'Tis the season for gifting! Whether that be treating yourself, or the rad people in your life. Today we have a little mini gift guide of bits 'n bobs I personally think would be rather neat to receive this Christmas. In fact, I've actually purchased some of the items on this list and through my bookish gift guides, see the first here. There's beauty, reading material (of course), some homeware bits, stationery (again, of course) and some miscellaneous bits. Enjoy! 

*Fruition Print x Pigment Studio: As an aside, Albertine is one of my talented pals and I've actually purchased the A5 print of this for myself this Christmas. I love it!

*3D Glitter & Glow Liquid Shadow Set x Stila

*Useless Magic  x Florence Welch (Gucci Edition): Isn't this stunning!? The original is exquisite also but this Gucci edition is next-level. How special would this be to unwrap? Ahem.

*Oh Comely Magazine, Issue 46: One of my absolute favourite magazines. I've recently bought a subscription because waiting for it in the shops here in NZ was becoming too much of a task. In all seriousness, get yourself/your mates the latest issue with their Christmas presents. Support print everybody.

*Human x Dodie (signed EP)

*Burnt Sage Candle x Crushes: My pal Emma gave me this candle for my birthday and it is the best. I love its scent and its ability to fill my space with the most divine fragrance. I highly recommend giving the other Crushes candles a sniff as well. They're exquisite.

*Runaway Girl Round Towel x Karen Walker: Round towels=the ultimate backyard staple for reading sessions under a tree in the sunshine. Or a picnic. Or just to y'know, sunbathe responsibly. 

*Caramel Melange Cracker x Zoeva

*2019 Diary x frankie magazine: I've purchased this as a gift and it is beautiful. If I hadn't gone and been super organised and bought my Kikki K diary as per usual, this diary would be mine. I LOVE the floral illustrations x Edith Rewa throughout.

*Enlightened Ornament x Mecca Cosmetica

*End Of The Rainbow Toiletry Bag x Gorman: For some reason I'm kinda obsessed with rainbow-print accessories at the moment and whilst I don't exactly need a new makeup bag, I am being drawn to this. Also, makeup bags are useful af. If you want to go the extra mile-fill it with some of your favourite products for the recipient to enjoy.

*Trio of Navy Pens x Kikki K: If you saw my Advent Calendar post, one of these pens ended up included as a gift. Trios like this and the Stila set are great for dividing up amongst people. 

*Life Honestly: Strong Opinions from Smart Women x The Pool

*Treats x House of Chocolate

*Terrazzo Drop Earrings x Emily Green

-What are you gifting this Christmas?

'Tis the season and whilst I am a 20-something, I still get excited by the prospect of chocolate advent calendars. And just advent calendars in general really. So when I found out one of my friends had never had an advent calendar before it set off a lightbulb in my brain. One; because I'd been considering what to gift her for Christmas for weeks and two; because it just seemed so genius and obvious that it was going to be this. I have to give full props to Tara and Ellen from shopstyleconquer for the inspiration here. These ladies have made one another DIY advent calendars over on their YouTube channel for the past few years and it definitely made me want to join in on the fun. I have instructed my calendar recipient to stay off my blog for the month, so if you recipient, yes...you are here, get off my blog now! You have been told. Everyone else, here's how I did it.

I don't want to call this a full-frontal DIY because honestly it was pretty easy to compile and I cheated a bit design-wise. So if you're after the next level things, go to Tara and Ellen's channel. 

What You Will Need: *Presents/Items (more on this below), *a handy drawstring bag, *tape, *scissors, *notepaper (if you are like me and want to leave little notes to accompany gifts), *wrapping paper, *gold gel pen, *card for your number labels.

/ I made my calendar for two weeks. The idea being that the recipient can open it closer in the lead up to Christmas but also because let's be real, these things can get expensive. She also had the option to open it every alternate day but again, each to their own. 

