Christmas Gift Guide: Stocking Fillers

For my last of my Christmas 2014 Gift Guides we have some Stocking fillers. 




*Glazed Apple Bath Jelly
Sink into a cloud of bubbles with this sweet scented glazed apple bath jelly from the Body Shop.
Scoop into warm running water for the ultimate  festive bath time indulgence. 

£10 

*Lip and Cheek Stain Doll
This cute lip and cheek stain is a fab special edition to add to someones stocking.
This dual-purpose liquid stain gives a natural-looking, rosy glow to lips and cheeks.
I love the doll packaging! 

£10 

*Personal Planner

I am a huge fan of Personal Planner and love their new Giraffe design. 
The planner is ideal for keeping yourself organised and is fab as
you can personalize it however you like.
From your favorite photo on the front to adding birthdays and special occasions to the calendar
this makes a fab stocking filler.


*Personalised Chocolate Bar
Getting Personal sell a range of personalized chocolate bars for every occasion
I recently received a personalized bar for me and the hubby. 
We chose the snow penguin design. 
Each bar comes with a full color wrapper that's personalized with your name
at the front and then a little message on the back.
Inside the wrapper is a foil covered 100g bar of melt in the mouth milk chocolate. 




Lush Wand Bubble Bar 
I received this bubble bar as a gift a few years ago for Christmas and love it!
It's on my Christmas wishlist for this year as well. 
I had to add this to the list as its such a fab little stocking filler that smells
of marshmallows yum. 

*The New Rubik’s 3X3 

This is a new improved version of the original Rubik’s Cube where you cannot peel of the stickers and cheat! The Rubik’s Cube is the classic colour-matching puzzle that’s a great mental challenge at home or on the move. Turn and twist the sides of the cube so that each of the six faces only has one colour. Over “43 Quintillion” (that’s 43 with 18 zeros to you and me) moves are possible with this original 3x3 Cube, but there is only one solution! With lots of practice you can solve it in under 10 seconds!


*The Rubik’s Void 
Void is a HOLE new puzzle, with a HOLE new challenge. The Void has missing centre cubes that make this puzzle harder than an original 3x3 Rubik’s cube to solve. This cube is truly amazing to behold, leaving your brain void of answers to the question: “how can that Rubik’s Cube have a hole in the middle and still work?

Items with * have been gifted to me for the purpose of this post




B-Sensible Waterproof Bedding

  On Wednesday I turned 37 weeks pregnant which makes me Full Term, meaning baby could come at any point from now onward's eek! 

Now that I am classed as full term one of things I have done is put on the B-Sensible breathable and waterproof fitted sheet on our bed. 

This is just in case my waters decide to break during the night or when I have a little nap during the day. 

The 2 in 1 fitted sheet and protector has a range of great features
- First of all its Dermofresh which means the technical textile acts like a second skin. 
- It's waterproof and breathable.
- Its a dust mite barrier. 
- It's silent which means your not hearing the rustle like some waterproof sheets do. 
- its made from natural and sustainable fiber.
- Its machine washable and tumble-dryable. 



The sheets come in a range of sizes so that you can find one that fits your mattress. 
The one I received is 135 x 200 which is a perfect size and fit for our small double. 
The sheet fitted on our bed without coming loose and pinging off like a previous brand 
I have owned. B-sensible also fits all depths of mattresses too! 

I was also sent a waterproof Moses Basket Sheet ready for when baby gets here. 
The waterproof moses basket sheet is great and fits our little ones mattresses perfectly, without being too big or too small.
I had been having issues in finding a suitable waterproof sheet for little ones moses basket and am extremely pleased with the B-sensible one. 
With the same features as the waterproof sheet for our bed I feel my mind is at ease.

I love that the sheets are not plastic looking and feel soft , comfortable and luxurious  without making a sound when we roll over in our sleep. 
For that and many reasons I believe that B-sensible sheets are great value for money 


The sheets come in fab packaging as you can see in the images above the sheet for our bed comes in a box. What you can't see is that the box arrives in a little tote bag.
The moses basket sheet comes packaged in a little clear zip up bag.
The packaging makes the items even more luxurious. 
  
