Fathers day gift ideas , thinking out of the box

Fathers day is just around the corner and i for one do feel that the dads get a little bit left out ! I mean when it comes to mothers day the shops are full of gift ideas, but with dads? its pretty much socks, chocolates smellies or a hobby that just doesn't fit your dad ( Fishing / golf ? ) so i thought i would ask around with some PR contacts to see what amazing items they could offer for fathers day ideas! and boy did they impress me! my dad also has his birthday on the 9th of June so the week before UK fathers day, so i find it even hard to spoil my dad. this year tho i am pretty sure he will be very pleased with his gifts , so shall we begin ? 

Alcohol - My dad isn't a huge sprit drinker he is more of a beer or wine kind of guy, These bottles of Wine from kingsland-wines the willow stone in rose and white wine are the perfect gift to give this fathers day, fingers crossed on some lovely sunny weather. Willow and Stone Rosé British Wine is refreshing and easy drinking, bursting with delicious flavours of ripe strawberry and raspberry. Enjoy well-chilled. you can pick up a bottle in your local Co-op for only £4.99 to me this would also be a great item for making up a fathers day hamper full of items you know your dad loves. 

Moose hair products - Australis's number one hair care range Mosse has a product to suit all hair types and they all smell lush, I think this could be a great gift idea paired with a hair cut voucher as we all know that some men need a little push sometimes when it comes to hair care. You can buy Moose products via waitrose with your weekly shop or even on amazon with a RRP of £5 a tub and with a little going a long way with these products you can't really go wrong. ( unless your dad is bald!! ) 

Epson TW650 - The TW650 is the perfect projector for gathering friends and family to enjoy the big screen, whether it’s to watch films or sporting events! imaging gifting this to your dad so he can watch the world cup in style , all you need is a blank wall or you could buy a screen, this is an amazing bit of kit and you would definitively be number one off spring if you gifted this to your dad 

• Enjoy the big screen experience: Super size your favourite films, games and sporting events at home
• Easy to set up: Keystone correction, built-in Wi-Fi and iProjection app
• Long-lasting solution: Watch a film every day for 11 years¹
• Affordable, high-tech equipment: Enjoy this Full HD 1080p projector
• Impressive, bright display: Equally high White and Colour Light Output of 3,100 lumen's

Watch - now my dad is more your DIY then golfing kind of dad but one of his hobbies is collecting watches and its something i have always wanted to gift to him, This watch from krug-baumen is perfect for my dad's taste they have a huge range on the website to suit all styles, I love how you can see the workings of this watch and it is just beautiful, you can find this watch on the Website A item like this is at the top end of the budget but it would be a fathers day gift to remember. 

Gillette - I always think that a really great gift idea for fathers day or any male gifting is to buy health and beauty items for them, they don't tend to buy them themselves so why not treat them this fathers day to a new razor? Fusion5 Pro Glide men's razor fits all Fusion5 blade refills. Gillette razors, formerly called Fusion Pro Glide. You can buy via boots.com

Features and benefits:

• Men's razor with Flex Ball technology that responds to contours and gets virtually every hair
• Gillette razors for men with 5 Anti-Friction Blades; a shave you barely feel
• Precision Trimmer on back, great for edging tough areas (nose and sideburns)
• Enhanced Lubrastrip with more lubricants (vs. Fusion5)
• 1 razor blade refill equals up to one month of shaves
• Fits all Fusion5 and Fusion5 Power blade refills
• Premium Chrome effect handle

Sugru - Rebel tech kit, My dad loves Sugru he was the one that 1st told me about it, This stuff is pretty cool they can be brought in kit form via the website online you will find lots of how to guides and tips and ideas on what to use the product for, my person favourite has got to be fixing my for ever splitting phone charger lead! sugru is mouldable, flexible , waterproof ,durable and comes in a range of colours. 

Seba med - Back to health and beauty this time with skin care, what i love about the seba med products is that they combine hair and body wash while still being for sensitive skin. at £6.49 for 200ml that's a pretty good deal to me , paired with the after shave balm ( new product )  at  £5.95 you have got yet another item perfect for a hamper or stand alone gift. To find out more visit the website they also have baby and other skin care products. 

