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Christmas can often be a strange time of year. You can enjoy the warmth of some spiced, mulled wine, and the sparkling wonder of the decorations on the tree. The snuggly woolly jumpers and the warming winter comfort foods come out, and everything seems designed to make you nice and calm and warm…
But then Christmas flits between this calming winter wonderland image to a hectic ball of utter stress. You can take a deep breath though, because we’re here to help you out. Take a look through our Christmas gift guide to nail down the toughest part of Christmas celebrations.
A PARTNER
Probably one of the easier people to buy for, because you’re likely to have to a very good idea of what they like, dislike, and what they already have. This can be a double-edged sword, however, as it’s difficult to surprise someone who knows you know what they want!
Beyond buying them a video game they’ve asked for, or a particular gadget they’ve been eyeing up, one good tip would be to have a little look at the coming year. Is their favourite band, comedian, or celebrity doing a tour or event next year? Tickets to that show will not only cover Christmas, but it’ll also hold up the excitement all the way up to the big day, and create a great lasting memory together.
To make it even more special, why not look at upgrading the ticket to a VIP or Meet ‘n’ Greet package so your significant other gets the chance of a lifetime to meet their hero? Or, you could make a weekend of it and book a fancy hotel to go with the night out, such as The Hogs Head Inn, Alnwick!
If you are finding it difficult to pick something for your partner you can always play it safe and get him clothes. Any man would appreciate a fresh new dress shirt, then he also has something new to wear over the festive period.
YOUR PARENTS
Next, we’re looking at what could be the hardest Christmas gifts to buy — what do you buy your parents? Chances are, you fall back on similar types of gifts every year. But there’s a whole world of gifts out there, so let’s take a look!
DAD
Most Dads probably have enough socks to last them a lifetime. But if you go looking online or through the ‘Gifts for Dad’ section of any store, there’s a certain theme running through it.
Beer, football, and golf. Occasionally some D.I.Y. gifts sprinkled in. It’s all a bit samey, and, well, a bit tacky. Even if your dad loves beer, attends every football match for his team, golfs on a weekend, and can fix any shelf ever put to a wall, he’s probably got a pile of those ‘quirky’ gifts somewhere in a drawer.
Why not get him something he actually needs and will use?
For example, many of us are used to hearing our mothers give a despairing sigh at the sight of her husband putting on his go-to, trusty shoes for a formal occasion like a wedding or family get-together.
“You’re not wearing them, are you?”
“Why not? They still fit!”
Yes, dads often have their go-to shoes for many years. They get every penny out of them, even when the leather is worn and loose. No doubt it’s time for a new pair, so why not treat him to a new pair of black chukka boots, shiny pair of black derby shoes? They’ll work for so many different occasions, and your mum will probably thank you for the opportunity to throw out those decades-old, worse-for-wear pair your dad has clung to…
Mum
Mums will often get the same ‘one size fits all’ treatment from the gifts section of any store as dads get. For mums, the running themes tend to be flowers, chocolates, and wine. Lovely presents to be sure, but you probably used them to cover her birthday and Mother’s Day this year too, didn’t you? If you’re looking for something personalised, why not check out Suttons? They offer a personalised Malteser Christmas tree – now that’s most definitely guaranteed to make her smile!
No doubt you will know what kind of fashion sense your mum has, so choosing clothes for her could always be a good idea. Whether it’s a dressy top or a pair of straight legged jeans she will be sure to love the fact you’ve gone shopping and picked them for her!
There’s often jewellery, but that is a potential minefield. Does she prefer gold or silver? Is white gold or platinum better? Which gemstones doesn’t she like? What’s her favourite cut of gemstone? However, if this is something that you believe she would be interested in and higher budget is available, then why not try the luxurious brand, Angelic Diamonds who offer a variety of diamond rings? Their interactive site enables you to tailor the ring exactly to her taste – what more could you need! A diamond is a girls best friend after all!
The chances are, your mum doesn’t get to see you as often as she would like to. Lives are busy, and months can tick away without us realising how long it’s been since we last visited. So why not give her a Christmas gift of an experience day together? An experience day can be a beautiful day out, or if your mum is a thrill-seeker, there are loads of experience days tailored around adrenaline rushes! The Present Finder offers a ‘Design your own perfume for two’ day – an excellent opportunity for you to bond. These days out can be tailored to suit your mum exactly, from spas to bungee jumps, and you’ll be there to enjoy it with her. Much better than a bottle of wine. Again.
