Gift Guide: Little Girl Edition

It's our final gift guide of the year with our little girl edition. I always look forward to sharing this one because who doesn't get excited when buying toys for little ones. However, this year we have tried to stick to some kind of budget with our daughter and didn't overspend. We searched every corner possible to try and find the best deals around and so here is our little girl gift guide for ages five to seven. 

We have had five wonderful years of Christmas with my little lady and she is more than happy to let us know all the toys that she would love to see under the Christmas tree. However this year she has not given us any clues, whatsoever so we are officially stumped. Our daughter is a real girly girl and loves princesses, fairies but over the last few months her likes have expanded into dragons, dinosaurs, LEGO and Harry Potter. We have been sent some extremely lovely things that are making their way under the tree for her this year and I wanted to share them to maybe help some other parents with gift ideas for their little ones. So without to much rambling on keep reading for some little girl gift inspiration.

Toniebox.

Named one top 10 toys for Christmas 2019, the Toniebox is a easy, fun way for little ones to listen to their favourite audio. Simply place a Tonie audio character on top of the box, and enjoy as the content from the story or song begins to play. Children will love interacting with stories and songs on this soft cube. The stories and songs have already been downloaded and the Toniebox has a seven hour battery life, giving children the chance to enjoy their favourites stories or songs on the move. 

The Toniebox is coated in a durable, sustainable fabric making it perfect for little hands – and the volume and tracks can be changed by simply moving the rubber ears on top of the box. You can choose from green, grey, red, purple, light blue, and pink. The Tonies are adorable hand printed figures each with their own story that you place on top of the Toniebox. These audio characters include Ariel, Cars, The Gurffalo, Zog, Little Red Riding Hood and other fairy tales. 

 Sylvanian Families. 

We started our Sylvanian families collection last year and they all have been a fantastic addition. Last year our daughter got the Red Roof Cosy Cottage, Beechwood Hall along with lots of Sylvanian families. Ever since then she has been captivated with these woodland creatures and wants to keep adding to her collection, she even saved her weekly pocket money to get bathroom set. So even though she wants to collect every set possible, we decided that this year we would stick to a couple of Sylvanian Families, accessories and the baby nursery bus. But in this gift guide we had to share the adorable Kangaroo family that comes in a set of four including Bruce Springer, Shelia Springer, Joanna Springer and Joey Springer. Oh the names! I know that my daughter will absolutely love these especially the baby Kangaroo.

Cook & Serve Set

Now I must admit when it comes to picking the best toys to help and encourage my daughter, it can sometimes be a little tricky. We have all been down the toy aisle overwhelmed by choices. My daughter tends to make a bee line for the flashiest, noisiest, most colourful toys, and in her pursuit she tends to overlook some of the classic wooden toys. Now I can't say that wooden toys have climbed their way up into the list of most wanted toys, but they have been enjoyed by many children over generations. With a little help from Hape Toys we are able to encourage a creative play with this great cook and serve set equipped with wooden pots, pans, plates and accessories, children will have everything they need to cook a delicious meal for friends or family. 

Harry Potter

We have always been big potter fans in this house, however over the summer we introduced our daughter to the wonderful wizarding world and she loves the magic and the fun. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to disappear with a flick of a cloak? Well, muggles! It's finally time to feel like a real wizard and join in the magical fun with this WOW! Stuff Invisibility Cloak. This one is just like Harry's invisibility cloak when it made its first appearance in the Philosopher's Stone when Harry received it as a Christmas present. Who remembers the first thing Harry did with the cloak? I can only imagine my daughter's excitement to finally be able to feel like a real wizard and disappear. We have also collated a few gift ideas that every Harry Potter fan needs to read. 

