If the Christmas preparation feels like it gets earlier and earlier every year, that’s because, well, it does. But as the age old saying goes: “fail to prepare, prepare to fail”.
With all the uncertainty right now, and unexpected costs popping up left, right and centre, it doesn’t hurt to sort your seasonal shopping list early, and have one task ticked off when it comes towards the (generally very expensive) end of the year.
So, here are some suggestions.
This coffee table book will not only add a subtle pop of colour to your loved ones’ interiors, but it will also encourage them to get lost in the works of legendary artist David Hockney in an XL-edition. The book is a collection of 120 of the famed pop art painter’s digital works created on an iPhone and iPad where each captures a moment through the window of his Yorkshire home.
£72.85, Amazon
Give the gift of a sound night’s sleep with this silk eye mask from the DROWSY Sleep Co. So popular is this ultimate slumber companion that one sells every 15 minutes in the UK. Not those basic designs you find on long haul flights, this sumptuous option is soft on the skin, while also keeping out sound and light thanks to the padding.
Best of all, silk is known for protecting hair from damaging friction and can even have anti-ageing properties. This Christmas, it is available in Green Sapphire and this celestial themed option.
DROWSY.COM
While a scooter will always make a great gift for a little one, this cruiser takes it to the next level. No, we aren’t just referring to the light-up wheels (!), but this eco three wheeler from the experts at Micro is made from discarded fishing nets so will encourage sustainable thinking during the Christmas season and as they travel from A to B.
£88, Micro Scooter Amazon
If they’re serious about their cheffing, introduce Allday Goods into their cutlery collection. The brand takes a sustainable approach to the formation of its kitchen essentials by crafting its knives entirely from waste that would have ended up in the landfill. The blades are made from scrap metals, while the handles – in attractive hues of yellow, white and green – save 48g of plastic per option. They are made in Sheffield, cutting down on shipping pollution too.
£120, Allday Goods
The iconic retro radios from Roberts are beloved by interior buffs and tech enthusiasts alike – a testament to the brand’s expert combination of fashion and function.
In a whole host of nostalgia-inducing colourways, from teal blue to sunburst yellow, they are characterised by the grill, logo and timeless accents, while still offering rich sound, Bluetooth audio streaming, DAB+, FM and WiFi radio, as well as access to Spotify. It also doubles up as an alarm clock.
£229, Amazon
There are so many benefits to the food subscription box models. You will get the chance to create meals you may not have thought of with all the ingredients and the perfect quantities of them ready and rearing to go, taking out the guesswork and removing waste from your home cooking agenda.
Mindful Chef is one of best in the biz, specialising in balanced, healthy meals that can be adapted to suit all dietary requirements, from gluten free to vegan. All the recipe boxes as well as the frozen meals on offer are nutritionally balanced and free from refined carbs and additives.
This gift card is ideal to give them the power to choose when to receive a box and can vary in amount depending on your budget. It’s also great for last minute purchases as can be emailed directly to them.
£30, Mindful Chef
In a bottle resembling the Italian fashion house’s signature triangle logo comes the latest fragrance from Prada – a treat for the senses. The floral aroma has adynamic combination of amber and musk. It begins as a light, fresh and crisp aroma but it’s given further depth from the musk base for a non-traditional floral bouquet.
£59, John Lewis
You only need to catch a glimpse of this red lipstick from Gucci to see its gifting credentials. The stunning exterior of the bullet alone is enough to sway you with the fashion house’s designer Alessandro Michele taking inspiration from vintage brooches and collectibles for its aesthetic. But this is no means a case of style over substance. The formula is long-wearing and while imparting highly pigmented colour, it also nourishes with hyaluronic acid, fruit butters and flower oils.
£36, Selfridges
It’s not always easy to follow recipes on Tiktok with the fast-paced nature of the videos but with this cookbook, you can whip up the most shared dishes and bring them to life. With a foreward from Gordon and daughter Tilly Ramsay, it features tried-and-tested delicacies from over 40 food creators.
£14.01, Amazon
There’s been something of an air fryer revolution in recent times. Whether it’s for the health benefits as you can use far less oil or its lessened energy usage, these devices have been pegged as the ultimate kitchen essential. This is the latest model from Instant Brands with 13 functions in one. You can use as an air fryer, grill, mini oven, roaster, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, sous vide, dehydrator, yogurt maker, bread proofer and last but not least, food warmer.
The brand has also revealed that it uses up to 80 per cent less energy than an electric oven in a test cooking chicken as well as 95 per cent less oil compared to deep frying. It will also cook 70 per cent faster than traditional cooking methods.
What makes this even more unique is the large LCD display that provides step-by-step cooking instructions. It’s also super quiet, dishwasher safe and you can whip up meals with up to six servings.
£229.99, Lakeland
