Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2023

Contains gifted products:

If you have been a reader for a while you will know that I love putting together gift guides.

With Mother’s Day approaching, it can be difficult to decide what to buy, especially if you have multiple people to buy for.

For me, I usually have to decide on presents for my mum, my step mum, my mother in law and my grandma. It can get difficult trying to pick what to buy everyone.

All of the ideas I have mentioned can be purchased online and if you don’t live with the recipient you can simply get it sent direct to their house.

SKINCARE

Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil

£35

I have previously mentioned my love for this range and I think anything with this beautiful rose scent would make a good gift. Bath oil makes a nice gift idea as it’s such a luxury and not something many of us would buy ourselves.

You only need a small amount and it makes your bath(&skin!) smell amazing. It’s a great way to moisturise your skin and followed with the body oil will leave your skin so soft.

Beautypro – The Glow Edit

£10

This is a lovely set that includes:

BeautyPro THERMOTHERAPY Warming Silver Foil Mask with Hyaluronic Acid & Q1

BeautyPro DETOXIFYING Bubbling Cleansing Sheet Mask with Activated Charcoal

BeautyPro Eye Therapy Under Eye Mask with Collagen and Green Tea Extract

It is a great way to try some of the Beautypro range and face masks are such a lovely treat. I love the under eye mask, it really does brighten up your eyes.

Sensory Retreats Self Heating Eye Masks

£3.95 each

Another great option would be these self heating eye masks. I think they are great value as they are really good compared to standard eye masks as they feel so relaxing with the warmth. I have fallen in love with these and great for anyone that deserves a good pamper.

Crème Du Loch – Age Defying Daily Eye Concentrate

£65

Crème Du Loch are a family owned, British, luxury skincare brand dedicated to producing the finest cruelty free and vegan skincare products; using high grade skin nourishing ingredients which are responsibly sourced.

The eye concentrate reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, reduces the look of dark circles and soothes away any puffiness. It does all of this whilst providing your eye area with much needed hydration and nourishment.

It smells really good and you only need a small amount and it soaks in really well. It’s perfect to use before bed so it can work well overnight.

Crème Du Loch – Age Defying Daily Serum

£60

This serum helps to reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, tightens pores, improves skin texture and evens skin tone. It is great if you have dry skin and you are looking for something to help moisture your face whilst helping with other skin issues.

As with their whole range, you don’t need to use much and it soaks in well.

Crème Du Loch – Age Defying Moisturiser

£50

This award winning moisturiser is one of my favourite skincare products. It is suitable for any skin type and smells really fresh and clean when you apply it to your face.

A little goes a long way and it soaks in well. It’s important to use anti aging creams before aging becomes an issue.

It helps with reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes, tightening pores, improving skin texture and evening skin tone whilst promoting a radiant glow.

You can buy all three of the above products for a special offer of £95 at the moment!

Bianca Miller London – Hian Skin Renewal Serum

£38.99

This serum feels so nice to apply to your face and you don’t need to use much to cover your whole face. It works it’s magic overnight to leave you feeling hydrated and plump.

It is a great product to use if you have wrinkles or scaring as will target any imperfections to smooth out your skin and give you a more even skin tone.

Bianca Miller London – Hian Skin Facial Cleansing Wash

£15.99

This face wash foams well and really helps to clean and purify your skin without drying it out. It smells nice and leaves your face feeling clean and refreshed.

The Hian range is cruelty free and vegan as well!

Teddy Eva Scents – Mini Bath Bombs Tub

£3.99

These tubs come full of little bath bombs that can be used one or two at a time to help you relax in the bath. I have been using the pina colada ones and it reminds me so much of being on holiday and the bathroom smells like a coconut paradise!

These come in a good variety of scents and are in a cute little brown tub.

HOMEWARE

Viners Titan Gold 6 Piece Magnetic Knife Block Set

£97

This knife set is a great gift for someone that enjoys the kitchen but already has a lot of gadgets. Everyone needs a good quality knife set, especially if you enjoy cooking and preparing meals.

I love the gold tone of the knives and they look so posh and expensive displayed on the block when not in use.

Teddy Eva Scents – Lemongrass & Lime Candle

£14.99

Teddy Eva have a great range of candles, they all come beautifully packaged in a pink jar with a wooden lid, inside a card container with metal lid. Having this extra packaging really makes it look a lot more expensive and considering how strong the scent is, it’s such an affordable candle.

It has a wooden wick and a the smell will last the whole time it burns. They have some great tips on their site of how to burn candles safely and make them last longer!

I love this scent and they also do it in fresh linen which sounds amazing.

Teddy Eva Scents – Teddy Pots

£1.20 each

As well as candles, Teddy Eva Scents have an amazing range of wax melts. These wax melts coke in such a variety of scents, there are honestly so many to pick from. It is a great way to try a variety of scents and once you find what you like then you can buy the larger clamshell packs.

These are great value and even after burning for a few hours, the scents still linger and are long lasting. I love the fruity loopies one best!

FRAGRANCE

Dolma Fragrances – Sarabande

£45.50

Dolma Perfumes are certified vegan and cruelty free. They are free from palm oil, parabens and phthalates.

The romantic scent of rose embellished by aromatic accents of geranium leaves on touches of wood notes of resinous cypress, earthy patchouli and soft amber.

This is such a lovely floral scent. You don’t need to spray much to leave yourself smelling amazing and the scent lasts all day long. It comes in a variety of sizes and you can even buy the discovery set that contains all 12 scents if you wanted to try them all out before committing to a full size.

JEWELLERY

Heads And Tails Jewellery – New York State Quarter Coin Necklace

£35.99

Heads and Tails Jewellery have an amazing range of necklaces made from coins. You could pick from a particular year, maybe the year she was born or a 10p with a particular letter for her initial or go for one of the US state quarters. There are so many to pick from and they are a really reasonable price and are great quality.