Wilkinson sword - Now hold on.. didn't i already talk about a razor? yes yes i did ... but isn't it great to have options? Wilkinson sword is the razor brand i grew up seeing in my dads bathroom cupboard ( I remember using it to shave my legs with when i was 12 and my dad going nuts at me !! ) they have stepped up the game with the the new Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 Sense, the razor will do the thinking for dad thanks to shock-absorb technology which auto-adjusts the amount of pressure it is putting on his face. Giving him the ultimate customised shave. check it out in more detail along with the rest of the hydro range on the website

Jewellery - I fell in love with this personalised leather bracelet from Giftpup, the stylish men's brown leather bracelet features two rows of braiding with a personalised metal clasp. High-quality with a versatile smart-casual appeal which makes it suitable for all occasions.Comes complete with a fantastic presentation gift box, the personalisation can be up too 9 letters long i went with a special date for my choice , I love the over all look of this item. you can find a wide range of gift ideas via the website

Fair trade - my last item i wanted to talk about buying fair trade, I am and ill admit it a lover of a bargain and throw away items, but over the last few months i have been trying to re-use and recycle more so when i was told about buying fair trade products to give as gifts i thought it was a great idea, and its surprising what you can buy, from chocolates , coffee , clothing and much more! With Fairtrade you can support more farmers and workers in supporting their families. Fairtrade guarantees they will be paid at least the Fairtrade Minimum Price plus an additional Fairtrade Premium which will help change their lives, communities and future. Fairtrade gives fathers the opportunity to head their homes with dignity, hope and purpose. Visit fair-trade website for more information , Keep an eye out for the logo when buying gifts. 

Once again a huge thank you to all of the brands that have sent items to be placed within this father day blog post, The exchange has been for the products and my options are that of my own. 

Christmas gift guide for Dad's , Christmas gift ideas 2017

Christmas is coming guys and if like me you find buying for your other half  really hard, then this is the gift guide for you. I have put together 6 items that i feel any Boyfriend/husband/dad / brother or any other male in your life would love to find under the tree with their name on  Christmas day. All of these items have  been very kindly to gifted to me in exchange for inclusion within my Dad gift guide but all views are my own. 

When i think of the Brand Zippo i think of lighters , I never knew that they also made a huge range of other items and accessories Such as the sunglasses and flask shown above, they also make clothing ( hats/ belts/ Tees ) wallets and of course lighters. They are a household name and a product that is made with care and only the best quality items you can find more and buy direct from the website the flask shown is £16.75 and would be the perfect gift paired with a bottle of something ! 

if you have a football fan in on your list to buy for this year ? well art of football is an amazing idea with a range of clothing for football, rugby and boxing fans.  Art of Football create hand crafted designs try to emulate the energy, passion and euphoria that erupts from that one magical kick of a football. They only produce a limited number of each design, so your t-shirts & prints, like any good piece of art, are exclusive and completely original.Every order comes gift wrapped and in a hand painted box. i was very pleased to find our local team and Hubby's team of choice Luton town within the range the sizes go up too XXL and are £25 when you click on your team you will see a few different designs. The t-shirt is very soft and the print is very well printed i have high hopes that it will wash well and i am sure he will get lots of compliments when he is next at a luton match ( Come on you Hatters!! ) 

Who wouldn't want to crack on with some cleaning using a scrub daddy these funny looking little sponges really at the nuts! they are £3.49 each but really are worth the money, I have been using the lemon fresh one in our bathroom and it cleans so well ! he can even go in the dishwasher to keep him super clean and last even longer. I will definitely carry on buying scrub daddy products makes doing the daily house work a little less rubbish and a lovely little stocking filler / table gift for the man in your life and perfect for doing the washing up come Christmas day! ( just add a pair of rubber gloves ) 

This beautiful insulated bottle is made by klean kanteen and is a 20oz steel bottle with a bamboo swing cap, stainless steel inside and out with double-wall vacuum-insulated which will keep drinks cold 24 hours or iced 40 hours. My husband is a keen outdoors kind of guy so i know he will be a hit for him when he is out all day in the warmer months. This would be great for anyone to take out for sports/walking and family days out to keeping your drinks cold, With the size i would say its also great for sharing with others they do also come in other sizes and styles and colours. It isn't advised to store hot drinks in the flask due to the bamboo lid. 

