Christmas Gift Guide - For Men

With Christmas just three weeks away, I'm now in the process publishing my annual Christmas gift guides. I really enjoy putting these together every year because they push me to think out of the box, to consider other options, and leave me feeling inspired. Earlier this week I published my Gift Guide for Women, which you can find here, but today's gift guide is focused on the men in our lives. I hope that my suggestions give you a little inspiration when it comes to gift-giving this Christmas.

Personalised Prosecco - from £16.99
I'm starting this gift guide with two products that are ideal for those who like to have a drink or two at Christmas time. It's Your Bottle offers a range of different wines, which can be personalised with your choice of label. Choose from red wines, white wines, prosecco or rose, and customise with a label suitable for the occasion that you are celebrating. I opted for a bottle of prosecco with a rather fitting, festive label, perfect for making a toast on Christmas day.

Dartington Crystal - Three Cheers for Beers Gift Set - £27.00
Give fellow beer lovers the chance to explore and indulge in different types of beer from around the world with the Dartington Three Cheers to Beers gift set. Included in the set are a classic pint glass, a stemmed Pilsner lager and a footed glass for strong, dark ales. I tend to reach for packs of beers for the blokes in my family, so this is a great alternative this year, one which I know my Father in law will really appreciate.

What's That Smell? - £24.99
As you can see by the front of the box it's described as "the party game that stinks" and just the tagline alone makes it appeal to so many blokes (and women) out there! It's dubbed as the first ever scent guessing party game that opens up a world of interesting smells! Guess the scent on the card correctly to win or you could be suffering the reeking ramifications of one of the deadly Stank Cards! Yuck! With over 50 smells from nice to downright nasty, What's That Smell? is a breath of fresh (and not-so-fresh) air in the party game category!

Levis Tshirt & Boxers Set - £30.00
This Levis set contains two essentials which always seem to make it under a blokes Christmas tree every year, but they are a little fancier! Inside the gift box is a cotton jersey t-shirt with a ribbed crew neck, short sleeves and a signature woven Levis logo pinch tag in the left side seam in red and white. There's also one pair of boxer briefs in black with an elasticated waistband featuring the signature Levis logo woven in white. You can purchase it online at Mainline Menswear.

Yankee Candle Amaretto Apple Elevation Candle - £23.99

Yankee Candle has just released a brand new collection of luxury candles, the Yankee Candle Elevation Collection with Platform Lid. All the candles in the feature a new versatile design with a tapered glass silhouette and dual-purpose lid which doubles up as a platform for the candle while it burns. As always there's an array of different fragrances and I chose Amaretto Apple because I think it sounds a little different from usual Christmas scents.

Joop! Homme - from £16.99

My partner and I always gift one another a new scent at Christmas and I think they make great gifts for fellow family members too. Sexy and confident, the popular Joop! Homme EDT is a classic scent for men and perfect for date nights or nights on the town. I'm thinking of purchasing Joop! Jump for my Dad next, which is available at Fresh Fragrance. Use the code CGD10 to receive 10% off all products on their website. Voucher code is valid until January 2019.

Go Ape Gift Voucher - from £10.00

Go Ape are firm believers that outdoor experiences make people happy. Whether it’s zipping through the treetops, whizzing along the forest floor, or bouncing on our super springy bounce nets, at Go Ape there’s an adventure for everyone. With 33 locations to choose from in the UK, your loved ones are in for one memorable experience. Gift vouchers start at just £10.00, meaning there's a price point for every wallet and for every occasion. Perfect for all those adrenaline junkies out there.

Manly Gift Hampers - from $19.95
You see so many hampers tailored at women, full of lotions and potions, scents and flowers - what about the blokes? Manly stock so many unique ideas, the promotion present ideas for men really stood out to me. Beef Jerky Rose Bouquet and Beer Mug - genius!

bakerday letterbox cake - from £14.99

Last, but not least how about a letterbox cake from bakerdays? You can't beat a nice cake at Christmas! It's so easy to use their website, you can literally have a personalised cake sent out in minutes, if not sooner! There are countless designs to choose from, a cake for every occasion, many of which can be personalised with names and photographs. Not only that but you can select what flavour cake you want. Traditional sponge, chocolate cake, lemon drizzle, fruit cake, gluten-free sponge or dairy free sponge? What will it be?

Swizzles Sweets - from £1.00

Swizzles are perfect for all those with a sweet tooth, who would perhaps like a trip down memory lane too! I have fond memories of nipping to the corner shop to buy a handful of double lollies and refreshers. The new range of Squashies are fantastic too, great for those who prefer softer, chewier sweets! I'm hoping Nick share's these! 

Do you like the look of any of these gifts? Which is your favourite?

- We were sent these products for the purpose of this gift guide, however, all opinions are my own.