FOOD & DRINK

Simply Cake Co – Mother’s Day Combo

£13.99

Simply Cake Co have a great range of treats which you can buy in lots of different variations of boxes.

This combo features a slab of chocolate brownie and a giant cookie. It stays fresh for up to two weeks and you can personalised the brownie with your own photo as well.

I have had these brownie slabs before and they are one of the tastiest brownies I have ever had and they fit through the letterbox!

Bumble & Goose – Personalised Biscuits

£13.50 for a box of 6

Bumble & Goose have a great range of treats to pick from. You can personalise their biscuits with words and pictures and they come in a beautiful little box. These would make a great gift for someone that loves biscuits.

They taste so good and they look too good to eat!

I hope I have given you some good ideas 🙂

Sarah x

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2023

This post contains gifted items:

Some people celebrate Valentine’s day, and others don’t, it’s a personal preference. If you are looking to get your special someone a gift, I have put together a few ideas. You could even treat yourself if you see something you like!

HAIRCARE

Manta Classic Healthy Hair Brush – Pink

£25

Not only is it important to use good products to wash and style your hair with, it’s also important to use a good brush.

This is my new favourite hair brush as it really helps to get tangled out whilst being gentle to your hair. It is comfortable to hold and glides through my hair well.

A must have for anyone that likes to take care of their hair.

Paul Mitchell – Clean Beauty Repair Shampoo

£24.50

Paul Mitchell are a great haircare brand that have just bought out the new clean beauty repair range. This range is ideal for anyone with damaged hair.

The shampoo helps to clean your hair without stripping out colour or drying it out. It lathers well and smells really nice.

Paul Mitchell – Clean Beauty Repair Conditioner

£26.75

The conditioner helps to smooth out the ends and leaves my hair feeling softer and stopped my hair looking so frizzy and my split ends don’t look so bad. It smells good and really helps to make my hair look in better condition. This range would be a good treat for anyone looking to grow longer healthier hair.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree – Lavender Mint Moisturising Shampoo

£9.95

I love the scent as it’s really relaxing to use this when having a bath. It left my hair really soft and hydrated as well as leaving it really clean.

This range is a great treat for your hair and would make a good gift.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree – Lavender Mint Moisturising Conditioner

£23.05

This smells amazing and used together with the shampoo it left my hair so soft and hydrated. It helps with frizz and any damage. Another great choice for anyone that’s looking to improve their hair quality but wouldn’t usually treat themselves.

SKINCARE

Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash

£27

The signature Ren scent will linger on your skin after using this in the bath or shower. It helps to clean your skin whilst leaving it soft and smelling amazing. A little goes a long way and it lathers up well.

Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil

£38

I love the Ren Moroccan rose range and always have done. This oil smells amazing, as does everything else in the range! You only need a small amount and it makes your skin so soft. It would make the ideal gift for someone that loves a good pamper or deserves one!

Environ – Focus Care Moisture+ Hydrating Serum

£77

This is light enough to be used in the day but can also be used at night if you prefer. It has a nice subtle scent and would be perfect for anyone that loves skincare.

It soaks well into your skin and you only need a small amount to cover vour whole face. It leaves your face looking plumper and more hydrated and I really like the feel of my skin after using it.

Environ – Focus Care Moisture+ Hydrating Oil Capsules

£54

The capsules contain antioxidants that are proven to combat the visible signs of ageing. They are filled with oil and easy to use.

They assist in enriching skin with natural surface oils, leaving it looking visibly refreshed and energised. A must have for anyone that loves to try new facial products.

Kora Organics Berry Bright Vitamin C Eye
Cream

£51

This brightening eye cream smells really good and is really nice to apply around your eyes.

You only need a small pea sized amount to wake up your eyes. This is great if you have had a late night or even to use to soothe your eye area during hayfever season! Eye cream is an important part of your skincare routine and is often forgotten about so this would be a great thoughtful gift.

SOS Lip

£16

This lip treatment moisturises your lips whilst protecting them throughout the day with SPF. You can wear it alone or as a primer for lipstick to help your lipstick last longer and not dry your lips out.

You only need a small amount and it works really well. If you put it on before bed then your lips feel so hydrated by morning.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme

£24.99

This can be used as: Moisturiser, Primer, Make-up remover, Repairing masque or After-shave product. It is a great multi functional cream so can be great for anyone’s make up bag!

It’s is a great moisturiser to use morning or evening. This time of year my skin gets so dry from the weather and from having the heating on etc. It soaks in well and leaves your skin feeling hydrated.

Rubis Classic Heart Tweezers

£27.50

I love my pair of Rubis tweezers and they are my favourite ones to use as they are sharp and precise as well as being easy to use so I would definitely recommend this brand.

They are made from rustproof stainless steel and are tested individually for balance and performance. These would be a great gift idea and they come in a range of different colours.

Blanka Soap – Indulgent Bath Set – Moonlight And Roses

£29.99

This set includes:

– Moonlight and Roses Gently Purifying Soap Bar with French Pink Clay

– Moonlight and Roses Natural Hand and Body Wash

– Moonlight and Roses Luxurious Bath Oil

I love the scent of these and this comes packaged nicely in a box so would make a great gift.

I love the bath oil, it’s so relaxing and calming. The body wash lathers well and leaves your hands and body feeling soft and leaves you smelling really nice.

Douvalls Argan Skincare Candle – Forbidden Spices

£45

This skincare candle comes in a range of scents and the concept of it is really special. It is blended with nourishing oils, such as cocoa butter and argan oil which is high in vitamin E, antioxidants and essential fatty acids to nourish, soothe, and repair dry skin.

Once you start burning the candle, not only can you enjoy the aroma as it burns but you then use the melted candle to poor over yourself or your partner as a massage oil. It smells amazing and leaves your skin so soft.

