The adulting hard wish list and gift guide

I don't know about you, but I've officially reached that stage in my life when I struggle to put forward gift ideas for myself. I remember poring through the Argos catalogue when I was little circling toy after toy, but nowadays I feel guilty asking for anything. I always wondered why I used to struggle to get much back in the way of gift ideas for older members of the family and now I totally get it. As you get older, your priorities change.

As I got older I discovered the difference between want and need (do you need it? 96% of the time you probably don't). And if I do want something, the stubborn Taurus in me would rather get it for myself than subject my friends and family to spending their hard earned money on me.

It sounds weird, but on Christmas day, I'd much rather watch other people unwrap presents than have any myself. Christmas for me is being with those I love. I adore seeing other people happy, that's gift enough for me.

I've noticed this shift for a while now and this Christmas only emphasised it. When my family asked for ideas in October (I kid you not), my list was minimal and I later noticed it contained functional items where I identified things that were past it and in need of replacing (slippers), commonly used household items, or else identifying day-to-day annoyances (the inability to keep food and plates warm when entertaining).

If you find yourself (or anyone else you know) in the same boat, the second category ("commonly used household items") is a good way to go. And these are the sorts of items which sit perfectly within this bracket:

Molton Brown hand wash / White Company winter range / Baylis and Harding hand wash / Jo Malone fragrance

Jar of matches / Oliver Bonas candle / Oliver Bonas diffuser / White Company hand wash

Reed diffusers - I always have multiple on the go around the house so these are forever useful. Not to be confused with incense sticks which I avoid like the plague (increased risks of cancer).

Candles - because you can never have too many candles! My favourite scents include Pecksniff's bergamot and spiced tea candle (brings back amazing memories of my trip to the Maldives), the Winter collection by The White Company and the Oliver Bonas Mandarin & Lotus candle smells like HEAVEN (as does their Seagrass & Amber) and also comes in a matching reed diffuser.

Matches - adult matches are the very definition of adulting hard. Forget a box of matches, how much nicer looking is this jar of matches?

Fragrance - fragrance can be quite personal, but it's one of those things that I won't treat myself to often so it makes a really lovely gift. Jo Malone is my absolute favourite (blackberry and bay for the win) and I love trying new scents I haven't tried before.

Moisturiser - another thing I don't really treat myself to is a decent moisturiser. I use coconut oil (which does the job) but it would be nice to try a branded moisturiser. Something like Liz Earle or Clinique.

Hand wash - I regularly use a 80p hand soap from Aldi which is an excellent dupe for Molton Brown. As simple as it sounds, having an extra special hand wash from The White Company, Molton Brown or Baylis & Harding is a real treat. Plus it's nice having these out for when you have visitors or people over to stay (also a solid gift idea for any friends and family who have had a new bathroom put in lately!)

So if you're like me (or know someone like me) who isn't brimming full of ideas or feels a little awkward asking for things, the above is a good place to start!

What is on your Christmas wish list this year?

The perfect Father's Day gift with Moonpig

I was very kindly invited to a blogger event in Edinburgh with Moonpig earlier in May, but the timing wasn't right what with my Dad's health, so I had to decline. When the lovely people at Moonpig got in touch after the event and asked if I'd like to review a product from their Father's Day range, I was really touched.

Moonpig is an online treasure trove where you can order personalised cards and gifts to send domestically or internationally (I in fact ordered and sent Moonpig cards when I lived and worked abroad in France!). I knew they sold cards and gifts like chocolates and flowers, but what I didn't realise is that they stock many other gifts like hampers, alcohol, beauty and home gifts, and experience days. Who knew? Just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend I received the loveliest of hampers:

The hamper in question came in a lovely dark brown basket and excited the cats every bit as much as me

You know how in some hampers there is always that one item with ingredients you don't like, and your friends and family don't like? Not the case here! What I liked most about this hamper is that it doesn't contain anything obscure or really out there. What does said hamper contain you ask?

