This post is here off the back of one request. Yes, that’s how my brain works! One person asked for an updated Christmas gift guide. And then suure I will spend a few hours pulling it together. Last year’s list was a great success (for me personally, who got great gifts!). And I have heard from a couple of people who benefitted from gift ideas too. For those new to this list, the premise is my birthday is in December and these are the very specific things I want. But as my birthday is during the festive season, the hope is this list can help more than just me with great gift ideas.
The 2024 post has a more comprehensive list of historically great gifts. There are also some really lovely stocking fillers which may come in handy.
Reporting back on the 2024 gift guide
Unfortunately, I was not bought every single gift on my list, which was very surprising. (this is of course a joke) Despite this, I was very very spoilt last year and I have lots of gifts to report back on. Hopefully some of these glowing reviews can inspire your gift guide.
- The gorgeous brightly coloured napkins from H&M were a success. They make me happy whenever I’m hosting a lunch and they make the table. Beautiful napkins are always a great gift for anyone in your life who loves to host.
- Robert Welch steak knives – a very loved luxury!
- Sezane knitwear – it’s the best of the best in my books and it’s such a luxurious, beautiful gift.
- Wolf & Moon earrings – these are so great, I have subsequently bought more and there’s more I still want!
- Glass candleholders from Issy Granger – my brother bought me a beautiful blue one. It is a treasured feature on my sideboard and dinner table.
- Label maker – honestly a top tier gift. Jono went with the “Dymo LabelManager 160” and it is brilliant.
- Pass the Plate by Caroline Gelen – this didn’t end up being a birthday gift so I bought if for myself this year. A fantastic cook book! Particular shout out to her chicken schnitzel recipe, which has changed how I will make schnitzels forever.
- Origami parrot lamp – this is one of the most beautiful things in my home and brings me constant joy. It sits next to my desk and is just such a special piece.
The very bespoke: Christmas gifts for her list
– A wooden jewellery box
Jono bought me a fantastic biig glass topped jewellery box a few years back. It has served its purpose well, but it’s not ageing very well. The fabric sides have become kind of fuzzy and the glass top isn’t well-connected any more. I have a big jewellery collection and find when it’s organised properly I wear it more. I haven’t found the exact one that I want but this is roughly the idea if you’re in the market too. For me, the perfect wooden jewellery box would have a glass lid so I can see inside.
– A basic / beginner level sewing machine
I’ve been having a big arts and crafts year, which has been bringing me all sorts of joy. I think this has now escalated to sewing. BUT I know myself well, I get excited for ten minutes and then abandon projects. So I have been very very clear that I do not want an expensive or fancy machine. This one of Amazon is roughly my thinking – she basic!
– Sewing course with Geneva
If you don’t follow Geneva’s DIY School on Instragram, you absolutely should. She’s the undisputed queen of DIY. If you’re having a crafty phase like me, then you’ll want to follow along. She offers sewing courses which sound really great (and idiot-proof!). You can sign up for her “Learn to Sew” online course for £25. Or you can take advantage of her current Black Friday bundle sale and sign up for her “Stitch bundle” which includes both the sewing and embroidery courses.
– The Curated closet book and supporting workbook
I have also been having a big reconsider of my wardrobe this year. A podcast I follow raves about this book in terms of understanding your style and how best to manage your wardrobe. I am interested to learn a little more about myself and my style.
– Storm Cloud
I have been low-key obsessed with a fancy weather clock for years. I saw these clocks in a magazine once and they’re just magical! But at £400+ it just seems like madness. Maybe one day when I am a grown up. And as part of following the dream in a small way – this little storm cloud paper weight seems like a charming affordable solution.
– Maldon Salt Santoku knife
The brand Allday Goods partners up with big brands to create beautiful knife collabs from their waste! It’s such a brilliant idea and a beautiful design. I have been thinking about buying the Santoku knife made in collaboration with Maldon Salt for a couple of years now. I thought it would be a good one to make the gift guide this year!
-Festive Pyjamas
I have really been embracing pyjamas this year – is this what your mid-thirties are about, maybe? Either way, I am here for it! I am obsessed with these pink and red stripey ones from George by Asda (an underrated fashion brand in my opinion). They’re sold out already sadly (I have pre-secured them and offered them as a birthday gift option). I am sharing the link 1) for vibes and 2) in case they restock. I have these pyjamas (also from George) in black and they’re so soft and have been a treat this year. So another great pyjama option if this idea is growing on you.
