Christmas Day is fast approaching and, as well as planning an epic Christmas dinner that I’ll be cooking myself for the first time, I’m working hard to pick out the perfect presents for my friends and family. Christmas gifting is important to me as its a way of saying thank you for everything that they’ve done for me over the last 12 months.
It’s been a tough year to say the least and I cannot thank them enough for their support so being able to buy them a gift that shows that I have taken an interest and actively listened to what is going on in their lives while mine has been so hectic is a great way for me to give back to them.
While Christmas is definitely more about who is around your tree than what is under it, gift giving is certainly important. It’s a way of sending a message of love, thanks and appreciation.
I’m a firm believer that no matter your budget, if you’re going to give a gift, you need to do it properly; i.e. thoughtfully and with effort. Whether you’re spending £5 on a Secret Santa gift or £500 on a splash out, luxury surprise, pick out something that the person you’re buying for will really love, don’t just buy something for the sake of it, and wrap it beautifully too.
Wrapping is the first impression someone will get of your gift and how much thought you’ve put into it. It doesn’t matter whether you’re gifting a designer fragrance or a budget bubble bath, if its been wrapped like its fish and chips, that’ll instantly give the impression that you’re not bothered and no one wants that, do they? My best advice is to pick a colour scheme or theme for your wrapping and to choose items that coordinate well with one another. There are so many big packs of Christmas gift wrap that work well for this and wont break the bank.
Wrapping a gift well certainly adds to the excitement and anticipation of whats inside but the success of the gift largely depends on how well you know the person, your listening skills and your investigative prowess.
Pick a present like a pro by noting down any gift ideas you get from talking to your loved ones. If they smell a perfume on you and compliment you on it, make a note on your phone. Similarly, if they tell you’re they’re running out of their favourite body lotion or that they could really do with relaxing in the bath after a stressful day at work, make a note of it. If you notice that they tend to have sweet scents around their home, be it with candles or existing products then jot that down too as all of these things will help you to find the perfect gifts for the people you love and show them that you’ve chosen them thoughtfully with them in mind.
This year, I’m on a tighter budget than I have been in previous years so paying attention and getting the gift right in one rather than in several presents is important to me. So far, I’ve picked up a gorgeous bracelet for my mam that I know she’ll love because when I got her another piece of jewellery for her birthday, she said that she loved how sentimental it was and she’s worn it every time we’ve gone out somewhere since, and I’ve bought my dad a huge bottle of the aftershave he’d pointed out on a TV ad, having smelt it when walking through the airport.
My Christmas shopping is far from over for this year but having a good idea of what I want to get my friends and family certainly makes the job a lot easier and it enables me to stick to my budget too.
You can gift thoughtfully no matter how much you have to spend, even if you’re on a £5 spending cap for the office Secret Santa! Boots have a fantastic range of Christmas gifts for her so there’s no excuse not to give a gorgeous gift this Christmas!
This year, I’m taking part in the Boots Secret Santa campaign which is all about sharing the love and Christmas spirit by giving a little happiness to others.
I’m going to be giving a surprise gift worth £100 to blogger Alice, from Teacake Travels and in return, I’ll receive a gift from another blogger too. I’ll also be giving away the same gift that I picked out to one of you so enter below for your chance to win!
When the giveaway has ended, I’ll be revealing the secret gift I received over on my Instagram!
ENTER MY GIVEAWAY:
The giveaway is open to entrants from the UK only. The winner will be announced on this blog post and via email after the closing date.
*This post is in conjunction with Boots but all thoughts are my own
Anything from lush, especially from the twilight scent family
Such a lovely post! Your wrapping is beautiful �� Wishing you and your family a wonderful festive period and a happy, healthy new year full of love and laughter �� xx
I love Chanel Perfume. Such a beautiful scent
The beauty gift I would love to receive this Christmas is Estée Lauder double wear foundation! It’s simply amazing 😍
I'd love to receive some Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future day cream. Rafflecopter entries are in my real name NIKKI HAYES, thanks for the lovely giveaway :o)
I would love to receive some fancy make up. Having two kids means that they always come first and I make do with cheap make up when I wear it x
Such an amazing prize xxxx Zoë – MammafulZo 💕
I would love to receive either sanctuary spa goodies or soap and glory products for Christmas 🙂
I would love to receive some perfume from my partner
I'd love some new perfume@fionaseaeagle
I'd love to win some perfumes
A Soap and Glory gift box!
