The Importance of Gifting & WIN with Boots Secret Santa

The Importance of Gifting & WIN with Boots Secret Santa

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.

The Importance of Gifting & WIN with Boots Secret Santa

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.

The Importance of Gifting & WIN with Boots Secret Santa

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!

The Importance of Gifting & WIN with Boots Secret SantaThis 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:

a Rafflecopter 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 

83 Comments

  1. Leighanne M
    December 2, 2017 / 3:14 am

    Anything from lush, especially from the twilight scent family

  2. Laura Oxby
    December 2, 2017 / 7:26 am

    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

  3. Abby
    December 2, 2017 / 8:23 am

    I love Chanel Perfume. Such a beautiful scent

  4. Stephanie Davies
    December 2, 2017 / 11:04 am

    The beauty gift I would love to receive this Christmas is Estée Lauder double wear foundation! It’s simply amazing 😍

  5. Saetana
    December 2, 2017 / 5:19 pm

    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)

  6. Kim Carberry
    December 2, 2017 / 8:20 pm

    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

  7. Mammaful Zo
    December 2, 2017 / 11:17 pm

    Such an amazing prize xxxx Zoë – MammafulZo 💕

  8. Naila
    December 3, 2017 / 1:30 pm

    I would love to receive either sanctuary spa goodies or soap and glory products for Christmas 🙂

  9. Amy Pest
    December 3, 2017 / 6:54 pm

    I would love to receive some perfume from my partner

  10. Skye
    December 3, 2017 / 7:30 pm

    I'd love some new perfume@fionaseaeagle

  11. Fiona King
    December 3, 2017 / 7:32 pm

    I'd love to win some perfumes

  12. Tracy K Nixon
    December 3, 2017 / 7:33 pm

    A Soap and Glory gift box!

  13. sandy
    December 3, 2017 / 7:33 pm

    I would love some Touche Eclat

  14. Lucy Major
    December 3, 2017 / 7:37 pm

    I would love a new Clinique foundation or also the MAC or Smashbox mini lipstick gift sets 🙂

  15. Small Town Girl
    December 3, 2017 / 7:37 pm

    The beauty gift i would love to receive is a Babyliss hair curler!

  16. Jo Hutchinson
    December 3, 2017 / 7:39 pm

    I would love the House of Juicy Couture Deluxe Mini Parfum Gift Set the bottles look cute too.

  17. Lauraloo
    December 3, 2017 / 7:51 pm

    I'd absolutely love a Stylepro brush cleaner for my makeup brushes.

  18. Tracey Ryder
    December 3, 2017 / 7:56 pm

    would love a new hairdryer

  19. Kelly Glen
    December 3, 2017 / 8:25 pm

    I would love a new hairdryer as my one is very old.

  20. Tkw2014
    December 3, 2017 / 8:27 pm

    Ooh love a surprise! Great idea and giveaway!

  21. Tkw2014
    December 3, 2017 / 8:27 pm

    I would love to receive some perfume this xmas!

  22. Liquorice
    December 3, 2017 / 8:28 pm

    YSL Black Opium

  23. laura banks
    December 3, 2017 / 8:30 pm

    i would love a foot spa

  24. Alex A
    December 3, 2017 / 8:33 pm

    False Lashes

  25. Tracey Peach
    December 3, 2017 / 8:37 pm

    I would love to receive some little ondine nail polishes

  26. Debbie Winstanley
    December 3, 2017 / 8:39 pm

    Make up for me, I've a list of "wants" a mile long!

  27. Cheeky
    December 3, 2017 / 9:24 pm

    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!

  28. Barbara Daniels
    December 3, 2017 / 9:51 pm

    I would absolutley love some mac lipstick and some mascara

  29. anthony harrington
    December 3, 2017 / 10:03 pm

    I am hoping to get some exfoliating stuff and some aftershave

  30. Heather Hibbert
    December 3, 2017 / 10:29 pm

    I'd like haircare products

  31. Sidrah Ahmed
    December 3, 2017 / 11:04 pm

    I would love a makeup palette

  32. Lorraine Tinsley
    December 3, 2017 / 11:24 pm

    I'd love some Barry M or Nail Inc nail polish

  33. Tina Hewitt
    December 4, 2017 / 12:10 am

    I would like to receive Clarins double Serum Collection

  34. Shelley Jessup
    December 4, 2017 / 12:56 am

    I always excited to get new perfumes, even more so I now have a beauty room to display all the fantastic bottle designs!

  35. rozsarg
    December 4, 2017 / 6:22 am

    I would love to receive perfume

  36. Lauren
    December 4, 2017 / 10:11 am

    id love one of the benefit make up sets x

  37. A Stressed Mum of Three!
    December 4, 2017 / 11:24 am

    I'd love to receive some Clarins products especially the serum

  38. 6paces
    December 4, 2017 / 1:34 pm

    aftershave,as per usual

  39. Rebecca Smith
    December 4, 2017 / 4:01 pm

    Looks divine!