Crème Du Loch – Age Defying Daily Eye Concentrate

£65

Crème Du Loch are a family owned, British, luxury skincare brand dedicated to producing the finest cruelty free and vegan skincare products; using high grade skin nourishing ingredients which are responsibly sourced.

The eye concentrate reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, reduces the look of dark circles and soothes away any puffiness. It does all of this whilst providing your eye area with much needed hydration and nourishment.

It smells really good and you only need a small amount and it soaks in really well. It’s perfect to use before bed so it can work well overnight.

You can use the following code: STM20 for 20% off from the 1st of Feb until the 14th of Feb

Crème Du Loch – Age Defying Daily Serum

£60

This serum helps to reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, tightens pores, improves skin texture and evens skin tone. It is great if you have dry skin and you are looking for something to help moisture your face whilst helping with other skin issues.

As with their whole range, you don’t need to use much and it soaks in well.

You can use the following code: STM20 for 20% off from the 1st of Feb until the 14th of Feb

Crème Du Loch – Age Defying Moisturiser

£50

This award winning moisturiser is one of my favourite skincare products. It is suitable for any skin type and smells really fresh and clean when you apply it to your face.

A little goes a long way and it soaks in well. It’s important to use anti aging creams before aging becomes an issue.

It helps with reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes, tightening pores, improving skin texture and evening skin tone whilst promoting a radiant glow.

You can use the following code: STM20 for 20% off from the 1st of Feb until the 14th of Feb

Crème Du Loch – Mini Spatula & Massager

£5

This spatula is made of solid, recyclable metal and luxuriously gold plated. It is a must have for anyone that uses skincare products from a jar so you don’t have to use your finger to get the product out and also means it will dispense the perfect amount of product for you to use.

You can also use this to massage around the eye area.

You can use the following code: STM20 for 20% off from the 1st of Feb until the 14th of Feb

Teddy Eva Scents – Donut Bath Bombs

£1.99 each

These beautiful looking bath bombs come in a range of flavours(well, scents!). These two are lemon meringue and blackberry & almond. They both smell so good!

I love how they are made to look like donuts and they come individually wrapped if you buy multiple bombs so this helps to keep them fresh and holds the scent. They fizz really well and make a for a really colourful bath. Ideal for anyone that loves a good pamper!

Teddy Eva Scents – Mini Bath Bombs Tub

£3.99

These tubs come full of little bath bombs that can be used one or two at a time to help you relax in the bath. I have been using the pina colada ones and it reminds me so much of being on holiday and the bathroom smells like a coconut paradise!

These come in a good variety of scents and are in a cute little brown tub.

HOMEWARE

The Brunel Museum – London Brick Candle

£22

This double wick candle in the style of a london brick comes in two different options: Fired Clay or Thames Drift. This makes a really unique gift and they have so many other great gift ideas available from the Brunel Museum shop.

Beach Art Glass – Hanging Heart Decoration

£25

Beach Art Glass craft handmade glass jewellery using lampwork and the finest source of glass from the isle of Murano, Italy, and locally sourced silver from the UK. They have a great range of jewellery as well as decorations.

This hanging heart has been specially designed this valentine’s day and you can tell how much love and care has gone into it. It’s a great ornament that can be hung up anywhere around the house or can be made into a key ring or pendent.

They have a great range of DIY kits as well which would make a great gift!

Teddy Eva Scents – Lemongrass & Lime Candle

£14.99

Teddy Eva have a great range of candles, they all come beautifully packaged in a pink jar with a wooden lid, inside a card container with metal lid. Having this extra packaging really makes it look a lot more expensive and considering how strong the scent is, it’s such an affordable candle.

It has a wooden wick and a the smell will last the whole time it burns. They have some great tips on their site of how to burn candles safely and make them last longer!

I love this scent and they also do it in fresh linen which sounds amazing.

Teddy Eva Scents – Teddy Pots

£1.20 each

As well as candles, Teddy Eva Scents have an amazing range of wax melts. These wax melts coke in such a variety of scents, there are honestly so many to pick from. It is a great way to try a variety of scents and once you find what you like then you can buy the larger clamshell packs.

These are great value and even after burning for a few hours, the scents still linger and are long lasting. I love the fruity loopies one best!

Teddy Eva Scents – Brittle

£2.99 each

A great alternative to the little pots if you are wanting a larger pack of wax. These packs come in a good variety of scents and you can also break the pieces down if you want them smaller and even mix and match complimenting scents.

I love how pretty the starry night one is when it’s burns. Wax melts can be such a great alternative to a candle and I really am impressed with the quality of these ones and just how many different scent options there are!

NAILCARE

Earthy Nail Polishes

Pink Petunia / Coral Reef / Pink Jasmin

£7.99 each

These nail polishes are vegan and cruelty free and the brand have replaced the single use plastic cap with highly sustainable bamboo and all seals within the cap are made from 100% post-consumer plastic.

They come in a good variety of shades and are highly pigmented so you can get away with just one coat.

FRAGRANCE

Grazia Parfum

£48

A new perfume is always a good gift idea. This new release from Grazia and comes in a beautifully designed bottle. It is a very delicate fruity scent and a great feminine scent.

Top notes of Italian lemon spring, grapefruit and blackcurrant.

Base notes of sandalwood, white musk and cedar ground the fragrance adding a layer of sophistication.

TECHNOLOGY

Soundcore by Anker Life Q35 Multi Mode Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

£119.99

These Life Q35s have now become my new favourite accessory and I love how comfortable they are.

I had been struggling with in ear ones due to having so many ear piercings I would always end up taking them out to be able to wear them comfortably but with over the ear headphones they can all stay in!

They connect easily via bluetooth to my phone so I can listen to spotify through them and also pause and adjust the volume directly on the headphones.