A Board Game with a Twist

Who doesn't love a good board game at Christmas? Our choice for a board game this year is nothing like we have ever had before, this is a board game with a twist. The Living Things: Predators and Producers Board Game uses active learning that involves lots of fun as you make your way around the board. By climbing up the producers and down the predators to try and rescue Rainforest Rob and winning cocoa beans and bananas as you go along is a great way to reinforce classroom learning. Now even though this will be a little advanced for my daughter we will be taking this board game to play with my nieces and nephews over the holidays. All of the packs on Oakabooks are curriculum based and with the colourful, fully illustrated and clearly laid out designs they are ideal for visual learners and those with Dyslexia. They include memory maps, glossaries of key words and terms, as well as Oaka Active Learning Maps or Games.

LEGO Friends Emma's Art Studio

This LEGO Friends Emma's Art Studio set is ideal for young girls. It contains over 230 pieces, including 2 mini-doll figures: Emma and Andrea, a mini cat toy figure, plus a turning potter's wheel and mini easel stand with water-reveal function. This girls LEGO set is for 6 to 12 year olds, although younger children will enjoy it with a bit of help from parents. It comes with easy to follow instructions, so even girls aged 5 years old should be able to build some parts alone. After the set is built, it will provide hours of playtime fun which is ideal for young girls who love to play with doll and animal figures. The LEGO Friends set is compatible with standard size LEGO, making it an excellent addition to any young girl’s collection.

Frozen EVERYTHING

With the release of the highly anticipated Frozen 2, of course, comes a new set of toys and merchandise for children to add to their Christmas lists. With the popularity of the sequel, it's safe to say that instead of hearing “Let It Go” on loop, you can now prep your ears to listen to “Into the Unknown” on repeat. A Frozen 2 Elsa Singing Doll will be on every girl's list! However, you can't possible have Elsa and no Anna. So this Frozen 2 Anna Singing Doll that plays a snippet of 'The Next Right Thing' ideal for little ones so they can relive all of their fave movie moments. If your little one is itching to get into your accessory collection, try gifting her one of these cute hair accessories sets. A jigsaw puzzle is the perfect way to prolong their Frozen 2 experience, helping to fuel their imaginations while honing their problem-solving skills. This is just a snippet of all the Frozen 2 toys and games that we got for our girl. If the first film craze is anything to go by we are in it for the long haul. 

 How To Train Your Dragon: Light Fury

The fantasy trilogy set in era from long ago follows the exciting adventures of the dragons and their Viking friends. We are massive How To Train Your Dragon fans and our love just keeps growing with every new release. For her birthday we got our daughter the Toothless and Hiccup figure and getting her the Lightfury with Hiccup set would definitely make her smile, as it's been something that she has asked for since her birthday in June. Lightfury has movable legs and her wings can be turned up and down. Hiccup’s arms and legs are movable and his head turns from side to side. 

Disney Princesses

There are so many Disney toys out there, it’s hard to decide what to get for your little one! You may even be buying princess toys for your child or someone else’s child. Should you buy a Belle or a Cinderella? A Tiana or an Ariel? We have a couple of Disney Princess idea for you to help make your choice a little easier. The Disney Princess Mini Toddler Gift Set is the best place to start which include 6 of your favourite Disney Princess friends! Each doll has poseable, moveable arms, legs and head. Features Rapunzel, Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, and Merida. If you feel like getting bigger ones then the Disney Princess Petite Set is a great option as they are small enough for little hands but they can still change their outfits and brush their hair. This set includes three Petite Princess Cinderella, Belle and Ariel and cost £5! Absolute bargain -  got to love TK Maxx. As you all know my daughter loves Rapunzel and has done ever since I can remember  and has been asking for these Rapunzel figures which in previous years were hard to come by or were rather expensive.  This five pack of figures includes all your favourite characters from the Tangled: The Series including Rapunzel, Eugene and Maximus. 

 A Unicorn Journal & Washi Tape

Girls love to create and add their own special touches to pieces of paper. I know that it's not just my little girl! Over the summer she seemed to get a real passion for stationary, she's just like her mama. So we thought that a cute little journal equipped with stickers, washi tape and a notebook with a pen would be the perfect gift for my little doodler. 