– Dorky neck pillow for flights
I think the traditional neck pillows are pretty useless and I bob myself awake. This neck pillow seems to really strap you in (it looks pretty insane) and comes highly rated. I’ve got an 11-hour economy flight home mid-December so this could come in handy.
– More Wolf and Moon charms
These were a great hit last year and I have worn my current charms again and again! You buy the base hoops (I went with the biggest size for maximum drama) and then the charms are all interchangeable. Genius! Others that I would love to add to my collection include:
- the Scallop shells I have been eying out since last year,
- the Saturn hoops with the charming pearl finish, and
- the very romantic and elegant Robyn drop hoops in cream.
– Emily English’s new cook book
I own and regularly use “So Good” and “Live to Eat”. Emily’s recipes are easy, delicious and calorie conscious. Across the book I have probably made about 12 of her recipes and they’ve all been tasty. Her newest book “So Good Express” is currently on pre-order and is marked down by 50% on Amazon. It’s a must buy for me and well-timed with the birthday Christmas season.
– The Harrods lobster tote
I would like to start by saying, yes this is 100% ridiculous especially at this price and yes, I have already purchased this for myself because I am incorrigible. While we’re here – incorrigible is just the most fantastic word: “defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright”. FANTASTIC!
Okay, yeah, it is a ridiculous and expensive tote, but it’s my stupid list!
If you like the colour orange, the octopus tote is also stunning.
– Delicious body products
This time of year it is pretty frosty and there is nothing better than a hot shower, a very expensive body product, clean pyjamas and climbing into clean sheets. (Oh my goodness, this is definitely my mid 30s sans children…). I am absolutely obsessed with the brand Necessaire – their body serum disappears in seconds and their body lotions are delicious. I am also on bottle three of the Nuxe body oils since June this year. They’re amazing and I feel like an eccentric rich aunt after all my showers these days. Both their original and florale options are lovely. But be very careful not to get one of their shimmer ones! Please, we are Grand Dames not tweens any more!
(Note to Jono – I have a stash under the bed already, no need to get me these)
Stocking stuffers
There’s more on the 2024 post, but a handful sprung to mind so I couldn’t resist sharing.
– Diamond dazzle sticks for jewellery cleaning
These little sticks are absolutely fantastic for giving your engagement ring a good scrub. I am always surprised how mucky it gets from day to day. And how much better my rings look after a scrub up with the diamond dazzle stick. This absolutely works on other rings too if they’re in need of a refresh. This sprung to mind because my sister-in-law asked me to get her one – so that’s two endorsements for you!
– The M&S Outrageously chocolatey biscuit box
I don’t actually know if this is a Christmas thing, I actually think not. But it is core to my Christmas thing! Every year we buy a box at Christmas time, stash it away whilst we’re on holiday somewhere warm and then slowly work our way through the box in the miserable month of January. I also always buy a box for both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law if we’re home around Christmas time. It’s been a hit and was specifically requested this year. These biscuits truly are OUTRAGEOUSLY chocolatey!
– Yorkshire tea biscuit brew
This is also a year round thing but it’s lovely to buy a box to boost festivity around Christmas time! I am a Traditional Yorkshire tea woman for my daily cup of tea but I love their biscuit brew for an afternoon pick me up. The biscuit brew really does taste like they promise – think Lotus cookies – delicious! You can find them in most bigger grocery stores in the UK.
– M&S Christmas baubles
Last year I recommended Flying Tiger ones but this year I have been impressed by the M&S options. I bought this unicorn one for my goddaughter and the pink sparkly dinosaur for me! I ordered the gingerbread house but returned it as it was surprisingly bad quality!
– Lovely quality notebooks
I love a good notebook – I use them daily for both work and personal bits. I have spent time ordering and trying a few and these from Amazon are my favourite. They have tons of lovely colours, a hard cover to keep them safe in my work bag, a stretchy elastic to keep them closed and really lovely quality lined pages. 10 out of 10, would recommend!
There ya go! That’s the gift guide! Happy shopping!