As for the service from Sensible Sheets I found them to be very helpful and my
item was dispatched promptly and arrived within a few a days. 


Have you used waterproof sheets ready for when you went into labor? 
or for your baby or children's moses basket/cot/bed? 


Christmas Gift Guide: For Children


*LEGO City Artic Helicrane Set 60034

This set is ideal for children who love LEGO and love an adventure. 
Head out into the wild with the Arctic explorer on a husky sled equipped with a camera, light and radar screen. Scan the huge ice block for hidden crystals frozen inside and then contact base camp with the walkie-talkie to call in the awesome Helicrane. Hover above the icy terrain and use the winch to lift up the container with the mysterious block of ice before flying back to base camp for more investigation. Includes Arctic explorer and pilot minifigures with assorted accessories.

Sold in most supermarkets and toy stores


*Abigail the Giraffe book 
Abigail loves to count, its her favorite thing. 
But when she tries to count a zebra's stripes and cheetahs spots they wont
keep still, its hopeless! What will Abigail do? 
This is a fab and colorful book about a Giraffe who loves to count
and makes a fab addition on your child/ren's bookshelf. 



* Baby Annabell Bath Time Fun
Zapf creations brings to you Baby Annabell Bath Time Fun! 
The set includes: 
 - Baby Annabell Bath Time Doll
- Soft cuddly bath robe/blanket
- 2 piece nightgown
- slippers
- sponge
- talk bottle
-travel bottle
- Dummy
and 
- Travel bag 
Suitable from 3 years plus
The doll is also waterproof so your little one can have her in the bath with them. 

£30 (half price sale in Asda) 

Jelly Cat Tiggy Giraffe Soother 
I am huge fan of Giraffe's and when browsing the net for little
gift ideas for our little one I came across this Giraffe Soother from a fab 
brand called Jelly Cat. 
Tiggy the Giraffe is a cute companion for sleep time and newborns will fall in
love with this cute blankie.
From its toffee colored spots to the creamy wiggly ears go dotty
for this gentle Giraffe. 

£11




Little Tikes Block- A- Train 
Get Choo Chooing along and full steam ahead with this Block- A- Train. 
featuring 2 wooden wheel bases and  8 bright wooden blocks this toy
is suitable for children 18 months plus. 

£10 

George Wooden Toy Cash Register 
This Wooden Toy Cash Register is an ideal gift for both boys and girls.
This gorgeous wooden cash register features the same stylish blue and red polka dot and red cherry motif vintage-style design as the rest of the George home kids kitchen toy range. 

The wooden cash register includes opening drawers so that little one can store the bank card, play coins and bank notes that come with the set. 
With pretend scanner and bank card scanner this wooden toy maybe vintage is style but is up to date.
There is also a chalk board to chalk up the price and a turning receipt in case of any returns and a handy four-bead abacus for totting up on the spot.

This is a great gift for helping children to use their imagination, encourage learning and social interaction as well
as numeracy skills. 

£10




Got a mini Frozen fan in your home than you will love the next two gift ideas. 

Disney Frozen Sparkle Elsa Doll

The Disney Frozen Sparkle Elsa Doll captures the essence of her beloved character in her elegant dress.
She sparkles in her gown which has a scoop neck strip of white showcasing  the gorgeous bodice of light blue sparkles accented with a deep blue ribbon sash. 
The long blue skirt stops just above the floor to provide a peek at her translucent blue heels. A sheer white overcoat detailed with snowflake sparkles completes the sophisticated look. 
Her hair is scooped up into a side braid and topped with a with a translucent, glittery blue tiara. 

Suitable for ages 3 + 

£17 (Asda) 



Elsa Toddler Doll 
Play out your own Frozen adventure with the Elsa Toddler Doll.
Elsa is dressed in her elegant and sparkly gown from the film and has
beautifully braided hair, hairbrush and tiara.
For even more fun Elsa comes along with her silly and adorable friend Olaf. 
Suitable from 3 years. 

£25 (Asda)  


Items that have * were gifted to me for the purpose of this post 

37 Weeks Pregnant (Full Term)

So as of today I am officially classed as Full term. 
This means that I could give birth at any point from now onward's. 
This is a scary thought but also exciting knowing that I am getting more and more
closer to meeting our little pickle.

