Blogmas #7: A Luxury Gift Guide

Sometimes you want to spend a bit more on the people you love, and you want to splash out, spoil them and really show just how much you love them. With that, comes luxury gifts, and if you spend a lot of money you want to be sure it's not going to be a waste of money. So here's some of my suggestions and recommendations if you want to spend just that bit more money. 

Blogmas #6: A Baylis & Harding Christmas

I have to pinch myself when parcels like this appear on my doorstep. Baylis & Harding are one of my favourite body care brands, they do high quality products at reasonable prices, and their packaging is always spot on. Their scents are timeless, and their Christmas gifts are always some of my favourites to look at when I'm walking around the Christmas gift sections in a store. And this year is no different.

 

This year there's some classic scents included, as well as some new pieces, and there's even choices for men. So let's take a look at some of my favourites pieces in my annual Baylis & Harding Gift Guide.

WHAT'S NEW?

First of all let's talk about the Fuzzy Duck Festive Collection. First of all, I'm obsessed with the name and it's inspired by it's own Costwold country inn. The packaging is one of my favourites that they've done, it's so country and cute, yet super festive. There's a few pieces available which I think make great presents, including the Luxury Slipper Set and the Hamper, but I'm totally in love with the Wash Bag Gift Set*. The bag itself is gorgeous and feels like velvet, and is full of little travel goodies in their Christmas scent - Mulberry and Misletoe. You get a shampoo, conditioner, body balm and shower gel. It's a great present for anyone who likes travelling or who is going on a holiday. The scent is to die for, it's very festive and warm and I love it. It's probably my favourite of all the scents I have here.

 

They've also thrown in a new home scent this year as well - which again, is to die for. It's so festive homey. The scent is Winter Spruce and Berries, and smells like exactly that. You can get a diffuser, a three-wick candle or as you see here their Christmas tree candle* - which they did last year as a style as well and just makes a super cute gift. As with all their candles the scent fills the room and the candle lasts a really long time. Just the design of the jar is enough to make me want to light it every evening.

 

And then something else - I'm not 100% sure if it's new but I definitely haven't seen this before, I'd remember - is their limited edition Prosecco Fizz Luxury Hand Wash*. Now I have a B&H handwash in both my bathrooms, and in my kitchen, because I love them. The scents are there and they last forever so they're great value for money. But this scent - oh my god. I wouldn't say it actually smelt like prosecco - I can't remember if prosecco even has a scent, I'll have to buy a new bottle to test. But the scent is amazing, and the bottle just scream Christmas luxe. Not the most exciting present, but dressed up like this and you have a winner.

 

THE CLASSICS

As well as some fantastic new scents, their good old favourites have some amazing gift sets as well that I think everyone will really love. The Sweet Mandarin & Grapefruit scent is always a favourite of anyone I speak to, and I think this gorgeous Sequin Bag Set* is such a good gift for anyone who loves beauty, but also has a bit of style. You get a body wash, a body spritz and their hand and body lotion - all three really great products and is really affordable.

 

If you're looking for something more suitable as a stocking filler, or a secret santa gift, then this super cute Midnight Fig & Pomegranate Bath Set* is ideal. LOOK HOW CUTE IT IS! In this tiny tub you get a body butter and shower crème, in this incredible scent. It's presented so nicely, and the little tub is really handy next to the bath or shower to put any jewellery in that can't get wet - just a little tip for you there!

 

Baylis & Harding is a classic brand, it's super stylish packaging, and feels really luxe for a reasonable price tag. I love these sets, and I know if I gave anyone one of these sets, they'd be really pleased.

 

Much Love, Lisa May x

 

Blogmas #5: Stocking Filler Gift Guide

You're never too old for a stocking. My Mum still does one for me every year (well, a shared one now), and I love it. I get as excited about the stocking as I do my main presents. And let's face it, it's more because of the tradition behind it. Getting up early, curling up on my parents bed and showing them everything Santa gave me.

