a few things on here I’d be happy to receive. Last year, I bought him the Our Place pan and it's such a success my eldest daughter asked for the pink one this year.
You can view the whole edit here. Some of my favourites… I’ve been collecting Emma Bridgewater pottery since I got married; the glassware is beautiful and a substantial weight and, with the packaging, makes a lovely gift. A huge pepper mill would look very nice in the kitchen and who wouldn’t want a bumblebee oven glove?
A hot bath, a lit candle, and a box of chocs in front of the telly would be my perfect Christmas night in. I did my personal gift list a few weeks ago but actually can I have any of these too?
I asked on Instagram for a recommendation for a back massager and this brand got lots of mentions, so it’s on my Christmas list. Is it my age or does The White Company Electric fleece seem such a good idea?! And no Christmas is complete without a pair of cashmere bedsocks.
So, I am hoping this has solved all your Christmas gifting dilemmas - and maybe given you some ideas for yourself.
Next week it is Black Friday. Last year I sent out a list of all the brands and their discounts and from the feedback you all found it useful so I’m planning on doing the same again.
One parting gift to you; remember to take a little time out for yourself amongst all the Christmas chaos. I watched a cheesy Christmas movie in bed the other night and it was the nicest couple of hours I’d had all week!
Until next Friday,
Melissa xx