Top Trumps! perfect for anyone anytime anyplace! Top trumps also made it into my children stocking filler i love them that much , Its the perfect on the go game for holidays and travel. This is the retro Horror set and i love the art work and the whole feel of the set you can buy them online via amazon for the bargain price of £5.99 this would be a great game to play as a family while Christmas dinner cooks or later on in the day once the children ( and maybe the grown ups ) have fallen asleep. 

You can't go wrong with shaving items, and Gillette is another house hold name and a brand to trust. Hubby already uses Gillette so i knew i was onto a winner with the Gillette fusion proglide can be brought online via amazon or boots RRP is £12 noticeably smooth skin with a single stroke, even over contours. because this razor combines the best Gillette blades with Flex-Ball technology allowing the razor to pivot in multiple directions for maximum contact so there's fewer missed hairs on your loved ones face! Best used along side Gillette's gels or foams.

• Precision Trimmer on the back for accurate edging
• Enhanced Lubastrip for a smooth glide
• Blade stabiliser helps maintain precise blade shape and
• Blade suspension system for an optimal comfort
• Snowplow comfort guard to help clear away excess shave prep
• Gillette’s best shave great even on sensitive skin

Christmas gift guide for Mum , Christmas gift ideas 2017

Christmas is coming guys and if like me you find buying for your mum or any female in your life really hard, then this is the gift guide for you. I have put together 8 items that i feel any mum or female friend or family member would love to find under the Christmas tree this year. All of these items have very kindly in gifted to me in exchange for inclusion within my mum gift guide but all views are my own. 

Olverum is a unique and highly concentrated, therapeutic bath oil which contains 10 pure essential oils, I love having baths, its the mum version of a night out right? and an Olverum bath is a very a effective way to naturally relieve  stress and help you achieve a great nights' sleep. It is also a great way to ease aching or sore muscles, is the perfect soothing antidote to a cold or flu. All with a gorgeously aromatic unisex scent, I have really enjoyed using this in my bath and having some me time. olverum 125ml ( x25 baths ) £29.00 

You can't go wrong with a mug at Chrismas time right ? This mug is a real stunner , White bone china mug. Screen-printed and decorated in the UK. Hand wash only. Suitable for use in a microwave and fully personalised mclaggan  sell a huge range of personalised and none personalised items, This mug will be for my use only unless i made friends with another Jess maybe? perfect gift for someone who works in a shared office maybe ? £14.50 for the mug with your chose of personalised words. 

Buying underwear for any female can be a little hit or miss, so shop with care i love the range from taylor and rani being a smaller chested momma i don't often treat myself to nice pretty undies , this set is one of many from the range, they also come in other cuts to fit all body types, they are really well made, super soft and comfy the knickers are £6.50 and the crop top is £19.50 these also stock a range of cute message cards for £2.70 

Who doesn't need a 2018 diary ! I love putting pen to paper and making lists and notes, This beautifully made diary can be found online with a RRP of only £10.99 The A5 week-to-view diary has lots of writing space, a column for children’s activities and seasonal recipes and family tips throughout the year.Plus, you will find schedules to plan your children's activities through the school year, essential children's contacts, calendars, planners, thoughts/plans and gift records and lots more. A must-have for any busy mum, the Mum’s Luxury Diary has everything you need to organise 

Chocolates are a sure fire hit with anyone right? These ones from lilyobriens are really really good and such good value , range of flavours and box sizes a great add on gift or if you stuck on what to buy for someone, I have ordered two more boxes of the desserts collection for my sons teachers only 2 for £15 via the website or £10 each, also can be brought in most supermarkets. my personal favourite has to be the key limey pie and raspberry infusion. 

