CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR ADULTS 2025

*PR Samples – I received the items featured in this post for consideration on my blog.

#This post also includes affiliate links – if you buy anything via these links I will receive a small payment from the company, this does not affect the price you pay

Welcome to my Christmas Gift Guide 2025. I've been doing these gift guides for over 12 years now. I love the build up of Christmas and sourcing gift ideas for you guys. You can find last year's guide here if you need further inspiration.

This gift guide features a variety of thoughtful gifts including sweet treats, alcohol, luxury pyjamas,  crafty bits and more.

Boutique Gifts Personalised Hampers | Price Varies 

Boutique Gifts are known for their range of handmade gifts. We especially love their variety of best selling hampers, from letter box gifts to luxury and even alcohol free versions. The above hamper is their wine tasting personalised treat box. This elegant red wine hamper brings together a carefully chosen bottle of Shiraz with a handpicked medley of savoury bites and sweet indulgences, designed for a truly memorable night in. Full hamper contents include:

- Waters Edge Shiraz (75cl)

- Ludlow’s Toasted Peanuts

- Savoursmiths Desert Salt & Black Pepper Crisps

- Abbey Biscuits Traditional Shortbread

- Beech’s British Milk Coconut Macaroons

Clean Co non-alcoholic spirits | £16

Clean Co are a great brand of non-alcoholic spirit alternatives, ideal for those that don't drink. We've been a fan of the brand for years now and they are our go to for alcohol-free gins, whisky, rum and tequila. Their spirits are all sugar free and low in calories too. 

Clean T is made to be mixed just as you would in a classic Margarita. Crafted by their award-winning team of flavour experts, using only the highest-quality ingredients sourced from around the world. Delivering delicious notes of Green Agave, Olive, Sweet Melon, Black Pepper and Cedarwood for a cooling finish. Perfect for an alcohol-free margarita that lets you delight in the night, and still welcome the next day!

ThinK Wine | Price Varies 

ThinK Wine is the home of Prosecco and sparkling wine with reduced calories and reduced sugar.  Established in 2020, Katherine Jones, the innovative mind behind ThinK, dedicated two years prior to crafting and refining a Prosecco and Pinot Grigio Sparkling Rosé with fewer calories and less sugar, all with no compromise on taste. Driven by her personal struggle with sugar, Katherine identified a gap in the market for enjoyable, low-sugar bubbly alternatives. 

As well as full sized bottles of both Prosecco and sparkling Rosé ThinK Wine also offer mini's and cans that you can purchase in packs of 6, 12 or 24 which make the perfect Christmas gift option.

Saffire Chocolates | Truffles Selection | prices starting from £11.50

At Saffire Chocolates, they believe chocolate should be an experience. Crafted with care, full of flavour, and made to be savoured. Nestled in the heart of Norfolk, Saffire Chocolates artisan chocolate company is built on a passion for quality, creativity, and craftsmanship.

They handcraft a luxurious range of artisan treats, including their signature chocolate truffles, smooth milk chocolate bars, and indulgent champagne truffle balls. Every piece of Saffire chocolate is handcrafted in small batches using the finest cocoa traced ingredients. From carefully selected coca blends to locally inspired flavours, their creations celebrate the beauty of simplicity and the art of indulgence.

Their truffle selection starts at £11.50 for a box of 6 Chocolates up to £32.50 for a box of 24. Each box features a curated selection of gourmet chocolate truffles, made with the finest ingredients and artisan techniques. Choose from classic milk chocolate, rich dark chocolate, or unique seasonal flavours and both alcohol and alcohol free options.

Gift Hampers International | Pretty In Pink gift hamper | £73

Gift Hampers International sell a wide range of luxury hampers across multiple countries within the EU as well as the UK. Making them a handy gift option for a loved one in another country this Christmas. From beautifully curated food and drink hampers, to wine and spirits gifts, there is something for everyone.

The Pretty In Pink gift hamper from Gift Hampers UK is a gorgeous selection packed in a chic pink gift box. A sparkling rosé prosecco sets the tone for a joyful occasion, perfectly paired with buttery shortbread, sticky toffee cookies and creamy chocolate delights. Sweet treats like coconut clusters, strawberry fudge, prosecco-flavoured gummies and gourmet popcorn add a playful touch, making this hamper as fun as it is indulgent. 

