A Festive Day Christmas Shopping & Visiting The Manchester Christmas Markets!

It was only a few weeks ago in my '4 things I'm looking forward to this Christmas' blog post that I mentioned that I was incredibly excited to visit some of the Christmas markets and last week we managed to venture to our first of the year! We've been fond of the Manchester Christmas markets in particular for years now, it's where we got engaged 4 years ago and apart from last year, we've tried to make a visit every November. As George has been working flat out recently, some time off was very much needed and it was the perfect chance to take a day to go back and really get in the festive spirit.

When we arrived, before heading straight to the markets we started off with some Christmas shopping, something that I get so excited for every single year. Whilst of course it's nice to receive presents, I am all for buying for others. I get so much joy out of it and I start planning so early because I just want everyone to get something special. I think I'll always be like that, it's just one of the best things about this time of year for me. Pretty much everyone's presents are sorted now, all the cards are written and I've even started wrapping them so I feel very organised at the minute. We took the time for a festive Costa too which was heaven. We very rarely go for coffee dates or anything like that so when the Christmas drinks come out, you have to take advantage. I usually hate coffee but every year I go for their Gingerbread Lattes, George tried the new Hazelnut Latte and we also couldn't resist the chocolate yule log. It's made me want to try and make my own again now 🙊We also had to visit our favourite shop in the Arndale, the Lindt store. It's like chocolate heaven. You could honestly go mad in there with the amount they have but I don't think we did too bad this time!

After quite a bit of shopping, we headed to the main market at Albert Square. It's the place to go in Manchester at Christmas time, there's the huge Santa and the stalls are always absolutely brilliant. This year is apparently the last year it will be held there for 4 years so if you want to visit, now is the time! It is being moved somewhere else but that just made us want to go back even more this year before it all changes. Anyway, when we got there we went straight for the food. The stalls that come back each year are incredible, the food is just insane - pork sandwiches, paella, patatas bravas, cheesy potatoes, sausages, mini pancakes, waffles, pretzels, you name it, they'll have it. This year we went all out and tried so much but wow, it was worth it! 

As the sun was setting when we arrived, it didn't take long for it to go dark and soon everything was lit up and just so christmassy. Christmas markets really are the place to go if you want to get in the festive spirit. Everywhere you look there are Christmas trees, decorations, warming food, mulled wine, just everything you could possibly need for the perfect Christmas day out. After picking up a few bits to bring home including the most incredible muffin - honestly one of the best things I've ever tasted, it was time to head home. Unfortunately the train home was absolute hell, I have never experienced anything like it and my feet took days to recover after standing all the way back, but it was worth it.

I'm so glad we found time to back this year. Whilst I'm incredibly excited to visit Winter Wonderland again next month, there's something really special about the Manchester Christmas markets and that quality time together was so needed. It was ideal for a festive date day so if you're not too far away, I really recommend trying to visit.

Have you visited any Christmas markets so far this year?

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Food & Drink Christmas Gift Guide - 2018*

It's time for my final Christmas gift guide! I've been planning these posts for months and months so I'm a little sad they're all over with for the year now. If you haven't already seen, over the last few days I've posted a Women's Gift Guide and a Men's Gift Guide so make sure you give those a read for some extra ideas, but today it's all about food and drink! 

Botonique Blush* - Most people are partial to a glass of bubbly over the festive period but as I don't tend to drink alcohol too often, I was thrilled to find Botonique Blush, a sparkling non-alcoholic drink to share with you. With a resemblance to the original Botonique Crisp Dry White, this has an overlay of strawberry, rose and bramble so provides us with a fruity alternative, perfect to enjoy on Christmas day. Whilst I do love a glass of classic prosecco every now and again, it can be hard to find non-alcoholic alternatives that do actually taste good and are affordable and that's what makes Botonique stand out. Botonique Blush has been expertly crafted by experienced wine merchant, Hilary Marsh who wanted to adhere to the growing demand for a great tasting alcohol free beverage and it's received such a positive response. If you know someone who deserves a treat but isn't a huge fan of alcohol, then this is definitely worth considering. The bottle itself is absolutely beautiful and it could even make a great addition to a hamper if you're putting one together. You can currently get 2 bottles for £15 on the Botonique website.

Elizabeth Shaw Chocolates* - Ahh who doesn't love unwrapping chocolate at Christmas? Elizabeth Shaw are a fab choice this year, they do gifts so well and always at such affordable prices. The chocolates that always catch my eye when I'm shopping (and therefore have been bought several times) are the Mint Flutes. We do love mint chocolate in our home so each year we always get a box or two of these for the festive period. Rich dark chocolate with a soft mint fondant centre, heaven! If you want to think a little outside the box for someone this year then their Famous Names Signature Collection is a great choice. They are a bit of an acquired taste but if they love their spirits and liqueurs, they're sure to enjoy these. Decadent dark chocolate filled with spirits like Harveys, Teachers and Irish Cream just to name a few. Both of these aswell as a range of other delicious chocolate gifts are available in most supermarkets.