  40. WeeWillieWilkie
    December 4, 2017 / 4:55 pm

    Eve Lom Rescue Mask

  41. Amanda Tanner
    December 4, 2017 / 7:18 pm

    I would love to receive some new make up and lessons on contouring

  42. Soph H
    December 4, 2017 / 7:22 pm

    i would really like a nice face cream

  43. Ellen Sheppard
    December 4, 2017 / 9:26 pm

    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

  44. RUM RUM
    December 5, 2017 / 12:19 pm

    Sanctuary Spa is my fave Kris

  45. June M Lord
    December 5, 2017 / 2:19 pm

    I'd love to receive a good highlighting and contouring kit.

  46. Janice n
    December 5, 2017 / 7:03 pm

    I would like a new razor

  47. Angie Hoggett
    December 5, 2017 / 11:04 pm

    I would love a Molton brown gift settwitter: @susanhoggett

  48. Allison Sherwood
    December 6, 2017 / 8:52 am

    I would love some new perfume

  49. Lynda Jones
    December 6, 2017 / 9:22 am

    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.

  50. Maria Clarke
    December 6, 2017 / 7:13 pm

    Soap and Glory is lovely

  51. Mel Turner
    December 6, 2017 / 9:44 pm

    I'd like a nice moisturiser for my face

  52. mummy24
    December 6, 2017 / 10:01 pm

    New perfume Ashleigh Allan

  53. Patricia Avery
    December 6, 2017 / 10:28 pm

    Something nice for a relaxing, uninterrupted bath 🙂 Chance would be a fine thing!

  54. REBECCA TOWNSEND
    December 7, 2017 / 10:44 am

    I'd like a Zoeva Plaisir Box, love their eyeshadows!

  55. Milly Youngman
    December 7, 2017 / 11:59 am

    I'd love a Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish!

  56. Lj Baker
    December 7, 2017 / 1:53 pm

    I would love to receive Laura Mercier's Crème Brulee Soufflé Body Crème – so gorgeous!

  57. Jenny Jones
    December 7, 2017 / 2:12 pm

    I would adore to have some new perfume

  58. Claire Appleton
    December 7, 2017 / 2:24 pm

    I would love some really nice body butters!

  59. Lorna Peppiatt
    December 7, 2017 / 2:31 pm

    I'd love Jo Malone perfume and Molton Brown bodywash Pink Peppercorn, my favourite. x

  60. Rich Tyler
    December 7, 2017 / 2:40 pm

    I'd love some hugo boss aftershave

  61. Daniella
    December 7, 2017 / 3:40 pm

    Pixi glow tonic

  62. Claire Long
    December 7, 2017 / 4:10 pm

    I'd love to receive anything by Soap and Glory!

  63. Marrian
    December 7, 2017 / 4:36 pm

    I'd love a beautiful eyeshadow or highlighter palette.

  64. krnries
    December 7, 2017 / 6:51 pm

    I'd love a new eye shadow palette xx

  65. lisanorfolk
    December 7, 2017 / 9:18 pm

    I would love a decent pallette

  66. donna jones
    December 7, 2017 / 10:00 pm

    Chanel Perfume would be lovely

  67. Carole
    December 7, 2017 / 10:35 pm

    I would love to have some perfume

  68. REEDYHELS
    December 7, 2017 / 10:56 pm

    I have asked Santa for a new watch!!

  69. Vicky Robinson
    December 8, 2017 / 12:18 am

    I'd love any beauty product gift set as I rarely buy anything for myself and it would be a rare treat!

  70. Michaela B
    December 8, 2017 / 1:09 am

    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!

  71. Jamie Millard
    December 8, 2017 / 1:37 am

    some new fragrance and some bath pamper goodies

  72. Maria Jane Knight
    December 8, 2017 / 6:53 am

    Some Carmex lipbalm in my stocking would be nice!

  73. lastkisstoo
    December 8, 2017 / 9:11 am

    Daisy perfume, or some nice face creams 🙂 x

  74. Vicks
    December 8, 2017 / 9:42 am

    I'd love to unwrap the Urban Decay Naked vault – its amazing!

  75. Diana S
    December 8, 2017 / 11:11 am

    Good eye cream 🙂

  76. snarepuss
    December 8, 2017 / 11:40 am

    a lovely new scarf 🙂

  77. Sarah Wilson
    December 8, 2017 / 12:19 pm

    I would love a Magnitone!

  78. jenniferjackson
    December 8, 2017 / 1:17 pm

    some nice perfume

  79. Sheena Read
    December 8, 2017 / 1:58 pm

    Something to make my skin glow.

  80. Helen Swales
    December 8, 2017 / 2:16 pm

    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.

  81. laura avery
    December 8, 2017 / 4:31 pm

    Some lovely skincare set..anti aging would be lovely

  82. Emma Davison
    December 8, 2017 / 6:24 pm

    A really nice perfume

  83. Jessica Hutton
    December 8, 2017 / 7:03 pm

    Some Liz Earle products or some new perfume would be lovely! Xx

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