It really doesn't matter what type of five year old girl you are shopping for, you can find a least one great idea in our gift guide. We have taken some of the leg work for you by scouting out the best deals to help make your Christmas shopping a little easier. Happy Shopping. 

~ Some of the products featured in this post have been kindly gifted to me, but all thoughts are my own. ~

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Women

Wow we have a great post for you today! It's our biggest ever gift guide for women and we cannot wait to share our gift ideas with you. The holiday season is always so busy, but there's no need to add unnecessary stress to your life thinking about the perfect gift for the women in your life. If you're running low on gift giving inspiration, don't fret! We've rounded up plenty of present ideas that you can buy for the special woman in your life. Whether it's the gal pal who always has your back, your wonderful wife, doting daughter, or your mum these decadent gifts will be sure to make her smile on Christmas morning. 

A Tipple...

Right, I'm just going to put this out this out there - is it even Christmas if you don't enjoy a tipple or two over the festive season. So to ensure that all the festivities get off to a good start why not get those special women in your life their favourite tipple. Whether you're wrapping it up and popping it under the tree or bringing it as a contribution to the dinner table, a stylish bottle makes an excellent Christmas gift. A beautifully designed bottle of gin, rum, whiskey, vodka or liqueur won't just make someone smile as they open pour - it will also make then happy and merry whilst tucking into turkey. 

Mermaid Gin? Is this the most beautiful bottle of gin you've ever seen? It's certainly up there for us and not your typical bottle of gin. The sea-green mermaid inspired Gin from Isle of Wight Distillery will certainly bring delight and smiles on Christmas morning. If you weren't in love enough already, this mermaid gin is presented in a sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable packaging to help preserve the environment by supporting marine conservation projects. As for the gin itself? It's a delight - a smooth yet complex blend of the freshness of organic lemon zest, the peppery notes in grains of paradise and a hint of sea air from rock samphire. 

What better way to compliment your Gin that with this book 'How To Drink Gin' by Sue Telford. Discover how gin is made, get familiar with key botanicals, learn how to taste gin, `build' your own go-to gin cabinet, and create simple but amazing gin cocktails. This has to be the perfect gift for those who love gin, but don't necessarily know a lot about it. At only £12.99 you can't really go wrong. How To Drink Gin is available from Red door Press, Waterstones, and Amazon. 

For the Beauty Girl

While a bottle of wine is nice, a palette of shimmery nude shadows is the real way to a beauty lover's heart for the holidays. And whether she is a makeup expert, candle hoarder, or eco lover, there's something for every type in this gift guide. Just be warned that you may feel inclined to buy some for yourself too and that's totally normal. Just like this really great Manna Kadar Costmetics Lux Shadow Palette that came my way. The Luxe Eyeshadow Palette contains endless colour combinations to create the perfect subtle or dark smokey-eye. With deep browns to soft and subtle beige, these creamy and highly pigmented powders are perfect for a day look or a night time look. What better way to go all glam over the Christmas period that with a gorgeous set of eyelashes to compliment a smokey eye. Kiss Lash Couture Naked Drama, Lacey that feature a split-tip false lashes that offer full, fluffy volume once applied.

Now I love nails and always add a bright pink, red or nude shade to my naked nails when I can, and I'm good to go. However, after a couple of days they begin to chip and reapplication becomes the bane of my life, going through tonnes of nail polish and remover in the process. So as you can imagine I'm always on the look out for some decent nail polish and for this time of year on the hunt for a gorgeous berry shade and a little sparkle. Leighton Denny always have the best colours this time of year just like these Vintage Chic and Free Spirit which are a matched made in heaven.

For Those Who Need More Relaxation...

Us girls need a little more of TLC and what better way to make sure they do than buying her something that will make sure she has more time to relax and recuperate in 2020. Indulge in ultimate relaxation with African Orange Aromatic Infusions from Evolve Beauty which includes a indulgent body wash and a moisturiser that leaves you silky smooth and smelling amazing. However, what makes this aromatic duo even better is that its all natural, vegan friendly, cruelty free that has been hand crafted with non toxic chemicals, making it the perfect gift for those who want to help the environment. 