Full hamper contents includes:

• Bottega Poeti Rosé Prosecco DOC 75cl
• Furniss Cornish Shortbread with Strawberry Pieces 180g
• Great British Desert Collection Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies
• Joypouch Coconut Clusters 100g
• Joe & Seph's Chocolate Fudge Cake Popcorn 30g
• Buttermilk Strawbellini Fudge 100g
• Ask Muy & Daddy Prosecco Bears 55g
• Monty Bojangles Milk Perfectly Creamy Chocolate 150g

Danilo |Pinch of Nom 2026 Calander | £10.99

A calender always makes a useful gift for keeping organised. Danilo has a wide range of lifestyle themed calanders for 2026. As well as Pinch of nom there is the floral charm of RHS, stunning animals of BBC earth and more designs. The Pinch of nom official calander for 2026 has a mouthwatering recipe for each of the 12 months to try. Available from retailers including WH Smith, Sainsbury's, Calendar Club, ASDA, Morrisons, Waterstones, The Works, Tesco,

#Amazon & Danilo.com. 

Goodeehoo | A5 Nicobar notebook | £12.99

Discover Goodeehoo's range of vegan-friendly stationery and thoughtful gifts for the organised individual. At Goodeehoo they are passionate about crafting beautifully designed, affordable products, including bags, stationery, and gifts. 

For planning, for journaling, for work or play an A5 Nicobar notebook is the ultimate must have. It's the perfect size for work or home. Available in 10 colours this luxury notebook is finished with faux soft grain cover and smart secure clasp.  The A5 notebook is also made with 100 single sheets of 100gsm lined paper.  For an extra £3.50 you can add personalised initials debossed with silver/gold foil or without foil.

Prezzee Gift Card | £5-£500

Stuck with what to get someone who has everything this Christmas? A gift card from Prezzee complete with a personal voice or video message and greeting card is sure to bring a smile to their face.  To personalise your gift further you can customise the e-gift card with a photo. A Prezzee gift card gives the recipient the chance to choose from a variety of retailers making it a flexible gift option. There are over 200 retailers to choose from too.

Max Spielmann | photo text print & frame | starting from £20

Personalised gifts are always a popular choice no matter the occasion. Max Spielmann have a wide range of unique gift options to choose from including canvasses, photo books, cushions, blankets, keyrings and more. If you have a store nearby some products may be offered on a same day service. Please do check in advance though especially as it gets closer to Christmas and more busy. 

The photo text print and frame makes a wonderful personalised gift this Christmas. Both portrait and landscape options are available for your photo. Prints/frames are available in 3 sizes - A4, A3 and 50 x 49 cm. The frames are available in black, white, rustic wood and light wood. Both the prints and frames are excellent quality and are sure to last for years to come. Please note that frames bigger than A4 do not include a back stand - only wall hooks for hanging.

Craft Buddy | Festive Best of British' Set of 8 Cards | £29.99

Craft buddy sell a wide range of crystal art kits. If you are looking for an early gift then these sets of 2025 limited edition festive crystal art cards are sure to be popular. From glittering London landscapes of telephone boxes and taxis, majestic steam trains to Highland cows, and cute robins. This unique set combines traditional scenes with a shimmering modern twist, making each card a keepsake in its own right. 

These card kits are ‘partial’ crystal designs, meaning that the main subjects and selected accents will sparkle, but the detailed illustrations show through giving a stunning contrast and texture. All tools are included, and each card has an easy to follow template to show you where to match your coloured crystals too. 

Craft Buddy | How the Grinch Stole Christmas scroll kit | £18.99

Craft Buddy have released for Christmas 2025 a range of The Grinch products. This scroll kit is selling fast and, like the cards a partial crystal design so that detailed illustrations show through with accents adding a bit of sparkle. The canvas is a flexible scroll that is 40x50cm, light weight and comes easy to hang with string, and top and bottom wooden hangers in white wood. The How The Grinch Stole Christmas' Crystal Art® Scroll Kit  features the beloved Grinch from Dr. Seuss.  The design captures him in a classic Santa costume, standing proudly in front of an overstuffed sleigh brimming with presents. Max, his loyal dog, sits comically atop the gift sack wearing his signature single reindeer antler, adding even more charm to the scene.

If you are looking for non Christmas themed designs Craft Buddy sell a wide range of other characters such as Disney, Harry Potter, Marvel and other themes such as flowers, animals etc.