Vanilla fudge - my Dad's absolute favourite
English Breakfast Tea - how cute is the packaging?
Oak cakes - my Dad instilled his love of cheese and biscuits onto me (I owe him big time)
Marmalade - not just any marmalade. Orange, lemon and WHISKY marmalade <3
Shortbread - not just any shortbread, but clotted cream shortbread (another one of Dad's favourites!)
Chocolates - Only the best. Trust me, Lily O'Briens are AMAZING

I will be dividing up items from the hamper for both my Dad and Mr Curiouser and Curiouser's Dad this coming Father's Day. Which actually works out really well seeing as one loves chocolate and tea, whereas the other is more fudge and cheese and biscuits orientated. SORTED.

If you fancy having a nose at Moonpig's full range of Father's Day gifts, you can do so here. There is a vast array of different hampers so there is really something for everyone! Perfect for if your Dad gravitates towards a very specific food 'theme' like cheese / beer / chocolate / coffee. Thanks once again to Moonpig for thinking of me (here's hoping I'll be able to make the next event!)

* hamper very kindly supplied by Moonpig but words and love of hampers all my own!

A sneak peek of what I opened on my birthday

Birthdays... always over in the blink of an eye, right? This year was no exception. I managed to drag celebrations out for a couple of weeks and thinking about it, this post allows me to draw things out a little longer #MilkingIt

I don't know if anyone else finds this, but as you get older, it becomes harder and harder to think of gift ideas or to ask for things in general (does anyone else find this increasingly awkward?). Which is such a contrast to the days of being knee high and writing long lists to Santa or circling ALL THE THINGS in the new Argos catalogue. Here are a few of the things I received this year.

Water bottle

Drinking water from old plastic water bottles reportedly carries health risks due to the sun reacting with the plastic and reportedly chemicals in plastic may be linked to causing cancer. I've known this but for whatever reason it still hadn't given me the kick up the arse I needed to bin said plastic bottle and replace with a non plastic offering. My sister gave me this pretty floral Chilly's bottle which is much nicer to look at than my manky old plastic bottle I've had since god knows when. Now I have no excuse!

Interiors magazines

My other sister knows how much I love poring over interiors magazines and usually treats me to an assortment of titles that I'm not able to afford on a regular basis. This year she found the prettiest Joules gift box and magazines focusing on kitchens and extensions which is pretty perfect timing what with our recent renovation plans!

Money / vouchers

I always feel really boring asking for money, but it's so useful - particularly when you're in the planning stages of an extension like I am! A bit of money here and there buys me a bar stool or two - every little helps!

Pink House Living

Emily I had the pleasure of meeting last summer here and her renowned hashtag #cheatingonfashionwithfurniture is something I find myself relating to more and more these days. Don't get me wrong, I still love fashion, but I have a new found appreciation for interiors and these days I prioritise any spare cash to the house fund rather than to myself. Emily's house is a vibrant pop of colour and joy which constantly inspires me to be braver in my decorating choices. Really excited to start reading Emily's debut book!

Earrings

One of my best friends took inspiration from my recent jaunt to the Maldives and found these beautiful Matthew Calvin earrings. I love all things rose gold and how beautifully are these presented? I love the message in a bottle vibes!

Rum

One of my colleagues surprised me with a big bottle of dark rum and I also had a lovely card and the mother of chocolate cakes from work

Concert tickets 

One of my best friends got tickets for Walking on Cars (one of our favourite bands) and also surprised me with a tee and signed CD of their latest album. I'm sure you'll have seen plenty of videos on IG by now. By the end of the night my back and legs ached (that's 4 hours of standing for you!) and my voice was husky and not all there from singing along, but I wouldn't swap it for anything in the world. An amazing night

So a pretty colourful assortment this year! 

What are your favourite items?

Father's Day gift inspiration with I Just Love It

* Product received for review purposes but as ever, all opinions are my own!

My Dad has had a bit of a time of it lately, bless him. Last year he wasn't in the best of health and had two operations, and then only went and bloody got pneumonia after his second op, didn't he? Then fast forward to the other week where he went in for a third op. When I Just Love It got in touch offering to treat my Dad for Father's Day, I couldn't think of a better person to receive a gift!