/ I purchased this drawstring bag from Kikki K when they had one of their member sales. I think these are also designed to be like 'Santa Sacks' to leave out for presents. Did anyone else have those back in the day? Or the OG pillowcases? Sorry, showing my age... Anyway, I know this kind of detracts from the visual advent calendar aesthetic. It's not a box with windows but I saw this and the gold and navy stars and thought it was beautiful. Plus, it can be reused rather than thrown out/abandoned like cardboard more than likely would be. 

/ The notepaper is not an essential but because I like writing and also wanted to provide some notes so my friend knew why I'd included certain things, I just thought it was a fun touch. Initially I was going to make like Ellen and include some compliments/little notes for her but I actually over-allocated days. Next year perhaps!

/ Again, another lil' thing I borrowed from Ellen was the idea of cards labelled with handwritten numbers. Initially I was going to use stickers here but I couldn't find any that met my admittedly fussy standard. Plus I wanted to go for the handmade look more. This card with the gold painted edge is actually repurposed. I received these as part of a baking themed present and there were a lot of them so I measured them up for the days and then cut around them to use as the labels. 

/ As well as wrapping paper, I also used some decorative boxes I found at a $2 shop. I went to a few $2 shops for decorative ideas and if I do this again I will utilise them more. I particularly love the gold glitter box I've included, it's actually for Day 14 of the calendar as I wanted it to stand out. 

The gifts: As this was my first year making one of these things I tried to achieve a few things gift-wise. I wanted to include; things my friend could use for a bit of a pamper, some of my favourite beauty products, a book I had on my shelf to read so that we can buddy-read it, stationery and some Christmas decorations.

So without being too specific, though these images are spoiler-y enough-friend, please click away right now if you are here, here's some examples of what I included.

Beauty: A favourite lipstick of mine (shoutout to you Velvet Teddy, she's already opened this day so I can get away with it), micellar water (bit of an in-joke as well as being useful), face masks and my favourite mascara of 2018 (this one which I purchased discounted from Chemist Warehouse).

Stationery: I think it's a given with any gift I give; stationery will most likely be a part of it. I included some of my favourite pens (I need to get someone else on the Muji bandwagon) and also this teeny-tiny calendar because I just thought it was cute and would brighten up her work desk a tad. You will also see a notebook though that forms the crux of the calendar so I can't say much on it. Sorry! 

Miscellaneous: Chocolate, standard advent calendar inclusion really. I opted for Malteser Reindeer and also the Cadbury Mousse Snowman. Two of my favourites, plus I thought they were a bit more exciting than the standard wrapped chocolates you can buy any old time during the year. I also included a mini jar of Nutella. Side note; how cute are these!? Decorations: The glittery star you see is from Stella and Gemma and the glittery bauble was part of a set I already had from H&M Home.

So that's the gist of the advent calendar in a nutshell. If you've ever considered making one, do it. They are so fun to put together and wrap up and the rest. I honestly had the best time working on this.

I hope you're all having a lovely start to December so far! I will be back soon with another bookish gift guide for y'all so stay tuned. 

Here we are, just over two weeks away from Christmas and showcasing my last gift guide. This mightn't be the last you see of gift recommendations. I am definitely sharing book suggestions over here for instance. Today though it's all about the beauty loves. I've mainly gone for products I already use and love, or ones I have gifted or will be gifting this year. The great thing with beauty is there's so much choice nowadays so it's a lot easier to choose something people will love...

Stella+Gemma Makeup Bag, not pictured: When in doubt, makeup bag it out. In seriousness, to a beauty lover, I don't think a snazzy new makeup bag will be sneered at. Even better, you could load it with some of their favourite minis, or a product you love and think they should try. Presents within presents are the best.

NARS The Veil Cheek Palette: Here we have an early Christmas present to myself, which now I've photographed and kept pristine, I can start using it. Huzzah! Self celebrations aside, this palette is beautiful. Combining a bronzer, blush and highlighter, it's slim and reasonably compact. The powders certainly pack a punch in the pigment stakes and it truly is a thing of beauty.

