Christmas Gift List: Editor’s Pick

It is that time of year. We might not be spending it together but I think this is the year we should go all out for Christmas. Zoom and FaceTime your loves ones and spend the day with your family. Take in everything you have. In 2020 we need to count every single one of our blessings and stay as grateful as possible. Let’s not sit in sorrow, let’s deck our halls and get our glitz on. Life is beautiful and we are strong enough to go on. Love to you all.

With that in mind, here are my top Christmas picks to make the day extra special.

Purdy & Figg – an all-natural, premium hand spray; the ultimate 2020 stocking filler idea. We all need to use hand sanitiser so we may as well make it stylish and luxurious. Purdy & Figg look stylish and smell amazing. Yes and yes.

Purdy & Figg was created by NHS nurse Purdy Rubin and a horticulturalist Charlotte Figg with a view to minimise the toxic chemicals we use on our skin and to create a product free of single use plastic. The sanitising spray is available in three amazing scents, comes in lovely, recyclable green or blue glass bottles with minimal, elegant branding, is all natural and eco-friendly and won’t break the bank.

Purdy & Figg is a family owned premium British hand sanitiser brand that comes in three scents; Wild Woody, Charlotte’s Floral and Original Citrus. Pricing can be found below:

  • 50ml bottle (contains over 300 sprays), £5.99
  • The Set of 3x50ml bottle in Wild Woody, Original + Charlotte’s Floral, £16.99
  • 250ml refill £21.99

Available to buy at www.purdyandfigg.com | Additional stockists: Heal’s, Skinny Tan, Joules, Naken, some local pharmacies and health food stores

Let’s not forget the little ones this Christmas with the Oral-B Stages Power Electric Toothbrush– available in 2 designs; Disney’s Star Wars and Frozen (for ages 3+).  Available in Frozen or Star Wars, both are gorgeous and will encourage children to brush their teeth. They also come with cute travel cases.

Oral B frozen and star wars kids electric toothbrushes

Dove Advent Calendar.

Dove advent calendar, Dove,

Dove have a great selection of advent calendars and gift boxes this year. This one was my pick. It gives you a little excitement every day. Great products too. Available from boots.com

Gorgeous gifts from www.sacla.co.uk

My picks are:

  • Pastiglie Leone Carousel Fruit Jellies.
  • Gluten Free Panettone by Vergani.
  • Giandujotti Chocolates by D Barbero.

Italian sweets italian sweets chocolate

Sacla have a great selection of gifts and these three are all delicious. Christmas is not Christmas without Panettone. The praline is divine and the fruit jellies are heavenly and come in a gorgeous tin that you can keep.

THE TRACKLEMENTS RANGE OF CHRISTMAS CONDIMENTS INCLUDING
NEW SPECIAL EDITION RHUBARB & APPLE CHUTNEY.

THE TRACKLEMENTS RANGE OF CHRISTMAS CONDIMENTS INCLUDING NEW SPECIAL EDITION RHUBARB & APPLE CHUTNEY

NEW MICROPLANE PROFESSIONAL SERRATED PEELER
Available from hartsofstur.com

Carluccio’s Christmas range.

I am a huge of the Carluccio’s Christmas range. My top pick is the CLEMENTE IN CAMICIA. The box is filled with segments of 20-day syrup soaked candied clementines that are covered in rich, dark, indulgent chocolate to create a pop of flavour once bitten into. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without them. 

For little ones who dream of life on the farm:

Childs Farm Tractor washbag gift set.

child's farm, Christmas gifts.

This wheely-good gift set is perfect for farm & tractor lovers, featuring Childs Farm’s very own Old ‘Red the Tractor’. The wash bag contains Childs Farm’s organic raspberry bubble bath to clean and moisturise all skin types, and cleansing and nourishing sweet orange oil hair and body wash, to leave hair shiny and tangle free – a great addition to your little one’s bath time routine this Christmas.

The tractor wash bag also makes the perfect accessory for little ones. They can store their favourite things in it, taking it to sleepovers, or even using it as their favourite new pencil case in school!

My children have never been washed in anything other than Child’s Farm products. I heartily recommend them.

Ergofoam onderdesk footrest ergo foam

Because I have a bad back I recommend the ErgoFoam ergonomic under desk footrest as a gift for anyone who also has a bad back.

ErgoFoam is an ergonomic under desk footrest, designed to facilitate better posture, relieve seated load, and increase circulation. Flipped over, the rest becomes a rocker, and long work hours become a chance to infuse some movement into a desk-ridden day.

Awarded ‘Best Under-Desk Foot Rest of 2020’ by Wirecutter, the ErgoFoam team believes in good design and good results, and it remains their mission to help people feel their best each day. ErgoFoam‘s models are available in a variety of sizes and styles.  It gives great support and I am a fan.

Luxury Wish List Items.

A KitchenAid.

INTRODUCING THE PEBBLED PALM COLLECTION:
ARTISAN STAND MIXER WITH NEW SEASONAL BOWL OPTIONS

 

BISSELL SmartClean Pet Cylinder Vacuum
TANGLE-FREE BRUSH ROLL REMOVES STUBBORN DIRT AND HAIR

This is a pet-owner’s best friend, especially around
the festive season when it’s wet outside and paws
are muddy, fur is damp and tails wag pine needles
into the carpets, curtains and cushions. Exceptional
bag-less vacuuming power rapidly removes dust
and debris.