I Just Love It is an online gift company who specialise in personalised gifts, making items that extra little bit special. Items range from BBQ tools, photo frames, tool boxes, beer caddies and DIY tools, most of which have personalisation options. They also have an extensive range of alcohol gift sets so no matter whether you're into wine, cider, prosecco or whisky, there's something for everybody.

Under normal circumstances I would have gone down the alcohol route as my Dad loves beer or a good bottle of red wine, however given his recent op, he needs to play it safe. Which is when Plan B came in.

My Dad is seriously into football and more specifically Spurs (North London and proud!) I Just Love It have an amazing range of personalised football books and guides for a wide variety of football teams, and also have bottles of cider, wine and champagne specific to your favourite team. The problem with buying the ultimate football fan a football related book is the age old question: "does he already have this one?!"

As luck may have it, I found a book very similar to my favourite One Line A Day book that I use, which instead would allow him to look back at past proud memories and achievements of his favourite team.

Personalised Spurs On This Day book *

Sized at 12 x 19cm and embossed with gold lettering, this is a football book with a difference. They do stipulate on the website that the cover colour may be subject to change (it's white on the listing here) and to be completely honest, I was a little disappointed with the colour that I received. It's just my opinion, but I think the white and gold combination looks a lot more expensive and special. Whilst I have nothing against the colour blue, I just don't feel like the blue used is very 'Spurs' and it makes the product look quite cheap (it photographs better than it looks in person). I feel that a darker blue like a navy would look more striking against the gold lettering (but that's just my opinion). Saying that, my Dad likes ALL types of blue and will love it (and that's the most important thing!).

The phrase "never judge a book by its cover" has never been so apt. Once you get past the cover, it's a great little read. I can't possibly comment on the content as I know next to nothing about football(!), however the text is a good size and looks very readable (something very important to me whenever I choose out a new book!)

The personalisation aspect of the gift was what won me over the most. I often give my Dad books, but never before has he received a book with his name embossed on the front in big gold letters (note: I have given my Dad anonymity here)

I'm seeing my Dad next weekend and am really excited to present this book to him and see his reaction! I just know that it will be something he will treasure forever. If you need a last minute Father's Day gift, do check out I Just Love It's extensive Father's Day range here.

A sneek peek at what I got for Christmas

Well hello there. I'm already doing a lot better than last year when I published my What I got for Christmas in March. I'M A WHOLE MONTH EARLIER GUYS. But anyway, I digress.

I love reading these types of posts and looking at the performance of my previous gift guides, you guys seem to too! I find them invaluable for giving me gift ideas for friends and family for the year ahead. Plus it's always a bonus discovering new products that you may not have known about otherwise. As ever, I am incredibly grateful to friends and family and feel very lucky to have people in my life who know me so damn well!

White Company White Pompelmo collection

The White Company is one of my favourite brands so anything from here is always a winner. Hello there White Pompelmo hand wash and lotion (which FYI incorporates grapefruit, lemon and lime). As with lots of the other White Company products, these smell fresh and like an absolute dream.

White Company Winter candle

It wouldn't be Christmas without a White Company Winter candle (FYI there is currently 20% off the Winter range). With sweet cinnamon, cloves and a subtle hint of orange, nothing makes me feel more festive.

Yankee candle [not pictured]

And talking of feeling festive, Yankee Candle's Festive Cocktail candle does exactly that with a scent described as "mountain berries with a sprig of fresh-snipped pine". Currently down to just £2 in the sale, I have packed mine away ready for next December.

Cath Kidston Alice in Wonderland cups

You will no doubt notice a theme (it's no secret than I'm an Alice in Wonderland fanatic!). We've been saying for the longest time that we'd like to throw a lot of our old mugs out and start over with uniform mugs that all match - so these Cath Kidston Alice in Wonderland mugs came at a really good time.