 

Innocent Bones | Love by the moon cross stitch kit | £26

At Innocent Bones they make cross stitch kits for creative souls. They have a passion for designing patterns that capture the mystical, the magical, and the mysterious. Based in north east England in their cosy studio they hand make all their kits , from winding the bobbins and cutting the fabric, to packing every single order and subscription boxes.

"Live by the sun, love by the moon" is a celestial themed design with a colourful pallette. This counted cross stitch kit includes:

• Printed design chart and guide to cross stitching

• Full skeins of DMC stranded cotton embroidery floss

• 18 count white Aida

• Backing fabric

• 8 inch wooden embroidery hoop

• Round point tapestry needle.

As well as an array of different cross stitch kits Innocent Bones also has a subscription box for £24.99 every two months. This is another great Christmas present option for awaking creativity. The subscription is called mood boxes which the recipient will receive themed products that are carefully selected.

CHRISTMAS ADVENT CALENDAR'S FOR 2025

 *PR Sample – I received the Swizzels advert calender to be featured in this post.

#This post also includes affiliate links – if you buy anything via these links I will receive a small payment from the company, this does not affect the price you pay

December 1st and the official start of the countdown to Christmas is now under a month away! So I am sharing some of the advent calendars that I have come across this year. There are always new and exciting advent calendars that come out each year but these are a few I've seen that have piqued my interest this year.

Cadbury Biscoff advent calendar 

You can't beat a chocolate advent calendar especially one from Cadbury. This year I had to get the Cadbury Dairy Milk/Lotus Biscoff calendar. The combination of Cadbury Dairy Milk and Biscoff is one of my favourite combinations so it's a must have calendar for me. 

Behind each of the 24 doors there is a mini chocolate treat - 12 plain Dairy Milk and 12 Dairy Milk Biscoff. You can find this calendar in most supermarkets. I got mine when doing my food shop in Aldi in the special buys section. Another great thing is that they are always affordable.

*Swizzels  advent calendar 

If sweets is more your thing over chocolate than countdown to Christmas with Swizzels. My husband is more of a sweet lover so this is his calendar for 2025. We love that there is a great mix of favourites included.

Packed with 24 of its much-loved treats and showcasing a fresh, festive new look for 2025, this advent calendar is ideal for families and sweet lovers alike. Inside, you’ll find a delicious selection of Swizzels favourites: from Love Hearts and Squashies to Drumstick Chews, Refreshers, and more. At £6 it's a great budget choice too.

Minecraft Advent calendar book collection

Book advent calendars are a popular choice whether you make your own up by wrapping up 24 books to countdown to the special day or buy an already made one like the above.

ESCAPE TO THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BY CARRIE WALKER

 Ad – review. I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own.

Today I am involved in the book tour for Escape to the Northern Lights by Carrie Walker. Carrie Walker is a Brummie born rom-com lover with a lifelong passion for travel. She has lived in a ski resort, by a beach, in the country and the city, and travelled solo through Asia, South America and Europe. Her own love life was more com than rom until she met her husband a few years ago and settled down with him and her dog Ziggy in a small pub-filled village in Essex. 

Escape to the Swiss Chalet was her debut novel and Escape to the Tuscan Vineyard was her second novel. Now her third book Escape to the Northern Lights is out November 6th. It's part of her Holiday Romance series although like her other 2 books they can be read as a standalone.

About the book

Packed with humour, romance and a love affair with nature, Escape to the Northern Lights is a story of transformation, second chances and finding home in the most unexpected places. 

High-powered lawyer Sara thought she had life figured out – until her whirlwind marriage ends in divorce, her dream promotion slips away and a burnout diagnosis forces her to take a break.

Desperate for a reset, she books a four-week spa retreat in Norway, imagining a luxurious escape. Instead, she finds herself in the rugged wilderness of Firefly Forest, knee-deep in reindeer droppings and stuck with an annoyingly bohemian – and ridiculously attractive – outdoorsman, Henrik.

Top Mistakes To Avoid When Furnishing A Bedroom From Scratch

*This is a collaborative post 

Designing a bedroom from scratch? Sounds like the perfect plan, but it definitely has a few challenges. A new bedroom is like a plain canvas and needs your creativity. If you plan it right, you might be able to get your dream space ready. But overdoing something might ruin the vibes of it, and it won’t feel like the escape you were planning to create. 

You might be renovating your home and see a lot of inspiration. But sometimes not every design or furniture choice is right for you. We have so many furnishing ideas today that we can add to our homes, our bedrooms. But do you need all of them? Today, interior design is all about planning and avoiding mistakes, especially when you’re designing from scratch. 