What are your Christmas picks? Share them with us. 

Sounds Of The Darkside
. Frost Loves The Original Stormtrooper Bluetooth Speaker

The Original Stormtrooper Bluetooth Speaker is sure to send you to the dark side with its pitch perfect sounds.

Featuring full-size helmet design and a limited edition of just 450. Includes Certificate of Authenticity signed by Original Stormtrooper creator, Andrew Ainsworth. This beautifully crafted, sleek and stylish speaker has been made in collaboration with Andrew Ainsworth, the man who created the armor and helmets for the original Stormtrooper in 1976. Andrew made the original mold and it has become iconic ever since.

The full size helmet speaker will sky rocket your party into a new galaxy. With 2 x 10w speakers that combine to make a galactic soundwave of 20W, it’s sure to liven up any gathering.

With crystal clear clarity, pure sound and superb bass it is the perfect speaker for any fans home. It’s set to be one of the speakers of 2018 and with its unrivalled and distinct design, who wouldn’t want as their centerpiece?

It works via Bluetooth and easily syncs to your devices and with a range of 10 meters it won’t miss your favorite tracks.

In 1976 prop maker Andrew Ainsworth of Shepperton Design Studios created the original Stormtrooper helmets and armor for the first movie. These products are based on the original molds Andrew produced, as close as it is possible to get to the original film props.

The Thumbs Up Original Stormtrooper Speaker costs £299.99 from Amazon.

 

Stocking Filler Ideas: Stance Star Wars Droid Crew Socks

stance-star-wars-droid-crew-socks christmasstarwars starwarssockschristmasFrost loves these funky golf socks from function18.com Perfect for Star Wars fans and golf lovers.

Stance Star Wars Droid Crew Golf Socks. Part of the Star Wars range from Stance, more than once, R2-D2 and C-3PO have helped save the galaxy. Although they form an unlikely pair, they’re at their best when together. After all, the sum is often greater than its parts. Stance’s Droid celebrates the legendary duo from Star Wars. Crafted from premium combed cotton, this classic crew sock surrounds feet in luxury. Its tight, 200 needle count stitching provides a crisp appearance while an elastic arch and self-adjusting cuff hug the contours of your feet. For additional durability, the Droid sports a reinforced heel and toe. These are the droids you’re looking for.

https://www.function18.com/brands/stance.html

Christmas Gift List For Him

jockeyboxerbriefs

jockeymenspyjamasJockey Underwear and Pyjamas.

The quality is as amazing as the style. We love Jockey.

From jockey.com
gilletterogueonestarwarssetwhite gilletterogueonestarwarslimitededitonGillette Star Wars Gift Sets.

These Rogue One Star Wars sets were a huge hit with the guys. They love the Star Wars theme, but they also said the razors were the best they had ever tried. High Praise indeed. The Black one has a razor plus three replacement cartridges and is available from superdrug.com. The white one comes with a razor, two replacement cartridges and extra comfort shave oil. Which is really nice of the dark side. Available from boots.com
lyonscoffeebags

Lyons Coffee Bags

Coffee. In a bag. So genius. How has it taken so long for this to happen? Great as a stocking filler.

From waitrose.com, tesco.com, sainsburys.com, ocado.com and morrisons.com

personalised-print-word-art-square-casino

Personalised word art prints and canvases from www.chatterboxwalls.co.uk

christmas cards great christmas cards original christmas cards

Christmas Cards from small independent card retailer https://postmarkonline.co.uk

The Best Books For Children This Christmas

the-taleofsquirrelnutkinby-beatrixpotterspecial-edition thetaleoftomkittenspecialdeditionby-beatrixpotterBeatrix Potter Fashion Designer Collection

Five of Beatrix Potter’s best-loved tales with new covers, notes and endpapers from influential fashion designers including Henry Holland, Preen and Orla Kiely. The perfect stocking-filler.

The Tales of: Squirrel Nutkin, Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck
£6.99 each

We particularly loved The Tale of Tom Kitten, designed by The Rodnik Band and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, designed by Preen. Gorgeous covers and classic stories. 

The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin and the other Beatrix Potter Designer Editions are available here.)

#beatrix150

myencyclopediaofveryimportantthings

My Encyclopaedia of Very Important Things. For little learners who want to know everything. 

A really wonderful book that entertains and educates in equal measure. Perfect for inquisitive children, it has great photography and illustrations. It also supports the KS1 National Curriculum. Divided into six sections: my planet, places, animals, people, me and other very important things. A great book.

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things is available here.

legostarwarsbuildyourownadventure

Lego Star Wars Build Your Own Adventure 

A real treat for the over-8s. Lego Star Wars Build Your Own Adventure includes a rebel pilot mini figure and exclusive Y-wing Star Fighter. It also has tips and ideas on how to build other LEGO Star Wars models. It has over 50 building ideas. Will make your child’s eyes light up on Christmas day.