Fabric storage bags are a god send in a busy family home, many uses from washing basket, toy storage  car boot bag or just a bag for putting "stuff" in to move from one room to another! ( cause lets face it we all have stuff that just doesn't have a home ) aplaceforeverything sells a huge range of house items and something to suit all tastes, These fabric bags sell for £7 very well made and a great size. 

Derwent Wooden Box watercolour pencils the boxes come with 24 pencils in a range of colours and are also Available in coloursoft, inktense, and procolour. these items are a top end product and the £59.99 does reflect this i would be over the moon to find these wrapped up under my tree ( and lucky me i will ! ) I have a BA in fine art and i find colouring a great way to relax and unwind with so many colouring books on the market now , your spoilt for choice. 

What woman wouldn't pop a candle onto her Christmas gift wish list? These candles not only look amazing but all three of them smell lovely and our linked to the poems within the books "letters to the lady" written by george lamptey , He came up with the idea of the dream relax evening maybe in the bath with the salted Carmel candle burning while reading the other poems, The candles are £25 and the book is £10 would be lovely wrapped up in a little hamper with a bottle of wine and some bubble baths 

Thank you once again to all of the brands for gifting me these lovely items, I really am such a lucky girl and yes i will be wrapping these up and putting them under my tree! with a few of the items being gifted to my mum and other female family members. Happy christmas 2017 everyone 

5 year old boy stocking filler gift guide

Each year as Bodhi ( nearly five ) gets older i find it so much easier to buy for him, But this in its self is a problem as i don't want to over buy for man reason 1) Being an only child i don't want to spoil him with gifts 2) funds... money is tight few ££ there and here soon add up and i will not get into dept over Christmas 3) his birthday is at the end of January and we just don't have the space for piles of gifts.

so with this in mind we have chosen to with the help of father Christmas and the below mention brands keep Christmas low key this doesn't mean Bodhi won't have any thing to open come Christmas morning it just means I'm not buying items for the sake of it.

pipity activity books are a great buy at only £4.99 per book they will give your child hours of fun for long car rides/ aeroplane trips or on a rainy wet afternoon. We have the puppet show book aswel as games on the go, Both full of colouring / games and fun. you can also buy the activity case for £24.99  ( full review of this to come in the new year ) 

Next we have this amazing puzzle / game from laurenceking Story box is a create you own fairy tale with the aid of the puzzle. you get x20 puzzle parts for coming up with a range of stories. Bodhi loves to make up stories and to use his imagination so i know he will really enjoy this and so will i ! priced at £9.95 its a real bargain and a great gift idea for any child.

Another fun and family based game for his stocking is the TY domino game made by TACTIC This game is based on the classic domino's but in this version you have the mega cute TY beanie boos to match up on your cards. you can buy the game via amazon for £7.99 for ages 4+ this would then be a great game to get out to play as a family after Christmas lunch. 

The last item we have very kindly been sent for Bodhi is by interplay and its a craft/play kit you get all you need to create you own pencil pets we have the puppy pack but you can also get a cat version they also come in two different colour packs blue and pink ( as shown ) and also yellow & purple these would be great as a joint gift for siblings. They are £4.99 

Be sure to check out my youtube channel over the month of December as i am taking part in vlogmas ( uploading each day of the month ) you can see these items in more detail on day 2 along with a few other items i picked up for his stocking. 

vlogmas playlist

What to put in her stocking ? Gift ideas for her

A few things i would love in my stocking this christmas ! all items under £10 so perfect if your on a budget, ( items linked have been sent to me to use as part of this gift guide ) 

Toblerone - £1 poundland

Christmas hand soap - £1.49 pound stretchers 

#OOTD - £9.95 Laurence King publishing

we go out / we learn at home - £7.99 dung beetle learning

 Lego friends set 41112 - £4 sainsburys 

Hand & foot creams - £1 each sainsburys 

Ladies festive fun socks - £1 pound world

yankke candle - £1 each ( split from a 12 pack ) Asda

Personal frame £8.50 - parksidecrafts

Bic 4 colour pens - £1 sainsburys 

Linziclip - from £4.50 + amazon - linziclip

Be sure to check out my youtube channel for my daily uploads for Vlogmas -vlogmas playlist