Christmas Gift Guide - For Women

With Christmas only a matter of weeks away, it's time for my annual gift guides. I really enjoy putting these together every year because I end up feeling inspired by all the amazing suggestions that are sent my way. Though it's worth mentioning that I only include products in my guides that I would recommend and items that I genuinely think would make fantastic gifts. So, without further ado, here is my Christmas Gift Guide, for women.

Winter special buys from Aldi - from £3.99
The first products featured in my gift guide this year are these winter special buys from Aldi. I think this bundle would make a great collection of goodies for Christmas, suitable for mum's, grandmas, sisters, aunties, friends and so on. The Ladies Blanket Scarf retails at £8.49 and is available in four different designs; grey, teal, blue checked, and pink checked. It's the perfect way to stay warm, yet stylish this winter. The Ladies All Over Print Pyjamas and Ladies Smart Phone Gloves are also bargains, at just £8.99 and £3.99 each. I know that I'd be delighted if I found these under my Christmas tree.

Candles from Wax Lyrical - £18.99 each

Is it just me, or does everyone love candles? I have one lit all year round, but there's something about lighting candles in winter, especially at Christmas time. These two festive scented candles from Wax Lyrical again would make excellent gifts for most people out there, whether they are male or female. Wax Lyrical's Colony collection has added three new scents to their already impressive Christmas collection; Fireside, Alpine Retreat and Starry Night, alongside all-time favourites such as Vanilla & Cranberry, Cinnamon Spice and Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh. With such a variety of festive fragrances and scented products available, you can easily fill your home with gorgeous festive scents throughout winter.

Aqua Manda Bath Oil & Perfume - £7.49 & £27.50 
The iconic perfume from the 60s and 70s is back and guaranteed to take you on a trip down memory lane. Aqua Manda Perfume is made with the essential oils of mandarin, ginger, lavender, patchouli, cinnamon, and other aromatic herbs. The fragrance has a top note of Mandarin with an Oriental base notes. It's a fresh and longlasting scent which is suitable for both daytime and evening wear. The Bath Oil has the same fragrance as the classic Aqua Manda Perfume and is perfect for a pamper session. HoMedics Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser - £27.99 The HoMedics Dream Ultrasonic Diffuser is ideal for those who like to take care of themselves, or are in dire need of some TLC. It's a clever little light-up diffuser that uplifts aroma, to help you relax and to enhance your wellbeing, with up to five hours of continuous runtime. Included is a small starter kit, with orange and peppermint oils that provide a natural aroma to improve your mood.

Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin - £36.45
Gin is all the rage at the moment, whether it's regular gin or the flavoured variety. Made with Williams GB gin as the base spirit and infused with a delicate range of eight botanicals including; juniper, orange peel, licorice, elderflower, and bitter almond before distillation in a copper gin still with pink grapefruit and pomelo peel. I've tried a few different gin's lately, and this is a new found favourite. It's such a light and fresh spirit, with hints of citrus fruits. You can find this on offer at the moment at 31Dover.

Nina Ricci Nina Eau de Toilette Spray - £38.00
Now, who doesn't like to receive a bottle of perfume at Christmas time? Nina Ricci Nina Eau de Toilette tends to go down well with ladies of all ages with it's charming and seductive scent. There are lots of different scents available over on the Fresh Fragrance website, a couple of which have taken my fancy this year.

Champagne Afternoon for Two - £50.00
A luxurious afternoon tea for two at a hotel, restaurant, cocktail lounge or tea room? Where do I sign up? The Champagne afternoon for two experience from Red Letter Days is bound to put a smile on anyone's face, especially when the recipient realises that they can choose their own destination, time and date. This is a great option for when you are stuck for ideas and want to gift something a little different, something with a bit of pizzazz.
 

Flamigni Dark Chocolate & Amarena Cherry Panettone - £24.50
This luxurious panettone is ideal for foodies out there, or for anyone who loves a delicious treat at Christmas time. This version from Flamigni puts a twist on the classic Christmas bread that we all know and love by adding dark chocolate and cherries to the mix. It is presented in gorgeous gift wrap and tied up with string, ready to be gifted on Christmas day. I can imagine my whole family tucking into big slices, accompanied by mugs of hot chocolate with lashings of cream. This panettone and other varieties available online at Sous Chef.

Hallmark Itty Bitty's - £6.00 each

If you know someone who loves everything cute and cuddly, or who's a fan of Disney, Marvel, DC, then Itty Bitty's may be for them! There are so many different characters collect, with new ones released often. Cruella de Vil, Maleficent and Tigger are three of the latest Itty Bitty's and I think they are my favourite one's yet! Visit the website for more information, to purchase, or to see the other characters in the range.

Would you consider any of these gifts for Christmas?

- We were sent these products for the purpose of this gift guide, however, all opinions are my own.

