Christmas Gift Guide | The Interior Lover

christmas-gift-guide-7Bloomzy’s Christmas Gift Guide, for The Interior Lover

It’s that time of the year again when we all start wracking our brains as to what we should buy our loved ones. And whereas they will always tell us “oh you don’t have to worry about getting me anything”, we all know we’re going to anyway. So to try and make it a little bit easier for you, I have put together a few gift guides. Each Christmas gift guide has been carefully curated by yours truly, to showcase what I believe are affordable, quality gifts that will appeal to all (well, pretty much anyone). So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let me do all the hard work for you.

A Gift Guide for The Interior Lover:

  1. Robin & Holly Oven Glove – Thornback and Peel*
  2. Stag & Mistletoe Tea Towel – Thornback and Peel*
  3. Stackable Copper & Gold Containers – Tiger
  4. Inissia Black Coffee Machine & Aeroccino – Nespresso
  5. Nespresso Machine Coffee Capsules*

You may be thinking to yourself right now, but I don’t see a Nespresso machine in the photos. Well I’m not gonna sugar coat it, it’s a bit of a b*tch to include in a flat lay. But I’m sure you can get the idea. Anyway, I wanted to include an interior gift guide this year as I have become a bit of an interior geek as of late – I blame my new apartment. Plus, interior is so hot right now. Am I right?

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide series.

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Christmas Gift Guide | The Beauty Lover

christmas gift guideBloomzy’s Christmas Gift Guide, for The Beauty Lover

It’s that time of the year again when we all start wracking our brains as to what we should buy our loved ones. And whereas they will always tell us “oh you don’t have to worry about getting me anything”, we all know we’re going to anyway. So to try and make it a little bit easier for you, I have put together a few gift guides. Each Christmas gift guide has been carefully curated by yours truly, to showcase what I believe are affordable, quality gifts that will appeal to all (well, pretty much anyone). So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let me do all the hard work for you.

A Gift Guide for The Beauty Lover:

  1. Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum – Chanel
  2. Marvellous Moxie Lipgloss (in Life of the Party) – Bareminerals*
  3. Fat Liquid Eyeliner – Eyeko
  4. Make an Entrance Lip and Nail Sonata Gift Set – Temple Spa*
  5. Coconut Oil – Vita Coco*
  6. Brightening Facial Oil – Manuka Doctor*
  7. Rosehip Collection Gift Set – Trilogy

Beauty products are my go-to Christmas gift. The variety of amazing Christmas gift sets in Boots has me transfixed year after year. Even so, you may not always want to buy a whole gift set. Sometimes I prefer to create my own. This year I’ll be making mini beauty hampers for my nearest and dearest, and it’s safe to say that all of these brands will be making an appearance.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide series.

christmas gift guide chanel perfume christmas gift guide manuka doctor christmas gift guide bareminerals christmas gift guide eyeko coconut oil

Christmas Gift Guide | The Fashion Lover

christmas gift guide Bloomzy’s Christmas Gift Guide, for The Fashion Lover

It’s that time of the year again when we all start wracking our brains as to what we should buy our loved ones. And whereas they will always tell us “oh you don’t have to worry about getting me anything”, we all know we’re going to anyway. So to try and make it a little bit easier for you, I have put together a few gift guides. Each Christmas gift guide has been carefully curated by yours truly, to showcase what I believe are affordable, quality gifts that will appeal to all (well, pretty much anyone). So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let me do all the hard work for you.

A Gift Guide for The Fashion Lover:

  1. T-shirt – Wood Wood @ Finch Norwich
  2. Necklace – Clarice Price Thomas @ Parla*
  3. Marble iPhone Case – Madotta*
  4. Shoes – Jones Bootmaker*
  5. Purse – Commes des Garcon

Fashion is very subjective, so it can be difficult to purchase clothing or accessories for someone else. However there are several pieces that will always be timeless, and can fit into pretty much any wardrobe. For me that’s a well constructed t-shirt, a pair of boyish flats (perfect for the party season), a chic phone case, a necklace that can be worn on any occasion, and a little black purse.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide series.