How far along? 37 weeks today 
Symptoms:  Tiredness, still breathlessness when out and about, braxton hicks are still painful and frequent,  my feet and ankles have also swollen up now and its also getting harder to walk due to feeling pressure.  
Sleep: waking up a lot more often during the night and also getting comfy this week has 
been more of a nightmare.
Best moment this week: Sorting out Christmas presents for family. 
I need to work out if we are going to get present/s for baby in case they arrive in time.
Miss anything? Feeling comfortable and being able to go out without being breathless and feeling pressure.
Movement: Loads of wiggles and kicks are still going strong 
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy 
Looking forward to: 
- My next midwife appointment which will be next Thursday 
- feeling more Christmas'y 


Christmas Gift Guide : For Him

Men are extremely hard to buy for I don't need to tell you that. 
But I have come up with some ideas for the man in your life this Christmas.


*Clock Safe

Men can keep their valuables secure with Getting Personal's unique Clock Safe. 
Not only does this fab clock safe keep your belongings safe and securely out of sight,
but as its an analogue clock it means it will sit unnoticed on the wall. 
Inside the clock is an brilliantly disguised storage box with built-in shelves, which is sure to keep its contents safe and sound.
The clock requires 1 AA battery
£10.99 



Next up Asda has a lovely Bayliss and Harding 3 piece set. 
The Black Pepper and Ginseng Mens 3 piece set  contains: 
1 x Shower Gel 200mL 
1 x Hair and Body Wash 300mL 
1 x Aftershave Balm 200mL
This is a fab set smells amazing and makes an ideal little gift.

£7 (Asda)  




Next up we have Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope. 
The Celestron PowerSeeker telescopes are designed to give the first time telescope user
the perfect combination of quality, value, features and power. 
Astronomy is a great family hobby that can be enjoyed all year round and the 
Celestron PowerSeeker is the ideal affordable and high quality choice to provide
many hours of enjoyment. 

£25 ( Asda) 

* 5W LED Torch
Another great gift idea is the 5W LED Torch from Aldi.
The LED Torch has: 
- Min of 50,000 hours of LED lifetime 
- Continuous zoom 
- brightness levels and SOS function
- 5 Watt Cree LED
and is shock resistant and weatherproof. 

£9.99 
*Mens Pjs
Last of all we have a pair of Pjs. 
This set from Aldi is ideal for the cold wintry nights
and makes me a fab gift for loved ones. 


All items with a * were gifted to me for the purpose of this post



Take A Break Online




We all lead busy lives these days, and sometimes you can get to the end of the day and realise you’ve not had a minute to yourself, where you just take five and relax. But, actually, the more you work through the day without a break, the less productive you become. And that’s as relevant for someone sitting in an office working at a pc as it is for the mum who stays at home with the kids.
Everyone can benefit from a little downtime during the day, and if you manage to take a five minute break here and there, it can mean that you go back feeling refreshed and ready to carry on with things you have to get done.
So what’s the best way to get that little break? Here are a few ideas of how to take five without leaving the building.
Playing a game is always a great way to unwind, but you want to find one that won’t take a lot of time. A game like online bingo is ideal as it only takes a few minutes to play, and the bingo sites that you’ll find on the internet have games starting every couple of minutes, so it’s always available.
Another great game to use for those five minute breaks is a gaming app like Draw Something. We all love to doodle, but can you really be bothered to get the pens and paper out when you can just doodle on your tablet or phone? Or simply guess what other people have drawn. Playing on a drawing app gives you a little room for creativity – ideal if your work doesn’t!
Taking five minutes to catch up with a friend is a great way to maintain a friendship and give yourself a break from the daily routine. Actually phoning someone could stretch that five minute break into 20 or more, so if you want to just say hi, send them a message on email or social media instead. They get to hear how you are and know that you’re thinking of them, but it won’t take up too much of the day when you should be cracking on with work or the household chores.
Of course, we’re just scratching the surface here on ideas of how to take a break that only takes five minutes of your time. It doesn’t really matter how you spend the time – what’s more important is that you make sure to have regular breaks throughout the day. You’ll feel better for it and end up getting more things done!