The perfect gift for anyone that likes to listen to music on the go.

CARDS

Love Layla Designs – Cards

£3.95 each

Most of us spend so much time looking for the perfect gift we forget about finding the perfect card. Love Layla have such a great range of cards, there really is something for everyone.

You don’t necessarily have to get someone a gift this year, just a thoughtful card is enough!

Use code TM10 for 10% off everything on their site 🙂

FOOD & DRINK

Il Gusto – I LOVE U Tasting Set

£34.95

This boxed set contains: The Fresh Sour Cherry Vodka(15%), Sweet And Simple Pink Gin(40%), Tangy Sweet And Fruity Blood Orange Gin(32%), Luxurious Turkish Delight With Hints Of Rose Petals And Delicate Mint(25%), Fruity And Tangy Blood Orange Vodka(18%), Sweet Zesty Pink Vodka(37%), Citrusy But Refreshing Pink Grapefruit Gin(36%), Rare Relaxing Raspberry Gin(20%)

It is a great way to try out the different flavours and ideal for an vodka and gin lover. The bottles all spell out a special message.

Il Gusto are running a giveaway on Facebook & Instagram to win this set between the 9th and 12th of February so make sure you enter!

The Brunel Museum – London Brick Chocolate

£12.50

This vegan chocolate is made in small batches over three days, using only the rarest and finest Criollo and Trinitario cocoa beans. The bean to bar craft chocolate is a collaboration between two London makers, brick sixty and Lucocoa.

Another great unique gift idea and perfect for any chocolate lover.

Simply Cake Co – February Specials

£16.49

This box has a nice range of treats in. It includes:

Lemon & Raspberry Blondie

Cookies n’ Cream Rocky Road

Strawberry & Chocolate Brownie

This is the perfect gift for anyone with a sweet tooth and they have a good range of boxes to pick from. You can pick from different flavours and also different size packs. There really is something for everyone. They do vegan options too.

Simply Cake Co – Brownie Tray

£16.49

Simply Cake Co have a great range of treats which you can buy in lots of different variations of boxes.

This brownie tray featured a slab of chocolate brownie and it stays fresh for up to two weeks and you can personalised the brownie with different phrases.

I have had these brownie slabs before and they are on of the tastiest brownies I have ever had and they fit through the letterbox!

Viners – 5 Piece Cheese Serving Set

£30.50

A great gift for any cheese lover. I love the marble detail on the board and the fact that the wooden holder is magnetic so it keeps all of the knives neat and safe.

It also looks good on display when not in use. As the board is made from stone rather than wood it helps to keep the cheese stay cool.

Virginia Hayward – Chocolate Indulgence Hamper

£34.99

This hamper includes a great selection of treats for yourself or your loved one. The hot chocolate stirring spoon is my favourite thing, followed by the nut mix. Most of the products included are chocolate orange so if you know a big chocolate orange fan this is a must have.

Virginia Hayward always have a really good range of hampers, there’s something to suit everyone and for a variety of budgets.

ACCESSORIES

Trendhim – Silver Tone Cuff Bracelet

£18

This slip on bracelet is available in silver, gold and black and can also be engraved with a personal message.

It is a great gift for a man(or woman!) that has everything or that is hard to buy for. It’s comfortable to wear and comes in different sizes and looks really expensive and posh!

I hope I have given you some good ideas 🙂

Sarah x

Tips For Filling Empty Space In Your Home

Collaborative post :

Do you have some large, lengthy rooms that feel a bit echoey? It’s more of a common problem then you’d think! Maybe you’re getting tired of looking at ‘negative’ space, and feel embarrassed when guests come over? Then this is the post for you. Of course, we’re usually after a bit more space in our homes – all that clutter takes over sometimes! 

But when you’ve got a lot of blank walls and not much furniture other than the staples like a sofa, a bed, and a coffee table, you might be after ideas right now. Thankfully, we’ve got a few below that’ll help make your home look more like domestic paradise and far less like an empty warehouse. 

Pexels Image

Stretch Out Your Seating

If you’ve got a large living room on your hands, it might just take another sofa to make things look more in perspective. Fitting another couch into the space means more seating room, more areas to nap during the day, and more seats for crashing party guests to sleep on when everyone’s drunk at the end of the night – what could be better? If that’s not an option, you could always add in a couple more armchairs or beanbags, and just make the floor less noticeable overall. 

Fit a Wardrobe

If there’s a big wall of space in your bedroom, that’s otherwise completely plain and colourless, why not look into built in wardrobes and how they can transform your space? A good, fitted wardrobe can mean endless storage space in your home, and when you’ve got little storage elsewhere that’s invaluable! Measure up the space first, make sure there’s good walking room, and you’re all done. 

Decorate a Bookshelf or Sideboard

It’s always nice to have a fully decorated bookshelf or surface of some kind in one corner of the room – and bonus points if you have a matching one on the other side! After all, this is a good space to put all your trinkets and knick knacks, your books and notepads, and all of your semi precious and precious jewels and vases. Give them some space to show them off and they’ll do the rest of the heavy lifting for you. 

Split Up the Space

Finally, if there’s too much space on one side and not enough on the other, just split the space into two. No, you don’t need to get another wall built in there, but you can set up a divider to make the room seem like it’s multi-functional. Plus, if you’ve always wanted your own office to work from home in, this is your chance to make one! And a split room gives your home more dimension, and makes it feel more valuable; you could finally have a dining room after all! 

If you’ve got a lot of empty space in your home, fill it up with just a few neat furniture tricks. All you need is another sofa, maybe a room divider, and even just a desk.

Sarah x

Christmas Gift Guide Series 2022 – Homeware

Christmas Gift Guide Series 2022 – Homeware

This post contains gifted products:

Every year I like to put together a gift guide for Christmas. It can often be hard to think of presents for some people and I always struggle with thinking of ideas for certain people so like to plan ahead and share my ideas if anyone else is struggling!

