Christmas gifts for people who have everything

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We're half way through November now so I think it's acceptable for Christmas related posts to start appearing here in this little corner of the internet.

Apart from the general festive cheer, the good food and Christmas jumpers my favourite part of Christmas is deciding what to get my loved ones, going out and getting it and then wrapping it up to stick under the tree. I love giving gifts and I think as you get older it becomes a really rewarding and fun part of Christmas. 

However, choosing the right gift can often be a bit tricky. Eventually CD's, socks and books get a little boring and it often feels like people, especially parents and grand parents have everything. So I thought I'd share a few ideas that are a little more thoughtful that a generic gift and also perfect for those people who seem to have everything. 

Sleepover with the Lions

For those people who love adventure or love animals a sleepover at London Zoo right near the lion lodge would be a perfect gift. Included in the price is dinner and breakfast, tours, free parking and entrance to the zoo for two days. It is a little pricey so this would be an extra special gift but definitely something that would be greatly appreciated by the right receiver.

Luxury treatment

Even if someone's got everything, we often forget to pamper ourselves. People always appreciate being gifted a spa treatment and Champney's offer some great options at a reasonable price. Even a 25 minute neck and shoulder massage can be just what the doctor ordered for the person in your life who needs some time out to relax and some time to focus on themselves.

Cooking lesson

If you've got someone in your life who loves to cook why not treat them to a cooking lesson and Jamie Oliver's cooking school. It's something different, something that a person is unlikely to do for themselves and also a bit of fun. They offer a variety of different classes and things you can learn to cook so you can really tailor this to your loved one.

Floral subscription

A house is always more lovely and fresh when there's fresh flowers in the house. However, they can be expensive and a bit of a last minute thought. There's plenty of flower subscription services out there but Bloom & Wild offer some lovely bouquets and heaps of variety. I just think this would be a really lovely gift for someone who loves having flowers in the house.

If you want more ideas check out my Pinterest board for Christmas where I've been adding things pretty regularly.

Let me know what you think are good presents for people who have everything.

Until next time,


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SKINSTITUT Final Thoughts

It's been two months since I received my Skinstitut products from RY and started adding them to my skincare routine. I figured, seeing as I said I'd let you know how I was getting on with them after a month, now was a good time to check back in and let you all know what my thoughts on the products were after using them for a good amount of time.

By far my favourite product from the range was the Even Blend Serum. I felt like it did exactly what it said on the tin. It made my skin tone look a lot more even, faded a bit of scarring and just generally made my skin look a lot fresher. I also feel that since using it my skin has felt a lot more hydrated and just generally healthier. This is the first serum I've used so I have nothing to compare it to but I'd definitely recommend it if you suffer from uneven skin tone, dark spots or scarring.

The L-Lactic Cleanser and Enzymatic Micro Peel are products I really liked and would consider going back to. They definitely made my skin feel cleaner and more fresh and my skin has been clearer for using them. Also the cleanser seems to be lasting for ages so it's definitely worth the money.

The only product I wouldn't go back to because I didn't like it and didn't feel was right for my skin was the moisturiser. I received the Moisture Defence Oily Skin and it just wasn't right for my skin. Although my skin can get oily in places I still like a heavy duty moisturiser as it just makes my skin feel better. Just because you have oily skin doesn't mean you shouldn't use a really hydrating moisturiser it just means you don't want to over do it in oils. This moisturiser missed the mark for me. It wasn't hydrating enough for my skin and I wouldn't go back to it. 

The Age Defence SPF 50+ was a nice product but at bit OTT. In the morning, which is obviously when you'd ben using an SPF, you want something east and quick to absorb and this wasn't that. It felt sticky on my skin for a long time and the formula was very quick for an SPF. Personally I prefer a light day moisturiser that contains SPF as a second moisturise in the morning so this wasn't for me but it's not something I'd write off completely.

All in all the range was pretty good. There is definitely a few products I'd go back to as my skin does feel good for using most of them daily some twice daily and it's also been clearer (until an annoying hormonal breakout that nothing could control). I'd recommend for people in their twenties or thirties who are battling an occasional breakout but it would be too much for teenage skin I think. However, Skinstitut and RY offer a huge range or products so I would definitely check them out if you're looking for something to fill a hole in your skincare routine. 

Until next time, 

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Thought of the week #36

There's some things, it doesn't matter how many times you try you just can't seem to get it right. You keep burning the cake you've been working on, you can't write the blog post that you feel could be the best post you've written in ages, you can't seem to pass the test. It can begin to feel like you're failing every time you try and don't get the result you want. However, every time you try again it's not failure, it's experience. Every time you learn something new and can build not that to make next time better and closer to the success you are looking for. So don't give up, keep experiencing and keep learning. You'll get there.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

I've never had a Pumpkin Spice Latte for the one reason I am not into sweetened, syrupy coffee. However, Pumpkin Spice as a concept is right up my street. So, when carving my pumpkin this year i decided to save the flesh and make it into a scrum cupcake take on pumpkin spice to enjoy with a strong coffee or tea which ever takes your fancy works. 

You will need:

12 hole muffin tin

12 cup cake cases

200g caster sugar

200g sunflower oil (or oil of your choice, I haven't tried it but I think coconut oil would work really well)

3 large eggs

1 cup of pumpkin puree either fresh or tinned

200g self raising flour

1 tsp of ground cinnamon

1tsp of ground nutmeg

280g of cream cheese

50g butter at room temperature

80g icing sugar 

1tsp cinnamon

How to do it:

Preheat your oven to 180C/356F/Gas Mark 4 and place your cupcake cases in the holes of your muffin tin. 

Put the caster sugar, sunflower oil and eggs into a large mixing bowl and mix gently. Add the pumpkin puree and fold it in. At this point it will look vile but trust me, it will be fine.

Add the flour and spices and gently fold them in. 

Once everything is combined distribute the mixture evenly between the cases and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. 

Whilst your cakes are cooking you can make the cream cheese, cinnamon, frosting.

Simply put the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl and combine. This is easiest done with a fork. Sift in the icing sugar and cinnamon and fold into the cream cheese and butter mixture. Set the mixture aside once it is all combined for when the cakes are cooled.

Once the cakes a cool distribute the frosting between the cakes and spread across the top of them. I drizzled mine with Clark's caramel sauce because I'm too lazy to make my own and some chocolate sprinkles. 

The are delicious and although they might seem festive for halloween these are great all through Autumn and into Winter, basically whenever you can your hands on a pumpkin these should be made.

If you decide to give this recipe a try let me know.

Until next time, 

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Hello November

It's the second day of November and I already have stinking cold - typical. Winter is well and truly setting in, it's dark by 4.30pm and Jack has finally let me put the bedroom radiator. I mean, it's on 2 but it's better than nothing.

October was, as October always seems to be, a lovely month. October always feel so fresh and new and I find it's always a great time to crack on with some projects, which is exactly what I did. I got underway with the Australia photo book and dug out the memory sticks with the GoPro videos on to start editing those into something people might want to watch. 

It was a busy month with a couple of birthdays and a visit from Jack's family in France. But we just managed to squeeze in carving a pumpkin and making some pumpkin spice cupcakes the recipe for which will be up soon. They're the perfect autumn evening treat.

Being a month til Christmas time November promises to be a busy, fun filled month and I'm looking forward to just taking the month pretty easy and slowly preparing for Christmas.

Jack and I are off to Center Parcs with my family next week so we've got the perfect relaxing start to the month which I think is just what the doctor ordered.

Until next time,

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