PG tips Personalised Gift Set* - You can't beat a cup of tea. No matter what the issue, a cup of tea and a few biscuits (okay, a packet) always chills me out and helps me relax. PG tips are the go to brand in our house, they make the best tea and we go through cups and cups each week at the moment. PG tips have recently released a Breakfast In Bed Gift Set for £11.99 and it's an ideal choice for any tea lovers you may know. This gift set includes a personalised mug with initials, a box of 40 PG tips pyramid tea bags and an egg cup. It's the perfect combination for those cosy mornings in bed at the weekend. I've said many times before how much I love buying personalised gifts for others so if you do too, this is something unique and thoughtful which I'm sure any tea lovers would be happy to unwrap.

Jelly Belly Sparkling Jelly Beans* - For anyone you know with a sweet tooth, you have to consider the new Sparkling Wine flavoured Jelly Beans from Jelly Belly. Jelly Belly always have such an incredible range of flavours when it comes to sweets anyway but wine? Yes please! These are a perfect non-alcoholic treat ideal for Christmas, parties and even wedding favours! I can assure you these taste exactly like a glass of champagne with a light and fruity flavour and they look beautiful with their pale gold colour and jewel-like finish. These Sparkling Wine Jelly Beans have all the flavour of the real thing but in cute, petite packaging. They've been designed to look like traditional champagne bottles with gold embellishments and I just think they're a perfect little stocking filler. You can currently buy a 3 pack of these for £12 from the Jelly Belly website.

Lifeplan Honey* - We go through honey so quickly in our house! George absolutely loves it so we seem to forever be buying more. The Lifeplan Rainforest Honey is ideal if you're putting together any foodie hampers or if you know someone who is a big breakfast fan, this is great for adding to porridge, cereal or even tea in replacement of sugar. This Active Rainforest Honey, derived from Chile, is a natural active honey that whilst may taste delicious, also has many uses for maintaining good health. For beauty lovers, you could use it as part of a natural face mask, add a drop or two into your bath for uber-soft skin or you can even spread directly onto skin to alleviate conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It's incredibly diverse so could make a lovely stocking filler for many people. It's currently priced at £4.99.

Carluccios* - When I think of Carluccio's I often think to their restaurants, their amazing pasta and that divine bread basket but they actually do a range of wonderful Christmas gifts. Biscuits and chocolates galore, they are definitely one to consider for something a little luxurious this Christmas. A box like the Gianduiotti Selezione Torinese £14.95 which is full of milk, dark and white hazelnut chocolates is brilliant if you want to treat someone to something a little different this year. And for those who love a biscuit with their cup of tea, their Pasticceria Piemontese £9.99 has everything you could possibly want. They even have stocking fillers! Baubles full of chocolate Santa's are a great addition to hampers and won't break the bank. If you really want to spoil someone this year, look no further than Carluccio's for those special gifts sure to put a smile on anybody's face.

Popaball* - Whilst there's nothing wrong a classic glass of bubbly on Christmas day, something to jazz it up a little is Popaball! The particular pack I was sent from Popaball are the new pineapple bubbles but they have such a range of flavours, there really is something for everyone to enjoy. These bubbles can be added to cocktails, pitchers and cordial so are great for many occasions. Sip or bite on the bubbles and they'll provide an intense burst of flavour each time. It's such a strange sensation at first but once you get used to it, it really does add to your drink and it's just such a fun way of spicing up a normal glass of fizz. The pineapple bubbles are currently £3.49 but they have lots more to choose from on their website including rose gold shimmer, bubbles for gin, passionfruit, vodka bubbles and more. A unique little gift this Christmas!

Peters Yard* - The final brand I wanted to talk about is Peter's Yard, another great option for festive hampers or to just stash away for a boxing day feast. Peter's Yard make delicious crispbreads that can be enjoyed for a number of occasions and they're all free from anything artificial and are naturally low in fat. This makes them great for the health conscious who still want to eat reasonably well over Christmas, as you really don't feel you're missing out on anything. There are a range of products available but some of my favourites are the Mixed Selection Box £6.95 which is great for a dinner party, the Pink & Black Peppercorn Crispbreads £2.95 for cheeseboards and the Sea Salt Sourdough Bites £2.95 which are good for dipping! You can find out more and see the other ranges available on the Peter's Yard website.

So that's it for my 2018 Christmas gift guides! I hope each one has been useful if you've been struggling for ideas this year, I've tried to roundup the very best that's out there. 

Are you all sorted for Christmas yet?