LEGO Star Wars Build Your Own Adventure is available here.

howtobeacat

How to be a Cat by Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar

Children can be a lot like cats. They love milk, always sit in boxes and love playing with string. This a fun and happy book. Great illustrations and observations. From the super successful husband and wife team Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar.

How to be a Cat: The Definitive Guide is available here.

 

Film Extra Caught Out Pretending To Be Stormtrooper In Star Wars Film by Lucasfilm

Film Extra Caught Out Pretending To Be Stormtrooper In Star Wars Film by Lucasfilmtwitter
An aspiring actor and film extra got caught out lying about being a stormtrooper in the new Star Wars film…by Lucasfilm. Alex Rolt had a lot of positive feedback when he told his local paper that he played the stormtrooper who says the line “Traitor!” in the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens film. The drama school graduate told the paper he had been chosen because of his fencing experience to fight against Boyega. He told the journalist: ‘They got me in the stormtrooper outfit but the prop didn’t have a clip or anything on the uniform, so I had to hold it in a certain way then deliver the line: “Traitor!” ‘ The interview then went viral.

The interview came to the attention of Star Wars production company LucasFilm who revealed the role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was played by veteran stuntman Liang Yang.

Film Extra Caught Out Pretending To Be Stormtrooper In Star Wars Film by Lucasfilm2

Rolt made a public apology and admitted he only had a small extra role in the production. He said on Twitter: “Sorry for doing this to all the fans. Was a joke that got out of hand. My career is tarnished.”

Acting is a very hard career and actors do embellish their careers sometimes. Unfortunately, Rolt did not simply embellish, but took the credit for another actors part. It probably was a joke that got out of hand. It remains to be seen if he can redeem his reputation in the industry but it could be possible. He has already publicly apologised and that is the first step.

What do you think? Should Alex Rolt be forgiven? How wrong was what he did?

Catherine Balavage has been an actor for over ten years. Her book on acting, How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur, has gotten numerous five star reviews and has been called the ‘best advice available’ by numerous sources.

 

 

Christmas Gift List For Children

Children, they know what they want and buying for them can be hard. Here are some toys that have been approved by our little ones.

Little Tikes Creatures Stacker, £10.00

seacreaturestacker Little Tikes Creatures Stacker,

Soft and adorably cute. These were a big hit with the babies.

Soft feel for cuddling. Can be stacked one by one. The 3 small ones can be packed inside the biggest one. They can be hung beside bed or on pram for baby to watch. From asda.com

LeapFrog My Pal Scout, £19.97

LeapFrog My Pal Scout, £19.97 scout mypalscout

My Pal Scout is an adorable, cuddly pup that introduces children to words, counting and feelings through 14 activities. This has been a huge hit in the office and now a few babies have one. It is easy to personalise and is fun and educational in equal measures. The perfect present for 6-36 months old.

Scout is the perfect friend who can be personalised to magically learn your child’s name and favourite things! He has super-soft fur and five touch points that respond when pressed, encouraging children to interact as he talks to them and leads them in learning and nurturing activities.

Comes with 5 songs or a choice of 30+, and two modes of play: daytime fun or night-time lullabies. For ages 6+ months.

All LeapFrog toys are educator-approved, child-tested, follow national standards and feature British spellings, phonics and pronunciations. From asda.com

The Irish Fairy Door Company Handmade Fairy Door.

fairydoor

These high quality, handmade fairy doors are perfect to spark your childs imagination. These doors help fairies locate to human home, classrooms, gardens and woods. They can be installed anywhere and the creative team at Fairy HQ ensures direct access to Fairy Valley. 160,000 fairies have already found a home in two years. www.theirishfairydoorcompany.co.uk

Hape Take-Along Activity Box 10m +

activity boxhape.

This Hape Take-Along Activity Box is suitable for 10 months +. Fun from all sides. This great, portable, activity box was another hit with the kids.

Hape Take Along Activity Box is available here.

www.marbel.co.uk

Star Wars Where’s The Wookie? 

where'swookiestarwars

Star Wars Where’s The Wookie? is an interactive search and find activity book. For ages 7+ but also for adults. The new Star Wars film comes out in December 2015, directed by J.J Abrams. An excellent book for any Star Wars fan, big or small.

Star Wars Where’s the Wookiee Search and Find Book is available here.

 Bizzy Bitz Construction Kits

bizzybitz

This is a great creative gift for children. A colourful construction kit. Boys and girls can build anything they want and let their imagination run wild, the pieces simply lock into place. Bizzy Bitz Construction Set is available here.

 

New Star Wars Film – It’s Official

New Star Wars Film – It’s Official!

George Lucas has sold LucasFilm to Walt Disney for $4.05 billion and now the studio has confirmed it will make Star Wars Episode 7 in 2015.

If you are a fan of George Lucas then don’t get upset, Lucas will be working on the film as a creative consultant.

“It’s now time for me to pass ‘Star Wars’ on to a new generation of filmmakers,” announced George Lucas.

Kathleen Kennedy, who is the current co-chairman of Lucasfilm, will become the president and report to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.

What do you think?