Christmas Gift Guide For Her

Christmas is a only a month away and I'm hoping that I can have all the presents bought and wrapped by the end of November. I say this every year and it never happens but I'm really going to try and be a bit more organised this Christmas. Every year I put together Christmas Gift Guides and today is my Christmas Gift Guide for Her.

1. VQ Retro Mini DAB Radio - £59.99
VQ Radio's are my go to gift this Christmas as I can't rate them enough. I was lucky enough to win one earlier this year and as soon as it arrived I set it up in my kitchen. There's something about doing a spot of cooking whilst singing and dancing to your favourite songs! The VQ Retro Mini is such good value for money at just £59.99 and it comes in a whole array of different designs and colours. I'm currently running a competition where you can win one, simply click here to enter. 

2. Harley & Lola Candle - £21.00

I love receiving candles for Christmas and I know lots of other people do too so I do find they are on my gift guides every year. There are quite a few nice varieties to choose from over at Harley & Lola all made from hand poured soy wax and have a burn time of 40 hours each. I'm also running another competition where you can win one here. 

3. Tyrrell's Popcorn - £2.19
Not so much a present but a lovely stocking filler for fellow popcorn lovers like myself. Tyrrell's Poshcorn is my absolute favourite popcorn brand as they are so inventive with their unique flavours. The newest to their range is Peach Bellini which is just perfect for Christmas time!

4. Weleda Wild Rose Ribbon Box - £35.00

For a luxurious gift option, I'd choose the Weleda Wild Rose Trio Ribbon Box which is beautifully packaged and contains three full-sized products; creamy body wash, skin-softening body lotion and fragrance spray. This gift set costs £35.00 but when you buy Weleda you know you are splurging but buying the utmost quality. 

5. La Marca Prosecco - £10.00
Christmas isn't the same without a little bit of fizz whether it's alcoholic or alcohol free. I won't be having any Prosecco this year being pregnant but this bottle from La Marca has already been put to one side for guests. It's a newly launched fizz which adds sophistication to any Christmas party without breaking the bank too.

6. Vintage Cosmetic Company Gift Tin - £27.50
The Girls Night Tin Gift Set from the Vintage Cosmetic Company is a gift that is my taste to a tee. It contains a headband, tweezers, fantail brush, nail scissors, nail buffer and toe separator. All these products are displayed in a gorgeous pink tin heart which is the perfect place to store them in. 

7. Dakota Faux Fur Throw - £50.00
One of the highlights of the Christmas season has got to be getting all cosy on the sofa with my family. All huddling under a blanket with snacks to enjoy a Christmas film or two. A faux fur throw and eyelet curtains from Julian Charles would be perfect for moments like those as there's nothing like snuggling under a throw with the curtains drawn.

8. Hotel Chocolat Christmas Sleekster - £22.50
Hotel Chocolat is one of my favourite chocolate brands and nothing says Christmas like the Christmas Sleekster! The box is full of so many exciting chocolate varieties from Cinnamon Bun through to Mince Pie Brownie. I was recently sent a box to try out and I've had to hide them so I don't tuck into them straight away! 

9. Blooming Lovely Bola Necklace - £30.00
This gift is aimed at the pregnant ladies like myself and having received it a few weeks ago I had to include it in my Christmas gift guide. Some say there's a relationship between the time when babies are born and the lunar cycle. The Blooming Lovely Bola Necklace satin pendant draws inspiration from the soft glow of the moon and it rests above your bump until your baby is born. It's a stunning piece of jewellery and the chime is so comforting. 

10. Me Before You DVD - £9.99
I love Christmas films just as much as the next person but I do like to mix it up a little too. Me Before You is based on the best selling novel of the same title and a film that I've been desperate to see for some time now.

11. Marvellous Mummy Kit - £24.99
The Marvellous Mummy Kit from Love Boo is the perfect gift for Mummy's and pregnant ladies alike. It's another luxurious set from Love Boo and contains some of their most popular products; body smoother, body wash, miracle oil, and bath soak. I was recently sent this kit and I can't wait to start using it, especially the miracle oil as I've heard wonderful things about it.

12. Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy Trio - £15.00
In these colder months, we are all prone to dry and chapped skin, especially on our hands. Beautifully packaged, this gift set is a joy to receive and include a trio of Hand Therapy products, allowing friends and family to enjoy old favourites while discovering new ones.

13. Love, Laughter & Happy Ever After Cushion - £17.99
Last but certainly not least we have the Love, Laughter & Happy Ever After cushion from Prezzybox. I personally love receiving home wear gifts for Christmas as I like to update my interiors quite often. I currently have one of these for myself and for my Mum for Christmas and it will make a welcome addition to our living rooms that's for sure.


What's on your Christmas list this year?

- This post contains some PR samples.