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Blogger Secret Santa with Debenhams

debenhams-christmas-gift-guide-blogger-secret-santa-4Blogger Secret Santa with Debenhams*

Whether we like it or not, Christmas is fast approaching. Usually I start to get excited about a week or two before the big day. However this year something has changed. That oh-so familiar anticipation has begun to manifest itself. I imagine helping to plan the office Christmas party is the culprit…that and my craving for mulled wine! One of my favourite parts of Christmas is Secret Santa. It’s so much fun working with a budget and a theme. The surprise (and hopefully joy) on the face of your giftee is priceless. Enter Debenhams. Recently the department store contacted me about being a part of their blogger secret santa campaign. With an aim to bring together bloggers, and inspire people’s gift choices, I could hardly say no.

Each blogger was given a theme, a modest budget and a link to their secret santa’s blog. From there we were left to our own devices. I was given a home theme, and Emily of Stylelobster, which was easy as I know her blog well (find out what I gifted her here). As for me, I chose beauty. I sat back and waited (and hopped over to Italy), and soon enough my gifts arrived. All wrapped up in a bow. I’ve had some odd secret santa gifts in the past, which is probably what lead to me holding my breath as I unwrapped these ones. But my nerves were unfounded, as I soon discovered.

What did I receive?
+ Urban Decay Ink for Eyes Waterproof Precision Eye Pen
+ Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb
+ Illamasqua Nail Polish in Charisma
+ Miss Selfridge Oversized Check Scarf
+ Victoria Green Daisy Russet Wash Bag

Perfect gift after perfect gift materialsed in front of me. The note said “I’ve gone for a red theme” and boy was I pleased. I loved everything about my secret santa experience with Debenhams. From the personalised note, right down to the cruelty-free make-up products.  Thank you so much to Aimee of Wallflowergirl for my incredibly thoughtful gifts. You made my day! Now I really can’t wait for Christmas.

I’d highly suggest visiting the Debenhams Gifts page for those of you who are stuck on what to get your secret santa. In fact I’d just recommend visiting in general. I know I’ll be browsing the site for my family and friends gifts. Happy shopping!

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Sweet Like Chocolate…

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One thing you may not know about me is that I actually don’t drink much milk. I know, I know, I live a crazy life. Joking aside though, I prefer almond or coconut milk. People honestly look at me oddly when I say I don’t eat milk chocolate. It’s not the end of the world, but it can make it awkward when people buy me chocolate as a gift. So when Hotel Chocolat offered to send me a treat from their new Easter selection, I knew exactly which one I wanted to try – the Milk-Free Milk Chocolate Scrambled Egg.

Now you’re probably wondering why this post even exists, as I don’t usually do food product reviews. Well, as a kid my sister and I didn’t really get too many Easter eggs. Instead our parents bought us gifts. Probably because they knew what we’d be like if we received too many…which is made evident by the following story. One year, we actually ended up with quite a few chocolate eggs from various relatives. So my sister and I decided that we would play a ‘chocolate game’ (the underage version of a drinking game apparently), in which we would watch the movie Chocolat, and whenever a piece of chocolate came up on the screen we had to eat a piece of chocolate. Now this may sound like fun, but actually we didn’t anticipate just how much chocolate there would be in the movie. Suffice to say, there is a lot! Both of us ended up on a sugar high, which culminated in me falling into a paper bin (arse first) and getting stuck. We were pretty sick the next day. Even so, this is still one of my favourite memories from my childhood, and my sister and I still laugh about it now. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, Easter is a nostalgic and sweet time for me.

The milk-free scrambled egg smells like dark chocolate, and tastes like it too. It’s a smooth, rich flavour, which I personally love. The addition of the Nutty Fruitcases was an extra treat, and again I found the chocolate to be reminiscent of dark chocolate (more so than milk). Something which contrasts well against the crunchy hazelnuts and sweet sultanas – I’ll be keeping these to have alongside a cup of tea. The whole set is a great alternative to a milk chocolate egg, and wonderful for anyone who can’t (or doesn’t) eat dairy. I may be a little wiser now (and not drown myself in chocolate) but I do still love savouring one quality Easter egg a year. This year I’m glad it was this one.