Alice in Wonderland V&A tea set

Last year I received these lovely side plates from the V&A collection, so it was a nice surprise opening the matching milk jug, sugar bowl and tea pot this year. The packaging is really well done with each box snapping open / shut effortlessly (magnets) and is very on brand with the "open me" script. I especially love the top of the tea pot ("we're all mad here!")

Alice in Wonderland tea tidy

And last but not least... when you consume as much tea as I do, lots of tea equals lots of used tea bags. Eventually they go out into the food compost, but because I'm the laziest person alive, they usually sit for a little while in teeny dishes that came from an old Jamie Oliver olive oil and balsamic vinegar dipping set. It's with joy that the Jamie Oliver dishes can return to their intended purpose, and we now have an actual tea bag tidy! Our new one can be found here and much to my relief, it's dishwasher safe so I can keep those tea stains at bay!

Maldives guide book

Don't get me wrong, I've been excited about our up and coming trip to the Maldives for MONTHS now, but receiving a Lonely Planet guide book for Christmas made it feel even more real if that makes sense?

Travel kit

We also received two travel kits filled with all the essentials which will come in really useful. We will need to pack many more bottles of factor 50 sunscreen though!

Personalised passport covers

Remember these passport covers I coveted in my couple's gift guide? I amazingly received a pair for Christmas and can't wait to take these to the Maldives!

Hotel Chocolat chocolates [not pictured]

Not pictured, because THEY GONE. I love Hotel Chocolat's dark rum chocolates and also the mixed pack with cognac, whiskey and rum. Always a winner.

Food hamper [not pictured]

Not pictured, because edible things don't last long in this household! We received a similar hamper last year with lots of Italian cooking essentials like pasta, sauces and the like. This year we received wholefoods like seeds, nuts and pulses all contained within a cupcake carrier (the latter being very useful since my Poundland cupcake container broke after only one use!)

Mason Cash mixing bowl [not pictured]

Not pictured, because I'm an idiot and forgot. Remember how I was using an old discoloured plastic mixing bowl with the popcorn machine here? Our new mixing bowl is a much more aesthetically pleasing affair. Mason Cash have brought out a range of pastel coloured bowls like powder pink and powder blue (we have the blue). They also have an amazing black mixing bowl. Available here or via Lakeland.

Umbra geometric diamond wall art

How amazing are these? I'm looking to create a gallery wall with lots of wall art and quotes and typography, but also want to incorporate lots of extra decorative touches, which is where I think these Umbra diamond pendants could work really well!

Dessert candles

A product combining two of life's greatest things - dessert and candles. I'm intrigued to open these up and smell what their take on chocolate brownie, lemon meringue and cherry bake-well are like. And how amazing is the packaging?!

Kitkats

How mad is it to say that you received A RED DOUBLE DECKER BUS OF KITKATS for Christmas? It's a lovely little set and would be a great gift for overseas friends or family with the iconic London red double decker bus. Saying that, I'm a Londoner and I still think it's bloody brilliant!

Whittard hot chocolate gift set

I would say that Christmas isn't Christmas without hot chocolates aplenty, but who am I kidding? Let's be real here. I'm a hot-chocolate-all-year-round kind of girl (FYI Whittard's luxury hot chocolate in this gift set is AMAZING).

Calvin Klein body lotion

True story, but this is one of my favourite products that I swear by. It's perfect just after a shower as it's scented, meaning that you don't need to shower in anything particularly fancy beforehand. It was hard to picture this one as Bailey decided he wanted to get involved!

Have you tried any of these products before? 

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Gift guide // something special for the girl boss in your life

Everyone has that scruffy but highly comfortable pair of tracksuit bottoms and / or hoody that you wear for lounging around the house in. The ones you'd rather the postman didn't see you in but they do because a little thing called Life loves to embarrass you. The sorts of things you should throw out but you can't bring yourself to because OH SO COMFORTABLE. In today's gift guide, I am proposing the gift of all the gifts for your favourite girls: the SAVE YO' ASS PYJAMAS.