Christmas Gift Guide for Women

With Christmas right around the corner I thought I would put together a little collection of gift guides to inspire anyone who is currently struggling with ideas. Everything mentioned in these posts are items that myself, my partner and son will be receiving for Christmas and products that I have seen first hand and love! 

First up is my Gift Guide for Women-

1. Personalised Cushion - £22.99
If you know me at all or read the blog regularly you will know how much I love personalised things. From personalised mugs through to personalised bean bags, we have so much and just love it all. My favourite item on this gift guide has got to be this personalised cushion from Getting Personal. You can have it embroidered with any initial and of course I just had to choose N & J, which could mean Nick and Jen but also Noah and Jen too! I adore the neutral colour of the cushion and it's going to be a great accent piece in my living room.

2. Personalised Candle - £29.99

Candles are one of my favourite things so a personalised candle is a clear winner for me. This candle is also from Getting Personal and costs £29.99. It's quite a large candle with a burn time of 70 hours which is great if you like to have a candle lit every night like I do. The light scent of Lime, Basil and Mandarin is gorgeous and not too overpowering.

3. Lanolips Body Balm and 101 Ointment - from £20.00
I've only recently discovered Lanolips and I do wonder where it's been all my life. The Triple Buttermilk Body Balm and 101 Ointment has been a godsend for my dry skin and is a must have for Autumn and Winter when the weather is harsh on our skin. Both would make lovely stocking fillers.

4. Bagsy Make Up - from £8.00
Bagsy is a new and upcoming makeup brand so I didn't feel too out of the loop when I discovered them a few weeks ago. All four products that I've bought look fantastic and I cannot wait to use them. Bagsy to me looks like a brand to watch!

5. Rathbornes Candle - £30.00
Rathbornes was founded in 1488 making it the oldest candle company in the world. With so many years making candles it's no wonder that they produce some of the very best. This premium scented candle is simply divine and the notes of bitter orange, birch tar, and balsam create a truly wonderful and sophisticated scent.

6. Festive Biscuits - £14.99

This personalised biscuit tin is another gift from Getting Personal. I think it's a great idea for a little extra something for anyone in the family really. The label on the tin can be personalised and inside is filled with shortbread and chocolate chip cookies.

7. Baylis & Harding Slipper Set - £9.99
I love receiving little gift sets like this at Christmas. I don't think there's anything better than getting a nice pair of fluffy slippers and some lotions and potions. At £9.99 this is a bargain and I am thinking of buying in a few for my Mum and Mother in Law.

8. Godiva Christmas Chocolate Gift Box - £27.25
If you want to splurge on anything at Christmas, well at any time of year it has got to be on Chocolate. Like perfume and fine wine you really get what you pay for and this box of assorted chocolates is simply to die for! It's been so hard not to tuck into it already! 

9. Christmas Tea Towel - £8.85
Okay, this is a guilty pleasure of mine but I do love a nice tea towel. I love themed ones especially and this Christmas Yule Log Recipe tea towel from Rock Bakehouse is right up my street. The perfect stocking filler for any baker out there.

10. Daisy with Love Compact Mirror - £29.00
This designer compact mirror from Vanroe is made from fine silver chrome and is traditionally hand polished and finished. It's presented in a velvet pouch and gift box and would make the most perfect gift this Christmas.

11. Yankee Candle Advent Calendar - from £29.99

Now being an advent calender this is something you need to snap up and buy now! Who said the kids are the ones that are the only ones who are allowed a calendar this year? We should be able to treat ourselves at the time of year as a huge candle lover this Yankee Candle advent calender is what my dreams are made of and I can't wait to begin opening it in December. 

What is on your Christmas list this year?


- This post contains some press samples.

Christmas Gift Guide - For Children

This week I've been uploading my annual Christmas Gift Guides, the Men's gift guide on Tuesday and my Ladies gift guide on Wednesday. Today it's all about the kids, and I think I had more fun sourcing ideas for this one than all the rest of the gift guides put together. Being a Mummy blogger I can't help but be a little bit of a geek when it comes to children's toys, and to feel just as excited as them when a new toy arrives to review! My Christmas gift guides for children has filled to the brim of fantastic choices for your little ones this Christmas.

Learning Resources Alphabet Acorns Activity Set - £29.15

My favourite type of toys has got to be learning toys, ones that are so fun that your child doesn't even know it! This is just one of those, a fun and challenging matching game gives children multiple ways to learn and play. With the Alphabet Acorns Activity set, children can match uppercase and lowercase letters as they put the acorns together, plus play hide-and-seek by finding a surprise inside each acorn. The object they find begins with the letter sound on the acorn. Colours correspond to letters, and little learners can even practice making words, learning their ABCs, beginning sounds, and more!