*Products marked with a * are PR samples

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Mens Christmas Gift Guide - 2018*

Following on from yesterdays Women's Christmas Gift Guide, today I have one for the men in our life. Men tend to be extremely hard to buy for, I struggle every single year and not only at Christmas, but for birthdays and anniversaries too, I just never know where to start! I've spotted some brilliant products this year though so hopefully this is going to help you out a little if you're at a loss with what to buy.

Dobell Travel Shoe Care Kit* - Dobell are a great choice for any upcoming events. They sell a range of affordable wedding suits, tuxedos, accessories, gifts, outerwear and more that won't break the bank yet still look stylish and high end. I actually reviewed a pair of wedding shoes for George last year and they have been so impressive, lasting incredibly well. One thing that stood out to me this year for Christmas was their Travel Shoe Care Kit. It's £24.99 and it contains brushes, shoe polish, a cloth and more, meaning it has you covered for any shoe care needs whilst away. It all comes in a luxurious faux leather case which looks far more expensive than it is and it's a perfect size to fit into your suitcase so it really can be used at home or on the go. If you know someone who is away often with work or is travelling from one place to another, a set like this which is practical yet thoughtful is a brilliant idea.

Next 6 Scent Gift Set - I really don't think you can go wrong with a decent bottle of aftershave at Christmas time. The issue with that though is how expensive most of them are! Because of that I've been trying to find more affordable options this year and I loved the look of the 6 Scent Gift Set from Next for £20. If you're not sure exactly what sort of fragrance they normally go for then something like this is such a good idea which gives them a few different options to try. I've always been a fan of the aftershaves and perfumes available at Next, they are just so affordable and often are just as good as more expensive brands. This contains some of their best selling aftershaves including Signature, Code Red, No 85, Ice White, Edition and Signature Blue.

Men's Society Handsome Beard Set - Whilst Men's Society gift sets aren't the cheapest around, the quality is incredible. I reviewed one of their travel sets a few months ago and I was really impressed but the one that I like the look of this Christmas is the Handsome Beard Set which is currently £25 at Next. If you know someone who is really into their skincare, they have a variety of kits to choose from all containing high end products and this one is no exception. Any bearded man would be happy with this, it contains their superb beard oil to soften facial hair and natural moustache wax ideal for styling aswell as a stainless steel comb and scissors. I've also found a much more affordable version though available from Matalan for £6 which is a total bargain!

Source

Retro Handheld Games Console* - For the big kid in your family, this Retro Handheld Games Console from Find Me A Gift is perfect! This little gadget holds 150 games, all in a retro 8-bit gaming style and it even has that classic music you might remember! I think this is such a quirky gift for this Christmas, it's totally unlike anything else I've mentioned in this gift guide. How could anybody be disappointed? It's something fun rather than going down the practical route and it can keep you occupied for hours! I love the bright colour of the console, it really does look like something I personally used to have when I was younger so it doesn't just have to be for men and the wide range of games to play is excellent. This cool gadget is currently on offer for £12.99.

100 Movie Scratch Off Poster - As soon as I saw this on Prezzybox, I had to include it in this post. For any film fanatics you know, this is absolutely brilliant! This stylish poster lists 100 of the best action-packed, funny and tear-jerking movies allowing the recipient to scratch off each one they've seen. A few included are Saving Private Ryan, Trainspotting, The Silence Of The Lambs, Mean Girls, Dirty Dancing and Jurassic Park. This is such a fun idea for film buffs, it helps you keep track of the films you've seen and gives you ideas for any you might not have got round to yet. We love a movie night in our home so I think something like this would only encourage that even more! I've seen scratch off maps before for travel but nothing like this - genius! It's currently £11.99.

Paperchase Man List Book - I have a problem with buying notebooks, I have far too many but because I love them so much for some reason it also means I tend to get them for other people too. This year I've spotted the Man List Book from Paperchase and for £8 I think it's a great choice. It's not like a normal notebook as each page has a prompt for you to make a list of. Just a few are favourite beers, favourite crisps, the best gigs, hobbies you want to try, favourite movie quotes. I think it's so cool! Sometimes just 10 minutes doing something like this is such a good way to chill out and get away from the stress of everyday life.

Slip Of The Tongue Card Game - I love evenings where we sit down to play a few different games, Cards Against Humanity, Monopoly and Pictionary are just a few we like, and M&S have released some great little sets this year. You'll find games like The Chase, 5 Gold Rings, Family Fortunes but the main one that caught my eye though was Slip Of The Tongue. The aim of the game is to describe what's on the cards without saying the banned words, and it's only £4! This is fab for playing over Christmas with family and it can easily be brought out for parties, BBQ's and more in the future.