This Works Sleep Tight: I've gifted products from the Sleep range x This Works before and they are always well received. This set was packaged in an ornate, cardboard bauble and contains two miniatures of the Pillow Spray as well as the Stress Check, Breathe In. I usually take these away traveling with me but also keep them by my bed and the calming lavender scent helps to bring a sense of ambience before sleep. That and despite not really liking the smell of lavender, I cannot deny its calming effect. A++ would recommend. 

Face Paint by Lisa Eldridge: You all know by now of my love for Lisa Eldridge and all her talent+brilliance. I couldn't not include her coffee table book, crammed with everything beauty history and so many wonderful anecdotes. It is beautifully presented and written and makes for fascinating reading. I've been dipping in and out of it all year but I will be picking this up to read on my Summer break.

Preciosity Ombre Blackstar x By Terry: I don't own this set, I wish and it is a spendy option but would make an absolutely exquisite gift for someone. Containing three of the Ombre Blackstars, including Misty Rock and Bronze Moon it really is stunning. These eyeshadows are like nothing else and they are the most long-lasting formulas around. 

Go-To Sweet Sleeps*: Zoe Foster Blake, queen of all things awesome has bundled some of her brilliant, peachy-decorated products into sets for us to nab this festive season. This set is my pick; combining a makeup bag (yass), the Face Case (DOUBLE YASS, also mini musings here. I love this though), Super Handy (lives on my work desk, parties on my work desk) and Lips (keeping that pout in check). All in all it's a good time and sweet dreams are made of these.

Stila Written In The Stars Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow Set: This set is sold out online and I am not one hundred per cent sure if Mecca will be getting more in. I know it definitely wasn't around in Mecca Maxima Auckland last week but I could be wrong so do not quote me there. This set of what have easily been some of the most sought after eyeshadows this year is bound to be well received. I've gifted these to people but if you don't want to split them up and again want to treat a sparkle lover, I am sure they will love it. 

Kenzo World Fragrance*: You probably remember that crazy but brilliant advert for this fragrance. If not, YouTube it now. I realise it's not a particularly festive fragrance but it's pretty fail-safe, I think at least. Fresh with a hint of floral and fruitiness, it's the perfect Summer scent. I also love Gabrielle x Chanel and have spritzed+liked the idea of Orange Bitters Cologne x Jo Malone London. 

-What beauty gifts are on your radar for Christmas?

*PR Sample

This gift guide is for those of you on a budget, those of you who maybe have Secret Santa limits or those who just like to grab affordable gems to gift at Christmas. Side note: friends and family, please do not look at this post because it will act as a giveaway for some of you as to what you are getting. Spoilers out of the way. This one is a mix of cute little knick knacks, some useful bits and some things to unwind with over the holiday period. Enjoy!

*Daily Notes Pad x Kikki K: I've actually grabbed this for someone I know who is a hella busy person. These kind of notepads are useful to have on your desk if you have important things to remember or just need to quickly jot something down. Not to mention it's blush pink, gold and speckled so it's ticking all the aesthetic boxes too. 

*Pocket Pop Vinyl x Funko Pop: This is part of my gift for my #NZSecretSanta over on Twitter. I just think it's so cute and I'm not going to lie, if they had a Joyce Byers one I would've grabbed it for myself too. They're currently on special at EB Games so head there to nab one. I've seen Game of Thrones and Harry Potter themed ones as well so if they take their fancy more, there's always those options. 

Minis* x The Body Shop: These have been mentioned in a previous gift guide but it's worth mentioning them again. Pictured above are the mini shower gels and the Christmas shaped soaps, in the vanilla and frosted plum scents. Again, a great Secret Santa option or a perfect gift for the jet setters in your life. I've gifted the mini shower gels and hand creams before and they have always gone down a treat. There aren't many people who can resist a good mini. 