They're sleek. They're luxurious. They're presentable. They are not greying, bunching in an unflattering way on your person, or falling apart. So throw out your pair of past it lounge pants / trousers, and get yourself a pair of these bad boys!

Night dress

Muted yellow set available as shorts, a trouser set or dress 

WHY THESE PYJAMAS?  

Because they're perfect for:

• answering the door to the postman / courier with YET ANOTHER ASOS PARCEL
• girly sleepovers
• sleepovers of the adult variety
• at home yoga and meditation because THEY LOOSE AND COMFY AS
• Trips away
• Hen party over-nighters
• Your wedding day
• Christmas morning / other family gatherings where you want to look put together
• Nipping to the shops
• Working from home
• New Year, New you
• Answering the door to Just Eat / Deliveroo / Uber Eats

The possibilities are endless. I'd even leave the house in one of the tops over a pair of jeans as the prints really are that pretty. And they're not too "pyjama" if you catch my drift.

TELL ME MORE

The brand in question is Nightire - which I'm guessing is a play on words between "night" and "attire" (clever).  Launched about a year ago, all designs are the genius of founder Nina Clark and aren't they beautiful? Nightire is all about striving towards a good night's sleep. The pyjamas are made of 100% organic bamboo so they're soft to the touch and temperature regulating, all to help encourage a great night's sleep. All sets allegedly have a loose, comfortable fit without any pesky straps, buttons or elastics to dig into you whilst you're sleeping / lounging around eating pizza under blankets on the sofa.

The collection is perfect for all tastes with a trio of designs to choose from. Candy pink stripes for girly girls, muted yellows for those who like to be different, and a stand out bold blue print. All three designs are available as shorts, trouser sets or night dresses.

Pajama shorts set

Night dress

If you need a last minute gift idea for the girl boss (or girl bosses!) in your life, you know where to go. Nightire makes for the perfect Christmas or birthday gift as I've heard that the boxes are bespoke and really cute (reportedly there is a sneak peak window so your favourite ladies can catch a glimpse of what you've treated them to!). Nightire also offer a monogramming service - great for hen parties, weddings or simply creating a personalised touch for a loved one.

HOW DO I GET MY MITTS ON ONE?

If you fancy having a browse for either yourself or your favourite ladies, head on over to the website here or head over to their Instagram here for non model pics and a true sense of fit.

HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING?

There is free standard UK shipping which takes roughly 3-5 working days (just about enough time for Christmas if you hurry!) but if you need your items quicker, there is an express delivery option. Nightire also ship to the US, Europe and several other destinations.

DISCOUNT CODE

I couldn't end this piece without a discount code could I? There is currently 20% off all nightdresses so enter promo code HOLIDAZE here for 20% off

#HumansInPyjamas

Please note this feature is not sponsored or compensated in any shape or form - I am just a long time admirer of Nightire and wanted to share the love!

Gift guide // Finding the perfect gift for your favourite couple

Weddings are notoriously difficult to shop for. As are anniversaries for that matter. And what's the deal with engagement parties? (are you supposed to buy gifts for them too?!) When faced with having to purchase engagement gifts, wedding gifts, anniversary gifts and then of course Christmas and birthday gifts for your favourite couple(s), it can be tricky finding something truly unique (or gifts that the couple in question don't already have!). So today I'm bringing you a gift guide with a difference.

Step 1: Decide what sort of couple you are buying for. Once you've done that, everything starts falling into place.

THE FOODIES

A cheeseboard is a solid idea because who doesn't love cheese?! (apologies to the lactose intolerant) Available in a vast array of materials, a wooden cheese board is the perfect choice for a fifth year wedding anniversary - the symbol for which is "wood"- but also makes a great gift for any other anniversary / year. Or how about as an engagement gift? (it's something that could even be used at the engagement party / wedding). The fact that this cheeseboard can be personalised makes it feel extra special. It's suitably apt for couples who love gaming with the "ready player one", "ready player two" and Pacman engravings. I love how Pacman is transformed into cheese!