So, here we are helping you out in planning and avoiding the mistakes one can make when choosing the furnishings for your bedroom. Because today it's all about practicality and smart design that matches your needs and personality. 

Top Mistakes That Affect Your Bedroom:

1.Ignoring The Room’s Size & Layout

A lot of people make the mistake they ignoring the bedroom dimensions. Planning, like having a moodboard or placement map of everything, really helps a lot. This is what interior designers do, and that’s why they totally upscale your place. You need to adopt this, too, no matter the size of your room. 

Tips to avoid this mistake:

• Measure your room
• Sketch a simple floor plan
• Do visualise placement
• Keep pathways free
• Keep 2–3 feet between furniture pieces
• Avoid blocking windows or doors

Tip: The best furniture that we think has been a space-saver and definitely does a smart job is the ottoman storage boxes. You should definitely add it to your room. 

2.Forgetting To Define A Style

Before you shop or keep adding stuff to your room, it is better to define a style, and we definitely have so many more options nowadays. You can go for:

• Mid-century modern
• Art Deco
• Minimalism
• Scandinavian
• Bohemian
• Traditional
• Industrial
• Transitional
• Contemporary
• Eclectic
• Coastal
• Rustic

Common Style Mistakes:

• Mixing too many patterns
• Combining clashing colour tones
• Choosing more than one theme

How To Fix It?

• Choose a theme or colour palette first.
• Stick to two to three main materials. 
• Use neutral foundations

3. Prioritising Looks Over Comfort

Prioritising looks over comfort? Seems like a great mistake, especially when comfort is everything you need in your dream room. 

Mistakes To Avoid

• Choosing a bed solely on style
• Buying a mattress without testing firmness.
• Not having bedside tables or chairs.

Is it Possible for Travellers to Follow in the Footsteps of Odysseus?

The Odyssey is one of the greatest stories ever told, and it has inspired countless related works and adaptations over the years. With Christopher Nolan’s version set to hit screens next year, there could be a surge in interest in tourism to the locations from the adventure.

It is possible to travel in the footsteps of Odysseus, who journeyed home for ten years after the Trojan War ended. The great thing is, you don’t need to spend quite as long as he did if you choose to travel the same route.

         

A Perfect Way to Prepare for the New Odyssey Film

There’s a lot of interest in travel to Greece thanks to the popularity of Ancient Greek themes in popular culture. In recent years, there has been so much content across different media that has allowed more people to get into the age-old tales. For example, Stephen Fry modernised many Greek myths in his book series that began with Mythos in 2017. This was followed by Heroes, Troy, and Odyssey, with each book giving readers and listeners a full overview of the stories from that era.

On television, there have been numerous popular Ancient Greece-inspired works, with the BBC’s Troy: Fall of a City giving viewers an excellent retelling of the legendary war. There was also Kaos on Netflix, which featured Greek gods in a modern-day setting and a great performance from Jeff Goldblum as Zeus. In the gaming industry, Greek themes are also everywhere you look. For instance, Age of the Gods: King of Olympus is listed as one of the top Megaways slots on the market.

The best Christmas getaways in Europe for 2025

If you’re dreaming of twinkling lights, crisp winter air, and magical festive experiences, a Christmas getaway in Europe might be just the ticket. Whether you’re after traditional markets, a snow-covered chalet, or something a little off the beaten path, the continent comes alive with festive cheer in December.

Here’s our pick of the best Christmas getaways in Europe for 2025. They’re perfect for couples, families, or solo adventurers looking to make the season extra special.

Classic European Christmas markets and city escapes

Few things capture the magic of Christmas like the old-world charm of Europe’s festive markets. Vienna leads the way with its imperial architecture and elegant Christmas markets, which start in mid-November. Sip spiced punch under the Rathaus and shop for handcrafted decorations beneath glistening lights.

In the Czech capital, Prague, snow-dusted rooftops and the scent of roasted chestnuts turn the Old Town into a festive postcard. Head to the main square for traditional pastries like trdelník and listen to carol singers beneath the giant tree.

Meanwhile, Strasbourg, often dubbed the “Capital of Christmas,” is home to one of Europe’s oldest and most atmospheric markets. Visit from late November to soak up the Alsatian charm and enjoy mulled wine, bredele biscuits, and fairy-tale scenery.