*Harry Styles Stickers x bestieclub: I have to give props to one of my Twitter+uni pals for bringing these to my attention. They're also part of my #NZSecretSanta's gift and again I think they're just something a bit different and fun. This NZ Etsy store also have a range of other celebs to choose from so I recommend having a nosy at the shop. Also, Harry Styles in flower crowns? YASS PLZ. 

*Dark Chocolate, Meringue & Raspberry Candle x Ecoya: Another gift, this time for a candle loving pal of mine who I sincerely hope is not reading this. How divine is this candle? It smells like a decadent chocolate mousse and yes, it probably isn't the most Christmassy of scents but if they're not a fan of the more pine-y, natural scents, this might be the ticket. Also these are pretty dang reasonably priced and the scent pull+lasting time isn't half bad. 

*Celestial Earrings x Lovisa: I had to include these because I wear mine all the time and always get asked about them. I have a feeling they might be a tad over 20 dollars, not by much mind. Earrings are such a great option too; I rate Lovisa's and Trade Aid's for things under $20 but Etsy is worth a peruse as well. 

Santa Baby Lip Tint* x Lush: This cola scented, redder than red tint is back for another Christmas. Lush also have some other colours available. My friend E has a light, peachy pink one and loves it. I also rate Lush's lip scrub (Sugar Plum Fairy is the BEST) and their potted lip balms. So delish. So good.

*Christmas Decorations: Ok because I fancy myself as Martha Stewart or something, I'm actually decking out most of my presents with some paper decorations from Kikki K that I grabbed in last year's sale. You've probably seen them on my Instagram, white with gold stars. Anyway, I also think Christmas ornaments can be a fun, sentimental gift. They're relatively inexpensive and can be tailored to people's interests, colours and decor preferences. I've grabbed one for my work Secret Santa this year from Smith & Caughey's. Bed, Bath & Table have some great options too.

*Christmas Movies: Tbh I think everyone should watch Love Actually so this is really a selfish recommendation but *insert sass emoji here*. This inclusion is probably a bit of a gamble but I guess it could be something fun if you're a bit stumped for Secret Santa. I also think Elf is great too. Plus the soundtrack is so good.

*Magazines (or five): Pinching this recommendation from Liv but if they're a magazine maven then I don't think you can go wrong with a stack of magazines. Or one. Or however many you feel need purchasing. I recommend the Frankie 'Christmas' issue, not actually Christmas themed but usually crammed with a bunch of awesome extras. Like those Girflriend Summer Specials but way way way better. I also rate Sunday Girl, Oh Comely, Kinfolk, Violet Book, British Vogue. I could be here all day....

-How is your gift shopping going?

*PR Sample

I am obviously biased but this gift guide may just be my favourite yet. This one is all about supporting the more niche businesses, with a focus on independent makers and sellers. It's a mix of everything because when it comes to indie sellers we are spoilt for choice. Also, the title is reference to a quote I saw online once, "that girl is an indie cindy." no idea who said it but it resonates so anyway. Gift guide incoming...

Today's gift guide is one for those of us who run the world, as Beyonce would say. While I'm wary of businesses seemingly cashing in on feminism for commercial gain, I've made a conscious effort to include products for inspiring, boss babes. There's a bit of everything as you'll see and they're all available online. If you're not a mall fan, this guide is for you!

Leslie Knope Pin: Ahh Leslie, Pawnee's answer to Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama in one package, c/o Amy Poehler. This pin would surely help you nail that business proposal, or inject you with inevitable optimism I am sure. There are also Gilmore Girls options and April Ludgate if she's more your spirit animal. I won't judge you.

Violet Magazine: The brainchild of Leith Clark that is really more a book than magazine, despite its glossy pages. It's something you will want to dip in and out of and peruse over and over again. It's beautifully presented and laden with content by and about inspiring women. 

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo: Now this is perhaps one product to be a touch skeptical about but I'm including them if only for the fact the names are all brilliant and the shades are stunning. Creamy, pigmented colour that packs a punch and looks extremely luxe. A treat in the best way. 

