The “Cosy Night In” is a theme close to my own heart this year (it’s too much hassle to do anything else, quite frankly) and so I’ve picked out the ultimate presents for people who just want to chill. Preferably next to the fire. With a glass of red wine in hand. I’m following this post closely with “Gifts for the Glamorous Night Out”, so don’t feel disheartened if you have a dozen party animals to buy for – I have your back. But for now, if you’re searching high and low for lovely things that will be appreciated by Mums, Sisters, Best Friends and Auntie Magdas the world over, look no further.
Let’s kick off with some Luxury Hot Chocolate, pictured above. You can’t go too far wrong with Whittard and this kilner tin looks suitably festive – you can find it at Amazon here for £8. I’m big on hot chocolate, not being a tea-or-coffee drinker, and this one is lush. Not too bitter, not too sweet…just right. As Goldilocks said.
Sticking with the gourmand idea, something tasty for the body: Laura Mercier’s Almond Coconut Milk Soufflé Body Creme. This is part of a gorgeous “Sweet Temptations” set that has everything you need for an indulgent bath ritual – the scent is warm and sweet and perfect for slathering on before cosying up in pyjamas. You can find the set here at SpaceNK – it’s £49. *just spotted at House of Fraser for £44 here.
Talking of pyjamas: Hush have compiled a quite excellent “staying in” gift box. The Winter Rose set includes their plush Vintage Rose pyjamas (you barely need a duvet they’re so warm!), a beautiful Rose & Cassis candle and a bar of their Milk Rose chocolate. The chocolate, by the way, needs to be snapped up by a supermarket chain pronto because it is extremely moreish.
Anyway, before you rush out headfirst and snap up one of these gift boxes, please be aware that on Friday morning my special Winter Newsletter goes out and there’s a very nice offer for those shopping at Hush. (It involves feet, warmth and the word “free”.) If you haven’t signed up for the newsletter, do so here – if you can’t wait for Friday then the gift set is at Hush here, £60.
What would a cosy night in be without slippers? These knitted mules from Celtic & Co are incredibly soft and warm and the sheepskin is amazing quality and a by-product of the food industry, so very ethically sourced. Oh my God, sorry, newsflash: looking for the link to the slippers I just found these Fair Isle mules! How Christmassy are they? Both versions are £49 at Celtic & Co here. I have to stop looking because I’ve just flicked onto the coats page and I need them all.
Back to body, and if Almondy-Coconuty things aren’t your bag, then how about delectable Orange Patisserie? Still rather gourmand, I’m afraid, if you can’t stand edible-smelling body stuff, but my God this is nice. The texture of the butter is very light and whipped, but the effects are somehow rich and nourishing. Amazing. I’m a proper convert to Lola’s Apothecary – everything is just so beautifully made and presented. You can find the Warming Body Butter here – it’s £25.
If you know any light sleepers who long to hit the pillow with a head as heavy as a hod of bricks (?!) you could do a lot worse than give them the gift of Quietude. Actually it’s called the Temple Spa Do Not Disturb gift, but it does include the Quietude calming mist as well as the Drift Away oil, Repose resting cream, Duvet body cream, a sugar scrub and little lavender-infused pillow sachet. I think that Temple Spa have got it spot on with the product names – Duvet! Repose! It makes me sleepy even saying them! This set is a very surprisingly decent £39 – you can find it at Harrods online here.
Alternatively, if you’ve a bit more cash to flash then the I Have A Dream set from This Works is just fabulous. The Deep Sleep candle is one of my all-time favourite candle scents – surprisingly sexy, considering it’s supposed to be sending you to sleep! – and you get whacking great bottles and tubes of the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (my bedtime addiction), the Dream Cream and Night Oil. They should really come with a safety warning – do not try to operate heavy machinery after you’ve used anything from this range. It’s enough to try and form a coherent sentence, or take your socks off without breaking your neck. You can find this gift set online for £75 – *update, it’s actually £56.25 at LookFantastic at the time of writing, here!
A face mask is a must for the Cosy Night In – I’m afraid this Pumpkin Enzyme Mask doesn’t look particularly Christmassy but bloody hell is it good! You can read my full review here – it’s a very powerful exfoliating mask that peels and polishes skin to perfection. It’s amazing value for money, too – £39.50 for a massive 150ml. Find it at Cult Beauty here. And if you feel that a pot of mask looks slightly mean, you can always bulk your present out with one of my excellent book suggestions…
Three books that should please most audiences. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica, easy-reading scary-page-turner that most will fly through over Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The paperback is a steal, £3.85 here.
Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See has been on my list for months; it’s supposed to be absolutely stunning. It won the Pulitzer this year, so I can’t imagine it’ll disappoint. A great one to impress your literary-minded friends and family, and it’s new enough that they probably won’t have read it yet. Find it at Amazon here – it’s £5.89.
I thought that Robert Galbraith’s Career of Evil was a cracking old read – I couldn’t put it down. It was quite, quite horrible in parts, but the narrative was somehow rather jolly and upbeat, so I found it hard to stop reading. It’s the best of the three “Cormoran Strike” books so far, but I’ve enjoyed all of them and so you could do worse than buy someone the set, if you’re looking for a bigger present. These would keep someone occupied until the New Year. The hardback is £9 here at Amazon.
And now I’m off to write about my “Gifts for the Glam Night Out”. My Christmas Gift Guide videos (including present ideas for men and children) will start to go up at the weekend, they’re delayed because I’ve been waiting for various parcels to arrive. (Mr AMR despairs, every November, at the amount of things I order! I also have three different Outnet consignments waiting to be tried on because I can’t find a dress to wear to my brother’s wedding on Saturday. We can hardly move for boxes and bags.)
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