I would love some Touche Eclat
I would love a new Clinique foundation or also the MAC or Smashbox mini lipstick gift sets 🙂
The beauty gift i would love to receive is a Babyliss hair curler!
I would love the House of Juicy Couture Deluxe Mini Parfum Gift Set the bottles look cute too.
I'd absolutely love a Stylepro brush cleaner for my makeup brushes.
would love a new hairdryer
I would love a new hairdryer as my one is very old.
Ooh love a surprise! Great idea and giveaway!
I would love to receive some perfume this xmas!
YSL Black Opium
i would love a foot spa
False Lashes
I would love to receive some little ondine nail polishes
Make up for me, I've a list of "wants" a mile long!
I'd love a Clarisonic system – it's something I've wanted to try for years, but never seem to be able to justify the expense!
I would absolutley love some mac lipstick and some mascara
I am hoping to get some exfoliating stuff and some aftershave
I'd like haircare products
I would love a makeup palette
I'd love some Barry M or Nail Inc nail polish
I would like to receive Clarins double Serum Collection
I always excited to get new perfumes, even more so I now have a beauty room to display all the fantastic bottle designs!
I would love to receive perfume
id love one of the benefit make up sets x
I'd love to receive some Clarins products especially the serum
aftershave,as per usual
Looks divine!
Eve Lom Rescue Mask
I would love to receive some new make up and lessons on contouring
i would really like a nice face cream
I would love a Hollywood mirror for my dressing table – it is so dark in the mornings and my main light isn't bright enough x
Sanctuary Spa is my fave Kris
I'd love to receive a good highlighting and contouring kit.
I would like a new razor
I would love a Molton brown gift settwitter: @susanhoggett
I would love some new perfume
I have seen a beautiful white gold crucifix, with small white stones down the middle, I would love to have this under my Xmas tree.
Soap and Glory is lovely
I'd like a nice moisturiser for my face
New perfume Ashleigh Allan
Something nice for a relaxing, uninterrupted bath 🙂 Chance would be a fine thing!
I'd like a Zoeva Plaisir Box, love their eyeshadows!
I'd love a Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish!
I would love to receive Laura Mercier's Crème Brulee Soufflé Body Crème – so gorgeous!
I would adore to have some new perfume
I would love some really nice body butters!
I'd love Jo Malone perfume and Molton Brown bodywash Pink Peppercorn, my favourite. x
I'd love some hugo boss aftershave
Pixi glow tonic
I'd love to receive anything by Soap and Glory!
I'd love a beautiful eyeshadow or highlighter palette.
I'd love a new eye shadow palette xx
I would love a decent pallette
Chanel Perfume would be lovely
I would love to have some perfume
I have asked Santa for a new watch!!
I'd love any beauty product gift set as I rarely buy anything for myself and it would be a rare treat!
I'd love a se of straighteners to replace my 20yr old ones! Or even some nice smellies for the bath to stop me using the kids stuff!
some new fragrance and some bath pamper goodies
Some Carmex lipbalm in my stocking would be nice!
Daisy perfume, or some nice face creams 🙂 x
I'd love to unwrap the Urban Decay Naked vault – its amazing!
Good eye cream 🙂
a lovely new scarf 🙂
I would love a Magnitone!
some nice perfume
Something to make my skin glow.
I'd love to have the illuminated mirror from Boots No 7 range under the tree this Christmas; perfect for sorting my eyebrows in between waxes.
Some lovely skincare set..anti aging would be lovely
A really nice perfume
Some Liz Earle products or some new perfume would be lovely! Xx