But there's something to be said for cute little gifts in a stocking as well. They can be super cute, super useful and very thoughtful. I've had gifts from Lush bath bombs, to lipsticks, to books and cds. Nail varnishes, games, and a chocolate orange. So here's some of my favourite things that you could put in a stocking this year.

The best thing to do with a stocking, is to really think about the recipient, like any gift, and make it all about them and their interests. You could even pick something random, like a Snowman baking timer, to give to an avid baker like this one from Sainsbury's. Or, get an animal lover a pair of cute socks with their favourite animal on them, Accessorize always do great ones, including some awesome Christmas themed ones, and they tend to be 3 for 2 as well.

Something that I love in a stocking, is a notebook or a book. They're always really handy and can be really useful. A small notebook that can be handbag friendly is the perfect gift for someone who likes to carry one around, fill with notes and ideas, dates and more. Urban Outfitters do some amazing designs, fit for every personality. I love this marble version as it's super slick and looks really pretty. But also, a really cute idea is this amazing little quote book. I got this one for my birthday, and I am obsessed. It's full of motivational quotes, friendship quotes and is so sweet as well. It's great for someone who works hard, gets stressed really easily or just likes little cute knick knacks.

 Games are always a nice thing to pop into a stocking, whether it's a little travel game or an extension - like this Cards Against Humanity box - it'll always be handy around Christmas. Got to love games at Christmas, and Cards Against Humanity is ideal for everyone - however this is definitely more for a guys stocking than a girls. If you want to go more than a girly route, you can't go wrong with a candle - a little tealight is perfect, or a small votive. I love this little White Company Winter candle, it was around £10 and it such a wintery, Christmas scent. Highly recommend!

Then we have some beauty pieces - let's face it I couldn't do a stocking gift guide without any beauty pieces. And I love receiving anything beauty themed in my stocking, it's one way to win me over. A hand cream always goes down well, and I love this collection from Rituals. It's great for all year around and the quality of this is awesome. Also, another essential is definitely a lip balm, and if you're in the beauty sphere then you'd have been hard-pressed to miss the launch of Glossier in the UK this Autumn. And I think their Balm DotCom's are the perfect stocking filler, great quality and a range of flavours to choose from so will suit anyone. And what else do you need to go alongside your balm? A lip scrub! Basically a stocking isn't a stocking without something from Lush, and their lip scrubs are second to none, the best out there and a necessity for winter lip care. As well as bubblegum, they have a couple of Christmas flavours out at the moment as well.

Much love, Lisa May x

Blogmas #4: Some Baked Christmas Treats

You guys know me, you know I love to do a little bit of baking - especially for an occasion. And Christmas is such an occasion! I love baking at Christmas, and there's so much to do and there's so much stress around this time, that it's good to take some time to do something stress relieving and relaxing as baking. So here are a couple of really simple snack type bakes, quick to do and also both vegan-friendly!

Blogmas #3: Tips for Catering for Large Groups

Sometimes Christmas brings the pressure of catering, and entertaining a large number of people. Whether its for drinks, games or a meal - and this can get incredibly stressful. For a few years now, I've been cooking a Christmas meal for a large number of friends once a year - and while I love doing it, it does come with stress and pressure. So here's my tips for staying cool under the cooking pressure, and how to deal with catering for a large number of people.

Blogmas #2: Gift Guide - For the Home

Tis the season for giving gifts - and I LOVE it. One of my favourite things about Christmas is thinking about the perfect gift for the person, and then seeing their face when they open it. Since owning my own property gifts for the home have been a big hit for me. I love little presents for the house, and getting home gifts from people you love just adds something extra to the home. So why not do this at Christmas?

Blogmas #1: Tanya Burr 12 Sweet Days Advert Calendar Review

Welcome to the first day of Blogmas! Yes, it's the first of December which means the start of Christmas themed blog posts and videos over the next twenty four days. You lucky folks! For day one I thought it would be apt to review a beauty advert calendar - it is December 1st after all. Over on my channel today you can see me opening the Tanya Burr 12 Sweet Day's Advent calendar, so you get all my first reactions, and over here - you get to read my review on each of the products.