South and West* x Joan Didion: I personally love Didion's work. There's something brilliant about her writing that is hard to pinpoint unless you've experienced it yourself. So on that note (ha) I recommend her latest book be added to your wishlist or gifted to somebody else. 

Patsy Midline Bra x Lonely: I love Lonely lingerie and their campaigns featuring diverse women. Their pieces are just exquisite, well made and incredibly comfy+luxe to wear. A treat for sure but worth every cent. 

NARS Love Triangle: These mini gift sets from NARS combine their popular blushers with lipsticks. Many are in the Audacious formula but there's also a duo with the Orgasm blush+lipstick. If you wanted to get DIY you could wrap this and then hang it on the tree for somebody to unwrap. 

Safety Pin Pearl Hoop Earrings x Alexa Chung: If they're an Alexa Chung enthusiast or into accessories, Alexa has you covered. I love these earrings but also the severed hand pieces and the rainbow choker gives me 00's nostalgia vibes. Actually Alexa's whole collection is gift-worthy but I'm not biased. *ahem*

What Happened x Hillary Rodham Clinton: One of the best books I've read this year. A candid and refreshingly honest, if not at times frustrating account of *that* stranger than fiction election. Despite Hillary's obvious disappointment it's still a hopeful read. 

*For the interests of clarity, I was sent this book earlier in the year for review.

It's (almost) the most wonderful time of the year and if you know me, I freakin' love Christmas. I'm slowly bringing out my decorations. That gold bauble has already made its appearance in more than a few photos and I'm not even sorry about it. This year I have six gift guides for y'all. This week there'll be two going up but otherwise there'll be one a week for the next month. I've themed them all and today's is about things that are truly tailored to the recipient. Admittedly these are all items I'd be ecstatic to receive but I think if you're shopping for somebody who is difficult to buy for, or has really specific tastes, these might be the way to go...

// Rifle Paper Co Personalised Stationery: Who doesn't like personalised, non-tacky things The art of putting pen to paper is almost ritualistic nowadays so if you're going to do it, you might as well make it on beautiful, exquisite card stock. If I found a stack of these under the tree I'd be so stoked.

// Pick 'N Mix, The Body Shop: This year, rather than focusing on your standard gift sets, The Body Shop are giving you the chance to tailor gifts to the recipient. With packaging inspired by lollies and vibrant designs by House of Holland. They have minis like bath bombs, the shower gel above and even starry packaged glitters+liner (yes, I'm mentioning that again). 

// Magazine Subscriptions: Pretty sure I mention this every year but like Karen Walker (of Will & Grace) when she's running late, I ain't even sorry. Find out what titles they love and set up a subscription. It's like a present through their mailbox every month/couple of months.

// Kikki K Monogramming: Only me, the stationery nerd would probably gasp out loud when they saw the embossing machine in store. Again, if personalised things are their jam/you want to give them something unique, Kikki K is the way to go. You can get everything monogrammed; from diaries to keyrings. Even passport holders if you're feeling fancy. 

// Custom Prints: The above is by the lovely Studio Bon, a Wellington illustrator. She does gorgeous work so I recommend checking her work out. There's also graphic prints by Studio Arc.

// Their favourite fragrance: Whether they're a Nirvana White Lady or a Chanel Le Bleu person. *I don't know guy's colognes this is just one I've spritzed and liked. Obviously this is a luxe option but you could always buy them a rollerball/hand cream in the scent they love. 

// Book subscriptions: The brilliant folk at Time Out have recently debuted a subscription service. You'll receive a book tailored to your taste/that of someone else's for the next year. Again, like magazines this is the gift that keeps on giving. 

// Decorations x Anthropologie: Umm, how adorable are these!? Anthropologie have a range of personalised gifts but it's these golden letters that I think are particularly exquisite. 

-Have you started gift shopping?