Hape Chef's Choice - £21.49
I'm also a big fan of wooden toys and Hape is a go-to brand when I'm looking for something new. Within the Chef's Choice set from Hape is a collection of tasty wooden food items to inspire your little cook. It includes bread, cheese, vegetables, eggs, cutting board, and a child-safe knife. Wooden toys help stimulate imagination and creativity, as well as encouraging role play. Suitable for children from three years.

Hape Dessert Tower - £24.99
If you have already have the Chef's choice set which I've mentioned above, your little one will be able to make you a savoury lunch and then present you with lots of lovely treat from Hape Dessert Tower for your pudding! It's great for role play and really sparks the imagination, encouraging them to use it with the simplicity of the toy. It includes nine sweet treats and the cake stand. Another wonderful product from one of our favourite brands, Hape.

Orchard Toys Cheeky Monkeys - £9.50
This is a fun game of chance for all the family, perfect for playing at Christmas! There's no hanging about in this fast-paced game called Cheeky Monkeys. Players battle to collect and count the most bananas but watch out for other players trying to steal them, uh oh! Players must make strategic decisions by choosing whether to play it safe after their first turn or spin the spinner to either collect or risk losing more bananas! It's not only a fun game to play but also helps develop hand-eye coordination and number and counting skills and so on.

Fingerlings Monkey - £14.99
Fingerlings are interactive pets that respond to sound, motion & touch and let you know when they like something or not. Right side up or upside-down, they love to monkey-around! You can pet them to sleep or make a loud noise and watch them get giddy and excited! They are so loving, if you blow them kiss, they'll kiss you back! You’ll fall in love with these sweet and sometimes silly critters with their adorable blinking eyes, head turns, soft hair, curly hanging tail, and Happy monkey sounds. Fingerlings baby monkeys are available in a variety of colors including white, black, Pink, purple, blue, and turquoise. We are lucky enough to have a Fingerling and I couldn't recommend one enough, they are awesome!

Peppa Pig Campervan Alphaphonic Board - £21.99
I don't know many kids that don't love Peppa Pig and my kids are no exception. Learn about the alphabet, spelling, phonics & word recognition with the Peppa Alphaphonics Campervan Electronic Toy. There are 8 games including, Try & spell? What's the letter? Find the letter? Copy Me? Alphabet letter keys light up. It features Peppa sounds and songs and they keys light up.

Disney Guess The Film Game - £24.99
Here's one for the Disney fans! It’s time to put your families Disney knowledge to the test with the Disney Guess The Film Game! Take turns rolling the dice and open the window with the corresponding colour to the die. Each coloured window reveals part of an image from an iconic Disney film, and it’s down to you to guess which film the image is from. If you guess correctly, you win a Mickey token! the first player to earn four Mickey tokens wins the game!

Woofy Whoops - £19.99
Woofy Whoops Game is a game that is guaranteed to have you and your family in stitches laughing this Christmas. Take turns to spin Woofy and whoever he lands on has to pat him according to how many times he barks. Pat him once, twice, three times, but if you’re unlucky enough to have the last pat, Woofy won’t be able to hold in his wee and the player will get sprayed with water! The best bit is that the app records the laugh out loud moment in slow motion, so you can watch back the moment you get ‘peed’ on, and share with family and friends.

Toddlebike2 - £23.95
The Toddlebike2 is a great gift for toddlers who are showing an interest in ride on's. It offers the same in-line wheel configuration which sets it apart from the traditional 'trike' or the next step of balance bike or pedals allowing Toddlers to transition easily from Toddlebike to balance bike and on to pedals seamlessly.Being compact and super lightweight means that it is easy to carry or hang from a buggy when not in use. Its convenience means that it's soon become second nature to use your Toddlebike for almost any journey building in healthy routines from the earliest possible stage.

Super Wings World Airport - £39.99
This is a large scale playset based on the Airport on the Super Wings TV show and promises to deliver hours of fun, with electronic sounds and lights plus lots of activities for kids to recreate their favourite Super Wings scenes and missions. Also included are mini-transforming characters Jett and Donnie that can attach and spin to circle the World Airport before coming into land. Load them into the elevator and lift them up to the control tower, then launch them down the ramp. Flip open the base compartments to reveal a rotating luggage carousel and a cargo scale.

Cars Piston Cup Race Game - £25.00
Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm go head-to-head in the Disney Cars 3 Piston Cup Race Game. Rev your engines ready for the thrilling race! When the light goes green it's time to start pumping the electronic gas pedal to accelerate your car forward along the track. Be careful when the red light shows you should break, if you hit the gas pump on a red light you must move your car backward. Challenge your friends and family to a racing duel and the first to reach the end of the track is named the winner and claims the Piston Cup trophy.