Candles, wax melts and fragrance are always a winner. Sassy Shop Wax Melts is the place to go as they have a wide range of products available to suit all. You can choose from sweet seasonal scents like gingerbread, pumpkin spice, and toffee apple or perhaps  floral scents like Rhubie Rose, or Snow Pixie are more your style. Sassy Shop Wax Melts have everything you will need. When it comes to the actual was melts themselves you can choose from wax melt bars, segment pots or small tubs especially if you're like me and love to keep a stash under the kitchen sink. 

For The Girl Who Loves Her Skin...

'Tis the season to gift and glow. Lucky for you we have something extra-special for skin care that are the golden tickets to both gifting and glowing. No matter who is on your list, these brightening, hydrating, and nourishing serums are bound to put a smile on their face. Comprising of three serums that have been especially designed to target specific skincare issues that can be mixed and matched where necessary. In this gift guide we have Pure Collagen Biphase Serum, Pure Caviar Biphase Serum and Pure Hyaluronic Acid Biphase Serum that all focus on specific need that help plump out the skin, help retain water and strengthening the skin and it's natural oil barrier leaving our skin feeling hydrated and super smooth. 

Sanctuary is always on my list! My husband always manages to get me some of the most beautiful sets and I'm sure that this year won't be any different. Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly has actually been a bit of a game changer for me and has helped my skin no end this time of year. this product was a little strange at first but I have used it for the last 3 weeks and cannot tell you how amazing it really is. It has saved me 10 minutes at least in a morning, soaks up so well and throughout the day I have faint smell off watermelon. 

For The Stylish Gal...

If you really want to turn their head and give them something a little luxurious like this gorgeous Fiorelli Windsor Floral Purse which is perfect and handy to just pop into your bag. It's textured, not smooth or rugged but in between the two textures and it's surprisingly light, which I didn't expect. This design comes is a part of a gorgeous collection that I would love one of each. There are quite a few different pieces available in the Windsor Floral range so it would be hard not to get the woman in your life a matching handbag, we love to match. 

A personal touch with a little sparkle. If you didn't know rose gold is a bit of a thing right now, lots of people are adding rose gold hues to their hair, make-up and even décor. So it comes to no surprise that people want to add a little rose gold into their jewellery collections and what a better way to say I love you than with a little jewellery. Sometimes the simplest styles can be the most striking, as this gorgeous rose gold knot initial bangle demonstrates. A stylish addition to any jewellery collection that doesn't cost the earth. With copper hues and warmer tones it's sure to make a statement and they won't ever want to take it off. If you want to WIN one for yourself then don't forget to enter our GIVEAWAY on INSTA. 

For The Girl Who Loves a Sweet Scent...

Is it even Christmas without receiving a fragrance or two? And I have seen a couple of fantastic deals online and out and about in town. Fragrance is always a winner. My favourites this year are Jimmy Choo Fever and Calvin Klein Obsessed for Women. They both smell incredible and are long lasting which can be hard to find sometimes. A fairly new discovery for me is Jimmy Choo Blossom which is a floral fragrance that opens with bright and sparkling top notes of red berries blended with a citrus cocktail. A delicate heart of sweet pea and rose complements rich and sensual base notes of white musk and sandalwood.

For The Cosy One...

No Christmas is complete without a set of comfy pyjamas and fluffy socks. Am I right? These luxurious soft cotton fabric from Blackspade are super comfortable and so lightweight, it really does feel as if you don't have anything on. We have a pair of lilac and grey check bottoms that have an elasticated waist band to ensure you can eat as much turkey as you wish. These bottoms have been paired with a long sleeved grey tee that is actually long enough. 

For The Girl Who Likes Lace...

So I guess the place we need to finish is lingerie and let's be honest, you can't go wrong with this one. Whether you're looking for something feminine, sexy, or lingerie that provides figure flattering appeal on your curves this beautiful lace underwear is always a great choice. The Net Effects Short features a subtle floral embroidery in a soft Rose Dust colourway for an elegant style. It offers a seamless finish under your clothes and co-ordinates with the Net Effects Bralette. Not only do they look elegant and super sexy they are very light and super soft to touch despite the intricate detailing of the lace. 