So you've left your shopping to the last minute and don't necessarily want to brave the shops? I feel you and hope to lead a mall-less existence for the next week or so. Today wraps up my gift guide series with some ideas for gifts you can access online fairly easily. Sure they might not arrive for Christmas Day but it'll give you or the receiver something to look forward to. A lot of these items are from independent sellers because there's some very talented people who deserve support and to have their work shown. That and I am all for shopping local. Anyway, last minute gift ideas...

something to say x frankie magazine // Unfortunately this book is not available to buy in NZ but it can be bought online or in the shops if you are in Australia. Something To Say is a collection of stories from the first twelve years of frankie mag. It really is the perfect volume of the best of the best and contains some really fantastic, humorous and enlightening writing. It is well worth the purchase.

Constellation Moon Phase enamel pin x Oh No Rachio // Pins seem to have made a bit of a comeback in 2016 and many of the ones on my lust-list have come from Oh No Rachio's Etsy store. I own this Constellation Phase pin and most days it lives on my trusty denim jacket where I can marvel at its dazzling-ness, as can passersby. She also has some adorable succulent pins in her shop as well that are worth having a look at. 

Cup and Saucer: Svenska Hem x Kikki K, not pictured // After spying this on Maria's Instagram I thought how gorgeous this would be as a gift for Christmas. In fact, I'm not going to lie, I would not mind owning this myself. It's the perfect gift for the tea or coffee enthusiast in your life, and it's translucent and adorned with gold foil dots. What more could you want?

Herb Garden Calendar x Rifle Paper Co // If you are in Wellington, pop in store to buy this from Madame Fancy Pants. Otherwise it is available online. This is the calendar I bought for myself and if you haven't seen my Instagram, go look at this. I'm absolutely smitten with it and can't wait to hang it on my wall. Rifle Paper Co. also have a stunning Alice in Wonderland desk calendar and this one which is a simpler variation on the one I have.

Netflix // If you have a friend who loves Netflix or wants to start a subscription, perhaps you could make up a little voucher saying that you'll pay for a couple of month's worth of their subscription? It's a simple idea but is sure to be appreciated. I know something like this would make me so happy.

Floral Weekly Planner x Papio Press // Desk planners are a lifesaver, especially if they like being able to see at a glance what their week is looking like. This floral one is gorgeous and is bound to brighten up any desk it sits atop. I love the handy notes column too-it's perfect for jotting down phone numbers, train times and the like. 

Copper Tipped Ring Cone x Fox and Lilly // Another of those items I think I will end up getting myself. As someone who wears a lot of rings and finds standard jewelry holders to be a bit of an eyesore, this is right up my street. It is a bit quirky but if you know someone who wears a lot of rings then I think they'd love this.

Framed Cards or Prints, not pictured // Something as simple as a well designed card or a print framed can be very special to receive and gift. You don't need to go all out for frames. I usually get mine from Kmart and they're definitely no more than $12 maximum. A lot of Etsy sellers even have prints available as digital downloads so you can get them printed out, often at a cheaper cost and then frame them up for the receiver. Some of my favourites are from Oh Gosh Cindy. Rifle Paper Co and the Megan Hess for Disney cards look stunning framed as well. 

-What are your last minute gift recommendations?

It wouldn't be Christmas without mention of some books. Despite my admittedly fussy preferences, they're usually always something I enjoy receiving as gifts and nowadays gifting to other people as well. Side note: Friends and family, please stop reading this post. Now. Here's my carefully curated edit of books I think would make fantastic presents this Christmas. This is the mere tip of the iceberg and in the interests of not making this post longer than it is, I have streamlined my recommendations. That being said, if you want any more recommendations just ask. I am always happy to talk about books with anyone, whether they ask for my opinions or not. Oh and stay tuned to the very bottom of this post because you can even win a book or two for yourself. Huzzah! 