Christmas Gift Guide: For Her

My second gift guide is "For Her" this could mean your Mum, Nan, Sister, Wife, Girlfriend, Mother-In-Law.....



*Heat-Holders Neck-warmer 

First up is the Heat-Holders Neck-warmer this is an ideal gift for keeping
snug when out and about in this cold weather which normally lasts beyond Christmas. 




* My Life Story 

For women who like writing diaries or even scrap-booking than this gift is ideal. 
My Life Dairy is a 100 year diary that allows you to record personal notes, information about achievements, favorite things and even your ambitions, you'll never forget the important things that life brings your way.
 The front and spine of this black hardback book has 'My Life Story' embossed in gold. 

£29.99


* Guardian Angel Bracelet 
This Guardian Angel Bracelet from Grace & Valour's One Wish collection
is an ideal gift for the jewelry lover.
Made from sterling silver this delicate and pretty bracelet would make her day. 

£23.

*Face The Day 
The Face The Day gift set from Amphora-Aromatics is a a facial treat to rejuvenate skin. 
The set contains: 
Seaweed & Aloe Eye Gel (60ml)
Rejuvenating Gel with Rose (60ml)
Frankincense & Rose Face Cream (60ml)
Apricot Facial Scrub (60 ml)
Lemon Thyme & Tea Tree Lip Balm (30ml)

An Ideal set for women who are in need of a treat

£22.95



*Tru- Diamonds 2ct Emerald Cut Earrings
These earrings from Tru-Diamonds come in 2ct gold or platinum plated, emerald cut with faux diamonds.
They make a lovely gift for the women in your life that likes a bit of sparkle.

£139



Lilac Frost Bouquet
This bouquet is ideal for someone who loves flowers I picked out Bunches 
for this Gift Guide as I am a huge fan of their bouquets having received a few in the past
and this one is definitely one I love the look of. 
This is different from traditional red and green bouquets that make you think of Christmas. 


A year in 120 recipes by Jack Monroe
This book is on my wishlist for Christmas this year  in fact I know hubby has already got it me ;). 
I have recently got into reading her blog and really wanted her new book as I know 
her first one was really popular. 
I think this would make an ideal gift for the women that loves to cook but 
wants to keep costs down. 



Travel Mug 
There are loads of different travel mugs around I love this one from Amazon 
which is very floral and girly. Ideal for those that love shabby chic. 



Real Techniques Starter Set 
This starter set for eye make up with 5 different brushes you can create high definition eyes.
I know this set is rather popular and I would love to own this myself. 
A great set for make up lovers. 


Mistletoe Kisses bath set from Bomb Cosmetics 
A fab bath set that contains: 
1 x Christmas Wonderland handmade soap
1 x Ho Ho Holly bath blaster
1 x Snowtime Like the Present soap
1 x Santas Baby bath blaster
1 x Chilly Willy bath blaster
1 x We Three Kings bath creamer

a set that's ideal for those who love a bath time treat. 


Items that have * next to them have been gifted to me for the purpose of this post

36 Weeks Pregnant

This week I have a cold yet again which sucks. 
We have played around with baby's travel system and sort of know how it works,
but the main thing is we know how to fit the car seat.
We also took over a ton of baby washing  to my mum's who will
be bringing it back over at some point to put all away.
I have also got around to packing mine and baby's hospital bags which are
almost done. 

How far along? 36 weeks today 
Symptoms:  Tiredness, still breathlessness when out and about, braxton hicks are still painful and frequent,  my feet and ankles have also swollen up now.  
Sleep: been waking up even more this week than usual
nights I wake up at 3am and then 6am. I also have to nap a lot more.
Best moment this week: Baby's cot and furniture all being built up it looks fab :)
Miss anything? Feeling comfortable
Movement: Loads of wiggles and kicks are still going strong 
Happy or moody most of the time: Moody well so my hubby tells me but i guess I have been quiet a bit this week
Looking forward to: 
- Being classed as full term next Wednesday 
- Having a relaxing pj day at some point this week
- putting the rest of baby's clothing away 

Christmas Gift Guide: For The Home

For my first gift guide for Christmas 2014 we have some items for the home which I feel 
would make some great presents for loved ones this Christmas. 
There are accessories that are suitable for all over the home.



