Christmas Gift Guide

So Christmas is almost upon us.

Check out these great gift ideas to make that special someone feel special.

The Basket Company

These make-your-own hampers are a great, creative idea to spice up your gift and give it that extra flair. You can ultimately add anything you like to create the perfect gift, a hamper full of favourite foods, favourite toys, favourite DVDs and games, favourite books, the list is endless!
The basket is really sturdy and will make your gifts look like they came straight out of a shop.
They have loads of other gifts including picnic baskets, storage baskets, plant pots and more.
If your gifts are missing that little something, arrange them in this hamper to create the perfect, complete present.
I'll update with pics when I've finished creating mine!

The Book of Everyone

This is a perfect, personalised gift, a book designed specifically around that one special person. It includes loads of pages based on the person's birthday and name, a lot of fun to read and a great memento.

My full review.

Snapfish

What better way to share your photos and memories by designing and personalising a calendar, something they can keep for a year and will always be useful. There are different types you can create as well as may other gifts available on the site.

My full review.

Rays of Sunshine

These are a children's charity who work to brighten up the lives of 3-18 year olds who live with serious or life-limiting illnesses. This wonderful charity have brought lots of different gifts for you to buy with 20% of proceeds going to the charity. Available are mugs, tumblers, tote bags, a key ring, a diary and a really cute teddy bear.

Available to buy at Clintons.

PicStick

This company offer the chance to make your photos into magnets. With nine available magnets, sized 50x65mm, these are a lovely gift for someone to keep in their home.

My full review and discount code.

Funky Laser

Into unique and funky jewellery? Then Funky Laser are the company to go to. They have loads of different, quirky designs that are a perfect gift this Christmas. Really great quality and something a bit different than the usual gold and silver pendants.

My full review.

Photo Panda

Create your very own bauble to hang on your Christmas tree. This would be a lovely gift, a memory that can be hung up every year to add that special, individual touch to your festive decorations. There are other gifts available like pillows, bags, blankets and much more.

Kleenex

This festive box would be a great addition as a stocking filler. Tissues are one of those necessities that always need to be around and with the Christmas designs they won't look out of place this December.

The Book of Everyone

Now this is a gift I'm really excited about.

The Book of Everyone is the work of many artists, writers, mathematicians and more to create a unique, personalised book filled with interesting facts and pictures.

Basically, you enter in the person's name and date of birth (you can link to Facebook to find that out if you can't remember), and enter who it's from, then it loads a fantastic book full of quirky pages to celebrate the life of that special someone.

I chose to make the book for my Grandad. I love to find him creative and interesting gifts and I'm sure he's going to love this. It will certainly bring up many stories of his childhood as the pages of the book take him back to the 40s. It's such a perfect gift of happiness and memories, something to keep and treasure.

You can view the book before you buy, and there are pages that you can customise, either by changing the background, or the text, or by changing what the person's superhero ability would be!

The books are available digital, softcover, hardback or deluxe edition. There are different versions available for your mum, dad, or for different ages, each have a specific symbol on the front of the book and opening message inside.

They have a special Christmas edition for those of you giving it as a gift this Christmas, but it would work great as a birthday gift too as you can either choose to use the age the person is at currently, or the age they'll be at their next birthday.

This Christmas, with every book brought, they are giving one to the elderly who might not receive a gift this year, in collaboration with Age UK. This is a lovely idea, no one should be left out on Christmas and feel that no one is thinking of them. It's amazing to know that not only are you giving a gift to your special someone, you're also giving to another special someone whose Christmas will be that little bit brighter because of the kindness and generosity of yourself and the team at the Book of Everyone.

The Book of Everyone
The Book of Everyone on Facebook
The Book of Everyone on Twitter

Disclaimer: I was sent the Book of Everyone for free, but have received no other form of compensation to provide this review. 
All opinions are my own.

PicStick Magnets plus a Discount Code!

PicStick are an amazing company where you can create magnets personalised with your own pictures.

The website is really easy and simple to use, and with free delivery worldwide you can't go wrong!