I also find it a lot easier to do all of my shopping online and I have tried to include a wide range of products as well as things for a variety of budgets.

Please check out my other gift guides I am publishing this week as there are 5 in total and organised into categories 🙂

HOMEWARE

Engravers Guild – Swarovski Elements Dartington Wine Glass

£29.95

This glass is made of Dartington glass and embellished with Swarovski crystals. It can be personalised with whatever phrase you wish and it’s etched neatly onto the glass. An ideal gift for any wine lover.

Stickerscape Bottle Bags

£8.95 each

These bags are great if you are gifting wine to someone this year. They are good quality and come with a variety of phrases on and can be reused next year!

Asda Photo – Light Up Photo Box

£25

I have always been a fan of creating personalised gifts via Asda as they have a great range of things to pick from and you can use your own photos to create the designs online. It’s easy to create your product online and they are always great quality.

This light box is such a good gift and can be turned on at the flick of a switch.

Cutch – The Christmas Cutch Edition No25 Reed Diffuser

£25

I have always been a fan of candles from Cutch and this year they have bought out this beautiful scented reed diffuser. It is the ideal gift for anyone that appreciates home fragrances and it looks really posh too. I love the scent of this too.

Love Layla – Pens

£2.75 each

Love Layla have a great range of pens with a variety of phrases on so there is something for everyone. They also have an offer on so if you buy more they work out cheaper.

Love Layla – Mugs

£13.50 each

These mugs are well made and come with a great range of phrases on. A mug is a great gift this Christmas and you could even fill it with their favourite sweets or a bag of coffee.

Love Layla – Christmas Cards

£3.95 each

Most of us spend so much time looking for the perfect gift we forget about finding the perfect card. Love Layla have such a great range of cards, there really is something for everyone. You don’t necessarily have to get someone a gift this year, just a thoughtful card is enough!

Love Layla – Notebooks

£12.50 each

These cute notebooks come in a good variety of designs and they feel really well made and are ideal for someone that loves making notes and writing things down all the time.

Love Layla – Wrapping Paper

£4.50 each

What I love most about this brand is the fun designs. They have wrapping paper that really stands out and it’s really fun. This is the first thing people will notice when you give them their Christmas gift so why not ensure you get something that will make them laugh and smile before even opening the gift!

Fresh Face Pillow Company – Anti Wrinkle Pillow

£97

This pillow is a game changer. When we sleep we don’t spend the whole night in the same position, we naturally toss and turn causing stress on our faces and hair but with this pillow it holds your head in place meaning it is better for both face and hair. It can help to prevent wrinkles caused by too much moving in your sleep and also means if you want to put skincare on to soak in your face overnight it won’t get wiped off. Being silk it is also so good for your hair and prevents frizz and damage.

At Home In Paradise – Lemon Lavender Candle

€17.95

This candle comes in a beautiful tin and they have a good range of scents available. I had never heard of mixing lemon and lavender together but it has now become my new favourite scent. Candles are a great gift as they can be kept for display and lit on special occasions or lit before bed as a calming scent. This candle burns well and smells so good whilst it’s burning.

MultiColouredCrochet – Handmade Crochet Christmas Baubles

£24.50

These make a great alternative to your usual plastic or glass baubles. They come in a nice range of colours and they feel more homely than normal baubles. They have been handmade and you can see how much love and care has gone into making and packaging them.

Dorothy Berry-Lound Art – Sweet Heart Tin

£20

These cute heart shaped tins are available in a range of of designs that are created by different artists. They also have a great range of other items from coasters to cushions in the same designs. I love how cute this tin is as it’s ideal to have to store jewellery in next to the bed.

The Feminist Shop – We Could Be Sheroes Mug

£15

I like the design of the mug and the metal handle. They also have a great range of clothing items too. A good gift idea for anyone that loves empowering women.

Postboxed – Cat Lover Gift Box

£26.45

This is the perfect gift for any cat lover as has a great selection of cat themed items. Postboxed have a great range of different boxes so there is something for everyone!

This box includes :

– Wild and Woofy Cat Pin and Tag Set
– Marvling Bros Grow Your Own Pet Comforter
– Little Book Of Cats
– Arthouse Unlimited Miaow For Now Silky Milk Chocolate

Typhoon – Elements Dark Marble/Acacia Rectangular Board

£36

The serving board is ideal for putting out snacks on over Christmas and I love how posh and stylish it looks with the marble section too. The marble section of the board is naturally cool so is ideal for keeping cheese platters at the correct temperature.

They also have more boards in their range so something to suit everyone.

Your Image 2 Canvas – Personalised Square Word Art 16X16

£31.99

This is a great personalised gift for anyone. You can pick any words you like to be added to the canvas and it comes in a great range of sizes and colours. It’s so well made and looks so good.

Oxo Good Grips – Vegetable Chopper with Easy-Pour Opening

£22.50

Quickly and safely chop onions, peppers, and more in one easy motion, and easily pour chopped fruits or veggies without removing the lid. The stainless steel blade pattern and recessed cutting area keeps food in place while the lid provides leverage for efficient chopping.

This is a great gift for anyone that spends a lot of time in the kitchen or someone that doesn’t cook much and needs an easy push to prepare fresh meals.

Merchoid – Gremlins:
Gizmo Santa Hanging Ornament

£16.99

Merchoid have a great range of Gremlins tree ornaments and are a great idea for any gremlins fan. I already had a couple from this range and they are so well made so pleased to add a couple more to my collection.

Merchoid – Gremlins:
Mohawk In Fairy Lights Hanging Ornament

£14.99

Another great addition to my gremlins tree collection. They are all hand painted and you can tell a lot of care has gone into making them. The perfect christmas gift for any gremlins fan.