The holiday season is always so busy, but there's no need to add unnecessary stress to your life thinking about the perfect gift for the women in your life. If you're running low on gift giving inspiration, don't fret as I'm sure you have a few ideas now. 

~ Some of the products featured in this post have been kindly gifted to me, but all thoughts are my own. ~

It's Nearly Advent Time!

Now, before I go on about how much I can't believe it's nearly December and blah blah, I'm gonna stop myself, because we could be here all day! As we've all got advent calendars to get, a Christmas tree to get from the loft and probably too much mess to clean up. November has been a busy month full of planning, list making and gift buying. Trying to make everything perfect for December as it really is the month to remember. 

The best part of Christmas has to be the countdown to the big day. It makes the whole month of December fun and exciting. As a child getting to open a little door to discover a little chocolate would be the best thing about the day. Chocolate for breakfast? Yes! Always. However, advent calendars have really changed over the years and are on a much bigger scales. Kick starting the Christmas countdown with an advent calendar is the ultimate festive treat, but things have definitely moved from a small choccy everyday. From beauty products, cheese, gin to luxury chocolate, LEGO and even socks. Advents are really having a moment so lets look at some ideas to help you count the day in December. 

Keep It Simple with Chocolate.

We have come a long way to just have those chocolate advent calendars haven't we? Now I'll be the first to admit I love a dairy milk advent calendar and I am not too old for one, take note MUM!!! I am still your child, no matter my age! However we will keep it simple this year and go for a chocolate advent, it's traditional and you can always pick up these types of advents for less than a £1. Every year it's so lovely to watch my daughter get so excited trying to open her door to discover a little chocolate each morning. So this year we got her a Dairy Milk Advent Calendar and she loves it already. However, she will have to miss day 13, as she decided to open to see what was inside. You can never trust little people with advents! Have a chocolate filled festive countdown with this amazing Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Advent Calendar! A mix of chocolate and white chocolate peanut butter cup miniatures behind every door and a surprise in no. 24. This one is for my husband as he really loves Reese's chocs. 

The Train Advent Calendar. 

A new addition to our counting down to advent this year is the most adorable Train Advent Calendar. We spotted this little train a while back on a trip to go and see all the Christmas madness at The Range, I know I am not the only one who does that. Actually come to think of it, it's been a kind of weekly thing for us. But getting back to where I was going with this, oh yes, the train advent. So we saw this adorable train and decided to get it closer to December and I am glad we waited as the train went down in price. So we will be making the counting down to Christmas all the more fun with this fantastic Train Advent Calendar. Complete with 24 draws to fill with goodies from sweets to small toys, this calendar features a festive train adorned with adorable, detailed figures including a teddy bear and snowman. A classic that can be used year after year, this wonderful Advent Train will certainly keep a smile on my daughter's face.

The Book Advent Calendar.

I have been wanting to do a book advent calendar for some time, but never seemed to get around to actually planning for one. However with my little book worm really getting into books and is fantastic at blending her words, we thought that now would be the perfect time to try and create a book advent calendar. Every night without fail we will always have story time, it's like our extra bonding time and it's something that we will always do together. For us it's the most important part of our day. So for the month of December, my daughter will unwrap a new Christmas book to read before bed. As I embarked on this project, I discovered that we already had 10 Christmas books. I would only need a few more to make a complete set. So began the task of scouring online for Christmas books. We now have more than enough books to countdown to Christmas. We are very excited. I think it's such a great way to encourage children to read and I know that this is something that she will appreciate in years to come. 

Something that I remember doing as a child was counting down the days with this very old ornament of my parents. It's a musical tree that has 24 mini decorations and as each day passes you add an ornament to the tree. My sister and I would take it in turns to put a decoration on the tree. And now that my sister has three children of her own and I have my little lady they will be carrying on the tradition and taking it in turns to add a decoration to the tree. 