Starting off I recommend the lovely Heat-Holders Snuggle Blanket. 
You may have read my little review here
This blanket is perfect for keeping warm on cold nights. 
I've been using mine whilst snuggling up on the sofa.



For the candle lovers we have AromaWorks Yin Candle.
This candle comes in  3 sizes small, medium and large. 
The candle combines the beautifully relaxing top notes of exotically floral Ylang Ylang and fruity May Chang with heart notes of Geranium, which all bring a sense of calm. The wonderfully rich, woody scents of Patchouli and Sandalwood balance out this blend giving it a sumptuous, warm, spicy base.
The candle can be used on its own or with the Yang candle that you can also purchase. 


If you know a hot chocolate lover than they are sure to love this engraved glass hot chocolate mug from Getting Personal. 
I love having hot chocolate as a daily treat for myself and what's better than serving my delicious treat in a glass mug just like from my favorite coffee shop. 
You can personalize the mug with name of the recipients which appears above a stylish design of a steaming mug and "Hot Chocolate" written in old school font. 
The mug can be personalized with the name of your choice up to 12 characters you 
can even see a preview of how the design will look like on the website. 
Another great thing is that the mug is dishwasher safe and reinforced so you wont burn yourself.
£14.99


If you love cooking and baking and want to keep your must have recipes close by than this handy book is ideal!
The My Family Cookbook is blank and ready so that you can fill it with your own scribbles, photo's, methods and grocery list.
This book is a fab way to pass down your favorite recipes generation to generation. 
This beautiful hardback red book with a simple pie design on the front slots nicely into the white sleeve so that you can protect it from spillages. 
£19.99 




Next up we have the OXO Goodgrips 3 piece trivet set.
This set the ideal solution for versatility while serving small and large dishes.
The 3 trivets come apart to be used as separate trivets or to be used side by side to accommodate large dishes or pans. The 3 rings snap together to for use of a single pot and for easy storage. 
The Trivets are heat safe up to 315°C/600°F.

 £12 (As seen in Lakeland) 


Last of all if you love a good steak than you will love this Steak Stone and Plate Set 
The steak on a stone set creates mouthwatering food for use at home, dinner parties or as a gift, which
can be used indoors or out. 
Simply heat the rock in the oven or on hob, choose a selection of tasty accompaniments and present your choice of meat, fish or vegetables on your rock to create a fab meal! 
The Porcelain Rock Set can be heated till they are sizzling hot or can be chilled till they are freezing cold and serve any desert on them.
£48.50


* I was gifted these items in return for this post




Chocolate Marshmallow Creme Cake

When I got my October Degustabox I was thrilled to see some yummy items that I could have fun baking withso today we finally got around to making a Chocolate Marshmallow Creme Cake. 

With the help from my lovely assistant (my hubby) we made a tasty cake using two of the ingredients from this months Degustabox the Toasted Marshmallow creme and the Dr Oetker coco powder.

Ingredients:
-          225g of butter
-          225g casting sugar
-          X4 medium eggs
-          175g of self-raising flour
-          - 50g of coco powder
- Half a pot of toasted marshmallow creme
 - 10 squares of baking chocolate 

1.
 Pre-heat oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4. Grease and line two 20cm (8 inch) sandwich tins.

2.
Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and if the mixture starts to curdle, add a little flour.

3.
Fold in the remaining flour and the cocoa powder with a metal spoon.

4.
Divide the mixture between the two tins and bake for approx. 25 minutes until golden brown and firm to the  touch. Remove from oven and leave to cool before turning out onto a cooling rack.



5. 
Spread half a pot of the Marshmallow Creme over one of the layers of cake 
and then place the other layer carefully on top. 

6. 
Melt the cooking chocolate in the microwave for 3 minutes stirring every 30 seconds. 


7
Spread the melted chocolate all over the top of the cake
and pop in the fridge to cool.