Merchoid have lots of different movie and tv based gift ideas.

I hope I have given you some good ideas!

Sarah x

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2022

This post contains gifted products:

If you have been a reader for a while you will know that I love putting together gift guides.

With Father’s Day approaching, it can be difficult to decide what to buy, especially if you have multiple people to buy for. For me, I usually have to decide on presents for my dad, my step dad, my father in law and my grandad. It can get difficult trying to pick what to buy everyone.

Gift Vouchers

Trees For Good Causes

£5

All trees planted by Trees For Good Causes (non-profit) support local charities at the same time.

Trees are planted locally in the UK, and cost only £5 per tree, where minimum of £2 goes to a chosen charity.

Donating a tree it’s a more conscious way of gifting. An example of what the gift certificate to your dad will look like is above.

Homeware

Echo Three – Building Brick Shape Cushion

£17.99

This building brick cushion is a fantastic addition to any home. It’s is super comfortable and made with a soft fabric.

It is a really good size and great for a man cave, den or a fun touch in the living room, you can pick from red or blue.

Rosanna Clare – MEDIUM LEATHER & FELT TRINKET TRAY

£26

This leather and grey felt lined tray has antique brass rivet fastenings and is perfect as a gift. It is a good size at 10xm x 10xm so can be used for jewellery, change, keys etc. It also comes in a range of other colours.

This tray is really well made and you can have initials added to it to make it more personal too.

Clothing

Asda Apron – Custom Apron

£17

I am always impressed by the quality of Asda personalised products and had this one made for my dad. We have a lot of things from Asda around the house as they are so easy to create online and are always priced reasonably.

It’s so easy to make this online as you can pick from a good variety of designs. They are always printed well and arrive quickly.

Stickerscape – Sexy and I mow it T shirt

£12.95

A great gift for a women to give her partners of he is a new dad and needs a confidence boost!

It is a really soft material and is true to size.

It is available in 4 different colours – Black, White, Grey and Navy.

Fragrance

Douvalls – Scents to Uplift Gift set

£38

This set includes 3 different sprays:

Pre & post toilet spray

Destress and revitalise shower spray

Vanilla chilli room spray

I have found these sprays to be quite heavily scented which is good as you don’t need to use much. They aren’t too overpowering though and are in a good size bottle to keep around the house. chemo

I like how they are all made with natural oils so they don’t include nasty chemicals.

Douvalls – Sleep spray

£15

This sleep spray is a new product to Douvalls. It is a great addition to their spray range. It’s so easy to use, you only need a couple of sprays on your pillow and bedding and the relaxing scent helps you to calm down and settle down ready to sleep. Ideal if your dad struggles to get to sleep.

It’s a really lovely scent and as it calming it can help with stress and anxiety too.

Dolma Vegan Perfumes

From £5.95

Dolma have a good range of scents for men, they are all vegan fragrances and are in nice looking bottles. I have tried their female range before and was really impressed with them.

They have four men’s vegan aftershaves, each of which has its individual hints and tones. The classic Sirius is a timelessly masculine blend while Freedom offers a fresh and woody smell. Kwame is fresh and fun, making it perfect for daily wear in recreational settings while Imagine is fruity and uplifting.

Dolma – Discovery Box Set of 4 x 9ml Aftershave / Cologne

£25.95

This is a great way to try all of their four fragrances before committing to buying one in a larger bottle. If you struggle to pick a scent for someone else then this is a really good idea.

Books

The Cheese Connoisseur’s Handbook

£12.99

The Cheese Connoisseur’s Handbook is the perfect gift for Dad this Father’s Day as it’s packed with cheese information to increase your understanding and knowledge of cheese. 

Author Svetlana is keen for the reader to learn more about cheese and what cheese is perfect for their palate and how to pair them with a drink for any occasion. 

The book is aimed at those wanting to learn about cheese or increase their cheese knowhow, the book contains something for everyone, in an easy way to learn and enjoy cheese. 

STEALTH MILLIONAIRE: How to Save and Manage Your Money Like the Rich

£9.99

Another great book to consider would be this one.

The secret to financial freedom is through small positive changes that you do everyday that will compound over time. This book introduces you to the concept of this and how you can start the process today so would be great to give your dad for some motivation.

Find Your Purpose: A Practical Guide for Discovering Your Purpose and Creating a Life You Love

£7.77

Another great read by George Choy. It’s a quick read and straight to the point. It’s a really practical, step-by-step guide to take you by the hand, directly to your purpose in life. As you go through the exercises in this book, you’ll be introduced to the variables in the Purpose Formula, and learn how to apply them to your life. You’ll also gain a new understanding of nearly every decision you’ve ever made.

Accessories

Trendhim – Blue polarised sunglasses

£59

These polarised rainbow mirror sunglasses for men have all the style and functionality of an active lifestyle.

Flexible TR90 frames hug your head while rubber temples and nose pad ensure the glasses stay where they are even though you don’t. The mirror layer allows those you converse with to admire themselves in your eyes while hiding the fact you’re not paying attention.

Polarisation reduces the glare off shiny surfaces like metal, water, and glass, making them perfect for driving, fishing, or window shopping.

Engravers Guild – Classic Black Leather Wallet

£29.95

Premium black leather wallet, personalised with gold, silver or blind embossed initials. This custom wallet is one of the best sellers in the collection, designed to carry both cash and coins, as well as also comfortably accommodating four credit cards.

Additionally, there are three slip compartments and a slip note compartment for all essentials to be carried neatly. The personalised wallet features RFID protection to keep personal data safe, and a Visconti lining is used throughout.

This is such a good gift idea and a really good size. The embossing is really well done and looks so posh.