Tumball Game - £19.99
Tumball is a skilled game that requires super calm nerves and a very steady hand. Those who play must try and balance their white beads on top of a cluster of coloured balls that are hanging in mid-air. The winner is the player that balances the most beads before the cluster breaks and the balls TUMBALL!

LOL Surprise Doll - £10.00
The world has gone surprise egg crazy and it's no wonder, they are so much fun! With the L.O.L Surprise Doll you get seven layers to unwrap! Inside there is a secret message sticker, a collectible sticker sheet, a water bottle charm, a pair of shoes, an outfit, an accessory, and a L.O.L. Surprise! doll with water surprise. Feed your doll with the water bottle to find out if she cries, spits, tinkles. Or bathe her in cold water to see if colour changes! The LOL doll is the best layer of surprise! Dress her in all of the accessories you've revealed.

Snow Queen Lottie Doll - £18.99
There are so many different Lottie dolls to choose from but Snow Queen Lottie had to make it onto my Christmas gift guide. Inspired by one of her favourite stories, Lottie decides to dress as a Snow Queen when she was in. All dressed up in a silver, sparkly mask and a magnificent ice blue and frosty white gown studded with silver snowflakes, she's read for the Masked Ball. 

Sylvanian Families Persian Cat Twins - £9.00
We absolutely adore Sylvanian Families, I think they've made it onto my gift guide every year now. Sylvanian Families Persian Cat Twins are a great addition to your Sylvanian Families Collection. The twin babies are cute as can be! Perfect for a child who already has a Sylvanian Family collection or for someone who is just starting out. A perfect little stocking filler for Christmas.

Sylvanian Families Squirrel Baby - £7.00
Another great addition to a Sylvanian Family collection is the Squirrel on Car Baby Carry Case. Complete with bright yellow togs, this little fella, spends his days exploring Sylvania one garden at a time. This set comes with a lovely carry case complete with handle, perfect if you want to transport your little Sylvanian, or perhaps just keep them safe.

Organix Christmas Selection Box - £2.99
If you want to gift a selection box with a difference this year and avoid the chocolate then the Organix Christmas Selection Box is a great alternative. It's filled with their top-selling snacks such as; mini gingerbread men, strawberry and apple gummies, raspberry and apple soft oaty bars, apple ad orange soft oaty bars, and the alphabet biscuits.

My Golden Ticket Book - £19.99
This is a personalised adventure from the amazing Wonderbly, themed on the wonderful world of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory. This isn’t just a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with a child’s name popped randomly inside, that's not what Wonderbly is about. Every name gets a different story, including their own unique candy, Oompa Loompa song and Wonkafied family tree. No two adventures are the same, which makes it one amazing gift for Christmas.

Marvel Captain America Illumi-mate - £6.00
This Captain America night light makes a fabulous little stocking filler for all superhero fans. It's lightweight and portable which means it can be taken anywhere and everywhere. Its soft glow is bound to keep your little one calm and cosy and the bright character design adds a pop of colour to their room.

Num Noms Connie Confetti Illumi-mate - £8.99
Num Noms have taken the UK by storm lately so it's a delight to see this Connie Confetti Illumi-Mate Colour Changing Light. This colour changing LED light is perfect for bedside tables or for kids to take on holidays, camping or sleepovers. 

Bertie Bear and Personalised Christmas Stocking - £50.00
This handmade Christmas stocking set is made from luxurious velvet fabric and the outstanding quality will be enjoyed year after year. The beautiful embroidery of a name of your choice makes this a truly special gift, especially with the matching teddy bear.

I'll Love You For Ever - £10.99
I’ll Love You For Ever is the perfect picture book for both mums and dads to share with their little ones during the festive period. Travel through the seasons with Polar Bear and Cub as they discover the world and the wonders it brings. Although snow melts and leaves turn golden, a parent’s love will never change. A beautiful, picture book celebration of the eternal bond between a parent and their child. Filled with heartwarming illustrations from Sean Julian bring Owen Hart’s gentle, reassuring rhyming story to life.

One Cosy Christmas - £11.99
Little Hedgehog can’t wait to spend Christmas with his friends. But who’s eaten all the biscuits? Who’s that snoring at night? And why is Little Hedgehog’s hat missing? Is Christmas ruined, or can the friends make it perfect after all? One Cosy Christmas is a fabulously festive addition to the best-selling Little Hedgehog series with beautiful illustrations from Tina Macnaughton and soft fuzzy textures throughout, this is the perfect gift for Little Hedgehog fans this Christmas!

Haribo Selection Box- £3.87
This brand new Haribo Selection Box is the ideal gift for those that enjoy a tasty treat that includes their favourite gums and jellies. A stocking filler with a difference, and the ideal size for under the tree, this Christmas morning surprise includes eight mini bags of Haribo favourites including Starmix, Tangfastics, Super Mix, Goldbears and Happy Cola.