Hopefully if you struggle as much as me when it comes to gifts at Christmas, this guide has been helpful! Look out tomorrow for my final gift guide this year, all about food and drink!

*Products marked with a * are PR samples. Affiliate links used in this post

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Women's Christmas Gift Guide - 2018*

I absolutely love putting together Christmas gift guides each year. Now we're over half way through November I thought it was the right time to share some of the items I think are perfect for the festive season this year so today I'm starting with my Women's gift guide. Hopefully you'll find some inspiration for the special ladies in your life but make sure you come back tomorrow and Wednesday too for my Men's gift guide and my Food and Drink gift guide, I have so many things to share this year!

Missguided Babe Power Perfume* - I'm starting with perfume because you can't really go wrong with that can you? We are utterly spoilt for choice when it comes to fragrance but one brand I've personally been loving over the last few months is Missguided. You might not know but Missguided who are mainly known for fashion have actually ventured into the beauty world and they currently have 4 perfumes to choose from - Babe Power, Boss Babe, Babe Dreams and Babe OUD. These are available as single bottles and some you can even find as gift sets like the one below which come with a pretty keyring too for £28. Babe Power is one of my favourites as it has such a beautiful sweet scent that lingers all day. Key fragrance notes are grapefruit zest, sour cherry, crisp apple, candy floss and white vanilla. A reason I think Missguided perfumes are the one this Christmas is because of how different they are. How a perfume bottle looks is really important to me, I'm quite fussy but I love their unique design and I really think they stand out in a store. 

Butter London Nail Polish* - If you know someone who is really into their nails then Butter London is the brand to try. With a plethora of nail brands to choose from now, it's important to go for one you know is high quality and I couldn't fault the polishes available from Butter London, how gorgeous is the shade below? I've been so impressed recently with not only how well these apply but also their longevity. The shade range is huge too so you're sure to find one suitable for whoever you're buying for and I just think the bottles look so luxurious. These are usually £15 but are currently on offer £12 in M&S!

The Body Shop Peppermint Gift Set - I adore The Body Shop and they get Christmas so right every single year! Each year they bring out new scents and gift sets and each year I want it all. This Christmas they've released a gorgeous peppermint scent aswell as Vanilla Marshmallow and Berry Bon Bon. I couldn't resist the peppermint as I'm a fan of anything minty! The gift set that has impressed me is the festive sack which is currently £18 and it contains a body butter, shower gel, hand cream and body scrub. It's the perfect little set for anyone you know who loves a pamper evening. There is also a smaller set available too for £9!

Books - I've been quite generic with this but a good book is always a winner for me. It can be tricky sometimes if you don't know exactly what genre someone likes but it's always worth a go, there is nothing like getting stuck into a book in the colder months whilst wrapped up in a blanket. I've read a few great ones this year so I do have a few I recommend. If you're looking for a thriller then The Sisters by Claire Douglas has been one of my books of the year. A brilliant twist at the end! If you want something a bit more romantic then I've really enjoyed Some Kind Of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher and also Five Years From Now by Paige Toon. All of these are really affordable and Amazon has had some brilliant books for just £2 so now's the time to get buying.

Vorrei Italian Hampers* - Whilst I have a food and drink guide going up in a few days, there was something I wanted to share today and that's the Italian hampers available from Vorrei. Vorrei are a family-run online Italian food retailer dedicated to beautiful hampers and food gifts ranging from fresh pasta to chocolate, organic prosecco and flavoured oils, they have everything you could possible need for an Italian feast. There are a range of Christmas hampers available this year so whether you're wanting something a bit more budget friendly or something extravagant, they have you covered. You can find classic items such as Panettone on their website too. For a relaxing evening in with some luxurious food and drink, Vorrei are definitely worth considering this year.

Kathleen Roll-On Oils* - The final item I wanted to share is the newly launched roll-on oils from Kathleen, a premium skincare brand with a love for all things natural and organic. I reviewed the scent Sensual Rose recently and I've not been able to stop using it! It smells utterly delightful with it's fruity scent and it soaks into pulse points incredibly quickly leaving you with the softest skin. There are two other scents to choose from too - Citrus Cheer and Tranquil Fields and of course they have an abundance of other gorgeous skincare products to help you indulge in a bit of self care.

So that's it for my first Christmas gift guide this year! I loved rounding up all of these products for this post and I hope it's helped if you've been stuck for ideas so far.

Look out for my Men's Gift Guide tomorrow and my Food and Drink Gift Guide on Wednesday for lots more suggestions on how to spoil your loved ones this year.

Have you got your Christmas shopping started yet?

I just wanted to quickly add I'm through to the second round of the UK Blog Awards! I'm in the lifestyle category but if you want to vote for me (which I'd appreciate more than you know) you can find the direct link here. Thank you!

*Products marked with a * are PR samples

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!