DIY

Roomix DIY – Sealant Replacement

£27.78

This contains everything you need to remove black mould and replace your kitchen or bathroom sealant:

Step-by-step How to guide
Scraper
Sealant strip out tool
Clean spirit
Sealant
Caulk gun
Sponges
Sealant profiling tools

It comes in different colours and is a great kit for any dad that loves going bits around the house!

Roomix have a really good range of kits depending on what project you are taking on.

Pens

Bastion – Aluminum Bolt Action Pen (Purple)

$59.99

The Bastion Bolt Action pen and pencil collection is the result of a perfect marriage of fine art and cutting edge engineering that is typical of Bastion craftsmanship.

The ballpoint pen is made of 100% aluminium which is lighter than steel and the extremely satisfying ‘bolt action’ mechanism provides a secure lock with hard-wearing parts.

This pen is so nice to write with and comes in a vast range of colours.

Bastion – Aluminum – Silm Bolt Action Pen (Purple)

$79.99

This is the slim version of the pen mentioned above so it has all the same features but is smaller to hold but just as satisfying to write with.

This one also comes in a great range of colours.

Bastion – Replacement Ink Cartridge for Bolt Action Pen (2 pack)

$8.99

These refills work with all of the bolt action pens. The Ink Cartridges are fine tip and available in the following colors and ink styles:

Standard ink – Black, Blue, Red
Gel ink – Black, Blue, Red

Shoes

Skates.co.uk – Etnies Ollie Long SMU Skate Shoe

£24.95

Not only does this website have an amazing range of skateboards and skates they have lots of different trainers to pick from.

These shoes would be a great gift if your dad is into skateboarding!

The Etnies Ollie Long SMU Skate Shoes are a brilliant option for skaters. Skateboarders and Stunt Scooter riders alike can appreciate these hardwearing and tough trainers that feature an sticky rubber outsole designed to help stick your foot to your deck and ensures you won’t slip when riding.

Features:

Classic etnies heritage styling
Cupsole construction
Thin tongue and padded collar
EVA cushioning footbed
Grippy gum rubber outsole with internal EVA midsole

Skincare

Organic & Botanic – Advanced Night & Day Ultra Revive & Hydrate Moisturiser

£14.90

This is a really great moisturiser and can be used day or night. Ideal for a man that likes to take care of his skin.

An infusion of ginger and ginseng root extracts helps to plump the skin with moisture, seeking to reduce the appearance of fine lines with regular use, while a blend of lavender and chamomile helps to soothe the skin. The formula is supported by conditioning almond oil to enhance a supple skin texture. Applied as the last step in your skincare routine, the moisturiser is suitable for use both morning and evening.

Douvalls – Organic Creamy Argan Body Butter

£19

This natural, creamy, and velvety body butter is a unique blend of plant based oils and extracts whipped together to give you soft supple and ultra-hydrated skin.

Packed with a high content of 100% pure argan oil which nourishes and repairs.

This is great if your dad likes to take care of his skin or has sensitive skin. It soaks in really well.

Douvalls – Argan Bath and Shower oil

£21

I love a good bath and shower oil and argan is so good for your skin so this is another great suggestion if your dad likes to pamper himself.

This bath and shower oil transforms into a milk when in contact with water to thoroughly cleanse and nourish your body, leaving your skin silky soft.

Douvalls – Organic 1st cold pressed Argan Oil Moisturiser

£9

Douvall’s cold pressed Multi tasking 100% Pure Eco-Certified Organic Argan oil moisturiser known as liquid gold in Morocco is fast absorbing, light weight, extremely high in vitamin E, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which deeply hydrates, nourishes and repairs the skin, can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

This is another great skincare product to try if he likes to look after himself.

Electronics

Anker – Soundcore Life Q30

£79.99

I have always been a fan of Anker products and these headphones don’t disappoint.

You can link them up to an app on your phone and can adjust them to lots of different settings depending on your surroundings and type of music you are listening to.

Key Features:

Hi-Res Sound: Life Q30 active noise cancelling headphones have 40mm drivers that reproduce treble up to 40kHz for full-bodied sound with excellent clarity.

Multiple Noise Cancellation Modes: Choose from Transport, Indoor, or Outdoor modes to maximize the active noise cancellation’s effect depending on where you’re listening.

Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation: Low and mid-frequency ambient sounds and up to 95% of engine noise are detected and filtered out by a digital active noise cancellation chipset, as well as external and internal microphones on each earcup.

Calls with Excellent Clarity: Enhanced voice pick-up and noise reduction ensure you’re heard clearly while using Life Q30 active noise cancelling headphones for calls.

40-Hour Playtime: Listen for up to 40 hours in noise cancellation mode and 60 hours in standard mode. Get 4 hours of listening from a quick 5-minute charge.

Lightweight Build: Life Q30 active noise cancelling headphones weigh just over 9oz (260g) and have memory foam earcups with a protein leather cover for all-day comfort.

Ergonomic Design: Life Q30’s earcups rotate by up to 15° to adjust to the shape of your head and its headband can also be adjusted for a more comfortable, secure fit.

Transparency Mode: Press the touch control on Life Q30’s right earcup for 1-2 seconds to activate Transparency mode to allow you to hear voices and traffic at a natural level when needed.

Soundcore App: Select an active noise cancellation mode, update firmware, customize the EQ or choose a preset, and create a soothing white noise soundscape when you want to relax.

NFC Fast Pairing: Tap your Android phone on Life Q30’s right earcup for extra-fast pairing.

Multi-Point Connection: Life Q30 Bluetooth headphones can be connected to 2 devices at once for easy switching.

Oppo Enco – Free 2

£89.99

These are a great option if he prefers ear buds rather than headphones. They are so comfortable to wear and the sound quality is really good.