The one for the fashion lover: Get a Life: The Diaries of Vivienne Westwood is a recently released volume of Westwood's diary entries, from 2010 to 2016. It's a hefty book, coming in at close to 500 pages and is crammed with interesting insights on fashion, politics, the environment and activism. All topics that Vivienne is incredibly passionate about and well informed on. It makes for absolutely enthralling reading. 

For the twenty-something who loves humour and relatable reads: Where Am I Now? by Mara Wilson aka the now grown up girl who played Matilda and was the youngest daughter of Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire among other nineties family films. The title, a play on the often asked question by Hollywood media hints at the cleverness and humour contained within. It's an incredibly relatable read and even if you cannot relate to child stardom, there is still something valuable to gain from Mara's writing. 

The beauty product bible for beauty lovers: Pretty Iconic by Sali Hughes has made a few appearances around here now and it's worthy of high praise indeed. I have said it before but I will say it again, Sali Hughes is a beauty writing wizard. This collection of iconic beauty products and Sali's personal musings on them, as well as interesting facts will satisfy many a beauty lover. 

For the one who grew up with Harry Potter: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them: Original Screenplay* by JK Rowling. It may be wrong to judge a book by its cover but you have to be forgiven when it is as exquisite as this 1920's inspired treasure by graphic design team Minalima. If they loved the film they're bound to lap this up as well. It is always a treat to reenter the world of the genius that is Jo Rowling.

The Summer beach/poolside read for the Zoe Foster Blake Fangirl or Guy: The Wrong Girl by Zoe Foster Blake is the right book for the aforementioned fan. See what I did there? It's funny, smart and just a really enjoyable read. It's the paper equivalent of eating Lindor Chocolate and I love Lindt so that is high praise indeed. 

The one for the Gilmore Girl lover: Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham may not be a lengthy read but it is mighty enjoyable. It is also possibly the closest thing we will ever have to a afternoon chat with Lauren Graham. As well as being packed with Gilmore Girls stories, she reflects on her time pre-Hollywood, her career as a writer, the stigmas around singledom and more. 

For the lifestyle goddess: Bloom* by Estee Lalonde, the aesthetically pleasing, inspiring book that is bound to go down a treat. This is a beautiful coffee-table book for a bit of inspiration and to flick through for some ideas and wisdom.

The book everyone needs: milk and honey by Rupi Kaur. Poetry is one of those genres that people seem to either love or hate but this collection of poems and musings by Kaur seems to please even the divided. It'll make you feel a thousand emotions and want to dog-ear pages to commit to memory. It's a best-seller for a reason.

Some extras:

Magazine Subscriptions/Assortments of Magazines: Magazines are a bit of a luxury so it's always lovely to give or receive them. I try to include them with gifts, especially for people overseas who may want a little slice of home or a chance to peruse some unknown pages. My recommendations are: Miss FQ, British Vogue, frankie, Kinfolk and The Happy Reader. 

Bookmarks, in particular these and these: A great stocking stuffer and an ideal accompaniment to a gift for the person who reads all the things. These ones from Whitcoulls are currently on 3 for 2 so I nabbed a set for myself as well as some for friends and family members. I love that they're magnetic too so you won't lose your place in your book. 

A Reading Journal: For the true reading enthusiast, a reading journal is a fantastic way to track what you've read and document your true, honest opinions safe from the prying Internet eyes. There's no chance of offending anyone with your controversial opinions and you have a paper record of what you've read too. Wins all round. 

-What books would you recommend as gifts? Oh and don't forget to check out the giveaway below!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Now for the fun part, I am giving away a copy of Pretty Iconic** by Sali Hughes and Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham. To be in to win simply follow the steps outlined in the Rafflecopter box below and leave me a comment here or on social media letting me know which book you'd like to win. This giveaway will close next Thursday the 15th of December so there's more of a chance of you receiving the book by Christmas.

