It’s that time of year again and I don’t know about you but I am feeling reasonably well organised this time. I have a good idea in my head of what the girls want for christmas and my family started a new tradition so we each buy for one other family rather than individual gifts for each child. I am one of ten children for those who don’t know and most of us have children now and as you can imagine it can get both costly and stressful. Instead we now draw names out of a hat and buy one more expensive gift for that family or couple. I made a small hamper of gifts last year for my brother and his wife and children and this year I am doing the same but for a different brother and his family. I don’t have the budget to go crazy for my children and I am also sensible enough to know that children don’t need £300’s worth of gifts at the ages of 6 and 8. The time will come when they will request iPads and fancy trainers I’m sure but for now they have a sensible pile of gifts and a stocking with bits and bobs. I still buy for my parents and the girls grandparents etc so I have rounded up a selection of gifts for men, women, children and even your cat. Hope it helps!
Please note some items have been gifted for inclusion, some are random bits I’ve found or brands I like to support:
For the kids:
One of the new toy crazes for this year. I think the girls will have lots of fun with this super cute Nestling:
Izzy is a real animal lover and I think she will love this adopt an animal tin from The Personalised gift Shop. There are a few different options including Sloths, Llamas and Tigers.
Most kids are obsessed with soft toys and I know my girls have their beds covered in cuddly toys for bed. These penguins from The Gift Experience are just gorgeous.
Have yourself a budding scientist on your fan or just a fairy lover? This kit from Smyths toys looks amazing and educational too!
Both girls love to write their own stories and make little booklets out of folded paper so I think they will love this make your own book set from John Adams.
I always include some kind of arts and crafts bits in the present pile or popped into stockings and these pens look great and not too childlike so will meet with the 8 year olds approval!
We are longtime fans of the Johnsons bedtime range and still use it most weeks. I always include bubbles of some kind in the girls stockings as well as bath bombs and new flannels. These gift sets are perfect for parents of young babies up to early years.
Books:
We always have new books for Christmas, both girls are really getting into reading and doing so well that I want to keep encouraging it. This year so far I have ordered The Excitable Edgar book from John Lewis and am looking at a new Matt Haig book too – we loved the Truth Pixie books and Evie and the animals so I’m considering The Girl Who Saved Christmas.
Red candy have some gorgeous gift items including this beautiful black and gold lava lamp
Slap Ninja looks like the kind of toy everyone will be pulling out at christmas parties for little kids and big kids alike. really looking forward to doing this with the kids!
For grown ups and big kids:
Sous Chef have a huge range of gorgeous food and kitchen related items in their online store including these salted caramel truffles from Artisan Du Chocolat
Yumbles is another food and drink based website with lots of gifting options including this night before christmas hamper:
For the people who like more useful gifts, this digital tyre inflator may save some trips to the garage!
Next base have a range of dash cams to suit all budgets including this one for £149.99 with emergency SOS and Alexa built in.
Have a food lover in your life? The Ribman has some great sauces and gift sets that nearly always sell out so go check them out and quick!
If you know me at all you know I love candles and I was sent a gorgeous Sweet Maple Chai candle from Yankee and it smells incredible.
Did you know you can order personalised tins of Quality St at John Lewis and choose your own flavours to go inside? I went for the strawberry and orange cremes and the purple ones!
Beanies coffee have lovely gift sets including flavoured coffee jars like this:
The most comfiest leggings I’ve ever owned. Great for both adults and children and a great price for what you get.
Canvas Prints from Canvas Art Rocks
There are so many gorgeous canvas and poster prints on Canvas Art Rocks, from Banksy murals to fave sporting moments as well as mugs in hundreds of designs. I like this Banksy poster:
Maykher is a gorgeous Welsh brand that I love to support. They make the most amazing beanie hats, as well as lots of other products and have recently launched these beautiful candles. They are an ethical and sustainability focused company that I urge you to go find out more about.
The Preservation Society owned by the very lovely Angharad is a Welsh food business that I have loved for years! It was one of the very first brands I started to look out for at local food markets and her products are incredible. My favourite used to be the candied jalapeño syrup but everything I have had from her has been 10/10. she has lots of gift options including this Christmas All wrapped Up set or maybe a Jam Subscription package would be perfect for someone you love.
Mel makes the most incredible Bar Brith and you can order it to be delivered to your home or to a gift recipient. Seriously delicious and a personal recommendation from me!
Guylian have beautiful boxes of chocolates for Christmas this year, they are available in most large supermarkets, I’ve linked to Tesco above for ease of shopping:
We all know one person who is always cold and this rechargeable heat bank from Zippo is amazing. It also charges up devices such as mobile phones so it is a really handy gadget.
For your cat:
This is a subscription box for cats and cat owners, the Christmas box is delightful. My fave bits were the cat socks and the gorgeous cat bauble for the tree. Tiger’s fave bits were the gingerbread cat nip toy and the sausage treats. I like that each month you get introduced to new cat food brands and get an idea of what your cat may like without forking out on a large pack. get 10% off your first box with code MUNCHIES10.
Electric Branding Iron these can be used for a variety of purposes and make an unusual but useful gift.
[…] It’s that time of year again and I don’t know about you but I am feeling reasonably well organised this time. I have a good idea in my head of what the girls want for christmas and my family started a new tradition so we each buy for one other family rather than individual gifts for each child. I am one of ten children for those who don’t know and most of us have children now and as you can imagine it can get both costly and stressful. Instead we now draw names out of a hat and buy one more expensive gift for that family or couple. I made a small hamper of gifts last year for my brother and his wife and children and this year I am doing the same but for a different brother and his… This is only a snippet of a Food Article written by munchiesandmunchkins Read Full Article […]