Blogging is Tough Sometimes. Like Having to Eat a Whole Box of Hotel Chocolat Luxury Chocs in Order to Review Them

I know, I make such sacrifices for you. When Hotel Chocolat offered me a Christmas Wreath to give away to you readers, it wouldn't have been fair for me to accept without testing some of their treats first, right? To make sure they were good, of course. So I tirelessly ate my way through this exquisite box of Classic Chocolates and I can happily report they are beautiful. 

Pistachio, port-infused, mini-eton messes, each sweet has a flavour that explodes in your mouth. If you're looking for a last minute thoughtful, romantic present, or something for someone who fancies themselves a bit of a foodie, then the Hotel Chocolat web store is a great place to click through to now. 

If you're already sold on Hotel Chocolat from a previous gift, then there are half price bargains to be had with their advent calendars packed with chocs on 50% off. Click on any of the following photographs to be taken to the page to buy.

Last day for postage is 23rd Decemeber, so you've plenty of time.

Alternative Mince Pie £1.95

Alternative Mince Pie £1.95

The Gingerbread Crew £7

The Gingerbread Crew £7

The Deluxe Christmas Hamper £150

The Deluxe Christmas Hamper £150

Advent Calendar on half price sale at £6.25 Dark Chocolate variety also available 

Advent Calendar on half price sale at £6.25 Dark Chocolate variety also available 

The H-Box Everything Selection £12.50

The H-Box Everything Selection £12.50

The Rather Large Christmas Cracker £40

The Rather Large Christmas Cracker £40

Little Luxury Christmas Gifts Handpicked By Experts in Taste- Handpicked Collection

I can never be a HandpickedCollection.com  team member. To be one of their experts you need exquisite taste, an eye for stylish gadgets and an understanding of which gifts for which friend or family member. 

I don't have good taste. I live for kitsch for goodness sake. I'm about neon fake fur and glittery plastic stag heads. So when I want to find something pretty as a gift for an aunt, or my lovely Mother-in-Law, Handpicked Collection is a handy place to start.

This week they sent me a cosy pair of 100% cashmere arm warmers which will go perfectly with my cape coat that doesn't cover my lower arms.

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Comes in three colour choices 

Comes in three colour choices 

The second gift Handpicked Collection sent me was this tiny key birdhouse. We only have one car key, which my husband and I share, so putting the key in one place in the hallway so it didn't go missing (I lost it in my shoe last week) is a great idea. It now goes straight into the birdhouse when we walk in the door.

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Handpicked Collection is packed to the virtual rafters will gift ideas. Here are some more clever, kooky and cool items in stock now, some with 20-30% off at the moment too.

Click to take a closer look and search on HandpickedCollection,com to buy.

Nifty Christmas Jewellery Gift Idea, Name Personalised for Your Loved Ones

Name Jewellery Designs is an American Etsy store which personalises rings & bracelets with names, or short phrases of your choice. It's a straight forward, but unique and thoughtful gift idea. They are stackable, decently priced (under  £17 for my Michael ring) and professionally engraved, 204 five out of five star customer reviews can't be wrong.

They have just launched their international shipping service, which is why they reached out to TheWorldofKitsch.com to spread the word. Although turn around and shipping is very fast, I would recommend getting your Christmas present requests in early, as come December I'm sure they'll have a backlog of gifts to engrave.

 

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NameJewelryDesigns also let me choose this personalised bracelet for my Mum. 

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That? Oh, That's Just My Faux Taxidermy Inflatable Tiger Head

This is my inflatable tiger head from the eclectic gift webstore Find Me a Gift. Do you like him? There are lots of cool inflatables on their site that could make fun Christmas gifts. 

 £19.99

 £19.99

 £134.99

 £134.99

 £4.99

 £4.99

 £8.99

 £8.99

Another unusual product that would make a nice stocking filler are these Shwings Shoe Wings. Available in a variety of metallic colours, they are super cool for trainers, but also can make a pair of heels into something Superwoman would wear on a night off.  £9.99 for a pair of wings.

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Gertrude Anna's Autumn/Winter Collection Includes an Ewok Print Satchel & Therefore It Wins Fashion

Gertrude Anna is the handmade work of mister Timmy White, a co-worker of mine from my Liberty Blue days, and a lover of 80s & 90s pop culture.

I had the pleasure of having a Gertrude Anna clutch bag made in He-Man fabric for my brother's wedding in June, and it got lots of compliments. Great for showing your weirdo side, if you're being 'well behaved' with the rest of your outfit. 

Check out Timmy's latest pieces by staying up to date on the Gerty Facebook page. The Ewok satchel is a treat. 

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The Gerty site lists many different items you can order from Timmy in whichever fabrics you desire. 

Vintage Tins Galore

DotCom Giftshop sent me these gorgeous cake tins which are spot on for my vintage kitchen. Their sets of round tins are £12.95 and they also have various sizes & shapes of retro tins to choose from. 

I totally love the metal tins filled with quirky plasters, they are only £3.95

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 £3.95

 £3.95

magnetic shopping list to match my cake tins £3.95

magnetic shopping list to match my cake tins £3.95

My Top Arm-Decor Picks Under £50 From The Jewel Hut. Shiny, Shiny!

The Jewel Hut is a long-standing business that's successfully made the move from their 21 UK-wide stores, to a complimentary clean & bright online store front.

Stocking popular brands Pandora, Thomas Sabo & Links of London, it's a secure and safe place to buy gifts or pieces for yourself, with free delivery & gift wrapping available.

They let me pick a piece, this freshwater pearl bracelet that's very unusual, on a yellow watch strap.  

You can find The Jewel Hut on Twitter too-  @TheJewelHut

 

 £49.99

 £49.99

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Fossil £45

Fossil £45

Sence £43

Sence £43

Good Works £32.95

Good Works £32.95

Good Works £32.95

Good Works £32.95

Pasha £24.95

Pasha £24.95

Pasha £21.95

Pasha £21.95

Thomas Sabo £16.95

Thomas Sabo £16.95

Pandora £45

Pandora £45

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Want Something a Little Different from an Online Department Store? I Tried Zalando.co.uk

  If your a night out, or big event coming up, it can be tricky picking something unique to wear, without being dressed the same as someone else. Here's a handy, little store to bookmark, www.Zalando.co.uk
It's the UK branch of German department store Zalando, and it stocks absolutely everything, in well known brands as well as chic brands you might not have seen before. European style is classic, sassy and everything is well priced.

I picked up myself a gorgeous, petrol colour bangle from a brand I hadn't come across in any UK originating department stores. I also treated myself to a handy, little bowed, elastic waist denim colour skirt for pulling on quickly should the sun return. Lastly, because Zalando also has a wide range of household goods, I replaced our poor weather-beaten door mat with a comical moose-print one.
Give them a visit yourself- Zalando.

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