The LEGO Advent Calendar.

A love for LEGO was something that was born last year and over the year my daughter's love for LEGO just continues to grow. This year we also introduced our daughter to Harry Potter and let's just say we have a big Potterhead in the family now. So seeing as she loves the wonderful wizarding world I know that she is going to love this Harry Potter Themed LEGO Advent Calendar. Models include a micro Hogwarts Express train, buildable fireplace with Christmas decorations, and Great Hall table with accessories. However, if your little LEGO fans are not Potterhead then there are quite a few different LEGO advent calendars around sure to suit any LEGO fan. The have become a firm favourite so as you can imagine the yearly search for the LEGO advent calendar can be fraught, so get ahead of the game and buy yours now to avoid having to look at disappointed little faces. We actually go our daughter back in September through Ebay as it was on a special offer, so we made sure it arrived in plenty of time. 

Luxe Beauty Advent Calendars.

Now the beauty advent calendars are certainly having a moment with so many brands getting on the advent train offering luxury products for just a cut price. One of my favourites is the Body Shop 'Dream Big This Christmas' Advent Calendar. This deluxe advent calendar is made to inspire. Each day you will be gifted with the achievement of brilliant women who made history. As this is a beauty advent calendar, you can expect loads of Body Shop treats in there too, from face masks to shower gel and and bath bombs. I'm a big fan of GLOSSYBOX and their advents that are jam packed full of gorgeous treats to spoil yourself with over December. And of course Charlotte Tilbury Calendar Glittering Galaxy of Make-up Magic. With a name this magical, we're expecting big things, and trust us, you won't be disappointed. Containing enough skincare and make-up treats to create two entire beauty looks, it's your Christmas party season sorted. 

The Wild and Wonderful  Advent Calendars.

How about some wild and wonderful advent calendars? You can choose from beard oils, gin, spices,  to chilli sauce, cereals and even protein balls. You will find the most wild and wonderful advents out there. Pork scratchings? Yes there is an actual pork scratching advent calendar. This decidedly different advent calendar by The Snaffling Pig includes six different flavour combinations. One for the gym goers? Yep, we have you covered. The Protein Ball Co. have released another advent calendar that is also gluten free. Each calendar contains a combination of six Vegan flavours where behind each door there is a tasty protein ball, so you can enjoy a different flavour every day. There's also a special festive protein ball on Christmas Eve. This healthy alternative are the perfect gift for friends or family who are into keeping fit or who want to stay healthy this Christmas. 

So whether you want to keep it simple with a chocolate advent, create your own, go for a little luxury with a beauty calendar or choose a wild and wonderful advent this year - you will definitely find something that suit you, your tastes and your lifestyle. Just be quick, before they go. 

~ Some of the products featured in this post have been kindly gifted to me, but all thoughts are my own. ~

Budget Friendly Gift Guide for Men.

Every year my husband is an absolute sod to buy for, like most men in my family. They never seem to give anyone any idea on what they would like to find under the tree come Christmas morning. It’s quite frustrating. I’m sure there are only so many Lynx sets and socks they can tolerate. So I have scoured the budget friendly corners of every shop and department store to curate a list full of gifts that will suit any hard to buy for man in your life. Whether he is likes going to the gym, loves chocolate or in need of a good tee, we have the gift for him.

Clothing

I think the most obvious idea for Christmas is clothing. Whether its pyjamas, socks or a simple t-shirt you can't really go wrong. Just make sure that you get the right size, the last thing you want to do is make them feel bad with a t-shirt that is too small or too big. My husband is pretty picky when it comes to his clothes. But I guess being with him for over ten years you could say that I have got to know his style a little and I have found the perfect t-shirt for him that I know that he will love. This Lyle and Scott Mini Square Dot Pocket Polo will be great for those causal looks but can be styled for a smarter look with chinos for a date night.

