The Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide For All Budgets
You’d be chuffed to find any of these under the tree…
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Whatever your budget and whoever the recipient, I’ve trawled the web for the best gift ideas. So if you’re scratching your head over Secret Santa or have no idea what to buy that special someone in your life then here are some points in the right direction…
A LITTLE SOMETHING…
If you need something that fits the ‘Secret Santa/Stocking Filler’ category then here’s what I’m thinking. Who doesn’t love a bit of fancy schmansy stationery?
Papersmiths* is my go-to for that and highlights include the
Before Breakfast Weekly Notepad*, the
Traveller’s Company Brass Ruler* and the
Yes! Paper Goods Merci Rainbow Foil Notecards* which are just adorable. These
Clara Cotton Alphabet Embroidery Kits* work in two ways; either you can buy it, make it and gift it yourself, or give to the receiver to make themselves if that’s more their vibe. For beauty-related gifts that don’t break the bank I’d recommend the
Beauty Pie Redcurrant & Fig Luxury Scented Candle* or their
100% Silk Hair Scrunchies*. Or if you fancy the handmade route, a kitchen-cooked gift is always a good option. This year I’m planning on making my
Mum’s Chocolate Truffles – she makes these every year and gifts them to basically every person she’s ever met and they always go down well, along with the
Waitrose Double Chocolate & Sour Cherry Cookies, which are the perfect balance of salty, sweet and slightly sour (plus you can always gift them the ‘yet to be cooked’ log so they can cut them up and have freshly baked cookies whenever they want).
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FOR THE FOODIES…
We love a meal kit in this house and both
Dishoomand
Patty & Bun are firm favourites and offer nationwide delivery. Oh and I LOVE the
Creme Cookies too. It’s something a bit different, or you could go the more traditional route and buy a cheeseboard or hamper from a local deli (we love
Barney’s here in Brighton, that also offers delivery across the U.K – but you have to be quick!). For home bakers I really love
‘Lazy Baking’ by Jessica Elliot Dennison*, which is crammed with super quick recipes that need just a handful of store cupboard essentials to make, or the
Greenfeast* books by Nigel Slater that contain veggie and plant-based recipes that are best suited to the season. In terms of kitchen hardware, if your budget is on the larger size a
Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Round Casserole Dish* is a classic, however my more affordable picks would be
Silicone Baking Mats* (a very good Secret Santa gift if you know your receiver is a keen baker!), the
Joseph Joseph Adjustable Beech Wood Rolling Pin* (or anything from the
Joseph and Joseph Sage Collection* really!) or the
Menu Salt & Pepper Grinders*. Then it might seem a little bizarre to get someone bowls for Christmas, but I really do love the
John Lewis x Denby Quartz Rose Collection* – it’s stunning and offers serving-ware across the board.
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A BEAUTY LOVERS DREAM…
You just can’t go wrong with an indulgent beauty gift in my eyes. I mean I have makeup coming out of my ear holes and I
still swoon at the stuff. Gift sets are a solid choice and usually end up being great value too. This year there are some great candle ones – plus I think candles make such a great gift as it’s hard to go wrong; the
Diptyque Candle Coffret* is a classic, I love the selection that’s available in the
Space NK The Essential Candle Edit* and the
Glossier Bath Duo* is a limited edition holiday offering containing a ‘You‘ scented candle and Bath Pods (I’ve treated myself to this already!). Nail lovers might appreciate the
Mylee Complete Professional Gel Polish Collection & LED Lamp Kit*, or the extremely luxurious
CHANEL La Creme Main*, which is almost too pretty to use,
almost. I think gifting actual makeup is always slightly dodgy ground, but if you know the person well enough to know their shade preferences then I highly recommend the
Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Lipsticks* – I love the shades Girl, Twist, Pout and Pop), or the
Hermes Rosy Lip Enhancers.