Note: Due to the size and weight of Pretty Iconic, I have to restrict the giveaway for that title to New Zealand entries only. However, anyone in the world can enter to win Lauren Graham's book. As always, if you are under 18 please get permission from a parent or guardian as I will need your address details. Good luck!

*Review copy

**Thanks to Harper Collins NZ for supplying a copy of Sali's book.

'Tis the season to stock up on Lush. They're certainly one of the key players when it comes to Christmas bath and body gifts and their stores are always manic in the days leading up to Christmas. They have some standout sets but for me, their hero product at Christmas are their bath bombs. Today's post is therefore a bit of a love letter to these carbonated, often sparkly and surprise-laden delights. Cynics might say you're literally dissolving money but there's just something so comforting and fun about bath bombs, especially during the stressful festive season...

Never Mind The Ballistics*-If you like bath bombs that fizz away slowly, allowing you the chance to unwind and recharge your batteries, this is the one for you. Its scent reminds me of Perky Nana chocolate bars, which are my fave so I love that about it. Like Butterbear, mentioned below, it contains cocoa butter so it has that moisturising quality to it. Your skin is left smelling sweet and feeling silky smooth. What more could you want?

So White-So White is one of my favourite Christmas bath bombs from Lush. It's not as showy as some of Lush's other bath bombs but don't let that lead you astray from it. It's apple scented and is like bathing in Granny Smith apples. It smells sweet with just a tinge of sourness and while it may not be the most memorable of bath bombs, it's still a nice one nonetheless.

Northern Lights*-From what I can remember, this is a new addition to the Christmas bath bomb range and admittedly I am not a fan. Its scent reminds me a lot of Granny Takes A Dip which is more on the herbal side of things. Although the notes lean more floral so maybe it's just me imagining scents. Either way, I feel like Northern Lights has a very distinct scent that won't be for everyone so choose wisely. 

Shoot For The Stars-I have to confess, I am yet to use this bath bomb but I have been assured by Lush enthusiasts and staff alike that it is beautiful. I may have even seen it being demo'ed at their Christmas launch last month. Inspired by Van Gogh's famed Starry Night painting, the water is left a deep, shimmering blue and notes of Brazilian orange and bergamot fill the air. S Club 7-inspired singing sessions are encouraged with this one. 

Butterbear*-This is the Christmas twist on Lush's popular Butterball bath bomb. A blend of vanilla with real bits of cocoa butter throughout. It's like bathing in a chocolate milkshake, albeit a very moisturising one. I feel like this bath bomb would appeal to a wide range of people; from kids through to Mums so it'd make a great stocking stuffer. 

Star Dust, not pictured-I'm a bit obsessed with star shaped things and this love naturally extends itself to bath bombs. Star Dust combines the scents of rosewood, vanilla absolute and bergamot oil. It colours your water a milky blue and leaves behind a trail of multicoloured stars. So yes, this is a visual treat. It also smells divine, like vanilla shortbread or Macarons so again it's a winner with me. I'll be trying to stock up on these before the end of the festive season. PS-Santa, I would not say no to one or four of these.

Golden Wonder, not pictured-I couldn't do this post and not mention what is quite possibly my favourite Lush bath bomb ever. In saying that, I've not bought any this Christmas. I'm a disloyal fan. Golden Wonder is a present shaped bath bomb which fizzes away, releasing some gold stars and lustre (Lush's equivalent of glitter) before leaving you with turquoise blue water that looks like something from a Greek island. Admittedly it's this colour that is the biggest appeal for me but I love the scent of it too, kinda sandalwood-y and beachy. 

-Have you tried any of Lush's Christmas bath bombs? What did you think of them?

*PR Sample

It's that crazy, wonderful, hectic time of year. If you've left your Christmas shopping to the last minute, it can feel even more stressful. My advice; take advantage of the early morning opening hours and the later closing times. If you're feeling a bit stumped on what to get, how about something along these lines? These are all items you can easily go out and buy yourself in Australia and New Zealand, and even some you can order online and have looked after for you...