Trainers are always on my husband's wish list for Christmas and its always good to get something that you know that they have had their eye on. So when we did a spot of Christmas shopping the other day we found a pair of these Adidas Pace vs Nubuck Mens Trainers in Navy and in size! A simple and stylish look that is perfect for everyday wear, crafted with a simple nubuck upper with tonal stitched detail teamed with a two tone striped pull tab to the heel. My husband normally takes a size 12 or 13 in trainers and stores never seem to stock them so we usually order them online so it made a refreshing change to get our hands on them in store. 

Grooming 

You can't really go wrong with a razor? It's something that they need and can never have too many of them. Just like this Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide Chrome Edition Razor which features 5 anti-friction blades for a shave you barely feel, and a chrome effect handle that lets you shave in style. With FlexBall technology, ProGlide responds to contours and gets virtually every hair. You could even get a subscription for them like this great one with The Personal Barberr.

Aftershave is always a great choice and you can cater to all types of budgets. But perhaps get him something that he hasn't tried before and after a handful of those spritz cards I decided on a little luxury with this Prada Black with dry musky Amber set off with frothy Patchouli and Coumarine, with hints of Bergamot and Angelic slowly builds and crashes with seductive, masculine energy. For Fathers, Grandfathers and Uncles some Old Spice is always something the mature man likes and I got a lovely Old Spice Whitewater gift set for my Dad that includes a deodorant spray and an aftershave. 

This O’Keeffe’s gift set would make a lovely gift for those who have working hands. My husband uses his hand as an engineer on a daily basis and he is always getting some kind of cuts and grazes. So this year I thought that I would look into getting something for his hands and came across this gift set. There are so many different gift sets available but I really like this one because it includes O’Keeffe’s Working Hands, O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet and lastly some O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair. 

Gadgets 

Gadgets, let's face it guys love their gadgets! My husband tries to keep fit and one thing that he is really interested in getting is a fitness tracker, he has a watch but finds it far too heavy and not very practical when active. This Fitbit Flex 2 Fitness Wristband is the perfect choice as it's super lightweight but he will be able to track steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly activity and stationary time. Automatically track activities like running, sports and aerobic workouts, then see exercise summaries in the Fitbit app. It will also let him know when he has calls and texts, Flex 2 vibrates and the discreet LED display flashes colour-coded lights. I also like the fact that the Fitbit flex 2 is the first swim-proof device from fitbit, meaning it is water resistant to 50 meters. 

For those days at the gym or at football ION8 Leak Proof Water Bottle in the 1000ml size will be the perfect companion. Open these drinking bottles with one hand, and lock them closed for peace of mind when throwing into a bag. Made from BPA free, phthalate free, non-toxic TRITAN. This versatile drinks bottle is odour resistant, easy to hand wash and suitable for hot or cold drinks. And with various colours and sizes available, you’re sure to find something that suits your lifestyle among the collection.

Foodie

Can you even call it Christmas if you can’t over indulge over the festive season? Food, chocolate or sweets are always a winner when it comes to getting my husband a couple of stocking fillers or small gifts for under the tree. As you will know we are big Haribo fans in this house hold and so this Haribo Hamper is the perfect gift idea for my husband. Featuring a merry mix of sweet treats, the HARIBO Hamper makes the perfect present to unwrap on Christmas morning. Bursting with choice, this sweet gift includes something to suit all tastes with sweet and sour Bear Buddies, Squidgy Strawbs, Jelly Beans, Balla Stixx, Chamallows and delicious Dummies Z!NG. What’s not to love.

Chocolate! Yes, always. These sumptuously smooth and luxurious ranges of bars from Conscious Chocolate are pieces of chocolate on another level making these cute bars the best gift for the men in our family. Conscious chocolate is the first raw began chocolate brand in the U.K. Each bar of Conscious Chocolate is expertly blended by chocolatiers with special essential oils, herbs and spices to enhance the overall experience. We tried 'The Dark Side' which is a Rick Peruvian cacao and a touch of sweet vanilla making this the perfect pairing. What says Christmas more than the sweet smooth taste of chocolate accompanied by the citrus of oranges or tangerines? That's why this ‘Orange & Tangerine’ bar was by far our favourite.  Conscious Chocolate have a festive 'Peppermint' too which is rich and creamy but has a clean and refreshing finish. Personally its such a great way to indulge after dinner or to munch on whilst watching Netflix. All Conscious Chocolate bars are handmade and all the packaging is plastic free, recyclable and home compostable. The inks are all made from vegetable inks and with a water-based varnish.