Haribo Starmix Tree Decoration - £1.00If you want an alternative to the traditional bauble to hang on your tree this year, look no further than this temptingly delicious decoration from Haribo. Inside you’ll find a 50g pack of Starmix to enjoy in the countdown to Christmas, a perfectly tasty treat to add to the festivities.

Haribo Giant Trees - £1.29Giant Strawbs have had a festive makeover! These tasty treats, which are suitable for vegetarians, now appear in the shape of a Christmas tree. Available in a 70g bag for you to enjoy on your own during the party season.

As mentioned in my previous gift guides, there's a lot of variety in my gift guides this year, for all budgets. Make sure to keep a lookout on the blog this week, as I'll be publishing further gift guides and keep an eye on my competition page as I'll be giving away quite a few items which I've included.

- This post contains PR samples.

aden + anais Dream Blanket - Competition

For the past couple of weeks I've been uploading my annual Christmas gift guides and they've been so popular this year, more than ever before. My final gift guide of the year was put together for the little ones in our lives, the babies. In my baby gift guide I included a lot of practical and useful items because for me as a parent with a baby, those kind of gifts are appreciated more that ten dozen different toys. One of my favourite items that I included this year has got to be the aden + anais Dream Blanket, read below to find out why.

Here's a little background about aden + anais, one of the many reasons why they are one of my favourite baby brands. Once upon a time, a new mum found herself searching high and low for the muslin swaddle blankets that her mother, grandmother and generations of Australian women before them had used to comfort their own babies. When she couldn’t find them anywhere in her adopted home of the USA, she made them herself, and aden + anais was born. aden + anais believe that soft, breathable muslin is the only fabric you should use on your babies.

Perfect for those born to sparkle, their 100% cotton muslin dream blanket gets a metallic makeover with new prints that are as soft as they are shimmery. Made with four layers of breathable muslin, aden + anais dream blanket’s uses go beyond cuddling, as it also makes a snuggly surface to lay your little one on no matter where the day takes you. They are machine washable, but the precious fabric requires specific care instructions, so be sure to follow them carefully.

I hope my gift guides have given you a little inspiration when it comes to your gift giving this year and to fit nicely with my baby gift guide I've teamed up with aden + anais to give away one of their Dream Blankets worth £58.00 to one lucky winner! To enter simply use the Gleam for below. Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!

aden + anais Metallic Silver Deco Dandelion Dream Blanket worth £58.00

Terms & Conditions.         
1. There will be 1 winner who will the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize sent directly by the PR. 
3. Competition ends 14/01/18.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only. 

Valentines Gift Guide For Men

Last week I published my Valentines Gift Guide for Women and on the post I mentioned how I'm aware that Valentines isn't for everyone. Some people have the view that it's just a way for companies to fleece us out of money, and although there may be a little truth to that I happen to love Valentines day. It's one day of the year where you are reminded to appreciate and love your better half. I know that may sound ridiculous to some, that we should appreciate and show that we love them every single day but with two young children it's sometimes difficult to do. There's usually no time to make a fuss of one another because by the time we have both kids in bed we are both falling asleep on the sofa! That being said even with the little quality time we have together we still have a strong relationship and are coming up to our 10th anniversary! I sometimes struggle with gifts for men so I thought I'd put together a few gift ideas when it comes to Valentines this year, maybe my suggestions will give you a little inspiration.

1. Colt Grey Pewter Beanie Hat - £30.76
I featured a hat from Buff Wear in my Valentines Gift guide for Women last week so it's only right that I mention one which is perfect for the blokes too! The Colt Grey Beanie is knitted with an acrylic and lambs wool material and perfect for the freezing cold weather we've been having lately. The hat is available in three different colour ways and matching scarves are also available. We were sent both of these hats to try out and we've worn them on every walk we've been on since, they are so comfortable and warm!

2. Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski OG Trainers - £64.95
Nick goes through so many pairs of trainers a year, he seems to be really heavy on his feet! With going through so many pairs of shoes he tends to ask for a new pair rather than a typical gift sometimes. I know that he's had his eye on this pair from Nike for quite some time now so I'm thinking of buying them for Valentines Day surprise. If I do decide to buy I'll certainly be using this Nike discount code when I do. There's currently free delivery on all orders over £50.00, plus other offers too. It's definitely worth checking out.

3. Enuff Fade Complete Skateboard - £44.95
This is a great suggestion for all those skater boys and girls out there, or for someone who's wanting to take up a new hobby! There's an array of different skateboards available at Skates, amongst lots of other gear. The Enuff range of skateboards seems to be very all the rage at the moment. They are a British born brand and their boards are suitable for boys, girls, men and women alike. The Pow Skateboards, Pyro Skateboards and the Graffiti Skateboards range are very popular and have been recommended to us.