Game on couples heart cheese board 

I initially thought that this was literally just a cheeseboard, but in actual fact, the top swivels open and reveals a concealed chamber complete with cheese knives which is really handy. So each time you clean the set and tidy it away, you can be rest assured that the knives are dust / pet hair free until next time (my cats shed A LOT)

We love a cheese board at Christmas, however cheese boards aren't just for Christmas and we enjoy them throughout the year (please tell me I'm not the only one?!) We had ours with sea salt crackers, smoked cheese (very similar to an Applewood) and Brie all from Aldi. And chutney wise, I highly recommend chilli chutney (perfect with Brie and also great for adding excitement to burgers!) and red pepper chutney (both from Tesco).

And as a second gift idea, how about a popcorn machine for "he popped the question and she said yes" ? Another great engagement gift idea and another thing that can be used at an engagement party or at the wedding itself (venue permission dependent). You could have striped candy bags or jars as wedding favours where wedding guests fill them with popcorn. I've seen the "he popped the question and she said yes!" luggage tags used at weddings before. And the great thing? The machine can be re-used in the comfort of your own home afterwards.

Alternatively popcorn machines are also great for any MOVIE BUFFS couples you know who love their nights in.

The machine itself is a very smart thing indeed. They are doing KitchenAid mixers and kettles in this type of metallic red these days, so it could potentially be easily matched to your other kitchen accessories!

Retro popcorn machine (currently 13% off in the sale!)

Watch it go!!!

Mr Curiouser and Curiouser made the best butterscotch sauce for our popcorn. Has he (or myself for that matter) ever whipped up a butterscotch sauce? No. But he sprung into action mixing butter, golden syrup and dark sugar in a pan and oh my, it was glorious. The eagle eyed among you would have seen this pop up on my Instagram over the weekend. Popcorn was the perfect accompaniment to finishing up The Bodyguard and checking out the new Doctor Who (wasn't Jodie Whittaker brilliant?)

THE NEW HOMEOWNERS

For couples you know that have just moved into their first place together. In this day and age it's bloody impossible to get onto the property ladder (that deposit though) so you have to celebrate and shout it from the roof tops when you and your friends manage it!

Floating champagne flutes - Champagne with a difference! I love the rose gold detail
Heart dish - a cute key/coin dish, but also perfect for woodland weddings
House sign - I for one would love to replace our tired looking front door number with something a little more modern like this!

Mugs - aren't these brilliant?? Find Me a Gift have some other pretty hilarious mugs here
Fridge magnets - to leave each other love notes and keep the spark alive
Grow own herbs kit - also relevant for "FOODIES"

SMUG MARRIED COUPLE

You know who I mean. No disrespect to them, but it's that couple you know who are oh so perfect and made for each other. You've never seen two people more in love, and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Framed print of first dance - an especially lovely gift for newly weds
Mrs & Mrs tea lights - how luxe do these look?! I love gold paired with dark colours!
Engraved infinity bracelet - "You and I forever" - the perfect anniversary gift
Bath rack - for those romantic shared bath evenings. You can each hook a glass of prosecco on it, a pillar candle (use with caution!) and there's even space to prop a book or a tablet

THE TRAVELLERS

For the couples you know who love a holiday. Or those just married and about to go on honeymoon.  As cute as "just married" passport holders are, the couple in question (or yourselves!) won't be newlyweds forever. For an option with longer longevity why not go for a personalised Mr & Mrs passport cover instead? Great for newlyweds, but also great for your (hopefully) many years together.

Personalised Mr & Mrs passport holders

And how about this compass? It can personalised with a range of messages but my favourite is "so you can always find your way back home to me". What a lovely and romantic anniversary token <3

Personalised brass travellers compass with wooden presentation box

If you like any of the items featured in this post, or want to get started on your Christmas shopping early (I've already started mine!) Find Me a Gift are currently offering an extra 12% off everything including sale until midnight on 15th October. All you need to do is enter EB12 at checkout

What are your favourite items?

* Some items from Find Me a Gift have been very kindly provided for review purposes, but as ever, all words and opinions are my own!