Something that you wouldn’t necessarily think about for a gift this year is a magazine subscription, but not just any old magazine subscription. A gift subscription is a monthly reminder for your friends and loved ones to look after themselves and look out for others. Happiful contains a wide range of features, interviews, actionable advice and true stories. Should you wish to include Happiful to your gift list this year, Happiful are pleased to be offering 50% off 6 and 12 month subscriptions. The specially-priced gift subscription can be purchased here. The discount code is HAPPYXMAS19 and the price is £24 (+ p&p) for 6 months or £48 (+ p&p) for 12 months.

So if you're tight on a budget, buying for the men in you life may seem even more difficult that usual. But fortunately for you, we have covered most areas when it comes to gifts and I really hope that our budget friendly gift guide for men inspires you, even a little. 

~ Some of the products featured in this post have been kindly gifted to me, but all thoughts are my own. ~

Counting Down the Days Until Christmas with Funky Pigeon

Ahhhh, the anticipation of Christmas! Not long until the big day, are you prepared? Have you finished or are you one of the last minute frantic shoppers? I'm definitely in the latter category. It really is the most wonderful time of the year however for me the best part of Christmas has to be the countdown to the big day. 

It makes the whole month of December fun and exciting. As a child getting to open a little door to discover a little chocolate would be the best thing about the day. Chocolate for breakfast? Yes! Always. However, advent calendars have really changed over the years and they are on a much bigger scale now. Kick starting the Christmas countdown with an advent calendar is the ultimate festive treat, but things have definitely moved from a small choccy everyday to beauty products, cheese, to gin, LEGO and even socks. It's nearly advent time so why not read some of our ideas?

However, there are other ways you can countdown to Christmas that don't include getting something behind a little cardboard door. Last year we started a Christmas Book Advent Calendar and it was a big success and so we just add a couple of seasonal books into our book advent this year, we also have an advent train that have little drawers that we can fill with little treats. We have also decided to add a few more Christmas decorations around the house this year and make my daughter's bedroom as festive as possible. 

We loved this 'Sleeps Until Xmas Personalised Hanging Slate Sign' which is made of natural slate and finished with rope this hanging sign making it a fun way to countdown the days until Christmas. I know that my daughter will love counting down the days with this personalised slate sign. You can personalise it with any name you wish up to 15 characters above the fixed text ‘has sleeps until Christmas’. All that’s left to do is grab some chalk and begin counting down. 

However, no Christmas is complete without a sack to lay under the tree ready for presents from Father Christmas. We have been meaning to get our daughter a bigger sack as the older she gets the bigger her toys are becoming. There is some much choice from personalised sacks to traditional ones and even hessian styles, these sacks are a great way to save on gift wrap and they offer an alternative to Christmas stockings. They can even be reused each year to bring even more festive cheer. That's why we loved this 'Holly Initial Personalised Cotton Sack' as its something that we can use year after year as its 46cm wide and 60cm tall so we won't be short of space. It can be personalised with any initial you like that is accompanied by a holly. You can also add a 'Holly Initial Personalised Christmas Stocking' whether its for decorative purposes or an extra gift to give on the big day, it will be something that you can use year after year. 

What are you favourite ways to count down in December? Do you like to keep it simple with a chocolate advent, create your own, or go for a little luxury with a beauty calendar or choose a wild and wonderful ways to count down- whatever you choose I'm sure it will be fun counting down the days to Christmas. 

~ Some of the products featured in this post have been kindly gifted to me, but all thoughts are my own. ~