Guys and Girls of Exeter, stuck for ideas as to what to buy your close ones this Christmas? Here’s the first of several blogs from HCX on ideas for gifts for your Mum, Dad, sister, brother, girlfriend and boyfriend. Today, we focus on Mum’s gift…
- Candles
Whose Mum doesnât love a beautiful scent filling the whole home at Christmas? Whatever budget you are on this Christmas, candles provide the perfect present for Mumâs â they last for ages, and will remind them of you whenever they light it! On a budget, John Lewis do some gorgeous smelling candles, my favourite of which is the Jasmine Petals scented one, at ÂŁ8. Lily-Flame do a range of scented candles, my personal favourite being the Wild Jasmine. If you have a bit more to splash out on your Mum, Jo Malone is renowned for her top-quality candles, giving off a much stronger scent and lasting a lot longer than the cheaper priced candles, understandably. Sheâs created a vast array of options for you to choose from, from âwoodyâ to âfloralâ scents.
- Scarves
Any girl knows that a scarf can complete an outfit. Be it a block coloured wooly snood from Topshop, or a floral cotton scarf from Accessorize, a good scarf can complete the cosy but classy winter look. Zara do a plain and simple but cosy and stylish woollen scarf for just ÂŁ9.99. This âstoleâ by Accessorize is also a good bet, but a little more expensive, but is more of an indoor, wear-as-part-of-an-outfit scarf, more than the Zara one which is more functional to stay warm through these cold Winter months! This could be paired with a nice top or smart cardigan and worn to a lunch or Christmas drinks do. Another one from Zara (sorry, itâs my favourite shop..!!) is this lovely one that is a mix between the last 2, both warm but also very pretty to wear inside as part of an outfit, and in a range of colours.
- Creams and Bubbles
I donât know any Mum that doesnât love finding beautiful smelling bath time luxuries under the tree at Christmas! My Mumâs favourite brands are Champneys, The Sanctuary and Molton Brown. Donât be put off by these expensive sounding brands, as if you really root around you can find pots of moisturiser or exfoliator for as little as ÂŁ8.00. Pair with some exfoliating gloves from Boots and a pot of moisturiser from the Body Shop (Moringa Body Butter is my favourite smell of all time!) and your Ma will be glowing all over on New Yearâs Eve. If youâve got a slightly bigger budget, Iâm a sucker for Molton Brown shower gels and cream as they smell exquisite and last for ages, making the price well worth it.
- Sentimental, thoughtful gifts
If youâre really stuck for ideas, and have any cute family photos lying around, why not get some copies made, and stick one in a pretty frame for a quick and easy present that will last a life time and really make your Mum smile on Christmas morning. I always use Boots for printing photos, but websites such as Snapfish (there is a Snapfish store in Exeter, just before Mosaic!) and Photobox sometimes do good deals and it can cost as little as 5p to get a photo printed and sent to you via post. Athena is one of my favourite shops in Exeter, perfect for when you need to find a present for someone, and has some lovely photo frames. Also try Paperchase and even Urban Outfitters (upstairs in the Exeter store!) for cute frames of all different sizes and prices.
- Domestic products
Be careful with this oneâŠÂ I will be honest and say that my Mum always pulls a certain face when she receives either a cookbook/apron/oven gloves or anything to do with the kitchen that implies her only role in life is to cook and clean. The last thing you want to do is ruin your Mum’s Christmas morning, but I know a lot of Mums love receiving new floral tea towels, or a fresh new apron to see in the New Year in. If this is the case with your Mum, popular brands for tea towels, mugs, and general kitchen ware are Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater. You can even get personalised mugs and crockery via Emma Bridgewaterâs website, which always makes gifts of any kind more special.
Photo credits:-
http://weheartcandles.tumblr.com/