4. Alcatel IDOL5 - £152.99

I don't know about yours but my partner is always striving for a new and better phone and is due an upgrade very soon. One phone we've been looking at is the Alcatel IDOL5 which has just been released. It's currently available and is an exclusive model to Amazon. It has a 3GB RAM with Dual SIM, with Android N and Compass, Gyroscope, LTE. An incredible 13 Mega Pixel Rear Camera and a 5 Mega Pixel Front Camera. Octa-core 1.3 GHz MT6753 with 16GB of Internal Storage. A 5.2 inch Full HD Display, 2.5D Dragontrail glass, 2800 Li-Ion Non-Removable Battery External Memory Card Slot (MicroSD up to 128GB) and Fingerprint Sensor GPS and Bluetooth. As you can see this is a really impressive handset and one which won't break the bank either.

5. Vorrei Romantic Dinner for Two Hamper - £45.00

You can't beat a good hamper to celebrate special occasions and this romantic dinner for two hamper from Vorrei is just perfect for Valentines day. It contains everything you need for a romantic Italian meal; sun dried tomato & pistachio pate, chilli pepper pate, heart shaped pasta, truffle sauce and dark chocolate coated figs. These are all the ingredients you need for a starter, meal and dessert and is presented in a heart shaped tray and ribbon. Just grab a bottle of wine from the shops and your Valentines meal is sorted! 

6. Three Course Dining Experience and Cocktail for Two - £49.00 If you don't fancy eating in this Valentines Day then how about a trip out to a good steakhouse? An exciting suggestion if you live in or around London, or are planning a trip there in the near future is the three course dining experience and cocktails at White's London Steakhouse Co. There are countless date ideas over on the Virgin Experience Days website and with a Virgin Experience Days voucher code there's so many savings to be had too.

7. Moose Gritty Styling Clay - £4.99
This styling clay from Moose is perfect if you are putting together a hamper of products for your better half. I like to make personalised hampers for family and friends as I know that they really appreciate the thought, time and effort you put into it. It really shows you care too. This styling product won’t string you along.Add Texture and Definition to shorter hair styles. Real Pumice gives this clay a grainy texture to create defined, chunky looks with texture. With Beeswax for strong hold and a matte finish.

8. Joker & Harley Quinn Itty Bitty - £6.00 each
I fell head over heels in love with Itty Bittys a couple of years ago and we now have quite the collection. For something a little different this Valentines Day how about gifting a pair of Itty Bittys? There are numerous Disney themed couples to choose from, Beauty and the Beast or Lady and the Tramp. There's Superhero pairings like Harley Quinn and the Joker. Then there's a bride and groom Itty Bitty! There's an Itty Bitty for everyone!

9. Valentines Cards from Hallmark - from £2.40
I was recently sent the Valentines range of cards from Hallmark and they are all so lovely! Rather than featuring them all I've picked my three favourites; I just love spooning with you, Love is in the air and to the One I Love on Valentines Day. Prices for these three cards start at just £2.40, there's a card for every budget. You can't go wrong with a card from Hallmark for Valentines Day, they really are the creme dela crem of greeting cards.

10. Guylian Praline Hearts - £1.00
Roses are not the only things that are red this Valentine’s Day. Treat your loved one to a heart shaped red box of romantic Belgian chocolate hearts, marbled and filled with roasted hazelnut praline. The 42g box which contains four praline filled hearts, is the ideal love token, whilst the 105g heart shaped box makes an even more eye-catching Valentine’s Day gift. At just £1.00 a box these would be perfect in a personalised hamper or a valentines stocking filler.

11. Jelly Belly 20 Flavour Gift Box - £9.60
If you want to gift something edible this year and want a change from chocolate then I can't recommend Jelly Belly enough. This 20 individual flavour compartments would make a lovely surprise this Valentines day. 

12. Guylian Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells - £11.99
The Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells are Guylian’s star product. The hazelnut praliné filling is still produced according the unique recipe in the age-old traditional manner, a heritage of the company’s founding father Guy. The secret method of roasting and caramelizing hazelnuts gives Guylian chocolates their signature taste. Guylian Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells are the number one Belgian boxed chocolate brand distributed in travel retail and duty free shops. For any more information see www.guylian.com.

13. Jim Jam Spreads - £2.60
If you’re going to show your loved one just how much you care for their heart, consider a double whammy of Jim Jams! This Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut Chocolate spreads each contain 83% less sugar than Nutella and both are now available nationally; perfect for an unusual but loving Valentine’s Day gift. They’re perfect for breakfast on Valentine’s Day - or the morning after!

So there you have it, my Valentines gift guide for Men! What are you buying your better half for Valentines Day this year? Are you a fan of Valentines Day?

- This post contains PR samples & is a PR Collaboration.