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Tuesday December 12, 2007
The A-Z Of Christmas GivingBy Anne MArie Scanlon I can't believe twelve months have gone by since I compiled last year's gift guide. When I wrote the last gift guide I was pregnant and now I have a small boy who is on the verge of walking. I hope 2007 brought as many wonderful gifts into your life as it did to mine and that 2008 brings with it nothing but happiness. Speaking of bringing nothing... At this time of year it's not an option so take a look at my A-Z of great gifts. You should be able to find something for everyone and possibly a little something for yourself. Go on - you deserve it. A is for Aroma
If ever there was a season that's associated with scent its Christmas. Not just giving and getting presents of fragrance but the smells associated with the festival itself - mulled wine, mince pies, pine trees, even Brussels sprouts. It might seem unimaginative but if you're stuck for a gift perfume is usually welcome. Well, let me rephrase that - nice perfume is usually welcome. And there's no problem finding a nice perfume at the moment. Benefit Maybe Baby eau de toilette ($30) was voted the best scent to give or get by Elle magazine. Elle is rarely wrong on these things. I'm fallible but Elle is the bible. Betsey Johnson Purse Spray Parfum Set ($65) is a handy 20 ml purse size scent which fits neatly in your handbag. Don't worry about it running out as it comes with two refills. Antica Farmacista, the renowned Italian fragrance company has an entire collection of holiday aromas. The brand new Piccolo Tesoro (Little Darling) Crystal Decanter ($110) a petite version of the existing Bellisimo crystal decanter. Also new from Antica Farmacista - Champagne ($58-$88) a blend of Satsuma, apricot, nectarine along with vanilla. A scent as crisp and effervescent as the bubbly you drink. B is for Body ShopSadly 2007 saw the passing of Anita Roddick thirty one years after she founded the Body Shop. Thirty one years on and the brand is still as popular today as when Roddick opened her first shop. Small wonder when you see the fantastic Gift Collection Holiday 2007. Bath and Body Collections come in a wonderful array of scents - Rich Plum, Vanilla Spice, Sweet Chestnut and Cranberry. You can sample Rich Plum as a Body Butter ($20), Shimmer Body Lotion ($16), Shower Gel ($13), Shimmering Bath Bubbles ($16), Hand-Wrapped Soap ($4.50), Hand Wash ($10), Shimmer Lip Balm ($6) and Home Fragrance Oil ($7.50). You can get all of the above in Cranberry too as well as new Cranberry Body Polish ($20), Cranberry Body Spray ($12), the new Cranberry Candle ($16) and Cranberry Reed Diffuser ($24). Vanilla Spice comes in a similar array and Chestnut fragrance in a slightly more limited selection. The Body Shop also has a Holiday Home Fragrance Range ($7.50 each). The brand new fragrances are Spiced Pear Fragrance Oil, Blue Spruce Home Fragrance Oil and Orange Clove Home Fragrance Oil. As well as the new scents The Body Shop has also introduced seasonal fragrance burners ($16 each). The Frosted Berry Oil Burner is a rounded ceramic oil burner with a seasonal graduated white to red finish. The Christmas Tree Oil Burner is a Christmas tree shaped burner with a pearl luster finish with stars and circular shapes. The Season Spirit Oil Burner is a gold-colored metal burner with festive snowflake design. C is for ChocolateChocolate is, in my book, always an acceptable present. However at this time of year there's a slight danger of overdoing things, just a slight one. If you know someone who likes chocolate but won't thank you for handing them several million calories in a box then check out Sweet Beauty Candy Cane White Chocolate Scrub ($17) a festive treat that is made up of organic sugar granules, essential oils and cocoa butter. It's also infused with white chocolate and peppermint and there are no calories to count. D is for Drink
If this Christmas follows the traditional template your back teeth will be floating by the time December 25th arrives. D is also for Dehydration - one of the biggest side effects of too much sauce. And it's also for Dermalogica who have two fantastic skin kits that are the perfect gifts for the party season. Let's face it; one doesn't always make it home of a night so it's good to have some portable skin care. The Spa Body Therapy Skin Kit ($30.00) contains portable travel sized Conditioning Body Wash, Hydrating Cream and Exfoliating Body Scrub as well as two sachets of Shine Therapy Shampoo and Skin Finish Conditioner. The Normal/Oily Skin Kit ($30.00) contains travel sizes of Special Cleansing Gel (a fantastic cleanser), Multiactive Toner, Skin Prep Scrub and Active Moist. There are also two sachets - Soothing Eye Makeup Remover and Skin Refining Masque. Both kits contain everything you need for a night out and both are also perfect travel companions (see also T below). E is for ExpensiveOh yes, it's easy to go mad amid the holly and tinsel, especially when it comes to buying for your kids. Well, if you've recently come into money, or had the limit on your credit card increased then BMW have the perfect gift for you. The BMW 3 Series Convertible is available as both an electric and pedal car for children aged three to five. Yep, you mightn't be able to afford to drive a BMW but your child can. The body work is made of touch plastic, the chassis from painted steel tubing and the wheels are made from rubber that's designed to be kind to wooden floors. Yes, yes, you say, but how much? The BMW 3 Series Convertible pedal car can be yours for a mere $225 while the electric version goes for $375. But do remember Dads, it is designed for children aged 3 to 5. Oh why am I bothering, you know they're going to attempt to squeeze in anyway. F is for Fitness
Not something you hear about much at this time of year. Come January 1st though everyone will be resolving to get into shape and go to the gym five million times before Easter. Right. Get ahead of the game with Fit Flops ($39.95) flip flops that give you a workout while you walk! Fit Flops are designed to help tone and trim your legs and are biomechanically engineered to improve core muscle strength, encourage better posture and help reduce cellulite as well as easing strain on joints. When Fit Flops were launched in England last May they sold out in a week. G is for GiftsetIf you are anything like me the mere mention of the word 'giftset' will fill you with horror. Visions of nasty perfume and dodgy talc in an offensive plastic package jump around your brain with wild abandon. See that's what giftsets were like when I was a child and as you know the lessons of childhood are hard to shake off. As a result of seeing my Mother and Grandmother assaulted by vile concoctions of soap and so-called perfume on an annual basis I'm very very wary of the giftset. Which is a shame because times have changed and these days they're generally pretty lovely. Take the Betsey Johnson Gift Set ($55, a $76 value) a three piece set which includes Betsey Johnson Eau de Parfum spray, Body Lotion and Bath and Shower Gel (no talc, no soap, see). The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and the scent itself is a great blend of top notes of Pear, Tangerine, Grapefruit and Blackcurrant with floral heart notes and back notes of musk and amber. H is for HandsThe holiday season can be pretty tough on hands. And feet! Think about it, pounding the pavement for hours on end looking for presents, food shopping, looking for the perfect outfit to wear out. Then when you get out you spend hours on your feet in killer heels. As for your hands, if they're not putting up decorations, they're wrapping presents, peeling spuds, stuffing turkeys... Aveda have the perfect gift for worn out hands and feet - Ritual of Relief gift set ($32 a $41 value) contains two tubes of Hand Relief hand cream (one standard, one travel size) and two tubes of Foot Relief, (again one standard and one travel size), all in a lovely reusable gift box. I is for IdiotDon't be one - keep the receipt! |
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