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SOMETHING FOR THE HOME…
It’s perhaps that you might request from a gift-giver as they’ll need to know specifics when it comes to sizing, but I just absolutely LOVE our
Bedfolk Bedding Bundle* – big fan over here. Then I think you can’t go wrong with a pillow – especially if you and the gift receiver usually see eye to eye when it comes to interiors. I love these
ARKET Handwoven Wool Cushion Covers* or their
Shaggy Wool Cushion Covers*. Perhaps I love to receive vases; and the
H&M Large Ceramic Vase* and
Glass Vase* seem like good people pleasing options. Prints are a great idea too and if your budget can stretch to it then it’s always a nice touch to throw in a frame too, whether you decide to get it framed at the same place that you buy the print, or find a better deal locally. I personally love the selections on
The Poster Club,
Partnership Editions and
King & McGraw (which is actually where I got the
Rothko ‘Red Over Pink’ print that I’m always asked about).
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CLOTHING & CASHMERE…
Gifting clothing can be a bit of tricky one, but here’s a small edit of things which could work, without having to be
too accurate with sizing. I am OBSESSED with my new slipper purchases; the
Yoko Wool Cloud Slippers* are great if you’re not too sure about size, but if you are armed with that knowledge then I love the
Birkenstock Boston Clogs in Latte Cream*. Cashmere just screams luxury and I’m currently lusting over the
ARKET Cashmere Blend Snood, although their
Oversized Cashmere Jumper* is also a good shout, and you can never go wrong with some socks, like the
Rosie Sudgen* ones. A matching loungewear/PJ set is a solid choice too, and I really like the look of the
H&M Ribbed Top* and
Trousers* in this gorgeous blue-y grey and their
Ribbed Cashmere-Blend Zip-Up Hoodie* and the
Cashmere-Blend Trousers* – items so nice that you won’t mind answering the door in them.
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LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY…
If you need some recommendations in this department then I’d highly recommend checking out
Mark’s Edit. It’s a good page to bookmark actually as he refreshes it quarterly and it’s always chocker with good gift inspiration. I’ve asked him to pick out his top top picks and he loves this
Sunspel Cotton-Jersey Sweatshirt* so much that he thinks he might buy it for himself. We’re both massive fans of the
Kiehl’s Richly Hydrating Scented Hand Cream in the Grapefruit*, which would make an excellent stocking stuffer and seeing as Mark is never spotted without his water bottle he recommends the
Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle*. If coffee hydration is more their vibe then Mark loves the
Kinto Coffee Carafe Set* (we have the
Kinto Stacking Mugs* too, and people always compliment them whenever they come round). Or if you fancy the classic hat or sock combo, then Mark recommends the
Nigel Calbourn Solid Beanie* and the
Folk Wool Melange Socks* respectively.
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FOR THE LITTLES…
I can’t say I’m particularly well-versed in this category just yet, but if you’re a bit stuck as to what to pop under the tree from Father Christmas for any tiny humans in your life, then I’ve crowd-sourced the best bits from my fellow Mum crew. The most-recommended gift by a country mile are the
TOMY Toomies Hide & Squeak Eggs* – literally I would struggle to name a Mum in my life who
hasn’trecommended these. They are a crowd-pleaser across the board apparently. Other highly suggested (if not exactly aesthetically pleasing) toys include the
Tiny Love Sunny Stroll Activity Arch*, these
Baby Soft Rattle Cars* and
Matchstick Monkeys* are extremely well received, so I’ve heard. In terms of bigger buys we love the
Lovevery Play Gym* in this house – Ralph uses it every single day – plus it adapts and changes to suit children from birth to one year and beyond, so it’s not a flash in the pan toy. And of course I can’t resist ridiculously cute baby clothing. For something special and one off I just ADORE
+1 In The Family* (which at the time of writing is currently 30% off!). The
Rea Knitted Jacket* is too cute and so thick and cuddly and I’d quite like the
James Polar Suit* to come in my size. Oh and I’m a sucker for a cute hat – the
Liewood Violet Cotton Bonnet* is our favourite. IT HAS EARS. Need I say anymore?
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Photos by
Mark Newton
Pretty please
@Omegawild - it was so so so SO SO good
@Omegawild lol