YOUR GRANDPARENTS
Grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren, so getting your gran and grandad something good for Christmas is very important.
Alcohol and chocolates always seem to be the fall-back purchase for grandparents, but it’s the unspoken agreement and understanding of every person on the planet that this choice of gift is the ‘I have no idea what to get you’ gift.
GRAN
Gran, granny, nana, grandma, nanny. Whatever epithet you choose to call your grandmother by, make sure you get her a Christmas present that will truly light up her heart.
Something heartfelt is always a lovely idea. As we get older, memories become a more and more valuable treasure. To that end, photographs tend to become beloved keepsakes — your gran might well have stacks and stacks of photo albums and framed pictures of her beloved children and grandchildren!
Get her something truly personal that she can cherish. A personalised wooden photo box is a different take on the usual photo album, and can look beautiful on display or as a keepsake. Some boxes have gorgeous etching options on the outer lid, and some have photo slots on each side of the box, leaving room inside for trinkets.
If you’re feeling the personalised gift ideas then a printed mug would be great! Which gran doesn’t love drinking tea?
However, if you’re looking for something alternative to this, and are looking for something a bit ‘Glitz and Glam’ – why not purchase a pair of shoes? Since style isn’t restricted to age, why not invest in a pair of in a matching bag and shoes? Navy court shoes? The perfect party finish!
GRANDAD
As your gran will probably tell you, your grandfather doesn’t need any more bottles of whisky, please stop buying him bottles of whisky for Christmas.
Again, look at something a little more personal. For example, many grandads have an undisputed seat in their own home, right? It’s Grandad’s Chair. No one ever told you this outright, but everyone accepted its existence. That chair is Grandad’s Chair, and no one else sits in it.
Make it an official law of the home with a brilliant (and comfy!) ‘Reserved For Grandad’ cushion! It’s a nice little joke about this household rule, and it will no doubt be used, useful, and put proudly on display in his preferred chair!
THE KIDS
Kids toys are arguably the easiest gifts in terms of knowing what to get them. There’re lists upon lists of toys online noted to be this year’s must-have toys as well as great magazine subscriptions and so much more!
YOUNGER KIDS
Retailer Amazon has released their top 100 kids toys for Christmas 2018. One that features on the list, and on numerous other lists from retailers, is the fluffy, super-popular Pomsies.
Pomsies are this year’s Hatchimal or Furby. They’re small pom-pom like critters with long tails and big, light-up eyes. The appeal is that they can wrap around your arm, wrist, or bag to take anywhere, and their eyes change colour depending on their mood. There’s a number of different colours and varieties to choose from, but be quick — these are selling out all over!
FOR OLDER KIDS
Another lovely gift often found on these lists, is the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall set. Hot on the heels of the latest Fantastic Beasts movie, the world of Harry Potter is enjoying something of a resurgence of late. After the last movie came out back in 2011, there was something of a lull in Harry Potter merchandise on the shop shelves. But now it’s back, and there’s a whole new generation wanting to explore the magical world. Don’t be surprised if a few adults in the house are looking jealous of your child getting this set for Christmas!
For older kids, the top picks include this season’s new video game releases. Expect hyped new titles Fallout 76, Pokemon Let’s Go, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate to feature on many Christmas lists this year.
December also sees the release of the PlayStation Classic mini. Much like the sell-out favourite that was the NES Classic mini back in 2016, the PlayStation Classic mini is a hot favourite this Christmas. Featuring 20 preloaded classics such as Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid, this may well be one for kids and big kids alike!
FOR TEENAGERS
The tougher part of this category is buying for a teenage daughter. Trends change fast, but there are a few brands that are sure to bring a smile to any teenage girl this festive season:
For teens who aren’t into Instagram influencers, the other world-domination trend for tech-obsessed teenage boys and girls comes with the hype that is Fortnite. With a line of Funko Pop figures recently hitting shelves, shirts on Primark’s rails, and even a limited edition Fortnite Monopoly game, there’s so much merchandise for this fandom that really, it’s easy picks!
Hopefully, this guide has helped you find some new avenues to explore for your Christmas shopping. And remember, if all else fails — no one in the history of mankind has ever asked for the receipt for a £20 note in a card.
Sources:
https://www.experiencedays.co.uk
https://www.notonthehighstreet.com
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g24170181/ebay-holiday-toys-2018/
http://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-teen-girl-gifts.html
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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