Upload your selected photos from your computer, phone, Facebook or Dropbox and crop them to the size you like to create nine 50x65mm magnets. 

They come in a single sheet where it is easy to bend along the perforated edges and snap the magnets off.

They're 0.75mm thick, not heavy at all so stick well to the fridge.

With a lovely gloss coating, they're really great quality.

I love seeing my memories every time I go in the kitchen and my family thought they were brilliant. Little touches like these are perfect to warm up your home and make you smile.

These magnets would be a lovely idea for a Christmas present. They're such a special, personalised gift, my partner already has ideas who to buy them for!

We also have a 25% discount code for you to use when you purchase your own magnets!

Just enter MAGGIE25 at the checkout.

www.picstick.com

PicStick on Facebook

PicStick on Twitter

Funky Laser Reindeer Necklace

Funky Laser were kind enough to send me one of their cute, festive necklaces they're selling.

I think it's late enough in the year now to start talking about Christmas! Though I did starting buying presents in August, but that's for another post.

Funky Laser are a unique company that make a range of products including jewellery, cake toppers, photo props, etc. with themed products for Christmas and weddings using high-speed lasers. They can also produce personal projects (so long as they are within their specifications) on their three main services of design, fabrication and woodcutting.

I was send one of their Christmas best sellers, the Reindeer Necklace. It comes in a range of different colours and there is an option for a glittered necklace for a bit extra.
Mine was a lovely Christmas red, very festive and flawless in design. The chain is connected to the nose and tail of the flying reindeer so it hangs neatly and doesn't interfere with the necklace itself.
I can't wait to wear it, it's definitely going to make an appearance at my work Christmas dinner!

All of their designs are really quirky and funky, I love the statement Chunky Glasses necklace and the Puzzle Studs as well. 
There's so many different designs, ideas and colours to choose from, so if you want something a bit unique as a gift for Christmas, I'd really recommend you check Funky Laser out.

www.funkylaser.com
Funky Laser on Facebook
Funky Laser on Twitter


Disclaimer: I was sent the Reindeer necklace for free, but have received no other form of compensation to provide this review. 
All opinions are my own.

Le Bistrot Pierre

Gary and I went to a new restaurant in Torquay, Le Bistrot Pierre, a French-style bistro.
It's a lovely two-floor restaurant located on the sea front of Torre Abbey decorated as a French bistro with lots of vintage-styled wooden furniture and a fully stocked high bar.

The food is amazing!
They have different menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner with lots of intriguing, tasty food. We went for dinner, and we'll definitely be going again.
I had the Saucisse de Toulouse for starter, a poached egg on slices of Toulouse sausage with a warm tomato dressing, was delicious. Gary had the Moules au Roquefort, mussels in a Roquefort sauce, he said they're the best mussels in Torquay, he was very impressed.
For main I had Gratin de Pates et Fromage, a macaroni and cauliflower cheese gratin, it was gorgeous! You can choose a side from skinny fries, salad or potatoes and vegetables. Gary had the Cassoulet d'agneau, lamb with a 'cassoulet' of bacon, beans and tomatoes, which he loved as well. We tried a bit of each others, all the flavours were rich and moorish, haven't had great food like this in a while.
We shared a Macaron for dessert as we were both a bit full. The macaroon and ice cream were nice, but I'm not a fan of fruit compotes, so I found that a bit too rich with the dessert. I really want to try the creme brulee next time.
We both can't wait to go again, we want to share the camembert, and I want to try the St Marcellin cheese and the mushroom brioche and the mini chorizos roasted in honey, and then mains I want to try chicken dish, and the pork, and the burger, oh I really can't wait to go back! Especially when they've given us a loyalty card where you collect stamps to get a free two course meal!

They also do 'Dine with Wine' and 'Soiree Gastronomique' evenings, where they have a set menu for a set price. We have one booked for next month, really can't wait, it's gonna be yummy.
I'm also trying to convince work about having our Christmas meal here, I've not really given them much choice about it though as I've only brought in the one menu! It's definitely worth coming here though!