Pop by Hotel Chocolat to browse their selection of Easter Eggs, and to purchase the Milk-Free Milk Chocolate Scrambled Egg.

Christmas Gift Guide: Skincare

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What? Avène YsthéAL Anti-Aging Eye & Lip Contour Care*
Who for? Mum
How much? £19.50
Where from? Boots
Why? My mum is now at the age where she is looking for “that little miracle” to help keep her skin firm and smooth. YsthéAL Eye and Lip Contour revents and corrects the appeareance of signs of skin ageing: wrinkles, loss of elasticity in the eye and lip area. YsthéAL Eye and Lip Contour has a fine smooth texture, perfectly adapted to the most delicate areas of the face. The eye contour is smoother, and eyes appear fuller and well-rested, and the lip contour regains tone and elasticity. Good tolerance, tested on sensitive skin. Fragrance and paraben free.

What? Avène Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum*
Who for? Dad
How much? £17
Where from? Boots
Why? My dad has sensitive, dry skin. This is something which I’ve noticed a lot of men suffer from, especially in the harsh Winter weather. This intensely soothing formulation is ideal for sensitive skin, or skin that is easily affected by stress, pollution, or irritation. With its high concentration of Avene Thermal Spring Water, the serum works to hydrate and heal the skin with each and every application. Added Glycerine provides deep nourishment, hydration and comfort for the complexion. The silky serum glides on luxuriously, leaving skin feeling supple, smooth and soft.

 
What? Manuka Doctor Replenishing Facial Oil*
Who for? Beauty conscious friend
How much? £13.32 (currently on sale from £19.99)
Where from? Superdrug
Why? Facial oils can seem intimidating, especially to those who are new to skincare. However my beauty conscious friends would definitely appreciate one. The Normalising Manuka Facial Oil is a balancing formula rich in powerful plant extracts designed to help reduce sebum and refine skin’s texture. Just a couple of drops applied daily will visibly hydrate, revitalise and even skin tone whilst essential oils restore skin’s suppleness – all without greasy side effects. Achieve a brighter, fresher and more youthful looking complexion with Manuka Doctor Normalising Facial Oil – featuring hero ingredient Manuka Oil
 
What? Manuka Doctor Purifying Face Mask*
Who for? Sister
How much? £16.66 (currently on sale from £24.99)
Where from? Superdrug
Why? This one is a favourite of my sister’s so it’s an easy go-to product. Manuka Doctor’s new highly effective deep cleansing mask withdraws impurities and cleverly balances the perfect amount of oil and moisture for a smoother, more radiant looking complexion. It harnesses the power of natural active ingredients – Grape Seed Oil, rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, to help clean pores and even skin tone, Aloe Vera Juice to help reduce redness and remove excess oil and dirt from the skin, Witch Hazel and Kaolin Clay – a light mineral clay to help draw impurities from the skin. Manuka Doctor’s hero ingredient Purified Bee Venom (PBV) and its antibacterial properties, help fight blemishes and Manuka honey known for its known skincare benefits, assists hydration.
 
What? The Harley Medical Group Anti-oxidant Oil Free Moisturiser*
Who for? That special work colleague who has helped you out all year.
How much? £35
Where from? The Harley Medical Group
Why? Working in an office means air conditioning during the Summer, and heaters on full blast during the Winter. It easily wears skin out, so a decent moisturiser is well worth keeping on your desk. It is so important to soothe & clear congested skin. This moisturiser will do just that. It also leaves your skin feeling smooth and silky to the touch. An anti-oxidant oil free moisturiser that helps promote a smooth, matte complexion. Incorporating patented anti-ageing ingredients clinically shown to penetrate the skin and help reduce visible signs of ageing while stimulating collagen production. With the added benefit of Vitamin E, a powerful anti-oxidant that will help improve the overall texture of the skin.