Offering long-lasting reliability, 30 hours’ playback and IP54 dust and water-resistance means listeners can enjoy music wherever life takes them this summer. Touch controls, smart pause and Bluetooth 5.2 means staying seamlessly connected to their favourite summer tracks is a breeze.

Striking the perfect chord, the Enco Free2 adapts to any schedule with a Triple-Mic Call Noise Cancelling feature for crystal clear voice capture, and users can tune in or tune out as much as they want to, with Transparency Mode to hear ambient sound while on-the-go. The Enco Free2 are available in both black and white and are compatible with Android and iOS.

Subbytech – CliX Magnetic Charging Cables

£9.99 each

These charging cables come in glow and non glow options but both are just as cool as each other. The magnetic ends mean you only need one cable for three different chargers!

The connectors are designed to stay in your phone all the time and the magnets do the connecting for you. When you’re done charging, just break the magnetic seal and the cable stops drawing power until connected again.

Each cable comes with all 3 charging types included. iPhone, USB C and Micro USB.

The cables can do data transfer while charging, good for moving files to and from your phone.

All cables are Quick Charge 3.0 compatible with the USB C connector if you have a quick charge capable plug.

Glowing effect looks like electricity is flowing up the cable and into your phone, very cool looking in low light.

Food & Drink

Simply Cake co – Father’s day combo box

from £27.45

This letterbox friendly brownie box is perfect if he likes cake or brownies. It has a massive slab as well as the months favourites included. It’s packaged really well and stays fresh for up to two weeks.

You can personalise the box with whatever brownies you want and can also pick your own message and know that the recipient will have it delivered even if they ar

Virginia Hayward – FATHER’S DAY HAMPER

£27.50

This is a great hamper for your dad this year. It has such a good selection of gifts in and it comes packaged really well.

It contains:

‘Busy Being a Dad’ mug

Mighty Fine Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Bar

GNAW Milk Chocolate Buttons

Salted Caramel Popcorn from Popcorn Shed.

Desert Salt and Vinegar Potato Crisps from Savoursmiths

Jar of The Dormen Caramelised Peanuts

RJs Peppers Sauces

£9.99 each

RJ’s Peppers is a small batch hot sauce company based in Stafford, UK. Since 2021 they have been creating delicious hot sauces made with fresh chillies.

These two sauces are a selection of what they have to offer and I am really impressed with them. They are perfect to have on chicken wings or to use when cooking on the BBQ so if you dad loves BBQ food or wings then you need to get him a bottle to try!

Guylian Seashells

£5.50

Guylian, the premium Belgian chocolatier, is renowned for its iconic Sea Shells, which are a harmonious blend of dark, white, and milk chocolate filled with the signature praliné filling. Guylian is now 100% Fairtrade certified, and its time-honoured, traditional recipe has been improved, using only the best hazelnuts, roasted in house in their shells to guarantee the best taste. The result is a more intense and less sweet hazelnut flavour, to make them even more irresistible.

These are my dads all time favourite chocolates but I hope he will share them with me

Boomf – The Bumper Sweets Gift Box

£21.99

Boomf have a great range of boxes to pick from and what’s special about them is that when you open them it shoots confetti everywhere!

You can then remove the lid and find the gift underneath. This particular box of jam packed full of sweets and ideal if your dad has a sweet tooth!

I really hope I have inspired you and given you some good ideas! I have teamed up with Douvalls to offer 3 lucky winners one of their Argan Glow Beauty Boxes, head over to my twitter to enter to win!

Sarah x

Should You Ever Buy A Home Without Viewing It?

Collaborative post:

Image credit: Pexels

A home is one of the most expensive and most life-changing things you can buy – so it makes sense to step foot in it and look around before you commit to buying. However, you don’t have to view a property before making an offer. In fact, there are many people that buy homes without viewing them first. 

This post explains the circumstances where you may want to buy a property without viewing it and how you can reduce the risks of buying a home ‘unseen’. 

When to skip the viewing

Buying a home without a viewing may be necessary if you’re planning on moving long-distance. You may not have the time or money to travel out and view properties beforehand. Buying a property unseen allows you to move directly into the home without having to spend time/money travelling to a viewing beforehand. You could always rent out temporary accommodation locally so that you can view homes in person, however this is an added cost to budget for.

Obviously, if you’re buying a home that hasn’t been built yet, this may be another time where you have to skip the viewing. New housing projects in prime locations often get a lot of interest – if you want a chance of snapping up one of these properties, you may have no choice but to buy ‘off-plan’ before the property is built. 

Buying homes unseen was also popular in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. For those who are worried about getting sick or spreading sickness, it can make sense to skip the viewing. 

Reducing the risks of buying a home unseen

Buying a home unseen does mean that you could end up with a property with unexpected flaws. You can only gauge so much from looking at pictures on a property listing site. This is why it’s often worth taking other measures to make sure the property is right. Below are just a few ways to reduce the risk of buying a home unseen.

Visit the display home

If you’re buying a property that hasn’t been built yet, it’s likely that there will be a display home to look around such as this Dubbo display home. These are prototype homes that you can look around in-person. Your home may have a slightly different orientation, but you’ll generally get a good idea of the space and the feel of the home. 

Try a virtual viewing

When it comes to viewing a property in a location that you cannot travel to, another solution could be to ask an agent or seller to conduct a virtual viewing. This involves carrying out a video call with the agent/seller so that they can tour you around on their phone. Check out this guide to virtual viewings at Portolio

Get on Google Street View

To take a look at the outside of the property and the local neighbourhood, why not try going for an explore on Google Street View? This can give you a good idea of the surroundings. Just be wary that Google Street View may not be up to date and the area may have changed since the photos were taken. 

Organise a home survey

It’s worth hiring a surveyor to look around the property to inspect it for hidden damage. They can then relay any concerns to you over the phone, potentially preventing you from buying a property that could be expensive to repair in the long run.

Sarah x